According to an informational handout distributed by MSU Extension, the change is tied to existing Internal Revenue Service reporting requirements, not a new state policy. The university says it recently identified a gap in its reporting process and is now taking steps to comply with federal law.

The handout states that all payments made directly to a youth, including auction proceeds and add-ons, count toward the $2,000 reporting threshold. Youth who meet or exceed that amount will receive a 1099-MISC from the MSU Controller’s Office, and counties conducting 4-H livestock auctions will require participants to complete a W-9 form before selling animals. The document also says Social Security numbers submitted through the process will be collected using a secure, encrypted system.

Amber, a Michigan mother involved with 4-H, said she believes the requirement sends the wrong message to children participating in the program.

“It’s crap, if I’m being honest. Why are we going after the kids?” Amber said. “We’re trying to raise farmers. We’re trying to get kids interested in the animals.”

She compared the situation to laws designed to protect children operating lemonade stands from tax burdens.

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“We’re going to be like, ‘You know what, little Johnny, you’re six years old, but you sold a $2,000 cow, so we’re going to tax you on that.’ In my mind, that is just asinine.”

Amber also expressed concern about parents being required to provide their children’s Social Security numbers as part of the W-9 process.

“Some of the concern also is turning over Social Security numbers of these children to these fair boards,” she said. “That’s another concern of ours.”

MSU Extension says the Social Security numbers will be digitally encrypted and accessible only to an authorized state-level administrator processing the 1099-MISC.

The university also notes that receiving a 1099-MISC does not automatically mean a child owes taxes. Instead, the form is used to report income to the IRS, and whether taxes are ultimately owed depends on a family’s overall tax situation.

Amber said many children spend months raising and caring for livestock before auction day.

“These kids work really, really hard on these projects,” she said. “For them to just kind of get smacked in the face at the end with the tax bills is quite ridiculous.”

She also argued the new paperwork adds another burden for families already facing rising costs.

“I feel like this is actually taxing the parents at the end of the day because your kids are your responsibility,” Amber said. “Why are we putting one more thing on parents that are already trying to struggle in a world that is full of taxes?”

MSU Extension says the reporting requirement will not be applied retroactively and only affects income earned beginning with the 2026 fair season.

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Michigan spent $1.8B on corporate welfare, got 3% of promised jobs

Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer promised that $2.7 billion in corporate welfare would create 20,595 jobs. It has only created 602 jobs so far, according to a new report from the Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

The report focuses on eight major projects that were offered $2.7 billion in exchange for the promise of 20,595 jobs. So far, $1.8 billion of the money offered has been spent, but only 602 jobs have been created, according to the report produced by James Hohman, fiscal policy director at the Mackinac Center. That’s 3% of total employment positions announced.

“The money delivered to select companies would have been better left in taxpayers’ pockets,” Hohman said. Click here to read more.

How a school district cut chronic absenteeism by 65%

Nearly 1-in-4 students were chronically absent in 2023 at New Trier High School. That dropped by 65% after reforms were implemented.

One of the wealthiest high school districts in Illinois fought a serious attendance problem with a plan that included explicit expectations, intervention procedures and consequences.

In the first 50 days of the 2022-23 school year, just over 24% of students at New Trier High School were chronically absent, defined by state law as missing 10% or more of the school year, including valid and invalid absences.

The school experienced heightened absenteesim after the COVID-19 pandemic and worked actively to keep students in class. After implementing reforms, absenteeism plummeted to about 8.5% in the first 50 days of the next school year, 2023-24. Click here to read more.

18-month-old boy chokes to death on popcorn kernel, with mother facing manslaughter charge

Documents filed in Nassau County Supreme Court show a grand jury indicted Olivia Bithorn, also known as Olivia Russell, on one count of second-degree manslaughter and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

The indictment alleged that Bithorn “recklessly caused the death” of Luke Russell Jr. in April.

Prosecutors also alleged Bithorn knowingly acted “in a manner likely to be injurious to the physical, mental or moral welfare” of the toddler, as well as another child, Ruby Russell.

The boy choked on an unpopped popcorn kernel after he and his 3-year-old sister were allegedly left unattended while Bithorn drank alcohol in another room, according to 12 News Long Island. Click here to read more.

DOJ Investigates Gallego For Alleged Campaign Finance Violations

The Justice Department (DOJ) launched an investigation into Democratic Arizona Sen. Ruben Gallego on Monday for alleged campaign finance violations, reports show.

A source familiar said the federal probe originated from a “whistleblower complaint” out of Southern California, according to Axios. This comes after a Senate Ethics Committee misconduct complaint against Gallego was dismissed Monday.

