News For Reasonable People

Bud Light, once the nation’s most popular beer, is now the No. 3 brand in the country — a stunning fall from grace for the Anheuser-Busch InBev-owned lager following the boycott over its Dylan Mulvaney ad partnership. Modelo Especial, the Mexican import sold by Constellation Brands, is now No. 1, accounting for 9.7% of beer dollar sales in US stores in the four weeks that ended July 6, according to NielsenIQ data that was analyzed by the Bump Williams consulting firm.

It may just be a legal technicality, or it may be a sign that the FBI smells something fishy with the Oakland PD, as the latest federal subpoena in “Sheng Thao raid-gate” asks for a slew of records from the Oakland Police Department.

While some corporations don't seem capable of figuring out that the American people aren't into woke policies and DEI initiatives, Tractor Supply Co. (TSC) seems to have deduced the secret code into keeping customers, and possibly even expanding their base. According to Filmmaker and journalist Robby Starbuck, TSC was found to have given $100,000 to an activist group that "worked around the clock" to stop deportations under the Trump administration. The group was called "Conexion Americas' and was previously headed by the National Council of La Raza, a George Soros funded organization.

Thornton Township trustees Carmen Carlisle and Chris Gonzalez have blocked funding for local services, citing persistent transparency issues with Supervisor Tiffany Henyard's administration. The trustees expressed concerns over unapproved spending and the failure to provide necessary invoices and statements, leading to a standoff with Henyard, who also serves as the mayor of Dolton. The dispute reflects deeper issues of accountability and governance within the township, as trustees aim to implement ordinances for responsible spending. Henyard’s administration denies any wrongdoing and accuses trustees of political maneuvering, highlighting ongoing tensions over fiscal management.

Turmoil erupted in Thornton Township as Supervisor Tiffany Henyard faced a rebellion during a council meeting when trustees refused to approve routine bill payments. The trustees' protest stemmed from Henyard’s exclusion of key proposals that aimed to impose limits on the use of Township funds for personal promotion, travel guidelines for officials, and caps on salaries. These measures followed accusations against Henyard of using public money for personal gain and lacking transparency. Despite her attempts to advance the agenda, the trustees’ silence highlighted their mistrust and demand for financial transparency. This standoff has intensified scrutiny on Henyard, already under FBI investigation and facing public outrage over mismanagement allegations. The community remains divided, with calls for accountability and proper governance in the wake of this ongoing controversy.

In a dramatic move, Harvey, IL Mayor Chris Clark ordered police to remove the entire audience from a City Council meeting for clapping. The incident occurred during public comments when Pastor Jonathan Johnson tore up his church’s business license in protest against a municipal ordinance. The mayor, backed by police, responded by clearing the room, citing disruptive conduct. This move has sparked significant criticism, with allegations of Clark leveraging police to silence dissent. The incident highlights ongoing tensions in Harvey, where strict control measures and increased police presence at public meetings are raising concerns about freedom of speech and civil liberties.

California is reeling from a surge of layoffs, hitting its economy hard. Companies like Intuit, AT&T, and Amazon are leading the charge, shedding thousands of jobs. Intuit alone has cut 1,800 positions as it braces for AI advancements. With California’s unemployment rate now the highest in the U.S. at 5.3%, concerns mount over the state’s economic stability. Critics point to high minimum wages and burdensome regulations as key factors driving businesses away. Elon Musk's recent decision to relocate X (formerly Twitter) and SpaceX from California underscores the growing exodus of companies. Musk cites detrimental legislation and excessive taxation as pivotal reasons for his departure. As job losses pile up, many argue that California's policies are proving unsustainable, pushing both businesses and residents to seek more favorable conditions elsewhere.

Elon Musk says the X, formerly Twitter, headquarters in downtown San Francisco is moving to Austin, the billionaire entrepreneur tweeted Tuesday afternoon. Musk’s post on X comes in a thread showing his distaste for California’s future direction. Musk added his other company, SpaceX, will move its Hawthorne (Los Angeles County) headquarters to Starbase, Texas. “This is the final straw,” Musk said in reference to a tweet about Gov. Gavin Newsom signing AB 1955 about transgender children. “Because of this law and the many others that preceded it, attacking both families and companies, SpaceX will now move its HQ from Hawthorne, California, to Starbase, Texas.”

Governor Greg Abbott's strict border policies in Texas have significantly reduced illegal crossings, creating a ripple effect impacting California. Faced with overwhelming numbers of migrants and insufficient resources, the Biden Administration is flying migrants from California to Texas, where resources are more abundant. This costly solution, involving charter flights, highlights the inefficiencies and loopholes in current immigration policies. The federal government's decision to transfer migrants underscores the ongoing challenges at the southern border, exacerbated by conflicting state and federal policies. Critics argue this approach merely relocates the problem without addressing the root causes of illegal immigration.

The Secret Service blamed local police for failing to secure the rooftop from which gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, insisting it was outside the perimeter the federal agency was tasked with protecting. Instead, securing and patrolling the factory grounds of AGR International Inc. — located about 130 yards from the stage where Trump was speaking Saturday — was the responsibility of local Pennsylvania police, Secret Service representative Anthony Gugliemi said, according to the New York Times. The Secret Service was only tasked with covering the grounds where Trump’s rally took place, with local police being recruited to assist with those efforts and secure the area outside the rally.

