🌱 Pandemic Relief Fraud + Expanding Mobile's Sports Tourism

Hello, neighbors! It's Thursday in Mobile and I'm back in your inbox with everything you need to know about what's happening in the community today. Let's have at it.

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📣 Our readers love to celebrate good news! You can now shout out your big announcement at the top of the Mobile Daily newsletter. Whether it's a grand opening, new product for sale, birthday, anniversary, engagement, wedding or new baby, let everyone celebrate alongside you! Submit your announcement here.

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First, today's weather:

A morning thunderstorm in spots. High: 85 Low: 74.

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Here are the top three stories today in Mobile:

1. A Mobile woman has been ordered to surrender more than $41,000 in funds that were defrauded through the Paycheck Protection Program. Sandy Riggins pleaded guilty to filing a fraudulent application to gain funds meant to support businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. Riggins did not have a business or a monthly payroll — but she claimed she did on the application. She will be sentenced in September. (Fox 10 News)
2. The Mobile Sports Authority is working to expand the city's sports tourism agency. To aid its efforts, it is purchasing portable basketball and volleyball courts for potential tournaments. The courts will be purchased with $530,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds. (NBC 15 WPMI)
3. Rising interest rates are finally cooling the Mobile housing market. A new report issued by the Alabama Center for Real Estate indicates that home sales in the county have decreased by 23.6 percent compared to the same time in 2021. Rising interest rates have created an increase in the housing supply. (AL.com)

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Today in Mobile:

• Shake, Rattle, & Read Storytime At West Regional Library (9:00 AM)
• Chess Club At Semmes Regional Library (3:00 PM)

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From my notebook:

• Mobile County currently has a number of open positions it is working to fill. Click to view the full list. (Mobile County, Alabama via Facebook)
• The City of Mobile will begin booting vehicles with outstanding tickets on Monday. Pay your tickets. Don't get your car booted! (Twitter)
• Mobile County has some of the best parks in the country. Click to learn more about the county's park system. There is a park for every activity. (Mobile County)

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You're officially in the loop for today! See you all tomorrow morning for your next update.

— Nicole Fallon-Peek

About me: Nicole Fallon-Peek is a journalist and copywriter with a degree in Media, Culture and Communication from New York University. She has served as a freelance reporter, managing editor, copy editor, and editorial director for a variety of B2B news outlets. She currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.