A small-town restaurant that survived COVID-19 is fighting to stay open after being hit with something that has been even more devastating – a case of fraud.

“I'm angry because I've always wondered how people can let people take advantage of them and then I fell for that,” said Diane Korner.

Korner is the owner of Korner Kountry Kitchen in Brookville, Indiana. She said a case of fraud cost them more than $100,000.

“I’m hurt that somebody would do this to us and make us struggle,” Korner said.

The restaurant was having trouble making payroll for the 25 employees and was a matter of hours from closing when things took an unusual turn.

The community came together to raise about $10,000. It’s not enough to bail the restaurant out, but it has kept its doors open.

“It's amazing,” said Kountry Kitchen general manager Amanda Merritt. “We've had phone calls, messages, there was a GoFundMe. They've helped with their donating.”

The money came from individuals around town who don’t want the restaurant to close.

“We come two to three times a week,” said James Wagner, who drives about 10 miles to get to the restaurant.

Wagner said it’s not just the food, but the small-town flavor of the business that keeps him coming back. Before his wife died, he would bring her to the restaurant. He said one day he was cutting up a salad to make the pieces smaller for his wife.

“So, Diane came over and said, ‘What are you doing?’” Wagner said he explained the situation. “From then on, she told the girls, anytime my wife ordered a salad, you make sure you got to cut it up real fine. She took care of my wife.”

Those kinds of details are not overlooked in a small town.

Korner said she is unable to talk about the details of the fraud case, but that local, state and federal authorities are looking into the crime.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — The number of positive coronavirus tests in Kentucky increased again Friday, driving the total number of cases in the state over 30,000, but Gov. Andy Beshear said the percentage of tests coming back positive declined again.

The closely watched “positivity rate” fell for a third straight day to 5.43%, Beshear said in a news release.

“But, we still have too many cases and we need to do everything we can to try to decrease those,” he said.

There’s also been an increase in intensive care unit patients, he said.

There are at least 30,151 coronavirus cases in Kentucky, including 778 new cases reported Friday, Beshear said. The number reported Friday was up from 659 new cases on Thursday. Four new deaths were reported Friday, bringing the total number of Kentuckians who have died from the virus to 735.

For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some — especially older adults and people with existing health problems — it can cause more severe illness and be fatal.

COVINGTON, Ky. — The City of Covington is giving some business owners a helping hand during the holidays. Almost $500,000 in grants are being given out to 13 different businesses in order to offset losses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Trying to make it through the next 12 weeks is going to be rough, because we were trying to figure out how we’re going to get funding,” The Delish Dish Catering & Events owner and executive chef Mavis Linnemann-Clark said. “Do I have to take out a personal loan?”

She said these are the questions she wrestles with every day – and at least now, she has some answers.

"The city of Covington has been a cheerleader for us and they've helped us out in other aspects of my business, and this is no exception," Linneman-Clark said.

Covington and Kenton County put money together to give the Delish Dish a $50,000 grand. They’re also giving grants of differing amounts to 12 other local businesses – all in an effort to keep them afloat and keep jobs in the city.

“This will help us keep our doors open and our kitchen cooking," Linneman-Clark said. "It's just the best, absolutely the best, Christmas present that I could ask for."

She said the grant is even more important since her catering company doesn’t qualify for certain relief funds that are only available to restaurants and bars.

"There is hope for small businesses; you just have to look for it under every nook and cranny," Linneman-Clark said.

She said 2020 has not been easy for The Delish Dish or many other businesses across the Tri-State – but the catering company said the grant gives it a new reason to look forward to 2021.

"We're already negative for the year, so it will help us not lose as much money in the first part of the year,” Linneman-Clark said. “And, hopefully next year we can make it out and recover what we've lost this year, which is a lot."

Covington and Kenton County businesses that get grant money will have to work with the Kentucky Small Business Development Center to make sure they are prepared and ready for whatever they might need to do to get through the rest of the pandemic.

