theblaze--2020-09-28--Coalition of black pastors rips Kamala Harris for celebrating 'brilliance' of Black Lives Matter fou

Coalition of black pastors rips Kamala Harris for celebrating 'brilliance' of Black Lives Matter founders

Coalition of black pastors rips Kamala Harris for celebrating 'brilliance ' of Black Lives Matter founders 'Disheartening to see a @ @ @ @ @ candidate for vice president give such high praise to a group that is trying to @ @ @ @

A group of black pastors slammed Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (Calif.) on Friday for praising the so-called "brilliance" of the Black Lives Matter founders, the Christian Post reported.
What happened?
During an interview with CNN commentator Angela Rye for the NAACP's Fall Leadership Conference, Harris lauded the "brilliance" of Black Lives Matter co-founders Patrisse Cullors, Alicia Garza, and Opal Tometi, the Post said.
Praising the co-founders' "brilliance in conceiving [BLM]," Harris told Rye that one day people would see BLM as "an inflection point in the ongoing fight for justice ... and to reform the criminal justice system."
"I actually believe as a former prosecutor that Black Lives Matter has been the most significant agent for change within the criminal justice system," Harris said, "because it has been a counterforce to the force within the system that is so grounded in status quo and in its own traditions, many of which have been harmful and have been discriminatory in the way that they have been enforced."
She went on to describe the BLM protests — many of which have become violent — "as an essential component of evolution in our country" and "as essential component or mark of a real democracy" and "as necessary — the people's voices must be heard."
Why? Because "nothing that we have achieved that has been about progress in our country has come without a fight," she said.
The Conservative Clergy of Color, a group of black pastors, took serious issue with Harris' praise for the Black Lives Matter movement and its founders.
What did the coalition say?
In a statement to the Post, the coalition's co-founder Bishop Aubrey Shines said BLM is not an organization Harris should be commending in any way.
"It's extremely disheartening to see a U.S. Senator and a candidate for vice president give such high praise to a group that is trying to destroy our country," Shines told the Post.
"Does Sen. Harris not watch the news? Has she not seen the businesses burning, the livelihoods that have been wrecked by this organization?" the pastor asked. "People are terrified, but we have to praise the organizers because it's the cool thing to do."
Shines went on to point out that BLM has recently tried to scrub much of its more insidious agenda from its public face. As TheBlaze reported last week, the group was caught removing anti-nuclear family and "cisgender privilege" content from is statement of beliefs.
"Until recently these people made no secret about their agenda. They were loud and proud about their anti-American goals until the violence they've instigated started affecting their favorability," Shines continued in the statement to the Post. "The only 'brilliant' thing I can see is how quickly BLM's website operators scrubbed their agenda to be more appealing. This is not a group that needs to be praised. More Americans are beginning to see that, and I hope Sen. Harris will too."


theblaze--2020-09-28--Florida schools reopened and there was no surge in coronavirus cases, new analysis shows

Florida schools reopened and there was no surge in coronavirus cases , new analysis shows The latest data shows good @ @ @ @ @

New analysis of coronavirus cases in Florida finds that reopening schools with in-person instruction did not lead to a surge of virus infections among school-age children, as many feared.
According to USA Today, Florida's positive case count among children ages 5 to 17 actually declined through late September after peaking in July. In counties where the coronavirus cases are surging, it's college-age adults, not kids, who are reporting more positive infections.
Health experts told USA Today that these early results show social distancing efforts and mask wearing has been effective in slowing the spread of the coronavirus in Florida.
"Many of the schools that have been able to successfully open have also been implementing control measures that are an important part of managing spread in these schools," said Dr. Nathaniel Beers, who serves on the American Academy of Pediatrics' Council on School Health.
While the data is good news, the analysis also found that the rate of decline in coronavirus cases slowed in areas where schools reopened. "That might mean cases have plateaued and schools have not fueled new, large outbreaks. Or it might mean those counties are at the bottom of a U and could soon turn upward again," USA Today reports.
"It's one of those things where it's not a problem until there is a problem," said Dr. Katherine Auger, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine.
Because there is still a risk of viral infection, the experts who spoke to USA Today warned against reading the data and concluding that all schools should reopen or that safety measures should be abandoned.
In July, Florida state officials ordered schools to open full-time beginning in August. While other states reopened school districts with virtual learning plans, Florida mandated that public schools offer face-to-face instruction. The decision was attacked by the state teachers union, which criticized Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and the state Education Commissioner Richard Corcoran for introducing, in their words, "a reopening plan that could expose students, teachers, or their families to illness, hospitalization, or death."
According to state education officials, more than half of Florida families elected to return their children to school in-person, with the rest opting for remote learning. Now, with no surge in coronavirus cases materializing, more parents are requesting to send their children back to school.
A spokesperson for the Health Department of Martin County told USA today there is little evidence of in-classroom transmission within that county's school district. Cases "are leveling off, and the trends are going in the right direction, (and) the preventive measures adopted by the school district community have been an essential part in stopping the spread of the virus," the spokesperson said.
Counties with college campuses, however, are showing increased rates of infection primarily among 18- to 25-year-olds.
From USA Today:
Two counties – Alachua, with the University of Florida, and Leon, with Florida State University and Florida A&M – set records for cases in September. The number of young adult cases are rising even in counties without large campuses, the USA TODAY analysis found.
Many factors probably influence the contrast between college- and school-age cases, experts said.
When children go to school, they're often in one classroom and under close supervision for most of the day. When they return home, many families limit social interactions.
Young adults might attend college classes with strict coronavirus precautions for only a couple of hours each day. The rest of the time, people in that age group tend to socialize with a broad group of people and work service jobs where they interact with dozens of strangers in a single shift.
One of the challenges facing Florida schools is mandated quarantine for students who've come into contact with adults who tested positive for COVID-19.
According to Assistant Superintendent David Harris of Bradford County, 43 students and 40 teachers tested positive for the virus since classes resumed at the end of August. As a result, 640 students were sent home to isolate and have been unable to attend class.
"Very, very few – less than five – of the kids who were quarantined tested positive," Harris said. "We're sending a lot of kids out of school for 14 days that don't need to be. That's our biggest issue. That's a huge problem. ...They're falling behind."
If cases continue to drop, some schools plan to ease safety precautions.
"Our positivity rates are declining, and if we can maintain and hold lower positivity rates, it is very possible that we could revise recommendations," Kristine Hollingsworth, a spokeswoman for the Health Department in Collier County in southwest Florida, told USA Today.
Some parents and school officials in Florida are still trepidatious about fully returning children to school. Health experts are hopeful that as more data emerges about coronavirus transmission and infection, policy makers will be able to make better-informed decisions about returning to school safely.


theblaze--2020-09-28--Steven Crowder to hold Michigan rally demanding answers from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on virus deaths i

Steven Crowder to hold Michigan rally demanding answers from Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on virus deaths in nursing homes

Steven Crowder to hold Michigan rally demanding answers from Gov .
Gretchen Whitmer on virus deaths in nursing homes The @ @ @ @ @ at the state Capitol

BlazeTV host Steven Crowder will host a rally in Michigan to demand answers from the state government on how many lives COVID-19 claimed in senior care facilities.
Crowder announced Monday that the first 1,000 people to attend his rally at noon ET Friday at the Michigan state Capitol in Lansing will get a "How Many Seniors?" sign. He wants to organize activists to pressure Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) to release data on nursing home deaths during the coronavirus pandemic.
The COVID-19 death toll in all categories of long-term care facilities in Michigan remains a mystery. Although the state has reportedly been collecting data on coronavirus deaths since May 29, Michigan has not reported all of its data as other states have.
At the onset of the pandemic, Whitmer, like New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D), issued an executive order requiring nursing home facilities at less than 80% capacity to take in coronavirus patients. While her policy required infected residents to be housed in separate wings and attended by different staff than healthy residents, state inspections revealed that did not happen.
In June, the state reported that 1,947 nursing home residents and 20 staff members died of COVID-19. Those deaths account for one-third of all virus deaths in Michigan. It is not clear how many of those individuals were quarantined in nursing homes under Whitmer's coronavirus policies.
The Trump administration's Department of Justice has requested nursing home data from four states, including Michigan and New York, as part of an investigation into their nursing home policies and executive orders requiring nursing homes to admit COVID-19 patients into their facilities. The DOJ is seeking reports on the number of people nursing homes in these states admitted from a hospital or other medical facility after testing positive for COVID-19.
The federal government also wants data on the number of residents, employees, and visitors of public nursing homes who contracted the virus, without regard to where they contracted it, and how many of those individuals died.
"Protecting the rights of some of society's most vulnerable members, including elderly nursing home residents, is one of our country's most important obligations," Eric Dreiband, the assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division, said in a statement. "We must ensure they are adequately cared for with dignity and respect and not unnecessarily put at risk."
Whitmer and Cuomo accused the Trump administration of politicizing their policies in a joint statement released in August after the DOJ made its request.
"It is an inarguable fact that the United States has had the worst response to the COVID-19 virus of any nation in the world. Nearly 7 million Americans have tested positive for the virus, and more than 200,000 Americans have been killed by it — both more than any other country. The unprecedented and unacceptable scale of this tragedy is the direct result of President Trump and the federal government's deceit, political self-dealing, and incompetence," they asserted.
"Rather than turning to the advice and direction of public health experts and career public servants, President Trump instead put the health and security of the American people in the hands of political appointees whose first priority was securing the reelection of their benefactor, with predictably tragic results," the governors added.
Crowder's rally will feature new evidence, data, and testimony on nursing home deaths in Michigan, along with public demands that Whitmer release the full data available on these avoidable deaths.


