theblaze--2020-05-18--Victorious cheering as cop tells crowd at NJ gym it's violating executive order — but adds, 'Have a

Victorious cheering as cop tells crowd at NJ gym it's violating executive order — but adds, 'Have a good day' and walks off

Victorious cheering as cop tells crowd at NJ gym it 's violating executive order — but adds , 'Have a @ @ @ @ @ off

A few hours after workouts began Monday morning at New Jersey's Atilis Gym — which is making national headlines for its early reopening in defiance of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's coronavirus shutdown order — police showed up outside the Bellmawr business.
What happened next?
The large group of people outside the gym were angry and hostile, likely believing the officers showed up to shut down the gym, hand out tickets, or even make arrests. Amid the mostly unintelligible hollering, a few phrases rang out clearly:
"You have the right to refuse unconstitutional orders!"
"Freedom!"
"You swore an oath to protect our rights!"
Soon enough the crowd quieted down enough so that one of the officers was able to address them.
"We are and we're only here for everybody's safety today," the officer began. "We planned for the worst, hoped for the best, and it seems like that's what we have out here today. Formally, you are all in violation of the executive order."
Then came the officer's surprising follow-up statement: "On that note, have a good day. Everybody be safe."
As police turned and walked away, the crowd immediately erupted in the kind of cheering you'd expect after a Philadelphia Eagles' game-winning touchdown — and then a hefty "USA! USA! USA!" chant soon followed:
What appeared to be the gym's owners, he told the crowd that "this is a beautiful thing" and that "this is for everybody — everybody can open up their businesses. If we can do it, anybody can do it, it's that simple ... this is our right."
A reporter asked one of the owners if he had any sense the officer might react the way he did, and the owner replied, "We were prepared for anything, and that was not what we were expecting."
However, police later served a summons for disorderly conduct, WTXF-TV reported, adding that a June court date is scheduled.
The station added that over the weekend the Camden County Prosecutor's Office issued a reminder that nonessential businesses were to remain closed under Murphy's order and that "anyone who patronizes a business that is open in violation of an executive order could face criminal charges in the form of a disorderly persons offense for which you could be fined up to $1,000 for each offense and spend up to six months in jail."
Here's a longer version of the police officer speaking outside the gym:
What's the background?
Co-owner Frank Trumbetti appeared on a video posted to the gym's Facebook page last week, explaining he and co-owner Ian Smith are reopening early "to fight for our rights. The government has failed at protecting our rights and [is] failing at protecting our health."
Trumbetti said that they're "proposing an organized peaceful reopening of the state, not just our business. We truly believe that if we don't do this, in the end we will have zero rights and no say in what happens."
He added that they're taking the coronavirus seriously, and that his mother contracted COVID-19 while in the hospital for another illness and that his wife is an emergency room pediatric nurse.
"We would like to get all the support we can all day long," Trumbetti said on the clip of the Monday reopen, adding that members would be allowed to enter according to "safe distancing guidelines," exercise, and then "stick around all day as a sign of solidarity for our rights as citizens of this great country."
A large crowd of several hundred began forming outside the gym early Monday morning, with some of them carrying American and Trump 2020 flags.
The owners said signs are posted outside telling members to adhere to social distancing, WPVI-TV said, adding that capacity is limited to 44 members at a time and that bottles of disinfectant are available to wipe down equipment, which has been spread apart.
'Enough is enough'
Co-owner Ian Smith appeared on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight" last week and said Murphy's shutdown order is a "gross violation" of the constitutional rights of New Jersey residents.
"Enough is enough," Smith said. "We've gotten to the point where I've watched so many businesses around me collapse. I've watched people lose their jobs, and there's no progress moving forward. So we're ready to take action ourselves, and we have thought long and we thought hard about it. And all of our actions come from the heart, with not our best interests in mind, but what we feel is the greater good for ourselves, our community, and the state and nation at whole."
Murphy was asked about Atilis Gym the day after Carlson interviewed Smith, and PhillyVoice reported that the governor replied, "He's out of compliance, and that's not going to be tolerated."
Smith insisted that he and Trumbetti are "prepared for any and all consequences. Our actions on Monday are going to be grounded in the ideals of civil disobedience. What we intend to showcase is that we reject the premise of essential versus nonessential businesses. Anything that Walmart can do with hundreds, if not thousands, of people passing through the stores every day touching everything in sight, a small business — whether it be a restaurant, a gym, a hair salon, or anything else — can replicate those things."
This story has been updated.


theblaze--2020-05-18--RIP 'flattening the curve': Gov. Murphy says New Jersey won't return to normal until 'a proven vacci

RIP 'flattening the curve': Gov. Murphy says New Jersey won't return to normal until 'a proven vaccine is widely available'

RIP 'flattening the curve ' : Gov .
Murphy says New Jersey wo n't return to normal until ' a @ @ @ @ @ '

You may have thought that the social distancing measures forced upon us by our governments were designed to help "flatten the curve," ensuring that there weren't excess deaths caused by COVID-19 due to hospitals being overwhelmed. You may have thought that because government officials repeatedly stated that this was the justification for keeping us all locked in our houses.
You may have also noticed that the goalposts seemed to move an awful lot during the last few weeks, when it became obvious that hospitals were not going to be overwhelmed in the vast majority of the country, and yet many states remained closed down. Many governors and media figures started acting like the goal all along had been to completely eradicate the disease via vaccine before Americans were allowed to return to normal.
Even President Trump faced hostile questioning from the media last week for insisting that the country had to get back to work whether or not a vaccine was developed.
Of course, if leaders had told us from the beginning that we would be going into lockdown until a vaccine was developed, Americans would have likely balked at the idea since the most reasonable estimates for widespread development and dissemination of a vaccine involved a timeframe of at least a year and more likely 18 months.
However, now that we've all been locked down for two months, some politicians feel more secure saying that the lockdowns will not fully end until there is a vaccine, no matter how long that takes. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) made that clear in a series of tweets Monday afternoon.
Murphy's tweet thread makes it clear that New Jersey will not fully reopen until "widespread vaccination or lifesaving treatment" has been achieved, a goal that most medical researchers say is likely more than a year away.
Gov. Murphy was clear, "Until a proven vaccine is widely available, we cannot firmly enter the 'new normal.'"
Murphy's bait and switch comes as cracks are already beginning to show in the state's willingness to enforce Murphy's orders forever. Earlier Monday, a police officer made news by refusing to enforce the governor's order against a gym owner who publicly declared that he would reopen in defiance of that order.


theblaze--2020-05-18--New Zealand gun crimes rise to highest in a decade despite strict gun bans

Gun crime rates and killings involving guns in New Zealand reached their highest level in a decade this year despite the country's strict gun control measures lauded by left-wing politicians in the United States.
The figures, obtained from police under the Official Information Act by news outlet RNZ, show that gun crime has increased in the country in 2018 and 2019:
Last year, there were 3540 occasions where an offender was found with a gun.
And in both of the last two years, the rate of deadly incidents involving a firearm was the highest it had been since 2009.
The number of guns seized by police is also on the rise, up almost 50 percent on five years earlier at 1263 last year.
An officer was attacked by someone wielding a gun 13 times in 2019, up two on 2018 but remaining steady over the past five years.
New Zealand earned praise from gun control advocates in the spring 2019 after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern banned all "military-style semi-automatic weapons" and "assault rifles" in the wake of a massacre of 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch.
As a part of the ban, the government implemented a gun buyback program allowing legal gun owners to surrender their firearms to the government for "fair and reasonable compensation."
Proponents of the ban assumed that it would result in fewer guns in the country, and thus, fewer gun crimes. But that evidently is not what has happened so far.
Commenting on the news, Tom Knighton, writing for the Second Amendment-supporting blog Bearing Arms, argued that New Zealand's weapons ban is further proof that "knee-jerk" reactions to take away citizens' guns doesn't lower gun crime.
"What's shocking ... isn't that [higher gun crime rates] happened. It's that this happened yet again and anti-gunners are still able to delude themselves into believing that gun control reduces gun crime. It doesn't," Knighton wrote. "While some of our gun controlled states have low crime, it has a low crime in spite of those laws, not because of them."
(H/T: Bearing Arms)


theblaze--2020-05-18--EXPOSED: NY policy forced nursing homes to take in COVID-19 patients

EXPOSED : NY policy forced nursing homes to take in COVID-19 patients

Oh, Gov. Cuomo! You can't seem to get anything right. Even when you're technically right, you're still very wrong.
Pro tip: It IS common for nursing homes to send those who fall ill to the hospital for more intensive care. However, it's uncommon for hospitals to send those needing critical care to a nursing home for intensive care. And yet, policy forced New York nursing homes to support hospitals by taking in COVID-19 patients. Why? Because propaganda said, "hospitals could not handle the influx of COVID-19 patients."
The policy enforced in Cuomo's state resulted in a tragically high number of nursing home deaths related to COVID-19. It's reasonable to doubt Gov. Cuomo when he tells the American people his lovely state of New York "did everything possible to keep COVID-19 out of nursing homes." Why? Because policy dictates that nursing homes could not turn away COVID-19 patients, making the exact opposite true.
Cuomo finally announced last week that nursing homes would no longer be forced to accept patients with COVID-19.
Steven Crowder takes a look Gov. Cuomo's policies:
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theblaze--2020-05-18--McDonald's bans public soda fountains amid COVID-19 pandemic

