DICKINSON COUNTY, Mich. (July 14, 2025) — A 19-year-old Iron Mountain man has been arrested after police say he threw a Molotov cocktail at the Dickinson County Republican Committee headquarters Saturday afternoon.

According to a press release from the Iron Mountain Police Department, officers responded to a report of a suspicious person around 3:55 p.m. near 617 N. Stephenson Avenue. The caller told police they saw an individual trying to light a rag sticking out of a glass bottle before throwing it at the building.

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Surveillance footage reviewed by police showed the suspect attempting to ignite the rag, which failed to catch fire. He then threw the bottle at a window, shattering it. A second broken bottle containing liquid and a rag was found in the parking lot.

The building houses several businesses, including the county GOP office. No one was injured, and officials said no significant damage was reported.

 

Police identified the suspect as Zayn Edward Arcand and arrested him at his home. Investigators said Arcand admitted to making the bottles in his driveway and throwing them to send a “message against corruption.” Authorities said the attempt was unsuccessful due to Arcand’s “incompetence.”

Arcand is charged with arson and manufacturing and possessing a Molotov cocktail. His bond was set at $15,000 with a 10% cash surety. He is currently being arraigned.

The Dickinson County Republican Committee issued a statement thanking the Iron Mountain Police Department for its swift response and urged that Arcand be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

“We are grateful to God that no one was injured and continue to pray for all involved,” the committee said.

The incident remains under investigation.

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AI Chatbot for Hiring McDonald’s Workers Exposed Millions of Applicants’ Personal Data

Security researchers have uncovered glaring vulnerabilities in the “McHire” AI chatbot used by McDonald’s to hire workers, potentially exposing the personal information of approximately 64 million job applicants.

Tom’s Hardware reports that security researchers Ian Carroll and Sam Curry have discovered critical flaws in the McHire chatbot, developed by Paradox.ai for McDonald’s, which could have been exploited to access sensitive data of millions of job applicants. The chatbot, known as Olivia, is reportedly used by 90 percent of McDonald’s franchises in the United States to streamline their hiring processes.

The first vulnerability came to light when the researchers successfully guessed the password used by Paradox team members to access McHire: “123456.” This weak password allowed Carroll and Curry to gain administrator access to a test restaurant within the McHire system. While this initial access only revealed employees of Paradox.ai, it provided valuable insights into the workings of the application. Click here to read more.

 

The Lone Star State takes on Hollywood, Texas-style: Bigger, better and with conservative values

The opening scene unfolds onto a bird’s-eye view of a sedan making its way down a stretch of unmarked highway, as Woody Harrelson's unmistakable drawl is heard off-camera. “You ever wonder if this industry of ours is just chasing its own tail?” he asks.

Matthew McConaughey, in his equally distinctive cadence, shoots back, “No, I don’t wonder. Restrictions, regulations, nickel and diming productions, political lectures,” before the camera pans in for a close-up of the actors.

The sequence pays homage to the gritty, atmospheric crime drama “True Detective.” Indeed, it was directed by Nic Pizzolatto, the show’s creator.

In January, this four-minute video, “True to Texas” was released as part of an unusual campaign by a coalition of A-list actors — Dennis Quaid, Renée Zellweger and Billy Bob Thornton make appearances — independent creatives and Lone Star Republicans to appeal to the Texas State Legislature. Click here to read more.

 

Florida animal shelter’s longest resident finds forever home

LAND O’ LAKES, Fla. — The longest-standing resident at one Florida animal shelter was finally adopted Tuesday — an event that has been long awaited.

Buddy, a lovable dog, came to the shelter eight months ago, where he had remained until this week.

In a post on social media, Pasco County Animal Services, located in Land O’ Lakes, revealed that not only has Buddy gained a new sister named Sophie Grace, but he now has a middle name as well: Buddy Earl, after his new mom’s grandfather.

His new family provided a much-needed update on how Buddy is adjusting to his new home, along with photos of the sweet pup settling in. Click here to read more.

 

Unemployment claims jump 129% week over week

Unemployment in Michigan continues to rise, with claims for the week of June 30 up 129.71% to the highest rate per 100,000 residents in the country.

The personal finance website WalletHub reviewed States Where Unemployment Claims Are Decreasing the Most, and it was more bad news for the Great Lakes State.

