Bear encounters are on the rise. Here’s what to do if you meet one

Black bear and three cubs walking through a dry mountain forest

A drought in the western U.S. has devastated wildlands, dried up food sources and sent bears wandering along city sidewalks and into homes and shops in search of food. What should you do if you meet a bear? Reuters ​turned to BearWise, opens new tab, which bear biologists started in the southeastern United States in 2018 and that grew into ‌a national program of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies.

SHOULD PEOPLE FEAR BEARS?

Over millennia, humans have mythologized, vilified and attributed personalities to bears. Smart, strong and fast, bears can weigh hundreds of pounds and are feared predators in the wild. But they typically avoid people and ​rarely attack them, scientists say.

HOW CAN YOU TELL IF A BEAR FEELS THREATENED?

A bear that is huffing, ​moaning or clacking its jaws is showing it is feeling threatened and prepared to defend itself. ⁠BearWise advises standing your ground in the face of a defensive bear, even if it moves toward you. If ​it makes contact, play dead, protecting your head, until it goes away.

WHAT IF THE BEAR IS AGGRESSIVE?

While a defensive bear ​is noisy and obviously stressed, an aggressive or predatory bear is quiet and moves deliberately. In this situation, experts advise shouting, throwing rocks and using bear spray. If a predatory bear makes physical contact, fight back.

DOES IT MATTER WHETHER IT’S A BLACK OR GRIZZLY BEAR?

No, according ​to Nate Bowersock, a black bear biologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation and chair of the BearWise working group ​of the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. The key is to respond to the bear’s behavior, not its species.

Bears can be hard ‌to tell ⁠apart, especially if you are under pressure. Grizzlies, also known as brown bears, are distinguished in appearance by a shoulder hump. Individual black or grizzly bears vary from black to light brown and range in size.

WHERE ARE NORTH AMERICA’S BEARS?

Black bears are numerous and found across the U.S. and in Canada and Mexico. Most grizzlies, whose population has rebounded because ​of conservation efforts, live in ​Alaska and northern Canada, but ⁠also in Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Washington state.

HOW CAN YOU AVOID TROUBLE?

If you spot a bear, do not approach. Do not gather to gawk if a bear shows up in ​your neighborhood.

If you find a bear in your home or business, leave and call ​in expert help, ⁠Bowersock said.

“Back away quietly,” he said.

Do not feed bears, and that includes not leaving pet food outside, keeping trash bins off the street until pickup morning and keeping barbecue grills clean.

IT’S A DROUGHT. SHOULDN’T I FEED THE BEARS?

Bowersock said people would be ⁠mistaken to ​think they are helping by feeding bears, and that it is even ​more important not to do so during a drought.

“If a bear finds food near people and starts to associate human areas with food, they will ​likely spend even more time in the future near people, even during non-drought times.”

Source: Bear encounters are on the rise. Here’s what to do if you meet one | Reuters

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.
Colossians 3:12

Psalm 5:8

Lead me, O Lord, in your righteousness because of my enemies; make your way straight before me. In the verse David is praying in the morning while people…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

14 times ‘unhinged’ Democrats have called for political violence

Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at podium labeled California Republic; backdrop reads Governor Gavin Newsom.

Exactly one year ago, Democratic Michigan Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed publicly rejected calls for peace and said, “We take them to the mud and choke them out.” While the mainstream media regularly promotes every story that portrays those on the right as the main source of political violence, there are plenty of examples available of left-wing calls for political violence.

Here are just 14 of those instances.

  1. El-Sayed inverted Michelle Obama’s famous advice to “go high” when her political opponents “go low,” before his call for violence. “When they go low, we don’t go high,” he said.
  2. Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom said of Republicans during a podcast interview from Aug. 2025: “We’re going to punch these sons of bitches in the mouth!”
  3. “He is not only unfit, he is destructive to our democracy, and he has to be eliminated,” Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman of New York said of President Donald Trump in Nov. 2023.
  4. In a speech from Aug. 2025, Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) said that Democrats would “beat” down Republicans: “They expect Democrats to kind of be the nice guys that we are. They expect us to take the punch and say, ‘Thank you.’ Well, I am here to tell you, not only are we going to punch back, but we about to beat you down!”
  5. In 2018, Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York hinted at using the Second Amendment to stop Trump: “This is where the Second Amendment comes in, quite frankly, because you know, what if the president was to ignore the courts? What would you do? What would we do?”
  6. During his failed 2026 campaign, Ohio Democratic attorney general candidate Elliot Forhan promised to “kill Donald Trump” by prosecuting the president and obtaining a conviction with a capital punishment sentence.
  7. Disgraced former Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), once thought to be a possible presidential contender, said of his political opponents in August 2025: “When they go low, we‘re going to bury them below the Capitol. That‘s what we‘re going to do, because this is about protecting democracy.”
  8. Democratic Rep. LaMonica McIver of New Jersey screamed at supporters at a February 2025 rally that “we are at war” with Trump and Elon Musk and that “we will not take this s**t” from them.
  9. In January, the normally civil Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said that “heads need to roll” in the Trump administration.
  10. Openly lesbian Texas state Rep. Jolanda Jones (D) specifically rejected Michelle Obama’s call for peace and made a throat-slashing gesture to accompany her rhetoric in Oct. 2025: “If you hit me in my face, I’m not going to punch you back in your face. I’m going to go across your neck!”
  11. In March 2024, Democratic Rep. Vicente Gonzalez of Texas compared Hispanic Trump supporters to Jews supporting Adolf Hitler.
  12. In private texts leaked to the press, Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones (D) once fantasized about shooting “two bullets” into the head of a Republican opponent and about the death of the Republican’s children.
  13. In an MSNBC interview from June 2023, Democratic Delegate Stacey Plaskett of the Virgin Islands stumbled over her words and tried to correct herself after calling for the assassination of Trump: “He needs to be shot — stopped.”
  14. In resurfaced comments from 2020, failed Democratic Wisconsin gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong used a euphemism for murder: “I’d say it’s about f**king time we 86 Trump.”

Secial mention goes to Hasan Piker, the far-left terrorist-defending online influencer who has called numerous times for political violence in addition to saying America “deserved” the terror attacks of 9/11. Piker has campaigned for El-Sayed and other Democrats.

Republican National Committee national press secretary Natalie Baldassarre slammed Democrats in a statement to Blaze News.

“Democrats have always been the party of violence dressed up as virtue. Their rhetoric is like a bat signal for violent extremists to commit political violence and further divide our country.”

“It’s utterly unacceptable, and their ongoing bloodlust for President Trump and those they disagree with is reckless and unhinged,” she concluded.

Source: 14 times ‘unhinged’ Democrats have called for political violence | Blaze Media

For the word of the LORD is right, And all His work is done in truth.
Psalm 33:4

A study of the Mesha Stele

The Mesha Stele, also famously known as the Moabite Stone, is a 3-foot-tall black basalt monument dating back to circa 840 BCE. It is one of the most vital…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

US expert on underground nuclear tests detained in China for 18 months

Three scientists monitoring seismic data on multiple computer screens in a control room

An American scientist who has studied underground nuclear tests has been detained in China for more than 18 months on spying charges, according to his supporters and a US lawmaker. Youlin Chen, a seismologist, has been “wrongfully detained” since November 2024, US Senator Edward Markey said in a statement Tuesday. President Donald Trump raised Chen’s detention and asked for his freedom during a meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing in May, according to Global Reach, a US non-profit that has been working with Chen’s family on his case. Chen, who was living in Boston and has a college-age son, is the only American currently held in China designated as wrongfully detained, the non-profit said. The case adds another point of friction between the US and China as they try to stabilize ties, and ahead of Xi’s expected visit to the US later this fall.

Its revelation comes weeks after China confirmed the arrest of another US scholar, Min Zin, who it said is “suspected of spying and endangering Chinese national security.” Global Reach said there are suspicions that Chen’s detention is linked to China’s recent expansion of its nuclear capabilities, including carrying out an alleged underground nuclear test in 2020. Beijing denies this test. China and the US have both signed, but not ratified, the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) – an international agreement prohibiting “any nuclear weapon test explosion or any other nuclear explosion.” Chen’s work focuses on using seismological data to improve methods to identify and monitor nuclear tests. It has included research into North Korea’s underground nuclear testing. Chen’s research has been funded by the US State Department and US Air Force Research Laboratory.

In December 2020, he authored a technical report that used regional seismic data recorded across Asia, including data from stations in China, to improve methods for nuclear-test monitoring and yield estimation, according to Global Reach. A subsequent 2024 study that he authored was also funded by the US Air Force Research Laboratory and the US Department of State and “further reinforces Chen’s expertise in the seismic monitoring and detection of underground nuclear tests,” the group said. Detained at airport Chen was detained at the airport after visiting his parents in Beijing, according to Kieran Ramsey, chief investigative officer at Global Reach. “China is being accused … by the State Department of violating (the CTBT),” Ramsey said. “And at the same time they’re holding the American expert that would be able to identify that exactly.” “Unfortunately, this case is an example of China being willing to use hostage diplomacy as part of their great-power competition with the US and unfortunately Doctor Chen is the sole example right now officially designated by the US government,” he added.

Earlier this month a pastor who founded one of China’s most prominent underground churches was released from prison and reunited with his family in the United States after being detained in a crackdown in China last year. His release came after Trump raised his case with Xi during his May visit. A State Department spokesperson told CNN that the US has raised Chen’s case directly with Chinese officials and called for his immediate release. When asked by CNN whether the case was raised by Trump during his meeting with Xi, a White House official said that “President Trump has been clear that he wants every American detained abroad to return home.” China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday denied that Chen was “wrongfully detained” and said judicial authorities handle cases in accordance with the law, when asked about the case at a regular press briefing. Chen was charged with espionage on May 1, 2025, but has not yet stood trial.

The family decided to speak out now about his detention because Trump’s request has not been acted on, Global Reach said. Chen’s wife, Yufang Rong, said she had not spoken to her husband for over 600 days and was concerned for his health. “Youlin has never held a US government security clearance and to suggest he was involved in espionage is both wrong and inconsistent with the public and collaborative nature of the work that he has done,” she said in a statement provided by Global Reach. Noting that her husband “works transparently with Chinese colleagues on scientific collaboration,” she added: “He is doing precisely the kind of people-to-people engagement that the Chinese government says it wants.” US embassy officials have visited Chen several times, but Chinese officials are always present, preventing him from speaking freely, Rong told Reuters in an interview. She retained a Chinese lawyer, but he was allowed to see Chen only after the scientist had been detained for more than 13 months. Chinese officials have interrogated her husband more than 100 times about his work on the seismographic signatures of North Korean nuclear tests, she said.

