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You're hired! Here's who passed Congress' Trump cabinet test and how stormy their hearings were

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You're hired! Here's who passed Congress' Trump cabinet test and how stormy their hearings were

As of Wednesday, 11 of President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees have been successfully confirmed to their posts.

While some, like Secretary of State Marco Rubio, sailed through, others, like Attorney General Pam Bondi, saw their confirmation process marred with pointed confrontations and deep dives into their personal lives, as was the case for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Sens. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., left, and Dick Durbin, D-Ill., (durbin.senate.gov)

MARCO RUBIO: STATE

Rubio, a longtime Florida senator from Miami, and the son of Cuban immigrants, enjoyed a relatively calm confirmation hearing when it came to interactions with lawmakers.

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However, several Code Pink protesters, angry over what their shirts denoted as the “killing of children in Gaza,” had to be removed from the room due to outbursts.

The final protester shouted at Rubio in Spanish, to which the now-secretary remarked that his protesters are at-times bilingual.

KASH PATEL ENRAGES ADAM SCHIFF IN CLINTONIAN BATTLE OVER WORD ‘WE’; JAN 6 SONG

Rubio was confirmed unanimously 99-0. At the time, Sen. Jon Husted, R-Ohio, was still lieutenant governor and had not been seated in Vice President JD Vance’s place.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. (AP Photo/Ben Curtis)

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PETE HEGSETH: DEFENSE

A veteran and former Fox News host, Hegseth laid a more contentious path through the confirmation process.

Hegseth earned two Bronze Stars and several other medals while serving in the Army National Guard. He joined Fox News Channel in 2014 and resigned upon his Pentagon nomination.

The nomination became in embroiled in controversy after several stories surfaced taking aim at Hegseth’s character. Hegseth’s former sister-in-law filed an affidavit alleging that he had an alcohol abuse problem and had made his ex-wife fear for her safety.

While Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., offered praise for Hegseth’s confirmation – later telling reporters he clearly answered every question put to him – other lawmakers did not view the nominee the same way.

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When protesters disrupted the hearing, Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said they appeared to be from the “Chinese Communist [Party] front-group” Code Pink and were upset about Hegseth’s support for Israel.

“I support Israel’s existential war in Gaza. I assume, like me and President Trump, you support that war as well,” Cotton said.

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., also grilled Hegseth about his qualifications to lead America’s troops.

ZELDIN GRILLED IN CONFIRMATION HEARING

“I do not believe that you can tell this committee or the people of America that you are qualified to lead them. I would support you as a spokesperson for the Pentagon,” he said.

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Critics, including Fox News contributor Joe Concha, claimed irony in the lawmaker’s grilling – as Trump previously dubbed Blumenthal “Da Nang Dick” after claims surfaced that Blumenthal had misrepresented his own military service during the Vietnam War.

In the end, a 50-50 split, brought on by GOP Sens. Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining all Democrats in opposition, led to Vance having to cast his first tie-breaking vote of the congressional session to confirm Hegseth.

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum. (Getty)

DOUG BURGUM: INTERIOR

Interior Secretary Doug Burgum received substantive Democratic support in his final confirmation vote of 80-17 last week. Three Democrats did not vote.

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His confirmation hearing’s tenor was also mixed, with fellow North Dakotan, Sen. John Hoeven, calling him the right man for the job.

Some Democrats, including Sens. Catherine Cortez-Masto and Mazie Hirono, however, offered pointed questions about environmental issues and other concerns during the hearing.

When Cortez-Masto asked about the Trump administration repealing electric vehicle credits, Burgum said he “support[s] economics and markets” and highlighted the comparatively high costs of electric vehicles.

Burgum grew up in eastern North Dakota, near a grain elevator his grandfather operated. He reportedly met future Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer in college and later “bet the farm” to invest a quarter million dollars in 1983 in a tech startup called Great Plains Software.

He eventually became president of the company, which was purchased by Microsoft around the turn of the century.

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He served as North Dakota’s governor in recent years, briefly mounting a 2024 presidential bid before dropping out to endorse Trump.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent. (Getty)

SCOTT BESSENT: TREASURY

South Carolina billionaire Scott Bessent was confirmed as Trump’s second-term Treasury secretary on Jan. 28.

