17 minutes
Hundreds of Ohioans gathered at a church in Springfield on Monday morning to call for an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians set to expire on Tuesday. Later that day, U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end protected status for about 330,000 Haitians living in the United States […]
17 minutes
Hundreds of Ohioans gathered at a church in Springfield on Monday morning to call for an extension of Temporary Protected Status for Haitians set to expire on Tuesday. Later that day, U.S. District Court Judge Ana C. Reyes blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to end protected status for about 330,000 Haitians living in the United States […]
29 minutes
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. The 4-year-olds in Rebecca Schneider-Kaplan’s prekindergarten class are doing a science experiment designed to document the demise of a pumpkin named Jack. Since October, Schneider-Kaplan has recorded their observations in a binder. The kids use paint and cotton balls to illustrate the mold swallowing Jack’s flesh. In previous years, the pumpkin experiment stopped much sooner. But this class loves science, Schneider-Kaplan said, so she adapted. Ushering a room full of pre-K students toward a learning goal requires constant improvisation. On a recent Tuesday morning at Stepping Stones Pre-School in Staten Island, Schneider-Kaplan held 11 pairs of eyes on a rotting pumpkin (seven students were missing because of the weather), while simultaneously sending a squirming child to the bathroom, keeping tabs on a boy who was more interested in pulling blocks off a shelf, and reminding multiple kids to keep their hands on their own bodies. Rebecca Schneider-Kaplan's pre-K classroom on Jan. 26 at Stepping Stones Pre-school. Schneider-Kaplan, who has taught for 18 years, would earn significantly more money if she did the same job at a public school down the road, rather than a private child care center contracted to run pre-K through the city’s Education Department. She would also get regular raises, health insurance, a pension, and additional pay for experience or extra training. And she’d enjoy the same perks as city teachers, with prep time, a lunch break, and summers and school holidays off. The city has promised to fix the inequities for years, but an audit released by the city comptroller two years ago found that 90% of community-based lead teachers with master’s degrees still earned less than their early childhood counterparts who worked in public schools. In the Bronx and Brooklyn, some certified teachers start at less than $36,000 a year — close to $30,000 less than at public schools, the audit found. Educators, who plan to hold a rally next week at City Hall, are angry that Mayor Zohran Mamdani is moving to expand care to 2-year-olds before addressing the existing inequities in the 3-year-old and 4-year-old programs. “It’s just a complete lack of respect,” Schneider-Kaplan said. “I needed two degrees to become an early childhood educator, but I cannot afford to pay back my loans because I don’t make enough money.” Early childhood wages are ‘impoverishing’ workers The city’s subsidized early childhood system – which served nearly 160,000 babies and children last year – relies on a vast ecosystem of programs in public schools, neighborhood centers, and private homes. This fall, the Mamdani administration will add 2,000 new, free spots for 2-year-olds — a first step toward meeting his campaign promise of universal subsidized child care for kids under age 5. In a December report, Emmy Liss — who became the executive director of the mayor’s Office of Child Care just a few weeks after the report’s publication — wrote that subsidized early education programs were built in part as anti-poverty programs. “It is somewhat ironic then that child care as a field is impoverishing its own workers, creating an entire class of working people who earn too little to provide for their families,” Liss wrote, adding that the city’s child care workers are almost entirely women of color. “Since the time of slavery in the United States, Black women have been pushed toward caregiving roles for other children, and their work has been systematically underpaid and undervalued,” Liss continued. In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office wrote, “Mayor Mamdani has been clear — the individuals providing these critical services must be paid fairly and equitably. We are committed to continuity for our 3-K and Pre-K providers and the families they serve.” Low pay isn’t limited to teachers. Early childhood programs directors, who sometimes have decades of teaching and leadership experience, earn a median wage of $37 per hour, most without health insurance, according to a report by the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School. Assistant teachers typically earn well under $40,000 a year. That has serious consequences for kids and parents, advocates and providers say. Programs struggle to hire staff, which results in empty classrooms and long waitlists. And when they do fill positions, teachers often leave as soon as public school jobs become available. City funding for early childhood classrooms “doesn’t cover what the programs cost,” said Michelle Kindya, the co-director of Stepping Stones Pre-School. “Our liability insurance has doubled. Utilities go up. Everything has gone up except the budget.” Kindya and her business partner, Marilynn Hopkins, have been running early education programs together for more than 40 years. They each have many years of teaching experience; Kindya was an early childhood professor at Brooklyn College for 11 years. And yet they earn less money than teachers with a few years of experience at public schools. “We’re not valued,” Kindya said. ‘What would make them think we can survive?’ Like a lot of early childhood educators, Kindya and Hopkins say they stick with the job because they love what they do. Five years ago, the city gave them a little bit of hope when a new round of contracts included a salary bump for pre-K teachers. There were no raises for directors or assistants, but Kindya and Hopkins figured they could hold out until the next contract negotiations. The system was finally moving in the right direction. Then, at a meeting in November 2025, early childhood directors learned their contracts would be extended for two years with no funding increase — a decision made under former Mayor Eric Adams. Meanwhile, Mamdani — who would soon take office — was promising a massive expansion of the system in which many programs were barely treading water. “We were shocked,” Kindya said. “Before they spend the money to add 2-year-olds, shouldn’t they fix the programs they already have? What would make them think we can survive?” The news galvanized many program directors, who decided to throw their weight behind a movement demanding pay equity for early childhood educators. They launched a letter-writing campaign to the mayor and a social media campaign to raise awareness. Much of the organizing happens over a group chat that uses a play on the acronym for New York City Early Education: “No more NYCEE.” Early childhood classrooms will remain open during the Feb. 12 rally at City Hall, though some will rely on substitutes or alternate staffing. “It will probably irritate people that we won’t be at work. We may lose pay, or PTO. It won’t be convenient,” one organizer wrote on a Facebook group for early educators. “THIS is our opportunity. SHOW UP PEOPLE.” For Schneider-Kaplan, the tipping point came when she saw a series of social media posts showing Mamdani and Ms. Rachel, a YouTube star who makes videos for young children. One post was captioned, “If you’re excited for universal child care and you know it, clap your hands.” Schneider-Kaplan responded with a post of her own, writing under the name ‘Ms. Becky’: “If you see every post about Universal Childcare as a slap in the face because you’re an underpaid and under insured teacher, clap your hands!” Abigail Kramer is a reporter in New York City. Contact Abigail at akramer@chalkbeat.org.
Sign up for Chalkbeat New York’s free daily newsletter to get essential news about NYC’s public schools delivered to your inbox. The 4-year-olds in Rebecca Schneider-Kaplan’s prekindergarten class are doing a science experiment designed to document the demise of a pumpkin named Jack. Since October, Schneider-Kaplan has recorded their observations in a binder. The kids use paint and cotton balls to illustrate the mold swallowing Jack’s flesh. In previous years, the pumpkin experiment stopped much sooner. But this class loves science, Schneider-Kaplan said, so she adapted. Ushering a room full of pre-K students toward a learning goal requires constant improvisation. On a recent Tuesday morning at Stepping Stones Pre-School in Staten Island, Schneider-Kaplan held 11 pairs of eyes on a rotting pumpkin (seven students were missing because of the weather), while simultaneously sending a squirming child to the bathroom, keeping tabs on a boy who was more interested in pulling blocks off a shelf, and reminding multiple kids to keep their hands on their own bodies. Rebecca Schneider-Kaplan's pre-K classroom on Jan. 26 at Stepping Stones Pre-school. Schneider-Kaplan, who has taught for 18 years, would earn significantly more money if she did the same job at a public school down the road, rather than a private child care center contracted to run pre-K through the city’s Education Department. She would also get regular raises, health insurance, a pension, and additional pay for experience or extra training. And she’d enjoy the same perks as city teachers, with prep time, a lunch break, and summers and school holidays off. The city has promised to fix the inequities for years, but an audit released by the city comptroller two years ago found that 90% of community-based lead teachers with master’s degrees still earned less than their early childhood counterparts who worked in public schools. In the Bronx and Brooklyn, some certified teachers start at less than $36,000 a year — close to $30,000 less than at public schools, the audit found. Educators, who plan to hold a rally next week at City Hall, are angry that Mayor Zohran Mamdani is moving to expand care to 2-year-olds before addressing the existing inequities in the 3-year-old and 4-year-old programs. “It’s just a