Author name: RVM News

DeSantis Makes a Major Move on Flock Cameras in Florida [WATCH]
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DeSantis Makes a Major Move on Flock Cameras in Florida [WATCH]

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that the state will end its partnership with Flock, a decision that will result in the removal of approximately 700 license plate reader cameras from state roads, as reported by Townhall.

Under the order, state agencies have been instructed to remove all license plate readers operated through the state partnership by the end of September.

The directive does not apply to cameras installed or operated by city and county governments, meaning local agencies may continue using their own systems.

The decision marks a significant change in Florida’s use of automated license plate reader technology. It follows growing concerns about how the systems collect data, protect privacy, and can potentially be misused.

In a letter explaining the state’s decision, the Florida Department of Transportation cited several concerns about the rapid expansion of the technology and questions surrounding its use.

“Exponential increase in deployments coupled with concerning reports of misuse, data privacy concerns and surveillance schemes,” the letter reads.

Flock cameras have become the subject of increasing scrutiny among voters and public officials across the country.

Supporters of license plate reader technology have argued that the cameras can assist law enforcement agencies with investigations, while critics have raised concerns about privacy, data collection, and the possibility that the technology could be used improperly.

One recent case involving alleged misuse of Flock cameras drew national attention after reports revealed that a Florida-based deputy allegedly used the system to track an ex-romantic partner.

The incident became widely discussed as concerns about potential abuse of the technology continued to grow.

The removal of approximately 700 cameras represents one of the more substantial state-level actions taken against the expanding use of the systems.

However, DeSantis’ order is limited to cameras connected to the state’s partnership with Flock and does not require municipal or county governments to remove cameras they operate independently.

The issue has increasingly crossed political lines, with privacy concerns prompting scrutiny from voters and officials who may otherwise disagree on law enforcement policy.

Critics have warned that the widespread deployment of automated surveillance systems can create opportunities for misuse if agencies do not maintain strict controls over access and data.

DeSantis is also not alone among Republican governors taking action against Flock programs.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has ordered a halt to all funding for Flock-related programs in Texas, signaling a broader Republican pushback against the technology.

The decisions by Florida and Texas come as concerns continue to grow over the rapid expansion of camera networks capable of recording and tracking vehicle movements.

Critics have focused particularly on the amount of information collected by such systems and the potential for government employees or law enforcement officials to access the technology for unauthorized personal purposes.

For Florida, the immediate effect of DeSantis’ decision will be the removal of roughly 700 state-connected cameras by the end of September.

Local governments, however, will determine separately whether to continue operating cameras under their own authority.

The move places Florida among the states taking a closer look at whether the benefits of automated license plate reader technology outweigh concerns about privacy and potential misuse.

With reports of abuse continuing to attract attention, the debate over government surveillance technology is unlikely to disappear anytime soon.

Full Stop: Fired-Up Mullin Shreds Liberal Reporter on Illegal Alien Carnage [WATCH]
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Full Stop: Fired-Up Mullin Shreds Liberal Reporter on Illegal Alien Carnage [WATCH]

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Homeland Security chief Markwayne Mullin said during a Monday press conference that policies under former President Joe Biden’s administration contributed to the deaths of hundreds of Americans in crashes involving migrant truck drivers, as reported by Breitbart.

Mullin said officials have counted 239 American deaths involving migrant drivers and argued that many of those incidents could have been prevented.

“These individuals are dangerous, and because of the failure from the previous administration, from the Biden administration, they’ve killed hundreds of people, and unfortunately injured thousands,” Mullin told reporters.

Mullin credited President Donald Trump with taking steps to improve public safety and criticized the previous administration’s approach to immigration and commercial trucking.

“Thank God, President Trump was elected by the American people to restore law and order and safety back onto our streets. Because one death, one permanent injury, is one too many, and it was 100 percent preventable. Who, in the Biden administration, thought it was a great idea to put people on the streets that couldn’t read our road signs, driving 80,000-pound rigs, without even having to take an English test or a driving test?”

The press conference focused on commercial drivers who entered the United States illegally, as well as concerns involving foreign-born drivers who may be in the country legally but do not meet applicable training and safety requirements.

