theblaze--2020-08-14--Family man reportedly stomped, stabbed to death by homeless convict while traveling. A racial justic

Family man reportedly stomped, stabbed to death by homeless convict while traveling. A racial justice group had put the suspect up in the hotel where the crime occurred.

Family man reportedly stomped , stabbed to death by homeless convict while traveling .
A racial justice group had put @ @ @ @ @ hotel where the crime occurred .

A traveling father and husband is dead after he unknowingly befriended a convicted killer who was staying in the same hotel, reports say.
What are the details of the murder?
Charles Morgan left his Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, home on Aug. 1 to visit his father and brother in West Palm Beach, Florida.
He made it all the way to a hotel in Dania Beach, Florida, where he decided to stop traveling for the night around 9:30 p.m.
There, authorities believe the 59-year-old Morgan befriended a fellow hotel guest later identified as Alphonso Washington — a convicted murderer.
Members of his family were set to pick Morgan up from the hotel the next morning, but it would apparently never happen.
According to reports, a suspect murdered Morgan by stomping on his throat and stabbing him multiple times. There were reportedly no signs of self-defense.
The Orlando Sentinel reported that authorities began investigating Washington, who was once homeless and had been staying at the hotel for at least two months before Morgan's grisly murder.
Surveillance videos from the hotel's property show Morgan walking with Washington on the grounds, and then later entering Morgan's room the next morning.
Washington is later reportedly seen leaving Morgan's room with a bag about noon on Aug. 2. According to reports, officers found Morgan on the bathroom floor with multiple cuts that afternoon.
A housekeeper told authorities that she overheard the two arguing, and Washington's hotel roommate also told authorities that he witnessed Washington washing his clothes in the sink and left with an iPad that the roommate had reportedly never seen before.
Authorities later discovered a white mask with the words "Martha's Vineyard" printed on it and arrested Washington for murder. He is being held in a local jail without bond.
Beneficiary of a humanitarian effort
The Sun-Sentinel reported that Washington was the beneficiary of a local humanitarian effort to get homeless people off the street in order to help tamp down the spread of the coronavirus.
In May, Fort Lauderdale handed out hotel vouchers to the homeless and needy to get them off the streets.
In July, the program ended due to a lack of funding, but racial justice and political action group New Florida Majority stepped in to cover the costs of the guests' temporary residences.
The hotel manager told the outlet that the group stopped paying for the rooms on the same day of Morgan's killing.
'They befriended each other'
In a statement to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Morgan's wife, Jackie, said that her husband told her about Washington and said that he'd made a friend.
"My husband is so friendly and such a regular guy," she said, "and we live in a community where you say hello to somebody and they say hello back. They befriended each other."
"I want justice for my husband," she concluded. "They snuffed his life out."
Lengthy criminal history
The paper noted that Washington was convicted in 1985 for killing a woman in Miami-Dade. Washington's victim was found naked outside of a local elementary school, and died from blunt-force trauma.
Washington was convicted of murder and sentenced up to 17 years in prison. He was released in 1991 after serving just four years of his sentence.
Reports allege Washington's latest arrest was on robbery charges.


theblaze--2020-08-14--'Not the America I’ve known’: Pastor John MacArthur doubles down on COVID-19 defiance in California

'Not the America I ’ ve known ’ : Pastor John MacArthur doubles down on COVID-19 defiance in California 'The @ @ @ @ @ authority to say what is essential '

Pastor John MacArthur of Grace Community Church in Sun Valley, California, is defying state orders that his church remain shuttered during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic — and the move is sparking intense discussion and debate.
The preacher spoke about his decision in a recent episode of the "Edifi With Billy Hallowell" podcast, explaining that Grace Community Church initially complied with California's restrictions before changing course in recent weeks.
"I've been here 50 years; the church is 63 years old, and this church has never had any kind of mandate from the government to close," MacArthur said. "So, when they came up with this mandate it seemed to be so rare and so unusual that we were listening."
Upon hearing dire predictions about the death toll, MacArthur said it was "enough to make anybody with common sense" pause and take steps to ensure no one was endangered. The church initially moved to a livestream model and closed down in-person services — but within a few weeks, MacArthur said parishioners started showing up again.
Listen to MacArthur explain why his church is defying orders:
"They were beginning to realize that it wasn't what they said it was going to be," he said of the COVID-19 impact, estimating that about .02% of California's population had died. "There were 8,500 deaths [in California] — half of them were people over 80 with obvious comorbidity issues."
MacArthur continued, "It just seemed to me that 99.98 is pretty good odds to come to church, and people were crying out to open the church because of the fears — and then of course the church is the center of life for people who love the Lord, and they were cut off from their friends."
And thousands of people have flooded back to the pews since Grace Community Church reopened, with around 3,000 attending the first weekend and an estimated 6,000 the second. And despite threats of government crackdowns over defiance, MacArthur said he has no plans to change course.
"Grace Church is going to meet … and we're going to continue to meet and we're going to always meet because Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Jesus is Lord," he said. "And government has a certain purview given by God, but it doesn't cross over into the realm of the kingdom of God, so we're going to meet."
MacArthur noted that the church has hired attorneys and that leaders will do everything they can within the court system to defend themselves and to continue meeting.
(Read also: Despite Darkness of This Pandemic, Coronavirus Could Ignite Revival)
"I don't know what that's going to look like. … this is not the America that I've known for many, many decades," he said. "It's just a bizarre reality that we haven't navigated in the past. I'm not a prophet, so I can't predict what's going to happen, but I can say this: Grace Community is going to meet."
Critics have taken issue with the fact that the church is in violation of government orders and is allowing crowds of people to congregate at a time when social distancing orders are being heralded for helping stop the spread of coronavirus. Still, debate persists surrounding how far these orders should go.
Debate and discussion aside, MacArthur believes California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) simply doesn't have the authority to deem churches "nonessential" entities.
"The governor said the church is not essential. Some things were essential — liquor stores were essential, abortion clinics were essential, grocery stores were essential but the church was not essential," MacArthur said. "Based on the Constitution, the governor doesn't have the authority to say what is essential … the governor has no constitutional authority to say the church is not."
In the end, MacArthur believes "intentional discrimination" is unfolding "against biblical Christianity and the church." And he said there's no end insight to the restrictions ushered in by COVID-19.
Listen to MacArthur's entire interview for more.
This article was originally published on Pure Flix Insider. Visit Pure Flix for access to thousands of faith and family-friendly movies and TV shows. You can get a free trial here.


theblaze--2020-08-14--President Trump declares spike in violence and high taxes give him a 'very good chance' of winning N

President Trump declares spike in violence and high taxes give him a 'very good chance' of winning New York

President Trump declares spike in violence and high taxes give him a 'very good chance ' of winning New York @ @ @ @ @ chance to flip some congressional seats and other blue states

President Donald Trump believes that he has a chance at winning New York, a state that has voted blue in the presidential election for more than three decades.
"But we're putting New York in play," President Trump told the New York Post on Thursday. "We're going to play it very strong and very hard. And we are going to try to win New York."
Trump is confident in his chances of beating presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden in New York because of the spike in violence and high taxes. Trump said that in New York City "shootings are double, murders, everything has doubled and tripled. And I've heard numbers, 244 percent on some kinds of crimes. What is it 277 percent [for shootings]?"
According to official NYPD crime stats, 49 shootings took place in New York City between July 7 and July 12, nearly a 277% increase compared to the 13 incidents that happened during the same period in 2019. According to the NYPD, June of this year was the deadliest and most violent June in 24 years, totaling 205 shooting incidents.
"I think we have a very good chance," Trump said. "Who can be happy if you live in Manhattan and your taxes are going through the roof? And your quality of life is way down, and they're defunding the police?"
"I'll solve the crime problem. I'll solve their tax problem. I'll solve all their problems," Trump said. "Who would not vote for me?"
"We're going to look into SALT, we're going to look into crime, we're going to look into all of the things and solve the problems — of many problems that they have in New York," Trump added.
"I will bring down taxes and I'll make sure that New York City is a safe place," Trump claimed. "I mean, this is one of our cherished — this is a cherished diamond of this country. And we can't let this happen to New York."
Peter Ajemian, the communications director for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, reacted to the president's statements by saying, "President Trump needs to stop lying. All income tax rates are lower today than when Governor Cuomo took office — the only person who raised New York State taxes was Trump with SALT."
Trump said he would spend money to win New York, and he would make campaign stops in the Empire State.
Trump also said he believes he will win New Mexico and Minnesota. The president teased that he may make a push into New Jersey and "perhaps at Virginia because they have a very, very strange governor."
The Trump campaign is also hopeful to flip some congressional seats as well.
"The first thing I say is look at the congressional races, and New York, you've got at least three, four, maybe even five competitive seats," White House political director Brian Jack said. "And some of those seats the president carried by very wide margins. You look at New York 11, New York 19, there's quite a few opportunities in upstate as well."
"I think we can pick up what, five seats? And that's in addition to trying to win it," Trump added. "I think we can pick up a lot of seats."
Trump admitted that a Republican winning the state of New York would not be an easy task.
"Over the last six months what's happened is insane. It's insane. So we're going to try very hard to win New York and that will be the first time — is that since Ronald Reagan, I guess? Since Ronald Reagan," Trump stated.
Since 1960, a Republican presidential candidate has won New York three times: Richard Nixon in 1972 and Ronald Reagan in 1980 and 1984.
Hillary Clinton defeated Trump in the 2016 battle for New York by capturing 59% of the vote compared to Trump's 36%. Trump won 40 counties statewide to Hillary Clinton's 17. However, Clinton took a whopping 79% of the votes in New York City, easily defeating Trump in all boroughs except for Staten Island.
However, New York City has experienced a number of economic hardships during the coronavirus pandemic while under Democratic leadership, which could open the door for Trump to have more electoral success in the Big Apple.
The number of apartments for rent has more than doubled in the past year. There are over 13,000 empty apartments in New York City, the highest amount of inventory since appraisal and research company Miller Samuel kept tabs on the data.
New York City-based moving company Oz Moving told Fox Business they have seen an increase in quote requests of 30% year over year. United Van Lines said there was a 95% year over year increase of interest in moving out of Manhattan. Residents fleeing NYC were most interested in relocating to Florida, California, Texas, and North Carolina.
Since March, over 2,800 businesses in New York City have permanently closed, according to Yelp.
Partnership for New York City, a group of nearly 300 CEOs from New York City's top corporate, investment and entrepreneurial firms, warns that by the time the COVID-19 pandemic is over, one-third of the city's 240,000 small businesses could be gone forever.
Average asking rents along 16 vital retail corridors in Manhattan decreased for the 11th consecutive quarter, according to commercial real estate services firm CBRE.


