Californians relocating to other states have reported that state officials are requesting explanations for their departure, threatening continued taxation as residents if they fail to comply.

These former Californians have shared experiences of receiving letters that demand proof of their move, sparking renewed debate over the state’s tax regulations, as seen in various online discussions.

MAGA influencer Mila Joy highlighted the issue on X, stating, “Individuals who have exited California are being notified that they must continue to pay state taxes.”

She added, “It’s astonishing—if this doesn’t reflect California’s financial struggles, I’m not sure what does.”

The document Joy shared originated from the California Franchise Tax Board, which conducts standard residency audits to ascertain the exact time taxpayers ceased being residents.

It requests that recipients provide a ‘brief narrative’ explaining their move, along with documentation like moving invoices and employment records to show the exact date they left California. 

The letter’s demanding tone has prompted a flurry of outrage on social media, with one user writing: ‘Amazingly unbelievable that these vultures have nothing better to do with their time other than chase down inconsequential money!’

Others said it was hard to believe California was aggressively pursuing additional tax revenue, noting the state collected roughly $275 billion in personal income, sales and corporate taxes in 2025, with some placing blame on Governor Gavin Newsom. 

Former California taxpayers are being told to prove the exact day they left the state – or risk being taxed as residents

Social media users were outraged by the requests, placing blame on the state and governor Gavin Newsom

MAGA influencer Mila Joy

Another commenter claimed that California will go as far as to ‘hunt people down’ who left the state years ago. 

‘They will literally go into your bank account and take every last penny for what they say you owe and then make you prove otherwise,’ they wrote. 

While the requests have sparked outrage online, the practice is nothing new. 

States including New York and New Jersey conduct similar audits, often with even more detailed tracking of a taxpayer’s location.

The scrutiny is especially common when residents relocate to low- or no-income-tax states such as Texas and Florida.

California, however, is among the most aggressive states when it comes to residency audits – second only to New York, which is known for its forensic approach, where officials closely examine moves that could significantly reduce a taxpayer’s liability.

Officials evaluate a taxpayer’s ‘closest connections’ to determine residency, looking at where they spend their time, where they own or rent property and where their financial and personal ties are strongest.

This may include bank accounts, business interests, family location, voter registration and even where a person’s doctor, accountant or social affiliations are based. 

The only state widely seen as more aggressive than California is New York

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani have also proposed a pied-à-terre tax targeted at wealthy residence

Maintaining significant ties to California – even after a move – can trigger further scrutiny.

The state is particularly focused on high earners leaving for low-tax states, where the financial stakes can run into the millions, making residency audits a key enforcement tool.

The only state widely seen as more aggressive than California is New York, which applies two strict tests to determine whether someone qualifies as a taxpayer: the domicile test and the statutory residency test.

Under the domicile test, officials assess where a person’s closest personal and professional ties are located. 

If those ties remain in New York, the state can still treat someone as a resident even if their primary home is elsewhere or they claim to live out of state.

The residency test applies to individuals who are not domiciled in New York but maintain a ‘permanent place of abode’ there, regardless of ownership.

To enforce this, auditors can examine calendars, expense reports, credit card statements, passports, cell phone data and even E-ZPass records to track how many days a person spends in the state.

Anyone who spends more than 183 days in New York is considered a statutory resident – with even partial days typically counted as full days, except in limited circumstances such as medical travel.

New York Governor Kathy Hochul and Mayor Zohran Mamdani have also proposed a  pied-à-terre tax that would implement a wave of taxes on second homes that could send wealthy homeowners running for the hills.

Secondary homes valued at $5 million or more would be subjected to the surcharge. Those who would be targeted would be those who live outside the city or don’t pay city tax but have luxury homes in any of the five boroughs.

A federal judge expressed strong concerns on Monday over the treatment of a man accused of plotting to assassinate former President Donald Trump, offering an apology for the severe confinement conditions he faced in prison.

Cole Allen, aged 31, has been held in federal custody following allegations that he attempted to infiltrate the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner with the intent to harm Trump and other senior government officials.

During a hearing, Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui conveyed to a Department of Corrections (DOC) lawyer his deep unease regarding Allen’s situation behind bars. Initially, Allen was subjected to suicide watch protocols upon his incarceration.