Signups for a chance to win a piece of Ohio’s new $2 million vaccine incentive scholarships began Monday.

Ohio is giving away 150 scholarships of $10,000 and five $100,000 scholarships.

The drawing is for those aged 12 to 25 who sign up after getting a vaccine. That age group could expand down to age 5 if the Food and Drug Administration approves the vaccine for the younger age groups later this month.

“If I didn’t have the shot, this would definitely make me do it. Money is money and you can always use more," said University of Cincinnati student Michael Morrow.

“I think it’s a great idea. I think anything that can get more people vaccinated,” said UC student Rishi Gabbita.

There is no timeframe for which past vaccinations must have occurred in this program.

“I got vaccinated before they started the new thing, but it’s definitely motivated me to get my information in there so I can maybe win some money to help with the school,” said UC student Lillian Trimple.

“It’s exciting. It’s a real opportunity and it’s squarely targeted at those younger individuals,” said the Health Collaborative’s Kate Schroder. “Overall, we have seen an impact with the incentive programs. There’s no silver bullet. Different things work for different individuals.”

The state has not given a deadline or a date for the drawings.

As some Americans begin receiving up to $600 in stimulus checks, the possibility of more direct payments is in limbo in the Senate Wednesday.

After the House on Monday night approved a standalone measure to increase direct payments from up to $600 per individual to $2,000, it then went to the Senate. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell blocked efforts Tuesday for a fast-tracked vote on the measure. In response, Senator Bernie Sanders blocked a planned vote to override President Donald Trump’s veto of a national defense bill until there is a vote on the direct payments.

Later in the day, McConnell suggested tying together votes on two bills later in the week; one on the House-passed bill to increase larger direct payments and one on a measure that would allow the $2,000 payments only if a commission to study election fraud is established and parts of Section 230 are repealed.

In signing the $900 billion COVID relief package along with the larger government funding bill on Sunday night, President Trump said he wanted larger direct payments, as well as an investigation into unfounded claims of election fraud. Earlier this month he vetoed the national defense bill because it did not make changes to Section 230, which provides protections for internet platforms and technology companies.

On Tuesday morning, McConnell had said the Senate would start the process to address those priorities from the president.

Many Democrats oppose connecting the issues together, and would likely vote against the broader measure, according to the Washington Post.

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi held her weekly press conference Wednesday morning, and called on McConnell to allow a vote on the increased payments. When asked if she would take up the measure again next week after new members of Congress are sworn in, she repeated her hope for getting it done this year.

“Let’s be hopeful it happens this week. The sooner it happens the sooner they go out," Pelosi said, referring to the $2,000 stimulus checks.

The Senate is scheduled to be back in session Wednesday afternoon. It’s unclear whether there will be any movement or discussion about the larger direct payments or any plans for a vote at this time.

If the larger direct payment amount is approved, the Treasury Department would send Americans the difference.

CINCINNATI —

A bold move could free millions of Americans of federal student loan debt.

“This is an issue that climbs all the way up, not just 20-year-olds and 30-year-olds, but there are 40-year-olds and 50-year-olds. A lot of the parents have the debt. They would get relief,” Senate Majority Leader and Democrat Chuck Schumer said.

The idea is being kicked around on Capitol Hill, but right now how to go about it is the question.

“Canceling student loan debt is the single most effective executive action President Biden can take to lift the economic prospects of tens of millions of young Americans,” Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren said.

Democrats say President Biden has the power of the pen through executive action to make it happen. The White House says they prefer Congress write it and pass it. The president supports the idea of forgiving $10,000 per borrower. Another plan backed by a host of Democrats in both chambers are pushing for $50,000 per borrower.

“This pandemic has made it all, but impossible to ignore the fact that we can and we must take bold action to address the inequities and disparities in our country and provide much-needed relief to our communities,” Massachusetts Sen. Ayanna Pressley said.

