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Controversial Democrat mayor under investigation after wild tirades, police raids, lavish spending

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Controversial Democrat mayor under investigation after wild tirades, police raids, lavish spending

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Democratic Mayor Tiffany Henyard of the small Village of Dolton, Illinois, has made national headlines in recent weeks for being accused of weaponizing police in retaliatory business raids and spending taxpayer money on luxurious trips. Now she is facing investigation by the Dolton Trustees as well as the FBI.

In a special meeting Thursday night, a four-trustee majority “voted unanimously to call for an investigation into Henyard and what they say is the misuse of funds,” FOX 32 reported. Dolton Trustees slammed the mayor for having “disgraced this entire village” and being a “stain on our community.”

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Earlier this week it was reported that the FBI is investigating the mayor, as six individuals have reportedly spoken to the agency about her alleged misconduct, including “business owners, a former village employee and one or more public officials.” 

The self-proclaimed “Super Mayor,” who insists “God chose me” and met with President Biden in January, has been said to engage in such wild antics it is like a “real life Parks and Rec situation.” But her multitudes of alleged misdeeds could finally be catching up to her.

DEMOCRATIC MAYOR ACCUSED OF ANTICS SO WILD SHE DESERVES HER OWN TV SHOW: ‘REAL LIFE PARKS & REC SITUATION’

Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard has faced numerous controversies in the past few weeks since she met with President Biden, ranging from fiery tirades in public meetings to allegedly weaponizing police against businesses that refused to donate to her causes of choice. (Village of Dolton YouTube channel )

Henyard and her allies’ history of suspicious taxpayer spending

From first-class flights to Las Vegas to beauty vendors, Henyard is frequently called out by her colleagues for questionable spending of taxpayers’ money, possibly for her own benefit. She makes $285,000 from her positions both as Dolton mayor and Thornton township supervisor.

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Henyard reportedly has a $224,000 a year salary as township supervisor alone, but has put forth an ordinance to cut the salary of any non-incumbent supervisor to $25,000.

Municipal attorney Burt Odelson, said to represent Henyard’s political opposition, condemned this as “so illegal in so many ways,” telling FOX 32 such conduct “violates so many tenets of the law.” 

Aside from her personal income, the way she allegedly uses the town’s money has been a consistent source of controversy. While Henyard has denied using village credit cards, WGN Investigates said it obtained copies of the township’s credit card statements indicating village officials spent more than $24,000 at restaurants during a 12-month span, as well as $3,741 just on Henyard taking a round trip flight to Las Vegas. 

Henyard is also well-known for using a makeup artist, hairdresser and stylist before public appearances and photoshoots. Residents complain she puts up town billboards to promote herself personally, and she has produced music videos that feature city workers, such as police dancing or boosting her image by being in the background as she lip-syncs songs. 

Tiffany Henyard gets her hair and makeup professionally done.  (stylemebrandon | Instagram/screenshot)

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CONTROVERSIAL MAYOR POSTS VIDEO WITH BIDEN JUST DAYS AFTER RIPPING COLLEAGUES FOR ‘ATTACKING ON A BLACK WOMAN’

Accusations of weaponizing police raids, political retaliation

On Tuesday, a Dolton-based U-Haul rental and trucking business owner named Lawrence Gardner told FOX 32 he went to the FBI out of frustration that the Village of Dolton would not renew his business license. He claims he has suffered from harassment, a raid on his business and was shut down by Dolton police. Gardner believes it is retaliation after he refused to donate to a civic event sponsored by Henyard.

FOX 32 reported Wednesday that multiple bars in the town were raided by police the day after the news team visited the businesses amid allegations their licenses were being held up for political reasons. The raids reportedly occurred mere hours after FOX 32’s report about the alleged FBI investigation into Henyard’s conduct was released.  

Employees and owners of the bars reportedly claimed “it’s part of an ongoing campaign of harassment by Dolton Mayor Tiffany Henyard” and that “Their business licenses have been stripped by Dolton, but they’ve continued to operate with a state license.”

Tammie Brown, a Dolton Trustee, was quoted in the same report as saying the raids were a warning to other businesses, “I’m sure that they were asked to donate [to Henyard], make a donation, and most likely they didn’t make a donation. So you don’t get a chance to stay open if you don’t pay the queen’s ransom.”

