westernjournal--2020-08-23--After 13 Years of Digging, Archaeologists Said ‘Cosmic Airburst Event’ Wiped Sodom and Gomorrah Off

After 13 Years of Digging, Archaeologists Said ‘Cosmic Airburst Event’ Wiped Sodom and Gomorrah Off the Map

The Bible describes why God unleashed his wrath on the ancient cities Sodom and Gomorrah , but archaeologists have explained , in a 2018 study , how they think it happened , which may offer unique , relevant insight into the ways of the Creator .
In the book of Genesis , and also included in the Torah and Quran , is an account of the cities whose sin was so depraved that God meted out immediate justice .
Abraham tried to intercede on their behalf , pleading for God to spare them even if there were only 10 good @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and sent two angels to meet Abraham ’ s nephew Lot there .
Lot took the angels into his home , where the wicked men in Sodom came after them , wanting to “ know ” the angels ( largely understood as wanting to have sexual relations with them ) , proving their sinfulness and justifying God to go ahead with the destruction , but not before warning Lot to flee the city with his wife and daughters .
“ Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ he overthrew those cities , and all the valley , and all the inhabitants of the cities , and what grew on the ground .
But Lot ’ s wife , behind him , looked back , and she became a pillar of salt.
” “ And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord .
And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley , and he looked and , behold , the smoke of the land @ @ @ @ @ @ @ furnace.
” ( Genesis 19:24-28 ) The sudden cataclysmic event the Bible recounts seems to be supported by findings from the Tall el-Hammam Excavation archaeological site in Jordan , believed to be where ancient Sodom and Gomorrah stood .
Phillip J. Silvia , an archeologist from Trinity Southwest University in Albuquerque , New Mexico , who is the site ’ s field supervisor and director of scientific analysis , presented findings from the team ’ s 13 years excavating the site at the American Schools of Oriental Research 2018 annual meeting .
What @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cosmic airburst event ” in the area of where the city is thought to have stood occurred some 3,700 years ago , according to their paper “ The 3.7kaBP Middle Ghor Event : Catastrophic Termination of a Bronze Age Civilization.
” The researchers found that the Middle Bronze Age towns and cities that stood north of the Dead Sea in an area known as Middle Ghor , included what are thought to be the biblical cities , were obliterated “ in an instant , ” the topsoil stripped bare with “ a super-heated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over the landscape by the Event ’ s frontal shockwave ( s ) .
” They found that the heat was so intense , clay and rock melted into glass , which researchers concluded meant debris was exposed to “ between 8,000°C and 12,000°C for less than a few milliseconds.
” The area was so decimated , the paper said , it would be more than half a millennium before civilization could once again inhabit the area .
Science has a precedent for this sort of event as recently as 1908 when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a similar cosmic airburst , which happens when a meteorite explodes upon entering Earth ’ s atmosphere , according to NASA Science .
The Tunguska event stripped vegetation from 800 miles of forest , and eyewitnesses reported that it rained fire from the sky .
RELATED : Sciascia : 6-Year-Old Hero in Brutal Dog Mauling Is Epitome of Traditional Masculinity Although these are both natural phenomena , that fact does not disprove God ’ s hand in the events that destroyed the ancient cities , but actually hints at the way he can @ @ @ @ @ @ @ or simply leave nature to its own devices .
During times of plague or pandemic , folks who fall on either side of theistic belief will use it as evidence for or against God , but the natural world shows us it is a both-and situation .
Natural disasters were sometimes used as punishment in the Old Testament , but they also fall randomly upon mankind as a consequence of the brokenness ushered in by man ’ s first ancestors .
Conversely , the cures that science has brought to humanity are sometimes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with seemingly no rational explanation .
God is personally interested in everyone ’ s lives but seldom cuts sinful folks down with a zap from heaven .
Instead , the Bible and science tell humanity that it is mainly within the confines of nature that God ’ s work is done .
Whatever events transpired leading up to their destruction , the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were lustful , sinful and prideful .
God could have spared the city , but he perhaps permitted the exploding meteor since the citizens had turned @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Whatever the reason the city was destroyed , the lesson conveyed therein is that where only 10 good people are left , God can settle his favor upon the whole city .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The Bible describes why God unleashed his wrath on the ancient cities Sodom and Gomorrah, but archaeologists have explained, in a 2018 study, how they think it happened, which may offer unique, relevant insight into the ways of the Creator.
In the book of Genesis, and also included in the Torah and Quran, is an account of the cities whose sin was so depraved that God meted out immediate justice.
Abraham tried to intercede on their behalf, pleading for God to spare them even if there were only 10 good people left in Sodom. God agreed, and sent two angels to meet Abraham’s nephew Lot there.
Lot took the angels into his home, where the wicked men in Sodom came after them, wanting to “know” the angels (largely understood as wanting to have sexual relations with them), proving their sinfulness and justifying God to go ahead with the destruction, but not before warning Lot to flee the city with his wife and daughters.
“Then the Lord rained on Sodom and Gomorrah sulfur and fire from the Lord out of heaven. And he overthrew those cities, and all the valley, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground. But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.”
“And Abraham went early in the morning to the place where he had stood before the Lord. And he looked down toward Sodom and Gomorrah and toward all the land of the valley, and he looked and, behold, the smoke of the land went up like the smoke of a furnace.” (Genesis 19:24-28)
The sudden cataclysmic event the Bible recounts seems to be supported by findings from the Tall el-Hammam Excavation archaeological site in Jordan, believed to be where ancient Sodom and Gomorrah stood.
Phillip J. Silvia, an archeologist from Trinity Southwest University in Albuquerque, New Mexico, who is the site’s field supervisor and director of scientific analysis, presented findings from the team’s 13 years excavating the site at the American Schools of Oriental Research 2018 annual meeting.
What the team discovered was that a “cosmic airburst event” in the area of where the city is thought to have stood occurred some 3,700 years ago, according to their paper “The 3.7kaBP Middle Ghor Event: Catastrophic Termination of a Bronze Age Civilization.”
The researchers found that the Middle Bronze Age towns and cities that stood north of the Dead Sea in an area known as Middle Ghor, included what are thought to be the biblical cities, were obliterated “in an instant,” the topsoil stripped bare with “a super-heated brine of Dead Sea anhydride salts pushed over the landscape by the Event’s frontal shockwave(s).”
Do you think God can use natural means to accomplish his will? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 98% (1393 Votes) No: 2% (28 Votes)
They found that the heat was so intense, clay and rock melted into glass, which researchers concluded meant debris was exposed to “between 8,000°C and 12,000°C for less than a few milliseconds.”
The area was so decimated, the paper said, it would be more than half a millennium before civilization could once again inhabit the area.
Science has a precedent for this sort of event as recently as 1908 when the Podkamennaya Tunguska River area of Siberia experienced a similar cosmic airburst, which happens when a meteorite explodes upon entering Earth’s atmosphere, according to NASA Science.
The Tunguska event stripped vegetation from 800 miles of forest, and eyewitnesses reported that it rained fire from the sky.
Although these are both natural phenomena, that fact does not disprove God’s hand in the events that destroyed the ancient cities, but actually hints at the way he can use natural phenomena for his own purposes or simply leave nature to its own devices.
During times of plague or pandemic, folks who fall on either side of theistic belief will use it as evidence for or against God, but the natural world shows us it is a both-and situation.
Natural disasters were sometimes used as punishment in the Old Testament, but they also fall randomly upon mankind as a consequence of the brokenness ushered in by man’s first ancestors.
Conversely, the cures that science has brought to humanity are sometimes enough, although occasionally miracles cure disease with seemingly no rational explanation.
God is personally interested in everyone’s lives but seldom cuts sinful folks down with a zap from heaven. Instead, the Bible and science tell humanity that it is mainly within the confines of nature that God’s work is done.
Whatever events transpired leading up to their destruction, the people of Sodom and Gomorrah were lustful, sinful and prideful.
God could have spared the city, but he perhaps permitted the exploding meteor since the citizens had turned away from all that was good.
Whatever the reason the city was destroyed, the lesson conveyed therein is that where only 10 good people are left, God can settle his favor upon the whole city.
Americans should take heed.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--WHO Head: ‘We Cannot Go Back to the Way Things Were’ Before COVID Hit

