As most school students recover from a hot summer by going back to school, another hot topic in the midst of our classrooms this fall is the new delta variant of the Covid-19. With the delta variant in most of the United States, many school districts are reenacting face mask orders, making them mandatory in schools.
Disagreements
With these face mask orders being put back into place, many parents are quite upset about their children having to re-mask. A lot of them claim that it is not good for their children mentally and it is psychologically damaging to their children. Some parents even claim that re-masking hinders the learning process.
The Heat Is On
Currently in Florida, at least four school districts are imposing mandatory mask orders despite Governor Ron Desantis’ executive orders allowing parents to ignore school mask mandates. Immediately after the governor’s executive order was announced, two school districts in the state of Florida reversed their plans requiring students to wear masks. The Florida Board Of Education is expected to meet soon to consider emergency rules for the upcoming school year.
Very Necessary
Most school systems across the United States already have re-masking orders in place, The U.S. department of health recommends that students in schools continue to re-mask, because, many of them due to their ages are not currently eligible for the vaccine. Also, with the delta variant strain of Covid-19, school children are the affected the most.
Higher Learning
With the mask mandate orders for schools put back into place, many of the colleges and universities are reinstating their mask orders as well, for all students and faculty members
Zoom In
With some parents being upset and disgraced over many school districts reinforcing mask mandate orders for schools across the United States, many parents are choosing to place their children in Virtual Online Schools. Many of these virtual schools have seen their enrollment doubled so far this school year, which in some of the United States, the schools have not yet opened back up yet from summer break.
Other Alternatives
Private school enrollment has also doubled due to concerned parents worrying about the re-masking of their students. For Many Parents it’s a mixed bag of mixed reactions. A Mix that all parents are hoping will be sorted out real soon as everyone does their part to once again Stop The Spread
Written by: Gary Taylor
There are three different types of plague. The most common type we learn about in history class is the Bubonic plague or “black death.” The bubonic plague was named the black death because, once affected, the lymph nodes become black and swollen. The three variants “plagued” Europe for over 500 years. That is probably where we get the use of plagued to mean something awful that recurs over a long period of time. Many scientists believed the plague is spread through rodents until we learned their fleas are the real culprits. The fleas bite infected rats and jump to humans, then in the same way a mosquito gives you malaria, an infected flea could give you the plague. “It sucked me first, and now sucks thee, And in this flea our two bloods mingled be” poet John Donne wrote in the 17th century. He never got to see that he was indeed on the verge of a medical breakthrough, if only he knew about microbes and bacteria. Mortality rates for the plague when it first ravaged Europe were close to 100 percent, now with modern medicine that number is closer to 11, if treatment is sought promptly. That doesn’t make the sudden outbreak of Bubonic Plague in rodents at Lake Tahoe any less scary. Last year, a resident of the same area in South Lake Tahoe tested positive for plague. Before him, two people believed to have contracted it in Yosemite National Park. Last month, a 10-year-old girl died after contracting the plague in Colorado, but experts don’t know where she picked it up. “Medical and health professionals are trying to track down where she contracted the disease,” A local public health official from La Plata County told Durango Herald. “At this time, that is still unknown.”
How did the Rodents get the Plague?
Chipmunks in the South Lake Tahoe area tested positive for plague. This outbreak caused officials to close Kiva Beach and the Taylor Creek Visitor Center in South Lake Tahoe through Friday, August 6. It is unlikely the chipmunks had any direct interactions with people, according to the park. No statement has been made regarding the possibility of infected fleas or people. The bacterium that causes plague, Yersinia pestis, grows naturally in some parts of California, according to the California Department of Health. “Bubonic plague is naturally occurring in the Sierra Nevada Mountains and this region,” said Lisa Herron, a public affairs specialist for the agency’s Lake Tahoe basin management unit, which runs the closed facilities. “It’s something that visitors need to take precautions about, but it’s not something that they need to worry about.” She told the public that keeping pets at home, or at least on leash and away from rodent burrows, is a good way to keep out of the plague’s reach. “It’s important that individuals take precautions for themselves and their pets when outdoors, especially while walking, hiking or camping in areas where wild rodents are present,” Dr Nancy Williams, the local public health officer, said in a 2020 statement following a man being diagnosed with the bubonic plague. “Human cases of plague are extremely rare but can be very serious.”
Domestic animals can contract plague and transfer it to humans. Dogs rarely become ill, but cats can suffer a severe illness. A cat with plague will become very ill, stop eating and will have a fever. Swollen lymph nodes occur in the neck area. If a cat develops plague pneumonia, it can infect humans by coughing or sneezing. It is important to contact a veterinarian right away if you have been to an area where plague is common and your pet is showing symptoms. Stay away from chipmunks, squirrels or any other wild rodents and report any that are acting strange or lethargic to rangers immediately. El Dorado county vector control will be dusting the burrows with a powder, according to officials. The powder will basically be giving the forest a flea bath then there will be another round of trapping and testing. Officials hope the visitor sites can be opened by this weekend.
What if I believe I have the Plague?
The plague is commonly found in the western United States. Colorado, California, New Mexico, Oregon, and Arizona are where the plague is mostly found and contracted. Plague loves places that are rural with a high traffic volume, low sanitation, and large rodent populations. Take precautions, such as wearing proper clothing and insect repellent to deter fleas, when hiking in affected areas. Wear gloves when handling dead wild animals in areas where the plague could be common. The Plague’s usual incubation period is 2 to 6 days and curable when diagnosed early. Make sure to tell your doctor everywhere you have been so they can figure out if you have any of the three types of plague. Bubonic Plague is the most common plague and is usually where the illness begins.
(CDC) Bubonic plague: Patients develop sudden onset of fever, headache, chills, and weakness and one or more swollen, tender and painful lymph nodes (called buboes). This form usually results from the bite of an infected flea. The bacteria multiply in the lymph node closest to where the bacteria entered the human body. If the patient is not treated with the appropriate antibiotics, the bacteria can spread to other parts of the body.
If it is not treated in time, bubonic plague can progress to septicemic plague or pneumonic plague.
(CDC) Septicemic plague: Patients develop fever, chills, extreme weakness, abdominal pain, shock, and possibly bleeding into the skin and other organs. Skin and other tissues may turn black and die, especially on fingers, toes, and the nose. Septicemic plague can occur as the first symptom of plague, or may develop from untreated bubonic plague. This form results from bites of infected fleas or from handling an infected animal.
Pneumonic plague affects the lungs. It’s the least common variety of plague but the most dangerous. Signs and symptoms can begin within a few hours after initial infection. Catching Pneumonic Plague is rare, generally it develops as a complication of untreated Bubonic Plague, but if transmitted from person to person, it develops quicker than any other plague
(CDC) Pneumonic plague: Patients develop fever, headache, weakness, and a rapidly developing pneumonia with shortness of breath, chest pain, cough, and sometimes bloody or watery mucus. Pneumonic plague may develop from inhaling infectious droplets or may develop from untreated bubonic or septicemic plague after the bacteria spread to the lungs. The pneumonia may cause respiratory failure and shock. Pneumonic plague is the most serious form of the disease and is the only form of plague that can be spread from person to person through infectious cough droplets.
Plague is a serious illness. If you are experiencing symptoms like those listed here, seek immediate medical attention. Prompt treatment with the correct medications is critical to prevent complications. According to Mayo Clinic complications of plague may include:
Gangrene. Blood clots in the tiny blood vessels of your fingers and toes can disrupt blood flow and cause that tissue to die. The portions of your fingers and toes that have died may need to be removed (amputated).
Meningitis. plague may cause inflammation of the membranes surrounding your brain and spinal cord.
Death. Most people who receive prompt antibiotic treatment survive bubonic plague. Untreated plague has a high fatality rate.
Keep yourself safe while camping and hiking. Make sure to leave your pets at home when traveling to affected areas, or if they must come they should have flea medications already working. Experts say flea collars don’t work quick enough to deter plague ridden fleas from your pets. During the time plague ran rampant we did not know much about hygiene and the way disease spread, now we have the knowledge to keep ourselves safe if we decide to use it. Keep areas clean as possible while camping and take precautions against rodents, or other wild animals that may carry fleas. If you develop plague symptoms after visiting a possibly affected area please seek prompt medical care.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
On the morning of January 12, 1979 the lives of a Colorado Springs family were changed forever. Yvonne Elaine Sisneros and her two children, Carlos Ray and Benjamin Lawrence, were brutally murdered in their home. Yvonne was three months Pregnant at the time of her death. Carlos was four and Benjamin was two. The children were found in the two bedrooms of the home, Yvonne was found in the bathroom. This happened while their husband and father, Ben Sisneros, worked at Butts Army Airfield as an Army Air Traffic Controller. At first investigators believed Ben was their prime suspect. Was the five minutes between Ben arriving home and calling 911 enough time to kill his family? Famous investigator Joe Kenda was assigned to the case and said the scene “took your breath away emotionally.” How could someone be such a monster to a woman and her innocent children? The father of two says he came home and found his front door unlocked and his family dead but there were no signs of forced entry or struggle. Did Yvonne know her killer and let him in? An anonymous tip led investigators to a 28 year old home improvement worker. Could he have been responsible? Will the culprit ever be convicted? Find out why this case remains unsolved by listening to Momma Kirby’s Murder Mysteries.
Yvonne was everyone’s favorite server at Shakey’s Pizza Parlor and a graduate of Pueblo Central Highschool. The family lived on the floor above their babysitter, who stopped by that morning wondering why the boys had not been dropped off as usual. She said she heard banging in the apartment but n one answered the door. Did she hear the crime occurring, could she also have been in danger during those moments she was knocking? This was essentially a small town family who was targeted for a horrible random act of violence. This crime remains unsolved but did the universe already catch up to the killer? If Ben didn’t do it, this was an act that looked as if it were at least partially planned. Someone who knew the family’s schedule and was close enough to the family it didn’t seem suspicious for them to be there. Evidence says Yvonne was alive before she went in the bathroom, what happened in there? How were they able to get so close to the family?
You can listen to the podcast here.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Gun violence is on the rise in Colorado, authorities have reported six separate shootings from early morning Sunday August 1, to the early hours of Monday August 2, 2021. Four of these shootings occured in Denver. The other two shootings were in the outer metro area. In the first six months of 2021, 43 people’s lives were claimed killed in Denver homicides alone. 39 people were killed in Denver in the same period of 2020. 83 people were wounded in shootings in Denver between January 1 and June 12, 2021. 75 people were shot and injured in the same period of 2020. By the end of 2020, 305 people had been shot, which was a 51% increase from 2019. With shootings and gun violence on the rise, Denver police have established a new two-person team which will be cracking down on violent offenders. Teaming up with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and local and federal prosecutors plan to bring heavy penalties, and in some cases even federal charges, against people convicted of felonies who illegally carry guns. The move comes as the state of Colorado is experiencing an extremely violent summer which is on pace to exceed the bloodshed of 2020.
Gun Violences Erupts Over the Weekend
Denver police said the first shooting happened around 12 a.m. Sunday, August 1, closing down a lane of traffic in the area of South Federal Boulevard and West Iliff Avenue. One person was injured. Then, around 4 a.m. police say a shooting occurred in the 1700 block of West Mississippi Avenue. One woman and two girls were injured in the shooting. In Aurora, police continue to investigate a shooting, which occurred around 5:30 p.m. Sunday at 19th Avenue and Clinton Street. Authorities do not have anyone in custody and they’re asking for anyone with info to reach out; one man underwent surgery for his injuries. You can contact Aurora police with any info you may have here.
Another two other shootings occurred Sunday around 9 p.m.. One of the shootings occured in the Clayton neighborhood of Denver. One man was taken to the hospital after being shot in the 3600 Block of North Elizabeth Street. Then in Jefferson County, one man suffered an injury after being shot in the 3500 block of South Depew Street. Shortly before 3 a.m. on Monday, shots were fired at the downtown intersection of Speer Boulevard and Larimer Street. One person was taken to the hospital with non-fatal injuries while police shut down a few area streets to investigate. These types of crimes will be what the new team, created by Denver police, will investigate.
How Will The New Team Work?
The new inter-agency team will focus on the geographic “hot spots” in the city. The “hotspots” are five parts of the city that make up 2% of Denver’s landmass but that 2% is responsible for 26% of homicides and 49% of shootings. “The reality is we were seeing a rise in violent crime before the pandemic and the pandemic exacerbated what we were seeing and continue to see even today,” Mayor Michael Hancock said during a news conference. “The scholars, the academics, they talk about ‘hotspots’ and ‘hot people,” Denver police Chief Paul Pazen said. “This gives us an opportunity to focus on those ‘hot people.’” Pazen said the new team will respond to shootings to assist officers with building gun violence cases from the beginning of an investigation. The team will also review cases that involve a felon in possession of a gun to see whether they should be prosecuted locally or at the federal level. Pazen said an offender’s criminal history and background will factor heavily into the decision of how to charge. Pazen said Denver police have seized 1,170 guns so far in 2021 and have made 415 arrests of people illegally carrying guns, which is up 48% from the past three years. “It’s no secret that violent crime is on the rise, gun-related crime is on the rise in our city,” he said. “We cannot become numb to this gun violence, we cannot normalize this gun violence. The status quo is not acceptable.”
Matt Kirsch, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Colorado, said the team will use a mix of things to identify the criminals who are the “worst of the worst.” “This strategy uses data from police reports, from gunshot detection technology, from the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network… to focus law enforcement’s efforts on criminals who are most likely to be possessing and using guns. What the new effort today adds to that is data about where the most violent crimes are occurring, as well as other on-the-ground intelligence from DPD officers and the additional investigative efforts to develop those federal cases. We are not going to hesitate to vigorously pursue those charges,” Kirsch said at a news conference, Wednesday. As officials at Denver police headquarters spoke to unveil the new anti-gun violence initiative, the federal courthouse downtown was forced to lock down because of a shooting outside. No one was hurt, but police said at least one pedestrian exchanged gunfire with a person in a vehicle. One person was arrested. This almost seems staged to make the point of the conference but just shows us how important the work of the new team is. Dangerous criminals walk the streets everyday and innocent people suffer for it. Shootings are not caused by guns, they are caused by the people carrying them. If people were able to use guns responsibly we would not have so many gun control issues and people ready to take the right to bear arms away. The new team will hopefully take guns out of the wrong and irresponsible people’s hands before they ruin the right to bear arms for the rest of us. If you own a firearm remember it is a weapon of maximum force to use only for self defense, not a way to force your point across in an argument or solve day to day issues.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Colorado’s law regarding the prohibition of possessing a firearm if you are a felon had changes made through Senate Bill 271, which had bipartisan support. The 304 page Bill changed in the wake of a mass shooting at a Boulder King Soopers. The bill has been passed banning people convicted of certain misdemeanor crimes from purchasing a firearm for at least five years. House Bill 1298 was presented as a way to keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous criminals and people who are generally unstable. The believed King Soopers gunman was convicted of third-degree assault a few years before the mass shooting. Assault is one of the misdemeanors that now has the ability to keep a person from purchasing a firearm. The legislature also loosened prohibition of firearms possessed by felons. These measures are being enacted despite Denver and Aurora having seen record breaking levels of violent crime related to firearms. In 2020, Denver had 95 homicides, 50% more than in 2019 and the highest number in three decades. This year is looking even worse. Aurora saw a more than a 45% jump in firearm-related homicides from 2019 to 2020. 2021 is not on a better pace since there were more non-fatal shootings in Aurora during the first half of 2021 than in 2019.