theblaze--2020-09-28--California environmental professor argues 'white supremacy' is the cause of wildfires and hurricanes

California environmental professor argues 'white supremacy ' is the cause of wildfires and hurricanes

An environmental professor at Santa Clarita University in California recently blamed the global "climate crisis" — which he says has resulted in raging wildfires on the West Coast and hurricanes on the East Coast — on none other than "white supremacy."
What are the details?
Ted Grudin, who earned his Ph.D. in environmental science from the University of California-Berkeley, wrote an op-ed in the Earth Island Journal last week titled, "How White Supremacy Caused the Climate Crisis."
In the op-ed, Grudin asserted that "embedded in the theory of racial supremacy is the theory of human supremacy over nature, which has brought environmental calamity upon us."
As Grudin sees it, white supremacy thrives on the "accumulation of wealth and power" of a select few, namely Caucasians, and the "oppression and destruction" of everyone and everything else. White people, he argued, have historically believed that dominance and control are their "natural rights" and have thus sought to "colonize peoples and lands."
Fast-forward hundreds of years, and here's the result: Racism, wildfires, and hurricanes.
Here is a selection from the article:
I write this today from California, a state currently besieged, yet again, by historic fires that are raging across the US West Coast just as other parts of the country also reel from the horrific outgrowths of the climate crisis — including deadly hurricanes on the US East Coast. In other places around the country, innocent people are being gunned down by police — and violent White supremacists — because of the color of their skin, or because they stand against the brutality of racism. How did the world arrive at a place where both nature and humanity suffer so severely, and in such a concurrent manner? And are these seemingly separate issues somehow profoundly linked? Did racism not only fuel horrific violence, but also global warming itself?
The climate crisis was and is fueled by a racial supremacy that has long devalued everything and everyone but the "chosen ones." The hierarchical worldview of White supremacy means that moral value is measured by the profits and powers of that select group, to the detriment of everyone, and everything, else. Colonized peoples and lands are perceived only as tools for the accumulation of wealth and power. Oppression and destruction based on racialized, gendered, and other socially constructed categories are rooted in the idea that dominance and control are the "natural" rights of White people, particularly men.
And what has been the white man's primary means of conquering nature? The fossil fuel industry.
"The climate crisis 'didn't appear out of thin air. Someone did this to us: the fossil fuel industry and the governments that aided and abetted it,'" he wrote, borrowing from climate essayist Mary Heglar.
What else?
Before he was finished, Grudin made sure to take a few swipes at other pillars of Western society: the Bible and private property.
Humanity's biblical creation mandate to subdue the earth and exercise dominion over it (Genesis 1:26-28) has served as a basis for exploitation, he argued. Private property and capitalism, too, have justified man's need to conquer the earth.
All of this led Grudin to conclude that the climate crisis will never be solved so long as white supremacy dominates society.
"To fight the climate crisis, we must dismantle White supremacy and its destructive arrogance towards humanity and nature," he said.
Anything else?
It is not the first time that Grudin has written on this subject. Last year, he published an article on Medium suggesting it is time to "connect the dots" between climate change and systemic oppression.
In the article, Grudin promoted the Green New Deal legislation introduced by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) as a solution to climate problems and a way to "save countless lives."
(H/T: The College Fix)


theblaze--2020-09-28--CNN asks Democratic senator to explain how nomination of Amy Coney Barrett is 'illegal or illegitima

CNN asks Democratic senator to explain how nomination of Amy Coney Barrett is 'illegal or illegitimate.' He can't.

CNN asks Democratic senator to explain how nomination of Amy Coney Barrett is 'illegal or illegitimate . '
He ca @ @ @ @ @ that there 's no actual legal problem with the nomination

Immediately after President Donald Trump announced his selection of Judge Amy Coney Barrett to serve on the Supreme Court, Democratic senators began declaring the nomination "illegitimate."
One of the loudest voices was Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, which will be holding hearings next month on the Barrett nomination.
Blumenthal tweeted minutes after Trump's announcement that the entire process was an "illegitimate sham" and went on to blast Barrett's qualifications.
Blumenthal's Twitter thread rant concluded with the senator saying he would refuse to meet with the nominee — despite decades of Senate tradition of senators of both parties meeting with nominees to the high court — and that he would not "treat the process as legitimate."
Later Saturday, Blumenthal was interviewed on CNN by Wolf Blitzer and was actually confronted over his comments and asked to explain how the nomination was "illegal or illegitimate."
He couldn't give a straight answer.
CNN asked hard questions?
During his CNN interview, Blumenthal repeatedly returned to his claim that the nomination is "illegitimate" and a "sham."
Following Blumenthal's opening diatribe, Blitzer repeatedly asked the senator to explain exactly how the nomination is "illegal or illegitimate," but the lawmaker had no straight answer.
"What are the Republicans doing that is illegal or illegitimate?" Blitzer asked, adding a note that the Constitution delineates exactly how nominations to the court are supposed to go down.
"The Constitution says the president has to nominate Supreme Court justices; the Senate has to advise and consent and confirm," Blitzer continued. "So what is illegal about what the president and the Republicans are doing? You say it's illegitimate."
Blumenthal danced around the question and claimed it is illegitimate because of the timing of the nomination, noting that "the vote on this nominee will occur literally at the end of October, a handful of days before an election."
Blitzer wasn't satisfied with the senator's answer and pressed again.
"Where does it say that's illegitimate in the U.S. Constitution or in the law?" the newsman asked. "Where does it say that what they're doing ... is illegal?"
Blumenthal was forced to admit that nothing the Republicans were doing was "illegal" or "illegitimate" under the Constitution.
But never mind that — the Republicans, he claimed, were violating the "unwritten rules."
"Illegal it may be not under the Constitution," the Connecticut senator stated. "Under the norms and traditions and unwritten rules of the Senate, it is illegitimate."
An admission
Blitzer eventually forced Blumenthal to concede that, indeed, there's nothing illegal or actually illegitimate about the Barrett nomination.
"What I hear you saying, Sen. Blumenthal, it may be inappropriate, it may be wrong — especially so close to an election — but you agree that there's nothing illegal or totally illegitimate as to what they're doing," Blitzer said.
"It may not violate the letter of the Constitution," Blumenthal admitted. "It violates the spirit of the Constitution."


theblaze--2020-09-28--Hero dad shields 3 kids from hail of gunfire at car dealership, sustains gunshot wound. He reportedl

Hero dad shields 3 kids from hail of gunfire at car dealership, sustains gunshot wound. He reportedly loses 2 jobs because he can't currently walk.

Hero dad shields 3 kids from hail of gunfire at car dealership , sustains gunshot wound .
He reportedly loses @ @ @ @ @ n't currently walk .
'They are beyond traumatized '

A 39-year-old New York man reportedly lost his two jobs after he was injured shielding his three young children from gunfire at a Bronx car dealership last week.
What are the details of the shooting?
Anthony Jefferson was sitting on the sofa of a Bronx car dealership on Sept. 21 with his three children — ages six, five, and two — when three unnamed suspects opened fire outside the building.
As the suspects' shots rang out and shattered one of the dealership's windows — which was directly behind Jefferson and his three children — the brave dad shoved his kids off the sofa and onto the floor, as seen in now-viral surveillance video of the incident.
From the floor, Jefferson shielded the young trio with his own body and sustained a gunshot wound in the process.
TMZ reported that Jefferson was shot three times during the incident — once in his right thigh and twice in his boot.
The heroic father was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment following the shooting and was released. His family says he faces an additional surgery to remove the bullet, which is still reportedly lodged in his leg.
Last week, TMZ reported that three suspects were firing at a person inside the dealership, who returned fire. The outlet reported that the three suspects fled the scene on foot and that authorities are still looking for suspects in the shooting.
What about his employment?
Jefferson, who, according to his family, worked two jobs — one as a head painter and one as a construction worker — reportedly lost both jobs after the injuries he sustained in Monday's shooting left him unable to walk.
His wife, Danica, told him that his two employers severed his employment because of his current inability to walk. Serena Wingate, a family friend, set up a GoFundMe page to benefit Johnson and his family during their time of crisis.
Wingate wrote, "On 9/21/20 at approx 7:20 PM, [Jefferson] was inside of 4077 Boston Rd in the Bronx with his three kids shopping for a vehicle to surprise his wife as her birthday gift, when 3 suspects fired multiple shots at a male who then returned fire, striking Anthony Jefferson 3 times, twice in his boot and once in his thigh as he was attempting to shield his 3 kids from the gunfire."
"As he shielded his kids, the 3 suspect's [sic] continued to shoot," Wingate continued. "Due to his injury, Anthony lost his job and has to have surgery to remove the bullet. This Go Fund me is to help this heroic dad with his medical bills and his kids with therapy. They are beyond traumatized."
At the time of this reporting, the GoFundMe page to benefit Jefferson and his family has received more than $281,000 in donations.
Anything else?
Jefferson told WNBC-TV that he was looking for a car for his wife's birthday.
"I was trying to surprise my wife for her birthday," Jefferson told the station.
He said that when he heard the shots, he had only one thing on his mind: "Get my kids and get low, to safety."
"I was just being a father," Jefferson added. "If my arms would have stretched to everyone, I would have made sure I would have gotten them to safety."
Jefferson told the station that his young children are still suffering the devastating effects of the shooting.
"They're traumatized," he said. "My 2-year-old gets up in the middle of the night screaming. It's heartbreaking."


theblaze--2020-09-28--Top Democrat: Hillary Clinton is 'flat-out wrong' for telling Biden not to concede election

