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D.C. Crime Statistics Scandal Exposed in Court Settlement

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Gavel (Zolnierek/Getty Images via Canva Pro)

The crime statistics controversy in Washington, D.C., has taken a new turn after the city quietly settled a lawsuit from former Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sergeant Charlotte Djossou. Djossou accused MPD leaders of deliberately downgrading felonies—such as knife attacks, robberies, and assaults—to misdemeanors to make the district’s crime rate appear lower.

Court records show that MPD commanders instructed officers to use lesser classifications like “Taking Property Without Right” (TPWOR) instead of theft or shoplifting, since TPWOR reports are excluded from the city’s public crime statistics. “Managers at the district routinely changed felony classifications to misdemeanors,” Sergeant Michelle Starr confirmed in an investigative interview, noting that TPWOR reports skyrocketed 500 percent after the directive.

Djossou’s lawsuit included records of violent crimes being downgraded, including one case where a woman suffered a “deep open flesh cut” from forehead to chin but the offense was recorded as “Sick person to the hospital.” In another case, she reported a suspect who “strangled [the victim]… threw her over the couch… and then he threw a knife in her direction close to her head,” only for the incident to be classified as a misdemeanor assault.

The case was dismissed on Aug. 5 after both parties announced they had reached a settlement.

Project 2026: GOP Ad Exposes Democrats’ Radical Agenda

Hakeem Jeffries
(Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

A Project 2026 political fight is heating up as the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) launches a hard-hitting ad tying vulnerable House Democrats to the radical policies of socialist figures like New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani. The digital ad campaign targets 25 Democrats nationwide, warning voters about what Republicans say is the left’s vision for America.

The ad charges that “Hakeem Jeffries’ plan to remake America” includes raising taxes on working families, impeaching President Donald Trump, opening the border, abolishing ICE, and defunding the police. Viewers hear Rep. Dina Titus declare, “I’d like to impeach the bastard right now,” and Mamdani boast, “We are unapologetic about our socialism” while promoting “the abolition of private property.”

NRCC spokesman Mike Marinella told Fox News Digital, “This is the America Democrats want to build: Raising taxes for working families, baseless impeachments, wide open borders, abolishing ICE, defunding the police, and turning America into a socialist, crime-filled dystopia. House Republicans are the only thing standing between you and the nightmare of ‘Project 2026.’”

The NRCC’s release follows House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries’ missed deadline to present a Democratic “blueprint for a better America.” Instead, Republicans unveiled their satirical “Project 2026” memo, claiming Democrats are out of touch with voters. As the ad closes, Jeffries is shown declaring, “We’re gonna take back America and it starts today,” followed by the challenge: “Are you going to let them?”

Foreign Press Association President Defends Hamas “Journalist” Killed in Israeli Strike

Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images

The Foreign Press Association erupted with backlash after its president, Ian Williams, declared he didn’t care if Al Jazeera “journalist” Anas Al-Sharif was a Hamas terrorist. Speaking to CNN one day after Al-Sharif’s death in a targeted Israeli strike, Williams said, “Frankly, I don’t care whether Al-Sharif was in Hamas or not… Hamas is a political organization, as well as a terrorist organization, perhaps. But it’s not permissible to go killing people.”

Israeli intelligence claims Al-Sharif led a Hamas cell and documented evidence shows he celebrated the October 7 massacre. Telegram messages he posted that day praised the killings: “It is a jihad, a jihad of victory and martyrdom. Allahu Akbar and thank God.” In another message, he wrote, “9 hours later and the heroes are still roaming the country, killing and capturing… God, God, how great you are.” He also shared photos of dead Israeli soldiers being stepped on with captions like, “The army wants to exterminate people under their rugs 😉🔥.”

Before October 7, Al-Sharif posed for photos with Hamas leaders, including massacre mastermind Yahya Sinwar. Despite this, Williams rejected Israel’s evidence, saying, “First of all, I don’t believe it… I basically don’t believe anything the Israeli government says about this. They’ve lied and lied and lied.”

The case has sparked outrage from those who see a dangerous double standard in media circles. As Williams himself admitted, “Frankly, I don’t care whether Al-Sharif was in Hamas or not,” a statement critics say reveals troubling priorities in global journalism leadership.

Mendenhall River Flood Breaks Record, Forces Mass Evacuations

Alaska
Alaska (Jacob Vizek/Unsplash)

The Mendenhall River flood near Juneau, Alaska, the state capital, reached a record-breaking crest of 16.65 feet on the morning of Wednesday August 13 after a massive glacial outburst sent debris-filled water rushing into neighborhoods. The National Weather Service (NWS) confirmed it was the largest event of its kind on record, surpassing last year’s crest of 15.99 feet. Officials urged residents in the 17-foot lake-level inundation zone to evacuate until an “All Clear” was issued.

