Local News

Lately, I’ve been getting a lot of questions about whether a regular driver’s license can be used as a Real ID. The short answer? Only if your license is Real ID-compliant. Curious? Let’s dive deeper. What Is a Real ID? The Real ID Act is a federal law passed after 9/11 to improve security standards for state-issued identification like driver’s licenses. The law sets higher security requirements, aiming to make identification more secure and to protect against terrorism. The enforcement of the Real ID Act has been delayed several times, mostly due to the pandemic, but the deadline is finally here: Starting May 7, 2025, if you're 18 or older, you will need a Real ID-compliant driver’s license or another valid ID (like a passport) to pass through TSA security at the airport for d...

A Minnesota man’s traffic stop in Georgia has led to a legal dispute over the validity of his tribal license plates. The incident raises important questions about how tribal license plates are recognized in states outside of tribal jurisdictions. Johnathan Carlson, a father from Minnesota, was pulled over by Crisp County deputies in Georgia in March while driving through the state from Florida. Carlson said the traffic stop initially started as a speeding violation but quickly escalated when deputies questioned the legitimacy of his Red Lake Nation license plates. These plates are issued by a federally recognized tribe in Minnesota. “I’ve had the normal Red Lake brand of Triple Indian plates on my car before. Never had problems with them,” Carlson explained. According to Carls...

A group of 12 states governed by Democrats has filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump's international trade tariffs, arguing that only Congress has the authority to impose such measures. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. Court of International Trade, claims that the tariffs, many of which have not yet been enacted, have created significant uncertainty in the U.S. economy. Trump has maintained that the tariffs are necessary to make the United States wealthy enough to reduce its dependence on income taxes. In general, when companies face tariffs, they tend to pass the costs onto consumers by raising prices. The legal action, filed on April 23, was brought by the states of Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Oregon...

The Trump administration is celebrating a victory after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of the deportation case of Salvadoran national, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, who was initially removed from the U.S. despite being granted "Withholding of Removal" status. This decision marks a major shift in the legal landscape of immigration, upholding the position of the administration against challenges from immigration advocates and legal experts. The Deportation Incident Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national, was arrested in Baltimore and deported to El Salvador in a quick turnaround despite legal protections. He had been granted "Withholding of Removal" status, which protects immigrants from being sent back to countries where they face persecution. In this case, Abrego ...

The father of 17-year-old Austin Metcalf, who was fatally stabbed at a school track meet in Frisco, Texas, is strongly speaking out against a group of protesters who recently held a rally in his son’s name. Jeff Metcalf said these protesters, from a group calling itself "Protect White Americans," are not helping his family but instead using his son's death to promote their political agenda. The rally took place at the stadium where Austin Metcalf was stabbed in the heart, allegedly by another 17-year-old, Karmelo Anthony. The protestors gathered to criticize law enforcement and the legal system for allowing Anthony, who is Black, to be released on bond after being charged with first-degree murder. They claimed this was proof of what they called “anti-white hate” and “anti-white viol...

A Michigan man has been sentenced to nearly 30 years in prison after shooting his girlfriend during an argument over the paternity of their child. The incident happened in May 2024, but the court decided during a sentencing hearing held on April 18, 2025. The man, Vaughn Smith, who was 35 at the time of the incident, pleaded guilty to assault with intent to commit murder and two firearms charges. He appeared emotional and remorseful during his sentencing, even crying in front of the judge as he recalled the night that changed his life forever. The victim, whose name was not made public, also spoke during the hearing and asked the judge to show some mercy. According to reports by WZZM, the couple had been in a heated argument for several days leading up to the incident. Things...

Former U.S. President Donald Trump is taking major steps to change how schools in the country operate. His education plan is creating a wave of strong reactions across states, schools, and communities. Ever since he came into power, Trump has made it clear that he wants schools to follow his views. Just a few days after becoming President, he signed orders aimed at removing what he calls “woke” thinking from classrooms and promoting school vouchers. While these orders didn’t force immediate action, they instructed the education department to start preparing for change. Now, things are becoming more serious. Trump's administration is sending warnings to schools and colleges across the country. The message is clear — either follow the new rules or lose government funding. In...

More than two dozen people are now in immigration detention after a large-scale enforcement operation across multiple Louisiana cities. The FBI’s New Orleans Division, along with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), carried out arrests in different parts of the state from April 14 to April 18, 2025. According to an official statement from the FBI, 31 individuals were taken into custody during the operation. The enforcement action was based on directives from a recent Executive Order and guidance from the U.S. Attorney General. The arrests happened in several cities and parishes, including Shreveport, Lafayette, New Iberia, St. Mary Parish, Crowley, Covington, Gretna, Harvey, and Kenner. The authorities confirmed that all individuals were taken into custody without any ...

Protesters across the United States are set to take part in the 50501 demonstrations this Saturday, with Tampa Bay joining the nationwide wave of action against the Trump administration. Why it matters: The 50501 Movement, named after the idea of 50 protests in 50 states, aims to encourage Americans to come together and support each other, especially as policies from the Trump administration continue to target vulnerable and marginalized communities. The movement was born out of frustration with what its supporters view as overreach by the Trump administration. It quickly gained traction on Reddit, where the call for action spread rapidly. The movement's message is clear: the American working class will not passively watch as their rights and liberties are stripped away, and as the c...

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has raised concerns about the health claims made by Kellogg's, a company that produces some of the most popular breakfast cereals in the country. Paxton’s office is investigating the company after accusations that its cereals are being marketed as “healthy,” despite containing artificial food colorings. These colorings, Paxton argues, have been linked to a variety of health issues, including hyperactivity, obesity, and even cancer. Why is the Attorney General of Texas investigating Kellogg's? In early April 2025, Paxton made public a statement addressing the issue. He pointed specifically to well-known Kellogg’s cereals such as Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, and Rice Krispies, which are often marketed as "healthy" choices for families....