Local News

Constituents of Iowa Representative Mariannette Miller-Meeks assembled outside the historic Outing Club in Davenport to voice their growing frustrations over what they describe as her ongoing absence from public town halls and a lack of communication with the people who elected her. The peaceful demonstration drew local activists, concerned citizens, and advocacy groups who say they feel ignored by their representative and are demanding more transparency and accessibility from her office. Protestors expressed disappointment with Miller-Meeks’s limited public engagement, particularly during times of significant political and social debate. Many attendees said they believe their concerns—ranging from healthcare and women’s rights to education and climate action—have not been adequ...

In Newark’s South Ward, Rosa Martinez pushes a rolling cart nearly a mile just to find fresh produce. The closure of the nearest full-service grocery store last year left her neighborhood with only corner shops and convenience stores, most of which don’t carry fruits, vegetables, or fresh meat. “We’re surrounded by food, but none of it helps me cook a healthy meal,” said Martinez. “It’s more expensive, takes more time, and sometimes I still can’t get what I need.” Urban Food Deserts on the Rise According to the USDA’s Food Access Research Atlas, large sections of cities like Newark, Paterson, and Trenton are now classified as low-income, low-access areas — also known as food deserts. That means many residents live over a mile from the nearest supermarket and lack reliable transpor...

SNAP is a government program that helps people afford groceries when money is tight. It’s designed to make sure individuals, families, and seniors can still access nutritious food even during financial hardship. You might know it by its older name—food stamps. These days, it’s all digital. People who qualify receive an EBT card, which works like a debit card at most grocery stores. But SNAP is more than just a food program—it’s about preserving dignity. It gives people the breathing room to focus on other areas of life without constantly worrying about their next meal. Programs like SNAP can be a lifeline, especially during difficult times. To qualify, your income must fall within specific limits based on household size. For 2025, the income thresholds are: 1-person hous...

Moshe Ehrlich, a 35-year-old father from Lakewood, New Jersey, is facing charges of child endangerment after the heartbreaking death of his 4-month-old son, who was left inside the family minivan for over two hours on March 18. According to a probable cause affidavit, Ehrlich had long feared this very scenario. He told investigators that he had developed several methods to prevent himself from forgetting his baby in the car, including placing his hat on the front passenger seat as a visual reminder. But despite these precautions, a hectic morning caused his routine to unravel. That morning, Ehrlich was preparing his six children for the day while his wife, Faiga Ehrlich, left for work around 9:30 a.m. Due to their 6-year-old missing the school bus, Ehrlich had to take on extr...

The city clerk of Wisconsin’s capital, Madison, has resigned following investigations into her failure to count nearly 200 absentee ballots during the November election. On Monday, Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway’s office announced that City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl had officially stepped down. According to the mayor’s spokesperson, Dylan Brogan, she submitted her resignation last Thursday. However, due to a clause in her contract that gave her several days to reconsider, the announcement was delayed. The Wisconsin Elections Commission began an investigation in early January after discovering that 192 absentee ballots had gone uncounted. Witzel-Behl did not notify the commission until December 18, more than a month after the election and after the canvassing process had concluded...

There’s nothing quite like realizing you’re dead wrong—after you've already made a scene. Today’s episode of “The Loud and Unprofessional” brings us to South Carolina, where a restaurant owner tried to publicly shame a customer into paying for a meal… that they never even received. Instead of taking a moment to get the facts straight, the owner jumped to the conclusion that the customers were trying to dine and dash. So, he decided to call them out in front of the entire restaurant. But when the woman he was accusing finally had a chance to explain, you could almost see the lightbulb go off as the owner slowly realized he’d messed up. The restaurant—identified in the comments as The Grill in Manning, South Carolina—had indeed brought out the pork chops the customers ordered. ...

Another university in North Texas has confirmed that several of its international students have unexpectedly lost their visas. The University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) told FOX 4 on Thursday that 27 of its international students recently experienced sudden changes to their visa status. While university officials did not provide a clear reason, Secretary of State Marco Rubio gave some insight. “If you come to the U.S. as a student, you’re expected to study, attend classes, and earn a degree,” Rubio said. “If instead you’re vandalizing libraries or taking over campuses, we’re going to revoke your visa — and we’ll keep doing it. When we identify individuals causing chaos, we remove them.” His comments come amid a wave of pro-Palestinian demonstrations at universities across the cou...

Three men have been formally charged in connection with a scheme involving a stolen U.S. Treasury check worth over $1 million, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Florida announced on Tuesday. The charges include conspiracy to commit bank fraud, bank fraud, and money laundering. According to the U.S. attorney’s office, Orelien Martial Nguepi-Tankoua, Jean Paul Bayoi, and Tamblyn Milton Frasier were indicted following earlier court appearances in both Florida and Georgia. Court records indicate the trio allegedly used fake identities to open fraudulent bank accounts and attempted to launder the stolen funds. In September 2021, Frasier is said to have opened a bank account in Georgia using a false identity and a counterfeit driver’s license, with help from Bayoi....

After eight years of pushing for a hands-free driving law in South Carolina, Rep. Bill Taylor finally saw his bill pass in the House on Wednesday — and he says a little pressure may have helped. Taylor told fellow lawmakers that the federal government had warned it might withhold up to $50 million in highway funding if the state didn’t join the majority of the country in banning drivers from holding cellphones while on the road. That warning seemed to do the trick, as the bill passed with strong support in an 85-25 vote. Most of the opposition came from Republicans who felt the measure was yet another instance of government overreach. The proposal now moves to the Senate, where it has previously received broad support, according to the Associated Press. “They’re driving blind. ...

Like many Asian supermarkets across the country, New Asian Market in West Allis, a suburb of Milwaukee, is feeling the strain of steep tariffs on Chinese imports. “We’ve had to stop ordering certain items because the prices have skyrocketed,” said Shen Xin Yu, who runs the store alongside his parents. “To stay profitable, we’ve had to raise prices even more—but eventually, it just doesn’t make sense to stock some of them.” Yu explained that stocking decisions now revolve around affordability, which often means losing customer favorites. “Just the other day, a customer asked for a specific brand of curry sauce we used to carry. But we can’t get it anymore—the price is just too high,” he said. “Some customers drive half an hour just to buy certain products, and now I have to exp...