On Friday , the leader of the World Health Organization downplayed the role of a vaccine in ending the coronavirus pandemic , and instead called for a focus on climate change .
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said not enough is known about the long-term effects of the disease , according to a WHO-posted transcript of his opening remarks at a media briefing .
Tedros said that around the globe , health care systems are being burdened as never before with no end in sight .
“ Several countries around the world are now experiencing fresh outbreaks after a long @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” he said .
“ These countries are a cautionary tale for those that are now seeing a downward trend in cases.
” See the statement in the video below .
Tedros was not upbeat about the declining caseloads being reported .
“ Progress does not mean victory .
The fact remains that most people remain susceptible to this virus .
That ’ s why it ’ s vital that countries are able to quickly identify and prevent clusters , to prevent community transmission and the possibility of new restrictions , ” he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ride this out until we have a vaccine.
” A vaccine may not end the problem though , according to Tedros .
“ A vaccine will be a vital tool , and we hope that we will have one as soon as possible .
But there ’ s no guarantee that we will , and even if we do have a vaccine , it won ’ t end the pandemic on its own.
” He then called for societal changes beyond lockdowns .
“ We must all learn to control and manage this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and to make the adjustments to our daily lives that are needed to keep ourselves and each other safe , ” he said .
RELATED : Biden Takes a Page Out of AOC 's Book with Proposed Climate Plan “ So-called lockdowns enabled many countries to suppress transmission and take the pressure off their health systems .
But lockdowns are not a long-term solution for any country .
We do not need to choose between lives and livelihoods , or between health and the economy .
That ’ s a false choice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pandemic is a reminder that health and the economy are inseparable .
WHO is committed to working with all countries to move into a new stage of opening their economies , societies , schools and businesses safely , ” he said , adding that “ Every single person must be involved .
“ Every single person can make a difference .
Every person , family , community and nation must make their own decisions , based on the level of risk where they live .
That means every person and family has a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ locally , and to understand what they can do to protect themselves and others.
” Ghebreyesus then said climate change demands attention now more than ever .
“ At the same time , we will not — we can not — go back to the way things were .
Throughout history , outbreaks and pandemics have changed economies and societies .
This one will be no different , ” he said .
“ In particular , the pandemic has given new impetus to the need to accelerate efforts to respond to climate change @ @ @ @ @ @ @ glimpse of our world as it could be : cleaner skies and rivers , ” he said .
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove , head of the WHO ’ s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit , said it ’ s “ very important ” people learn “ how to live with this virus , ” according to the media briefing .
Such steps will “ continue to suppress transmission , be ready to identify cases and any clusters that pop up so we can quickly put those out … and minimize as many deaths @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ In doing so , some countries may need to implement some measures again.
” “ What we are seeing is a targeted approach to adding interventions that need to be put in place to get outbreaks under control and try to reduce the number of infections that are happening.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

On Friday, the leader of the World Health Organization downplayed the role of a vaccine in ending the coronavirus pandemic, and instead called for a focus on climate change.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said not enough is known about the long-term effects of the disease, according to a WHO-posted transcript of his opening remarks at a media briefing.
Tedros said that around the globe, health care systems are being burdened as never before with no end in sight.
“Several countries around the world are now experiencing fresh outbreaks after a long period with little or no transmission,” he said.
“These countries are a cautionary tale for those that are now seeing a downward trend in cases.”
See the statement in the video below.
https://youtu.be/gLhDH0G6XNw?t=372
Tedros was not upbeat about the declining caseloads being reported.
“Progress does not mean victory. The fact remains that most people remain susceptible to this virus. That’s why it’s vital that countries are able to quickly identify and prevent clusters, to prevent community transmission and the possibility of new restrictions,” he said.
Do you trust what WHO says? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 2% (10 Votes) No: 98% (517 Votes)
“No country can just ride this out until we have a vaccine.”
A vaccine may not end the problem though, according to Tedros.
“A vaccine will be a vital tool, and we hope that we will have one as soon as possible. But there’s no guarantee that we will, and even if we do have a vaccine, it won’t end the pandemic on its own.”
He then called for societal changes beyond lockdowns.
“We must all learn to control and manage this virus using the tools we have now, and to make the adjustments to our daily lives that are needed to keep ourselves and each other safe,” he said.
“So-called lockdowns enabled many countries to suppress transmission and take the pressure off their health systems. But lockdowns are not a long-term solution for any country. We do not need to choose between lives and livelihoods, or between health and the economy. That’s a false choice.
“On the contrary, the pandemic is a reminder that health and the economy are inseparable. WHO is committed to working with all countries to move into a new stage of opening their economies, societies, schools and businesses safely,” he said, adding that “Every single person must be involved.
“Every single person can make a difference. Every person, family, community and nation must make their own decisions, based on the level of risk where they live. That means every person and family has a responsibility to know the level of transmission locally, and to understand what they can do to protect themselves and others.”
Ghebreyesus then said climate change demands attention now more than ever.
“At the same time, we will not — we cannot — go back to the way things were. Throughout history, outbreaks and pandemics have changed economies and societies. This one will be no different,” he said.
“In particular, the pandemic has given new impetus to the need to accelerate efforts to respond to climate change. The pandemic has given us a glimpse of our world as it could be: cleaner skies and rivers,” he said.
“Building back better means building back greener.”
Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said it’s “very important” people learn “how to live with this virus,” according to the media briefing.
Such steps will “continue to suppress transmission, be ready to identify cases and any clusters that pop up so we can quickly put those out … and minimize as many deaths as possible,” she said. “In doing so, some countries may need to implement some measures again.”
“What we are seeing is a targeted approach to adding interventions that need to be put in place to get outbreaks under control and try to reduce the number of infections that are happening.”
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--Cher’s Attempt To Volunteer at Local Post Office Ends in Complete Failure

Before you make fun of conservative social media personalities , dear liberals , I urge you to consider the plight of Cher .
Prior to Cher launching into her latest strange Twitter meltdown , we were told the United States Postal Service was in trouble .
It wasn ’ t supposed to be able to handle the massive influx of mail it was set to receive if there were to be widespread mail-in voting for November ’ s election .
And now , liberals want the Postal Service to be bailed out because otherwise , how will we be able @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Well , Cher wants to know she ’ s here to help in any way she can — including by becoming a Postal Service employee herself .
Yes , it ’ s happened .
We ’ ve finally found a potential post office worker less qualified for the job than Charles Bukowski .
Cher ’ s apparently in it to make sure President Donald Trump doesn ’ t win a second term .
And she wanted to make sure everyone knew she was being serious : “ NO , IM NO KIDDING…COULD I @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the 74-year-old music icon tweeted .
She ’ s really dead serious , y ’ all .
I ’ m not quite sure what qualifications she has aside from the fact that she knows what life after love is and can sing “ I Got You , Babe ” to people on their break , but other than that… “ IS NO ONE GOING TO HELP ME WITH POST OFFICE , ” she wrote , with the rolled-eyes face emoji .
This makes one wonder whether she ’ s terminally unable to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of coddling or whether she doesn ’ t realize that she can pay someone to figure it out for her at this point .
Well , she may not have been kidding , but she can ’ t volunteer at the post office .
“ OK , Called 2 post offices In Malibu.They were polite , ” she wrote .
“ I Said ’ Hi This Is Cher , & I Would like to know If you ever take Volunteers⁉ ” she said .
“ Lady Said She Didn ’ t Know & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Said Hi This is Cher Do U Accept volunteers.
’ NO , Need Fingerprints & Background Check , ’ ” she said , followed by a crying person emoji .
And no , this isn ’ t Postmaster General Louis DeJoy ’ s doing .
A spokeswoman for the Postal Service confirmed to CNN that no , they don ’ t take volunteers .
“ But there are many opportunities for employment at the Postal Service , including seasonal hiring , ” she said , in addition to providing a link to seasonal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seasonal jobs don ’ t require you pull the , “ Do you know who I am ?
I ’ m Cher !
” card not once but twice .
There is , though , one group of concerned so-called conservatives trying to make sure she gets a job with the USPS : Oh , well , that ’ s it .
Give this woman a job .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Before you make fun of conservative social media personalities, dear liberals, I urge you to consider the plight of Cher.
Prior to Cher launching into her latest strange Twitter meltdown, we were told the United States Postal Service was in trouble.
It wasn’t supposed to be able to handle the massive influx of mail it was set to receive if there were to be widespread mail-in voting for November’s election. And now, liberals want the Postal Service to be bailed out because otherwise, how will we be able to cast our ballots this fall?
Well, Cher wants to know she’s here to help in any way she can — including by becoming a Postal Service employee herself.
Can ppl volunteer at post office⁉ — Cher (@cher) August 19, 2020
“Can ppl volunteer at post office!?” Cher wondered on Wednesday.
Yes, it’s happened. We’ve finally found a potential post office worker less qualified for the job than Charles Bukowski.
Cher’s apparently in it to make sure President Donald Trump doesn’t win a second term.
And she wanted to make sure everyone knew she was being serious:
NO,IM NO KIDDING…COULD I
VOLUNTEER AT MY POST OFFICE ⁉ — Cher (@cher) August 19, 2020
“NO,IM NO KIDDING…COULD I VOLUNTEER AT MY POST OFFICE!?” the 74-year-old music icon tweeted.
She’s really dead serious, y’all. I’m not quite sure what qualifications she has aside from the fact that she knows what life after love is and can sing “I Got You, Babe” to people on their break, but other than that…
IS NO ONE GOING TO HELP ME
WITH POST OFFICE ? — Cher (@cher) August 19, 2020
“IS NO ONE GOING TO HELP ME WITH POST OFFICE,” she wrote, with the rolled-eyes face emoji. This makes one wonder whether she’s terminally unable to do anything for herself after a half-century of coddling or whether she doesn’t realize that she can pay someone to figure it out for her at this point.
Well, she may not have been kidding, but she can’t volunteer at the post office.
OK,Called 2 post offices In Malibu.They were polite.
I Said”Hi This Is Cher,& I Would like to know If you ever take Volunteers⁉Lady Said She Didn’t Know & Gave Me # Of Supervisor.I Called & Said Hi This is Cher Do U Accept volunteers.”NO,Need
Fingerprints & Background Check”? — Cher (@cher) August 19, 2020
“OK,Called 2 post offices In Malibu.They were polite,” she wrote.
“I Said’Hi This Is Cher,& I Would like to know If you ever take Volunteers⁉” she said. “Lady Said She Didn’t Know & Gave Me # Of Supervisor.I Called & Said Hi This is Cher Do U Accept volunteers.’NO,Need Fingerprints & Background Check,’” she said, followed by a crying person emoji.
Do you think Cher would make a good post office worker? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 3% (35 Votes) No: 97% (980 Votes)
And no, this isn’t Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s doing.
A spokeswoman for the Postal Service confirmed to CNN that no, they don’t take volunteers.
“But there are many opportunities for employment at the Postal Service, including seasonal hiring,” she said, in addition to providing a link to seasonal jobs.
However, most Postal Service seasonal jobs don’t require you pull the, “Do you know who I am? I’m Cher!” card not once but twice.
There is, though, one group of concerned so-called conservatives trying to make sure she gets a job with the USPS:
Cher for post master general. — The Lincoln Project (@ProjectLincoln) August 19, 2020
Oh, well, that’s it. Give this woman a job.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--High School Students Worked Together To Create a Pro-Trump Display – Then BLM Showed Up