complete lack of respect,” Schneider-Kaplan said. “I needed two degrees to become an early childhood educator, but I cannot afford to pay back my loans because I don’t make enough money.” Early childhood wages are ‘impoverishing’ workers The city’s subsidized early childhood system – which served nearly 160,000 babies and children last year – relies on a vast ecosystem of programs in public schools, neighborhood centers, and private homes. This fall, the Mamdani administration will add 2,000 new, free spots for 2-year-olds — a first step toward meeting his campaign promise of universal subsidized child care for kids under age 5. In a December report, Emmy Liss — who became the executive director of the mayor’s Office of Child Care just a few weeks after the report’s publication — wrote that subsidized early education programs were built in part as anti-poverty programs. “It is somewhat ironic then that child care as a field is impoverishing its own workers, creating an entire class of working people who earn too little to provide for their families,” Liss wrote, adding that the city’s child care workers are almost entirely women of color. “Since the time of slavery in the United States, Black women have been pushed toward caregiving roles for other children, and their work has been systematically underpaid and undervalued,” Liss continued. In response to a request for comment, a spokesperson for the mayor’s office wrote, “Mayor Mamdani has been clear — the individuals providing these critical services must be paid fairly and equitably. We are committed to continuity for our 3-K and Pre-K providers and the families they serve.” Low pay isn’t limited to teachers. Early childhood programs directors, who sometimes have decades of teaching and leadership experience, earn a median wage of $37 per hour, most without health insurance, according to a report by the Center for New York City Affairs at The New School. Assistant teachers typically earn well under $40,000 a year. That has serious consequences for kids and parents, advocates and providers say. Programs struggle to hire staff, which results in empty classrooms and long waitlists. And when they do fill positions, teachers often leave as soon as public school jobs become available. City funding for early childhood classrooms “doesn’t cover what the programs cost,” said Michelle Kindya, the co-director of Stepping Stones Pre-School. “Our liability insurance has doubled. Utilities go up. Everything has gone up except the budget.” Kindya and her business partner, Marilynn Hopkins, have been running early education programs together for more than 40 years. They each have many years of teaching experience; Kindya was an early childhood professor at Brooklyn College for 11 years. And yet they earn less money than teachers with a few years of experience at public schools. “We’re not valued,” Kindya said. ‘What would make them think we can survive?’ Like a lot of early childhood educators, Kindya and Hopkins say they stick with the job because they love what they do. Five years ago, the city gave them a little bit of hope when a new round of contracts included a salary bump for pre-K teachers. There were no raises for directors or assistants, but Kindya and Hopkins figured they could hold out until the next contract negotiations. The system was finally moving in the right direction. Then, at a meeting in November 2025, early childhood directors learned their contracts would be extended for two years with no funding increase — a decision made under former Mayor Eric Adams. Meanwhile, Mamdani — who would soon take office — was promising a massive expansion of the system in which many programs were barely treading water. “We were shocked,” Kindya said. “Before they spend the money to add 2-year-olds, shouldn’t they fix the programs they already have? What would make them think we can survive?” The news galvanized many program directors, who decided to throw their weight behind a movement demanding pay equity for early childhood educators. They launched a letter-writing campaign to the mayor and a social media campaign to raise awareness. Much of the organizing happens over a group chat that uses a play on the acronym for New York City Early Education: “No more NYCEE.” Early childhood classrooms will remain open during the Feb. 12 rally at City Hall, though some will rely on substitutes or alternate staffing. “It will probably irritate people that we won’t be at work. We may lose pay, or PTO. It won’t be convenient,” one organizer wrote on a Facebook group for early educators. “THIS is our opportunity. SHOW UP PEOPLE.” For Schneider-Kaplan, the tipping point came when she saw a series of social media posts showing Mamdani and Ms. Rachel, a YouTube star who makes videos for young children. One post was captioned, “If you’re excited for universal child care and you know it, clap your hands.” Schneider-Kaplan responded with a post of her own, writing under the name ‘Ms. Becky’: “If you see every post about Universal Childcare as a slap in the face because you’re an underpaid and under insured teacher, clap your hands!” Abigail Kramer is a reporter in New York City. Contact Abigail at akramer@chalkbeat.org.
