Lee Chatfield’s chief of staff will testify against him in corruption probe plea deal

**Rob Minard Pleads Guilty to Tax Fraud and Embezzlement in Multi-Year Corruption Probe**

LANSING — Rob Minard, former chief of staff to ex-House Speaker Lee Chatfield, has pleaded guilty to falsifying a tax return and stealing tens of thousands of dollars from fundraising accounts he oversaw. The charges stem from a wide-ranging, multi-year corruption investigation that has ensnared Minard, Chatfield, and their spouses.

Minard worked as Chatfield’s chief of staff in 2019 and 2020 and, along with his wife Anné Minard, is accused of misusing over $600,000 from Chatfield-linked accounts. Prosecutors allege the couple siphoned money to finance a lavish lifestyle that included tropical vacations and luxury items like Gucci handbags.

Ingham County Circuit Court heard Minard’s guilty plea on Thursday, where he admitted to filing a false tax return and stealing between $20,000 and $50,000 from political fundraising accounts connected to Chatfield. Minard acknowledged “overbilling” clients of his political consulting firm, Victor Strategies, which managed various candidates.

According to prosecutors, Minard has agreed to cooperate fully with the investigation and testify against Chatfield. In exchange, he will receive a six-month suspended jail sentence, three years of probation, and must pay approximately $37,000 in back taxes and penalties.

“He received payments that he was not entitled to receive,” Minard’s attorney, Robert Harrison, stated in court. Reflecting on the proceedings, Harrison said, “This is the conclusion of a terribly disruptive series of events for Mr. and Mrs. Minard, and it’s good to get it over.”

Minard’s wife, Anné, who served as Chatfield’s director of external affairs and oversaw his extensive fundraising efforts, pleaded guilty in late October. Like her husband, she agreed to cooperate with prosecutors for a reduced sentence. The Minards are scheduled for sentencing in December — Anné on the 3rd and Rob on the 17th.

The couple was charged in late 2023 with eight felony counts each, including “conducting a criminal enterprise,” a charge that carries up to 20 years in prison, and embezzlement of $100,000 or more. Anné Minard also faced additional counts related to embezzlement and false pretenses involving smaller amounts.

Investigators presented evidence at the Minards’ preliminary examination detailing five distinct methods the couple used to divert funds from the accounts under their control. This illicit activity allegedly funded personal expenses such as luxury handbags and cosmetic surgery services.

At the time the crimes were committed, Rob Minard was the highest-ranking staffer in Michigan’s House of Representatives, earning a salary surpassing that of Governor Gretchen Whitmer. The Minards jointly managed Victor Strategies while also receiving legislative salaries and overseeing multiple Chatfield-linked fundraising accounts.

Court documents reveal that Chatfield’s brother and sister-in-law received checks from Anné Minard during trips to destinations like Detroit, Miami, Las Vegas, Aspen, and the Bahamas. More than $6 million flowed through Chatfield’s various accounts during his legislative tenure, with Victor Strategies earning over $1 million from political committees in the same period.

Meanwhile, Lee and Stephanie Chatfield have both pleaded not guilty to charges related to misusing money from these accounts and other corruption-related offenses. Their trials are scheduled for September 2026.

This case underscores ongoing concerns about corruption within Michigan’s political fundraising and the misuse of public trust for personal gain.

**Related:**

– Plea deal: Lee Chatfield aide to testify against him in Michigan corruption case
– Corruption trial for ex-Michigan Speaker Lee Chatfield delayed to fall 2026
– Lee Chatfield raised millions, traveled often. Michigan law kept much secret
https://bridgemi.com/michigan-government/lee-chatfields-chief-of-staff-will-testify-against-him-in-corruption-probe-plea-deal/

Bears TE Colston Loveland’s Fantasy Stock Takes Massive Hit After New Update

Colston Loveland’s 58-yard clincher and 118-yard performance in the Chicago Bears’ thrilling 47-42 win over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 9 showcased his ability to produce when targeted and trusted. Fantasy football managers who invested high draft picks in Loveland saw the size and athleticism that made him a top prospect come to life during this game. The Bengals matchup marked his first true extended opportunity and instantly elevated his fantasy profile.

However, Loveland’s immediate outlook faces some challenges. The likely near-term return of tight end Cole Kmet removes Loveland’s guaranteed pathway to consistent week-to-week starts. This development could impact how much playing time and target share he receives moving forward.