Top Democrat : Hillary Clinton is 'flat-out wrong ' for telling Biden not to concede election ' I respect her @ @ @ @ @ but I think she 's just flat-out wrong '

The No. 2 Democratic leader in the U.S. Senate said his party's 2016 presidential nominee Hillary Clinton is "flat-out wrong" for hypocritically encouraging 2020 nominee Vice President Joe Biden to refuse to concede the election against President Donald Trump.
"I disagree with Hillary Clinton," Democratic Minority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) told ABC's George Stephanopoulos in an interview Sunday. "I respect her, I like her, but I think she's just flat-out wrong."
In 2016 Clinton blasted Trump as a "threat to our democracy" after he would not commit to accepting the results of the election. In August 2020, Clinton changed her tune and said Biden should not "concede" the 2020 election "under any circumstances."
"Joe Biden should not concede under any circumstances because I think this is going to drag out, and eventually I do believe he will win if we don't give an inch and if we are as focused and relentless as the other side is," Clinton said in an interview. She claimed Republicans are "looking toward ... messing up absentee balloting" to steal the election.
"We've got to have a massive legal operation — I know the Biden campaign is working on that," she said.
Clinton and other Democrats have repeatedly accused Republicans and President Donald Trump of sowing doubt about the integrity of the U.S. election, pointing to the president's noncommittal comments about a peaceful transition of power. They say Trump's frequent complaints about mail-in ballots suggest he will declare victory if he leads the vote on election night and refuse to leave office if he loses his lead after all the absentee ballots are counted. White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows has dismissed these concerns and said the president will commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses "as long as it is a fair election."
On ABC News, Durbin was asked about Republicans drawing a "moral equivalence" between Clinton's comments on Biden and Trump's comments about mail-in ballots.
"The election itself is going to be announced," Mr. Durbin replied. "The winner will be announced. It will take longer with all the paper ballots that are being cast, but at some point I hope my choice Joe Biden is elected president."
"But if we are going to maintain a democracy, peaceful transition through an election is the only way to do it," he added. "Just look at the streets of Belarus today if you want to see the alternative. We don't need that in America. Whoever the winner is, if it's clear and legal, the other party should concede."


theblaze--2020-09-28--Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill cops in exchange for money while flashing gun in Face

Man arrested for allegedly threatening to kill cops in exchange for money while flashing gun in Facebook video 'Louisville needs @ @ @ @ @ citizens , not armed felons seeking bids to shoot police '

The Department of Justice announced Sunday the arrest of a man officials say threatened to kill police officers in exchange for money in a social media video.
What are the details?
The Justice Department said in a press released it arrested 29-year-old Cortez Lamont Edwards, a resident of Louisville, Kentucky.
Edwards is accused of posting a video to Facebook on Sept. 23 while "in possession of an AR variant pistol including a non-extendible support brace with an extended magazine." Edwards reportedly stated in the video that he would shoot Louisville Metro Police Department officers in exchange for $30,000.
During a search of Edwards' residence, authorities discovered multiple firearms. More from the press release:
On September 27, 2020, Special Agents from the ATF, Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), United States Marshal Service, Federal Protective Service and officers and detectives from the Louisville Metro Police Department executed a search warrant at Edwards' residence without incident. The defendant was located laying on a couch in the living room of his residence. A Glock model 19, 9-millimeter semi-automatic pistol, bearing serial number BPHA723, was located on the couch where Edwards was sleeping at the time of entry into the residence. At the time of entry into the living room, Edwards was the only adult present in that room and there a toddler present in a playpen.
Ultimately, Edwards was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He faces up to 10 years in federal prison if convicted.
"Threats against law enforcement are unacceptable," special agent in charge R. Shawn Morrow of the Louisville Field Division of the ATF said in the DOJ press release.
He added, "When you threaten police and brandish firearms, you can expect the attention of ATF. This morning ATF agents, with the immediate assistance of LMPD, HSI, U.S. Marshals, and the FBI, executed a warrant and arrested an armed felon ensuring he wouldn't carry out those threats."
Anything else?
Edwards' alleged threat came the same day that Louisville was plunged into further chaos after Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron announced the police officer responsible for shooting Breonna Taylor would not be criminally punished for Taylor's untimely death.
Unfortunately, two Louisville police officers were shot after Cameron's announcement. Those officers were expected to make a full recovery, and a suspect was arrested for the shooting.
"Louisville needs healing and safety for its citizens, not armed felons seeking bids to shoot police," U.S. Attorney Russell Coleman said. "Federal law enforcement here will continue to respond as one to swiftly mitigate threats to our city."


theblaze--2020-09-28--37 years ago, the world as we know it almost ended. Here's the story of the unheralded man who saved

37 years ago, the world as we know it almost ended. Here's the story of the unheralded man who saved it.

37 years ago , the world as we know it almost ended .
Here 's the story of the unheralded @ @ @ @ @ The story of the hero who saved the world by ... doing nothing .

Thirty-seven years ago Saturday, an incident occurred that very nearly ended life on earth as we know it. That's not hyperbole or exaggeration; the events of Sept. 26, 1983, actually nearly caused nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union when a faulty Russian detection system erroneously declared that the United States had launched nuclear missiles. Only the gut feeling of a lone Russian military officer saved the world from probable nuclear holocaust.
Many of the details of the story are shrouded in mystery and dispute, as they often are in a paranoid communist government. Communist governments — particularly of the Russian variety — are loath to admit error, particularly of the kind that involves nuclear weapons. Thus, the official explanations and results of the Soviet investigation that followed must be taken with several healthy grains of salt.
As best as can be determined (or frankly, guessed), however, here is what happened on that fateful day in 1983. A freak alignment of sunlight on high-altitude clouds detected by a Russian satellite was interpreted as a nuclear missile launch and triggered an alarm inside a bunker near Moscow, where Lt. Col. Stanislav Petrov of the Soviet Air Defense Forces was on duty. Petrov's orders in this case were clear: He was to immediately notify Yuri Andropov, the paranoid leader of the Soviet Union.
Against the backdrop of world events as they were then unfolding, which included the recent Soviet downing of Korean Airlines Flight 007 (which had a United States congressman on board) and NATO's announced decision to move Pershing II missiles into Western Europe in order to increase first-strike capabilities against the USSR, such a notification would have resulted, almost without doubt, in the USSR launching an immediate retaliatory strike against the United States. United States doctrine, in turn, would have been to respond to such a launch with a retaliatory strike of its own. Who knows how many millions of lives would have been lost in the ensuing destruction?
Fortunately, however, Lt. Col. Petrov was not a man to follow instructions blindly. Years later, Petrov would explain that he did not follow orders and immediately notify superiors because "I had a funny feeling in my gut. I didn't want to make a mistake. I made a decision, and that was it." Petrov declared that the computer's signal was likely a false alarm, based in part on the fact that the computer had detected the launch of only five ballistic missiles, and he believed that if the United States were really launching a pre-emptive attack, the launch would have been more substantial.
"When people start a war, they don't start it with only five missiles. You can do little damage with just five missiles," Petrov thought to himself.
For several tense minutes, Petrov and his staff waited. The satellites had detected the launch early, but if it were genuine, the radar would soon also pick up the missiles. When the radar ultimately failed to show any actual incoming missiles, Petrov began to breathe easier and confidently assured his comrades in the bunker that the alarm was false and should not be reported up the chain of command.
Years later, Petrov would recall what he thought during those agonizing moments of waiting to see if radar would confirm that the missiles were real and not merely a computer glitch: "[W]e knew that every second of procrastination took away valuable time, that the Soviet Union's military and political leadership needed to be informed without delay. All I had to do was to reach for the phone, to raise the direct line to our top commanders — but I couldn't move. I felt like I was sitting on a hot frying pan."
It is difficult for people living in 2020 to understand how close the world came to a nuclear holocaust on that day. The Soviets' radar capability was extremely limited at the time, and their satellite system lagged far behind the United States'. This meant that the Soviets knew that they would have at most minutes — not hours — in which to consider whether to launch a retaliatory strike. In the Soviet thinking of the time, there would not have been time to double- or triple-check the genuineness of the alarm; the missiles would have had to be launched immediately or not at all.
Additionally, the Soviet government under Andropov was almost unimaginably paranoid about Ronald Reagan and was convinced that he intended to launch a first strike against Russia.
With all of this added together, it is almost a certainty that if Petrov had followed orders, nuclear missiles would have been launched at the United States on that day.
Petrov, of course, was not exactly thanked by his government, which interrogated him relentlessly about the events of that night. Officials ultimately refused to reward him in any fashion, because to do so would have been to admit errors in their nuclear warning system, which would have embarrassed the Communist Party. He retired early from the army and lived in relative obscurity for years, caring for his wife, who later passed away due to cancer. He reportedly suffered a mental breakdown in the late 1990s and blamed the Soviet military for making him a "scapegoat."
He passed away in 2017 due to pneumonia at the age of 77. As of 1997, he was so poor that he was forced to grow his own potatoes for food — apparently forgotten by the world he had most likely saved. Later in life, he was given some awards and recognition for his heroism, but none of these were in any way substantial.
Generally, when fictional stories are written about people who save the world, they are about people who take heroic actions. In Petrov's case, his heroism consisted mostly of refusing to take action.


theblaze--2020-09-28--Officials: Overall active-duty military suicides up by as much as 20% during pandemic

Officials : Overall active-duty military suicides up by as much as 20 % during pandemic 'We can not say definitively @ @ @ @ @ .
But there is a direct correlation from when COVID started , the numbers actually @ @ @

