West
Territorial 'tug of war' rages out west as blue state residents say enough is enough
Oregonians who are fed up with the blue state’s policies are seeking to relocate the Beaver State’s border to neighboring Idaho, where the red state policies “actually match their values.”
The Greater Idaho Movement’s Executive Director, Matt McCaw, told Fox News Digital that the movement to shift Oregon’s border 200 miles west was created to bridge the growing “tug of war” in the Beaver State.
“The state of Oregon is divided geographically by the Cascade Mountain Range and that geographic divide is also a huge cultural divide,” McCaw said. “So, on the west side of Oregon you have a different climate, it’s a different economy, it’s a different culture and more urban. It’s a very different place than the east side, where there are agricultural people who are very conservative and traditional.”
“You have these two very different groups of people in Oregon that try to play tug of war over state government,” he said.
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The Greater Idaho Movement seeks to shift the Idaho border west and move the Oregon border 200 miles west. (Greater Idaho Movement)
Matt McCaw, the executive director of the Greater Idaho Movement, discussed with Fox News Digital the grassroots movement to shift Oregon’s border. (Fox News Digital)
The political “tug of war” in Oregon has created a dividing conflict in the western state – aggravated by residents who have different values and needs from their elected officials.
“Eastern Oregonians are very different from western Oregonians,” McCaw said. “And you can take almost any issue that is a political hot topic, whether that’s immigration or taxes or abortion or gun rights or drug criminalization or decriminalization, you can take almost any issue, and what the people of Eastern Oregon want for their communities is different from what the people of Western Oregon want.”
The Greater Idaho Movement seeks to shift Oregon’s border and join the more conservative Idaho. (Greater Idaho Movement)
The Greater Idaho Movement hopes to bridge the gap by shifting Oregon’s border.
“Why don’t we find a long-term solution to allow people who are different to get different policies for their communities that make sense for them? That will lower political tension, it will lower political conflict. And it’s what people repeatedly say they want out of their politics,” McCaw said.
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“People are not looking for partisan bickering,” he said. “What most people want are bipartisan solutions that create win-wins for everybody involved. That’s what our solution does, that’s what Greater Idaho does.”
“It creates a situation where the people in eastern Oregon get the government that they want and what the people in western Oregon get the government that they want and vote for,” McCaw added. “And all that political tension that comes from sharing the same state goes away.”
The western side of Oregon is rainier and denser in population, while the state’s eastern side has a drier climate and is more rural. (Greater Idaho Movement)
The executive director of the Greater Idaho Movement explained that the “urban rural divide” has been in Oregon “since the beginning.”
“Since this state was created, you were always going to have this difference between the east side and the west side. And a lot of that is just straight up geography. The west side of Oregon has a completely different geography and climate than the east side of Oregon, and people are going to make their livings a different way.”
Many residents in eastern Oregon were soured by Oregon state’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic. (Greater Idaho Movement)
McCaw said that the difference between the west and east sides of Oregon were only exacerbated during the coronavirus pandemic and helped “supercharge” their movement.
“During COVID, the state of Oregon was one of the most extreme. They closed businesses across the state, they closed churches across the state, they closed schools, they imposed mask mandates and later vaccine mandates,” McCaw said. “This was all state policy handed down through the government institutions like the Oregon Health Authority, which made these policies for the entire state.”
“It was very heavy-handed, and here in eastern Oregon, people [here] did not want those policies,” he said.
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“You had just this amazing amount of conflict and frustration out here, tension, because these policies were being forced on the east side of the state that we didn’t want. And all along, just to our east in our neighboring state, Idaho, you had a completely different government response from the state,” McCaw said.
McCaw said that many residents in eastern Oregon saw the pandemic as a wake-up call for residents to want politicians who reflect the community’s values.
“And those policies that happened during COVID were so impactful and so negative that I think that it kind of supercharged this movement,” he said. “It made people realize that the government can have a massive impact on my life in a really negative way, so we need to make sure that that government matches our values, matches our community’s values, so that the next time something like this comes along, we know our government response is going to be the kind of response that our community wants.”