theblaze--2020-08-14--USPS warns Pennsylvania — a crucial swing state — that it can't guarantee timely delivery of mail-in

USPS warns Pennsylvania — a crucial swing state — that it can't guarantee timely delivery of mail-in ballots

USPS warns Pennsylvania — a crucial swing state — that it ca n't guarantee timely delivery of mail-in ballots

The United States Postal Service has informed Pennsylvania officials that mail delivery won't be able to keep up with state election deadlines, setting up a scenario where votes might not be counted even if they are mailed and postmarked by the deadline due to delivery delays, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.
Thomas J. Marshall, general counsel and executive vice president of the Postal Service, wrote to Pennsylvania Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar on July 29 explaining that current USPS delivery standard cannot match the turnaround time demanded by the state's election deadlines.
"This mismatch creates a risk that ballots requested near the deadline under state law will not be returned by mail in time to be counted under your laws as we understand them," Marshall wrote, according to the Inquirer.
As a result of the letter, Boockvar's office submitted a filing to the Supreme Court asking that mail-in ballots be counted as long as they were postmarked by the deadline and received by the Friday after Election Day. Such a delay could be significant to the overall election results. In the 2016 presidential election, President Donald Trump won the state by just 0.7%.
The Pennsylvania State Department is asking for the extension because the USPS' limitations present "an overwhelming, statewide risk of disenfranchisement for significant numbers of voters utilizing mail-in ballots."
The current law requires that mail-in ballots be received by 8 p.m. on Election Day. Voters can request mail-in ballots as late as seven days before the election. Pennsylvania is among the states now allowing all voters to vote by mail for any reason, which will likely lead to an unprecedented number of mail-in ballots at a time when the USPS is struggling even with normal delivery volume.
The mail issues are particularly severe around Philadelphia. From the Inquirer:
Serious mail delivery delays have impacted residents across the Philadelphia region, largely due to policies implemented by the new postmaster general, who is also a major Trump campaign donor. Those policies eliminate overtime, order carriers to leave mail behind to speed up workdays, and slash office hours.
The changes, coupled with staffing shortages amid previous budget cuts and coronavirus absences, are forcing some Philadelphians to go upward of three weeks without mail, leaving them without medication, paychecks, and bills. Mail is piling up in offices, often unscanned, carriers have said, and routes are going undelivered for days when a carrier is absent.
President Donald Trump has publicly opposed additional funding to the USPS that would assist with increased mail-in ballot volume, because the president believes universal mail-in voting would result in election fraud.


theblaze--2020-08-14--Ex-Obama adviser Ben Rhodes rips Trump’s Israel-UAE deal on Twitter — and gets summarily trounced

Ex-Obama adviser Ben Rhodes rips Trump ’ s Israel-UAE deal on Twitter — and gets summarily trounced

When President Donald Trump announced the "historic" peace deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates on Thursday, many rightly took notice — even on the left — calling the agreement "major" and a "big win" for Trump and for peace in the Middle East.
Except for Ben Rhodes, that is, a former deputy national security adviser for the Obama administration.
Instead, Rhodes — who is best known for his work on the infamous 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which President Trump withdrew from in 2018 — took to Twitter to downplay the deal, and was swiftly slammed for his complaints.
"This agreement enshrines what has been the emerging status quo in the region for a long time (including the total exclusion of Palestinians)," Rhodes wrote. "Dressed up as an election eve achievement from two leaders who want Trump to win."
To many, the remarks reeked of bitterness over the Trump administration accomplishing some form of a peace agreement in the Middle East, something which the Obama administration was unable to achieve.
K.T. McFarland, a former deputy national security adviser for Trump, wrote that Rhodes' tweet should get him nominated for the "#SourGrapes Award."
Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) suggested that Rhodes is unhappy with the deal because it "(1) is good for Israel, (2) doesn't give [money] to Iran, and (3) doesn't undermine America."
National Review writer David Harsanyi added that it was "important to get the Iranian perspective."
Former acting National Intelligence Director Richard Grenell wrote that Rhodes' disapproval is a sign that "you have a good agreement."
Benjamin Weingarten, a senior contributor at the Federalist, wrote, "the mullahs couldn't ask for a better mouthpiece."
Even Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-N.J.), a fellow Obama administration alum, disagreed with Rhodes' take on the deal, RealClearInvestigations writer Mark Hemingway pointed out.
Aside from Rhodes, Palestinian leaders denounced the deal as well. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas called it "treason" while Palestinian militant organization, Hamas referred to the deal as a "treacherous stab in the back of the Palestinian people."
"The deal makes the UAE only the third Arab nation to establish diplomatic ties with Israel, following Egypt in 1979 and Jordan in 1994," TheBlaze reported on Thursday.
(H/T: Fox News)


theblaze--2020-08-14--Judge who halted removal of Columbus statue makes it 'crystal clear that she will not tolerate mob r

Judge who halted removal of Columbus statue makes it 'crystal clear that she will not tolerate mob rule,' attorney says

Judge who halted removal of Columbus statue makes it 'crystal clear that she will not tolerate mob rule , ' @ @

An attorney praised a judge for putting the brakes on the Philadelphia Art Commission's plan to remove a statue of Christopher Columbus from Marconi Plaza, where heated demonstrations have taken place in favor of and against the monument in the wake of George Floyd's death.
Attorney George Bochetto represents a group of South Philadelphia residents fighting to keep the statue in place, and he told the Philadelphia Inquirer that Judge Paula Patrick — who issued a temporary stay — made it "crystal clear that she will not tolerate mob rule or kangaroo tactics."
Bochetto added to the paper that the judge's stay is "not just a victory for the Columbus Statue, [but] a victory for civilized society."
What's the background?
In June, about 100 people — some of them carrying bats, golf clubs, sticks, and even guns — decided to protect the Columbus statue from possible vandalism given that left-wing rioters in other parts of the country beheaded, toppled, and vandalized statues and monuments in their fury over racism and Floyd's death in Minneapolis.
The crew of folks protecting the Columbus statue attracted the attention of those against it, and things got heated between the two sides.
Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney indirectly referred to the behavior of those guarding the statue as "vigilantism," and District Attorney Larry Krasner called them "criminal bullies."
Armed Group Surrounds South Philly Christopher Columbus Statue | NBC10 Philadelphia youtu.be
Afterward, the city covered the Columbus statue in plywood, the Inquirer said, and a police cruiser has been stationed near the statue to make sure things stay calm.
More from the paper:
In July, city officials proposed a plan to remove the statue, arguing it threatened public safety and should be relocated "in recognition of the fact that Columbus' legacy includes the enslavement, forcible removal, and the devastation of the Indigenous people that he encountered, and that in this current moment in our country's history, the statue can no longer be displayed on public property."
Those in favor of keeping the statue at Marconi say it celebrates Italian American culture in a city steeped in Italian heritage. Those against it say it's a painful reminder of atrocities against Indigenous people directed by Columbus. The statue has been at the plaza since 1976.
What now?
The statue's removal will be paused until the judge rules on another motion to prevent moving the statue while the case is appealed, the Inquirer said, adding that attorneys said the city cut legal corners in the case and rushed the process to dismantle the statue.
The art commission voted 8-0 — with Commissioner Joe Laragione abstaining — in favor of the statue's relocation as long as the city report every six months on progress regarding a new location for the statue accessible to the public, the paper said.
"It's a serious piece of art, it was a gift of the Italian government in the 1800s. It needs to be stored and protected so that something can be figured out," Commission Chair Alan Greenberger said, according to the Inquirer. "The worst thing in my view that can happen, as many of you said, is that it stays in storage and is forgotten."
Some commissioners questioned whether removing the statue would set a precedent for taking down other pieces of public art in Philadelphia, the paper added.
More from the Inquirer:
The commission's deciding vote comes two weeks after the Philadelphia Historical Commission also endorsed a city proposal to remove the statue on the grounds of public safety. Commissioners said that if it were allowed to remain at Broad Street and Oregon Avenue, it would continue to be a flash point for protests, making the statue itself susceptible to damage.
"As Philadelphia — and the nation — continue to reckon with the deep legacy of racism and oppression in America, it is critical that our public spaces are seen as safe, welcoming and inclusive for all people," city spokesperson Lauren Cox told the paper. "Philadelphia's public art must reflect the people and spirit of our city, not divide us."


theblaze--2020-08-14--5-year-old Cannon Hinnant's father details his son's horrifying murder: 'You can't imagine what it's

5-year-old Cannon Hinnant's father details his son's horrifying murder: 'You can't imagine what it's like to hold your son in your arms with a gunshot wound to the head'

5-year-old Cannon Hinnant 's father details his son 's horrifying murder : 'You ca n't imagine what it 's like @ @ @ @ @ your arms with a gunshot wound to the head '

