Midwest
Watchdog group sues Biden agency for records as lawmaker calls its voter work 'a slap in the face'
FIRST ON FOX: One week after Congress subpoenaed officials from the Small Business Administration regarding efforts to funnel resources to help register swing state voters, a top government watchdog group sued the agency for allegedly stonewalling its own public records requests on the matter.
On Friday, The Oversight Project executive director Mike Howell and the Heritage Foundation sued the SBA, claiming the agency failed to comply with legal public records requests regarding the same “Memorandum of Understanding” entered into by the SBA and the Michigan Department of State.
The Oversight Project, an initiative of the Heritage Foundation launched in 2022, seeks to engage in “aggressive oversight” of the federal government to investigate the implementation of so-called “radical leftist” policies and “destructive efforts” while ensuring accountability across the board.
KEY BIDEN AGENCY SLAPPED WITH HISTORIC SUBPOENAS OVER ‘IMPROPER’ SWING-STATE VOTER REGISTRATION PUSH
The lawsuit alleged the SBA did not provide documents sought under an April 23 Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request relating to the memo, which included internal communications with the search terms “register,” “vote,” “voter” and “ballot.”
Small Business Administration at Federal Center SW in Washington, D.C. (U.S. Government Accountability Office)
In the filing, Howell’s team called the request a “matter of widespread and exceptional media interest in which there exists possible questions about the government’s integrity which affect public confidence.”
In an interview with Fox News Digital, Oversight Project chief counsel Kyle Brosnan echoed Howell’s sentiment, saying there is public interest in analyzing in-person voter registration events the memo helped resource – as well as communications between Michigan Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson’s office and the SBA.
In March, the SBA announced its “first-ever” voter registration agreement with the Michigan agency. On May 7, the House Committee on Small Business issued a rare subpoena for SBA aides after what the panel claimed was in part a failure to forward documents relating to a program “diverting [agency] resources away from assisting Main Street” toward partisan ends.
President Biden and House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams (Getty Images)
President Biden’s executive order 14019, on “Promoting Access to Voting,” was the keystone of the coordination, which led to concerns the agency was being used to register voters in a partisan manner in a key swing state.
When asked if the lawsuit was a direct response to the subpoena brought by House Small Business Committee Chairman Roger Williams, R-Texas, Brosnan said there is overlap in their requests on both the FOIA front and an endeavor to conduct oversight of federal resources that may be being used in a controversial manner.
“Based on what I’ve seen in public reporting, the Small Business Administration has not complied with Congress’ document requests. And, the committee subpoenaed these two SBA officials for depositions later this month after they did not appear for voluntary transcribed interviews,” he said.
BIDEN ADMIN ACCUSED OF USING TAXPAYER FUNDS TO HELP HIS OWN CAMPAIGN WITH STUDENT VOTER REGISTRATION SCHEME
“It’s curious that the Small Business Administration has entered an agreement with the Michigan secretary of state in this context, with the election this year.”
When asked earlier this week about the lawsuit somewhat mirroring what he has sought, Williams told Fox News Digital his committee has “been working hard to hold the SBA accountable for improperly involving themselves in federal elections.”
“The SBA’s mission of helping Main Street grow and thrive is simple, yet extremely important to our country. Unfortunately, they seem to be dedicating energy to serve as President Biden’s campaign arm to register Democrat voters in Michigan.”
Williams called such behavior a “slap in the face” to struggling small business owners who rely on the SBA.
In a March announcement for the voter registration agreement between Michigan and the SBA, agency administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman said “protecting and strengthening our democracy is critical to our economic success and a core goal of the Biden-Harris administration,” and that connecting Michiganders to voter registration information will help small business owners exercise their voting rights.
Brosnan referenced a similar September inter-agency agreement announced by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Michigan to designate two Detroit and one Saginaw VA property as voter registration sites, while alluding to the fact that Michigan’s largest city is heavily Democratic, and Saginaw sits in a nearly-even swing district represented by a Democrat in Congress.
When reached for comment on the lawsuit, the top Democrat on Williams’ panel, Rep. Nydia Velazquez, D-N.Y., expressed dismay at the subpoenas her committee recently issued, telling Fox News Digital in a statement that her committee has otherwise “prided itself in bipartisan cooperation to help American entrepreneurs.”
