A federal judge has temporarily halted the IRS from sharing taxpayer information with ICE, deeming the practice unlawful. The court’s decision, based on a 94-page ruling, cited violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and several Internal Revenue Code provisions, specifically concerning the disclosure of confidential taxpayer address information. The IRS had already shared information on nearly 47,000 taxpayers in early August, prompting the judge to pause the data-sharing policy. This ruling preliminarily blocks the IRS and Treasury Department from sharing tax return information with the Department of Homeland Security, with some exceptions requiring judicial approval.
Read More
Judge Matthew EP Thornhill of Missouri resigned following disciplinary action for inappropriate conduct in court. The longest-serving circuit judge in St. Charles County was disciplined for wearing an Elvis Presley wig and playing the singer’s music during court proceedings, violating the integrity of court proceedings. The disciplinary commission cited frequent and irrelevant Elvis references as the reason for demanding his suspension. In a letter, Judge Thornhill acknowledged the impact of his actions, expressing a desire to add levity, while regretting the effects.
Read More
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website has been altered to contradict the scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism, sparking strong criticism from public health and autism experts. The updated “vaccine safety” webpage now states that the claim “Vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence-based, despite numerous studies to the contrary. This change follows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) efforts to revisit the safety of vaccines. Concerns have been raised by former CDC officials, and critics suggest the changes are ideologically driven, particularly with the appointment of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary.
Read More
A Bloomfield firefighter filed a federal lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment due to a coworker’s actions during training sessions. The complaint, filed on November 16, 2025, details two incidents where the coworker, Walter Coffey, displayed and threw a noose at the plaintiff, accompanied by racial slurs. Despite the incidents, which occurred in November 2023, and subsequent criminal charges against Coffey, the firefighter claims the Bloomfield Fire Department failed to take appropriate disciplinary action. The plaintiff alleges emotional and psychological distress, seeking $25 million in damages, citing violations of federal and state civil rights laws.
Read More
During a Friday lunch period, a high school student in McMinnville was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). School officials confirmed the incident, noting students witnessed the event and that they are verifying information and communicating with local partners. The family of the arrested 17-year-old claims he is a U.S. citizen, and ICE has not yet commented on the arrest. This incident follows a rise in immigration enforcement activity in Oregon, though arrests of minors are uncommon.
Read More
Emails released by US lawmakers reveal that Noam Chomsky maintained “regular contact” with Jeffrey Epstein, even after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. A letter of support attributed to Chomsky lauded Epstein’s intellectual contributions and described their relationship as a “most valuable experience.” The correspondence indicates a deeper relationship than previously acknowledged, including discussions of musical interests and potential vacations. Furthermore, Epstein offered Chomsky the use of his residences.
Read More
A person in Washington state has died from a rare strain of bird flu, identified as H5N5, marking the first human fatality from this specific strain. The individual, an older adult with underlying health conditions, had a backyard flock of poultry exposed to wild birds and developed the illness in early November. Despite the fatality, health officials emphasize that the risk to the public remains low, as no other individuals involved have tested positive for the virus and there’s no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The CDC has also stated that the case doesn’t indicate an increased public health risk.
Read More
Texas schools are navigating a new state law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, leading to varied reactions. Some teachers, like Gigi Cervantes, have resigned in protest, while others, such as Dustin Parsons, view the displays as historical context. Despite legal challenges, including court orders against the mandate, many schools are implementing the law and receiving donated posters. The issue has sparked debate among students, parents, and school staff, raising questions about religious freedom and the role of schools.
Read More
In Utica, NY, four prison guards were sentenced to prison terms for their involvement in the 2023 death of Robert Brooks, an incarcerated Black man at Marcy Correctional Facility. The guards pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges, stemming from the brutal beating, which was captured on body camera footage. Nicholas Anzalone and Anthony Farina received 22-year terms, while Michael Mashaw and David Walters received sentences ranging from two years, four months to nine years. The sentencing followed the convictions and plea deals of other guards involved in the case, with the trial for another guard scheduled to begin in January and trials in another fatal beating at a different lockup.
Read More
In a recent court appearance, Curt Andersen, the Indiana man accused of killing Maria Florinda Rios Perez De Velasquez, a house cleaner who mistakenly arrived at his home, had his bail set at $25,000 and was ordered to surrender his passport. Andersen, charged with voluntary manslaughter, appeared in court wearing a jail jumpsuit and bulletproof vest. The judge also scheduled a jury trial for March 30. The incident occurred when Rios and her husband, part of a cleaning crew, went to Andersen’s home by mistake, and Andersen fired a shot through the door, fatally wounding Rios.
Read More
Judge Blocks IRS from Sharing Taxpayer Data with ICE: A Critique of Enforcement Practices
A federal judge has temporarily halted the IRS from sharing taxpayer information with ICE, deeming the practice unlawful. The court’s decision, based on a 94-page ruling, cited violations of the Administrative Procedure Act and several Internal Revenue Code provisions, specifically concerning the disclosure of confidential taxpayer address information. The IRS had already shared information on nearly 47,000 taxpayers in early August, prompting the judge to pause the data-sharing policy. This ruling preliminarily blocks the IRS and Treasury Department from sharing tax return information with the Department of Homeland Security, with some exceptions requiring judicial approval.