Cannon Hinnant, the 5-year-old North Carolina boy who was shot in the head at point-blank range, will be gravely missed.
The child's father, Austin Hinnant, told WRAL-TV about the moments following his son's murder.
What happened?
Suspect Darrius Sessoms, a neighbor to the Hinnant family, reportedly walked up to Cannon last week as the child, who was bound for kindergarten, 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.
'Maybe he just fell off his bike'
Ahead of Cannon's Thursday funeral, a tearful Austin Hinnant told the station that his son didn't seem to know what was coming.
"[The children] were playing in the yard like any other day," he said, recalling the day his youngest child was killed.
Austin said he was inside his home when he heard the gunshot. He ran outside to see what had taken place, and saw his son lying on the ground.
"The first thing that went through my mind was maybe he just fell off his bike," he recalled. "The closer I got to him, the more I realized it was something far more serious."
He said he immediately took his young child into his arms and screamed, "Somebody, please help me save my son! Help me save my son, please!"
'I couldn't leave my son's side'
A quick-thinking neighbor quickly appeared on the scene with an EMT bag as Austin said he collapsed on the ground in prayer.
"[You] can't imagine what it's like to hold your son in your arms with a gunshot wound to the head, and his blood is running down your arms," Austin said.
He recalled Sessoms nearby, pacing and armed before the suspect fled the scene in a vehicle.
"I was looking at him as I was picking up Cannon," Austin said. "I was so full of rage, but I couldn't leave my son's side. I wanted to be with my son"
'The Lord says to love our neighbor'
Austin said he has no idea why Sessoms would do something so heinous to his child and had hosted the suspect for dinner just days before his son's murder.
"The Lord says to love our neighbor," Austin said. "I have plenty of food to go around. I just wanted to be nice."
Austin described an easy relationship with Sessoms, saying that the two would even sit on Austin's front porch and drink beer.
"There wasn't anything between me and him, any bad blood whatsoever, for him to have to a reason to do this," Austin added.
"Everybody just loved Cannon. He lit up the room," Austin said.
Generous supporters open their wallets for the devastated family
The Wilson, North Carolina, Police Department has not released any details about a possible motive in the child's brutal murder.
A GoFundMe page for the family has received more than $320,000 in donations so far. Donors continues to flood the page to benefit young Cannon's family.


theblaze--2020-08-14--Oregon State Police pull out of Portland after DA announces rioters won't be prosecuted in most case

Oregon State Police pull out of Portland after DA announces rioters won't be prosecuted in most cases

Oregon State Police pull out of Portland after DA announces rioters wo n't be prosecuted in most cases Portland police @ @ @ @ @ work together to arrest a protester in front of the Portland Police Bureau North Precinct @ @ @ @ @ protests on Aug. 11 in Portland , Oregon .
Crowd sizes began growing again last @ @ @ @ @ on city and county law enforcement buildings .
( Photo by Nathan Howard/Getty Images )

The Oregon State Police will no longer be assisting with Portland riot control, pulling out of the city after the district attorney announced that many crimes committed by rioters would not be prosecuted, according to the Oregonian.
About 100 state troopers had been assisting Portland police in controlling riots and protecting property during the nightly unrest that has been taking place in the city for at least 78 days.
After Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt announced Tuesday that crimes such as disorderly conduct, interference with a police officer, and resisting arrest might not be prosecuted in many cases, OSP Capt. Timothy Fox said the department would not be extending its assignment in the city, which he said was only supposed to be two weeks long anyway.
From the Oregonian:
State police committed to two weeks "and that two weeks ended today," said spokesman Capt. Timothy R. Fox.
"We're in a county that's not going to prosecute this criminal behavior," Fox added.
It was a pointed reference to Tuesday's announcement by new Multnomah County District Attorney Mike Schmidt that his office won't pursue many of the charges against demonstrators, including disorderly conduct, interfering with a police officer and even riot in some circumstances.
"The Oregon State Police is continually reassessing our resources and the needs of our partner agencies and at this time we are inclined to move those resources back to counties where prosecution of criminal conduct is still a priority," Fox said in a statement. "Last night was our last night in Portland. This decision was based on the fact that our two week commitment ended last night…Troopers are returning to the communities that they are assigned to serve and protect."
Schmidt released a memo Tuesday acknowledging the "depth of emotion" involved in the protests and riots, and expressing a desire not to undermine public safety by "leverag[ing] the force of the criminal justice system" against protesters who are protesting racial injustice.
"Seen through that lens, the prosecution of cases related solely to protest activities, most of which have a weak nexus to further criminality and which are unlikely to be deterred by prosecution, draws away from crucially needed resources," the memo from the DA said.
The memo goes on to list interference with a police officer, disorderly conduct, criminal trespass, escape III, harassment, and riot as cases that the DA's office will "presumptively decline to charge" if the "most serious offenses are city ordinance violations and crimes that do not involve deliberate property damage, theft, or the use or threat of force against another person."
Crimes like resisting arrest and assaulting a public safety officer "should be subjected to a high level of scrutiny" by the issuing deputy, and charges may not be pursued if the alleged crime is related to the "chaos of a protesting environment, especially after tear gas or other less-lethal munitions have been deployed against protesters en masse."


theblaze--2020-08-15--Pandemic analyst finds herd immunity could be slowing COVID spread — yet Dr. Fauci still warns again

Pandemic analyst finds herd immunity could be slowing COVID spread — yet Dr. Fauci still warns against it A new @ @ @ @ @ could be achieved at a much lower percentage than previously believed

There are over 5 million confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, according to the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center. The actual number could be much higher when including Americans who have not been diagnosed or who were asymptomatic. Dr. Deborah Birx, the Coronavirus Response Coordinator for the White House Coronavirus Task Force, said the medical community might have underestimated the number of asymptomatic cases of COVID-19.
A pandemic analyst contends that all of those positive cases could be enabling herd immunity that could be slowing down the spread of COVID-19 in the southern United States.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released an updated guidance this week that noted people who have recovered from COVID-19 are likely safe from coronavirus for three months.
Researchers in Singapore released a peer-reviewed study that found 23 patients who recovered from SARS in 2003 all retained memory T-cells from the original pathogen in their systems 17 years later. This has provided scientists some hope that COVID-19 may also produce similar T-cells that enable long-term immunity.
As the virus spreads, the population develops an immunity to it. States in the Sun Belt, such as Arizona, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, South Carolina, and Texas, experienced a spike of coronavirus cases in June and July. Those same states have seen a dramatic decrease in COVID-19 cases in the past two weeks.
Pandemic analyst Trevor Bedford from the University of Washington believes these states are having their coronavirus cases drop because the "population immunity may be contributing to curbing COVID-19 in Florida, Arizona and Texas, where recent surges have resulted in substantial epidemics."
In a thread of 16 tweets, Bedford presented a case that these states had achieved herd immunity and that the coronavirus wasn't finding people who weren't previously exposed to the respiratory disease.
"Thus, I believe the substantial epidemics in Arizona, Florida and Texas will leave enough immunity to assist in keeping COVID-19 controlled," Bedford wrote. However, he cautioned that "this level of immunity is not compatible with a full return to societal behavior as existed before the pandemic."
He stated that "societal behavior has dramatically reduced" the transmission rate through "social distancing, mask wearing, etc." Bedford believes that societal behavior and precautions could mean that "we don't need as much immunity to impact spread."
Bedford used Florida as an example, and estimated that approximately 20% of the state's population, around 4 million people, already had coronavirus. "Even 10 percent population immunity starts to make a difference when Rt is around 1.2," Bedford said. Rt is the actual transmission rate of a virus at a given time.
At the moment, nobody knows exactly what the threshold of population infection needs to be at to attain herd immunity. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's health emergencies program, said most scientists believe 60% to 80% of the population needs to be vaccinated or have natural antibodies to achieve herd immunity.
Researchers from Stockholm University in Sweden and the University of Nottingham in Britain published a new study in the journal Science on Friday.The scientists estimate that herd immunity could be achieved at a population-wide infection rate of approximately 40%.
Youyang Gu, a computer scientist whose coronavirus projections are one of 34 pandemic models tracked by the CDC, believes that herd immunity could help in the fight against COVID-19.
"Immunity may play a significant part in the regions that are declining," Gu told MIT Technology Review. Gu estimates that approximately 35 million Americans have now been infected, which is more than 10% of the country's population.
Gu doesn't forecast another spike in coronavirus cases in southern states at least until the fall, which is how far in advance his models look forward.
Tom Britton, a statistician who models the COVID-19 pandemic at the University of Stockholm, also believes herd immunity could decrease the number of COVID-19 cases.
"Clearly, as susceptibility drops, disease spreading drops. No one can say different," Britton said. "The question is to what degree is the effect because of interventions or because of immunity? In regions with very large outbreaks—New York, Milan, Madrid, and London—I am convinced it's a combination."
"I would say in Sweden there is no doubt that immunity plays an important role, more than in other countries," Britton said. "Now this epidemic is slowly stopping."
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force, is not in favor of achieving herd immunity by allowing the coronavirus to spread throughout the country unchecked.
"If everyone contracted it, even with the relatively high percentage of people without symptoms...a lot of people are going to die," Fauci said during an Instagram interview with actor Matthew McConaughey on Thursday.
"If you look at the United States of America with our epidemic of obesity as it were, with the number of people with hypertension, with the number of people with diabetes, if everyone got infected, the death toll would be enormous and totally unacceptable," Fauci said.
"And that's the reason why we are against saying: 'Let it fly. Let everyone get infected and we'll be fine.' That's a bad idea," Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said.


theblaze--2020-08-15--An NFL rookie tries to sneak a woman past the coronavirus lockdown into the Seahawks' hotel — so the

An NFL rookie tries to sneak a woman past the coronavirus lockdown into the Seahawks' hotel — so the team cuts him

An NFL rookie tries to sneak a woman past the coronavirus lockdown into the Seahawks ' hotel — so the @ @ @ @ @ tried to make her look like a football player

