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Democrat in key Senate primary says she ‘regrets’ vote on Laken Riley Act, draws GOP backlash

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Democrat in key Senate primary says she ‘regrets’ vote on Laken Riley Act, draws GOP backlash

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Democratic Rep. Angie Craig, running for a Senate seat in Minnesota, penned an article this week explaining her “regret” for voting for the Laken Riley Act, sparking criticism from conservatives online and from her Republican opponents.

“I never thought the Laken Riley Act was a perfect bill, as it allowed for detention of certain violent as well as nonviolent offenses,” Craig wrote in the Minnesota Star Tribune this week about the legislation, named after a nursing student who was murdered during a jog on the University of Georgia’s campus by an illegal immigrant.

“The text of the bill did not include the word deportation. I made the difficult decision to vote for it. Democrats like Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff — leaders I deeply respect — all came to the same conclusion. But as I stood side by side with protesters on the streets of Minneapolis and opposite dozens of armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents at the Whipple Federal Building after Renee Good’s killing — and again after the killing of Alex Pretti — I couldn’t help but question whether I made the right call last year.”

Craig went on to explain that it has “become clear that supporting any bill that gives ICE new authority in this administration was the wrong decision “and I regret my vote.”

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Rep. Angie Craig, D-Minn., addresses media after conducting oversight on the Bishop Henry Whipple Federal Building on Feb. 20, 2026, in St. Paul, Minnesota. (David Berding/Getty Images)

Craig’s reversal, as she runs in a Senate Democratic primary against Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan, prompted immediate pushback both on social media and from the candidate also vying for the same Senate seat in the Republican primary.

“This reaction from Angie Craig epitomizes the spineless weakness that voters despise. She would rather placate to the extremists in her own political party than keep Minnesotans safe,” Republican Senate candidate Adam Schwarze told Fox News Digital. 

MEET THE MINNESOTANS KILLED BY ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS THAT WALZ, DEMS NEVER HELD NEWS CONFERENCES OR VIGILS FOR

Laken Riley poses for a photo posted to Facebook. Riley, a nursing student at the University of Georgia, was murdered by an illegal immigrant on Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024. (Allyson Phillips/Facebook)

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“If there’s one thing voters should know heading into midterms, it’s that politicians like Angie represent the most dangerous Democrat Party to ever run for office. Period.” 

“What is wrong with you, @RepAngieCraig?” the Trump White House rapid response team posted on X. “This is sick and demented.”

Republican Michele Tafoya, also running for Senate, posted on X that Craig “would rather protect violent illegal immigrants than law-abiding Minnesotans.”

“So the position of @RepAngieCraig is to RELEASE illegal aliens arrested for theft, burglary, assaulting police, or causing serious bodily injury? “GOP Congressman Tom Tiffany posted on X. “Minnesota madness has hit a whole new level.”

Craig responded to Tafoya on X: “Michele Tafoya endorsed, supported, and enabled ICE’s violent occupation of MN that left two people dead and our communities in mourning.  She’s nothing more than a rubber stamp for Donald Trump —  who would keep tearing our neighborhoods apart — not bring us together.”

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Craig was one of 46 House Democrats to support the Laken Riley Act last year, which was the first piece of legislation to become law in President Donald Trump’s second administration, which he signed shortly after taking office.

“This horrific atrocity should never have been allowed to happen,” Trump told reporters ahead of signing the legislation. “And as president, I’m fighting every single day to ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.”

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Protesters, using whistles to alert neighborhoods to ICE activity, face off with Minneapolis police officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on Jan. 24, 2026.  (Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images)

The measure directs Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to detain illegal immigrants arrested or charged with theft-related crimes, or those accused of assaulting a police officer. 

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Craig will square off against Flanagan in the Aug. 11 primary in race where both candidates have positioned themselves as fierce opponents of ICE in the aftermath of the shooting deaths of Alex Pretti and Renee Good during interactions with federal immigration agents.

Flanagan, a leading progressive, took some political fire over the massive and developing Minnesota fraud scandal from Craig earlier this year when the congresswoman suggested she’d be a better fit as the party’s Senate nominee since she isn’t tied directly to the fraud crisis, according to reporting from the Minnesota Star Tribune.

“We absolutely can’t afford to let her be the nominee and put this Senate seat at risk,” Craig argued, as she pointed to Flanagan.

And taking to social media, Craig touted, “I’m the only Democrat in the race who will keep this Senate seat blue.”