After the Bears face the New York Giants on Sunday, they have a tough road trip against the Minnesota Vikings on November 16, followed by a home game versus the Pittsburgh Steelers on November 23. The stretch is capped off with a matchup at the Philadelphia Eagles on November 28—three clubs that are playoff-caliber teams.

Currently sitting at a 5-3 record, Chicago’s young core of pass-catchers is still building chemistry with QB Caleb Williams. The upcoming weeks will be crucial if the Bears hope to secure a postseason berth. How involved Loveland will be during this critical stretch remains to be seen, but it’s certainly a story worth monitoring for fantasy managers and Bears fans alike.
https://www.newsweek.com/sports/nfl/bears-te-colston-lovelands-fantasy-stock-takes-massive-hit-after-new-update-11007105

Tesla Shareholders Approve $1 Trillion Pay Package for Elon Musk

Tesla Inc. shareholders have approved a potential $1 trillion compensation package for Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk, marking the largest payout ever awarded to a corporate leader.

The massive payout is contingent upon Musk meeting specific performance goals set by the company. These targets are designed to ensure that the compensation aligns with Tesla’s growth and achievements over time.

Bloomberg’s Ed Ludlow reports on this unprecedented agreement, highlighting its significance in the corporate world. This milestone underscores Tesla’s confidence in Musk’s leadership as the company continues to expand.
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2025-11-06/tesla-shareholders-approve-elon-musk-pay-package-video

Why Alex Rodriguez Is Revisiting His Steroid Scandal

“What kind of weirdo washes their feet?” Jason Kelce tweeted in June 2024 after a fan noted the athlete “looks like he doesn’t wash his legs or feet.” The retired Philadelphia Eagles player later doubled down on his comments.

“What kind of psychopath washes your feet?” he deadpanned on an episode of his and brother Travis Kelce’s *New Heights* podcast, adding, “If there’s visible dirt on them, I’ll scrub the dirt off.”

Over a decade after the *Twilight* star revealed that he saw a clown die in a car explosion during his first visit to the circus as a child, he admitted that wasn’t true.

“There was absolutely no hesitation at all [in my voice],” Robert recalled to *The New York Times Style Magazine* in a December 2024 interview. “I’m like, ‘What on earth? Are you possessed?'”

As for what he said during the 2011 *Today* interview promoting his film *Water for Elephants*? “One of the clowns died,” he explained at the time. “His little car exploded. The joke car exploded on him, seriously. Everybody ran out. It was terrifying.”

**Grandma knows best.** Kim Kardashian got candid about how her grandma Mary Jo “MJ” Campbell influenced one intimate moment between her and then-boyfriend Pete Davidson during an October 2022 episode of *The Kardashians*.

“Pete and I were staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel last weekend, and we were sitting in front of the fireplace, just talking for hours,” the SKIMS founder recounted to MJ, mom Kris Jenner, and sister Khloe Kardashian.

“And I was like, ‘My grandma told me that you really live life when you have sex in front of the fireplace. And so, we had sex in front of the fireplace in honor of you.'”

Grandma’s reaction? A nod of approval.

“How creepy to think about your grandma before you have sex?” Kim said, to which MJ replied, “I know, but I was younger once.”

The love shared in Mila Kunis and husband Ashton Kutcher’s tight-knit family—which includes 8-year-old daughter Wyatt and 6-year-old son Dimitri—knows no boundaries. So much so, that the *Black Swan* actress revealed they keep an open-door policy at home.

“That includes the bathroom,” she told *E! News* in September 2022. “It’s just one of those where, for better or for worse, as a family and the kids have all kind of embodied bodily function as a very standard norm.”

Mila said she arrived at the decision after her family kept knocking on the door and asking to come in, which prompted her to oblige: “I was like, ‘Oh, forget it. Just keep the door open.’”

Pre-kids, she might not have imagined she’d flush that particular boundary away. She added, “I’d never thought that I would be the person that was able to go to the bathroom with the door open.”

**Ghouls just want to have fun.** As *The View* panelists were reviewing footage about a woman who alleged she had “sexual ghosts” in her home, Sara Haines asked the group an important question during an October 2022 episode: “If you have sex with a ghost, can you get pregnant?”

Fortunately for her, co-host Joy Behar had an answer, adding, “I’ve had sex with a few ghosts and never got pregnant. I’m just gonna let that ride.”

Whoopi Goldberg said in response, “I don’t know how many of you just heard what Joy just said, but I’m going to let it ride.”

Jenna Bush Hager and Hoda Kotb are thick as thieves, though there is one thing Hoda didn’t know about her *Today* co-host.