With the confirmation, Bessent became the highest ranking openly gay cabinet official in U.S. history.

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Bessent was born in Conway, South Carolina, just inland from the famous “Calabash” seafood area in North Carolina and the resort city of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

He previously worked for several global investment management companies for decades, notably including a stint as chief investment officer for Soros Fund Management, led by left-wing Hungarian-American billionaire George Soros.

His politics, however, appear to greatly differ from those of Soros himself – as Bessent once called Trump’s 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act “‘single most important economic issue of the day.”

During his confirmation process, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., was a noted foil. 

Warren reportedly sent Bessent more than 100 written questions on subjects spanning from housing to financial oversight ahead of his testimony, according to PBS.

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He was confirmed by a relatively bipartisan 68-29, with one Republican and two Democrats not voting.

SEAN DUFFY: TRANSPORTATION

Former Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., was confirmed in a comparatively more peaceful process than other nominees. Duffy enjoyed a relatively cordial hearing before Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and the Senate Commerce Committee.

However, 22 Democrats still voted against his confirmation, with Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., not voting.

Within a day of his confirmation, Duffy was faced with a catastrophic midair collision over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., involving a military helicopter and an American Airlines-sanctioned passenger flight from Kansas to Reagan National Airport.

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All of those aboard both aircraft died as the fuselage crashed into the shallow but frigid Potomac, just yards shy of the Arlington, Virginia, airport’s runway.

Soon after, Duffy had to simultaneously handle the fallout from a medical plane crashing near the junction of US-1 and PA-73 in northeast Philadelphia. 

The doomed plane spewed jet fuel as it crashed, setting a row of homes on Cottman Avenue ablaze. Six Mexican nationals on board and one Pennsylvanian on the ground was killed, according to news reports.

Energy Secretary Chris Wright. (Al Drago)

CHRIS WRIGHT: ENERGY

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Energy Secretary Chris Wright was confirmed Sunday in a 59-38 vote, with one Democrat and two Republicans not voting.

The energy company CEO from Colorado told lawmakers he would unleash U.S. energy potential as secretary.

He has been a critic of climate change regulations and was endorsed by American Energy Alliance chief Tom Pyle, as well as Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo. – the former chairman of the natural resources committee.

Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collings.

DOUG COLLINS: VETERANS AFFAIRS

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Former Rep. Doug Collins, R-Ga., was recently confirmed as Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Collins saw wide bipartisan support in his 77-23 vote. In the Veterans Affairs Committee that heard his nomination, only Hirono voted against him.

Collins is a veteran of the U.S. Air Force Reserve and will now lead the agency meant to care for veterans after their service.

“I do not come into this with rose-colored glasses. This is a large undertaking that I feel called to be at,” Collins said. “When a veteran has to call a congressman or senator’s office to get the care they have already earned, it’s a mark of failure.”

Collins notably garnered a pro-life streak in Congress, vociferously opposing the Affordable Care Act and remarking upon the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, “RIP to the more than 30 million innocent babies that have been murdered during the decades that Ruth Bader Ginsburg defended pro-abortion laws.” 

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Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. (AP)

KRISTI NOEM: HOMELAND SECURITY

Now-former South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem successfully made it through her confirmation hearing to become the nation’s homeland security chief.

As governor, Noem provided South Dakotan resources to Texas and Gov. Greg Abbott to help assuage the Biden border crisis.

As secretary, she has been on hand for immigration enforcement operations undertaken by Border Czar Thomas Homan, including one in the Bronx, New York.

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Noem saw a relatively peaceful confirmation process, though only a handful of Democrats ultimately supported her.

“We must be vigilant and proactive and innovative to protect the homeland,” she said at her hearing.

“The challenges in front of us are extremely significant, and we must secure our borders against illegal trafficking and immigration. We must safeguard our critical infrastructure to make sure that we’re protected against cyberattacks, respond to natural disasters and also terrorism.”

Noem was raised on a ranch near Hayti, South Dakota, before venturing into politics.