Suicides by active-duty U.S. military service members have risen by as much as 20% during the coronavirus pandemic, according to reports from senior military officials.
While the Pentagon has not released 2020 data, which remains incomplete, U.S. Army and Air Force leaders told the Associated Press they believe the pandemic is adding stress to service members who are already under the strain of war-zone deployments, national disasters, and violent demonstrations in U.S. cities. They say there have been 114 active-duty suicides this year compared to 88 at the same time last year, roughly a 30% increase.
"Army officials said discussions in Defense Department briefings indicate there has been up to a 20% jump in overall military suicides this year," the AP reports. "The Army Guard is up about 10%, going from 78 last year to 86 this year. The Navy total is believed to be lower this year."
The causes of suicide are complex and cannot solely be attributed to stress caused by COVID-19, but Army officials say the increase in suicides is timed with the start of the pandemic.
"I can't say scientifically, but what I can say is — I can read a chart and a graph, and the numbers have gone up in behavioral health related issues," Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told the AP.
"We cannot say definitively it is because of COVID. But there is a direct correlation from when COVID started, the numbers actually went up," he added.
The active-duty Air Force and reserves had 98 suicides as of Sept. 15, the same number as reported last year. But 2019 was the worst year in three decades for active-duty Air Force suicides. While the overall number of reported active-duty and reserves suicides initially dipped beginning in 2020, since spring it has trended upward, discouraging military leaders.
"COVID adds stress," Air Force Gen. Charles Brown said. "From a suicide perspective, we are on a path to be as bad as last year. And that's not just an Air Force problem, this is a national problem because COVID adds some additional stressors — a fear of the unknown for certain folks."
James Helis, director of the Army's resilience program, attended department briefings on suicide data. He said lockdown-related isolation, financial difficulties, learn-from-home schooling, and the loss of child care happening suddenly and at the same time have put significant stress on military families.
"We know that the measures we took to mitigate and prevent the spread of COVID could amplify some of the factors that could lead to suicide," Helis said.
Among those measures was increased deployment time. Soldiers' 10-month deployments were increased to 11 months because of two-week quarantine requirements at the beginning and end of overseas deployments. The Army is looking into shortening combat deployments to lessen the stress soldiers are facing.
"We were very focused on readiness four years ago because we had some readiness challenges, and we did a great job. The force is very, very ready now. But I think it's time now to focus on people," Gen. James McConville said.
The AP report noted that civilian suicides have also risen in recent years, but because 2020 data isn't yet available, it's difficult to compare with the military.
A CDC report released in August did note that 25.5% of 18-24-year-olds surveyed in late June had serious thoughts about committing suicide during the previous 30 days. "The levels of suicidal tendencies overall more than doubled since 2018 and nearly quadrupled for people between 25 and 44," Daniel Horowitz wrote for TheBlaze.
Military officials are encouraging troops to reach out and support their fellow service members, particularly wounded warriors who may be less inclined to get mental or medical help due to infection concerns.
Need help? Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (1-800-273-8255) Military veterans press 1. Individuals can also go to: https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/talk-to-someone-now and veterans can go to woundedwarriorproject.org or call the project's resource center at: 888-997-2586.


theblaze--2020-09-28--Mother allegedly stabbed 5-year-old daughter to death in Chicago during another blood-soaked weekend

The mother of a 5-year-old girl in Chicago has been charged with stabbing her daughter to death during another blood-soaked weekend in the Windy City.
What are the details?
Simone Austin, 27, was charged with first-degree murder in connection with 5-year-old Serenity Arrington's death on Saturday, according to a report by WBBM-TV.
Police said they received a call to the East Garfield Park home on Chicago's west side, and when they arrived, they found Serenity suffering from multiple stab wounds. Neighbors had reportedly been attempting to assist her before paramedics came to the scene.
The young girl was quickly transported to Stroger Hospital of Cook County, but she died a few minutes later.
WFLD-TV reported that Austin appeared to be waiting for officers when they arrived on the scene Saturday morning. Police arrested her immediately and took her into custody.
Neighbors said that the family had just moved into the area this summer and appeared to be happy. They were shocked to hear of the news, and thus far no motive has been assigned in the case.
"It's just sad, just out of nowhere. I seen her just yesterday and today in the morning she's gone. It's just sad," neighbor Jose Maljar said.
Austin is reportedly undergoing mental health evaluations, and detectives are looking into whether she had a history of mental illness.
What's the background?
The atrocity is another in a weekend that saw 49 people shot and seven killed in Chicago, as the city continues to experience a surge in violent crime this year.
The Chicago Sun-Times reported that, according to police department statistics, shootings and murders are up 50% in Chicago from last year.
Through Sept. 20, there have been 560 murders in the city compared to 374 from the same time in 2019, and shootings are up to 2,300 compared to 1,500 last year.


theblaze--2020-09-28--78-year-old shotgun-toting granny flips the script on home intruder: 'Oh no, you don't'

78-year-old shotgun-toting granny flips the script on home intruder : 'Oh no , you do n't '

A 78-year-old Spanaway, Washington, grandmother approached a late-night intruder in her home with a shotgun — and demanded he wait until police arrived on the scene.
What are the details?
The woman, identified by just her first name, Sandy, told KIRO-TV that she was awakened in the middle of the night on Sept. 20 when her dog began barking.
Sandy said she immediately knew something was wrong, so she crept out of bed and checked the house. When she got to the laundry room area of her home, she saw a male intruder standing just feet away.
Sandy said she wasn't about to let the intruder get away and immediately confronted him.
"We looked at each other for a few seconds, and he turned and started to leave," she told KIRO. "And I said, 'Oh no, you don't. You stay right there!'"
She then she snatched up her shotgun and aimed it directly at the man, who froze.
"I reached over and got my shotgun," she recalled, "and I cocked it, and I told him to stay right there."
Sandy then directed the suspect to the steps on her porch, where she held the gun on him until police arrived.
"I followed him out, and I just stood there with the shotgun waiting for the police to come," she told the station, admitting that she was initially scared to death.
After the suspect complied with her demand, she said a calm came over her.
"I thought, 'This is amazing!' I said, 'You know, I've got grandchildren your age,'" she recalled telling the intruder. "After he was so meek and mild and sat down like I told him to do? It was empowering. I felt like at least I was in charge. I wasn't afraid."
'I was really hoping to get laid'
Sandy then told the station the real reason he broke into her home.
"He said, 'Well, you know, I was really hoping to get laid,'" she recalled. "That perked my ears up. That made me think, 'Oh, my God.'"
She wasn't the only one invoking the name of God following the scary incident.
WHDH-TV reported that the male suspect told deputies that he'd been looking for his wife and that God sent him to the elderly woman's address.
Authorities took the unnamed suspect into custody, but later released him after Sandy reportedly refused to press charges against the intruder.


theblaze--2020-09-28--Commentary: Reasons continue to emerge to doubt the results of the Breonna Taylor investigation

Commentary : Reasons continue to emerge to doubt the results of the Breonna Taylor investigation The shooting of Breonna Taylor @ @ @ @ @ but the LMPD 's conduct during the investigation makes it hard to know that for @ @