An NFL rookie got caught trying to pass off a woman as another football player in order to get her past the league's coronavirus lockdown protocols, so he got cut from the team.
The incident occurred at the Seattle Seahawks' training camp hotel and reportedly involved cornerback Kemah Siverand.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network first reported the incident from his social media account.
"The #Seahawks cut rookie CB Kemah Siverand this week after he was caught on video trying to sneak a female visitor into the team hotel, per sources," Pelissero tweeted.
"Clear message on the responsibility everyone has in the NFL's COVID-19 world: Put the team at risk, suffer the consequences," he added.
Pelissero went on to say that the woman had been dressed as a Seahawks player, but the ruse failed.
The coronavirus pandemic is threatening to shut down the entire NFL 2020 season, which is scheduled to commence in September. The league has already taken some steps to mitigate the possibility of spreading the virus, including the excision of the four traditional preseason games.
You can't deny love'
Mike Greenberg of ESPN's "Get Up!" show remarked that the story was undoubtedly funny but also had a serious side since undermining the lockdown could have forced the team to shut down their season. He also noted that Siverand was very unlikely to end up on the team even if he hadn't been cut.
Former Patriots player Rob Ninkovich noted that he had invited someone up to his hotel while he was in the NFL and he ended up marrying her.
"Look, you can't deny love," Ninkovich joked. That's just the way it is! It's fate! It's love, follow your heart!"
Here's more about the incident:


theblaze--2020-08-15--Appeals court rules Hillary Clinton doesn't have to sit for deposition in lawsuit over emails

Appeals court rules Hillary Clinton does n't have to sit for deposition in lawsuit over emails They say she has @ @ @ @

A panel of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled unanimously on Friday that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton does not have to sit for a deposition regarding her intentions with using a private email server for government business, after all.
What are the details?
In March, a district court judge ordered Clinton to appear under oath to answer questions for a lawsuit brought by conservative watchdog group Judicial Watch, saying that her previous written responses "left many more questions than answers."
But Clinton appealed the decision, and the appeals court agreed, issuing a ruling saying that she has already explained her reasoning before Congress and to Judge Emmet Sullivan — the judge who refuses to drop charges against Gen. Michael Flynn — and therefore "the deposition of Secretary Clinton, if allowed to proceed, at best seems likely to stray into topics utterly unconnected with the instant FOIA suit, and at worst could be used as a vehicle for harassment or embarrassment."
Judicial Watch also asked to depose Cheryl Mills, Clinton's former chief of staff at the State Department, and that deposition will be carried out.
The Washington Examiner explained:
Judicial Watch wants to question Clinton and Mills about the talking points for former United Nations Ambassador Susan Rice's appearances on television shows following the terrorist attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi. Members of Ansar al Sharia launched a coordinated assault on Sept. 11, 2012, killing U.S. Ambassador to Libya Christopher Stevens, foreign service officer Sean Smith, and CIA contractors Tyrone Woods and Glen Doherty. Clinton, Rice, and others incorrectly blamed the attack on a YouTube video.
The appeals court noted on Friday that Clinton had been long gone by the time the State Department conducted its FOIA-related email search and pointed to the fact that "several executive agencies and a House Select Committee have conducted inquiries" into Clinton's use of a private email server and that Clinton had "also provided eleven hours of public testimony before the House Select Committee" and "has answered countless media inquiries on the matter.
The basis of the lawsuit all stems from a 2014 Freedom of Information Act lawsuit from Judicial Watch, seeking "documents related to the Benghazi attack in 2012 that killed four Americans went unanswered," the Washington Times reported.
In its decision Friday, the appeals court echoed an assertion made by Clinton and Mills' attorney, David Kendall, who argued that "the real purpose" of the depositions "is harassment."


theblaze--2020-08-15--'The death toll would be enormous': Dr. Fauci warns against herd immunity

'The death toll would be enormous ' : Dr. Fauci warns against herd immunity ' A lot of people are @ @ @ @

Dr. Anthony Fauci, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases director, warned against seeking to combat coronavirus through nationwide herd immunity and explained that the death toll would be "enormous and unacceptable."
The head of President Donald Trump's coronavirus task force made the comments during a live Instagram session on Friday with actor Matthew McConaughey.
"If everyone contracted it, even with the relatively high percentage of people without symptoms," Fauci said, "a lot of people are going to die."
Fauci pointed to the prevalence of health issues among Americans that would result to large numbers of deaths if the coronavirus was spread widely.
"You look at the United States of America, with our epidemic of obesity, as it were. With the number of people with hypertension. With the number of people with diabetes. If everyone got infected, the death toll would be enormous and totally unacceptable," Fauci explained.
Lockdown versus herd immunity
Fauci is a proponent of the lockdown and social distancing model to combat the spread of the coronavirus. He has insisted that the best response to the pandemic is to await the development of vaccines and other treatments against the virus.
Some critics advocate for a different model where the virus is allowed to spread freely and infect people who would then become immune after recovery. While it would result in some deaths, the proponents say, the herd immunity model allows for the economy to continue operating.
One study by scientists at King's College London found that antibodies disappeared after a short period of time, meaning that herd immunity would not be a solution for the pandemic.
It's getting worse
Despite the U.S. adopting the lockdown model of combatting the coronavirus, there have been nearly 170,000 deaths and experts believe there will be tens of thousands more before the pandemic abates. There have been more than 5.3 million cases of the coronavirus in the U.S. alone, which accounts for one-fourth of all the cases worldwide.
On Thursday, presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden called for a nationwide mask mandate in order to quell what appears to be a second wave of the pandemic. The president responded by accusing "Sleepy Joe" of not trusting the states and their governors.
Here's more about the interview with Dr. Fauci:


theblaze--2020-08-15--VIDEO: Bloody brawls break out in Stone Mountain between armed rival protester groups

VIDEO : Bloody brawls break out in Stone Mountain between armed rival protester groups

Violent confrontations erupted on Saturday in the city of Stone Mountain between members of a far-right militia and counter-protesters that included Black Lives Matter activists and self-proclaimed anti-fascists.
An Arkansas group called "Confederate States III%," applied for a permit to hold a rally in Georgia's Stone Mountain Park. The right-wing group requested to hold a 2,000-person rally "to defend and protect our history and second Amendment rights." Stone Mountain Park is home to a giant carving of Confederate leaders, Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee, and Stonewall Jackson in a granite mountain in an Atlanta suburb.
The Stone Mountain Memorial Association declined the permit on Aug. 4 because of a violent clash in April 2016.
On Friday, the city announced that Stone Mountain Park would be closed on Saturday in anticipation of protests by the demonstrators. City officials also advised people to avoid the downtown area.
"While the city has little information on what to expect during this time, out of the abundance of caution we are asking the General Public to avoid the City of Stone Mountain, specifically the downtown area, on Saturday, August 15th, 2020 beginning at 4:00am until 12:00 midnight," a statement from the city read.
Dozens of right-wing demonstrators, many armed and wearing military gear, gathered in downtown Stone Mountain. There were a few hundred counter-demonstrators, many expressing support for Black Lives Matter, as well as black-clad members of the left-wing Atlanta Antifascists. Some of the counter-demonstrators were also armed.
Brawls broke out between the groups, and rocks were hurled. Ford Fischer, editor-in-chief of N2SReports, captured footage of a brutal melee and said it "was some of the most intense street violence between left and right I've seen since Charlottesville." He added, "In this fight, two were left bloodied after a head was smashed by baseball bat."
(Content Warning: Graphic images and language)
A group of protesters burned Confederate flags.
Police officers in riot gear attempted to disperse the crowds, and pepper spray was used. Georgia National Guard troops were also deployed.
Maj. Gen. Thomas Carden, adjutant general of the Georgia National Guard, said Saturday's violent clashes "exceeded the threshold that local authorities were comfortable with."
"So they've decided to disperse the crowd and arrest those that are non-compliant," Carden said. "Peace is always the strategy," he said. "At the end of the day, people have had the opportunity to have their voices heard."


theblaze--2020-08-15--Black Lives Matter protesters in Seattle demand white residents 'give up' their homes

Black Lives Matter protesters in Seattle demand white residents 'give up ' their homes 'Now do something about it !
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Shocking video shows Black Lives Matter protesters walking through a Seattle neighborhood this week demanding that white residents "give up" their homes.
The video shows demonstrators shouting "Black Lives Matter" as they march through a historically black neighborhood they claim has been gentrified by white residents.
"Do you know that before your white a** came here this was all black people?" a man in the video said, screaming at residents in the neighborhood. "Do you know people like you came in here and basically bought all the land from the black people for less than what it was worth, kicked them out so you could live here?"
"Do you know that? Cause if you don't, now you f**king do. Now do something about it!" the man continued.
A woman with a megaphone is later heard telling residents to "open your wallet."
"Give black people back their homes!" the woman screamed. "You're sitting there comfortably — comfortable as f**k as if they didn't help gentrify this neighborhood! I used to live in this neighborhood, and my family was pushed out, and you're sitting up there having a good time with your other white friends!"
Seattle is the third-most gentrified major U.S. city, trailing Washington, D.C., and Portland, a study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia found.
But, according to the Seattle Times, gentrification — the process of changing neighborhood demographics by moving in affluent residents and businesses — "may do more good than harm."
From the Times:
That runs counter to the common perception of gentrification, a trend seen in many American cities in recent years. As young professionals, empty-nesters and other more affluent people rediscovered the appeal of city living, they've moved into the urban core. That new wealth rapidly changes city neighborhoods, many of which had suffered from decades of blight and population loss.
But there's a detrimental side to gentrification. As property values and rents rise, original residents — poorer and often people of color — can be pushed out of the neighborhood.
As the New York Post reported, another clip of Black Lives Matter protesters in Seattle from Wednesday showed the demonstrators telling white residents to "get the f**k out."


theblaze--2020-08-15--Judge hands California church major legal victory after pastor defiantly restarts indoor gatherings

'This vindicates our desire to stay open and serve our people '