In 2012, Noem won South Dakota’s at-large U.S. House seat – a GOP flip from its previous officeholder, Rep. Stephanie Herseth-Sandlin, D-S.D.

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From there, she moved on to the governor’s office in 2018.

Environmental Protection Agency Secretary Lee Zeldin. (AP)

LEE ZELDIN: EPA

Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldin sat for his confirmation hearing to lead the Environmental Protection Agency two weeks ago and was grilled by Democrats on his views of climate change.

Senate EPW Committee ranking member Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island questioned Zeldin on the effects of carbon dioxide and pollutants on the atmosphere.

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“Is carbon dioxide a pollutant?” the Rhode Island Democrat asked, leading to a short back-and-forth.

Later, after Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., questioned Zeldin about climate change and other concerns, a cellphone that appeared to be Zeldin’s rang loudly.

“That was the fossil fuel industry,” Sanders quipped.

Later, Green New Deal co-sponsor Sen. Edward Markey of Massachusetts questioned Zeldin on comments from a 2016 congressional debate where he said it is the U.S.’ job to “reduce reliance on fossil fuels.”

“I support all of the above energy,” Zeldin replied before Markey cut in.

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In the final vote, three Democrats joined Republicans to confirm him – Pennsylvania Sen. Fetterman and both Arizona senators – while three other Democrats did not vote.

CIA Director John Ratcliffe. (Getty Images)

JOHN RATCLIFFE: CIA

CIA Director John Ratcliffe was confirmed by a 74-25 margin on Jan. 23, with Fetterman not voting.

Ratcliffe previously served as Trump’s director of national intelligence from May 2020 until January 2021, during Trump’s first term in office. 

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While in Congress representing North Texas, Ratcliffe sat on the House Intelligence Committee and notably garnered support in his confirmation from Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate’s partner panel.

An Illinois native, Ratcliffe later became an attorney in Texas, was elected mayor of Heath and later named by former President George W. Bush to lead counterterrorism efforts in the state’s Texarkana-based eastern district.

President Donald Trump’s attorney general pick, Pam Bondi, right, went back and forth with Hawaii Sen. Mazie Hirono in her confirmation hearing. (Getty Images)

PAM BONDI: JUSTICE

Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi was confirmed to the federal version of her erstwhile role by a vote of 54-46 – with Fetterman being the lone Democrat in support.

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Bondi’s hearing was one of those that was marred by tense moments, including an exchange with Rhode Island’s Whitehouse.

Whitehouse grilled Bondi whether her Justice Department would seek to target individuals on a political basis and “look for a crime.”

“It’s a prosecutor’s job to start with a crime and look for a name. Correct?” he asked.

“Senator, I think that is the whole problem with the weaponization that we have seen the last four years and what’s been happening to Donald Trump,” Bondi replied. 

“They targeted Donald Trump. They went after him, actually starting back in 2016. They targeted his campaign. They have launched countless investigations against him. That will not be the case. If I am attorney general, I will not politicize that office.”

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As her exchanges with Whitehouse continued, she pointed to Kevin Clinesmith – an ex-FBI lawyer sentenced to probation after he illegally altered a FISA document during a federal probe through which Trump’s 2016 campaign had been accused of colluding with Russia.

There have been several other confirmation hearings for other potential cabinet members.

Notably, FBI nominee Kash Patel’s clash with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., made waves last week.

Patel enraged Schiff over his reported support for January 6 inmates and his reported work in concert with the production of a song sung by the inmates that featured an a capella Pledge of Allegiance from Trump.

The tit-for-tat devolved into a Clintonian spat when Patel riffed to Schiff that his response to the lawmaker hinged on his definition of the word “we” – as Clinton had told prosecutors in 1998 that a response to part of his Monica Lewinsky testimony centered on the independent counsel’s definition of “is.”

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Fox News’ Adam Shaw, Caitlin McFall, Diana Stancy and Alec Schemmel contributed to this report.

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South Dakota

Argus Leader Starting 9: South Dakota’s best softball players

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Argus Leader Starting 9: South Dakota’s best softball players


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The South Dakota High School Activities Association’s fourth year sponsoring softball is in the books, and there were plenty of standout performers during this season.