“Unfortunately, with [these] subpoenas, Republicans have rejected these principles to pursue a partisan inquiry,” Velazquez said.
A message left for Benson’s office was not returned by press time. Reached by phone, the SBA said it does not comment on ongoing legal matters.
Fox News’ Andrew Mark Miller contributed to this report.
Read the full article from Here
Detroit, MI
After back-to-back days of severe storms in Metro Detroit, cooler, calmer weather arrives mid-week
4Warn Weather – After multiple rounds of severe weather to start the week, southeast Michigan is finally getting a break from the storms.
The break comes after powerful winds, hail, downed trees, and scattered power outages once again swept across the region Tuesday afternoon and evening.
The latest round developed in hot, humid air as temperatures surged into the mid- and upper-80s Tuesday, helping fuel another active severe weather day across Metro Detroit and much of Southeast Michigan.
While hail was reported, damaging straight-line winds were the primary threat as storms raced eastward.
The severe weather came just one day after violent storms on Monday afternoon and evening, leaving many residents already cleaning up debris and dealing with outages before Tuesday’s storms arrived.
Numerous storm reports were received on Tuesday across Southeast Michigan.
In Oakland County, several trees were snapped at Kensington Metropark near New Hudson around 2:30 p.m.
Additional reports described large trees and limbs blocking roads near White Lake and Keego Harbor, including damage to a camper from a falling limb.
Farther east, emergency managers reported trees and power lines down across portions of Macomb County, including near Washington Township and Stony Creek Metropark.
Wind gusts approached or exceeded severe limits in several areas. Detroit City Airport recorded a 54 mph gust, Monroe’s Custer Airport measured a 59 mph gust, and the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club along Lake St. Clair measured a powerful 76 mph marine thunderstorm wind gust shortly before 5 p.m.
Hail was also reported in Wayne County, including dime- to quarter-sized hail in Northwest Detroit.
Even late Tuesday night, drivers should remain alert for lingering hazards.
Some roads may still have ponding after downpours, especially in low-lying areas.
Utility crews also continue working to clear downed branches and restore power in spots hit by the strongest winds.
Drivers are urged to use caution overnight and avoid any downed power lines or barricaded streets.
The good news is that a dramatic pattern change is now underway.
After highs climbed well into the 80s on Tuesday, much cooler air is spilling into the Great Lakes behind a strong cold front.
High temperatures on Wednesday will struggle to reach the mid-60s across Metro Detroit, several degrees below the seasonal average of around 70 degrees for this time of year.
Wednesday
Wednesday will feel noticeably different from the summerlike heat earlier this week. North to northeast winds and cooler air off the lakes will keep conditions crisp through the day, with some communities near Lake Huron staying in the 50s.
For Tigers fans heading to Comerica Park on Wednesday evening as Detroit hosts the Cleveland Guardians for a 6:40 p.m. first pitch, weather conditions look much quieter.
Temperatures will likely fall through the upper 50s during the game with a light breeze and dry conditions.
Fans may want to bring a light jacket or hoodie after the sharp drop from Tuesday’s heat.
The cooler pattern continues through the rest of the work week with highs mainly in the 60s on Thursday and Friday.
Memorial Day Weekend
The forecast for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend remains a mixed bag.
Rain chances return Friday afternoon and continue at times Friday night into Saturday as another system moves into the Great Lakes.
A few showers could linger into parts of Sunday, meaning portions of the holiday weekend may be wet at times.
Despite the rain chances, temperatures will rebound into the 70s over the weekend with Memorial Day itself currently looking mainly dry and comfortable.
Monday is expected to feature partly sunny to mostly cloudy skies with highs in the upper 70s, which is favorable weather for parades, cookouts, and outdoor ceremonies.
After damaging winds and cleanup efforts across Southeast Michigan, many residents will likely welcome the cooler and quieter stretch ahead.
If you have storm or damage photos, share them with Local 4 at MIPics.
Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Ruth the African Elephant likes to make her presence known by smashing things
Ruth, an African Elephant at the Milwaukee Zoo, likes to pick things up and smash them down.
Milwaukee County Zoo
A Yang without his Yin. The Milwaukee County Zoo is mourning the loss of another one of its animals.