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Dolton, Illinois Mayor Tiffany Henyard poses with her local police force in a music video. (Village of Dolton music video)

The Village of Dolton defended the legitimacy of the raids in a statement to FOX 32, arguing both businesses had their liquor licenses previously revoked, and had “a history of violent incidents.”

Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on personal police security

In addition to the raids and music videos, Henyard’s use of the police as her personal security has been a source of controversy as well. 

Henyard spends hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars on security, which effectively takes police officers off the streets who should be protecting the town, Dolton Trustee Brittney Norwood said.

“I think that she spends the money on security because she just loves it. She likes the thought of being surrounded by police officers. I think it makes her feel more important,” Norwood said. “The police are simply working under her instructions, but it’s also sad. It’s sad because we need the police patrolling the streets, and they’re with her instead.”

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Former Dolton Police Chief Robert Collins, who was fired by Henyard, also slammed the mayor for maintaining a security detail of “several officers” whom he argues could be out fighting crime, but are instead “sent out to run errands, do pick-ups, do drop-offs.”

Cancer charity crackdown and questions

Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul is reportedly cracking down on “The Tiffany Henyard CARES Foundation” which, per the acronym, stands for Cancer And Remission Empowering Survivors.

The Chicago Tribune on Thursday reported that Henyard’s charity “has been told by the Illinois attorney general’s office to stop soliciting or accepting contributions, and that it must register with the state.” The same outlet summarized that the mayor was told her charity “is not in good standing and states the attorney general has sent multiple letters advising, among other things, that it is not registered with the state.”

The letter reportedly warned that “to avoid further action by this office,” the charity must file a registration statement, copies of financial reports and a list of the organization’s officers and/or directors by March 13.

Wild tirades and ‘abusive’ rhetoric towards other officials

Henyard is also infamous for her fiery rhetoric toward the town’s trustees in public meetings.

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Fox News Digital reported that Henyard slammed her fellow officials at a meeting in early February about her spending when she declared, “You all forget I’m the leader. They want to hear from the mayor. You all ain’t learned that yet. The mayor, not the trustees that don’t do nothing. They only run their mouth. You all don’t do no work, no work!”

Later during the meeting, Henyard proclaimed, “Y’all got false narratives out there, and y’all should be ashamed of y’all selves. Y’all Black. Y’all are Black! And y’all sitting up here beating and attacking on a Black woman that’s in power. Y’all should be ashamed of y’all selves.”

Norwood told Fox News Digital in an interview, “I feel as if I’m in a dictatorship.” 

She added, “The way she talks [to the trustees] I sometimes feel as if I’m in a mentally abusive relationship… I’ve learned to expect her to be disrespectful. She’s like a bully.” 

Norwood is party to a lawsuit that accused the mayor of actions that amounted to “fraud,” according to a complaint reviewed by Fox News Digital. 

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Henyard was sued for alleged financial wrongdoing by Dolton Trustees on Dec. 23.

“The Defendant’s actions as alleged constitute a fraud upon the residents and taxpayers of the Village,” the lawsuit states. It added, the extent of the financial wrongdoing could be more extensive than is currently alleged as Henyard was allegedly concealing the information from the trustees. 

Henyard, the Village of Dolton, and police department did not respond to requests for comment.

Fox News’ Hannah Grossman contributed to this report.

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Detroit, MI

Best barbershop in Metro Detroit: Finalists for this year’s Vote 4 The Best

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Best barbershop in Metro Detroit: Finalists for this year’s Vote 4 The Best


Voting on finalists open from June 22 through July 20

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What is the barbershop in Metro Detroit? We’ve got our finalists for this year’s Vote 4 The Best category for best barbershop.

Here are this year’s finalists:

  • Andino’s Barbershop in St. Clair Shores

  • Bennies Barbershop in Trenton

  • Chivalry Barber Co. in Royal Oak

  • The Garage Cuts and Coffee in Plymouth

  • Walter T’s Grooming Company in Waterford Township

We received more than 16,700 nominations across our 80 Vote 4 The Best categories this year. Each category was then narrowed down to five finalists.

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Click here to view the full list of finalists.

Now that nominations are over, voting on finalists can begin. Voting is open from June 22 through July 20, and you can vote for each category once per day during that time.

Click here to vote for finalists in all 80 categories.