From Class AA to B, teams made leaps thanks to some top-tier players and were able to place at the state tournament because of them. 

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Here is the first Argus Leader Starting 9, comprised of athletes from all three classes. They are broken down positionally, with a pitcher, a catcher, four infielders and three outfielders making up the team. 

The players are listed in positional order. 

Statistical key: IP-innings pitcher, K-strikeouts, ERA-earned run average, WHIP-walks and hits per inning pitched, K/7-strikeouts per seven innings, H/7-hits allowed per seven innings, BB/7-walks allowed per seven innings, AVG-batting average, OBP-on-base percentage, SLG-slugging percentage, OPS-on-base plus slugging, 2B-doubles, 3B-triples, HR-home runs, RBI-runs batted in, R-runs scored, SB-stolen bases 

P: Tya Devericks, Jr., Sioux Falls Jefferson 

80 IP 112 K 0.88 ERA 0.76 WHIP 9.8 K/7 4.1 H/7 1.3 BB/7 

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.514 AVG, .590 OBP, 1.000 SLG, 1.590 OPS, 10 2B 3 3B 6 HR 32 RBI 16 R 6 SB 

Devericks dominated both in the circle and at the plate, but she put together one of the more impressive pitching seasons imaginable. The South Dakota commit helped Sioux Falls Jefferson allow just 1.2 runs per game, go undefeated and win the Class AA state championship with her dominance, commanding multiple pitches in and around the zone. 

“The best part of Tya is her competitive instincts,” Jefferson head coach Ed Whiting said. “This drives everything that she does, and others follow. Outside of being an absolutely dominant pitcher, she is an elite hitter which makes her an outstanding two-way player. Tya has been voted a team captain since her sophomore year. This is due to her strong ability to lead by example on the diamond, in the weight room and in the community.” 

C: Claire Loofbourrow, Jr., Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy 

.612 AVG, .634 OBP, 1.328 SLG, 1.962 OPS, 17 2B 2 3B 9 HR 50 RBI 16 R 8 SB 

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Loofbourrow was one of the top run producers in the state, with her 50 RBIs leading all members of this team. She helped Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy earn the upset over No. 3 Deuel in the SoDak 16 and finish fifth in the Class B state tournament. She has one more year left in high school, and any more improvement will put her stats in rare air nationally.

“She’s got a pretty good arm for a catcher,” Freeman/Marion/Freeman Academy head coach Kyle Weier said. “But where she’s most beneficial is when she’s got a bat in her hand. She is really solid and always makes contact. She takes a hard swing, so when she makes contact the ball goes and then she’s pretty fast. That’s how it’s always an extra base hit.”

INF: Macy Bryant, Sr., Sioux Falls Jefferson 

.784 AVG, .804 OBP, 1.595 SLG, 2.399 OPS, 20 2B 8 3B 8 HR 41 RBI 56 R 16 SB 

Bryant put together one of the most special seasons in the nation, with her .784 batting average sitting in the top 10 and her on-base percentage and slugging percentage are both in the top 50. She was also a terrific defender for the unbeaten state champs. Bryant will be going to South Dakota State next year, and she could be a major contributor if this hot stretch continues through the summer and fall. 

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“Macy is dominant at the plate,” Whiting said. “The problem with pitching to Macy is there is not a pitch that catches a fraction of the plate that she can’t hit hard. The problem with walking her is that other teams have to deal with her aggressive approach on the bases. When on base, which happens eight out of 10 times, she typically ends up touching home. She is a complete player as she has a cannon of an arm and amazing range that makes her hands down the best shortstop in the state.” 

INF: Brooklyn Herrera, Sr., Sioux Falls Jefferson 

.577 AVG, .595 OBP, .901 SLG, 1.496 OPS, 7 2B 2 3B 4 HR 32 RBI 27 R 7 SB 

Herrera was one of the steadiest players in the state on both sides of the ball. She was a middle-of-the-order bat on South Dakota’s best team and was always a threat, even if the power production wasn’t as prolific as others. Add in that Herrera was a very good defender, and she’s more than deserving of making the cut. 