Seniors at Lubbock-Cooper High School in Texas have been allowed to paint reserved parking spaces in the school parking lot for the past four years before classes start in August .
After one group of students chose 10 spots near each other and decorated them to spell out “ TRUMP 2020 , ” the spots were vandalized overnight , KCBD-TV reported last week .
“ TRUMP 2020 ” is still barely visible , but now messages like “ # BLM , ” “ # POC ” and “ # SAVETheChildren ” are written all over it .
“ My son @ @ @ @ @ @ @ $ 750 painting their parking spots , ” a parent of one of the students said .
“ They spent eight hours creating this .
Their spaces have been completely vandalized and all boys have been threatened.
” At least one other spot with a Trump theme was vandalized , and one Trump-themed spot was not .
Lubbock-Cooper High School officials said “ the district will seek to prosecute any individual responsible for destroying or defacing school property , ” KCBD reported .
Allowing seniors to paint parking spaces before the start of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at high schools across the country .
“ Students pay for this opportunity and provide their own supplies , no part of this is funded by the school district , ” Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District Superintendent Keith Bryant said in a statement to KCBD .
He added that all parking space designs are approved before they are allowed to be painted .
The designs must follow certain guidelines — they can ’ t contain profanity , vulgar images or references to illegal activity — but political statements are not prohibited .
“ The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is to encourage students ’ creativity and allow them another outlet to express their personality and thoughts , ” Bryant said .
RELATED : 87-Year-Old Korean War Veteran Finally Graduates High School After Dropping Out To Become Pilot “ Political statements have been a fairly common theme among parking lot spaces each year , without issue.
” Sadie Alderson , the director of public information for Lubbock-Cooper ISD , said the district is investigating the situation .
“ We have students and staff with differing political beliefs ; and we expect those beliefs @ @ @ @ @ @ @ United States citizens , we have the freedom to disagree with one another , but it is completely unacceptable ( and illegal ) to vandalize property in disagreement , ” Bryant said .
“ As a public school district , we have an obligation to protect not only our students , but their rights.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Seniors at Lubbock-Cooper High School in Texas have been allowed to paint reserved parking spaces in the school parking lot for the past four years before classes start in August.
After one group of students chose 10 spots near each other and decorated them to spell out “TRUMP 2020,” the spots were vandalized overnight, KCBD-TV reported last week.
“TRUMP 2020” is still barely visible, but now messages like “#BLM,” “#POC” and “#SAVETheChildren” are written all over it.
“My son and several of his friends spent over $750 painting their parking spots,” a parent of one of the students said.
Lubbock-Cooper ISD officials say they will seek to prosecute any individual responsible for destroying or defacing school property. Read the full story here>> https://t.co/Oih5Fvgcfh — KCBD NewsChannel11 (@KCBD11) August 17, 2020
“They spent eight hours creating this. Their spaces have been completely vandalized and all boys have been threatened.”
At least one other spot with a Trump theme was vandalized, and one Trump-themed spot was not.
Lubbock-Cooper High School officials said “the district will seek to prosecute any individual responsible for destroying or defacing school property,” KCBD reported.
Do you think the people responsible for this should be punished? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (2816 Votes) No: 1% (18 Votes)
Allowing seniors to paint parking spaces before the start of their school year is a common practice at high schools across the country.
“Students pay for this opportunity and provide their own supplies, no part of this is funded by the school district,” Lubbock-Cooper Independent School District Superintendent Keith Bryant said in a statement to KCBD.
He added that all parking space designs are approved before they are allowed to be painted.
The designs must follow certain guidelines — they can’t contain profanity, vulgar images or references to illegal activity — but political statements are not prohibited.
“The idea behind the parking lot painting project is to encourage students’ creativity and allow them another outlet to express their personality and thoughts,” Bryant said.
“Political statements have been a fairly common theme among parking lot spaces each year, without issue.”
Sadie Alderson, the director of public information for Lubbock-Cooper ISD, said the district is investigating the situation.
“We have students and staff with differing political beliefs; and we expect those beliefs to be respected and valued. As United States citizens, we have the freedom to disagree with one another, but it is completely unacceptable (and illegal) to vandalize property in disagreement,” Bryant said.
“As a public school district, we have an obligation to protect not only our students, but their rights.”
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--Billions of Dollars Set Aside for COVID-19 Testing Still Unspent

Billions of dollars approved by Congress this past spring to ramp up COVID-19 testing is unspent , according to a new report .
Department of Health and Human Services data shows that of the $ 25 billion allocated for testing , only about 10 percent to 15 percent has either been spent or committed , according to a Wall Street Journal report that was reprinted by MSN .
The report said $ 10.25 billion went to states and U.S. territories in May for those governments to expand testing and create coronavirus contact-tracing programs at their discretion .
As of Aug. @ @ @ @ @ @ @ pot had been touched .
“ No health department or state can cry poor during this health crisis , ” Will Humble , executive director for the Arizona Public Health Association , told The Wall Street Journal .
“ It ’ s not a matter of more money .
It ’ s a matter of using the money that has already been given to counties and states effectively.
” HHS is using about $ 8 billion of the overall funding as needed , but the cash hasn ’ t been shared , HHS @ @ @ @ @ @ @ continues to monitor the situation and support response and recovery activities supported with additional emergency supplemental resources , ” she said .
The fund also sent $ 5.7 billion to various agencies , such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration .
Through last week , $ 1.62 billion had been spent or committed , according to the Department of Health and Human Services .
Another $ 2 billion was set aside to test uninsured individuals .
As of last week , $ 235.5 million of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Brett Giroir , assistant secretary for health at the HHS , said the agency is continually working to expand testing .
“ There are plenty of tests , and that ’ s growing substantially , ” Giroir told the WSJ .
He said about 25 million tests were done in July , with the potential for 90 million in September .
Giroir said the nation ’ s medical infrastructure can only process so many tests a day .
“ There is no physical way to do 5 million tests per day in this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to CNN .
If there ’ s a way to turn it from 1 million to 5 million today , let me know.
” Giroir said “ everything that can possibly be done has been done ” to get Americans tested .
RELATED : WHO Head : 'We Can not Go Back to the Way Things Were ' Before COVID Hit More tests might be coming now that the Trump administration has stopped requiring FDA approval for new tests .
“ This is what we needed and asked for five months @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the University of North Carolina Medical Center ’ s Clinical Molecular Microbiology Laboratory , told The Washington Post .
If labs did not need to go through the FDA , Miller said , “ We would have been able to roll out and expand testing earlier in the pandemic.
” We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Billions of dollars approved by Congress this past spring to ramp up COVID-19 testing is unspent, according to a new report.
Department of Health and Human Services data shows that of the $25 billion allocated for testing, only about 10 percent to 15 percent has either been spent or committed, according to a Wall Street Journal report that was reprinted by MSN.
The report said $10.25 billion went to states and U.S. territories in May for those governments to expand testing and create coronavirus contact-tracing programs at their discretion. As of Aug. 14, $121 million of that pot had been touched.
“No health department or state can cry poor during this health crisis,” Will Humble, executive director for the Arizona Public Health Association, told The Wall Street Journal. “It’s not a matter of more money. It’s a matter of using the money that has already been given to counties and states effectively.”
HHS is using about $8 billion of the overall funding as needed, but the cash hasn’t been shared, HHS spokeswoman Mia Heck said.
“HHS continues to monitor the situation and support response and recovery activities supported with additional emergency supplemental resources,” she said.
The fund also sent $5.7 billion to various agencies, such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration. Through last week, $1.62 billion had been spent or committed, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
Another $2 billion was set aside to test uninsured individuals. As of last week, $235.5 million of that fund had been spent.
Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health at the HHS, said the agency is continually working to expand testing.
Have the states bungled the response to COVID-19? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 96% (24 Votes) No: 4% (1 Votes)
“There are plenty of tests, and that’s growing substantially,” Giroir told the WSJ.
He said about 25 million tests were done in July, with the potential for 90 million in September.
Giroir said the nation’s medical infrastructure can only process so many tests a day.
“There is no physical way to do 5 million tests per day in this country,” Giroir said last week, according to CNN. If there’s a way to turn it from 1 million to 5 million today, let me know.”
Giroir said “everything that can possibly be done has been done” to get Americans tested.
More tests might be coming now that the Trump administration has stopped requiring FDA approval for new tests.
“This is what we needed and asked for five months ago,” Melissa Miller, director of the University of North Carolina Medical Center’s Clinical Molecular Microbiology Laboratory, told The Washington Post.
If labs did not need to go through the FDA, Miller said, “We would have been able to roll out and expand testing earlier in the pandemic.”
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--BLM Activist Fantasizes About Babies Strangling to Death While Crowd Cheers Her On

