Midwest
Gen Z House candidate indicted for attacking ICE officers quits interview after being asked about charges
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One day after being federally indicted for her role in obstructing immigration officers outside an Illinois detention facility, Gen Z House candidate Kat Abughazaleh rage-quit an interview after being asked about her charges.
Abughazaleh joined Tara Palmeri on her podcast Thursday, which followed an indictment by a grand jury alleging the Illinois congressional candidate “physically hindered and impeded” a federal agent who was “forced to drive at an extremely slow rate of speed to avoid injuring any of the conspirators.” Abughazaleh was one of six people named in the indictment, which also alleged the suspects scratched the word “PIG” into the side of a vehicle being driven by a federal immigration officer in addition to banging, pushing, impeding and vandalizing the car.
“Did she just sign off? Did she just leave the chat?” Palmeri questioned after Abughazaleh spontaneously removed herself from the virtual interview after only being asked a question or two about the charges she is facing and their severity. “I’m so confused. I’m sorry, I don’t know what just happened. Um…okay. Well, she asked– she left because I asked her questions about what happened that day. Alright, well I will continue with the conversation on my own, I guess. This is very bizarre.”
CONSERVATIVES RIP GEN Z HOUSE CANDIDATE’S FREE SPEECH CLAIM AFTER FEDERAL INDICTMENT: ‘SHE’S LYING’
Democratic congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh holds a megaphone outside of the Broadview ICE processing facility on Sept. 26, 2025. (Reuters/Jim Vondruska)
Abughazaleh’s abrupt exit came after she appeared to get frustrated with Palmeri’s questions regarding her federal charges.
“What do you think about those charges though, they seem really serious?” Palmeri asked Abughazaleh, noting they include accusations of “conspiracy to impede or injure an ICE officer” and “assaulting or impeding that officer.”
“Those are pretty big charges,” Palmeri remarked.
Abughazaleh responded that she “thinks” the charges were “slightly different,” but added that “no matter what the charges are in the indictment” she plans to plead not guilty. “This is a political prosecution plain and simple.”
But Palmeri continued to press the Gen Z candidate about the severity of her charges, particularly on whether she was party to scratching the word “PIG” in the side of the federal immigration officer’s car.
‘GEN Z’ DEM CANDIDATE CHARGED WITH INTERFERING WITH ICE POSTED VIDEO OF HERSELF IN MOB BLOCKING UNMARKED SUV
“I’m not speaking to the specifics of anything that’s in the indictment right now, but, like I said, I do plan on pleading not guilty and the evidence will come out in court and I plan on winning,” Abughazaleh responded with a stern demeanor much different from what she had at the start of the discussion.
Then Palmeri played a video recording of the incident alleged in the indictment, where Abughazaleh can be seen impeding an ICE officer’s car with a large group of protesters, which evidently was the final straw for her.
“When you see that, what do you think right now?” Palmeri asked.
“Yeah, Tara, once again, this is my first time being federally indicted, like I said,” Abughazaleh shot back. “I plan on pleading not guilty, the evidence will come out in court and I plan on winning. Thank you so much for having me.”
Following Abughazaleh’s response, her camera disappeared but Palmeri appeared unaware she had left and immediately went into asking another question before realizing what had happened.
“Yeah, so I guess, this – this is – I’ve never had that happen before,” Palmeri said in disbelief once she understood the situation. “Apologies,” she added before pointing out that the young congressional candidate will have to get used to answering tough questions if she wants to serve in Congress.
“This could hinder her ability to serve in Congress, it could make it more difficult – you know, some people might not vote for her, but at the same time, she’s probably raised a ton of money off of it,” Palmeri continued about the charges after Abughazaleh left, noting she has been in second in a very crowded primary of 13 candidates in her race to represent Illinois’ 9th Congressional District.
“I don’t understand why she left the chat. I thought I was asking some pretty basic questions, and, I don’t know, it doesn’t really bode well for – if she wants to be a member of Congress,” Palmeri continued. “I think it probably would’ve been better to just talk through it, but if she can’t take a few questions about what happened from me, how is she going to handle representing an entire district?”
Fox News Digital reached out to Abughazaleh’s campaign for comment but did not immediately receive a response in time for publication.
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Milwaukee, WI
Friends, family gather to remember gunshot victim Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.
Tears, prayers, songs and memories filled the Lancaster Elementary School parking lot June 2 as family, friends and fellow members of S.I.G. Youth Fraternity, Inc. gathered at a Blackout Community memorial to honor Pepe Sikisi-Belle Jr.
Sikisi-Belle, 22, was killed May 30 during a birthday party for his son at Center Street Park in Milwaukee. During the private memorial, loved ones shared stories of the Milwaukee man, who was known within the fraternity as “House Party.”
‘He was the life of the party’
The memorial was emceed by fellow S.I.G. Youth Fraternity member Juanie Johnson, who said he had known Sikisi-Belle, a father of three, since he was a freshman.
