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CHICAGO, IL - Illinois is banning fluorescent light bulbs in 2026. This government mandate replaces the old government mandate about how we light our homes and businesses.

The Clean Lighting Act changes language in the Illinois Environmental Protection Act prohibiting mercury-containing fluorescent light bulbs. The law starts with a partial ban in 2026 which applies to the production or sale of screw-based or bayonet-based compact fluorescent lamps.

The law takes full effect in 2027 and extends to pin-base compact fluorescent lights and fluorescent tubes. Fluorescent bulbs already in use will be allowed but will have to be replaced with LED bulbs when they burn out.

Exceptions for the ban for include medical uses, academic research, headlights on vehicles manufactured before 2020 and other exceptions. Click here to read more.

 

LANSING, Mich - A previously deported illegal immigrant from Mexico may serve a fraction of his potential life sentence for the murder of Grand Rapids’ Ruby Garcia if he accepts a plea deal offered by Kent County prosecutors.

Brandon Ortiz-Vite, a 25-year-old Mexican national, confessed in March to shooting Garcia four times with an illegally purchased handgun, before dumping the 25-year-old’s body alongside US-131 in Grand Rapids and fleeing in the woman’s car, Michigan State Police allege.

The Midwesterner was the first to report about Ortiz-Vite’s immigration status. Click here to read more.

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EL PASO, TX - A Texas hotel may be shut down after 693 police calls were made in just two years at the property for suspected illegal and gang-related activity, according to legal documents.

The Gateway Hotel has received a temporary and permanent injunction from the El Paso County Attorney's Office to cease operations after "habitual criminal activity" was discovered.

"The large volume of calls for service to a single business and State’s analysis of police reports show that the Gateway has habitual criminal activity that violates the CPRC, and additional crimes that contributes to the overall blight this business brings to downtown El Paso," reads the El Paso County Attorney's complaint.

As recently as August 23, police documented the presence of transnational gang Tren de Aragua in the Gateway Hotel building, which the county attorney calls "most alarming." Click here to read more.

 

WASHINGTON — Hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants have been transported back and forth across the country from both red and blue states, as Democrats and Republicans continue punting the responsibility of taking care of them. Texas alone has set over 100,000 migrants to sanctuary cities.

However, the taxpayers within these cities and states are the ones footing the bill for most transportation costs. As far as how much it's costing,according to a public records request obtained by the Washington Examiner, Texas has spent around $221 million on transportation costs alone. The Fact Check Team contacted Texas Governor Greg Abbott's Office to confirm this number but was told another public records request needed to be submitted to the Texas Department of Emergency Management for confirmation. Click here to read more.

 

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – The Heritage Foundation announced Thursday that Florida has secured the top spot in education freedom for the third consecutive year.

Since the Education Freedom Report Card was introduced in 2022, Florida has consistently achieved the highest ranking.

“Florida has enacted policies that allow parents to direct where education money goes,” Gov. Ron DeSantis said. “Our universal school choice program has empowered families, benefitted students, and improved educational opportunities. Florida leads on education freedom—and students and families are better off because of this leadership.”

This recognition underscores the state’s commitment to expanding school choice, supporting parental rights in education, and allowing families to select the best educational options for their children. Click here to read more.

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NEW YORK, NY - Several of the 19 Islamic terrorists who hijacked commercial planes on September 11, 2001, killing nearly 3,000 Americans, were able to stay in the United States after overstaying their visas thanks to a loophole used by almost a million foreigners in 2022.

All of the September 11 terrorists arrived legally in the U.S. with 16 securing tourist visas while three obtained business and student visas. Eventually, on September 11, the terrorists executed attacks in New York City, Washington, DC, and Pennsylvania that killed 2,977 Americans and have since left thousands more dead with illnesses related to the attacks. Click here to read more.

 

SPRINGFIELD, OH - Unsubstantiated claims that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio are eating neighbors’ pets have gone from city commission meetings to the 2024 presidential campaign. But the attention has led to a larger discussion about the impact of immigration on U.S. communities.

During his debate with Vice President Kamala Harris, former President Donald Trump repeated claims that immigrants in the Ohio town are eating neighbors’ pets. Springfield city leaders have said those claims are unsubstantiated.

Springfield is a town of just under 60,000 people, according to the 2020 Census, and since then an estimated 15,000 to 20,000 migrants have settled there looking for work, many of them from Haiti.

Its city leaders are faced with the same reality many other midsized manufacturing towns are faced with — balancing the need for workers versus managing finite resources in the community.

Residents who spoke with NewsNation say the situation is out of control and the city lacks the ability to handle the 20,000 Haitian immigrants. Richard Jordan addressed the issue at a city commission meeting. Click here to read more.

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RIDGELY, MA — 80-year-old Lorraine Gerson proves it's never too late to try something new— even skydiving.

Just a few months shy of her 81st birthday, Gerson decided to go skydiving through AARP’s Wish of a Lifetime program.

Lorraine is a resident at Cadence at Olney, a senior living community in Olney, Maryland. A busload of her friends and family came to watch her skydive and cheer her on. Click here to read more.