29 minutes
Companies profiting from unregulated convenience store slot machines would have two years to pull their games off the market under a bill advanced Monday in a Missouri House committee. The bill — the latest in a years-long effort by law enforcement and legislators to rein in the games — would create a state-run video lottery […]
Companies profiting from unregulated convenience store slot machines would have two years to pull their games off the market under a bill advanced Monday in a Missouri House committee. The bill — the latest in a years-long effort by law enforcement and legislators to rein in the games — would create a state-run video lottery […]
31 minutes
Mérida, February 2, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez met with US Chargé d’Affaires Laura Dogu in Miraflores Presidential Palace on Monday afternoon. According to Communications Minister Miguel Pérez Pirela, the meeting took place “in the context of the working agenda” between Caracas and Washington. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez was likewise present.... The post Venezuela: Rodríguez Hosts US Chargé d’Affaires Dogu in Presidential Palace appeared first on Venezuelanalysis.
Mérida, February 2, 2026 (venezuelanalysis.com) – Venezuelan Acting President Delcy Rodríguez met with US Chargé d’Affaires Laura Dogu in Miraflores Presidential Palace on Monday afternoon. According to Communications Minister Miguel Pérez Pirela, the meeting took place “in the context of the working agenda” between Caracas and Washington. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez was likewise present.... The post Venezuela: Rodríguez Hosts US Chargé d’Affaires Dogu in Presidential Palace appeared first on Venezuelanalysis.
31 minutes
Alaska children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing would be guaranteed a local education under a proposal passed unanimously by the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday. The House passed a different version of House Bill 39, by Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, during the 33rd Alaska State Legislature, but that bill never received a Senate […]
Alaska children who are deaf and hard-of-hearing would be guaranteed a local education under a proposal passed unanimously by the Alaska House of Representatives on Monday. The House passed a different version of House Bill 39, by Rep. Jamie Allard, R-Eagle River, during the 33rd Alaska State Legislature, but that bill never received a Senate […]
31 minutes
(The Center Square) – Whether or not the Seattle Seahawks are sold after Super Bowl LX remains to be seen, but the timing of such speculation comes shortly after the details of an income-based “jock tax” on professional athletes in Washington state went public. A proposed 9.9% "millionaire's income tax" being worked on by majority-party Democrats in Washington state, if enacted, would include a component that would force high-earning visiting athletes and performers to pay income tax on earnings generated during their time in the state. “While the 'jock tax' is standard in states with income taxes, I doubt our Seahawks, Mariners and Kraken players will be thrilled about losing 10% of their salaries,” explained Ryan Frost, director of Budget and Tax Policy at the free-market Washington Policy Center think tank. “But the 'jock tax' is really just a symptom of the bigger problem. Olympia can't stick to a budget even with record revenues, so they keep creating new tax mechanisms to extract more wealth from the private sector.” As reported by The Center Square, state spending has increased dramatically over the last decade, with operating budgets far outpacing inflation and population growth. The possible sale of the franchise was the talk of the sports world on Friday when ESPN, citing National Football League and ownership sources familiar with the situation, reported that the team will be put up for sale after the Feb. 8 championship game between the Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Shortly thereafter, The Seattle Times reported that the Paul G. Allen Estate put out a statement that refuted, at least to a degree, the notion that the team is currently for sale: “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale. We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but there is no news to share. Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months.” Jody Allen took ownership of the Seahawks following the death of her brother, Paul, in October 2018. Under a Washington state income tax proposal under discussion, professional athletes could pay a 9.9% tax on income earned in the state, potentially costing them tens of thousands of dollars per game for top earners. The tax, targeting income above $1 million, would apply to both visiting and home-team athletes based on “duty days” spent in Washington starting Jan. 1, 2029. "Duty days" are the total number of days a professional athlete performs services for their team – games, practices, meetings and travel – in a specific state, used to calculate income tax liability for nonresidents. Supporters justify a state tax on high earners as a necessary step to fix what they say is Washington’s regressive tax system. Proponents argue the tax would raise more than $3 billion annually to fund education, enhance the Working Families Tax Credit, and eliminate sales taxes on necessities. The Center Square reached out via email to the office of Gov. Bob Ferguson and to state Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, for comment on the “jock tax,” given the potential sale of the Seahawks, asking if the team’s possible sale makes it harder to persuade the public on the merits of a high-earners income tax. Neither responded to a request for comment.