A courtroom sketch dated May 4, 2026, depicts Cole Allen appearing before Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui, alongside his legal representatives, during a session addressing the conditions of his imprisonment. (Illustration by Dana Verkouteren)

Under these suicide watch conditions, Allen was kept in a “safe cell” with no opportunity for phone calls or visits, except from his legal counsel, as outlined in a motion filed by his attorneys. They have also sought permission for him to access a tablet to aid in preparing his legal defense.

He was also allegedly denied a copy of the Bible despite more than one request.

Prosecutor Jocelyn Ballantine reasoned that since Allen told investigators he did not expect to survive the alleged attack, he could be a danger to himself.

But an incredulous Faruqui wasn’t convinced by that argument, drawing comparisons between Allen and defendants arrested for rioting at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

A May 4, 2026, sketch of Cole Allen in front of Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui, with attorneys present, during an emergency hearing on prison conditions.  (Dana Verkouteren )

“To me, it’s extremely disturbing that he was put in five-point restraints, a person with no criminal history,” Faruqui said, later adding that Allen is presumed innocent. “It’s troubling. I never heard of one Jan. 6 defendant who was put in five-point restraints or in a safe cell. If the only way to keep him safe is the most punitive thing, that’s a problem.”

The judge said even Jan. 6 defendants were only house in a Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF), a less restrictive form of prison housing.

“Pardons may erase convictions, but they don’t erase history,” he said. “They were hanging gallows outside.”

“What am I to say to Allen that this is going to be a fair process if we’re putting him in a safe cell when he’s not supposed to be in there?” Faruqui said. “At a minimum I should be apologizing to him. We are obligated to make sure he’s taken care of. Mr. Allen, I’m sorry that things have not been the way they are supposed to.”

He also addressed Allen directly.

“The jail is going to let me know by tomorrow morning about what’s going on with your housing situation,” he said, “If not, I’m going to have more questions for them. We should be able to get you into the medium portion of the jail, with windows.”

“Legal visits, ask for legal visits, do not accept that these things are acceptable,” Faruqui advised. “We will get you the Bible. If we can get someone vegan food, we can get you a Bible, we can make sure you’re not in five-point restraints.”

The judge ordered the jail to update him by tomorrow morning about Allen’s jail accommodations.

Cole Allen appears in court on April 27, 2026. (Dana Verkouteren)

The thrashing of the DOC and prosecution followed a motion filed on Sunday by Allen’s attorneys requesting he be removed from suicide precautions in prison.

However, Allen’s attorneys asked to withdraw the motion on Sunday afternoon after they said they learned that Cole was no longer under the jail’s suicide precautions.

Despite the withdrawal, Faruqui ordered the prosecution, defense and legal counsel for the DOC to appear before him for the Monday emergency hearing.

Law enforcement personnel detain Cole Tomas Allen, a suspect in the shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner in Washington, D.C., on April 25, 2026. (Donald J Trump via Truth Social/Handout via Reuters)

“The court has grave concerns about the defendants seemingly unprompted solitary confinement for days and overall conditions of confinement,” Faruqui’s response to the motion said. “As such, the parties and a representative of the Department of Corrections shall appear in Courtroom 4 at noon on May 4, 2026, to explain the conditions of confinement.”

On April 30, Allen declined to exercise his right to a pre-trial detention hearing. He remains in custody, and is expected in court for a preliminary hearing on May 11.

Fox News Digital reached out to Allen’s attorneys for comment.

In the heart of the Nuseirat refugee camp within Gaza, breakdancing offers a glimmer of hope and healing for Palestinian children grappling with the harsh realities of war.

Each week, amidst the camp’s ruins, children of various ages come together to participate in dance sessions, providing them with precious moments of relief and community.

Fayez Saraj, an instructor at the forefront of this initiative, has been guiding these young dancers since before the 2023 conflict erupted. His role has grown increasingly vital as many children now live in tents due to the ongoing violence.

“The movements we teach are grounded in scientific principles aimed at psychological release,” Saraj explained. “This is crucial for helping children process the trauma they’ve endured during these tumultuous years.”

He further emphasized, “Our mission is to uplift these children, transforming their feelings of depression and frustration into experiences of joy and empowerment.”

Inside the school or outside, near the rubble, the children move at the rhythm of the music.