Already a top target for the GOP, Republicans are increasingly optimistic they can flip the Democrat-controlled open Senate seat in Minnesota, vacated by retiring Sen. Tina Smith. 

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Fox News Digital’s Paul Steinhauser contributed to this report.

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Illinois

Severed arm in Illinois lake: Court records say body parts found in freezer, half-brother claimed self-defense

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Severed arm in Illinois lake: Court records say body parts found in freezer, half-brother claimed self-defense


Editor’s note: This story contains graphic details that may be disturbing to some readers. Viewer discretion is advised.

New details have emerged in the case of a severed arm bearing a distinctive Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers tattoo that was recovered from an Illinois lake, leading investigators to identify the victim.

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James Adams, 26, and Robin Turner, 62, have been charged in connection with the death of 38-year-old Dalewayne Turner. Both face charges of concealment of a homicidal death, a Class 3 felony, and dismembering a human body, a Class X felony.

The backstory:

Two charged after severed arm with Packers tattoo found in Illinois lake, police say

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Will County court documents released Monday identify Adams as Dalewayne Turner’s half-brother and Robin Turner as his wife.

According to the documents, Adams admitted to fatally stabbing Dalewayne Turner, while Robin Turner did not contact law enforcement after the killing.

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Investigators allege the two took extensive steps to conceal the crime, including using bleach to clean the home and mask odors, repainting portions of the house, removing and burning wood paneling in a fire pit, and disposing of rugs.

Court records describe a large amount of blood at the scene and state that Dalewayne Turner’s body was dismembered. Some of his remains were placed in a freezer that investigators say was purchased specifically for that purpose.

Authorities allege the remains were placed in trash bags, weighted down, sealed with duct tape and transported to Lake Mattoon, where they were dumped in an effort to prevent the victim from being found and identified.

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Prosecutors said one weighted bag came apart, allowing Dalewayne Turner’s tattooed arm to surface. Boaters discovered the arm on the evening of June 28.

Pictured is an arm tattoo of a skeleton holding a Green Bay Packers helmet. (Illinois State Police)

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A dive team later recovered additional weighted bags containing human remains from the lake.

What they’re saying:

After Adams was taken into custody June 30, court documents say he confessed to the killing but claimed he acted in self-defense.

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“The one thing I will say is that I did it, but I did it out of self-defense. I will tell you guys that,” James said. 

During an interview with investigators June 30, Robin Turner said Adams and Dalewayne Turner argued in the living room before Adams stabbed him multiple times.

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According to court documents, Adams later told Robin Turner that Dalewayne Turner either fell or was pushed down a staircase after the stabbing and that he placed the body in a freezer.

Robin Turner told investigators she believed the body was still in the freezer, which she said she purchased from Best Buy on June 19 after her previous freezer broke.

She also told investigators that the repainting and remodeling inside the home were part of renovation work completed between June 21 and June 30.

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On July 1, Illinois State Police agents searched the home and found a downstairs freezer with what appeared to be a bloodstain dripping from a drain hole, according to court records.

Investigators opened the freezer and found a partial body consisting of a torso, neck and head, but no limbs, court documents state.

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What’s next:

Both Robin Turner and Adams are scheduled to appear in court at 9 a.m. Thursday for a detention hearing.

The Source: The information in this article was provided by Will County court documents and previous FOX Chicago reporting.

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Indiana

Indiana Black Expo to present award to Mathew Knowles for health advocacy

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Indiana Black Expo to present award to Mathew Knowles for health advocacy


INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — The Indiana Black Expo will present its Carolyn Brown Mosby Above and Beyond Award to Mathew Knowles on July 17 for his health advocacy work.

Knowles will receive the award during the Pacers Sports & Entertainment Corporate Luncheon. The Indiana Black Expo (IBE) website says the luncheon will be at 11 a.m. July 17 in the Sagamore Ballroom at the Indiana Convention Center in downtown Indianapolis. Knowles will be recognized for his work in health awareness and early detection.

Knowles will lead a fireside chat titled Beyond Pink: The Untold Story of Breast Cancer in Men at 10 a.m. July 18 on the Education Stage at the Summer Celebration.

An IBE news release issued Monday said Knowles has achieved global leadership in sales and marketing, brand development, entrepreneurship, and leadership. He has generated over $5 billion across multiple industries and managed over $100 million in sales and acquisitions. Knowles also developed, recorded, and distributed the careers of notable artists, including Beyoncé; Destiny’s Child; Earth, Wind & Fire; and Solange. The release also said he is a passionate advocate for health awareness and the importance of early detection.

