West
Blue state sheriff says he’s ‘changing teams,’ urges support for Trump
A well-known conservative California sheriff joked that he was “changing teams” ahead of the 2024 election and urged people to support a “convicted felon.”
“I think it’s time we put a felon in the White House,” Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco said in a video posted to social media Saturday.
Bianco’s comments come after former President Trump was convicted last week on 34 felony counts in New York, making the former president the first president to be convicted of a felony.
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Sheriff Chad Bianco of Riverside County speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on May 15, 2024, in Washington, D.C. (Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)
Bianco, who has openly teased the possibility of running for governor of California, said in the video that he has done all he could over three decades in law enforcement to “keep our community safe by arresting criminals and putting them in jail,” but lamented that leaders and California have become seemingly pro-criminal in recent years.
“For the last five years I’ve been very critical about our governor for slashing our budgets from corrections, for letting prisoners out early, for closing our prisons,” Bianco said. “I’ve been critical of our state legislature for passing laws to make it harder to put people in prison. I’ve been critical for their changing laws that let prisoners out early. And I’ve been critical of our attorney general for seemingly not caring about crime.”
The sheriff went out to lament the “love affair” the state’s leaders “have with criminals,” which he argued is based on a “belief that criminals are not responsible for their own actions.”
“They’re a victim of society,” Bianco said. “It’s society’s fault. It’s businesses’ fault. It’s cops’ fault. It might be my fault.”
Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco takes a knee with demonstrators after thousands of them marched to the Robert Presley Detention Center during a protest against the death of George Floyd during the coronavirus pandemic on June 1, 2020. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)
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Bianco noted that the state’s leaders blame the judicial system, laws and law enforcement for being “systemically racist,” leading to criminals being put in jail as a result of “bias.”
But now they “let them out,” the sheriff continued, saying that they give criminals “housing, they give them money, they give them drugs and alcohol now.”
Bianco added that he was “tired” of the problem before a tongue-in-cheek admission that maybe he had “been wrong.”
House Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, center, listens to Sheriff Chad Bianco speak during a news conference in the U.S. Capitol to recognize law enforcement as part of Police Week on Wednesday, May 15, 2024. (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
“I think I am going to change teams,” Bianco said.
“I think they’re on to something, but I don’t think they’re doing enough,” the sheriff quipped, before revealing that he thought putting a felon in the White House would be a good idea.
“Trump 2024, baby, let’s save this country and make America great again,” Bianco concluded.
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Current Hawaii Rainbow Wahine and former Kahuku standout Chalei Reid, was busy on the North Shore on Saturday as she held her 1st ever Reid to Achieve Volleyball Clinic.
“I was able to host a clinic here at Kahuku High School, and, as well as have a book drive to be able to get back, I mean, with, previously had floods going on so, just being able to donate books to the kids affected in the elementary,” said Reid.
The Book drive with help from local organizations who Reid partnered up with, allowed for those who attended the camp to drop off a book that would be donated.
As for the volleyball clinic itself, Reid along with current Kahuku High School athletes and some of her Hawaii teammates hosted 200 kids throughout the day.
The kids were split up into 2 sessions, the morning group was 5-9 year old’s while the early afternoon group was 10-12 year old’s.
“Just being able to get back to my community and just to all who supported me. I think it’s just a really humble way to just get back to the people and just let the kids have fun and just be able to experience volleyball,” said Reid.
It was also a chance for many kids in the community to meet one of Hawaii’s standout players, learn the basics of the sport and have a good time.
“All of us are family and are all around the island. Just to be able to meet them and just give them the experience to have fun. I think it’s just super, wholesome and special that I’m able to give back to them,” said Reid.
Reid hopes to hold more clinics like this one in the future.
UPDATE: (as of 7:15 p.m. on May 23)
Neighborhood Reporter Allie Triepke has confirmed with the Ada County Sheriff’s Office that road closures have been lifted.
A fire near Kuna off Swan Falls Road has burned 1,500 acres, according to BLM Idaho Fire.
Crews with Boise Unit Fire responded to the scene at 3:28 p.m. on Saturday, May 23.
The fire is being referred to as the Moore Fire and is being ruled a human-caused fire, according to the Idaho Department of Lands.
Containment is projected for 9:00 p.m. Saturday, though times may change based on active fire activity.
Road closures are in effect from West Victory Lane south to Dedication Point, BLM Idaho Fire said in a Facebook post. Swan Falls Road is the only access route in and out of the area, so drivers should expect delays until the closure is lifted.
Neighborhood Reporter Allie Triepke is at the scene and sees multiple BLM fire trucks on scene, with state police turning away cars coming from Swan Falls Road.
Triepke reports that Idaho Power, Ada County Sheriff’s Office, and Idaho State Police are also on the scene.
She adds that, though it is not a mandatory evacuation, officials are advising people to leave the area. Authorities are currently surveying the area where the fire started, and an investigation is underway.
Idaho News 6 will continue to update this story.
Send tips to neighborhood reporter Brady Caskey
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On May 31st, Fort Peck, MT, will host the Trace’s Tacklebox Kids Fishing Clinic, a free event honoring Trace Louis. Starting at 10:00 AM, children will learn fishing skills, safety, and receive supplies, while enjoying outdoor activities. Community support aims to establish this as an annual tradition for families.
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