The Biden administration’s immigration policies allowed millions of migrants to enter or remain in the United States, while former Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas defended expanded immigration as part of a broader economic strategy tied to Biden administration policies.

Mullin’s remarks drew a challenge from a reporter, who argued that U.S. Department of Transportation statistics showed illegal and foreign drivers accounted for only 1 percent of the overall roadway safety problem.

“The [conversation] here has been strongly about illegals [and] foreign drivers, but [they] account, according to U.S. DOT stats I see, for one percent of the [safety] issue,” the reporter said.

Mullin responded by arguing that even a small percentage was unacceptable, particularly when deaths and serious injuries could have been prevented.

He pointed to an injured girl standing beside the stage while addressing the reporter.

“Are you saying 1 percent is okay? Because … 1 percent is one [person] too many … Every single illegal that maims or kills an individual is 100 percent preventable. I’m trying to prevent every one of them. I don’t care if it’s a fraction of 1 percent — I’m coming after you. I’m removing you from the road because it should never take place … Every death at the hands of an illegal is one too many … Are you willing to take that 1 percent if it was your daughter?”

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy also responded to the question, saying the administration’s concerns extend beyond drivers who entered the country illegally.

“This does have to do with those who’ve come into the country illegally, but it also has to do with people who are in the country lawfully, but they’re not being trained, and they’re not following the laws and the rules we’ve set up to keep Americans safe on the roadway.”

According to the information presented at the press conference, Duffy and his deputies have removed more than 30,000 drivers from the road and shut down more than 250 driving schools as part of enforcement efforts. Officials have also counted 239 deaths involving migrant drivers.

The exchange highlighted the administration’s broader effort to tighten oversight of commercial drivers while drawing attention to immigration enforcement, driver training and roadway safety.

Mullin argued that the government should act regardless of what percentage migrant or foreign drivers represent in broader transportation safety statistics, maintaining that preventable deaths should remain a priority.

The issue is likely to remain part of the ongoing debate over immigration policy, commercial licensing, and federal transportation enforcement as the Trump administration continues its effort to increase scrutiny of drivers and training programs operating across the country.

Massive Search Intensifies for Illinois Man Missing in Great Smoky Mountains
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Massive Search Intensifies for Illinois Man Missing in Great Smoky Mountains

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A growing team of park rangers, volunteers, and local agencies is searching Great Smoky Mountains National Park for an Illinois man who has been missing for more than a week after his vehicle was found at the Sugarlands Visitor Center, as reported by Fox News.

Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak was last known to be at the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot on Aug. 22, 2025, according to the National Park Service.

He was reported missing two days later, and officials subsequently located his vehicle in the visitor center’s parking lot.

The search initially focused on the area surrounding Sugarlands before expanding farther into and around the national park. By Saturday, the search team had grown to 47 park rangers and volunteers.

The National Park Service said the effort increased to 57 people by Sunday.

Search crews are looking both on and off established trails and are using drones to help cover additional areas of the park.

Drones are generally prohibited within Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which stretches across the border between Tennessee and North Carolina.

Officials are temporarily allowing their use as part of the search effort for Bachleda-Blaszczak.

Family members said there was nothing unusual about Bachleda-Blaszczak’s behavior shortly before he disappeared.

“The day before, I believe, was when he had pizza with his dad, you know, chatted with him, said he might pick up a shift the next day at work,” his cousin, Corrina Auten, told CBS Chicago.

“It was very, you know, like a normal, normal conversation. There wasn’t anything strange or amiss,” she said.

“The next thing we knew, he didn’t show up for work, and he was missing.”

The circumstances surrounding Bachleda-Blaszczak’s disappearance remain unclear as the search continues.

The National Park Service described him as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is one of the country’s most visited national parks and includes extensive backcountry, hiking trails, and heavily wooded areas across Tennessee and North Carolina.

The size and terrain of the park have added to the challenge facing search crews as they continue working to locate the missing man.

Rangers and volunteers have continued to widen the search beyond the immediate vicinity of Sugarlands Visitor Center while checking areas both accessible by trails and locations away from established paths.

