Dave Bondy
Politics • Culture • News
News they don't want you to see
Tuesday August 19, 2025
August 19, 2025

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Michigan welfare fraud doubled from 2023-2024

Reported food stamp fraud and other welfare fraud in Michigan more than doubled from 2023 to 2024, according to the Michigan State Police Crime Dashboard and information obtained through open records requests.

Criminals steal from a $254 million monthly fund that is given to 1.4 million residents using outdated magnetic strip cards that can be subverted in a variety of ways.

Criminals can install fake versions of card readers that process payment cards, such as debit and credit cards, at gas stations, grocery stores and liquor stores.

In 2023, there were 351 crimes, 332 victims, 351 offenses and 345 incidents of welfare fraud throughout Michigan, according to the state police. The number of reported crimes more than doubled in 2024, with roughly 733 crimes, 703 victims, 733 offenses and 720 incidents. These statistics encompass all law enforcement agencies throughout Michigan, not just the state police. Click here to read more.

 

Tax Foundation study shows avg $3,151 tax cut for Michiganders after One Big Beautiful Bill

A new analysis from the nonpartisan Tax Foundation projects Michigan taxpayers would see significant savings and job growth under President Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” a sweeping tax cut package the White House calls the largest middle-class tax cut in U.S. history.

White House Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly said the study “confirms” the bill’s nationwide benefits. “President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill is the largest, most consequential tax cut on the middle class ever,” Kelly said. “Their study found that the Big Beautiful Bill will reduce federal taxes for taxpayers in every state. In Michigan, Michiganders will save $3,151 on average and see 23,357 jobs added statewide.”

The Tax Foundation’s report estimates that, in 2026, the average Michigan taxpayer would see a $3,151 tax cut. Click here to read more.

 

Illegal Given Commercial Driver’s License By California’s Newsom Charged In Fatal Semi Truck

An illegal immigrant who the State of California reportedly granted a commercial driver’s license allegedly made an illegal U-turn and killed three people at an “Official Use Only” turn on the Florida Turnpike.

On August 12, just south of the St. Lucie County north border in southern Florida, a collision occurred when a semi tractor-trailer made an unauthorized U-turn. The crash with an oncoming black 2015 Chrysler Town & Country van killed all three occupants, “a 30-year-old Florida City man, a 37-year-old Pompano Beach woman and a 54-year-old Miami man,” according to TC Palm. Click here to read more.

 

ICE Rescues 27, Including 10 Children, From Human-Trafficking Ring

Immigration enforcement authorities rescued 27 human-trafficking victims in Nebraska last week. Among the victims Immigration and Customs Enforcement rescued were 10 children under the age of 12, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

“Our brave ICE law enforcement rescued these children and women, who were being sexually exploited and trafficked,” said Tricia McLaughlin, assistant DHS secretary.

The human-trafficking ring was being run by illegal aliens, according to the DHS.

President Donald Trump and DHS Secretary Kristin Noem “will not allow children and women to be victims of these heinous human-trafficking rings,” McLaughlin said. “Our message to human traffickers is clear: We will dismantle your networks, and you will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. That’s a promise.” Click here to read more.

 

Back to school in Chicago: fewer than 1-in-3 students read at grade level

Students are returning to Chicago Public Schools on Aug 18 Many will return to see empty seats around them.

But for the hundreds of thousands of students enrolled in Chicago’s schools, there is a lot of room for improvement in the new school year.

The most recent teset scores for Chicago Public Schools show fewer than 1-in-3 students could read at grade level. Fewer than 1-in-5 could do math at grade level.

Each year the district gets more money to educate fewer, and proficiency is still far behind where it should be compared to spending.

It doesn’t help when newest data shows 41% of students were chronically absent in CPS. Absenteeism has continued to hover well above the pre-pandemic rate of 24% in 2019. Chicago schools continue to struggle to engage students, especially low-income and minority students. Click here to read more.

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September 09, 2026
E-bike crashes involving kids are getting attention in Michigan — and now a state lawmaker wants tougher rules. Would new age restrictions go too far? Michigan EBikes news

E-bike crashes involving kids are getting attention in Michigan — and now a state lawmaker wants tougher rules. Would new age restrictions go too far? #Michigan #EBikes #news

00:01:04
Gladwin mayor challenges city administrator contract clause, calls it a ‘gag order’

Gladwin mayor challenges city administrator contract clause, calls it a ‘gag order’

00:13:48
New tuition-free classical charter school to open in Midland this September

MIDLAND, Mich. — Families in the Midland area will soon have another public school option when Founders Grove Classical Academy opens Sept. 8, offering a tuition-free classical education for students beginning in kindergarten through sixth grade.

The public charter school, located on Wheeler Street, will add one grade level each year until it becomes a K-12 school.

“There is no other school in the greater Tri-City area right now that really offers a tuition-free classical education,” said Sara Ladwein, board president of Founders Grove Classical Academy.

00:16:33
Michigan High School Students depicts Charlie Kirk murder during school
School district is investigating

LIVONIA, Mich. — Livonia Public Schools says administrators at Churchill High School took action after becoming aware of a student’s reported depiction of the killing of Charlie Kirk.