Gallego used funds from a political action committee, or PAC, for personal leisure, including family trips to Miami, Chicago, Disneyland and Disney World, Politico previously reported, citing campaign finance documents and an individual familiar with the lawmaker’s spending.

Republican Florida Rep. Anna Paulina Luna alleged Gallego was responsible for sexual misconduct and campaign finance violations in April, leading to months of investigation before the committee concluded there was no evidence to support Luna’s claims. Click here to read more.

Trump signs memorandum expanding ‘Freedom to Fix’ vehicles to lower repair costs

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum Monday directing the Environmental Protection Agency to expand Americans’ ability to repair their own vehicles, aiming to lower costs by reducing regulatory barriers on aftermarket parts and “tampering” enforcement.

The action targets what the administration calls lingering uncertainty under the Clean Air Act that has driven up repair expenses and limited consumer choices. It builds on Trump’s broader deregulatory efforts, including rescinding greenhouse gas emissions rules for vehicles and affirming rights to repair agricultural equipment.

“We are not going to be going after people who are fixing their own vehicle like past Administrations have,” EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said in remarks accompanying the signing. Click here to read more.

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In a 6-3 decision, the court held that both Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment permit states to determine eligibility for female sports teams based on biological sex. The ruling reverses lower court decisions involving laws in West Virginia and Idaho and sends the cases back for further proceedings.

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Justice Brett Kavanaugh, writing for the majority, said Title IX allows schools to maintain separate teams for males and females based on biological sex. He wrote that such policies serve important interests in athletic safety and competitive fairness.

“The Constitution and Title IX do not require an overhaul of women’s and girls’ sports throughout America,” Kavanaugh wrote.

The case centered on West Virginia’s Save Women’s Sports Act and Idaho’s Fairness in Women’s Sports Act. Both laws prohibit biological males from competing on girls’ and women’s school sports teams. West Virginia enacted its law in 2021, while Idaho passed a similar measure in 2020.

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The lawsuits were brought by transgender students who argued the laws violated Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause by excluding them from girls’ sports. The Supreme Court rejected those claims.

The majority concluded that the word “sex” in Title IX refers to biological sex, noting that Congress enacted the law in 1972 to expand athletic opportunities for women and girls. The court also pointed to longstanding federal regulations allowing schools to field separate teams for males and females in competitive sports.

The court further held that the states’ interests in protecting athlete safety and ensuring competitive fairness satisfy constitutional requirements for sex-based classifications. The justices said states are not required to make individual exceptions for transgender athletes who have taken puberty blockers or hormone treatments.

The ruling comes as at least 27 states have enacted laws restricting participation in girls’ and women’s sports based on biological sex, according to the court’s opinion.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor filed an opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part, joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson. Justice Jackson also wrote a separate opinion concurring in part and dissenting in part.

The decision establishes that states may continue enforcing laws limiting participation on girls’ and women’s school sports teams based on biological sex without violating Title IX or the Equal Protection Clause.

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In a 6-3 ruling in Chatrie v. United States, the court held that obtaining location history from a geofence warrant implicates constitutional protections against unreasonable searches and seizures. However, the justices stopped short of deciding whether the specific warrant used in the case was constitutional, instead sending the case back to a lower court for further review.

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The case involved Okello Chatrie, who was identified as a suspect in a 2019 Virginia credit union robbery after investigators obtained a geofence warrant directing Google to provide location data for devices near the crime scene during a specific period. That search initially identified multiple devices before investigators narrowed the list to Chatrie.

Writing for the majority, Justice Elena Kagan concluded that individuals maintain a reasonable expectation of privacy in their cellphone location history, even when the information is stored by a technology company. The ruling rejects the argument that users automatically surrender constitutional privacy protections simply by enabling location history services.

Geofence warrants differ from traditional search warrants because they do not initially target a known suspect. Instead, investigators seek information on every device located within a defined geographic area during a specified time frame, then work backward to identify potential suspects.

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The decision builds on the Supreme Court’s 2018 ruling in Carpenter v. United States, which held that police generally must obtain a warrant before acquiring historical cellphone location records from wireless carriers. Monday’s decision extends Fourth Amendment analysis to geofence warrants, recognizing that government acquisition of detailed location history constitutes a search subject to constitutional scrutiny.

The Supreme Court did not determine whether the warrant used against Chatrie ultimately satisfied the Fourth Amendment’s requirements, including probable cause and particularity. Instead, it instructed the lower court to reconsider the case using the legal framework established by Monday’s opinion.

Privacy advocates have argued that geofence warrants function as digital dragnets because they can collect information about numerous people who are not suspected of any crime. Law enforcement agencies, meanwhile, have maintained that the technology can be an important investigative tool in cases where no suspect has been identified.

The ruling is expected to influence how courts evaluate digital surveillance techniques and how investigators seek electronic location data in future criminal investigations.