Many on the left would have us believe that the Black Lives Matter movement is bipartisan .
According to them , BLM is only about uplifting the black community and has no ulterior motives and no radical , political agendas .
A BLM activist in Portland , Oregon , one of the few cities still being ravaged by BLM riots , gave the lie to that notion during a recent speech .
In a video shared Monday on Twitter , the activist , speaking through a megaphone , expressed her desire to have police officers strangled in the womb with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , unconscionable words were met with applause .
“ Your mother ’ s umbilical cord should have wrapped around your neck and choked you just the way you choked George Floyd , you filthy animal , ” she said .
“ Not only should that umbilical cord should have wrapped around your neck , it should not have wrapped around your neck once , it should have wrapped around your neck three , two times .
… It should have wrapped around your neck so many times , to where you yelled , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” the woman said .
The BLM speaker then told her Marxist “ comrades ” that she was ready and willing to shoot police officers .
“ You think that you ’ re a good person because you have a gun .
My comrades already know , I tell them every Thursday right there in their face , ‘ I know you got a gun , but so do I , ' ” she said .
“ Go ahead and shoot me , I ’ m a shoot back .
Am I lying @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I ’ m going to shoot you back.
” The clip ends with the activist proclaiming that cops should be hung and electrocuted .
“ They need to hang you high , not hang you low .
They need to send you to the electric chair and let you fry like a piece of burnt bacon.
” RELATED : Newt Predicts Trump Win Will Be 'Dramatically Bigger ' Than Anyone Expects So much for the left not supporting capital punishment .
As horrendous as those last several murderous comments are , the activist @ @ @ @ @ @ @ killing of babies reflect a pro-infanticide position that has been embraced by many Democrats over the past couple of years .
In February 2019 , congressional Democrats blocked a bill that would have forced doctors to save the life of babies who had survived abortions .
They argued the bill was unnecessary given that it is already illegal to kill a newborn .
However , evidence shows that infanticide does , in fact , happen .
According to a state Department of Health report , three babies died in Minnesota in 2018 alone @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The left-wing ’ s pro-infanticide logic tracks .
If a baby is just a bundle of cells while it ’ s still in the mother ’ s womb , that same baby doesn ’ t magically have a right to live one second later when it ’ s sitting on the operating table .
So the passionate activist in Portland wasn ’ t some crazed radical out of touch with the mainstream left .
She was merely sharing some of the tenets of the Democratic Party .
We are committed to truth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read our editorial standards .

Many on the left would have us believe that the Black Lives Matter movement is bipartisan.
According to them, BLM is only about uplifting the black community and has no ulterior motives and no radical, political agendas.
A BLM activist in Portland, Oregon, one of the few cities still being ravaged by BLM riots, gave the lie to that notion during a recent speech.
In a video shared Monday on Twitter, the activist, speaking through a megaphone, expressed her desire to have police officers strangled in the womb with their own umbilical cords.
Her morbid, unconscionable words were met with applause.
Twisted BLM activist in Portland describes a desire for wanting police officers to have been strangled by their umbilical cords at birth She also boasts in the fact she is ready to shoot officers, and disturbingly expressed a desire to see officers hung and electrocuted pic.twitter.com/MQymTEL9Bz — Drew Hernandez (@livesmattershow) August 17, 2020
“Your mother’s umbilical cord should have wrapped around your neck and choked you just the way you choked George Floyd, you filthy animal,” she said.
“Not only should that umbilical cord should have wrapped around your neck, it should not have wrapped around your neck once, it should have wrapped around your neck three, two times. … It should have wrapped around your neck so many times, to where you yelled, ‘I can not breathe,'” the woman said.
The BLM speaker then told her Marxist “comrades” that she was ready and willing to shoot police officers.
“You think that you’re a good person because you have a gun. My comrades already know, I tell them every Thursday right there in their face, ‘I know you got a gun, but so do I,'” she said.
“Go ahead and shoot me, I’m a shoot back. Am I lying, my comrades? You shoot me I’m going to shoot you back.”
The clip ends with the activist proclaiming that cops should be hung and electrocuted.
“They need to hang you high, not hang you low. They need to send you to the electric chair and let you fry like a piece of burnt bacon.”
So much for the left not supporting capital punishment.
As horrendous as those last several murderous comments are, the activist’s first few words on the killing of babies reflect a pro-infanticide position that has been embraced by many Democrats over the past couple of years.
In February 2019, congressional Democrats blocked a bill that would have forced doctors to save the life of babies who had survived abortions.
They argued the bill was unnecessary given that it is already illegal to kill a newborn.
However, evidence shows that infanticide does, in fact, happen. According to a state Department of Health report, three babies died in Minnesota in 2018 alone after being born alive following failed abortions.
The left-wing’s pro-infanticide logic tracks. If a baby is just a bundle of cells while it’s still in the mother’s womb, that same baby doesn’t magically have a right to live one second later when it’s sitting on the operating table.
So the passionate activist in Portland wasn’t some crazed radical out of touch with the mainstream left. She was merely sharing some of the tenets of the Democratic Party.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--Chicago Activist Threatens City’s Residents: ‘We Have Demands… Listen to Us or You Can Get Ran Over’