What changes Will the Legislature Make?
Senate Bill 271 was supposed to reform Colorado’s criminal code related to misdemeanors. Only Felons convicted of a crime that falls under the Victims Rights Act, murder, robbery and felony assault, for instance, are still prohibited from possessing a firearm. This means many dangerous criminals will now be allowed to own firearms legally, including those convicted of drug dealing, organized crime, burglary, arson, car theft, treason, sedition, anarchy, and inciting a riot. Senate Bill 271 raised being a felon in possession of a firearm from a Class 6 felony to a Class 5 felony; The maximum penalty for those who violate the law has increased to three years in prison from 18 months. Offenders may no longer receive probation if they produce a weapon while committing a crime. No matter what felony is committed, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm continues to be illegal under federal law, carrying a maximum prison sentence of 10 years. Federal prosecutors often reserve charges for people suspected of many other crimes or who have known gang affiliations. No matter the crime, felons in Colorado could still be potentially kept from purchasing a firearm in stores since they wont pass a federal background check. Will they be able to own a firearm but not purchase one? The Colorado Bureau of Investigation handles background checks for firearms in Colorado. They are trying to determine if the change would actually let people convicted of felonies to purchase a firearm or just simply own one.
Tristan Gorman, legislative policy coordinator for the Colorado Criminal Defense Bar, worked on Senate Bill 271. “I think that it’s a statute that has long been in need of reform,” Gorman said, arguing that it’s too broad. The changes are needed for the justice system, but allowing some felons to legally possess a firearm creates conflict in the state’s criminal code. Someone convicted of felony animal abuse is now able to possess a gun under Senate Bill 271, but because of House Bill 1298, someone convicted of misdemeanor animal abuse would not be able to purchase a weapon for five years after their conviction. Organized crime offenders will be allowed to own weapons but someone defending their significant other from an unwanted stranger touching them inappropriately in public will be forced to give up gun ownership for up to five years. While many of the misdemeanor charges do warrant removing the right to own a firearm from a person, the field should be level for all offenders seemingly big or small. House Bill 1298 placed the five-year purchasing restriction on people convicted of the following misdemeanors:
Third-degree assault, Sexual assault, Unlawful sexual contact, Child abuse, Violation of a protection order, A crime against an at-risk person, Harassment, A bias-motivated crime, Possession of an illegal weapon, Unlawfully providing a firearm other than a handgun to a juvenile
Colorado Punishes Law-abiding Gun Owners
House Bill 1298 does not prohibit people from continuing to possess firearms they owned before they were convicted of a misdemeanor that temporarily blocks them from purchasing a gun. Does this mean people would not receive consequences if they have a previously purchased firearm in their possession even though they are banned? It is unclear if Moms Demand Action, Everytown, Giffords and other groups, who are generally leading the changes of laws impacting lawful gun owners, consulted on the bills which will help firearms into the hands of those convicted of dangerous crimes. Colorado placed restrictions on legal firearm owners earlier this year despite the sudden leniency we are all now seeing.
In April, Colorado passed two bills criminalizing not storing firearms properly inside your own home. The punishments include the possibility of jail time. Storing firearms properly is important but so is informing members of your household (you and old) all about firearm safety. The other bill criminalizes victims of burglary and theft who fail to report their firearms were stolen. Once again lawmakers say law-abiding firearm owners cannot be trusted to safely exercise Second Amendment rights. Yet a criminal who has been convicted of multiple serious felonies is told by the same politicians they can be trusted despite the obvious disregard for the laws. Why is this country rewarding the rule breakers? We are giving weapons to dangerous criminals… then what? The leaders sit back bewildered when the snake they let loose inevitably bites them? The leaders of Colorado are setting the state up for disaster. Crime in general will skyrocket and violent crime, even more so. How can we trust our country is a safe place to be when our leaders literally are being enablers to very dangerous people.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Britney Spears has been anything but silent on social media regarding her family and the conservatorships she is currently held under. The posts were thought to be reactions to her family attempting to publicly post support for Britney after the years of abuse she claims they were involved in. Britney also told her fans she will not be performing on a stage anytime soon; the only performing the queen of pop will be doing is from her living room on social media. Britney Spears says she’s tired of being told what to wear and how to act, which the personal and financial conservatorships she is fighting currently control. There have been recent advances in the battle to #FreeBritney from the conservatorships.
What did Britney say on social media?
Many people believe Britney’s posts are a reaction to the public support her sister, Jamie Lynn Spears, gave after Britney went public at the end of June and told the world about the horrible abuse she faces daily. Britney took to Instagram to say: “There’s nothing worse than when the people closest to you who never showed up for you post things in regard to your situation whatever it may be and speak righteously for support, There’s nothing worse than that !!!! How dare the people you love the most say anything at all … did they even put a hand out to even lift me up at the TIME !!!??? How dare you make it public that NOW you CARE … did you put your hand out when I was drowning ???? Again … NO … so if you’re reading this and you know who you are … and you actually have the nerve to say anything about my situation just to save face for yourself publicly !!! If you’re gonna post something …. Please stop with the righteous approach when you’re so far from righteous it’s not even funny … and have a good day !!!!! PS if you’re reading this today and you can relate …. I’m sorry because I know what it’s like … and I send you my love 💋💋💋 !!!!” Not too long after, Britney seemed to confirm the followers of the #FreeBritney movement’s suspicions. Many believed the posts may be directed at the family in general, but a lot say they were mainly directed at Britney’s sister, Jamie Lynn. Britney Spears also posted saying she was done performing for now and did not want her sister performing her songs before telling the world to read a book.
“For those of you who choose to criticize my dancing videos … look I’m not gonna be performing on any stages anytime soon with my dad handling what I wear, say, do, or think 🚫🙅🏼♀️🚫!!!! I’ve done that for the past 13 years … I’d much rather share videos YES from my living room instead of onstage in Vegas where some people were so far gone they couldn’t even shake my hand and I ended up getting a contact high from weed all the time … which I didn’t mind but it would have been nice to be able to go to the mother f****** spa 💆🏼♀️🤭🧖🏼♀️ !!!! And no I’m not gonna put on heavy makeup and try try try on stage again and not be able to do the real deal with remixes of my songs for years and begging to put my new music in my show for MY fans … so I quit !!!! I don’t like that my sister showed up at an awards show and performed MY SONGS to remixes !!!!! My so-called support system hurt me deeply !!!! This conservatorship killed my dreams … so all I have is hope and hope is the only thing in this world that is very hard to kill … yet people still try !!!! I didn’t like the way the documentaries bring up humiliating moments from the past … I’m way past all that and have been for a long time !!!! And for women who say it’s weird the way I still have hope for fairy tales … go f*** yourself !!!!! As I said … hope is all I have right now … you’re lucky I post anything at all … if you don’t like what you see, unfollow me !!! People try to kill hope because hope is one of the most vulnerable and fragile things there is !!!! I’m gonna go read a mother f****** fairy tale now !!!! Psss if you don’t want to see my precious a** dancing in my living room or it’s not up to your standards … go read a f****** book 📕 !!!!!” After those two posts the estranged sisters resorted to the public display of indirect fighting seen below. The two sisters seem to be engaged in an indirect social media battle. Britney is also in another battle as well, fighting to end her oppressive conservatorship and has recently been given a win.
What happened recently in Britney’s conservatorship battle?
In the recent battles against the conservatorship, Judge Penny permitted Britney Spears to appoint her own lawyer, Mathew S. Rosengart, who was a former federal prosecutor. (which she celebrated by doing cartwheels on social media.) Britney told the Los Angeles court she wanted her father to be charged with conservatorship abuse. “I want to press charges against my father today. I want an investigation into my dad,” she said “I’m angry and I will go there.”
Alexander Ripps, conservatorship attorney at Bohm Wildish & Matsen in California, said Britney Spears appointing her own counsel was a welcome development. “I think Judge Penny allowing Britney to retain her own counsel is a welcome development, and frankly I would have been surprised if the request was rejected. I’ve long believed Britney’s conservatorship stemmed from her susceptibility to undue influence, rather than her lack of ability to function,” Ripps said. “Her obvious ability to function is what has largely driven the public outcry. Of course that doesn’t mean Britney doesn’t have problems, but it’s important to remember that a conservatorship is meant to be a last resort only if there are no less restrictive alternatives.” Britney Spears also told the judge she wants to have her father Jamie Spears charged with conservatorship abuse. “I’m here to get rid of my dad and charge him with conservatorship abuse,” Britney Spears told Judge Penny, adding that she is “extremely scared” of her father and “this conservatorship has allowed my dad to ruin my life. I am not perfect, but their goal was to make me feel crazy, and I’m not and that’s not OK.” Britney’s father’s lawyer, Vivian Thoreen, responded after the singer’s latest testimony, claiming “Many of Britney’s characterizations and memories are just incorrect.” She also said Britney has a “lack of understanding and lack of recollection.”
This is definitely not the case. Britney Spears definitely endured abuse at the hand of her conservators. She has made that clear for years and it is time to stop believing everyone but Britney about Britney. This is made even more apparent by her ex-husband, Jason Alexander, and the statements he made publicly about the way their relationship ended. Jason Alexander was married to Britney Spears for just 55 hours before they got an annulment, he was under the impression they may be able to get back together eventually in the future. “They told me if I would sign the contracts – the annulment – they would let me and Britney continue our relationship, and if we felt the same way in six months they would give us a proper marriage. So I had no reason to believe otherwise. I thought that’s what the truth was. They were allowing Britney and I to still have phone communication. So we were talking every day and I still believed the story I was told, that they were going to let us continue to talk and then we would have this marriage, right, in the future if we felt the same way.” Jason tried to make contact with Britney after 30 days but the line had been disconnected. “Literally the day after the 30 days was up, I remember trying to call the number I had for Britney and it was like, ‘Beep, beep, beep [like it had been disconnected]’. I’m like, ‘F*** they got me! Motherf******!’ So that was it.”There are too many instances like these where witnesses who see the way Britney is dealt with in the conservatorship, believe the arrangement is wrong and abusive. The whole idea of conservatorships is absolutely ridiculous. There is so much legal theft and burglary happening due to conservatorships. There are a lot of people like Britney who deal with their daily lives being controlled down to the tiniest details. Their money is being spent to fund other people who don’t see a person as a person, they see them as a walking piggy bank. Britney Spears is not a walking piggy bank and neither is any other person enduring conservatorship abuse. I would love to see Britney become free and be the first domino to fall in a long, long line of shredding apart the abusive conservatorships. For more about Britney Spears, read her 2001 book, A Mother’s Gift. The fiction novel follows Holly Faye Lovell, a 14-year-old girl from the small town of Biscay, Mississippi, who has dreams of becoming a singer. The story is a mirror of Britney’s life with details exaggerated. Holly becomes the youngest student ever to win a scholarship to the prestigious Haverty School of Music. It is a quick and entertaining read.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Heavy rain has been moving across southwestern Colorado over the last few days leading to flash flood warnings in areas that have seen little precipitation the past few months. Tuesday, Crews had to rescue a hiker from Imogene Pass as well as others from other areas of the state. One person died and two others are missing after a flash flood during a rafting trip in a Colorado canyon, according to an email from Larimer County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Jered Kramer. Flash floods and mudslides are very dangerous and can cause widespread damage to both people and property. This is why evacuations are ordered by officials when the conditions are right for dangerous mudslides and flash floods.
Evacuations due to Flash Floods
Emergency evacuations were issued for parts of Larimer county and Poudre Canyon, west of Fort Collins because of flash floods. The National Weather Service in Grand Junction issued flash flood warnings for parts of Dolores, San Juan, Ouray and San Miguel counties Tuesday, the Telluride area was already flooding. The San Miguel County Sheriff’s Office said mudslides were also occurring in the Telluride area. A flash flood warning was issued for the area near the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar, including the Chambers Lake Campground area.
There are currently (7-21-21) mandatory evacuations in place following a wave of flooding and debris in the Poudre River. Mandatory evacuation orders are in place in the area of Highway 14 from Rustic to Ted’s Place at Highway 287. An evacuation site is being set up by the Red Cross at Cache La Poudre Middle School at 3515 W County Road 54G. The electric co-op, Poudre Valley REA, tweeted that mudslides took down power lines, and bridges were out, making damage assessment difficult.
Burn Scars Prone to Flooding
Radar estimates up to an inch of rain may have fallen on the Cameron Peak Fire burn scar in Larimer County on Tuesday, according to Bob Kleyla, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. The fire last year was the largest in Colorado history and burned more than 208,000 acres. Areas burned by wildfire are prone to mudslides because the soil no longer absorbs precipitation, so it runs downhill due to the lack of vegetation to absorb moisture. The National Weather Service in Boulder issued a small stream flood advisory for central Grand County and the East Troublesome burn scar area. A flash flood watch was issued for the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar. The area has seen several mudslides and closures of Interstate 70 over the past few weeks.
Numerous mudslides from the Grizzly Creek Fire burn scar overtook a section of interstate 70, Tuesday. The Grizzly Creek burn scar is located right near the highway, as a result, flash floods and mudslides are common dangerously close to the interstate. The highway was closed in both directions through Glenwood Canyon. The threat of flash flooding prompted the Colorado Department of Transportation to close the troublesome part of the interstate. If detouring, Colorado Department of Transportation asked motorists to use the northern alternate route, which adds an extra 2.5 hours of travel time. Highway 145 Spur east of Telluride was also shut down Tuesday. Both, Black Bear Pass and Bridal Veil Road were closed as well, according to the sheriff’s office. The highways are closed when conditions are not safe and you should not attempt to drive on closed highways even if you THINK you have experience driving in bad weather.