McDonald 's is putting the kibosh on public soda fountains during the COVID-19 pandemic .
What are the details ?
Around 14,000 McDonald 's restaurants across the United States are banning public soda fountains over hygiene concerns .
According to data company Scrape Hero , there are 13,839 locations — so that sounds an awful lot like `` all McDonald 's . ''
McDonald 's confirmed the news in a statement to Yahoo Finance .
A portion of the new guidelines pointed out that `` beverage bars '' in restaurants `` will remain closed or sectioned off and staffed in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the crisis in February our safety and sanitation practices have been informed by guidance from both our own third-party contagious disease experts and the CDC , '' the McDonald 's release read .
`` Now , we 're evolving these health and safety guidelines further by implementing nationwide standards for restaurant operations across all 14,000 U.S .
restaurants . ''
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal , the restaurant is directing its staff to close the beverage bar area or have a staff member monitor it due to the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ high need for sanitization .
Yahoo Finance added that at least one franchise owner is opting to shut down the beverage bar altogether rather than deal with the continuous need to maintain hygienic vigilance and monitoring .
Joe Erlinger , president of McDonald 's USA , also defended the restaurant 's decision to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic .
In an open letter , Erlinger said , `` [ M ] any people are depending on us right now for a hot meal . ''
Erlinger 's letter added , `` Since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ I have been meeting three times a day to evaluate and adjust our plans while also adopting best practices from our franchisees and global markets .
To date , we have implemented nearly 50 process changes in restaurants and increased training for restaurant crew .
Now , as cities and states begin to ease restrictions , we are moving thoughtfully and judiciously with guidance provided by local authorities . ''
You can read more about the company 's `` process changes '' here .

McDonald's is putting the kibosh on public soda fountains during the COVID-19 pandemic.
What are the details?
Around 14,000 McDonald's restaurants across the United States are banning public soda fountains over hygiene concerns.
According to data company Scrape Hero, there are 13,839 locations — so that sounds an awful lot like "all McDonald's."
McDonald's confirmed the news in a statement to Yahoo Finance.
A portion of the new guidelines pointed out that "beverage bars" in restaurants "will remain closed or sectioned off and staffed in restaurants."
"From the beginning of the crisis in February our safety and sanitation practices have been informed by guidance from both our own third-party contagious disease experts and the CDC," the McDonald's release read. "Now, we're evolving these health and safety guidelines further by implementing nationwide standards for restaurant operations across all 14,000 U.S. restaurants."
According to an article in the Wall Street Journal, the restaurant is directing its staff to close the beverage bar area or have a staff member monitor it due to the difficulty of maintaining the beverage bar's high need for sanitization.
Yahoo Finance added that at least one franchise owner is opting to shut down the beverage bar altogether rather than deal with the continuous need to maintain hygienic vigilance and monitoring.
What else?
Joe Erlinger, president of McDonald's USA, also defended the restaurant's decision to remain open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In an open letter, Erlinger said, "[M]any people are depending on us right now for a hot meal."
Erlinger's letter added, "Since the pandemic began, my team and I have been meeting three times a day to evaluate and adjust our plans while also adopting best practices from our franchisees and global markets. To date, we have implemented nearly 50 process changes in restaurants and increased training for restaurant crew. Now, as cities and states begin to ease restrictions, we are moving thoughtfully and judiciously with guidance provided by local authorities."
You can read more about the company's "process changes" here.


theblaze--2020-05-18--Sen. Ocasio-Cortez? AOC gets crushed in hypothetical matchups testing her viability as a Senate cand

Sen. Ocasio-Cortez? AOC gets crushed in hypothetical matchups testing her viability as a Senate candidate

Sen. Ocasio-Cortez ?
AOC gets crushed in hypothetical matchups testing her viability as a Senate candidate Does the superstar Democrat @ @ @ @ @ a Senate seat ?

Ever since Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) defeated the odds to oust Joe Crowley, one of the Democratic Party's most established politicians, rumors have swirled that she may also primary one of New York's incumbent senators, Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand.
But according to a new poll, Ocasio-Cortez does not stand a chance at unseating either senator, both of whom are Democrats.
Despite ushering in a new, more progressive and further left vision for the Democratic Party, New York's Democrats are not hungry for Ocasio-Cortez's socialist vision.
The Zogby survey polling likely Democratic primary voters found that Ocasio-Cortez would lose a head-to-head matchup against Schumer, the Senate minority leader, by a more than 2-to-1 margin, 54% to 21%.
According to Zogby's hypothetical matchup, Schumer defeated Ocasio-Cortez in every region of New York and in all gender and ideological groups. Most importantly, Schumer also handily defeated Ocasio-Cortez among swing voters. However, Ocasio-Cortez bested Schumer in younger and single voters.
Ocasio-Cortez also suffered a significant defeat in a hypothetical matchup against Gillibrand, 43% to 26%.
However, Zogby said a primary matchup between Gillibrand and Ocasio-Cortez could be "much closer."
"The fact that Ocasio-Cortez is neck and neck with Gillibrand in NYC, and beating the former presidential candidate among younger voters, should be worrisome to the senator since many votes on a statewide level come from downstate, and Ocasio-Cortez has the name recognition to energize younger voters. Gillibrand should take note," according to Zogby.
The takeaway is that, although Ocasio-Cortez was crushed in both hypothetical matchups, she won the voters that could build her a large enough platform to mount a serious challenge against Democratic Party heavyweights.
From Zogby:
Although Senators Schumer and Gillibrand are winning against Ocasio-Cortez in hypothetical Democratic primaries, the freshman congresswomen is performing well among younger voters and urban voters. If she were to energize both groups and benefit from a low turnout, she could shock the world again like she did when she ousted longtime Congressman Joseph Crowley in 2018. Also, women were the most uncertain of the surveyed groups, which could give "AOC" further leverage against heavyweights like Schumer and Gillibrand.


theblaze--2020-05-18--Ahmaud Arbery shooting video was leaked by one of the men charged with his murder

He thought it would make them look better Ahmaud Arbery shooting video was leaked by one of the men charged @ @ @ @ @ the shooting death of Ahmaud Arbery at the Glynn County Courthouse on May 8 in @ @ @ @ @ McMichael and Travis McMichael were arrested and charged with murder .
( Photo by Sean @ @ @

Ahmaud Arbery was killed in February in Brunswick, Georgia. The men responsible for his death weren't arrested and charged with murder until May, when video of the confrontation was leaked to the media. As it turns out, the video was leaked by one of the accused murderers, because he thought it would make them look better, WSB-TV reported.
Gregory McMichael and his son, Travis McMichael, are charged with murder after the two chased Arbery, who was unarmed, and confronted him, allegedly believing he had burglarized a home that was unoccupied and still under construction. Travis McMichael shot and killed Arbery during the ensuing altercation in what he claims was self-defense.
Initially, an attorney in Brunswick named Alan Tucker claimed responsibility for leaking the video, saying he did it in an attempt to ease racial tensions by showing what actually happened when Arbery was killed. The video had the exact opposite result, and the case became a national civil rights issue.
Tucker has since revealed that Gregory McMichael, a former police officer, came to him with the video of the shooting, seeking assistance in getting it to local media.
Revisiting the incident: Surveillance video shows Arbery entering a home in the Satilla Shores neighborhood in Brunswick on Feb. 23. There is no evidence that he caused any damage or took any property. Someone called 911 to report Arbery's presence on the property.
Footage showed Arbery running out of the house and down the street. That's when the McMichaels, both with firearms, pursued him in their truck to attempt a citizen arrest, allegedly believing him to be the same black male who had previously trespassed on that property, which was owned by Larry English.
English's attorney has speculated that Arbery may have entered the property to get some water. Arbery's mother said he was out for a jog that day. From WTVD-TV:
"It now appears that this young man may have been coming onto the property for water," J. Elizabeth Graddy, the attorney for homeowner Larry English, said in a statement. "There is a water source at the dock behind the house as well as a source near the front of the structure. Although these water sources do not appear within any of the cameras' frames, the young man moves to and from their locations."


theblaze--2020-05-18--AOC wants the rich to pay 'fair share' of taxes — but she still owes more than $2,000 in unpaid taxe

AOC wants the rich to pay 'fair share' of taxes — but she still owes more than $2,000 in unpaid taxes from 2012

AOC wants the rich to pay 'fair share ' of taxes — but she still owes more than $ 2,000 @ @ @ @ @ 'She just thinks she 's better than everyone else '

