Midwest
House GOP chairman accuses key government agency of acting as Biden 'campaign arm'
FIRST ON FOX: The top Republican on the House Small Business Committee is accusing the Biden administration of using a key government agency as its “campaign arm” in a critical swing state ahead of the 2024 election.
“Earlier this month, my colleagues and I sent a letter to the SBA inquiring into their Memorandum of Understanding with the Michigan Department of State. It appears that the SBA is diverting its resources away from assisting Main Street so it can register Democrat voters,” Chairman Roger Williams, R-Texas, told Fox News Digital.
“Federal agencies should not act as campaign arms for their Administrations, period. Americans have a right to know the extent of the SBA’s involvement, and based on further investigation, it appears even more concerning. I look forward to hearing from Administrator Guzman as to why her agency is engaging in election efforts on the taxpayer’s dime.”
BIDEN ADMIN ACCUSED OF USING TAXPAYER FUNDS TO HELP HIS OWN CAMPAIGN WITH STUDENT VOTER REGISTRATION SCHEME
Small Business Committee chairman Roger Williams is accusing President Biden of using the SBA as a campaign arm. (Getty Images)
It comes as President Biden’s re-election campaign eyes Michigan as a must-win state in the 2024 race. Biden beat former President Trump by less than 3% there in 2020.
Williams’ committee is investigating the Small Business Administration’s collaboration with the Michigan Department of State on a program “to promote civic engagement and voter registration in Michigan,” according to a press release announcing the partnership.
The press release said the Michigan Department of State would “create a unique URL for the SBA to use to drive online visitors to register to vote,” and that the SBA’s Michigan field office would allow state government officials to facilitate in-person voter registration at the federal agency’s business outreach events. It is part of an overall effort by the Biden administration to expand access to voter registration, launched by a 2021 executive order.
BEWARE OF WORK-STUDY PROGRAMS DISGUISED AS POLITICAL ACTIVITIES: GOP ATTORNEYS GENERAL LETTER TO DOE
Williams is targeting a partnership started by the Michigan Department of State and Small Business Administration chief Isabel Guzman. (Getty Images)
An investigation by the House Small Business Committee found that 22 out of 25 of such outreach events have taken place in counties with the highest population of Democratic National Committee (DNC) target demographics.
Meanwhile, 11 of 15 Michigan counties that showed the largest voter registration increase over the last year have ranked highest in population of young voters and Black voters, according to the committee – two of the left’s most-sought voting blocs.
Williams sent a letter last week to SBA Administrator Isabel Guzman demanding more information on whether her federal office is helping expand Biden’s voter base.
POLL REVEALS BATTLEGROUND STATE VOTERS PREFER TRUMP OVER BIDEN IN HEATED 2024 CONTEST
Biden talks to supporters at a campaign event outside a private home in the Cathedral District neighborhood of Saginaw, Michigan, on March 14, 2024. Michigan is a critical state for Biden to win in November. (Photo by BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP via Getty Images)
“The Committee wrote to you on April 4, 2024, requesting further information about your involvement in voter registration in Michigan. You failed to provide a briefing, narrative response, or any documents by the deadline. The Committee is incredibly concerned that the Small Business Administration (SBA) improperly involved the federal government in America’s electoral processes,” Williams wrote.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Biden campaign and the SBA for comment.
Read the full article from Here
The WNBA came to Sioux Falls for the first time on Saturday, and it “couldn’t have been a bigger hit.” The Mercury defeated the Sky 108-104 in a preseason exhibition before a sellout crowd of 3,357 at the Sanford Pentagon. The Mercury are coached by South Dakota native Nate Tibbetts, and most of the fans in attendance were “decked out in either purple or orange.” This was “more than a basketball game.” It was a “homecoming for Tibbetts,” but also a “historic moment for women’s sports in South Dakota.” The WNBA has never been to South Dakota (SIOUX FALLS LIVE, 4/26). Lines went “out the door more than an hour before tip-off.” Basketball fans “traveled from around the region to take in the game and witness history” (DAKOTA NEWS NOW, 4/26).
Flood warnings persist in parts of Wisconsin Sunday, April 26 as forecasts call for more potential storms early in the week.
The National Weather Service issued the warnings early Sunday. The warnings are in place for Rock, Dodge, Jefferson, Winnebago, Shawano, Outagamie, Waushara and Waupaca counties.
Some of the warnings are in effect until Thursday morning, April 30, while others remain in place until further notice.
The NWS urges motorists not to attempt to drive through flooded areas or around barricades.
Forecasts call for showers and a chance for a thunderstorm Monday, April 27. Skies should begin to clear up Tuesday but temperatures are expected to hover in the mid-50s and low 60s through the week.
