News For Reasonable People

Two separate shootings rocked homeless encampments in Minneapolis on September 16, 2025, leaving 13 people wounded — including 5 in critical condition. First shooting: Just after 11 a.m. near East Lake St. & Stevens Ave. (5 injured, 1 life-threatening). Second shooting: Around 10 p.m. at a well-known encampment near South 28th Ave. & East Lake St. (8 injured, 2 with head wounds). Police recovered multiple shell casings, and investigators believe there may have been an exchange of gunfire. A tent fire also broke out during the incident. The city has been trying to clear the encampment for months, raising concerns about safety and housing insecurity. Officials are investigating whether the two shootings are connected.

California is seeing a wave of factory closures — from food processing plants to manufacturing facilities. Headlines say jobs are fleeing the state at an alarming speed. But is it really that simple?

San Francisco Centre, once the city’s flagship shopping mall, is now nearly abandoned. With 93% of its stores vacant and anchor tenants like Nordstrom and Bloomingdale’s gone, its value has plunged by 25% in just a year — and over $1 billion since 2016.

Washington has officially enforced its new rent cap law for the first time. Eight landlords were fined $2,000 each after trying to impose illegal rent hikes that would have impacted more than 250 renters statewide.Under House Bill 1217, most rent increases are capped at 10% for 2025 (5% for manufactured homes), with stricter rules for new tenancies and exemptions for certain housing. The Attorney General’s office required landlords to rescind the hikes and refund tenants.

Thousands of Californians are leaving the Golden State for a surprising new destination: Tulsa, Oklahoma. Why? A program called Tulsa Remote is offering $10,000 cash to remote workers who relocate — and many say they’re never looking back.

A massive homeless encampment in Koreatown, Los Angeles has grown into what some residents are calling a “tiny city.” The camp, located on a vacant private lot, now includes unusual features like a tennis court, barbecue pit, and garden. Local residents are voicing frustration, citing safety hazards, fire risks, and neighborhood concerns, while officials try to balance enforcement with outreach efforts.

Washington state now has the highest gas prices in the nation, even beating California. Drivers are paying an average of $4.66 per gallon statewide, and nearly $4.81 in Seattle.

California just passed a major housing law — SB 79 — that overrides local zoning rules to allow taller, denser housing near transit hubs.

California lawmakers struck a sweeping last-minute climate and energy deal with Gov. Gavin Newsom — extending the state’s cap-and-trade program to 2045, reauthorizing an $18 billion wildfire liability fund, and paving the way for a regional clean energy market.But the package also includes controversial concessions to oil and gas, including new drilling permits and a revived pipeline, sparking backlash from environmental justice advocates who decried the closed-door negotiations.

A tragic case has shaken Bellevue. Police have charged 28-year-old Samuel Hitchcock, a former Porchlight shelter resident, with murder and robbery after the death of Jason Clark, 54.🔹 The two men were staying near the Eastgate Way shelter before being forced out.🔹 A fight broke out at a makeshift campsite after a vodka spill, leaving Clark beaten to death.🔹 Hitchcock allegedly stole $3,000 and fled the scene.🔹 Authorities say Hitchcock has a history of assault, weapons violations, and harassment in Seattle.🔹 He may have fled Washington and could be in Oregon.

The Valero refinery in Benicia, California — responsible for nearly 9% of the state’s gasoline supply — is set to close by April 2026. This decision comes after mounting regulatory pressure, costly fines, and rising operational expenses.

A Houston imam launched a campaign demanding Muslim-owned stores stop selling alcohol, pork, and gambling products—or face protests. Governor Greg Abbott wasted no time responding, reminding Texans that Sharia law has no place in the state and encouraging citizens to report such efforts to law enforcement.

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has launched Operation SAFE (Swift Action for Families Everywhere), sending state troopers to clear homeless encampments from Tulsa’s state-owned property.The plan offers unsheltered individuals two choices: a ride to housing or treatment facilities, or to jail

A new audit reveals shocking mismanagement inside King County’s Department of Community and Human Services. Over $1.5 billion in taxpayer funds were funneled with weak oversight, leading to:- Altered invoices and potential fraud- Payments to unapproved contractors- Nearly half of grantees labeled ‘high risk’- Lax monitoring despite explosive growth in fundingCounty officials call the findings “damning” and a “total disaster.” Lawmakers are now pushing for urgent reforms, new compliance measures, and stricter financial safeguards.

A tragic case out of King County, Washington: 17-year-old Miguel Rivera-Dominguez has been sentenced to 23 years in prison for the murder of 21-year-old Marcel Da’jon Wagner, who was fatally shot while sleeping on a Metro bus in White Center.

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson has asked the community to step up and support the city’s new homeless shelters. In a citywide email, he urged residents to donate money, goods, and time—emphasizing the urgent need for supplies and volunteers.

Chevron’s Americas Products President Andy Walz isn’t satisfied with California’s latest climate policy direction. In a recent Politico feature, Walz warned that refinery closures, tighter regulations, and policy uncertainty could push gas prices higher and discourage future investment in the state’s energy sector.

California’s housing crisis may be about to get worse. A coalition of over 100 social justice, housing, and business leaders is warning that a new Vehicle-Miles-Traveled (VMT) housing tax could add up to $324,000 to the cost of every new home or apartment — and raise monthly rents by as much as $1,350.

Seattle has filed a groundbreaking lawsuit against Glock, accusing the gunmaker of enabling the use of illegal “Glock switches”—tiny devices that convert semi-automatic pistols into fully automatic weapons.City Attorney Ann Davison claims Glock has known for decades that its handguns can be easily modified and failed to redesign them, fueling rising gun violence. The lawsuit also targets three local dealers.

San Francisco’s busiest Muni line — the 14/14R Mission — has earned an unfortunate nickname: the city’s most “pooped-on” bus. With nearly a quarter of all feces-related complaints coming from this single route, riders say they’re dealing with filthy conditions on a regular basis.Now, with the SFMTA facing a $322 million budget deficit and forced to cut cleaning services, the problem may soon get even worse.