Democratic socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) wants America's wealthy citizens to pay "their fair share in taxes" — but she has failed to pay taxes she has owed for seven years. And the bill has grown to more than $2,000.
What's going on with AOC's taxes?
In an ongoing investigation, the New York Post has found that Ocasio-Cortez owes New York $2,089 connected to a failed publishing business she started in 2012.
According to the Post, the state dissolved AOC's business in October 2016, which it can do when a company does not pay the corporate taxes it owes. After shuttering the business, the state filed warrant against the congresswoman's business for $1,618 in July 2017, the Post said.
In March 2019, an AOC spokesman told the newspaper that the taxes would be paid right away.
However, with the bill having climbed to nearly $2,100, the lawmaker's office is "contesting the tax warrant," saying the bill was issued "in error," the Post reported.
Paying a 'fair share'
The far-left progressive House member has been an advocate for wealth redistribution for years. One of her signature issues since being sworn into Congress in January 2019 has been a 70% tax on the rich.
Why? For Ocasio-Cortez, it's because the nation's wealthiest have gotten away with not paying the taxes she believes the should be paying, they haven't been paying "their fair share." As she told CBS' "60 Minutes" days after joining the House: "There's an element where, yeah, people are going to have to start paying their fair share in taxes."
For the congresswoman, a "fair share" does not include the taxes she has owed for years.
AOC's hypocrisy has not gone unnoticed by her Democratic primary challenger, Michelle Caruso-Cabrera.
"She just thinks she's better than everyone else," Caruso-Cabrera's spokesman told the Post. "Clearly, she's worse."
AOC will face Democratic challengers in the June 23 primary in the 14th Congressional District, which covers portions of The Bronx and Queens.


theblaze--2020-05-18--Pensacola terrorist attack was the 'brutal culmination of years of planning' by a longtime al-Qaeda

Pensacola terrorist attack was the 'brutal culmination of years of planning' by a longtime al-Qaeda associate, FBI director says

Pensacola terrorist attack was the 'brutal culmination of years of planning ' by a longtime al-Qaeda associate , FBI director @ @ @ @ @ 'plans and tactics ' with the terrorist organization

During a news conference Monday, Attorney General William Barr and FBI Director Christopher Wray confirmed that the Pensacola gunman, Mohammed al-Shamrani, had "significant ties" to al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, known as AQAP.
Wray said that new evidence found on al-Shamrani's phones showed that the deadly attack in December that killed three Americans and injured eight others was "the brutal culmination of years of planning and preparation by a longtime AQAP associate."
The FBI director added that al-Shamrani did not radicalize after arriving in the United States but was radicalized at least as early as 2015 and, in the following years, engaged in consistent communication with top AQAP operatives. One of those operatives was Abdullah al-Maliki, which both Wray and Barr said is now the subject of a counterterrorism operation.
According to Wray, al-Shamrani had shared "plans and tactics" with AQAP, which later claimed credit for the attack. The Associated Press reported that AQAP "has long been considered the global network's most dangerous branch and has attempted to carry out attacks on the U.S. mainland."
WATCH: Attorney General Barr and FBI Director Wray hold a news conference on Pensacola shootings youtu.be
On Dec. 6, al-Shamrani opened fire at a Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. The killer was a member of the Saudi military and was in aviation training at the military base. He was killed during the attack by an Escambia County sheriff's deputy.
During the initial stages of the investigation, federal officials were left with little doubt that al-Shamrani was motivated by jihadist ideology, but were unable to access his phones to prove that the attack was a coordinated effort. The Department of Justice sought assistance from Apple in unlocking the encrypted phones, but the tech company denied the request.
Finally, months later, FBI agents were able to gain access to the phones, though neither Wray nor Barr went into specific detail as to how.
"In a combination of skill and determination, the men and women of the FBI have succeeded in accessing the terrorist's two phones, both of which he tried to destroy," Wray said, commending bureau agents.
During the news conference, Barr did not shy away from noting his displeasure with Apple's refusal to cooperate with federal agents, lamenting that it "took over four months and large sums of taxpayer dollars to obtain evidence that should have been easily and quickly accessible when we obtained court orders."


theblaze--2020-05-18--Cops in UK ask for help finding man who kissed woman on cheek, call it a sexual assault — and flood

Cops in UK ask for help finding man who kissed woman on cheek, call it a sexual assault — and flood of ridicule follows

Cops in UK ask for help finding man who kissed woman on cheek , call it a sexual assault — @ @ @ @ @ 'Giving someone a kiss on the cheek is n't a crime nor is it sexual @ @

Derbyshire police in the United Kingdom posted an appeal on its website and social media accounts Saturday asking for help finding a man who kissed a woman on the cheek — and called it a sexual assault, BBC News reported.
What are the details?
Police said the man's kiss was in thanks to the woman — who's in her 70s — for helping him when his truck got stuck under a bridge, the outlet said.
The woman was "very distressed, especially at a time when close contact with strangers is to be avoided," police said, referring to the coronavirus, and added that the unwanted kiss fell under the Sexual Offences Act 2003, BBC News said.
"We take all allegations of this nature extremely seriously," police said, according to the outlet.
How did readers react?
The police appeal was ridiculed, BBC News said, as a Twitter commenter asked the department if it was a joke while another offered, "Giving someone a kiss on the cheek isn't a crime nor is it sexual assault."
The force later pulled the request for help from its accounts since "the post drew a significant number of comments that were counterproductive to the nature of the appeal," the outlet said.
Derbyshire police also have faced criticism for using drone footage to "lockdown shame" walkers, BBC News said. In addition, Peter Goodman, the force's chief constable, is retiring after a police watchdog probe into his personal conduct, the Daily Mail reported.


theblaze--2020-05-18--California city declares itself 'sanctuary city' from Gov. Newsom's strict lockdown order

A central California city has declared itself a `` sanctuary city '' — not for illegal immigrants — but in response to Democratic Gov .
Gavin Newsom 's stay-at-home order .
The City of Atwater passed a resolution Friday that allows all city businesses , churches , and not-for-profit organizations to reopen despite the continuance of a mandatory state lockdown order , KFSN-TV reported .
`` Affirming the city 's commitment to fundamental constitutional rights and declaring the City of Atwater a sanctuary city for all businesses , '' the resolution read .
Even though California is moving to relax @ @ @ @ @ @ @ timeline is not quick enough for businesses and residents who have gone nearly two months without work .
`` This is America .
You have the choice .
It 's time for the government to stop dictating another month , another three months , six months , '' Atwater Mayor Paul Creighton said , according to KFSN .
`` When is it going to end ?
When everyone is bankrupt ? ''
Practically speaking , the order , which was both symbolic and legally binding , means that local authorities will not interfere @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors , the Associated Press reported .
But that does not mean every business will reopen in Atwater , a city of about 30,000 .
For those businesses that operate under a state-issued license , such as bars and salons , reopening in defiance of the stay-at-home order could mean losing their operating licenses .
Those businesses are likely to remain closed .
California state officials began relaxing restrictions in some areas of the state this month .
However , Merced County , in which Atwater is located , did not meet state @ @ @ @ @ @ @ order still applies in the county .

A central California city has declared itself a "sanctuary city" — not for illegal immigrants — but in response to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's stay-at-home order.
The City of Atwater passed a resolution Friday that allows all city businesses, churches, and not-for-profit organizations to reopen despite the continuance of a mandatory state lockdown order, KFSN-TV reported.
"Affirming the city's commitment to fundamental constitutional rights and declaring the City of Atwater a sanctuary city for all businesses," the resolution read.
Even though California is moving to relax some restrictions, the state government's timeline is not quick enough for businesses and residents who have gone nearly two months without work.
"This is America. You have the choice. It's time for the government to stop dictating another month, another three months, six months," Atwater Mayor Paul Creighton said, according to KFSN. "When is it going to end? When everyone is bankrupt?"
Practically speaking, the order, which was both symbolic and legally binding, means that local authorities will not interfere with businesses that choose to reopen their doors, the Associated Press reported.
But that does not mean every business will reopen in Atwater, a city of about 30,000. For those businesses that operate under a state-issued license, such as bars and salons, reopening in defiance of the stay-at-home order could mean losing their operating licenses. Those businesses are likely to remain closed.
California state officials began relaxing restrictions in some areas of the state this month.
However, Merced County, in which Atwater is located, did not meet state guidelines to begin reopening and the lockdown order still applies in the county.


theblaze--2020-05-18--At least 120 countries back UN investigation into COVID-19 origins

At least 120 countries are backing a United Nations motion intending to investigate the origins of COVID-19, according to Business Insider.
Australia first proposed the initiative with intent to investigate China for its role in the pandemic.
What are the details?
On Monday, the outlet reported that a new version of the initiative doesn't mention the Communist country by name.
China has insisted that it is far too early to make definitive determinations on the emergence of COVID-19.
The U.N. will virtually vote on the measure this week at the World Health Organization's two-day World Health Assembly meeting in Geneva.
The WHO has been under fire for months after reportedly parroting China's repeated misinformations surrounding the deadly virus. The organization also botched its initial response to the COVID-19 outbreak earlier in the year.
Business Insider reported that 123 nations voiced their support. To pass, the bill requires a two-thirds majority of the assembly's 194 members.
"The text of the resolution calls for an 'impartial, independent, and comprehensive evaluation' of the 'international health response to COVID-19," the outlet added.
What is China saying?
According to a Monday New York Post report, China said it would cooperate with the investigation.
"The EU resolution said the investigation should be initiated at the 'earliest appropriate moment,' and should also examine 'the actions' of the World Health Organization and 'their timeliness pertaining to the COVID-19 pandemic,'" the outlet noted.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said, "China supports a comprehensive evaluation of the global response to the epidemic after the global epidemic is under control, to sum up experiences and remedy deficiencies."
Xi also said that the work "needs a scientific and professional attitude" and needs to be WHO-led.
"[T]he principles of objectivity and fairness need to be upheld," he added.
What else?
Earlier this month, China reportedly refused to allow the WHO to investigate the origins of the coronavirus.
Dr. Gauden Galea, the WHO representative to China, told Sky News that the country would not permit the organization's members to participate in the investigation.
"We know that some national investigation is happening but at this stage we have not been invited to join," Galea said in early May remarks. "WHO is making requests of the health commission and of the authorities. The origins of the virus are very important, the animal-human interface is extremely important and needs to be studied."
"The priority is we need to know as much as possible to prevent the reoccurrence," he added.


theblaze--2020-05-18--Horowitz: We have been lied to: 6 facts that change everything we know about SARS-CoV-2

Horowitz : We have been lied to : 6 facts that change everything we know about SARS-CoV-2 Every day we @ @ @ @ @ lies driving lockdown .