See weather radar for Wisconsin
What to do during a flood warning
- If advised to evacuate, do so immediately.
- Use a battery-operated radio or television to get the latest emergency information.
- Do not walk through floodwater. Just six inches of floodwater can sweep you off your feet if it is moving swiftly.
- Turn around, don’t drown; do not drive into a flooded street. Cars can be swept away by two feet of moving water or there may be unseen damage to the road. If you come to a flooded area turn around and go another way. Most flood-related deaths are caused by people driving through water.
- Watch out for fire hazards.
- Move to higher ground.
- Stay alert, turn weather notifications on.
- Do not allow children to play in flowing water. Waters can hide rocks, trees and debris.
This weather report was generated automatically using information from the National Weather Service and a story written and reviewed by an editor.
See the latest weather alerts and forecasts here
Watch Steve Yzerman, Todd McLellan thoughts on 2025-26 Red Wings
Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman and coach Todd McLellan on April 23, 2026 in Detroit.
There was a little moment of levity at the end of the press conference held by general manager Steve Yzerman and coach Todd McLellan to discuss the 2025-26 Detroit Red Wings.
They had just wrapped up about 45 minutes of answering reporters’ questions on Thursday, April 23 when a last, lighthearted one was lobbed at McLellan. He’d been fidgeting with his notebook, and was asked if reporters could see it. “You won’t be able to read it,” McLellan said, smiling.
“It’s not worth looking at,” Yzerman said, laughing. “I’ve seen it all year.”
Ultimately, the notes on this season’s squad could be summed up by three words: iot good enough. That’s as a group. Individually, some players fared well in their final grades – Alex DeBrincat, for one, aced things with the way he competed and produced.
Here, then, are the final grades for the men who finished the season with the Red Wings.
F Mason Appleton: D
Stats: 6 goals, 8 assists, minus-4 rating in 65 games.
Contract: $2.9 million average annual value through 2026-27.
Buzz: Was supposed bring an edge and a bit of scoring, but made next to no impact in the second half, with just three points from the start of January.
D Jacob Bernard-Docker: C
Stats: 1 goal, 4 assists, even rating in 63 games.
Contract: $1.6 million AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Serviceable third-pairing defenseman.
D Ben Chiarot: B
Stats: 5 goals, 10 assists, minus-9 in 82 games.
Contract: $3.85 million AAV through 2028-29.
The buzz: Generally gives a hard effort, and plays with an edge.
F J.T. Compher: D
Stats: 11 goals, 17 assists, minus-13 in 82 games.
Contract: $5.1 million AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Not good enough to play in the top six, doesn’t contribute enough in the bottom six.
F Andrew Copp: C+
Stats: 9 goals, 34 assists, plus-3 in 79 games.
Contract: $5.625 million AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: Found a role centering the second line but needs to be more consistent.
F Alex DeBrincat: A
Stats: 41 goals, 44 assists, plus-8 in 82 games.
Contract: $7.875 million AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: Shows up every shift, always plays competitive hockey and the most consistent scoring threat on the team.
D Simon Edvinsson: B+
Stats: 9 goals, 16 assists, plus-12 in 72 games.
Contract: Restricted free agent.
Buzz: Big and rangy and works hard, but really needs to work on taking fewer penalties, because he had some doozies.
D Justin Faulk: B
Stats: 5 goals, 3 assists, minus-5 in 17 games with Wings.
Contract: $6.5 million AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: Came in at the trade deadline and immediately improved the top-four defense corps at both ends of the ice.
F Emmitt Finnie: B+
Stats: 13 goals, 17 assists, minus-10 in 82 games.
Contract: $821,667 AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: The rookie overall did well, though there were times during the season the former seventh-round pick faded. Much more suited to playing on a third line than on the first.
G John Gibson: A-
Stats: 29-22-4 with a 2.72 goals-against average and .901 save percentage in 57 games.
Contract: $6.4 million AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Let’s be clear – since he found his groove at Thanksgiving, Gibson was the reason the Wings looked like they were going to make the playoffs. He bailed out his teammates time and again, only slipping a bit towards the end.
D Travis Hamonic: D
Stats: 2 assists, minus-11 in 26 games.
Contract: Unrestricted free agent.
Buzz: Spent most of his time as a healthy scratch.
D Albert Johansson: C+
Stats: 3 goals, 8 assists, minus-18 in 82 games.
Contract: $1.125 million AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: Could be harder against opponents considering he does not see top matchups.
F Patrick Kane: B+
Stats: 16 goals, 41 assists, minus-1 in 67 games.
Contract: Unrestricted free agent.