“Brooklyn shows up and works downhill at all times,” Whiting said. “Playing the hot corner, her instincts do not let anything get by her. She is a consistent player who rises to the occasion when the stakes are the highest. Whether it’s locking down third base or driving in runs from the cleanup spot, Brooklyn always delivers.” 

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INF: Kennedy Kokenge, Jr., Harrisburg 

.531 AVG, .597 OBP, 1.203 SLG, 1.800 OPS, 4 2B 3 3B 11 HR 37 RBI 28 R 1 SB 

Kokenge is one of the most powerful bats in South Dakota, ripping 11 home runs to finish second statewide. The South Dakota State commit provided consistent on-base skills when she wasn’t launching the ball over the fence for the top-scoring offense in Class AA. Kokenge also mixed that with the smoothness to play a quality shortstop for Harrisburg. 

“Kennedy Kokenge possesses all the tools of a premier infielder,” Harrisburg head coach Keith Flemmer said. “She has exceptional range, the ability to get to nearly any ball and the arm strength to make throws from anywhere on the field. Combined with one of the quickest and smoothest glove-to-hand transfers I’ve ever seen, she makes difficult double plays look routine. At the plate, Kennedy is equally impressive. She batted .531 this season while tying the team record with 11 home runs. She also struck out just once all year, showing how powerful and consistent she is.”

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INF: Kjerstin Kyte, So., Sioux Falls Washington 

.535 AVG, .638 OBP, .887 SLG, 1.525 OPS, 6 2B 5 3B 3 HR 28 RBI 43 R 18 SB 

Kyte was the engine for a Sioux Falls Washington team that made the Class AA state championship game for the second year in a row. The sophomore had to anchor the offense as the leadoff hitter and the defense as the shortstop. She has two years left to help the Warriors get over the hump and win their first softball state title. 

“There are many things that make Kjerstin special,” Washington head coach Kim Bazata said. “For starters, she’s a great competitor. On the rare occasion she makes a mistake in the field, the pitcher better watch out because she is making up for it with her bat. She is constantly stepping up to make things happen for our team. It could be a diving play or an extra base hit. She’s definitely our spark plug. She is very tough to defend at the plate as well. She can hit one over the fence or beat out a bunt. Always a tough out.” 

OF: Cydni Kudrna, Jr., Castlewood 

.627 AVG, .689 OBP, 1.173 SLG, 1.862 OPS, 10 2B 8 3B 5 HR 37 RBI 36 R 7 SB 

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Kudrna moved to the leadoff spot for Castlewood this season and flourished as the table-setter. She ripped off 23 extra base hits and helped the Warriors slug their way to the Class B state championship. Kudrna also stepped up as a leader and led Castlewood to its second state title. 

“Cydni is a very determined, focused person,” Castlewood head coach Craig Horn said. “We talked with her at the beginning of the year about staying focused throughout the whole game and she increased her batting average by 200 points this year. She clicked all season long. Besides being an incredible talent, she’s a great leader. She would put in the most work at practice and stay after to help the younger kids.” 

OF: Kassidy Smith, Jr., Sioux Valley 

.537 AVG, .642 OBP, .805 SLG, 1.447 OPS, 7 2B 6 3B 1 HR 26 RBI 43 R 13 SB 

Smith spent the first half of the year bouncing around positionally, but she stuck in the outfield in the back half and shined in all phases of the game. She led off and consistently populated the bases for the middle of Sioux Valley’s order, which knocked her in a ton. Smith has one more year to add even more juice to her offensive profile and become one of the top players in the region. 

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OF: Josalyn Traupel, So., McCook Central/Montrose 

.613 AVG, .663 OBP, .838 SLG, 1.501 OPS, 11 2B 2 3B 1 HR 44 RBI 38 R 8 SB 

Traupel broke out as a sophomore in a potent McCook Central/Montrose lineup. The Fighting Cougars led Class B in runs scored per game, and a lot of that was because of the sophomore’s ability to deliver with runners on. She, like Smith, can add a little more pop to her bat as she ages to become a truly feared hitter.

