Consumers Energy makes 6th rate hike request in 6 years
LANSING, Mich - Consumers Energy’s request for a $436 million rate increase is one of the largest requests on record and comes just three months after a $154 million rate hike took effect.
The regional monopoly provides natural gas and electricity to 6.8 million residents. Michigan Capitol Confidential reported in April on Consumers’ plan to request another rate increase from the Michigan Public Service Commission. The company’s 2024 request started out at $325 million but ended up at $154 million, resulting in a 2.8% increase for residential customers.
“Consumers Energy is committed to delivering safe, reliable and affordable energy to nearly 2 million homes and businesses,” said Katie Carey, director of media relations for CMS Energy & Consumers Energy, in an email to CapCon.
She added that the company understands many of their customers struggle to pay bills. Click here to read more.
Waste of the Day: City Attorney Gets Paid During 4-Month Cruise
SAN DIEGO, Calif - Most Americans would likely be happy with any job that pays $283,000 per year, let alone one that allows them to take a months-long international cruise while on the clock.
San Diego residents have been paying Assistant City Attorney Jean Jordan to do exactly that. Jordan was on a cruise to Africa and Europe from Jan. 20 to May 16 of this year while bragging to colleagues that she was “having a grand time,” according to emails obtained by the Daily Mail.
Key facts: Jordan visited Italy, Gibraltar and more while getting paid for four months of work — $94,333 — and accruing vacation time and benefits during her 117-day trip. Jordan worked during the trip and her boss told the Daily Mail she was in “constant communication” with Jordan, but emails showed several hurdles that could have prevented Jordan from doing her job efficiently. Click here to read more.
Illegal Alien Gang Member, Freed into U.S. by Biden Administration, Charged with Attempted Murder of ICE Agent
OMAHA, NE - An illegal alien Tren de Aragua gang member who was released into the United States by the Biden administration is now charged with attempted murder of an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent.
Gabriel Hurtado-Cariaco, an illegal alien and known member of Tren de Aragua, which has been designated as a terrorist organization, has been arrested and charged with attempted murder of a federal officer and assault of a federal officer with infliction of bodily injury.
On June 18, ICE agents sought to take Hurtado-Cariaco into custody in Bellevue, Nebraska.
During the operation, Hurtado-Cariaco allegedly threw an ICE agent to the ground, bashed her head into the pavement, and ripped off her protective armor while repeatedly making violent contact with the agent. Click here to read more.
Father rescued from river after 10-year-old daughter paddles for help
NEW ORLEANS - A father was rescued after being injured while kayaking after his 10-year-old daughter paddled for help.
Deputies said the child called 911 after her father was seriously injured while kayaking in the Bogue Chitto River in Louisiana.
The man hit his head and was bleeding badly when his daughter pulled him into a sandbar before paddling downstream to find help.
She eventually reached the Warnerton Bridge and called for emergency assistance.
Firefighters attempted to wade upriver with the girl to reach her father, but were forced to stop due to strong currents and deep water, so they called in additional help from the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office. Click here to read more.
Illinois law allows brazen squatters to extort Chicago property owner
It should go without saying: Squatters are not the same as overstaying tenants. Tenants that overstay had a legal contract with the property owner that allowed them to be in the home. Squatters never did. A property owner may not even know of squatters’ presence. Squatting, simply put, is criminal trespassing.
Yet several states have treated trespassers like overstaying tenants, resulting in a lack of protection for property rights and forcing some property owners to take matters into their own hands. For example, a Chicago homeowner recently paid a ransom to get trespassers to stop squatting and leave because buying them off was cheaper and faster than the eviction process under current Illinois law.
South Side property owner Marco Velazquez called police when he discovered squatters, Shermaine Powell-Gillard and her boyfriend Codarro, in his family home. But when officers responded, Shermaine and Codarro showed them an allegedly fake mortgage document. The officers told Marco that, even though they could not find the document in their records, he would have to file an eviction case in civil court to prove Shermaine and Codarro were squatters. Only then might Marco be able to remove them from his property.
Marco, afraid he would have to wait for six months to a year for a civil case to be heard, paid the squatters a $4,300 ransom to leave. Click here to read more.