“I come to this center because I discovered that I have a talent for breakdancing, and I also come here to release the negative energy inside me and to enjoy,” said Habiba Abu Khater, who joined the group because of her passion for breakdancing.

Dangerous living conditions persist in Gaza after more than two years of devastating Israeli bombardment and aid shortfalls.

While a fragile ceasefire has been in place since Oct. 10., almost daily Israeli fire continues and has killed more than 820 Palestinians.

Both sides, Hamas and Israel, accused each other of violating the ceasefire, attacking each other.

Most of the two million residents of Gaza have been displaced and live in tents or in damaged buildings.

The war between Hamas and Israel began with a 2023 Hamas-led attack on southern Israel, in which the militants killed 1,200 people, most of them civilians, and abducted 251.

More than 72,600 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to the Gaza Health Ministry.

The ministry, which is part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts.

During her time on “Saved by the Bell,” Lark Voorhies reportedly had a fan who took his admiration to troubling extremes.

This revelation came from her mother, Tricia, in the “After The Bell” episode of the docuseries “Hollywood Demons,” which brings together former cast and crew members to reminisce about the iconic show.

Tricia shared, “There are fans who can become very dark and obsessed. Lark had a particularly intense admirer who would send numerous letters,” highlighting the unsettling nature of his infatuation.

Describing this fan as “demanding” and “psycho,” Tricia recounted how he allegedly wrote to Lark, expressing his determination to become her husband and threatening harm to anyone who might stand in his way.

Lark Voorhies had a history of high-profile relationships, having dated her co-star Mark Paul Gosselaar between 1989 and 1992 and comedian Martin Lawrence in 1994. She was married to Miguel Coleman from 1996 until 2004 and briefly to Jimmy Green in 2015.

None of the men has publicly disclosed whether they also heard from Lark’s obsessive fan.

Tricia said onscreen that for a “period of time,” she was afraid to let her daughter answer the door, because she was afraid that this “psycho fan” would show up. 

Although he sent “many letters,” Tricia didn’t show most of them to Lark, she explained, “because I didn’t want her to have that kind of fear.” 

Lark’s mother added that she did inform the actress that she had a “crazy” fan, and to “be on the lookout.” 

Tricia was less worried about it when Lark was on the set of “Saved by the Bell,” noting that “it would be harder for him to get to her, because he’s got to get through these layers of security.” 

Lark, now 52, starred on “Saved by the Bell” when she was 15 to 19 years old, between 1989 and 1993. 

Her onscreen appearance in the “Hollywood Demons” episode “After The Bell” marks a rare public interview for the actress.

Lark continued to act after “Saved by the Bell,” appearing in shows like “Days of Our Lives” and “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” but she had a career gap from 2001 to 2008, and was diagnosed with schizoaffective thought disorder in 2015. She publicly disclosed her diagnosis in 2020. 

Dr. Drew Pinsky, who also appeared in the doc, explains that the condition typically manifests between ages 18 and 22, and it’s different from schizophrenia. Per Pinsky, it doesn’t progress and is less “disabling” than schizophrenia, but its symptoms include hallucinations, delusions and disorganized speech.

Lark is not retired, and said onscreen that she looks “forward” to continuing to work.

“After the Bell” airs Monday at 9 p.m. on ID and streams on HBO Max.

A research facility in Oregon, long at the center of controversy due to its use of monkeys for experimentation, might be transformed into a primate sanctuary.

The Oregon Health and Science University recently initiated discussions to determine the future of the Oregon National Primate Research Center. This facility has been under intense scrutiny and criticism from animal rights advocates who have accused it of cruelty and demanded its shutdown for many years.

Situated in Hillsboro, the center houses approximately 5,000 monkeys and employs 267 staff members. It is the largest among the seven federally funded primate research centers, as reported by Oregon Live.

In the wake of failed merger talks with Legacy Health, lawmakers are advocating for the center to pivot away from research activities.

Following a vote in February by the OHSU board, which urged President Dr. Shereef Elnahal to transform the facility into a sanctuary, Elnahal informed staff at a recent OHSU Faculty Senate meeting that any sanctuary plans would proceed only if adequate funding is secured, according to the same source.

Elnahal said ‘there will be no deal’ unless Congress were to provide the federal funds to cover the estimated $220 million to $290 million cost, Oregon Live reported. 

