theblaze--2020-09-23--CNN's Don Lemon tries to backtrack on abolishing Electoral College, claims he did not say what he li

CNN's Don Lemon tries to backtrack on abolishing Electoral College, claims he did not say what he literally said

CNN 's Don Lemon tries to backtrack on abolishing Electoral College , claims he did not say what he literally @

CNN host Don Lemon is attempting to backtrack from controversial comments he made on Monday in light of President Donald Trump having the opportunity to confirm his third Supreme Court justice.
What did Lemon say Monday?
Speaking with fellow CNN host Chris Cuomo, who said both Republicans and Democrats are being "hypocritical" in comparison to their 2016 position on Supreme Court vacancies during an election year, Lemon advocated dismantling the American electoral system.
"We're going to have to blow up the entire system," Lemon said.
Specifically, Lemon said the Electoral College should be abolished — which would require a constitutional amendment — and Democrats should pack the Supreme Court with ideologically liberal judges.
"You're going to have to get rid of the Electoral College, because the people — because the minority in this country decides who the judges are and they decide who the president is. Is that — is that fair?" Lemon said. "If Democrats, if Joe Biden wins, Democrats can stack the courts and they can do that amendment and they can get it passed."
What is Lemon saying now?
The CNN host claimed Tuesday that his words were taken out of context, alleging he did not mean exactly what he said.
"I woke up and saw these headlines like, 'Don Lemon is calling for the abolishing of the Electoral College.' But let me tell you. I don't care," Lemon said, adding that he was merely responding to Cuomo's suggestion of electing politicians with integrity.
"And I said, well then, we have to blow up the whole system. Right?" Lemon continued. "But I said here's what Democrats can do. And I said that's the danger. They can stack the court. But all of a sudden, I am calling for the abolishing of the Electoral College and what else do they say, and that I'm a Democrat because I said 'we.' I mean, the American people."
Lemon went on to explain that he chose to respond to the criticism because the "context was so egregious." He claimed critics used an out-of-context "sound bite" against him.
In fact, Lemon claimed he was not personally suggesting the abolition of the Electoral College — but merely repeating others who are.
"But here's what I say, run and tell this: I do think that we need to look at the Electoral College because I think that it disenfranchises voters, both Democrats and Republicans. If you're in a blue state, and all of the electoral votes go to the Democratic person, then the Republicans' votes aren't counted, the people who voted for the Republican candidate," Lemon said.
"So, I do think it should be looked at because I think it does disenfranchises certain people," he added. "Should it be abolished? That's not for me to say. I'm saying, this is what Democrats are saying. Stack the courts. Get rid of the Electoral College. But there is no nuance and no context anymore."


theblaze--2020-09-23--LeBron James denies responsibility for violent attacks on police: 'Not one time have I ever said let

LeBron James denies responsibility for violent attacks on police: 'Not one time have I ever said let's act violent toward cops'

LeBron James denies responsibility for violent attacks on police : 'Not one time have I ever said let 's act @ @ @ @

Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James denied that his criticisms of police treatment of minorities have contributed to or motivated violent attacks against police officers, USA Today reported.
James said he is just calling for accountability for police officers, but is not condoning or inciting violence against law enforcement officers.
"Not one time have I ever said let's act violent toward cops," James told reporters after a game Tuesday. "I just said what's going on in our community is not okay. And we fear for that, and we fear for our lives. It's something that we go through every single day as a black man, a black woman, and a black kid and a black girl, we fear that moment where we're pulled over."
James said he doesn't believe all police should be demonized, but he's seen and heard of numerous instances of racism by cops.
"I've never in my 35 years ever condoned violence," James also said Tuesday. "I never have. But I also know what right is right and what wrong is wrong. I grew up in the inner city and the black community in what we call 'the hood' or 'the ghetto,' however you want to picture it. I've seen a lot of accounts first-hand of black people being racially profiled because of our color. I've seen it throughout my whole life. I'm not saying that all cops are bad. Throughout high school and things of that nature, and I'm around them all the time, and they're not all bad.
"But when you see the videos of what's going on, and you see them not only in my hometown, but all over America, you continue to see the acts of violence toward my kind, I can't do nothing but speak about it and see the common denominator," James said.
Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said James should match a $100,000 reward for the person who shot two sheriff's deputies. The two deputies were shot by a person who walked up to their car and opened fire before fleeing, in what appeared to be a targeted ambush of the deputies.
The shooter fled, and police do not yet have a suspect in the shooting. The reward has since been increased to $675,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspect. James dismissed Villanueva's comments.
"I have zero response on the sheriff," James said.


theblaze--2020-09-23--Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley: 'Trump is the strongest leader that we've got on the table'

Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley : 'Trump is the strongest leader that we 've got on the table' Frehley says @ @ @ @ @ about politics but made clear who he 's supporting

Former KISS guitarist Ace Frehley says he likes to keep focused on making music and doesn't like to talk about politics. But in a recent interview, the 69-year-old rocker made clear he's supporting President Donald Trump for re-election in 2020.
"I don't think politics and rock and roll mix — in my opinion," Frehley told "The Cassius Morris Show" in an interview reported by Blabbermouth.net. The topic of politics came up while Frehley was discussing his new rendition of the Cream song "Politician," to appear on an upcoming covers album, "Origins Vol. 2."
"I try to stay away from that as much as I can. I mean, once in a while, I'll make a crack," Frehley said. "I will say I'm a Trump supporter."
"All the politicians have had skeletons in the closet," he continued. "But I think Trump is the strongest leader that we've got on the table."
The last time Frehley spoke up about politics was in 2018, when he said Americans should support the president or "go move to another country."
"I don't think politics and music mix," he said on a podcast. "I really frown on musicians who get up on a platform and start talking about the president or complain about — I just don't think it belongs. I'm an entertainer. There's no reason to bring up politics. Let me play my guitar and write songs and entertain people. That's my job."
"Let me say this about Trump," he continued. "Whether you love him or hate him, if you're an American and you're a patriot, you should get behind your president. He was elected. We live under the Constitution of the United States, and you're supposed to support your president. Love him or hate him, you're supposed to support him, or go move to another country."
Back then, Frehley said that while Americans obviously have a right to say whatever they want, entertainers shouldn't be especially vocal about politics.
"Being American, we have the right to free speech, and I'm all for everybody putting their two cents in on everything," he said. "But when musicians or actors get really verbal and jump on a bandwagon against our government, I don't agree with that."
At least one of Frehley's former bandmates feels differently. KISS vocalist Paul Stanley is an outspoken liberal and frequent critic of President Trump. Last month Stanley made news for criticizing Trump's comments on the November election. The president said, "The only way we're going to lose this election is if this election is rigged," at a campaign stop in Wisconsin. Stanley blasted Trump's comments in a tweet, calling them "incendiary & abhorrent."


theblaze--2020-09-23--Construction company gives up Utah Jazz suite, slams NBA's anthem kneeling and 'divisive' BLM 'propa

Construction company gives up Utah Jazz suite, slams NBA's anthem kneeling and 'divisive' BLM 'propaganda'

Construction company gives up Utah Jazz suite , slams NBA 's anthem kneeling and 'divisive ' BLM 'propaganda '

A construction company in Salt Lake City recently sent a letter to the Utah Jazz announcing it would no longer pay for an arena suite after the NBA essentially turned itself into "a billboard for the 'Black Lives Matter' movement."
According to the Washington Free Beacon, the company, SME Steel Contractors, Inc., is fed up with the "divisive political propaganda" and is asking the team and league to "put a stop to all disrespectful actions during the anthem and remove the Black Lives Matter logo from the arena."
In a letter sent to Jazz owner Gail Miller earlier this month, company leadership wrote: "The recent actions of the NBA — including the owners, coaches and players of the Utah Jazz — have converted a beloved entertainment venue into a forum for dissemination of political propaganda which is divisive and completely out of step with our company and its values."
The letter went on to cite players kneeling during the national anthem and displaying Black Lives Matter-related slogans on their jerseys as specific reasons for the company's "disappointment and disillusionment."
"Standing quietly and respectfully during the anthem is not merely an antiquated or courteous tradition, it is a way of honoring the many thousands who have protected this country and its unique freedoms-through their service and sacrifice," the letter states before hammering athletes and coaches for kneeling.
"To say the least, it is ironic that pampered and exceptionally well-paid athletes cavalierly exercise the freedom bought for them through the courage, and sacrifice of this nation's servicemen and women by disrespectfully kneeling during the country's anthem," the letter reads. "By the same token, it seems odd and inappropriate for NBA players to adorn their jerseys with names and tributes for felons and politically-divisive slogans from Black Lives Matter, when true heroes like Chris Kyle and Pat Tillman go unnoticed and unremarked."
SME claimed it has spent in excess $6 million over the 28 years that it has licensed a full suite to Jazz games and that several of its employees were "personally involved" in the construction of the arena.
In a statement, the company added that the feedback it has received since sending the letter has been "overwhelmingly positive."
"We have received emails and letters from individuals and companies throughout the country thanking us for standing up for the country, the national anthem, and the idea that sporting events do not need to be a venue for forcing controversial political views on patrons," SME general counsel Mark Wilkey told the Free Beacon.
Since its restart over the summer, the NBA has struggled to attract viewers, with many fans claiming the league has "become too political." During the shortened season, the league has allowed players to kneel during the national anthem and opted to paint "Black Lives Matter" on the shared courts used in the Disney World "bubble."
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump took notice of the ratings drop and wrote on Twitter that "people are tired of watching the highly political NBA."


theblaze--2020-09-23--School wastes no time sending fourth grader home after he sneezes in class

