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Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota Indicted for Bribery in 2026 Election Scheme

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota Indicted for Bribery in 2026 Election Scheme

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery related to the 2026 election for Jackson County Executive. The indictment accuses LeVota of engaging in a scheme to bribe a candidate to withdraw from the race by offering a six-figure, taxpayer-funded job. The charges include honest services fraud, federal program bribery, and making false statements to federal agents. LeVota allegedly met with a potential candidate and discussed offering them a government position in exchange for their withdrawal from the election. Despite the indictment, LeVota has pleaded not guilty and denies the allegations, stating that no money changed hands and that he had nothing to gain from the candidate's withdrawal.

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota Indicted for Alleged Bribery in 2026 Election

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota Indicted for Alleged Bribery in 2026 Election

Interim Jackson County Executive Phil LeVota has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of bribery related to the 2026 county executive race. The indictment accuses LeVota of offering a six-figure, taxpayer-funded job to an unnamed individual, referred to as 'Individual 1', to persuade them to withdraw from the race. The charges include honest services fraud, federal program bribery, violations of the Travel Act, and making false statements. LeVota has pleaded not guilty to all charges. The indictment details that LeVota allegedly promised to appoint Individual 1 as the director of Jackson County Parks and Recreation, a position currently held by Michele Newman, in exchange for their withdrawal from the race. Additionally, LeVota purportedly offered other roles within the county's finance and human resources departments. LeVota has publicly denied the allegations, stating that he never suggested or implied that the individual should withdraw in exchange for a job.

Hawaii Senator Dela Cruz Faces Scrutiny Over Bribery Allegations Involving Former Staffer

Hawaii Senator Dela Cruz Faces Scrutiny Over Bribery Allegations Involving Former Staffer

Senator Donovan Dela Cruz of Hawaii is under scrutiny following bribery charges against his former staff member, Ford Fuchigami. Fuchigami, who worked for Dela Cruz in 2022, is accused of accepting a $7,000 bribe to influence the allocation of emergency funds for COVID-19 testing centers. The funds were part of a fast-tracked bill that Dela Cruz helped advance, bypassing typical legislative processes. Despite the allegations, Dela Cruz has remained silent on the matter, raising questions about his involvement. The Senate has stated that Fuchigami's duties did not include work on COVID-19 emergency funds, but critics argue that Dela Cruz's silence suggests complicity.

East Baton Rouge Superintendent LaMont Cole Indicted on Corruption Charges Amid Ongoing Investigation

East Baton Rouge Superintendent LaMont Cole Indicted on Corruption Charges Amid Ongoing Investigation

LaMont Cole, the Superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System, has been indicted on charges of conspiracy to commit public bribery and money laundering, as well as malfeasance in office. The charges are part of a broader investigation by the Attorney General's office into alleged corruption within the city-parish government. The indictment accuses Cole of engaging in these activities between August 2022 and December 2024, during his tenure on the Metro Council. Two other individuals, Erica and Terral Jackson, were also indicted on similar charges. Cole, who has denied the allegations, describes the indictment as a 'miscarriage of justice' and maintains his focus on the upcoming school year. The school board has expressed support for Cole, emphasizing the importance of due process.

East Baton Rouge Superintendent Indicted in Corruption Probe

East Baton Rouge Superintendent Indicted in Corruption Probe

East Baton Rouge Parish School Superintendent Lamont Cole has been indicted by a grand jury on charges including conspiracy to commit public bribery, money laundering, and malfeasance in office. The indictment is part of a broader corruption investigation led by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill, targeting several Baton Rouge officials. Cole's charges stem from his time as an East Baton Rouge Metro Councilman, prior to his role in the school system. The investigation has already led to charges against nine other individuals, including local council members and former city officials.

FEMA Investigates Hawaii's COVID-19 Funding Following Indictment of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke

FEMA Investigates Hawaii's COVID-19 Funding Following Indictment of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke

The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is reviewing COVID-19 funding in Hawaii following the indictment of Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and others on charges of public corruption. The indictment involves alleged misconduct related to COVID-19 emergency response funding from 2020 to 2022. FEMA has obligated approximately $312.8 million for Hawaii's COVID-19 response, and the agency is assessing whether any funds were misused. The indictment includes charges of bribery and falsifying reports, with allegations that funds were improperly directed to benefit certain individuals and organizations.