(The Center Square) – Whether or not the Seattle Seahawks are sold after Super Bowl LX remains to be seen, but the timing of such speculation comes shortly after the details of an income-based “jock tax” on professional athletes in Washington state went public. A proposed 9.9% "millionaire's income tax" being worked on by majority-party Democrats in Washington state, if enacted, would include a component that would force high-earning visiting athletes and performers to pay income tax on earnings generated during their time in the state. “While the 'jock tax' is standard in states with income taxes, I doubt our Seahawks, Mariners and Kraken players will be thrilled about losing 10% of their salaries,” explained Ryan Frost, director of Budget and Tax Policy at the free-market Washington Policy Center think tank. “But the 'jock tax' is really just a symptom of the bigger problem. Olympia can't stick to a budget even with record revenues, so they keep creating new tax mechanisms to extract more wealth from the private sector.” As reported by The Center Square, state spending has increased dramatically over the last decade, with operating budgets far outpacing inflation and population growth. The possible sale of the franchise was the talk of the sports world on Friday when ESPN, citing National Football League and ownership sources familiar with the situation, reported that the team will be put up for sale after the Feb. 8 championship game between the Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. Shortly thereafter, The Seattle Times reported that the Paul G. Allen Estate put out a statement that refuted, at least to a degree, the notion that the team is currently for sale: “We don’t comment on rumors or speculation, and the team is not for sale. We’ve already said that will change at some point per Paul’s wishes, but there is no news to share. Our focus right now is winning the Super Bowl and completing the sale of the Portland Trail Blazers in the coming months.” Jody Allen took ownership of the Seahawks following the death of her brother, Paul, in October 2018. Under a Washington state income tax proposal under discussion, professional athletes could pay a 9.9% tax on income earned in the state, potentially costing them tens of thousands of dollars per game for top earners. The tax, targeting income above $1 million, would apply to both visiting and home-team athletes based on “duty days” spent in Washington starting Jan. 1, 2029. "Duty days" are the total number of days a professional athlete performs services for their team – games, practices, meetings and travel – in a specific state, used to calculate income tax liability for nonresidents. Supporters justify a state tax on high earners as a necessary step to fix what they say is Washington’s regressive tax system. Proponents argue the tax would raise more than $3 billion annually to fund education, enhance the Working Families Tax Credit, and eliminate sales taxes on necessities. The Center Square reached out via email to the office of Gov. Bob Ferguson and to state Senate Majority Leader Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, for comment on the “jock tax,” given the potential sale of the Seahawks, asking if the team’s possible sale makes it harder to persuade the public on the merits of a high-earners income tax. Neither responded to a request for comment.
31 minutes
(The Center Square) – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday afternoon joined California National Guard and California Highway Patrol leaders to announce the state’s success in seizing a half billion dollars' worth of fentanyl pills since 2021. Newsom also addressed issues ranging from rebuilding Los Angeles after last year's wildfires to the fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis during the approximately 45-minute news conference in San Diego. The conference started with fentanyl. Newsom and other officials spoke against the backdrop of military helicopters in a hangar and cited the success of the California National Guard and California Highway Patrol working together. Major Gen. Matt Beevers, the adjutant general in charge of the California National Guard, noted seizure efforts take place at all ports of entry, including Los Angeles International Airport and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Efforts are equally dedicated to stopping the flow of American firearms and cash to drug cartels in Mexico, Beevers told reporters. The California National Guard has seized more than 5 million pills containing fentanyl, with a street value of more than $506.6 million since drug interdiction efforts started in 2021, Newsom said Monday. Since 2021, 34,357 pounds of fentanyl have been seized, Newsom said Monday. California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee noted the CHP recently trained all its dogs to detect fentanyl. “It takes one dose to be deadly,” Duryee told reporters. “It takes getting one crime gun off the street to make a difference.” Newsom also noted the success with the state's more than $2.1 billion in investments to fight crime, help local governments hire more law enforcement and improve public safety since 2019. The Governor's Office has cited data showing crime is down. During reporters’ questions, Newsom switched to immigration and was critical of Gregory Bovino, who was removed from his leadership of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations in Minneapolis. Bovino was transferred