When the pair were getting ready for an episode of *Today with Hoda and Jenna*, Hoda discovered Jenna perpetually goes commando.

“We both had to change before the show and we were like, ‘Oh we have to go back into the changing room,'” Hoda said during a November 2022 episode of *Today with Hoda and Jenna*. “But then I noticed, Jenna never wears underwear.”

Jenna’s rationale? Well, no underwear might just be more convenient to her.

“I think it makes a more pretty silhouette,” she said. “I also think you don’t have to pack as much. There are a lot of pros to it!”

Looks like someone hasn’t been keeping up. Britney Spears found herself embracing Keke Palmer’s viral saying “he could be walking down the street, I wouldn’t know a thing,” when she admitted she didn’t know who Pete Davidson and Scott Disick were.

Reposting a humorous March video of Pete—who was then dating Kim Kardashian—and Kourtney Kardashian’s ex Scott enjoying a “boyz night” to her Instagram, Britney said the two of them had her cracking up.

“Sorry had to repost this,” Britney wrote in the since-deleted post. “No idea who these people in the video are but it made me laugh so hard !!!!”

Back before the world knew Chris Evans as Captain America and People’s Sexiest Man Alive of 2022, Jana Kramer knew him as the “heartthrob, cutie” she went on a few dates with.

It happened more than a decade ago, the singer revealed on her *Whine Down with Jana Kramer* podcast in November, and though she can’t remember “how many dates it was,” she does recall their last encounter.

Jana, then about 26 years old, said Chris invited her over to his house while he had friends in town from Boston.

“The last interaction that I remember is him going into the bathroom after I just went with asparagus pee,” Jana remembered, referencing the veggie’s tendency to give urine a very distinct scent.

“We didn’t hook up that night. He stayed up late with his friends and then [in] the morning I did the asparagus walk of shame out of his house.”

She added, “I never heard from him again.”

Not all of these confessions are amusing.

Eight years after sharing in an *ELLE* article that she had been battling a rare type of bone cancer—her fake diagnosis even inspiring a storyline on *Grey’s Anatomy*—show writer Elisabeth Finch admitted in December it was all a ruse.

“I told a lie when I was 34 years old and it was the biggest mistake of my life. It just got bigger and bigger and bigger and got buried deeper and deeper inside me,” Elisabeth told *The Ankler* newsletter Dec. 7, adding, “I’ve never had any form of cancer.”

Summed up Finch, who was placed on administrative leave from the ABC medical drama before eventually resigning: “What I did was wrong. Not okay. F–ked up. All the words.”

Beauty is pain, but Kim Kardashian might be able to stomach it.

Telling *The New York Times* the lengths she would go to for a more youthful appearance, the reality star cracked that she was willing to try just about anything.

“If you told me that I literally had to eat poop every single day and I would look younger, I might,” she said in June. “I just might.”

In a July 2022 interview with *Allure*, Kim said she was “kind of joking” about the comment, though the idea didn’t seem too terrible.

“But now that I think about it,” Kim added, “I would probably eat s–t if someone told me, ‘If you eat this bowl of poop every single day, you’ll look younger.’”

How much could she make room for?

“Maybe just a bite,” she told the outlet. “I don’t think I can do a whole bowl.”

**Jelly Roll could’ve used some saving from himself.**

The “Save Me” singer was asked about his most embarrassing moment during an April 2025 appearance on *The Jennifer Hudson Show*—and he definitely didn’t hold anything back.

“I pooped myself one time,” he admitted. “I did, I’m sorry.”

But to be fair, Jelly Roll (real name Jason Bradley DeFord) didn’t expect to deal such a lethal blow.

“I was confident it was all air,” he insisted. “I’m so sorry. I watched this crowd go from loving me to just being completely out.”
https://www.eonline.com/news/1424737/alex-rodriguez-on-steroid-scandal?cmpid=rss-syndicate-genericrss-us-top_stories

Judge orders Trump administration to pay full SNAP benefits for November by Friday

A federal judge on Thursday ordered the Trump administration to pay full SNAP benefits for November by Friday, rejecting the administration’s plan to partially fund the food stamp program for 42 million Americans.

“People have gone without for too long,” Judge Jack McConnell said during a hearing in U.S. District Court in Rhode Island as he issued the order.

The decision came after plaintiffs in the case urged Judge McConnell to reject the administration’s proposed plan for partial benefits. The Trump administration had announced last week that it would not use a congressionally authorized contingency fund containing $4.65 billion to fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Like other federal programs, SNAP had no current appropriation because Congress has not approved a stopgap funding bill to reopen the U.S. government. As a result, the payment of full benefits was in question until the judge’s order.