The Greater Idaho Movement argues that a border is an “invisible line.” (Greater Idaho Movement)
“The people shouldn’t be serving this invisible line. The invisible line should serve the people,” McCaw said, referring to the border.
“This is an idea that is not crazy, we move invisible lines all the time in our country to get better representation for people,” he explained. “We redistrict every ten years, and we change that every ten years. Nobody blinks an eye about that.”
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McCaw argued that moving Oregon’s border would “actually make sense.”
“Let’s take this invisible line. Let’s move it to where it actually makes sense, where it actually would represent the people and group similar peoples together who want the same kind of government. And let’s use it to lower political tension, solve problems rather than make problems worse,” he said.
Matt McCaw told Fox News Digital that the Greater Idaho Movement has gained steam since its creation four years ago. (Greater Idaho Movement)
McCaw said that since the Genesis of the movement, just four years ago, it has gained traction from residents and local officials.
“We have gone to 13 counties in eastern Oregon and asked voters directly, ‘Do you want your elected leaders to pursue making this border change happen?’” McCaw said. “We’ve won in all 13 of those eastern Oregon counties, so we are looking at moving, in total, 17 full or partial counties into Idaho.”
“The people of Eastern Oregon want to have this conversation, and the people of Eastern Oregon deserve to have their elected leaders have this conversation on their behalf,” he said.
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San Francisco, CA
20 women sue SF sheriff after alleged mass strip search ‘for training’
Numerous women who were detained in the San Francisco County Jail have accused the department of violating their rights after being subjected to a mass strip search that prosecutors said were used “for training” purposes.
Nearly 20 women have accused the San Francisco sheriff’s office of forcing them to strip naked in the county jail on May 22, 2025, and times before and after that date, while male deputies watched and cracked jokes.
The federal class action lawsuit was filed Friday in the United States District Court for Northern District of California. The suit was filed against the city and county of San Francisco, the SF County Sheriff’s Department, SF County Sheriff and several members of the department, per the complaint obtained by The Post.
The women alleged that while they were detained in the county jail, they were subjected to strip searches in front of male deputies who allegedly taunted and filmed them. Prosecutors claimed that this was not by accident and “it was deliberate,” per the complaint.
The plaintiffs include women who were strip-searched before May 22, women who were strip-searched during the mass operation on May 22, and women who were subjected to “suspicionless post-movement strip searches in the months that followed,” the complaint read.
The women claimed they were not only forced to strip naked in front of other women but that this also allegedly occurred while deputies wore body-worn cameras and recorded the searches.
“Multiple plaintiffs heard Sergeant Ibarra, the supervising officer, explicitly instruct Deputy Dockery not to deactivate her body-worn camera during the searches,” per the complaint.
“When Dockery asked whether she should turn her camera off, Ibarra said no. Ibarra later told detainees the footage might be ‘used for training purposes.’”
The complaint goes on to allege that Ibarra “told women the footage was similar to what they ‘see on YouTube’ and was ‘just like ‘Cops’” the TV show.
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office (SFSO) states that strip searches must be conducted outside the view of anyone not involved and that no male staff are present when women are searched.
The suit also claimed that when various women either complained or filed grievances about the strip searches they were allegedly retaliated against.
“After plaintiffs LaSonya Wells and Alexcis Herrera organized other women to file tort claims, both were placed in segregation within a week,” the complaint read.
“Sergeant Ibarra directly threatened continued strip searches in November 2025 unless women ceased what he called ‘disrespecting deputies.’”
The suit was filed by attorney’s: Elizabeth Bertolino, Molly Ryan, Anthony Label, and Michael Christian.
Speaking to Mission Local in November, one of the women allegedly subjected to the strip searches talked about the trauma she still feels from it.
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“I’m still having nightmares about it,” one of the women told the outlet.
In November, the SFSO issued a statement that “appropriate personnel action was taken” following the numerous allegations.
