Fraud continues to plague the state of Minnesota, extending even to a program created to offset the economic impact of Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Hennepin County.

Back in March, Hennepin County commissioners approved $2 million for the program meant to help small businesses that had been affected by Operation Metro Surge, which began in December and ended in February.

'Clearly, fraud and people who want to commit it are still very active, as they do not fear the penalty.'

Three hundred applications were submitted to the Hennepin County relief program, each requesting a portion of the $2 million fund. However, after a "rigorous review," the county has now ended the program, Hennepin County chief public relations officer Carolyn Marinan said in a statement to Fox 9.

Only about 80 applications had been approved, receiving a total of about $500,000. More than 200 applications were flagged for possible fraud, Fox 9 reported.

Hennepin County Commissioner Jeffrey Lunde claimed that despite the flood of allegedly fraudulent applications, no money was actually lost to fraudsters. "We caught the fraud before we spent any money," he said, according to CBS Minnesota.

Madison Thorn/Anadolu/Getty Images

It appears officials found many applications suspicious almost immediately, as the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office claimed it was asked to open an investigation into "potential criminal activity" back in June, according to CBS Minnesota. The sheriff's office said it requested "pertinent documents" related to the case a month later, and once it receives all of those documents, it will open an investigation.

"Clearly, fraud and people who want to commit it are still very active, as they do not fear the penalty. Thanks to county staff and our partner, we were able [to] thwart these efforts by devoting more time and effort to tighter oversight, in-person inspections, and increased scrutiny," Lunde said in a statement to FOX 9.

"As the fraudsters continue their efforts, we need to ramp up our game as well. This is the new normal for all levels of government in Minnesota."

CBS Minnesota reported that $1 million in unused funds is still available for area small businesses, while another $500,000 will be used "to provide consulting and promotional support for businesses."

County PR officer Marinan said, "We’ve moved beyond the urgent need for immediate grant relief and are focusing our efforts on strategies that support the long-term vitality and sustainability of businesses."

Of note, anti-ICE agitators also surged to Hennepin County during Operation Metro Surge. One hotel alone sustained thousands of dollars in damage during a violent anti-ICE riot in downtown Minneapolis in early January, according to the Minnesota Star Tribune.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Ilhan Omar Finally Got Scared After Question About Her Brother Goes Viral

The Cult-Like NAR Church That Nearly Destroyed John Cooper | Ep 1397

Kansas man arrested for alleged threats to kill Ben Shapiro and President Trump

On July 13, 2024, President Donald J. Trump narrowly escaped an assassination attempt at a campaign rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. Since then, the threats and attacks on conservative activists, media personalities, and Trump himself have only escalated.

There have been three other incidents in which armed gunmen have gotten close to the president or his properties. In September 2024, Ryan Routh hid in the bushes outside the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach with the intent to shoot the president. In February 2026, an armed man was shot and killed after crossing a security perimeter at Mar-a-Lago. And in April, a gunman opened fire at the White House Correspondents' Dinner.

'I’ll kill you also Donald Trump.'

Then a gunman assassinated Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk during an appearance at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025.

In addition to these active threats and shootings, the Department of Justice has opened prosecutions in dozens of cases of individuals making online threats against politicians, including nearly 20 for threats against President Trump, since January 2025.

Those online threats against conservatives continue. Just this week, Jerusalem News Syndicate first made public the case of a Kansas man alleged to have made specific death threats against President Trump and conservative podcaster and Daily Wire co-founder Ben Shapiro.

Kansas Highway Patrol arrested Korby Aaren Strube, a 29-year-old resident of Horton, Kansas, last week, according to a Brown County sheriff's employee with knowledge of the situation. He was taken into custody on a warrant from Palm Beach County, Florida. The warrant was for alleged threats Strube made against Shapiro, a resident of Palm Beach County, according to a probable cause affidavit reviewed by Blaze News.

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

The affidavit describes an investigation into the matter that began on August 4 after a security firm that provides protection to Shapiro alerted the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office to a series of threats posted on X on August 1 by a user named “Kory” with the handle @Ksqcrzk. X has since suspended the account.

The affidavit goes on to quote the since-deleted alleged posts, which included threats like, “I’m going to kill ben [redacted] and he’s not going to be a-live.” In other alleged posts, the user cited anti-Semitism as the reason the user wanted to kill Shapiro and gave a countdown that culminated on the feast of Yom Kippur.

The threats against Shapiro also included threats against President Trump and former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama. According to the affidavit, the poster wrote, “I’m still killing [redacted] and I don’t expect to get away with that … I’ll kill you also Donald Trump.”

During the course of the investigation, the affidavit claims, a forensic analysis of the digital trail for the posts — including information gained from X Corp., Google, and Starlink through a series of requests and warrants — tied the accounts to Strube.

The affidavit also describes the first meeting law enforcement had with Strube in Kansas, when a Brown County undersheriff and Secret Service special agent went to Strube’s residence in connection with the alleged threats made against the president.