James Madison once said, "A popular Government, without popular information, or the means of acquiring it, is but a Prologue to a Farce or a Tragedy; or, perhaps both." The coronavirus fascists have succeeded in cementing their illogical, immoral, and illegal policies through the prism of false information about the timing of the virus, the specific nature and severity of the overall fatality rate, the number of actual deaths, and the utility (or perhaps harm) of lockdown policies in actually mitigating deaths – all the while obfuscating the much higher collateral deaths and damage caused by the lockdown itself.
Every day we learn new information demonstrating the lies driving lockdown. Here are some of the most important ones from over the weekend.
1) The shocking inflation of COVID-19 death numbers: From day one, we were warned that states are ascribing every single death of anyone who happens to test positive for the coronavirus — even if they are asymptomatic — to the virus rather than the clear cause of death. Now, thanks to a lawsuit in Colorado, the state was forced to revise its death count down by 23 % over the weekend — from 1,150 to 878. The state is now publishing numbers of deaths "with" COVID-19 separate from deaths "from" COVID-19. As I reported on Thursday, county officials started accusing the state's department of health of reclassifying deaths of those who tested positive for the virus but died of things like alcohol poisoning as COVID-19 deaths just to insidiously inflate the numbers. This revision in Colorado is a bombshell story that, of course, will remain unknown to most Americans. Every state needs to do this, and if they did, we would find an across-the-board drop in numbers by at least 25%, the same %age by which Dr. Birx reportedly believes the count is being inflated, according to the Washington Post. For example, in Minnesota, state officials are now admitting that every single person who dies in a nursing home after testing positive is now deemed to have died from the virus, never mind the fact that 25% of all natural deaths in a given week occur in nursing homes and that most cases of COVID-19 are asymptomatic, which means more often than not, they died exclusively of other causes.
2) States with longer lockdowns had worse results: Kyle Lamb posted a solid analysis on Twitter, grouping states by how long they implemented a lockdown and averaging out the deaths per 100,000 people by each grouping. The results are stounding, as there is a perfectly inverse relationship between how long a state implemented a lockdown and how successful it was in keeping the deaths down. I independently cross-checked these numbers, and they appear to be accurate.
While this doesn't necessarily prove that lockdowns cause more COVID-19 deaths (although they definitely cause other deaths), it's nearly impossible to assert the other way around – that lockdowns prevent deaths – if we see zero correlation in the data. This is especially true given that Florida is the third most populous state and has the highest concentration of seniors, yet deaths and hospitalizations are way down since the state reopened on May 4. Florida is more densely populated than Michigan and Pennsylvania, yet has one-sixth and one-fourth of the deaths per capita, respectively. The same holds true for Georgia, which is a fairly densely populated state. Infections are down over 40% and deaths are down 31% since reopening. As Secretary of Health Alex Azar said yesterday, "We are seeing that in places that are opening, we're not seeing this spike in cases. We still see spikes in some areas that are, in fact, closed."
3) Outside nursing homes, the fatality rate never warranted such action, even if it would work: Every day we find more hard data showing that the overwhelming majority of cases are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, and outside nursing homes, the chance of dying is very low and very limited to a population we can more efficiently shield. For those who are younger and healthier, deaths are almost nonexistent. Spain was one of the hardest-hit countries and has a higher overall fatality rate than others, yet its age-stratified fatality rates mirror what we have seen in the Netherlands, Denmark, France, and elsewhere. One Twitter commentator has broken down the age-based fatality rates of the comprehensive Spanish antibody study, and the results are similar to what we've seen elsewhere:
He used public information to calculate the case data and the population age data, and I have spot-checked some data points and they all seem on target. It's identical to what the Netherlands found.
Remember, Spain was one of the hardest-hit countries, but even there, 57% of all deaths and the overwhelming majority of deaths of those above age 80 were in senior care facilities. When you take them out of the equation, the death rates are shockingly low. Yet the same politicians who focused on locking up an entire country failed to care for those in nursing homes. This demographic COVID-19 death chart from Massachusetts speaks volumes about the targeted scope of the danger.
It's essentially the same story in every state.
4) Outside New York, this is barely worse than bad flu seasons: While Europe is opening its schools, almost every U.S. state continues to keep schools shut. Yet according to the CDC's latest weekly report, "For children (0-17 years), COVID-19 hospitalization rates are much lower than influenza hospitalization rates at comparable time points during recent influenza seasons." Even the World Health Organization's top scientist just admitted that children "seem less capable of spreading the virus." As for everyone else, if you look at the bump in overall deaths for most states (outside the tristate area), they are either at, slightly below, or slight above the 2018 flu season. But at this point, everything is way below a typical flu season in the winter, yet you wouldn't know it from listening to the media. According to the CDC, hospitalizations and deaths have been declining in all 10 designated regions for the past 3-7 weeks. Still, we are now being more fascist that even Italy in violating civil rights.
5) Excess deaths are from the lockdowns, not the virus: While there is zero evidence that lockdowns saved any lives of coronavirus patients, there is clear evidence they cost other lives. It has been observed in a number of states that there are excess deaths being detected, primarily from people dying at home. The CDC is predicting 21,462-40,097 excess deaths NOT due to COVID-19, likely from those too scared to come to the ER because of the exaggerated risk being associated with COVID-19. Also, a recent analysis of excess deaths in England shows that they are seeing thousands of people dying at home from other symptoms because of the lockdown.
6) Social distancing was invented by a high-school kid and politicians, not scientists: Jeffrey Tucker of the American Institute for Economic research reports that the origin of this cult of "social distancing" being used for totalitarian lockdowns was the brainchild of a high schooler's sociology paper in 2006, promoted by the Bush administration during the avian flu. It was widely mocked by the epidemiological community, including by Johns Hopkins, for "causing the potential for a 'serious adverse outcome,'" thereby ensuring that "a manageable epidemic could move toward catastrophe."
How have we allowed such an illogical approach to crush our liberties, economy, hospitals, education, and criminal justice? How have we lost our freedoms?
The answer is that the public is not getting the right information. This is why the political class is doing everything in its power to censor anyone who dares question the idolatry of this lockdown cult. YouTube has censored the videos of Knut Wittkowski, who was a top epidemiologist in Germany and then served as the head of biostatistics, epidemiology, and research design at Rockefeller University. One would think we'd want to hear his opinion, but there is only one view that is allowed to gain traction. Why is it that only one side is scared of the information of the other side?
As James Madison warned, "Knowledge will forever govern ignorance: And a people who mean to be their own Governors, must arm themselves with the power which knowledge gives."


theblaze--2020-05-18--Coronavirus model used to justify shutdowns in the US and UK found to be 'totally unreliable' by exp

Coronavirus model used to justify shutdowns in the US and UK found to be 'totally unreliable' by experts

Coronavirus model used to justify shutdowns in the US and UK found to be 'totally unreliable ' by experts 'Models @ @ @ @ @ the basic scientific test '

The coronavirus outbreak projection model that predicted more than 2 million U.S. deaths has been deemed "totally unreliable" by experts who have examined its coding, Fox News reported.
The model programmed by Neil Ferguson of the United Kingdom's Imperial College helped convince the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom to implement severe lockdowns to slow the spread of the virus, and the frightening projections the model created also motivated public support of such measures early on.
But the Imperial College model appears incapable of meeting even the lowest scientific standards. If scientists run the model two times with the same data, it produces different results. From Fox News:
The Imperial model works by using code to simulate transport links, population size, social networks and healthcare provisions to predict how coronavirus would spread. Researchers released the code behind it, which developers have criticized as being unreadable.
Scientists from the University of Edinburgh have further claimed that it is impossible to reproduce the same results from the same data using the model. The team got different results when they used different machines, and even different results from the same machines.
"Models must be capable of passing the basic scientific test of producing the same results given the same initial set of parameters," Oxford University mathematical biology professor Michael Bonsall said, according to Fox News. "Otherwise, there is simply no way of knowing whether they will be reliable."
One tech company founder told the Daily Telegraph that such poor work wouldn't be acceptable in any business context.
"In our commercial reality, we would fire anyone for developing code like this and any business that relied on it to produce software for sale would likely go bust," David Richards, co-founder of the British tech company WANdisco, said.
Ferguson did step down from his advisory role with the UK government, but not because of his failed model — it was because he violated coronavirus lockdown rules to cheat on his wife with a married woman.


theblaze--2020-05-18--NJ gym opens in defiance of Democratic governor's COVID-19 shutdown order — and supporters are fired

NJ gym opens in defiance of Democratic governor's COVID-19 shutdown order — and supporters are fired up

