I’m walkin’ here!

A part of New Yorkers’ daily routine that marks a true Knickerbocker from a newbie is now legal.

Jaywalking, or crossing the street outside the crosswalk, was legalized in the Big Apple Saturday after Mayor Eric Adams failed to either sign or veto the legislation 30 days after it was passed by the City Council and sent to his desk.

A Thornton Township Board of Trustees meeting was again cut short Wednesday night, but not before Township Supervisor Tiffany Henyard and the board she’s battling got some business done.

“No one can run circles around me when it come to public service,” Henyard said.

Two present trustees and Henyard agreed to pay township bills and cover employees’ insurance, but another showdown ensued when Trustee Chris Gonzalez moved to cut the meeting short.

“I’d like to make a motion to adjourn the meeting,” Gonzalez said.

“Why did you come to the meeting if you didn’t want to handle the business?” Henyard said. “Why? Stop playing these games.”

Gonzalez left, which meant for the third time in a row, there was no quorum for the meeting and it was over, minutes after it started.

Seattle Police responded to two separate street takeover events this weekend, one near the Space Needle and the other near T-Mobile Park in Seattle.

In video that FOX 13 Seattle obtained, you can see the illegal racers shoot fireworks at responding police.

The first incident happened on Friday night around 10:18 p.m.

According to authorities, police were called to monitor the street takeover near First Avenue and South Atlantic Street, which is right in front of T-Mobile Park.

Police say a large crowd had formed and some among them tried to incite them to surround patrol cars.

Talk about between a rock and a hard place. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson is under pressure to return a $150,000 campaign donation from Grammy-winning rapper Lil Durk, or Durk Banks, who faces federal charges of orchestrating a murder-for-hire attempt. In August 2022, Banks allegedly financed an attempt to kill rival rapper Tyquian Terrel Bowman, known as Quando Rondo, in Los Angeles. Though Bowman survived, his cousin Saviay’a Robinson was killed in the attack. Now, questions are mounting over Mayor Johnson’s decision to keep the donation, even as Banks, a major contributor to Johnson’s campaign, faces these serious charges.

A common—and persuasive—argument against gun registration is that those who comply just put themselves on a list to have their firearms stolen by government officials in the future. As if to emphasize the point, the New Zealand government recently confiscated firearms licenses and the guns they covered from 62 people because of their political ideology. The situation is an important reminder that warnings against registering firearms are correct. But it also raises a red flag about governments' willingness to punish people for the ideas they believe.

Mexican authorities have warned that migrant caravans heading for the U.S. are being "extorted" by the notorious Venezuelan crime syndicate Tren De Aragua (TDA).

TDA, which Texas Governor Greg Abbott has designated as a terror group, is smuggling migrants, sex trafficking, drug trafficking and carrying out murder for hire and extortion, according to Border Report, which cited officials in Mexico.

"They developed a co-dependence with organized criminal groups," Chihuahua Public Safety Secretary Gilberto Loya said, according to the report. "We detected this here when we began to have a large number of migrant kidnappings and extortion—from people who came in the caravans and migrants who arrived by themselves to Juarez.

"The local groups began utilizing them to carry out the extortion. We also began to see them adapt with the local cartels to carry out kidnapping and sex-trafficking."

Valero Energy Corp, the second-largest U.S. oil refiner, has hinted at the possibility of shutting down two major California refineries. The company cites increasing regulatory burdens as the reason behind considering "all options" for its operations. This comes after Governor Gavin Newsom implemented a law requiring oil refineries to maintain minimum fuel reserves, aiming to control price fluctuations. Critics argue that these measures could further constrict California’s gasoline supply, driving prices even higher in the state with the nation’s highest gas costs. The potential refinery closures could impact not only California but also neighboring states that rely on these facilities for refined fuel. The situation underscores the ongoing tension between Democratic policies and the oil industry, with businesses weighing whether California's regulatory landscape makes future investments unfeasible. As companies pull operations, residents may face higher living costs, spurring further migration to states with lower taxes and less regulation.

Texas has spent $125 million in taxpayer money since 2022 transporting thousands of migrants to so-called sanctuary cities like New York. However, New York City, overwhelmed by costs and resources, is now paying to send some migrants back to Texas. Mayor Eric Adams’ office confirmed the return of over 4,500 migrants, highlighting cracks in the sanctuary city model. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, through Operation Lone Star, relocated over 46,000 migrants to New York alone. Critics argue that these programs, initially seen as political stunts, reveal the consequences of open-border policies. With federal assistance lacking, cities like New York are struggling under the strain of migrant services. The situation raises concerns about taxpayer spending, with Abbott’s team framing the busing initiative as a cost-effective solution to a federal border crisis.

A small Ohio town, Lockland, with a population of 3,500, is struggling to cope with the arrival of nearly 3,000 immigrants from West Africa, primarily from Mauritania. The surge is blamed on federal border policies under the Biden administration, with Mayor Mark Mason expressing frustration over the lack of federal support. Overcrowded housing, with up to ten people per apartment, creates safety hazards, and local resources are being overwhelmed. Firefighters report a 12% rise in emergency calls due to cooking fires in overcrowded apartments, while minor public safety issues like littering and jaywalking are on the rise.

Authorities in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, are investigating incidents of arson targeting ballot boxes, which have destroyed hundreds of ballots just days before Election Day. The FBI has launched a probe into the attacks, which also include a related case involving incendiary devices in Phoenix, Arizona. These incidents highlight growing security concerns as early voting progresses. However, despite media narratives pointing towards right-wing interference, the proximity to Portland, a hub for left-wing activism, suggests otherwise. Critics argue that media framing risks undermining trust in election integrity by prematurely attributing blame. County officials in Vancouver are now deploying staff to monitor drop boxes 24/7 to prevent further disruption. As states grapple with mail-in voting and ballot drop boxes, these events emphasize the urgent need for secure voting systems amid contentious political climates.