Source: US expert on underground nuclear tests detained in China for 18 months | CNN

The rich man’s wealth is his strong city, And like a high wall in his own esteem.
Proverbs 18:11

Choosing life amid a prenatal diagnosis

After losing their first baby to miscarriage, Alex and Sarah Kennedy were thrilled late last year to find out they were pregnant again. “We went in for our first ultrasound around eight weeks,” Sarah said.…

Keep reading

Finding Truth and Life in Jesus

In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you tries to pull your attention away…

Keep reading

West Nile Virus Activity Confirmed in Montana

DPHHS URGES MONTANANS TO TAKE INCREASED CAUTION AGAINST MOSQUITO BITES THIS SUMMER State and local health officials confirmed the first detections of West Nile virus (WNV) in Montana for summer 2026. WNV activity will likely…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Trump Says China Is Trying To Take Over Panama Canal, Slams ‘Stupid’ US Decision

Cargo container ships passing through the Panama Canal surrounded by dense forest at sunrise

For Donald Trump, the Panama Canal remains unfinished business. Speaking at the opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library in Medora, North Dakota, on Wednesday, the US President returned to one of the foreign policy themes that has featured repeatedly during his presidency: the argument that Washington should never have surrendered control of the Panama Canal. This time, he coupled that criticism with a fresh allegation that China is seeking greater influence over the strategic waterway, insisting the United States would not allow such an outcome. Trump’s remarks came during an event celebrating Theodore Roosevelt, the US president whose administration oversaw construction of the canal in the early twentieth century.

Drawing on that historical backdrop, Trump criticised the decision to transfer control of the canal under the 1977 Torrijos-Carter Treaties, arguing that successive toll increases had benefited Panama while weakening American strategic interests. Created with AI. Although he did not present evidence for his claims regarding Beijing’s role, the comments reflected his administration’s broader emphasis on countering Chinese influence in critical global infrastructure. “The Panama Canal, so we gave it away,” Trump told the audience. “The first thing they did, you know what they did? They raised the prices for the ships by four times… How stupid was that?” Trump Revives Debate Over Strategic Waterway Trump went on to argue that Panama had repeatedly increased transit charges without affecting shipping volumes, portraying the transfer of the canal as a costly strategic error for the United States.

“And now China’s trying to take over the Panama Canal, and we’re not going to let that happen,” he said, before joking that the remarks had not been part of his prepared speech because, in his words, he did not rely on a script. The Panama Canal is among the world’s most significant maritime chokepoints, connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and handling a substantial share of global commercial shipping. While the United States built and operated the canal for decades, the Torrijos-Carter Treaties, signed in 1977 by President Jimmy Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos, established a phased transfer of authority.

Panama assumed full operational control of the canal on 31 December 1999 through the autonomous Panama Canal Authority. Trump has repeatedly criticised that agreement, arguing that it weakened US strategic leverage. Panamanian leaders, meanwhile, have consistently maintained that the canal remains under the country’s sovereign administration and is operated in accordance with international neutrality obligations. Supreme Court And Birthright Citizenship Also Feature Foreign policy was not the only issue Trump addressed during the ceremony.

He also turned to recent Supreme Court decisions, praising rulings that he said restored executive authority while expressing disagreement with the court’s approach to birthright citizenship. “We’ll take care of the birthright citizenship,” Trump said, arguing that the constitutional provision had been intended to protect the children of formerly enslaved people rather than wealthy foreign nationals. “I believe, no, I know they got it wrong, but that’s okay.” The President also welcomed a recent Supreme Court decision expanding presidential authority over executive branch appointments, describing it as one of the most consequential constitutional rulings in decades.

“You know, a little while ago… we had something that gives back tremendous power to the President of the United States,” Trump said. “It gives power back to the president at a time when the president really needs power.” Even so, it was his remarks on the Panama Canal that stood out. By returning to the issue during an event honouring Theodore Roosevelt, Trump linked a century-old infrastructure project to present-day geopolitical competition, underscoring how the canal continues to feature prominently in his administration’s narrative on American strategic interests and China’s expanding global footprint.

Source: Trump Says China Is Trying To Take Over Panama Canal, Slams ‘Stupid’ US Decision | Times Now

In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
John 14:2

Hope in the dark

Pip: A mountain village, a wandering stranger, a mother weaving a basket by the river — Drink of Jesus has been building a world where ancient scripture lands…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Explosive Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak Hits 20 States: Full List of Affected Areas

anonymous man hanging toilet paper in bathroom

A parasite that causes explosive, watery diarrhea has sickened 145 people across 20 US states, prompting an ongoing investigation by federal and state health officials into the source of the outbreak. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the cases were reported between May and June 16 and involve patients ranging in age from 5 to 86 years old. So far, 20 people have been hospitalized, but no deaths have been reported. Breaking It Down What is Shigella and how does it spread? What are the symptoms of Shigella infection? How are health authorities responding to the outbreak in Wayanad? Created with AI. Health officials believe the illnesses are linked to contaminated food because none of the patients reported recent international travel.

However, investigators have not yet identified the exact source. The parasite, Cyclospora cayetanensis, causes cyclosporiasis, a foodborne illness that commonly leads to explosive, watery diarrhea, severe stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, and fatigue. Symptoms usually appear about a week after infection and mainly affect the intestines, although some infected people may not develop symptoms. The CDC said local, state, and federal public health authorities are investigating several clusters of cases spanning multiple states. Officials also noted that the true number of infections may be higher because some cases may not have been diagnosed.

List of 20 States Affected By The Outbreak The CDC has reported cases in the following states and Washington, DC:

  • New York
  • New Jersey
  • Connecticut
  • Pennsylvania
  • Massachusetts
  • Rhode Island
  • Delaware
  • Maryland
  • Virginia
  • North Carolina
  • Ohio
  • Tennessee
  • Wisconsin
  • Illinois
  • Georgia
  • Florida
  • Texas
  • Louisiana
  • Colorado
  • Alaska
  • Washington DC

Among the affected areas, New York has reported the highest number of cases, with between 31 and 80 infections, followed by Texas and Illinois, which have each recorded between 11 and 30 cases. While cyclosporiasis can resolve on its own, symptoms may last for a month or longer if left untreated, increasing the risk of dehydration. The CDC says the infection is typically treated with the antibiotic trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, also sold under the brand names Bactrim, Septra and Cotrim. The agency also recommends following safe food handling and storage practices. Previous US outbreaks have been linked to imported fresh produce, including cilantro, raspberries, sweet peas, mesclun lettuce and basil.

Source: Explosive Diarrhea Parasite Outbreak Hits 20 States: Full List of Affected Areas | Times Now

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

God as Your Ever-Present Help

You don’t have to carry this alone, He is your safe place and your help in every moment of need.  Bible Verse:God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable to…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

The event that made the rest of the world realize how Awesome the USA is!

Torn newspaper headlines about global crisis and stock market falls over illuminated city skyline at twilight

As Americans have been told over and over again how bad we suck by celebrities and the media, and so many more. We have had an awesome invasion people from around the world that are discovering just how great of a country we are. I has been such a uplifting a welcoming gift for 250th birthday.

Source: World Cup Fans Discover America, FIFA 2026 Tourists Were Lied To? Youtube

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36

The Distraction of Fear

Fear has a way of making tomorrow feel more real than today. But you were never meant to live inside a future that hasn’t happened yet, you were called to…

Keep reading

Too Busy to Hear God

You can be so busy doing things for God that you never stop long enough to hear from God. Sometimes the biggest distraction in your life isn’t rebellion, it’s simply…

Keep reading

Who Has Your Attention?

Your attention is one of the most valuable things you own, and everyone wants a piece of it. The question isn’t whether something is getting your attention—the question is whether…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Trump kicks off Great American State Fair celebrating America’s 250th anniversary

President Trump declared “the best is yet to come” for America at a rally Tuesday night kicking off festivities commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary. “We are the ones who are carrying forward the light of Western civilization,” Trump said at the Freedom 250 event on the National Mall, describing the US as “young by comparison some but superior to any nation that’s ever been built, no matter how many years it took.”  “This is the very beginning of the Golden Age of America.

We’re in the Golden Age,” the president continued. “There has never been an age like this.  4 President Trump headlined a rally to kick off the Great American State Fair in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary on the National Mall in Washington, DC. REUTERS “This anniversary is a time to be proud of our past. But it is also a time to lift our sights, expand our ambitions, and raise our expectations of what America can be … the best is yet to come.” The event near the Washington Monument marked the opening of the 16-day “Great American State Fair.”

Source: Trump kicks off Great American State Fair celebrating America’s 250th anniversary

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Finding Strength in God

You don’t have to carry this alone, He is your safe place and your help in every moment of need.  Bible Verse:God is our Refuge and Strength [mighty and impenetrable…

Keep reading

Faith Under Pressure

Pip: Drink of Jesus is a site that treats ancient Scripture the way a good contractor treats load-bearing walls — you don’t move them just because the room looks dated.…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

US has eliminated hundreds of ISIS militants in Nigeria: Hegseth

Smiling man wearing a navy blazer and light blue shirt in office with American flag.

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces have killed “hundreds” of Islamic State militants in Nigeria, crediting President Donald Trump’s directive to protect Christians in the country from Islamist violence. During a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Hegseth said Trump charged the military with taking steps to protect Nigerian Christians roughly a year ago after learning of their targeting by the Islamic State terror group. Building the partnerships necessary to carry out such a mission took time, the secretary said, but the president remained persistent, and the right assets were eventually put in place.

“And over the last month, and there hasn’t been much coverage of this, we killed ISIS No. 2 in Nigeria, who is most responsible for killing Christians and trying to target the U.S. homeland, and have since because of the intel we gathered, killed hundreds of ISIS members who were targeting and killing Christians in Nigeria, creating a whole new opportunity there,” he said.  The most significant action came on May 16, when U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) announced that U.S. forces had conducted an operation against Islamic State (also known as ISIS or IS) elements in northeastern Nigeria.  AFRICOM’s initial assessment found that Abu-Bilal al-Minuk, whom Hegseth identified as the group’s No. 2 commander and director of global operations, had been killed along with other senior Islamic State leaders. No U.S. service members were harmed. AFRICOM commander Air Force Gen. Dagvin Anderson said the operation was made possible through U.S.-Nigeria cooperation over recent months.

“Make no mistake, our two nations will relentlessly pursue and neutralize terrorist threats and are committed to protecting our people and interests,” Anderson said. Africa Command, in coordination with the Nigerian government, conducted additional strikes against Islamic State targets in Northeastern Nigeria on May 17 and 18. 

Source: US has eliminated hundreds of ISIS militants in Nigeria: Hegseth | Politics

By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.
Hebrews 11:11

The Weight of Leadership

“A church can survive criticism, but it cannot thrive without integrity. When spiritual leaders forget they answer first to God, the flock always bears the wounds.” “Not…

Keep reading

Heaven is for Real Movie

“Heaven is for Real” is a faith-based family drama inspired by a Nebraska Pastor Tood Burpo’s best-selling book about his 4 years old son (Colton Burpo) who…

Keep reading

God’s Here

After losing his wife and son in a tragic accident, a firefighter wrestles with grief and forgiveness. Starring Kevin Sorbo (God’s Not Dead), Sarah Elizabeth Reeves Director:…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Self-Defense: Another “Luxury” the Poor Can Do Without

Add 1984 dystopian surveillance elements

“to the point about pricing poor people out of owning firearms, I think poor people don’t benefit from owning firearms.” Dr. Anthony D. Douglas

Many years ago, Otis McDonald, a 76-year old retiree living in a high-crime area of Chicago testified that he had “been robbed numerous times in his Morgan Park home; [he’d] witnessed too many crimes to count and …been threatened with pistols around his home.” The gangbangers and drug dealers had “taken over” his neighborhood, and he wanted to keep a handgun in his own home to protect himself, something that Chicago law at the time prohibited. Mr. McDonald was the named plaintiff in McDonald v. City of Chicago, the landmark challenge to the handgun ban, and his experiences helped persuade the United States Supreme Court to overturn the law as a violation of the Second Amendment.