back to El Centro, Calif., following immigration agents' fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. “He’s sent back to California," Newsom said about Bovino. "We’re hardly celebrating that." “I’m shocked he still has his job. I’m shocked Kristi Noem still has her job, although she’s been pushed aside,” the Democratic governor said. Newsom was referring to President Donald Trump sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minneapolis to take over operations from Noem, the secretary of homeland security, and Bovino. The Department of Homeland Security is traumatizing not only illegal immigrants but immigrants who are legal residents and U.S. citizens, Newsom said. The governor addressed the recent detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who returned to Minnesota Sunday after a judge ordered ICE to release them from a Texas facility. “I don’t know how you can be a human being and feel any sense of pride and patriotism with an angelic boy who’s 5 years old who is sent to a detention center in Texas,” Newsom said as he discussed the Minneapolis family. The Center Square Monday reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the White House for comment. DHS did not respond as of late Monday afternoon. The White House referred The Center Square to DHS. Homeland Security has repeatedly told The Center Square that vilifying immigration agents has greatly increased assaults on them and puts them in danger. The department has stressed it's working to make America safer from criminals. On another subject, a reporter asked Newsom about Trump’s executive order, allowing the federal government the ability to take over the permit process to encourage a faster rebuilding of the Los Angeles area one year after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires. “We are fully focused on fast-tracking the permit process in Southern California,” Newsom said, noting 2,981 rebuilding permits have been issued. Those permits were issued in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Malibu and Pasadena. “If there is something more we can do with permits, we’ll do it at the state level,” he said. California is waiting for Trump to ask Congress for $33.9 billion to address the gap between insurance coverage and construction costs, Newsom said. He added construction costs have increased because of the tariffs Trump introduced, the mass deportation of immigrants and the resulting labor shortage. The governor said the president can address all of that.
(The Center Square) – Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday afternoon joined California National Guard and California Highway Patrol leaders to announce the state’s success in seizing a half billion dollars' worth of fentanyl pills since 2021. Newsom also addressed issues ranging from rebuilding Los Angeles after last year's wildfires to the fatal shootings by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis during the approximately 45-minute news conference in San Diego. The conference started with fentanyl. Newsom and other officials spoke against the backdrop of military helicopters in a hangar and cited the success of the California National Guard and California Highway Patrol working together. Major Gen. Matt Beevers, the adjutant general in charge of the California National Guard, noted seizure efforts take place at all ports of entry, including Los Angeles International Airport and the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Efforts are equally dedicated to stopping the flow of American firearms and cash to drug cartels in Mexico, Beevers told reporters. The California National Guard has seized more than 5 million pills containing fentanyl, with a street value of more than $506.6 million since drug interdiction efforts started in 2021, Newsom said Monday. Since 2021, 34,357 pounds of fentanyl have been seized, Newsom said Monday. California Highway Patrol Commissioner Sean Duryee noted the CHP recently trained all its dogs to detect fentanyl. “It takes one dose to be deadly,” Duryee told reporters. “It takes getting one crime gun off the street to make a difference.” Newsom also noted the success with the state's more than $2.1 billion in investments to fight crime, help local governments hire more law enforcement and improve public safety since 2019. The Governor's Office has cited data showing crime is down. During reporters’ questions, Newsom switched to immigration and was critical of Gregory Bovino, who was removed from his leadership of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol operations in Minneapolis. Bovino was transferred back to El Centro, Calif., following immigration agents' fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. “He’s sent back to California," Newsom said about Bovino. "We’re hardly celebrating that." “I’m shocked he still has his job. I’m shocked Kristi Noem still has her job, although she’s been pushed aside,” the Democratic governor said. Newsom was referring to President Donald Trump sending his border czar, Tom Homan, to Minneapolis to take over operations from Noem, the secretary of homeland security, and Bovino. The Department of Homeland Security is traumatizing not only illegal immigrants but immigrants who are legal residents and U.S. citizens, Newsom said. The governor addressed the recent detention of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, who returned to Minnesota Sunday after a judge ordered ICE to release them from