An Arlington, Massachusetts, school reportedly sent home a 9-year-old boy after he was caught sneezing in class.
The child's father said that the school will not permit his son to return to the fourth-grade class until he receives a negative COVID-19 test.
What are the details?
Parent Thierno Keita told WBZ-TV that his son, Lancinet, was sent home from Bishop Elementary School on Tuesday after an apparently concerned teacher sent him to the nurse's office for sneezing in class.
Lancinet told the station that after he "sneezed two times," his teacher directed him to visit the school nurse even though he felt just fine.
Lancinet told WBZ that he had to wait in the nurse's office until his father was able to come and pick him up.
"I was thinking I didn't have anything, just a couple sneezes," the child told WBZ.
Keita told the station that he's not happy with the way the school behaved over a few sneezes.
"I've been so upset about it," he admitted. "I'm so upset about sending my kid home."
Keita also said that his son doesn't have any symptoms indicating a coronavirus infection.
"He don't have any symptoms, no one, and he's OK," he explained. "And I checked his temperature. Everything was perfect. His temperature was OK. It's OK."
Keita said he has no choice but to take his son for a COVID-19 test so he can go back to school.
'An abundance of caution'
A spokesperson for Bishop Elementary School told WBZ that school officials elected to send the child home out of an "abundance of caution."
"A student at Bishop Elementary School was sent home early today after he displayed COVID-19 related symptoms," the statement explained. "This decision was made both out of an abundance of caution and in accordance with district protocols related to COVID-19."
The statement continued, "This isolated incident is not indicative of any need for wider concern of COVID-19 exposure. Per district protocols, the student will either have to produce a negative COVID-19 test, written documentation from a health care provider stating it is an alternative illness or be symptom free for 10 days following the start of the symptoms."
At the time of this reporting, researchers at Johns Hopkins University estimate that there have been at least 127,969 confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts, with at least 9,328 deaths attributed to the virus.


theblaze--2020-09-23--Bill Clinton reportedly had an 'intimate' dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell as recently as 2014, accordi

Bill Clinton reportedly had an 'intimate' dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell as recently as 2014, according to report

Bill Clinton reportedly had an 'intimate ' dinner with Ghislaine Maxwell as recently as 2014 , according to report 'Think @ @ @ @ @ knows in L.A. and Ghislaine gets to attend . '

Former President Bill Clinton reportedly had an "intimate" dinner with British socialite and accused sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell in 2014.
Maxwell is in a New York City prison after accusations that she helped to procure underage victims for accused pedophile and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.
She was charged with two counts of conspiracy, enticement of a minor to travel to engage in illegal sex acts, transporting minors for illegal sex acts, and two counts of perjury. She has denied all charges laid against her.
What are the details?
According to the Daily Beast, Clinton met Maxwell and other friends at high-end Los Angeles restaurant Crossroads Kitchen for an "intimate dinner" in 2014.
The outlet reported that Clinton's team secured the reservation for those invited, including Maxwell.
"Multiple sources with knowledge of the situation say [Clinton] aides had squabbled over Maxwell's invitation beforehand due to her links to Epstein," the report explained. "Even to this day, Clinton insiders continue to point fingers over who should be blamed for Maxwell's addition to the event."
One source purported to be close to the situation told the outlet, "This is an intimate dinner with Clinton in L.A. Think of all the people he knows in L.A. and Ghislaine gets to attend."
The outlet noted that by 2014, the media had widely reported on the lurid allegations against Epstein, and that the Clintons even knew of the allegations against Maxwell regarding her alleged connections to Epstein.
"It's unclear why Maxwell was reintroduced into Clinton's circle — at least for one cozy meatless dinner in Los Angeles on Feb. 27, 2014," the report noted.
'It's always someone else's fault'
The outlet also reported that Maxwell was close to both the former president and first daughter Chelsea Clinton.
"One friend of the Clintons told The Daily Beast that Ghislaine was close to Clinton and daughter Chelsea, went backstage at Clinton Global Initiative events, and even visited their homes," the report noted. "The source said the Clintons should take responsibility for spending time with Maxwell, who allegedly offered the Clintons hotel stays, air travel, and other largesse."
The source added, "It's always someone else's fault, it's always not true. ... They're always fighting against the reporting and not that they did it. That's the problem."
Angel Ureña, a spokesperson for the former president, pointed the outlet to a 2019 statement when pressed for comment on the allegations of the "intimate" 2014 dinner. The statement did not mention Maxwell at all.
The 2019 statement read:
President Clinton knows nothing about the terrible crimes Jeffrey Epstein pleaded guilty to in Florida some years ago, or those with which he has been recently charged in New York. In 2002 and 2003, President Clinton took a total of four trips on Jeffrey Epstein's airplane: one to Europe, one to Asia, and two to Africa, which included stops in connection with the work of the Clinton Foundation. Staff, supporters of the Foundation, and his Secret Service detail traveled on every leg of every trip. He had one meeting with Epstein in his Harlem office in 2002, and around the same time made one brief visit to Epstein's New York apartment with a staff member and his security detail. He's not spoken to Epstein in well over a decade, and has never been to Little St. James Island, Epstein's ranch in New Mexico, or his residence in Florida.


theblaze--2020-09-24--College students outraged when school refuses to stop pro-Trump, 'Back the Blue' rally — that was ta

College students outraged when school refuses to stop pro-Trump, 'Back the Blue' rally — that was taking place off-campus

College students outraged when school refuses to stop pro-Trump , 'Back the Blue ' rally — that was taking place @ @ @ @ @ that

Students at Mount Holyoke College in South Hadley, Massachusetts, are furious after the school refused to stop an off-campus rally in support of President Donald Trump, police officers, and law enforcement officials.
What are the details?
According to a Thursday report from Campus Reform, students became enraged after finding out about the rally and attempted to pressure the school's administration to stop the offending event.
Students were made aware of the rally through a posting on the Instagram page "BIPOC at Mount Holyoke."
A portion of the post read, "I know that most students aren't on campus, but there's a 'Back the Blue' (pro-police) and pro-Trump standout at the village commons in South Hadley this weekend. It's right across the street from campus. I'm only reaching out because I hope student pressure on admin can create a response from the college."
According to the outlet, "multiple organizations" created a petition against the event in support of safety for "LGBTQ+ and POC members."
The petition received more than 1,600 signatures, Campus Reform reported.
A portion of the petition said, "This is outrageous and we demand a response from the administration of Mount Holyoke. By maintaining silence about the upcoming events, the school is encouraging a gathering of people who could threaten our community's safety."
"Although Mount Holyoke is a space that encourages the opinions of all students to be shared, they should not tolerate the sharing of harmful rhetoric," the petition continued. "The implication of the stance held by the 'Back the Blue' rally is in direct opposition to the Black Lives Matter movement and the safety of all POC groups and LGBTQ+ community."
"This," the petition added, "goes against the inclusive and progressive message of Mount Holyoke as an institution and a community."
The rally ended up taking place across the street from the school's main campus and was hosted by local correctional officers and Pioneer Valley Massachusetts for Trump 2020 on Sept. 7.
What did the school say?
The school, however, refused to cave to student activist pressure and, instead of stopping the rally, cited the First Amendment.
"The College cannot ... prevent an assembly from being held on town property in proximity to the campus," the school said in a Sept. 5 statement to its students.
Mount Holyoke College President Sonya Stephens' statement read, "Participants will gather on the public area around the gazebo, which is not owned by the College."
"The right to peaceful assembly, and indeed to free speech, are protected in the First Amendment, and together with the freedoms of association, petition and the press are what we understand more broadly as freedom of expression," Stephens continued. "To defend free speech is to defend the most fundamental and most important of human freedoms, even when, as the ACLU article makes explicit, some views expressed 'are antithetical to the very freedom the First Amendment stands for,' otherwise 'no one's liberty will be secure. In that sense, all First Amendment rights are 'indivisible.'"
Anything else?
Activist group Black at Mount Holyoke College issued a statement in response to Stephens' announcement, which said, “This response from the institution negates the Anti-Racism plan, which was released only days ago, because rather than taking the next step to ensure that the students who are staying on campus are safe, they simply say that nothing can be done about the rally."


theblaze--2020-09-24--Rioter throws Molotov cocktail at group of Portland police officers, striking one, as mob sets fire

Rioter throws Molotov cocktail at group of Portland police officers, striking one, as mob sets fire to justice center following Breonna Taylor indictment

Rioter throws Molotov cocktail at group of Portland police officers , striking one , as mob sets fire to justice @ @ @ @ @