Taylore Norwood is a 20-year-old Chicago activist .
She ’ s best known as one of the faces of of GoodKids MadCity , a Chicago-based group that , according to its Facebook page , is about “ Black and Brown young people united in fighting to end violence in our cities.
” She ’ s testified before Congress about ending that violence .
And she ’ s now been spotted in a clip saying that if Chicago residents don ’ t listen to her , they “ can get ran over.
” The clip was posted to Twitter by Grabien @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It was unclear from Elliott ’ s tweet when the clip was taken or who was in it , only that he claimed , apparently incorrectly , that it was a Black Lives Matter activist .
However , part of Norwood ’ s oration was briefly quoted in a Chicago Tribune story about an impromptu news conference held outside of the Wentworth District police station on Aug. 16 , which called for demonstrators who were being held by police to be released and to have their charges dropped .
That article also made @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MadCity , a completely different group .
There was no mention of Black Lives Matter Chicago .
Also , guess what wasn ’ t mentioned ?
The part about how those who don ’ t listen “ can get ran over.
” During her remarks , Norwood claimed that “ three of my sisters , my friends , have been arrested and brutalized by the Chicago Police Department.
” She went on to say that liberal Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot had “ said nothing about it.
” “ Our black , gay mayor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ city , ” she continued .
“ I have a personal problem with that.
” WMAQ-TV reported that the protests the night before , which were focused ( among other things ) on demands to abolish Immigrations and Customs Enforcement as well as defunding the Chicago Police Department , had turned violent .
Twenty-four were arrested , four on felony charges .
To Norwood , this was a problem , inasmuch as it would take voting rights from those who were convicted of felonies — for those arrested here and during other protests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ throw felonies on somebody for speaking their mind , ” Norwood said .
“ Shaundric [ Mann , an activist ] has not been processed , he has not been released , we ’ ve been here for 12-plus hours and [ Mayor Lightfoot ] still has said nothing , nothing to the community , nothing to the black organizers who were brutalized .
We haven ’ t heard anything.
” WARNING : The following video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive .
RELATED : Chicago Mayor Implies Her Rights @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Ban on Her Block “ This is our city , our city , and we ’ re taking this s— back .
Point back .
Period .
End of discussion , ” Norwood said .
“ We have demands and they need to be met and I feel like I ’ ve been saying this too much .
“ We ’ re not asking you anything .
We ’ re telling you what ’ s about to happen with your permission or not , ” she added .
“ You can listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
And that ’ s all I have to say.
” Yes , well , that ’ s quite a lot to say .
There ’ s no evidence Norwood was with Black Lives Matter Chicago , which has gotten itself a whole lot of press lately .
It ’ s rather doubtful that she was — given that had she been , this would have been foregrounded in the Tribune ’ s article .
Black Lives Chicago has been behind some of the city ’ s more dubious demonstrations .
When they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ they ’ re apologizing for them .
The week prior to this , the group had organized another protest to free jailed demonstrators , with one leader claiming that looting was reparations .
That ’ s not me putting an inflammatory conservative spin on it , that ’ s actually what some Black Lives Matter Chicago members said .
“ I don ’ t care if somebody decides to loot a Gucci or a Macy ’ s or a Nike , because that makes sure that that person eats .
That makes sure @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Black Lives Matter Chicago organizer Ariel Atkins told reporters after looters pillaged the city ’ s Magnificent Mile area the night of Aug. 9 and 10 .
“ That is reparations .
Anything they want to take , take it because these businesses have insurance.
” GoodKids MadCity , an organization named after a Kendrick Lamar album ( which actually isn ’ t too bad ) , seems to be a bit more legit than that .
And yet , here ’ s one of that group ’ s most visible organizers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ us or you can get ran over.
” There are certainly metaphorical connotations you can pin on this , but not necessarily in the middle of a city that ’ s become a hotspot for some of America ’ s more violent demonstrations of late .
This is inflammatory stuff .
As for their demands , what “ protesters ” are saying is that people who allegedly committed crimes need to be let out — or , you know , their supporters might commit crimes .
They ’ re not saying that they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ re just saying .
No , police misconduct shouldn ’ t be tolerated .
No , that ’ s not an excuse for violence .
And no , the residents of Chicago don ’ t have to listen to Norwood ’ s demands or “ get ran over.
” This should be an outrage .
Now , it doesn ’ t even get reported on by the Chicago Tribune .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Taylore Norwood is a 20-year-old Chicago activist. She’s best known as one of the faces of of GoodKids MadCity, a Chicago-based group that, according to its Facebook page, is about “Black and Brown young people united in fighting to end violence in our cities.” She’s testified before Congress about ending that violence.
And she’s now been spotted in a clip saying that if Chicago residents don’t listen to her, they “can get ran over.”
The clip was posted to Twitter by Grabien’s Tom Elliott on Saturday. It was unclear from Elliott’s tweet when the clip was taken or who was in it, only that he claimed, apparently incorrectly, that it was a Black Lives Matter activist.
However, part of Norwood’s oration was briefly quoted in a Chicago Tribune story about an impromptu news conference held outside of the Wentworth District police station on Aug. 16, which called for demonstrators who were being held by police to be released and to have their charges dropped. That article also made it clear that Norwood was with GoodKids MadCity, a completely different group. There was no mention of Black Lives Matter Chicago.
Also, guess what wasn’t mentioned? The part about how those who don’t listen “can get ran over.”
During her remarks, Norwood claimed that “three of my sisters, my friends, have been arrested and brutalized by the Chicago Police Department.”
She went on to say that liberal Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot had “said nothing about it.”
“Our black, gay mayor is not protecting the women in this city,” she continued. “I have a personal problem with that.”
WMAQ-TV reported that the protests the night before, which were focused (among other things) on demands to abolish Immigrations and Customs Enforcement as well as defunding the Chicago Police Department, had turned violent.
Do you think this was a direct threat of violence? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (4381 Votes) No: 1% (55 Votes)
Twenty-four were arrested, four on felony charges.
To Norwood, this was a problem, inasmuch as it would take voting rights from those who were convicted of felonies — for those arrested here and during other protests.
“You can’t just throw felonies on somebody for speaking their mind,” Norwood said.
“Shaundric [Mann, an activist] has not been processed, he has not been released, we’ve been here for 12-plus hours and [Mayor Lightfoot] still has said nothing, nothing to the community, nothing to the black organizers who were brutalized. We haven’t heard anything.”
WARNING: The following video contains graphic language that some viewers will find offensive.
.#BlackLivesMatter activist in Chicago: “We have demands and they need to be met … we’re not asking you anything. We’re telling you what’s about to happen with your permission or not. … You can listen to us or you can get ran over.” pic.twitter.com/yEXFT4LOv9 — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) August 22, 2020
“This is our city, our city, and we’re taking this s— back. Point back. Period. End of discussion,” Norwood said.
“We have demands and they need to be met and I feel like I’ve been saying this too much.
“We’re not asking you anything. We’re telling you what’s about to happen with your permission or not,” she added. “You can listen to us or you can get ran over. And that’s all I have to say.”
Yes, well, that’s quite a lot to say.
There’s no evidence Norwood was with Black Lives Matter Chicago, which has gotten itself a whole lot of press lately. It’s rather doubtful that she was — given that had she been, this would have been foregrounded in the Tribune’s article.
Black Lives Chicago has been behind some of the city’s more dubious demonstrations. When they’re not actively behind them, they’re apologizing for them. The week prior to this, the group had organized another protest to free jailed demonstrators, with one leader claiming that looting was reparations.
That’s not me putting an inflammatory conservative spin on it, that’s actually what some Black Lives Matter Chicago members said.
“I don’t care if somebody decides to loot a Gucci or a Macy’s or a Nike, because that makes sure that that person eats. That makes sure that that person has clothes,” said Black Lives Matter Chicago organizer Ariel Atkins told reporters after looters pillaged the city’s Magnificent Mile area the night of Aug. 9 and 10.
“That is reparations. Anything they want to take, take it because these businesses have insurance.”
GoodKids MadCity, an organization named after a Kendrick Lamar album (which actually isn’t too bad), seems to be a bit more legit than that. And yet, here’s one of that group’s most visible organizers saying, “You can listen to us or you can get ran over.”
There are certainly metaphorical connotations you can pin on this, but not necessarily in the middle of a city that’s become a hotspot for some of America’s more violent demonstrations of late. This is inflammatory stuff.
As for their demands, what “protesters” are saying is that people who allegedly committed crimes need to be let out — or, you know, their supporters might commit crimes. They’re not saying that they would. But you know, they’re just saying.
No, police misconduct shouldn’t be tolerated. No, that’s not an excuse for violence. And no, the residents of Chicago don’t have to listen to Norwood’s demands or “get ran over.”
This should be an outrage. Now, it doesn’t even get reported on by the Chicago Tribune.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--Comatose Russian Opposition Leader Arrives in Germany After Suspected Poisoning

Following lengthy delays , a comatose Russian dissident has arrived in Germany to receive treatment for a mysterious medical emergency .
According to The Associated Press , Alexei Navalny landed early Saturday morning in Berlin after being released from an intensive care unit in the Siberian city of Omsk , where he was admitted the previous day because of a suspected poisoning .
The 44-year-old politician and anti-corruption activist , a prominent voice against longstanding Russian President Vladimir Putin , had been diverted to Omsk after suddenly falling ill on a flight from the neighboring city of Tomsk to Moscow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ morning upon admission to Charité hospital in downtown Berlin .
He is believed to be in better physical health , but no further information was to be provided , with extensive medical tests still ongoing at the time .
“ He survived the flight and he ’ s stable , ” said Jaka Bizilj , chairman of the German non-governmental organization Cinema for Peace , which organized the emergency flight to Berlin .
Efforts to see Navalny moved from Omsk to Berlin were highly contentious .
The medical aircraft initially sent by Cinema @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in Russia early Friday morning , according to previous reports from the AP , but ICU physicians responsible for the dissident ’ s care were unwilling to clear his departure , suggesting he was too unstable to fly .
When German physicians aboard the aerial ambulance publicly indicated their third-party assessment had proved Navalny fit for transport , however , Russian medical professionals relented , having already set back the transfer by roughly a day .
Even before the second medical opinion , supporters and members of Navalny ’ s family dismissed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Those close to Navalny believe his mysterious deterioration was the result of a politically motivated assassination attempt carried out by the Kremlin .
The delays , they alleged , had been pursued in an attempt to cover up the operation by providing enough time for any residual poison to become untraceable in the dissident ’ s system .
RELATED : Kamala Harris Reportedly Pranked Into Accepting Fake Dirt on Trump by Russians Posing as Greta Thunberg According to Reuters , Russian physicians already have ruled out poison as a cause for the incident @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Murakhovksy reporting first that Navalny ’ s clothes and hands had tested positive for traces of several strange industrial chemicals and later that he had been diagnosed with a metabolic disease potentially caused by low blood sugar .
Western toxicology experts , however , found suspect the speedy dismissal of poison as a potential factor in the dissident ’ s decline .
“ It takes a while to rule things out .
And particularly if something is highly toxic — it will be there in very low concentrations , and many screening tests @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” University of Leeds medical school professor Alastair Hay said .
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov categorically denied allegations regarding an assassination plot against Navalny .
This isn ’ t the first time this century that such allegations have been leveled against the Kremlin , with the AP reporting numerous potential assassination attempts carried out against activists , spies , journalists and politicians opposed to the Putin administration .
Navalny , a prominent anti-corruption investigator , protest organizer and galvanizing figure in the Putin-opposed Progress Party , certainly fits the profile of a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s cross-hairs .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Following lengthy delays, a comatose Russian dissident has arrived in Germany to receive treatment for a mysterious medical emergency.
According to The Associated Press, Alexei Navalny landed early Saturday morning in Berlin after being released from an intensive care unit in the Siberian city of Omsk, where he was admitted the previous day because of a suspected poisoning.
The 44-year-old politician and anti-corruption activist, a prominent voice against longstanding Russian President Vladimir Putin, had been diverted to Omsk after suddenly falling ill on a flight from the neighboring city of Tomsk to Moscow.
Navalny reportedly was still comatose Saturday morning upon admission to Charité hospital in downtown Berlin. He is believed to be in better physical health, but no further information was to be provided, with extensive medical tests still ongoing at the time.
“He survived the flight and he’s stable,” said Jaka Bizilj, chairman of the German non-governmental organization Cinema for Peace, which organized the emergency flight to Berlin.
Navalny was just put on the plane https://t.co/chCsCbMWnW — Nikita Kulachenkov (@nekulachenkov) August 22, 2020
The air ambulance waiting for Navalny has been sitting on the tarmac in Omsk for 17 HOURS. He’d already be in Berlin getting world-class care, if the Russian docs cut the shit. https://t.co/WHP5f765kL — Kevin Rothrock (@KevinRothrock) August 21, 2020
Efforts to see Navalny moved from Omsk to Berlin were highly contentious.
Is Navalny the victim of an assassination plot carried out by Putin's Kremlin? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 90% (26 Votes) No: 10% (3 Votes)
The medical aircraft initially sent by Cinema for Peace to deliver Navalny had arrived in Russia early Friday morning, according to previous reports from the AP, but ICU physicians responsible for the dissident’s care were unwilling to clear his departure, suggesting he was too unstable to fly.
When German physicians aboard the aerial ambulance publicly indicated their third-party assessment had proved Navalny fit for transport, however, Russian medical professionals relented, having already set back the transfer by roughly a day.
Even before the second medical opinion, supporters and members of Navalny’s family dismissed the official position of Russian medical personnel.
Those close to Navalny believe his mysterious deterioration was the result of a politically motivated assassination attempt carried out by the Kremlin. The delays, they alleged, had been pursued in an attempt to cover up the operation by providing enough time for any residual poison to become untraceable in the dissident’s system.
According to Reuters, Russian physicians already have ruled out poison as a cause for the incident, with Omsk hospital head doctor Alexander Murakhovksy reporting first that Navalny’s clothes and hands had tested positive for traces of several strange industrial chemicals and later that he had been diagnosed with a metabolic disease potentially caused by low blood sugar.
Western toxicology experts, however, found suspect the speedy dismissal of poison as a potential factor in the dissident’s decline.
“It takes a while to rule things out. And particularly if something is highly toxic — it will be there in very low concentrations, and many screening tests would just not pick that substance up,” University of Leeds medical school professor Alastair Hay said.
Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny being rushed to an ambulance after the plane he was on made an emergency landing in Omsk. from @varlamov pic.twitter.com/reIxfRcylJ — Julia Ioffe (@juliaioffe) August 19, 2020
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov categorically denied allegations regarding an assassination plot against Navalny.
This isn’t the first time this century that such allegations have been leveled against the Kremlin, with the AP reporting numerous potential assassination attempts carried out against activists, spies, journalists and politicians opposed to the Putin administration.
Navalny, a prominent anti-corruption investigator, protest organizer and galvanizing figure in the Putin-opposed Progress Party, certainly fits the profile of a man likely to fall in the Kremlin’s cross-hairs.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--Virginia Health Commissioner: If COVID Vaccine Comes, I Will Make It Mandatory