The Court dismissed Chicago’s and other municipalities’ arguments as “at war with our central holding in Heller: that the Second Amendment protects a personal right to keep and bear arms for lawful purposes, most notably for self-defense within the home.”     A University of Chicago trauma doctor, testifying before the Illinois House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, is seeking to turn back the clock. Responding to concerns over pricing lower-income gun buyers out of the market, Dr. Anthony D. Douglas declared that “to the point about pricing poor people out of owning firearms, I think poor people don’t benefit from owning firearms.” This “concern about poor people being able to, are benefit from owning firearms or being put out of being able to afford firearms is, I think, we are a little bit distracted from what poor people and poor communities actually need.” 

Dr. Douglas is “the mastermind behind HB3320/ SB2279,” the Responsibility in Firearm Legislation (RIFL) Act. This 122-page legislation would, if passed, require firearm manufacturers in Illinois to obtain a RIFL license, and distribute license fees proceeds to “victims of firearms” (“firearm injury” means any gun-related injury, suicide or homicide). License fees would be set at an amount estimated to be “equal to the public health costs and financial burdens borne by the State and its residents as a result of firearm injuries,” using the incidence of firearm injuries in the previous year; however, in the first year the total annual aggregate fee would be capped at $866,000,000.  Each licensee would be required to pay the portion of the total annual aggregate fee equal to the market share of the firearm manufacturer. A program established under the law would compensate “victims of firearms” for all direct costs incurred as a result of firearm injury for up to three years post-event, which payments would be tax-exempt. Anyone suffering a firearm injury (including out-of-state residents), their next of kin, legal guardian, dependent, first-degree relative, second-degree relative, and employer could qualify as “eligible victims.”

License fees, in reality a “punishment tax,” would add at least $1,600 to the cost of each firearm sold in the state, according to a lobbyist for the Illinois State Rifle Association. Guns for self-defense or subsistence hunting would become unaffordable luxuries for the poor and eventually, for just about everyone, once the legislation destroys the Second Amendment in Illinois.  Dr. Douglas and other bill supporters argue that the gun industry should “pay for the bloodshed it helps to create” by shifting “the direct costs away from taxpayers and place[] them where they belong: on the gun industry.” Manufacturers would “pay according to how frequently their products are recovered in injuries and deaths in Illinois. If their products are never recovered, they pay nothing…The logic that ‘guns don’t kill people, people kill people’ is passé.” Besides driving up prices, and creating new fees and bureaucracy, the bills seek to override the federal Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act (PLCAA), which protects the heavily-regulated gun industry from liability for a third party’s criminal misuse of their products.

The legislation also ignores the pesky logical issue that violent crime is, in fact, the product of gangs and criminals and enabled by soft-on-crime public officials advocating “non-punitive” justice, all of which have nothing to do with the gun industry and none of whom will share the financial burden imposed by the RIFL Act. An inconvenient truth at odds with Dr. Douglas’s narrative is that Chicago’s poor and minorities, in common with those throughout America, remain the most at risk of crime and violence and therefore have, if anything, an even more pressing need for the tools of self-defense than most. The Illinois Policy Institute, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) research organization, notes that minority communities in the city’s South Side and West Side face poverty rates “of nearly three times the citywide average,” and an analysis shows, further, that “low-income areas of the city and Black and Hispanic Chicagoans are much more likely to experience crime.”

Source: NRA-ILA | Self-Defense: Another “Luxury” the Poor Can Do Without

One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Feds Investigating ‘8647’ Graffiti On Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool

american flag and reflective pool in normandy cemetery

The National Park Service is investigating the vandalism of the National Mall’s reflecting pool with a phrase that many supporters of President Donald Trump view as an assassination threat. The term “8647” was found graffitied on the reflecting pool, which is currently under renovation, Friday, the NPS told the Washington Examiner. The United States Park Police began investigating the spray-painted slogan on Friday; the slogan was the subject of an indictment charging former FBI Director James Comey with threatening Trump.

Source: Feds Investigating ‘8647’ Graffiti On Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool | The Daily Caller

One thing I have desired of the LORD, That will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD All the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the LORD, And to inquire in His temple.
Psalm 27:4

Boundary Waters wilderness burning at U.S

Wildfires flared earlier this week and destroyed thousands of acres in Manitoba, Ontario, and Minnesota, with many of the fires straddling the U.S.-Canadian border. The Western Fire Chiefs’ map on Thursday…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Nancy Mace Names 6 House Lawmakers Allegedly Involved In Sex Scandal Cover Up

the famous united states capitol in washington

Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace named several lawmakers Monday who she claims used a congressional “slush fund” to cover up alleged sex scandals. Mace said she uncovered 1,000 pages of documents detailing how certain lawmakers allegedly evaded consequences for sexual scandals, according to a Monday post on X. Mace originally subpoenaed the House Oversight Committee in March in light of a string of sexual scandals that resulted in two resignations from Congress.

Republican South Carolina Rep. Nancy Mace named several lawmakers Monday who she claims used a congressional “slush fund” to cover up alleged sex scandals. Mace said she uncovered 1,000 pages of documents detailing how certain lawmakers allegedly evaded consequences for sexual scandals, according to a Monday post on X. Mace originally subpoenaed the House Oversight Committee in March in light of a string of sexual scandals that resulted in two resignations from Congress. Notably, Mace said that these documents are only from the last 22 years, claiming that all reports prior to 2004 were “destroyed.” Mace later named six lawmakers she alleges covered up their sex scandals with the “slush fund.”

“Accountability is not a threat,” Mace said. “It is a promise.”

Mace followed up her original tweet with one listing the alleged cases and their settlements. Mace’s post names six lawmakers including former Republican Louisiana Rep. Rodney Alexander, former Republican Texas Rep. Blake Farenthold, former Republican Pennsylvania Rep. Patrick Meehan, former Democratic New York Rep. Eric Massa, former Democratic Michigan Rep. John Conyers, and the office of former Democratic New York Rep. Carolyn McCarthy.

Notably, Farenthold, Conyers and McCarthy have passed away in recent years.

2007: Rodney Alexander ($15,000)
2009: Office of Carolyn McCarthy (2 cases resulting in 1 settlement) ($8,000)
2010: Eric Massa I ($85,000)
2010: Eric Massa II ($20,000)
2010: Eric Massa III ($10,000)
2010: John Conyers I ($50,000)
2014: Blake Farenthold ($84,000)
2014: John…

— Rep. Nancy Mace (@RepNancyMace) May 4, 2026

Mace launched this push for transparency following two high-profile sex scandals that unfolded in the last year, resulting in the resignations of former Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell and former Texas Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales.

Source: Nancy Mace Names 6 House Lawmakers Allegedly Involved In Sex Scandal Cover Up | The Daily Caller

Thus I establish My covenant with you: Never again shall all flesh be cut off by the waters of the flood; never again shall there be a flood to destroy the earth.
Genesis 9:11

The Brave New Age of Trust-Fund Socialism

Democrats are in the midst of a fun and terrifying transformation. Hating Trump is no longer sufficient to win elections in blue states. Democratic primary voters—specifically the party’s core constituency of college-educated white professionals—are demanding candidates…

Keep reading

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

New fuel at the pump could damage your engine. Here’s what to know before you fill up.

man fixing a car

E15 is now on sale nationwide, including the Valley. It’s cheaper, but it’s not for every vehicle. Experts say reading before you pump could save you thousands.

Source: Warning for new fuel at the Pump: you tube

By which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
2 Peter 1:4

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

New Yorkers tired of him do not Support Candidate Backed by Zohran Mamdani: What It Means

Man smiling in business casual attire standing on city sidewalk near assemblymember district office

A candidate backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has conceded a high-profile city council race for a seat representing parts of Manhattan’s West Side. Carl Wilson’s victory on Tuesday was seen by some as a test of the strength of an endorsement from Mamdani, who has governed with a star power unusual in modern politics since emerging from relative obscurity to win the mayoral election last year. Mamdani had endorsed Lindsay Boylan, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America and the first woman to publicly accuse former Governor Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment, accusations he has denied.

Source: Candidate Backed by Zohran Mamdani Loses Election: What It Means – Newsweek

As the deer pants for the water brooks, So pants my soul for You, O God.
Psalm 42:1

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Abortion News Roundup: April 15–22, 2026

Two news anchors at desk reporting on abortion legislation debate with newsroom background

Here’s a summary of the key abortion-related developments from the past seven days. Activity centered on state-level legislative pushes (especially in South Carolina), ongoing medication-abortion access fights, and cultural polling—amid continued post-Dobbs stability in national numbers (per earlier 2025 data). No sweeping federal rulings or new nationwide data drops occurred this week.

South Carolina: No-Exception Abortion Ban Advances

  • A South Carolina Senate committee advanced SB 1095, a near-total ban on abortions from the onset of pregnancy with no exceptions for rape, incest, or fatal fetal anomalies. The bill would criminalize women for obtaining or possessing abortion drugs (up to 2 years in prison and a $1,000 fine). It now heads to the full Senate floor. scdailygazette.com +2
  • During the April 22 Republican gubernatorial debate, candidates split sharply on whether they would support or veto such a ban—highlighting internal GOP tensions ahead of the 2026 election. scdailygazette.com

Medication Abortion & Federal/Regulatory Updates

  • A federal judge refused to immediately block mailing of abortion pills but ordered the FDA to complete its ongoing safety review. The ruling came amid pressure from anti-abortion groups and the Trump administration’s continued scrutiny of mifepristone. pagingamerica.org
  • Anti-abortion advocates (including Students for Life) urged the EPA to list mifepristone metabolites as drinking-water contaminants, part of broader efforts to restrict pill access through environmental and regulatory channels. pagingamerica.org

Cultural & Polling Notes

  • A PBS report highlighted the growing gender divide among Gen Z on abortion: While most Americans support legal access in all or most cases, young men and women are sharply split, reflecting deeper differences in how the generation views reproductive rights. youtube.com

Broader Context (No New 2026 Incidence Data)

  • The most recent full-year figures (Guttmacher Institute, released March 2026) showed ~1,126,000 clinician-provided abortions in 2025—essentially unchanged from 2024—despite bans and restrictions in 13 total-ban states and 5 with early limits (including Wyoming’s new 6-week law). Telehealth and out-of-state access continue to offset restrictions. npr.org +1

2026 Ballot Landscape (Ongoing Prep)

  • Preparations continue for November 2026 ballot measures in states like Virginia (Right to Reproductive Freedom Amendment) and Missouri (repeal effort). No new certifications or major court developments this week, but litigation challenging Virginia’s measure remains active. kff.org +1

These stories reflect the steady grind of state legislation and regulatory pressure on medication abortion, with South Carolina’s no-exception push emerging as the week’s most prominent flashpoint. National numbers remain stable, but access battles—especially around pills—continue in courts and legislatures. For the latest on any specific bill or case, check official state legislative trackers or Guttmacher’s policy map. Developments can move quickly.