NJ gym opens in defiance of Democratic governor 's COVID-19 shutdown order — and supporters are fired up 'Let 's @ @ @ @ @ ' supporters chanted while waving U.S. and Trump 2020 flags

When the doors of Atilis Gym in Bellmawr, New Jersey, opened at 8 a.m. Monday in defiance of Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's coronavirus shutdown order, WPVI-TV said a collective cheer was heard from a crowd of supporters gathered outside.
Some in the crowd — which began forming hours earlier, the station said — carried American and Trump 2020 flags and chanted "USA!" and "Let's get back to work!"
What's the background?
Gyms were among the nonessential businesses that Murphy ordered closed March 16 to fight the spread of the coronavirus, PhillyVoice reported. And while such businesses can begin curbside pickup and delivery Monday, customers aren't allowed inside stores and purchases must be done in advance by phone or online, the outlet said.
Naturally gyms can't operate under those conditions, but the co-owners of Attlis Gym are reopening anyway.
Co-owner Frank Trumbetti appeared on a video posted to the gym's Facebook page last week, explaining he and co-owner Ian Smith are reopening early "to fight for our rights. The government has failed at protecting our rights and [is] failing at protecting our health."
Trumbetti said that they're "proposing an organized peaceful reopening of the state, not just our business. We truly believe that if we don't do this, in the end we will have zero rights and no say in what happens."
He added that they're taking the coronavirus seriously, and that his mother contracted COVID-19 while in the hospital for another illness and that his wife is an emergency room pediatric nurse.
"We would like to get all the support we can all day long," Trumbetti said on the clip of the Monday reopen, adding that members would be allowed to enter according to "safe distancing guidelines," exercise, and then "stick around all day as a sign of solidarity for our rights as citizens of this great country."
The owners said signs are posted outside telling members to adhere to social distancing, WPVI reported, adding that capacity is limited to 44 members at a time and that bottles of disinfectant are available to wipe down equipment, which has been spread apart.
'Enough is enough'
Co-owner Ian Smith appeared on Fox News' "Tucker Carlson Tonight" last week and said Murphy's shutdown order is a "gross violation" of the constitutional rights of New Jersey residents.
"Enough is enough," Smith said. "We've gotten to the point where I've watched so many businesses around me collapse. I've watched people lose their jobs, and there's no progress moving forward. So we're ready to take action ourselves, and we have thought long and we thought hard about it. And all of our actions come from the heart, with not our best interests in mind, but what we feel is the greater good for ourselves, our community, and the state and nation at whole."
Murphy was asked about Atilis Gym the day after Carlson interviewed Smith, and PhillyVoice reported that the governor replied, "He's out of compliance, and that's not going to be tolerated."
Smith insisted that he and Trumbetti are "prepared for any and all consequences. Our actions on Monday are going to be grounded in the ideals of civil disobedience. What we intend to showcase is that we reject the premise of essential versus nonessential businesses. Anything that Walmart can do with hundreds, if not thousands, of people passing through the stores every day touching everything in sight, a small business — whether it be a restaurant, a gym, a hair salon, or anything else — can replicate those things."


theblaze--2020-05-18--California man allegedly proceeded to strangle a child just 10 minutes after being released from jai

California man allegedly proceeded to strangle a child just 10 minutes after being released from jail

A man in California was taken back into custody last week after strangling a child and stealing a car just 10 minutes after being released from the county jail, police said.
Daniel Orozco, 28, was released from county jail last Wednesday after being arrested a day earlier for allegedly driving under the influence of drugs and driving the wrong way on the road, Salinas Police Department wrote in a post on its Facebook page.
After his release, Orozco reportedly wasted little time getting back to committing crimes.
"Not more than 10 minutes later Orozco forced a female out of her car in the parking lot of Natividad Medical Center. The female refused to give up the keys to her car so Orozco began to strangle the female's 11 year old child," the post continued.
According to police, the female then gave up her keys and pulled her child out of the car before Orozco sped off.
He was arrested along Highway 101 shortly after and was again booked into county jail — this time for allleged carjacking, kidnapping, child endangerment, and assault with a deadly weapon.
Anything else?
California has made headlines recently for its zero-bail policy amid the coronavirus outbreak, under which cash bail is set at $0 for most misdemeanor and lower-level felonies in the state, effectively mandating release.
The measure, which is an attempt by the state to reduce prison population during the pandemic, has been criticized by law enforcement.
Earlier this month, a man was arrested and released three times in one day under the policy. Another California man released last month thanks to the policy, went on to allegedly carjack a motorist only 40 minutes after his release.
Over the weekend, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed further shrinking California's prison population in order to manage the state's budget during the pandemic.


theblaze--2020-05-18--LIVE: Andrew Cuomo completely botched COVID-19

Monday , Steven Crowder and the crew discuss Trump 's `` ask China '' exchange with an American Chinese reporter @ @ @ @ @ targets female and minority reporters , recently released prisoners released because of COVID-19 concerns are @ @ @ @ @ Cuomo 's mishandling of COVID-19 , and more .
Do n't miss Monday 's Good @ @ @ @ @ 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 .

Monday, Steven Crowder and the crew discuss Trump's "ask China" exchange with an American Chinese reporter, debunked claims that Trump targets female and minority reporters, recently released prisoners released because of COVID-19 concerns are already murdering people, Andrew Cuomo's mishandling of COVID-19, and more. Don't miss Monday's Good Morning MugClub!
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--2020-05-19--Breaking: Trump tweets an ultimatum to the World Health Organization over coronavirus and China

Trump tweets an ultimatum to the World Health Organization over coronavirus and China The president tweeted his threat to the @ @ @

President Donald Trump sent a letter to the World Health Organization laying out its failures in the response to the coronavirus pandemic and giving it an ultimatum.
The president tweeted the letter on his official social media account on Monday.
"This is the letter sent to Dr. Tedros of the World Health Organization. It is self-explanatory!" he tweeted, referring to Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
The letter accuses the WHO of downplaying the pandemic and echoing propaganda from the communist Chinese government.
"You also strongly praised China's strict domestic travel restrictions, but were inexplicably against my closing of the United States border, or the ban, with respect to people coming from China," the letter read.
"I put the ban in place regardless of your wishes. Your political gamesmanship on this issue was deadly, as other governments, relying on your comments, delaying imposing life-saving restrictions on travel to and from China," the letter claimed.
The president says that unless the WHO makes substantive changes, the U.S. may leave the organization and take away its funding permanently.
"My Administration has already started discussions with you on how to reform the organization. But action is needed quickly. We do not have time to waste," the president continued in the letter.
"That is why it is my duty, as President of the United States, to inform you that, if the World Health Organization does not commit to major substantive improvements within the next 30 days, I will make my temporary freeze of United States funding to the World Health Organization permanent and reconsider our membership in the organization," he added.
"I cannot allow American taxpayer dollars to continue to finance an organization that, in its present state, is so clearly not serving America's interests," the letter concluded.
Here's more about Trump and the WHO:


theblaze--2020-05-19--Nancy Pelosi attacks Trump on his age and weight after hydroxychloroquine revelation

Nancy Pelosi attacks Trump on his age and weight after hydroxychloroquine revelation She says the president should not be taking @ @ @ @ @ approval

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) lobbed an attack Monday on President Donald Trump's age and weight in response to his revelation that he has been taking hydroxychloroquine, a long-used medication that he has touted as a promising drug in the fight against COVID-19.
What are the details?
Rep. Pelosi appeared on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360" following the announcement by President Trump that he has been taking the anti-malarial drug for a few weeks after hearing "a lot of good stories" about its effectiveness. The president has talked up the drug for months as a possible treatment and prophylactic for the coronavirus.
In reaction, Pelosi told Cooper, "As far as the president is concerned, he's our president, and I would rather he not be taking something that hasn't been approved by the scientists. Especially in his age group, and in his, shall we say, weight group ... 'morbidly obese,' they say."
Nancy Pelosi Calls Trump "Morbidly Obese" www.youtube.com
Cooper did not follow up on his question to Pelosi, who happens to be 80 years old. President Trump is 73.
Hydroxychloroquine has been touted by the president since the early onset of the novel coronavirus in the U.S. In mid-March, the FDA fast-tracked the drug for approval in treating COVID-19, and its use has been approved under prescription for diseases such as lupus and as an anti-malarial for decades.
But after President Trump floated it as a promising medication against the virus, support of the drug became a political issue.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) — known for her strict lockdown measures during COVID-19 — threatened physicians in her state early on during the pandemic for prescribing hydroxychloroquine before reversing course and requesting an emergency supply.
The Democratic Party in Michigan later censured state Rep. Karen Whitsett after she credited President Trump with saving her life because he presented hydroxychloroquine as a possible treatment that led her to request the drug from her physician after being stricken with COVID-19.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Neil Cavuto lashes out at Trump for taking hydroxychloroquine — and Fox News viewers are angry at hi

Neil Cavuto lashes out at Trump for taking hydroxychloroquine — and Fox News viewers are angry at him A lot @ @ @ @ @

