The Michigan Republican Party and state legislators are calling for an investigation into a recent security incident involving five international students from China who were found photographing military equipment at Camp Grayling. The incident has sparked concerns about national security and the adequacy of state-level measures to protect sensitive defense site.

The Michigan Legislative Working Group for National Security, a bicameral body of Republican representatives and senators, has urged Democratic leaders, Governor Gretchen Whitmer, and officials at the University of Michigan to thoroughly investigate the events that led to the breach. The group is demanding greater transparency and stricter security measures for international students participating in educational programs within the state.

The Incident

The controversy began in August 2023, when five University of Michigan students, all Chinese nationals, were confronted near a remote section of Camp Grayling, a military training site in northern Michigan, where thousands of personnel had gathered for summer drills. The group was found photographing military equipment after midnight by a sergeant major with the Utah National Guard. The students claimed to be "media" before agreeing to leave the area, according to the FBI.

A federal criminal complaint, filed more than a year later, accuses the students of lying to investigators and conspiring to clear their phones of photos taken at the military base. U.S. authorities charged the five individuals with misleading investigators about their intentions and attempting to cover up evidence related to the incident. The charges come amid heightened concerns over foreign nationals photographing sensitive defense sites across the country.

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Republican Legislators Take Action

Following the charges, the Michigan Legislative Working Group for National Security issued letters to Governor Whitmer and University of Michigan President Santa Ono, calling for a full investigation into the breach and demanding details about the university's vetting procedures for international students. The letters also requested information on any new security measures that will be implemented in response to the incident.

“As elected members of the Michigan House of Representatives, it is our duty and responsibility to provide transparency and integrity at every level for Michigan’s citizens," the letter to President Ono stated. "Considering the recent incident at Camp Grayling involving five Chinese nationals who were University of Michigan undergraduates, we are seeking information about existing security and vetting measures when accepting international students into its education programs, and what additional measures will be put forth following the incident.”

Legislators Criticize Democratic Response

Members of the working group, which includes Representatives William Bruck (R-Erie), Luke Meerman (R-Coopersville), Jaime Greene (R-Richmond), and David Martin (R-Davison), as well as Senator Jonathan Lindsey (R-Allen), have expressed frustration with what they see as a lack of urgency from Democratic lawmakers in addressing national security concerns. They argue that the issue has been largely ignored by state leaders despite gaining national attention.

“This is exactly the kind of national security concern our group has been working to prevent,” said Rep. William Bruck, a U.S. Army veteran and co-chair of the working group. “Nationally, this issue has gained attention with Democrats, but for some reason, here in Michigan, it’s fallen on deaf ears.”

Rep. Luke Meerman, also a co-chair of the group, criticized Democratic lawmakers for not taking proposed legislation seriously. "We have introduced multiple pieces of legislation and several budget amendments to curb activity that presents a threat to our national security, but they’ve not been taken seriously by Democrats," he said. "This is no longer just a hypothetical scenario; these are legitimate concerns that are coming to life before our eyes. This is about more than just the security of Michigan and its citizens; it’s about our nation as a whole."

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Previous Efforts to Address Foreign Influence

The Michigan Legislative Working Group for National Security has been pushing for stronger measures against foreign influence for some time. Last fall, the group introduced a comprehensive plan to protect Michigan from foreign entities included on the federal watch list, such as the People’s Republic of China. Their proposals have included restrictions on foreign ownership of land near sensitive sites and increased oversight of research collaborations with foreign institutions.

Federal Investigation Continues

The FBI noted that the incident at Camp Grayling is not an isolated case, citing previous reports of Chinese nationals taking photos at defense sites in the United States. While the five students are currently not in custody, authorities have stated that they will be arrested if they come into contact with U.S. law enforcement.

“The defendants are not in custody. Should they come into contact with U.S. authorities, they will be arrested and face these charges,” said Gina Balaya, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Detroit.

The ongoing federal investigation has raised questions about how closely universities and state officials monitor foreign students who may have access to sensitive areas. The working group argues that the incident should be a wake-up call for Michigan to take national security concerns more seriously.