Chinese alligator Yin, a longtime resident, was humanely euthanized in early May, the zoo shared in a Tuesday, May 19, post on its website and social media. She is suspected to have had ovarian cancer with metastasis, the zoo shared, citing preliminary necropsy results.
“Yin was a favorite among zookeepers and will be missed,” the post said. “She was very smart and slower to trust but comfortable once she knew the animal care team members. The zookeepers noted she was strong-willed and intelligent, and loved shrimp.”
When the animal care team noticed Yin was having mobility issues last June, the veterinary staff assessed her, which lead to antibiotic treatment for a spinal lesion, the post said. More recently, Yin’s skin condition and appetite have been declining.
“After much consideration about her quality of life, along with a poor prognosis, the team made the decision to humanely euthanize her,” the post said.
Yin was nearly 41 years old. The median life expectancy for a Chinese alligator in human care in 26 years old, according to the zoo.
Yin and male Chinese alligator Yang, 39, have been behind the scenes since Yin’s treatment began, with Yang providing companionship to her, the post said.
“In the morning, Yin and Yang were often seen laying closely, and they spent a lot of time together,” the post said.
Yin and Yang came to Milwaukee together from the Bronx Zoo in 1995.
Yang – who zookeepers note is healthy – will return to the Chinese alligator habitat, located in the zoo’s Aquatic & Reptile Center, once ongoing pool renovations to the habitat are completed, the post said.
The zoo has been in contact with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums Species Survival Plan Program coordinator, the post said, and Milwaukee will likely receive a recommendation for another female in the future.
Yin’s death comes just around a month after another longtime zoo resident, Brittany – a 45-year-old African savanna elephant – was humanely euthanized after her health declined. In September, one of the zoo’s other beloved geriatric elephants, Ruth, was euthanized after a couple of falls.
Detroit Lions released 2026 schedule on Thursday
Lions released 2026 season on Thursday
The Twin Cities were chosen to host the event on Tuesday at the meeting of franchise owners in Orlando, the culmination of what Vikings president and CEO Mark Wilf described as a “terrific opportunity.” Minnesota hosted the Super Bowl in February 2018 and becomes the final NFC North division team to be chosen as the draft stage.
“Minnesota knows how to show up for big moments, and we’ve experienced it firsthand,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Tuesday. “Working with the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Sports and Events, we look forward to bringing the 2028 NFL Draft to this great community, driving positive economic impact throughout the region, and hosting an incredible event for fans and the next generation of the NFL.”
The 2026 draft took place in Pittsburgh last month, with the 2027 event scheduled for the National Mall in Washington, D.C.
Wilf and the draft host city planning committee noted events will be held outside of downtown Minneapolis, where U.S. Bank Stadium is located. A portion of the event will take place near the team’s headquarters and practice facility and at other spots to be determined within the Twin Cities.
“For three days, Minnesota will become the center of the football world,” Wilf said. “The 2028 NFL Draft will give us an opportunity to showcase not just U.S. Bank Stadium, but the energy, hospitality and pride that define Minneapolis-St. Paul and the entire state and region. We have no doubt the community will deliver a world-class event that is unique to Minnesota.”
The NFL conducted the annual draft in New York until opting to take the show on the road in 2015. The extremely popular road show changes locations each year.
Since then, the draft has been held in the home cities of 10 franchises: the Bears, Eagles, Cowboys, Titans, Browns, Raiders, Chiefs, Lions, Packers and Steelers.
The 2020 draft was held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pittsburgh set the record for largest total attendance in NFL draft history with 805,000 attendees over three days from April 23-25. Organizers in Washington, D.C., have said they expect a crowd of more than 1 million people.
Cincinnati is reportedly the leading contender to host the 2029 NFL Draft.
Nashville officially to host 2030 Super Bowl
The honky-tonks will be packed to the rafters when the Super Bowl comes to Nashville in 2030.
NFL owners officially approved Nashville as the site for Super Bowl LXIV, which is scheduled to be played in February of 2030. The game will take place at the Tennessee Titans’ new stadium, which is currently under construction.
It is the first time Tennessee’s largest city will play host to the NFL’s championship game.
The vote on Tuesday during the NFL Spring League Meeting at Orlando, Fla., was conducted with a full representation of ownership.