Just after 6 p.m Tuesday, 1 to 2 inches of rain had dropped north of Telluride, and flash flooding was expected to continue for “another couple hours,” the National Weather Service said. The sheriff’s office said search and rescue crews had to rescue a vehicle on Black Bear Pass that needed help. The sheriff said the people in the car, who were not equipped for any weather emergencies, were driving on dangerous passes with little or no experience. The search and rescue mission was successful and everybody was safe as of 7 p.m. The outcome could have gone different for the people in the car or the rescue crews. Our heroes are heroes but are also human and the conditions are dangerous for everyone. Please try to avoid areas where flash flooding is possible and evacuate when you are asked, in order to keep the people on Colorado’s search and rescue teams safe to search another day. Check your local National Weather Service and Department of Transportation for up to date road closures and weather conditions. When the weather is bad, stay home if you can and stay safe.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
An animal control officer in Montrose County, Colorado ended up in a slow-speed chase when he was called to capture a wallaby. The Montrose County Sheriff’s Office said Animal Control Sgt. Chuck Searcy responded Thursday, July 9, 2021 to a call from a member of the public, who initially misidentified the wallaby as a kangaroo, hopping loose on Jay Jay Road.
Searcy, who was joined at the scene by the caller and a Colorado State Patrol trooper, said he ended up chasing the Australian marsupial for about 45 minutes. “I just looked for anything hoppy down the road,” Searcy said Friday morning, although at the time he wasn’t entirely certain what a wallaby looked like. The caller was on hand when Searcy arrived, and pointed out the straying marsupial. Plus, he showed Searcy a picture “to make sure I knew they weren’t crazy.”
The callers said they were convinced the responding officer believed he had, “showed up to a drug call. I don’t blame him. I showed him the pictures we took, still a bit apprehensive he began to look around with us. Then, [the] State Patrol shows up, also anticipating some heavy drug activity. We take a walk around the shop and they finally spot Kangaroo Jack, now they’re both believers.” “It ran down right when it got to the driveway, took a left turn, and headed home,” Searcy told the Montrose Daily Press. The wallaby was released back into the custody of its owner. “It sounds like it sticks around the house quite a bit. It’s a well-taken care of and loved animal,” Searcy said.
That sounds like a hopping good time. How would you react to Wally Wallaby hooping through your yard?
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Hunter Biden’s struggled with addiction, published a new memoir, rode the coattails of his famous dad, and his romantic life is a tabloid playhouse, but he has found himself once again in the media… as a painter? We are all getting major Ukraine backdoor business deals flashbacks, as we watch another instance unfold of Hunter Biden making money off his fathers name. The White House defended Hunter Biden’s artwork deal which will be sold to “anonymous buyers.” The White House press secretary said in a briefing, the “system was organized to allow the troubled son of the president to work in his profession within reasonable protection.” The art deal raised numerous red flags by ethics officers, as it should, the art world isn’t known for it’s first class dealings or squeaky clean business.
How Will the Art Sell Anonymously?
Hunter Biden, 51, is suddenly an artist overnight and will be selling his work in upcoming exhibits in Los Angeles and New York. According to Artnet, Hunter Biden has no formal artistic training and only began working as an artist full time recently. The White House made arrangements to keep the names of the buyers “confidential” from Hunter Biden himself. Psaki maintains the sales of Hunter Biden’s artwork will be conducted by professionals with the highest industry standard and the anonymous nature of the transaction is intended to protect against “any improprieties.” Georges Berges, Hunter Biden’s art dealer, will host the private viewings of the “troubled sons” artwork. The price of his work ranges from $75,000 to $500,000. Bergès will set the prices for the art and conceal buyer records. Bergès, not the public, will be the only person able to scrutinize the transactions. Bergès has promised to refuse offers far exceeding the asking price or he deems suspect. Which is pretty suspect if you ask me. Bergès will be compensated for selling the paintings, according to his gallery’s spokesperson. He will retain a percentage from the sales like arrangements his gallery has with other artists; the spokesperson declined to provide the exact percentage. Typically, galleries take around 50% of a sale. This means it is not in Berges’ financial interest to “reject higher offers,” so why would he?
Is the Art Arrangement Ethical?
Walter Shaub, former ethics chief during President Obama, called out the White House in a tweet. He stated the Biden administration is ensuring we will never know who the buyers are. How can we ensure the same people paying outrageous sums of money for Hunter Biden’s paintings aren’t gaining special access to business dealings in or around the whitehouse? Shaub said this move is “very disappointing,” and “the perfect mechanism for funneling bribes” to the president. “They have outsourced government ethics to an art dealer. She mentioned industry standards,” Shaub said in reference to comments by White House press secretary Jen Psaki. “It’s an industry that’s notorious for money laundering. There’s no standards in that industry,” he said during the interview. “The idea that they’re going to flag any overly priced offers? Well, this is art that hasn’t even been juried into a community art sale. How are they going to decide what’s unreasonable when they’ve already priced it in the range of $75,000 to $500,000 for a first outing? This is just preposterous and very disappointing,” the Obama official said.
His point is absolutely correct, that’s way more than an up-and-coming artist without experience or sales under his belt should be selling paintings for.That is one of the reasons Richard Painter, a White House ethics lawyer during the George W. Bush administration, says he’s uneasy about the arrangement. “I’m baldly surprised at the pricing,” he said. “That’s part of the appearance problem.” He went on to explain it didn’t matter who purchased the paintings, such high prices being paid out to a novice means Hunter Biden is profiting off his father’s name. This is an abuse of power, you can’t use your status to gain profit, you have to earn it correctly. Though, this would not be the first time the Biden’s were accused of it. Painter also worried, foreign governments could fund the purchase through a buyer or lobbyists could purchase the painting to win favor. Painter said ideally, Hunter would have waited to sell his paintings until his father left office, to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Since Hunter Biden is turning to this avenue to make a living right now, the buyers and prices for each painting should be disclosed and recused from any work with the administration. “I would not have chosen the secrecy route. I would have gone with the transparency route,” Painter said. On his first day as president, Biden signed an executive order requiring stricter ethics commitments from all administration personnel. Then, we have Hunter Biden’s private dealings leaving some critics expressing concerns that he was profiting from his father’s status.
During the 2020 presidential campaign, Republicans criticized Hunter Biden’s business dealings with a Ukrainian energy company while his father oversaw U.S.-Ukraine policy. Former President Trump believed the Ukraine deal showed impropriety in the Biden family. Hunter Biden continued to defend his previous foreign business actions but told CBS News he would not make the Ukrainian deal again. If there was nothing wrong with the deal and it was not inappropriate, why would you not make it again? Oh… wait. Federal prosecutors also announced they had been investigating Hunter Biden’s taxes, beginning in 2018, in December. “My dad loves everything that I do, and so,” Hunter Biden told Artnet, “I’ll leave it at that.” Is that because everything you do enhances or in some way helps his bank account, as well as yours? Hunter Biden described his new found “artistry” as “getting to the truth.” A line which is slightly amusing given the scandalous affairs the President’s son is believed to have in motion. “I don’t paint from emotion or feeling, which I think are both very ephemeral,” Hunter Biden told Artnet in June. “For me, painting is much more about trying to bring forth what is, I think, the universal truth.”
Written by: Erinn Malloy
What is looking like the makings of a record breaking heat wave is hitting the west coast over the next week. Some flights at Las Vegas’ airport were canceled due to high temperatures. Burn bans are running rampant across all of the U.S. even in states as far east as North Carolina and Tennessee. California’s statewide “flex alert,” which is a call for electricity conservation, was extended into the weekend due to the heat wave and a wildfire in southeastern Oregon threatening transmission lines. “It’s always hot, but it’s not always this hot,” said Clay Morgan, meteorologist at the National Weather Service in Las Vegas, who called the heat unusual and approaching all-time records.
Flights Grounded for Heat
Due to the heat wave, California officials are urging residents to conserve power and cooling centers around the state are open. Las Vegas could see temperatures as high as 117 degrees. This has only happened four times in the city’s history, most recently in 2017. The temperature climbed to within one degree Friday, when the heat wave reached 116 degrees at McCarran International Airport. The airport in Grand Junction, Colorado, saw an all-time record high of 107 degrees, breaking the previous record of 106 from 2005. There were flight delays and some cancellations at the airports because of the heat. The Federal Aviation Administration implemented a traffic management program due to heat and wind, the agency and airport said. Southwest Airlines told frustrated passengers on Twitter that a number of its flights were canceled, citing the extreme heat wave. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment about how many were affected. Excessive heat warnings covered a large area of the Western United States on Friday, from California and southeast Oregon into parts of Utah, Colorado and Arizona. The warning is meant to protect people and warn them against going out in the heat wave.
Heat Wave Leaves Many Injured
There’s a dome-like area of high pressure centered over the region causing the heatwave in many parts of the West. Last month was the hottest June on record, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has said. This has led to multiple cases of heat-related injuries and deaths. 63 people have died due to heat in Oregon as of Friday, the Oregon medical examiner’s office said in a statement, and 32 other deaths were under investigation. In Palm Springs, California, simply going on a walk turned deadly in triple-digit heat. A rescue team rescued a hiker, who only wanted to be referred to as James, around 1pm from the side of a cliff where he had no water and was suffering from heat exhaustion and extreme sunburn. Multiple states on the West Coast have asked people not to go out hiking in the heat wave to prevent incidents like this.
On Friday, Death Valley recorded a high temperature of 130 degrees, but the reading is considered preliminary and not yet validated, the weather service said. They also wanted to warn people against going out in the heatwave. “Heed these warnings,” it tweeted in all capital letters. “Do not put yourself, nor first responders in danger this weekend! Death Valley holds the world record for the hottest temperature on earth ever recorded, which was 134 degrees on July 10, 1913. Don’t get stuck in the heat, if you go out please plan accordingly and remember first responders are people like you, don’t put them in danger for no reason. Drink water, jump in the pool, use your sunscreen, and when you can stay away from the heat.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Last month, in Surfside, Florida, Champlain Towers South partially collapsed while hundreds of residents and their guests slept. The collapse left many residents homeless and many others dead and injured. Experts demolished the half of the building which was still standing, in order to safely use heavy machinery in the search. Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Cava said recovering victims was “moving forward with great urgency.” in order to bring closure to the victims’ loved ones who have spent weeks by the phone waiting for news. Rescue workers from Florida and several other states have worked amid oppressive heat and in dangerous conditions. Miami-Dade County Fire Chief Alan Cominsky said Friday two crew members suffered injuries while working. One was “cardiac in nature” while the other injury was a laceration that required stitches, he said. Both crew members received medical attention and are in stable condition. “We know that there will be long-term impacts for the teams on the front line,” Levine Cava said. “They have given so much of themselves in these first two weeks.”
Collapse Death Toll Reaches 79
“This is a staggering and heartbreaking number that affects all of us very deeply,” Levine Cava said about the death toll, which has risen to 79. “All those who have passed … are leaving behind loved ones. They’re leaving behind devastated families. The magnitude of this tragedy is growing each and every day,” she said. Levine Cava said 53 people have been identified and 51 sets of loved ones have been notified. There have been 200 people accounted for. Alan Cominsky said taking care of the mental health of first responders is a priority of city officials. Levine Cava said officials have added peer support personnel at the fire stations. The Rev. Juan Sosa of St. Joseph Catholic Church met with other spiritual leaders at the collapse site, where heavy machinery worked in the rubble and mourners left flowers and photos. He said faith leaders hope to bring peace to the grieving families. “I’m hoping that they have some closure as we continue to pray for them,” he said. No one has been found alive since the first hours after a large section of the 12-story Champlain Towers South collapsed on June 24.
What the State is Doing to Help Condo Collapse
“The pile that was originally at four or five stories is now almost at ground level,” Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said, adding that he was impressed by the recent progress of the efforts. Hope of finding survivors was sustained by emergency personnel after workers demolished the other half of the building. Voids where survivors could have been trapped did exist but no one was found alive. Paraguay’s foreign minister said in a radio report, the sister of the country’s first lady was among those found. “We ask people for their solidarity and a prayer,” he said. “In the face of a tragedy, Paraguayan people must show their traditional solidarity.” State and local officials have promised financial assistance to families of the victims and residents who lost all their possessions. Teams have also developed a procedure for collecting and returning personal items. A cat, named Binx ,was found alive near the site and reunited with its family from the ninth floor. That is one of the bright spots, in an otherwise heart-breaking story.
At least six lawsuits have been filed by families. The collapse has sparked greater scrutiny of condo owners associations. The state of Florida collected $13.7 million in fees from condominium owners associations and other various rentals in 2020. The money wasn’t used for its intended purpose; instead, Florida’s legislature swept $5 million of it into the state’s general fund in a practice that some legislators are questioning heavily in the recent week after the tragedy. Authorities have launched a grand jury investigation into the collapse.
Written by: Erin Malloy
Champlain Towers South, a 12-story, 1980s apartment building, partially collapsed around 1:30 AM June 24, 2021, in Surfside, Florida. The collapse left numerous residents of the small Miami beach community dead and injured. Many people are still unaccounted for. Crews are still searching the debris of Champlain Towers South for bodies of residents and survivors. What could have caused the 136-unit building to collapse? Champlain Towers had recently undergone minor construction and roof work that included a crane, but many buildings undergo similar maintenance. There are major risks when building on the shifting sands of a barrier island. Could these conditions have contributed to the horrific accident?
What is the current death toll?
No survivors have been pulled from the rubble since the first day of the collapse. Experts demolished the standing section of Champlain Towers South in order to make searching conditions safer for rescue crews. The current death toll is 32, Miami-Dade County Mayor, Daniella Levine Cava, said Tuesday, July 6, 2021. 26 of those victims had been identified. Levine Cava said 113 people remain unaccounted for, although “only around 70 of those are people we have been able to confirm were in fact in the building” when it collapsed. Over 191 residents have been accounted for and officials have expressed hope of finding survivors in pockets of rubble. Now that the remaining part of the building has come down, rescuers can safely use heavy equipment in the search. Rescue efforts resumed just 20 minutes after the demolition of the remaining section of Champlain Towers South complex. Before the demolition, a huge search for family pets used drones with thermal imaging. First responders used ladders and cranes to place animal traps on balconies and search hiding places in closets and under beds, no pets were found. Residents in nearby buildings were told not to evacuate during the demolition, they were instructed to stay indoors and turn off air conditioning due to dust. Officials made the decision to demolish the remaining section of the building due to tropical storm Elsa’s expected arrival in the state.