Source: Grok on X

For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures.
1 Corinthians 15:3-4

The Story of America: Declaration of Independence

The White House Salute to America 250 Task Force has partnered with Hillsdale College to provide a history series that tells the remarkable story of American Independence. It will highlight the stories of the crucial characters and events that resulted in a small rag-tag army defeating the mightiest empire in the world and establishing the…

The Story of America: The Battle of Bunker Hill

The White House Salute to America 250 Task Force has partnered with Hillsdale College to provide a history series that tells the remarkable story of American Independence. It will highlight the stories of the crucial characters and events that resulted in a small rag-tag army defeating the mightiest empire in the world and establishing the…

George Washington on Freedom of Speech

George Washington never wrote a single famous statement that exactly says “freedom of speech” in the way many internet memes claim. However, throughout his writings and public addresses, he strongly supported the principles of free expression, a free press (while also emphasizing responsibility), and the right of citizens to discuss public affairs. Here are some…

Swatting call prompts lockdown at medical center in western Wisconsin

Rice Lake, Wisconsin, police officers are investigating after a swatting incident at the Marshfield Medical Center Thursday afternoon.  Officials say the medical center received a phone call around 2 p.m., stating that two men were enroute to shoot up the hospital. Officers from the Red Lake Police Department and the Barron County Sheriff’s Office arrived…

“The Shot Heard Round the World”: The Battles of Lexington and Concord

The White House Salute to America 250 Task Force has partnered with Hillsdale College to provide a history series that tells the remarkable story of American Independence. It will highlight the stories of the crucial characters and events that resulted in a small rag-tag army defeating the mightiest empire in the world and establishing the…

I’m a hot sleeper with no AC; 3 tools helping me beat the heat

Fireworks won’t be the only thing keeping people awake this Fourth of July weekend. As temperatures across the Big Apple soar into the triple digits, a staggering 850,000 New Yorkers are expected to sweat through America’s 250th birthday without air conditioning — and this Postie is one of them. To be fair, I’m a terrible…

The Story of America; An introduction to America

The White House Salute to America 250 Task Force has partnered with Hillsdale College to provide a history series that tells the remarkable story of American Independence. It will highlight the stories of the crucial characters and events that resulted in a small rag-tag army defeating the mightiest empire in the world and establishing the…

‘Second-class citizens’: Angel Families describe two-tiered justice system for illegal immigrants

President Donald Trump has made fighting illegal immigration the centerpiece of his second administration, but for too many families across the country, finding justice has been elusive. Many illegal immigrants who have committed crimes have escaped justice under the Biden administration, while the families of the victims faced ineffective investigations, protracted legal cases, and, in…

America 250: Full List of Events Canceled or Postponed Due to Heat Wave

A dangerous heat wave gripping large parts of the United States has forced officials to cancel, postpone or modify dozens of events planned to mark America’s 250th anniversary and the Fourth of July, with temperatures soaring above 100 degrees Fahrenheit across parts of the Northeast. From Pennsylvania and New York to New Jersey and Delaware,…

Why Don’t Anti-America Leftists Warn Migrants About U S Injustice

If America truly is the 250 year-old systemically racist, economically unjust, heartless dystopia that liberals claim, why aren’t they demanding that the government secure the border to protect migrants from coming here and helping those already here escape? Logically, if they honestly believe that the U.S. has obdurately refused to reform and correct its mistakes…

Elitist Media SILENT as Minnesota Pardons a Violent Sexual Predator

The partisan nature of the Elitist Media’s news coverage even trickles down to how pardons are covered. Any pardon issued by President Donald Trump will immediately raise the media’s hackles and draw significant coverage. Controversial pardons by Democrats? Not so much. Per The New York Post: Minnesota officials, including Democrat Gov. Tim Walz, last month…

US Media Focus on British Royals While Overlooking Child Sex Abuse Scandal

There’s no longer much foreign reporting on television with the exception of natural disasters, or countries where Americans are engaged in military action. That’s certainly true of Europe – except for Britain. The networks, surely focused on ratings, display a fascination with the Royal Family. On Monday, NBC’s Today featured a four-minute report from London-based Molly…

West Nile virus detected in Nashville mosquitoes for first time in 2026

Health officials in Nashville are urging residents to protect themselves from mosquito bites after West Nile virus was detected in mosquitoes for the first time this year. The Metro Public Health Department (MPHD) announced the virus was found in a mosquito pool collected near Cass Street in North Nashville, marking the city’s first detection of…

Nine Arrested in Federal Crackdown on L.A.’s Sex-Trafficking Corridor

Federal agents on Wednesday raided a section of Los Angeles that has become one of the country’s most notorious child sex-trafficking corridors, arresting nine people on charges related to selling girls as young as 14 for sex. The operation took place near a 3.5-mile stretch of Figueroa Street known as “the Blade,” where girls go…

FAA Unveils New Rules To Bring Back Civilian Supersonic Air Travel: ‘Golden Age Of Travel’

The United States is moving closer to bringing back civilian supersonic passenger flights over the continental US, with the Department of Transportation announcing a regulatory overhaul that could end a ban that has remained in place since the 1970s. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday proposed new certification standards for supersonic aircraft, marking a…

Christian Persecution News Roundup: April 15–22, 2026

News anchor presenting report on rising Christian persecution with world map and images

Coverage of Christian persecution this week focused on follow-up reporting from earlier Holy Week and Easter violence (late March/early April), alongside isolated new incidents and urgent advocacy calls. No single large-scale new massacre dominated global headlines during this exact window, but organizations like International Christian Concern (ICC) and Open Doors continued to highlight ongoing patterns of targeted killings, abductions, and forced conversions—particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia. Social media and advocacy outlets kept these stories circulating amid broader global attention on other crises. persecution.org +1

Nigeria: Follow-Up on Fulani Militia Attacks

  • ICC reported that Fulani militias continued killing Christians in the wake of Holy Week massacres. Since Palm Sunday (late March), more than 200 Nigerians were killed across Plateau, Benue, Kaduna, and Taraba states, with at least 157 confirmed Christians. Attacks targeted farming communities late at night, often involving gunfire and machetes. This week’s updates emphasized the relentless pattern, with local bishops and human rights groups describing it as unchecked impunity. persecution.org +1
  • Earlier Easter weekend incidents (April 5–6) in Benue, Kaduna, and Nasarawa states—where dozens of Christians were killed during or near church services—received renewed attention in advocacy briefings and media roundups. baptistpress.com +1

Pakistan: Abduction and Forced Conversion of Christian Teen

  • A fresh case surfaced of Muslims abducting and forcibly converting another Christian teenage girl, with local police reportedly remaining inactive. The incident, highlighted in reports and shared widely on X this week, fits a documented pattern of targeting Christian girls in Pakistan. @SpiritualOSINT

Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC): Urgent Prayer for ADF Attacks

  • Open Doors issued an urgent call for prayer regarding Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) violence in Ituri Province and other areas. Reports from early April (including Maundy Thursday attacks killing dozens of Christians) continued to circulate, with accounts of bodies transported on motorbikes and severe mutilations. Over 80 killed and hundreds kidnapped in March–early April, with displacement affecting thousands of mostly Christian farmers. Coverage this week stressed the need for international attention. opendoorsus.org +1

Other Regional Mentions and Advocacy

  • India: Persecution Relief shared updates on legal relief for pastors and believers facing charges related to worship or alleged proselytizing (some cases from mid-April). Positive notes included bail granted to believers in Uttarakhand. facebook.com
  • Iran: Discussions highlighted the resilience of the underground church amid ongoing arrests and surveillance, with one Fox News segment noting that persecution has paradoxically fueled growth in house churches. instagram.com
  • Global Context: Open Doors and ICC references to the 2026 World Watch List (released earlier) were frequently cited, noting 4,849 Christians killed worldwide for faith-related reasons in the prior reporting period (3,490 in Nigeria alone) and over 388 million facing high/extreme persecution. No new full report dropped this week, but the data framed ongoing stories. christianitytoday.com +1

These developments reflect persistent, under-reported violence and legal pressures rather than isolated spikes. Advocacy groups continue to call for prayer, sanctions on enablers, and greater international scrutiny—especially in Nigeria. For primary sources and ways to support persecuted believers, check ICC, Open Doors, or Aid to the Church in Need. Stories evolve quickly; the situation in Nigeria and the DRC remains particularly fluid.

Source: Grok on X

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
Isaiah 52:7

Subscribe

Enter your email below to receive updates.

Product Recalls Roundup: April 15–22, 2026

News anchor in newsroom reporting recent product recalls and consumer alert

Here’s a summary of the most significant U.S. consumer product, food, drug/medical device, and vehicle recalls announced or updated during the past week (April 15–22, 2026). The biggest wave came from the CPSC on April 16, with multiple high-hazard items. Always check the exact lot codes, model numbers, or VINs against official sources, as remedies (refunds, repairs, or replacements) are usually free.

1. Consumer Products (CPSC – Major Announcements on April 16)

Several recalls involved serious injury/death risks from choking, burns, fire, shock, and projectiles. Many were sold online via Amazon.

  • Multiple brands of electric pressure washers (Agiiman, Fengrong Tool, Sweetcrispy, Bayotak USA, Patoolio Direct, Le Hao Tool, and others): Lack of ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) creates shock and electrocution hazards. Remedy: Stop use and contact seller/manufacturer for refund/replacement. cpsc.gov +1
  • Macy’s Arch Studio Tea Kettles: Burn hazard from hot surfaces or spills. Sold in stores and online (August 2025–February 2026). Remedy: Return for refund. cpsc.gov
  • ATOYUS Children’s Activity Cubes (sold on Amazon by Melofaver US): Small parts violate toy standards and pose choking/death risk. Remedy: Return or discard. cpsc.gov
  • nvyue Magic Pocket Staffs (toy wands, ~25,000 units): Can unexpectedly expand, causing projectile and laceration injuries (163 reported). Remedy: Refund via Amazon or manufacturer. cpsc.gov
  • Casely wireless portable power banks (~429,000 units; reannouncement of 2025 recall): Lithium-ion batteries can overheat and catch fire (1 fatality and additional incidents reported). Stop using immediately. threads.com +1
  • Generac portable generators: Burn and fire hazards. newsweek.com

2. Food, Beverages & Pet Food (FDA)

  • Loard’s Ice Cream (all retail-sized packages, announced April 16): Undeclared milk, eggs, tree nuts, peanuts, soy, sulfites, and artificial colors. Allergy risk. Remedy: Discard or return. fda.gov
  • Breeder’s Edge / Shelter’s Choice canine milk replacer (Revival Animal Health, announced April 17): Variable/elevated Vitamin D levels (animal/veterinary product). Remedy: Contact manufacturer. fda.gov

3. Pharmaceuticals & Medical Devices (FDA)

  • Xanax XR (alprazolam) 3 mg extended-release tablets (one lot #8177156 by Viatris, announced ~April 16): Failed dissolution specifications (may not release properly). Nationwide recall of 60-count bottles (expiration February 2029). Remedy: Contact pharmacy or manufacturer; do not use. powershealth.org +1
  • Aligned Medical Angio Packs (AMS6908E and AMS6908F, announced April 20): Syringe adapter can unwind/disconnect during use, risking biohazard exposure, blood loss, infection, or air embolism. Remedy: Return to supplier. fda.gov

4. Vehicles & Equipment (NHTSA – Issued April 20)

Several recalls affected trucks, RVs, and commercial vehicles:

  • Ford F-150 trucks (large-scale recall): Risk of unexpected downshifts. truckpartsandservice.com
  • Ram 1500/2500/3500 pickups and cab chassis (2025–2026 models): Instrument cluster or related failures. truckpartsandservice.com
  • Jayco/Entegra Ethos RVs (2025–2026): Incorrect occupant/cargo and tire loading labels (may lead to overloading or unbelted passengers). Free corrected labels. magazine.frva.com
  • Winnebago Suncruiser/Sunflyer motorhomes (2026–2027): Missing side reflectors (FMVSS 108 violation). magazine.frva.com

International notes (if relevant): Canada recalled Sultan Fine Foods Pistachio Kernels (Salmonella, April 15); New Zealand recalled certain alfalfa/onion sprouts (Listeria).

