LND topic: mayor-jeff-okrepkie page 1

mayor jeff okrepkie

Downtown Beats: Santa Rosa’s Ross Street Party

July 18, 2026

Santa Rosa is turning a stretch of its main street into a living music venue. From August 14 to October 31, cars will be barred from a section of Ross Street so that local musicians and food trucks can take over the block. The idea grew out of a longer debate about closing part of Fourth Street, but

sports

TNT’s New Race‑Show Formula: Fresh Faces, Real Talk and a Dash of Tech

July 18, 2026

TNT is back in NASCAR after ten years, sharing the summer races with Amazon Prime. The network has changed its game plan from trying to copy Prime’s style to sharpening its own voice. Instead of pushing flashy graphics, TNT focused on the people behind the mic. The studio team now includes former

politics

New Wisconsin Gubernatorial Race Races Ahead

July 18, 2026

The state’s Democratic field has shifted dramatically after a financial scandal forced one candidate to drop out. A campaign manager was dismissed when the team admitted they had overstated donations and misreported how money was spent. The fallout revealed the campaign had only about $200, 00

politics

Trophy‑Troop Protest Takes Over the Mall

July 17, 2026

A group of anonymous artists has turned the National Mall into a carnival of mock awards, piling over forty fake trophies beside a giant gold “Iran War Participation Trophy” for former President Trump. The plastic parade of medals was set up by the Secret Handshake collective, a satirical activist c

environment

Akron’s Trash Art Sparks Clean‑Up Spirit

July 17, 2026

The City of Akron and Keep Akron Beautiful have set up a new public art piece that turns garbage into letters. The first display appears in Prentiss Park at 2043 East Ave. It spells out the word “THINK” to remind people about their impact on the city. \ The letters are built from chicken wire and f

crime

Money‑Minded Project Turns Into Fraud Scandal

July 17, 2026

A man from West Bloomfield, Michigan, is now facing federal wire‑fraud charges after allegedly running a long‑term scheme that promised investors a new sports and entertainment hub in Romulus. The venture, called Motown Sports Village, was marketed as a multi‑billion‑dollar opportunity near Detroit’

politics

Why New York’s Closed Primaries Leave Most Voters Behind

July 17, 2026

The real battle for New Yorkers’ streets, schools and taxes happens in June, not November. In that month the state’s closed primaries decide who will represent the city in every important office, yet most voters are excluded from that decision. This creates a democracy that works only for a small gr

politics

City Finance Chief Fired Over Pay‑Raise Dispute

July 16, 2026

A new finance director was hired in Harrisburg last January, but he was dismissed a month later after refusing to approve certain salary hikes. The city’s council meeting on July 14 revealed that the former director, who had been with the office for just a few weeks, was let go abruptly. He could no

politics

A Working‑Class Candidate: Myth or Reality?

July 16, 2026

In the spring a family search on Zillow revealed how far a modest Maine home had risen in value, sparking thoughts about the lives that once filled it. The house, once owned by the author’s grandparents on modest wages in 1959, now sold for nearly half a million dollars. This image of rising costs s

politics

Blanche’s Role in the Justice Department: A Question of Loyalty and Law

July 16, 2026

The U. S. attorney general is meant to protect the public’s legal interests, yet some argue that Todd Blanche has put his allegiance to President Trump above this duty. Blanche, who stepped in as acting attorney general after Pam Bondi’s resignation, has been accused of advancing the president’s