His challenger Scotty Bowman emailed me saying, “Yes. I concede, being his opponent on the final ballot.”

According to his campaign, Anthony Hudson's platform is centered on reducing the size and cost of government while expanding individual freedom and local control.

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He proposes eliminating Michigan's property and state income taxes, cutting vehicle registration fees and the gas tax, and reducing regulations to make the state more affordable for families and businesses.

His platform also supports restoring local decision-making on energy projects, expanding the use of natural gas, protecting Second Amendment rights, strengthening parental rights in education, increasing cooperation on immigration enforcement, improving mental health resources, and supporting veterans. Hudson says his goal is to create a more affordable, transparent, and constitutionally focused Michigan government.

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Anthony Hudson initially entered Michigan's 2026 gubernatorial race as a Republican but announced in February 2026 that he was leaving the GOP to run as the Libertarian Party's candidate for governor.

Hudson said he believed he had been pushed out by the Republican Party and decided to continue his campaign under the Libertarian banner. He made the announcement during an interview with Dave Bondy and said he was filing the necessary paperwork to change his party affiliation while continuing his campaign.

The lawsuits, filed Friday against California, New York, Illinois and Michigan, seek court orders requiring the states to provide information the Trump administration says is necessary to identify fraud, waste and abuse within the nation’s largest food assistance program.

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According to the Justice Department, the states refused to turn over requested SNAP records despite federal requirements tied to the administration of the program. The department argues the information is needed for the USDA to verify eligibility, identify duplicate enrollments and ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent appropriately.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a statement that states administering federally funded benefit programs must comply with federal law and cooperate with oversight efforts.

The lawsuits come amid an ongoing dispute between the Trump administration and several Democratic-led states over the collection and sharing of personal information from SNAP recipients. Some states have argued the federal government’s request raises privacy concerns and could violate existing federal laws protecting recipients’ personal information. Those concerns have been the subject of separate litigation filed in federal court.

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The House Oversight Committee’s Subcommittee on Delivering on Government Efficiency also has launched an inquiry into several states’ refusal to provide SNAP data, saying the information could help uncover billions of dollars in potential fraud.

Representatives for the four states named in the lawsuits had not immediately responded to requests for comment Friday.

SNAP, formerly known as food stamps, provides food assistance to millions of low-income Americans through a federally funded program administered by individual states.

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Rep. Jason Woolford, R-Howell, who chairs the House Oversight Subcommittee on State and Local Public Assistance Programs, announced findings this week from an investigation into 1st Premier Learning Academy after what lawmakers described as multiple red flags surrounding the business.

According to House Republicans, investigators found that phone calls to the business went unanswered and that the company’s website primarily advertised tax preparation and financial services rather than childcare. Lawmakers also said the address listed for the business is more than an hour away from the location identified as its childcare facility.

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Republicans further alleged that the business does not display an identifiable license number on Michigan’s Child Care Information Hub and is not in good standing with state regulators.

During a visit to the facility, Woolford said neighboring businesses reported they had rarely, if ever, seen children at the location.

“Some of the businesses in this complex have said that they’ve never seen children here, that they’ve never seen this open, and they’ve been here for decades,” Woolford said in a video released by House Republicans.

Lawmakers also pointed to the company’s social media presence, saying its Facebook page contains little evidence of childcare operations. One of the page’s few videos, they said, promotes tax services for daycare operators and was filmed inside the facility without any children present.

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The allegations come as House Republicans have made government oversight, ethics reforms, and investigations into waste, fraud and abuse a central focus of their legislative agenda this year.

Republican leaders said they intend to continue examining the business and its receipt of public funds. They also criticized state agencies for what they described as a lack of oversight.

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The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs and officials associated with 1st Premier Learning Academy had not publicly responded to the allegations as of Thursday.

House Republicans said their investigation remains ongoing.

I have reached out to 1st Premier Learning Academy and Daycare LLC and have not yet heard back from them.

Treyci Rudder sat down with me to discuss her ongoing efforts to learn exactly what happened in the hours and days leading up to her daughter’s death.

Rudder described her daughter as a talented artist, mother of four children and someone who was deeply loved by family and friends. While acknowledging her daughter struggled with addiction, Rudder says that should not diminish the value of her life or the need for accountability.

According to Rudder, her family has spent years seeking records, video evidence and other information related to the case. She says many of those efforts have been met with delays, incomplete responses or continued questions about what occurred inside the jail.

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Rudder says she is particularly concerned about inmate medical care, supervision and whether jail staff followed proper procedures. She also questions whether staffing shortages, overcrowding or other operational issues may have played a role.

The family has filed Freedom of Information Act requests and continues to pursue additional records through legal channels. Rudder says the information she has received so far has only raised more questions.