Officials have asked anyone with information about Bachleda-Blaszczak or anyone who believes they may have seen him to contact Great Smoky Mountains National Park dispatch at GR***********@*ps.gov.

The search remained ongoing as of Sunday, with dozens of personnel involved and aerial support being used to assist crews on the ground.

Authorities have not announced any indication of where Bachleda-Blaszczak may have gone after he was last known to be at the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot.

Mom Loses Desperate Grip on Daughter as Ferry Capsizes, 20 Still Missing [WATCH]
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Mom Loses Desperate Grip on Daughter as Ferry Capsizes, 20 Still Missing [WATCH]

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Search-and-rescue crews continued operations Monday after a passenger ferry carrying 267 passengers and crew capsized off the northern coast of Cyprus, leaving at least eight people dead and approximately 20 others missing, as reported by Fox News.

The ferry was traveling from Kyrenia in northern Cyprus to the Turkish port of Tasucu when it began taking on water shortly after departing Sunday, according to Reuters.

Nearby vessels and coast guard crews responded after the emergency began, rescuing survivors from the water and from the overturned ferry.

The search remained underway Monday as authorities worked to account for everyone aboard.

Among those reported missing were siblings Miray Bicer, 12, and Mehmet Asaf Bicer, 6. The children had been visiting Cyprus with their family before the ferry departed Kyrenia.

Their mother, Ayten Bicer, described her efforts to hold onto her daughter as the vessel overturned.

“She was saying, ‘Don’t let go,'” Bicer told Reuters. “And I didn’t let go of my daughter. I swear, I didn’t let her go.”

According to Bicer, a suitcase fell on her during the chaos, causing her to lose her grip on the girl. She said she managed to grab her daughter’s foot, but oil from the vessel made the area slippery, and the child slipped away.

Officials increased the number of people considered missing from 18 to 20 on Monday after reviewing passenger records and comparing them with the list of known survivors, Reuters reported.

Recovery and search efforts have been complicated by the location of the wreckage.

The ferry lies in water more than 1,600 feet deep, creating significant challenges for crews attempting to search the area and determine whether anyone may have remained inside the vessel.

Turkish Cypriot leader Tufan Erhurman said a ship from Turkey equipped to assist with seabed operations was expected to arrive Tuesday.

Authorities had not determined whether anyone was trapped inside the sunken ferry.

Officials have also opened an investigation into what caused the vessel to begin taking on water and eventually capsize.

Nine people connected to the ferry’s operations were detained as part of the investigation, according to Reuters.

Authorities said the vessel held a valid seaworthiness certificate.

Weather conditions have also become part of the investigation.

Northern Cyprus Prime Minister Unal Ustel said the ferry encountered adverse weather and began taking on water approximately 15 minutes after leaving port, according to the Associated Press.

Erhurman offered a different assessment, however, saying weather conditions “were not bad” and cautioning against speculation about what caused the sinking before investigators complete their work.

The internationally recognized government of Cyprus has also offered assistance with the search-and-rescue operation, according to the Associated Press.

As of Monday, emergency crews and nearby vessels continued searching for the approximately 20 people still unaccounted for.

The incident has prompted a large-scale rescue effort involving authorities in northern Cyprus and assistance from Turkey, while investigators work to determine how a ferry carrying hundreds of passengers and crew began taking on water shortly after departure.

The search remains ongoing as authorities continue reviewing passenger records, searching the waters surrounding the wreck and preparing for additional seabed operations.

Suspected DUI Driver Sparks Wild Chase and Dramatic Takedown on Popular California Beach [WATCH]
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Suspected DUI Driver Sparks Wild Chase and Dramatic Takedown on Popular California Beach [WATCH]

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A man accused of reckless driving led San Diego police on multiple pursuits Sunday morning before authorities tracked his pickup truck onto the sand at Pacific Beach and took him into custody in front of stunned beachgoers, as reported by Fox News.

The incident began shortly before 7:30 a.m. when the San Diego Police Department received multiple calls reporting a driver behaving recklessly in the Pacific Beach neighborhood, according to police.

Witnesses told authorities that the driver of a tan or gold Nissan Frontier had been doing donuts in parking lots, nearly striking other vehicles and possibly hitting curbs and a retaining wall.