According to information provided to Keeping it Real, a student reportedly arrived at Churchill High School dressed to depict Kirk being killed, including what appeared to be fake blood running down the student’s neck.

The incident raised questions about how the school responded and whether the depiction violated district policies.

A photograph of the student in the costume was subsequently posted to a non- affiliated

Churchill Instagram account, with the song “We Are Charlie Kirk.”

I have obtained a copy of the photo, but due to its disturbing nature, I have chosen not to publish it.

Keeping it Real contacted school officials seeking an explanation of what happened and how administrators handled the situation.

Stacy Jenkins, administrator of district communications, said Churchill High School officials learned about the situation at the beginning of the school day and acted quickly.

 

“Churchill High School administration was made aware of the situation at the start of the school day and swiftly addressed it with the student involved,” Jenkins said.

Jenkins acknowledged that the depiction was inappropriate.

“While we cannot prevent every poor choice a student may make, we can ensure that inappropriate behavior is addressed when our administration becomes aware — that is exactly what occurred in this situation,” Jenkins said. “The depiction was inappropriate and did not align with our expectations for student behavior.”

The district’s response does not specify what action was taken involving the student or whether disciplinary measures were imposed.

The incident comes amid heightened concerns about how schools handle depictions or references to real-world political violence, particularly when they involve students.

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September 10, 2026
News they don't want you to see
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September 09, 2026
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Wednesday September 9, 2026

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Michigan pays out smaller portion of pothole damage claims

Michigan drivers who traverse state highways often incur vehicle damage from potholes. Many of Michigan’s roads tend to be riddled with potholes that blow out tires, crack windshields and break suspensions.

Some drivers seek state compensation, but only about 12% of those people received it last year, according to a document that Michigan Capitol Confidential obtained via a records request.

Michigan paid 10 out of 86 claims for pothole-related damages in 2025, totaling $4,844, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Those 10 people who received compensation from the state claimed damages caused by potholes on I-75, I-96, US-12, M-77, M-89, Saginaw Street, Plymouth Road, and Fort Street. Click here to read more.


 

Trump Asks SCOTUS to Permit Voter Verification System Ahead of Midterms

On Tuesday, Solicitor General John Sauer wrote to SCOTUS asking the justices to stay an order from Judge Sparkle Sooknanan, appointed to the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia by former President Joe Biden.

In June, Sooknanan issued an order preventing the government from using an updated Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program. The updates greatly streamlined the process for states to purge voter rolls of ineligible voters.

According to Sauer, Sooknanan’s order is “indefensible” and “threatens the integrity of upcoming elections by vacating the federal government’s authority to internally use Social Security data when fulfilling its duty to respond to requests by States to verify the citizenship of individuals for voting and other purposes.”

“The order will irreparably harm the federal government, the States, and the public by depriving the government of an effective tool to verify the eligibility of registered voters and benefits applicants under various state and federal programs,” Sauer writes to SCOTUS. Click here to read more.


Stay in contact with family with push to talk nationwide waterproof walkie talkies. Click here to learn more and get an extra 10% off.

 

Click here to learn more and get an extra 10% off.

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Illinois woman accused of killing son represented by Casey Anthony attorney

A mother accused of killing her young son before trying to harm herself will be represented by an attorney who helped defend Casey Anthony.

Corie Walsh, 40, is facing three counts of first-degree murder in the death of her 2-year-old son, Barrett, who was found dead in her suburban Chicago home. Walsh also had what was described as self-inflicted injuries.

Walsh’s first court appearance was set for Tuesday morning and she is being represented by Andrea Lyon, an attorney who has dubbed herself the “Angel of Death Row.”

Lyon helped defend Casey Anthony, who was found not guilty of killing her 2-year-old daughter in a highly publicized and controversial case. Lyon is arguing Walsh was suffering from a psychotic episode. Click here to read more.

 

NYC releases 170,000 pages of long-sought 9/11 health, air quality records

NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced the release of more than 170,000 pages of records detailing the government’s response to the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and the aftermath, including documents related to air quality and health concerns.

In a press release, the city said it also settled two lawsuits brought by 9/11 Health Watch, ending a years-long legal dispute over access to post-9/11 health and air-quality records.

First responders, elected officials and families have sought the records for years. Mamdani’s FY27 budget includes $34 million to create and maintain the public portal.

The portal includes about 170,000 pages covering post-9/11 health concerns, air quality and the city’s response. Among the records are the Harding Memo, 68 boxes of documents discovered in 2025 and records related to World Trade Center 7. Click here to read more.

 

Florida blocks 10 CDL training schools after federal regulators remove them from registry

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida education officials are blocking 10 commercial driver training schools from recruiting new students or collecting tuition after federal regulators removed the providers from a national registry as part of a crackdown on commercial driver training.

The Florida Department of Education announced Tuesday that it is taking action against the 10 schools following their removal from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s Training Provider Registry.

Through the Commission for Independent Education, the state ordered affected licensed programs to immediately stop advertising, recruiting, enrolling new students and collecting tuition while their federal removal remains in effect.

The schools must also identify students who have been affected, provide refunds where required and report to the state on corrective actions and communications with federal regulators. Click here to read more.

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