Sheriff Chris Swanson released the following statement:

She is now calling for what she describes as an independent investigation, arguing that agencies should not be responsible for investigating themselves when deaths occur in custody.

Rudder also says she has contacted lawmakers, law enforcement agencies and federal authorities in an effort to draw attention to the case and what she believes are broader concerns inside the county jail.

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The Genesee County Sheriff’s Office has previously stated that deaths in custody are investigated through established procedures and reviewed by appropriate authorities.

For Rudder, however, the fight is about more than her daughter alone.

She says every family deserves transparency, accountability and answers when a loved one dies while in government custody.

And until she gets those answers, Rudder says she has no plans to stop asking questions.

I reached out for comment to the Genesee County Jail and am awaiting a statement

The case, Pung v. Isabella County, was brought by attorney Philip L. Ellison and Outside Legal Counsel PLC on behalf of the estate of Timothy Scott Pung. The case was argued before the nation’s highest court in February. According to the law firm, the Supreme Court determined that a tax-foreclosure auction price may only serve as a constitutional benchmark if the sale was conducted fairly and in accordance with the nation’s historical traditions regarding tax sales.

At the center of the dispute is a family home in Isabella County that was assessed at approximately $194,400. Court filings indicate the property was ultimately foreclosed over an alleged tax debt of about $2,242. The home later sold at a tax auction for $76,008 before being resold on the open market for $195,000.

The Supreme Court did not adopt the family’s broader argument that fair market value should automatically control in every tax-sale case. However, the justices also declined to uphold the lower court’s ruling in favor of the county. Instead, the Court sent the case back for further proceedings to determine whether the foreclosure process itself was fair.

In a concurring opinion, Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that “what Isabella County did to the Pungs was wrong, and, on my initial view, likely unconstitutional,” according to the court filing cited by the law firm.

The Supreme Court’s decision leaves unresolved key questions about what constitutes a fair tax foreclosure process. Several justices emphasized that the Court was not establishing the full constitutional boundaries for such cases, leaving those issues for future litigation.

The case now returns to the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, where attorneys for the Pung family will continue arguing that Isabella County’s foreclosure procedures failed to meet constitutional standards. The outcome could have broader implications for property owners challenging tax foreclosures and the loss of home equity across the country.

According to the Supreme Court ruling, counties may not automatically rely on auction prices to justify tax foreclosures if questions remain about whether the underlying sale process was conducted fairly.

Michigan charges dentist with 43 counts of Medicaid fraud

A Northville dentist has been charged with 43 felony counts of Medicaid fraud for allegedly billing the state for dental procedures she never performed, according to Attorney General Dana Nessel.

Demetra C. Kazanis, 55, was arraigned May 27 before Judge Molly E. Hennessey Greenwalt of the 54B District Court in East Lansing. The 43 felony counts relate to an alleged Medicaid fraud scheme.

Kazanis has been charged with one count of conducting a criminal enterprise, punishable by up to 20 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $100,000. She is charged with 42 counts of Medicaid fraud, each punishable by up to four years of incarceration and/or a fine of up to $50,000. Click here to read more.

Eight immigration protesters with alleged ties to Antifa sentenced to decades in federal prison

Eight protesters whom the Justice Department accuses of having ties to Antifa were sentenced Tuesday to decades in federal prison in connection to a shooting last year outside a federal immigration detention center in Texas.

U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor, who was one of two judges overseeing the trial, said the demonstration wasn’t a protest but “an assault on democracy.” He said the need to deter the type of behavior seen at the protest is high.

One of the eight protesters, Benjamin Song, who was a former U.S. Marine Corps reservist, was convicted of firing a gun during the July 4, 2025, demonstration and wounding a police officer. He was sentenced to 100 years in prison. Click here to read more.

I don’t let my kids have phones. I use Rapid Radios to stay in touch. Click here to learn more about these push to talk nationwide walkie talkies.

Get an extra 10% off on these Rapid Radios. Click here to learn more. I love mine.

Florida hits CVS with antitrust subpoenas over predatory drug pricing allegations

MIAMI — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced Tuesday that the state has launched an antitrust investigation into healthcare giant CVS Corporation, issuing civil investigative subpoenas to probe allegations of unfair drug pricing and predatory practices against independent pharmacies.

The investigation targets CVS Caremark, the company’s pharmacy benefit manager, or PBM, which Uthmeier described as a vertically integrated “monopoly” that controls market power to manipulate prescription costs at the expense of Florida patients and retirees. Click here to read more.

FBI adds 2 new suspects to ‘Most Wanted Health Care Fraud’ list

WASHINGTON — Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel said the agency added two new suspects to its "Most Wanted Health Care Fraud" list after the recent arrests of two fugitives who had previously appeared on the roster.