Most Americans haven ’ t heard of the Supreme Court case Jacobson v. Massachusetts .
They ’ re about to .
There ’ s no vaccine for the novel coronavirus yet — but Heaven willing , there will be , and soon .
The problem is that a potential vaccine is likely to be controversial , and not just because of anti-vaxxers or people who harbor curious opinions about the motives of Bill and Melinda Gates .
While most vaccines are developed and tested over a period of years , this one is being rushed out to be available as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ going to lead to the belief — not unfounded — that there might be health risks associated with it that we don ’ t know about yet .
There ’ s also going to be questions about its efficacy , particularly since the vaccine almost certainly won ’ t be anywhere near 100 percent effective .
This isn ’ t to say you shouldn ’ t receive a coronavirus vaccine .
Barring serious concerns , this writer will certainly be getting one .
However , he also understands why people wouldn ’ t @ @ @ @ @ @ @ forcing people to get it is a bad idea , particularly when you consider the implications if something goes wrong .
Virginia Commissioner of Health Dr. Norman Oliver isn ’ t necessarily a believer in that philosophy .
He thinks a COVID-19 vaccine should be mandatory for residents of the Old Dominion .
“ It [ the coronavirus ] is killing people now , we don ’ t have a treatment for it and if we develop a vaccine that can prevent it from spreading in the community we will save hundreds and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ told WRIC-TV .
“ Virginia state law gives the Commissioner of Health the authority to mandate immediate immunizations during a public health crisis if a vaccine is available , ” the Richmond , Virginia , ABC affiliate reported Friday .
“ Health officials say an immunization could be available as early as 2021.
” Given that there aren ’ t elections in Virginia until November of 2021 , that means if you ’ re in Virginia , you ’ ll either be vaccinated or face a penalty .
And if you think this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court — well , it already has .
In 1905 .
In 1902 , the state of Massachusetts was experiencing a smallpox epidemic .
The city of Cambridge , under a state law allowing localities to mandate vaccinations , required all residents to receive inoculations against the disease .
Henning Jacobson , a Cambridge minister , refused the order .
According to Jacobson v. Massachusetts — the case that bears his name — he “ refused to submit to vaccination for the reason that he had , ‘ when a child @ @ @ @ @ @ @ suffering for a long period by a disease produced by vaccination , and that he had witnessed a similar result of vaccination not only in the case of his son , but in the cases of others.
” Writing for the high court ’ s 7-2 ruling , Justice John Marshall Harlan wrote that “ as to an adult residing in the community , and a fit subject of vaccination , the statute is not invalid as in derogation of any of the rights of such person under the Fourteenth Amendment.
” “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ people of Massachusetts are , in the first instance , for that Commonwealth to guard and protect , ” Harlan wrote .
“ They are matters that do not ordinarily concern the National Government , ” his decision continued .
“ So far as they can be reached by any government , they depend , primarily , upon such action as the State in its wisdom may take , and we do not perceive that this legislation has invaded any right secured by the Federal Constitution.
” RELATED : Should the Gov't Be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Prof Thinks So That case only upheld a $ 5 fine for Jacobson .
However , in a 1922 case , the court found the precedent had a wider application .
Writing for a unanimous court in Zucht v. King , a case involving a law that mandated children must be vaccinated before attending public school , Justice Louis Brandeis wrote that Jacobson “ settled that it is within the police power of a state to provide for compulsory vaccination ” and “ also settled that a state may , consistently with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ authority to determine under what conditions health regulations shall become operative.
” In short , it ’ s pretty much established case law that the government can force you to get a vaccination or impose a significant penalty on you .
The problem comes in when you consider how misinformed the Virginia commissioner of health is when it comes to how easy this will all be .
For instance , at the moment , the Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill that would allow a religious exemption to any compulsory vaccination , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Oliver says he strongly opposes the bill , ” WRIC reported .
“ He doesn ’ t know what the punishment would be for non-compliance but expects that most people will respond well to the mandate.
” I understand Virginia ’ s commissioner of health probably has quite a bit of COVID-19 reading material to slog through , but he ought to read polls occasionally .
On Aug. 7 , Gallup published the results of an online tracking survey conducted among 7,632 respondents between July 20 and Aug. 2 regarding what percentage of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a vaccine for the coronavirus .
Only 65 percent said they would .
What ’ s news , however , isn ’ t how low that number is .
It ’ s how high it is in relation to other surveys .
Consider a Yahoo News/YouGov survey administered online during the same period .
It ’ s somewhat more limited in scope , consisting of 1,506 adults surveyed between July 28 and 30 .
However , it still found only 42 percent would get the vaccine .
And this isn ’ t just @ @ @ @ @ @ @ think , truculent Americans who refuse to wear masks .
Consider Dr. Natalie Dean , assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida .
In an opinion piece for The New York Times , she wrote that signing on to take a vaccine before it was available was foolish .
“ I ’ m a vaccine researcher , and even I would place myself in the ‘ not sure ’ bucket , ” she wrote in the Aug. 3 piece .
“ What we have right now is a collection of animal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ data based on early trials and from similar vaccines for other diseases .
The evidence that would convince me to get a Covid-19 vaccine , or to recommend that my loved ones get vaccinated , does not yet exist.
” But people will respond well to this , right ?
This may be legally and constitutionally sound .
Whether it ’ s morally sound is a different question .
And this won ’ t stay hypothetical for long .
When a vaccine comes along , Dr. Oliver and the state of Virginia are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine is going to require an awfully big stick to get people to take it , much bigger than he or anyone else probably imagined .
When that happens , we ’ re going to find out exactly the kind of divisive , unenforceable hell Dr. Oliver has signed Virginia up for .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Most Americans haven’t heard of the Supreme Court case Jacobson v. Massachusetts. They’re about to.
There’s no vaccine for the novel coronavirus yet — but Heaven willing, there will be, and soon. The problem is that a potential vaccine is likely to be controversial, and not just because of anti-vaxxers or people who harbor curious opinions about the motives of Bill and Melinda Gates.
While most vaccines are developed and tested over a period of years, this one is being rushed out to be available as soon as possible. That’s going to lead to the belief — not unfounded — that there might be health risks associated with it that we don’t know about yet. There’s also going to be questions about its efficacy, particularly since the vaccine almost certainly won’t be anywhere near 100 percent effective.
This isn’t to say you shouldn’t receive a coronavirus vaccine. Barring serious concerns, this writer will certainly be getting one. However, he also understands why people wouldn’t get it — and why the government forcing people to get it is a bad idea, particularly when you consider the implications if something goes wrong.
Virginia Commissioner of Health Dr. Norman Oliver isn’t necessarily a believer in that philosophy. He thinks a COVID-19 vaccine should be mandatory for residents of the Old Dominion.
“It [the coronavirus] is killing people now, we don’t have a treatment for it and if we develop a vaccine that can prevent it from spreading in the community we will save hundreds and hundreds of lives,” Dr. Oliver told WRIC-TV.
“Virginia state law gives the Commissioner of Health the authority to mandate immediate immunizations during a public health crisis if a vaccine is available,” the Richmond, Virginia, ABC affiliate reported Friday. “Health officials say an immunization could be available as early as 2021.”
Given that there aren’t elections in Virginia until November of 2021, that means if you’re in Virginia, you’ll either be vaccinated or face a penalty. And if you think this is something that’ll go to the Supreme Court — well, it already has. In 1905.
In 1902, the state of Massachusetts was experiencing a smallpox epidemic. The city of Cambridge, under a state law allowing localities to mandate vaccinations, required all residents to receive inoculations against the disease.
Should a COVID-19 vaccine be mandatory? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 3% (29 Votes) No: 97% (897 Votes)
Henning Jacobson, a Cambridge minister, refused the order. According to Jacobson v. Massachusetts — the case that bears his name — he “refused to submit to vaccination for the reason that he had, ‘when a child,’ been caused great and extreme suffering for a long period by a disease produced by vaccination, and that he had witnessed a similar result of vaccination not only in the case of his son, but in the cases of others.”
Writing for the high court’s 7-2 ruling, Justice John Marshall Harlan wrote that “as to an adult residing in the community, and a fit subject of vaccination, the statute is not invalid as in derogation of any of the rights of such person under the Fourteenth Amendment.”
“The safety and the health of the people of Massachusetts are, in the first instance, for that Commonwealth to guard and protect,” Harlan wrote.
“They are matters that do not ordinarily concern the National Government,” his decision continued. “So far as they can be reached by any government, they depend, primarily, upon such action as the State in its wisdom may take, and we do not perceive that this legislation has invaded any right secured by the Federal Constitution.”
(It’s worth noting that Harlan was no slouch when it came to civil liberties. He’s probably best remembered for being the sole dissenter in the high court’s notorious Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896, which established the “separate but equal” doctrine that formed the backbone of Jim Crow segregation in the South until the Brown v. Board of Education overturned it in 1954.)
That case only upheld a $5 fine for Jacobson. However, in a 1922 case, the court found the precedent had a wider application.
Writing for a unanimous court in Zucht v. King, a case involving a law that mandated children must be vaccinated before attending public school, Justice Louis Brandeis wrote that Jacobson “settled that it is within the police power of a state to provide for compulsory vaccination” and “also settled that a state may, consistently with the federal Constitution, delegate to a municipality authority to determine under what conditions health regulations shall become operative.”
In short, it’s pretty much established case law that the government can force you to get a vaccination or impose a significant penalty on you. The problem comes in when you consider how misinformed the Virginia commissioner of health is when it comes to how easy this will all be.
For instance, at the moment, the Virginia General Assembly is considering a bill that would allow a religious exemption to any compulsory vaccination, but there are no guarantees.
“Oliver says he strongly opposes the bill,” WRIC reported. “He doesn’t know what the punishment would be for non-compliance but expects that most people will respond well to the mandate.”
I understand Virginia’s commissioner of health probably has quite a bit of COVID-19 reading material to slog through, but he ought to read polls occasionally.
On Aug. 7, Gallup published the results of an online tracking survey conducted among 7,632 respondents between July 20 and Aug. 2 regarding what percentage of American adults would be willing to receive a vaccine for the coronavirus. Only 65 percent said they would.
What’s news, however, isn’t how low that number is. It’s how high it is in relation to other surveys.
Consider a Yahoo News/YouGov survey administered online during the same period. It’s somewhat more limited in scope, consisting of 1,506 adults surveyed between July 28 and 30. However, it still found only 42 percent would get the vaccine.
And this isn’t just a matter of, as liberals might think, truculent Americans who refuse to wear masks. Consider Dr. Natalie Dean, assistant professor of biostatistics at the University of Florida. In an opinion piece for The New York Times, she wrote that signing on to take a vaccine before it was available was foolish.
“I’m a vaccine researcher, and even I would place myself in the ‘not sure’ bucket,” she wrote in the Aug. 3 piece.
“What we have right now is a collection of animal data, immune response data and safety data based on early trials and from similar vaccines for other diseases. The evidence that would convince me to get a Covid-19 vaccine, or to recommend that my loved ones get vaccinated, does not yet exist.”
But people will respond well to this, right?
This may be legally and constitutionally sound. Whether it’s morally sound is a different question. And this won’t stay hypothetical for long.
When a vaccine comes along, Dr. Oliver and the state of Virginia are going to discover the carrot of the vaccine is going to require an awfully big stick to get people to take it, much bigger than he or anyone else probably imagined.
When that happens, we’re going to find out exactly the kind of divisive, unenforceable hell Dr. Oliver has signed Virginia up for.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-23--Bill de Blasio Still Has No Plans To Allow Indoor Dining in NYC