A Portland, Oregon, rioter reportedly threw a Molotov cocktail at a group of police officers on Wednesday night as law enforcement declared the demonstrations in the area a riot.
Reports say that rioters also set fire to the city's justice center.
Demonstrations in the city continued following the announcement of a criminal indictment of one officer involved in the death of Louisville, Kentucky, resident Breonna Taylor. You can read more on the indictment here.
Following the announcement, riots erupted in cities across the country.
What are the details?
According to Newsweek, demonstrators gathered in Portland's streets following the indictment of former police officer Brett Hankison on three counts of wanton endangerment in the first degree.
The Portland Police Bureau announced that at least 74 people gathered on the Central Precinct side of the city's Justice Center, where they reportedly "began throwing softball-sized rocks towards Central Precinct, which shattered the glass windows above the entry doors."
The demonstrators converged on the precinct, and a riot broke out as protesters began to set fire to the building.
The bureau's statement added, "The group continued to throw rocks through the windows, which continued to shatter glass in the entryway of the Central Precinct, making it difficult for others to safely exit the precinct due to the glass falling and the glass that covered the entryway floor."
"Once the window was broken, group members used slingshots to launch projectiles at a high velocity through the broken glass windows of Central Precinct," the statement continued. "Some members of the group attempted to break into the front doors of the Central Precinct lobby."
While on the streets, police moved in on the unruly group, and at least one demonstrator threw a Molotov cocktail at a group of officers.
Authorities later attempted to clear the crowd by firing pepper balls and deploying pepper spray on the mob after declaring a riot.
The bureau added, "Officers began to disperse the crowd outside of Central Precinct again and a Molotov cocktail was thrown towards officers striking one in the foot. Portland Fire Medic was nearby and able to extinguish the flames. Had this incendiary not been stopped immediately, it could have caused serious physical injury to the officer. A second Molotov cocktail was thrown towards officers near Southwest 3rd Avenue and Southwest Main Street, and a third Molotov cocktail was thrown at officers near Southwest Broadway and Southwest Main Street. As the crowd was dispersed they aggressively threw rocks at officers and other projectiles."
Twitter user Pierce Singgih shared video of the incident on Twitter, writing, "[S]omeone just threw a Molotov at Portland Police as officers moved in and declared the event a riot."
(H/T: Newsweek)


theblaze--2020-09-24--Colin Kaepernick says 'the white supremacist institution of policing' must 'be abolished'

Colin Kaepernick says 'the white supremacist institution of policing ' must 'be abolished' The former NFL player 's statement came @ @ @ @ @ decision in the Breonna Taylor case

Former NFL quarterback-turned-activist Colin Kaepernick declared Wednesday that "the white supremacist institution of policing" must "be abolished," after news broke that the three officers involved in the March raid that led to the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor would not be charged in her death.
What are the details?
Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) held a much-anticipated news conference Wednesday afternoon explaining that a Louisville grand jury decided two of the officers involved would not be charged and that the third would face three counts of wanton endangerment for firing at other residences during the incident.
According to the Associated Press, Cameron warned, "There will be celebrities, influencers and activists who having never lived in Kentucky will try to tell us how to feel, suggesting they understand the facts of this case, that they know our community and the Commonwealth better than we do, but they don't."
He added, "Let's not give in to their attempts to influence our thinking or capture our emotions."
Kaepernick tweeted after the announcement:
"The white supremacist institution of policing that stole Breonna Taylor's life from us must be abolished for the safety and well being of our people."
Kaepernick has become a household name after sparking controversy in 2016 when he began kneeling during the national anthem at NFL games in protest of police brutality.
Since the death of George Floyd in late May, protests have been ongoing across the U.S. in the name of racial equality, with some descending into riots involving violence, looting, arson. The protests have given rise to an anti-police movement, and some activists have invoked Kaepernick in their demonstrations.
Protesters have often called for justice in the death of Breonna Taylor, as well as several other black Americans who have died during altercations with law enforcement.
What's the background?
The night Taylor died, police conducted a raid on a residence where she was with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker. Walker opened fire on police, believing the situation was a break-in, and officers shot back, killing Taylor.
Initial reports claimed that law enforcement was executing a "no-knock" warrant, but Cameron said during his news conference that an independent witness had confirmed that officers did announce themselves before entering.
Louisville declared a state of emergency ahead of the grand jury announcement on Wednesday. During protests that night, two officers were shot and hospitalized with non-life-threatening wounds.


theblaze--2020-09-24--Joe Scarborough asks 'who arrests Trump?' if he ignores election results

Joe Scarborough asks 'who arrests Trump ? '
if he ignores election results The president was asked to commit to @ @ @ @ @

MSNBC host Joe Scarborough wondered aloud about the possibility that someone might arrest President Donald Trump and U.S. Attorney General William Barr after the president's controversial comments about the election.
Scarborough, a vociferous critic of the president, was responding to comments from the president on Wednesday after a reporter asked him to commit to a peaceful transition of power should he lose the election.
"Donald Trump rambles incoherently but his message is clear: he will not respect the voters' will and will not commit to a peaceful transfer of power," Scarborough said Wednesday.
"So who arrests Trump and the attorney general if they attempt to steal an election and commit treason?" he asked.
"Will you commit to making sure there is a peaceful transfer of power after the election?" asked a reporter during a White House media briefing.
"Well, we're gonna have to see what happens, you know that, I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster," the president responded.
"Get rid of the ballots, and we'll have a very peaceful, there won't be any transfer frankly, there'll be a continuation," he continued. "The ballots are out of control, you know it. And you know who knows it better than anybody else? The Democrats know it better than anybody else."
'It all sounds crazy to say'
Scarborough's reaction mirrored many of the responses from the critics of the president to his comments.
"Just to be clear, if you're talking to a person and you ask them to commit to behave peacefully and they refuse, they're threatening violence, right?" said fellow MSNBC host Chris Hayes on his show.
"What the president is doing here is the most explicit that he has been about his plans for this election," he continued. "He's plotting in open and public repeatedly, a coup to steal the election and hold on to power. Again, it all sounds crazy to say, it is what we're seeing, those are the plain facts as assembled before us."
The Biden campaign commented about the statement later on Wednesday.
"The American people will decide this election. And the United States government is perfectly capable of escorting trespassers out of the White House," the campaign said.
Others were angered that some mainstream media outlets didn't give the comments the coverage that they were believed to have deserved.
Here's Chris Hayes accusing the president of plotting a coup:


theblaze--2020-09-24--Video: Protesters harass diners in Florida following Breonna Taylor decision in Kentucky

Video : Protesters harass diners in Florida following Breonna Taylor decision in Kentucky

Protesters in St. Petersburg, Florida, expanded their demonstration to harass diners along the streets on Wednesday following a Louisville grand jury's decision not to charge officers involved in a raid that led to the death of Breonna Taylor in March.
What are the details?
A reporter for the Tampa Bay Times reported on Twitter that "Protestors are now going restaurant by restaurant to chant at diners on Beach Dr. in St. Pete. A lot of diners yelled back, starting multiple confrontations. This one was the most significant. Protestors took over a couple's table. Not sure why they were targeted specifically."
The footage in the accompanying video shows a mob of protesters repeatedly chanting, "Stand up, fight back!" while facing diners at a restaurant before one apparent activist pulls up a seat at the table of a man and woman who were seated together outside the establishment.
The woman at the table quickly stands up and says, "Nope, this is my table!" and unsuccessfully attempts to move the activist from the chair before two more activists fill the remaining empty seats while flashing signs and joining the chant. Additional activists followed and stood to surround the couple.
One activist can be heard telling the man, "why don't you shut up?" before the first activist who stole a seat told the woman, "I'll knock your old-a** boyfriend the f*** out."
Another activist is then seen blowing what appears to be a bullhorn at the couple, standing from a few feet away.
What's the background?
Protests have been ongoing in cities across the U.S. for months since the death of George Floyd in late May, and Breonna Taylor's name has been a frequent chant of demonstrators nationwide calling for justice after she was killed during a police raid in March.
Initial reports claimed that the raid was executed as a "no-knock" warrant, but Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R) said during a news conference Wednesday that an independent witness reported that the police did announce themselves before entering the residence where Taylor was in bed with her boyfriend, Kenneth Walker, who has stated that he opened fire, believing the police to be robbers, and police fired back, killing Taylor.
Louisville was placed under a state of emergency ahead of Wednesday's afternoon announcement that only one of the three officers involved in the raid would be charged in connection with the raid itself. The police officers' use of force was deemed justified by the grand jury, but one officer was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment because he fired into other nearby apartments. No officers were charged with Taylor's death.
As of this writing, Louisville police have announced that two police officers have been shot in Louisville amid ongoing rioting. According to multiple local reports, their wounds are being described as non-life-threatening.


theblaze--2020-09-24--Louisville Police Department says one suspect in custody after two officers shot during Breonna Tayl

Louisville Police Department says one suspect in custody after two officers shot during Breonna Taylor protests

The interim chief of the Louisville Metro Police Department said that a suspect was in custody after the shooting of two officers during the violent protests over the grand jury decision in the death of Breonna Taylor.
Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder said in a short media briefing on Wednesday evening that the two officers were in stable condition, and that one was undergoing surgery.
Schroeder said that police were responding at about 8:30 p.m. to a call of shots being fired at the corner of First and Broadway streets when more shots rang out and two police officers were struck.
The police officers were taken to University Hospital with injuries that were not life threatening.
Various videos taken during the shooting were circulated on social media soon afterward, including one reportedly from the police livestream from their Facebook page.
The FBI said it was helping with the investigation into the shooting.
Protests erupted immediately after the announcement that a grand jury had returned charges against only one of three police officers involved in the shooting death of Breonna Taylor during a police raid in March. The officer was charged with three counts of wanton endangerment over the shots made into neighboring apartments, but not for those that killed Taylor.
The mayor had announced a 72-hour curfew for the city beginning Wednesday from 9 p.m. until 6:30 a.m.
Here's the video of the media briefing:


theblaze--2020-09-24--WATCH: Civil War: The Left's Revolution Playbook EXPOSED

We 're being set up

Revolutions rarely happen overnight. The Left started laying the groundwork for Nov. 3, 2020, the moment Hillary Clinton had to concede the 2016 election to Donald Trump. It was always solely about getting rid of President Trump — and there's a playbook for that.
Last week, Glenn Beck showed you the "Seven Pillars of Color Revolution" written by a former U.S. diplomat, which are the conditions that must be in place for a successful Eastern European-style "Color Revolution." The left seems to be pushing for a Color Revolution this election because they are using the exact same playbook.
In part two of this series, Glenn peels back the layers on the first four of these Color Revolution pillars to show you how they work and what the end goal is. And he reveals one of the architects of the playbook – a Color Revolution specialist, former ambassador, and former Obama administration official who is one of the key masterminds of this revolution.
Joining Glenn is political campaign veteran and BlazeTV host Steve Deace who says the polls that claim Democratic nominee Joe Biden is leading the race "are trash." We're being set up to believe that if Trump wins in spite of the polls, it must be an invalid election.
Watch the full video below:
WATCH all of Glenn's Specials on BlazeTV:
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multiplatform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.
Save $10 with promo code GLENN.