The flooding, triggered by the sudden release of water from Suicide Basin above the Mendenhall Glacier, forced the closure of major community facilities, including the Mendenhall Valley Public Library and Diamond Park Aquatic Center. Roads were also blocked, with the Mendenhall Loop Road (Back Loop Bridge) shut down until water levels recede below 12 feet and safety inspections are complete. The Red Cross opened an emergency shelter for displaced residents.

The FAA issued a Temporary Flight Restriction to allow safe aerial monitoring and potential rescue operations. Authorities warned that the danger extended beyond the high water levels. “There is a lot of debris in the river. Please stay away from the river. It’s very dangerous right now,” said Andrew Park of the NWS. “If you get in that water, you’re not going to make it out of there.”

According to the U.S. Geological Survey, glacial lake outburst floods are unpredictable events that can cause major destruction. As glaciers continue to melt, officials warn these hazards may become more frequent and severe, demanding increased monitoring and preparedness.

Democrats Plan ‘Fight the Trump Takeover’

(Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

Democrats are planning to launch protests on August 16, targeting redistricting efforts underway across the country. The protests, called “Fight the Trump Takeover” and organized by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), aim to organize Americans to show up at their “statehouses, city halls, and community spaces to make it clear — we see what Trump is doing, and we won’t stand for it,” the DNC said.

“Trump knows the only way he can hold the majority after his budget betrayal is by changing the rules in the middle of the game to avoid accountability for ripping health care and food away from millions of Americans,” DNC Chair Ken Martin said in a statement.

According to the protest’s website, President Donald Trump is “trying to steal the 2026 election by rigging the system and changing electoral maps. He started in Texas, but he won’t stop there.”

“We are fighting back,” the site declares. “Join a stop the Trump Takeover event near you on Saturday, August 16th.”

Describing the redistricting plan underway in Texas, the website argues that President Trump “has made it clear that he’s not stopping at Texas. He’s targeting Missouri, Ohio, Florida and every state he can twist to help him steal Congress. States like Florida and New York are already fighting back.”

Texas Democrats are reportedly planning to return to the state after fleeing to block legislative sessions. The Texas House Democratic Caucus said they would return if two conditions are met: the “Legislature’s adjournment sine die Friday” and the “introduction of California’s redistricting maps that would neutralize the Trump-Abbott voter suppression effort.”

D.C. Police Chief Allows Cooperation with ICE

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Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) issued an executive order allowing cooperation with federal immigration authorities, including ICE.

Chief of Police Pamela Smith said officers may “assist federal immigration enforcement agencies” with “sharing information about persons not in MPD custody” and “providing transportation for federal immigration agency employees and detained subjects.”

Smith’s order noted that officers may not arrest individuals “based solely on federal immigration warrants or detainers as long as there is no additional criminal warrant or underlying offense for which the individual is subject to arrest.”

The executive order comes as President Donald Trump announced “Liberation Day” for Washington, D.C., this week.

“This is Liberation Day in D.C., and we’re going to take our capital back,” Trump stated. “Under the authorities vested in me as the President of the United States, I’m officially invoking Section 740 … and placing the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department under direct federal control.” He said experienced law enforcement leaders would oversee the transition, adding, “They’ve done it before.”

“Our capital city has been overtaken by violent gangs and bloodthirsty criminals, roving mobs of wild youth, drugged-out maniacs and homeless people, and we’re not going to let it happen anymore,” Trump said, adding, “You don’t want to get mugged and raped and shot and killed … You want to be able to leave your apartment or your house and feel safe.”

In an order demanding the restoration of law and order in D.C., Trump declared, “It is my duty to our citizens and Federal workers to secure the safety and the peaceful functioning of our Nation, the Federal Government, and our city.”

Florida to Open ‘Deportation Depot’

americans
(Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis (R) announced that the state is planning to open a second immigration detention facility.

The new facility, located at the Baker Correctional Institution and dubbed “Deportation Depot” by the governor, will hold 1,300 detention beds, although officials believe the number could increase to nearly 2,000.

“We’re taking yet another step in supporting the important mission that President Trump was elected to implement, securing the border, enforcing immigration laws and removing illegal aliens who are in our society now and sending them back to their home country,” DeSantis told reporters.

“We have done more on this than any other state by a country mile,” he added. ”We’re the only state in the country that requires all state and local law enforcement agencies to participate in ICE operations. We have that as a requirement of our state law.”

Florida’s detention center, Alligator Alcatraz, has been the subject of recent controversy just weeks after opening. The Department of Homeland Security has defended the facility, issuing a statement condemning the mainstream media’s attacks on the site.

“Nearly every single day, my office responds to media questions on FALSE allegations about Alligator Alcatraz. The media is clearly desperate for these allegations of inhumane conditions at this facility to be true,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin stated. “No feces are overflowing from toilets. Just like no one has died. Incinerators are not being used for nefarious purposes. These types of smears are directly contributing to our ICE officers facing a 1000% increase in assaults against them. Here are the facts: Alligator Alcatraz does meet federal detention standards. All detainee facilities are clean. Any allegations of inhumane conditions are FALSE. When will the media stop peddling hoaxes about illegal alien detention centers and start focusing on American victims of illegal alien crime?”