Anyone dreaming of eating inside a New York City restaurant is doing just that , according to Democratic NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio .
DeBlasio was asked about reopening restaurants for in-person dining during a Friday appearance on the “ Ask the Mayor ” segment of the WNYC program “ The Brian Lehrer Show.
” “ Indoor dining , there ’ s not a plan right now .
There ’ s not a context for indoor dining , ” de Blasio said .
“ We ’ re never saying it ’ s impossible , but we do not — based @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the world — we do not have a plan for reopening indoor dining in the near term.
” The mayor claimed New York City is learning from the experiences of other places .
“ In fact , the example that Dr. Jay Varma , my senior health adviser , gave to the media this week : Hong Kong started to have a resurgence directly related to indoor dining and bars and had to close them down .
We know what a unfortunate nexus they ’ ve been for resurgences .
We ’ ve @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , ” he said .
“ We ’ re just not doing it now .
We ’ ll keep looking , but we ’ re not doing it now .
We ’ re going to focus on outdoor and obviously take-out delivery .
Those options will keep going , but not now for indoor , ” the mayor said .
“ Despite the fact that the city exceeds and sustains the metrics that have allowed restaurants throughout the rest of the state to reopen , government leaders have still yet to provide any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and customers can expect indoor dining to return , ” Andrew Rigie , executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance , said in a statement .
“ Our industry ’ s survival over the next several months depends on government immediately developing and implementing a plan that allows restaurants in New York City to safely reopen indoors like our counterparts everywhere else in the state.
” RELATED : NYC Crime Update : 49 People Shot in 72-Hour Period , 8 Shot in Same Period Last Year De Blasio later said he “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” about reopening restaurants “ constantly.
” “ Please , anyone who feels this and cares about the health and safety of New Yorkers , and obviously we do care about the huge number of people that work in the restaurant industry .
I want them back to work .
That ’ s why , look , we moved outdoor dining , [ it ] had never been done before .
We ’ ve gotten almost 100,000 people back to work , ” he said .
“ We ’ re going to do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s what we could do and that ’ s been safe , but indoor dining — look , right now , at what ’ s happening in Hong Kong .
Look , right now , what ’ s happening in Europe .
Unfortunately , it ’ s proof positive that a lot of the problem comes from going back to the normal reality we knew with indoor dining .
“ I wish it wasn ’ t true .
It just is true .
In the end , there ’ s a night-and-day reality @ @ @ @ @ @ @ indoor dining.
” De Blasio contrasted the city ’ s push to reopen schools with its hesitancy to reopen restaurants for in-person dining .
“ Schools are something — we are obligated to provide our kids an education , ” he said .
“ And we can ’ t do that effectively without having them have some in-person instruction .
And we do have the context to do it , and we can make sure everyone ’ s wearing a mask , and we have tons of safety precautions that we run as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ We don ’ t control what happens inside a restaurant or bar at every hour.
” De Blasion said the truth is that indoor dining is a risk .
“ We know people don ’ t wear masks in restaurants and bars — by definition , you ’ re eating and drinking , you don ’ t wear a mask , the chance of transmission goes up greatly .
I wish it wasn ’ t true , Brian .
I ’ m not happy about it , but it ’ s just the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the blunt truth , ” he said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

Anyone dreaming of eating inside a New York City restaurant is doing just that, according to Democratic NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio.
DeBlasio was asked about reopening restaurants for in-person dining during a Friday appearance on the “Ask the Mayor” segment of the WNYC program “The Brian Lehrer Show.”
“Indoor dining, there’s not a plan right now. There’s not a context for indoor dining,” de Blasio said.
“We’re never saying it’s impossible, but we do not — based on what we’ve seen around the world — we do not have a plan for reopening indoor dining in the near term.”
The mayor claimed New York City is learning from the experiences of other places.
“In fact, the example that Dr. Jay Varma, my senior health adviser, gave to the media this week: Hong Kong started to have a resurgence directly related to indoor dining and bars and had to close them down. We know what a unfortunate nexus they’ve been for resurgences. We’ve seen it in Europe lately as well,” he said.
“We’re just not doing it now. We’ll keep looking, but we’re not doing it now. We’re going to focus on outdoor and obviously take-out delivery. Those options will keep going, but not now for indoor,” the mayor said.
De Blasio’s remarks drew negative reviews on Twitter:
How many restaurants will go out of business because of this? There is no way they will survive through the winter. https://t.co/o4WXPxkdGn — Dr. David Samadi, MD (@drdavidsamadi) August 21, 2020
De Blasio says NYC won’t reopen gyms before Sept. 2, while indoor dining might not return until there is a coronavirus vaccine https://t.co/6xi0qPw845. @NYCMayor that will never happen!Restaurants will fight you till the end!You will not destroy our businesses!THIS IS AMERICA — OPEN UP JERSEY (@Jcotweets) August 19, 2020
Restaurants, meanwhile, are demanding action.
“Despite the fact that the city exceeds and sustains the metrics that have allowed restaurants throughout the rest of the state to reopen, government leaders have still yet to provide any guidance on when small business owners, workers and customers can expect indoor dining to return,” Andrew Rigie, executive director of the NYC Hospitality Alliance, said in a statement.
“Our industry’s survival over the next several months depends on government immediately developing and implementing a plan that allows restaurants in New York City to safely reopen indoors like our counterparts everywhere else in the state.”
De Blasio later said he “ask[s] the health experts” about reopening restaurants “constantly.”
Do you think it's time for de Blasio to allow restaurants to reopen for in-person dining? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (134 Votes) No: 1% (1 Votes)
“Please, anyone who feels this and cares about the health and safety of New Yorkers, and obviously we do care about the huge number of people that work in the restaurant industry. I want them back to work. That’s why, look, we moved outdoor dining, [it] had never been done before. We’ve gotten almost 100,000 people back to work,” he said.
“We’re going to do it again next year. That’s what we could do and that’s been safe, but indoor dining — look, right now, at what’s happening in Hong Kong. Look, right now, what’s happening in Europe. Unfortunately, it’s proof positive that a lot of the problem comes from going back to the normal reality we knew with indoor dining.
“I wish it wasn’t true. It just is true. In the end, there’s a night-and-day reality between, say, a school and indoor dining.”
De Blasio contrasted the city’s push to reopen schools with its hesitancy to reopen restaurants for in-person dining.
“Schools are something — we are obligated to provide our kids an education,” he said. “And we can’t do that effectively without having them have some in-person instruction. And we do have the context to do it, and we can make sure everyone’s wearing a mask, and we have tons of safety precautions that we run as the public sector and we control. We don’t control what happens inside a restaurant or bar at every hour.”
De Blasion said the truth is that indoor dining is a risk.
“We know people don’t wear masks in restaurants and bars — by definition, you’re eating and drinking, you don’t wear a mask, the chance of transmission goes up greatly. I wish it wasn’t true, Brian. I’m not happy about it, but it’s just the truth, and New Yorkers actually prefer the blunt truth,” he said.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-22--2 Bodies Recovered in Coast Guard Search After Explosion in Texas Port