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) announced in February that the vote for the center to end experiments on monkeys was a ‘colossal win for monkeys and science.’

PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo told the Daily Mail, however, that the center should be funding the sanctuary, not the government. 

‘[The center] has profited from these monkeys for the last 60 years. They’ve taken in millions and millions of dollars to experiment on them,’ she said. ‘…if it can be transitioned to a sanctuary that meets the standards of the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries, we would be all in favor of that.’

The Oregon Health and Science University began talks last week to decide the fate of the Oregon National Primate Research Center

The center in Hillsboro is home to around 5,000 monkeys and 267 employees and stands as the largest of the seven federally supported primate research centers

PETA Senior Vice President Kathy Guillermo said the center conducts experiments that are ‘more the stuff of nightmare than the stuff of science’ and believes it should have been shuttered years ago  

PETA said that the vote followed ‘sustained pressure’ from the organization, along with the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, Oregon legislators, Governor Tina Kotek and residents of the state.

‘During these discussions, the primate center will stop breeding monkeys as OHSU works with NIH to devise a plan to end the torment and killing of 1,200 monkeys a year in pointless tests,’ the organization said. 

‘The abuse inside the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) is so grotesque and prolific that adjectives simply fail to describe the horror accurately.’

The organization cited experiments, including one that separated young monkeys from their mothers and deliberately frightened them and another injecting nicotine or surgically implanting nicotine pouches into the animals. 

Elliot Spindel’s nicotine experiment intended to see the effect of the drugs on the monkey’s children, and in one example he gave the animals high doses of vitamin c, removed their fetuses and performed ‘lung function’ tests on them before they were killed and internally studied, according to PETA. 

Dr Lisa Jones-Engel, who performed the separation experiment on the subjects, also published two experiments which saw seven-month-old and then 14-month-old monkeys being killed by exsanguination, or ‘bleeding out.’

‘Experimenters have deviated from approved protocols, exposing monkeys to additional pain and distress,’ the animal rights organization said. 

Guillermo added that the experiments in the center ‘is more the stuff of nightmare than the stuff of science.’

‘The rest of the scientific world is moving ahead…all the public had to hear is that the [center] straps monkeys into chairs and electro ejaculates them and that’s all they needed to know to be in favor of closure,’ she said. 

According to Guillermo, PETA conducted two undercover investigations into the center, one in 2001 and another in 2007, and ‘from that time to this, nothing has changed.’ 

The center’s largest benefactor, the National Institutes of Health which has poured in tens of millions of dollars each year, announced in April that it would be ‘adopting a new initiative’ to focus more on human-based research technologies. 

After a vote in February by the OHSU board, which pushed for President Dr Shereef Elnahal to convert the center into a sanctuary for monkeys, Elnahal told staff at a recent OHSU Faculty Senate meeting that a sanctuary would only go ahead if it was fully funded

According to Guillermo, PETA conducted two undercover investigations into the center, one in 2001 and another in 2007, and ‘from that time to this, nothing has changed.’

‘For decades, our biomedical research system has relied heavily on animal models,’ NIH Director Dr Jay Bhattacharya said in the release. ‘With this initiative, NIH is ushering in a new era of innovation.’

‘This human-based approach will accelerate innovation, improve healthcare outcomes and deliver life-changing treatments. It marks a critical leap forward for science, public trust and patient care,’ he added. 

Guillermo called the NIH’s announcement a ‘good start,’ but believes they haven’t moved fast enough and the center ‘should have been closed down at least a decade or more ago’ when the New England National Primate Research Center shuttered its doors.  

While animal welfare activist groups continue to push for the center to halt its research on primates, an opposing and recently formed nonprofit, Oregon Voices for Biomedical Research, launched their ‘Save Science Oregon’ campaign. 

The campaign is calling for the center to continue its research, as spokesperson Diana Gordon told Oregon Live that the group of ‘concerned citizens and scientists’ has hopes of correcting misinformation and defending the advancements the research offers. 

‘We feel that the political realm has encroached on science in a way that should not be happening. Science is not political… it is an endeavor attempting to help all of us,’ Gordon told the outlet. 

Defense of the center revolves largely around the medical advancements that the research facilitates, which Gordon argued could not be done with computer models and lab-grown tissues. 