The report released last week by Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron painted a convincing picture of a clearly justified police shooting. According to the report, the cops clearly knocked first and fired into Taylor's apartment only after one of the officers, Sgt. John Mattingly, was shot first by Taylor's boyfriend, Kenneth Walker.
Based on these facts, the shooting appears to be a tragedy but not a criminal homicide. Walker, for his part, appears to have had a legitimate belief that he was defending his girlfriend from an intruder (who might well have been Taylor's apparently dangerous drug dealer ex-boyfriend whose bad information led to the evening's tragic events). The police, having been shot first, had no reasonable alternative but to return fire.
Sounds like an open-and-shut case, right? Not so fast. Since Cameron's report was issued last week, a steady trickle of facts has emerged that casts doubt on the integrity of the investigation and the truthfulness of the Louisville Police Department.
The first revelation that generated questions about the investigation actually dropped this month and centers around the use of body cameras. In 2012, the Louisville Police Department began a massive research project on the effectiveness of body cameras in certain test units. The researchers concluded that outfitting every officer on the force with a body camera would "yield several positive results for police personnel and for police-community relations including a reduction in use-of-force, reduction in civilian complaints, and reduction in assaults on officers." The department accordingly launched a very public program designed to ensure that all patrol divisions, SWAT, and K9 units would immediately be equipped with body cameras.
So when the Taylor shooting first became a source of public controversy, the immediate question everyone asked was, "What does the body camera footage say? Let's see it."
The public was told by former LMPD chief Steve Conrad that the officers in the particular division that carried out the raid were somehow not wearing body cameras. A person possessed of even minimal foresight could have predicted that sending police to bust down the door of a suspected drug stash house in the middle of the night would lead to exactly the kind of scenario where having a body camera would be handy to avoid exactly the kind of scenario that is being played out. Yet LMPD insisted that there simply was no body camera footage available because somehow none of the officers present was wearing one.
That, however, has turned out not to be true. In response to a public records request from Vice News, police turned over a large volume of crime scene photos from the night of Taylor's shooting. One of them captures Detective Tony James, who was present for the raid, clearly wearing a body camera over his right shoulder. Myles Cosgrove, the officer who fired the shot that killed Breonna Taylor, was also photographed, and a body camera harness was clearly visible, but the body camera itself was nowhere to be found.
The LMPD has repeatedly refused to explain even whether James' camera was turned on, and if it was not, why it was not, nor why Cosgrove was wearing a body camera harness apparently without a body camera.
Additional footage taken by body cameras of the patrol officers and SWAT teams who arrived later at the scene show that the officers involved in the raid committed several flagrant violations of LMPD policies that are designed to ensure the integrity of investigations into officer-involved shootings, leading to questions about the integrity of the crime scene and of the witness statements that were taken after the fact.
Notably, for obvious reasons, officers who are involved in a shooting are prohibited per LMPD policy from being involved in the investigation of those shootings and are furthermore explicitly required to be promptly separated from the scene and paired with a "peer support" escort who can both comfort shaken officers and also vouch for the fact that the officers did not fabricate evidence or otherwise adulterate the crime scene.
Videos taken of the shooting aftermath show that this policy was flagrantly disregarded, particularly by the now-terminated Hankison and Cosgrove, and that the SWAT and Public Integrity Unit officers who were there complained aloud about the officers they were investigating still being "in the mix" and even actually in the active crime scene. One of the other officers involved in the raid was also observed to have left the scene and been canvassing witnesses.
At the risk of overstating the obvious, it is not good to have cops who are under investigation for a shooting mucking around alone at the scene of the shooting for hours after the fact or speaking alone to potential witnesses, if for no other reason than to ensure public confidence in the integrity of the investigation.
This is especially important because of the controversy surrounding the critical question of whether officers knocked and announced themselves as police. Police say that they found a witness who corroborates their claim that they knocked. That witness, Aaron Sarpee, initially told police on March 21 that he did NOT hear officers identify themselves as police.
He was unequivocal — he saw the police cruisers outside and he saw some of the officers in uniform, but no one identified themselves as police when they knocked.
The Only Witness Who Heard Police Announce Themselves at Breonna Taylor's Door Changed His Story www.youtube.com
Two months later, in a May 15 interview, Sarpee told PIU investigator Sgt. Amanda Seeyle, "It's been so long now. ... I remember some of it," and eventually told her that he heard someone say, "This is the cops." Meanwhile, against this admittedly shaky testimony, over a dozen other witnesses allegedly stated that they did NOT hear anyone announce themselves as police. We still do not know whether any of these witnesses' statements were provided to the grand jury or considered in their deliberations, or if any of them testified in front of the grand jury.
Finally, it should be noted that ballistics information released over the weekend does not support AG Cameron's claim that Walker shot first and struck one of the officers. The ballistics report from the LMPD PIU was not able to match the bullet pulled from the thigh of Sgt. Mattingly. A separate FBI ballistics report has not yet been released. Cameron said last week that friendly fire had been ruled out as the source of the bullet that struck Mattingly because Walker's gun was a 9mm and the officers involved in the raid were issued .40 caliber weapons. However, Walker's attorney claims that a review of Hankison's file indicates that Hankison was also issued a 9mm weapon; when the Louisville Courier-Journal requested to review those records, it was stonewalled.
I am not claiming that I know for sure what happened on the fateful night that Breonna Taylor was shot. But the problem is, it's difficult for anyone else to make that claim, either. And the conduct of the LMPD on that night (and since) has opened the window for those who are skeptical of police who have an obvious motive to lie or shade the facts to forever disbelieve the narrative that the LMPD is now offering us. And the end result of these actions will only be to continue to erode the bond of trust between police and the citizenry that is necessary for all of us to live in peace.


theblaze--2020-09-28--Joe Biden compares Trump to infamous Nazi Germany leader: 'He's sort of like Goebbels'

Joe Biden compares Trump to infamous Nazi Germany leader : 'He 's sort of like Goebbels' 'This guy is more @ @ @ @

Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden compared President Donald Trump to infamous Nazi Germany propagandist Joesph Goebbels over the weekend.
What did Biden say?
During an interview Saturday on MSNBC, Biden was asked to respond to the president's campaign trail attacks in which Trump claims that Biden and the Democratic Party are pushing a socialist agenda.
"He's sort of like [Joseph] Goebbels," Biden responded. "You say the lie long enough, keep repeating it, repeating it, repeating it, it becomes common knowledge."
Biden later compared Trump to Fidel Castro, according to Politico.
"I think people see very clearly the difference between me and Donald Trump," Biden said. "Trump is clearing protests in front of the White House that are peaceful, you know, with the military. This guy is more Castro than Churchill."
UNHINGED Joe Biden Compares President Trump To Joseph Goebbels www.youtube.com
Adolf Hitler and Goebbels used a propaganda method called the "Big Lie" to deceive the German people. The technique involves repeating a massive lie so often that the masses eventually believe the lie.
Hitler even wrote about the method in his book "Mein Kampf."
According to a translation of Hitler's book:
It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes.
The Biden campaign has seemingly defended the claim.
In response to CNN host Anderson Cooper calling the comparison "um ... quite a stretch," Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield said, "His point was that you cannot trust what comes out of Donald Trump's mouth. That's a tragedy."
How did the Trump campaign respond?
"Rather than launching preposterous accusations against the President, Joe Biden and his team should answer for inviting notorious anti-Semites Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour to speak at the Democrat National Convention. Biden is desperately trying to distract Americans from his disastrous record and socialist policies," Ken Farnaso, deputy national press secretary for the Trump campaign, said in a statement.


theblaze--2020-09-28--Louisiana police officer claimed he was shot during ambush. Authorities arrest him for reportedly fa

Louisiana police officer claimed he was shot during ambush. Authorities arrest him for reportedly faking the attack, say he shot himself.

Louisiana police officer claimed he was shot during ambush .
Authorities arrest him for reportedly faking the attack , say @ @ @ @ @ shows it was an accidental discharge '

A Louisiana police officer was arrested after he reportedly claimed to be the victim of an ambush that reportedly took place earlier in September.
A spokesperson for the Pineville Police Department says that the officer, 25-year-old John Michael Goulart Jr., actually shot himself in the leg during the alleged "attack."
What did the officer say happened?
In initial reports, Goulart Jr. said that he came under attack as he exited his patrol vehicle at a Pineville shopping center on Sept. 20.
He said that he was struck once in the leg and a second round hit the rear door of his patrol vehicle.
Pineville Police Department Public Information Officer Deputy Chief Darrell Basco initially told KALB-TV, "There were shots fired at the officer. The officer didn't return fire on anybody. He was exiting the patrol vehicle at the shopping center whenever he was ambushed by an unknown person at this time and two shots were fired. One striking him, and the other hit the vehicle."
Following the initial report, the Pineville community rallied around the injured officer.
Goulart joined the department in 2018, according to a Facebook post.
What really happened?
Investigators said that Goulart Jr. shot himself, hid his service weapon, and lied about what had actually taken place.
"Everything shows it was an accidental discharge," Basco said according to CNN.
"The investigation of a Pineville Police Department officer being shot on Sunday night is closed," Basco said in a later statement. "The investigation led to a determination that the officer shot himself, concealed, and altered the facts."
Of the investigation, Don Weatherford, Pineville's police chief, added, "We had no reason originally to question what he was telling us was accurate. As it progressed, that evidence gives you some pretty clear direction and it led us to re-interviewing Officer Goulart Jr. and he admitted that at that point he had not been truthful with us during the investigation."
Clarence Fields, the mayor of Pineville, said he believed Goulart Jr. was a "very good police officer."
Fields added that the purportedly faked attack, however, was "unfortunate," considering "everything going on in America relative to relationships between police and the community."
"They are mindful that they will probably be looked at very differently and receive some criticism," Fields said of the department.
So what happened then?
Authorities arrested Goulart Jr. on Tuesday on charges of malfeasance in office and criminal mischief and placed him on administrative leave.
Goulart Jr. was released on a $10,500 bond.
You can watch a video report on the incident here.


theblaze--2020-09-28--POLL: Will the leak of Trump's tax records change anyone's mind on the 2020 race?

POLL : Will the leak of Trump 's tax records change anyone 's mind on the 2020 race ?
Cast @ @ @ @ @ forget to share !

POLL: Will the leak of Trump's tax records change anyone's mind on the 2020 race?
Cast your vote and don't forget to share!


theblaze--2020-09-28--Steven Crowder fact checks John Oliver on the recent SCOTUS nomination

Steven reviews the latest Biden slip-ups and turns to expose the many problems with the Democrats ' mail-in voting and @ @ @ @ @ He also reviews Trump 's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett , and fact checks John @ @ @ @ @ the SCOTUS nomination .
Use promo code LWC to save $ 10 on one year @ @ @ @ @ from Steven Crowder ?
To enjoy more of Steven 's uncensored late-night comedy that 's @ @ @ @ @ Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand .

Steven reviews the latest Biden slip-ups and turns to expose the many problems with the Democrats' mail-in voting and ballot harvesting in 2020. He also reviews Trump's nomination of Amy Coney Barrett, and fact checks John Oliver's recent segment on the SCOTUS nomination.
Use promo code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-09-28--Teacher told student he had 15 seconds to remove a Trump flag or he’d be kicked out of online class

Teacher told student he had 15 seconds to remove a Trump flag or he ’ d be kicked out of @ @ @ @ @ if it was a Biden flag ?