For full details, photos of affected products, and remedy instructions:

  • CPSC → cpsc.gov/Recalls
  • FDA → fda.gov/safety/recalls
  • FSIS (meat) → fsis.usda.gov/recalls
  • NHTSA (vehicles) → nhtsa.gov/recalls (use VIN lookup)

Check your home, pantry, medicine cabinet, garage, and vehicles—many recalls involve long-shelf-life items or products still in use. If you have questions about a specific recall, contact the company or agency directly. Stay safe!

Source: Grok on X

When pride comes, then comes shame; But with the humble is wisdom.
Proverbs 11:2

South Park Game Preserve welcomes third baby bison of 2026

The South Park Game Preserve has welcomed its third baby bison of 2026. The Friends of the South Park Buffalo Preserve Facebook group announced on Sunday that 5-year-old Crimson, daughter of Violet, has become a first-time mom to a baby named Nova. The baby bison’s name was inspired by a sight captured by those who watch after…

Some 1,000 additional heat deaths recorded in France

France saw around 1,000 additional deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, the country’s public health agency said Sunday, as the head of the World Health Organization warned that Europe is now the fastest-warming continent and needs to do more to protect its citizens. Temperature records were toppled in several countries…

Supreme Court Backs Trump on Asylum Policy, TPS Deportations

The U.S. Supreme Court handed the Trump administration two major victories on immigration Thursday, allowing stricter asylum enforcement and clearing the way for the removal of temporary protected status from hundreds of thousands of migrants. In a 6-3 ruling, the court found the administration can end Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for roughly 300,000 Haitians and…

States That Allow Bible in the Classroom

Texas public schools will now require students to read Bible passages and stories as part of the latest conservative push to expand the role of religion in public education—a move bound to escalate wrangling over the separation of church and state doctrine derived from the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment. The Texas State Board of Education, which is controlled by Republicans,…

Trump’s religious liberty report calls for building ‘bridges’ between church and state

A draft final report from President Trump’s Religious Liberty Commission released Friday calls for “building bridges between church and state,” a reversal of a long-standing U.S. legal principle.  “Americans must know their rights and stand with courage when those rights are challenged,” the commission’s report read. “To preserve this freedom, we must build bridges, not walls,…

Update: Rare light aircraft crash in Beijing kills pilot, injures 13 people

A light aircraft crash into Beijing’s tallest building on Friday killed ​the pilot and injured 13 people who were not on ‌board, the local government said following the unusual accident for the Chinese capital, where airspace is heavily restricted. Those injured are receiving medical treatment and authorities are ​investigating the incident, Chaoyang district government said…

San Jose brush fire burns near homes before progress stopped

A brush fire burned close to homes in San Jose on Friday before firefighters stopped its forward progress. The fire burned in the Communications Hill area of South San Jose near the Sunshine Hill Cross and began at around 11:15 a.m. The San Jose Fire Department said it burned about seven acres close to the…

Utah declares emergency, limits fireworks ahead of July Fourth as crews battle largest U.S. wildfire

Utah restricted fireworks and declared a state of emergency Friday ahead of July Fourth celebrations as the United States’ largest wildfire expanded its reach across more tinder-dry forest, as crews rush to fight new blazes in the arid state. The National Weather Service issued a rare “Particularly Dangerous Situation” warning as dry, windy conditions provided…

Extreme heat expected to cover Southeast Michigan next week. What to know.

Extreme temperatures are on the horizon in Southeast Michigan, setting the stage for a prolonged and dangerous heat wave next week. High temperatures beginning Monday will reach 90 degrees, and starting Tuesday will exceed this level.  From Tuesday through Friday, highs will be in the mid- to upper 90s each day, with dew points in…

Drone nearly hits United plane landing in Newark, pilot says

A United Airlines passenger jet nearly collided with a drone as it was coming in to land in New Jersey on Friday, its pilot said. “We almost hit a drone,” the pilot can be heard saying, in air traffic control audio verified by CNN, describing the device as circular and roughly three feet wide, “about…

Minnesota man accused in a $250M fraud scheme taken into custody in Somalia

Authorities say a Minnesota man charged with helping to orchestrate a $250 million fraud scheme has been taken into custody in Somalia. Abdikerm Abdelahi Eidleh, 42, of Burnsville, Minnesota, was taken into custody Thursday in Mogadishu, U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen said in a news release. Court documents do not show if Eidleh has obtained an…

Important (Buried) News Stories: April 15–22, 2026

News Room

While the ongoing U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, Trump administration statements, and related global fallout dominated headlines and social media, several significant developments received far less attention. These stories—drawn from economic warnings, political shifts, humanitarian data, and legal rulings—highlight under-the-radar impacts on global stability, U.S. policy, and long-term consequences. Here’s a roundup of the most notable ones that flew under the radar this week:

1. Russia’s Economy and Military Defenses in Freefall

  • Russian economist Dr. Robert Nigmatulin highlighted at a Moscow Exchange Forum that per capita salaries are now the lowest in Europe, with poverty levels in eastern Russia worse than in China’s poorest regions. This came amid reports of collapsing air defenses, leaving cities like Donetsk vulnerable to Ukrainian drones just 25 miles behind the front lines. A possible Ukrainian drone strike on the Black Sea frigate Admiral Makarov in Novorossiysk was also noted but drew minimal coverage. local.newsbreak.com

2. Record-High Deaths in U.S. ICE Custody Amid Crackdown

  • U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement reported at least 17 detainee deaths from January through early April 2026—the highest pace in two decades, surpassing last year’s total of 31 (already a 20-year high). The agency released fewer details on several cases, even as detentions reached record levels under the current administration. Multiple deaths were under investigation, including suicides, with critics linking the spike to expanded enforcement operations. aa.com.tr +2

3. Hungary’s Historic Political Earthquake: Orbán Ousted After 16 Years

  • In elections held just before the week (April 12–13), longtime nationalist leader Viktor Orbán (a key Trump ally) suffered a landslide defeat to center-right challenger Péter Magyar and his Tisza party. Orbán conceded, ending his “electoral autocracy” and handing Tisza a supermajority. The outcome has major implications for EU policy, Russia relations, and U.S. influence in Europe—but was largely eclipsed by Middle East developments. bbc.com +2

4. Global Food Security Crisis Worsens from Strait of Hormuz Disruptions

  • Beyond fuel price spikes, the Iran-related closure of the Strait of Hormuz severely interrupted global shipping, threatening food supplies worldwide. This secondary effect of the conflict was flagged in underreported analyses as a growing humanitarian risk, even as oil and gas dominated coverage. local.newsbreak.com

5. Rising Sovereign Debt Alarms from Emergency Spending and Energy Costs

  • The New York Times highlighted mounting debt concerns as countries (including the U.S.) rack up emergency spending amid prolonged high energy prices tied to the Middle East conflict. Policymakers warned of long-term fiscal strain that could fuel inflation and slow global growth—issues noted by the IMF but receiving little follow-up attention. nytimes.com

6. Live Nation/Ticketmaster Ruled a Monopoly in Major Antitrust Verdict

  • A jury found Live Nation (parent of Ticketmaster) violated antitrust laws, delivering a significant win for states and consumers in the music industry. The verdict could reshape concert pricing, ticketing, and industry practices but was overshadowed by larger geopolitical stories. nytimes.com

These stories underscore broader patterns—economic fragility, humanitarian costs of policy, and political realignments—that often get sidelined during major crises. Coverage was sparse compared to Iran updates, but they carry lasting implications for global economics, migration, and democracy. For deeper dives, primary sources like Reuters, NPR, and the NYT provide additional context.

Source: Grok on X

But He said, “More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”
Luke 11:28

Volkswagen reportedly planning to axe 100,000 jobs

Volkswagen, one of the world’s largest automakers, is reportedly planning to axe as many as 100,000 jobs over the next few years, representing 15% of its global workforce. The job cuts would come alongside the planned closure of four factories in Germany and a 15% reduction in investment over the next five years, according to…

Judge bans Trump from enforcing proof of citizenship requirement to vote

A federal judge has permanently banned President Donald Trump from implementing most of his executive order on elections, specifically a portion of it which sought to require people to show proof of citizenship when they register to vote. U.S. District Court Judge Denise Caper’s ruling on Wednesday replaces a preliminary injunction she imposed in 2025,…

North Korea commissions largest-ever warship

North Korea has revealed its largest-ever warship that leader Kim Jong Un says can carry nuclear-capable missiles. The 5,000-metric-ton destroyer is part of the country’s growing navy, which is set to expand sharply over the next five years. Source: North Korea commissions largest-ever warship | News | Al Jazeera

Back-to-back Venezuela earthquakes kill at least 32, injure hundreds, acting president says – CBS News

Acting President Delcy Rodríguez said early Thursday there are at least 32 people dead and 700 injured after two powerful earthquakes struck northwest Venezuela within a minute of each other Wednesday evening. She warned the toll was expected to rise as rescuers search collapsed buildings and emergency crews reach devastated areas. Communities across the South…

Morgan Stanley raises China humanoid robot shipment forecast as adoption picks up

Morgan Stanley has sharply raised its outlook for China’s humanoid robotics market, saying the industry’s shift from demonstration to commercial deployment has proved faster than expected. The Wall Street bank upgraded its forecast for China’s humanoid robot shipments for a second time this year on Tuesday, expecting 50,000 units to ship this year, nearly double…

Leader of Antifa Cell Members in North Texas Sentenced to 100 Years in Prison for Terrorist Attack on ICE Facility

Seven Additional Defendants Also Sentenced Before One-Year Anniversary of Attack to a Combined 450 Years in Prison Today, the Justice Department announced that eight North Texas Antifa Cell operatives were sentenced for their roles in rioting, using weapons and explosives, providing material support to terrorists, obstruction, and the attempted murder of an Alvarado police officer…

Federal judge rejects Department of Justice effort to obtain Maryland voter information

A federal district court judge has rejected the Justice Department’s effort to obtain Maryland voter information.  The Department of Justice sued Maryland and several other states for not turning over private voter rolls, which include personal information for millions of Maryland voters.  In a decision shared Monday, Federal Judge Stephanie Gallagher dismissed the Department of…

Sen. Rick Scott Rallies Senate Republicans to Advance Trump’s Priorities

Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) called on Senate Republicans to work with President Donald Trump and advance the SAVE America Act, urging lawmakers in a Monday social media post to “hit the ground running” as Congress returns to Washington. “Let’s hit the ground running this week,” Scott wrote in a message posted on social media. “The…

Judge PROTECTS ILLEGAL Immigrant Voting

Judge Sparkle says you cannot remove illegal immigrant from voter rolls because maybe it removes citizens blocking Trump from securing US elections Source: (604) Judge PROTECTS ILLEGAL Immigrant Voting | Tim Pool – YouTube

UK Needs To Ditch Censorship, Mass Migration, Not Just Starmer

United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced his resignation Monday morning after less than two years of overseeing civilizational decline in Britain. But just because the country got rid of “the worst Prime Minister of the worst Government of the worst party,” as one member of Parliament said, does not mean it is very much…

Over a dozen cases dropped against Minnesota protesters accused of assaulting federal agents during ICE operation

Federal prosecutors are continuing to dismiss charges initially brought against people in Minnesota for allegedly assaulting federal officers during the winter.  WCCO dug through court filings and identified at least 18 people whose cases are now dropped. A federal judge officially dismissed the charges for 15 of them; three are pending a judge’s approval after…

Biden Judge Blocks Trump’s New Verification System to Fight Voter Fraud

Biden-Appointed Judge Blocks Trump’s New Verification System to Remove Foreign Nationals from Voter Rolls uscourts.gov JOHN BINDER22 Jun 20264,417 2:52 A federal judge, appointed by President Joe Biden, has blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from using an updated verification system, known as the SAVE program, to remove foreign nationals from state voter rolls. On Monday,…

Illegal alien rape suspect fatally shot after opening fire on Lee County Sheriff’s deputies

black semi automatic pistol on blue denim jeans

An illegal alien rape suspect from Guatemala died after opening fire and injuring one Lee County Sheriff’s deputy in Loachapoka on Wednesday. The incident occurred at approximately 5:36 p.m. when deputies with the Lee County Sheriff’s Office were attempting to serve an arrest warrant for first-degree rape at a residence in the 900 Block of County Road 188 in Loachapoka. The suspect, later identified as Wilder Cobon Gomez, 36, a Guatemalan national, fired at deputies, striking one in the arm. As a result, one of the deputies returned fire, fatally wounding Gomez.

