Nearly 18,000 California inmates could be released early due to coronavirus

California Police Chiefs Association warns some violent criminals being released 'without a consideration for the larger impact on public safety'

California could be on track to release a total of 17,600 inmates since the start of the coronavirus pandemic by late August. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) estimated in July that 8,000 inmates could be eligible for release by the end of August, in addition to 10,000 inmates who have already been released.

The first 3,500 inmates were freed in April to create space in crowded prisons and 6,900 more were deemed eligible for release in early July, totaling 10,4000 releases. Officials said other inmates would be eligible under different release programs but couldn't provide an estimate.

In a filing last week with a federal judge who oversees one of the major lawsuits facing the prison system, officials increased the estimated total of releases from 10,400 to 17,600. However, prison officials say Corrections Secretary Ralph Diaz is likely to block the release of about 5,500, in part because many are serving life prison sentences.

City police departments across the country have altered their operations due to the pandemic, including arrests that require less contact and efforts to avoid prosecutions for people for low-level crimes to prevent jail overcrowding.

Nationwide, more than 100,000 people were released from state and federal prisons between March and June. foxnews.com

Nine Charged with $24 Million COVID-Relief Fraud Scheme
The owner of a Florida talent management company and four others were charged in complaints unsealed yesterday for their alleged participation in a scheme to file fraudulent loan applications seeking more than $24 million in forgivable Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loans guaranteed by the Small Business Administration (SBA) under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Four additional defendants were also previously charged in this scheme.

The defendants allegedly participated in an extensive nationwide scheme to file at least 90 fraudulent applications for millions of dollars in PPP loans in exchange for illegal kickbacks of portions of the loan proceeds," said Acting Assistant Attorney General Brian C. Rabbitt of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "These allegations reflect an organized effort by defendants to defraud the SBA's PPP program on a large scale by stealing funds intended for legitimate small businesses suffering from economic hardships caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The department and our law enforcement partners will continue to aggressively pursue those who would seek to illegally exploit the ongoing national emergency for their own benefit. justice.gov

Virginia 1st State With Contact Tracing
Covidwise, the pandemic app from Apple and Google, to roll out in Virginia
Virginia has rolled out a smartphone app to automatically notify people if they might have been exposed to the coronavirus, becoming the first U.S. state to use new pandemic technology created by Apple and Google.

The free Covidwise app is available in Apple and Android app stores as of Wednesday. State officials, who emphasized that the app doesn't track user location or collect personal information, announced public campaigns encouraging people to download and use it.

The technology arrives nearly four months after Apple and Google partnered to create the software for public health agencies trying to contain the spread of the pandemic. Canada and a number of European countries have already rolled out apps using the tech companies' framework. usatoday.com

CVS sees big business opportunities with Covid-19 testing, flu shots
As the pandemic makes health care top of mind for many Americans, CVS Health said Wednesday that it's focused on providing services that are in high demand from flu shots to testing for colleges.

The company has opened more than 1,800 drive-thru sites for Covid-19 testing. It's launched a new business-to-business testing program for corporations and colleges. And it's getting ready to administer flu shots, which could keep people healthy as doctors and nurses cope with the spread of the coronavirus.

As of the end of July, CVS had administered about 2 million Covid-19 tests, CVS CEO Larry Merlo said in an earnings conference call. About 40% of those tested were new pharmacy customers.

Its business-to-business testing solution, called Return Ready, has attracted over 40 clients, including universities and corporations, and has over 1,000 prospective clients in the pipeline, he said. cnbc.com

Retail's Great Awakening: Snapshots Of Global Retail Response To COVID-19
There is a real-time global awakening in the retail and restaurant sectors today. Retailers and restaurants are acting with urgency to rapidly transform their businesses, from supply chain updating to training their frontline employees and more.

While there have been marked differences from country to country in the response to COVID-19, a common global experience for retailers and restaurants was that they were taxed to the limit of their supply chains' capacity, then needed to quickly implement safety procedures, and then had to adjust their game plan based on guidance from their governments.

Now, retailers are urgently focused on making their shopping experience digital, contactless and pandemic-proof. The impact from COVID-19 continues to be a "do or die" proposition for many retailers as the first wave of the pandemic continues and as most businesses prepare for a second wave.

An often-repeated statement is "all of our digital plans for the next five years will be executed in the next 12 months." The good news is that those that have made the adjustments are thriving, creating new revenue streams, new businesses and adding new customers. retailtouchpoints.com

Is it time for Walmart to drop its COVID-19 return policy?

Customers upset in-store returns still unavailable, while online returns continue

Because of the novel coronavirus pandemic, some retailers with liberal return policies were forced to make all or most sales final, in part due to concerns over accepting, processing and restocking potentially contaminated merchandise. At Walmart, in-store returns remain unavailable. And some customers have gotten irate about it.

Ten customers so far have contacted local Chicago ABC affiliate ABC 7's investigative I-Team about the policy, an article from the news station reports. The customers were upset about not being able to return items that would normally be taken back at a Walmart store without issue, such as apparel with the tags still on and accompanied with a receipt.