Fox News host Neil Cavuto lashed out at President Donald Trump after the announcement that he is taking hydroxychloroquine, and his viewers responded with an angry rebukes on social media.
The president admitted on Monday that he is taking the controversial drug as a precautionary measure after reports that it helps cure coronavirus.
"I think it's good, I've heard a lot of good stories. And if it's not good, I'll tell you right. I'm not going to get hurt by it. It's been around for 40 years for malaria, for lupus, for other things," Trump said.
Cavuto responded very negatively.
"Alright, that was stunning. The president of the United States just acknowledged that he is taking hydroxochloquine, ah, a drug really meant to treat malaria and lupus," said Cavuto.
The president has insisted it has enormous benefits for patients either trying to prevent or who already have COVID-19
"The fact of the matter is, though, when the president said, 'What have you got to lose?' in a number of studies, those certain vulnerable, the population, have one thing to lose: their lives."
Cavuto cited many studies that showed that hydroxochloroquine could cause death in certain vulnerable populations.
"If you are in a risky population here, and you are taking this as a preventative treatment to ward off the virus or in a worst-case scenario you are dealing with the virus, and you are in this vulnerable population, this will kill you," Cavuto said.
"I cannot stress enough, this will kill you!" he added.
The response
Many Fox News viewers lashed out at Cavuto for his comments that they believed were too extreme.
"Neil Cavuto of Fox News needs to go work for CNN. He's only interested in spreading the same misinformation and myths as the Fake News. What a horse's behind!" tweeted one user.
"What is Neil Cavuto's problem??? I have never heard an anchor so focused on a non-story he hopes will hurt the President. Weird," said another.
"Who do you think you are to stir fear into the American people?!? What is your medical background? Everyone in the medical profession has an OPINION," responded another Twitter user.
Here are the comments from Cavuto:


theblaze--2020-05-19--Lindsey Graham announces vote to seek subpoenas of former Obama officials in probe of 'Obamagate' sc

Lindsey Graham announces vote to seek subpoenas of former Obama officials in probe of 'Obamagate' scandal

Lindsey Graham announces vote to seek subpoenas of former Obama officials in probe of 'Obamagate ' scandal

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) announced that the committee would be voting to authorize subpoenas of former Obama officials in the investigation into "ObamaGate."
Graham made the announcement in a press release on Monday.
"Obamagate" is the nickname for the scandal tying former President Barack Obama to the allegedly politically motivated investigation into Trump campaign officials around the 2016 election.
Graham said the committee is seeking "subpoena authorization related to the FISA abuse investigation and oversight of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation."
The notice said once granted the authorization, he could issue a subpoena for "witnesses, documents, or other materials."
Among those named in the press release were former FBI Director James Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former CIA Director John Brennan, and former U.S. Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates.
A spokesperson for the Biden campaign denied the accusations that the FISA process had been politicized in order to target Trump campaign officials and instead blamed racism for the claims.
Earlier on Monday, U.S. Attorney General William Barr said that he didn't expect either Obama or Biden to face a criminal investigation.
"As for President Obama and Vice President Biden, whatever their level of involvement based on what I know, I don't expect Durham's work will lead to a criminal investigation of either man," Barr said to reporters. "Our concern of potential criminality is focused on others."
Graham indicated that the vote would take place on June 4.
Here's more about the Obamagate scandal:


theblaze--2020-05-20--Mike Rowe: COVID-19 has revealed college for what it REALLY is

Mike Rowe : COVID-19 has revealed college for what it REALLY is

In this episode of "The Rubin Report," BlazeTV host Dave Rubin was joined by "Dirty Jobs" star Mike Rowe to talk about the effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns and how they might permanently change many aspects of our lives.
Mike explained why he believes the pandemic has revealed college and higher education to be an overpriced luxury and said he hopes that this will cause us to rethink how we structure education in the US.
"I think when the dust settles, higher education is going to be revealed as the luxury brand that it truly is," he told Dave. "And when you take away all of the stuff that has nothing to do with learning or connecting, you're gonna be left with a breathtakingly overpriced product."
Watch the video below to catch more of the conversation:
Watch Dave Rubin's full interview with Mike Rowe here.
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Looking for smart and honest conversations about current events, political news and the culture war? On "The Rubin Report," comedian Dave Rubin engages the ideas of some of society's most interesting thought leaders, authors, and politicians. Subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Breaking: Infamous Susan Rice self-email declassified by DNI Grenell has been released

Breaking : Infamous Susan Rice self-email declassified by DNI Grenell has been released The email has more details about the @ @ @ @

An email at the center of the "Obamagate" scandal was released to the public on Tuesday after being declassified by Richard Grenell, the acting director of national intelligence.
The email was sent by former Obama administration national security adviser Susan Rice to herself for documentation purposes on the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration.
It details her notes from a meeting about suspicions of Russian meddling in the 2016 election on January 5, 2017. In attendance were former President Barack Obama, former Vice President Joe Biden, Rice, and former FBI Director James Comey.
Catherine Herridge of CBS News posted the email after obtaining it:
In the previously redacted portion of the email, Rice says Obama told them he wanted the investigation to continue going "by the book":
President Obama began the conversation by stressing his continued commitment to ensuring that every aspect of this issue is handed by the Intelligence and law enforcement communities "by the book".
The section of the newly unredacted portions of the email have to do with Comey's concerns about Mike Flynn, the incoming national security adviser at the time, and his interactions with a Russian ambassador.
Director Comey affirmed that he is proceeding "by the book" as it relates to law enforcement. From a national security perspective, Comey said he does have some concerns that incoming NSA Flynn is speaking frequently with Russian Ambassador Kislyak. Comey said that could be an issue as it relates to sharing sensitive information.
President Obama asked if Comey was saying that the NSC should not pass sensitive information related to Russia to Flynn. Comey replied, 'potentially.' He added that he has no indication thus far that Flynn has passed classified information to Kislyak, but he noted that the 'level of communication is unusual.'
Critics of the Obama administration hoped the declassified email would contain more evidence proving that the investigation into Russian election meddling was politically motivated.
Rice has admitted that she requested the unmasking of Trump officials in surveillance, but denied that it was done out of political motivation.
"The allegation is that somehow Obama administration officials utilized intelligence for political purposes," Rice said in April 2017. That's absolutely false."
Here's a video compiling statements from Susan Rice:


theblaze--2020-05-19--TIMELINE: What Susan Rice's declassified email reveals about Trump's 'Obamagate' claims

A recently declassified email , written by former National Security Adviser Susan Rice and sent herself on the day of @ @ @ @ @ , reveals the players involved in the origins of the Trump-Russia probe and `` unmasking @ @ @ @ @ Adviser , Gen. Michael Flynn .
Rice 's email details a meeting in the Oval @ @ @ @ @ 2017 , which included herself , former FBI Director James Comey , former Deputy Attorney @ @ @ @ @ Vice President Joe Biden , and former President Barack Obama .
Acting Director of National @ @ @ @ @ fully declassified the email recently amid President Trump 's repeated references to `` Obamagate '' @ @ @ @ @ used his last weeks in office to target incoming officials and sabotage the new administration @ @ @ @ @ 's Wednesday night special , Glenn broke down the details of Rice 's email and @ @ @ @ @ the Obama administration officials involved in the Russia investigation 's origins .

A recently declassified email, written by former national security adviser Susan Rice and sent to herself on the day of President Donald Trump's inauguration, reveals the players involved in the origins of the Trump-Russia probe and "unmasking" of then-incoming national security adviser Gen. Michael Flynn.
Rice's email details a meeting in the Oval Office on Jan 5, 2017, which included herself, former FBI Director James Comey, former Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, former Vice President Joe Biden, and former President Barack Obama. Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell fully declassified the email recently amid President Trump's repeated references to "Obamagate" and claims that Obama "used his last weeks in office to target incoming officials and sabotage the new administration."
On Glenn Beck's Wednesday night special, Glenn broke down the details of Rice's email and discussed what they reveal about the Obama administration officials involved in the Russia investigation's origins.
Watch the video clip below:


theblaze--2020-05-19--Michael Flynn asks appeals court to force judge to drop case against him

Michael Flynn asks appeals court to force judge to drop case against him The Department of Justice has asked that @ @ @ @ @ but the judge has so far refused

Attorneys for former national security adviser Michael Flynn have asked an appeals court to intervene and force the federal judge presiding over the case against him to drop the charges against the retired lieutenant general as the Department of Justice has requested.
What are the details?
CBS News reported that Flynn's chief attorney, Sidney Powell, "filed a petition for a writ of mandamus with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday that would force U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan to approve the Justice Department's motion" to dismiss the case against her client.
The filing reads, "Petitioner respectfully requests that this Court order the district court immediately to (1) grant the Justice Department's Motion to Dismiss; (2) vacate its order appointing amicus curiae; and (3) reassign the case to another district judge as to any further proceedings."
The DOJ requested on May 7 that the case against Flynn be dropped. But Judge Sullivan has thus far refused to honor the motion to dismiss, and even called on a retired judge to step in and "present arguments in opposition to the government's motion to dismiss" and "address whether the Court should issue an Order to Show Cause why Mr. Flynn should not be held in criminal contempt for perjury."
Flynn was prosecuted as a result of the Mueller investigation that failed to find any collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. The retired lieutenant general maintains that he only pleaded guilty to the charges brought against him because the FBI threatened to prosecute his son. Recently released documents show Flynn was targeted by the FBI and agents who spoke out against the election of President Donald Trump.
Powell lambasted Sullivan in her request to the higher court on Tuesday, writing that "the district judge in this case has abandoned any pretense of being an objective umpire—going too far as to suggest that a criminal defendant who succumbs to a coerced and unfair plea bargain should be prosecuted for contempt."
She added, "In the midst of a national election season, with unprecedented acrimony on all sides of the civic debate, the district judge has dragged the court into the political hurricane—cementing the notion that judges are politicians in robes who use their authority to thwart what they consider the 'corruption,' 'impropriety,' and 'improper political influence' of another one of the political branches."