Officers arrived within minutes and spotted the truck traveling west toward the ocean. Police attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the driver allegedly fled, leading officers to begin a pursuit.

Authorities later ended that pursuit because of what police described as the driver’s “increasing wanton disregard to public safety.”

Police subsequently located the Nissan again, but authorities said the driver failed to yield for a second time. Another pursuit began and was also terminated.

By that point, police said the truck was wanted in connection with felony evading. Officers increased their presence in the area and continued searching for the vehicle.

The Nissan was eventually spotted again traveling slowly. Officers decided against immediately attempting another traffic stop and instead waited until the San Diego Police Department’s ABLE helicopter, short for Airborne Law Enforcement, was in position to monitor the truck.

Police said the helicopter followed the Nissan as it drove onto Pacific Beach and headed toward the water.

Video from the scene showed beachgoers watching as officers converged on the pickup truck parked on the sand.

The driver, identified by police as 25-year-old Griffin Charles Foy, exited the vehicle and raised his hands as officers approached.

Police said a K-9 was present at the scene but was not deployed during Foy’s arrest.

Authorities conducted what they described as a high-risk vehicle stop because of the alleged violations and Foy’s “disregard to public safety.”

Foy was taken into custody without further incident.

He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges of felony evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, obstructing or resisting a peace officer, and driving under the influence of drugs, according to police.

Despite the multiple pursuits and the arrest on a crowded public beach, authorities said no one was injured.

The incident drew attention because of the unusual conclusion to the police response, with officers ultimately locating and arresting the suspect after his vehicle traveled from neighborhood streets onto one of San Diego’s best-known beaches.

Police did not report additional injuries or damage in connection with the incident. The investigation and criminal case against Foy will proceed through the appropriate legal process.

Trump Finds Unlikely Ally Adam Schiff in Fight for Hollywood
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Trump Finds Unlikely Ally Adam Schiff in Fight for Hollywood

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President Donald Trump has found an unlikely ally in his effort to revive Hollywood and bring film and television production jobs back to the United States: Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif, as reported by Fox News.

The two political opponents have spent years on opposite sides of some of Washington’s biggest battles. Schiff led the first impeachment effort against Trump and has remained one of the president’s most outspoken critics.

But both now support federal incentives aimed at reversing the loss of entertainment jobs and encouraging productions to return to Hollywood.

“I am in strong agreement with the President,” Schiff said on X. “Congress should immediately take up and pass a federal film tax incentive to bring back these good-paying jobs that we’ve lost to other countries.”

“Let’s work together — Republicans and Democrats — to get this done, and bring the movie magic back to America,” he continued.

Trump has called for Congress to move quickly on federal tax incentives after years of production leaving California for other states and foreign countries offering more competitive financial packages.

The president recently met with actor Jon Voight, who serves as the U.S. special ambassador to Hollywood.

Following that meeting, Trump said he wanted lawmakers to develop legislation designed to strengthen the American movie, television, and entertainment industries.

Trump urged congressional leaders from both parties to act immediately to “craft Legislation to save the Movie, Television, and Entertainment Business in America.”

“Congress should approve, immediately, a Federal Production Incentive to create Entertainment Jobs in America. It can be done quickly, accurately, efficiently and, importantly, will benefit ALL of America,” Trump said.

The effort comes as Hollywood continues to struggle with significant job losses. The entertainment industry has lost 49,000 jobs since 2022, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Hollywood’s decline has followed the COVID-19 pandemic and the collapse of the streaming boom that helped drive a major expansion in film and television production.

At the same time, states and countries have increasingly used tax incentives to lure productions away from California.

Trump has criticized the condition of the once-dominant entertainment center, saying film and television production has moved elsewhere in the United States and overseas, leaving Hollywood a “complete and total disaster.”

California lawmakers have attempted to respond by expanding the state’s Film & Television Tax Credit Program.

The Legislature moved to more than double the program to $750 million and added incentives designed to encourage productions to relocate or remain in California.

However, the state’s effort faced another obstacle after Gov. Gavin Newsom imposed a $5 million state corporate tax credit cap over the next three years.