It’s become more difficult for residents of south suburban Dolton to attend village board meetings. They now face roadblocks, barricades, long lines, capacity limits, metal detectors and a heavy police presence that some say is being deployed to discourage opposition to Mayor Tiffany Henyard. Dolton’s acting police chief has said the steps are necessary to protect Henyard from “countless” threats she’s faced. However, the police department’s own records show only four threats resulted in police reports from February 1 through April 7, around the time the extra security was put in place. Two of the alleged threats were sent to Mayor Henyard via social media, the others came in the form of an email and phone call. None appear to have resulted in an arrest or charges, according to the police reports. Dolton took three months to respond to WGN Investigates’ records request, far longer than required by law.

Dolton has few remaining options for recourse after an Illinois Appellate Court affirmed the $33.5 million judgment stemming from a fatal police chase, and an insurance policy that only covers about one-third of the judgment, attorneys said. The payment, which was considered due months ago, could be potentially devastating to a village that many say is already struggling with financial mismanagement. The village had not, as of Thursday, asked the court to reconsider its June 20 decision, according to attorneys for one man who died and another who was severely injured in the 2016 crash involving Dolton police. A spokesperson for the state court system confirmed Thursday the village had not completed that step. The village could ask for its case to be heard by the Illinois Supreme Court, according to the attorneys.

The Duong family owns the city’s recycling company, California Waste Solutions. In the subpoena, investigators specifically name the company’s CEO, David Duong, and his son, Andy Duong. The FBI and U.S. Attorney’s Office remain tight-lipped about what — and who — their investigators are investigating. When asked about the grand jury’s subpoena on Tuesday, a USAO spokesperson told KRON4, “I am not permitted even to confirm the existence (or non-existence) of a grand jury investigation.” In a 1-on-1 interview with KRON4 last week, Thao maintained her innocence. The mayor also asserted that she is not the subject of the federal investigation.

In recent months it seemed that Oakland — a city famously grappling with a rise in crime — had course-corrected in remarkable fashion. Statistics published by the police department showed year-to-year crime had dropped by 33% overall by the end of April, a dramatic shift after last year’s spike. Mayor Sheng Thao praised the city for turning a corner. Gov. Gavin Newsom quoted the 33% figure in a news release touting Oakland’s partnership with the California Highway Patrol. The news spread through social media posts and optimistic headlines, including stories in the Chronicle.

Soon after outraged residents began filling public meetings demanding answers from self-proclaimed “Super Mayor” Tiffany Henyard, the south suburban politician hit the road for a series of interviews to try to reset the narrative about her spending, leadership style and tumultuous tenure. Henyard appeared in-studio for an interview with Roland Martin in Washington, DC in late February and then travelled to New York City to be on the “Way Up with Angela Yee” program. Now, WGN Investigates has obtained credit card records that show Thornton Township taxpayers were billed for a portion of the media tour. Township credit card bills show a photographer named David Dickerson was paid $3,259 plus an additional $561 for Dickerson’s airfare between Chicago, Washington and New York. Dickerson confirmed to WGN Investigates that we hired by Henyard’s team to take photos of during her interviews with Martin and Yee. He doesn’t know what became of his images.

A pair of Denver councilmembers on Wednesday implied that the surge in illegal immigration over the past 18 months is linked to an increase in crime in some neighborhoods they represent. Councilmembers Amanda Sawyer and Stacie Gilmore shared anecdotal stories of crimes occurring in “hot spots” in their respective districts during a committee hearing. Both law enforcement and city officials, including the Johnston administration, use the phrase "hot spot" to denote an area with a spiking crime rate. The city, for example, earlier designated five areas as "hot spots" — places that, by design, will be getting law enforcement's focus in the administration's campaign to curb gun-related crimes. The specific areas are not necessarily the most violent places in the city, but they had experienced a significant increase in violence over the past year.

San Francisco officials are trying to lower crime in one of the city’s most dangerous neighborhoods by setting a curfew for businesses. The city’s Board of Supervisors gave final approval Tuesday to a pilot program that will shorten business hours in Tenderloin, known for its homelessness, drug use and violence. Businesses that sell prepackaged food or tobacco will no longer be allowed to stay open from midnight to 5 a.m. during the two-year pilot. The new ordinance doesn’t apply to restaurants and bars.

TBD

The Richard Nixon Foundation, and many conservatives on social media, are firing back at Chicago’s Democratic Mayor Brandon Johnson after he seemingly placed partial blame on former President Richard Nixon, who died 30 years ago, for Chicago’s weekend of gun violence. "What we’ve experienced over the weekend is unacceptable and we didn’t get here overnight. And everyone knows that. Let’s tell the full story of what happened," Johnson said during a Monday press conference after 19 were killed and over 100 were injured by shootings in Chicago over the weekend. "Black death has unfortunately been accepted in this country for a very long time. We had a chance 60 years ago to get at the root causes. And people mocked President Johnson, and we ended up with Richard Nixon."

The Sacramento City Attorney’s Office warned a chain retail store that it could face a public nuisance charge due to a large number of phone calls placed to police when thieves repeatedly stole from its Land Park location. A person with knowledge of the warning, but not authorized to speak publicly due to the fear of retaliation, told The Sacramento Bee that city officials threatened the Target at 2505 Riverside Blvd. in the past year with an administrative fine. A Sacramento police spokesman confirmed the location — a site that prompted heavy ire from Land Park residents due to repeated crimes — when asked about the apparent warning. The alleged warning issued by Sacramento city officials — and similar actions by other cities across the state — prompted lawmakers to add an amendment to a retail theft bill that would outlaw such threats made by authorities. Pursuing legal actions against businesses for reporting crime brought heavy criticism from law enforcement.