theblaze--2020-08-13--'#SayHisName' trends after mainstream media's silence on the atrocious killing of 5-year-old Cannon

'#SayHisName' trends after mainstream media's silence on the atrocious killing of 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant

' # SayHisName ' trends after mainstream media 's silence on the atrocious killing of 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant Why is @ @ @ @ @ the execution killing of the 5-year-old boy who was innocently riding his bicycle ?

Major news networks have not reported on the atrocious of 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant. The blackout of coverage on the murder of the young boy has sparked the hashtag #SayHisName on Twitter.
As reported at TheBlaze, Cannon Hinnant was riding his bicycle in front of his father's house in North Carolina early Sunday evening. That's when Darius N. Sessoms allegedly walked up to the boy, put a gun to his head, and executed him. Then Sessoms, a 25-year-old convicted felon, fled to his home next door in the town of Wilson.
The gruesome murder was reportedly witnessed by Hinnant's 7-year-old and 8-year-old sisters, as well as neighbor Doris Labrant.
"My first reaction was he's playing with the kids," Lybrand told WRAL. "For a second, I thought, 'That couldn't happen.' People don't run across the street and kill kids."
First responders transported the boy to Wilson Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Sessoms later drove away in a 2019 Toyota Corolla, but was arrested by the U.S. Marshals Service Carolinas Regional Task Force. He was charged with first-degree murder. Sessoms has a lengthy criminal record that includes multiple felony drug charges, multiple felony probation violations, and charges on his record for possessing stolen firearms.
A neighbor said that Sessoms and Cannon's father, Austin Hinnant, had dinner together Saturday night and that Sessoms was at his neighbor's home before the murder on Sunday.
"We used to play together and I never thought he'd kill someone. A mother now has to lay her son to rest at 5 years old which she should never have to do. He'll never be forgotten," Hinnant's cousin Rachel Pipkin told WNCN.
"He would come over, him and my husband would always talk back and forth and he would ask my husband to put air in his tire," neighbor Charlene Walburn said of the boy. "If he saw me on the porch with a popsicle, he would always come over and ask me if he could have a popsicle."
By Wednesday night and into Thursday morning, the hashtag #SayHisName trended on Twitter. Many, including Jason Howerton, pointed out that there was zero coverage of Cannon Hinnant's murder by several mainstream media networks.
At the time of publication, a search of "Cannon Hinnant" produced no results on the websites of ABC News, CBS News, NBC News, MSNBC, CNN, NPR, New York Times, the Washington Post, TIME, or Newsweek. It appears that Fox News was the only mainstream media to cover the horrible death of the 5-year-old boy. International news outlets such as the Sun, Daily Mail, and the Independent have reported on the boy's murder.
Cannon Hinnant's funeral will be held on Thursday night, and a candlelight vigil is scheduled for Friday night at 8 p.m. at the steps of the Wilson County Courthouse.
"I want everyone to show up for my baby, if you love me and have any heart at all or loved my child please show up," the boy's mother said.
A GoFundMe campaign titled "Justice for Cannon" has raised nearly $120,000 since being created on Wednesday.
"On Sunday, August 9th, this precious angel was playing outside with his siblings when he was murdered. He was merely doing what he would do any other day and that's playing with his sisters, riding his bike, doing what kids do and all of the innocence that comes with being a child," the description of the campaign, started by Gwen Hinnant, read.
"This family has faced unimaginable pain because of this senseless act of violence," the GoFundMe states. "We are asking for your donations to assist with anything that may be needed for expenses related to his services. We offer our sincerest appreciation in this extremely difficult time."


theblaze--2020-08-13--'You're going to jail': Outrage across America as newly released body cam footage shows cop arrestin

'You're going to jail': Outrage across America as newly released body cam footage shows cop arresting terrified 8-year-old boy at school

'You 're going to jail ' : Outrage across America as newly released body cam footage shows cop arresting terrified @ @ @ @ @ what world is this OK ?

Members of the Key West, Florida, police force are under fire after body cam footage emerged of a disturbing 2018 arrest of an 8-year-old special-needs boy.
What are the details of the child's arrest?
According to a Wednesday CNN report, the unnamed child — who receives services as a special-needs student — allegedly hit a substitute teacher.
The teacher, who also remains unnamed at the time of this reporting, reportedly phoned authorities on the boy though she purportedly did not sustain any actual injuries.
The incident took place in the school's lunch room as the substitute watched over a class eating their meals. Reports allege that the boy was not sitting properly in his seat, which prompted the teacher to direct him to sit properly on the bench. When he reportedly wouldn't, she directed him to sit with her instead. When he refused, she approached him.
The child reportedly told the teacher, "Don't put your hands on me" and reportedly began to swear at the teacher, telling her that his mom would "beat your a**." He then reportedly struck her in the chest with his right hand.
When authorities arrived at the school, two of the officers approached the boy — who stands around 42 inches tall — to tell him that they were going to arrest him.
One of the officers on the body cam footage can be heard saying, "Son, you know where you are going? You're going to jail."
The officer commands the crying boy to turn around so he can carry out a pat-down on the child and tells the boy to put his hands behind his back.
The boy complies, but the officer discovers that the 8-year-old child's hands are far too small for cuffs.
One of the officers attempted to handcuff the child but realized his little wrists and hands were too small for the cuffs.
"You understand this is very serious, OK?" a second officer can be heard telling the boy as they escort him out of the building. "I hate that you put me in this position that I have to do this. OK? All right? The thing about it is you made a mistake, now it's time to learn from it and grow from it, right? Not repeat the same mistake again, OK?"
The child's mother, Bianca N. Digennaro, says that officers transported her son from the school to the police station, where he was fingerprinted, swabbed for DNA, and had his mug shot taken.
Authorities charged the child with felony battery in connection with the school incident. Digennaro fought for her son in court over a period of nine months until a prosecutor decided to dismiss the felony charges of battery after determinations of the child's age and mental evaluation.
The child, now 10, is reportedly doing well despite the incident.
"I'm heartbroken this happened to my son," Digennaro said. "I'm just here for my son because I refuse to let them make him a criminal or convicted felon at the age of eight."
What are people saying about all this?
Attorney Ben Crump is representing the child's mother in a reportedly forthcoming federal lawsuit claiming that the city and the school district violated the Americans with Disabilities Act.
In a statement, Crump said, "This is a heartbreaking example of how our educational and policing systems train children to be criminals by treating them like criminals — if convicted, the child in this case would have been a convicted felon at eight years old. This little boy was failed by everyone who played a part in this horrific incident."
The Monroe County School District issued a statement Monday, telling the Herald, "The District is not, and has not, been involved in litigation about this incident. Due to the possibility of this matter becoming a legal issue in the future, we have been advised not to make further comment about the incident at this time."
In a Monday statement to the Miami Herald, Key West Police Chief Sean. T Brandenburg said that his officers followed protocol and did nothing wrong in arresting the child.
The body cam footage, however, has gone viral on the internet, including on social media channels, sparking outrage over the incident as well as the very presence of police officers in elementary schools.


theblaze--2020-08-13--New weekly jobless claims drop below 1 million for the first time since the start of the pandemic

For the first time since early March — or nearly 5 months — the number of Americans filing for first-time unemployment benefits last week dropped to under 1 million, according to Department of Labor statistics.
What are the details?
The Labor Department news release, posted Thursday morning, recorded 963,000 weekly initial jobless claims, a figure that beat economists' predictions of 1.1 million.
CNBC reported the figure as "a sign that the labor market is continuing its recovery from the coronavirus pandemic."
"In the week ending August 8, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 963,000, a decrease of 228,000 from the previous week's revised level," the news release said, adding: "The 4-week moving average was 1,252,750, a decrease of 86,250 from the previous week's revised average."
Image Source: Department of Labor
The new report marked the end of a 20-week streak in which the new weekly jobless claims topped 1 million as many Americans were put out of work due to the coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdowns.
Jobless claims reached a peak in late March, when a whopping 6.6 million Americans filed for first-time unemployment benefits. Since then, the number has been dropping steadily.
Yet while the steady decline in new weekly jobless claims is promising news for the economy, it's important to keep in mind that prior to the pandemic, weekly jobless claims consistently came in below 250,000.
What else?
CNBC found that the number of continued claims, which describes those collecting unemployment benefits for at least two weeks, decreased, as well, for the week ending August 1. That number dropped to approximately 15.5 million, its lowest level since mid-April.
Some economists say the pair of decreases may also be fueled by the fact that federal enhanced unemployment benefits in the form of a $600 weekly check have been suspended since the end of July.
"We cannot be sure or not if this is good news for the recovery or whether it is the lapse in those $600 weekly checks from the federal government that is now a disincentive for some newly jobless workers to file," said Chris Rupkey, chief financial economist for MUFG Union Bank, according to Yahoo News.
"Any way you look at it, the party may be over for those getting government assistance after being made redundant after this recession," he added.


theblaze--2020-08-13--Abolish police, eh? Check out what one officer does after spotting elderly man in wheelchair stuck o

Abolish police, eh? Check out what one officer does after spotting elderly man in wheelchair stuck on tracks as train barrels toward him

Abolish police , eh ?
Check out what one officer does after spotting elderly man in wheelchair stuck on tracks @ @ @ @ @