Despite California’s expanded program, competitors continue to offer larger packages. Georgia allocates more than $1 billion in production tax breaks, while New York provides roughly $800 million.

Canada and the United Kingdom also offer substantial incentives that have drawn American film and television production abroad.

Trump said the competitive imbalance has created little reason for productions to remain in California.

“There is no incentive to be there, and it is hurting California very badly,” Trump said. “Jon, and many others in the Industry, are suggesting we do Federal Tax Incentives in order to Make our Movie and Television Production Business GREAT AGAIN, perhaps GREATER THAN EVER BEFORE!”

The proposal now faces a difficult congressional calendar. September has a shortened schedule, October will be heavily focused on midterm election campaigning, and November will begin the lame duck session in Washington, D.C.

Still, the unusual agreement between Trump and Schiff could give the proposal bipartisan momentum.

After years of political warfare between the two, Hollywood’s shrinking job base appears to be one issue where even longtime enemies can agree that something needs to change.

Swimmer Survives Relentless River Otter Attack During Lake Tahoe Swim [WATCH]
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Swimmer Survives Relentless River Otter Attack During Lake Tahoe Swim [WATCH]

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A Nevada woman who has spent decades swimming in Lake Tahoe said she is now reconsidering where she enters the water after a river otter attacked her during an open-water swim Sunday morning, as reported by the New York Post.

Lynnette Bellin, 51, a Reno-based swimming instructor and owner of ISR Reno Tahoe, was swimming near Hidden Beach on Aug. 30 when the encounter occurred.

Bellin said the animal repeatedly attacked her in the water before she was able to reach safety.

Bellin, who has swum in Lake Tahoe for 25 years, required 38 stitches following the incident, including 22 stitches to her foot.

“Something grabbed my leg and pulled me under,” Bellin told CBS News. “And it was so powerful I thought it was a human.”

She said the otter then began “biting and scratching” and described the animal’s behavior as persistent.

“It was just ruthless,” she said.

Bellin later described the encounter to NBC affiliate KRNV, saying the animal continued returning even after she attempted to push it away.

“It was teeth and claws, and it was a very long attack,” she said.

“It just kept coming after me. I kept pushing it away, and it kept coming back.”

Bellin yelled for help and eventually made her way onto nearby boulders, according to the Reno Gazette Journal. She said reaching safety was difficult because the rocks were slippery.

Once out of the water, Bellin said she could still see the otter nearby.

“I even watched, and it was just circling the rocks,” she said, describing the otter as “very menacing.”

The longtime Lake Tahoe swimmer said the incident was particularly difficult because swimming in the lake has long been an important part of her life.

Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Bellin said she considers the freshwater lake a place of peace and sanctuary.

But the encounter has left her uncertain about returning to the water in the immediate future.

“I feel like that was robbed from me after the otter attack,” she wrote online.

Bellin nevertheless expressed hope that she may eventually return to swimming in Lake Tahoe, though she said the experience has changed how she views the places where she enters the water.

“Perhaps I will just pick different beaches to swim at,” she said.

The attack occurred near Hidden Beach, a popular area along Lake Tahoe.

Bellin’s experience has drawn attention to the rare but potentially dangerous encounters that can occur between people and wildlife, even in areas frequented by swimmers and visitors.

For Bellin, who has spent a quarter-century swimming in Lake Tahoe, the incident was an unexpected interruption to an activity she had long considered a source of comfort.

After receiving medical treatment for her injuries, she said she remains hopeful she can eventually return to the lake — though likely with a more cautious approach to choosing where she swims.

Senior Iranian IRGC Member Suffers Heart Attack on Live TV [WATCH]
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Senior Iranian IRGC Member Suffers Heart Attack on Live TV [WATCH]

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The United States launched a surprise attack against the Iranian regime on Sunday, according to Iranian affairs commentator Tousi, who said the action came after U.S. officials received information indicating Iran was preparing to launch a strike in Jordan, as reported by The Gateway Pundit.

The developments were followed by retaliatory missile launches targeting U.S. forces in Jordan, according to the report. Most of the missiles were intercepted.

The reported U.S. operation marked a significant escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Tousi described the American action as a preemptive strike carried out after intelligence suggested Iranian forces were preparing for an attack in Jordan.