A high school teacher in Northern California threatened to kick a student out of a virtual class unless he removed a "Trump 2020" flag from his camera background.
According to KOVR-TV, the 16-year-old student was in his bedroom participating in an online class for Colusa High School when his chemistry teacher took issue with the sign and demanded that he take it down or adjust the camera view.
"Since school has begun, my son has had this Trump flag hanging in his background," the student's mother, Tiffany, told the news outlet. Their last names have been withheld from reports.
According to the student's mother, the teacher told her son, "You can sit up, remove the flag, or reposition your camera within the next 15 seconds or I'm kicking you out of class."
In a video of the incident, recorded by another student and included in the news video below, the teacher can be heard counting to 15 seconds while repeating the threat.
Colusa Student Says Teacher Threatened To Kick Him Out Of Virtual Class Over Trump Flag youtu.be
As the video shows, the teacher wasn't able to complete the count before the student decided to sign off from the class on his own. He can be seen waving to the camera before the screen goes black.
According to KOVR-TV, the teacher has since apologized. The student's mother said she isn't blaming the teacher so much as she is the school board for not giving clear guidance on the issue.
"She is a new teacher and it's a mistake," she said. "There hasn't been any guidance given to her as a teacher for the school."
Tiffany said that when she reached out to a board representative requesting a clarification for the code of conduct, she was rejected.
"He flat out told me no. We've just not been given any guidance," she said.
The Colusa County Code of Conduct includes a dress code ban for clothing with "vulgar, obscene, or profane" messages, or messages which "degrade any race or other group of individuals" — but nowhere in the document does it mention anything about politics or campaigns.
State Education Code 48907 states: "[Students] of the public schools, including charter schools, shall have the right to exercise freedom of speech and of the press including, but not limited to, the use of bulletin boards, the distribution of printed materials or petitions, the wearing of buttons, badges, and other insignia, and the right of expression in official publications, whether or not the publications or other means of expression are supported financially by the school or by use of school facilities, except that expression shall be prohibited which is obscene, libelous, or slanderous. Also prohibited shall be material that so incites pupils as to create a clear and present danger of the commission of unlawful acts on school premises or the violation of lawful school regulations, or the substantial disruption of the orderly operation of the school."
The student has reportedly not been punished over the incident.


theblaze--2020-09-28--Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration after brain-eating amoeba reportedly kills 6-year

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issues disaster declaration after brain-eating amoeba reportedly kills 6-year-old boy

Texas Gov .
Greg Abbott ( R ) issued a disaster declaration after the discovery of a brain-eating amoeba in a Lake Jackson water supply .
The brain-eating amoeba — naegleria fowleri — is reportedly responsible for the death of a six-year-old boy in the area .
What are the details ?
According to CBS News , Abbott issued the disaster declaration on Sunday , and it extends to Brazoria County at large .
A portion of Abbott 's disaster declaration states that `` the presence of naegleria fowleri , which can cause a rare and devastating infection of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ identified in three of 11 tests of the water supply , posing an imminent threat to public health and safety , including loss of life . ''
`` Any regulatory statute ... that would in any way prevent , hinder , or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended , '' the declaration adds .
Residents are under a `` boil water '' notice at the time of this reporting .
The organism typically infects people through contaminated water entering the nose .
Naegleria fowleri can cause fatal cases @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the six-year-old boy likely caught the infection from a public splash pad or a garden hose , and the subsequent tests on the water supply confirmed the presence of the amoeba in the Lake Jackson water supply .
On Friday , the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced the potential contamination , warning at least eight communities away from using their tap water except for toilet flushing .
On Saturday , the commission lifted the warnings for all impacted cities in Brazoria save for Lake Jackson .
The city 's mayor , Bob @ @ @ @ @ @ @ disaster declaration , which activated the local Emergency Operations Center and permitted officials to acquire the necessary additional resources from the state .
You can watch CBS News ' video report on the announcement here .
According to KHOU , the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is working with the City of Lake Jackson , the Texas Division of Emergency Management , the Texas Department of State Health Services , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and the Environmental Protection Agency to resolve the ongoing water issue .
In a statement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Texas is taking swift action to respond to the situation and support the communities whose water systems have been impacted by this ameba [ sic ] .
I urge Texans in Lake Jackson to follow the guidance of local officials and take the appropriate precautions to protect their health and safety as we work to restore safe tap water in the community . ''
What about the little boy ?
KTVT-TV reported that the child , Josiah Christopher McIntyre , was very ill prior to his untimely death .
His mother , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it was vomiting and throwing up and still the headache , but I mean kids get sick .
It 's normal .
Kids vomit .
Kids run a fever . ''
The child 's family initially worried that Josiah — who had played at a local splash pad — was infected with COVID-19 , but he tested negative for the virus just a day later .
On Sunday , the family took the child to Texas Children 's Hospital , which administered a CT scan that showed swelling of the six-year-old 's brain @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , and doctors later determined that his brain swelled due to naegleria fowleri .
Castillo says she still wants to know precisely how her son contracted the amoeba .
`` We want to know as a family , you know , for a peace of mind , '' she told the station .
`` It wo n't bring him back .
It probably wo n't make us feel better .
But the fact that we know how he got it , how he contracted it , just gives us that peace of mind @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ''

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) issued a disaster declaration after the discovery of a brain-eating amoeba in a Lake Jackson water supply.
The brain-eating amoeba — naegleria fowleri — is reportedly responsible for the death of a six-year-old boy in the area.
What are the details?
According to CBS News, Abbott issued the disaster declaration on Sunday, and it extends to Brazoria County at large.
A portion of Abbott's disaster declaration states that "the presence of naegleria fowleri, which can cause a rare and devastating infection of the brain called primary amebic meningoencephalitis, was identified in three of 11 tests of the water supply, posing an imminent threat to public health and safety, including loss of life."
"Any regulatory statute ... that would in any way prevent, hinder, or delay necessary action in coping with this disaster shall be suspended," the declaration adds.
Residents are under a "boil water" notice at the time of this reporting.
The organism typically infects people through contaminated water entering the nose. Naegleria fowleri can cause fatal cases of amoebic meningoencephalitis.
KHOU-TV reports that the six-year-old boy likely caught the infection from a public splash pad or a garden hose, and the subsequent tests on the water supply confirmed the presence of the amoeba in the Lake Jackson water supply.
On Friday, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality announced the potential contamination, warning at least eight communities away from using their tap water except for toilet flushing.
On Saturday, the commission lifted the warnings for all impacted cities in Brazoria save for Lake Jackson.
The city's mayor, Bob Sipple, announced on Saturday his own disaster declaration, which activated the local Emergency Operations Center and permitted officials to acquire the necessary additional resources from the state.
You can watch CBS News' video report on the announcement here.
According to KHOU, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality is working with the City of Lake Jackson, the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the Texas Department of State Health Services, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Environmental Protection Agency to resolve the ongoing water issue.
In a statement, Abbott said, "The state of Texas is taking swift action to respond to the situation and support the communities whose water systems have been impacted by this ameba [sic]. I urge Texans in Lake Jackson to follow the guidance of local officials and take the appropriate precautions to protect their health and safety as we work to restore safe tap water in the community."
What about the little boy?
KTVT-TV reported that the child, Josiah Christopher McIntyre, was very ill prior to his untimely death.
His mother, Maria Castillo, said, "Friday it was vomiting and throwing up and still the headache, but I mean kids get sick. It's normal. Kids vomit. Kids run a fever."
The child's family initially worried that Josiah — who had played at a local splash pad — was infected with COVID-19, but he tested negative for the virus just a day later.
On Sunday, the family took the child to Texas Children's Hospital, which administered a CT scan that showed swelling of the six-year-old's brain.
The child died on Sept. 8, and doctors later determined that his brain swelled due to naegleria fowleri.
Castillo says she still wants to know precisely how her son contracted the amoeba.
"We want to know as a family, you know, for a peace of mind," she told the station. "It won't bring him back. It probably won't make us feel better. But the fact that we know how he got it, how he contracted it, just gives us that peace of mind that we can that we know."


theblaze--2020-09-28--As Minneapolis City Council's pledge to abolish police collapses, members claim vow was made 'in spi

As Minneapolis City Council's pledge to abolish police collapses, members claim vow was made 'in spirit'

As Minneapolis City Council 's pledge to abolish police collapses , members claim vow was made 'in spirit' Who could @ @ @ @ @

The Minneapolis City Council made waves this summer for proudly declaring, to the applause of the anti-police crowd, that it would abolish the Minneapolis Police Department.
Months later, that promise has collapsed.
What is the background?
After the tragic death of George Floyd, the Minneapolis City Council — composed of 12 Democrats and zero Republicans — promised to replace the Minneapolis Police Department with alternative, community-based law enforcement model.
"Yes. We are going to dismantle the Minneapolis Police Department and replace it with a transformative new model of public safety," Council President Lisa Bender said in June.
Days later, the majority of the council formally signed a pledge to abolish their city's police department.
"Decades of police reform efforts have proved that the Minneapolis Police Department cannot be reformed and will never be accountable for its actions," the council said, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. "We are here today to begin the process of ending the Minneapolis Police Department and creating a new, transformative model for cultivating safety in Minneapolis."
What's happening now?
Four months after cementing those promises amid national racial unrest, the some members of the council are now claiming their promises did not really mean what they said they meant.
In fact, according to the New York Times, some council members "would like a do-over."
Councilor Andrew Johnson, one of the nine members who supported the pledge in June, said in an interview that he meant the words "in spirit," not by the letter. Another councilor, Phillipe Cunningham, said that the language in the pledge was "up for interpretation" and that even among council members soon after the promise was made, "it was very clear that most of us had interpreted that language differently."
Lisa Bender, the council president, paused for 16 seconds when asked if the council's statement had led to uncertainty at a pivotal moment for the city. "I think our pledge created confusion in the community and in our wards," she said.
As TheBlaze reported, the Minneapolis City Council quickly learned that rhetoric does not translate to functional policy.
During a meeting with Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo earlier this month, council members asked, "Where are the police?"
That's because Minneapolis is experiencing abnormally high levels of violent crime, leaving residents stuck for law enforcement.
"Residents are asking, 'Where are the police?'" Councilman Jamal Osman said, Minnesota Public Radio reported. "That is the only public safety option they have at the moment. MPD. They rely on MPD. And they are saying they are nowhere to be seen."