Amid leftist cries to abolish and defund police departments in some areas of the country, we've seen numerous examples of cops just showing up for work each day and putting their lives on the line for the rest of us.
Count Officer Erika Urrea of the Lodi, California, police department among them.
What happened?
Urrea's bodycam caught the heart-stopping scene as she saw a 66-year-old man in a wheelchair apparently stuck on the Union Pacific Railroad tracks near Lodi Avenue Wednesday morning — while a train was barreling toward him, the Lodi News reported.
Video shows Urrea exiting her patrol vehicle and running toward the wheelchair-bound man as the track's bells sound, the arm guards are down, and the train's horn is heard in the distance.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
"Can you get up?" she asks when she gets to the main as the train's horn becomes louder.
"A northbound train was traveling pretty fast, and she rushed over to get him unstuck," Sgt. Steve Maynard told the News. "She only had a few seconds, and for some reason, she couldn't get the chair loose, so she grabbed hold of him and hauled him from the chair."
Image source: YouTube screenshot
The urgency in Urrea's voice is apparent as she repeatedly tells the man to "get up!" and pulls him out of his chair and drags him from the tracks.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Image source: YouTube screenshot
Maynard said the man suffered severe injures to his legs because the train still struck him as Urrea pulled him away, the paper said.
Image source: YouTube screenshot
The police department posted footage of the incident from Urrea's bodycam. The man's face and the bottom of his legs were blurred out in the video:
LPD Officer Saves Man from Oncoming Train youtu.be
What happened afterward?
Urrea and another officer who arrived on scene immediately tended to the man's injured legs, the News said, after which he was taken to an area hospital, where he was listed in critical but stable condition.
Urrea, a 14-year veteran of the department, declined to comment about her actions Wednesday, the News said.
The department, however, was more than happy to do so, telling the paper that "Officer Urrea risked her own life to save another, and her actions prevented a tragedy today. We are extremely proud of Officer Urrea and her heroism."
Others commenting on the video were equally effusive:
"Don't believe the FakeNews, America loves our police," one person wrote. "God bless this and all our law enforcement officers."
"Outstanding job!!! This officer is a hero!" another commenter said.
"Wow! That was some superhero s**t right there!" another person noted.
"Gave me chills! Well done officer...you are a hero and a credit your department. THANK YOU for continuing to honor your duty despite the most challenging of social times," another commenter said. "Absolutely so proud to watch this..."
Anything else?
What's more, Wednesday's incident wasn't the first time that Urrea acted to save a Lodi resident's life, the News reported.
Last Tuesday, Aug. 4, Urrea responded to a call about a 62-year-old man who collided with the rear of a bus while cycling, the paper said, adding that Urrea performed CPR on him as paramedics arrived on scene and took over. The man was taken to an area hospital for treatment, the News added.


theblaze--2020-08-13--VICTORY: YouTube remonetized Steven Crowder's channel and the left is NOT happy about it

VICTORY : YouTube remonetized Steven Crowder 's channel and the left is NOT happy about it

Today, the guys share great news regarding Steven's YouTube channel, and Steven fires back at The Verge (a Vox publication) and others who have already published hit pieces on the matter. Then, Steven reviews some of the latest leftist junk science on COVID. Later, Brian Callen joins the show to discuss the sexual assault smear job that launched against him. All that and more on Thursday's episode of Good Morning Mug Club.
Join #MugClub to continue watching this stream here. MugClubbers can watch and comment during the live show.
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theblaze--2020-08-14--Commentary: The move to cancel college football makes no sense

We 're going to lose more than football Commentary : The move to cancel college football makes no sense The @ @ @ @ @ the San Diego County Credit Union Holiday Bowl on Dec. 27 .
( Photo by @ @ @ @ @ Images )

There's a group of Iowa Hawkeye football parents who are fighting back with some questions. Questions any reasonable person would have after being told their kids can't play Division 1 football this fall when another right down the road — Iowa State — appears to be ramping up to do exactly that.
Why haven't the Big Ten power brokers communicated with the players or parents on the way to making such a drastic decision?
Why did that drastic decision need to be made now when three other major football conferences are giving it everything they've got to proceed?
How does it make sense that regular students will return to campus classes and dorms with far fewer overall protections than athletes have yet sports is the thing getting canceled?
Why are the reasons for shutting down so vague? What are all these “unknowns" you are all panicking about? What aren't you telling us? Why should we trust you about playing in the spring when we can't seem to trust you now?
And have you considered that the risks of not playing for these young, healthy individuals — on whom the virus has been statistically demonstrated to have less impact than the flu — may outweigh those from taking the field because of the loss of once-in-a-lifetime opportunities and possible professional advancement?
Among those asking the questions is a dad who is a doctor and a mom who is a nurse. And whether they really believe they can turn this ridiculous decision around or not, we should all have their back for simply refusing to have “the experts" pee on them and tell them it's raining.
Yet despite airing their concerns as parents last week, the overwhelming sentiment in sports talk seems to be that the possibility of reversing a decision of such magnitude seems to be beyond imagining. How about we check the deranged mental math on that. So no matter how badly a situation is handled, the larger the magnitude or impact of the decision in question makes it even more likely that such a decision must be adhered to at all costs?
The Peter Principle lives. "If it's dumb, do it" seems to be the mission statement here.
Well, as the great prophet Nick Fury once said: “I recognize the council has made a decision, but given that it's a stupid-a** decision, I've elected to ignore it."
Amen, amen I say to you.
For goodness' sake, we live in a world where we've been misled by one of the chief medical officers in the country, Lord Anthony Fauci, for months. A world where lockdowns have ignored economic catastrophe, scientific reality and the degradation of liberties at a pornographic level while elevating BLM rioters to the status of Rosa Parks.
Dare I say then that one lesson all of us, who don't have our heads permanently stuck in our backsides, should have learned by now is that there are some gigantically bad decisions the “experts" are making. So we'd be really dumb not to at least question them before bestowing infallibility once more.
None of this makes any damn sense. None. And the minute we start accepting that as our lot in life, we lose way more than football.


theblaze--2020-08-14--Temperature checks upon entry to businesses or schools are ineffective for detecting COVID, Fauci sa

Temperature checks upon entry to businesses or schools are ineffective for detecting COVID, Fauci says

Temperature checks upon entry to businesses or schools are ineffective for detecting COVID , Fauci says

Checking people's temperatures upon entry to businesses and schools is essentially pointless as a standalone measure to protect against the spread of COVID-19, and the practice can just as well be avoided to save time, Dr. Anthony Fauci said during a Facebook Live broadcast Thursday.
Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the temperature checks aren't reliable, and it's more effective to question people about symptoms than it is to take their temperature with an infrared thermometer, which is an increasingly popular practice as places reopen.
"We have found at NIH that it is much, much better to just question people when they come in and save the time, because temperatures are notoriously inaccurate many times," Fauci said.
Schools, common business such as grocery stores, large corporations including Amazon, and Disney's Florida theme parks all utilize temperature screenings in an attempt to prevent people with COVID-19 from entering.
Despite the popularity of the temperature checks as a safety measure, their ineffectiveness in detecting COVID-19 should be rather obvious. One of the most well-known and complicating aspects of COVID-19 is the likely number of people who have, or have had, the coronavirus with few or no symptoms, let alone a fever.
That's not to mention the inaccuracy of infrared temperature readings, particularly when used on people in the summer time after they've been out in the heat. Fauci himself said he's registered at 103 on a temperature check just from being outside.
So, while there's some chance that a temperature check could catch someone who is attempting to go somewhere with a fever, the checks are not likely to catch a significant portion of COVID-19 cases.
"All in all, temperature screenings may catch some cases of the COVID-19 coronavirus. But it could miss many others," Bruce Y. Lee, a public health expert, wrote for Forbes last month. "Thus, be skeptical whenever anyone tries to assure you that things are safe just because they are doing temperature and symptom screening."
Much of the opposition to reopening schools for in-person classes is due to fear of asymptomatic spread of COVID-19 among students and teachers, or the risk that students may unknowingly contract the virus at school and bring it home to vulnerable family members.
Statistics have proven that children without underlying health problems are unlikely to have serious illness if they get COVID-19, but the potential for asymptomatic spread creates an uncertainty that some parents and school officials are unwilling to risk.


theblaze--2020-08-14--DOJ finds that Yale admissions policies discriminate against Asian and white students

The Department of Justice accused Yale University of discriminating against Asian and white students in its enrollment policies and demanded a plan to address the disparities.
The DOJ announced the findings of a two-year investigation in a news release Thursday. The investigation was in response to complains from Asian American groups, the DOJ said.
"The Department of Justice today notified Yale University of its findings that Yale illegally discriminates against Asian American and white applicants in its undergraduate admissions process in violation of Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act," the statement said.
The DOJ recognized that the Supreme Court has allowed colleges to consider race in limited circumstances, but said Yale exceeded those limits.
"Yale uses race at multiple steps of its admissions process resulting in a multiplied effect of race on an applicant's likelihood of admission, and Yale racially balances its classes," the statement claimed.
The report found that Asians and whites have only one-10th to one-fourth the possibility of gaining admission to the university as similarly qualified African American applicants.
"Unlawfully dividing Americans into racial and ethnic blocs fosters stereotypes, bitterness, and division. It is past time for American institutions to recognize that all people should be treated with decency and respect, and without unlawful regard to the color of their skin," said Assistant Attorney General Eric Dreiband for the Civil Rights Division.
The statement from the DOJ concluded by demanding a plan from university administrators to address the discriminatory practices.
'A meritless, hasty accusation'
Yale University rejected the findings of the report in a statement and accused the DOJ of drawing a conclusion from incomplete evidence.
"Yale has cooperated fully with the DOJ's investigation of Yale's admissions practices. We have produced a substantial amount of information and data, and we are continuing to do so," the statement read.
"Given our commitment to complying with federal law, we are dismayed that the DOJ has made its determination before allowing Yale to provide all the information the department requested thus far. Had the department fully received and weighed this information, it would have concluded that Yale's practices absolutely comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent," the statement continued.
The statement went on to say Yale is proud of its admissions policies and refused to change them based on a "meritless, hasty accusation."
Here's a local news report about the findings:


theblaze--2020-08-14--Man assaults and injures 7-year-old girl in Staten Island random attack; police arrest homeless susp