As news of the military developments unfolded, a senior member of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Naemat al-Hami, died after suffering a heart attack during a campaign speech.

Al-Hami, an IRGC member and candidate, was speaking at a public event when he suddenly became ill and was unable to continue his remarks.

The incident was captured during the event and later circulated in coverage of the developments surrounding the U.S. operation and Iran’s response.

The death of the senior Iranian official occurred as the Iranian regime faced the aftermath of the surprise U.S. attack and prepared its military response.

Following the American operation, Iranian forces launched several retaliatory missiles toward U.S. forces stationed in Jordan, according to the report. Most of those missiles were shot down before reaching their intended targets.

The exchange represented another major confrontation involving the United States and Iran, with both sides taking military action amid heightened concerns about further escalation in the region.

Details regarding the reported intelligence that preceded the U.S. attack were limited.

Tousi said the United States had received information indicating Iranian forces were preparing to carry out a strike in Jordan, prompting what was described as a preemptive American operation.

Iran’s retaliatory missile launches followed soon afterward, placing U.S. forces in Jordan on alert as missile defense systems responded to the incoming threats.

The incident involving al-Hami added another unexpected development to an already volatile day for the Iranian regime.

His death came during a live public appearance and occurred as Iran was responding to the U.S. military action.

The full scope of the U.S. operation, including the specific targets involved and the extent of any damage, was not detailed in the report. Information about additional Iranian military responses was also limited.

Sunday’s events nevertheless marked a sharp increase in military tensions between the United States and Iran, as reports of the surprise American attack, Iran’s retaliatory missile launches, and the death of a senior IRGC official unfolded within the same period.

Steve Hilton Calls for FBI to Revisit Becerra Investigation Over Alleged Campaign Fund Scheme [WATCH]
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Steve Hilton Calls for FBI to Revisit Becerra Investigation Over Alleged Campaign Fund Scheme [WATCH]

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Republican California gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton is calling for federal investigators to revisit their investigation into Democrat opponent Xavier Becerra, alleging that Becerra knew about a scheme involving hundreds of thousands of dollars from a California campaign account that was allegedly used to supplement the compensation of his former chief of staff, as reported by Red State.

Hilton announced the effort in a statement calling for the federal criminal probe involving former chiefs of staff connected to Becerra and California Gov. Gavin Newsom to be reopened.

Hilton said he and California attorney general candidate Michael Gates sent a letter to Todd Blanche requesting further action.

During an appearance on Fox Business on Sunday, Hilton argued that it was “impossible to believe Becerra didn’t know about the scheme.”

“This is a new announcement right this morning…”

“This guy Becerra, he was, he’s a 36-year career politician. He’ll be worse even than Newsom if he’s elected. But the really terrible thing is that he’s up to his neck in a corruption scandal. It’s involving his former chief of staff, and they took money from a California campaign account and used it to top up this other guy’s salary when he was chief of staff to Becerra when he was HHS secretary.”

The allegations stem from events that followed Becerra’s appointment by former President Joe Biden to lead the Department of Health and Human Services in 2020.

According to the account, Becerra wanted his longtime chief of staff, Sean McCluskie, to join him in Washington, D.C., but McCluskie sought higher compensation.

A scheme was then allegedly developed involving $225,000 from Becerra’s California campaign account.

The money was sent to a consulting firm operated by Dana Williamson, a former chief of staff to Gov. Gavin Newsom, and was allegedly used to pay McCluskie’s wife for what prosecutors described as a fraudulent job arrangement.

McCluskie, Williamson and a Sacramento lobbyist separately pleaded guilty to fraud and other charges connected to the case in late 2025 and May 2026. All three are awaiting sentencing.

Becerra has maintained that he did not know about the alleged scheme. Hilton, however, said a witness statement and text messages in the case raise questions about that claim.

“Now, they’ve been federally indicted; they pleaded guilty. Becerra claims he knew nothing about this illegal scheme, but we’ve got the witness statement from the case, and right there, I’ve circled it in red.”

“There’s a text exchange between the two people who pleaded guilty, and it says one of them says to the other, ‘Talk to Public Official Number One.’ Becerra has confirmed that he is Public Official Number One.”

