Midwest
Blue state governor in hot seat after parents harmed by sanctuary policies lash out: 'Gut punch'
Families who lost loved ones to crimes committed by those in the country illegally took aim at sanctuary policies in Illinois and across the country at a press conference with Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem Wednesday.
Among the speakers was Jim Walden, an Illinois resident who lost his son, Jimmy, several years ago in a motorcycle incident while Jimmy was stationed in Maryland.
“My son was serving in the United States Marine Corps in the intel field. He worked for the National Security Agency. Jimmy was 21 years old,” Walden said.
TRUMP SAYS MEXICAN PRESIDENT IS AFRAID OF CARTELS AFTER SHE REJECTED HIS OFFER TO SEND US TROOPS TO MEXICO
Illinois father Jim Walden took aim at Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker over the state’s immigration policies May 7, 2025. (Department of Homeland Security; Christopher Polk/Variety via Getty Images)
“He was hit and killed by his motorcycle by an illegal that the state of Maryland admitted they knew was illegal five years before he killed my son. And in that five-year period, they had had him in jail five times. He was convicted of domestic violence and put on probation, and he was illegal. He would have been 30 years old yesterday.
“For our governor to get on national television and say that he’s gonna stand up and protect these people is a gut punch to anybody that’s lost one,” Walden said of Gov. JB Pritzker.
“I just call on Gov. Pritzker to be a true governor and stand by the federal laws and deport every one of them, every one. I don’t care if they’re two or 20 or 80. Send them back. We have a path to citizenship. It’s called the naturalization process.”
BLUE STATE REPUBLICAN CALLS ON COUNTY SHERIFFS TO DEFY SANCTUARY LAW, DEM GOVERNOR RUMORED FOR 2028 RUN
Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker speaks during a press conference at the UI Health Mile Square Health Center Feb. 28, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune/Tribune News Service via Getty Images)
Noem said she did the press conference there at the “direction of President Trump today to draw attention to the dangerous policies of Illinois and the Illinois governor and what he has perpetuated as far as violence and criminality against his citizens here in this state.”
President Donald Trump recently issued an executive order asking DHS and the Department of Justice to treat “sanctuary jurisdictions” as states and localities that could lose federal funding.
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“Springfield needs attention specifically because of the victims that have been here, but also because of the laws that come out of this city that impact the entire state that is protecting illegal criminals and not prioritizing American citizens and the citizens of this great state,” the secretary added.
She also noted that the location of the event had a special meaning.
“But we’re standing here on this block today because this is the block where a young woman was killed just a couple of houses away from here. Emma Shafer was brutally stabbed and murdered by an illegal alien who was released into the United States by the Biden administration,” Noem explained.
Pritzker called the event a “publicity stunt” and took aim at the administration’s immigration policies.
BLUE CITY MAYOR SAYS ICE ARRESTS OF DANGEROUS CRIMINALS ARE NOT ‘FOCUSED ON MAKING US SAFER’
Hector Garza, vice president of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC), speaks as President Donald Trump and NBPC Vice President Art Del Cueto, right, listen during a surprise visit to the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House Jan. 3, 2018, in Washington, D.C. (Alex Wong/Getty Images)
“Unlike Donald Trump and Kristi Noem, Illinois follows the law,” Pritzker said in a statement about Noem’s visit. “The Trump administration is violating the United States Constitution, denying people due process and disappearing law-abiding neighbors, including children who are U.S. citizens. Yet, they are taking no real action to promote public safety and deport violent criminals within the clear and defined legal process.
“Trump-Noem publicity stunts do not make our communities safer or our immigration system smarter. Illinois doesn’t need to abuse power or ignore the Constitution to keep our people safe. Like the millions of Americans asking for sensible, humane immigration reform, I encourage the secretary to spend less time performing for Fox News and more time protecting the homeland.”
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North Dakota
Top prospect decommits from North Dakota, considering Michigan State
Recruiting never stops in the world of college hockey, and that trend has continued for Michigan State. A huge prospect has just re-opened his recruitment, and is back on the market, and the Spartans are in the thick of it.