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Health Fair

In 2026, the nonprofit is celebrating 40 years of providing access-free health care through its Summer Celebration Health Fair, which will be July 16-19. IBE said it’s expanding its programming for the event on July 18, said a news release issued Monday.

IBE touts the fair as one of the Midwest’s premier community health events, bringing together more than 65 health-focused exhibitors, health care providers, and community organizations dedicated to improving health outcomes across Indiana.

Community Health Network, a platinum partner, will offer over $4,000 in free health screenings, resources, and education for each person at the Summer Celebration.

The Health Fair’s Education Stage will host discussions and activations on pressing health issues. These include digital health care access for older people through “Telehealth, Portals & Online Pharmacies: What Seniors Need to Know,” “Unfiltered: Real Conversations About Women’s Health,” and “Beyond Aesthetics: The Science of Beauty & Wellness.”

Cooking demonstrations focused on heart and kidney health will also happen.

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The release also said A Mental Health Symposium, part of IBE’s educational series “Cherish Your Mind,” was scheduled for noon Saturday in rooms 130–132 of the Indiana Convention Center. The symposium will feature Sheryl Swoopes, a former WNBA player; Leon, an American actor, producer and singer who’s real name is Leon Preston Robinson; Dr. Russell J. Ledet, a physician, U.S. Navy veteran and triple-board resident; Amp Harris, a promoter and athlete consultant; and Executive Director Barbara Thompson of NAMI Indiana.

Dr. Lauren Dungy-Poythress and Dr. Ruemu Birhiray are co-chairs of the Health Fair.

This story was formatted for WISHTV.com using AI-assisted tools. Our editorial team reviews and edits all content published to ensure it meets our journalistic standards for accuracy and fairness.



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Iowa

Iowa Democrats and Republicans gain voters, independent voters decrease

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Iowa Democrats and Republicans gain voters, independent voters decrease


DES MOINES, Iowa (Iowa Capital Dispatch) – The Iowa Democratic and Republican parties both gained voters over the past month, while the number of voters with no party affiliation dropped significantly.

According to data from the Iowa Secretary of State’s office, the Democratic Party gained more than 27,000 registered voters from June to July, bringing the total number of active Democratic voters in Iowa to 527,675. Despite Democratic gains, Republicans still hold a strong statewide advantage in voter registration with 711,587 active voters, gaining more than 17,000 registered voters over the past month.

The largest change in voter registration occurred among voters affiliated with no party, as the number of registered independent voters decreased by more than 32,000. As of July 1, there are 555,309 active independent voters in Iowa.

“I think part of what’s going on is that people changed their registration to reflect a party preference so they could vote in the party primary,” Karen Kedrowski, an Iowa State University political science professor and Carrie Chapman Catt Center director, said. “These are not really new voters. They’re probably independents who lean Democratic or Republican and changed their party registration to be able to vote in the primary.” 

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Kedrowski said that in recent years, the number of registered Republican voters have remained constant, the number of independent voters has gone up and the number of registered Democrats has gone down.

Kedrowski said the increase in Democratic registrations appears consistent with national trends, which she said reflect heightened motivation among Democratic and left-leaning voters opposed to President Donald Trump’s policies.

“There’s just a lot more excitement about participating in the election on the part of Democratic voters,” Kedrowski said. “They’re highly mobilized because they’re largely unhappy with what’s happening with the administration.”  

Kedrowski said that it is extremely difficult to predict election results based on monthly data trends, but the excitement among Democrats could lead to the party making gains in Iowa, with the state returning to its “purple” roots, meaning a state that votes for both Republicans and Democrats closely.

“It’s definitely worrisome for Republicans because it shows there’s going to be momentum for the Democrats,” Kedrowski said. “Instead of seeing this as the Democrats becoming ascendant in Iowa, it might be more Iowa returning to being a swing state.” 

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Kedrowski cautioned that monthly voter registration alone does not predict election outcomes.

The voter registration figures reflect only “active” voters. According to Iowa Code 48a, voters who do not participate in one or two consecutive general elections will be labeled as “inactive,” but can still participate. If a voter misses three general elections, their voting status will be “canceled,” and the person would have to reregister.

Copyright 2026 Iowa Capital Dispatch. All rights reserved.



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