“In other words, he did know about this, and I think — because it’s all about him getting his cheaper staff, working with him in D.C. — he probably came up with the whole idea. He needs to be re-interviewed by the FBI to make sure that voters know whether the Democrat candidate for governor is actually a criminal.”

Hilton’s request places renewed attention on the federal case as California’s gubernatorial campaign continues.

The Republican candidate is arguing that the FBI should further examine Becerra’s role and determine whether the available evidence warrants additional questioning or investigative action before voters head to the polls.

Becerra has denied knowing about the alleged scheme, while Hilton maintains that the witness statement cited in his request contradicts that position.

Any decision to reopen or expand the federal investigation would rest with federal law enforcement authorities.

NYC’s Largest Teachers Union Endorsed Mamdani, Now They’re Suing Him Over Broken Promises [WATCH]
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NYC’s Largest Teachers Union Endorsed Mamdani, Now They’re Suing Him Over Broken Promises [WATCH]

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New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing opposition from the city’s largest teachers union after his administration filed a lawsuit seeking to block a City Council measure that would provide bonuses of up to $10,000 for education paraprofessionals, as reported by Fox News.

The dispute places Mamdani at odds with the United Federation of Teachers, which endorsed him after he secured the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor in July 2025.

Last month, the New York City Council unanimously approved the RESPECT Check Act, legislation designed to provide bonuses of up to $10,000 to education paraprofessionals. The measure was passed unanimously on July 16.

Mamdani had previously supported a version of the legislation but later opposed the measure, arguing that it conflicts with New York state’s Taylor Law, which governs collective bargaining for public employees and protects their ability to negotiate compensation and other workplace issues.

On Aug. 19, Mamdani’s administration filed a lawsuit seeking to prevent the law from taking effect.

The UFT responded by filing a motion to intervene last week, positioning the union for a court fight if the mayor continues his effort to block the measure.

“We knew this lawsuit was a possibility, and we were prepared,” UFT President Michael Mulgrew said in a statement.

“The RESPECT check law, which was unanimously passed by City Council on July 16, was carefully drafted to make sure that it did not violate the state’s Taylor Law, which governs collective bargaining.”

Mulgrew added, “The City Council would not have introduced — let alone passed — this bill if it were illegal, and we would not have supported a bill that threatened our collective bargaining rights. This moment is an opportunity for Mayor Mamdani to create a new, fairer system and build the kind of city he said he wanted to lead. This administration must keep its promises, and we won’t stop until it does.”

The dispute centers on a group of school employees who assist teachers and work with students, including some of the city’s highest-need students.

City Council leaders have argued that the legislation addresses both compensation concerns and staffing shortages.

In a joint statement responding to Mamdani’s lawsuit, City Council Speaker Julie Menin and Council member Carmen De La Rosa defended the measure.

“Every member of the Council, in a unanimous and bipartisan vote, supported the RESPECT Check Act because it is unacceptable that paraprofessionals who support some of our highest-need students are earning as little as $32,000 a year. This law is not only the right thing to do, it is also the fiscally responsible thing to do, helping address the staffing shortages that contribute to the City’s $1.5 billion in Carter case costs. The Council will vigorously defend the law,” the statement read.

Mamdani has maintained that his administration does not oppose increasing paraprofessional pay despite filing the lawsuit against the legislation.

Speaking at a news conference last week, Mamdani said discussions between his administration, Menin and the UFT had been “productive.”

“The relationship [with Menin] continues as it’s been, and the talks [with the UFT] have been productive,” Mamdani said.

“They’ve been productive because we have a shared understanding of the critical role that paraprofessionals play in our [public school system] and in our city.”

The lawsuit nevertheless leaves Mamdani in a difficult political dispute with a union that previously backed his campaign. The UFT is now preparing to challenge the mayor’s administration in court over legislation that passed the City Council without a single opposing vote.

The case will determine whether the RESPECT Check Act can move forward as written or whether the city’s legal challenge will succeed.

For now, the mayor and one of his former political allies appear headed toward a courtroom battle over how New York City should deliver additional compensation to education paraprofessionals.


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