Man assaults and injures 7-year-old girl in Staten Island random attack; police arrest homeless suspect

The mom was with her two daughters at the time

Police have arrested a homeless man who they alleged knocked down and injured a 7-year-old girl in a random attack in Staten Island, New York.
The alleged attack occurred about 1:40 p.m. Monday as the girl was walking with her sister and her 41-year-old mother in the town of New Dorp. They say the man knocked the girl to the ground in an unprovoked attack.
According to Staten Island Live, a witness said that the man followed after the mother and her two daughters as they sought help.
"And he was following them," the witness said, "but he was walking fast, not running."
The witness says the man fled after the mother and child, whom they described as "hysterical," knocked at the doors of nearby homes.
The girl suffered minor injuries, including lacerations to her knees, but she and her mother denied medical attention.
Homeless man arrested
On Thursday, police arrested Vondell Cox, a homeless man. The suspect was arrested within 12 hours of the police releasing a photo from a surveillance video related to the assault.
They provided a bizarre explanation for the alleged attack.
"He didn't like the way the mom looked at him," said a police source to the New York Post. "That's why he did that to the kid."
Police charged him with assault, harassment, and endangering the welfare of a child.
A growing problem
Increasing homelessness has become a crisis in many states, but it became especially acute in nearby New York City, where lawmakers have been heavily criticized for their inability to address the problem.
In October 2018, hundreds of homeless people and homeless advocates protested at Gracie Mansion, the official residence of New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio. They demanded that the city provide thousands of homeless shelters in addition to the 15,000 units that it had planned.
In July, a Presbyterian church in Hell's Kitchen made headlines because it was forced to barricade the front steps and make its attendees enter through a side entrance in order to dissuade the homeless from defecating there and leaving used needles.
Here's more about the Staten Island attack:


theblaze--2020-08-14--NYC's annual 9/11 'Tribute in Light' memorial canceled over concern workers might get COVID-19

NYC 's annual 9/11 'Tribute in Light ' memorial canceled over concern workers might get COVID-19

The National September 11 Memorial & Museum announced it will not put on its annual "Tribute in Light" memorial display this year, saying the health risks to the workers who would install the lights would be "far too great" because of COVID-19.
What are the details?
The museum stated on its website:
Tribute in Light, the world's beloved twin beams of light, will not shine over lower Manhattan as part of this year's 9/11 commemoration. This incredibly difficult decision was reached in consultation with our partners after concluding the health risks during the pandemic were far too great for the large crew required to produce the annual Tribute in Light. We hope to resume this iconic tribute for the 20th anniversary. In a spirit of unity and remembrance, the city will come together for a "Tribute in Lights" initiative to inspire the world and honor the promise to never forget.
Instead of the massive light beams shining symbolically where the Twin Towers once stood, the museum said "many iconic New York City buildings will be lighting their spires and facades in blue to honor those killed on 9/11."
Folks on social media expressed outrage over the decision.
Conservative talk show host Larry O'Connor tweeted, "Give me a f*****g break! There was no fear for the workers used to paint a BLM mural at Trump Tower! NYC makes their priorities known. Duly noted."
Someone else wrote, "So much for 'never forget,'" while another replied, "It takes about 40 people to set up those lights. I would volunteer without hesitation to do this. I'm sure thousands would. Do not make the sky over Manhattan be dark. We need the light."
One person pointed out, "NYC schools will be opening in September 9th, 9/11 Light Installation cancelled over COVID 19 fear. Do you see who is the @NYCMayor?"
"Call it a protest," somebody suggested.
"First, they cancelled the reading of names. Now they can't even put the lights up in commemoration," another person tweeted. "This is completely dishonorable and disgraceful. I'm ashamed to be from this city right now."
According to the New York Post, the museum had already "scrapped the in-person reading of 9/11 victims at the annual Ground Zero ceremony."
However, the outlet noted, "last week, a nonprofit, The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, announced their own separate Lower Manhattan ceremony where select family members of 9/11 victims will be permitted to read the names of their loved ones."


theblaze--2020-08-14--Virginia mayor faces calls to resign over Aunt Jemima joke he posted to Facebook

Virginia mayor faces calls to resign over Aunt Jemima joke he posted to Facebook He has refused to resign and @ @ @ @ @ part

The mayor of a Virginia town is facing calls for his resignation after a post on Facebook about Aunt Jemima that many called racially insensitive.
The town of Luray issued a statement rejecting racism after Mayor Barry Presgraves posted, "Joe Biden has just announced Aunt Jemima as his VP pick."
The joke was posted to the mayor's Facebook page on Sunday, but he quickly deleted it. In the intervening time, someone snapped a screenshot and shared it on social media.
The apology
Presgraves apologized for the post, but resolutely said that he would not resign.
"I want to make this very clear to everyone with absolutely no qualifications. I understand what I posted on social media was wrong, offensive and unbecoming," Presgraves said the day after he posted the joke.
"Hell no, I'm not resigning. The people elected me and I have a few months more to serve," he added.
Presgraves explained that he didn't think the phrase was racist because he had eaten Aunt Jemima pancake syrup his entire life.
"I thought it was funny," he added. "I thought it was humorous. I had no idea people would react the way they did."
The outrage
Community members called for Presgraves' resignation and marched to protest his insistence on staying in office. Luray council member Leah Pence posted a statement excoriating the mayor.
"While a resignation alone will not resolve the systemic subliminal racism that plagues our community, your resignation is imperative as we work towards ending racism in our community," Pence wrote. "You are accountable for your words and decisions as the leader of the Town of Luray and your recent actions have caused me and many citizens to lose faith and confidence in your capacity to effectively and justly serve as Mayor of the Town of Luray."
Councilman Jerry Schiro offered similar comments but stopped short of calling for his resignation.
"All racial comments are inappropriate given the heightened sensitivity to racism in our country today," Schiro said. "We are and should be held to a higher standard. I can assure the citizens of Luray that kind of thinking is not indicative of the council."
Presgraves ran as an independent for the mayor's seat in 2012.
Here's a local news report about the furor over the Facebook post:
Protestors Call For Resignation Of Luray Mayor Barry Presgraves Over Racist Facebook Post www.youtube.com
[Correction: A previous version of this story stated incorrectly that the mayor specifically wrote about Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.). TheBlaze regrets the error.]


theblaze--2020-08-15--Postal carriers union endorses Biden, says Trump denied funds 'amid staggering loss of mail volume'

In the meantime , the USPS warned 46 states that mail-in November ballots could be delayed

The National Association of Letter Carriers endorsed presumptive Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden on Thursday, while lashing out at President Donald Trump's administration saying that it has taken "steps" to "undermine the Postal Service."
At the same time, the union voiced its concern that a "staggering loss of mail volume" during the COVID-19 pandemic has destroyed its revenue, as it warned nearly every state in America that delays at the USPS mean it cannot guarantee that mail-in ballots can be delivered in time to be counted.
What are the details?
The president of the NALC, Fredric Rolando, released a statement offering a glowing endorsement of both Biden and his running mate, Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), before saying that the union's decision was based on feedback from members "and a discussion with [Biden]."
Rolando added, "The decision was also partly informed by what we have seen from the current administration."
Rolando wrote:
In 2018, legislative recommendations from the White House Postal Task Force report called for the revocation of collective bargaining rights by America's postal unions, massive cuts to services, and the potential privatization of the agency. Since that time, we have continued to see the administration take steps outside of the public eye to undermine the Postal Service and letter carriers.
He went on to say that the COVID-19 "pandemic threatens the very survival of the USPS."
In a separate post to its website, the NALC pleaded for funding from the next coronavirus stimulus package from Congress, saying the "Postal Service looms closer to shuttering due to the staggering loss in mail volume and revenue during this crisis."
The NALC called the "conditional line of credit" it was granted in the previous stimulus package "a slap in the face," and argued that the cost-cutting measures deployed amid the crisis have led to delays to the extent that it cannot guarantee the delivery of mail-in ballots on time this fall for most of the U.S. as things stand.
After news hit that the USPS warned Pennsylvania that it couldn't guarantee the delivery of November mail-in ballots by the deadline, the Washington Post reported that another 45 states received the same warning.
In the meantime, the issue over mail-in ballots and the USPS has become an enormous political issue for the general election.
The Trump administration nixed a $13 billion grant to the USPS in the first COVID-19 stimulus package, and Democrats and Republicans are fighting over USPS funding in the anticipated second package.
But the president said he will not approve the boost to the USPS that Democrats are pushing for, voicing his concerns that mail-in voting is rife with fraud.
On Thursday, Trump told Fox Business, "[Democrats] want three and a half billion dollars for something that will turn out to be fraudulent. That's election money, basically."


theblaze--2020-08-15--Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield issues defiant message to fans angry that he said he would kneel d

Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield issues defiant message to fans angry that he said he would kneel during anthem Mayfield said @ @ @ @ @ with the military

Cleveland Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield doubled down on his plan to kneel during the national anthem despite being inundated with criticism by some fans.
"No I don't have any regrets," Mayfield said during a media briefing.
"I think you know, being in my position, which is a blessing, being you know, out on a platform where I can speak on issues that are just wrong. You know, right is right and wrong is wrong," he explained.
"It's a human rights issue. It's been going on for a long time and I believe in that. It's nothing against the military, anyone who served. Anybody that knows my history knows I completely support the military and people that serve our country for the right reasons and do it for justice," Mayfield continued.
"The people that don't know that, that's OK. Take your time. Just take a second to get to know me. You know, it's a human rights issue," he added.
"There's right," Mayfield concluded, "and there's wrong."
The league turns over
After rejecting the politicization of the professional sports league in 2019, the NFL has changed course and embraced the messaging of the Black Lives Matter movement for the 2020 season. In July, the league announced that players would be allowed to plaster messages for political causes on their helmets during games.
in June, a poll of Americans found a majority of 52% supported the kneeling protests, while only 36% said the protests were inappropriate.
NFL under coronavirus
The 2020 NFL season is still scheduled to commence in September but many believe that the season will need to be canceled in order to prevent the spread of the coronavirus among the players and the fans. Some teams have already announced that fans will most likely not be allowed to attend the games as spectators.
Many Cleveland fans were hopeful for the Browns 2019 season but the team and ended with a disappointing record of six wins and 10 losses, and missed the playoffs for the 17th year.
Here's the video of Mayfield's most recent comments:


theblaze--2020-08-14--Shaun King tries and fails to explain contradictory tweets on Kamala Harris after online ridicule

