Category: State News

Luigi Mangione, the Person of Interest in Killing of UnitedHealth CEO Reportedly Praised Unabomber, Left Anti-Corporation Manifesto

Tom Pappert
Luigi Mangione

Police say a handwritten document was found with Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old man arrested as a person of interest in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York, during his arrest in Altoona, Pennsylvania on Monday.

After the Altoona Police Department confirmed it arrested a person who a McDonald’s employee said matched the description of Thompson’s killer, New York Police Department (NYPD) Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirmed in a press conference on Monday that Altoona police arrested Mangione, finding weapons and clothing consistent with those worn by the killer, as well as a “handwritten document” that allegedly explains Mangione’s motivations.

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Legislation Would Combat Censorship, Book Bans in Michigan’s Public Libraries

The Center Square
Library Reading

Two bills before the Michigan House Committee on Government Operations would grant public and district library directors sole authority over the selection, inclusion, and withdrawal of library materials, as well as prohibit out-of-district withdrawal requests.

House Bills 6034 and 6035 would respectively create the Public Library Freedom to Read Act and the District Library Freedom to Read Act, which do not apply to school libraries. Cosponsor of the bills state Rep. Carol Glanville, D-Walker, said the bills are nonpartisan and aim to both support librarians and the communities they serve.

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University of Minnesota Hit with Federal Civil Rights Complaint for ‘Segregated, Racially Discriminatory Program’

Alpha News
Liz Collin

The University of Minnesota has been hit with a federal civil rights complaint regarding a race-based program—and it isn’t the first time the feds have been called in to investigate.

Bill Jacobson, president of the Legal Insurrection Foundation and its Equal Protection Project, joined Liz Collin Reports to speak about the latest complaint his group has lodged against the U of M Twin Cities.

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Arizona Supreme Court Declines to Restrict State Bar of Arizona from Using Members’ Dues for Political Purposes

Rachel Alexander
Lawyers

The Arizona Supreme Court adopted an amended version of a rule on Tuesday to separate the State Bar of Arizona’s regulatory and non-regulatory functions.

The think tank sought to end the practice of the mandatory state bar using attorneys’ dues for political purposes. However, the state’s highest court also included an amendment that gutted the rule. The changes to R-24-0030 Rules 32(b) and (c), Rules of the state Supreme Court, will go into effect on January 1, 2025.

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Virginia Sheriff Calls for Strict Borders After Two Illegal Immigrants Arrested for Shooting in Alleged Road Rage Incident

Tom Pappert
Mike Chapman

The Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office on Friday confirmed the arrest of two illegal immigrants who were charged with firing at a moving vehicle during a road rage incident, causing damage to the vehicle but no injuries to its passengers, prompting Sheriff Mike Chapman to urge the federal government to improve border security.

In a press release, the sheriff’s office announced the arrests of Aldo Betancourth Rivera and Jimmy Paredes Madrid, who authorities described as, “both of Sterling and undocumented.”

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Arizona Wins Charter School Federal Grant Funding

The Center Square
School Class

New charter schools in Arizona are expected to be developed as a result of new federal taxpayer funding from the United States Department of Education.

The state received a $34.8 million cut of the over $143 million awarded through the Expanding Opportunities Through Quality Charter Schools Program. Although the funding came from fiscal year 2024, it will be doled out in portions each year through 2029. The first two years will have a roughly $8.7 million budget, roughly $10 million in year three, and $5 million and $2.8 million in years four and five, respectively.

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Arizona Republicans Target Trans Policies in Schools, Election Integrity After Senator Warns Gov. Hobbs Could ‘Regret’ Using Veto Power

Tom Pappert

Republicans in the Arizona State Senate on Wednesday had submitted three bills ahead of the upcoming legislative session that they acknowledge are tougher versions of legislation previously vetoed by Governor Katie Hobbs earlier this year in remarks published less than one month after Senate Pro Tem T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge) suggested lawmakers could allow voters the final say on anything she rejects.

The bills include SB 1001 by Senator J.D. Mesnard (R-Chandler), which would require voters using mail-in ballots to present their identification if submitting their ballots on the Friday before Election Day.