Los Angeles County-based Grace Community Church ignited controversy last month for announcing they would begin holding indoor gatherings in defiance of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom's coronavirus-related restrictions.
On Friday, a judge handed the prominent church a major legal victory.
What happened?
Superior Court Judge Gregory Alarcon ruled that Grace Community Church can continue to hold indoor services as long as worshippers wear face coverings and practice social distancing.
According to the Associated Press, Los Angeles County had sought a court order to bar the church community from continuing to meet indoors. County officials claimed the gatherings posed an immediate public health threat.
What was the reaction?
Pastor John MacArthur expressed gratitude over the ruling.
"I am very grateful the court has allowed us to meet inside and we are happy for a few weeks to comply and respect what the judge has asked of us because he is allowing is to meet," MacArthur said in a statement, Fox News reported.
He continued, "This vindicates our desire to stay open and serve our people. This also gives us an opportunity to show that we are not trying to be rebellious or unreasonable, but that we will stand firm to protect our church against unreasonable, unconstitutional restrictions."
Los Angeles County officials, however, were not happy. They said they would "continue to work through the legal system to ensure that the health officer orders are upheld."
Anything else?
MacArthur, who has likened the gatherings to a "peaceful protest," recently explained why he made the decision to re-open the doors to Grace Community Church.
The pastor told Billy Hallowell that the impact of COVID-19 has not been what advocates of restrictions claim, which meant the lockdown measures no longer made sense.
"Grace Church is going to meet … and we're going to continue to meet and we're going to always meet because Jesus Christ is the head of the church. Jesus is Lord," MacArthur explained. "And government has a certain purview given by God, but it doesn't cross over into the realm of the kingdom of God, so we're going to meet."


theblaze--2020-08-15--Washington state to provide $40 million in COVID-19 relief for illegal immigrants

Washington state to provide $ 40 million in COVID-19 relief for illegal immigrants Washington is forecast to have an $ @ @ @ @ @

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) has agreed to provide $40 million in COVID-19 relief for illegal immigrants. The fund will be available to illegal immigrants who can't access federal coronavirus relief programs, such as the CARES Act, because of their immigration status.
Individual illegal immigrants who submit an application can receive up to $1,000 if approved, and families are eligible to receive up to $3,000. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services will select a nonprofit to administer the Immigrant Relief Fund.
"We have to ensure that no one in our state is left behind as we fight this pandemic," Gov. Jay Inslee said in a statement. "COVID-19 doesn't care what your immigration status is. We must support every family affected by the virus, especially those who lack the necessary means to quarantine or isolate and prevent further spread. This is the right thing for the well-being of individuals, the health of their colleagues and the safety of our communities.
"Immigrant workers are critical to communities throughout the state and are the backbone of our economy," Inslee said. "While some have been hit by the economic downturn caused by the pandemic, others face safety risks as frontline workers. And even though immigrants in the United States pay billions of dollars in taxes, they do not receive the same support when a crisis occurs. This is one way to help rectify that situation."
The Pew Research Center estimates that Washington has 240,000 illegal residents, who reportedly pay around $368 million in state and local taxes annually.
"We're excited to have a good chunk of money allocated to our community," Alejandra Perez, an immigration activist from the Seattle area who has been working with the governor's staff, said. "Even though our (original) ask was $100 million."
In May, the Seattle City Council voted unanimously in favor of a resolution requesting emergency economic assistance from the state of Washington for illegal immigrants. The resolution called for the state to create the "Washington Worker Relief Fund," which would allocate at least $100 million to assist illegal immigrants who lost their jobs because of the coronavirus pandemic. The city council voted 9-0 on the resolution, and it was signed by Mayor Jenny Durkan.
Washington's Economic and Revenue Forecast Council predicted the state's current 2019-21 budget would fall short of revenues by $4.5 billion. The 2021-23 budget is forecast to have a $4.3 billion budget deficit, according to KING-TV.
In April, Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) announced that California would provide millions of dollars to illegal immigrants in a coronavirus relief fund. Newsom said the state would contribute $75 million in taxpayer funds, while a network of immigration rights organizations have pledged to raise another $50 million for the fund.
In May, Oregon started distributing more than $10 million to illegal immigrants through the Oregon Worker Relief Fund.


theblaze--2020-08-15--Woman has 'COVID-19 complications' listed on death certificate — but family says she never tested po

Woman has 'COVID-19 complications' listed on death certificate — but family says she never tested positive

Woman has 'COVID-19 complications ' listed on death certificate — but family says she never tested positive

The family of a deceased South Carolina grandmother is demanding answers after they say officials listed "COVID-19 complications" on the death certificate — despite the grandmother never testing positive for the virus.
Kimberly Klosterman told WIS-TV that her 79-year-old grandmother Joan Hill died on July 31 after suffering from dementia for years. Hill had moved into the home of her daughter, Klosterman's mom, in January, and was receiving in-home hospice care, according to WIS.
Joan Hill. (Image source: WIS-TV screenshot)
Upon receiving Hill's death certificate, her family was shocked — it listed both Alzheimer's disease and COVID-19 complications as the cause of death.
But that is not correct, the family told WIS. That's because Hill never tested positive for coronavirus, nor did she ever exhibit symptoms of the virus.
"That was wrong. She had never been tested before or after death, so I wasn't sure how that could even be listed on her death certificate," Klosterman explained. "She was breathing fine; that was the last thing to go for her. Her lung function was good up until the very end, so there were zero symptoms of COVID whatsoever."
Richland County Coroner Gary Watts, who was called to respond to Hill's death, said there need to be answers as to why COVID-19 was listed on the death certificate.
"When you (WIS) contacted me was the first time we were made aware that there was anything listed as far as COVID," Watts said. "When we took the call originally, it was a patient with Alzheimer's — nothing was mentioned about COVID-19 at that time."
"It's certainly something that needs to be answered as to why that happened, and who made that decision, and why that decision was made if there was no indication at the time of death," he added. "I think the family deserves an answer. I think all of us deserve an answer."
Watts told WIS that a hospice physician was responsible for listing Hill's cause of death.
The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control declined to say whether Hill's death was included in the state's COVID-19 death count, citing privacy laws.
When Klosterman reached out to the DHEC for answers, the agency told her to contact Amedisys, the hospice care organization that cared for her grandmother. Amedisys claimed their employees "acted in accordance with the Coroner's Office and followed clinical protocols."
Klosterman told WIS, "I am very aware that COVID is real. I've known people that have had it, that have been hospitalized for it, that have passed away from it."
"But to have a report come back and say that that's what my grandmother passed away from when she was never even tested, had no symptoms, it's just devastating," she told WIS.


theblaze--2020-08-15--Liberal law prof shreds media for 'willful blindness' to facts of 'wrongdoing in the Russia investig

Liberal law prof shreds media for 'willful blindness' to facts of 'wrongdoing in the Russia investigation'

Liberal law prof shreds media for 'willful blindness ' to facts of 'wrongdoing in the Russia investigation' 'None of that @ @ @ @ @

Constitutional scholar Jonathan Turley, a self-described liberal who teaches at George Washington School of Law, slammed the mainstream media on Friday for its "willful blindness to mounting evidence of wrongdoing in the Russian investigation."
What's the background?
On Friday, the Justice Department announced the first indictment resulting from U.S. Attorney John Durham's investigation into the origins of the Russia investigation.
The DOJ revealed that former FBI lawyer Kevin Clinesmith will plead guilty to falsifying a document that was used to obtain a surveillance warrant Trump campaign aide Carter Page. Clinesmith is accused of altering an email document to downplay Page's association with the CIA.
What did Turley say?
According to the constitutional lawyer, the DOJ's announcement is more evidence of the media's willful ignorance to the facts surrounding the Russia investigation, with regard to activities conducted by FBI agents and top DOJ officials.
"The implications of this criminal plea is enormous but the media has engaged in a pattern of willful blindness to mounting evidence of wrongdoing in the Russian investigation by FBI and DOJ figures," Turley began.
"Notably, the Flynn plea was widely reported as a major conviction despite the fact that the agents themselves stated that they did not believe Flynn intentionally lied. Pleas by others resulted in less than a month of jail, including Papadopoulos who received only 14 days," he added.
"Those pleas were given endless and breathless discussion in the media. This is a direct and major falsification by a critical figure in the Russian investigation. It follows referrals for criminal charges against other figures like Andrew McCabe. None of that seems to matter," Turley continued.
Indeed, in the early days of Robert Mueller's investigation, the media widely reported on each new development, suggesting the indictments stemming from Mueller's probe were evidence that Trump's campaign committed wrongdoing in the 2016 election.
However, that changed completely last year when Mueller concluded that Trump's campaign, in fact, did not collude with Russia.
Still, the media has been slow to accept the Mueller investigation's findings, and, as Turley noted, the wrongdoing done by government officials who oversaw and played critical roles in the Trump-Russia investigation.
In an op-ed for The Hill, Turley summarized this investigative double-standard being employed by Democrats.
"So, just to wrap up, we have a collusion investigation that was shown to be based on false or unreliable information. It was launched and maintained by officials who were accused by an inspector general of misconduct, false statements, or procedural errors, and now we have an actual criminal guilty plea. Yet many in Washington continue to insist there is no reason for Durham to keep digging. As Biden says, 'Gosh almighty,'" Turley wrote.


theblaze--2020-08-15--Aerial battle between $950 government drone and bald eagle ends with drone sinking to the bottom of

Aerial battle between $950 government drone and bald eagle ends with drone sinking to the bottom of Lake Michigan

Aerial battle between $ 950 government drone and bald eagle ends with drone sinking to the bottom of Lake Michigan @ @ @ @ @ and the bird won

