(WTRF) —Time is running out for flood victims to apply for disaster assistance, while Ohio eases restrictions on personalized license plates and cracks down on illegal noncitizen voter registrations.
Disaster Assistance for Flood Victims
Residents affected by this summer’s floods in Ohio County have until Monday, Sept. 22 to apply for disaster assistance. FEMA and the Small Business Administration are offering up to $500,000 for property damage and up to $2 million in business loans, including for economic losses without physical damage.
In-person help is available at Triadelphia Community Hall through Monday, after which assistance moves online or by phone. Officials urge residents not to wait.
“We just want to ensure everybody doesn’t lose out on these resources. This is our federal funding—resources going back into the communities, taxpayer dollars going back to you,” said Harold Nunez.
Emergency Funding for Food Pantries
West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced over $760,000 in emergency funding for 63 food pantries in 13 counties affected by February and June flooding. Ohio County will receive $53,000. The funding, coordinated with Mountaineer Food Bank and Facing Hunger Food Bank, aims to keep food stocked as communities recover.
Illegal Voter Registration Investigation
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose referred additional evidence of illegal noncitizen voter registrations and voting activity to the state attorney general, which could lead to prosecution. Investigators found 78 more noncitizen voter registrations, including nine people who may have cast fraudulent votes, as part of a state audit. LaRose emphasized Ohio’s zero-tolerance policy for election crimes.
Personalized License Plate Rule Changes
The Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles is easing restrictions on personalized license plates after a federal lawsuit challenged previous denials. Two individuals had their requests for plates reading “GAY” and “MUSLIM” denied, claiming free speech violations. The BMV approved the requests shortly after the lawsuit was filed and will review its database of offensive words. The federal judge dismissed the lawsuit.
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