Black Lives Matter activist Shaun King was roundly mocked on social media over contradictory statements he made about California Sen. Kamala Harris after she was picked as the vice presidential candidate for the Democratic ticket.
King had high praise for Harris after she got the nod from Joe Biden on Tuesday.
"That's it for me. I am incredibly proud to see a brilliant Black woman, and HBCU grad, chosen as a Vice Presidential nominee," King tweeted.
"I've done political work my whole life," he added. "It's rarely things dreams are made of. Kamala Harris is the most progressive VP nominee in American history."
'Dismal history on criminal justice'
Critics of the activist found his previous tweets where he excoriated Harris and Biden and said that he would very likely never support them politically.
In other unearthed tweets, King called it "disturbing" that Harris would pose in a photograph with AIPAC, the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, and criticized her for not standing up for Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and her anti-Semitic comments.
"Observation: The Democratic presidential candidates and politicians who spoke for or with AIPAC also have said nothing about Trump's attacks on Ilhan Omar," King said.
"The silence of Kamala Harris and Cory Booker on this is so disturbing. But they each also love AIPAC," he added.
'Grow and evolve'
King was ridiculed so much online that he tried to explain how he could be so vehemently against Harris before he was so vehemently in support of her candidacy.
"I can only speak for myself, but when I harshly critique leaders, it's with the hope that they will grow and evolve," he wrote.
"Kamala has done so, in very specific ways, on issues of justice," he added. "I'll remain a critic. But I'm nothing but glad to see the growth. Is what it is."
King has been criticized by many in the black community over accusations of mismanagement of funds and donations to his political organizations. More recently, he made headlines when he advocated that protesters tear down white depictions of Jesus Christ in statues.
Here's more about the nomination of Kamala Harris:


theblaze--2020-08-14--Man who brutally beat Macy's store manager in 'unprovoked attack' finds mercy from unlikely source —

Man who brutally beat Macy's store manager in 'unprovoked attack' finds mercy from unlikely source — his victim

Man who brutally beat Macy 's store manager in 'unprovoked attack ' finds mercy from unlikely source — his victim @ @ @ @ @ his 18-year-old attacker not have a felony record once he completes his sentence

The 18-year-old man accused of beating up a Macy's store manager in June — an incident caught on video that went viral — pleaded guilty to the charge against him Wednesday, WJRT-TV reported.
The defendant, Damire Palmer, also gave his testimony in court as part of a plea agreement, the station said.
Image source: WJRT-TV video screenshot
So after pleading guilty to assault with intent to do great bodily less than murder, Palmer told the court what led to his attack against the store manager inside Michigan's Genesee Valley Mall, WJRT said.
Here's the clip of the attack. (Content warning: Racial slurs from the attacker):
"I asked him a question about some clothes," Palmer said, according to the station. "I asked him about the jacket type that I was about to get."
Palmer said the store manager answered him, but then Palmer's brother told him the store manager called him the N-word, WJRT reported — which Palmer admitted was a lie from his brother.
"Why would your brother do that?" the assistant prosecutor asked, the station said.
"I wouldn't know," Palmer replied, according to WJRT. "I honestly wouldn't."
Mercy extended
Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton told the station that the Macy's store manager — who's still dealing with the trauma of the assault — didn't want to take the stand.
So they decided on a plea agreement — and part of it was the victim's request to spare Palmer a permanent felony record. So Palmer's felony charge will be dropped once he serves his sentence and be replaced with a misdemeanor charge of aggravated assault, WJRT said.
"Basically, you beat this guy so bad he was quite bloody, correct?" the assistant prosecutor asked, the station said.
Palmer replied, "Yes."
Image source: WJRT-TV video screenshot
"And did you know that he has agreed that you should be treated as a youthful offender even though you beat on him like that?" the assistant prosecutor asked, WJRT said.
"No, I did not know that," Palmer responded, according to the station.
"Do you understand what kind of break that man gave you?" the assistant prosecutor asked, WJRT reported, adding that Palmer replied, "Yes."
What's next?
Palmer's punishment is in the hands of a circuit court judge, the station said, adding that Leyton indicated it could end up being anything from probation to 10 years behind bars.
Palmer will learn his sentence Sept. 1, WJRT said.
"Nobody's looking to hang felonies on young men," Leyton told the station. "I never have, and I never will. This was a bad crime though, and he has to face the consequences."
Leyton also noted to WJRT that Palmer's older brother could still be charged, and that his office will be reviewing Palmer's testimony to help them make that decision.


theblaze--2020-08-14--NBA fires veteran photographer for posting offensive meme about Kamala Harris on Facebook

NBA fires veteran photographer for posting offensive meme about Kamala Harris on Facebook He had worked with the Houston Rockets @ @ @ @ @ .

The NBA has cut ties with a freelance photographer who worked with the Houston Rockets for more than three decades, after the league discovered he posted a meme on Facebook that referred to Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) by a derogatory term.
What are the details?
Shortly after presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden announced that Harris would be joining his ticket, Houston-based freelance photographer Bill Baptist shared a meme to his Facebook page that made fun of Biden's campaign logo and his running mate that read, "Joe and the Hoe."
When former WNBA star Sheryl Swoopes saw Baptist's post, she shared it on her own timeline and called for the NBA to fire the photographer, writing, "So this guy works for the NBA but covers the Houston Rockets. Has been around for a while. Even worked for the Houston Comets. It's amazing how people will smile in your face but eventually their true colors will show. @NBA and Houston Rockets he needs to GO!!! So disrespectful. Bill Baptiste (sic) shame on you!!!"
The NBA listened. USA Today reported that Baptist was "removed from the NBA bubble in Orlando" following the post, and the NBA issued a statement to KPRC-TV, confirming, "The photographer is an independent contractor and his services are no longer being used in Orlando."
Baptist also issued a statement to the outlet, apologizing for his post and calling it "a horrible mistake."
"I deeply regret posting on my Facebook page a phrase that I saw and copied from others as a sample of some people's reactions to Biden's selection of Senator Harris as his choice for VP," he wrote. "The phrase I posted does not reflect my personal views at all. I should not have been so insensitive to post the statements by others. I sincerely apologize to all of those who have rightfully been offended and I have taken the post down from my FB page. It was a horrible mistake on my part."


theblaze--2020-08-14--'This is FASCISM': LA mayor threatens to shut off power, water to homes hosting 'un-permitted' gathe

'This is FASCISM': LA mayor threatens to shut off power, water to homes hosting 'un-permitted' gatherings

'This is FASCISM ' : LA mayor threatens to shut off power , water to homes hosting 'un-permitted ' gatherings @ @ @ @ @ .
This is evil . '

On "Relatable" this week, BlazeTV host Allie Beth Stuckey reacted to Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's announcement that he has authorized the city to shut off water and power service to properties hosting "un-permitted large gatherings" starting last Friday night.
In response to coronavirus lockdown orders banning indoor church gatherings of any size in Los Angeles County, many churchgoers are congregating in private homes. Allie argued that government officials in California, such as Mayor Garcetti and Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), are OK with large gatherings of Antifa and Black Lives Matter protesters, but seem to be targeting people who gather for reasons of faith.
"The mayor of L.A., Eric Garcetti, has restricted home gatherings of all kinds by threatening to cut off water and power to people whom he found broke the rules and had too many people in their homes," Allie said. "You don't know what kind of situation they're in. You don't know why they had a certain number of people in their house. And, honestly, it's really none of Eric Garcetti's business. I mean, this is some evil fascist stuff right here.
"And this is not the fascism, ironically, that 'Antifa' — who call themselves anti-fascists and yet employ fascist tactics themselves — this is not the fascism that they are protesting," she added. "And yet, this is fascism. This is completely totalitarian absurdity. This is evil."
Allie pointed out that, while churches were deemed "nonessential" in California, liquor stores and abortion clinics have remained open throughout the lockdowns.
Watch the video clip below for more from details:
Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?
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theblaze--2020-08-14--Attorney and justice advocate explains to Joe Rogan why Kamala Harris' criminal justice record was n

Attorney and justice advocate explains to Joe Rogan why Kamala Harris' criminal justice record was not progressive

Attorney and justice advocate explains to Joe Rogan why Kamala Harris ' criminal justice record was not progressive These blasts @ @ @ @ @ n't fit Kamala 's current progressive stances