theblaze--2020-05-19--CDC updates guidance to say COVID-19 'does not spread easily' through touching contaminated surfaces

CDC updates guidance to say COVID-19 'does not spread easily ' through touching contaminated surfaces Not the main way it @

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has updated its guidance on COVID-19 to say that the disease "does not spread easily" on contaminated surfaces.
The disease has always been thought to spread mainly through person-to-person contact by respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or talks. But up until recently, the CDC maintained that the virus could also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces.
Now the CDC says "the virus spreads easily between people" but "does not spread easily in other ways." Under the second section, the guidance reads: "It may be possible for COVID-19 to spread in other ways, but these are not thought to be the main ways the virus spreads."
According to Yahoo News, the guidance used to simply say that spread in other ways "may be possible," without the added disclaimer. This is, of course, a subtle change, but still one of interest.
What's the background?
Much of the thinking on the virus' spread through contaminated surfaces stemmed from a New England Journal of Medicine study in March that found the virus could survive in the air for hours and on certain surfaces for days. In the study, the virus was detected up to four hours later on copper, up to one day later on cardboard, and up to three days later on plastic and stainless steel.
Though the study never purported to say that people who touched those surfaces could become infected, guidance on the matter advised caution.
In April, when the Food and Drug Administration announced that customers don't need to worry about contracting the virus from grocery packaging, CDC guidance expressed caution, citing the study.
It should be noted that the World Health Organization has not updated its guidance on contaminated surfaces and still states that "COVID-19 spreads primarily from person to person," but "can also spread if you touch contaminated objects and surfaces."
What changed?
The Yahoo News report notes that the reason for the change is not due to any new study on the virus' viability on surfaces, but rather epidemiological data has simply found that person-to-person contact is the main highway for transmission.
"Based on the epidemiology, we know that the main way this virus is infecting people is from direct contact with other infected people," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security. "Contaminated surfaces play some role, but it's likely much smaller."
"This is a respiratory virus, and respiratory viruses largely spread through breathing in infected respiratory droplets," he added.
It's worth noting that the updated guidance does not necessarily mean people should be less cautious about touching surfaces on which the virus may be present.
Dr. Richard Watkins, an infectious disease physician at Northeast Ohio Medical University, told Yahoo News that "we are still learning about this new coronavirus — including how it spreads."
"It might be possible to become infected after touching a surface that has the virus, then touching one's face," Watkins added. "That is why handwashing and avoiding touching one's face are important. However, this isn't the main way the virus is spread."


theblaze--2020-05-19--How the COVID-19 'experts' got EVERYTHING wrong!

How the COVID-19 'experts ' got EVERYTHING wrong !

Throughout modern history, experts have made terrible predictions. In 1903, president of the Michigan Savings Bank told Henry Ford's lawyer that Ford Motor Company was a lousy investment because "the automobile is a novelty, a fad."
In 1916, actor and all-around studio expert, Charlie Chaplain, predicted cinema was "little more than a fad."
In short, "experts" don't know everything.
Many of us have been skeptical of Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx since their fear-inducing projections of COVID-19 death and destruction began.
Sure, the model-building game should always allow for change as new information is acquired. Perhaps waiting until sufficient data were available would have been the responsible thing to do. But Fauci and Birx seemed to be competing for who could be wrong fastest at every turn along pandemic road.
Projected death rates? Wrong. Projected infection rates? Wrong. Projected hospitalizations? Take a guess. That's right, wrong. But just how wrong were the doctors? Steve Crowder breaks down the worst prediction streak ever.
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theblaze--2020-05-19--Kentucky business tells customers to 'stop listening' to 'dumbass' Democratic governor, refuses to r

Kentucky business tells customers to 'stop listening' to 'dumbass' Democratic governor, refuses to require masks in store

Kentucky business tells customers to 'stop listening ' to 'dumbass ' Democratic governor , refuses to require masks in store

A convenience store in Kentucky posted a sign saying "no face masks" were allowed to be worn in the store and urged customers to stop listening to the state's "dumbass" governor who said Kentuckians will have to wear masks in public as efforts to reopen the state get underway, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported.
After an angry customer complained about the store's sign, the business "clarified" the sign's intent and said no one would be denied entry for wearing a mask.
What happened?
Alvin's Kitchen in Manchester is a convenience store that also includes dining options. The store posted a sign on its front door that raised the ire of at least one potential customer Monday.
The sign, which ripped Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear while seeming to ban mask wearers, said: "No face masks allowed in store. Lower your mask or go somewhere else! Stop listening to Beshear. He's a dumbass."
Gov. Beshear said last month that as businesses begin opening in phases everyone will be required to wear masks while out in public, the Herald-Leader reported, adding, "He said if you're on a run or walk by yourself you won't have to wear one, but that you must wear one when going to the store."
Though the governor told the people that no arrests or citations would be made for those who choose not to wear a mask, police will be under orders to tell non-mask wearers to put one on.
Alvin's message made the rounds on social media Monday afternoon and Tuesday after a Facebook user posted and urged fellow citizens to "spread their shame." He threatened that the state government "will be notified about this and a few other things."
Several commenters on the Facebook post lauded the store's stance and blasted the Facebook poster for shaming the business:
"Being a cry baby ain't gonna do anything to stop them from doing what they want."
"It's people's right to choose. ... 'My body, my choice.' Thats what liberals always say. ... I haven't worn a mask, will not wear a mask, and there isn't a bureaucrat in this state that can make me do so."
"[Y]ou don't HAVE to go in the store, no one is forcing you in there. Just go somewhere else."
"I love this & may just drive from Berea just to shop here!"
"I will drive out of my way tomorrow to get gas here."
"Shame? Let's applaud this person! Are you kidding."
"Little cry baby B#### gonna call Frankfort and the snowflake gonna cry..."
"You're a rat."
"Covid snitch."
However, several of the business' critics called the store childish and hypocritical, pointing out that the store actually sells Trump 2020 face masks and that it didn't make sense for Alvin's to ban mask wearers.
How did Alvin's respond?
After the store's sign got national attention, the business clarified on Facebook that no one was going to be turned away for wearing a mask.
Their point, they said, was not to tell people not to wear masks but to remind them that it's their choice — not the government's choice to make for them.
We would like to clarify the statement behind our sign, we posted on the front door of our store. First of all, we would never deny any customer access inside our store, that is wearing a mask or not wearing a mask. We are not telling you to not wear a mask, what we are saying is, its your choice to wear one or not, not our governments choice for us. While some got the meaning behind it, alot did not. We didnt mean to offend anyone, but we will not apologize for our beliefs in our freedom to make our own decisions, that our government wants to make for us. We strive to keep our customers safe, and our employees.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Phone lines crashed due to overwhelming demand for California COVID-19 aid to illegal immigrants

Phone lines crashed due to overwhelming demand for California COVID-19 aid to illegal immigrants About 150,000 immigrants will be able @ @ @

On the first day that California's coronavirus relief program for illegal or undocumented immigrants went live, the phone lines crashed within an hour because so many people were trying to take advantage, according to The New York Times.
The program will offer $500 per person of $1,000 per household to up to 150,000 illegal immigrant Californians. An estimated 2 million of the nation's nearly 11 million illegal immigrants reside in California. Aid is available on a first-come, first-serve basis, which fueled the early onslaught of calls.
The state enlisted the help of 12 nonprofit groups to vet applications and take calls. One organization, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles, reported more than 600,000 calls in the first 90 minutes after phone lines opened.
Some people seeking the benefits reportedly spent hours trying to call in without being able to get through, with many just receiving a message to call again later.
California officials justify the program by pointing out that unauthorized workers make up about 10% of the state's total workforce and are more likely to work in low-income jobs that have been eliminated by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as food service and hotel work.
"Every Californian, including our undocumented neighbors and friends, should know that California is here to support them during this crisis," California Gov. Gavin Newsom said when the program was unveiled in April. "We are all in this together."
The program is costing the state $75 million, with $50 million more coming in from private groups. Newsom has said California is in a dire financial situation with a $54.3 billion deficit, and desperately in need of federal aid.
"I hope they'll consider this; the next time they want to salute and celebrate our heroes, our first responders, our police officers and firefighters, consider the fact that they are the first ones who will be laid off by cities and counties," Newsom said Sunday, when asked by CNN's Jake Tapper what would happen if California doesn't get federal assistance.
(H/T The Daily Caller)


theblaze--2020-05-19--Principal apologizes after 'very religious' school assigns 'hardcore porn' homework to 11- to 14-yea

Principal apologizes after 'very religious' school assigns 'hardcore porn' homework to 11- to 14-year-old students

Principal apologizes after 'very religious ' school assigns 'hardcore porn ' homework to 11- to 14-year-old students