theblaze--2020-09-24--Two police officers shot during violent protests in Louisville over Breonna Taylor

Two police officers shot during violent protests in Louisville over Breonna Taylor Violence breaks out over the death of a @ @ @ @ @ raid

The Louisville Metro Police Dept. said that two officers had been shot during the violent protests in Louisville, Kentucky, over the charges announced against one officer related to the death of Breonna Taylor.
Black Lives Matter protesters immediately denounced the grand jury decision of charges against only one of the officers involved in the controversial shooting death of Taylor during a police raid in March.
Police initially said that one officer had been shot but offered few details about the incident.
Later they confirmed that two officers had been shot.
Protesters took to the streets to demonstrate against the grand jury decision. Reporters and others on social media documented small fires being set off and firecrackers being fired off during many of the gatherings.
Reporters in the vicinity said that firecrackers were set off at about the same time as the gunshots.
Interim Police Chief Robert Schroeder later updated the media about the incident and the condition of the two police officers who had been hospitalized.
Here's more about the incident:
Police officer shot in Louisville: Report www.youtube.com
[This story has been updated with additional information.]


theblaze--2020-09-25--Steven Crowder on why Joe Biden is NOT racist

In this clip, Steven Crowder shared a list of cringeworthy Joe Biden moments, complete with commentary and Crowder-style jokes. Here are Crowder and the Louder with Crowder crew to explain why Joe Biden is not a racist.
Use promo code LWC to save $10 on one year of BlazeTV.
Want more from Steven Crowder?
To enjoy more of Steven's uncensored late-night comedy that's actually funny, join Mug Club — the only place for all of Crowder uncensored and on demand.


theblaze--2020-09-25--Pelosi on prospect of another Trump impeachment: 'I don't think he's worth the trouble at this point

Pelosi on prospect of another Trump impeachment: 'I don't think he's worth the trouble at this point'

Pelosi on prospect of another Trump impeachment : ' I do n't think he 's worth the trouble at this @ @ @ @ @ other Democrats have signaled in recent days that such a move was being considered

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) signaled Thursday that Democrats would not pursue impeaching President Donald Trump again with Election Day so close on the horizon, telling reporters, "I don't think he's worth the trouble at this point."
What are the details?
On Sunday, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) did not rule out the possibility of launching impeachment proceedings against Trump or Attorney General William Barr in an effort to stop the president from filling the Supreme Court vacancy that opened with the recent passing of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
When a reporter asked about the prospect, Ocasio-Cortez responded that "all of the tools available to our disposal...all of these options should be entertained and on the table," as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) nodded on in agreement.
The same day, George Stephanopoulos of ABC News' "This Week" asked Pelosi whether House Democrats would move to impeach the president or attorney general, to which she replied, "We have our options. We have arrows in our quiver that I'm not about to discuss right now."
She added, "When we weigh the equities of protecting our democracy, it requires us to use every arrow in our quiver."
One of those arrows has apparently been scrapped by the speaker.
According to Fox News, Pelosi was asked again Thursday by a reporter about the prospect of launching another impeachment effort against President Trump. She replied, "I don't think he's worth the trouble at this point."
The speaker added, "As of now, 40 days to go, it's up to the people. And we want them to go to be able to have confidence in their vote."
Anything else?
In reaction to Pelosi's remarks about Democrats' willingness to "use every arrow in [their] quiver," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (D-Calif.) threatened to attempt remove the speaker from her powerful leadership post, telling reporters, "I will make you this promise, listening to the speaker on television this weekend, if she tries to move for an impeachment based upon the president following the Constitution, I think there will be a move on the floor to no longer have the question of her being speaker."
McCarthy continued, "She may think she has a quiver — we do, too."
The House minority leader added, "The president is supposed to move forward and they will. The Senate is supposed to take the action and they will. It's their constitutional right and they are following through."


theblaze--2020-09-25--Two brothers allegedly force their way into suburban home. Both pay the ultimate price after a gunfi

Two brothers allegedly force their way into suburban home. Both pay the ultimate price after a gunfight with a legal gun owner.

Two brothers allegedly force their way into suburban home .
Both pay the ultimate price after a gunfight with a @ @ @ @ @ were both gunned down by the resident of the home

Police say that two brothers were killed in a gunfight after they forced their way into a home in a suburb of Chicago.
The brothers allegedly walked up to the home in Waukegan at about 10 a.m. Tuesday armed with one revolver and forced their way in when a woman who was renting the home answered the door.
She was babysitting a toddler at the time and began screaming for help.
Waukegan police say that a man who rents a downstairs room at the home heard the screams, grabbed his pistol, and ran to investigate.
The man shot one of the brothers who dropped the gun after being hit.
The other brother then retrieved the gun and began dragging his brother out of the house. The renter went back to grab a weapon and engaged in a gunfight with the second brother. Multiple shots were fired on both sides.
Both brothers were found dead on the lawn by police when they arrived at the home. None of the victims were injured in the harrowing incident.
Both the woman and the man who rented the home had valid Firearm Owner's Identification Cards, while neither of the two brothers had a license. They said they did not know who the brothers were, or why they had targeted their home.
The brothers were identified as Christian Tenorio, 36, and Jimy Tenorio, 34, both from Waukegan.
"I can't remember the last time where we had two people try to break into a home, if that's what this ends up to be, where they're shot and found in the front yard," said Waukegan Police Commander Joe Florip to WGN-TV.
"This is a very isolated and specific incident, and I don't recall ever having anything like this," he added.
No charges have been filed, and the case is being investigated by the Waukegan Police Criminal Investigations Division.
Here's a local news report about the incident:


theblaze--2020-09-24--'Stop the madness': Virginia governor demands Trump rally be cancelled due pandemic rules — but the

'Stop the madness': Virginia governor demands Trump rally be cancelled due pandemic rules — but the campaign says the show must go on

'Stop the madness ' : Virginia governor demands Trump rally be cancelled due pandemic rules — but the campaign says @ @ @ @ @

The former governor of Virginia and other state officials are warning an airport that hosting a Trump 2020 rally could result in a "super-spreader" event, but the campaign intends to continue with the rally.
The event is planned for Friday evening at the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport.
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe, a Democrat, excoriated the airport officials for defying his coronavirus order and continuing with their plans to host the rally.
"Public health experts have made it clear: tomorrow's @realdonaldtrump clown show should not move forward," he tweeted on Thursday.
"The rally will put Virginians health in jeopardy. Stop the madness and cancel this event," he demanded.
He posted letters from the governor's office by Virginia's secretary of transportation and the secretary of health and human resources warning the airport that the rally would violate pandemic lockdown limitations on public gatherings.
McAuliffe had previously criticized the rally on Tuesday and accused the president of putting Virginians in danger.
"These super-spreading clown show rallies present a real public health risk. On the day we mourn the loss of 200K Americans to COVID-19, it's alarming @realdonaldtrump will be putting Virginians at risk by coming here," he tweeted.
Up to 4,000 people are expected to attend the rally on Friday.
The show must go on
Republican Party and Trump campaign officials said the show must go on.
"We're going to follow the CDC guidelines, and people are going to behave in a way that's appropriate," said Newport News Republican Party Local Chair Tom Amen to WTKR-TV.
Trump campaign officials made a similar statement.
"Every attendee will get a temperature check prior to admission, be provided a mask they're encouraged to wear, and have access to plenty of hand sanitizer," they said.
Not everyone is upset about the rally, of course.
"When you hear it's just a mile away from your house, that's wonderful," said Newport News resident Robin Necker to WTKR. "
"I just want to see the man in person, and I want to hear what he says," said her husband Bill Necker. "He's good for our country, I believe, and I'm really looking forward to voting for him."
Here's a local news report about the Trump rally:
Letter from Virginia officials asks airports to remember COVID-19 restrictions, cancel Trump rally www.youtube.com
Update: McAuliffe is the former governor of Virginia. His title was incorrect in earlier version.


theblaze--2020-09-24--Prosecutors drop prostitution charges against Patriots owner Robert Kraft

An appeals court ruled police violated Kraft 's rights by secretly recording him in sting operation

Prosecutors in Florida have dropped the charges against New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft stemming from a 2019 prostitution sting, after an appeals court recently determined law enforcement violated the constitutional rights of Kraft and others when they took secret recordings in a massage parlor.
What are the details?
Kraft stood accused of visiting the Orchids of Asia Day Spa on consecutive days in January 2019, and was allegedly caught on video engaging in a sexual act with a woman. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts of soliciting prostitution.
The NFL franchise owner pleaded not guilty to the charges, but issued an apology at the time, saying in part, "I am truly sorry. I know I have hurt and disappointed my family, my close friends, my co-workers, our fans and many others who rightfully hold me to a higher standard."
But the Washington Post reported that "last month, a Florida appeals court ruled that the video of Kraft would be inadmissible at trial, confirming a lower-court ruling that the 'sneak and peak' search warrant used to obtain the footage violated the fourth-amendment rights of Kraft and others caught up in the sting." The outlet noted that 24 other people had been charged in connection to the operation.
With the court tossing out the evidence, prosecutors determined the case against Kraft and others was too weak to move forward.
NBC News reported that a filing by the office of Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg explains, "Although there was probable cause to make an arrest, the evidence cannot prove all legally required elements of the crime alleged and is insufficient to support a criminal prosecution."
"We are ethically compelled to drop all cases," Aronberg said during an online press conference, according to the Associated Press.
The outlet also reported, "Aronberg said that even though the charges were dropped against the spa's customers, the felony cases against its owner and manager will proceed using evidence such as bank records."
Beth Kudman, the attorney for Orchids of Asia Day Spa owner Hua Zhang reacted to that in an email to the AP, saying, "It is beyond ironic that the State's entire prosecution was allegedly motivated by a desire to protect women from abuse. Yet, even after stating that the state did not have sufficient evidence to prosecute these women without the video evidence, the State persists in proceeding against them, while dismissing the charges against the men."


