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Michigan health employee approved, denied benefits without interviews
A state of Michigan employee ghosted low-income residents, falsified documents multiple times, and approved and denied benefits without interviews. Still, it took the state years to fire him, according to a months-long investigation by Michigan Capitol Confidential.
Ashanta Butler worked for the state of Michigan’s health department for 23 years before he was fired for not doing his job, according to hundreds of pages of documents CapCon obtained through a records request.
For years, Michigan’s payment error rate for welfare benefits — how often it inaccurately awards them — has fluctuated. In fiscal year 2022, it was 13%. The next year, it dropped to 10%, and this year it’s 9.53%.
“After several complaints from clients were received, a review of Mr. Butler’s cases revealed that he was not completing scheduled interviews prior to approving or denying benefits,” the terminal letter read. “Of the 17 cases read, 7 cases were certified without completing and/or documenting an interview, 4 cases documented an interview but there were no calls to/from the client on the dates documented. In 11 cases, he failed to call the clients on their scheduled interview date/time resulting in them being marked ‘no show’ in Bridges. 3 cases were processed with no IG and 4 cases were processed with other errors.” Click here to read more.
Disclaimer— I work for the Mackinac Center.
Kristi Noem defends $170M purchase of Gulfstream jets for DHS leaders
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended a contract to spend more than $170 million on new jets for the U.S. Coast Guard, including one that will be used for the secretary’s travel.
The Department of Homeland Security has faced criticism from congressional Democrats for entering into a contract to build the jets amid the government shutdown.
Noem brushed that aside Monday, noting the funding was previously appropriated.
“These aircraft are Coast Guard aircraft to replace 25-year-old airplanes that are necessary for the mission of the Coast Guard. Congress appropriated the dollars and paid for them in the ‘big, beautiful bill,’ and we’re grateful that we’re able to move forward,” she said during a press conference.
The funding for the jets came from a last-minute line item inserted into congressional appropriations in May, sparking scrutiny from Democrats given that Noem already had a plane — one both Noem and the Coast Guard have said is part of an aging fleet.
House Appropriations Committee ranking member Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) and Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-Ill.) on Sunday requested additional information on the purchase. Click here to read more.
Recalled Burritos Linked to National School Lunch Program
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Michigan News Source) – Check your freezer, refrigerator, and your child’s breakfast and lunch program at school. A California-based company is recalling more than 91,000 pounds of ready-to-eat frozen breakfast burritos and wraps containing eggs due to a possible Listeria contamination.
M.C.I. Foods said it made the frozen breakfast burritos and wraps between Sept. 17 and Oct. 14, 2025.
They span across three labels: El Mas Fino, Los Cabos and Midamar. The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service said officials found the contamination during routine sampling of the “scrambled egg component. Some of these recalled burritos are included in the USDA’s National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs.
No illnesses have been reported in connection to the recall; health officials encourage anyone with symptoms to contact a healthcare provider. The bacteria can cause a serious infection that includes fever, muscle aches, headaches, stiff neck, confusion and loss of balance. Click here to read more.
Chicago teacher’s gestures at ‘No Kings’ protests mocks Charlie Kirk’s death
WASHINGTON — A Chicago elementary school shut down its website after one of its teachers was caught on camera at the No Kings protest in Chicago this weekend making violent gestures directed at a pickup truck driven by conservative counter protesters.
The less than ten-second video was taken by one of the passengers inside of the truck, which displayed a banner honoring Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated last month. The video shows a woman, who was identified as Lucy Martinez, pointing her fingers in the shape of a gun at her neck and yelling at the truck. She reportedly made this gesture at least three times while surrounded by other No Kings protesters. The gestures made by Martinez, a teacher at Nathan Hale Elementary School, was widely interrupted to be mocking Kirk, who died of a gunshot wound to the neck.
The video has millions of views, garnering the criticisms of Congressional lawmakers and media personalities alike.
“These people have been polluting American children,” GOP Congressman Chip Roy posted on X, homing in on the fact that Martinez is a public school teacher. “School Choice is important - but it’s bailing water out of a sinking boat with a massive hole in it. We need to simultaneously clean out our schools of this garbage and it’s not just Chicago.” Click here to read more.
Supreme Court will consider whether people who regularly smoke pot can legally own guns
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will consider whether people who regularly smoke marijuana can legally own guns, the latest firearm case to come before the court since its 2022 decision expanding gun rights.
President Donald Trump’s administration asked the justices to revive a case against a Texas man charged with a felony because he allegedly had a gun in his home and acknowledged being a regular pot user. The Justice Department appealed after a lower court largely struck down a law that bars people who use any illegal drugs from having guns.
Last year, a jury convicted Hunter Biden of violating the law, among other charges. His father, then-President Joe Biden, later pardoned him.
Arguments probably will take place early in 2026, with a decision likely by early summer.
he Republican administration favors Second Amendment rights, but government attorneys argued that this ban is a justifiable restriction.
They asked the court to reinstate a case against Ali Danial Hemani. His lawyers got the felony charge tossed out after the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals found that the blanket ban is unconstitutional under the Supreme Court’s expanded view of gun rights. The appellate judges found it could still be used against people accused of being high and armed at the same time, though.
Hemani’s attorneys argue the broadly written law puts millions of people at risk of technical violations since at least 20% of Americans have tried pot, according to government health data. About half of states legalized recreational marijuana, but it’s still illegal under federal law. Click here to read more.