Will Tropical Storm Elsa Affect the Search?
Tropical Storm Elsa made landfall on the southern coast of Cub, Monday. The tropical storm brought flooding rains, according to the National Hurricane Center. The storm was forecast to approach western Florida on Tuesday or Wednesday. “There was the very real potential that this storm could have knocked down the building down the wrong way on top of the pile, which would have effectively ended the search and rescue,” said Surfside Mayor, Charles Burkett, at a news conference Monday. The storm is now expected to hit just north of Miami-Dade. This means the search for survivors can continue, except in the case of lightning. “The news is pretty positive, impact on Surfside will be incredibly, incredibly minimal,” Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis said. Ron DeSantis had issued an executive order declaring a state of emergency for fifteen counties in anticipation of Tropical Storm Elsa. Miami-Dade County was removed as forecasts changed. The county is still under a state of emergency due to the collapse of Champlain Towers South. As of Monday, July 5, 2021, the outer bands of the storm had reached surfside. The search for people in the debris of Champlain Towers South had to be suspended due to lightning making conditions unsafe, crews resumed searching Tuesday, July 6, 2021. Charles Burkett vowed rescue efforts would continue 24 hours a day, seven days a week until everyone was out of the rubble. “I’m very hopeful we’re going to be seeing some miracles in the coming days,” he said.
Why did the building collapse?
A 2020 study conducted by Shimon Wdowinski, a professor at Florida International University, found that the building had been sinking for decades. Nearly three years before the Champlain towers South collapsed the complex was made aware of the pool deck was causing “major structural damage,” according to filings. Among the filings released by Surfside authorities, a 2018 field survey report from Morabito Consultants found the concrete structural slab underneath the building’s pool needed repairs. “Failure to replace the waterproofing in the near future will cause the extent of the concrete deterioration to expand exponentially,” the report said. The report did not warn of any imminent danger, at the time, but is now the focus of inquiries that include a grand jury examination. It is still unknown what exactly caused the building to collapse. Video from a security camera inside the building, shows the ceiling breaking apart and falling in a hail-like fashion before the entire apartment began to rumble, then the camera goes black. Some witnesses say they saw water rushing out from underneath the structure before the collapse occurred. Survivors from the part of the building that did not collapse say their entire apartments shook before and during the collapse of Champlain Towers South.
Witness Reports of the Collapse
Adriana Sarmiento and Roberto Castillero recorded a video of concrete debris and gushing water in the underground parking garage of Champlain Towers South minutes before it collapsed. The couple was standing outside their nearby hotel when they began to record after hearing a loud crash. The video shows water coming down and concrete rubble appears to have fallen. Sarmiento said she and Castillero ran into the street, screaming and waving trying to get residents to evacuate, but they could not understand her. The couple witnessed the Champlain Towers South collapse up close and sustained minor injuries.
Barry Cohen, former vice mayor of surfside, said he was deep asleep when a bang, he thought was a lightning storm, woke him up around 1:30 a.m. “I realized that it didn’t stop. It just kept on going for 30 seconds,” Cohen, 63, told CNN. When Cohen opened the door to his apartment, “there was huge pile of rubble and dust, just havoc is all that I could think of.” Cohen and his wife attempted to open outside doors along the way down to the basement and parking garage of Champlain Towers South. There was dust everywhere and water in the garage was “pouring out of pipes in the ceiling,” and already up to their shins. The couple went back to their apartment and yelled for help from their balcony. “I was yelling to the Surfside Police to identify myself because I was a former vice mayor of Surfside,” Cohen said. “I was yelling and screaming to the fire department to get the hook and ladder truck up to us so we could get out of there.” Neighbors joined them on the balcony. “I thought the building was unstable,” Cohen explained. “I was worried it was going to completely go down.
Nicholas Balboa was walking his dog nearby when the Champlain Towers South collapsed. Balboa quickly made his way to the back of the building, where he heard a voice coming from the debris. “A little boy, couldn’t have been more than in his preteens,” Balboa told CNN. “Then I saw an arm sticking out of the wreckage, and he was screaming, you know, ‘Can you see me?'” Balboa and another proactive witness attempted to free the boy; the two people were unable to remove the debris safely. “He was just screaming, ‘Don’t leave me, don’t leave me, don’t leave me.'” Balboa stayed with the boy and was able to signal to a police officer using the flashlight on his phone. Rescuers arrived and successfully pulled the boy out.
Sharon Schechter, 60, says she believes she was only one of two people who survived from her floor when the Champlain Towers South collapsed. Schechter said she was asleep when she began hearing noises that were followed by shaking and rumbling. “It felt like the whole building was shaking,” Schechter said, she then went to look out the window. “I said, ‘Oh my god, where’s the building? There’s no building.” She quickly grabbed her dog and tried to evacuate, along with other residents, down the only staircase but rubble was in the way. “We were screaming ‘Help! We are here! Come get us!’ It was pitch black. It was like ‘Titanic,'” she said. The group ended up taking their chances crossing the destruction to escape the building. “We are finding our way out until we get to some light.” Schechter said she had to carry her dog over rubble and across the tops of cars in the dark. As soon as she got out, all she could think about were her neighbors still inside. “I feel like I’m mourning every minute for someone in the building,” she said.
“You’re going to have a lot of mental health impacts from people who were able to get out. Obviously, the families who lost somebody, that is going to be the most devastating. But I have spoken with a number of the folks who were able to get out. This is a really harrowing experience,” Florida Governor, Ron DeSantis, said at a news conference. “You literally have people that, if their unit had been 20 feet in another direction, they would have been in rubble. And their neighbor had never been heard from again.” DeSantis pledged Monday that support and resources would be available for families navigating the collapse, both in terms of insurance and other needs.
Officials have made it clear other high-rise buildings in the area will undergo more rigorous inspection processes. A group of officials did initial inspections of every building in the area, evacuating at least two. All other buildings are required to have professionals inspect the structure, electrical and plumbing system within a certain amount of time after the initial round of inspections spurred by the collapse of Champlain Towers South. Will this tragedy affect the future of high-rise buildings in similar places? One thing is for certain, this unfortunate accident will continue to affect the Surfside community and the U.S. as whole.
Britney Spears has been a hot topic in the media almost since her birth December 2, 1981. We need to bring attention to the recent development in the 39-year old’s battle against her own family and State of California. There are allegations of Britney being forced to take medication, work long hours up to seven days a week, and go to therapy up to 3 times a week against her will. Here is a timeline of Britney’s career and how her life is controlled by conservatorships of both her finances and person.
Timeline of Britney Spears Career
Britney Spears was 8 years old and went to New York to be on the Mickey Mouse Club. She was rejected at her audition for being too young. She spent the next three years at the professional performing arts school center. At 10 years old Britney won the first round of Star Search then lost the second round.
1993 – 1994
Britney joined the sixth season of Mickey Mouse Club when she was 11 years old. The next year Mickey Mouse Club was canceled so Britney Spears went home to Kentwood, Louisiana and attended Parklane Academy. Britney said in many interviews, this time of her life was “boring.” (After being on Mickey Mouse Club and living life as a “child star” for a moment, it makes sense why Britney would consider regular life a little boring.)
1998 – 1999
Britney Spears joined Jive records at 16. She flew to Sweden to record her first album “Baby One More Time.” When Britney returned home, she embarked on a mall tour around the USA. According to the people around her the shows went from a small crowd of people who gathered as she sang to huge crowds gathering to see her. This small tour is followed by her first real tour opening for ‘N sync. In 1999, “Baby One More Time” is released when Britney Spears is 17, it is number one on Billboard 200.
2000 – 2001
At 18 Britney Spears released “Oops… I Did It Again,” which sold over 20 million copies worldwide, and went on her next tour. She also performed at the VMAs and announced she was dating Justin Timberlake who she had known since Mickey Mouse Club. The next year Britney Spears performed “Slave for You” during the VMAs with a live snake and tiger which angered PETA. She also released the “Britney” album.
2002 – 2003
At 20 years old, Britney Spears topped the Forbes Celebrity 100. She also played in “Crossroads.” She Broke up with Justin Timberlake and gives Michael Jackson a birthday cake which he mistook for some type of award. In 2003 Madonna and Britney Spears kissed live at the VMAs; it was seen by many fans as “the queen of pop crowning the princess of pop.” Britney released “in the Zone” and became the first female artist to have four albums debut at number one. Britney received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
2004 – 2005
Britney married Jason Alexander in Vegas, and the marriage was annulled 55 hours later. Britney suffered a knee injury during shooting for “outrageous.” She then became engaged to Kevin Federline and their relationship was public domain on the show, “Britney and Kevin: Chaotic.” The two got married that fall and Britney took a step back from her career to start a family. Britney Spears was 22 when she gave birth to Sean Preston September 14, 2005.
2006 -2007
Britney spears was seen driving with her son on her lap and says it was because her and her child feared the paparazzi banging on the sides of the car. Britney guest starred on “Will and Grace” and did a cover for Harpers Bazaar. Jayden James is born later in the year then Britney and Kevin filed for divorce on November 7, 2006. The next year Britney Spears went to a rehab facility in Antigua for less than a day. The next day she was in California, and she shaved her head. She was sent to many treatment facilities and lost custody of her kids in October. She released “Blackout” and performed at the VMAs.
2008 – 2009
After locking herself in a bathroom with her children, Britney Spears had her visitation rights suspended due to police involvement with the incident. She was put on involuntary psychiatric hold and released February 6, 2008. Britney guest starred on “How I Met Your Mother” and performed at the VMAs. She won best female video, best pop video, and video of the year for “Piece of Me” and released “Circus” in December. Temporary Conservatorship over Britney’s finances and person is granted to Jamie Spears, Britney’s father, then it was made permanent in October 2008 by L.A. superior commissioner Reva Goetz.Britney went on MTV, “Britney for the Record,” during this special Britney tells the world “It’s bad. I’m sad.” Guinness Book of World Records recognized Britney Spears the following year for five albums released at number one. Womanizer hit number one on hot 100 list and Britney went on the Circus tour.
2010 -2013
Britney Spears started dating manager Jason Trawick. Britney released “Femme Fatale,” but was dealing with multiple lawsuits, including a sexual harassment suit from her former bodyguard. Britney Spears became a judge on X-Factor in 2012. The following year she announced her and Trawick’s split as well as she would not return to X-Factor. Britney then announced she would do a two-year residency at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino in Las Vegas called “Britney: Piece of Me” starting December 27.
2014
Britney Spearsreleased her lingerie line called “Intimate: Britney Spears.” Clark County, Nevada, proclaimed November 5th as “Britney Day” on the Las Vegas Strip. A court appointed attorney expressed concerns over Jamie Spears drinking, as it related to the Conservatorship. The judge did not remove Jamie in any fashion at that time.
2015 – 2018
Britney Spears announced that her residency at Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas would last for two more years. Britney released “Glory,” in 2016. That same year she told a private investigator she was “tired of being taken advantage of.” She was speaking about the abusive conservatorship she was and is currently being held under. In 2018, Britney was honored at the GLAAD Media Awards with the Vanguard Award, an award that goes to a performer for making a difference in promoting and supporting equality.
2019
Britney Spears announced that she was going on work hiatus in order to focus on her family due to her father’s health issues. This comes around the same time she cancels her next Vegas residency, “Britney: Domination.” Britney announced that she would be taking “me time” after it was reported that she checked into a mental health facility to cope with her father’s health issues. Followers of the #FreeBritney movement had speculation she was sent to the facility against her will. In April 2019 Britney checked out of the mental health treatment facility after undertaking an “all-encompassing wellness treatment.” During a court session that May, Britney said she felt she was sent there for wanting to change dance moves in routines during practice. In August, Jamie Spears was served with a restraining order after a physical altercation with Britney’s 13-year-old son. In September, Jamie was replaced by Jodi Montgomery as conservator of Britney’s person, but Jamie would continue to reside over Britney’s finances.
2020
Britney Spears announced that she accidentally burned down her home gym; some of the #FreeBritney movement say it was on purpose because she was tired of being forced to maintain a perfect body image. Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny declined Britney’s application to remove her father as her conservator of finances but said she would consider petitions “down the road” to remove her father as the head of her estate. This decision was made, despite Britney telling the judge she feared her father. The judge did order the Bessemer Firm of California be added to the financial conservatorship.
2021
Britney Spears appeared remotely in court to request her conservatorship be lifted, calling it “abusive.” During the hearing, which was leaked by an anonymous source, Britney spoke for more than 20 minutes. Britney says she felt she had been forced to perform, was given no privacy and was made to use birth control, take medication and attend therapy sessions against her will. Britney also requested her father be removed from the conservatorship. Judge Brenda Penny denied the request, which was first filed by Britney’s attorney Samuel D. Ingham last November. Ingham is expected to file a new petition, requesting that the conservatorship be ended. It is unclear why he is yet to do so.
Why Should the Conservatorship End?
California law says a conservatorship is justified for a “person who is unable to provide properly for his or her personal needs for physical health, food, clothing, or shelter,” or for someone who is “substantially unable to manage his or her own financial resources or resist fraud or undue influence.” This is generally used for elderly people at the end of their lives to manage their medical needs and estates. A fortune of more than $60 million comes with a lot of people who want to “help” for the wrong reasons. If Britney can work seven days a week, in what way is she unfit to control her own life? The court closely guards the inner workings of Britney’s conservatorship but Some aspects have been revealed in documents.
What does the Conservatorship Do?
The conservatorship has the power to restrict Britney’s visitors. During the leaked court audio Britney says she is unable to see friends who only live 8 minutes away, most of which she met in AA. It arranges visits with her sons since Kevin Federline has full custody. It has the power to take out restraining orders in her name, which it has used more than once to keep away people deemed shady. Some of the #FreeBritney movement believe this power is abused in order to keep outsiders from helping Britney. It has the power to make her medical decisions and her business deals. She said at the recent hearing that she has been compelled to take drugs against her will, such as Lithium. She admitted to being “unable to make decisions or have conversations” while on the drug. Could this have been a way to manufacture the image of Britney being unable to make decisions for herself?