Mickell Lowery Declares Victory in Shelby County Mayoral Race with Overwhelming Lead

Mickell Lowery Declares Victory in Shelby County Mayoral Race with Overwhelming Lead

Democratic candidate Mickell Lowery has declared victory in the 2026 Shelby County mayoral race, leading with more than 65% of the votes against his Republican opponent, John Beberry Jr. The polls closed at 7 p.m., and while results are still being finalized, Lowery's significant lead prompted his declaration. Lowery, who currently represents District 8 on the Shelby County Commission, emphasized his commitment to bold leadership and community service during his campaign. The incumbent mayor, Lee Harris, was re-elected in 2022 and is not eligible for another term.

Baton Rouge Corruption Probe Expands with Indictment of Superintendent LaMont Cole

Baton Rouge Corruption Probe Expands with Indictment of Superintendent LaMont Cole

The ongoing corruption investigation in Baton Rouge has led to the indictment of LaMont Cole, the Superintendent of the East Baton Rouge Parish School System. Cole, who previously served on the Metro Council, is accused of participating in a bribery, money laundering, and contract fraud scheme from 2022 to 2024. This indictment is part of a larger probe by Attorney General Liz Murrill's office, which has already implicated several public officials in various fraudulent activities. The investigation has been active for ten months, focusing on kickback schemes and the misuse of public funds. Cole has denied the charges, calling them a 'miscarriage of justice' and asserting his commitment to ethical leadership.

East Baton Rouge School Superintendent Indicted Amid Corruption Probe

East Baton Rouge School Superintendent Indicted Amid Corruption Probe

East Baton Rouge Parish School Superintendent Lamont Cole has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of conspiracy to commit public bribery, money laundering, and malfeasance in office. The indictment is part of a broader investigation led by Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill into alleged corruption among Baton Rouge officials. Cole's charges are linked to his previous tenure as an East Baton Rouge Metro Councilman. The investigation has already resulted in charges against several other officials, including Councilman Cleve Dunn Jr. and former Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Courtney Scott. The probe focuses on fraudulent activities tied to city-parish contracts and public funds.

Missouri Voters Reject Income Tax and Initiative Petition Amendments in Landslide Decision

Missouri Voters Reject Income Tax and Initiative Petition Amendments in Landslide Decision

Missouri voters have decisively rejected two significant constitutional amendments, with Amendment 4 failing by nearly 80% and Amendment 5 by over 82%. Amendment 4 aimed to make it more challenging to amend the state constitution by requiring majority support in every congressional district, while Amendment 5 proposed phasing out the state's income tax, allowing for increased sales and use taxes to compensate for the revenue loss. Governor Mike Kehoe supported both amendments, advocating for bold economic policies. However, the amendments faced strong opposition, with over a million votes cast against them. Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas criticized the amendments, labeling them as failures of leadership and detrimental to Missouri families. Meanwhile, House Minority Leader Ashley Aune highlighted the political repercussions for state leaders backing these measures. In contrast, voters approved Amendments 1 and 2, which renew the sales tax funding for state parks and make the Jackson County assessor an ele...

Hawaii Officials Face Pension Loss Over Bribery Charges

Hawaii Officials Face Pension Loss Over Bribery Charges

Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, ex-state Rep. Ryan Yamane, and two other Hawaii officials are facing charges in a bribery scheme that could lead to the forfeiture of half their state pensions if convicted. The charges relate to alleged bribes and government contracts for COVID-19 testing. Under a 2021 law, officials convicted of felonies related to their state employment, such as bribery, risk losing a portion of their pensions. This case could be the first application of the law, which was inspired by previous corruption scandals in Hawaii.

Former North Charleston Councilman Mike Brown Arrested for Contempt of Court in Financial Document Case

Former North Charleston Councilman Mike Brown Arrested for Contempt of Court in Financial Document Case

Mike A. Brown, a former North Charleston City Councilman, was arrested after being found in contempt of court for failing to provide financial documents in an ongoing case. Brown was previously sentenced to two years in federal prison and two years of probation for his involvement in a federal corruption investigation. He was also fined $10,000 and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. The court documents indicate that Brown did not submit a complete sworn accounting of his income and assets over the past five years, leading to his arrest by the Charleston County Sheriff's Office.