“Josalyn has made tremendous strides this season, particularly in the outfield where her confidence and consistency have taken a major leap forward,” McCook Central/Montrose head coach Nick Morrison said. “She approaches every play with confidence, energy and a strong desire to make the next play. Josalyn’s growth, production and competitive mindset have made her an invaluable part of our team. Her ability to impact the game both defensively and offensively sets her apart.”



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Wisconsin

‘Moving Menace’ faces death investigation, 10 criminal cases in Wisconsin

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‘Moving Menace’ faces death investigation, 10 criminal cases in Wisconsin


A Wisconsin man – who FOX6 Investigators once dubbed the “Moving Menace” – now faces a death investigation plus 10 criminal cases from nine police departments. 

‘She’s ice-cold, dude!’

What they’re saying:

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A 2015 Toyota Corolla was going 80 mph down Forest Home – in a 35 mph zone – when a Greenfield police officer flipped on his emergency lights and siren, revved the engine and began a rapid pursuit. As the vehicle slowed, a hand emerged and waved from the driver’s window. He yelled something about an unresponsive woman in the back seat.

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Officers found 40-year-old Mina Abidi slumped over behind the passenger seat of the car, dragged her onto the pavement and started CPR. 

Seated on a curb nearby, Daniel Berczyk started talking.

“I noticed her lips,” he said. “I noticed her lips.”

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Abidi was pronounced dead at the scene. The medical examiner’s office ruled the cause of death to be an overdose from a combination of fentanyl, cocaine, alcohol and xylazine.

Daniel Berczyk sits on a curb on August 13, 2024, as first responders tend to Mina Abidi’s overdose.

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Berczyk told officers he was trying to get her to the nearest hospital, but he admitted he’d been driving her around in that state for more than an hour, including two trips to Walgreens.

Officer: “Why didn’t you call 911 immediately?” 
Berczyk: “When I went into Walgreens, she wasn’t acting like she was dead or anything.”

At times, Berczyk described Abidi as a friend.

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“I can’t believe she’s ****ing gone man, what the ****? It’s crazy.”

But moments later, he couldn’t seem to remember her name.

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Berczyk: “What the hell’s the girl name in the car?”
Detective: “You called her Bidi.”
Berczyk: “Yeah Bidi.”
Detective: “Oh, that’s pretty close to her last name.”

Abidi’s death became the subject of a Greenfield Police investigation that is still awaiting a charging decision from the Milwaukee County District Attorney’s Office nearly two years later.

She was my ‘sister’

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Why you should care:

Abidi was married, had a daughter and lived in the picture-postcard suburb of Cedarburg. But her relationship was nothing to write home about. Her husband had been convicted of domestic abuse. Michailah Belle said when she met Abidi, she was contemplating suicide.

“There was just this look in her face,” Belle said. “She looked sad.”

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The two became fast friends and Belle, who has 11 children of her own, said she eventually considered Abidi a member of her family.

“She was so optimistic,” Belle said. “She was just going through some things.”

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Belle said she believes drugs are what led Abidi to a meet-up with one of the area’s most prolific criminals.

‘Get off my property!’

The backstory:

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FOX6 Investigators first encountered Berczyk in 2008, ripping off customers of his moving business that operated under multiple names, including Best Way Movers and Affordable Moving and Storage.

A few months after that investigation, police said Berczyk went on a three-week crack cocaine binge, during which he broke into dozens of cars at area park-and-ride lots. He fled to Arizona. 

FOX6 Investigators noticed he was updating his MySpace page – yes, MySpace – and police used that to find him and bring him back to Wisconsin.

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Between 2009 and 2016, Berczyk was in and out of prison, often finding his misdeeds the subject of FOX6 Investigators reports.

Daniel Berczyk orders FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn to leave his parents’ property in Muskego in 2008.

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“You told me you were going to turn your life around,” FOX6 Investigator Bryan Polcyn said in a courthouse hallway in 2015 before Berczyk bumped him with his left hip.

“Did you just hip-check me, Dan?” Polcyn replied.

For nearly 30 years, starting in the late 1990s, Berczyk racked up criminal cases faster than birthdays – mostly involving theft, drugs or both. But in 2016, something unexpected happened: The criminal charges largely stopped for 10 years, but for a single misdemeanor case in 2020.