Britney has been kept from having an intrauterine device for birth control removed and has been required to do performances when she did not want to, which she compared to sex trafficking. “My dad and anyone involved in this conservatorship and my management who played a key role in punishing me… they should be in jail,” Britney said. Britney can get married, but the conservatorship must approve it, as with other major life decisions. Britney said that she wants to get married and have another child but has been denied that chance. The mandatory secrecy of medical records has kept the reasons why Britney Spears must remain in the conservatorship hidden, but it apparently involves psychiatric issues. A recent filing said that she was not capable of giving consent for medical treatment. Britney’s father and his attorneys have emphasized that she is especially susceptible to people who seek to take advantage of her money and fame. Britney made claims during the most recent hearing that leads us to believe that is exactly what the people around her are doing, under this mask of “we are helping Britney.”
The Most Recent Hearing
Britney Spears has stated through her lawyer, Samuel D. Ingram III, that she will not perform as long as her father remains a conservator of her $60 million estate. During the Hearing in June of 2021, Britney Spears said she was unaware she could petition the court to end the conservatorship, until now. “I deserve to have a life. I worked my whole life. I deserve to have a two- to three-year break and do what I need to do,” she said during the statement. “I feel ganged up, I felt left out and I feel alone. I deserve to have the same rights as anyone does by having a child and a family. Any of those things.” “I’m not here to be anyone’s slave,” Britney Spears said while appearing in Los Angeles court remotely via telephone. “I’ve lied and told the whole world I’m OK and I’m happy. It is a lie. I thought that maybe if I said it enough, I would maybe become happy because I have been in denial. I have been in shock. I am traumatized … I am so angry it is insane. And I’m depressed.” Britney went on to say, “the people who did this to me should not be able to get away and walk away easily,” she told the courtroom. “I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive.”
What does Britney’s Father say?
Britney Spears’ father maintains he has not had conservatorship over his daughter’s person since 2019. He has released statements saying the claims Britney made must be investigated. However, there are claims of abuse from even before Jodi Montgomery took over as conservator. While Britney Spears was critical of both Montgomery and her father, she singled out her father for some major criticism. She accused him of loving his power over her. “I cried on the phone for an hour, and he loved every minute of it,” Britney said. “The control he had over someone as powerful as me, as he loved the control to hurt his own daughter 100,000%.” The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 14th. Many #FreeBritney fans are hoping Britney’s lawyer will file the petition to end her conservatorship for good. There is a list of Celebrities and influencers a mile long who support Britney in her fight to end the abuse she endures day to day. That list includes people like Iggy Azalea, who recently spoke out despite being forced to sign and NDA in 2015. “During the time we worked together in 2015, I personally witnessed the same behavior Britney detailed in regard to her father last week and I just want to back her up & tell the world that: She is not exaggerating or lying.” Iggy says, Britney’s father controlled things like how many sodas Britney could drink and brought Iggy the NDA moments before the performance. James spears said if Iggy did not sign it, she would not be allowed perform on stage with Britney. During the hearing Britney Stood up for herself in the court and said, “It’s not OK to force me to do anything I don’t want to,” she said. “The conservatorship should end. I truly believe this conservatorship is abusive.”
It seems Britney’s handlers have been misleading people about her mental health for years. There are many people in Hollywood who do crazier things then Britney ever did, you do not see the state of California giving their rights away. It is unclear why Britney should stay under conservatorship when she can articulate the reasons why she should not be under it. This conservatorship seems like a stripping of rights, and from the outside it looks like the state of California has failed Britney Spears, so far. We can only hope Britney’s lawyer will file the petition to end the conservatorship and the judge will finally see fit to #FreeBitney.
El Salvador has a reputation for being the deadliest place on the planet. However, news from the cryptocurrency world has made El Salvador the talk of the sector. El Salvador’s Legislative Assembly approved legislation which makes Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, legal tender in the country. El Salvador is the first nation to make a change like this after President Nayib Bukele made the proposal at a Bitcoin conference. 62 out of 84 possible votes created the law to adopt Bitcoin, despite potential impact on El Salvador’s International Monetary Fund program. Bukele said he will meet with the International Monetary Fund on Thursday to discuss the bitcoin law and other issues. Bukele said during the meeting he wanted to try to explain the shift was “not going to change our macroeconomics.” He also announced an idea to build a Bitcoin mining hub with the country’s geothermal potential. El Salvador has also announced it would offer citizenship to people who have invested in at least three Bitcoins, and have proof.
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin was intended as an alternative to government-backed money. The cryptocurrency is based largely on complex math and data-scrambling cryptography. Producing, or “mining,” Bitcoin requires lots of processing power which is why El Salvador wants to center their mining plans around geothermal energy. Bukele said he instructed state-owned geothermal electric firm LaGeo to develop a plan to offer bitcoin mining facilities using renewable energy from the country’s volcanoes. All Bitcoin transactions are recorded on a distributed global ledger called the blockchain. No central bank or other institution has any say in value, which is set entirely by people trading Bitcoins. Bitcoin and other popular digital currencies, including Ethereum and Dogecoin, all rose recently. How will this affect the current currency of El Salvador?
Will Bitcoin Affect the Current Currency in El Salvador?
Many people in El Salvador rely on money sent back from workers in other countries such as the U.S.. World Bank data showed remittances to the country made up nearly $6 billion in 2019, one of the highest in the world. The cryptocurrency offers, in theory, a quick and cheap way to send money across borders. The proportion of remittances sent to El Salvador in bitcoin is not clear. The use of Bitcoin as legal tender will begin in 90 days. The bitcoin-dollar exchange rate will be set by the market. According to Bukele, the El Salvadoran government and Central Bank did not hold any bitcoin at the time of voting. El Salvador hasn’t had its own currency since 2000, when it switched to the U.S. dollar. It therefore loses no seigniorage by adding a second external currency as legal tender. Most of the people in El Salvador are on board with the change but there are some who have worries. “How am I going to agree with this? I haven’t seen it even in photos. I know nothing about it, you need to understand your currency,” said Estela Gavidia, clutching shopping bags and recalling the loss of purchasing power many poor people suffered when the dollar was adopted in 2001. Carlos Carcach, a professor at El Salvador’s Superior School of Economics and Business, argued that adoption of Bitcoin as legal tender “is not necessary, nor convenient,” though he added, “as long as there is someone who accepts payment with Bitcoin, the same as they accept dollars, there wouldn’t be problems.” He noted that Bitcoin is extremely volatile, so investors “run the risk of becoming rich and the next day being poor.” The U.S. dollar will continue to be El Salvador’s main currency and no one will be forced to pay in Bitcoin.
How Will Bitcoin be Used?
Over 500 fishing and farming families in El Zonte use the cryptocurrency to buy groceries and pay utilities. El Zonte is a small town in El Salvador that has run on Bitcoin for the last year. Before a donor came in and changed the economy to predominantly Bitcoin there was no bank in the town. The people were scraping by on what little cash they could get a hold of, with the change to Bitcoin many people and Business owners have been able to thrive with the digital cryptocurrency. “This is not something for rich people only. It’s for everybody,” said Bukele, who spoke about the power of cryptocurrency to loosen the control of central banks and empower young entrepreneurs. Bitcoin can be used in any transaction and any business will have to accept payment in Bitcoin, with the exception of those lacking the technology to do so. “Every restaurant, every barber shop, every bank….everything can be paid in U.S. dollars or Bitcoin and nobody can refuse payment,” Bukele said as the bill was being debated in El Salvador’s congress. The law makes any capital gains from investing in bitcoin tax-free; Bukele hopes this will attract some of the crypto industry to his country. The El Salvadoran government intends to set up a trust at the Development Bank of El Salvador “to instantly convert bitcoin to U.S. dollars.” Some people are unsure of how well the trust will work.
“I don’t know how they’re going to sustain this trust, because if they have all these bitcoins coming in and all these dollars coming out for the Bitcoins, because they’ll be freely interchangeable between the two, that’s going to be a way to clean dirty bitcoins,” said David Gerard, author of ‘Attack of the 50 Foot Blockchain.’ “Without very rigid controls on Bitcoin movements and full know-your-customer rules, they’re going to be a laundromat for money.” The risk is that El Salvador, either by accident or design, will become a commission-free laundromat for criminals wanting to turn dirty Bitcoin into clean dollars. Bukele has frequently been accused of working with the MS13 gang. Bukele brushed off the fears, saying criminals already use U.S. dollars and other assets to launder money. “The problem is not the dollar, it is the criminals,” he said. What do you think of El Salvador adopting Bitcoin as currency? Does forcing the acceptance of Bitcoin open El Salvador to even more crime? Could Bitcoin help the impoverished nation begin to produce their own wealth?
Texas Governor Greg Abbott said he will soon announce plans for the construction of a wall along the state’s shared border with Mexico as part of a long list of actions meant to address the ongoing immigration crisis. Governor Abbott said Texas was doing the “job of the federal government,” securing the U.S. border. “I will announce next week the plan for the state of Texas to begin building the border wall in the state of Texas,” Governor Abbott said at a border summit Thursday in Del Rio, Texas. Abbott announced a number of initiatives, including using state troopers to arrest migrants coming over the southern border. Will this help border towns in Texas that are facing property destruction, among other dangers?
“Open-Border Biden”
Earlier this month, Governor Abbott issued a disaster declaration to secure additional resources for communities on the border. At the time, Governor Abbott said Biden’s policies “have paved the way for dangerous gangs and cartels, human traffickers, and deadly drugs like fentanyl to pour into our communities.” Fox News said “open border Biden” was the cause of the surge in fentanyl use and distribution across Texas. This is one of the many reasons Texas is cracking down on border security. “Long term, only Congress and the president can fix our broken border. But in the meantime, Texas is going to do everything possible, including beginning to make arrests, to keep our communities safe,” Governor Abbott said at a border security summit in Del Rio. “We are going to do everything we can to secure the border and it begins immediately.” After the summit, Governor Abbott tweeted the highlights of his plans:
Enhanced Border Security Plan:
- Disaster declaration — individuals entering TX illegally subject to arrest
- Task Force
- Approving over $1B in funding for border security
- Building border barriers
- Interstate compact powers
Border Summit
Governor Abbott is one of several Republicans who believe that President Biden’s immigration policies caused the immigration crisis. “While securing the border is the federal government’s responsibility, Texas will not sit idly by as this crisis grows. The state is working collaboratively with communities impacted by the crisis to arrest and detain individuals coming into Texas illegally,” Governor Abbott said. “Our efforts will only be effective if we work together to secure the border, make criminal arrests, protect landowners, rid our communities of dangerous drugs, and provide Texans with the support they need and deserve. This is an unprecedented crisis, and Texas is responding with the most robust and comprehensive border plan the nation has ever seen.” White House officials claimed Biden inherited a broken immigration system and moved to reverse measures that were “inhumane.” The administration attempted to fix issues in other countries rather than helping their people in crisis. During the summit, Governor Abbott announced they will be creating the Governor’s Task Force on Border and Homeland Security.
Governor’s Task Force on Border and Homeland Security
Governor Abbott’s task force will work with local and county officials to expand jail capacities in border counties, as well as many other things to help the community. The task force will include members from the Department of Public Safety, Texas Division of Emergency Management, Texas Parks and Wildlife and the Texas Military Department. Governor Abbott said the task force will help farmers and ranchers in border towns, who have had properties damaged, to “seek recovery” from the federal government. Abbott said he signed an interstate commerce agreement with Arizona Governor Doug Ducey. The two states are asking other states for help from their law enforcement agencies to assist in making arrests and jailing. “We don’t want just to arrest somebody to have them released,” Abbott said. “We want to arrest somebody and have them prosecuted, to be put in jail, to stay in jail — to create an environment where people will choose they don’t want to come across the border into the state of Texas anymore, because it’s not what they were expecting, it’s not the red carpet that the federal administration rolled out for them — they are going to jail in the state of Texas.” People who enter the state illegally will be subject to arrest for trespassing according to Governor Abbott. Abbott blamed the Biden administration’s policies for the surge in migrants coming into Texas.
“The border crisis is no laughing matter,” Abbott said in reference to Kamala Harris laughing off not going to the border earlier. “This is something that also is not a tourism site for members of Congress to make an annual pilgrimage to and see the border, and then go back and do absolutely nothing at the federal government level to solve the crisis.” Customs and Border Protection reported more than 180,000 migrants at the border in May, up from roughly 23,000 in the same month one year ago. Numbers will continue to rise and Republicans will continue to ask President Biden’s administration to take action. Until this happens, states such as Texas and Arizona will attempt to fight the crisis on their own.
With the main focus and concern of the Biden Administration on renewable energy, now days electric vehicles are becoming more popular each day.
Start Your Engines
The very first electric vehicles were very slow and did not perform well at all, they also lacked the battery power needed for long road trips, which resulted in a loss of interest for electric vehicles and created more of a want for gasoline and diesel powered vehicles. Since their release, manufacturers of these remarkable vehicles have added better technology and innovation to these vehicles only to make them better by boosting their performance. Now most electric vehicles are able to make very long road trips with one battery charge.
Changes
Electric vehicles are becoming a trend today because they are cheaper than fuel operated vehicles. The electric vehicles are also more widely produced making them more affectionate to everyone, also since the electric vehicles have been around for a while, buying them used results in even more savings.
Federal Assistance
Back in 2017, when news about electric vehicles first began to spread nationally, more countries became interested in slowly phasing out gasoline powered vehicles and replacing them with electric vehicles. Both the Ukraine and France plan to have only electric vehicles by the year of 2040, China has plans to do away with gasoline powered vehicles too, however, no timeline for that change has been put into place yet.
At Home
California will become the first state here in the U.S. to fully ban the sale of gasoline powered vehicles in order to transition to fully electric vehicles by the year of 2035.
Charge
With more and more electric vehicles being driven on the road daily, there are currently over 440,000 electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S. Each of these charging stations offer 3 standard charging levels to charge electric cars. All electric cars are able to be charged with level 1 and level 2 stations, these types of chargers offer the same charging power as the ones that you can install at home. Some vehicles can not be charged at level 3 stations. The prices of these charging stations vary by location. At home, the cost of charging electric vehicles should not increase utility bills much at all.
Plugging In
When electric vehicles are parked and sitting idle, they still lose some charging power. If the vehicle is plugged in each day and maintaining a charge level between 20 and 80 percent, the vehicle will lose minimal power. If the vehicle runs out of charge while on the highway, a roadside service truck will tow the vehicle to the nearest charging station.