“This should be a message to the world that the FBI, along with our interagency partners, are not tolerating fraud anymore,” Patel said during a news conference on Tuesday.

“And we will chase them down -- just like we will chase terrorists, narcotrafficers, gang bangers, and those that wish to do harm to our communities,” he added.”

Patel identified the suspects as Khalid Ahmed Satary and Emylee Thai. He said both have been on the run since 2022. Click here to read more.

U.S. Manufacturing Production Rises At Fastest Pace in Nearly 5 Years

Growth in business activity in the U.S. accelerated for the third consecutive month in June, boosted by strong growth in demand and output in the manufacturing sector.

S&P Global said its flash composite purchasing managers index rose to a five-month high of 52.2 from 51.5 in May. That was a larger increase than economists had anticipated.

The PMIs are derived from surveys of supply chain managers and corporate executives. The preliminary readings are labeled “flash” because they include only a portion of the responses. The composite PMI includes responses from executives in both the services and manufacturing sectors. Click here to read more.

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In an interview with independent journalist Dave Bondy, Robert Bortins, CEO of Classical Conversations, said his organization has seen growing interest from parents seeking alternatives to traditional public schools.

Classical Conversations is a Christian homeschool program serving students from kindergarten through high school. Bortins said the organization operates approximately 2,000 communities across the United States and another 800 internationally, helping about 50,000 families homeschool each year. More than 1 million students have participated in the program since its founding nearly 30 years ago.

“The children learn how to think and not what to think,” Bortins said, describing the organization’s classical education model rooted in a biblical worldview.

Bortins attributed much of the recent growth in homeschooling to concerns about public education and parental involvement. He said many families became more aware of curriculum issues during the COVID-19 pandemic and have since sought greater control over their children’s education.

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He argued that homeschooling is less intimidating than many parents believe, noting that modern homeschool curricula are typically designed with parents in mind.

“The academics just take a couple hours a day typically,” Bortins said. “You are more of a guide and a coach.”

For families considering homeschooling, Bortins recommended researching state requirements and connecting with local homeschool communities. He pointed to organizations such as the Homeschool Legal Defense Association and encouraged parents to seek support from experienced homeschool families.

Bortins also highlighted research he said shows homeschool graduates tend to be active in their communities, maintain high employment rates and pursue leadership roles as adults.

The interview touched on education funding policies in states that provide school choice programs or education savings accounts. While some advocates support allowing public education dollars to follow students into private or homeschool settings, Bortins expressed concerns that government funding can lead to increased regulation and oversight.

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Instead, he encouraged families and communities to support educational alternatives through private scholarships, churches and independent networks.

Classical Conversations recently announced plans to expand beyond K-12 education by launching collegiate programs in the coming years. Bortins said the organization remains focused on helping parents take a more active role in their children’s education while building supportive learning communities.

Families interested in learning more about homeschooling or Classical Conversations can find local resources and representatives through the organization’s website.

UPDATE— The child seen on a Ring camera was found safe after police confirmed he had wandered away from home and returned on his own. After initially denying the child was theirs, the parents admitted they feared getting in trouble; officers verified the 18-month-old boy's safety and are continuing their investigation while thanking the community, media, and law enforcement partners who helped locate him.

Police in Holly are asking for the public’s help identifying a child who was captured on a homeowner’s Ring camera Friday, prompting an immediate search by law enforcement.

According to the Holly Police Department, a homeowner in the 500 block of Elm Street contacted police after receiving images from his Ring camera system at about 11:54 a.m. showing an unidentified child.

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Police said there have been no reports of a missing child made to law enforcement.

Officers responded to the area and canvassed the neighborhood with assistance from community members. The Holly Police Department also requested support from the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office, which deployed a K-9 unit and drone team to assist in the search.

Authorities are asking anyone who recognizes the child or has information that could help identify or locate the child to contact dispatch at 248-858-4911.

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Police urged residents not to post tips on social media and instead report information directly to dispatch.

“We will update this page as needed,” the department said in a social media post.

The investigation remains ongoing.

It wasn’t addressed to him.

It wasn’t addressed to his wife.

Instead, it was an application for an absentee voter ballot sent to someone who no longer lives at his home.

Russ, who lives in Milford Township, says he and his wife purchased their condominium about two years ago. Yet election-related mail continues arriving for previous residents.

Most recently, he received an absentee ballot application addressed to a former resident he believes now lives in Florida.

“It’s probably a previous resident of the home that we bought two years ago,” Russ said.

According to Russ, it wasn’t the first time.

“We got this last year also,” he said. “Two times for two different people.”

Concerned, Russ said his wife attempted to have the issue corrected.