“I actually pledged him into [S.I.G. Youth Fraternity], so I’ve had the opportunity to work with Pepe since he was in ninth grade,” Johnson said. “Like we said, we’re here to celebrate his life. This is what we do when one of our members passes. Just remember that although he’s gone, he will forever live in our hearts.”
Several fraternity brothers remembered Sikisi-Belle as the ‘life of the party’ who regularly checked on friends and family.
Speakers said Sikisi-Belle’s fraternity name, “House Party,” reflected not only his outgoing personality but also the comfort he provided to others. One fraternity member described him as a sincere soul who was always there for those around him, while others recalled his playful side and said he was known for teasing and trolling his friends.
One of Sikisi-Belle’s fraternity line brothers was too emotional to speak during the memorial, so Johnson spoke on his behalf.
“They were like two peas in a pod. They gave me a headache,” Johnson said. “They used to always get in trouble together, but to know Pepe is to love Pepe. He was always the life of the party, the spirit of the party, and he used to call me every morning just to be like, ‘You good, bro?’”
Sikisi-Belle’s parents also attended the memorial and shared remarks about their son.
“I miss my son,” said Marissa Bopilo, Sikisi-Belle’s mother. “I know that he loves y’all very, very much, and he’ll live on with us for the rest of our lives.”
Bopilo said she hopes those responsible for her son’s death are brought to justice.
“He was the life of the party, and he was definitely loved by many,” Bopilo said after the memorial. “I’m hoping things move forward with the situation. I’m hoping that we get justice.”
Members of the organization blew out candles one by one in honor of Sikisi-Belle before closing the memorial with a song.
Sikisi-Belle died from multiple gunshot wounds
At 6:47 p.m. May 30, Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Center Street Park, 420 W. Clarke St., for reports of a shooting.
When authorities arrived, they found Sikisi-Belle dead from at least two gunshot wounds to his upper torso, according to the Milwaukee County Sheriff’s Office.
A 25-year-old Milwaukee woman was arrested at the scene in connection with the shooting. MCSO said the woman knew Sikisi-Belle and was found with two firearms in her possession.
As of June 3, no criminal charges had been filed in the case.
Adrienne Davis is a south suburban reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Got any tips or stories to share? Contact Adrienne at amdavis@gannett.com. Follow her on X at @AdriReportss.
Minneapolis, MN
Minneapolis leaders split over ShotSpotter contract
Minneapolis leaders are divided over whether to keep paying for ShotSpotter as the city weighs a new contract for the gunfire detection system.
A public hearing at City Hall focused on the technology as Minneapolis negotiates a new contract with SoundThinking, the company that provides ShotSpotter. Deputy Chief of Investigations Travis Riddle told the council the system supports gun violence strategies and can alert police no later than 60 seconds after shots are fired.
Critics at the hearing said the technology is not proven enough and argued the money could be spent in other ways. The proposed deal would cost $3.7 million through 2029 and would expand ShotSpotter into new areas of Minneapolis.
“We have actually had a contract with SoundThinking for their ShotSpotter services since 2014, and even with this technology for over 12 years now, MPD’s solve rates for homicides and non-fatal shootings were some of the worst in the country,” Council member Robin Wonsley said.
Council members pushed back on the long-term proposal and said they want a one-year deal instead. Council Member LaTrisha Vetaw disagreed with concerns raised by her colleague during the debate.
“In my opinion, and in folks I’ve heard from the North Side who have shown up here time and time again to say that we want this technology, we believe that ShotSpotter is a tool that the police use to save lives,” LaTrisha Vetaw said
City Council is set to take up the issue again on June 17. Minneapolis police are expected to return with a one-year contract instead of the three-year contract brought forward at the hearing.
Indianapolis, IN
Work completed on $3 million restoration of fountains at Garfield Park
by:
Gregg Montgomery and Kelsie Gibbs
Posted: / Updated:
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) — Indy Parks on Saturday will unveil the restoration of longstanding fountains, a project almost two years in the making.
The fountains were already shooting water among newly landscaped walking paths on Wednesday afternoon at the Garfield Park Sunken Garden.
City planner and landscape architect George Kessler designed the Sunken Garden and the adjacent Garfield Park Conservatory, which was built in 1916 at 2505 Conservatory Drive.
Funds for the $3 million restoration project were part of an $80 million Lilly Endowment grant issued to Indy Parks in late 2022 for projects at 42 Indianapolis parks.
The Friends of Garfield Park, a group devoted to the south-side park, oversaw the project to restore the concrete walls and plumbing, and add color-changing lights to enhance the look of the fountains.
The group hopes to raise an additional $1 million for the upkeep of the fountains.
A news release issued Wednesday said a recognition event and a ribbon-cutting, free and open to the public, were scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday. Due to storms in the forecast, the event could be delayed or canceled.
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