Buzz: The 37-year-old was the team’s second-leading scorer with 25 points the last 26 games (behind DeBrincat’s 28). A clutch performer whose biggest issue is staying healthy, but at around $3 million, he’s well worth the investment.
F Marco Kasper: C-
Stats: 9 goals, 10 assists, minus-20 in 81 games.
Contract: $886,666 AAV through 2026-27.
Buzz: There was a slight uptick in his second-half play, but all in all, a disappointing sophomore season from a player the Wings hope can develop into a solid two-way center.
F Dylan Larkin: B+
Stats: 34 goals, 33 assists, plus-3 in 74 games.
Contract: $8.7 million AAV through 2030-31.
Buzz: Dealt with injuries down the stretch, but his work ethic never faltered. For those who don’t think he’s a No. 1 center, name 32 who are better.
F Carter Mazur: C+
Stats: No points, minus-3 in eight games.
Contract: Restricted free agent.
Buzz: Brought energy, but was put in a tough position when he was asked to help a team flailing after his call-up in late March.
F David Perron: D
Stats: 3 goals, minus-9 in 16 games with the Wings.
Contract: Unrestricted free agent.
Buzz: After undergoing sports hernia surgery in January, the trade-deadline acquisition just wasn’t able to bring the energy or scoring the Wings sought from their popular former teammate.
F Michael Rasmussen: D
Stats: 6 goals, 8 assists, minus-10 in 64 games.
Contract: $3.2 million AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Doesn’t bring nearly enough to the lineup. Had one point in the 28 games from Jan. 1 to the end of the season.
F Lucas Raymond: B
Stats: 25 goals, 51 assists, plus-1 in 80 games.
Contract: $8.075 million AAV through 2031-32.
Buzz: For a second straight year, he faltered coming out of an international event in February (4 Nations Face-Off in 2025, Olympics in 2026), with just 16 points the last 24 games.
D Axel Sandin-Pellikka: C
Stats: 7 goals, 14 assists, minus-20 in 68 games.
Contract: $918,333 AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Tons of talent, but the rookie’s risky maneuvers were anxiety-inducing.
D Moritz Seider: A
Stats: 10 goals, 50 assists, plus-15 in 82 games.
Contract: $8.55 million AAV through 2030-31.
The buzz: An absolute gem who delivers in all facets of the game. Had a career season, stats-wise
F Dominik Shine: C+
Stats: 3 goals, even rating in 18 games.
Contract: $875,000 AAV through 2027-28.
Buzz: Provided energy as a grinder.
G Cam Talbot: C
Stats: 12-9-6 with a 3.19 GAA and .883 save percentage in 34 games.
Contract: Unrestricted free agent.
Buzz: Wasn’t relied on much down the stretch and faced some tough assignments.
F James van Riemsdyk: C
Stats: 15 goals, 16 assists, minus-17 in 72 games.
Contract: Unrestricted free agents.
Buzz: 15 goals for $1 million (his salary in 2025-26) is quite respectable, but there was only one goal after the Olympic break. Plays big and goes to the net, like Tomas Holmstrom could attest, but he can’t be effective in that spot if teammates don’t get the puck there.
Coaching staff: B
Buzz: Todd McLellan and his staff emphasized three things from the start of camp: Be tougher to play against physically, mental toughness and game management. There were signs of improvement and resilience from players, but also signs of not being able to implement those facets when it mattered most – in March and April. McLellan and his staff has done the utmost to hold players accountable, and the failure to reach the playoffs reflects much more on players than McLellan.
Contact Helene St. James at hstjames@freepress.com.
Read more on the Detroit Red Wings and sign up for our Red Wings newsletter.
Her books: “The Franchise: Detroit Red Wings, A Curated History of Hockeytown,” and “On the Clock: Behind the Scenes with the Detroit Red Wings at the NHL Draft,” and “The Big 50: The Men and Moments that made the Detroit Red Wings” are available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Triumph Books. Personalized copies available via her e-mail.
-
Oklahoma21 seconds ago
Severe Weather Outbreak Likely To Spawn Tornadoes In Plains Through Tuesday | Weather.com
-
Oregon6 minutes agoOregon’s lead economist talks state growth, stagnating job prospects
-
Pennsylvania12 minutes agoDog, cats die in South Shenango house fire
-
Rhode Island18 minutes ago7 Prettiest Downtown Strips In Rhode Island
-
South Dakota30 minutes agoWNBA holds preseason exhibition game in South Dakota
-
Tennessee36 minutes agoTennessee approves Summer EBT grocery benefits starting in 2027
-
Texas42 minutes agoA closer look at the destruction of overnight storms in North Texas
-
Utah48 minutes agoWhere Utah’s 2026 NFL draft class ranks in school history