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Majority of Virginians Hopeful or Optimistic for Trump Admin as President-Elect Improves Favorability, Post-Election Poll Shows

Tom Pappert
Donald Trump in Virginia, 2024

Polling released Thursday by Roanoke College found the majority of Virginians are either optimistic or hopeful for the future of the United States ahead of President-elect Donald Trump’s second term in the White House.

The survey found 60 percent of Virginians have a positive view of Trump’s reelection, with 32 percent of Virginians hopeful as they approach Trump’s second term in office, and an additional 28 percent telling pollsters they will respond optimistically to president-elect regaining the White House.

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Arizona School District Considers Closing Five Schools as COVID Aid Ends

The Center Square

by Madeline Armstrong   Roosevelt School District in South Phoenix is considering closing five schools amid a deficit that a school official blames on universal school choice and low enrollment. District data suggests a different story. Superintendent Dani Portillo has cited declining birth rates and the expansion of ESA vouchers as the reason for low revenue. The district is facing an almost $5 million deficit with the forecasted $77.9 million expense outpacing the $74.8 million anticipated revenue. There are 36 alternative non-district schools in the area that parents can use ESA funds to enroll their children in. Roosevelt, by comparison, has 18 schools. According to Portillo, there are approximately 900 students currently using ESA funding within the district’s boundaries to attend other schools. However, universal school choice wasn’t enacted until July 2022 and the district’s enrollment has increased by more than 300 students since then, breaking a 10-year decline. According to financial reporting from the district, the reliance on COVID-19 pandemic relief funds may be the bigger reason contributing to the budget deficit. The Roosevelt School District received more than $67 million in ESSER funds, which were awarded between March 2020-21, and have since been tapped dry. In a public…

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Donated Driving Simulators Headed to Springfield, Ohio to Train Illegal Immigrants and Refugees How to Drive

The Center Square
Gov. Mike DeWine

by J.D. Davidson   The state of Ohio plans to use donated driving simulators to teach people living in or entering the country illegally in Springfield safe driving skills in hopes of easing ongoing traffic issues throughout the community. Gov. Mike DeWine announced Thursday the Maria Tiberi Foundation and Virtual Driver Interactive donated 10 new simulators to the Ohio Department of Transportation for use in Springfield and Clark County. They’ve been put in places that serve the Haitian community, which has recently come to the area with little or no driver training. “One of the big issues we’ve seen with migrants in Clark County is that they are not used to driving here,” said Governor DeWine. “With the generous donations from the Maria Tiberi Foundation and Virtual Driver Interactive, this new program will help the Haitian population learn the rules of the road and allow them to practice defensive driving skills that can keep everyone on the roads safe.” It’s part of an ongoing state effort to deal with a growing legal Haitian refugee population, which has grown since 2020 to around 15,000 in the city of nearly 60,000 under the Temporary Protected Status program. The Temporary Protected Status program…

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Ban on ‘Male Physiology’ in Women’s Sports Could Hurt Catholics, Minnesota Supreme Court Suggests

Just the News
Volleyball

The day before the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments in a case that could decide the availability of puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones and surgical removal of healthy breasts and genitals for gender-confused minors, the Minnesota Supreme Court heard arguments on another transgender issue: eligibility rules in private athletic competition.

The hypotheticals from the justices got creative, with one speculating that bowling leagues could bar Catholics from competition if the high court upheld USA Powerlifting’s ban on athletes in women’s competition who have completed male puberty.

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Lawyers Representing Illegal Immigrant Jose Ibarra Request New Trial for Murder of Laken Riley

Tom Pappert

Attorneys representing Jose Ibarra, the Venezuelan illegal immigrant sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Laken Riley, a 22-year-old nursing student killed while jogging on the University of Georgia campus, on Tuesday formally requested a new trial for their client.

Ibarra was found guilty of all charges related to his murder of Riley by Athens-Clarke County Superior Court Judge Patrick Haggard on November 20. The judge rendered his verdict after Ibarra waived his right to a trial by jury, and instead allowed the judge to determine his fate at a bench trial.