Some economists say the boost may not be as big as hoped. Canceling $50,000 in debt per borrower would cost around $800 billion and only give a slight bump to economic activity in GDP. Estimates say that number would make 36 million Americans debt-free.

“We got to get this done,” Schumer said.

This plan, right now, only applies to federally backed student loans. A plan for private loans would still need to be developed. Like former President Trump, President Biden has already extended the pause in payments and interest on federal student loans until Oct. 1.

NEW YORK (AP) — The NBA has fined Kevin Durant $50,000 for his offensive and derogatory language in social media messages to actor Michael Rapaport.

Rapaport released images of the private messages Tuesday on his Twitter account, and they included homophobic and misogynistic language from the Brooklyn Nets star.

The league announced in a statement that Durant was fined “for using offensive and derogatory language on social media,” the NBA said, and has “acknowledged that his actions were inappropriate.”

Durant apologized Thursday, saying: "I'm sorry that people seen the language that I used," adding that it's "not really what I want people to see and hear from me."

The incident began after Rapaport criticized Durant for an interview he did on TNT’s “Inside the NBA," ESPN reported.

Durant hasn't played since February due to a hamstring injury.

The Nets have not released on when Durant will return to play.

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most people dream of winning the lottery, the new cars, the vacations, the homes. However, all of these shiny objects are things you should avoid. Here are five things you shouldn't do If you win the lottery. Take it from financial experts USA Today, CNN and 24 7 Wall Street spoke with I don't think you can win big and then up and leave your spouse without telling them. A woman tried this in 1996 after winning 1.3 million from the California Lottery, she was forced to hand over her fortune during divorce proceedings to her ex hubby. Don't jump for joy right away if the numbers match in 2013 a Pasadena, California, woman found out she held a winning ticket for a cool $360 million. Problem is, it wasn't a winning ticket because she bought it on our after the Powerball cutoff time. Don't be so generous with your new money. Word will spread fast and people in your life will be looking for a handout. The news will also attract people you don't even know hitting you up for investments, gifts and loans which won't be paid back. Some financial planners even recommend changing your phone number. The dream of winning can turn into a nightmare. If you brag about your new cash, USA Today says winning the lottery could make you a target for theft or murder. So keep things to yourself. Just because you won the lottery doesn't mean you're suddenly smarter about money. For many winning shows, they don't know a thing about having big bucks and taxes that come with those shiny new objects. Be smart and get a financial planner. Because the certified financial planner Board of Standard says nearly 1/3 of lottery winners declare bankruptcy. That doesn't take long to go from living on Easy Street to the poor house.

'It’s surreal': Lottery winner unknowingly drives around with winning ticket for a week

Updated: 12:56 PM EDT Jun 8, 2021

Video above: 5 Things You Shouldn't Do if You Win the LotteryTalk about delayed reaction.A lottery ticket that was left in a car for a week, when scratched won a player in South Carolina $500,000."I didn’t hesitate," said the winner. "I drove straight to Columbia to cash it in."The winner told South Carolina Education Lottery officials he had unknowingly been riding around with the ticket worth half a million dollars in his car for a week after purchasing it from a Stop-A-Minit in Greenville. The prize still has him shaking his head."It's surreal," he said of the $500,000 win. "That's the only way I know how to describe it."

COLUMBIA, S.C. —

Video above: 5 Things You Shouldn't Do if You Win the Lottery

Talk about delayed reaction.

A lottery ticket that was left in a car for a week, when scratched won a player in South Carolina $500,000.

"I didn’t hesitate," said the winner. "I drove straight to Columbia to cash it in."

The winner told South Carolina Education Lottery officials he had unknowingly been riding around with the ticket worth half a million dollars in his car for a week after purchasing it from a Stop-A-Minit in Greenville. The prize still has him shaking his head.

"It's surreal," he said of the $500,000 win. "That's the only way I know how to describe it."