A British school principal is sorry after teachers assigned a very controversial homework assignment — including subject matter such as "transgender pornography" and the definition of "hardcore porn."
The students impacted ranged in age from 11 to 14 years, according to Hull Live.
What are the details?
Archbishop Sentamu Academy in Hull, England, assigned the homework to pupils in Personal, Social, and Health Education class requiring they define terms such as "transvestite," hardcore porn," and more.
The outlet notes that other portions of the assignment included research on subject such as "pornography, soft pornography, hardcore pornography, and transsexual pornography, as well as female genital mutilation, wet dreams, trafficking, male circumcision, breast ironing, and more."
Other topics reportedly included information on drugs, smoking, and consuming alcohol.
What are people saying about this?
One parent, identified by the outlet as "Mrs. Taylor," said that she was highly disturbed by the assignment.
"My daughter is still very much a child," she told the outlet. "We've still got magic elves, her bedroom is done in My Little Pony. She is very innocent and native."
Taylor added, "She was only in primary school last year living her best life, now she is being asked to search for 'hardcore pornography.' ... She's 11 — she should be doing stranger danger, and don't share your info online, but genital mutilation is another thing. It was asking about male circumcision, breast ironing ... I don't even know what that is myself."
Taylor said she simply couldn't wrap her head around the idea that a "very religious school" — a mixed Church of England secondary school named for the current Archbishop of York — would allow such an assignment.
"They're a very religious school as well, so how can they say they are a religious school but condone writing something like this in the book? I can't get my head around it. I don't get the benefit from it, apart from scaring the kids," she added.
What has the school said?
Following outcry, the school issued an apology for the controversial and inappropriate content.
Principal Chay Bell issued an apology on behalf of the school.
The outlet reported Bell was "genuinely sorry" if "parents or students have unnecessarily researched any of these phases and for any offence caused."
Bell added, "I have asked that any future materials of this nature have a clear statement ensuring students and their parents are aware of any potentially sensitive content and will ensure all materials are fully age-appropriate."
“The PSHE materials that we share with students are produced in line with government guidance, the PSHE Association Programmes of Study and the Sex Education Forum's definition of Sex Education," Bell continued. "They also cover the Equality Act of 2010."
Bell pointed out that students "were not directed" to self-research such topics, because "answers to the questions students posed were contained in the teacher-produced materials we shared."


theblaze--2020-05-19--Horowitz: De Blasio’s flat-earth ‘science’ behind shutting schools

' I ca n't stress how dangerous this is for our young people '

New York City police are pulling their hair out dealing with the recidivism of all the dangerous criminals Mayor Bill de Blasio has released onto the streets. But de Blasio has suddenly discovered his concern for community danger. No – not the man he released who allegedly just robbed a victim at knifepoint, but a local Jewish day school that reopened its doors for classes.
Actually, the mayor is correct in asserting that he "can't stress how dangerous this is for our young people." COVID-19 is not dangerous at all for school-age children, at least not any more than the typical risk associated with driving to school or getting harmed by one of the sex offenders or robbers de Blasio released from Rikers Island.
Just how low is the risk to children? Yesterday, Avik Roy, president of the Foundation for Research on Equal Opportunity, posted an age-stratified risk chart comparing the risk of dying of the flu to the risk of dying of COVID-19. Here is the data, based on information from the CDC:
I would argue that the risk of healthy people dying of COVID-19, as compared to the flu, is even more favorable than this data suggests, because nearly all of the deaths from COVID-19 are among those with several known conditions, whereas flu-related ICU admissions, with children placed on life support, as reported by doctors in New York City just this year, were observed among children who were not immunocompromised.
Nevertheless, if we use this data, it means children are nearly seven times more likely to die of the flu than of the coronavirus, yet de Blasio never thought of shutting the schools for the flu. In fact, in March, before this issue became political and common sense was still in order, de Blasio himself thought shutting the schools was a dumb idea. "What are these kids going to do?" de Blasio asked. "Do we really believe these kids will hole up in their rooms for a month?" Well, now he wants them to be holed up indefinitely for months.
What does he think will happen to the immune systems of healthy school-age children who are treated like bubble boys for months on end? Imagine what next year's flu and cold season will bring.
Just how much more of a risk is the flu to children than COVID-19? A group of British pediatric doctors posted a chart online comparing COVID-19 deaths among children to flu deaths over the same period of time beginning in February. This is not even a comparison to flu deaths over a typical flu season (which would include December and January), but rather a comparison over the course of the epidemic, which includes April and May, which typically have few deaths from the flu. But still, at least in the United States, flu deaths have been much higher.
And guess which European country seems to have the lowest infection rate among kids? Sweden! Yes, the country that didn't shut down schools for young children.
As for children transmitting the disease to adults, data from Iceland, the U.K., Australia, Switzerland, Canada, Netherlands, France, and Taiwan already show that children have little or no role in transmitting the virus to adults. They can get the virus from adults, but it is not a danger to them in any statistically meaningful numbers. Nonetheless, to play it safe, we can continue keeping children away from vulnerable adults. Doing so doesn't require shutting down schools.
Now, nearly all the European countries have opened or plan to open schools. America is now dead last in terms of liberty and science. Think about that for a moment. Democrats in this country, such as New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, have become such flat-earthers that they are promoting policies of lingering lockdowns until there is a "widely available" vaccine. This has never been done in human history and is being rejected by nearly every other country.
Where are Republicans? Where is the veto threat of the president to deny bailout funding to states unless they end this nonsense? Instead, several Republicans in the Senate — Sens. Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), and Susan Collins (R-Maine) — are pushing for an additional $500 billion rewarding the bad behavior of these states – to cover and incentivize the very carnage they created.
What has become clear is that the schools are the lynchpin to this entire charade. It is not science that is driving the shutdown of schools, but politics. Yet this political decision helps drive a self-fulfilling circuitous cycle of fear and panic – as if there is a threat to children. The minute schools open up, which will be the single most decisive factor in returning families to their daily lives, the lockdowns will fall by the wayside. Unfortunately for us, people like de Blasio have worked too hard and accumulated too much power through the lockdowns to let this go. Science be damned.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Sister of man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery posted a picture of his dead body on social media

Sister of man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery posted a picture of his dead body on social media A cross @ @ @ @ @ `` A '' sits at the entrance to the Satilla Shores neighborhood where Ahmaud Arbery @ @ @ @ @ May 6 in Brunswick , Georgia .
( Photo by Sean Rayford/Getty Images )

Lindsay McMichael, the sister of the man who shot and killed Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia in February, posted an unfiltered picture on social media of Arbery's dead body lying in the street, The Sun reported.
Travis McMichael, 34, and Gregory McMichael, 64, are charged with murdering Arbery because they allegedly thought he was a burglar. Arbery had just entered and exited an unfinished, unoccupied home owned by Larry English. They weren't charged with his murder until May, when Gregory McMichael leaked the video to the media.
Lindsay McMichael said she posted the graphic image because she likes true crime content.
"I had no nefarious or malicious intent when I posted that picture," McMichael told The Sun. "The thing is I'm a huge fan of true crime — I listen to four or five podcasts a week — I'm constantly watching that sort of thing. It was more of a, 'Holy s**t, I can't believe this has happened. It was absolutely poor judgment."
The video of Arbery's shooting was recorded by a man named William Bryan, who was following as the McMichaels pursued Arbery. Bryan's attorney said he has lost his job and gotten death threats, so he's had to go into hiding.
According to the police report, however, Bryan wasn't just a passive observer in the confrontation that led to Arbery's death. He tried to block Arbery himself as Arbery was running down the street.
"Why would you videotape it?" Arbery's mother, Wanda Cooper, asked. "Why didn't he do anything to help? Why didn't he reach out right after the shooting? Why did he only come forward after the video was leaked?"
The full videos show the pursuit lasted more than four minutes before the McMichaels pulled ahead of Arbery and stopped in the road. Travis McMichael got out with a shotgun and confronted Arbery. He shot Arbery during the ensuing altercation.
Travis McMichael and Gregory McMichael were arrested and charged with murder and aggravated assault on May 7. They are being held in Glynn County Jail.


theblaze--2020-05-19--Annie Glenn, widow of astronaut John Glenn, dies following COVID-19 diagnosis

Her husband passed away in 2016

Annie Glenn, widow of former U.S. Sen. John Glenn (D-Ohio), has died at the age of 100.
Glenn died of COVID-19 complications, according to a Tuesday Associated Press report.
What are the details?
A spokesperson for the Glenn family said that the family matriarch passed away at a nursing home in the St. Paul, Minnesota, area.
John Glenn died in 2016. The two had been married for 73 years at the time of his death. Annie, who overcame a difficult speech impediment in her younger years, met John while the two were growing up in New Concord, Ohio. John proposed to Annie when World War II began. The couple was married in 1943.
Prior to her death, Annie served on various advisory boards for child protective agencies and organizations and received the Department of Defense Medal for Outstanding Public Service in 1998 for her work. At the time, Defense Secretary William Cohen said that Annie was a "strong voice for children, speech and communications, and the disabled."
Annie also served as an adjunct professor of speech pathology at Ohio State University's Department of Speech and Hearing Science. Ohio State University bestowed an honorary doctorate of public service upon Annie in 2009 for her excellency and service to the college.
The AP reported that there will be a virtual memorial service for Annie at 11 a.m. ET on Saturday, June 6, 2020. Further details about the service are forthcoming.
Annie is survived by her two children, John, 74, and Carolyn, 73.