theblaze--2020-09-24--SUSPICIOUS? Senate report shows Hunter Biden received '$3.5 million wire transfer' from Russian bill

SUSPICIOUS? Senate report shows Hunter Biden received '$3.5 million wire transfer' from Russian billionaire

Chief researcher Jason Buttrill joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Thursday to discuss an `` explosive '' new report released Wednesday by Senate Republicans on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden 's son , Hunter Biden , and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma .
Among other serious allegations , the 87-page report claims that `` Hunter Biden received a $ 3.5 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina , the wife of the former mayor of Moscow , '' and the richest woman in Russia .
`` The transactions discussed [ in the report ] are designed to illustrate the depth @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Moreover , the financial transactions illustrate serious counterintelligence and extortion concerns relating to Hunter Biden and his family , '' the report stated .
Jason suggested the Senate 's findings provide additional evidence to back allegations of a money-laundering scheme , which Glenn detailed in a four-part series about Biden 's shady connections to Ukraine .
Learn more on this here .
`` Laundered money is very hard to track to its finality , '' Jason explained .
`` I 'm sure the Biden camp is really hoping that it just looks @ @ @ @ @ @ @ n't ever find the eventual end point .
But , if they do – and it 's possible they already have – this is going to be explosive , explosive . ''
Watch the video below for more details : Want more from Glenn Beck ?
To enjoy more of Glenn 's masterful storytelling , thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos , subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America , defend the Constitution and live the American dream .

Chief researcher Jason Buttrill joined Glenn Beck on the radio program Thursday to discuss an "explosive" new report released Wednesday by Senate Republicans on Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden, and the Ukrainian energy company Burisma.
Among other serious allegations, the 87-page report claims that "Hunter Biden received a $3.5 million wire transfer from Elena Baturina, the wife of the former mayor of Moscow," and the richest woman in Russia.
"The transactions discussed [in the report] are designed to illustrate the depth and extent of some questionable financial transactions. Moreover, the financial transactions illustrate serious counterintelligence and extortion concerns relating to Hunter Biden and his family," the report stated.
Jason suggested the Senate's findings provide additional evidence to back allegations of a money-laundering scheme, which Glenn detailed in a four-part series about Biden's shady connections to Ukraine. Learn more on this here.
"Laundered money is very hard to track to its finality," Jason explained. "I'm sure the Biden camp is really hoping that it just looks suspicious, but [investigators] don't ever find the eventual end point. But, if they do – and it's possible they already have – this is going to be explosive, very explosive."
Watch the video below for more details:
Want more from Glenn Beck?
To enjoy more of Glenn's masterful storytelling, thought-provoking analysis and uncanny ability to make sense of the chaos, subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America, defend the Constitution and live the American dream.


theblaze--2020-09-24--Car plows through crowd of Breonna Taylor protesters; Denver police detain driver

Video shows a car plowing through a crowd of people at a Breonna Taylor protest in Denver on Wednesday night .
The Denver Police Department has announced that the driver has been detained .
Protesters were gathered near the Colorado state Capitol following the decision by a grand jury not to indict police officers on homicide charges in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville , Kentucky .
There was a march through the streets of Denver , where protesters blocked the passage of a vehicle .
A crowd gathered around the silver Volvo SUV when it was stopped @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the car .
Then the driver inches forward , despite people standing in front of the car .
A protester throws an object at the windshield .
That 's when the driver hits the gas pedal and accelerates into the crowd .
The car rammed through the crowd , including one person who held a bicycle in front of the SUV .
Several people were knocked to the ground , and the bicycle was run over .
Around 9:15 p.m. , the car fled from the scene as protesters chased after the vehicle @ @ @ @ @ @ @ driver pulled into the protest area and was stopped by protesters , '' Denver Post reporter Shelly Bradbury , who captured video of the incident , said .
`` The protesters surrounded the vehicle and told the driver to turn around .
They shouted at each other , then the driver accelerated into the protesters after a few tense minutes . ''
`` The person who was hit , Kate , said she is not badly hurt .
Her wrist is scraped up , '' Bradbury wrote on Twitter .
On at 11:31 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ announced , `` One male has been detained . ''
Earlier this week , Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis ( R ) announced a proposed new law that would protect drivers who kill or injure demonstrators if they are `` fleeing for safety from a mob . ''
Earlier this month , the driver of a black Ford Taurus rammed into a crowd of about 350 Black Lives Matter protesters in New York City .
In July , a man driving a maroon SUV allegedly tried to plow through a crowd of pedestrians @ @ @ @ @ @ @ rally at a park in Colorado .
In May , a driver drove a car into a crowd of George Floyd protesters in Bakersfield , California .
Another incident from May shows a driver hitting a protester in Minneapolis .

Video shows a car plowing through a crowd of people at a Breonna Taylor protest in Denver on Wednesday night. The Denver Police Department has announced that the driver has been detained.
Protesters were gathered near the Colorado state Capitol following the decision by a grand jury not to indict police officers on homicide charges in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, Kentucky. There was a march through the streets of Denver, where protesters blocked the passage of a vehicle.
A crowd gathered around the silver Volvo SUV when it was stopped, and one of the protesters kicked the car. Then the driver inches forward, despite people standing in front of the car. A protester throws an object at the windshield. That's when the driver hits the gas pedal and accelerates into the crowd.
The car rammed through the crowd, including one person who held a bicycle in front of the SUV. Several people were knocked to the ground, and the bicycle was run over. Around 9:15 p.m., the car fled from the scene as protesters chased after the vehicle.
(Content warning: rough language)
"The confrontation began when the driver pulled into the protest area and was stopped by protesters," Denver Post reporter Shelly Bradbury, who captured video of the incident, said. "The protesters surrounded the vehicle and told the driver to turn around. They shouted at each other, then the driver accelerated into the protesters after a few tense minutes."
"The person who was hit, Kate, said she is not badly hurt. Her wrist is scraped up," Bradbury wrote on Twitter.
On at 11:31 p.m. Wednesday, the Denver Police Department announced, "One male has been detained."
Earlier this week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced a proposed new law that would protect drivers who kill or injure demonstrators if they are "fleeing for safety from a mob."
Earlier this month, the driver of a black Ford Taurus rammed into a crowd of about 350 Black Lives Matter protesters in New York City.
In July, a man driving a maroon SUV allegedly tried to plow through a crowd of pedestrians taking part in a Blue Lives Matter rally at a park in Colorado.
In May, a driver drove a car into a crowd of George Floyd protesters in Bakersfield, California.
Another incident from May shows a driver hitting a protester in Minneapolis.


theblaze--2020-09-24--Democrats' attacks on the Electoral College seem to be working: Share of Americans who want it aboli

Democrats' attacks on the Electoral College seem to be working: Share of Americans who want it abolished surges

Democrats ' attacks on the Electoral College seem to be working : Share of Americans who want it abolished surges

Democrats have been loudly clamoring for an end to the Electoral College for the last two decades.
Their demands began in earnest when Republican George W. Bush defeated Democrat Al Gore in the 2000 election. That was the first time since 1888 that the winner of the Electoral College lost the popular vote.
Since then, the cries to abolish the Electoral College have grown only more shrill — especially following President Donald Trump's win in 2016 over Hillary Clinton, despite losing the popular vote.
For example, just this week, CNN's Don Lemon was caught saying we need to "blow up the entire system" should the Senate confirm Trump's forthcoming nomination to the Supreme Court to fill the vacancy left by the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
A key step in blowing up the system, Lemon said, was "to get rid of the Electoral College ... because the minority in this country decides who the judges are and they decide who the president is. Is that — is that fair?"
What do voters think?
Today's attacks on the system established by the Founding Fathers are not new or unique. But are they working?
According to a poll published by Gallup on Thursday, they seem to be.
Gallup asked voters if they would prefer to amend the Constitution and select the president by popular vote or keep the current Electoral College, 61% of Americans said they would prefer electing the president via popular vote. Just 38% want to keep the current system.
A vast majority of Democrats (89%) and a strong majority of independents (68%) backed the popular vote, while just 23% of Republicans felt the same.
Though the current support for the popular vote is not an all-time high for the Gallup poll — 62% of Americans in 2011 held that view — it is reflective of the growing movement to jettison the Electoral College since President Trump's victory four years ago. In 2016, 49% of voters wanted to move to the popular vote, while 47% supported the system we have today. In 2019, those numbers jumped to 55% and 43%, respectively.
Broken down by party, the GOP has consistently been less supportive of the popular vote than Democrats.
In 2000, 42% of Republicans supported moving to the popular vote, and 74% of Democrats said the same.
By 2011, the share of Republicans feeling that way had jumped 11 points to 53%, while Democrats had dropped 3 points to 71%.
In 2016, GOP support for the popular vote plummeted to 17%, while Democrats increased to 81%.


theblaze--2020-09-24--President Trump to sign 'Born Alive' executive order to protect babies who survive abortions

President Trump to sign 'Born Alive ' executive order to protect babies who survive abortions ' I will always defend @ @ @ @ @ '