a Texas facility. “I don’t know how you can be a human being and feel any sense of pride and patriotism with an angelic boy who’s 5 years old who is sent to a detention center in Texas,” Newsom said as he discussed the Minneapolis family. The Center Square Monday reached out to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the White House for comment. DHS did not respond as of late Monday afternoon. The White House referred The Center Square to DHS. Homeland Security has repeatedly told The Center Square that vilifying immigration agents has greatly increased assaults on them and puts them in danger. The department has stressed it's working to make America safer from criminals. On another subject, a reporter asked Newsom about Trump’s executive order, allowing the federal government the ability to take over the permit process to encourage a faster rebuilding of the Los Angeles area one year after the devastating Palisades and Eaton fires. “We are fully focused on fast-tracking the permit process in Southern California,” Newsom said, noting 2,981 rebuilding permits have been issued. Those permits were issued in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, Malibu and Pasadena. “If there is something more we can do with permits, we’ll do it at the state level,” he said. California is waiting for Trump to ask Congress for $33.9 billion to address the gap between insurance coverage and construction costs, Newsom said. He added construction costs have increased because of the tariffs Trump introduced, the mass deportation of immigrants and the resulting labor shortage. The governor said the president can address all of that.
31 minutes
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has reappointed Ann McIntyre to continue serving as inspector general for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. McIntyre has held the role since 2022 and has worked in the DCFS inspector general’s office for 27 years. VOTER ROLL QUESTIONS Illinois U.S. Reps Mary Miller, Mike Bost and Darin LaHood are raising questions about the state’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act. The three Republican members of the Illinois congressional delegation requested answers from the Illinois State Board of Elections regarding the accuracy of the state’s voter rolls. An oversight inquiry sent by the House Administration Committee on Jan. 22 identified alleged deficiencies in Illinois’ voter list maintenance practices, including counties reporting few or no voter removals in 2024. WAGE HIKE COSTS The Employment Policies Institute is taking issue with federal minimum wage proposals from Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in Illinois. The research group’s analysis said minimum wage increases to $17 and $25 per hour would cost more than 21,000 jobs in Illinois and up to 1.2 million positions nationwide. Ten Democrats and six Republicans are seeking the seat currently held by Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who is not seeking reelection.
(The Center Square) – Gov. J.B. Pritzker has reappointed Ann McIntyre to continue serving as inspector general for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services. McIntyre has held the role since 2022 and has worked in the DCFS inspector general’s office for 27 years. VOTER ROLL QUESTIONS Illinois U.S. Reps Mary Miller, Mike Bost and Darin LaHood are raising questions about the state’s compliance with the National Voter Registration Act. The three Republican members of the Illinois congressional delegation requested answers from the Illinois State Board of Elections regarding the accuracy of the state’s voter rolls. An oversight inquiry sent by the House Administration Committee on Jan. 22 identified alleged deficiencies in Illinois’ voter list maintenance practices, including counties reporting few or no voter removals in 2024. WAGE HIKE COSTS The Employment Policies Institute is taking issue with federal minimum wage proposals from Democratic U.S. Senate candidates in Illinois. The research group’s analysis said minimum wage increases to $17 and $25 per hour would cost more than 21,000 jobs in Illinois and up to 1.2 million positions nationwide. Ten Democrats and six Republicans are seeking the seat currently held by Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, who is not seeking reelection.
33 minutes
The $500 million rebate technically would be paid out of CT's sales tax receipts and would not force deep cuts to the state budget.
The $500 million rebate technically would be paid out of CT's sales tax receipts and would not force deep cuts to the state budget.
33 minutes
Milwaukee police say technology has helped solve crimes, while some worry about other ways the tool could be used. The post Fire and Police Commission and MPD to discuss facial recognition technology policy Thursday appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.
33 minutes
Milwaukee police say technology has helped solve crimes, while some worry about other ways the tool could be used. The post Fire and Police Commission and MPD to discuss facial recognition technology policy Thursday appeared first on Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service.
34 minutes
In the wake of a new state law designed to rein in ballot initiatives, advocates fear Florida could become a blueprint for other states. The post State announces no citizens’ initiatives qualified for 2026 ballot, following new law appeared first on The Tributary.