“My wife went to the clerk’s office,” he said. “They said they couldn’t do anything about it.”

For Russ, that response raised even more questions.

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The department’s Office for Civil Rights announced Thursday it is investigating Ann Arbor Public Schools, Monroe Public Schools and Chippewa Valley Schools.

Federal officials said the investigations will examine whether the districts violated Title IX, the federal law that prohibits sex-based discrimination in education programs receiving federal funding.

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According to the Education Department, Ann Arbor Public Schools allegedly maintained policies that allowed a biological male student to compete on a girls’ volleyball team and use female locker room facilities.

In Monroe Public Schools, officials said complaints alleged female volleyball players were required to compete against a team that included a biological male athlete and share locker room facilities with that athlete. The department said some parents reported their concerns were not adequately addressed by school officials.

The investigation involving Chippewa Valley Schools centers on allegations that a female student athlete was permitted to use a male-only locker room.

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“The convoluted practice of allowing students to participate on sex-segregated athletic teams and make use of locker rooms based on ‘gender identity’ is not only known to be unsafe for students, but is a direct violation of federal law,” said Kimberly Richey in a statement released by the department.

Richey said the Trump administration would continue enforcing Title IX based on biological sex and investigate allegations of violations.

The announcement comes as the Education Department marks what it calls Title IX Month, commemorating the law’s anniversary. The department said it has recently opened similar investigations in other states and issued enforcement warnings to several school districts nationwide.

The investigations follow a February 2025 executive order signed by Donald Trump directing federal agencies to protect opportunities for women and girls in sports. The administration said the order was intended to ensure participation in women’s sports is limited to biological females.

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The districts have not yet publicly responded to the allegations. An investigation does not indicate wrongdoing has occurred, and the Department of Education said it will review the facts before determining whether federal law was violated.

Title IX, enacted in 1972, prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex in educational programs and activities that receive federal financial assistance.

The school districts have not yet commented on the allegations.

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Michigan House votes to restore reading retention law

The Michigan House approved a bill June 3 to reinstate a law that prevented social promotion of third graders who are not proficient in reading.

The House passed the bill 57 to 49, mostly along party lines. Rep. Timothy Beson of Bay City was the only Republican who voted with Democrats to oppose the bill.

House Bill 5520, sponsored by Rep. Brad Paquette, R-Niles, also includes provisions for screening and dyslexia support.

The law, according to the current language of the bill, would provide some exemptions to the reading retention requirement that was repealed by Democratic leadership in 2023.

“It was difficult for a high school teacher, like me, to have learners comprehend the Federalist Papers when they are passed on through formative grades without the skills required,” Paquette said in an email to Michigan Capitol Confidential. He said the legislation allows reasonable opt-outs while maintaining that reading ability is paramount for learning. Click here to read more.

FTC sues transgender health group for ‘misleading’ parents about necessity of transitioning kids

he Federal Trade Commission followed through on its nearly year-old pledge to crack down on allegedly false and misleading statements about so-called gender affirming care, suing the World Professional Association for Transgender Health in a Texas federal court known for friendliness to Republican attorneys general.

Texas, Iowa, Alaska and Nebraska joined the FTC in Wednesday’s lawsuit, alleging state-specific harms caused by WPATH, which was notably not cited by Democrats or their witnesses in a recent Senate hearing on pediatric gender medicine.

WPATH developed its Standards of Care 8 “without regard for scientific protocols,” “knows that its recommendations are not supported by scientific evidence or a medical consensus” and yet “misrepresents the risks and benefits of pediatric medical transition” by falsely claiming gender transitions for kids are “lifesaving,” the suit says. Click here to read more.

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SPLC boss funneled $1.2 million to lover in neo-Nazi group — pair even had joint bank account

A top Southern Poverty Law Center official is accused of helping funnel $1.2 million in donor money to an informant in the National Alliance white supremacist group — who was also allegedly her lover.

The Department of Justice filed a superseding indictment against the SPLC accusing it of funneling donor cash to hate groups they were then telling donors they were fighting.

One figure, referred to as “Employee-2” in the indictment, is described as a “person who would become Director of the SPLC’s Intelligence Project.”

It also describes how “Employee-2” wrote an article based on material stolen from National Alliance headquarters in 2014 and then paid off an informant to take the blame for the robbery. Click here to read more.

Thune Admits Some Senate Republicans Hate Trump Too Much To Support SAVE America Act

Senate Majority Leader John Thune admitted some Senate Republicans hate President Donald Trump too much to support the SAVE America Act, multiple sources familiar with the comments told the Daily Caller.

Thune admitted during a closed-door GOP lunch on Wednesday that some Republican senators oppose President Donald Trump so strongly that they will never vote for the SAVE America Act, regardless of the legislation’s merits, according to several sources familiar with the matter.