The injured deputy was transported to a local hospital for medical treatment. Gomez was pronounced deceased at the scene. His body has been transported to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences (ADFS) for an autopsy. An ALEA spokesperson confirmed to 1819 News on Friday that Gomez was an illegal alien. ALEA secretary Hal Taylor said in a statement on Thursday, “Violence is never the answer. However, this marks the second law enforcement officer in Alabama this month who has been shot while carrying out his oath to protect and serve.”

Source: Illegal alien rape suspect fatally shot after opening fire on Lee County Sheriff’s deputies

With all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love.
Ephesians 4:2

Not Meant For the Government

“The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government.” Patrick Henry Patrick Henry | Revolutionary…

Wyoming Republican introduces legislation to protect American energy from left-wing litigation

ravenswood generating station


Wyoming GOP Rep. Harriet Hageman introduced legislation Friday to protect American energy producers from being targeted by retroactive left-wing lawsuits. 

The legislation bans climate liability lawsuits from being filed retroactively, dismisses pending lawsuits on the date of the bill’s enactment, voids state energy penalty laws and affirms the federal government has sole authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and interstate environmental standards.

Hageman claimed state legislatures are attempting to retroactively punish American energy producers over standards that were legal in the past through climate liability lawsuits and Superfund laws. 

“Energy security is national security, and we will not self-sabotage our critical industries with a cascade of costly lawsuits and extreme penalties that jeopardize American drilling,” Hageman said. “America’s energy producers should be protected from the dangerous legal precedent that would be set by the retroactive punishment of lawful activity.”  

Hageman’s office said Vermont and New York have both passed “climate Superfund” laws and state legislatures in nine other states are considering similar proposals, including California, Hawaii, New Jersey and Virginia.

Source: Wyoming Republican introduces legislation to protect American energy from left-wing litigation | Just The News

He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.
John 7:38

Fishing guides speak out against illegal activity around Lake of the Ozarks

silhouette photo of person near body of water

Source: Youtube

May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!
Psalm 20:4

SCOTUS Could Strike Down EPA’s Unconstitutional Overreach

The EPA under the Biden Administration crafted a cap-and-trade scheme to allocate market share in the multibillion-dollar hydrofluorocarbons industry — including to “new market participants” based on the promotion of “equity.” Now, one of the businesses the EPA rendered a market-share loser under the federal agency’s unconstitutional take-over of the hydrofluorocarbon industry seeks review by…

Overnight house fire kills one in central Minnesota

Authorities are investigating what caused a deadly fire in central Minnesota early Sunday morning. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office says it received multiple reports of a large fire in Land Township just after 1 a.m. A deputy driving in the area provided an exact location of the fire and said that a residence and nearby…

Rare “Deadliest Cat in Africa” Kitten Born at Texas Zoo

While he may look impossibly cute right now, Maverick belongs to a species often called “Africa’s deadliest feline” thanks to its astonishing hunting success rate. And somehow, this fierce little predator will only grow to about three pounds as an adult. The zoo first announced Maverick’s birth several weeks ago, calling him a major conservation…

Girl reunites with man who saved her from deadly Dallas apartment explosion

Nearly a week after a deadly explosion at the Clyde Apartments in Dallas’ Oak Cliff neighborhood, a 10‑year‑old girl who survived the blast has reunited with the man credited with saving her life. Vanessa, who lost her mother, Marisol Perez, and her 18‑month‑old brother in the explosion, met with Rodney Brown on Monday.  The encounter…

Tasmanian devil named Mary still missing 3 days after escaping wildlife park in Australia: “A mystery”

A Tasmanian devil named Mary successfully eluded searchers equipped with a thermal-imaging drone for a third day on Thursday after escaping from an Australian wildlife park. Keepers discovered the furry, carnivorous marsupial was missing from her enclosure at Paradise Country wildlife park on Queensland’s Gold Coast on Tuesday morning. A dozen wildlife experts backed by…

Christian Persecution June 2 – May 28, 2026

Christian persecution published between May 28 and June 4, 2026. These come primarily from specialized monitoring organizations like International Christian Concern (ICC) and Global Christian Relief. No large-scale violent incidents (e.g., mass killings or church bombings) were reported in major outlets during this exact window, but several specific cases of arrests, physical attacks, restrictions, and…

Man killed in shooting at Universal City Park & Ride parking lot

A man was fatally shot in the parking lot near Universal Studios on Sunday morning, according to Los Angeles police.  Officers said that the shooting happened at around 11:20 a.m. near the Universal/Studio City Park & Ride parking lot in the 10800 block of Ventura Boulevard. By the time they arrived at the scene, the…

80-year-old man stabbed to death in Tarzana neighborhood

An 80-year-old man was stabbed to death in a Tarzana neighborhood Wednesday morning. The Los Angeles Police Department said the deadly stabbing happened at about 9:30 a.m. in the 19200 block of Erwin Street. Officers found the man, who is about 80 years old, outside of a nearby home.  LAPD said the Los Angeles Fire…

Under-the-Radar Important News Stories: April 9–16, 2026

dynamic crowd motion with zoom blur effect

While the Iran conflict, Trump administration statements, gas price spikes, and Middle East diplomacy have dominated headlines and social feeds, several significant developments slipped under the radar. These stories involve public health, corporate accountability, immigration enforcement, congressional ethics, and environmental red flags—issues with long-term implications that received minimal national attention amid the chaos. Here’s a curated roundup of the most notable ones based on investigative reports, court outcomes, and official data released or amplified this week:

Immigration & Enforcement

  • Record ICE detainee deaths in 2026: The 16th immigrant detainee death was reported this week, already surpassing the full-year total for 2024 (11 deaths). Advocacy groups and family accounts highlighted systemic issues in custody, with one high-profile case involving a Texas man shot by agents now under renewed scrutiny. nbcnews.com +1
  • Migrant children allegedly abused in government-funded shelters: Exclusive reporting detailed physical abuse at facilities housing unaccompanied minors, with sources citing inadequate oversight and cover-up concerns. This echoes ongoing post-border policy debates but drew little coverage. cnn.com
  • French government intervenes for 86-year-old widow detained by ICE: France is pushing for the release of an elderly French citizen held in U.S. immigration custody, spotlighting international fallout from expanded enforcement. npr.org

Corporate & Consumer Accountability

  • Ticketmaster/Live Nation ruled an illegal monopoly: A New York jury found the companies violated antitrust laws by overcharging fans and stifling competition in live events. The verdict could reshape ticketing nationwide but was overshadowed by economic war news. cnn.com +1
  • Big Oil’s massive war windfall: Despite the Iran conflict driving fuel prices higher, major producers raked in an extra $30 million per hour in profits. Critics called it a direct beneficiary effect of the blockade and instability. truthout.org

Politics, Ethics & Oversight

  • Two House members (Swalwell and Gonzales) resign amid misconduct allegations: The California Democrat and Texas Republican stepped down over sexual misconduct claims involving staff, raising questions about a broader pattern in Congress. The story gained traction locally but not nationally. nbcnews.com +1
  • Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor apologizes to Brett Kavanaugh: In a rare public statement, Sotomayor expressed regret for “hurtful” comments on immigration rulings, highlighting internal Court tensions during a politically charged term. cnn.com
  • Dark money and billionaires ramping up for 2026 midterms: Reports detailed ultra-wealthy donors preparing tens of millions in spending, with questions about transparency amid shifting corporate influence rules. cbsnews.com

Health, Environment & Science

  • Omaha Superfund site: Kids still not tested for lead: A massive lead-contaminated neighborhood has left most children untested despite federal warnings, with local officials citing resource shortages. ProPublica called it a preventable public health failure. propublica.org
  • U.S. birth rate hits new low; contraception de-emphasized: CDC data showed 3.6 million births in 2025 (down 1% and 23% since 2007), even as Trump officials downplayed family-planning access in federal programs. cbsnews.com
  • Record April heat and other climate signals: Parts of the U.S. (e.g., North Carolina) saw the hottest early-April stretch in decades alongside the driest start to a year on record. Separate reports noted emperor penguins downgraded to endangered due to climate impacts. cbs17.com

Emerging Security Concern

  • Disappearances of U.S. researchers flagged as possible espionage: Former FBI officials raised alarms over a wave of missing or deceased scientists, with speculation of foreign intelligence involvement receiving minimal mainstream pickup. newsnationnow.com

These stories illustrate ongoing domestic challenges in housing, health, justice, and accountability that risk being eclipsed by foreign policy headlines. Many stem from investigative outlets (ProPublica, NPR, Reuters) or official data drops that didn’t break through the noise. For deeper dives, the cited sources provide full context—several could regain traction as the Iran situation evolves. In my opinion some will need more investigation to see if they are accusations or truth, we will see.

Source: Grok on X

For I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last he will stand upon the earth.
Job 19:25

Authorities Confirm First Screwworm Case in U.S. in 60 Years

A flesh-eating, parasitic worm has been discovered in the United States once again, according to officials. In a post to social media on Wednesday, June 3, U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins confirmed the presence of Cochliomyia hominivorax, the New World screwworm fly, also known as the New World screwworm or simply screwworm. “As expected,…

Michigan City Zoo animal care workers attacked by wolves

Two animal care workers were attacked by wolves at the Michigan City Zoo in Indiana. According to the Department of Parks and Recreation, a wolf at the zoo died Tuesday night of natural causes. After that death, two of the animal care workers at the zoo were attacked by other wolves in the zoo’s enclosure.…

Child safe after carjacking on Chicago’s South Side

A car was found after it was stolen with a 1-year-old inside on Chicago’s South Side early Wednesday morning.  Chicago police said a 36-year-old man was standing next to the car in the 9100 block of South Urban Avenue just before 2:15 a.m. when a person got in the car and drove off with the…

Why Graham Platner Had to Return to Maine Quickly Last Night

Graham Platner looked as if he was about to walk into a scene from Intervention, as new scandals emerge about the Maine Democrat who is trying to unseat Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME). Instead, we heard the tired ‘we’re going to win Maine’ pep rally lines from Senate Democrats in Washington after they met with Platner.…

Trump tells ‘Pod Force One’ Graham Platner is a ‘major sleaze bag,’ but James Talarico is worse

President Trump blasted the Democrats’ scandal-plagued Senate candidate Graham Platner as a “major sleaze bag” in an interview with The Post’s “Pod Force One,” but said Texas Senate candidate James Talarico is worse.  The president gave a blunt assessment of the Democrats’ top Senate contenders in an interview with The Post’s Miranda Devine in the…

Subscribe

Enter your email below to receive updates.