The Road Ahead
As electric vehicles are slowly becoming a reality, what we know of now as gas stations will still be here, however, many of them will be turned into public parks or charging stations for the electric vehicles keeping our roads full and the vehicles rolling on the road, one charge at a time.
Gary Taylor
After a lengthy decision process Facebook has finally come to a decision about whether or not they plan to ban Former President Donald Trump from the social media platform. Facebook will suspend Donald Trump’s accounts following the finding that he “stoked violence” before the incidents at the Capitol on January 6. “At the end of this period, we will look to experts to assess whether the risk to public safety has receded. We will evaluate external factors, including instances of violence, restrictions on peaceful assembly and other markers of civil unrest,” Nick Clegg, Facebook’s vice president of global affairs, wrote in a blog post. The social media giant isn’t guaranteeing that Donald Trump will be allowed to return at the end of the ban.
Why was Trump banned?
On January 6, 2021 a group of disgruntled voters stormed the capitol building and gained entry. Sites such as Facebook and Twitter have suggested Donald Trump incited the riot and even encouraged it. Most of the Right has been furious with the decisions big tech companies, such as Facebook and Twitter, have made. Lara Trump had a lot to say when an interview with her and the former president was removed from Facebook in February. “They want you to forget he ever existed. They don’t want you to see him, they don’t want you to hear from him. Look away, move on, shut up and go on about your lives, forget Donald Trump existed. This is really scary stuff.” It is very scary stuff indeed. How can we just remove a Former President from the public eye? An email Lara Trump posted shows a message warning her team about uploading the Facebook video. The email reminded them that “content posted on Facebook and Instagram in the voice of President Trump is not currently allowed on our platform (including new posts with President Trump speaking) and will be removed if posted, resulting in additional limitations on accounts that posted it.” Twitter permanently banned Donald Trump’s account fairly quickly after January 6. Facebook attempted to follow Twitter but hit some red tape in their own policies regarding banning accounts.
Facebook Tries to Permanently Ban Trump
When Facebook attempted to ban President Trump indefinitely an oversight board was required to finalize the decision. The Oversight Board is an independent third-party. “The board was established last year to make the final call on some of the most difficult content decisions Facebook makes,” Clegg wrote in a post. “It is an independent body and its decisions are binding – they can’t be overruled by CEO Mark Zuckerberg or anyone else at Facebook.” The board called Facebook lazy for referring the issue to them and ordered the social media giant to review the matter and make their own decision, according to their own policies for banning accounts. The board did agree with banning Donald Trump’s account but did not agree with banning the account indefinitely. The board gave Facebook six months to finalize a decision and suggested Facebook implement new policies and guidelines for these situations. Facebook now plans to end a policy implemented by Mark Zuckerberg that exempted politicians from rules that banned hate speech and abuse.
Facebook’s New Policy and Final Decision
Facebook says they never applied the policy to former President Trump. The social media giant said that while it will still apply this exemption to certain posts that are important to public interest, material posted by politicians won’t be treated any differently from that posted by anyone else. Facebook said it will be clearly publicly broadcasted when the exemption has been applied to a post. The big tech giant also has decided to ban President Trump for the next two years at least. Clegg said Facebook, at the end of the two year ban, will meet with experts to look at “external factors,” such as “instances of violence” and other “markers of civil unrest” to decide if the “risk to public safety” has gone away. When/if the ban is lifted Facebook has openly said they will be closely watching Donald Trump’s account. Facebook said there will be a set of rapidly escalating sanctions if Donald Trump commits further violations. The punishment for these sanctions are the permanent removal of his pages and accounts.
Donald Trump called Facebook’s ruling “an insult” to his supporters. “They shouldn’t be allowed to get away with this censoring and silencing,” he said in a statement. The two-year ban is considered to have begun on January 7, and will keep Trump off Facebook and Instagram through the 2022 midterm elections. How do you feel about Trump being banned on major social media? Should Facebook end the ban sooner. Should politicians be treated the same as everyone else on social media?
As of January 1, 2020, 28 states allow school staff to arm themselves in some form or fashion. In some states, such as Colorado, there are no statutes allowing armed school personnel but also no laws explicitly prohibiting it. In Arkansas, the carrying of firearms on school grounds is prohibited but there is an exception for law enforcement officers and “registered commissioned security guards.” Some school districts, claiming a lack of resources to hire conventional guards, have obtained the necessary licenses in order for teachers and staff to be “armed security guards.” Why is it beneficial for a teacher to be armed? The next examples will highlight how quickly things can be diffused when teachers are properly armed and trained.
Ogden, Utah
May 25, 2021
41 year old drug addict, Ira Cox-Berry, made his way onto the playground of Lincoln Elementary School in Ogden, Utah. Upon entering the playground Cox-Berry grabbed the arm of an 11 year old girl who was playing and attempted to leave with her. A teacher saw this through the window of their classroom and immediately sprung into action. They confronted Cox-Berry, during this altercation the girl and rest of the children were able to escape into a nearby classroom. Once the children were inside Cox-Berry began punching windows of the classrooms in order to gain access to the children. This is the point where the teacher, being a trained concealed carry holder, produced their weapon and simultaneously called 911. If this teacher had not been armed Cox-Berry could have either: 1) gained access to the children and hurt one or more, or 2) injured or even killed the teacher in a physical altercation. This instance ended with the perpetrator in custody and no bodily injury to any children or school staff.
Pearl, Mississippi
October 1, 1997
16 year old student, Luke Woodham, woke up the morning of October 1, 1997 and stabbed his mother to death. Then he brought a .30-30 lever-action rifle, traditionally used for killing deer, to Pearl High School. At 8:06 AM the first shot rang out across the campus hitting a student in the stomach. 56 year old assistant principal, Joel Myrick, was crossing the commons when he heard the shots. He immediately ran to his truck where he kept a Colt .45 pistol; after loading the fire-arm he ran towards the sound of gunfire. He aimed at Woodham but did not fire out of fear of hitting one of the other students. “I knew not to shoot because the backstop was not safe,” he said. “I didn’t just go blasting away.” Once he noticed Myrick’s gun trained on him, Woodham retreated from campus, got in his car and began to drive away. The car spun out and came to a stop 20 steps from Myrick. Myrick had Woodham held at gunpoint when the police arrived. Two students, including Woodham’s former girlfriend, were killed and seven others were wounded. Woodham is serving life in Mississippi State Penitentiary. Myrick is against arming teachers and administration but he is an avid supporter of having armed officers in schools. This could be helpful in areas where teachers do not wish to be armed but want extra protection. An armed resource officer was helpful in the next example.
Dixon, Illinois
May 16, 2018
The morning of May 16, 2018 at 8:06 AM, a former student, 19 year old Matthew Milby opened fire during graduation practice at Dixon High School. Dixon Police Officer, Mark Dallas, chased Milby from the school then shot and wounded him after he continued to shoot at the officer. Milby was treated for injuries, which weren’t life threatening, at a local hospital before being taken to the county jail under a two million dollar bond. Mike Pence was on Twitter praising the officer. “Another example of the brave work performed by law enforcement each and every day. Lives were saved thanks to the heroic actions of school resource officer Mark Dallas,” Pence said. The shooter’s mother, Julie Milby, said her son had been kicked off the football team for smoking marijuana and had recently been beaten up as other children watched. She suspected he was trying to get the police to kill him. Thankfully, no students were harmed during the shooting. The swift action of an armed resource officer saved so many lives.
In all of the above examples an armed staff member was able to take action. Casualties in these cases were lower than similar instances where it took longer for shooters to be apprehended. School staff should have the choice to bring properly concealed and maintained weapons in order to protect themselves and their students. Schools should offer training in things such as severe trauma first aid. FAST is a course offered by the Red Cross to highschool students under the age of 19 for free. It teaches students severe trauma first aid and what to do during an emergency. Adults can take this course for a cost and can even be certified to teach it. High Schools should add FAST to their curriculum so students can be prepared for situations that may arise in or out of school. Schools should also offer active shooter defense training or some sort of guardian program. Teachers should not be required to risk their lives or fight anyone potentially dangerous, but if they find themselves in the situation where the knowledge could be useful they will have the option of putting their knowledge into practice if they choose to do so.
School districts who decide preparing teachers is not in their best interest should have law enforcement or armed security guards. It is unfortunate that the conversation even has to be had but students need to be protected. The sad reality of modern times is that with or without “Gun Free Zones” incidents can occur from active students, former students, or even strangers. It is better to protect ourselves, and our children, to the best of our abilities, with whatever force is necessary.
President Joe Biden ordered US intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese laboratory, after new information regarding Wuhan researchers’ illness has surfaced. The intelligence community has been unable to reach a conclusion as to whether it came from human contact with an infected animal or if it was the result of a laboratory accident. President Biden has claimed that “the US intelligence community has ‘coalesced around the two likely scenarios’”.
Biden was Hesitant
For months, Biden claimed that the possibility that COVID-19 originated in a laboratory was a fringe theory. The administration endeavored to avoid public discussion of the lab leak theory and privately suggested it was farfetched. The Biden administration is now falling into GOP pressure that the president has not been tough enough on China. The international community is also pressuring China to be more open about the outbreak.
Republicans, on the other hand, including former President Donald Trump, have promoted the theory that the virus emerged from a laboratory accident rather than naturally through human contact with an infected animal in Wuhan, China.
The Order
Biden asked US intelligence agencies to report back within 90 days. He also directed US national laboratories to assist with the investigation and the intelligence community to prepare a list of specific queries for the Chinese government. He called on China to cooperate with the probes. “The United States will also keep working with like-minded partners around the world to press China to participate in a full, transparent, evidence-based international investigation and to provide access to all relevant data and evidence,” Biden said, highlighting the fact that this was not necessarily the case in the WHO investigation.
Shifting Attitudes
Biden’s new attitude towards the Wuhan lab possibility also comes with the Senate approving to Wuhan lab-related amendments without opposition. These were attached to a largely-unrelated bill to increase US investments in innovation. One of the amendments, from Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., would block US funding of Chinese “gain of function” research on enhancing the severity or transmissibility of a virus. Rand Paul has been critical of Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious-disease expert, and aggressively questioned him at a recent Senate hearing over the work in China.
The other amendment, from Senator Joni Ernst, R-IA, would prevent any funding into the Wuhan Institute of Virology.
Both were approved without roll call votes as part of the broader bill that is still under debate in the Senate.
Source of Virus: Two Scenarios
The majority of intelligence officials have gathered around the two scenarios but “do not believe there is sufficient information to assess one to be more likely than the other.” Two agencies lean more toward the animal link and “one leans more toward” the lab theory.
Information Pointing Towards the Wuhan Lab
A US intelligence report found that several researchers at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology fell ill in November 2019 and had to be hospitalized. The new information about the severity of their symptoms fuels further debate about the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic. A State Department fact sheet released by the Trump administration in January said that the researchers had gotten sick in autumn 2019 but did not go as far as to say they had been hospitalized. China reported to the World Health Organization that the first patient with Covid-like symptoms was recorded in Wuhan on December 8, 2019. However, the Wall Street Journal reported on intelligence surrounding earlier hospitalizations- November 2019. In the final days of the Trump administration, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo leaned into the possibility that the virus leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, or WIV. Despite the intelligence being inconclusive, Pompeo put out a fact sheet that said the US had evidence researchers at the WIV had been sick in the fall of 2019 with Covid-like symptoms and that the lab, where coronavirus had been studied in bats, had a history of military research. Current and former intelligence officials say that the idea that the virus was accidentally unleashed from the lab at Wuhan is reasonable, although they caution that there is no high-confidence assessment of that possibility.
Problematic WHO Investigation
The WHO probe was swiftly criticized by the US, UK, and other governments over its limited access to “complete, original data and samples.” The organization was also accused of being overly deferential to China throughout the course of the study, which was co-authored by 17 Chinese scientists — several of them from state-run institutions.
In the early morning hours of Wednesday, June 2, Aurora Fire Rescue responded to a residential structure fire. A child has been hospitalized with life threatening injuries. One station says the child is a 6 year old boy but no official announcement has been made about the age or condition of the child by the fire department.
Four residents were displaced by the fire. The structure was a townhome with other adjacent structures. The townhome was located on the 2000 block of South Paris Way, near South Peoria Street and East Jewell Avenue, in the Village East neighborhood.
Aurora Fire Rescue was notified of the fire around 12:30 AM Wednesday, the department said in a tweet. By 5:55 AM, the department tweeted the fire was under control and did not impact adjacent units significantly. A later update said, most of the crews were gone by 4 AM. Fire investigators are still attempting to determine the cause of the fire.
With the very first weekend of summer upon us, and as we celebrate our 2020-2021 high school and college graduates, as we partake in cool delicious watermelon and mouth watering bar-b-que, we must not forget the true meaning of Memorial Day. As some of us celebrate a day off work and school, we reflect on all of our men and women in uniform as they proudly serve our country. They serve us daily in four branches of service, The Army, The Navy, The Marines, and the Air Force. As we reflect on these true heroes this coming weekend, we also remember our high school and college graduates who will be joining one of these four branches of service immediately after graduation.
A Rocky Road
Over the past few years, there have been intense talks in congress about making it mandatory for all high school graduates to serve our country in one of the four branches of service immediately after graduation.
Built To Last
Around the world, other countries have their own militaries, it varies how people are chosen for these military services based upon the country’s laws. Some of the countries allow it to be voluntary, this is what is known as a draft. A draft is when a group of people such as men over the age of 18 must sign up for military duty but will not report for duty unless they are chosen to serve. Other nations make it mandatory to serve, some of those nations are Bermuda, Berundi, Cape Verde, Columbia, France, and Kuwait, Mali, Singapore, Mauritania, Sweden, Thailand, and Venezuela. The United States is not included in this list because all males between 18 and 25 must register with the Selective Service to be drafted if needed. The United States has the highest defense spending budget of any other country.
Nations Requiring One Year
Nations that require just one year of Military Service upon graduation of high school are Algeria, Bolivia, Columbia, Guatemala, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Paraguay, Mongolia, Russia, Taiwan, Tunisia, and Uzbekistan.
Short Term Service
Several nations require no more than 18 months of service. Those nations are Azerbaijan, Belarus, Benin, Cambodia, Cote d’ivoire, Cyprus, Egypt, Georgia, Kuwait, Laos, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates.