The bodies of two missing crew members of a dredging boat were found Saturday following an explosion a day earlier in the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas , according to the U.S. Coast Guard .
Two other crew members of the dredging vessel Waymon L Boyd remain missing , the Coast Guard said in a news release .
A Coast Guard helicopter and boats were searching for the missing crew members .
The explosion happened at about 8 a.m. Friday when the dredging vessel struck a submerged pipeline , Coast Guard Lt. Marina Lawrence said .
The Port of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ natural gas pipeline .
“ Our thoughts and prayers go out to the impacted crewmen and their families , ” Sean Strawbridge , CEO of Port of Corpus Christi , said in a statement .
“ A full investigation is underway ; however , search and rescue efforts are our first priority .
It will not be clear for some time the cause of this accident , and any definitive statements to the contrary would be premature , ” Strawbridge said .
The Waymon L Boyd is owned by Houston-based marine construction contractor @ @ @ @ @ @ @ appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and other responders in their efforts to recover our missing crewmen , ” Orion CEO Mark Stauffer said in the statement .
The fire onboard the vessel was extinguished at approximately 10 p.m. Friday after the vessel broke apart and sunk , the Coast Guard said .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The bodies of two missing crew members of a dredging boat were found Saturday following an explosion a day earlier in the Port of Corpus Christi in Texas, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
Two other crew members of the dredging vessel Waymon L Boyd remain missing, the Coast Guard said in a news release.
A Coast Guard helicopter and boats were searching for the missing crew members.
The explosion happened at about 8 a.m. Friday when the dredging vessel struck a submerged pipeline, Coast Guard Lt. Marina Lawrence said. The Port of Corpus Christi has said it was a natural gas pipeline.
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the impacted crewmen and their families,” Sean Strawbridge, CEO of Port of Corpus Christi, said in a statement.
“A full investigation is underway; however, search and rescue efforts are our first priority. It will not be clear for some time the cause of this accident, and any definitive statements to the contrary would be premature,” Strawbridge said.
The Waymon L Boyd is owned by Houston-based marine construction contractor Orion Marine Group.
“We greatly appreciate the efforts of the U.S. Coast Guard and other responders in their efforts to recover our missing crewmen,” Orion CEO Mark Stauffer said in the statement.
The fire onboard the vessel was extinguished at approximately 10 p.m. Friday after the vessel broke apart and sunk, the Coast Guard said.
[jwplayer whcR9f3t]
The Western Journal has reviewed this Associated Press story and may have altered it prior to publication to ensure that it meets our editorial standards.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.


westernjournal--2020-08-25--St. Louis Gun Couple Warns What Happened to Them Coming Soon to Americans Everywhere

The St. Louis couple who held off a mob of Black Lives Matter protesters by brandishing their legally owned firearms warned Americans during Night One of the Republican National Convention that families “ will not be safe in the radical Democrats ’ America.
” Mark and Patricia McCloskey became controversial figures in June after video footage showed them holding their weapons as a crowd of protesters that was headed toward the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson ended up in front of the couple ’ s house .
The McCloskeys later had their home searched by police , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ was seen holding in the video was confiscated .
Patricia McCloskey ’ s pistol was eventually turned over to police as well .
The husband and wife have each been charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon by St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner ’ s office .
TRENDING : School District Under Fire for Asking Parents To Vow Not To Sit In on Children 's Online Learning In a video that aired Monday during the Republican National Convention , the McCloskeys said Democrats care about protecting criminals from law-abiding citizens , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ What you saw happen to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighborhoods around this country , ” Patricia McCloskey said .
“ Whether it ’ s the defunding of police , ending cash bail so criminals can be released back out on the streets the same day to riot again , or encouraging anarchy and chaos in our streets , it seems as if the Democrats no longer view the government ’ s job as protecting honest citizens from criminals , but rather protecting @ @ @ @ @ @ @ husband added .
“ Not a single person in the out-of-control mob you saw at our house was charged with a crime .
But you know who was ?
We were.
” If Democrats ’ policy goals come to fruition , then expect trouble ahead , according to the couple .
“ They ’ re not satisfied with spreading the chaos and violence into our communities .
They want to abolish the suburbs altogether by ending single-family home zoning , ” Patricia McCloskey said .
“ This forced rezoning would bring crime , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ neighborhoods .
President Trump smartly ended this government overreach , but Joe Biden wants to bring it back .
“ These are the policies that are coming to a neighborhood near you , ” she added .
“ So make no mistake : No matter where you live , your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats ’ America.
” The McCloskeys ’ case took a bizarre twist last month as a report claimed that a prosecutor tampered with Patricia McCloskey ’ s gun so that it would work .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it at protesters , the couple has argued .
But according to KSDK-TV , which cited a crime lab document , a member of Gardner ’ s staff ordered it to be stripped down .
The gun was then reassembled by crime lab workers so it would work , the document said .
Under Missouri law , in order for a person to face a charge of felony unlawful use of a weapon , the gun would need to be readily operable .
“ It ’ s disheartening to learn that a law @ @ @ @ @ @ @ prosecute an innocent member of the community , ” an attorney for the couple told KSDK .
Meanwhile , GOP Missouri Gov .
Mike Parson has said he will strongly consider a pardon if the couple is convicted .
We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism .
Read our editorial standards .

The St. Louis couple who held off a mob of Black Lives Matter protesters by brandishing their legally owned firearms warned Americans during Night One of the Republican National Convention that families “will not be safe in the radical Democrats’ America.”
Mark and Patricia McCloskey became controversial figures in June after video footage showed them holding their weapons as a crowd of protesters that was headed toward the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson ended up in front of the couple’s house.
The McCloskeys later had their home searched by police, at which point the AR-15 that Mark McCloskey was seen holding in the video was confiscated.
Patricia McCloskey’s pistol was eventually turned over to police as well.
The husband and wife have each been charged with felony unlawful use of a weapon by St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner’s office.
In a video that aired Monday during the Republican National Convention, the McCloskeys said Democrats care about protecting criminals from law-abiding citizens, not the other way around.
“What you saw happen to us could just as easily happen to any of you who are watching from quiet neighborhoods around our country,” Patricia McCloskey said.
“Whether it’s the defunding of police, ending cash bail so criminals can be released back out on the streets the same day to riot again, or encouraging anarchy and chaos in our streets, it seems as if the Democrats no longer view the government’s job as protecting honest citizens from criminals, but rather protecting criminals from honest citizens,” her husband added.
“Not a single person in the out-of-control mob you saw at our house was charged with a crime. But you know who was? We were.”
Do you think the McCloskeys were the target of a witch hunt perpetrated by liberals? Yes No
Completing this poll entitles you to The Western Journal news updates free of charge. You may opt out at anytime. You also agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use Yes: 99% (4111 Votes) No: 1% (38 Votes)
If Democrats’ policy goals come to fruition, then expect trouble ahead, according to the couple.
“They’re not satisfied with spreading the chaos and violence into our communities. They want to abolish the suburbs altogether by ending single-family home zoning,” Patricia McCloskey said.
“This forced rezoning would bring crime, lawlessness and low-quality apartments into now-thriving suburban neighborhoods. President Trump smartly ended this government overreach, but Joe Biden wants to bring it back.
“These are the policies that are coming to a neighborhood near you,” she added.
“So make no mistake: No matter where you live, your family will not be safe in the radical Democrats’ America.”
The McCloskeys’ case took a bizarre twist last month as a report claimed that a prosecutor tampered with Patricia McCloskey’s gun so that it would work.
The pistol was actually inoperable when she pointed it at protesters, the couple has argued.
But according to KSDK-TV, which cited a crime lab document, a member of Gardner’s staff ordered it to be stripped down.
The gun was then reassembled by crime lab workers so it would work, the document said.
Under Missouri law, in order for a person to face a charge of felony unlawful use of a weapon, the gun would need to be readily operable.
“It’s disheartening to learn that a law enforcement agency altered evidence in order to prosecute an innocent member of the community,” an attorney for the couple told KSDK.
Meanwhile, GOP Missouri Gov. Mike Parson has said he will strongly consider a pardon if the couple is convicted.
Truth and Accuracy Submit a Correction → * Name
* Email
* Message
* All fields are required. Success! We are committed to truth and accuracy in all of our journalism. Read our editorial standards.