In the wake of a new state law designed to rein in ballot initiatives, advocates fear Florida could become a blueprint for other states. The post State announces no citizens’ initiatives qualified for 2026 ballot, following new law appeared first on The Tributary.
35 minutes
The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday voted 5-3 to advance House Bill 9, known as the Immigrant Safety Act.
The New Mexico Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday voted 5-3 to advance House Bill 9, known as the Immigrant Safety Act.
36 minutes
The Fort Worth native owns Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, Waters Restaurant and Buffalo Bros. He’s gained national culinary recognition.
The Fort Worth native owns Bonnell’s Fine Texas Cuisine, Waters Restaurant and Buffalo Bros. He’s gained national culinary recognition.
39 minutes
El Gobierno endurece el control sobre los pisos turísticos y obliga a borrar miles de anuncios sin registro oficial.
El Gobierno endurece el control sobre los pisos turísticos y obliga a borrar miles de anuncios sin registro oficial.
45 minutes
Delcy Rodríguez anuncia envio de primeiro carregamento de petróleo da Venezuela para os Estados Unidos Delcy Rodríguez anuncia envio de primeiro carregamento de petróleo da Venezuela para os Estados Unidos apareceu primeiro no Brasil de Fato.
Delcy Rodríguez anuncia envio de primeiro carregamento de petróleo da Venezuela para os Estados Unidos Delcy Rodríguez anuncia envio de primeiro carregamento de petróleo da Venezuela para os Estados Unidos apareceu primeiro no Brasil de Fato.
45 minutes
Kiev y la empresa de Elon Musk activan un sistema de registro y verificación de terminales para bloquear su uso no autorizado por fuerzas rusas, una medida técnica que apunta a limitar el alcance y la precisión de los drones de ataque.
45 minutes
Kiev y la empresa de Elon Musk activan un sistema de registro y verificación de terminales para bloquear su uso no autorizado por fuerzas rusas, una medida técnica que apunta a limitar el alcance y la precisión de los drones de ataque.
47 minutes
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education exhausted millions in taxpayer dollars trying to eliminate a chunk of its Office for Civil Rights, a government watchdog found in a report released Monday. The department spent between roughly $28.5 million and $38 million on the salaries and benefits of the hundreds of Office for Civil Rights, […]
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Education exhausted millions in taxpayer dollars trying to eliminate a chunk of its Office for Civil Rights, a government watchdog found in a report released Monday. The department spent between roughly $28.5 million and $38 million on the salaries and benefits of the hundreds of Office for Civil Rights, […]
49 minutes
North Carolina Democrats are making a bid to host the first-in-the-nation presidential primary in 2028 and usurp the title from South Carolina. But obstacles remain, including a Republican-controlled General Assembly that will need convincing before signing onto a potentially expensive early primary. The state so far is one of 12 finalists picked by the Democratic […]
49 minutes
North Carolina Democrats are making a bid to host the first-in-the-nation presidential primary in 2028 and usurp the title from South Carolina. But obstacles remain, including a Republican-controlled General Assembly that will need convincing before signing onto a potentially expensive early primary. The state so far is one of 12 finalists picked by the Democratic […]
50 minutes
U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, the Treasure State’s junior senator, has signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief filed at the United States Supreme Court that argues against the common understanding of birthright citizenship, and leans heavily on case that was originally used to deny Native Americans citizenship in the nineteenth century. Sheehy, a Republican, joined other members […]
U.S. Sen. Tim Sheehy, the Treasure State’s junior senator, has signed onto a friend-of-the-court brief filed at the United States Supreme Court that argues against the common understanding of birthright citizenship, and leans heavily on case that was originally used to deny Native Americans citizenship in the nineteenth century. Sheehy, a Republican, joined other members […]
54 minutes
Bedecked in blue “Agua es Vida” ribbons and carrying shovels and signs, members of acequias from across northern New Mexico rallied outside of the Roundhouse Monday morning following a blow to legislation backed by local irrigators.
Bedecked in blue “Agua es Vida” ribbons and carrying shovels and signs, members of acequias from across northern New Mexico rallied outside of the Roundhouse Monday morning following a blow to legislation backed by local irrigators.