Recent Abortion News (April 8-15, 2026)

News Room

Here’s a concise overview of the main abortion-related developments from the past seven days. Activity focused on medication abortion access (especially mifepristone by mail), federal enforcement disputes, and state-level legislative pushes. No major new national data drops occurred, but ongoing legal and political maneuvering continued post-Dobbs.

Federal Developments & Medication Abortion

  • Louisiana’s challenge to mifepristone mail-order paused: On April 7 (with rulings and coverage spilling into this week), a federal judge in Lafayette refused to block FDA rules allowing nationwide mailing of mifepristone. The decision is a temporary setback for Louisiana’s effort to restrict telehealth/mail access into ban states while its broader challenge proceeds. The case was paused pending Trump administration review. kffhealthnews.org
  • DOJ report accuses Biden admin of weaponizing FACE Act: On April 14, the Trump Justice Department released a report alleging the prior administration selectively prosecuted pro-life activists under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act. It claims coordination with abortion-rights groups (including Planned Parenthood) to track activists, seek harsher sentences, and withhold evidence. The report reviewed over 700,000 records. kfoxtv.com +1
  • Mail-order dominates mifepristone dispensing: A University of Southern California study (published April 13) found that in the 27 states + D.C. allowing telehealth abortion, pharmacies fill mifepristone prescriptions almost exclusively via mail-order (<2% at retail locations), despite 2023 FDA rules permitting pharmacy dispensing. reuters.com

State-Level Actions

  • Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly vetoes two GOP anti-abortion bills: On April 7, the Democratic governor vetoed measures that would have imposed new restrictions. Republican supermajorities in the legislature are expected to attempt overrides this week. kansasreflector.com
  • Ohio doctors push back on “extremist” bills: Over 150 physicians signed a letter opposing a package of bills in the Statehouse, including a 24-hour waiting period (“SHE WINS” Act). Coverage highlighted concerns over delays in care. pagingamerica.org
  • Mississippi criminalization bill advances: Lawmakers sent a bill to the governor that would make distributing or intending to distribute abortion-inducing medication a felony (up to 10 years in prison). Critics warn it could affect miscarriage treatment and deter providers. apnews.com
  • South Carolina Senate bill 1095: Introduced earlier but active in committee this week; it would prohibit abortions and impose penalties on providers. scstatehouse.gov

Broader Context

  • 2026 ballot measures remain in focus: Ongoing preparations for November votes in states like Virginia (protecting rights), Missouri (repeal attempt), and potential measures in Idaho/Nebraska. No new certifications this week, but legal challenges to ballot language continue. kff.org +1
  • National abortion incidence remains stable (per earlier Guttmacher data referenced in coverage), with telehealth and mail-order shifts offsetting bans in 13 states.

These stories reflect continued tension around medication abortion access and enforcement, with the Trump administration signaling scrutiny of prior policies while states pursue tighter restrictions. Legal challenges and legislative overrides are likely to keep the issue active in coming weeks. For the latest on any specific case or bill, check primary sources like court dockets or state legislature trackers.

Source: Grok on X

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
James 4:7

17,000 Baptized in Historic Worldwide Event: ‘Saying Yes to Jesus’

17,000 Baptized in Historic Worldwide Event: ‘Saying Yes to Jesus’, Michael Foust – Read breaking news headlies with a Christian perspective and commentary from Michael Foust. A gathering at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, D.C., served as the focal point for the May 24 global event, featuring worship, personal testimonies, and live updates…

Shakopee man charged in deadly shooting at Twin Cities Eid prayer service

A Shakopee, Minnesota, man is accused of shooting and killing 26-year-old Khalid Ibrahim Abdi outside of a Twin Cities Eid al-Adha prayer service on Wednesday. Mohamed Rage, 28, is facing one count of second-degree murder as well as an illegal weapons charge, according to the criminal complaint filed in Scott County on Monday. Charges say…

Sacramento man found with explosive during airport security check charged in federal court

A man has been charged with bringing an explosive device into Sacramento International Airport (SMF), federal prosecutors announced Tuesday. According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of California, a criminal complaint was filed against 49-year-old Sacramento resident Kimani Osayande Jones, also known as Kimani Osayande Jackson, accusing him of unlawfully possessing explosive…

Pastor Shane Idleman Diagnosed with Head and Neck Cancer

California pastor Shane Idleman recently broke the silence about his battle with head and neck cancer following his diagnosis earlier this year.  Idleman, who pastors Westside Christian Fellowship in Leona Valley, California, told Billy Hallowell of CBN News, spoke about his cancer diagnosis despite being a longtime health advocate.    “The first 30 years of…

ER Visits Surge and Experts Urge Caution amid Record Tick Season

The current tick season is reported to be the worst in decades, with emergency room visits for bites and cases of Lyme disease increasing. According to the CDC, 71 out of every 100,000 emergency room visits were for tick bites, which is a 25% increase over last year. This figure excludes visits to urgent care…

Northern Minnesota wildfire prompts evacuations near Burntside Lake

Officials ordered residents to evacuate Monday afternoon as crews work to extinguish a wildfire in northern Minnesota. The U.S. Forest Service says the fire is located in the Superior National Forest northwest of the North Arm of the Burntside Lake area, approximately eight miles northwest of Ely. The St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office said agencies…

Raccoon tests positive for rabies after attacking dog in metro Atlanta

Gwinnett County officials are warning residents to use caution after a raccoon tested positive for rabies over the weekend. Officials say the raccoon attacked a dog near Biltmore Oaks Drive in the Bethlehem area on May 26. Testing revealed that the animal was infected with the potentially deadly virus. The disease, which can be transmitted…

Bright meteor gets attention Monday night across Great Lakes region

If you missed the meteor sighting over Southeast Michigan early on May 27, perhaps you saw the latest one on Monday night.  A fireball, which is a bright meteor, was seen about 10:42 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday in a wider geographic area around Lake Erie than the one that was seen last week. The American…

Fireball sightings reported in at least 8 states including Illinois

Sightings of a fireball were reported across Illinois and at least eight other states on Monday night.  The American Meteor Society received nearly 200 reports of a fireball seen over Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, New York, Ohio, and Wisconsin around 10 p.m. Some of the reports out of Illinois came from Chicago, Aurora, Carpentersville, Warrenville, Addison, Waukegan,…

Texas child‑exploitation crackdown leads to 276 arrests and 89 children rescued, authorities say

A sweeping two‑month child‑exploitation crackdown across Texas has led to 276 arrests and the rescue of 89 children, federal and local authorities announced this week. Officials called Operation Soteria Shield one of the state’s largest coordinated efforts to combat online predators. The initiative, led by FBI Dallas and dozens of Texas law enforcement agencies, ran…

Pastor Convicted for Preaching John 3:16 Outside Hospital

Retired Pastor Clive Johnston plans to file an appeal after he was convicted in Northern Ireland for preaching John 3:16 outside the buffer zone of a local hospital. Johnston, 78, was fined $604 and convicted of two charges of “influencing” people on abortion under the Abortion Services (Safe Access Zones) Act while standing within 328…

US has eliminated hundreds of ISIS militants in Nigeria: Hegseth

Secretary of War Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces have killed “hundreds” of Islamic State militants in Nigeria, crediting President Donald Trump’s directive to protect Christians in the country from Islamist violence. During a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Hegseth said Trump charged the military with taking steps to protect Nigerian Christians roughly…

Calls for an end to the sexualisation of children in schools

The Coalition for Marriage (C4M) has called for an end to the sexualisation of children in schools and has denounced plans for a “summer of sex” at Westminster. C4M pointed to official guidelines on sex education as well as some concerning cases that suggest many children are being exposed to inappropriate material and are being…

Video Footage of Five and Half Months in the Yukon in Five Minutes

From spring through summer and into fall, enjoy the variety of wildlife that pass by this single camera location in the Yukon wilderness from 2021. Highlights include both grizzly and black bears showing interest in a scent marking tree, a pair of lynx at night, a few big bull moose in fall, several wolf visits,…

Lake Tahoe bear damages vehicle after becoming trapped inside

close up shot of a bear on the grass

A bear in the Lake Tahoe area significantly damaged a vehicle after it became trapped inside. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office recently responded to Incline Village after a person opened the door to their vehicle and discovered a bear was trapped inside. Deputies said the bear ran off quickly after the door was opened, but left behind significant damage. Pictures the sheriff’s office shared show the inside paneling ripped off from all doors.  “Situations like this can happen when bears gain access to food or scented items left in vehicles,” the Nevada Department of Wildlife said.  People in the Lake Tahoe area are urged to remove all food, trash and scented items from their vehicles. Officials also urge people to lock vehicle doors and keep the windows fully closed. Wildlife officials say bears that access human food can become conditioned to it, leading to an increase in possible future conflicts. Bear activity also increases in the Tahoe Basin during the spring. 

Source: Lake Tahoe bear damages vehicle after becoming trapped inside – CBS Sacramento

And said to them, “Whoever receives this little child in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me receives Him who sent Me. For he who is least among you all will be great.”
Luke 9:48

Christian Persecution News Roundup: April 8–15, 2026

News Room

Christian persecution remained a significant but underreported story this week, with fresh updates centered on the aftermath of Holy Week/Easter violence in Nigeria, escalating attacks in Ethiopia, and quiet resilience in Syria. Advocacy efforts also gained attention amid broader global statistics from Open Doors’ ongoing 2026 World Watch List reporting. Here are the key verified developments from the past seven days:

Nigeria: Easter Attacks Aftermath and Funerals

  • Central Nigeria saw continued fallout from coordinated Holy Week attacks. Christians held funerals this week for victims of violence that claimed at least 157 lives in rural communities across Benue and surrounding areas during and immediately after Easter. Gunmen targeted Christian villages in what advocacy groups describe as part of a pattern of Islamist militant and bandit violence. persecution.org +1
  • On Easter Sunday (April 5, with reports emerging April 8), gunmen attacked a church congregation in Kaduna state, killing at least seven and taking 31 hostages. The Nigerian army claimed to have freed the hostages in a gunfight, but local Christian leaders disputed the account, saying the gunmen fled and the full story remains unclear. Similar incidents have been linked to Islamist militants in the region. religionmediacentre.org.uk
  • These events prompted renewed calls from U.S. figures and local bishops highlighting government inaction, though Nigerian officials rejected claims of “Christian genocide.” religionmediacentre.org.uk

Ethiopia: Rising Violence in East Arsi Zone

  • Church leaders expressed deep concern over a series of deadly attacks on Christian communities in the East Arsi Zone (Oromia Region) spanning late February through early April. Reports published this week detailed targeted violence forcing families to flee, with Islamist militants implicated in multiple incidents. This fits a broader pattern of insecurity for believers in parts of East Africa. persecution.org

Syria: Churches Resume Quiet Worship After Attack

  • Syrian churches quietly resumed meetings this week following a recent violent attack on Christian communities. The low-profile gatherings underscore ongoing security risks and displacement pressures in the post-Assad era, where minorities remain exposed. persecution.org

Holy Land/Gaza: Sombre Easter Reflections

  • Palestinian Christians in Gaza and the West Bank continued to report restrictions on access to holy sites during Easter observances, along with settler violence in the West Bank (including attacks on Christian families). Al Jazeera coverage this week highlighted a “sombre” atmosphere amid broader conflict, with some families noting relatives killed in recent strikes. aljazeera.com +2

Advocacy and Broader Context

  • Bishop Robert Barron’s new book launch (April 14): Word on Fire released What Do Their Deaths Demand?: Christian Persecution Today, drawing on reports from Nigeria, Syria, China, and North Korea. Proceeds support Aid to the Church in Need’s work with persecuted believers, particularly in Nigeria. The book was sent to every U.S. Catholic bishop and member of Congress to raise awareness. wordonfire.org +1
  • Open Doors and International Christian Concern (ICC) continued referencing 2026 data showing over 388 million Christians facing high persecution globally, with sub-Saharan Africa (especially Nigeria) as the deadliest region. No new full weekly report dropped this week, but the Easter violence reinforced the trends. instagram.com

These stories reflect persistent patterns of violence in Africa, restrictions in conflict zones, and growing advocacy pushes. Coverage was strongest in specialized Christian outlets and regional media, with limited mainstream pickup outside faith-focused circles. Organizations like ICC, Open Doors, and Aid to the Church in Need are actively monitoring and responding. For the latest on any specific incident, refer to primary sources from these groups.

