Casada and Aide Found Guilty in Corruption Case | JQJO

Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his aide Cade Cothren were found guilty on most counts of public corruption charges. A jury convicted Casada on 17 of 19 counts and Cothren on all charges. The charges stem from a bribery and kickback scheme involving state-funded mailing services, Phoenix Solutions. Prosecutors alleged a conspiracy involving fraud, bribery, theft, and money laundering to leverage elected office for personal profit. Former Rep. Robin Smith testified for the prosecution under a plea agreement.

Ken Paxton and James Talarico crisscross Texas to rally voters before the November 3, 2026 Senate election. Paxton spoke to about three hundred fifty people in Fort Worth, touting a $25,000 medical tax deduction and a permanent Trump accounts for kids policy. Talarico drew a crowd of one thousand four hundred fifty in Denton, highlighted grassroots fundraising, and criticized Elon Musk’s $150 million donation to pro‑Paxton groups. Both candidates used the early‑voting period to press their final messages to voters.

In Edmonton, voters in Alberta overwhelmingly chose to remain in Canada, with seventy‑seven percent supporting unity and twenty‑three percent favoring a path toward separation. The unofficial results, based on more than one million votes, were announced early Tuesday, boosting Prime Minister Mark Carney’s call for national unity amid U.S. trade tensions. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomed the outcome, emphasizing support for a stronger province within a united Canada. Separatist leaders noted that a quarter of Albertans still feel the province should be treated better, but the referendum’s result will allow Canada to advance trade diversification and infrastructure projects.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quietly visited Israel on Monday and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a senior U.S. military official. The unannounced visit occurred just over a week before Netanyahu’s Likud party faces elections. It also follows President Trump’s suggestion of resuming military operations against Iran after the midterm elections. Hegseth confirmed his presence in U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility on X, sharing a photo of himself addressing American service members on a historic mission. The Pentagon declined to comment, and CBS News has sought Israeli government input.

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles arrested twenty‑eight green card holders on Monday, accusing them of fraudulently registering to vote and lying on naturalization applications. The defendants, including Ana Domínguez of Long Beach and Omar Muñoz of Commerce, claim no recollection of registering. The charges stem from a Trump administration crackdown on alleged non‑citizen voting. State officials argue the cases are isolated and may result from administrative errors. Election experts warn that proving willful violations requires strong evidence. The arrests have sparked confusion and anger among the defendants’ families.

Videos show a Long Beach resident, Ricardo Gonzalez, screaming that his arm is broken while ICE agents pin him to the ground and handcuff him. Gonzalez, a former city employee and U.S. citizen, was struck by a vehicle before the agents arrived. He was later taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson filed a complaint with the Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General, demanding an independent investigation and removal of the agents from field enforcement. The family launched a GoFundMe to cover medical expenses.

Federal authorities charged twenty‑eight people across California with illegally registering to vote or casting ballots in federal elections despite not being U.S. citizens. Eleven were arrested Monday, with seventeen others expected to be taken into custody soon. All defendants are lawful permanent residents, not undocumented immigrants. The charges come weeks before the November third midterm elections, escalating the Trump administration’s fight with state election officials. California officials argue the cases are isolated and not evidence of widespread fraud.