A government drone was mapping shoreline erosion near Michigan's Upper Peninsula on July 21. The quadcopter, which belonged to Michigan's Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy, was disabled after seven minutes in flight and at an altitude of 162-feet because of a devastating airstrike by a bald eagle.
Hunter King, one of the department's drone pilots, received warnings that the $950 Phantom 4 Pro Advanced drone was losing altitude fast, approximately plummeting at 30 feet per second. Another alert came in that notified the pilot that one of the propellers had detached while it had been flying at 22 mph.
"I was looking through the camera on the drone with my iPad, and it just went into a spiral," King told NPR. "It was like a really bad roller coaster ride."
King looked up into the air to see what went wrong and he spotted a suspicious bald eagle flying away.
The next thing King knows is that the EGLE has landed. Unfortunately, the drone landed somewhere in Lake Michigan and sank to the bottom. Data indicated that the drone crash-landed in 4 feet of water about 150 feet offshore. A one-man search party by EGLE Unmanned Aircraft Systems coordinator Arthur Ostaszewski in a kayak was fruitless.
"The attack could have been a territorial squabble with the electronic foe, or just a hungry eagle," the department said in a press release.
"I had flown out and it was on my way back. So it was probably the second time the bird had seen this drone," King said of the attack.
The government won't be able to bill the bird of prey for the downed drone.
"Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do," a spokesperson for the Michigan Department of Natural Resources said. "Nature is a cruel and unforgiving mistress."
A bird fought the law and the bird won.
There are some eagles who have been trained to take down drones. Since 2015 the Dutch National Police have been experimenting with eagles as a counter-drone measure to prevent potential terrorist attacks and unauthorized small flying craft from invading restricted airspace, such as airports.
"We found out that it is probably one of the most effective counter-measures against hostile drones," police head of operations Michel Baeten told AFP in 2016.
"None of the eagles were hurt, but as for the drones, none of them survived," police spokesman Dennis Janus said of the training.


theblaze--2020-08-15--Justice for Cannon
 Hinnant GoFundMe campaign exceeds half a million dollars

'There are no words or no amount of money that 's going to bring him back '

While some of the media has neglected to cover the appalling murder of Cannon Hinnant, people around the world have been emotionally touched and heartbroken by the tragedy. Some have shown their support for the family of the slain 5-year-old by donating to a GoFundMe campaign, which now exceeds half a million dollars.
A GoFundMe campaign set up by Gwen Hinnant, Cannon's grandmother, has soared past its original goal of raising $5,000 for the family. At the time of publication, over 17,000 donors have given more than $605,000.
"On Sunday, August 9th, this precious angel was playing outside with his siblings when he was murdered," the description of the "Justice for Cannon" campaign reads. "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."
"This family has faced unimaginable pain because of this senseless act of violence," the boy's grandmother wrote. "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."
Lee Parker, Cannon's stepfather, said, "There are no words or no amount of money that's going to bring him back." He added, "He just loved everything. Everybody."
There was a candlelight vigil to honor the life of the young boy scheduled for Friday night, but it was postponed to give the family more time to mourn and heal, according to WSOC-TV.
Despite the cancellation, dozens of people showed up at the Wilson County Courthouse for the vigil.
"I don't know the family, but I want to say to the family that we love you. We're praying for you and we're standing with you," a pastor told WNCN-TV.
"I've never been to a candlelight vigil before but I just felt compelled to come tonight," one woman said.
"I have a little grandson almost the same age and it could happen to anyone," a woman at the vigil said.
The Wilson Times reported that a new event to celebrate the life of Cannon Hinnant is in the works, and details would be coming "soon."
Hinnant's funeral was held on Thursday night, where at least 100 cars drove by to pay their respects.
Darrius Sessoms, a neighbor of the Hinnant family, reportedly shot Cannon last Sunday. Cannon was riding his bicycle when Sessoms walked up the boy and reportedly killed him in an execution-style shooting. The murder was allegedly witnessed by a neighbor and Hinnant's two sisters, ages seven and eight.
Sessoms, 25, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. He was jailed without bond and is due to appear on court on Aug. 25.
"That's evil," the boy's grandfather, Merrill Race, said. "I never met this guy in my life, but that is one evil dude. He's [in jail] where he should be."
The hashtag #SayHisName was trending on Twitter earlier this week after major news networks went days without reporting on the atrocious murder of the child. A few mainstream media outlets finally covered the Cannon Hinnant story on Friday.


theblaze--2020-08-15--Obama doubts Joe Biden's 2020 chances in private, warns Biden will 'f**k things up': report

Obama doubts Joe Biden 's 2020 chances in private , warns Biden will ' f**k things up ' : report @ @ @ @ @ does n't have it ?
Joe Biden '

Former President Barack Obama has publicly supported Joe Biden's bid for the White House. But behind closed doors, Obama has reportedly bashed his vice president.
What are the details?
Despite Biden often touting a best-friend relationship between himself and Obama, there are "lingering tensions" between the 44th president and Biden, according to a lengthy Politico magazine story.
Those tensions were highlighted during the 2016 election when Obama eagerly endorsed Hillary Clinton's campaign, and again in 2020 when Obama declined to endorse a candidate in the Democratic primary, Politico noted.
One Democratic strategist who anonymously spoke to Politico claimed Obama has privately dismissed Biden's electoral prowess.
"Don't underestimate Joe's ability to f**k things up," the strategist claimed Obama told him.
Last year, Obama reportedly told a 2020 candidate that Biden severely lacked the ability to connect with the Democratic electorate, especially in Iowa.
"And you know who really doesn't have it? Joe Biden," Obama said, Politico reported.
Biden aides have even highlighted differences in Obama's endorsement of Clinton to his endorsement of Biden as evidence Obama lacks faith in Biden's ability to be victorious on the campaign trail.
From Politico:
Biden and his aides often act like they have something to prove to the Obama team that doubted them. Some Biden allies noted that Obama's endorsement of Biden, when it finally arrived, lacked the effusiveness of his endorsement of Clinton. "I don't think there's ever been someone so qualified to hold this office," he said of Clinton in his video message in 2016. Four years later, in his endorsement video for Biden, he said: "I believe Joe has all of the qualities we need in a president right now … and I know he will surround himself with good people."
According to Leon Panetta, defense secretary during the Obama administration, Biden has often felt as if his loyalty toward Obama was not repaid in-kind.
"He was loyal, I think, to Obama in every way in terms of defending and standing by him, even probably when he disagreed with what Obama was doing," Panetta told Politico. "To some extent, [he] oftentimes felt that that loyalty was not being rewarded."
What is happening now?
Despite the apparent rocky relationship between the former president and vice president, Obama will headline the Democratic National Convention next week to officially nominate Biden as the Democratic Party's 2020 nominee.


theblaze--2020-08-16--FLASHBACK: Thousands of USPS mailboxes removed during Obama-Biden administration

Then there was the time Obama said : 'It 's the post office that 's always having problems '

Former President Barack Obama accused President Donald Trump of purposely attempting to sabotage the U.S. Postal Service in an effort to alter the results of the 2020 presidential election.
"What we've seen in a way that is unique to modern political history is a president who is explicit in trying to discourage people from voting," Obama said during an appearance on his former campaign adviser David Plouffe's podcast on Friday. "What we've never seen before is a president say, 'I'm going to try to actively kneecap the postal service to encourage voting and I will be explicit about the reason I'm doing it.'"
He added, "That's sort of unheard of."
The unfounded accusation was immediately amplified by the media, and the conspiracy theory took hold on social media. Even pop music singer Taylor Swift parroted the unsubstantiated allegation.
A photo from Portland of a truck with several USPS mailboxes in the bed went viral last week.
Presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden embraced the conspiracy theory that mailboxes were being collected in Portland as a form of voter suppression for the election in November.
"They're going around literally with tractor trailers picking up mailboxes," Biden said at a virtual fundraiser. "You oughta go online and check out what they're doing in Oregon. I mean, it's bizarre!"
USPS spokeswoman Kimberly Frum told The Hill that the removal of mailboxes is common.
"Historically, mailboxes have been removed for lack of use and installed in growth areas," Frum said. "Relocating low-use boxes to high traffic areas such as shopping centers, business parks, grocery stores, etc. for increased customer convenience."
"When a collection box consistently receives very small amounts of mail for months on end, it costs the Postal Service money in fuel and work hours for letter carriers to drive to the mailbox and collect the mail," she continued. "Removing the box is simply good business sense in that respect. It is important to note that anyone with a residential or business mailbox can use it as a vehicle to send outgoing mail."
USPS spokesman Steve Doherty told Boston.com that many mailboxes are being repaired or replaced with newer ones. "These trucks are on the street daily," Doherty said. "They're part of our field maintenance fleet."
"This is why you may see one box on a corner that previously may have had two or three side by side," Doherty continued. "With declining letter volumes, we try to keep the system efficient."
"In short – this is all routine maintenance," Doherty concluded. "There's no effort underway to reduce collection boxes."
In fact, between 2011 and 2016, there were roughly 14,000 USPS mailboxes removed, which was during the Obama-Biden administration.
A 2009 Washington Post article stated, "In the past 20 years, 200,000 mailboxes have vanished from city streets, rural routes and suburban neighborhoods – more than the 175,000 that remain."
"The U.S. Postal Service says it removes 'underperforming' mailboxes – those that collect fewer than 25 pieces of mail a day – after a week-long 'density test,'" the report read, echoing what Frum said last week.
Because of the hysteria over the relocated mailboxes, the USPS said they would not remove any boxes until after the election.
"We are not going to be removing any boxes," USPS spokesman Rod Spurgeon told NBC News. "After the election, we're going to take a look at operations and see what we need and don't need."
However, it wasn't only mailboxes that were on the chopping block during the Obama-Biden administration, 3,653 post offices were targeted to be shut down, according to a 2011 Washington Post article. The United States Postal Service ultimately decided against closing the nearly 3,700 post offices, and cut costs by reducing operating hours.
The USPS was looking to cut costs because it was hemorrhaging money, as the mail delivery service has been doing for decades.
The General Accounting Office, a government agency that provides auditing and analysis for Congress, said, "USPS financial viability continues to be high risk because USPS cannot fund its current level of services and financial obligations from its revenues."
Between fiscal years 2007 and 2019, the USPS netted losses of roughly $78 billion, despite receiving approximately $18 billion each year from American taxpayers.
"USPS's overall financial condition is deteriorating and unsustainable," the GAO's 2019 High-Risk update read. "USPS's total unfunded liabilities and debt have grown to double its annual revenue."
Even Obama knew that the United States Postal Service was a money pit.
In 2016, then-President Obama proposed that the USPS slash 12,000 jobs.
In 2009, Obama compared the USPS with private mail carriers, and pointed out that they were thriving while the USPS consistently struggled.
"I mean, if you think about it, UPS and FedEx are doing just fine, right? No, they are," Obama said at a town hall meeting in New Hampshire. "It's the post office that's always having problems."
The National Association of Postal Supervisors President Ted Keating was irked by Obama's USPS insult and fired off a letter to the president.
Keating reportedly said there was "collective disappointment that you chose the Postal Service as a scapegoat and an example of inefficiency."
"Your negative references to the Postal Service without knowledge of the facts was a disservice not only to the members of our organization, but to all postal employees," Keating wrote.
It appears that Obama also tried to kneecap the postal service in some ways.


theblaze--2020-08-16--Antifa protesters tried to crash Sturgis motorcycle festival. It did not end well for them.