Former Vice President Joe Biden tapped Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) as his running mate on Tuesday. However, Harris has a complicated past when she was a California's "Top Cop," especially since she is the vice presidential nominee for the Democrats, who desperately want to appeal to progressives.
While she was the San Francisco district attorney, Harris oversaw over 1,900 marijuana convictions. However, in a February 2020 interview with "The Breakfast Club," Harris admitted smoking marijuana while she listened to Tupac and Snoop Dogg. She laughed and joked about smoking marijuana, despite locking people up for the same actions.
Following her vice presidential nomination this week, a clip of former Democratic presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard attacking Harris during the second Democratic presidential debate from last summer resurfaced. Gabbard slammed Harris' record as a prosecutor and as attorney general for the state of California.
"Now, Sen. Harris says she's proud of her record as a prosecutor and she'll be a prosecutor president, but I'm deeply concerned about this record," Gabbard stated. "She blocked evidence that would have freed an innocent man from death row until the courts forced her to do so. She kept people in prison beyond their sentences to use them as cheap labor for the state of California, and she fought to keep cash bail system in place that impacts poor people in the worst kind of way."
Gabbard's no-holds-barred barrage on Harris caused "#KamalaHarrisDestroyed" to trend on Twitter. Gabbard's onslaught was the beginning of the end of Harris' campaign. Harris, who was a frontrunner, dropped out of the 2020 presidential race in December. Harris was polling at 2% at the time and ended her campaign months before the first primary.
Harris withdrew her campaign with only one memorable moment, effectively berating Joe Biden in the first debate for his previous stance against federally mandated busing to desegregate schools.
Gabbard isn't the only one who is condemning Harris over her record as a prosecutor. Josh Dubin is a litigation consultant and an ambassador advisor–attorney and justice advocate for The Innocence Project, a mission to "exonerate the wrongly convicted through DNA testing and reforms the criminal justice system to prevent future injustice." He ripped Harris during a recent episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience" podcast.
Dubin prefaced his denunciation of Harris' record by blatantly stating that he is no fan of President Donald Trump and would much prefer Biden to win the election. Dubin also said that it would "take this podcast and four more" to outline all of Harris' wrongdoings from her past.
"She fiercely fought wrongful convictions and was shamed by judges when she was district attorney in San Francisco," Dubin said. "Her prosecutors hide evidence. Once she knew there was evidence that was withheld from defense attorneys, she should have known, in my opinion, that people were innocent. She tried to protect those convictions. Why? Because she wanted to continue winning."
"She went to great lengths to try to block access to DNA [tests] for people who were accused of or convicted of felonies," Dubin claimed. "Think about it, we're talking about a $12 DNA test to see if the biological material from a crime that has been preserved is actually the defendant's. She blocked access to that."
"You know when she's asked for her justification of it, it's always been on a debate stage, and she'll always default to: 'I stand by my record as a prosecutor,'" he told Joe Rogan.
Lawyer Josh Dubin Reviews Kamala Harris' Criminal Justice Record www.youtube.com
Dubin cited a New York Times opinion piece by Lara Bazelon titled "Kamala Harris Was Not a 'Progressive Prosecutor.'" The article, which stated that Harris "was often on the wrong side of history when she served as California's attorney general," detailed specific cases during Harris' reign as district attorney and then the state's attorney general that was anything but progressive.
In the article from January, Bazelon pointed out how Harris championed legislation that threatened to prosecute parents of students who were habitually truant to school.
Harris laughed while acknowledging that her truancy policy was "a little controversial." She added, "I said look. I'm done. This is a serious issue, and I've got a little political capital, and I'm going to spend some of it."
"I have a huge stick" as a prosecutor to get kids in school, Harris said of the truancy legislation in 2010. "The school district has a carrot — let's work in tandem."
She laughed about how she instructed her assistant DAs to appear as "mean" as possible when they met with parents to warn them that they could face prosecution if their children were truant.
In April 2019, she said she regretted supporting those policies.
There was the case of George Gage, a man with no criminal record, who was charged with sexually abusing his stepdaughter in 1999, years after the alleged incident.
A judge later found that Harris' prosecutor had unlawfully held back potentially exculpatory evidence, including medical reports stating that the stepdaughter had repeatedly been untruthful with law enforcement. Her own mother described her as "a pathological liar" who "lives her lies."
The case reached the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in 2015, where Harris' prosecutors defended the conviction.
"The appellate judges acknowledged this impediment and sent the case to mediation, a clear signal for Ms. Harris to dismiss the case," the New York Times article said. "When she refused to budge, the court upheld the conviction on that technicality."
Gage is still in prison, where he is serving a 70-year sentence.
The article presented a spotlight on other suspect cases during Harris' command, including Daniel Larsen, Johnny Baca, and Kevin Cooper.
Stephen Crowder recently discussed everything wrong with Kamala Harris, including her previous comments about Joe Biden and her radical left policies, on a recent episode of "Good Morning Mug Club" on BlazeTV.


theblaze--2020-08-14--Hillary Clinton hints at return to politics in a Biden administration: 'I'm ready to help in any wa

Hillary Clinton hints at return to politics in a Biden administration: 'I'm ready to help in any way I can'

Hillary Clinton hints at return to politics in a Biden administration : ' I 'm ready to help in any @ @ @ @

To virtually no one's surprise, failed 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton expressed openness to getting back into politics in the coming year should presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden win the election and tap her for an administration position.
The former secretary of state hinted at the potential return to Washington during a keynote conversation with The 19th, a nonprofit news organization reporting on gender and politics.
During the conversation, when asked if she would consider taking a position if offered, Clinton downplayed the idea but said she would be "ready" if the call came.
"I'm ready to help in any way I can because I think this will be a moment where every American — I don't care what party you are, I don't care what age, race, gender, I don't care — every American should want to fix our country," Clinton said. "So if you're asked to serve, you should certainly consider that."
Hillary Clinton in a Biden administration? 'I'm ready to help in any way I can.' youtu.be
Clinton served alongside former Vice President Biden during the Obama administration as head of the State Department from 2009 to 2013.
Her tenure at Foggy Bottom was plagued by controversy over her bungled response to the terrorist attacks on a U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya, and her use of a private email server while serving as secretary. The latter of which frustrated her run for president in 2016.
In April, Clinton endorsed Biden for president, saying: "I've been not only a colleague of Joe Biden's, I've been a friend, and I can tell you that I wish he were president right now but I can't wait until he is — if all of us do our part to support the kind of person that we want back in the White House."
Clinton, 72, is scheduled to speak next week at the Democratic National Convention in Milwaukee along with her husband, former President Bill Clinton, as well as former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama.


theblaze--2020-08-14--Pat Gray explains how Joe Biden's mask mandate defies the  laws of stupidity

Pat Gray explains how Joe Biden 's mask mandate defies the laws of stupidity

On Friday's episode of "Pat Gray Unleashed," the guys discussed Joe Biden's speech about a federal mask mandate that defied the laws of stupidity.
Tuesday, Biden claimed that for the next three months, if Americans are mandated to wear a mask outside of the home, 40,000 lives would be saved from COVID-19.
"Wearing a mask is less about you, but more about preventing others from getting sick," said Biden , the presumptive Democratic nominee.
In this clip, Pat got heated over Biden's sense of urgency to save 40,000 lives from a "bad flu" and failed to mention saving lives of the hundreds of thousands of babies aborted every three months in America.
Pat compared Biden's statement about wearing a mask to save others rather than ourselves to the pro-life argument that a woman's right to choose is not about her; it is about the baby's life.
Watch the video below for the full story.
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theblaze--2020-08-14--Viral video shows employee trying to enforce mask-wearing in a grocery store. It doesn't go well.

Viral video shows employee trying to enforce mask-wearing in a grocery store .
It does n't go well .
Viral @ @ @ @ @ or wrong — reasons ?

BuzzFeed News shared a woman's now-viral TikTok video in which she — a grocery store worker — can be seen telling customers who aren't wearing masks to suit up or leave the store.
What are the details?
Liz Chavez, a grocery store worker in California, went viral for her video featuring her interactions with customers who refuse to wear masks.
In one instance, Chavez can be seen approaching a woman who identifies herself as Lenka Koloma.
Koloma and a female companion both wear large badges that read "FTBA" — or "Freedom to Breathe Agency" — and tell Chavez that they will not comply with the store's request to mask up because they are exempt.
"No, we're not required to wear a mask," Koloma tells Chavez, as the other woman says the two are from the FTBA and informs her of their rights under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
Koloma says that the two belong to a "we the people" organization, and are "making sure that people's constitutional rights" as well as "civil and federal laws are not broken."
"You personally need to take this to your manager, because you personally can be sued for this, OK?" Koloma tells Chavez while handing the employee a piece of paper. "You are putting yourself into a major legal liability — you personally."
Chavez told BuzzFeed News that the piece of paper was a slip telling her she could be sentenced to jail for three to five years for trying to enforce masks inside the store if she is not a practicing physician.
Chavez complained, "They weren't there to shop. They honestly were probably just waiting for somebody to come up to them and ask them to wear a mask so they could do this."
It is important to note that the FTBA is not a real government agency despite a Department of Justice seal displayed on the women's placards.
The cards insist that wearers are exempt from wearing a mask under the "Americans with Disability [sic] Act."
"Denying access to your business/organization will also be reported to FTBA for further action," the cards read.
U.S. Attorney Matthew G. T. Martin told the outlet, "Do not be fooled by the chicanery and misappropriation of the DOJ eagle. These cards to not carry the force of law. The 'Freedom to Breathe Agency,' or 'FTBA,' is not a government agency."
'You're too stupid to understand it'
In another instance, Chavez can be seen approaching another shopper who is clearly without a mask.
The shopper can be heard saying, "I don't give a crap."
The shopper later tells Chavez that she is engaging in Nazi-like behavior by trying to enforce the statewide mask mandate, even going as far as to deliver a Nazi salute to Chavez.
"It's Nazism," the shopper tells Chavez. "And you're so young you don't know what Nazism is. Because you weren't even born when Hitler took over and they used the exact same tactics."
The shopper later complies and puts on the mask — but only wraps it around his neck, not covering his face or mouth at all.
"This whole thing is a godd*** lie, and you're too stupid to understand it," the shopper adds.
'It happens all the time'
When contacted for comment, Koloma told the outlet that both she and the woman suffer from undisclosed "medical, health conditions" and also hold "religious beliefs" that prevent them from wearing a mask. She insisted that Chavez could be arrested because telling someone to wear a mask for medical purposes without being a doctor is akin to impersonation.
"We are a legitimate organization," she insisted. "We introduced ourselves as FTBA, the Freedom to Breathe Agency. There's nothing illegal or fraudulent."
Chavez said that she runs into people like this in the grocery store all of the time.
"They just give us all sorts of excuses for why they shouldn't wear one," she explained. "It happens all the time. I don't know why it's such a big deal. We have to wear them for our entire shift. They only have to wear them for the 10, 20 minutes they're in the store."