The affidavit states that a consensual interview with Strube took place at the dining room table of his residence with his parents present. It further claims that during this interview, Strube admitted to posting the threats against Trump and the Obamas.

The defendant also claimed during that interview that his accounts had been hacked, the affidavit says.

Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune/Getty Images

In addition to Shapiro, Trump, and the Obamas, the affidavit claims another account allegedly controlled by Strube continued the countdown toward Yom Kippur with threats against other unnamed individuals. X has also suspended that account.

When contacted by Blaze News with the allegations in the affidavit, a Secret Service spokesman said, "We are aware of the threats made in this case but do not comment on matters of protective intelligence.”

"It’s no secret that threats against Ben have increased over the past several years, requiring security to be ramped up,” a spokesman for the Daily Wire told Blaze News. “It’s an unfortunate reality of the current state of American politics. We are grateful for everyone involved in keeping Ben safe and ensuring justice is served.”

Inquiries to the Palm Beach Sheriff’s Office, Brown County Sheriff’s Office, and the Kansas Highway Patrol to determine whether Strube has been extradited to Florida have not been answered as of publication of this article.

The White House and Department of Justice have not responded to requests for comment.

Blaze News attempted to reach the defendant via two email addresses outlined in the affidavit, but no response has been received.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The University of California banned 'misgendering' — now its own policy is being used against it

Freedom of speech is still the law of the land in the United States, but on college campuses, that is apparently up for interpretation.

Look no further than the University of California and its sprawling system of 10 campuses across the state. One set of policies and standards governs all of its campuses, and with it comes a ban on "misgendering" and adhering to biological reality.

'UC's policy goes too far in restricting protected speech.'

Under UC's "Sexual Violence and Sexual Harassment" policy — which is available in four different languages — sexual harassment is described as including conduct like "acts of verbal, nonverbal, or physical aggression, intimidation, or hostility based on gender, gender identity, gender expression, sex- or gender-stereotyping, or sexual orientation."

In its FAQ section of the same document, "intentional and repeated use of a name or pronoun inconsistent with the individual's gender identity (i.e., misgendering)" is also considered harassment. The policy even extends its harassment definition to include the use of a person's "dead name," which in many cases means one's legal name.

So long as the conduct is "unwelcome," students or faculty who violate the policy are subject to discipline, including dismissal, aka expulsion.

Fortunately, a federal judge has stepped in and entered a preliminary injunction that bars UC from enforcing its policy for the time being, following a lawsuit from Defending Education.

In court documents, the Central District of California Southern Division's decision included an example of what UC considers to be harassment.

The school said that harassment based on gender identity includes "when a transgender man is intentionally and repeatedly called by his dead name (i.e., refers to a name that a transgender person was given at birth but that they no longer use), or intentionally and repeatedly referred to by 'Miss' or 'Ms.,' by a professor in an intentionally mocking manner."

Wiktor Szymanowicz/Future Publishing/Getty Images

The court also made its decision based on precedent, citing two recent cases that establish "UC's policy goes too far in restricting protected speech."

In Bates v. Pakseresht, the court noted that adoptive parents being forced into "affirming" a child's sexual orientation and gender identity (including preferred pronouns) "quite clearly restrict[ed] and compel[led] speech based on both content and viewpoint."

Furthermore, in Defending Education v. Olentangy, the court explained, a school district was prevented from enforcing a similar policy against Defending Education's members.

The court documents from the latest Defending Education lawsuit also pointed to training that "UC students must also complete," described as sexual violence and harassment, anti-discrimination, prevention, and education training, or SHAPE.

The lawsuit said the training formerly included the following scenario as an example of a hostile environment:

My name is Mona, and I am transgender. My classmate Jane continues to call me James, which was my name before I transitioned. Jane refers to me as a man and complains when I use the restroom. I asked her to stop, but she does not. I feel very disrespected and want this to stop.

The lawsuit notes, however, that "UC declares that this example is no longer included in the SHAPE training."

Eric Thayer/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images

To the court, all of this evidence was sufficient enough to grant the injunction.

Nicole Neily, president and founder of Defending Education, told Blaze News in a statement that her organization is grateful for the district court's decision against "the University of California system's coercive speech policy against our members."

Neily also called it "unconstitutional" for public universities to compel student speech.

"We will continue to defend this principle in California and other schools across the country as needed," she added.

UC did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Karl Rove & John Cornyn Just Did the UNTHINKABLE in Texas | 9/17/26

Talarico's pivot from 'God is nonbinary' is all just an act, admits minister at his church

James Talarico has notably tacked to the center on LGBTQ issues to try to win a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, but a minister at his own church claims that those changes are all an act.

Undercover video obtained by the Daily Wire captured a journalist chatting with Rev. Babs Miller, described as "an 'out' lesbian chaplain" at St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Austin, Texas.

'If it helps him win, OK.'