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That is, until Mina Abidi’s death.

A visit to Milwaukee

Timeline:

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On Aug. 12, 2024, Abidi was in Cedarburg. Berczyk said she wanted to “hang out,” but needed gas money. So Berczyk paid a friend to send her $14 through Cash App. She arrived at the Travelodge near 20th and Layton, just off the interstate in Milwaukee, sometime after dark. He said they were “fooling around” in her car but never had sex.

Berczyk claimed he never saw Abidi use drugs, but noticed she was “acting weird,” like she was “fighting off a Xanax buzz.” In a video recorded interview hours later, Berczyk reflected on that moment.

Berczyk: “Man, she’s kind of ****ed up (he remembered thinking) I should get some Narcan.”
Detective: “You thought that then?”
Berczyk: “I don’t know why. It just popped into my head.”

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Berczyk tells a Greenfield detective he sought life-saving Narcan at Walgreens, but left when told it would cost money.

At one point, Berczyk said, Abidi got out of the car and laid down on the pavement. So he loaded her into the backseat of her own car and drove to Walgreens hoping to get Narcan. Surveillance video shows him entering the store alone, approaching the pharmacy counter, then leaving without any medication.

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“Thirty-four dollars for Narcan? I’m like, ‘What the ****? ****’s free?” he said.

It’s not clear what Berczyk actually said to the pharmacist, but Belle believes he should have told them a woman in the car outside might be dying.

“They could’ve called 911,” she said. “They could’ve called the ambulance. The ambulance could’ve came there, and they could’ve saved her.”

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Instead, Berczyk got back in the car at 12:50 a.m. and sat there for 12 minutes. 

At 1:02 a.m., the car pulled away. Berczyk said he spent the next hour dumpster-diving at a nearby apartment complex.

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“Have you ever seen those dumpsters?” he told a detective. “Dude, I have pulled some ****ing amazing **** out of there, dude.”

The whole time, Abidi was in the car, unwilling or unable to talk.

“I’m like, ‘Bidi, what’s up?’ She’s like, (Berczyk makes a growling noise). She made like a weird noise or something. I’m like, ‘What the ****?’”

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It wasn’t until 2:11 a.m. that police spotted Berczyk speeding down Forest Home and pulled him over. By then, it was too late.

Abidi’s death was officially ruled an accident, and while the case is still under review by prosecutors, Berczyk has never been charged.

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But four months later, the criminal charges started piling up again.

Ten criminal cases in 18 months

Downward spiral:

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In December 2024, Big Bend Police said Berczyk stole $3,500 worth of aluminum rims from a commercial trucking company. Wauwatosa police said he stole rims at a business there, too.

In May 2025, Berczyk was caught on surveillance video stealing a bicycle from a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee residence hall garage. 

In July 2025, he’s accused of stealing a gun, tools and sporting goods from a Glendale apartment complex.

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In late 2025 and early 2026, four different police departments found him in possession of cocaine, meth and narcotic drugs.

Click here to read the criminal complaints:

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But while the criminal charges kept coming, Berczyk stopped showing up for court. So FOX6 Investigators went looking for him where we found him 18 years ago – at his parents’ house in Muskego.

“I’m looking for your son, Dan,” said Polcyn to a gray-haired man who answered the knock, but refused to open the storm door.

Berczyk has been charged with more than 100 crimes in his adult life. He is 50 years old.

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“No idea where he is,” mouthed Daniel Berczyk Sr.

After four months on the lam, Milwaukee police arrested Berczyk at a house near 12th and Ring in Milwaukee’s Borchert Field neighborhood. They said they found him after he listed a stolen generator on Facebook Marketplace. 

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He’s back in custody, facing a flurry of new charges. In all, he now has 10 open criminal cases in Milwaukee and Waukesha counties, with a total of 35 criminal charges among them. 

“That is how you get an absolute Level 5 highest risk category,” said prosecuting attorney Karine O’Byrne.

Belle is still focused on the one case for which charges remain elusive.

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Polcyn: “Was Mina Abidi’s life worth saving?”
Belle: “It was. It definitely was.”

It is the only case that is truly a matter of life and death.

