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Minneapolis City Council to Vote on Ordinance Requiring Human Safety Monitors in Robotaxis, Mayor Frey Critical

Minneapolis City Council to Vote on Ordinance Requiring Human Safety Monitors in Robotaxis, Mayor Frey Critical

The Minneapolis City Council is poised to vote on a proposed ordinance that would mandate human safety monitors in all driverless rideshare vehicles operating within the city. The measure advanced from the council’s Committee of the Whole with a 7-4 vote, indicating strong support for its passage. However, Mayor Jacob Frey has expressed significant criticism, labeling the ordinance a “back door ban” and suggesting it could prompt state pre-emption. The ordinance would also require these human monitors to possess a driver’s license and be paid at least minimum wage. Proponents argue that this regulation is necessary to prevent job displacement among rideshare drivers and to allow the city more time to study the implications of autonomous vehicles, as the ordinance would not take effect until October 2027 if passed. The robotaxi industry, including companies like Waymo, is already testing fleets in the Twin Cities.

AI Streaming Scammer Michael Smith Faces Potential Prison Sentence and $8 Million Fine for Wire Fraud

AI Streaming Scammer Michael Smith Faces Potential Prison Sentence and $8 Million Fine for Wire Fraud

AI Streaming Scammer Michael Smith Faces Potential Prison Sentence and $8 Million Fine for Wire Fraud

Department of Justice Charges 17 Individuals in $1.3 Million Social Security Benefits Fraud Scheme

Department of Justice Charges 17 Individuals in $1.3 Million Social Security Benefits Fraud Scheme

The Department of Justice announced on Tuesday that 17 individuals have been charged in connection with allegedly stealing over $1.3 million in Social Security benefits. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald stated that the Social Security Administration’s benefits programs are intended to protect the elderly and vulnerable, not to be exploited by fraudsters. One notable case involves a woman from Chicago who was convicted of keeping her deceased mother’s body in a freezer while allegedly collecting her retirement benefits. Social Security Administrator Commissioner Frank Bisignano attributed these efforts to President Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s focus on combating fraud within the U.S. government. This announcement follows a recent action by the White House Task Force to Eliminate Fraud, which removed 750,000 Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchange enrollments suspected of being fraudulent, unauthorized, or ineligible.

Renee Good's family sues US government and immigration officials over her killing in Minneapolis

Renee Good's family sues US government and immigration officials over her killing in Minneapolis

Renee Good’s family has sued the U.S. government and several immigration officials, alleging wrongful death and other violations of federal law in the 37-year-old woman’s killing by an immigration officer during a federal crackdown in Minnesota

Wall St climbs as cooling inflation tempers Fed rate-hike concerns

Wall St climbs as cooling inflation tempers Fed rate-hike concerns

By Shashwat Chauhan and Tharuniyaa Lakshmi Sept 30 (Reuters) - Wall Street's main indexes gained on Wednesday, as a softer-than-anticipated inflation reading buoyed hopes that the Federal Reserve might not hike rates as soon as next month.

U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz Announces $5.46 Million Federal Funding for Wallowa Memorial Hospital

U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz Announces $5.46 Million Federal Funding for Wallowa Memorial Hospital

U.S. Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ore.) has announced that Wallowa Memorial Hospital is set to receive $5.46 million in federal funding. This allocation is intended for technology improvements and to expand access to care within Wallowa County, Oregon. The funding originates from the Rural Health Transformation Program, a federal initiative for which Congress provided $50 billion nationwide over five fiscal years, commencing in 2026. Oregon has been awarded approximately $197.3 million for the program's first year. The Oregon Health Authority is responsible for selecting and overseeing projects within the state, focusing on rural healthcare access, workforce development, prevention, technology, and provider coordination. Representative Bentz, whose district encompasses Wallowa County, was the sole member of Oregon's congressional delegation to vote for the legislation that established this program, linking his vote to the hospital's funding.

Federal court halts execution of Christa Pike in 11th hour

Federal court halts execution of Christa Pike in 11th hour

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued an order the morning of Sept. 30 staying Pike's execution 'until further order of this court.'

Department of Justice Charges 17 Individuals in $1.3 Million Social Security Benefit Fraud Scheme

Department of Justice Charges 17 Individuals in $1.3 Million Social Security Benefit Fraud Scheme

The Department of Justice has announced charges against 17 individuals for allegedly stealing over $1.3 million in Social Security benefits. Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald stated that the Social Security Administration's benefit programs are intended to protect the elderly and vulnerable, not to be exploited by fraudsters. One notable case involves a woman from Chicago accused of keeping her deceased mother's body in a freezer while collecting her retirement benefits. McDonald emphasized that every dollar stolen deprives retirees of funds for medicine, meals, or housing, and these cases represent a fraction of the fraud being actively pursued. Social Security Administrator commissioner Frank Bisignano attributed these efforts to the work of President Trump and Vice President JD Vance in combating fraud within the U.S. government. He affirmed that the Social Security Administration is committed to aggressively pursuing fraud, safeguarding taxpayer dollars, and protecting Social Security.

Detroit Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Multi-Million Dollar Pandemic Relief Fraud

Detroit Man Sentenced to 24 Months for Multi-Million Dollar Pandemic Relief Fraud

A 46-year-old Detroit man, Jabari Long, has been sentenced to 24 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to commit wire fraud. The charges stem from a multi-million dollar scheme involving pandemic relief funds. According to court records and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan, Long fraudulently obtained a $2.187 million Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan and a $150,000 Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) through his contracting business, Priceless Preservations Construction. Long claimed his business had 50 employees and an average monthly payroll of $875,000. However, prosecutors stated that the company had few, if any, employees and minimal payroll expenses. Within weeks of receiving the funds, Long used some of the money to purchase a four-bedroom home in Beverly Hills. He also admitted to submitting false tax documents to secure the loans.

Minneapolis City Council Reviews Proposed 2027 Budget with Increased Police Funding and Property Tax Hike

Minneapolis City Council Reviews Proposed 2027 Budget with Increased Police Funding and Property Tax Hike

The Minneapolis City Council is currently reviewing Mayor Jacob Frey's proposed 2027 budget, which totals $2.3 billion, with $753 million allocated for city general fund expenditures. A significant aspect of this proposal is an 11.3 percent property tax levy increase, estimated to cost the median-value homeowner an additional $400 annually. The budget also includes cuts to approximately 100 staff positions across various city departments. A key focus of the budget discussions is a proposed $20.5 million increase for the police department, with $13.1 million specifically earmarked for police overtime. This comes after the department overspent its overtime budget by millions in the past two years, with current projections indicating a $23 million overspend for the current year. Police leaders, including interim Chief Bill Peterson and Assistant Chief Mark Klukow, presented to the council, emphasizing the necessity of the increased funding due to unavoidable overtime and a need for better oversight of overtim...

Lindsay Clancy's lawyer now questions whether there is proof she killed her 3 children

Lindsay Clancy's lawyer now questions whether there is proof she killed her 3 children

Lindsay Clancy’s lawyer is arguing that there wasn’t enough evidence to prove she killed her three children