The ruling ensures that millions of Americans who rely on SNAP will receive their full benefits for November.
https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/06/snap-trump-food-stamps-shutdown.html

Santa Clarita Congressman George Whitesides Responds To Nancy Pelosi’s Retirement Plans

**Nancy Pelosi Announces Retirement: Will Not Seek Re-election in 2026**

Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the first female Speaker of the House, announced on Thursday that she will not be seeking re-election in 2026. At 85 years old, Pelosi plans to serve out the remainder of her current term, which ends on January 3, 2027, after which she intends to retire.

“With a grateful heart, I look forward to my final year of service as your proud representative,” Pelosi said in a nearly six-minute video posted on X early Thursday morning, addressing her constituents.

Pelosi was first elected to Congress to represent San Francisco in 1987 at age 47. She made history as the first woman to serve as Speaker of the House, a position that placed her third in line after the President and Vice President. She led her party in the lower chamber of Congress from 2003 until 2023.

“Speaker Pelosi made history as the first female Speaker of the House and brought billions in federal funding home to California,” said Congressman George Whitesides, D-Agua Dulce. “She was instrumental in lowering health care costs for millions of Californians through the Affordable Care Act. I look forward to serving alongside her for the remainder of this term.”

Throughout her decades-long career, Pelosi became well-known for her advocacy on several key issues. She championed efforts to find a cure for HIV/AIDS, fought against climate change, and funded programs supporting early child development, including universal pre-kindergarten initiatives.

“Nancy Pelosi was not content to be just a master legislator in Congress,” said U.S. Senator Adam Schiff. “She was a global leader. Her voice carried far beyond the walls of Congress as she championed human rights, democracy, women’s equality, and a healthier planet in her travels around the world. She represented the United States on the world stage—trailblazing while balancing the demands of an unruly Congress. Like Ginger Rogers, she did it backwards and in heels.”

When asked about Pelosi’s upcoming retirement, former President Donald Trump commented Thursday that the senator was “an evil woman.” He added, “I’m glad she’s retiring. I think she did the country a great service by retiring. I think she was a tremendous liability for the country.”

The race for Pelosi’s seat is expected to be highly competitive. State Senator Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, and Saikat Chakrabarti, former chief of staff to Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, have already announced their candidacies.

The filing period for California’s congressional primary begins on February 9, 2026, and closes on March 6.

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https://www.hometownstation.com/santa-clarita-news/politics/santa-clarita-congressman-george-whitesides-responds-to-nancy-pelosis-retirement-plans-570513

Clovis unveils news plaza honoring its first woman mayor, Peg Bos

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) — The city of Clovis is taking time to honor its past.

On Wednesday, community leaders unveiled a new plaza at 3rd Street and Sunnyside Avenue. The plaza is named after Peg Bos, the first woman to serve as mayor of Clovis.

Bos was a driving force behind reviving the Clovis Big Dry Creek Historical Society and Museum, where she served as president for 20 years.

She was also in attendance for Wednesday’s ceremony, along with several family members.

In addition to her contributions to the community, you can catch her weekly column called “Let’s Talk Clovis” in the Clovis Roundup newspaper.
https://abc30.com/post/clovis-unveils-news-plaza-honoring-first-woman-mayor-peg-bos/18121830/

Fr. Heimerl: Of course the Blessed Mother is ‘Co-Redemptrix’

**Fr. Heimerl: Of Course the Blessed Mother is ‘Co-Redemptrix’**

*By Fr. Joachim Heimerl | LifeSite News | November 6, 2025*

Is the Blessed Virgin Mary “Co-Redemptrix” and “Mediatrix of Grace”? Of course she is, I would say. It was only through Mary’s “Fiat” that the one true redemption through her Son became possible, and it was only through her that God gave us the fullness of grace in Jesus Christ.

The pious tradition of the Church has always known this and always understood it correctly. No one would seriously have thought of “deifying” Mary or denying Christ’s unique mediatorship.

When an ambiguous figure like the current prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith has nothing better to do than to cast the Marian devotion of the faithful in a supposedly negative light, it says far less about the Blessed Virgin than it does about those who engage in such behavior. The fact that they do so with the “blessing” of the Pope does not make things any better but only illustrates what is really going on behind the scenes. This is nothing less than the establishment of a new “Catholic” Church and a new “Catholic” faith.