Antifa protesters tried to crash Sturgis motorcycle festival .
It did not end well for them .

Tensions erupted at the Sturgis motorcycle rally in South Dakota on Saturday when several members of Antifa attempted to crash the biker festival.
Video taken from the incident shows a handful of Antifa demonstrators, of course with their faces covered, enter the rally. Police quickly surround the Antifa protesters as thousands of bikers scream at them to leave their event.
After some of the bikers and Antifa protesters exchange several shoves, one of the Antifa protesters is taken to the ground by law enforcement. Sturgis police then arrest that protester and lead him out of the crowd in handcuffs. Tensions, however, continued to escalate and police quickly forced the Antifa protesters out of the rally.
Thousands of angry bikers followed as police escorted the Antifa protesters away from the rally.
Video of the incident received more than 1 million views online by Sunday afternoon.
Sturgis 2020 | Antifa Arrives With SOUND | 80th Annual Motorcycle Rally www.youtube.com
According to the Rapid City Journal, more than 350,000 people attended the Sturgis rally this year, the event's 80th anniversary.
Controversy engulfed the event this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. Critics claimed it was irresponsible to hold an event, which features hundreds of thousands of out-of-state travelers, in the midst of a pandemic, especially because South Dakota has contained COVID-19 with relative success.
However, the city of Sturgis and South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) ultimately allowed the festival to go forward.


theblaze--2020-08-16--Teachers stage 'sickout,' forcing Arizona school district to cancel classes

Virtual classes have also been canceled

Schools in the J.O. Combs Unified School District were scheduled to open on Monday. However, the school district in Arizona was forced to cancel the reopening after teachers staged a "sickout" as a protest against going back to work during the coronavirus pandemic.
More than 100 teachers and other staff members called in sick ahead of the reopening of schools in a suburb outside of Phoenix. The sickout, which included about 20% of the school district's staff, forced the school district to cancel all in-person classes as well as all virtual learning.
Gregory Wyman, superintendent of the J.O. Combs Unified School District, wrote a letter to parents on Friday.
"We have received an overwhelming response from staff indicating that they do not feel safe returning to classrooms with students," the letter said. "In response, we have received a high volume of staff absences for Monday citing health and safety concerns."
"Due to these insufficient staffing levels, schools will not be able to reopen on Monday as planned," Wyman wrote. "At this time, we do not know the duration of these staff absences, and cannot yet confirm when in-person instruction may resume."
The school district plans to provide parents with an update by 5:00 p.m. on Monday.
Some teachers, including Phoenix kindergarten teacher Kelley Fisher, hope the Arizona sickout will lead to a nationwide movement of teachers refusing to go to work.
"It was great to see J.O. Combs school district came together and used their collective power," Fisher told Reuters. "I'd love to see a nationwide sick out."
Phoenix resident Christina DeRouchey, whose son is in first grade, argued that it's time to reopen the schools.
"We just want the choice that is best physically, mentally and most importantly emotionally for our children," DeRouchey said.
The J.O. Combs Unified School District is located in Pinal County, which has met two out of the three benchmarks that the Arizona Department of Health Services recommends before schools reopen. Gov. Doug Ducey (R) let school districts decide when they feel it is safe to reopen and in what capacity.
Pinal County has a population of 462,789, according to the U.S. Census figures from July 1, 2019. There have been 8,665 confirmed coronavirus cases and 166 COVID-19 deaths, according to the Pinal County website.
COVID-19 cases and deaths in Arizona have recently declined, according to Tucson.com:
Statewide COVID-19 deaths totaled 548 from July 12 to July 18, according to data published by the Arizona Department of Health Services, as of Saturday. The next week, COVID-19 deaths fell by about 18% to 449 deaths between July 19 and July 25. It was the first time COVID-19 deaths fell in Arizona since mid-May.
"For the first time I'm confident that we've had a peak in deaths," Dr. Joe Gerald, an associate professor with the University of Arizona's Zuckerman College of Public Health, said. "Things are getting markedly better."
Pandemic analyst Trevor Bedford from the University of Washington believes Arizona is one of three states where herd immunity could be causing cases to decrease.
"Thus, I believe the substantial epidemics in Arizona, Florida and Texas will leave enough immunity to assist in keeping COVID-19 controlled," Bedford wrote. However, he cautioned that "this level of immunity is not compatible with a full return to societal behavior as existed before the pandemic."
"Due to these insufficient staffing levels, schools will not be able to reopen on Monday as planned. This means that all classes, including virtual learning, will be canceled. At this time, we do not know the duration of these staff absences, and cannot yet confirm when in-person instruction may resume," he said.
In July, a teachers union in North Carolina refused to go back to work until sweeping social programs were enacted. The teachers union demanded universal health care, welfare benefits for illegal immigrants, and a suspension of rents and mortgages.
Also in July, the primary teachers union in Los Angeles stated it could not reopen unless certain demands were met, including defunding of police, the end of charter schools, and the granting of financial support to undocumented students and their families.


theblaze--2020-08-16--Chris Wallace calls out Joe Biden for employing 'basement strategy': 'The damnedest thing I've ever

Chris Wallace calls out Joe Biden for employing 'basement strategy': 'The damnedest thing I've ever seen'

Chris Wallace calls out Joe Biden for employing 'basement strategy ' : 'The damnedest thing I 've ever seen' ' @ @ @ @ @ can hide from now until Election Day '

Fox News host Chris Wallace called out presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden last week for what the "Fox News Sunday" host characterized as the "basement strategy."
Biden has been largely absent from the public eye during the coronavirus pandemic, which was not entirely unsurprising given the former vice president's gaffe-prone nature. But even as the Biden campaign prepares to formally accept the Democratic presidential nomination this week, the campaign continues to employ its strategy of remaining out of the limelight.
The campaign's behavior is especially unusual, according to Wallace — especially for the week of the convention.
"So I've been doing Sunday shows with conventions. I started on 'Meet the Press' in 1988. I've been doing it on and off for what? What is that? 32 years. And it always happens that the Sunday before the convention, the campaign puts out top officials to preview the convention and to say this is what we're gonna try to get accomplished," Wallace began.
So, you know, we've been counting all week on, you know, having a top official from the Biden campaign — the campaign manager, the top pollster, the chief strategist — to talk about what they're going to talk about during this next week. They are not putting anybody out," he continued. "And at first I thought, well, maybe it's because it's Fox News and they're boycotting us. No, they're not putting anybody out on any of the Sunday shows."
Wallace, speaking on Guy Benson's Fox News Radio show, went on to call the strategy the "damnedest thing" he has ever witnessed in political strategy.
"I don't understand what's going on here. This is the damnedest thing I've ever seen," Wallace said.
"The Biden campaign isn't putting anybody out. And this just is of a piece with the vice president not doing really any serious interviews, not answering any questions since the rollout," Wallace continued. "He continues to lead with what I'll call the basement strategy."
"I don't think you can hide from now until Election Day. I just don't think it's possible," Wallace said.


theblaze--2020-08-16--17 Chicago police officers injured, video shows cop beaten with a skateboard; Mayor Lightfoot says v

17 Chicago police officers injured, video shows cop beaten with a skateboard; Mayor Lightfoot says vast majority of protests are 'peaceful'

17 Chicago police officers injured , video shows cop beaten with a skateboard ; Mayor Lightfoot says vast majority of @ @ @ @ @ nearly 30 shootings this weekend in Chicago , including several teens

Chicago police officers and violent rioters collided on Saturday as riots broke out in the Windy City. According to Chicago Police, at least 24 people were arrested during the protests that escalated into violence. Four people were arrested and charged with battery of officers, which is a felony.
"This group deployed large black umbrellas, changed their appearance and began pushing our officers and eventually assaulting them," Chicago Police Superintendent David Brown said.
During the riots, two civilians were injured and 17 police officers were treated for injuries. Police responded with pepper spray and some hit demonstrators with batons.
Brown said one of the cops injured was an officer who was "beaten in the head several times with a skateboard." The official Twitter account for the Chicago Police shared video of the assault.
The situation became so uncontrollable that the city was forced to raise the area bridges to limit access. The same defensive tactic was implemented by the city last Sunday during the riots and widespread looting.
"It wasn't until later this afternoon during a separate protest downtown where multiple agitators hijacked this peaceful protest," Brown said.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) appeared on CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday and downplayed the violent riots in her city.
"What we've seen in cities all across the country, not just Chicago, is a continuing wave of protests," Lightfoot told host Margaret Brennan. "The vast majority of these have been peaceful. But what we've also seen is people who have embedded themselves in these seemingly peaceful protests and come for a fight."
Lightfoot reiterated her opinion that the riots and looting that happened in Chicago last Sunday night were "a planned attack." "It's not spontaneous when you bring U-Haul trucks, cargo vans, and high-end robbery tools," Lightfoot said.
Lightfoot also said that the city is "never going to get everything that we need from the federal government." She added, "If we waited for them, we'd be in dire straits."
As of Sunday morning, there were also nearly 30 people shot in Chicago this weekend, according to Chicago Police.
The extremely concerning trend of teens and children being the victims of gun violence continued this weekend in Chicago. Of those who were shot this weekend, the victims include a 12-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy, and two 16-year-old boys.