Carson Pilgrim, a 5-foot-11 and 185 pound forward form Warroad (MN) has decommitted from North Dakota. The current Tri-City Storm star has the attention of many across the country, including MSU.
The Spartans have been listed alongside St. Cloud State and Colorado College as schools pursuing the top USHL prospect. He more than certainly will be donning a college sweater next year and Adam Nightingale wants it to be in the green and white.
Pilgrim has 16 goals and 19 assists in 42 games in the USHL this season.
Contact/Follow us @The SpartansWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Michigan State news, notes and opinion. You can also follow Cory Linsner on X @Rex_Linzy
Ohio
Two Ohio men arrested on drug charges in Raleigh County after traffic stop
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WCHS) — Two Ohio men were arrested in Raleigh County after police said they found a large amount of drugs during a traffic stop.
Andy Gray Jr., 44, and Cornell Stevenson, 54, both of Cleveland, Ohio, were arrested on drug charges following a traffic stop just after 1:30 a.m. Friday in the 1900 block of Harper Road for allegedly speeding, according to a news release from the Beckley Police Department.
Based on observations during the traffic stop, officers deployed a K-9 around the exterior of the vehicle which alerted to the presence of narcotics.
During a search of Gray, Stevenson and the vehicle, officers said they found 445 grams of fentanyl, a small amount of cocaine and $3,500 in cash. Police said the fentanyl has a street value of about $90,000.
Gray, the driver of the vehicle, was charged with obstructing an officer, conspiracy to commit a felony, fleeing on foot and possession with intent to deliver, according to jail records.
Stevenson was charged with possession with intent to deliver, conspiracy to commit a felony and possession of a controlled substance.
Both men are each being held on $75,000 bonds.
South Dakota
South Dakota: GFP Commission modifies bounty program – focuses on youth trapping and coyote removal
The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks (GFP) Commission passed a resolution to end the current Nest Predator Bounty Program at their March meeting in Pierre and create two separate programs within the existing budget and time period.The Nest Predator Bounty Program began in 2019 with the implementation of the Second Century Initiative. This reinvigorated trapping as an outdoor recreational opportunity and a means to get youth engaged and spend more time outdoors.
Data collected from the program shows that the level of youth participation over the past 4 years has exceeded 30%. In 2024 and 2025, youth participation reached 46%.”The Nest Predator Bounty Program has been incredibly successful at engaging youth in wildlife management and our tradition of trapping in South Dakota,” said Kevin Robling, GFP Secretary.
In total, 342,743 nest predators were removed since the program’s inception.”Intense nest predator removal in localized areas during the nesting season can contribute to higher nest success and we encourage individuals to continue to participate in this management activity,” continued Robling. “In 2026, we are going to focus on continuing to get youth outdoors and addressing our coyote population.”
As part of this focus, the current Nest Predator Bounty Program is ending. The allocated $500,000 for this program will be split into two separate programs: the Youth Trapping Recruitment Program and the Coyote Bounty Program.
Youth Trapping Recruitment Program
The Youth Trapping Recruitment Program will be open for South Dakota youth age 17 and under. Tails from raccoon, striped skunk, badger, opossum, and red fox will be worth $10.The program will run from March 1-July 1, unless the $200,000 limit is reached first.”Youth recruitment and retention in trapping and wildlife management is a key component of this program,” said Robling. “We are thrilled with the amount of youth participation we have seen, so we want to continue this momentum.”
Coyote Bounty Program
The Coyote Bounty Program will be open for all South Dakota residents. Tails from coyotes will be worth $30.The program will run from April 1-July 1, unless the $300,000 limit is reached first.”Controlling the coyote population is critical for both our agricultural industry and wildlife populations,” stated Robling. “The newly created Coyote Bounty Program will assist in the management of these predators to help protect newborn calves and lambs for agricultural producers and enhance fawn survival for deer and antelope.”
Tail Submission Opportunities
Individuals wishing to participate in either of these programs may submit tails to their local GFP office during designated tail turn in opportunities. Households are eligible to submit up to $590 worth of tails in each program.
–South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks
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