Why Serve?
For many graduates entering into any branch of the military, there are a lot of benefits of choosing to serve our country:
- Basic Pay, this is usually when enlistees first enter the service at the E-1 service grade it’s a monthly payment of $1,785. The Typical recruit will advance to an E-4 level within three years of service advancing their pay to $2,330 a month
- Special Pay – this is when military members receive incentive pay based on their assignment, location, or special skills
- Free Room and Board
- Free Health and Dental Care
- Low Cost Life Insurance
- Disability Benefits
- Home Financing
There are also some risks involved in serving. Many of those risks include becoming injured in combat either physically or fatally, also Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a heavy risk that our service members face each day.
Memorial Day Gratitude
The true colors of all of the branches of the military will forever be in our hearts and minds in all that we do, whether it’s in our family at home, our church, our work places, even the grocery store. We all know someone who is currently serving or is retired from the service. On Memorial Day, as we dine in delicious bar-b-que, and mouth watering watermelon, our hearts will be filled with thanks for the service that our men and women provide our nation. So that we all can celebrate Memorial Day as we always remember and never forget.
Written by: Gary Taylor
Natalee Holloway was an 18 year old out of Alabama. She had a promising future and a bright personality. She had a full ride scholarship to the University of Alabama that she never got to use. She was last seen on the Carribean island of Aruba on May 29, 2005. She was last seen wearing a denim mini skirt, a rainbow halter top, and black thong flip flops. The biggest suspect in her case is Joran Van Der Sloot.
Van Der Sloot’s Dark Past
Van Der Sloot is known to be a gambler and to be friends with a rougher crowd. One of his friends, John Ludwick, made statements against Natalee such as, “I hope she rots in her grave for what she did to my boy,” and “I want to stomp on her grave for putting him in prison.” Both of these statements come across especially suspicious and heartless because Natalee’s Remains were never found. Ludwick also claimed in 2010 that he helped Van Der Sloot dispose of Natalee’s remains. Van Der Sloot’s father was a judge in the Aruban legal system who may well have helped his son illegally cover up Natalee’s death. Van Der Sloot was known to go to clubs with friends to look for girls. Two of those friends are the Kalpoe Brothers. Deepak and Satish Kalpoe were with Joran Van Der Sloot and Natalee Holloway the night she disappeared. They all have been arrested multiple times for the crime but are always released for lack of evidence. If you would like to hear the evidence that poits to the involvement you can listen to the podcast Momma Kirby’s Murder Mysteries, Episode 4, ‘Natalee Holloway: Taken on Vacation.’
False Confessions
Over the years Van Der Sloot has confessed to the crimes a few times to different people. He always ends up recanting his statements and saying he was lying. He has told people she died accidentally and he buried her, she died on the beach and they got rid of her in the ocean, and she was killed and hidden in the foundation of a house. These claims have proven to be lies. It is obvious he knows the truth and will go to any length to keep that truth concealed. He even gave investigators false information after he was captured for another crime and attempted to exchange that false information for being moved to an Aruban prison.
Van Der Sloot Charged with Murder
Natalee Holloway has not gotten justice but Van Der Sloot has been charged with murder. He murdered Stephany Flores in 2010. They were playing online poker when an instant message popped up about the Holloway case. After asking him questions about the case, he claimed she became angry and hit him first causing him to black out and kill her. He told the police he killed her so she wouldn’t go to the police over him hitting her. It seems easier to believe that Van Der Sloot told her information about the case and then she threatened to go to the police and he murdered her to conceal his dark past. He was sentenced to 28 years in prison the day after Natalee Holloway was pronounced dead on January 12, 2012.
Natalee deserves justice and her family deserves to have answers. This case has so many questions and mysteries around it. It is very hard to discern exactly what happened which makes it impossible to charge anyone. If someone involved would come forward and give the authorities what they knew a lot of questions could be answered and Natalee’s family could have the answers they desperately want and need. Until that day comes we can only hope that one day Joran Van Der Sloot will finally tell the truth about what really happened to Natalee Ann Holloway.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Since January 1, 61 abortion restrictions have passed in 13 different states. This week Governors in Arizona and South Dakota recently signed bills into law that bans abortions solely based on the diagnosis of Downs Syndrome. Children with Down Syndrome are known to possibly have many health issues. This is one of the major reasons why pregnancies with the diagnosis are mostly terminated. However, if you actually look at the quality of life individuals with down syndrome are able to have the abortion rate is alarmingly high. Similar bills are pending in North Carolina and Texas. A federal appeals court said Ohio could begin to enforce a similar 2017 law. It’s a ban that supporters acknowledge will be hard to enforce.
What Will the Abortion Bans do?
The famous court case, which allowed women to abort a baby before 24 weeks, just this week, with a 6-3 conservative majority, is being reconsidered. The 1973 Roe v. Wade’s decision could be overturned soon. The justices agreed to consider reinstating a Mississippi law that seeks to ban abortions after 15 weeks. “It usually takes 30 to 60 days for a law to take effect, the full impact of these laws will be felt later this year”, said Elizabeth Nash, who tracks state policy for Guttmacher. According to Nash, the bans passed this week will likely be held up in court. These bans include limitations on medication abortion, and an Oklahoma law that would only allow OBGYN’s to perform the procedure. Katherine Beck Johnson, a lawyer with the conservative Family Research Council, understands that the Down syndrome abortion laws might be easy to get around. “But even if it’s hard to enforce, it’s worth being passed,” she said, “It’s important for a state to show they’re not supporting eugenics; they want to remove the stigma of people who have Down syndrome.”
Last month’s decision by a 6th Circuit court, which includes six justices nominated by Trump, reversed two earlier decisions that had blocked enforcement of the 2017 Ohio law. Doctors could face a felony charge, be stripped of their medical license and be held liable for legal damages if they are aware of a Down syndrome diagnosis when performing an abortion. The majority opinion said the Ohio law is aimed at protecting the Down syndrome community from “the stigma it suffers from the practice of Down-syndrome-selective abortions.” In the past courts routinely blocked state laws seeking to ban abortion based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome or other anomalies. Trump’s judicial appointments as well as the Supreme Court has altered the legal atmosphere. However, not everyone believes the bans should be in place.
People against the abortion bans
“If you tell a woman, ’We’re going to force you to have a baby with Down syndrome. she’ll think, ‘Oh my God, is it really that bad that you’re going to force me?’” Said Holly Christensen, a teacher and newspaper columnist in Akron, Ohio. Holly’s 8-year-old daughter, Lyra, has Down syndrome. Holly believes that the push for bans, in hopes of getting a case before the Supreme Court, has damaged the effort to get information about Down syndrome. Holly believes this could hinder more families from being willing to raise children with the condition. She would like to see increased funding for education and services for children with disabilities as well as resources for new families who have children with down syndrome and other anomalies. Erika Christensen, and her husband, Garin Marschall, decided in May 2016 to terminate a pregnancy after learning, during the third trimester, that the baby would be unable to breathe on their own. The couple lived in New York, where abortions are banned after 24 weeks. They traveled to Colorado and Christensen had an abortion at 32 weeks. Christensen and Marschall now oppose bills banning abortion for reasons related to genetic anomalies. The couple says lawmakers oversimplify the difficult decisions women and families must make. “All decisions in these cases are necessarily complicated,” said Christensen. The couple noted that the 6th Circuit decision upholding the law in Ohio implies that patients seeking abortions in similar cases could lie to their doctors about their reasons. “That is a really dangerous place to go with regard to the law,” Marschall said.
According to the National Down Syndrome Society, one in every 700 babies in the United States is born with the condition. This adds up to roughly 6,000 babies annually born with the chromosomal irregularity. A 2012 study by medical experts estimated the abortion rate of unborn babies with the diagnosis was 67%. In the past, many children with Down syndrome were institutionalized. These days, they frequently acquire job skills and some degree of self-sufficiency. Their life expectancy is more than 60 years, triple the expectation just a few decades ago. This is why it is so important to preserve the life of babies who may be born with the condition. If they are capable of living life successfully why should they not have that chance? Arizona’s new Down syndrome measure is set to take effect later this year. Similar to the Ohio law, it calls for felony charges against doctors who perform an abortion based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome or other genetic abnormalities. What do you think of these new bans? Do you believe parents should have the right to choose whether or not a baby gets a chance at life?
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Rights for LGBTQ+ people have come a long way since the Stonewall Riots of 1969. June 28, 1969, New York City police wrongfully raided the Stonewall Inn. Patrons and neighborhood residents began throwing objects at police as people were loaded into police vans. The scene turned into a riot with protests that lasted for five more days. In 1970, at the one-year anniversary, community members marched through the streets in commemoration of the event. That march is now considered the country’s first gay pride parade. The complicated relationship the LGBTQ+ people have with police has created issues within both communities. NYC Pride organizers have banned officers from participating. NYC Pride organizers said its new policy banning “corrections and law enforcement exhibitors” will improve safety. Organizers will seek to keep officers a block away from the celebration of LGBTQ+ people and history. A gay officers group said it was disheartened after the “shameful” decision.
Why are Police Banned from Pride Parade?
NYC Pride organizers said they are banning police and other law enforcement from marching in their huge annual inclusion parade until at least 2025. “NYPD is not required to lead first response and security at NYC Pride events,” the group said. “All aspects of first response and security that can be reallocated to trained private security, community leaders and volunteers will be reviewed.” NYC Pride organizers urged members of traditional law enforcement to “acknowledge their harm and to correct course moving forward.” NYC Pride organizers say the “violence against marginalized groups,” specifically “BIPOC and trans communities,” has continued to escalate. “The sense of safety that law enforcement is meant to provide can instead be threatening, and at times dangerous, to those in our community who are most often targeted with excessive force and/or without reason,” the statement read. NYC Pride organizers say traditional police units will be used “only when absolutely necessary as mandated by city officials.” They would like for active units to be stationed a whole block away from all people and festivities. This is, of course, not sitting well with with a group a gay officers as they are less than happy with the decision.
How NYC Police are Reacting to Being Banned
A fraternal organization formed in 1982 for LGBTQ officers known as the Gay Officers Action League leaked the announcement recently, ahead of the NYC Pride organizer’s planned release. The disheartened officers called the ban an “abrupt about-face.” “Heritage of Pride is well aware that the city would not allow a large–scale event to occur without police presence. So their response to activist pressure is to take the low road by preventing their fellow community members from celebrating their identities,” Gay Officers Action League President, Brian Downey, said. This should be a time when the two organizations can try to rebuild the bridge for the community and begin the lengthy process of healing. Roughly 200 members of the Gay Officers Action League and their families participate in Pride each year, Dan Dimant, a spokesman for NYC Pride told Fox News. The decision has frustrated gay officers and family members who had hoped to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first Gay Pride marches. “That said, we’ll still be there to ensure traffic safety and good order during this huge, complex event,” Officers of the Gay Officers Action League assured the public.
NYC Pride organizer’s announcement follows a recent division among organizers planning celebrations of LGBTQ+ pride. In 2020, Pride was unable to have a parade or any kind of festivities amid the pandemic. In 2019, there were two marches in Manhattan after part of the local LGBTQ+ community concluded the annual Pride parade had become too commercialized. The Queer Liberation March aimed to be a protest. Attendees were saying the main Pride march was too heavily policed by the same department that raided Stonewall. The New York Police Commissioner apologized for the raid in 2019, calling it “wrong, plain and simple.” NYC Pride organizers are not the first Pride group to ban law enforcement, places such as Sacramento and Vancouver have also banned law enforcement from participating in recent years. Do you believe law enforcement should be banned from participating in Pride? Should Pride organizers be attempting to help rebuild the bridges between law enforcement and local communities?
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Conservatives loudly voiced their displeasure on social media on Wednesday after Facebook’s oversight board upheld the site’s ban on former President Donald Trump. The Oversight Board’s decision also applies to Instagram, which is owned by Facebook. Some lawmakers believe the tech giant may be getting too powerful. “It is a sad day for America. It’s a sad day for Facebook because I can tell you, a number of members of Congress are now looking at: Do they break up Facebook, do they make sure that they don’t have a monopoly?” Trump’s former chief of staff, Mark Meadows, said during “America’s Newsroom” on FoxNews. Nick Clegg, Facebook Vice President of Global Affairs, wrote that Trump’s indefinite suspension, which is actually against the rules of suspending accounts, on facebook and Instagram would be sent to the Oversight Board. The Oversight Board is actually supposed to be like a third-party. “The board was established last year to make the final call on some of the most difficult content decisions Facebook makes,” Clegg wrote in the post. “It is an independent body and its decisions are binding – they can’t be overruled by CEO Mark Zuckerberg or anyone else at Facebook.” The initial ban came after the claims President Trump had incited a violent incident, which occurred at the capitol building, January 6.
What did the Oversight Board say?
A member of the Oversight Board is slamming Facebook, calling them “lazy” for the referral of former President Donald Trump’s suspension from the social media platform. “We felt it was a bit lazy of Facebook to be sending over to us a penalty suggestion that didn’t exist in their own rulebook, so to speak, in their own community standards,” said former Danish Prime Minister, Helle Thorning-Schmidt, during an Axios event. “We are not here to lift responsibility off Facebook. We’re here to be independent.” In a long statement the Oversight Board said “The Board has upheld Facebook’s decision on January 7, 2021, to restrict then-President Donald Trump’s access to posting content on his Facebook page and Instagram account. However, it was not appropriate for Facebook to impose the indeterminate and standardless penalty of indefinite suspension. Facebook’s normal penalties include removing the violating content, imposing a time-bound period of suspension, or permanently disabling the page and account. The Board insists that Facebook review this matter to determine and justify a proportionate response that is consistent with the rules that are applied to other users of its platform. Facebook must complete its review of this matter within six months of the date of this decision. The Board also made policy recommendations for Facebook to implement in developing clear, necessary, and proportionate policies that promote public safety and respect freedom of expression.” The Board’s statement was not signed by any members. The decision was prepared by a five-member panel and approved by a majority of the Board, according to Facebook.
What does Trump think of the ban?