theblaze--2020-09-29--Viral video shows Mark Cuban picking up Delonte West at a Dallas gas station as family hopes the NBA

Viral video shows Mark Cuban picking up Delonte West at a Dallas gas station as family hopes the NBA star will go to rehab

Viral video shows Mark Cuban picking up Delonte West at a Dallas gas station as family hopes the NBA star @ @ @ @ @ has reportedly offered to pay for the stay

Billionaire Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban was seen picking up former NBA star Delonte West at a Dallas gas station on Monday, according to TMZ.
Cuban himself confirmed the authenticity of the video to ESPN.
What's a brief background here?
Earlier this month, West — who was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in 2008 and played for the Mavericks from 2011 to 2012 — was seen on the streets of Dallas begging for money.
West, according to Sports Illustrated, has reportedly been homeless off and on for the last several years and has also been seen behaving erratically in public on more than one occasion.
West's family is reportedly holding out hope that West will go to rehab, and Cuban is reportedly willing to pay for the stay.
What are the details?
TMZ reported that Cuban had attempted to reach West in the days leading up to the Monday incident.
"Sources connected to the West's [sic] family tell us that Cuban — who had been trying to reach DW on the phone for days — finally got in contact with Delonte ... who agreed to meet the Mavs owner on Monday in Dallas," the outlet reported, noting that sources told its reporters that Cuban transported West to a local hotel "while his family formulates a game plan."
West, TMZ reported, now "seems open to the idea" of attending rehab.
Sports Illustrated on Tuesday reported that it confirmed Cuban was willing to foot the bill for West's hospitalization.
Cuban isn't the the first to reportedly attempt to help West — the outlet noted that the NBA, the NBA Players Association, former LA Clippers coach Doc Rivers, and more attempted to get West help over the years.
West's brother, Dmitri, has spoken out about the former NBA star's struggles in the past.
"Delonte West is not crazy, he is not on drugs," Dmitri said in 2016 after West was seen behaving erratically in public. "I don't know what exactly is going on in his mind, but I can tell you that he is safe and he's doing OK. My family are trying to get him the best professional help that's out there, the best they can afford."
West previously spent eight seasons as a player for the Seattle SuperSonics, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Boston Celtics, averaging 9.7 points and 3.6 assists per game.
During his stint in the NBA, West also reportedly earned $16 million.


theblaze--2020-09-29--Raccoon accused — without evidence — of attacking members of White House press corps

Raccoon accused — without evidence — of attacking members of White House press corps The feds have been put on @

An unidentified raccoon has been accused — without evidence — by a White House correspondent of attacking "multiple" members of the press corps, in a case that has sparked calls to federal authorities.
What are the details?
CBS News White House correspondent Paula Reid claimed in a tweet that a raccoon "allegedly grabbed pant leg of a photographer & then a corespondent (sic) before being fended off" on the North Lawn of the White House on Monday morning.
Reid accused the perpetrator of attacking "multiple crews," but did not present any evidence of the purported assaults. She did present photos of several other unidentified raccoons without their consent, acknowledging that the subjects who appeared to be tampering with property were pictured from "more peaceful times."
The Hill pointed out that Reid joked about "strong Pawnee vibes" from the encounter, a reference "to the fictional town of Pawnee, Ind. from the sitcom 'Parks and Recreation,' where raccoons are a frequent nuisance."
What was the reaction on social media?
Reid's post garnered significant attention on the social media platform, with several followers repeating the stereotype that raccoons active during daylight hours likely carry rabies. Others spoke of their fondness for the nocturnal animals, and dismissed the allegations.
Citing the photos from "more peaceful times," one Twitter user responded, "THESE RACCOON LOOK INNOCENT TO ME PAULA JUST A ROUTINE SNACK INSPECTION NOTHING TO SEE HERE CASE CLOSE."
But Reid kept on the case, providing an update that "Sources tell @CBSNews White House reaching out to [U.S. General Services Administration] about aggressive (raccoon) who allegedly attacked crews this am."
The Hill also noted that "the raccoons could not be reached for comment," and confirmed that "no evidence has emerged to suggest the raccoons were politically motivated."


theblaze--2020-09-29--Vegan parents ignored warnings that strict diet was unhealthy for their baby girl. She suffered brai

Vegan parents ignored warnings that strict diet was unhealthy for their baby girl. She suffered brain damage from the malnutrition.

Vegan parents ignored warnings that strict diet was unhealthy for their baby girl .
She suffered brain damage from the @ @

The vegan parents of a baby girl pleaded guilty to negligence causing serious injury after they ignored warnings about their strict diet and she suffered brain damage as a result.
A County Court of Victoria sentenced the Australian couple on Monday to undergo mental treatment but they will escape jail time. They will also have to serve a community sentence of 12 months.
The 12-month-old baby girl was reportedly rushed to an emergency clinic in August 2018 by the 34-year-old father. Doctors said she suffered from extreme malnutrition, with disturbing symptoms including open wounds, rashes, bruises and discoloration of her skin.
She also had internal bleeding and blood in her stool. Doctors said her condition was like that found in babies being raised in countries experiencing famine.
Investigators found that the father had sought help from a herbal health club about his daughter's condition a week before rushing her to the clinic.
"Hi my 1-year-old has stopped wanting to drink/eat and when she does, it's not staying down or she starts to cough," he reportedly wrote in the email. "What can I do to help her keep it down and allow her to drink? She doesn't have a temp. She is on a fruit diet. Please help asap."
Instead of sending the father and daughter to the hospital, they recommended a "stomach tea."
The parents also reportedly stopped consulting with health experts after they were told that the baby needed more than the coconut water and powders that they were feeding her.
Instead, they sought advice from alternative health outlets in the U.S. and Canada.
The baby girl spent a month in intensive care. Her condition had improved with the benefit of a balanced diet and proper healthcare.
"She faces a difficult and challenging life," said Judge Claire Quin.
The disturbing case bears a striking resemblance to that of a Cape Coral, Florida, couple who were charged with the death of their 18-month-old son in 2019. The child was on a strict vegan diet and had not seen a doctor after the mother gave birth at home.


theblaze--2020-09-29--Liberals are furious at cryptocurrency company for rejecting overt displays of social justice activi

Liberals are furious at cryptocurrency company for rejecting overt displays of social justice activism

A popular cryptocurrency company released a statement rejecting overt displays of social justice activism and liberals are outraged.
Brian Armstrong, the co-founder and CEO of Coinbase, released the statement on Sunday clarifying the company's mission statement.
"I want Coinbase to be laser focused on achieving its mission, because I believe that this is the way that we can have the biggest impact on the world. We will do this by playing as a championship team, focus on building, and being transparent about what our mission is and isn't," Armstrong said in the statement.
Armstrong directly addressed social issues.
"We don't engage here when issues are unrelated to our core mission, because we believe impact only comes with focus," he said.
He also rejected overt support of political causes or issues.
"We don't advocate for any particular causes or candidates internally that are unrelated to our mission, because it is a distraction from our mission," he explained. "Even if we all agree something is a problem, we may not all agree on the solution."
Armstrong said his company would seek an alternative path to Silicon Valley companies who engage in social justice activism because it creates internal division and distraction.
"We've seen what internal strife at companies like Google and Facebook can do to productivity, and there are many smaller companies who have had their own challenges here. I believe most employees don't want to work in these divisive environments. They want to work on a winning team that is united and making progress toward an important mission," he continued.
'Commitment to a white supremacist workplace'
Many on the left were outraged that Armstrong would reject social justice activism as an essential part of corporate practice, and they took to Twitter to express their anger.
"NEW: @coinbase announces new commitment to a white supremacist workplace," said Nandini Jammi, a liberal activist.
"If you've ever wanted to embarrass your employees, take notes on this spineless corporate drivel from the CEO of Coinbase," responded Ben Sandofsky.
"This is pretty appalling. @brian_armstrong is essentially saying, just sit down, shut up, and make money for me. Things like social justice are a distraction from making money for me, so do that on your own time," said software engineer Allen Holub.
"Coinbase announced that it stands for nothing beyond profits and if you've got a problem with that you should go work somewhere else," said Casey Newton.
Others claimed they would be dropping Coinbase over the statement.
Previously the company had offered cryptocurrency transactions, which can be pseudonymous, as a way to avoid discrimination in traditional banking.
Here's more about social justice as corporate policy:


theblaze--2020-09-30--Breaking: St. Louis officials will not prosecute nine BLM protesters charged with trespassing in McC

Breaking: St. Louis officials will not prosecute nine BLM protesters charged with trespassing in McCloskey incident

Breaking : St. Louis officials will not prosecute nine BLM protesters charged with trespassing in McCloskey incident  The McCloskeys @ @ @ @ @ felony for brandishing a weapon

