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Republicans spent a year fighting to keep question off the ballot and now lack a campaign to win support for their mid-decade gerrymander.

The board's "recent decision to fast-track Chief Tracy's contract extension during a closed-door, non-transparent process raises serious concerns," Kehoe said.

Dear Friend of Press Freedom:

We’re supporting an important federal bill to crack down on Flock Safety and the threat that mass surveillance technology poses to journalists. Meanwhile, the Trump administration continued its multipronged censorship campaign this week, while Florida politicians did their best impression of it. And for some good news: California lawmakers passed two important pieces of press freedom and transparency legislation.

Help put Flock on the chopping block

Artificial intelligence-powered camera networks operated by Flock Safety, Axon, and others are making the real-world consequences of mass surveillance impossible to ignore. Nearly every week brings a news report about how these systems are being abused to stalk romantic interests and exes, help immigration agents terrorize communities, or even spy on a children’s gymnastics room.

Given the history of government surveillance of journalists, it’s only a matter of time before we find out about these cameras being used against the press. That’s why we’re supporting Rep. Rashida Tlaib’s Get the Flock Out of Our Communities Act. Freedom of the Press Foundation (FPF) Senior Adviser Caitlin Vogus has more on the legislation and why this is a press freedom issue.

• Tell your lawmakers to support Tlaib’s bill

Ethically challenged FCC chair lectures press on ethics

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr proclaimed this week that broadcast news outlets may violate their license terms by reporting on what he calls “fake polls,” accusing outlets of violating journalistic ethics — a subject regarding which he knows nothing. Journalists have just as much right to report on polls that turn out to be wrong as they do to report on the Trump administration’s claims that constantly prove false.

Speaking of unscientific studies, our research indicates that 98 percent of what comes out of Carr’s mouth is unconstitutional nonsense, and the other two percent is “Where did I put my Donald Trump lapel pin?

• Read our statement on Carr’s latest ridiculous threat

Congressional threats to BreakThrough News are unconstitutional harassment

We led a coalition of press freedom organizations in demanding that the House Ways and Means Committee drop its threat to serially subpoena staffers at BreakThrough News. The committee wants BreakThrough News employees to testify before Congress unless the outlet drops its First Amendment objections and other challenges to the committee’s prior subpoenas and document demands by tomorrow.

The committee has claimed its prior correspondence was in furtherance of a tax-related probe into one of BreakThrough’s donors. But its chair, Jason Smith, is citing BreakThrough’s criticisms of immigration enforcement actions and of U.S. and Israeli foreign policy as examples of purported “anti-American” rhetoric it opposes, making clear that the probe is pure viewpoint discrimination.

• Read the letter and our press release

Florida GOP lawsuit to censor TV stations fails Sunshine State

The Republican Party of Florida sued 14 TV stations in Central Florida to stop them from reporting on one of the biggest stories in the state, the Hope Florida scandal, which involves allegations that Gov. Ron DeSantis diverted $10 million in federal funds to a charity connected to his wife. The party has since dropped the lawsuit following backlash, including from the judiciary and press freedom advocates including FPF.

The lawsuit purportedly involved a campaign ad that references sealed grand jury materials about the case, which it contends became public due to sloppiness on the government’s part. But it sought an order that would extend far beyond the ad to any reporting on its subject matter. And in any case, the press isn’t responsible for keeping the government’s secrets. It’s fully entitled to publish grand jury materials — or anything else — that it lawfully obtains.

• Read our joint statement with Florida’s First Amendment Foundation

California lawmakers bolster local news and transparency

We spend a lot of time talking about the awful track records of California law enforcement agencies when it comes to journalists’ rights. But recently, lawmakers in the Golden State have been coming through for the free press.

California passed the Community News Act to bolster local journalism and a new public records law that could help uncover mistreatment of immigrants in ICE detention. Angelino and FPF Deputy Director of Advocacy Adam Rose has more on these two big wins for transparency, accountability, and the public’s right to know.

• Watch Rose’s video

What we’re reading Zero-click spyware uses ads to target reporters FPF Digital Security Digest

Spyware vendors are using ads to breach mobile devices, even if you never click. New research shows journalists have become targets.

Trump pushes to evict the press from the White House The New York Times

“President Trump has talked about replacing the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room with an indoor swimming pool.” You can’t make this stuff up.