Source: Grok on X

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.
Matthew 6:33

Riverside County beekeeper loses 80 hives, millions of bees in Verona Fire

A Riverside County beekeeper says that last week’s Verona Fire, which broke out near Hemet and burned hundreds of acres, caused him to lose 80 hives and millions of bees.  Brandon Teller, of BeeDoctor Bee Removal, says the loss could have a critical impact on the region’s farmers and shoppers. “As the beekeeper, that’s devastating…

Dems cut ties with scandal-plagued Graham Platner, warn of ‘civil war’ in party

Top Democratic officials and lawmakers are breaking with Democratic Maine Senate candidate Graham Platner as his past blunders and online history stack up.  Platner’s ascendency to the top of the ticket in Vacationland broke with the Democratic establishment in Washington, D.C., and since Maine Gov. Janet Mills exited from the race, questions about whether he is the…

Dog shoots woman with shotgun at Nebraska convenience store

Police responding to reports of a shotgun blast at a convenience store sounds like the opening of countless American crime movies, but when cops in Nebraska responded to a recent such call they found an unusual culprit: a dog. Local TV station KNOP News 2 reported that police in the town of Scottsbluff were called…

3 Pastors Killed Returning from Peace Conference

Three tribal church pastors from the Thadou Baptist Association (TBA) of India were killed, and four others were injured in an armed ambush on May 13 in Kangpokpi district of Manipur. Roughly 10 armed men used automatic weapons to shoot two vehicles carrying the church leaders as they returned from a peace and reconciliation conference…

Sea lion makes splash at Monterey Bay race as it joins canoe crew

A racing team slicing through the waters of Monterey Bay over Memorial Day weekend got the shock of a lifetime when an overexcited sea lion launched itself straight onto their outrigger canoe in a now-viral moment caught on camera. The wild encounter unfolded during the Monterey Hoe Wa’a race on May 23, when the marine…

Video shows deer breaking into Minnesota Montessori school

School was not in session over the holiday weekend, but a four-legged friend still managed to pay a visit to a Zimmerman, Minnesota, Montessori school. The entire incident lasted less than 10 minutes, but left Prairie Hill Montessori with a shattered door and quite the story to tell. “We got a call, we were up…

Small plane crashes at Sonoma Valley Airport; 3 injured

A small plane crashed at an airport in Sonoma County on Wednesday, injuring three people, authorities said. The crash happened at about 4:20 p.m. at the Sonoma Valley Airport, also known locally as the Schellville Airport, in Sonoma. The plane ended upside down with major damage inside a watery ditch adjacent to the runway. The…

Invasive pest found on Costco plants a threat to California Wine Country vineyards, officials warn

Authorities in Northern California alerted residents on Tuesday about an invasive species found on plants from Costco that could threaten the region’s vineyards and other agriculture in the region. Agriculture officials in Marin, Napa, Nevada and Solano counties issued a consumer alert “urgently asking residents to take immediate action” after glassy-winged sharpshooters were found on grapevines…

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara resigns after internal probe into his conduct, mayor says

Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara has resigned following an internal investigation into his conduct, the mayor announced Tuesday evening.  In a press conference, Mayor Jacob Frey said Assistant Police Chief Katie Blackwell is the acting police chief effective immediately.  In a written reprimand to the police chief, Frey said an investigation into O’Hara’s behavior found…

Memorial Day parades taking place across NYC this weekend

Memorial Day parades are taking place all across New York City’s five boroughs this weekend. Paradegoers may want to pack their umbrella before heading out, however. Inaugural NYC Memorial Day walk Five Borough Veterans will host its first Memorial Day Walk on Sunday, uniting veterans, military families and local community members.  The free walk begins…

Super Typhoon Sinlaku batters remote US islands

earth planet

A super typhoon steadily battered a pair of remote U.S. islands in the Pacific Ocean with ferocious winds and relentless rains, shredding tin roofs and forcing residents to take cover from flying tree limbs. Super Typhoon Sinlaku pounded the Northern Mariana Islands for hours before daybreak Wednesday, slowing just to inflict more damage across the islands of Tinian and Saipan, home to nearly 50,000 people. In the village Susupe on Saipan, the wind tore the roof off a commercial building and broke tree branches.

A blue sedan lay on its side. Resident Dong Min Lee shot some video of a car sitting on top of two others in his apartment building’s parking lot below. The winds also tore off part of his balcony railing. “I hope people will take an interest and help. The damage is really huge here,” Lee said in a Facebook message. Preliminary reports include a lot of flooding, uprooted trees and downed power lines, said Jaden Sanchez, spokesperson for the Saipan mayor’s office. There were no reports of deaths, he said. Authorities were advising residents to remain indoors and away from strong winds, but Mayor Ramon “RB” Jose Blas Camacho was out in the community assessing the damage, Sanchez said.

Source: Super Typhoon Sinlaku batters remote US islands | AP News

Every way of a man is right in his own eyes, But the LORD weighs the hearts.
Proverbs 21:2

DOJ moves to dismiss J6 seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys leaders

silhouette man embracing sunset in kangan

The Justice Department filed paperwork Tuesday to dismiss seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keeper leaders related to the January 6 riot in 2021.  The department asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit to vacate the convictions, including of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, according to the Associated Press.  President Donald Trump has already commuted the sentences of over 1,500 Proud Boys and Oath Keeper members, including some of its leaders, but the motion goes further to erase the convictions.

“The government’s motion to vacate in this case is consistent with its practice of moving the Supreme Court to vacate convictions in cases where the government has decided in its prosecutorial discretion that dismissal of a criminal case is in the interests of justice — motions that the Supreme Court routinely grants,” prosecutors wrote in a court filing. The dismissal requests include convictions of Proud Boys members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola and Oath Keepers Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson and Jessica Watkins. Misty Severi is a news reporter for Just The News. You can follow her on X for more coverage. 

Source: DOJ moves to dismiss J6 seditious conspiracy convictions of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys leaders | Just The News

The LORD is on my side; I will not fear. What can man do to me?
Psalm 118:6

Democrats Turn to Unconstitutional Exit Taxes After Their Policies Drove the Wealthy Out of Blue States

Smiling baby donkey cartoon with big eyes and fluffy tail sitting

Democrats believe all our money belongs to them. They believe they have the moral and legal authority to take the money we earn and redistribute it to their preferred constituencies, while ignoring (or even facilitating) massive fraud and enriching themselves in the process.  Advertisement With the news of massive fraud scandals in Minnesota and California, it’s clear we don’t have a revenue problem; we have a fraud problem, and we’d bet the majority of our deficit could be erased if we eliminated fraud.

But Democrats don’t have any interest in doing that. They just keep taxing people more and more to make up for their fiscal mismanagement.  And when they raise taxes, the people who can afford to move from those blue states to tax-friendlier red states. That leaves the blue states with even more self-inflicted budget woes. Rather than roll back wealth taxes, Democrats have decided to tax the people even more in the form of an exit tax, and that concept is gaining traction in blue states.

Source: Democrats Turn to Unconstitutional Exit Taxes After Their Policies Drove the Wealthy Out of Blue States

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Romans 12:2

House Democrats call on Eric Swalwell to drop out of California governor race amid sexual assault allegations

A woman yelling and pointing her finger at a man during an argument

House Democratic leadership on Friday called on Rep. Eric Swalwell to drop out of the race for California governor in the wake of allegations that he sexually assaulted a former staffer. Swalwell denied the allegations and called them “false.”

In a statement Friday night, House Democratic leaders called for a “swift investigation” into the allegations and for Swalwell to immediately end his campaign. They called for accountability, but stopped short of urging him to resign from Congress. 

“This is unacceptable of anyone — certainly not an elected official — and must be taken seriously,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York, Whip Katherine Clark of Massachusetts and Caucus Chair Pete Aguilar of California said. “All perpetrators of sexual assault and harassment must be held accountable.”

Swalwell threatened to take legal action against the woman, who detailed the alleged encounters to the San Francisco Chronicle, which published a story Friday. 

The woman, who was not named, said Swalwell started pursuing her shortly after she was hired to work in his district office in Castro Valley in 2019. She alleged he sent her inappropriate photos of himself via Snapchat, requested nude photos of her and asked her to perform oral sex on him in a parking lot. She also alleged that after going out for drinks with Swalwell in September 2019, she woke up naked in his hotel bed with little recollection of the night.  

Source: House Democrats call on Eric Swalwell to drop out of California governor race amid sexual assault allegations – CBS News

Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
1 Thessalonians 5:11

Here are the promises Zohran Mamdani broke in his first 100 days in office

a man disembarking a bus in new york city ny usa

Mamdani’s early viral promise to open city-run grocery stores has all but disappeared from the conversation during his first 100 days in office. The pitch that candidate Mamdani made repeated was that five grocery stores — one in each borough — could sell food to hard-working New Yorkers at wholesale prices if the city covered rent and property taxes. But no such city-owned grocery stores have opened. Instead, Mamdani has just proposed $70 million in new funding for the city’s Economic Development Corporation to scout potential locations for and build the five stores.

Source: Here are the promises Zohran Mamdani broke in his first 100 days in office

A man’s gift makes room for him, And brings him before great men.
Proverbs 18:16

Eric Swalwell Could Be on the Verge of Being Engulfed in a Sexual Harassment Fiasco

News anchor in red blazer reports on political crisis and election showing donkey and elephant symbols

Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA), who is also running for governor of California, was trying to present himself as a victim of political persecution. The FBI is collecting documents related to his interactions with a woman known as Fang Fang, who was suspected of being a Chinese spy, and may be preparing them for public release. Swalwell acknowledged that the timing seems suspicious, suggesting he is playing the victim.

Source: Eric Swalwell Could Be on the Verge of Being Engulfed in a Sexual Harassment Fiasco

Whoever has no rule over his own spirit Is like a city broken down, without walls.
Proverbs 25:28