 

WASHINGTON D.C. - Both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris made a series of false statements during their first debate against each other this week.

It is difficult to put an exact number on all of the false claims made by each candidate since some of the statements are made more as an opinion versus a statement of fact and some false claims are more egregious — outright lies — versus being slightly misleading, like mixing up a location.

The difference between their false claims was that Trump was repeatedly fact-checked and hit with followup questions by ABC News debate moderators David Muir and Linsey Davis while Harris was never fact-checked once and the moderators never asked her any followup questions after she finished talking. Click here to read more.

 

WASHINGTON D.C. - Direct evidence linking DEI to declining recruitment is hard to come by, though whistleblower complaints and polling make a connection hard to dismiss. DEI was quietly introduced government-wide by executive order in 2011, but only after the military explicitly embraced DEI in the wake of the BLM riots and presidential elections of 2020 did recruitment collapse—at least for the services that most visibly embraced it. The Marine Corps, which did not aggressively push DEI, has not suffered the same steep drop in recruitment as the other services.

The results? After persistent recruiting challenges since 2020, the Coast Guard—which is facing a 10% shortage in crews—last year took the remarkable step of sidelining 10 cutters and shuttering 29 boat stations. The Navy, meanwhile, missed its recruiting goals last year by 7,000 and has shrunk by 21,000 sailors since 2021. Then there’s the Army, which reduced its goals rather than acknowledge even larger recruitment gaps. Click here to read more.

SPRINGFIELD, OH - Haitian migrants have reshaped Springfield, Ohio, with around 20,000 arriving in the town in recent years.

The Biden administration recently granted temporary legal status to approximately 300,000 Haitians already in the U.S., citing unsafe conditions in Haiti that prevent their return. This decision comes as Haiti faces severe instability, with the government extending a state of emergency nationwide due to widespread gang violence, highlighting the ongoing security crisis in the country, according to reports from the Associated Press.

Today (Wednesday) Ohio Governor Mike DeWine announced plans to deploy law enforcement and allocate millions in healthcare resources to Springfield, which is facing a significant influx of Haitian migrants.

There has been heated debate in Springfield and on social media over unverified claims that Haitian migrants are eating household pets. The city has denied these allegations, despite videos circulating online suggesting otherwise. However, the key issue remains the significant strain on local resources, as acknowledged by city and state officials.

Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost also weighed in, exploring legal options to limit the federal government’s ability to send large numbers of migrants to Ohio, highlighting the state's growing concerns over immigration policy.

Economists say this influx of Haitians has helped revitalize the local economy, especially by filling labor shortages in manufacturing. However, experts say it has also strained local services, such as healthcare and education, due to increased demand for resources like translation services and ESL programs in schools.

Residents tell NewsNation they are additionally concerned about crime in a town that’s already seen a spike in violent offenses. FBI data shows violent crime went up by 142% from 2019 to 2022, the latest year data is available. The agency does not track crime by immigration status.

The surge of Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, has placed significant strain on local services, particularly in healthcare and education. Hospitals in the area are struggling to meet the needs of a growing non-English-speaking population, incurring high costs for translation services, which are essential for effective patient care. This has added financial pressure on already tight hospital budgets.

Schools are similarly affected, as many Haitian children require additional educational support, especially through English as a Second Language (ESL) programs. These programs were already stretched thin, but the sudden increase in demand has led to overcrowded classrooms and a lack of sufficient resources to adequately address students' needs. Teachers and school administrators are finding it difficult to provide individualized attention, and the costs associated with expanding these services are proving to be a heavy burden on the education system.

Furthermore, local government agencies are overwhelmed by the increased need for social services, including housing assistance, food security programs, and community outreach efforts.

Springfield's Mayor Rob Rue has publicly voiced concerns about the city's capacity to handle these challenges and has called on state and federal governments for additional support. The city’s infrastructure, designed for a much smaller population, is struggling to keep pace with the needs of its rapidly growing community.

Cultural integration issues also add complexity, as both new Haitian residents and long-time community members adjust to rapid changes. This situation has led to tensions and misunderstandings, further complicating efforts to effectively manage and support the evolving demographic landscape. The strain on resources is not only a logistical challenge but also a significant social hurdle that Springfield must navigate to ensure a cohesive and supportive environment for all residents​.

Many of the individuals who are in Sprinfield have entered the United States through The immigration parole program which allows eligible Haitians to temporarily enter the United States for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.

This program is not a pathway to permanent residency but provides a temporary, legal status for those who meet specific criteria, such as having a U.S. sponsor. The program aims to offer relief amid ongoing crises in Haiti, like political instability and natural disasters, allowing migrants to stay legally for a set period, often pending further immigration proceedings.

Springfield's administration has been working on integrating these new residents, addressing housing shortages, providing legal aid for status applications, and managing public safety concerns. Efforts include working with state and federal agencies for more resources and tailored programs for the immigrant community.

SOURCES: The Haitian Times, FOX News, Springfield, Ohio Public Video, Associated Press, , WHIO-TV, NewsNation and the Sprinfield News Sun.