Bakersfield Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur Enters 2026 Primary for California Senate Seat

Bakersfield Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur Enters 2026 Primary for California Senate Seat

Bakersfield Vice Mayor Manpreet Kaur announced she will run against State Sen. Melissa Hurtado (D-Bakersfield) in the 2026 primary election for California’s District 16 Senate seat. Kaur was elected Vice Mayor in Dec. 2024. In a statement, Kaur said: I’ve been encouraged by community and my constituents to explore my options, which in my eyes, … Read more

Senate Delays Emergency School Funding Bill, Citing No Immediate Fiscal Crisis

Senate Delays Emergency School Funding Bill, Citing No Immediate Fiscal Crisis

Lawmakers remain divided on how quickly to move legislation intended to assist Hancock County Schools as the district works through a fiscal crisis. House members acted quickly to advance House Bill 4574, which would establish a condition-based emergency funding system for county school districts facing financial distress. Senate leaders, however, say there is no immediate … Read more

John Deere Distribution Center Approved in Lake County, Promising Jobs and Investment

John Deere Distribution Center Approved in Lake County, Promising Jobs and Investment

The Lake County Council has unanimously approved an Economic Revitalization Area for a new John Deere distribution center planned southwest of Interstate 65 and Indiana 2. The approval, announced during a special Thursday meeting, clears the way for a 1.2-million-square-foot facility expected to generate $7.2 million in new property tax revenue for Lake County over … Read more

Federal Judge Orders Release of Venezuelan Man Detained by ICE After I-77 Traffic Stop

Federal Judge Orders Release of Venezuelan Man Detained by ICE After I-77 Traffic Stop

A U.S. District Court judge on Wednesday ordered the immediate release of a Venezuelan national who had been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) following a Jan. 13 traffic stop on Interstate 77 in West Virginia. Judge Joseph Goodwin ruled that the federal government failed to justify the detention of Antony Segundo Larrazabal-Gonzalez and … Read more

South Florida Workers, Leaders Call for Extension of Haitian TPS: “Fight to Have the Right to Live the American Dream”

South Florida Workers, Leaders Call for Extension of Haitian TPS: “Fight to Have the Right to Live the American Dream”

Faith leaders, nursing home workers, hotel staff, and airport employees gathered at Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport on Wednesday to call on the Trump administration to extend Haitian Temporary Protected Status (TPS), which is set to expire on February 3. Rally and Vigil The group marched outside the airport, holding signs and chanting, before ending with … Read more

Man Arrested for Spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar with Unknown Substance at Minneapolis Town Hall

Man Arrested for Spraying Rep. Ilhan Omar with Unknown Substance at Minneapolis Town Hall

Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar was sprayed with an unknown liquid by a man during a town hall event on Tuesday, but she refused to leave immediately and continued speaking, emphasizing her determination not to be intimidated. The suspect, identified by police as 55-year-old Anthony Kazmierczak, was apprehended on the spot and booked into Hennepin County … Read more

House Passes Bill Requiring Some Opioid Treatment Programs to Offer Long-Term Birth Control

W.Va. Senate Approves Bill Requiring Aitken Bible In Certain Public School Classrooms

The West Virginia House of Delegates passed a bipartisan bill Tuesday requiring certain opioid treatment programs to offer long-acting reversible contraceptives. House Bill 4196 mandates that patients receiving methadone or suboxone treatment at licensed facilities be offered long-term birth control as part of the program’s services. The legislation also requires programs to provide non-coercive counseling … Read more

Governor Morrisey Appoints Two Members to West Virginia Legislature

Governor Morrisey Appoints Two Members to West Virginia Legislature

Governor Patrick Morrisey has appointed two individuals to fill vacancies in the West Virginia Legislature. Trenton Barnhart of Pleasants County was appointed to the 3rd District of the West Virginia Senate, replacing State Senator Donna Boley, who retired earlier this month after 41 years of service. Barnhart has served in the West Virginia House of … Read more

Kern County Charter Proposal Sparks Heated Debate at Supervisors Meeting

A Kern County Supervisors meeting turned contentious Tuesday as public comments focused on a proposed county charter. One speaker strongly opposed the initiative, stating, "No to the Kern County charter initiative. While it's presented as a plan to improve efficiency, this charter actually centralizes power in a small group of leaders, reducing transparency and limiting public accountability ... This initiative is another invitation to more greed on the Kern County initiative, we are saying no!" The speaker also criticized the timing of their public comment, exclaiming, "You put the clock on when I came up!" The meeting was briefly paused, and deputies escorted the speaker out. After the meeting resumed, Supervisor Philip Peters apologized for the timer issue, clarifying that all speakers are given two minutes. Peters noted that earlier speakers had used less than their full time, despite the timer not being activated. The charter initiative, first presented to the board in November 2025, is modeled after Shasta County’s charter. A county charter allows local governments to customize their structure, giving supervisors authority over compensation, terms, removal of board members, and decisions on which offices are elected or appointed. Currently, Kern operates as a general law county, meaning its structure is governed by the state constitution and general law. Other charter counties in California include Los Angeles, Fresno, and Sacramento. The transition to a charter government could cost up to $3.4 million. During the meeting, supervisors unanimously voted to place the proposal on the ballot, allowing voters to decide on its approval in the June 2 primary election.

A Kern County Supervisors meeting turned contentious Tuesday as public comments focused on a proposed county charter. One speaker strongly opposed the initiative, stating, “No to the Kern County charter initiative. While it’s presented as a plan to improve efficiency, this charter actually centralizes power in a small group of leaders, reducing transparency and limiting … Read more