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California Dem Katie Porter says age limits 'for all elected officials' should be discussed at Senate debate

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California Dem Katie Porter says age limits 'for all elected officials' should be discussed at Senate debate

California Democratic Senate candidate Rep. Katie Porter said age limits “for all elected officials” should be on the table at a debate Monday night.

“I do think generally that age limits are a conversation for all elected officials that we ought to be having,” Porter said at the KRON-TV debate in San Francisco. She gave that answer to a question about whether President Biden, 81, and former President Trump, 77, are “too old” to run for office.

“Californians are wondering about this. I think that’s a conversation we ought to be open to. I think we need a mix of people who’ve had years of experience and people like me, who’ve only been in Congress for five years. But I think we have to have that conversation,” Porter said.  

The advanced ages of the incumbent president and the GOP 2024 frontrunner were thrust into the spotlight last week by the release of Special Counsel Robert Hur’s report on Biden’s handling of classified documents.

WHITE HOUSE SAYS IT WAS BIDEN’S IDEA TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE AFTER RELEASE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL’S REPORT

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Rep. Katie Porter speaks as President Biden listens during an event at Irvine Valley Community College in Irvine, California, on Oct. 14, 2022. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Hur concluded that criminal charges should not be filed against Biden, partly because a potential jury would find him to be “a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory.” 

“Based on our direct interactions with and observations of him, he is someone from whom many jurors will want to identify reasonable doubt. It would be difficult to convince a jury that they should convict him – by then a former president well into his eighties – of a serious felony that requires a mental state of willfulness,” the report said.

Hur’s description of Biden’s faulty memory prompted fierce pushback from the White House, which called those comments “gratuitous” and “inappropriate,” as well as from Biden himself.

“I’m well-meaning, and I’m an elderly man and I know what the hell I’m doing,” Biden seethed to reporters at a late night press conference last week following a short address on the report. “I’ve been president and I put this country back on its feet. I don’t need his recommendation.”

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NANCY PELOSI SAYS BIDEN’S AGE IS AN ‘OBJECTIVE FACT,’ ARGUES IT’S ‘ALL RELATIVE’: ‘HE’S YOUNGER THAN I AM’

President Biden speaks at the White House on Thursday, Feb. 8, following the release of Hur’s report. (AP/Evan Vucci)

But at the same press conference, Biden appeared to forget where his late son Beau got the rosary the president said he wears every day. Biden also referred to Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, the president of Egypt, as “the president of Mexico.”

Media outlets labeled the press conference a disaster for the president, who has combated questions about his age since assuming office in 2020 as the oldest man to win the White House in American history. Were he to win re-election, Biden would be about 86 years old at the completion of his second term. 

HOUSE GOP GUNNING FOR TESTIMONY FROM BIDEN SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT HUR, SOURCES SAY

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California Senate candidates, from left, Rep. Barbara Lee, Rep. Katie Porter, Steve Garvey and Rep. Adam Schiff (Getty Images)

The age question is of particular significance in the California Senate election as the four candidates (three Democrats and one Republican) vie for the seat previously held by the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif.

Feinstein was 90 and still in office when she died last September. The longtime senator had suffered from extensive health issues for more than a year before her death, leading many to wonder about her ability to represent California in the Senate.

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom appointed Sen. Laphonza Butler, D-Calif., to serve as interim senator until the 2024 election. Butler declined to run for election to a full term.

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The other candidates to appear on stage with Porter were frontrunner Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and Republican political newcomer Steve Garvey, a legendary MLB player for the Dodgers. 

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Hawaii

State parks superintendent accused of having 2 million secret nude recordings of employees

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State parks superintendent accused of having 2 million secret nude recordings of employees


LOS ANGELES, Calif. (KCAL/KCBS/CNN) – A former California State Parks superintendent is accused of secretly filming male employees in the nude while they changed in a locker room.

“It was like getting punched in the stomach,” said California State Parks employee Matthew Dawson.

Dawson is afraid that he was one of the Bolsa Chica lifeguards or other workers allegedly recorded in a men’s locker room in Orange County by his then-boss Kevin Pearsall.

