Paycheck Protection Program Coverage

The greedy took from the needy: US Attorney says he's fighting for every penny of COVID relief fraud

U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of North Carolina Michael Easley Jr. said his federal task force will investigate people who took money meant for struggling businesses to survive the pandemic.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

A task force is fighting to get millions back stolen during pandemic

A federal task force is going after millions in misused pandemic relief money. WRAL Investigates efforts to catch local companies that stole millions of your tax dollars during the pandemic.

Hundreds of millions in pandemic relief still unclaimed

State officials overseeing COVID-19 relief efforts say hundreds of millions of dollars remain available to help businesses and homeowners who suffered financial loss due to the pandemic.

Laura Leslie, capitol bureau chief

Federal task force to target COVID relief fraud cases

Billions of dollars of federal COVID-19 funds has ended up in the hands of fraudsters, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of North Carolina. U.S. Attorney Michael Francis Easley, Jr launched a new federal task force to go after thieves who are trying to recoup the cash.

NC branch of U.S. Attorney's Office launches program to catch people defrauding government using PPP loans

Billions of dollars of federal COVID-19 funds have ended up in the hands of fraudsters, according to the U.S. Attorney's office for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

Joe Fisher, WRAL reporter

Tax dollars help groups some consider extremist to survive pandemic

The federal government approved 12 million Paycheck Protection Program loans last year, totaling nearly $800 billion, to help companies and nonprofits stay afloat during the pandemic. But the money went to more than neighborhood restaurant, local gyms and food banks.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

Some PPP loans went to organizations labeled as hate groups

The federal government approved 12 million Paycheck Protection Program loans last year, totaling nearly $800 billion, to help companies and nonprofits stay afloat during the pandemic. But the money went to more than neighborhood restaurant, local gyms and food banks.

Some NC lawmakers will benefit from state PPP tax breaks

Entities tied to at least 30 members of the North Carolina House of Representatives were approved for more than $4.8 million in forgivable federal loans over the last year. Most of those lawmakers voted last month to approve a tax break on that money, and on the other Paycheck Protection Program loans that went to more than 113,000 businesses across North Carolina.

Nearly a quarter of NC House members have close ties to companies with PPP loans

Entities tied to at least 30 members of the North Carolina House of Representatives were approved for more than $4.8 million in forgivable federal loans over the last year. Most of those lawmakers voted last month to approve a tax break on that money, and on the other Paycheck Protection Program loans that went to businesses across North Carolina.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter, Ali Ingersoll, WRAL data journalist, and Ashley Talley, enterprise executive producer

Small business COVID-19 relief program runs out of money

The government’s key COVID-19 relief program for small businesses, the Paycheck Protection Program, has run out of money.

$850 million tax break passes NC House, but Senate expected to sit on it

Senate leader says not to expect tax legislation to move for a couple of weeks, despite the looming income tax deadline.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

NC House honors wounded vets

The state House honors wounded veterans and takes a final vote on a measure to give tax breaks to businesses and individuals who received pandemic-related aid.

Speaker deposes powerful NC House committee chair amid dispute over tax bill

The longest-serving member of the state House was stripped Tuesday of her chairmanship on the powerful House Finance committee amid a dispute over pandemic-related tax breaks.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

NC House adds jobless benefits to bill on PPP loan deductions

The state House adds an exemption for unemployment benefits to l vote on a measure that would allow business owners to deduct from their state taxes expenses they paid with federal Paycheck Protection Program loans during the pandemic.

Lawmakers say PPP loans can be deducted, but not jobless benefits

The House voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to give tax breaks to people who received federal funds during the coronavirus pandemic.

NC House OKs tax deduction for PPP loans, not for unemployment

The House voted overwhelmingly on Thursday to give tax breaks to people who received federal funds during the coronavirus pandemic.

Laura Leslie, WRAL Capitol Bureau chief

NC lawmakers, businesses call for PPP deduction on taxes

Lawmakers and small business owners press for passage of a bill that would allow businesses to deduct expenses paid by a pandemic relief loan.

Tax bill coming for unemployed as state declines forgiveness, moves to save businesses $367 million

North Carolina is poised to forgive interest on income taxes filed after April and on PPP business loans, but not for the unemployed.

Travis Fain, WRAL statehouse reporter

Dozens of NC charter schools raked in PPP loans in addition to state funding

Forty-five public charter schools in North Carolina obtained a total of $28 million in forgivable federal loans last year in the early weeks of the pandemic that traditional public schools couldn't access.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

Latest round of PPP loans will help the smallest of businesses

Businesses with 20 or fewer employees and the self-employed get a window in which to apply for federal paycheck support.

Lora Lavigne, WRAL Durham reporter

NC charter schools get federal loans earmarked for small businesses

Forty-five public charter schools in North Carolina obtained a total of $28 million in forgivable federal loans last year in the early weeks of the pandemic that traditional public schools couldn't access.

NC companies got most of $12B in state's PPP loans

From the kitchen to athletics fields to larger corporations, North Carolina businesses faced pandemic-related shutdowns in March. But Congress provided businesses with a lifeline through the Paycheck Protection Program.

Billions in federal loans saved many NC companies in pandemic, but not all

From the kitchen to athletics fields to larger corporations, North Carolina businesses faced pandemic-related shutdowns in March. But Congress provided businesses with a lifeline through the Paycheck Protection Program.

Cullen Browder, WRAL anchor/reporter

Owner of Charlotte restaurant, son charged with COVID-19 relief fraud

WCNC Charlotte reports the owner of a Middle Eastern restaurant and his son have been charged for allegedly fraudulently securing more than $1.7 million in Paycheck Protection Program loans.

WCNC Charlotte