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GM Pulls Out of Michigan Battery Plant Deal; GOP Calls Move Betrayal to Taxpayers

The Center Square
Ford Factory

With the construction of the Ultium Cells LLC battery cell plant in Lansing nearly finished, General Motors announced it will sell back its stake to its joint venture partner LG Energy Solution.

According to a news release, the transaction does not change GM’s ownership interest in the Ultium Cells LLC project, in which GM and LG have invested a total of $7 billion U.S. taxpayer dollars, sourced from a Department of Energy loan program.

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Temple University $1.3 Million State-Funded ‘Anti-Racism’ Center Hosts a Few Events

The College Fix
Temple University Students

Pennsylvania taxpayers spent $1.3 million to build Temple University’s “Center for Anti-Racism,” inside an existing school building.

Now entering its third year, the center’s work has largely consisted of conferences and speakers. The $1.3 million state-funded center appears to operate out of a room in Mazur Hall, a pre-existing building on campus.

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Stephen Richer Joins Kamala Harris Advisor, Others to Form New Moderate Republican Group: ‘Conservative Agenda for Arizona’

Rachel Alexander
Stephen Richer

A new moderate Republican group, Conservative Agenda for Arizona (CAA), emerged recently in Arizona. Its leadership and advisory board are mainly Republicans associated with the party’s moderate wing, including outgoing Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer.

Richer started a PAC for GOP fraud deniers soon after he took office and said during the Republican primary this year that he intended to vote for Joe Biden instead of Donald Trump for president.

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Virginia Election Official Resigns After Report Found He Spent $500,000 on Alcohol, Hotels, Private Security, and Office Remodel

Tom Pappert
Keith Balmer

The top two election officials in Richmond, Virginia, resigned on Wednesday after a report claimed their office misappropriated $500,000 on expenses, including alcohol, unnecessary hotel stays, private security, and a luxury remodeling of office space leased by a government agency. Their resignations will reportedly take effect on December 31.

Richmond General Registrar Keith Balmer resigned on Wednesday, with the Richmond Electoral Board reportedly accepting both his resignation and the resignation of his deputy, Jerry Richardson. This comes just one week after Richmond Inspector General James Osuna released a report claiming their office wasted almost $500,000 in taxpayer money.

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Intel’s Gelsinger Out; Ohio Leaders Believe Project Moving Forward

The Center Square
Intel Factory

State officials hope Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger’s retirement will not impact the chip manufacturer’s $20 billion plan for central Ohio.

While Gelsinger officially retired after 40 years with the company and stepped down from the board of directors, several national media outlets reported he was forced out by the board as the chipmaker has struggled in the past several months.

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Semiconductor Manufacturer to Close Arizona Factory Despite $162 Million in CHIPS Act Funds from Biden-Harris

Tom Pappert
Microchip Technology Inc

A semiconductor manufacturer announced Monday it will close its Tempe, Arizona factory in September of next year. The announcement came less than one year after the Biden-Harris administration announced $162 million in incentives to convince the company to expand its facilities in other states.

Microchip Technology Inc. announced in a Monday quarterly call that the company would shut down its semiconductor manufacturing facility in Tempe, which will reportedly impact about 500 employees, as a cost-saving measure as executives instead look to the company’s facilities in Colorado and Oregon.

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Virginia Republican Seeks to Ban Institutional Investors from Buying Single-Family Houses

Tom Pappert
Home for Sale

Virginia State Senator Glen Sturtevant (R-Midlothian) revealed on Saturday he intends to file legislation that would prohibit institutional buyers, like hedge funds and private equity groups, from purchasing single-family homes in the commonwealth.

In posts to the social media platform X, Sturtevant noted that Redfin found in August that one in six homes in the United States are purchased from such institutional buyers, and revealed that the figure increased to 11 percent of home purchases in Virginia Beach and 9 percent in Washington, D.C.

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Fani Willis Dealt Twin Losses as Judge Defaults D.A. in Judicial Watch Case, Jury Lets YSL Defendants Walk

Tom Pappert
Fulton County D.A. Fani Willis

Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis was dealt two losses on Tuesday after a Georgia judge found her in default in the freedom of information case case brought against her by Judicial Watch and her Racketeering Influenced Corrupt Organizations (RICO) case against Young Slime Life (YSL) ended with acquittals for the final two defendants.

Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton first announced the organization’s victory in a post to the social media platform X, confirming a favorable judgment in their effort to obtain any evidence of communications or collusion between Willis’ office and Special Counsel Jack Smith, who brought a federal case against President-elect Donald Trump that legal pundits said bore striking similarities to her own case against Trump.

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Rays Say in Letter That Stadium Deal Is Still in Effect

The Center Square
Tampa Bay Rays

The Tampa Bay Rays ownership said in a letter that a $1.3 billion deal to build a new stadium in St. Petersburg is still in effect and the team is awaiting decisions by local officials on the bonds to help pay for the project.

The letter sent to the Pinellas County Commission on Friday said team Co-President “Brian Auld did not waver from our commitment to the new ballpark project” and blamed the commission for not honoring the spirit of the agreement reached in July to build a new stadium and multi-use development in the historic Gas Plant District.

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Minnesota Republican Lawsuit Seeks New Election in House Seat That Could Decide Majority

Alpha News

Minnesota House of Representatives candidate Aaron Paul, a Republican, filed an election contest lawsuit on Friday that seeks to bring a new election in House District 54A.

The election in District 54A proved to be one of the closest elections in Minnesota this year. After a recount was conducted last week, State Rep. Brad Tabke, DFL-Shakopee, led Paul by just 14 votes in the race for the Scott County legislative seat.

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YSL Defendant Stabbed in Fulton County Jail as D.A. Fani Willis Seeks to Conclude Trial

Tom Pappert
Yak Gotti

One of the remaining defendants in the Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ racketeering trial of musical artists associated with Young Slime Life (YSL) and Young Thug was reportedly stabbed at the Fulton County Jail on Sunday as the district attorney seeks to conclude the trial.

Young Slime Life co-defendant Deamonte Kendirck was stabbed at the Fulton County Jail by another inmate, WABE reported his attorney revealed Monday after the rapper, who performs using the stage name Yak Gotti, appeared in court with multiple staples in his head on Monday.

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Alleged Abuse of Arizona School Choice Program First Flagged by State Superintendent, Given to Attorney General

Tom Pappert
Classroom

Tom Horne, the Arizona State Superintendent of Education, reportedly stated Monday that the alleged abuse of the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) system by two Colorado residents was first flagged by his office, which reported it to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for possible criminal prosecution.

Mayes announced on Monday that a grand jury indicted Johnny Bowers and Ashley Hewitt with filing fraudulent applications for 50 students to receive scholarships that help families send students to a school of their choice.

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Minnesota County Attorney Claims 20 Ballots Likely Thrown Away in 15-Vote Margin Race

Daily Caller News Foundation
Minnesota House Race

An investigation into missing ballots in a tight Minnesota state House race found they were most likely thrown away and will not be recovered.

Following a recount, incumbent Democratic- Minnesota state Rep. Brad Tabke leads Republican Aaron Paul by just 15 votes, with officials saying they had records of 21 more people voting than ballots received, according to a Scott County, Minnesota, investigative report. Of the 21 ballots unaccounted for, 20 came from a single precinct, sparking an investigation that found the votes were likely thrown away and have already been shredded.

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Wisconsin Group Calls for DOGE-Style Review of Government Services, Spending

The Center Square
Wisconsin Capitol

A Wisconsin group is calling for its state government to undergo a review of state government spending and staffing similar to what is being proposed for the new federal Department of Government Efficiency led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

Wisconsin’s Institute for Reforming Government is reiterating a plan it proposed in 2023 to reduce the number of full-time state employees by contracting for professional services and finding redundancies.

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Vivek Ramaswamy, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene Question Biden’s $6.6 Billion Loan to Electric Automaker Rivian for Georgia Factory

Tom Pappert
Vivek and MTG

Vivek Ramaswamy on Tuesday questioned the $6.6 billion loan authorized by the Biden-Harris administration to the troubled electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian. The company will use the loan to fund the completion of its Georgia factory.