theblaze--2020-08-16--Taylor Swift pushes conspiracy theory about President Trump, accuses him trying to 'cheat' the elect

Taylor Swift pushes conspiracy theory about President Trump, accuses him trying to 'cheat' the election

Taylor Swift pushes conspiracy theory about President Trump , accuses him trying to 'cheat ' the election 'Trump 's calculated @ @ @ @ @ thing clearly '

Pop star Taylor Swift repeated a conspiracy theory about President Donald Trump on Saturday, accusing him of wanting to "blatantly cheat" the election by "dismantling" the U.S. Postal Service.
"Trump's calculated dismantling of USPS proves one thing clearly: He is WELL AWARE that we do not want him as our president. He's chosen to blatantly cheat and put millions of Americans' lives at risk in an effort to hold on to power," Swift said.
She added, "Donald Trump's ineffective leadership gravely worsened the crisis that we are in and he is now taking advantage of it to subvert and destroy our right to vote and vote safely. Request a ballot early. Vote early."
Despite Swift's claims, there is no evidence suggesting Trump is "dismantling" the U.S. Postal Service.
In fact, the USPS is fully funded through fiscal year 2021, and was even loaned an additional $10 billion last month by the Treasury Department over COVID-related financial woes. This means the USPS will continue normal operations through the election.
The truth is that the USPS has faced financial peril for years. Republicans generally support reforming the agency, while Democrats generally advocate bailing out the USPS.
But now that Democrats are pushing universal mail-in voting for the 2020 election, the USPS's woes are taking center stage in the national spotlight. Even normal USPS operations are being used by conspiracy theorists to support claims that Trump is hindering the agency to rig the election.
One such example is the removal of the blue mailboxes, which have been removed recently from areas in New York, Pennsylvania, Oregon and Montana. Trump's opponents said this was done to potentially hinder mail-in ballots, but the truth is that the USPS routinely removes the mailboxes in low-traffic areas due to costs associated with their upkeep.
USPS spokesperson Kimberly Frum said:
Historically, mailboxes have been removed for lack of use and installed in growth areas. When a collection box consistently receives very small amounts of mail for months on end, it costs the Postal Service money in fuel and work hours for letter carriers to drive to the mailbox and collect the mail. Removing the box is simply good business sense in that respect. It is important to note that anyone with a residential or business mailbox can use it as a vehicle to send outgoing mail.
The practice has been routine of the USPS for decades.
Because of the outrage, the USPS agreed last week to temporary suspend the removal of sparsely used mailboxes, the Washington Post reported.
Still, that has not stopped Democrats from feigning concern.
In fact, Democratic leadership announced Sunday they have scheduled an emergency hearing with top USPS brass on August 24 to address the agency's operational abilities ahead of the election.


theblaze--2020-08-16--Cannon Hinnant's mother: 'I want the death penalty and I'm gonna seek it'

Cannon Hinnant 's mother : ' I want the death penalty and I 'm gon na seek it '

Cannon Hinnant's mother is vowing to get justice for the murder of her 5-year-old son, who was shot to death in North Carolina. Bonny Waddell, Cannon's mother, said she would seek the death penalty against the suspect who allegedly killed her son while he was riding his bicycle last Sunday night.
"My baby didn't deserve this," Waddell said of her son. "He had the biggest smile, the biggest eyes."
"We lost a big piece of our family," she said. "We all. He changed all of our lives. He touched everybody that he knew."
"This man took my girls when he took my baby," Bonny said of her two young daughters who allegedly witnessed the shooting. "They know he's in a better place."
"I want the death penalty and I'm gonna seek it," Waddell said, according to WRAL-TV.
"This man will answer to me," the mother allegedly posted on Facebook on Tuesday, according to the New York Post. "That man will see me and my son through my face! This sorry excuse as a human being will rot in hell."
"I will burn this country down if it's what it'll take to see [the alleged shooter] burn in hell," she allegedly wrote. "I'm ready to flip this country upside down. We will get our justice and I'm taking every damn body down right with him!"
Darius Sessoms, 25, is the suspect in the death of Cannon Hinnant. Sessoms is charged with first-degree murder and is being held without bond. His next court date is scheduled for Aug. 25.
Hinnant was reportedly shot execution-style by Sessoms near the home of Cannon's father.
Witness Doris Lybrand told WRAL that Sessoms ran up to the boy, put the gun near his head, and pulled the trigger. Then he allegedly ran back into his house, which is next door to the home of Cannon's father, Austin Hinnant.
"My first reaction was he's playing with the kids," Lybrand said. "For a second, I thought, 'That couldn't happen.' People don't run across the street and kill kids."
According to the Death Penalty Information Center, the last time North Carolina executed a person was in August 2006. After spending 12 years on death row, Samuel Flippen was put to death by lethal injection at Central Prison in Raleigh.
Flippen was convicted of first-degree murder for the 1994 beating death of Britnie Nichole Hutton, his 2-year-old stepdaughter. Flippen claimed that the child fell and was having a hard time breathing.
"During the trial in 1995, prosecutors argued that Flippen started beating his stepdaughter because she was crying," a 2006 Associated Press article read. "The child died from a blow to the abdomen that was so hard it cut her pancreas in half and tore her liver, prosecutors said."
A GoFundMe campaign titled "Justice for Cannon" was started last week by Gwen Hinnant, the slain child's grandmother. The crowdfunding campaign has raised over $700,000 as of mid-day Sunday.
Cannon Hinnant's funeral was held on Thursday night. A vigil was scheduled for Friday night outside the Wilson County Court House, but it was postponed because the family is rightfully grieving over the tragic death.
"We've discussed a memorial park for Cannon where kids can go and ride their bikes, because he loved that so much," Cannon's grandmother said.
Last week, some major media networks neglected to cover the appalling murder of the 5-year-old boy, which sparked the hashtag "#SayHisName."
"Cannon's gonna change this world," Bonny Waddell said.


theblaze--2020-08-16--Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley calls for 'unrest in the streets,' targets Trump's allies

Democratic Rep. Ayanna Pressley calls for 'unrest in the streets , ' targets Trump 's allies The Massachusetts Democrat has @ @ @ @ @ DeJoy to resign from USPS

Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-Mass.) called for "unrest in the streets" on Saturday during an appearance on MSNBC's "AM Joy."
"I'm looking to the public. You know, this is as much about public outcry, and organizing, and mobilizing, and applying pressure so that this GOP-led Senate and these governors that continue to carry water for this administration, putting the American people in harm's way, turning a deaf ear to the needs of our families and our communities, hold them accountable. Make the phone calls, send the emails, show up," Pressley said of President Donald Trump's allies.
"There needs to be unrest in the streets for as long as there's unrest in our lives and unfortunately there's plenty to go around." Pressley told "AM Joy" guest host Tiffany Cross.
Cross replied, "I have, I have no retort to that, congresswoman. That's, that's certainly accurate."
This isn't the first time that Pressley has called for "unrest in the streets."
"There will be unrest in the streets for as long as the is unrest in the lives of Black Americans," Pressley told Jim Braude on WGBH News' "Greater Boston" in June.
Pressley also said U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is "corrupt" and demanded that he "must resign."
"He has to be held accountable," Pressley stated. "So in my letter, we call for his resignation, but at a bare minimum, he must be subpoenaed to come before the Oversight Committee and to be taken to account for the way in which he has contributed to attempts to undermine our democracy by dismantling the United States Postal Service."
In the Aug. 8 letter to DeJoy from over 80 House members, including four Republicans, they "express deep concerns" about recent changes at the USPS.
"We are writing to express deep concerns about operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service that could have negative impacts on service standards and cause significant delays in mail delivery," the letter read. "It is vital that the U.S. Postal Service does not reduce mail delivery hours, which could harm rural communities, seniors, small businesses, and millions of Americans who rely on the mail for critical letters and packages."
A demonstration was held outside of DeJoy's Northwest D.C. home on Saturday by hundreds of protesters.
However, the USPS was on rocky ground before DeJoy was appointed as U.S. Postmaster General on June 15, 2020.
In April, then-Postmaster General Megan Brennan, DeJoy's predecessor who was appointed in 2015 when Barack Obama was president, said, "The COVID-19 pandemic will increase the Postal Service's net operating loss by more than $22 billion dollars over the next 18 months and by over $54 billion dollars over the longer term, threatening our ability to operate."
On June 1, there was a Wall Street Journal report that said the USPS is "bogged down," and staffing issues stemming from the coronavirus pandemic "delayed some packages for days and even weeks."
"Coronavirus has also taken a toll on postal workers," the WSJ report said. "About 2,830 of the Postal Service's 630,000 employees have tested positive for Covid-19, a spokeswoman said, 'with some deaths.' Unions representing postal workers said this week that more than 60 workers have died."
The General Accounting Office, a government agency that provides auditing and analysis for Congress, said in 2019, "USPS financial viability continues to be high risk because USPS cannot fund its current level of services and financial obligations from its revenues."
"USPS's overall financial condition is deteriorating and unsustainable," the GAO's 2019 High-Risk update read. "USPS has lost $69 billion over the past 11 fiscal years—including $3.9 billion in fiscal year 2018. USPS's total unfunded liabilities and debt ($143 billion at the end of fiscal year 2018) have grown to double its annual revenue."
Cross ended the interview with Pressley by saying, "I'm looking forward to hearing from you all week as we kick off the Democratic national convention."
However, Pressley was not invited to speak at the 2020 DNC. Other "squad" members, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) and Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.), also did not get tapped to speak at the convention. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is scheduled to speak on Tuesday.