Looking Ahead

As the investigation unfolds, the Michigan Legislative Working Group for National Security continues to pressure state leaders to enact stronger protections and ensure the state does not become a “weak link” in U.S. homeland security. The incident at Camp Grayling has highlighted the need for vigilance in safeguarding military installations and the potential risks posed by foreign nationals with access to sensitive locations.

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OKLAHOMA CITY, OK - An Afghan man arrested on charges of planning a terrorist attack on Election Day worked as a security guard in Afghanistan for the CIA, two sources with knowledge of the matter told NBC News.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, was arrested on Monday in Oklahoma and accused of plotting to kill Americans with an assault rifle on behalf of ISIS. Court documents said he had contributed to an ISIS charity in March and accessed online ISIS propaganda, but they did not say whether he was radicalized before or after he came to the U.S. in 2021.

One senior administration official said counterterrorism officials assess that Tawhedi became radicalized during the three years he lived in the U.S. A senior law enforcement official said the FBI is still investigating that question.

The CIA declined to comment.

Court documents say Tawhedi entered the country in September 2021, about a month after the U.S. military completed its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years of war. Click here to read more.

 

LANSING, Mich - Michigan families relying on the Family Independence Program can now stay on welfare for a longer period of time after a new law took effect Tuesday.

Senate Bill 932, sponsored by state Sen. Sarah Anthony, D-Lansing, and signed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, extends the time families can receive cash assistance through the FIP from four to five years.

The bill had passed both chambers along party lines, with Democrats arguing it would give families extra time and flexibility during tough financial periods.

But Republicans criticized the bill, citing the burden on taxpayers and arguing the legislation incentivizes long-term dependency on government aid. Click here to read more.

 

Just weeks before Election Day, the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits has increased to the highest level in more than a year.

In a news release on Thursday, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that, for the week ending October 5, there were 258,000 jobless claims, up 33,000 from the previous week’s 225,000 claims. This is the highest number of jobless claims since the week of August 5, 2023.

The Associated Press spoke to analysts who blamed the increase on Hurricane Helene, but a Daily Wire review of the initial claims filed for the past week shows that is not the whole story.

North Carolina, which suffered the most under Hurricane Helene, saw a 290% increase in jobless claims – 8,534 more than the previous week. While North Carolina saw the largest percentage jump, Michigan – which was unaffected by Helene – also saw a large percentage increase of 140%, and had the highest single jump in jobless claims at 9,490. California, which was also not affected by the hurricane, had the third highest increase in claims at 4,484. Click here to read more.

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WASHINGTON D.C. - The Biden-Harris administration gave a six-figure subsidy to a China-linked electric vehicle company in late 2022 and, roughly a year later, its president showered the Democratic presidential ticket with tens of thousands of dollars in donations, records show.

BYD Americas received $395,000 through the Biden-Harris administration’s Clean School Bus program in October 2022, according to Environmental Protection Agency documents. Ke Li, the president of BYD Americas, then made four large donations to support President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign on Nov. 14, 2023, funds that were transferred to Vice President Kamala Harris in July after the president dropped out of the election, campaign finance disclosures show.

“The people of Michigan believe in lending a hand to help their neighbors during tough times, but they also expect these programs to be temporary and aimed at encouraging independence,” state Rep. Ann Bollin, R-Brighton Township, said Tuesday. “Instead, what we’re seeing is a significant shift toward bigger government and longer dependence on taxpayer dollars.”

The Michigan House Fiscal Agency reports that state costs will increase by about $1.8 million to $2.9 million. The increase has been accounted for in the state’s 2024-25 fiscal year budget, which was balanced in part by raising Michigan’s individual income tax rate from 4.05% to 4.25% in January. Click here to read more.

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The environmental supervisor for Rockdale County’s Soil and Water Conservation District, Kenny Johnson, died after testifying on the recent Georgia biolab fire.

Johnson collapsed near the Georgia State Capitol.