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Milwaukee, WI

South Milwaukee homeowner fights city order to remove year-round skeleton display

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South Milwaukee homeowner fights city order to remove year-round skeleton display


SOUTH MILWAUKEE, Wis. — A South Milwaukee homeowner is pushing back after the city ordered him to take down his year-round skeleton display, calling it a violation of property maintenance codes.

Sean Oster and his wife have maintained the display — featuring skeletons named Hector and Henrietta along with other decorations— for nearly two years, dressing them up for holidays, sports events, and other occasions.

Mike Beiermeister

The display in Sean’s front yard.

The display has drawn attention from neighbors and passersby, with some saying it has become part of the neighborhood’s character.

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Watch: South Milwaukee homeowner fights city order to remove year-round skeleton display

South Milwaukee homeowner fights city order to remove year-round skeleton display

“It’s like an expression of the owner’s passion… and I think it’s cool they can use their lawn that way,” neighbor Jeremy Payment said.

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Jeremy Payment

Mike Beiermeister

Jeremy Payment lives in the neighborhood and enjoys the display.

Last month, Oster received a letter from the city of South Milwaukee describing the skeletons as Halloween decorations being displayed outside the appropriate time of year and ordering him to remove them by July 7.

Under the city’s property maintenance code, yards must be kept free of anything considered an “unreasonable blighting influence,” which the city says can include displays left up out of season. The notice also flagged an inoperable vehicle on the property. Each violation could result in fines of up to $500 per day if not corrected by the deadline.

Oster says he understands part of the city’s concern.

“They have a few points… I’ve got a couple collector cars… I understand those shouldn’t be out,” Oster said.

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Sean in his yard

Mike Beiermeister

Sean in his yard

He plans to move the cars into the garage and clean up the yard, but says the skeletons are staying.

“I don’t think it’s hurting anybody. It’s literally a victimless crime,” Oster said.

Oster also had a message for whoever filed the complaint.

“Live with it… more people like it than hate it. And if we’re enforcing this, then we should go around and take down Christmas lights that are up year-round,” Oster said.

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The city administrator did not respond to a request for comment.

This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.


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Minneapolis, MN

After raising money for immigrant families, Minneapolis adult store asks community for help

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After raising money for immigrant families, Minneapolis adult store asks community for help


After spending months helping immigrant families weather the economic fallout of federal immigration enforcement operations in the Twin Cities, Smitten Kitten is asking the community for help sustaining itself.

The adult retail store in Minneapolis’ Lyn-Lake neighborhood issued a public plea for community financial support. 

The strain comes after months of directing staff and volunteer time, resources and fundraising efforts toward mutual aid work that supported immigrants during Operation Metro Surge. 

The store became one of the most visible community aid hubs after the federal operation began. Following the killing of Renee Good, Smitten Kitten began collecting groceries, diapers, toilet paper and other essentials. 

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“Nothing is going to change unless we’re going to do something,” said Anne Lehman, Smitten Kitten social media manager and mutual aid advisor. 

The store also helped direct efforts toward rent relief for immigrants facing heightened uncertainty and economic hardship. 

“People had been hiding out since October. They’re going to need things like diapers, toilet paper and water.” Lehman said. “We ended up opening our store as a donation drop-off stop.”

Community support quickly exceeded expectations. 

“It felt like every fifteen minutes someone was pulling up in an SUV that just came from Costco,” Lehman said. “As soon as we got it, it would be gone because of how great the need was.”

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Lehman said that the attention also created safety concerns for staff and visitors. 

“We had to move where our stuff was because U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had caught on to what we were doing and tried to intimidate us,” said Lehman. 

In response, the store decided to move its operations elsewhere and began to focus on raising money for necessities. According to Lehman, the establishment raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for various needs. 

The operation, in part, ended by mid-February, and federal presence in Minnesota diminished. As things began to wind down, so did cash flow at Smitten Kitten. 

“There were a lot of weeks where we were cutting it close on payroll,” said Lehman. 

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In a social media post, Lehman asked the community to come help support the store by asking for donations, asking people to shop at their store or online. 

“We are asking for help, but also all of these things that we’re pouring all of our energy into is not going away,” said Lehman. “If we want to continue doing mutual aid, we have to have a solid foundation of our business as well.”





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