This is how I report from solitary confinement Inquest

“Reporting from prison is a lot like reporting from a war zone,” writes FPF columnist Jeremy Busby, describing his unique reporting process and the many obstacles he encounters. “You try to document what is happening around you while staying in survival mode yourself.” Journalists on the outside face challenges, too, which is why we have a two-part guide on prison reporting.

Judge orders Trump to sit for a deposition in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC by Dec. 11 The Associated Press

No, you don’t get to file meritless lawsuits against news outlets for $10 billion dollars and then evade discovery to test your claims, even if you’re the president. If it was anyone else, the case would’ve been thrown out already.

White House takes new swipes at press, blocking a reporter and threatening an outlet The Washington Post

After two years of these antics, Trump apparently still thinks that if he threatens just one more reporter, the press will stop exposing his incompetence and the public will start liking his policies. It hasn’t worked yet, and it’s not going to start now.

Raja’s departure was first announced almost three years ago.The only female elephants at the zoo who are young enough to reproduce are his own daughters. He will be able to make more elephants at the other zoo. Zoo officials did…

JEFFERSON COUNTY — A 24-year-old was killed early Monday on Highway 141 at Old Lemay Ferry Road, according to the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

A 23-year-old Festus man died in a Jefferson County motorcycle crash early Saturday, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.

ALTON - Rosetta “Rosie” Brown hopes to serve as the next Illinois State Representative of the 111th District. Brown is currently Alton’s Fourth Ward alderwoman. She noted that she is a “grassroots person” who cares about people in the community because she is one of them. She encourages people to vote on Nov. 3, 2026, and to support her campaign. “I’m running because I believe District 111 deserves leadership focused on preparing our communities

One of America’s foremost thinkers hasn’t done enough thinking. Instead, he’s delivered a handful of thoughtful-sounding stuff that simply doesn’t hold up the minute readers start actually thinking about what he’s saying. Malcolm Gladwell has a new book about gun violence in the United States. I haven’t read it, so I can’t comment on the […]

ST. LOUIS - With temperatures expected to be above average this weekend, residents will have the opportunity to enjoy it with a variety of different events across the St. Louis region. Apple Butter Festival Saturday & Sunday: Kimmswick, MOThe Kimmswick Apple Butter Festival is the largest celebration Kimmswick has each year, hosting over 500 vendors [...]

ALTON - An Alton High School student’s artwork has been shared around town to promote the Alton Halloween Parade. Planned for Oct. 31, 2026, the 109th Halloween Parade is a citywide tradition. But this year is especially exciting for Monee Brice, a freshman at Alton High School whose poster design was chosen to promote the parade. Brice and her teacher, Jenna Godair, are eager to share her talents and engage with the community in this way. “My student was so excited that she

WASHINGTON — Fewer than 5% of U.S. House races are seen by a top political analysis as truly competitive heading into November’s midterm elections, giving relatively few voters the ability to determine which party controls the chamber for the next two years.  The other 414 of 435 House districts are viewed by the nonpartisan Cook […]

The post Ken Paxton Says He’s Tough on Crime. His Trust Invested $600,000 in a Convicted Fraudster’s Company. appeared first on ProPublica.

EDWARDSVILLE - I am endorsing Patrick G. King for Circuit Judge for Madison County, Illinois. He is a wonderful father and a fantastic husband. His judgment is sound and non-biased. I am fully endorsing Patrick. Mike Babcock Madison County Treasurer Opinions expressed in this section are solely those of the individual authors and do not represent the views of RiverBender.com or its affiliates. We provide a platform for community voices, but the responsibility for opinions rests with thei

The third-year president of Christian Brothers College High School in west St. Louis County has resigned, according to a message sent to alumni and parents.

JERSEYVILLE - Jersey Community High School students are eager to present the Halloween-themed fall play, “The Legend of Sleepy Hollow.” At 7 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 30, and 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 31, and Sunday, Nov. 1, 2026, community members can check out the play at the high school. Tickets are available online and every cast and crew member is excited to share their hard work. Cara Rojas, the high school’s Spanish teacher and theater director, can’t wait to

Missouri Democrats confidently predict voter discontent will deliver victories in tight legislative races, but campaign finance reports show Republicans well provisioned for defense. And Republicans are using that financial advantage to shape how voters see their candidates. On Thursday, the House Republican Campaign Committee transferred $1.5 million to two political action committees that attack Democrats […]

The cast of Ugly Betty is back together 20 years after the beloved series first premiered.America Ferrera, Vanessa Williams, Michael Urie, Ana Ortiz and more cast members reunited for an…

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