President Donald Trump announced this week that he plans to sign an executive order that will ensure that babies who survive abortion procedures receive proper medical care.
"I will always defend the sacred right to life," the president said in pre-recorded remarks delivered to the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast.
"Today I am announcing that I will be signing the Born Alive executive order to assure that all precious babies born alive, no matter their circumstances, receive the medical care that they deserve," he said, adding, "this is our sacrosanct moral duty."
Trump did not go into specifics about the forthcoming order, but according to the Daily Signal, it would likely add enforcement provisions to a 2002 bill, which extended legal protection to infants born alive at any stage of development.
Legislation proposed in the Senate this year sought to do as much by requiring that babies born alive during botched abortion procedures receive equivalent medical care to any other newborn. The bill, called the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, included criminal consequences for health care providers who violated the 2002 law.
But the legislation was ultimately rejected after it failed to reach 60 votes in the chamber.
In response to Trump's announcement, a representative for the nation's largest abortion provider, Planned Parenthood, repeated the same lines that many Democrat lawmakers used during debate over the Senate legislation, saying that the effort is redundant.
"It seems this administration will once again seek a solution to a nonexistent problem. An executive order like Donald Trump described would only spread misinformation, shame people who get abortions, and try to score low-hanging political points," said Jacqueline Ayers, the vice president of government relations and public policy for the organization's political arm.
In contrast, March for Life President Jeanne Mancini celebrated the move, saying the president had "stepped up for life."
"His actions today provide necessary legal protections for some of the most vulnerable in society: survivors of failed abortions," Mancini said in a written statement. "These steps had to be taken because some Democrats in the Senate promised to block legislation that mandates basic medical care for children who survive an abortion — an extremist view shared by vice presidential candidate Kamala Harris."
During his remarks, the president also tipped his hat religious Americans, saying, "Our nation is strong because of Catholics and all people of faith. We believe in the joy of family, the blessing of freedom and the dignity of work, and the eternal truth that every child, born and unborn, is made in the holy image of God."


theblaze--2020-09-24--DOJ: Seven military mail-in ballots cast for President Donald Trump found discarded in Pennsylvania

DOJ : Seven military mail-in ballots cast for President Donald Trump found discarded in Pennsylvania

The United States Department of Justice says a small number of mail-in ballots cast by members of the military for President Donald Trump were thrown away in Pennsylvania.
A federal investigation into reported problems with a handful of mail-in ballots received by the Luzerne County Board of Elections began Monday at the request of District Attorney Stefanie Salavantis. A statement from the U.S. attorney in charge of the investigation released Thursday announces that physical evidence was uncovered that some ballots were discarded.
"Since Monday, FBI personnel working together with the Pennsylvania State Police have conducted numerous interviews and recovered and reviewed certain physical evidence. Election officials in Luzerne County have been cooperative," the statement from U.S. Attorney David Freed reads.
"At this point we can confirm that a small number of military ballots were discarded," Freed said.
Investigators said nine discarded ballots were discovered, and seven cast for President Trump.
"Some of those ballots can be attributed to specific voters and some cannot," Freed said. "Of the nine ballots that were discarded and then recovered, 7 were cast for presidential candidate Donald Trump. Two of the discarded ballots had been resealed inside their appropriate envelopes by Luzerne elections staff prior to recovery by the FBI and the contents of those 2 ballots are unknown."
The investigation remains ongoing.
"It is the vital duty of government to ensure that every properly cast vote is counted," Freed said.
Trump has frequently criticized mail-in voting, arguing states are not equipped to handle large volumes of mail-in votes and suggesting that widespread fraud and a "rigged" election would occur if states adopt universal mail-in voting.
"Mail ballots, they cheat," Trump said in August. "Mail ballots are very dangerous for this country because of cheaters. They go collect them. They are fraudulent in many cases. They have to vote. They should have voter ID, by the way."
Most recently, the president has not said he would commit to a peaceful transition of power if he loses the election, suggesting his loss would be the result of fraudulent ballots.
"We're going to have to see what happens. You know that I've been complaining very strongly about the ballots, and the ballots are a disaster," Trump said. "Get rid of the ballots, and you'll have a very peaceful — there won't be a transfer, frankly. There will be a continuation."
After a media firestorm and several Republicans implicitly condemned Trump's comments, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany clarified Trump's remarks during a news conference Thursday, saying he would accept the results of a "free and fair election."
"The president will accept the result of a free and fair election," McEnany said. "He will accept the will of the American people."
She defended his criticisms of mail-in ballots.
"To move the entire country to mass mail-in voting all at once and have an entirely new system, and do that in just a few short months is an untenable and unworkable proposition," McEnany said. "And one that is shown to not work well at all."
McEnany promised reporters she would provide proof that mail-in ballots for President Trump were discarded in Pennsylvania, presumably referring to the U.S. Attorney Freed's statement released later that day.
Attorney General William Barr has also been a forceful critic of universal mail ballots.
"This is playing with fire. We're a very closely divided country here. And people have to have confidence in the results of the election and the legitimacy of the government, and people trying to change the rules to this, to this methodology which, as a matter of logic is very open to fraud and coercion, is reckless and dangerous and people are playing with fire," Barr said on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" on Sept. 2.
Critics of the president and his administration say studies have shown that voter fraud is extremely rare and that previous attempts by the administration to show evidence of widespread fraud failed to do so.
However, there are examples of voter fraud conducted on a larger scale in the United States. In June, charges were filed against four New Jersey men, including two Paterson City officials, for allegedly engaging in voter fraud with mail-in ballots. More than 3,000 ballots in a Paterson City Council election were reportedly set aside over fraud concerns, with over 800 being invalidated. One incumbent councilman won reelection by just eight votes.


theblaze--2020-09-24--Woke soccer mom writes that Ruth Bader Ginsburg's death inspired her to become a Satanist

Woke soccer mom writes that Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's death inspired her to become a Satanist ' I believe that @ @ @ @ @ our best , last defense against anti-choice lawmakers who are seeking to assert power over @ @ @ @ @ away our right to choose '

An attorney and 40-something mother by the name of Jamie Smith penned a Thursday op-ed for the Huffington Post saying that last week's death of Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg inspired her to join the Satanic Temple.
The hail you say?
Smith — who notes she lives in a "quiet neighborhood with a yard and a garage full of scooters and soccer balls" and often walks with her kids to get ice cream — acknowledged she's "not the type of person who would normally consider becoming a Satanist, but these are not normal times."
She noted that Ginsburg's passing elicited fear within her that "American citizens are inching closer to living in a theocracy or dictatorship and that the checks meant to prevent this from happening are close to eroding beyond repair."
More from Smith's op-ed:
When Justice Ginsburg died, I knew immediately that action was needed on a scale we have not seen before. Our democracy has become so fragile that the loss of one of the last guardians of common sense and decency in government less than two months before a pivotal election has put our civil and reproductive rights in danger like never before. And, so, I have turned to Satanism.
Members of the Satanic Temple do not believe in the supernatural or superstition. In the same way that some Unitarians and some Jews do not believe in God, Satanic Temple members do not worship Satan and most are atheists. They are not affiliated in any way with the Church of Satan. Instead, the Satanic Temple uses the devil as a symbol of rebellion.
Just like other faiths, the Satanic Temple has a code that their members believe in deeply and use to guide their lives. These Seven Fundamental Tenets include that "one should strive to act with compassion and empathy toward all creatures in accordance with reason," that "the struggle for justice is an ongoing and necessary pursuit that should prevail over laws and institutions," and that "one's body is inviolable, subject to one's own will alone."
Reading through the Seven Tenets, I was struck by how closely they aligned with the unwritten code I had used to try to guide my own life for several years. I realized, happily, that these were my people and that I had been a Satanist for several years without even knowing it. When Justice Ginsburg's death suddenly made combating the threats to reproductive rights and a government free from religious interference more urgent, I knew it was time to join them and support their conceptual and legal battles.
Roe v. Wade in 'imminent danger'
Smith added that without Ginsburg's "voice of reason on the court ― let alone her vote ― Roe v. Wade is in imminent danger of being overturned not based on legal arguments or scientific reasoning, but because of religious objections to what is a safe and necessary procedure for the women who seek it out after discussion with their physician."
She also said that RBG's successor "is all but certain to be vehemently anti-choice, with one of the top contenders belonging to a sect that actually used the term 'handmaid' to refer to some women until the popularity of the TV series 'The Handmaid's Tale' gave the term negative connotations."
She also noted that she quickly "sought strength" in the Satanic Temple's "efforts to turn religious arguments on their head by pushing for religious liberty for their members on an equal basis with believers in the dominant Christian faiths."
More from Smith's op-ed:
There is a real chance that the Supreme Court will be lost for a generation or more to justices appointed for their religious beliefs rather than a deep understanding of the Constitution or a desire for justice to be carried out on an impartial basis. Because of this, I believe that the Satanic Temple ― and its members' dedication to fighting for true freedom ― represents our best, last defense against anti-choice lawmakers who are seeking to assert power over women's bodies and take away our right to choose. We need creative, resolute thinkers who are willing to stand up for what they believe in and take concrete action to do so, and the Satanic Temple is full of those kind of people. I am proud to now count myself among their ranks.
If you'd like an inside peek at what Smith might be getting into, here's a clip from the Satanic Temple NYC that shows its "destruction ritual":


theblaze--2020-09-24--Polling from battleground states may indicate some momentum for Trump, points to competitive electio

Polling from battleground states may indicate some momentum for Trump, points to competitive election

Polling from battleground states may indicate some momentum for Trump , points to competitive election