theblaze--2020-08-14--Cannon Hinnant, 5, laid to rest after suspect shoots him execution-style: 'We shouldn't even be here

Cannon Hinnant, 5, laid to rest after suspect shoots him execution-style: 'We shouldn't even be here'

Cannon Hinnant , 5 , laid to rest after suspect shoots him execution-style : 'We should n't even be here @

Family and friends gathered Thursday night to honor the life of 5-year-old Cannon Hinnant, who was fatally shot while riding his bicycle in Wilson, North Carolina, over the weekend.
What are the details?
According to WTVD-TV, at least 100 cars showed up to pay their respects to Cannon and his family Thursday evening.
Hinnant family neighbor, Darrius Sessoms, 25, reportedly gunned Cannon down as he rode his bicycle during a dusky summer evening on Sunday.
The boy's grandfather, Merrill Race, told the station that his beloved grandson was a "beautiful" child who loved to be outdoors.
"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."
Sessoms reportedly rushed Cannon over the weekend as the little boy, who was headed to kindergarten the following Monday, rode his bike in the street.
Eyewitnesses say that they saw Sessoms pull out a gun and execute the unwitting child in full view.
Authorities arrested the 25-year-old suspect on Monday, charging him with first-degree murder in Cannon's death. He was jailed without bond and is due to appear on court on Aug. 25. The Wilson Police Department has not released any information on a motive for the shooting.
Cannon's stepfather, Lee Parker, said that the young boy "meant the world" to him. Parker said he'll never forget the moment he received the call that Cannon was dead.
"I received the call, man," he said, recalling the moment he heard the devastating news. "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."
'We're relying on our faith in God'
A GoFundMe page for the family has received more than $418,000 in donations so far.
Cannon's father, Austin Hinnant, told reporters that when first responders arrived on the scene to attend to his son, he began praying.
"As they began to work on my son, I immediately dropped to my knees and I just prayed to God, I said, 'God, You're the most righteous and all-powerful. Please just place Your hand on my son,'" he recalled. "He did place His hand on my son, not in the way that we all wished, but we're hoping that this tragic accident can bring some love to this world because that's what Cannon would want."
"We're relying on our faith in God," Hinnant added.


theblaze--2020-08-14--Homeless man reportedly lives it up for two weeks in stadium luxury suite, downs $250 in drinks and

Homeless man reportedly lives it up for two weeks in stadium luxury suite, downs $250 in drinks and helps himself to food

Homeless man reportedly lives it up for two weeks in stadium luxury suite , downs $ 250 in drinks and @ @ @ @ @ it appeared someone had been living there '

It appears one enterprising homeless man used the coronavirus lockdown to his advantage.
Somehow 39-year old Daniel Albert Neja got inside Al Lang Stadium in downtown St. Petersburg, which is home to the Tampa Bay Rowdies soccer team and has been empty for quite some time due to COVID-19, WFLA-TV reported.
Image source: WFLA-TV video screenshot
But he didn't stop with just gaining entry.
Apparently Neja entered a luxury suite as well — and then proceeded to live there for nearly two weeks, the station said.
"He went into the merchandise store, he went into the food area," Yolanda Fernandez of the St. Petersburg Police Department told WFLA. "So he was wearing the merchandise and just helping himself to the food."
Neja stole $1,043 in team merchandise and downed $250 worth of drinks, the New York Post said, citing an arrest report.
How did he pull it off?
Fernandez told the station that someone having the run of the stadium suite for "maybe one or two nights" isn't such a shock, but that it was "kind of surprising" that Neja was "able to stay there for that long and have nobody notice it."
So, how did he do it?
While the stadium itself is closed to fans there are workers on site every day, WFLA reported — and blending in with workers may have been Neja's ticket inside.
There were no signs of forced entry, the station said.
The jig is up
Police told WFLA that it was, in fact, stadium workers who discovered remnants of Neja's newfound life of luxury.
"The cleaning crew went into one of these suites that no one had gone into for a long time because of COVID-19 and noticed there were blankets, there was shaving cream a razor," Fernandez told the station. "Clearly it appeared that somebody had been living there."
Police arrested Neja shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday, WFLA said, adding that he's facing burglary and resisting arrest without violence charges. Deputies are holding him in jail on a $5,150 bond, the station added.
Not the first time
In addition, records show he pleaded guilty to breaking into Lutz Elementary School in Hillsborough County earlier this summer — and the arrest report indicates he told arresting deputies he was just in the school looking for food.


theblaze--2020-08-14--California's high-capacity magazine ban violates the 2nd Amendment, federal appeals court rules

Photo by : Citizen of the Planet/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

California's ban on magazines holding more than 10 bullets was struck down by a federal appeals court as unconstitutional, with the majority ruling that the law "strikes at the core of the Second Amendment," according to the Associated Press.
Judge Kenneth Lee of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals acknowledged that there may be good intentions behind the law, which was a response to mass shootings, but that doesn't have any impact on whether it is constitutional.
"In the wake of heart-wrenching and highly publicized mass shootings, the state of California barred its citizens from owning so-called 'large capacity magazines' (LCMs) that hold more than ten rounds of ammunition," Lee wrote for the majority. "But even well-intentioned laws must pass constitutional muster. California's near-categorical ban of LCMs strikes at the core of the Second Amendment — the right to armed self-defense.
"Armed self-defense is a fundamental right rooted in tradition and the text of the Second Amendment," Lee continued. "Indeed, from pre-colonial times to today's post-modern era, the right to defend hearth and home has remained paramount."
California Attorney General Xavier Becerra must now decide whether to appeal the decision to the full 9th Circuit or the U.S. Supreme Court, and whether to seek a delay in the ruling to prevent an immediate buying surge.
The majority found the ban to be too broad, even when considering its stated goal of limiting mass shootings.
"California's law imposes a substantial burden on this right to self-defense. The ban makes it criminal for Californians to own magazines that come standard in Glocks, Berettas, and other handguns that are staples of self-defense," Lee wrote, according to the Washington Times. "Its scope is so sweeping that half of all magazines in America are now unlawful to own in California."
The ban on high-capacity magazines was passed in 2016 by 63% of voters in California, and challenged in 2017 by gun owner Virginia Duncan and the California Rifle and Pistol Association.
Deputy Attorney General John Echeverria argued earlier this year that the ban still allowed people to protect themselves and their homes because an average of 2.2 shots are fired during a home invasion.
U.S. Circuit Judge Consuelo Callahan previously called the ban a "slippery slope" and criticized the limit of 10 rounds as seemingly arbitrary.
"There seems to be some evidence that people need more than a few bullets to defend themselves in the home," Callahan said.


theblaze--2020-08-14--Former FBI lawyer will plead guilty in Durham probe to falsifying document used to secretly wiretap

Former FBI lawyer will plead guilty in Durham probe to falsifying document used to secretly wiretap Carter Page It 's @ @ @ @ @ from the Durham probe

A former FBI lawyer plans to plead guilty to falsifying a document used to obtain a surveillance warrant against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page, according to an announcement made by his lawyer Friday.
What are the details?
Kevin Clinesmith, 38, who will be charged in federal court, intends to admit that he altered an email from the CIA that was used in a third and final application to eavesdrop on Page under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act in 2017, the Associated Press reported.
It is the first criminal charge to arise out of U.S. Attorney John Durham's investigation into the origins and intelligence gathering activities in the Trump-Russia probe. Durham was appointed last May by Attorney General William Barr to look into whether the FBI and Justice Department acted lawfully in their investigation.
A review of the Trump-Russia probe conducted by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz late last year found that a lawyer, later identified as Clinesmith, had altered an email to downplay Page's association with the CIA. Page had been an "operational contact" for the CIA through at least 2013, but Clinesmith changed the email to say that Page was "never a source" for the agency.
Clinesmith's lawyer, Justin Shur, argued that his client did not make the alteration in bad faith.
"Kevin deeply regrets having altered the email," Shur told the AP. "It was never his intent to mislead the court or his colleagues, as he believed the information he relayed was accurate, but Kevin understands what he did was wrong and accepts responsibility."
What else?
According to the New York Times, as a part of the inspector general's inquiry, it was also revealed that Clinesmith had voiced political animus against President Trump in text messages.
Shortly after Trump won the presidential election in 2016, Clinesmith texted another official: "I honestly feel like there is going to be a lot more gun issues, too, the crazies won finally. This is the tea party on steroids. And the GOP is going to be lost." And in another text, he said, "viva le resistance."
Attorney General Barr teased Friday's guilty plea in an appearance on Fox News with Sean Hannity on Thursday. During the interview he told Hannity that would be "a development" coming Friday.
The attorney general added that the development would not be "earth-shattering" but would be a sign that the investigation is moving along.


theblaze--2020-08-14--Democratic lawmaker rips fellow Democrats for going into recess before striking agreement on stimulu

Democratic lawmaker rips fellow Democrats for going into recess before striking agreement on stimulus package

Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) blasted the Democrat-controlled House on Wednesday for taking a monthlong recess despite not reaching a deal with Republicans on a new COVID-19 stimulus package.
What are the details?
During a Facebook Live town hall with his constituents, Khanna said, "I think Congress should be in session. I think it's absurd for Congress to be going on a break during a pandemic and a national crisis."
"I don't think this is a smart move to recess and I agree with you," Khanna told one constituent with questions, according to Fox News. "I share your frustration."
The House last took votes on the coronavirus stimulus package on July 31. A new vote is not expected to be taken until at least the week of Sept. 14 as Congress is currently in its annual August recess.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and Sen. Chuck Schumer, (D-N.Y.) were in talks with President Donald Trump and his administration over the last several weeks in order to strike a new stimulus deal.
Democrats initially wanted $3 trillion in aid for the U.S. people. The GOP pitched a $1 trillion plan in return.
Trump takes decisive action
Earlier this week, TheBlaze reported that Democrats are expected to take legal action against Trump for his recent executive orders designed to provide Americans with economic relief amid the pandemic.
On Sunday, Trump took unilateral action after the latest negotiations between Democrats in Congress and the White House stalled.
Ahead of the impending recess, the president signed a series of executive orders that intended to provide American workers with an additional $400 weekly unemployment stipend, cut payroll taxes for workers making less than $100,000 per year, extend eviction moratoriums, and defer student loan payments while forgiving accrued interest.
In a joint statement, Pelosi and Schumer attacked Trump over the move.
"Today's meager announcements by the President show President Trump still does not comprehend the seriousness or the urgency of the health and economic crises facing working families. We're disappointed that instead of putting in the work to solve Americans' problems, the President instead chose to stay on his luxury golf course to announce unworkable, weak and narrow policy announcements to slash the unemployment benefits that millions desperately need and endanger seniors' Social Security and Medicare," the joint statement said on the executive orders.


theblaze--2020-08-14--President Donald Trump's brother Robert hospitalized, reportedly 'very ill'

President Donald Trump 's brother Robert was recently admitted to a New York City hospital , where is is reportedly `` very ill. '' What do we know ?
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany confirmed the sad news , saying that Trump and his brother `` have a very good relationship . ''
ABC News reported that Trump is expected to visit his brother soon .
The outlet noted that in June , Robert was hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Health System in New York for more than a week .
A report from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days in the hospital 's neurosciences intensive care unit for treatment of an undisclosed `` serious condition . ''
The hospital 's neurosciences unit specializes in the care of patients who suffer from `` subarachnoid hemorrhage , acute ischemic stroke , intracerebral hemorrhage , subdural hematomas , coma , tumors of the brain and spine , severe or prolonged seizures , neuro-infections , [ and ] spinal cord injury among others . ''
According to a Friday report from the New York Daily News , Trump was scheduled to visit his Bedminster , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it is unclear whether the president will visit his brother before or after the stop .
`` Either way , the NYPD would work with the Secret Service and help provide an escort to the hospital , and have cops stationed outside the hospital , a police source said , '' according to the outlet , which noted that Trump Tower security detail may also see additional officers in the event the president decides to visit .
This is a developing story and will be updated as events warrant .

President Donald Trump's brother Robert was recently admitted to a New York City hospital, where is is reportedly "very ill."
What do we know?
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany confirmed the sad news, saying that Trump and his brother "have a very good relationship."
ABC News reported that Trump is expected to visit his brother soon.
The outlet noted that in June, Robert was hospitalized in the intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Health System in New York for more than a week.
A report from the Daily Beast alleged that Robert spent 11 days in the hospital's neurosciences intensive care unit for treatment of an undisclosed "serious condition."
The hospital's neurosciences unit specializes in the care of patients who suffer from "subarachnoid hemorrhage, acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subdural hematomas, coma, tumors of the brain and spine, severe or prolonged seizures, neuro-infections, [and] spinal cord injury among others."
According to a Friday report from the New York Daily News, Trump was scheduled to visit his Bedminster, New Jersey, resort Friday, but it is unclear whether the president will visit his brother before or after the stop.
"Either way, the NYPD would work with the Secret Service and help provide an escort to the hospital, and have cops stationed outside the hospital, a police source said," according to the outlet, which noted that Trump Tower security detail may also see additional officers in the event the president decides to visit.
This is a developing story and will be updated as events warrant.


theblaze--2020-08-14--VIDEO: Illinois kids' lemonade stand robbed at gunpoint, then cops and community rally around the bo

VIDEO: Illinois kids' lemonade stand robbed at gunpoint, then cops and community rally around the boys

VIDEO : Illinois kids ' lemonade stand robbed at gunpoint , then cops and community rally around the boys

In a shocking video, a lemonade stand operated by two young boys in Illinois was robbed at gunpoint. The children were selling lemonade in the East Bluff section of Peoria last Friday afternoon when two "older kids" walked up, one armed with a gun, and snatched the boys' cash drawer, according to the Peoria Journal Star.
Surveillance video from a neighbor caught the armed robbery of the lemonade stand at 4:52 p.m. last Friday. The suspects reportedly stole about $30 before running off. Peoria police spokeswoman Amy Dotson confirmed that one of the suspects had a gun, according to the Pekin Times. Police were investigating the robbery.
Two children robbed at gunpoint while running lemonade stand www.youtube.com
Nathan Peterson, the father of one of the boys at the lemonade stand, wrote a Facebook post about the scary incident.
"So my son's lemonade stand was just robbed. The robbers were slightly older kids," Peterson said. "They flashed a gun, but we don't know if it was real or not."
While the police officers conducted their investigation into the theft, many of the cops purchased lemonade from the victims.
"Not sure what to think. I will say this: While I am disgusted and alarmed, I was comforted and encouraged by the police officers and the community," Peterson wrote. "The officers worked hard to put us at ease and to do their job. Most of them bought lemonades which more than paid for the money stolen."
Then the community rallied around the boys following the appalling crime.
"Meanwhile, passersby stopped and bought lemonade, encouraged the boys, and one guy even went end bought a bunch of candy and chips for them to sell," the dad said. "Between the police and the community, the boys left with more money than what they would have had. More than that, we all left feeling loved instead of only violated."
The young entrepreneurs were not deterred by the armed stickup and continued selling their lemonade. Then on Tuesday, even more police officers showed up to help turn lemons into lemonade.
"The boys continued their lemonade stand today," Peterson said. "The moment they opened, a parade of police cars, led by an armadillo, pulled up! SO MANY officers, including the Police Chief, surrounded the boys, handed them a gift of money they'd raised, and let them know that they have their backs. Then they all bought lemonades. I may have cried a little."
The community also continued to show their support for the boys.
"Meanwhile, the community flooded the boys with business, kind words, honks, love," the father revealed. "Beauty and life can be found in even the darkest circumstances, if we look. Sometimes it's really hard to see it. This time, it was impossible to ignore. Our hearts are overwhelmed by the love and support of the community — people from totally different backgrounds, police, everyone — all rallying around these boys.
"I've spent the last several years writing about finding life in the midst of chaos — to see it happen in real life, in my neighborhood, with my kids, is so special," he shared. "I'm feeling proud of Jude today. I'm also feeling proud of this community, and just generally proud of the human race at the moment."


theblaze--2020-08-14--White privilege programs take center stage in pair of school districts — and frustrated board member

White privilege programs take center stage in pair of school districts — and frustrated board members, parents are pushing back hard

White privilege programs take center stage in pair of school districts — and frustrated board members , parents are pushing @ @ @ @ @ kids not only to defy parents but to hate themselves '

Programs fighting white privilege are taking center stage in a pair of Pennsylvania school districts, and board members and parents are pushing back hard against them.
'The book teaches kids not only to defy parents but to hate themselves'
Gladwyne School in the Lower Merion School District — reportedly one of the richest in the nation — will require fourth and fifth graders to read "Not My Idea: A Book About Whiteness," which claims that white people who relate to police officers or don't watch the news are guilty of racism, and kindergartners and first graders will be assigned "A Kid's Book About Racism," the Washington Free Beacon reported.
In response, Elana Yaron Fishbein — a mother of two boys and a doctor of social work — wrote to the district's superintendent, board members, and the school's principal demanding the school remove its "cultural proficiency" curriculum, the paper said.
"The book teaches kids not only to defy parents but to hate themselves," Fishbein told the Free Beacon. "To hate their parents also because they are white. By default, [the kids] are white, and they're privileged, and they're bad. [The school] is teaching this to little kids."
More from the paper:
Cultural proficiency lessons at Gladwyne were announced in an email to parents on June 9. The email claims that despite offering four other lessons on equity and race, the school's "Cultural Proficiency Committee" believes those lessons are insufficient and created a fifth lesson focused explicitly on anti-racism.
"Generally, each class also engages in a cultural proficiency lesson; however, we realize that this is not enough," Gladwyne Principal Veronica Ellers wrote in an email the Free Beacon said it obtained. "We plan to continue designing lessons that promote anti-racist actions in the upcoming 20-21 school year and beyond."
"A Kid's Book About Racism" includes a list of actions deemed harmful and racist, the paper said, adding that the book says that asking questions can be racist and asks 5- to 7-year-olds to call out racism when they identify it.
"[Racism] happens all the time," the book reads, according to the Free Beacon. "Sometimes it shows up in small ways. Like a look, a comment, a question, a thought, a joke, a word, or a belief…. If you see someone being treated badly, made fun of, excluded from playing, or looked down on because of their skin color call it racism."
District spokeswoman Amy Buckman defended the move, according to the paper: "The Lower Merion School District fully supports the ongoing implementation of an anti-racist curriculum in its schools and encourages the use of developmentally appropriate books that raise awareness of the very real issues of racism and privilege."
Other parents afraid to speak out
Fishbein told the Free Beacon that parents who share her concerns privately message her as they're scared to speak up due to fear of being branded racist.
"If you say anything that's racist according to the school or parent's definition of racism, you're out," she added to the paper. "You're called a racist. No wonder the parents don't talk."
Lower Merion refused to respond to her emails, the Free Beacon noted, adding that Fishbein's children will attend a private school in the fall.
School district #2
The Central York School District is about 90 miles west of Lower Merion, and it's feeling the same race-related program tensions.
In fact, two school board members on Monday blasted a proposed curriculum meant to tackle racial issues because they said it doesn't teach respect for police and may promote socialism, the York Dispatch reported.
Vicki Guth and Veronica Gemma said the pilot program and discussions about it within the district's diversity committee focus too much on racism and white privilege, the paper noted.
"The references that were made in this committee about teaching tolerance talked about white privilege and white saviorism," Guth said, according to the Dispatch. "So you can't win. If you're normal, you're ... white privilege. If you're trying to change things, you're doing it out of the savior mentality."
Guth also said she's bothered that such topics influence students to "want to be socialists" and that students are growing up in a generation that doesn't respect religious faith or the U.S. in general, the paper said.
Gemma wondered if students were being taught about the value of police officers and pointed out that one teacher commented in a diversity committee meeting that "I need to make sure my students aren't racist," the Dispatch reported.
As for that teacher's comment, Gemma said, "I don't want anyone to assume that little first graders are racist, little second graders are racist," the paper added.
What did the district have to say?
Central York on Tuesday defended its push for diversity while also distancing the district from the two board members' comments, the Dispatch reported.
"Comments made by individual school board members during a public meeting regarding these issues are reflective of individual board members' personal views/ideologies/beliefs and not reflective of the administration of Central York School District, the school board as a whole, or the Central York School District," the statement read, according to the paper.
The purpose of the proposed curriculum is to allow teachers and students to talk about national issues that have made headlines over recent months, Assistant Superintendent Robert Grove told the Dispatch Monday.
"It's not the same world out there, whether it's a pandemic or other events out there that are commanding our collective attention," Grove added to the paper. "When our learners come back and they want to engage in the conversations, we want to make sure teachers are equipped with the right curriculum and standards but also the right verbiage and mindset.