The discussion quickly escalated into a heated exchange between Republican Utah Sen. Mike Lee, the bill’s chief Senate sponsor, and several of his GOP colleagues. Republican Texas Sen. John Cornyn and Thune both challenged Lee’s push for the legislation, according to a source familiar with the meeting. Click here to read more.

Florida AG vows investigation into MLB for alleged religious discrimination over Bible verses on pride night caps

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier said Tuesday his office will investigate Major League Baseball for possible religious discrimination after the league warned three San Francisco Giants pitchers for wearing Bible verses on their caps during the team’s Pride Night.

Uthmeier responded directly to MLB on Xwith a Sports Illustrated report attached.

“Do you practice religious discrimination in Florida, @MLB? You’ll be hearing from my office soon,” Uthmeier wrote.

The incident occurred Friday during the Giants’ Pride Night game. Three pitchers displayed Bible verses on their caps, according to the report. MLB subsequently issued a warning to the players, citing uniform rules. Click here to read more.

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Gun Rights Groups Sue Michigan Over Pistol Purchase Permits and Registration System

LANSING, Mich. – A coalition of gun-rights organizations and Michigan gun owners has filed a federal civil rights lawsuit seeking to dismantle Michigan’s pistol purchase permit and registration system, arguing the state is forcing citizens to jump through government hoops that federal law already covers.

The lawsuit, Moser et al. v. Nessel et al., was filed Sunday, June 14, in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan against Attorney General Dana Nessel, Michigan State Police Director Colonel James Grady II, and several local law enforcement agencies.

At the center of the challenge is Michigan’s License to Purchase (LTP) requirement, which generally requires residents without a Concealed Pistol License (CPL) to obtain approval from local law enforcement before buying a handgun. Click here to read more.

Denver School Board Fires Teacher After Students Reportedly Graded On Same-Sex Kissing Roleplays

A Denver Public Schools teacher was allegedly fired after an administrative law judge found that during class time, she made students participate in role-playing scenarios involving same-sex kissing and graded them based on their participation.

The Denver Public Schools Board of Education voted unanimously in May to terminate Jennifer Honka, a French teacher at Northeast Early College (NEC), after reviewing the findings of Administrative Law Judge Keith J. Kirchubel, the Denver Gazette reported. The board accepted the judge’s recommendation following an executive session and did so without public discussion. Click here to read more.

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‘He is a leader, he’s a hero’: Wife remembers Edwards AFB engineer killed in B-52 crash

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Lauren Smith, the wife of one of the victims killed in the B-52 crash at Edwards Air Force Base, sits down with Eyewitness News to talk about the life of her husband, Jeromy.

He was a flight test engineer. She said he has been in the same unit and has worked at Edwards for 10 years.

He is a father of two children, a two-year-old and a four-month-old baby. Lauren and Jeromy had just celebrated their four-year wedding anniversary on June 11th. Click here to read more.

Maine Reportedly Declines to Participate in Great American State Fair Celebrating America’s 250th Anniversary

Maine will reportedly not be participating in the upcoming Great American State Fair, a sixteen-day event held as part of the country’s ongoing 250th anniversary celebrations.

The Great American State Fair is described by Freedom 250 as “an opportunity for visitors from across America to experience an unforgettable celebration of the people and traditions that define our nation.”

The event is scheduled to take place from June 25 through July 10.

Eight states, including Maine, have indicated that they will not be sending a delegation to the event scheduled for later this month.

According to NOTUS, other states that have opted out of the celebration include Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Oregon.

Pennsylvania and Washington continue to remain uncommitted as to whether or not they will be participating in the event. Click here to read more.

Democrat Congressional Candidate Christina Bohannan Silent on Making It Easier for Sex Offenders to Remove Name from List

Democrat congressional candidate Christina Bohannan is refusing to explain her controversial vote in the Iowa House, making it easier for sexual predators to get off the sex offender list.

When asked to explain her vote, Bohannan – running in the Hawkeye State’s 1st Congressional District – ignored the question, refusing to answer.

While Iowa has sex offenders facing restrictions, such as limitations on being near child-centric establishments such as daycares or school, Bohannan voted to make it easier for offenders to seek removal from the registry. This is not the first time she has refused to explain that vote, either.

“Christina Bohannan voted NO on keeping child predators on the sex offender registry for 25 years, breaking with 26 Democrats who voted YES,” Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), who is running for reelection in the same district, said. “She won’t say why. Not on my watch.” Click here to read more.

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The Michigan Department of Treasury recently acknowledged that roughly 5% of tax returns remain unresolved, affecting an estimated 200,000 to 250,000 taxpayers. Officials told lawmakers that the delays stem from the state’s transition from a 40-year-old mainframe system to a new platform known as GenTax.