On the video, which is dated last Thursday, Miller responds with frustration that Talarico has pivoted from his previous claim that "God is nonbinary."

"He's getting some advice that I don't think he should be following," Miller says.

"And I can guarantee you that once he gets elected, he'll change his tune back to where he was," she continues.

Miller also agrees on the video that the political two-step Talarico is doing is just a "game" to help him win the Senate race against Republican state Attorney General Ken Paxton.

Brandon Bell/Getty Images

"His campaign has convinced him ... that the Democratic Party is backing off on their stances on trans and all of this, and so his staff is encouraging him to kind of do the same thing, just for the next 50 ... days," she explains.

The video clip closes with Miller stating, "I think it's bad advice, personally, but if it helps him win, OK."

A report from Chron indicates that Miller and Talarico know each other well and that they first met when Talarico was in kindergarten.

"You just knew he was a very special kid," Miller said of the boy she called "Jimmy," according to Chron.

The Daily Wire reported that Talarico has attended St. Andrews for a "long" time. Miller's church bio states that she retired "just before COVID" but returned in 2022.

The church, Rev. Miller, and the Talarico campaign did not respond to a request for comment from Blaze News.

Talarico's professed faith-based beliefs have astonished traditional Christians. He has:

used Scripture, specifically Genesis 2:7 and the Annunciation, to justify abortion,
claimed that there are six sexes, and
acted as a "a fierce queer ally," according to the LGBTQ advocacy outlet Pride.

But Rev. Miller has embraced Talarico's version of Christianity, telling Chron, "I think he has done an amazing job of being able to model that you can be a politician, and you don't have to give up your faith."

President Donald Trump, by contrast, said of Talarico back in March: "He may be the Worst Candidate I have ever seen."

"He’s got six Genders, insults to Jesus, only vegan food, was wearing a mask in 2023 and 2024, and is a weak, ineffective guy," Trump added.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here

Texas shuts down city's police department after controversial arrests, claim of 'deliberate political retaliation'

The mayor of Trinidad, Texas, told KDFW-TV earlier this week he wasn't surprised that the state shut down his city's police department.

"It was not a shock," Mayor Dennis Haws told the station. "I’m not gonna say that it was."

'There’s been a lot of neglect through the years.'

Haws received a letter from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement last week telling him it was revoking the city's license to have its own police department, KDFW reported.

The Trinidad Police Department employs five full-time officers and several part-time officers, the station said. The community of only 860 residents sits a little over an hour southeast of Dallas.

The Texas Commission on Law Enforcement said the police department "failed to meet minimum standards" and "was unable to provide evidence that the agency provides public benefit to the community," KDFW noted.

The state agency's investigation found that the police department didn't have 18 required policies in place, including policies on use of force, vehicle pursuit, professional conduct, and active shooters, the station said.

"There’s been a lot of neglect through the years," Haws noted to KDFW.

Moving forward, Trinidad will receive law enforcement support from the Henderson County Sheriff's Office, and the mayor told the station that the city will look into getting a designated deputy from the sheriff's office.

"We are moving in a positive direction," Haws added to KDFW. "We’ve got to get past all of this."

What's more, the station noted that the Trinidad Police Department has been mired in controversy since May when citizen journalist Jennifer Combs was arrested and charged with a felony after her Facebook post about the city's water issues.

Anti-ICE aid fund in Minnesota shuts down — and you can probably guess the reason why

Ilhan Omar Finally Got Scared After Question About Her Brother Goes Viral

The Cult-Like NAR Church That Nearly Destroyed John Cooper | Ep 1397

Kansas man arrested for alleged threats to kill Ben Shapiro and President Trump

Gavin Newsom Is Lying. He Will Run For President, Even If Kamala Does

The University of California banned 'misgendering' — now its own policy is being used against it

Karl Rove & John Cornyn Just Did the UNTHINKABLE in Texas | 9/17/26

Talarico's pivot from 'God is nonbinary' is all just an act, admits minister at his church

Texas shuts down city's police department after controversial arrests, claim of 'deliberate political retaliation'

‘I Would Do It Again’: Rep. Chip Roy Reflects On Years Of Service And Previews What’s Next

There's now a scary, powerful way to send a text if the internet and cell towers go out

Super PAC Boosting Colorado Dem Manny Rutinel Is Bankrolled by Longtime Ally of AOC's Former Chief of Staff

Anti-ICE aid fund in Minnesota shuts down — and you can probably guess the reason why

Exclusive: Election Integrity Groups Ask Court To Uphold Ohio’s Proof-Of-Citizenship Law

Can a $1.2 trillion giveaway become a fiscal bargain?

For years, the government tried to prove Google should be broken up. There's finally a verdict.

Thousands Of Noncitizens On Jersey’s Voter Rolls Represent Just ‘The Tip Of The Iceberg’

Why is this Epstein buddy getting a pass from the left?

We’ll keep you informed with top stories for conservatives who want to become informed decision makers.