Tuesday

June 9th, 2026

Diversions

Government in action

News of the Weird

By News of the Weird

Published June 9, 2026

Government in action

A state Senate panel in South Carolina is investigating a mystery involving $1.8 billion, the Associated Press reports.

The huge sum has accumulated over the last decade in a bank account, but authorities don't know where the money is coming from or where it's supposed to go.

"It does not inspire confidence," said Gov. Henry McMaster. "But the good news is no money was lost."

Meanwhile, state officers are pointing fingers at each other, and lawmakers are annoyed that the money is sitting idle while requests from state agencies are going unfulfilled.

"There is no need to hurry up and try to spend it," McMaster said.


In Oakland, California, 102-year-old Victor Silva Sr. received a citation from the city about the graffiti on his fence, KTVU-TV reported.

If he didn't remove it, he'd face a $1,100 fine, plus $1,277 for each failed reinspection.

Before Silva started using a wheelchair, he'd paint over the graffiti himself.

Now, Silva Jr., 70, has that task.

"It's hard to keep up with it because as soon as we get it painted, it's gonna be graffiti on it again, and it won't last," he said.

The family owns a business nearby that's been broken into three times in the last year.

"It's hard to understand where our tax dollars are going," Silva Jr. said. "They can't answer 911, but they can come out and hassle you about a fence?"

The city inspector is expected to review the case and, most likely, cancel the citation.