Pearsall, who has retired, was charged by the district attorney last week with eavesdropping, secretly filming and sharing some of the nude images.

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“When I was naked changing into uniform in the locker room, I remember Kevin directing me to the back area. I never thought anything of it; it just seemed eccentric and now I feel he was setting me up to undress on camera,” he said.

Attorney Gloria Allred said a lawsuit has been filed on behalf of Dawson and three other State Parks employees.

Senior Park Aide Manager Richard Corey said workers were encouraged to change in and out their uniforms in the locker room before and after their shifts.

“What happened with Kevin Pearsall is the ultimate betrayal of trust. He not only was in one of the highest positions of California State Parks, but he was a sworn, post-certified peace officer, a position of trust, and you know he, he swore not only to protect the public but also us, his employees, he failed us,” said Corey.

Pearsall is accused of hiding a USB stick that was also a tiny camera in the locker room for at least a year, recording both audio and video.

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An attorney representing another potential victim says 2 million images were recorded.

Pearsall was expected to be in court in August.

Copyright 2026 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.



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Idaho

Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce CEO resigns amid podcast allegations – East Idaho News

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Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce CEO resigns amid podcast allegations – East Idaho News


IDAHO FALLS — The CEO of the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber resigned Friday amid allegations of misappropriation of funds from a local podcast.

According to a social media post posted Friday from the Greater Idaho Falls Chamber of Commerce, the board of directors accepted the resignation of Paul Baker as chief executive officer.

“We thank Paul for his years of service to the Chamber and wish him well in his future endeavors,” says the post.

The post says that Baker will continue assisting the chamber in a transitional capacity for the next few weeks “to facilitate an orderly leadership transition.”

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We have reached out to Paul Baker for comment, and have not received a response. If we hear back, we will update this article.

The resignations come after weeks of scrutiny from a local podcast, IFAF, hosted by Mike Nelson and Karley Morgan. In multiple episodes, the podcasters read questions from an alleged whistleblower who claims that Baker may have misappropriated funds from the chamber, among other allegations.

RELATED | IFAF podcasters reflect on more than two years of rebellious recordings

EastIdahoNews.com has been watching this closely; some facts have been verified, others have not been or appear to be factually incorrect. We will continue investigating and update if we learn more.

“To date, the Board has not found any evidence that Chamber funds have been misappropriated. The Board remains committed to the Chamber’s mission of serving its members and supporting a strong business community,” says the post. “Chamber operations will continue uninterrupted as we move forward with a leadership transition and an independent audit.”

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As of Friday, no criminal charges have been filed against Baker for any of the allegations.

The podcast has also linked Baker to Cristie Stone, the former President of the Portneuf Valley Soccer Club, who was recently charged with allegedly embezzling $219,000 from the club. Baker was previously the club’s executive director. Numerous social media posts also indicate that Baker and Stone have been in a romantic relationship.

Local authorities have not indicated Baker is involved in Stone’s embezzlement case.

Cristie Stone | Akamai Advisors

RELATED | Former president of Portneuf Valley Soccer Club embezzled over $219K, police say

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The board says it appreciates the continued support of its members, partners, and the community and will provide additional information “as appropriate.”

EastIdahoNews.com will update when we learn more.

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Montana

Montana DEQ warns of algal blooms ahead of holiday weekend

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Montana DEQ warns of algal blooms ahead of holiday weekend


The Montana Department of Environmental Quality is reminding the public to check the harmful algal bloom map ahead of the holiday weekend.

HABs can discharge toxins that may be harmful to humans and animals.

If you suspect a HAB, stay out of the water, including your furry friends. Don’t allow dogs to drink from the water or lick their fur if you suspect they came in contact with affected water.

Officials say avoid swimming in areas where the water looks discolored and resembles spilled paint, pea soup or grass clippings.

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A list of reported HABs in the past week was provided by the Montana DEQ:

  • Lake Helena Causeway and Fishing Access Site, Lewis & Clark County (confirmed 6/25/2026)
  • Canyon Ferry Reservoir at Duck Creek Campground, Broadwater County (confirmed 6/24/2026)
  • Cooney Reservoir, Carbon County (confirmed 6/23/2026)

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality posted the following on Facebook:



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