Los Angeles Councilman Charged with Embezzlement

U.S. Money (Giorgio Trovato/Unsplash)

A Democrat Los Angeles City Councilman has been charged with corruption for embezzling $800,000.

Councilmember Curren Price originally received five embezzlement charges in 2023, as well as three felony counts of perjury and two felony counts of conflict of interest.

“Embezzling public funds and awarding contracts for your own financial gain is the antithesis of public service,” Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman said in a statement. “Our communities expect and deserve better from their public officials. I thank our investigative team and prosecutors in the Public Integrity Division for diligently pursuing every lead and holding elected officials accountable. Self-dealing and pay-to-play politics will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County.”

According to a release from Hochman’s office, the ten felony counts allege that Del Richardson & Associates, a company owned by Price’s wife, Delbra Pettice Richardson, “received payments totaling more than $150,000 between 2019 and 2021 from developers before he voted to approve projects.” Price has also been accused of embezzling an estimated $33,800 in city funds between 2013 and 2017 to pay for medical benefits for his wife, whom he falsely claimed he was married to while being legally married to Lynn Suzette Price.

“It is further alleged that Price took advantage of his position in city government to award city lease agreements and over $2 million in federal COVID-19 grants to the nonprofit Home at Last,” the district attorney’s office adds. “Home at Last was a paying tenant of the Urban Healthcare Project at the time of the votes. Price served as CEO of Urban Healthcare Project during the time of these votes. These funds were intended for homelessness efforts.”

If convicted as charged, the councilman faces up to 11 years and four months in custody, including “up to nine years and four months in state prison and up to two years in county jail.”

Trump’s AI Strategy Powers New Government Tool

artificial intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (Naeblys/Getty Images)

The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) announced USAi, an artificial intelligence tool that allows federal agencies to “experiment with and adopt” AI strategies at a fast pace.

The tool’s launch supports the efforts described in the White House’s “America’s AI Action Plan.” USAi features an “evaluation suite,” which is described as a system that “not only fosters transparency and trust in emerging technologies, but also accelerates responsible innovation across the federal government.”

“USAi means more than access—it’s about delivering a competitive advantage to the American people,” said GSA Deputy Administrator Stephen Ehikian. “The launch of USAi shows how GSA is translating President Trump’s AI strategy into action and accelerating AI adoption across government. USAi will put mission-ready tools directly into the hands of agencies to modernize faster, boost security, and lead globally.”

GSA Chief Information Officer David Shive said the tool is “infrastructure for America’s AI future,” explaining that it “helps the government cut costs, improve efficiency, and deliver better services to the public, while maintaining the trust and security the American people expect.”

Upon announcing its AI plan in July, the White House said, “Winning the AI race will usher in a new golden age of human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security for the American people.”

Policies listed in the plan include exporting American AI around the world, developing data centers, supporting innovation by removing barriers, and preserving free speech in AI models.

The report details that an American victory in the AI race will unleash a new “information revolution” and “enable altogether new intellectual achievements: unraveling ancient scrolls once thought unreadable, making breakthroughs in scientific and mathematical theory, and creating new kinds of digital and physical art—a renaissance.”

Historic Legal Agreement Removes Cereal Dyes

Kellogg's
(Haley Owens/Unsplash)

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced that Kellogg’s has entered into an agreement to remove dyes from its cereals.

Paxton and Kellogg’s have signed a historic Assurance of Voluntary Compliance, which declares that the company will remove artificial food dyes from its cereals by the end of 2027. The agreement makes Kellogg’s the first company to “officially sign a legally binding agreement confirming that it will remove food colorings,”

“Following months of investigating and negotiating, I’m proud to officially say Kellogg’s will stop putting these unhealthy ingredients in its cereals,” Paxton said in a statement. “The signed AVC demonstrates that Kellogg’s is committed to keeping this pledge, and I commend the company for doing the right thing. I encourage other food manufacturers to sign similar agreements to demonstrate their commitment to helping Americans live healthier lives.”

Paxton launched an investigation into Kellogg’s in April for possible violations of the state’s consumer protection laws.

While the cereal giant advertises its products as “healthy,” some of its cereals are “filled with petroleum-based artificial food colorings that have been linked to hyperactivity, obesity, autoimmune disease, endocrine-related health problems, and cancer in those who consume them,” Paxton’s office said at the time. Cereals involved in the investigation include Froot Loops, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes, and Rice Krispies.

“A critical part of fighting for our children’s future is putting an end to companies’ deceptive practices that are aimed at misleading parents and families about the health of food products,” Paxton said earlier this year. “Artificial food colorings have been shown to have disastrous impacts on health, and in no world should foods that include these dyes be advertised as ‘healthy.’ There will be accountability for any company, including Kellogg’s, that unlawfully makes misrepresentations about its food and contributes to a broken health system that has made Americans less healthy.”

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