The Biden-Harris administration on Tuesday approved a $6.6 billion loan for Rivian after the construction of its electric vehicle factory in Georgia after progress stalled in March despite $1.5 billion in state tax incentives brokered by Governor Brian Kemp.

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Leftist Group Provided Legal Blueprint for Attorney General Kris Mayes to Prosecute Arizona’s 2020 Alternate Electors for Trump

Rachel Alexander
Kris Mayes

The far-left States United Democracy Center (SUDC) provided a 47-page legal memo to Attorney General Kris Mayes on July 25, 2023, the Daily Signal reported last week, outlining a plan for her to prosecute the alternate electors for Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election and a few others associated with the effort.

Mayes is currently prosecuting most of those listed in the memo. Despite President-elect Donald Trump winning the 2024 election earlier this month, Mayes said she will not stop the prosecutions, unlike some other prosecutors who are backing off on their Trump-related prosecutions.

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Arizona Man Arrested for Profanity-Laden Death Threats to Donald Trump and His Family

Rachel Alexander
Police with ATF

An Arizona man was arrested by federal authorities Monday for posting threats online against Donald Trump and his family. Prosecutors charged Manuel Tamayo-Torres on Tuesday with one count of Threats Against President and Successors to the Presidency and four counts of False Statement During the Purchase of a Firearm. Tamayo-Torres attempted to purchase a firearm as a convicted felon with a restraining order. 

According to the charging documents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Tamayo-Torres said in a profanity-laden video posted on Facebook a few days ago that the “the former president and current president-elect,” his son and family are “gonna die … I’m going to put a hole in your face.” He also threatened to torture Trump. “I’m going to f****** kill you motherf*****,” he said. “I’m going to tear your motherf****** face out, your whole motherf****** face.” 

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Minneapolis Subsidizes Rent for Artists to Turn Vacant Storefronts into ‘Vibrant Cultural Hubs’

Alpha News
Blackbird Revolt

The City of Minneapolis has announced the first recipients of its Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts initiative, a pilot program providing over $224,000 to help local arts organizations turn empty storefronts into “vibrant cultural hubs.”

In a press release, Mayor Jacob Frey praised the initiative as a “game-changer,” adding, “This is just the beginning,” while pointing to plans to expand the program into Uptown with even more taxpayer dollars.

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Judge Allows Wedding Barn Lawsuit over Wisconsin Liquor Law to Continue

The Center Square
Farmview Event Barn

A liquor lawsuit filed against the Wisconsin Department of Revenue by two small business owners will continue after a judge denied DOR’s attempts to dismiss it.

The case, brought by Farmview Event Barn LLC and Monarch Valley Weddings and Events LLC with legal aid from law firm Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty, has argued recent changes in Wisconsin liquor laws pertaining to event venues are unconstitutionally burdensome and essentially regulates the businesses out of existence.

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Michigan Election Integrity Group Warns Security Is Weak on Overseas Ballots, Recommends Reforms

Just the News
Absentee Ballot

A Michigan election integrity group is warning about the lack of security for overseas ballots, recommending reforms both federally and statewide.

Republicans and election integrity proponents raised concerns regarding ballots cast by U.S. citizens living overseas ahead of the presidential election, with some even taking the issue to the courts. Following the election, Michigan Fair Elections Institute (MFEI) released a report regarding issues with overseas ballots, both on the federal and state levels, and is looking forward to legislators resolving these issues.

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Pennsylvania Seeks Input for Maternal Health Plan

The Center Square
Pregnant Woman

For Pennsylvanians, there are a few days left to complete the Maternal Health Strategic Plan Survey, part of the Shapiro administration’s approach to tackling the state’s poor maternal health outcomes.

The governor traveled to Scranton Primary Health Care Center where he held a roundtable discussion with patients and staff to inform the strategy. The center serves the Scranton region in Lackawanna County, specifically targeting the poor and underinsured. It had 16,000 patients last year including pregnant and postpartum mothers.

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Arizona Lawmakers Accuse Scottsdale of Adding Red Tape in New Housing Laws

The Center Square
Scottsdale

A Scottsdale city ordinance on housing is raising red flags among some Republicans in the state legislature.

