Manhattan

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he could stop or alter certification of the state's U.S. Senate result if an investigation he ordered finds illegal conduct tied to Democrat Mary Peltola's campaign. The probe follows a New York Times report, sourced partly to Peltola's fired former campaign manager, alleging Peltola advisers and DSCC aides helped recruit a second "Dan Sullivan" to run against Republican Sen. Dan Sullivan. Peltola has publicly denied any knowledge of the scheme, and the DSCC denies involvement. President Trump has called for Peltola's removal from the ballot, though early voting is already underway. Separately, the Justice Department has sued to block certification of any winner but Sullivan pending review, seeking a ruling before the Nov. 3 election.

The allegations have become a flashpoint in national political commentary, with reactions split along partisan lines over whether the recruitment scheme amounts to voter deception warranting intervention, or whether Republican efforts to challenge certification represent their own form of election interference.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement is searching for Alpha Bah, a Guinean national whom New York City officials released from custody despite an ICE detainer. Bah was arrested October 7 on charges including aggravated assault on a police officer with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest, but Queens Central Booking released him without notifying ICE, per DHS. He had two prior arrests, in 2025 and 2026, after which NYPD similarly declined to honor detainers.

DHS says New York failed to honor more than 16,000 ICE detainers since January 2025, tied to over 52,000 criminal charges and convictions, intensifying the national debate over sanctuary city policies and immigration enforcement.

A New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct censure detailed how Brooklyn Supreme Court Judge Jeffrey Gershuny pulled out his personal firearm during an Aug. 5, 2025 suppression hearing to test whether a testifying NYPD officer could distinguish a gun from other objects inside a bag. After questioning from both sides left him unsatisfied with the officer's account of detecting a bulge, Gershuny retrieved a stapler from his chambers, removed his 9-mm handgun from its holster, unloaded it, and placed it on the floor while putting the stapler in a shopping bag instead—proceeding over prosecutors' objections and against his own court officers' advice.

The officer described sensing an L-shaped object consistent with a firearm; Gershuny then revealed the stapler, suppressed the gun evidence in the underlying case, and accused the officer of fabricating his account. The Brooklyn DA later declined to prosecute and the case was dismissed. Gershuny, who has no prior disciplinary history, cooperated with the investigation, agreed to the censure, and no longer carries his weapon into court.

Gov. Kathy Hochul and Republican challenger Bruce Blakeman met in their only televised debate ahead of New York's gubernatorial election, hosted by NY1. Polling shows Hochul leading by a wide margin, putting pressure on Blakeman to produce a breakout moment while Hochul aims to project gubernatorial competence, particularly on affordability issues like utility bills and cost of living. Blakeman's campaign has leaned into an alliance with President Trump, including a recent joint rally in Syracuse, while Hochul has worked to tie her opponent to the unpopular president. Trump's standing in deep-blue New York remains a central dynamic of the race, amplified by fallout from a recent ICE shooting in Manhattan that has strained relations between the administration and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The debate followed a separate state attorney general matchup last week between Democratic incumbent Letitia James and GOP challenger Saritha Komatireddy, whose strong performance generated viral attention. Both races are being closely watched as bellwethers heading into the broader midterm cycle.

President Donald Trump campaigned in Syracuse Friday night for Republican gubernatorial nominee Bruce Blakeman, drawing about 2,500 supporters to the Oncenter while roughly 4,000 protesters gathered nearby. The rally came a day after an ICE agent shot and wounded Oscar Belgal, 28, in Manhattan's Marble Hill neighborhood while he was driving with his 5-year-old son; federal authorities alleged Belgal had gang ties.

In a speech lasting more than 80 minutes, Trump attacked Gov. Kathy Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James over immigration, energy and tax policy, repeated disputed claims about election fraud and the Interstate 81 teardown, and promised Blakeman would sharply cut electric bills and taxes. Blakeman pledged to end New York's sanctuary-state status by executive order on his first day in office if elected. Hochul's campaign has branded Blakeman "Trump's puppet" and defended her record, including the Local Cops, Local Crimes Act limiting local cooperation with ICE, which some upstate sheriffs are suing to overturn. Immigration enforcement and affordability remain central issues as the governor's race enters its final weeks.

Patrick Griffin, 71, owner of three Manhattan locations of the barbecue restaurant Au Jus, has been arrested on charges including grand larceny by wage theft, scheme to defraud and failure to pay wages, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg announced. Prosecutors allege that starting in January 2025, Griffin withheld days and weeks of pay from five minimum-wage employees, leaving them unable to meet basic financial obligations.

According to court documents, Griffin met workers' attempts to recover wages with false repayment promises, unanswered messages or blocked calls. One employee was allegedly told he needed to return to work to receive back pay, which was then withheld again. Another was allegedly pressured to sign a document falsely claiming he lacked government-issued identification. The five former employees are owed more than $8,000 combined. Bragg's office said the investigation is ongoing and urged other workers with similar complaints to contact its helpline, regardless of immigration status.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has rejected Illinois' request for a major disaster declaration following severe storms, flooding, straight-line winds and tornadoes that struck the state in August. FEMA Administrator Cameron Hamilton said federal assistance was "not warranted," affecting Champaign, Cook, Ford, Fulton, McLean, Tazewell, Vermilion and Will counties. Gov. JB Pritzker's office says the state will appeal, citing extensive damage to homes, infrastructure and widespread power outages. Pritzker accused Trump of playing politics with disaster relief, a charge echoed by Illinois Democrats including Sen. Dick Durbin and Rep. Robin Kelly, while Republican Rep. Darin LaHood also urged approval of the declaration.

The denial follows renewed attacks by Trump on Chicago over crime and comes amid separate reporting that Trump approved disaster aid for Ohio ahead of a campaign rally while leaving other states' requests pending. Trump has also approved aid for Hawaii and New Hampshire, complicating claims of a partisan pattern. The White House denies any political motive behind its disaster aid decisions.

Kevin O'Leary's "Wonder Valley" project, rebranded in Utah as Stratos, aimed to build what O'Leary called the world's largest data center on 40,000 acres in Box Elder County, backed by a 9-gigawatt gas plant. The deal moved through the Military Installation Development Authority (MIDA) and county commissioners at extraordinary speed, drawing scrutiny over water use near the shrinking Great Salt Lake, air pollution, and secretive dealmaking involving entrepreneur Austin Pritchett and former Rep. Jason Chaffetz.

O'Leary inflamed tensions by claiming on Fox Business that critics were linked to Chinese agents, naming local advocacy groups and individuals. He later retracted the claim, and Fox apologized on air; he and Fox were subsequently sued for defamation and have moved to dismiss the case. Commissioners approved the project after a chaotic public meeting where officials voted from a back room amid chants of "shame." Political fallout followed: Senate President Stuart Adams lost his primary, MIDA's director retired, and two commissioners were unseated. Litigation over a referendum continues, and MIDA has paused the project, with no tenant or land sales yet confirmed.