Unemployment in Michigan continues to rise, with claims for the week of June 30 up 129.71% to the highest rate per 100,000 residents in the country.

The personal finance website WalletHub reviewed States Where Unemployment Claims Are Decreasing the Most, and it was more bad news for the Great Lakes State.

“To identify where unemployment claims are decreasing the most, WalletHub compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia based on changes in unemployment claims for several key benchmark weeks,” the finance website reports. “We also considered the number of claims per 100,000 people in the labor force.” Click here to read more.

 

Border Patrol Nabs Interpol-Flagged Venezuelan Homicide Suspect in Lincoln Park – Thanks to a Traffic Stop

LINCOLN PARK, Mich. (Michigan News Source) – A routine traffic stop in Lincoln Park, Michigan, about 12 miles southwest of Detroit, led law enforcement to pull over a driver who ended up not having a valid driver’s license. The man, 27-year-old Franh Enrique Yonkaiker Machado-Rivas, wasn’t just driving without a license though – he was wanted by Interpol for a homicide in Venezuela.

Interpol is a global law enforcement organization that provides investigative support, expertise and training to promote international security and public safety.

U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Gibraltar Station were contacted by law enforcement concerning Machado-Rivas and according to a statement from U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Machado- Rivas admitted to agents that he was in the U.S. illegally. Marchado-Rivas is being processed for removal from the United States. Click here to read more.

PORT HURON, Mich. — DTE Electric Company filed a lawsuit against St. Clair County, its Board of Commissioners, and Health Department on July 3, 2025, challenging new regulations on solar farms and battery storage projects.

The suit, filed in St. Clair County Circuit Court, claims the rules are illegal and violate state laws promoting renewable energy.

The dispute centers on Public Act 233 (PA 233), a 2023 Michigan law that sets uniform standards for large-scale wind, solar, and energy storage projects. PA 233 allows the Michigan Public Service Commission to oversee permitting unless local ordinances match its standards.

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DTE argues the county’s regulations exceed these standards and conflict with the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act.

St. Clair County’s regulations, adopted May 1, 2025, require solar and battery storage facilities to obtain Health Department approval before construction. They limit noise to 45 decibels at non-participating property lines, stricter than PA 233’s 55-decibel cap, and prohibit tonal noise.

I talked to Dr. Remington Nevin in February about this issue. Watch below:

Facilities must be visually screened from roads and adjacent properties using fencing, berms, or vegetation.

The rules also mandate a decommissioning plan with financial assurance of at least $100,000 per megawatt, adjusted for inflation, compared to PA 233’s more flexible requirements. A $25,000 nonrefundable fee is required for each application, covering review costs.

The regulations stem from a November 2024 memorandum by Dr. Remington Nevin, the county Health Department’s medical director. Nevin cited potential public health risks from solar farms, including noise, visual pollution, and environmental hazards from improper decommissioning. He argued rural residents are a “particularly vulnerable population group” needing extra protection.

DTE, Michigan’s largest electric utility, is developing solar and energy storage projects in St. Clair County. In August 2024, the company presented plans to the Greenwood Township Planning Commission, advocating for ordinances aligned with PA 233.

DTE claims the county’s rules hinder these projects and its property interests.

The lawsuit argues the Health Department lacks authority to regulate land use, a power reserved for counties, townships, cities, or villages under the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act. Since all St. Clair County townships have their own zoning ordinances, DTE says the county cannot impose additional rules.

The suit also claims PA 233 preempts stricter local regulations.

On April 4, 2025, the Health Department announced a public hearing for April 16 to discuss the proposed rules. DTE submitted a letter on April 14, arguing the regulations were preempted and arbitrary.

The Health Department adopted the rules on April 25, and the Board of Commissioners approved them with immediate effect, citing public health concerns.

DTE seeks a court order declaring the regulations invalid and unenforceable. The company argues they undermine Michigan’s clean energy goals, targeting 80% clean energy by 2035 and 100% by 2040.

St. Clair County’s legal counsel, Gary Fletcher, said the county will defend the regulations, citing authority under the Michigan Public Health Code.

The Health Department referred questions to the county. Attempts to reach St. Clair County for further comment were made, but no response was received by press time. DTE’s attorneys, from Warner Norcross + Judd LLP, declined to comment.

A court hearing is expected later this year.