During his testimony, Johnson said this was the second time he had requested a criminal investigation into the biolab. His first call for an investigation occurred three weeks before the fire, The Daily Mail reported.

He explained that he was concerned about the sulfuric acid the company keeps on the property.

“PA Region 4 is the worst region in the United States, look it up,” Johnson said. “Rockdale County been out of federal compliance for four decades.”

“I’ve been fighting for six years,” he explained. “I’ve been saying that company is going to explode. No one listened. We got to move this company out of this community.” Click here to read more.

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WASHINGTON D.C. - The largest North American producer of french fries is shutting down its plant in Washington and laying off hundreds of employees, company officials announced in a recent earnings report.

Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. president and CEO Tom Werner cited “soft” restaurant traffic and frozen potato demand in an October 1 press release detailing the business’s failures in the first quarter of Fiscal Year (FY) 2025. 

According to Werner, “key actions” to restructure the business include closing its “older, higher-cost” facility in Connell, Washington, which would reduce its total workforce by approximately four percent.

That means 375 workers will be out of a job, Fox Business reported. 

“We delivered first quarter financial results that were generally in line with our expectations, driven by sequentially improved volume performance, solid price/mix, and strict management of operating costs,” Werner said. “However, restaurant traffic and frozen potato demand, relative to supply, continue to be soft, and we believe it will remain soft through the remainder of fiscal 2025.” Click here to read more.

 

LANSING, Mich - Michigan lawmakers are expected to pass bills this week that would take money from people who care for their disabled loved ones and turn it over to the Service Employees International Union. But home health care providers will have ways to defend their constitutional rights, thanks to a 2018 U.S. Supreme Court ruling.

Even if Michigan enacts two dues skim bills currently in the state House, caregivers who do not wish to pay the union will have the right not to do so, Patrick Wright, vice president of legal affairs at Mackinac Center for Public Policy, told Michigan Capitol Confidential.

Senate Bill 790, introduced by Sen. Kevin Hertel, D-St. Clair Shores, and Senate Bill 791, introduced by Sen. Sylvia Santana, D-Detroit, would resurrect an SEIU scheme to take union dues from home health providers’ paychecks. The two bills passed the Senate in June and are expected to get a House vote this week. Click here to read more.

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Saline, Michigan – School officials at the Saline School District are attributing a recent drop in student test scores to changes in the testing algorithm, sparking criticism from parents and education experts who question whether the blame is being placed in the right direction.

During the latest school board meeting, district administrators explained that the dip in scores was largely the result of adjustments made to the algorithm used to evaluate state standardized tests. They argued that these changes had skewed the results, making it appear as though students were performing worse than they actually were.

 

LAWRENCE, Kan. — A University of Kansas professor is on administrative leave after a viral clip circulating social media Wednesday showed him calling for men who refuse to vote for a female presidential candidate to be shot.

The professor in the clip appears to be addressing a lecture hall full of students. He bluntly tells the students that men who underestimate a woman’s ability to lead the country should be shot, arguing "they clearly don't understand the way the world works."

“It’s what frustrates me, there are going to be some males in our society that will refuse to vote for a potential female president because they don’t think females are smart enough to be president,” he says. “We can line all those guys up and shoot them.”

The professor then adds, “Scratch that from the recording, I don’t want the dean hearing that I said that.” Click here to read more.

 

The FBI arrested an Afghan man who officials say was inspired by the Islamic State terrorist organization and was plotting an election day attack targeting large crowds in the US, the justice department said.

Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, 27, of Oklahoma City told investigators after his arrest on Monday that he had planned his attack to coincide with election day next month and that he and a co-conspirator expected to die as martyrs, according to charging documents.

Tawhedi, who arrived in the US in September 2021, had taken steps in recent weeks to advance his attack plans, including by ordering AK-47 rifles, liquidating his family’s assets and buying one-way tickets for his wife and child to travel home to Afghanistan, officials said.

The arrest comes as the FBI confronts heightened concerns over the possibility of extremist violence on US soil, with its director, Christopher Wray, telling the Associated Press in August that he was “hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once”. Click here to read more.