New polls released this week from battleground states crucial to the November election may show President Donald Trump gaining momentum against former Vice President and Democratic nominee Joe Biden.
Polling from Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, and Michigan shows Trump and Biden statistically tied. This marks an improvement for Trump, who has previously trailed behind Biden in surveys from these states, which collectively represent 90 Electoral College votes up for grabs on Nov. 3.
Here's the latest polling
An ABC News/Washington Post poll published Wednesday shows Trump leading Biden 51% to 47% among likely voters in Florida, Fox News reported. The poll also has Trump with a 1-point lead over Biden in Arizona. The sampling error of both polls is plus or minus 4.5 percentage points, placing the differentials within the margin for error, meaning Trump and Biden are statistically tied in this survey.
A Monmouth University poll also released Wednesday has Trump leading Biden 48% to 46% in Georgia in a high likely voter turnout model. This 2-point differential is within the survey's 4.9% margin of error, again a statistical tie. In the poll's low-turnout model, Trump leads Biden 50% to 45% among likely voters.
A poll of likely voters in Michigan conducted by the Republican polling firm Trafalgar Group and released Thursday finds Trump narrowly leading Biden 46.7% to 46%. The margin of error for this poll is 2.99%.
Lastly, a Quinnipiac poll of likely voters in Ohio found Biden leading Trump by 1 point, 48% to 47%. The margin for error of this poll is plus or minus 3 percentage points.
A note on polls
As always with analyzing political polling, it is important to remember that polls do not predict election results. These statistical ties do not necessarily mean the election will be close to a tie in these states. Polls are snapshots of a sample of the electorate at whatever time the poll was taken. One poll released at a given time may be an outlier compared to other polls taken of the same state. It is bad practice to extrapolate electoral results from a single poll, or even a handful of polls, but polling is useful for showing trends, whether a candidate is gaining or losing support over time.
Additionally, keep in mind that polls of likely voters cannot be compared to polls of registered voters. They are different samples of the electorate that will yield different results.
So what are the trends?
Previous polls of these battleground states catalogued by RealClearPolitics show Biden with wider margins over Trump, with the exception of Georgia.
In Arizona, Biden was leading Trump among likely voters by as much as 9 points in a Fox News poll taken from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1. Other polls from CBS News or Monmouth taken earlier in September showed Biden with a narrow 2- or 3-point lead over Trump. The ABC News/Washington Post poll released this week is the first poll to show Trump with a lead over Biden among likely voters since a Trafalgar poll conducted in early August. The RCP average of polls for Arizona shows Biden with a 3.2-point lead over Trump, which hovers in the margin of error for most of the polls released.
There's a similar story in Florida, where Biden was leading or tied with Trump in the vast majority of likely voter polls conducted in July, August, and so far in September. Trump has only outright led one poll in Florida before Wednesday, and that was again a Trafalgar poll from Sept. 1 to Sept. 3.
In Michigan, Biden has enjoyed wider leads anywhere from 4 points to 8 points over Trump consistently among likely voters through August and September. The outlier is another poll from Trafalgar taken from Aug. 14 - Aug. 23 which showed Trump with a 2-point lead over Biden. Given that Trafalgar is the only polling firm showing Trump with a lead in Michigan since April, some may write the poll off as an outlier.
It is worth noting, however, that the Trafalgar Group was the only pollster to correctly predict Donald Trump was leading in Michigan and Pennsylvania in 2016. A Trafalgar poll of Michigan likely voters in June found Biden with a 1-point lead over Trump, again within the margin for error.
There have only been three other likely voter polls of Ohio recorded by RCP, and of those three two Rassmusen polls show Biden with a 4-pointlead over Trump and a CBS News poll had Trump with a 1-point lead.
Polling from Georgia tells a slightly different story. Consistent polling of likely voters in Georgia began in earnest in July and of nine polls recorded by RCP, Trump led five, Biden led two, and two were tied. Trump's highest leads were 7 points in a Trafalgar poll taken in July and a WSB-TV poll taken at the end of August. Since then, a University of Georgia poll and a New York Times/Siena poll showed tied results. Trump's most recent 2-point lead, still being within the margin for error, suggests he's lost some ground in September since his high water mark among likely voters in August.
Conclusions
The bottom line is the 2020 presidential election in these battleground states is extremely competitive, with most recent polls showing Trump and Biden running neck-and-neck.
Ohio and Georgia are both competitive with trend lines showing statistical ties.
Trump appears to be gaining momentum in Arizona and Florida, where previous polls showed Biden holding a wider lead over Trump.
The Trafalgar poll in Michigan is good news for the Trump campaign, but one poll alone, even by a pollster who was right in 2016, is not enough to definitively say he is leading. If, however, more polling continues to show Biden's lead in the margin for error, don't be shocked if Trump carries the state again.
Ultimately there are more factors to a campaign's victory or defeat than leading or being tied in the polls. Elections are determined by voter enthusiasm, campaign operations to drive voter turn-out, and occasionally disruptive political events no one can predict. These polls won't tell you who's winning the presidential election.
But they're not bad news for the Trump campaign.


theblaze--2020-09-24--MSNBC interviews 10-year-old girl about the significance  of Ruth Bader Ginsburg's passing

MSNBC interviews 10-year-old girl about the significance of Ruth Bader Ginsburg 's passing That 's what you call a softball @

MSNBC recently interviewed a 10-year-old girl on the legacy of the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
Ginsburg died on Friday at the age of 87 following several bouts with cancer.
What are the details?
According to a Thursday report from Newsbusters, MSNBC's Geoff Bennett took to the streets of Washington, D.C., where he encountered a family with two young children.
Bennett, who was outside the Supreme Court, spoke to the many mourners gathered to pay their respects to the late justice.
Speaking to the child's mother, Bennett asked, "Why was it so important for you to be here, to bring your kids, and to participate in this?"
The woman, identified as parent Meredith Becker, responded, "Ruth Bader Ginsburg was an absolute living legend. She did so much in her time here on this earth. And I thought it was only responsible as a parent to be respectful and pay respect to her for all of the amenities that she has allowed us, particularly as women, particularly as Jewish women, and also men, too, have afforded us opportunities in fights that we will never know from."
What did the kids say?
Bennett then turned to Meredith's children, 13-year-old Sam and 10-year-old Alana.
Bennett asked Sam, "What does [Ginsburg's] passing mean to you, what is her legacy as you see it?"
The 13-year-old responded, "So first off, it's really, really sad that she had to go, especially right before the election. She's done so many great things for this country with equal rights and all. So just really, it's tragic altogether."
Bennett then turned to Alana, and asked her how she felt about the passing of the longtime justice.
The 10-year-old responded, "This is going to be the beginning of an absolute nightmare because she is no longer here to help the world."
He concluded, "Thank you, thanks to your mom and your brother for your time this morning. ... These are perspectives that we've been hearing all morning as we've talked to people paying tribute to the late justice as a trailblazer, an icon, a defender of human rights, women's rights, and a defender of liberal ideals, a protector of progressive policies."


theblaze--2020-09-24--Church sues DC mayor for banning outdoor worship services with more than 100 people, while she atten

Church sues DC mayor for banning outdoor worship services with more than 100 people, while she attends and supports massive outdoor protests

Church sues DC mayor for banning outdoor worship services with more than 100 people , while she attends and supports @ @ @

In March, when the coronavirus pandemic began disrupting everyday life, Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser — like many other state and local officials — began locking down businesses, schools, churches, and social events.
Included in Bowser's lockdown executive order was a ban on gatherings of 10 or more people.
As the city progressed through the pandemic and cases flattened, the city eventually expanded the allowed sizes of gatherings to 50 and upped the limit to 100 people for worship services — whether indoor or outdoor.
But apparently the mayor had no problem with massive outdoor protests and rallies with thousands of people.
Now one large Baptist church in D.C. is taking the mayor to court for her worship restrictions.
Capitol Hill Baptist Church launched a suit against the mayor and the district in federal court on Tuesday for "violating its rights under the First and Fifth Amendments," the lawsuit said.
The suit notes that while D.C.'s government has banned services with more than 100 people — even if held outdoors — city officials have facilitated and tolerated massive social justice protests, rallies, and events, the Washington Post noted.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser speaks to demonstrators gathered on the Black Lives Plaza during a protest against police brutality on June 6. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
CHBC, which has 850 members, the Christian Post reported, says in its lawsuit filed with the U.S. District Court that it began seeking a waiver from the mayor's office to allow larger outdoor services on June 10 and never received an answer over the summer. The church says it then resubmitted the waiver request on Sept. 1, but the city still refused to rule until finally rejecting the application "last week."
The suit goes on to point out that Mayor Bowser has appeared at or offered support for multiple large gatherings in the city.
For example, Bowser made a personal appearance on June 6 at a Justice for George Floyd protest in D.C., which had tens of thousands of attendees, CHBC's lawsuit notes.
Also, the city's police force was used to accommodate protests and marches of "thousands to tens of thousands of people" on at least four separate occasions over the summer, the suit states.
Bowser also made an appearance at — and encouraged others to attend — the Commitment March at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and around the Reflecting Pool on Aug. 28. Before the event occurred, Bowser was asked about whether the city would enforce COVID-19 polices when it came to the rally, Bowser equivocated and then refused to answer further questions.
CHBC's suit says the church was not bothered by the events, but was concerned over the city's "discriminatory treatment":
The Church takes no issue with Defendants' decision to permit these gatherings, which are themselves protected by the First Amendment, and the Church supports this exercise of First Amendment rights. The Church does, however, take exception to Defendants' decision to favor certain expressive gatherings over others. The First Amendment protects both mass protests and religious worship. But Mayor Bowser, by her own admission, has preferred the former over the latter. When asked why she celebrates mass protests while houses of worship remain closed, she responded that “First Amendment protests and large gatherings are not the same" because “in the United States of America, people can protest." In the United States of America, people can gather for worship under the First Amendment as well.
Faced with the District's discriminatory treatment and with no end in sight to the legal ban on worship gatherings, CHBC's membership reluctantly voted to initiate this lawsuit to reclaim their most fundamental of rights: the right to gather for corporate worship free from threat of governmental sanction.
In a statement Tuesday, Justin Sok, a pastor at CHBC, noted that the church has met in-person every Sunday since its founding in 1878, except for three weeks in 1918 when the country was dealing with the Spanish Flu, the Christian Post said. Bowser's orders in March changed all that.
"Meeting in-person as one congregation is a deeply-held religious conviction for which there is no substitute," Sok continued. "Our simple desire is to have a community and one that meets together safely."
"A church is not a building that can be opened and closed," he concluded. "A church is not an event to be watched. A church is a community that gathers regularly and that community should be treated fairly by the District government."
In a statement to the Washington Post, the Rev. Thomas Bowen, director of the mayor's Office of Religious Affairs, said: "The pandemic has placed us all in a tough situation, leading us to make adjustments to all aspects of our lives. We have engaged with congregations to ensure houses of worship can plan their services in a way that it is safe for everyone."