Read More
Missouri Judge Resigns After Elvis Wig Incident and Unethical Conduct
Judge Matthew EP Thornhill of Missouri resigned following disciplinary action for inappropriate conduct in court. The longest-serving circuit judge in St. Charles County was disciplined for wearing an Elvis Presley wig and playing the singer’s music during court proceedings, violating the integrity of court proceedings. The disciplinary commission cited frequent and irrelevant Elvis references as the reason for demanding his suspension. In a letter, Judge Thornhill acknowledged the impact of his actions, expressing a desire to add levity, while regretting the effects.
Read More
CDC Vaccine Stance Shift Sparks Outrage and Concerns of Anti-Science Influence
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website has been altered to contradict the scientific consensus that vaccines do not cause autism, sparking strong criticism from public health and autism experts. The updated “vaccine safety” webpage now states that the claim “Vaccines do not cause autism” is not evidence-based, despite numerous studies to the contrary. This change follows the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) efforts to revisit the safety of vaccines. Concerns have been raised by former CDC officials, and critics suggest the changes are ideologically driven, particularly with the appointment of anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as HHS secretary.
Read More
New Jersey Firefighter Sues Over Noose Incident, Citing Civil Rights Violations
A Bloomfield firefighter filed a federal lawsuit alleging racial discrimination and a hostile work environment due to a coworker’s actions during training sessions. The complaint, filed on November 16, 2025, details two incidents where the coworker, Walter Coffey, displayed and threw a noose at the plaintiff, accompanied by racial slurs. Despite the incidents, which occurred in November 2023, and subsequent criminal charges against Coffey, the firefighter claims the Bloomfield Fire Department failed to take appropriate disciplinary action. The plaintiff alleges emotional and psychological distress, seeking $25 million in damages, citing violations of federal and state civil rights laws.
Read More
ICE Arrests US Citizen High School Student in Apparent Mistake, Sparks Outrage
During a Friday lunch period, a high school student in McMinnville was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). School officials confirmed the incident, noting students witnessed the event and that they are verifying information and communicating with local partners. The family of the arrested 17-year-old claims he is a U.S. citizen, and ICE has not yet commented on the arrest. This incident follows a rise in immigration enforcement activity in Oregon, though arrests of minors are uncommon.
Read More
Chomsky’s Ties to Epstein: Documents Reveal Deepening Relationship
Emails released by US lawmakers reveal that Noam Chomsky maintained “regular contact” with Jeffrey Epstein, even after Epstein’s conviction for soliciting prostitution from a minor. A letter of support attributed to Chomsky lauded Epstein’s intellectual contributions and described their relationship as a “most valuable experience.” The correspondence indicates a deeper relationship than previously acknowledged, including discussions of musical interests and potential vacations. Furthermore, Epstein offered Chomsky the use of his residences.
Read More
First US Death from Rare Bird Flu Strain Sparks Concern, Mixed Reactions
A person in Washington state has died from a rare strain of bird flu, identified as H5N5, marking the first human fatality from this specific strain. The individual, an older adult with underlying health conditions, had a backyard flock of poultry exposed to wild birds and developed the illness in early November. Despite the fatality, health officials emphasize that the risk to the public remains low, as no other individuals involved have tested positive for the virus and there’s no evidence of human-to-human transmission. The CDC has also stated that the case doesn’t indicate an increased public health risk.
Read More
Texas Schools and the Ten Commandments: Constitutional Clash Erupts
Texas schools are navigating a new state law mandating the display of the Ten Commandments in classrooms, leading to varied reactions. Some teachers, like Gigi Cervantes, have resigned in protest, while others, such as Dustin Parsons, view the displays as historical context. Despite legal challenges, including court orders against the mandate, many schools are implementing the law and receiving donated posters. The issue has sparked debate among students, parents, and school staff, raising questions about religious freedom and the role of schools.
Read More
Guards Sentenced in Brutal Beating Death of Incarcerated Black Man: Reactions and Debate
In Utica, NY, four prison guards were sentenced to prison terms for their involvement in the 2023 death of Robert Brooks, an incarcerated Black man at Marcy Correctional Facility. The guards pleaded guilty to manslaughter charges, stemming from the brutal beating, which was captured on body camera footage. Nicholas Anzalone and Anthony Farina received 22-year terms, while Michael Mashaw and David Walters received sentences ranging from two years, four months to nine years. The sentencing followed the convictions and plea deals of other guards involved in the case, with the trial for another guard scheduled to begin in January and trials in another fatal beating at a different lockup.
Read More
Indiana Man Accused of Murder Gets Bail, Trial Set for March
In a recent court appearance, Curt Andersen, the Indiana man accused of killing Maria Florinda Rios Perez De Velasquez, a house cleaner who mistakenly arrived at his home, had his bail set at $25,000 and was ordered to surrender his passport. Andersen, charged with voluntary manslaughter, appeared in court wearing a jail jumpsuit and bulletproof vest. The judge also scheduled a jury trial for March 30. The incident occurred when Rios and her husband, part of a cleaning crew, went to Andersen’s home by mistake, and Andersen fired a shot through the door, fatally wounding Rios.
Read More