Much progress has been made along this path, and only the naivety of those who believe that only truth and goodness can come from Rome has made this work of destruction possible, which, in turn, has only one goal: to bring the Church closer to Protestantism.

With the introduction of the “new Mass” by the unfortunate Pope Paul VI, all the dams broke. We remember with horror Pope Francis’ admission that the traditional Mass of the last 2,000 years no longer fits the (new) faith of the (new) Church.

Only a pope who could make such abominable statements could also be capable of “blessing” sinful relationships and denying the indissolubility of marriage, according to the Protestant model.

Without a doubt, the sellout of the Catholic faith will continue along these lines: the downgrading of the Mass and the other sacraments will not end until women are allowed to enter holy orders through the back door.

To make this possible, a downgrading of the Blessed Virgin is necessary, and this is precisely what the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, under its current prefect, has been working on for some time, as we know.

I am certain that we have not yet reached the peak of the destruction of the Church. It will probably gain momentum under Leo XIV, who is increasingly identifying himself as the “successor” to Francis and who, let’s be honest, is ultimately just as much his creature as the questionable prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith.

The enemies of the Church have always been the enemies of the Blessed Virgin, and they alone are the ones who applaud the latest Vatican statement. Even “theological” fig leaves cannot hide this fact.

The true children of the true Church, on the other hand, hold fast to their devout veneration of the Blessed Virgin and profess: Yes, Mary is Co-Redemptrix and Mediatrix of Grace, and she is so in the way that the saints have always taught correctly and unambiguously.

On the other hand, we can confidently dispense with the alleged “corrections” of the current prefect of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith, even if they are made with the approval of Leo XIV.

**Read Also:** [Here’s why we must say Mary is the Mediatrix of all Graces](#)

*Topics:* Apologetics, Catholic, Current Events
*Keywords:* DDF, heretic, Mary, Tucho

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https://freerepublic.com/focus/f-religion/4351111/posts

AMG Critical Materials N.V. (AMVMF) Q3 2025 Earnings Call Transcript

Thomas Swoboda: Yes. Thank you, Jen, and good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to AMG’s Third Quarter 2025 Earnings Call.

Joining me on this call are Dr. Heinz Schimmelbusch, the Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer; Mr. Jackson Dunckel, the CFO; and Mike Connor, the Chief Corporate Development Officer.

We published our third quarter 2025 earnings press release yesterday, along with the presentation for investors. Both documents are available on our website and include disclaimers about forward-looking statements.

Today’s call will begin with a review of the third quarter 2025 business highlights by Dr. Schimmelbusch. Following that, Mr. Connor will comment on strategy, and Mr. Dunckel will discuss AMG’s financial results.

At the conclusion of Mr. Dunckel’s remarks, Dr. Schimmelbusch will provide an outlook. We will then open the line for your questions.

I now pass the floor to Dr. Schimmelbusch, AMG’s Chairman of the Management Board and Chief Executive Officer.
https://seekingalpha.com/article/4839501-amg-critical-materials-n-v-amvmf-q3-2025-earnings-call-transcript?source=feed_all_articles

Portland is not a serious city

**Portland Police Hamstrung by 2020-Era Reforms Amid Rising Homelessness and Unrest**

Homelessness in Portland’s Multnomah County has surged by 67% over the past two years, reaching a total of more than 10,500 individuals. In response, the Portland metro area allocated upwards of $724 million to homeless programs in 2024, with Multnomah County alone accounting for half a billion dollars of that funding.

Despite these substantial investments, Portland remains focused on keeping the National Guard out of the city. During the periods of unrest when rioters targeted federal facilities, Portland police were prohibited from assisting federal law enforcement in maintaining order. Instead, the city attorney was assigned to initiate legal action against the federal government regarding crowd control efforts.

Portland’s police chief has downplayed the significance of the rioting, noting that it has been largely confined to a single city block. Meanwhile, Mayor Keith Wilson has criticized ICE for boarding up the windows of its local facility — a measure taken in response to frequent vandalism that Portland police have reportedly allowed to continue.

In a troubling development, ANTIFA has posted a “hit list” in Portland targeting journalists, escalating tensions within the city.

Federal authorities have stepped in to maintain law and order. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) recently implemented a new rule banning masks on or near federal property. This rule was fast-tracked due to Portland’s refusal to enforce existing laws, originally scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2026. Instead, the ban went into effect this past Wednesday.
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/beltway-confidential/3878152/portland-crime-not-a-serious-city/