“The conduct described is deeply concerning and does not reflect the policies, procedures, or professional standards we require of our staff,” the department told KTVU.
“We want to acknowledge the women who came forward. Every complaint raised within our facilities is taken seriously, and we remain committed to ensuring that all individuals in our care are treated with dignity, respect, and in full accordance with our policies and procedures.”
The women are seeking “compensatory damages for all constitutional and statutory violations” from things such as alleged emotional distress, trauma, physical injuries, loss of work assignments, etc, per the complaint.
The Post reached out to the San Francisco County Sheriff’s Office for further comment.
Denver, CO
Family identifies teenage victim of deadly shooting at recreation center in Denver
Family members have identified the teenage victim of the deadly shooting at Denver’s Montbello Recreation Center as 14-year-old Mikail Nasir Khalid Payne, who went by Nasir. According to the family, Nasir was standing up for his older brother in an altercation when the shooting happened.
The shooting happened Thursday night at the Montbello Recreation Center off E. 53rd Ave in northeast Denver. Denver Police say a boy has since been arrested and is being held in custody for investigation of first-degree murder.
Nasir’s uncle, Sareef Aleem, said his two nephews went to the rec center on Thursday night. He said Nasir’s older brother was there when the shooting happened and witnessed it.
“Two kids confronted Hassan, and they put their hands on him, and as soon as Nasir stood up, another kid, a third kid that was on the side, blindsided him, and just shot him,” said Aleem. “It’s very difficult. I got the call late last night, we’re just shocked.”
Police say those involved knew one another, and the victim, Nasir, died at the scene. Police also say it was an isolated incident.
A recreation center is known to be a safe space for many kids after school or during the summer, Nasir’s family says.
“They were created to be a safe place for our kids to go, where they didn’t have to worry about getting shot or assaulted,” said Aleem. “We need to check our kids, check their bags, check their rooms and make sure that they’re taking basketballs to the rec center and not pistols.”
Jolon Clark, Executive Director of Parks and Recreation, said in a statement, “Recreation centers are more than facilities. They are gathering places where community is built, where young people learn and grow and where families come together. They have long been and remain the safest place for our youth to gather, which makes today so much harder.”
Aleem said his nephew, Nasir, was one month away from turning 15. He added that Nasir was respectful, kind, and had an entrepreneurial spirit.
“He used to help his family with their landscaping business on a regular basis. He also used to sell little perfume oils right here in this neighborhood and at the car wash over there. People knew him and respected him,” said Aleem.
“He was well-mannered, courteous, excellent character,” said Imam Abdur-Rahim Ali.
Abdur-Rahim Ali and others gathered at an Islamic Center on Friday, a day of worship for the Islamic community, where Nasir and his family visit often.
“I knew him from coming here for services. He was very intelligent, respectful individual. He came in and made prayer on a frequent basis, and just a respectful youth,” said Abdur-Rahim Ali. “The main day of worship for us is on Fridays, so many people came today, and we told them what happened. Of course, it’s a shock.”
Aleem said in Islamic tradition, family members try to bury their loved ones within 24 hours. As Memorial Day Weekend is just ahead, he added it’s been a burden on the family to take care of before the holiday.
“His family is distraught right now. They’re trying to process what happened. His family just wants everybody to know that he was a good kid, and he didn’t deserve this,” said Aleem. “It’s just a shame that he’s not around to fulfill his dreams.”
The family is also raising money to cover funeral costs.
As the investigation is underway, the Montbello Recreation Center is also closed until further notice.
In a statement from Mayor Mike Johnston, he said, “No statement can capture the grief we feel today. Our hearts are broken. To the family of the victim and the entire Montbello community, know that you have our deepest sympathies and our unwavering support.”
In a statement from the Denver City Council, they said: “The Denver City Council joins Mayor Mike Johnston in extending heartfelt sympathies to the victim’s family, Montbello residents, young people, and the staff at the Montbello Recreation Center following Thursday’s tragic shooting.”
Denver Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call 720‑913‑7867.