State Rep. Brad Paquette criticized Treasury officials following recent legislative testimony, arguing that taxpayers deserve better accountability and communication.

“The Michigan Department of Treasury says approximately 200,000 Michiganders still have problems with their tax returns,” Paquette wrote on social media. He questioned whether Treasury leadership has been adequately prepared to manage the new technology while implementing what officials have described as a culture of tax compliance.

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Click here to watch the entire testimony.

Treasury officials maintain that the new system provides stronger fraud detection and performs more detailed reviews than the previous platform. Returns with missing information, discrepancies, or identity verification concerns can be automatically flagged for manual review, creating additional delays.

The department says more than 5 million returns have been processed and over $3.4 billion in refunds issued, but taxpayers whose returns were flagged continue to face lengthy waits.

The rollout has also generated other issues. Treasury acknowledged that thousands of taxpayers received confusing notices and that problems with automated phone updates created additional frustration for residents trying to track refunds. The department has since launched a public “Solutions Tracker” to address ongoing problems.

What Can Taxpayers Do?

For taxpayers still waiting on refunds, experts recommend:

• Log into Michigan Treasury eServices to check refund status rather than relying solely on automated phone messages.

• Respond immediately to any Treasury requests for identity verification or additional documentation. Delays often occur when information is missing or requires manual review.

• Contact your state representative’s office if your refund has been delayed for several months. Lawmakers often have staff dedicated to helping constituents navigate state agencies.

• Demand greater transparency from Treasury. Taxpayers should not be left guessing why their money is being held or when they can expect answers.

A Possible Long-Term Fix

The state’s new technology may ultimately improve fraud detection and processing accuracy, but many taxpayers say the bigger issue is communication. A practical solution would be for Treasury to provide real-time online tracking that explains exactly why a return is delayed, what action is needed, and an estimated completion date.

For many Michigan families, a tax refund is not a bonus. It’s money earmarked for groceries, bills, debt payments, and household expenses. If the state expects taxpayers to meet deadlines, taxpayers have a right to expect timely service and clear communication in return.

Attorney Philip Ellison of Outside Legal Counsel discussed property rights, government inspections and constitutional protections during a recent interview with independent journalist Dave Bondy.

Ellison said government officials generally may approach a home’s front door to initiate contact, a practice commonly referred to as a “knock and talk.”

You can also learn more about the 4th ammendment and your rights from Ellison by clicking here.

“The law recognizes this national implied license that we permit Girl Scouts, law enforcement and trick-or-treaters all to come to our front door and knock,” Ellison said.

Click here to contact Attorney Philip Ellison.

According to Ellison, that authority extends to police officers and other government officials, including zoning inspectors, health inspectors and federal agents. However, he said officials typically cannot move beyond areas open to the public without legal justification.

“What they’re supposed to do if they still want to get into your home or they want to go on the back side of your property is they got to go get a warrant,” Ellison said.

The Fourth Amendment protects people from unreasonable searches and seizures by the government. Ellison said those protections extend not only to the home itself but also to the area immediately surrounding it, known in legal terms as the “curtilage.”

“The Fourth Amendment protects your home and what’s known as the curtilage around your home,” he said.

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Ellison noted there are exceptions, including emergency situations and the pursuit of criminal suspects. For example, officers chasing a fleeing suspect may enter private property without first obtaining a warrant.

Still, he said courts have consistently held that such exceptions are narrow and limited.

“If government violates your constitutional right to the privacy of your home, which the Fourth Amendment was designed to protect, you can sue about it to protect your rights,” Ellison said.

The attorney also discussed recent court rulings involving zoning officials and other administrative inspectors. He said some government employees have operated under the assumption that constitutional protections apply differently to them than to traditional law enforcement officers.

“The government’s the government,” Ellison said. “They have to comply with the Fourth Amendment regardless of what their purpose is.”

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Ellison said his law firm has recently obtained favorable rulings from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit involving property rights and government inspections.

The discussion also touched on the use of drones by government agencies. Ellison said courts are still working through how existing constitutional protections apply to rapidly advancing technology.

“We’re still trying to figure that out,” he said. “I still take the viewpoint that regardless of what new technology comes out, we should err on the side of privacy in favor of the citizen.”

Bondy encouraged viewers to learn about their rights and not feel intimidated when approached by government officials.

“The important thing is to know your rights,” Ellison said. “And if you don’t know your rights, ask a lawyer who does.”

Ellison’s law firm maintains resources about Fourth Amendment issues and constitutional protections for Michigan residents interested in learning more about property rights and government searches.

This article is a paid partnership between Dave Bondy and Attorney Philip Ellison.