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$77,500 cash bail

What’s next:

Berczyk is being held in the Milwaukee County Jail on a combined total of $77,500 cash bail in seven Milwaukee County cases. He also faces three additional criminal cases in Waukesha County.

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He’s due in court again July 10.

The Source: Information in this report is from the Greenfield Police Department, Milwaukee County Medical Examiner’s Office, Big Bend Police Department, Wauwatosa Police Department, Milwaukee Police Department, Waukesha County District Attorney’s Office, Wisconsin Circuit Court records, a review of police and surveillance video, an interview with Belle, and prior coverage of FOX6 Investigators reports on Berczyk.

FOX6 InvestigatorsCrime and Public SafetyNewsMilwaukee
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Detroit, MI

Plymouth’s Channell-Watkins joins local hockey players on PWHL Detroit

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Plymouth’s Channell-Watkins joins local hockey players on PWHL Detroit


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PWHL Detroit added another local player to the roster for the inaugural season in 2026-2027.

Plymouth’s Mellissa Channell-Watkins (Vancouver Goldeneyes) was one of three defensemen signed to the team on Sunday along with Stephanie Markowski (Ottawa Charge) and Mia Biotti (Boston Fleet).

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Channell-Watkins joins Macomb’s Taylor Girard, Brighton’s Shiann Darkangelo and Port Huron’s Casey Borgiel as Michigan-area players in the lineup.

Channell-Watkins played with the expansion Goldeneyes last year after two previous seasons with the Minnesota Frost where she won back-to-back Walter Cup titles.

In 30 games in 2025-26, the 31-year-old recorded two assists and tied for fifth among defenders with 44 hits.

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In 83 career regular-season games, she has 11 points (1G, 10A), while her nine career playoff points (1G, 8A) in 18 games is tied for third all-time among defenders. 

Prior to turning pro, the Little Caesars graduate played at the University of Wisconsin, scoring the game-winning goal in the 2017 NCAA Frozen Four semifinal.

Markowski entered the PWHL as the 20th overall selection by Ottawa in the fourth round of the 2024 Draft.

The 24-year-old finished third on the team with a plus-6 rating in 2025-26 and has recorded 10 points (2G, 8A) in 58 career regular-season games.

Collegiately, the Edmonton native played four seasons at Clarkson University (2019-23), serving as an alternate captain in 2022-23.

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She transferred to Ohio State where she won a national championship with the Buckeyes in 2024.

Biotti spent her rookie season with Boston Fleet, making her PWHL debut at Little Caesars Arena on Jan. 3 and went on to record two assists in 13 regular-season games and saw action in two playoff contests. 

The 23-year-old from Cambridge, Massachusetts, played four seasons at Harvard University, serving as captain in her senior year, and earned Second-Team All-Ivy League honors.

PWHL Detroit roster

Forwards

Daryl Watts, Detroit’s first signing, Canadian Olympian, Toronto Sceptres

Hannah Bilka, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent

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Britta Curl-Salemme, U.S. Olympian, Minnesota Frost

Jesse Compher, Sister of Red Wings forward J.T. Compher, Toronto Sceptres

Taylor Girard, Macomb native, New York Sirens

Shiann Darkangelo, Brighton, Montreal Victoire

Hilary Knight, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent

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Defensemen

Cayla Barnes, U.S. Olympian, Seattle Torrent

Sydney Bard, Vancouver Goldeneyes

Nina Jobst-Smith, German Olympian, Vancouver Goldeneyes

Detroit’s draft picks

▶ No. 15 (Second round): Andrea Brandli, G, Switzerland

▶ No. 22 (second round): Casey Borgiel, D, Colgate

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▶ No. 34 (third round): MaryKate O’Brien, F, Minnesota-Duluth

▶ No. 39 (fourth round): Kyle Josifovic, F, Connecticut.

▶ No. 51 (fifth round): Sena Catterall, F, Clarkson

▶ No. 63 (sixth round): Georgia Schiff, F, Cornell

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Detroit added six new players in the PWHL Draft, including Swiss goalie star Andrea Brändli.

Detroit added six players in the PWHL Draft, including Swiss goalie star Andrea Brändli.



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