In response to the investigation, Walmart clarified that it is not accepting returns or exchanges in-store for common categories like apparel, cleaning supplies, health and beauty and pharmacy. Customers can, however, ship items back via a process utilizing the website or Walmart app. When Walmart changes its return policy back, the retailer says deadlines on returns of formerly restricted products will be extended an additional six weeks.

The fact that customers can still arrange product returns online would indicate that the chain is concerned - in addition to any requirements for enhanced sterilization - with the social distancing difficulties created by long in-store return lines.

Other large retailers have taken different approaches to pandemic-era returns. Target was the other national mass retailer to temporarily suspend returns in all or most stores, but ended that policy on April 26, according to USA Today. Since it has resumed taking returns, Target has been quarantining specific types of items, like apparel, and sanitizing others before restocking. Other retailers, like Kohl's, have adopted similar quarantine periods in an attempt to ensure product safety. Kohl's and others have also extended the period of time after purchase in which a customer can return product. retailwire.com

Off Duty Officers Continues Operations During COVID-19 Pandemic

How is Tractor Supply acing the pandemic?

Will shortages shortchange soft goods recovery?

Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine tests positive for coronavirus ahead of Trump visit

Massachusetts: Experts urge rollback of reopening as COVID-19 cases rise

Trump to sign executive order requiring government to buy 'essential' drugs from U.S. companies
 

Protests

Fluff News:
Therapy llama 'Caesar the No Drama Llama' calms tensions at Portland protests
The protests in Portland, Ore., have been calmer in recent days. The shift away from large-scale clashes with police deploying tear gas came after the Trump administration pulled back federal law enforcement officers. But even during the intensity of the unrest, there were pockets of calm around Caesar McCool.

Caesar, better known as "Caesar the No Drama Llama," is a retired 6-year-old Argentine grand champion show llama that now works as a therapy llama and "llamactivist." One of his best talents is offering emotional-support hugs, which people line up to give him at protests and other places where Caesar shows up. washingtonpost.com

Proposal to disband Minneapolis police blocked from November ballot
A Minneapolis commission decided Wednesday to take more time to review a City Council amendment to dismantle the Police Department in the wake of George Floyd's death, ending the possibility of voters deciding the issue in November.

Members of the Charter Commission expressed concern that the process to change the city's charter was being rushed after Floyd died following an encounter with police. While several commissioners said changing the Police Department was necessary, they said the amendment before them was flawed. Several said it faced legal barriers, was created without input from key community members who oppose it, and that it gave too much power to the City Council. apnews.com

Acting DHS secretary Chad Wolf says 'full, augmented federal force' remains in Portland, on standby, amid protests

Portland: Police declare riot for 2nd consecutive night Wednesday, disperse crowd using tear gas

Police leaders tie recent shootings to end of Portland's Gun Violence Reduction Team

Madison, WI: Mayor responds to recent uptick in gun violence

Biden says he supports additional funding for the police

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Why Online Fraudsters Are Loving the Post-Pandemic Retail Reality

How retailers can adapt to the post-pandemic marketplace

With retailers beginning to reopen their doors and fraud continuing to escalate, business owners need to double-down on providing a cohesive customer experience no matter how they shop, protecting their personal data while driving growth in the process. Here's how retailers can eliminate these pain points in a post-pandemic marketplace.

A False Sense of Security in the U.S.
As medical experts repeatedly told us we're safer at home, the pandemic encouraged consumers to use mobile apps for food and groceries that they otherwise may not have, indicating their penchant for convenience.

This is understandable as consumers preferred minimal contact during the social distancing period. However, this uptick in activity signifies a change in users' digital behaviors, which serve as a major indicator to fraudsters that an open opportunity for hacking may be on the horizon, triggering an increase of fraud exchange of security for convenience fails to cross the consumer's mind.

Poor Customer Experiences Are Ruining Customer Loyalty
Before the apex of the pandemic occurred, consumers were in hot pursuit of essential items such as toilet paper and hand sanitizer, wiping out retailer shelves as well as most online marketplaces, resulting in a considerable strain on supplies. As desperation mounted, users turned to nonvetted third-party applications to nab these essentials. These buyers were welcomed by subpar user experiences and poor security. As a result, 60 percent of online consumers reported difficulty with accessing their user accounts.

Security is the Post-Pandemic Survival Tool
As social distancing restrictions ease, retailers must prepare for increased traffic both online and in-store as consumers' newly adopted shopping habits are here to stay for the long term. Behavioral analytics and other passive digital authentication solutions can help retailers better protect customer transactions from start to finish. mytotalretail.com

80% of internal auditors face barriers while getting involved
in fraud risks management
The report, based on a survey of over 700 internal audit professionals across the globe and across industries, reveals that the vast majority (80 percent) of internal auditors are facing barriers to being involved in managing fraud risk, despite almost two thirds (62 percent) saying they had seen an increase in fraud incidents over the past five years. securitymagazine.com

Walmart has again delayed the launch of its Amazon Prime competitor Walmart+

DoorDash opens online convenience stores