St. Louis law enforcement officials said that they would not prosecute the nine Black Lives Matter protesters arrested and charged with trespassing during the racially charged incident at the McCloskeys' home.
Mark and Patricia McCloskey made national headlines on June 28 after they pointed their guns at protesters who trespassed through a private neighborhood on their way to protest at the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson.
City Counselor Michael Garvin said in a statement released on Tuesday that "prosecution is not warranted" against the nine protesters.
He said that trustees of Portland Place, the private neighborhood that protesters trespassed through, refused to seek charges against the nine. Previously, two dozen neighbors of the McCloskeys signed a letter condemning their actions and issuing a statement of support for the Black Lives Matter movement.
An attorney for two protesters charged said that the actions of law enforcement only benefitted the McCloskeys, not the taxpayer.
"This did not benefit the taxpayers. The only (people) that I can see that this would have benefitted was the McCloskeys," Javad Khazaeli said.
In July, Mark and Patricia McCloskey were each charged with a felony count of unlawful use of a weapon/flourishing over the incident.
"It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in a nonviolent protest, and while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis," said St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner at the time.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, said in July that he would likely pardon the couple if they were convicted, and depending on the evidence brought to trial.
The McCloskeys gave an opening night speech during the Republican National Convention in August.
Here's a local news report about the development:


theblaze--2020-09-30--State of emergency declared in California wine country as deadly wildfires rage

State of emergency declared in California wine country as deadly wildfires rage As of Monday night , the blazes in @ @ @ @ @ 0 % contained

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) has declared a state of emergency in three California counties known for their wine production, after wildfires claimed lives while consuming more than 100 structures and threatening thousands more in blazes fire officials said Monday night were "0%" contained.
What are the details?
The governor announced his emergency proclamation for Napa, Sonoma, and Shasta counties after two fires known as the Glass and Zogg fires burned through "tens of thousands of acres" and prompted the evacuation of "tens of thousands of residents."
According to CalFire, as of Monday night, 113 structures had been destroyed by the fires and another 8,500 were under threat.
One of the properties destroyed was Fairwinds Estate Winery in Calistoga, the ruins of which are pictured above.
NBC News reported that "three people were killed in the Zogg Fire," which "has burned more than 40,000 acres."
According to Fox News, "some 70,000 people are under evacuation orders."
"We left with nothing, I mean, just, literally with nothing," one sobbing resident told ABC News. "We're so lucky to be alive."
More fires in California wine country prompt emergency evacuations | WNT www.youtube.com
The New York Times noted weeks ago that "California's wildfire season is already the most severe in modern history, measured by acres burned," reporting at the time that "more than 2.5 million acres of land have burned in the state this year, nearly 20 times what had burned at this time last year."
The fires in California have now scorched over 3.7 million acres, and 28 people have died in them so far this year, NBC News reported.


theblaze--2020-09-30--LIVE: Watch President Trump and Joe Biden duke it out in the first debate — and follow the Blaze tea

LIVE: Watch President Trump and Joe Biden duke it out in the first debate — and follow the Blaze team's live blow-by-blow chat

LIVE : Watch President Trump and Joe Biden duke it out in the first debate — and follow the Blaze @ @ @ @ @

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Job Biden go toe-to-toe tonight at 9 p.m. ET. You can catch the whole thing live right here AND follow the Blaze Team's live chat below, where you can get our initial take of the goings on — from campaign promises and outrageous claims to fact checks and smackdowns to media bias and spin-masters' takes.
BlazeTV's First Presidential Debate Livestream www.youtube.com


theblaze--2020-09-30--Georgia parents charged with murder after their 12-year-old girl dies as an indirect result of a sev

Georgia parents charged with murder after their 12-year-old girl dies as an indirect result of a severe lice infestation Family @ @ @ @ @ shutdown in part for her death

The parents of a 12-year-old girl who died indirectly from a severe lice infestation have been charged with second-degree murder.
Police said that Mary Katherine "Katie" Horton called police when her daughter Kaitlyn Yozviak was unresponsive on Aug. 27. Horton was arrested within 24 hours after police saw the state of their home.
WMAZ-TV reported that police said the child was in "excessive physical pain due to medical negligence" before she died.
Joey Yozviak, the father of the girl, was arrested five days after Horton's arrest, and they were both charged with second-degree murder and second-degree cruelty to children.
Georgia Bureau of Investigation Special Agent Ryan Hilton testified in court that the child had the worst lice infestation their office had ever seen. Hilton said that he believed the numerous bites from the lice lowered the iron levels in the child's blood and led to severe anemia. She died from cardiac arrest.
WMAZ documented the previous troubles the parents had with family services, even before their girl had been born. In one incident, their two boys were relocated to a relative's home "due to the unsanitary living conditions."
The couple also reportedly wanted to give up the girl for adoption and later changed their minds.
WMAZ documents that the local family services agency received a report in 2018 that the mother might be having mental issues and that the children might be living in an unhealthy home.
"The home was described as being bug infested, excessive cats, and hazardous conditions (holes everywhere, dip in the floor, and cold during winter)," read the report.
An official from the Georgia Division of Family & Children Services blamed a pandemic shutdown for part of the reason why the threat to the child was left unchecked.
"Had it not been for the fact that this child was, I think, out of school, and then the school shut down because of the pandemic, we probably would have received a call from the school at some point, or somebody would have seen this child in the neighborhood," said DFACS Director Tom Rawlings.
"They would have called us and we wouldn't be in this situation," he added.
Many in the community were outraged that local officials didn't do enough, in their estimation, to have saved Kaitlyn before she died.
Here's the local WMAZ report about the case:


theblaze--2020-09-30--LIVE NOW: BlazeTV's First Presidential Debate Livestream

President Trump and Joe Biden in the first presidential debate

2020 is a year for the history books. That's not up for debate. What is up for debate is the future of America's leadership. Tonight, President Donald Trump brings his nearly four-year record as commander in chief against former Vice President Joe Biden, who's worked in government for over 40 years, but now he's finally going to accomplish something. The two will face off for what's sure to be a memorable affair, hitting topics ranging from the Supreme Court to COVID-19 and its handling, economic issues, race and violence across America's cities, and the integrity of our electoral process. Sparks, insults, and nicknames are sure to fly.
Watching and reacting live with you is a stellar BlazeTV lineup, with your favorite personalities including Glenn Beck, Stu Burguiere, Pat Gray, Steve Deace, Dave Rubin, and Allie Beth Stuckey.
The first presidential debate is hosted by Fox News, moderated by Chris Wallace, and watched by you. Be there at 9 p.m. ET and later at 10:30 p.m. ET for the most pro-America conservative analysis you won't see anywhere else.
Join BlazeTV today with promo code DEBATE for $20 off.
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theblaze--2020-09-29--Hostage situation in Oregon ends with 3 dead, including 11-year-old boy

A 43-year-old woman has been hospitalized with serious injuries , and a 13-year-old boy was rescued uninjured

A hostage situation in Oregon on Monday ended with three people dead, including the suspected hostage-taker and an 11-year-old boy.
What are the details?
Oregon State Police reported that the Marion County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene in Salem, where deputies were able to establish communications with suspect Jose Jesus Lopez-Tinoco, 34. During the talks, gunshots rang out from the residence where Lopez-Tinoco was holed up, leading officers to force their way in.
The news released from the state police says that "during the rescue one deputy fired a yet to be determined number of rounds."
Once inside, deputies discovered Lopez-Tinoco dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. They also found 24-year-old Laura Bustos-Bustos dead from a gunshot wound, and an 11-year-old boy who had also been fatally shot.
Another woman, 43-year-old Laura Rocia-Bustos was found alive inside the home and was transported to a hospital with serious injuries after being shot. A 13-year-old boy was found physically unharmed.
Neither of the boys' names will be released.
What about the deputy?
The officer who discharged his service weapon, Deputy Ricky Kittelson, has been placed on administrative leave per protocol as the investigation continues.
The New York Post noted that "it was not revealed if any of the injuries were believed to have been from the officer's shots," and "officials also did not reveal what sparked the hostage situation, nor the relationship between Lopez-Tinoco and the victims."
A neighbor who watched the scene unfold from the outside shared footage with local outlet KOIN-TV that she had taken from her home during the tragic situation.


theblaze--2020-09-29--Russian intelligence said Hillary Clinton approved campaign plan to tie Trump to Russian election in

Russian intelligence said Hillary Clinton approved campaign plan to tie Trump to Russian election interference, reveals Trump intel director

Russian intelligence said Hillary Clinton approved campaign plan to tie Trump to Russian election interference , reveals Trump intel director @ @ @ @ @ was `` baseless bulls**t ''

Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe revealed that U.S. intelligence had learned of claims from Russian intelligence that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton approved a plan to connect then-candidate Donald Trump to the Russian hacking of the Democratic National Committee.
Ratcliffe made the admission in a letter to Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) on Tuesday.
"In late July 2016, U.S. intelligence agencies obtained insight into Russian intelligence analysis alleging that U.S. Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton had approved a campaign plan to stir up a scandal against U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump by tying him to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and the Russians' hacking of the Democratic National Committee," wrote Ratcliffe.
"The IC does not know the accuracy of this allegation or the extent to which the Russian intelligence analysis may reflect exaggeration or fabrication," he added.
Ratcliffe went on to say that former Central Intelligence Agency Director John Brennan briefed former President Barack Obama on the claims garnered from Russian intelligence. Those claims were also forwarded to then-FBI Director James Comey and then-Deputy Assistant Director of Counterintelligence Peter Strzok.
Graham told CBS News that he would seek to have the notes declassified from the letter. Catherine Herridge of CBS News reported that the notes were discovered by U.S. Attorney John Durham and that they opened up a new line of inquiry in his investigation.
'This is Russian disinformation'
A spokesperson for Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner (D-Va.) condemned the disclosure in a tweet.
"This is Russian disinformation. Laundered by the Director Of National Intelligence and Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee," Rachel Cohen said. "This is extraordinary."
A spokesperson for Hillary Clinton told Politico that the allegations were "baseless bulls**t." Democrats also slammed Ratcliffe and Graham for making the Russian assessment public.
Here's more about Hillary Clinton and the election: