SCANDAL
“State investigates Texas trucking company, Oregon nonprofit over energy tax credits.” By Harry Esteve. Oregonian. February 22, 2010. State officials are investigating a Texas trucking company that received millions of dollars in green energy tax credits in recent years while providing few Oregon jobs or environmental benefits. The investigation by the state Justice Department also is targeting a Coburg nonprofit that helped the Texas company get the Oregon tax credits. Mesilla Valley Transportation, based in El Paso, Texas, and Las Cruces, N.M., received 752 separate tax credits worth $4.5 million to outfit its truck fleet with the latest fuel-saving technology under Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credit program, records show. But an investigation by The Oregonian found that the company’s long-haul rigs are running less than 1 percent of their miles on Oregon roads. Its main Oregon operation is a trailer in a truck lot in Northeast Portland. The office, with a single unused computer in view, was unoccupied Monday. The tax credits are supposed to go to trucking companies that provide jobs in Oregon, generate “substantial energy savings” and drive on state roads. The newspaper also found a close connection between the trucking company and Cascade Sierra Solutions, a nonprofit that served as a broker between Mesilla Valley and Oregon’s energy tax incentive program. In addition to helping the Texas truckers snare Oregon tax dollars, Cascade Sierra Solutions has claimed energy tax credits worth $1.5 million for leasing energy-saving equipment to other truckers.
“ACORN ‘dissolved as a national structure’.” no by-line. Politico.com. February 22, 2010.
The embattled liberal group ACORN is in the process of dissolving its national structure, with state and local-chapters splitting off from the underfunded, controversial national group, an official close to the group confirmed. “ACORN has dissolved as a national structure of state organizations,” said a senior official close to the group, who declined to be identified by name because of the fierce conservative attacks on the group that began when a conservative filmmaker caught some staffers of its tax advisory arms on tape appearing to offer advice on incorporating a prostitution business.
Related Stories:
“ACORN Affiliates Spin Off From National Group.” By Pam Fessler. All Things Considered. National Public Radio. February 23, 2010.
“Why Conservatives Will Miss ACORN: The news that the embattled community-organizing group will restructure has the right in mourning — after all, the organization provided the perfect locus for conservative panic.” American Prospect. February 25, 2010.
“Police: Lodi Boy Scout treasurer stole from group.” No by-line. San Francisco Chronicle. February 23, 2010. Lodi police say the treasurer of a local Boy Scout troop stole up to $25,000 from the group. Forty-eight-year-old Cindy Castle of Lockeford was arrested Tuesday after she turned herself in. Officials say she was booked into Lodi City Jail on charges of embezzlement and forgery. Lee said the 20-member troop is now broke. The money was supposed to pay for scholarships, merit badges and to sent the Scouts to camp.
“Marion Barry ally at nonprofit resigns after misconduct alleged.” By Nikita Stewart. Washington Post. February 25, 2010. The Rev. Anthony J. Motley, a confidant of council member Marion Barry, stepped down Wednesday as head of a nonprofit group in the wake of an investigation that concluded Motley mishandled funds and “manufactured” documents in response to a subpoena, among other allegations. Motley’s resignation as president and executive director of the JOBS Coalition, which he also co-founded, is the latest fallout from Barry’s contract controversy. Last week, attorney Robert S. Bennett, retained last year by the D.C. Council to investigate its contracts and earmark grants, delivered a report alleging that Barry (D-Ward 
misused city funds and received a cut of a $15,000 contract he awarded to on-again, off-again girlfriend Donna Watts-Brighthaupt. Barry, who apologized Tuesday for his poor judgment on the matter, faces possible censure and a referral of the case to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Motley, who is running for an at-large council seat, dismissed the investigation for not understanding how nonprofits operate and for what he called its “prosecutorial tone.”