theblaze--2020-09-24--US Marshals rescue 35 missing and endangered children during 'Operation Safety Net' in Ohio

US Marshals rescue 35 missing and endangered children during 'Operation Safety Net ' in Ohio U.S .
Marshals Service said @ @ @ @ @ endangered children were tied to human trafficking cases

The U.S. Marshals Service continues its mission to locate missing children. The U.S. Marshals announced this week that they had rescued 35 missing and endangered children during "Operation Safety Net" in Ohio.
Operation Safety Net, a joint investigation by the U.S. Marshals Service and local police in Ohio, tracked down 35 missing kids from the Cuyahoga County area. The lost children, who were between the ages of 13 and 18, were found in Ohio cities, including Cleveland, Akron, and Columbus, as well as Miami, Florida.
More than 20% of the endangered children were tied to human trafficking cases, according to the news release from the U.S. Marshals Service.
"This was new unchartered territory and the first time we conducted an operation like this," U.S. Marshal Pete Elliott said in a statement on Monday. "I am very proud of our law enforcement, community and media partners who worked tirelessly to bring our missing and most vulnerable children to safety. The establishment of a permanent unit in Northern Ohio will ensure that our most vulnerable missing children will continue to be found and brought to safety."
Newburgh Heights Police Chief John Majoy said his department was "proud to assist in Operation Safety Net," and commended the United States Marshals Service for "their hard work and dedication toward locating these children."
"Many times, they do not know they are a victim and this operation offers hope, freedom and safety they would not otherwise have," Majoy said. "This is a fine example of local, state and federal partners all working together for a notable cause. Together we can all make a difference."
Operation Safety Net is still working on five cases that remain open, which will be handled by the Marshals Task Force and local law enforcement in the next several weeks. The missing children they are looking for are Leantwana Bates, 17, Yalonda Bates, 15, Ja-Niya Scott-Lee, 16, Alicia Jackson, 16, and Issac Ortiz, 16.
Following the success of Operation Safety Net, a permanent Missing Child Unit was created in northern Ohio "to focus on those missing, abused, neglected and trafficked juveniles."
In the last four weeks, U.S. Marshals have located nearly 90 missing and endangered children.
In late August, the U.S. Marshals Service located 39 missing children in Georgia and Florida during "Operation Not Forgotten." The Marshals said the children were between the ages of 3 to 17. Of the 39 endangered children, 15 were victims of sex trafficking.
Earlier this month, U.S. Marshals reported that they rescued eight "highly endangered" missing children in Indiana during "Operation Homecoming."
Last week, U.S. Marshals Service wrapped up "Operation Triple Beam," a 60-day mission to reduce violent gang crime in Oklahoma City. U.S. Marshals rescued five missing children, made 262 arrests, and seized illegal firearms and narcotics.
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement participated in a multi-agency operation that resulted in the arrest of five suspected child sexual predators. "Operation Home Alone 2" was able to successfully "target sexual predators who attempted to lure underage children with the intent of engaging in sexual activity."


theblaze--2020-09-24--Authorities make second arrest in execution-style murder of 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant

Authorities make second arrest in execution-style murder of 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant The North Carolina murder took place in front of @ @ @ @ @ siblings

Authorities have arrested a second suspect in the execution-style shooting death of North Carolina 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant.
What is a brief history?
Suspect Darrius Sessoms, a neighbor to the Hinnant family, reportedly walked up to Cannon as the child rode his bike in the street on Aug. 9.
Eyewitnesses say that they saw Sessoms pull out a gun and execute Hinnant in full view. Cannon's 7-year-old and 8-year-old siblings also witnessed the murder.
Sessoms fled the scene following the incident, but authorities arrested him a day later and charged him with first-degree murder in connection with the killing.
A GoFundMe page to benefit the family received more than $813,000 in donations before it was disabled.
What are the details?
Wilson County, North Carolina, police arrested 21-year-old Aolani Takemi Marie Pettit earlier this week. She was charged with aiding Sessoms after he reportedly murdered the child.
According to local reports, Pettit allegedly helped Sessoms flee from police before he was taken into custody the day after the shooting.
WTVD-TV reported that authorities charged Pettit with felony accessory after the fact. She received a $250,000 secured bond.
Sessoms remains jailed without bond.
The station reported that anyone with information on the case should contact the Wilson Police Department at 252-399-2323 or Crime Stoppers at 252-243-2255.
Anything else?
Following Cannon's mid-August funeral, members of his family spoke out about the great loss of 5-year-old Cannon.
Cannon's grandfather, Merrill Race, said that his "beautiful" grandson loved to play outside.
"We shouldn't even be here," he said.
Of Sessoms, Race added, "That's evil. I never met this guy in my life, but that is one evil dude. He's [in jail] where he should be."
The child's stepfather, Lee Parker, said Cannon "meant the world" to him.
"I received the call, man," he said, recalling the moment he heard the devastating news of his young stepson's death. "I was riding down the road, and I just blacked out, couldn't even think for a few seconds. Took me a minute to register it."
Parker said that he and his family will never get past the child's murder.
"It'll never be behind us," he insisted. "He'll always be with us, but we're going to get through it."
Days before his funeral, Cannon's father said the family is relying on our faith in God to get through the dark times.
The child's mother has publicly announced that she wants prosecutors to seek the death penalty.
"This man will answer to me," Bonny Waddell reportedly posted on Facebook, according to the New York Post. "That man will see me and my son through my face! This sorry excuse as a human being will rot in hell."


theblaze--2020-09-24--Two Kroger workers fired after refusing to wear LGBTQ apron. Now federal watchdog is suing chain for

Two Kroger workers fired after refusing to wear LGBTQ apron. Now federal watchdog is suing chain for religious discrimination.

Two Kroger workers fired after refusing to wear LGBTQ apron .
Now federal watchdog is suing chain for religious discrimination @ @ @ @ @ declined to wear apron — and did n't mention religious accommodations — were not terminated

The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against supermarket chain Kroger on behalf of two women who said the store fired them after they refused to wear aprons that included an LGBTQ symbol, ABC News reported.
What are the details?
The lawsuit claims ex-workers Brenda Lawson and Trudy Rickerd said the company implemented a policy in April 2019 that required employees to wear an apron that included a rainbow heart, which they say endorses LGBTQ values, the network said.
The women claimed wearing the symbol would violate their religious beliefs, and that they even tried to offer alternatives, ABC News said, citing the lawsuit.
Lawson, who was 72 at the time, said she offered to wear the apron with her name tag covering the emblem, but the Conway, Arkansas, store allegedly refused, the network said.
"I am requesting a reasonable accommodation of this dress code with regard to my religious belief," she wrote in a letter requesting religious accommodations, ABC News said, citing the lawsuit. "I am simply asking to wear my name badge over the heart logo."
Rickerd, who was 57 at the time, said she offered to wear a different apron without the emblem and sent a letter explaining why she felt she couldn't comply with the policy, the network reported.
"I have a sincerely held religious belief that I cannot wear a symbol that promotes or endorses something that is in violation of my religious faith," she wrote in the letter, ABC News said, citing the lawsuit. "I respect others who have a different opinion and am happy to work alongside others who desire to wear the symbol. I am happy to buy another apron to ensure there is no financial hardship on Kroger."
How did Kroger allegedly respond to the women's requests?
Kroger, the country's largest supermarket chain, allegedly denied both requests and retaliated against the women by disciplining and ultimately firing them, the network reported, citing the lawsuit.
ABC News said Teresa Dickerson, a Kroger communication representative, declined the network's request for comment and cited a standard against speaking publicly on pending litigation.
Anything else?
The network — citing the lawsuit — added that Kroger didn't fire other employees who declined to wear the new apron or covered the heart emblem without requesting religious accommodations.
The EEOC — which is in charge of enforcing anti-workplace discrimination laws — filed the suit in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas on Monday, ABC News said. The federal watchdog's suit alleges conduct that violates the Title VII, a part of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 that prohibits workplace discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex and national origin, the network said.
"Companies have an obligation under Title VII to consider requests for religious accommodations, and it is illegal to terminate employees for requesting an accommodation for their religious beliefs," Delner-Franklin Thomas, district director of the EEOC's Memphis District Office, said in a statement Tuesday, according to ABC News.
The suit seeks back pay and other compensatory damages as well as an injunction against future discrimination, the network said.