‘Everyone in our group… looks forward to the day when animals are no longer needed in research… but it’s just not right now,’ she said. 

The discussions to decide the center’s fate, however, are expected to continue on until August and current employees grow ever-more concerned for their jobs and research 

The center has been responsible for a large number of studies on vaccines, infectious disease, neuroscience, reproductive health and aging, aiding advancements in cancer treatments as well as HIV and infertility. 

Guillermo told the Mail, however, that ‘the experimenters who use monkeys at the primate center are primarily concerned with keeping their jobs.’

‘This place has been in business for 60 years. Remarkably little has come out of it that would benefit humans, and it’s time for them to acknowledge that and move on to better science,’ she continued. 

‘Instead they’re reframing it that their work is essential. We know it’s not. Where are the vaccinations for HIV? Where are the vaccinations to prevent tuberculosis? Where is anything other than a published paper that has allowed a professor to slide into the tenure track?’  

Researchers at the center have said that the current talks pose a major threat to their work, as Elnahal said the discussions come with hopes of avoiding a forced closure of the center. 

The discussions to decide the center’s fate, however, are expected to continue on until August and current employees grow ever-more concerned for their jobs and research.

Should the center be transformed into a sanctuary, research would be restricted; new breeding would halt and animal studies would be limited while existing research could continue. 

Molly Shallman, a union-represented researcher, said at a recent board meeting that the center’s employees are experiencing ‘growing stress’ over the fate of their careers. She also accused the center of being misleading in suggesting that the discussions were initiated through federal officials, the outlet reported. 

Should the center be transformed into a sanctuary, research would be restricted; new breeding would halt and animal studies would be limited while existing research could continue

Elnahal acknowledged that communications had been sparse, noting the need for sensitivity during negotiations, but any final agreement would be made public. 

He also said that the NIH approached the center with a draft agreement, but he had been in talks with federal officials prior to the draft. 

OHSU officials told the outlet that the discussions were ‘ongoing, deliberative and confidential.’ 

According to PETA, the center houses 5,403 monkeys as of 2023 and took around $335 million in government money in the 2023 fiscal year. 

Guillermo added: ‘I think we’re headed in the right direction, but the university probably needs a kick to get going.

‘I would urge them to consider that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F Kennedy Jr, has stated publicly that he would like the primate centers to close and transition into sanctuaries.’ 

The Daily Mail reached out to Oregon Voices for Biomedical Research, the National Institutes of Health and the Oregon Health and Science University for comment. 

A fire erupted on Monday at a renowned Broadway venue in New York City known for staging the popular play “The Book of Mormon,” according to officials.

Numerous units from the New York Fire Department (FDNY) were dispatched to the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on 49th Street around 10 a.m. to tackle the intense three-alarm fire, FDNY Assistant Chief David Simms explained during a press conference.

“The blaze was deeply embedded, primarily affecting extensive electrical equipment,” he noted. “It posed significant challenges in terms of accessibility.”

Michael James Scott was photographed beneath the theatre’s marquee during the Broadway opening night Gypsy Robe event for “The Book of Mormon” at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York City. On Monday, officials reported that a fire caused damage to sections of the building. (Photo by Walter McBride/Corbis via Getty Images)

Over 200 emergency responders were on site. The fire originated in the electrical room located between the fourth and fifth floors, Simms stated. Even after the initial flames were subdued, additional fire pockets were discovered between the fifth floor and the roof.

“There’s been substantial damage on the fourth floor and the electrical room, which contains lighting equipment and the hanging chandeliers,” said Simms.

One firefighter sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital; all theater personnel were accounted for, Simms said. The building will be closed for repairs pending an investigation by the city’s Department of Buildings.

A fire broke out Monday at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in New York, the building that hosts the hit play “The Book of Mormon.” (WNYW)

The theater has hosted “The Book of Mormon” since 2011, the New York Post reported. It was not clear how the fire will impact future performances.

Fox News Digital has reached out to a representative for the play and theatre owner Ambassador Theatre Group.

A New York City firefighter seen climbing a ladder to battle a fire at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre. (WNYW)

Tourists staying at a hotel next to the theater told local media that they were forced to leave while firefighters battled the flames.

“I threw on some clothes and ran down the stairs,” Krissy Giffin told PIX 11.

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