theblaze--2020-08-14--POLL: Do you have hope for America's future?

POLL : Do you have hope for America 's future ?
Cast your vote and do n't forget to share @

POLL: Do you have hope for America's future?
Cast your vote and don't forget to share!


theblaze--2020-08-14--Kamala Harris' gushing, pro-Jussie Smollett tweet hasn't aged well: 'This was an attempted modern da

Kamala Harris' gushing, pro-Jussie Smollett tweet hasn't aged well: 'This was an attempted modern day lynching'

Kamala Harris ' gushing , pro-Jussie Smollett tweet has n't aged well : 'This was an attempted modern day lynching @

Kamala Harris, running mate of presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, once sang the praises of disgraced actor Jussie Smollett, who reportedly orchestrated a racial attack against himself.
Harris also called Smollett the victim of a "modern day lynching."
What are the details?
In a 2019 tweet, Harris wrote that Smollett "is one of the kindest, most gentle human beings I know. I'm praying for his quick recovery."
"This," she continued, "was an attempted modern day lynching. No one should have to fear for their life because of their sexuality or color of their skin. We must confront this hate."
Harris made the remarks shortly after Smollett reported that he was the victim of a two-man racial attack in sub-zero temperatures.
Image source: Twitter screenshot
As it turned out, however, Smollett reportedly faked the attack in order to gain notoriety and hopefully increase his salary on his former Fox TV show, "Empire."
According to reports, two brothers reportedly helped Smollett stage the alleged attack. The disgraced former "Empire" actor pleaded not guilty to related charges after the Chicago police determined that the alleged attack was nothing more than a hoax.
Smollett initially faced 16 counts related to making false statements to police in connection with the allegations, but he agreed to community service as well as a $10,000 fine in exchange for dropped charges.
You can read even more on the background of Smollett's alleged hoax case here and here.
Once Harris realized that Smollett was being less than honest about the staged attack, she changed course in her remarks.
At the time, she wrote, "Like most of you, I've seen the reports about Jussie Smollett, and I'm sad, frustrated, and disappointed."
In a lengthy follow-up statement, she explained that lying about hate crimes only makes prosecuting them even more difficult.
"When anyone makes false claims to police, it not only diverts resources away from serious investigations but it makes it more difficult for other victims of crime to come forwards," she wrote. "At the same time, we must speak the truth: hate crimes are on the rise in America."


theblaze--2020-08-14--Horowitz: CDC: 25% of young adults seriously considered suicide during lockdown

Horowitz : CDC : 25 % of young adults seriously considered suicide during lockdown

Anthony Fauci and his mini-mes in state health departments never gamed out the cost of a panicked reaction to the country's mental health. But according to the CDC, one quarter of American young adults have thought about committing suicide since the beginning of this panic epidemic.
According to a brand-new CDC report titled "Mental Health, Substance Use, and Suicidal Ideation During the COVID-19 Pandemic," 25.5% of 18-24-year-olds surveyed in late June had serious thoughts about committing suicide during the previous 30 days. Among 25-44-year-olds, that number was 16% – still shockingly high. On the other hand, it was just 3.8% among those 45-64 and 2.0% among those over 65. The levels of suicidal tendencies overall more than doubled since 2018 and nearly quadrupled for people between 25 and 44.
This survey harmonizes perfectly with another study I've highlighted that shows younger people are, ironically, more scared of dying of the virus than older people. The two are clearly related. They are suicidal because of the degree of panic and anxiety the government has caused both by overstating the threat of the virus and by the lockdowns and social isolation. The sad irony is that younger people are more likely to die in a car accident than from COVID-19.
When so many people seriously consider suicide, many of them follow through with it. In Fresno, California, for example, suicides were up 70% in June compared to the same period in 2019. The National Alliance on Mental Illness Help Line has seen a 65% increase in calls and emails since March, particularly among high schoolers.
Just think of the number of young people turning to drugs in their anxiety. Drug overdose deaths are up 47% this year in Davidson County, Tennessee, for example, where there have been 354 fatal drug overdoses from March through July 25. That dwarfs the number of coronavirus deaths in Nashville.
Perhaps these feelings of desperation in young people are also fueling the rioting and looting. What happens when you tell an entire generation of Americans that they are going to die, especially because of the simple breathing of fellow Americans? We have created a tinderbox of young people who are suffering from anxiety and even suicidal tendencies. Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, on my podcast last week, painted a picture of what he is seeing from a law enforcement perspective. He said that they are dealing a greater degree of edginess and violence in domestic disturbances as a result of this national panic.
"Because people were out of work, kids were home, there was a lot of uncertainty, the media was feeding you with so much conflicting information – when we would go on a domestic call where we used to talk those people down, it now immediately escalated into a fight," warned the Arizona sheriff. "You could just see people's emotions were much higher because we put them in a state of uncertainty and a state of panic and fearmongering."
He noted how the government is making it even worse by forcing law enforcement to get involved in enforcing these ridiculous coronavirus mandates. "When you make people feel like they are not safe and the world is coming to an end, all of those things combined create more anxiety and feelings of anger in people so when we show up and now all of a sudden that anger has a chance to be released, it's clashing with law enforcement. Now when you start to have law enforcement engaging with normal citizens and trampling on constitutional rights, you are now pushing that again, creating more intensity and creating more potential situations for blowback."
Sheriff Lamb has a message for the politicians: "You guys are only making decisions based on public health, but you are totally disregarding public safety. Your decisions are creating multiple public safety issues."
If only we had the desire and technology to create a dashboard and count all of the suicides, drug overdoses, violence, and depression cases created by the propagation of panic. "If it saves only one life …"


theblaze--2020-08-14--Judge reverses 'Save James' ruling, gives mother power to transition 8-year-old son at father's expe

Judge reverses 'Save James' ruling, gives mother power to transition 8-year-old son at father's expense: report

Judge reverses 'Save James ' ruling , gives mother power to transition 8-year-old son at father 's expense : report

A Dallas judge has effectively reversed a previous ruling that would have granted the divorced father and mother of 8-year-old James Younger equal say in his medical and psychological care.
Now, the boy's mother, Dr. Anne Georgulas, will be able to enroll James into school as a girl named "Luna" and subject him to transition therapy and medical procedures at the expense of his father, Jeffrey Younger, the "Save James" Facebook page reported Tuesday.
What are the details?
"James and Jude did NOT have a victory in court today. Judge Mary Brown has condemned James and Jude to a life of therapy, confusion, and abuse without even having a hearing. There are no other words for what has happened today," a post on the page read.
"She has forced James to live as 'Luna' in a school surrounded by teachers and therapists who do not acknowledge that he has said multiple times to multiple people (without Jeff around) that he wants to be a boy and hates being forced to be a girl," the post continued.
What's the background?
In October, Judge Kim Cooks overruled an initial verdict handed down by a Texas jury that granted sole conservatorship of James to his mother and instead granted 50-50 joint conservatorship to both parents. The decision meant that Georgulas and Younger would have to consent to any medical treatments.
In January, the new judge in the case, Mary Brown, initially affirmed the court's decision to grant Younger joint conservatorship. But Brown allegedly rolled back that decision Tuesday.
Younger had allegedly become concerned after he discovered medical records indicating that his ex-wife had referred James to a local gender transition clinic and had begun the process of medically transitioning him into a girl, LifeSite News reported.
Younger claims that his son never expresses any desires to be a girl when he is with him and that his ex-wife is pressuring James into transitioning.
At the start of the school year last fall, James reportedly chose to attend school as a boy and under his given name.
Anything else?
According to the "Save James" page, the ruling was handed down on Tuesday without a hearing. The page added that "a special evidentiary hearing is scheduled for September" and requested that supporters donate to cover Younger's increasingly expensive legal fees.
It should be noted that there may be more to the case than is being reported. BlazeTV's Glenn Beck and Stu Burguiere discussed some new, but highly questionable, details that emerged from the case in court proceedings last October.
Here's more about the case from the Daily Caller: