Detroit judge faces 45 years in prison on embezzlement charges, while another’s decisions being investigated

At least two judges in Detroit’s 36^th District Court are facing serious allegations of wrongdoing, including one now on paid leave as she faces felony embezzlement charges.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan last week charged Judge Andrea Bradley-Baskin, 46, with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, several counts of money laundering, and one count of making a false statement to a federal law enforcement agent.

The charges stem from an alleged years-long scheme to embezzle money from incapacited invldiduals that also included Nancy Williams, 59, Bradley-Baskin’s father Avery Bradley, 72, and Dwight Rashad, 69. Click here to read more.

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Trump Oversees Lowest Level of Illegal Immigration at Border in Over 50 Years

In Fiscal Year 2025, which includes almost four months of the end of the Biden administration, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) apprehended fewer than 238,000 illegal aliens at the southern border.

Compare those apprehensions to Fiscal Year 2024, President Joe Biden’s last full fiscal year in office, when more than 1.5 million illegal aliens were apprehended at the border, as well as Fiscal Year 2023 with more than two million apprehended and Fiscal Year 2022 reaching over 2.2 million.

“The 2025 total was the lowest in any fiscal year since 1970, according to historical data from the Border Patrol,” the Pew Research Center finds. Click here to read more.

 

Youth mental health trends marked by rapid technological change, shifting social habits

Technology is evolving faster than the safeguards meant to protect young people, and an erosion of human connection and social support systems is leaving youth with a deeper sense of isolation, according to youth mental health advocates.

But there’s also reason for hope, as experts track youth mental health trends to watch in 2026.

John MacPhee, the CEO of The Jed Foundation (JED), an organization focused on mental health for teens and young adults, laid out the emerging risks and opportunities in a blog post this week.

He wrote about how digital systems are optimized for engagement, not for care. He said public systems of support are shrinking as needs intensify. And he warned that social and economic systems are limiting pathways to connection, mentorship and purpose. Click here to read more.

 

Opposing vaccine requirements could cost GOP voter support, survey finds

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Nearly 8 in 10 Florida voters support keeping the state’s current school vaccine requirements, a survey by McLaughlin & Associates found. Support is especially high for polio and MMR vaccines, with about 85% backing the polio requirement.

Jim McLaughlin discussed the findings Tuesday on Florida’s Voice Radio with host Drew Steele, noting there appears to be bipartisan support across Republicans, Democrats, and independents. In particular, older voters were supportive, likely remembering polio before vaccines became widespread. Florida law still allows religious and medical exemptions, giving parents choice. Click here to read more.

 

Rochester school board member sues board over violation of freedom of speech

Carol Beth Litkouhi, a trustee of the district’s board of education, filed suit in Oakland County District Court alleging that the board’s censure and removal of her committee assignments violated the First Amendment and Michigan law.

The Mackinac Center Legal Foundation is representing Litkouhi, who argues in her complaint that the board violated her constitutional rights and adopted an unlawful gag rule to silence dissent.

The lawsuit challenges a board bylaw adopted in 2024 that bars trustees from sharing any information that has not already been shared by the district, including — but not limited to — confidential or privileged information.

According to the complaint, that rule goes far beyond protecting confidential material and instead functions as a prior restraint on speech by elected officials. Click here to read more.

ROCHESTER, Mich - Some students at Rochester Adams High School walked out of class today in protest of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions, a demonstration school officials say was student organized and peaceful but one that has intensified a broader debate over political activism in public schools.

The walkout took place during second hour at the Adams High School stadium. According to Rochester Community Schools, the protest was not sponsored by the district, though administrators and law enforcement were present to ensure student safety.

 

“Today during second hour, some Rochester Adams High School students organized a peaceful walkout at the AHS stadium to protest recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions,” the district said in a statement sent to families. “The demonstration was not a school-sponsored event; however, the safety of our school community is always our priority.”

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District officials said administrators, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and Shield safety partners were on site during the walkout.

“Recognizing that students have the right to free expression, administrators, Oakland County Sheriff’s Office deputies, and Shield safety partners were available to ensure a secure and orderly environment for those students who chose to participate,” the statement said. “The district’s response to any student absence from class follows the Student Code of Conduct, which is outlined in the RCS Student-Family Handbook.”

Officials said all students returned to class and no injuries or major disruptions were reported.

The demonstration at Rochester Adams comes amid a series of student walkouts in Michigan and across the country opposing U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, often organized through social media and supported by activist messaging from teachers unions and advocacy groups.

A separate walkout has been planned at Hamtramck High School, according to a graphic circulating online calling for an “ICE Walkout.” The flier lists the event as taking place Friday, Feb. 6, during the first 10 to 15 minutes of fifth hour in front of the school’s flagpole and includes the phrase “Nobody is illegal on stolen land.” Several activist organization logos appear on the graphic.

 

Another widely shared image from the Hamtramck Federation of Teachers states that the union “stands with Minnesota as residents bravely oppose the occupation of its cities,” describes immigrants as “the heart and soul of Hamtramck,” and includes the statements “Diversity is a superpower” and “Abolish ICE.”

National teachers unions have also weighed in. The National Education Association, the country’s largest teachers union, has publicly encouraged members to oppose ICE enforcement, framing immigration policy as a civil rights issue and calling on educators to participate in protests and advocacy efforts. The poster below was distributed by the Ann Arbor teachers union.

 

Supporters of the walkouts argue that students have a constitutional right to free expression and that schools should protect students who choose to engage in peaceful protest.

“These are students expressing concern about policies that affect their families, their classmates, and their communities,” said one Rochester-area parent who supports the walkouts. “Schools should be places where civic engagement is encouraged, not punished.”

Others argue that while students may have free speech rights, public schools should remain politically neutral and focused on instruction, especially during class time.

Critics say the presence of administrators and law enforcement at walkouts, combined with statements emphasizing safety rather than discouraging participation, can create the appearance that districts are permitting or facilitating political activism.

“This isn’t about silencing students,” said one parent who contacted this reporter. “It’s about whether schools are quietly allowing political demonstrations during instructional time, and whether that crosses a line.”

The issue surfaced locally just last week, when parents raised concerns following another walkout at a Rochester school. In a previous article, Dave Bondy interviewed a Rochester parent who questioned why students were allowed to leave class and whether districts were enforcing attendance policies consistently.

That parent said she supports free speech but worries about precedent.

“If a school allows one political walkout, what happens when students want to walk out for a different cause?” she asked. “Schools shouldn’t be picking sides.”

Rochester Community Schools has said student absences related to walkouts are handled under existing attendance and conduct policies, though critics argue enforcement can be difficult when large numbers of students participate.

Education law experts note that courts generally allow schools to place reasonable limits on student expression during instructional time, even while protecting students’ First Amendment rights.

The debate has left many parents divided, with some praising students for civic engagement and others questioning whether public schools are becoming venues for political advocacy.

As student walkouts continue across Michigan, school districts face increasing pressure to balance safety, free expression, instructional time, and political neutrality, an issue likely to remain contentious as national immigration policy continues to generate strong reactions.

 

 

Mississippi’s reading triumph is no miracle — it’s the future of education

A miracle defies the laws of nature.

This is why “the Mississippi Miracle,” the sobriquet for the extraordinary gains that students in the Magnolia State have made in reading in recent years, is a misnomer.

There’s nothing miraculous about a state that adopts phonics and that sets high standards for its kids getting better results in reading instruction.

This, to the contrary, is a predictable outcome, and a replicable one, as other Southern States that have taken up similar polices have shown.

Mississippi went from 49th in fourth-grade reading results on the National Assessment of Educational Progress about a decade ago to ninth in 2024. Click here to read more.

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ICE Arrests Illegal Alien Accused of Rape and Strangulation After Sanctuary New York City Set Him Free

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has arrested an illegal alien whose rap sheet includes arrests for rape and strangulation after a Democrat judge in sanctuary New York City set him free on drug charges.

On Monday, ICE officials announced the arrest of illegal alien Gerardo Miguel-Mora of Mexico in New York City. Miguel-Mora had most recently been arrested on larceny and criminal possession of stolen property charges.

Last week, Judge Sheridan Jack-Browne (D) in Brooklyn allowed Miguel-Mora to be released from jail despite ICE lodging a detainer against him so that he would not be released back into the community.

“These are the types of public safety threats New York Governor Hochul and Mayor Mamdani are releasing from their jails onto the streets to perpetrate more crimes and create more victims,” the Department of Homeland Security’s Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement. Click here to read more.

 

Why Governors Are Opting-In To School Choice At Record Speed

It’s National School Choice Week in America, and the advancement of education freedom is sweeping the country.

Governors are opting-in their states to the new federal tax credit scholarship at rapid rates. The scholarship allows taxpayers to contribute up to $1,700 per year to a qualified non-profit scholarship-granting organization and receive a nonrefundable dollar-for-dollar tax credit. Organizations like ACE Scholarships award scholarships to K-12 students. Federal tax credit scholarships can be used for a variety of educational expenses, including tuition, fees, books, tutoring, transportation, and services for students with special needs.

The landmark legislation was fittingly signed into law on Independence Day last year by President Donald Trump as part of the One Big Beautiful Bill. Click here to read more.

 

There Are No Good Reasons To Subsidize Sports Stadiums. Governments Keep Doing It Anyway.

This year’s Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots will feature several interesting story lines: Sam Darnold’s redemption arc, Mike Vrabel’s coaching job, and the Seahawks hoping to avenge themselves for the infamous Malcom Butler interception. With the betting line in Seattle’s favor at press time, it seems the public is hoping to cash in on a Seahawks win. But there are reasons why freedom-loving football fans should be cheering for New England: the Patriots are one of a handful of NFL teams that play home games in a privately funded stadium.

Of the NFL’s 32 teams, only five—the New York Giants, New York Jets, Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams, and the Patriots—did not receive government subsidies to build their home stadiums. While it may now be common for ultrarich team owners to receive lavish subsidies to build new stadiums or upgrade existing ones, this hasn’t always been the case. Click here to read more.

 

FBI, Las Vegas police search home in investigation involving potential biological materials

Federal and local law enforcement launched a significant early-morning operation Saturday in northeast Las Vegas as part of an ongoing investigation into suspicious biological activity at a residential property.

Shortly before 6 a.m., teams from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s SWAT unit served a search warrant at a house on Sugar Springs Drive near North Hollywood Boulevard and East Washington Avenue, authorities confirmed.

The action drew a large response from multiple agencies and is expected to continue for some time.

Clark County Sheriff Kevin McMahill told reporters the investigation centers on evidence uncovered at the home that could point to a possible biological laboratory.

McMahill said investigators discovered “evidence of possible biological material, including refrigerators with vials containing unknown liquids.” Click here to read more.