“Music City,” as it is known, turned out fans in droves for the 2019 NFL Draft, setting what was then an attendance record for the event.
“The 2019 NFL Draft in Nashville was one of the greatest fan events in our history,” NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a release. “Super Bowl LXIV at the new stadium is the next step in this remarkable football journey. … We can’t wait to put on an unforgettable show in 2030.”
The new Nissan Stadium is a $2.1 billion, fully enclosed, 60,000-seat venue on the Cumberland River. The structure will feature an innovative cable-net ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) roof and is scheduled to open by February 2027.
“This is an exciting moment for our city and our entire state,” Titans controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk said. “We cannot wait for our community to experience an event of this magnitude and for the world to see the energy, hospitality, and culture that make our city so special on a global stage.”
A country-music themed halftime show would be a natural for a city whose downtown bars have no shortage of acts specializing in the genre. Nashville is home to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, as well as the Grand Ole Opry.
“This event is an incredible opportunity to showcase the dynamic and creative character … that is distinctly Music City, where music, sports, culture, and hospitality come together in a way few cities can match,” Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp. president & CEO Deana Ivey said.
Teams constructing new stadiums have frequently been under consideration for hosting the Super Bowl, with Detroit, East Rutherford, N.J., and Minneapolis cracking the typical warm-weather city rotation in recent years.
In February 2027, Los Angeles’ SoFi Stadium is hosting the Super Bowl for the second time. In March, the NFL announced Las Vegas as the host city in 2029 for the second time since Allegiant Stadium was constructed. Atlanta hosts in 2028.
NFL approves 10 international games
NFL owners approved on Tuesday a maximum of 10 league-run international regular-season games per season, an increase from eight annually, starting as soon as 2027.
“There’s a path to 10 (international games) in 2027,” executive vice president of club business, international and league events Peter O’Reilly said from the NFL’s spring league meeting in Orlando, Fla.
The owners also voted to take away a team’s ability to protect two home games from international play. That should make it less complicated to construct the schedule.
NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has said the goal is 16 international games, which could lead to at least one such game per team in a given season. The league can play as many as 10 games outside the United States, according to the collective bargaining agreement with the NFL Players Association.
The 2026 schedule has a record nine international games – eight run by the league and one in London after an agreement between the Jacksonville Jaguars and Wembley Stadium. The Jaguars have consecutive games in London, including one as the home team, while EverBank Stadium in Jacksonville is undergoing renovations.
O’Reilly said that the exception made for nine games this season “shows the momentum and I think the support for the model we have” and he could see a future with 16 international games in one season.
The 2026 slate features games across four continents, including first-time host countries France (Paris) and Australia (Melbourne). Rio de Janeiro is a host city for the first time, while other games with be in London (three), Munich (one), Madrid (one) and Mexico City (one).
O’Reilly said that Asian markets such as Japan could be future sites, but probably not as soon as 2027.
“Our strategy is not one and done,” O’Reilly said. “Our goal is to go back to those markets that we’re establishing.”
A Super Bowl at an international site is not a priority at this time, he said.
Brad Holmes said the Lions were motivated in the draft by missing the playoffs: ‘That might be the kick in the rear’
Bob Wojnowski asks Brad Holmes about how the 2026 draft compared to other drafts.
-
Los Angeles, Ca35 minutes agoViolent multi-vehicle crash leaves L.A. firetruck overturned, 2 firefighters injured
-
Detroit, MI59 minutes agoAfter back-to-back days of severe storms in Metro Detroit, cooler, calmer weather arrives mid-week
-
San Francisco, CA1 hour agoSurveillance video shows pickpocket crew targeting victims in SF’s Chinatown
-
Dallas, TX1 hour agoDallas Mavericks Part Ways With Jason Kidd
-
Miami, FL1 hour agoPatriot League ‘A’ Finalist Marin Priddy Transferring From American To Miami-FL
-
Boston, MA1 hour agoUnresponsive teenage boy pulled from pond in Andover, Massachusetts
-
Denver, CO2 hours agoLatest Power Rankings May Reflect NFL’s True View of Broncos’ Schedule
-
Seattle, WA2 hours agoWhat is the cheapest 2026 World Cup match in at Lumen Field in Seattle?