Seattle, WA
Seattle Social Housing Developer buys $60M apartment building
SEATTLE — Three years after Seattle voters approved the creation of a publicly owned social housing developer — and later approved a new tax on high earners to fund it — the organization has made its biggest move yet: purchasing a luxury apartment building steps from Pike Place Market for $60 million.
The acquisition of the Elara at the Market marks the first major property purchase by the Seattle Social Housing Developer, which plans to convert the 150-unit building into permanently affordable housing.
Supporters argue the deal reflects the financial reality of building housing in Seattle’s expensive market and may ultimately cost less than constructing a similar project from the ground up.
“We were going out to look for acquisitions as our first step in the social housing developer’s portfolio because it is something where we can get residents quickly,” Seattle Social Housing Developer CEO Tiffani McCoy said. “We are able to show the concept quicker than we would through new construction.”
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McCoy said the organization intentionally targeted what she described as a “Class A asset,” a building without major deferred maintenance or repair needs, in a highly desirable neighborhood where lower-income residents typically cannot afford to live.
Longtime resident Lauren Boyan said she first learned about the purchase through a text message from another tenant after residents received letters explaining the transition.
“My friend Melissa, who lives on the bottom floor, texted me the letter, and we both discussed whether or not this was real,” Boyan said.
Boyan, who has lived in the building since 2021, praised the location and quality of the apartments.
“I really like how it’s centrally located,” she said. “Everything I like is within walking distance. It’s close to transit.”
Asked about the “luxury” label attached to the building, Boyan laughed at the description.
“I mean, it’s a newer build. The appliances work,” she said. “To me, that’s a luxury, I guess.”
McCoy defended the decision to purchase a higher-end apartment complex rather than an older or cheaper property. The acquisition works out to a per-unit price of roughly $400,000. Multiple analyses have suggested it could cost between $300,000 and $400,000 to build an affordable housing unit from scratch.
“Everyone deserves to live in high-quality housing,” she said. “What do we mean by luxury? Is it having access to a washer and dryer? Is it having access to common space? Is it having access to housing that doesn’t have mold or pests?”
McCoy said the organization is trying to avoid the mistakes that have plagued some public housing systems for decades by purchasing buildings that can remain stable long term without major capital investments.
“These housing units are permanent social housing fixtures,” she said. “We can never sell off these buildings.”
The purchase was financed through voter-approved funding measures passed in 2025, including a tax on businesses with highly paid employees. McCoy said revenue from the tax has significantly exceeded initial projections.
“The first installment of this revenue source hit our bank accounts in March of this year,” McCoy said. “I just think that goes to show there is a lot of wealth in our city.”
According to the developer, current tenants will not be displaced. Rents will be frozen for two years, some fees will be eliminated, and residents will receive free ORCA transit passes.
A public lottery for vacant affordable units also opened Friday. The first available apartments will go to residents earning less than 30% of the area median income, followed by those earning between 30% and 50% of the area median income. Eventually, the organization plans to serve residents earning anywhere from zero to 120% of the area’s median income.
Boyan, who voted in favor of the original social housing initiative, said she strongly supports the broader mission behind the program.
“I’m very much in support of Seattle being a community that can actually be a community,” she said. “That involves people of all different incomes, all different backgrounds.”
She added that maintaining affordability in neighborhoods near downtown and Pike Place Market is critical to preserving Seattle’s cultural identity.
“This neighborhood, in particular, is super important for art and culture,” Boyan said. “Having a pathway for people to be able to afford to live here is super important.”
Still, Boyan said she hopes the agency is prepared for the operational realities that come with managing housing at this scale.
“I would be more concerned with how the actual management of it is going to go,” she said. “What’s the actual plan?”
“I hope they’re thinking through the surprises,” she added.
The Seattle Social Housing Developer said it hopes to purchase another apartment complex before the end of the year while simultaneously launching its first new-construction projects. McCoy said future developments will prioritize larger, family-sized units, including two-, three- and four-bedroom apartments, which she argues are largely missing from Seattle’s current housing market.
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