Majority Leader Leo Biasiucci and Majority Leader-Elect Michael Carbone are asking for the city to revise Ordinance No. 4651, which explains how the city would go along with two housing bills recently signed by the governor, according to State Affairs.

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Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin Backs Trump’s Tariff Threat Against Mexico, Predicts ‘Extraordinary Economic Expansion in America’

Tom Pappert
Glenn Youngkin

Governor Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday confirmed he supports President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to impose new tariffs against Mexico to compel the neighboring nation to cut the flow of fentanyl over the southern border. Youngkin argues that Trump’s plans will ignite an expansion in manufacturing for Virginia.

Youngkin reportedly confirmed his support for Trump’s tariffs during a Tuesday press conference, as he provided an update on the commonwealth’s efforts to curtail fentanyl overdoses with Attorney General Jason Miyares.

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Conservative Florida Attorney Chris Crowley Continues Battling Suspension of His Law License over Political Speech

Rachel Alexander
Florida Attorney Chris Crowley

Florida attorney Chris Crowley filed a Cross-Answer/Reply Brief with the Florida Supreme Court earlier this month in his appeal challenging the suspension of his law license for 60 days.

A Referee for the Florida Bar disciplined him for engaging in political speech while he campaigned for the state attorney’s office in Florida’s 20th Judicial Circuit due to referring to his opponent as “corrupt” and “swampy” and for observing that she had “close family ties to the [Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO)] terrorist organization.”

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Georgia U.S. Sens Ossoff, Warnock Slammed by Jewish Groups After Vote to Freeze Arms Sales to Israel

Tom Pappert
Sens Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warmock

The Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta was joined by more than 50 Jewish community organizations and congregations in a Friday letter condemning U.S. Senators Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock over their vote last Friday for a Senate resolution that would have blocked future arms sales to Israel.

Both Fetterman and Ossoff both voted for the joint resolution proposed by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) for Congress to block a sale of defensive weaponry and services from Israel amid the country’s war against Hamas in Gaza and conflicts with Hezbollah in neighboring Lebanon. The resolution failed last week with just 18 votes in favor and 79 votes to block it.

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Trump Admin Members Invited to Live in Virginia by Gov. Glenn Youngkin as President-Elect Finishes Nominations

Tom Pappert
Glenn Youngkin

Governor Glenn Youngkin on Tuesday invited incoming members of the second Trump administration to live in Virginia and commute to Washington, D.C., highlighting advantages offered by the commonwealth.

In a 30-second video posted to the social media platform X, the governor urged Trump administration officials to choose to live in Virginia over Maryland or the nation’s capital.

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TPUSA Founder Charlie Kirk Floated to Challenge Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs in 2026

Tom Pappert
Charlie Kirk

Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk is reportedly being floated as a possible Republican candidate to challenge Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs in 2026.

News that Kirk may be considering a gubernatorial campaign for 2026 was revealed by 12 News reporter Brahm Resnik during the television station’s Sunday “Square Off” program, when he claimed there is a “rumor” that Kirk is considering a run for governor after emerging as “a significant player” in the Republican Party during the 2024 elections.

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Report: Minnesota Criminal Justice System ‘More Favorable’ to Black Criminals than White Criminals

Alpha News
Person Arrested

A newly released report from the Center of the American Experiment (CAE) challenges the narrative that Minnesota’s criminal justice system is racially biased against black offenders.

According to the report, titled “Case Closed: Minnesota’s Offender Outcomes Devoid of Racial Bias,” black offenders reportedly face more favorable outcomes in the system compared to white offenders across various stages, including incarceration.

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Virginia Election Official Wasted $500,000 on Alcohol, Private Security, and Remodel of Leased Office Space: Report

Tom Pappert
Keith Balmer

The top election worker in Richmond, Virginia allegedly wasted nearly $500,000 on a combination of alcohol, private security and efforts to create his own security staff, and the remodel and purchase of new furniture for leased office space, a report from the city’s watchdog agency claims.

The Richmond Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report Monday revealing Richmond General Registrar Keith Balmer is accused of wasting nearly $500,000 in taxpayer resources through a pattern of behavior that apparently began in 2023.

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