Former President Trump called the decision “a total disgrace” in a statement. “What Facebook, Twitter, and Google have done is a total disgrace and an embarrassment to our Country. Free Speech has been taken away from the President of the United States because the Radical Left Lunatics are afraid of the truth, but the truth will come out anyway, bigger and stronger than ever before. The People of our Country will not stand for it! These corrupt social media companies must pay a political price, and must never again be allowed to destroy and decimate our Electoral Process.” After months of being banned from sites like Facebook, Instagram, and even twitter, Former President Trump launched a one-way communication platform. He said the “place to speak freely and safely. Straight from the desk of Donald J. Trump” is a “beacon of freedom”and gives him the ability to communicate directly with his followers. The technology is powered by Campaign Nucleus. The “digital ecosystem made for efficiently managing political campaigns and organizations.” Campaign Nucleus was created by Trump’s former campaign manager, Brad Parscale. The blog-like site allows former President Trump to post videos, pictures, or just plain text. The site only launched recently but the earliest post on the site is dated March 24, 2021. The site allows followers to share the former president’s posts to Twitter and Facebook. The new one-way platform does not have a feature to allow users to “reply” or comment on Trump’s posts but it does allow users to “like” posts. Many people believed Trump would be release a social media platform such as Parler.
The worry over big tech silencing former President Trump, who remains a leading contender to run for the office again in 2024, has left many Republicans feeling a call to action. Many lawmakers were already wary of the power of social media companies. What do you think about Trump’s new way of reaching his followers? Will former President Trump create an actual social media platform in the future? Should lawmakers be investigating Facebook and/or it’s practices? The only thing we know for sure is we definitely have not heard the last “From the Desk of Donald J. Trump.”
Written by: Erinn Malloy
Joe Jaquint provides a unique perspective on current events and how it relates to gold and silver. This show will make you feel uncomfortable while making you think different.
Colorado has some of the most beautiful terrain in the United States. There are tons of places where you can go hiking and enjoy that beauty to its fullest. Remember to never hike alone or at least always let someone know exactly where you are going in case you are injured. Remember, Colorado is a rugged place, always prepare for rough terrain and watch for big predators on trails such as bears, coyotes, and mountain lions. Hiking is a wonderful meditation method and has great health benefits. Walking or hiking regularly improves everything from lung and heart health to your sense of balance. Colorado has very diverse trails. There is something out there for everyone of every skill level. Here are ten places to hike in Colorado.
10. Longs Peak Park – Keyhole Route
Difficulty: Hard
At 14,259 feet, Longs Peak towers high above other summits in Rocky Mountain National Park. The mountain itself has very unique profiles. In the summertime thousands climb to Longs Peaks summit on the Keyhole Route. The National Park Service estimates about 50% of the 15,000 people who attempt to get to the top of Longs Peak each year actually reach the highest point. The trail is well-marked and can be crowded on summer weekends. The Keyhole Route is not only a hike; It is a climb that crosses narrow ledges and enormous vertical rock faces. Falling rocks could potentially require some swift thinking in an area where an unroped fall could be fatal. Unpredictable weather means the mountain can be beautiful and breathtaking, with the right tools and experience, or ruthlessly unforgiving of those with disregard for the mountain environment. For most of the year, Longs Peak is in winter conditions, which requires winter mountaineering experience and use of specialized equipment. For those who are well prepared the Keyhole route in Longs Peak Park is an extraordinary hiking and climbing experience. The National Park Service wants to help you be prepared when you visit, you can read more here,.
9. Garden of the Gods – Perkins Central Garden Loop
Difficulty: Easy
Garden of the Gods Visitor and Nature center is home to many trails. Among those trails is probably one of the best hikes in Colorado to see a diverse landscape. The hike along the Perkins Central Garden loop is easy and about 1-1.5 miles long. With a less than 30 foot rise the trail doesn’t climb high at all. The whole trail will take you an hour or so to complete and is perfect for families since most of the path, which winds around the base of the park’s tallest rock formation, has been paved.The park has other trails that are mostly moderate difficulty and 3 miles or less roundtrip. The Park Officials ask that you stay on the designated trails and do not take anything from the park such as rocks or plants because just one person off trail can create decades worth of damage to the sensitive ecosystem. There are designated areas for things such as rock climbing which you must obtain a permit for. The park offers many free and paid options. A few things to do other than hiking include electric bike rental and adventure programs such as yoga in the garden. They also have many free kids programs such as kids nature walks and Reading Rocks!, which is a story and craft or engaging activity. Horseback riding is also permitted in the park. The park is open in the winter months as well.
8. Black Canyon of the Gunnison
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
Black Canyon of the Gunnison offers many different places to explore along with beautiful views that are 200 million years in the making. There are hiking trails for most skill levels here. Camping is allowed, however, pets are not allowed in every section of the park; make sure you plan ahead if you plan to bring your furry friends with you. You must obtain a permit in order to explore the inner canyon. Permits are free and must be obtained the day you visit. You must also check out on your way out and return your permit. Inner canyon activities are located in remote portions of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison Wilderness Area. Any rescue operation within the park is difficult and requires extended periods of time. Park visitors should carry the equipment necessary to endure an unexpected night in the wilderness. Each activity will require different essentials, but the park service gives you a list of essentials here. Other activities here include camping (tent or rv), fishing, as well as sky and wildlife watching. Winter activities here are snowshoeing and skiing.
7. Four Loop Pass – Crater Lake
Difficulty: Easy to Hard
Going to Crater Lake can be an easy to moderate 4-mile day hike that begins at Maroon Lake, which is very beautiful but can get crowded. Be very careful to stay on the trail here, as you do not want to cause damage to the fragile vegetation. If you are only looking for an easy day trip this is where you would soak in the beauty of Crater Lake, then turn back. If you have more experience or are with an experienced group this could be where you set up camp. There is confirmed bear activity in the area. Always stay alert for this and follow local safety advice. Crater Lake is part of the Four Loop Pass which is a 26-mile-long strenuous trek that leads you over four separate mountain passes in the span of four days. As you can imagine, this isn’t a hike for everyone. Dogs must be kept on a leash and campfires have major regulations. You must make a reservation in order to have access to the Four Loop Pass.
6. Great Sand Dunes National Park
Difficulty: Easy
Great Sand Dunes National Park is open 24/7 year round! There are no reservations to visit or limit on the number of visitors in the park and preserve, but there is currently a limit of 10 visitors at a time in the visitor center due to COVID restrictions. The tallest dunes in North America are nestled in the center of a diverse landscape of grasslands, wetlands, forests, alpine lakes, and tundra. Star Dune is the largest of them all, standing at about 700 feet. In the early spring when the rivers run through the fine sand basin, the landscape transforms into a compact desert. Above the dunes stand the Sangre de Cristo Peaks. Wandering among the dunes can be as long or as short as you like it to be. Consider them nature’s sandbox The Dunes are the perfect place to bring the family. You can explore the Dunes, go sand sledding or sand boarding. Then when the flow is high enough, you can splash in Medano creek by the parking area. Horseback riding is also allowed but is very regulated.
5. The Devil’s Causeway – Flat Tops Wilderness
Difficulty: Hard
The infamous strip of land is located in the Flat Tops Wilderness. These tabletops are anomalies as the area around them is more commonly known for its jagged, pyramid peaks. The White River National Forest has a longstanding tradition of protecting the wilderness. According to the Forest Service, Arthur Carhart, a Forest Service landscape architect, was tasked to survey the area with plans to build summer cottages in 1919. What Carhart saw compelled him to recommend to his supervisors that the area remain undeveloped, which it has. The Devil’s Causeway is a very narrow ridge running between the William Fork and White Rivers. It is accessed only by a trail beginning at Stillwater Reservoir. The hike is a six-mile round-trip to the causeway or 10 miles round-trip if you continue on the trail and circle back to the reservoir. Along the rigorous route is Little Causeway Lake and meadows painted with wildflowers in the summer. The causeway is 11,800 feet high and just four feet wide in some places. Both sides of the causeway are cliffs that can drop hundreds of feet, sometimes even straight down. It is said that nearly everyone who attempts the crossing is quite literally brought to his or her knees at one point or another while crossing. This trail is not for those with major vertigo or fear of heights. Those who conquer Devil’s Causeway are rewarded with unparalleled views of the surrounding high mesas and the valleys below.
4. The Crystal Mill – Crystal River
Difficulty: easy to moderate
This is a very moderate hike that runs along the Crystal River for most of it. The Crystal Mill trail is around 9 miles and takes most people around 5-hours to complete. The beginning of the hike can be pretty tough and caution should be used. The trail itself is also a four-wheeling dirt road, so be prepared for some ATVs and jeeps passing by. The fall colors are beautiful, and summer is a great time to swim. Once you get the Mill, there is a $10 per person fee to go under the rope and view it from the water but, you can also view it from the roped off section on the road. Many reviews say paying the ten dollars is very worth it for the experience past the rope.
3. Rattlesnake Arches – McInnis Canyons
Difficulty: Moderate
The Rattlesnake Canyon Arches are one of Colorado’s most spectacular wonders, but also one of its best-kept secrets located in the northern end of Western Colorado’s Uncompahgre Plateau. The landscape gives way to remote canyons that wind through colorful sandstone to form cliffs, pinnacles, alcoves, and arches. You can find a collection of 35 natural arches tucked away in Rattlesnake Canyon. The world’s second largest concentration of natural arches is protected in the 123,400-acre McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. The Arches are accessible only by a rough drive on a 4×4 track or a 15-mile round-trip trek from a trailhead west of Grand Junction. There is a lot of open terrain to explore but hiking on the Rattlesnake Arches Trail is the best way to experience everything. Crowds are usually low so it is easy to take your time as you walk among these natural wonders. The Rattlesnake Arches are a little out of the way but if you are willing to make the journey you will be rewarded with one of Colorado’s most remarkable landscapes.
2. Butler Gulch
Difficulty: Moderate to hard
A potentially difficult five-mile trek with rises from 10,514 feet – 11,928 feet, Butler Gulch is one of the best hikes in Colorado in the summertime. The Wildflowers paint the views with over one hundred different species including the Indian Paintbrush and the Rocky Mountain Columbine, the state flower of Colorado. In this area you’ll also come across two abandoned mines. The mines are not safe to explore within but they make intriguing and eerie views from the outside. Butler Gulch can be a playground in the winter months. The trail climbs through a spruce and fir forest on a narrow closed road. It leads to an open bowl that is great for snowshoeing and backcountry skiing in the winter. The quick approach and open bowls is great for snowshoers and skiers new to the backcountry and trying to get a feel for the sports. Due to high elevation some trails are not snow-free until late June or mid-July. Whether you are enjoying winter sports or just the landscape, Butler Gulch has anything an experienced hiker could want.
1. Ice Lake – San Juan Mountains
Difficulty: Hard
The vibrant blue hues of waters in Ice Lake make this one of the most scenic hikes in Colorado. You’ll find the start to this Colorado classic at the South Mineral Campground in the San Juan National Forest. Ice Lake is a fairly difficult hike. The trail immediately heads uphill until you reach a big valley, this is not the steepest part of the hike and only half of your elevation gain. The trail itself is marked well. There are a few rocky sections, but nothing super strenuous. Check with the Forest Service to make sure Ice Lake is open before visiting. Ice Lake was shut down after a wildfire devastated the area in 2020. The Ice Fire in San Juan County began burning in October of 2020 in the South Mineral Creek area near a trail head. The Sheriff’s Department evacuated campers and hikers from the area, including 23 hikers and three dogs rescued with helicopters. One witness said he was on a day hike to Ice Lake when he noticed a “massive” plume of smoke. He and the other hikers grouped together to decide whether to try to find a way to hike out of the area or wait for help. In the end, four helicopters swept in and saved the day.
Colorado is a gorgeous place with a rugged and diverse landscape. There is truly something here for everyone no matter what level of difficulty you are at when it comes to navigating terrain. This land is beautiful and should be preserved at any cost. Make sure when visiting any of Colorado’s natural wonders you stay on marked trails (unless rules allow otherwise), leave things cleaner than when you arrived, and always only observe nature without disturbing her complicated processes. Colorado has many things to offer. Where will you explore?
A 39 year old woman was found dead. She was walking her two dogs in Trimble, near Durango. Her boyfriend returned home to find the two dogs but his girlfriend was missing. After searching for about an hour he found her body. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife responded to the scene and said the body has signs of consumption.
What Animal Attacked Her?
The body was surrounded with bear scat and hair. Teams of men and dogs began searching for the bear and located a female black bear and her two cubs close to the scene. The bears were humanely euthanized and taken to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife service laboratory for a necropsy. “Whenever an animal is euthanized, we receive many questions about why that action was necessary,” said Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director, Dan Prenzlow. “Our responsibilities to the natural resources of the state are many, but we have no more important duty than to manage these resources in a manner that keeps Coloradans and our visitors safe. Euthanizing wildlife is never an action our officers take lightly, but we have an obligation to prevent additional avoidable harm.”
Why Were the Bears Euthanized?
The three bears were euthanized in order to keep Colorado’s people and visitors safe. Once a bear injures or consumes a human law enforcement can not risk the chance that it could happen again. Bears will return to a proven food source repeatedly. A bear that loses its fear of humans is very dangerous and the two cubs were taught to view humans as a food source. It will take two weeks for some testing to come back but Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s pathologist said the bears did not have any initial signs of disease or abnormalities. An autopsy on the deceased woman is expected to occur on Tuesday by the La Plata County coroner’s office. The coroner will determine the official cause of death and identify the remains. According to Colorado Parks and Wildlife the following is how you should conduct yourself when face to face with a bear.
Viewing Etiquette if You See a Bear
- Respect a bear’s space. Binoculars and spotting scopes allow you to view bears without getting too close.
- Never approach, crowd, pursue, or displace bears. If a bear changes its behavior because of your presence, you are too close! Also, check with the park you are visiting for viewing distance regulations, which may vary based on species and terrain. For example, Yellowstone National Park requires visitors to keep a distance of at least 100 yards (300 feet); Shenandoah National Park recommends 200 feet or more.
- Stay in groups and minimize noise and movement. However, in areas of low visibility or when you’re out on the trail, reduce chances of surprise encounters by staying alert and talking calmly to identify yourself as a human, not another animal.
- Stay on designated trails whenever possible.
- Leave “orphaned” or sick bears alone. Young animals that appear alone usually have a mother waiting nearby. Never get between a mother and her cub.
- Leave pets at home.
- Give bears room to pass. Do NOT run from a bear.
- Let bears eat their natural foods. Prevent bears from getting human food by learning about food storage requirements.
- You are responsible for your safety and the safety of wildlife. If a bear approaches you, it is your responsibility to move away and maintain a safe distance.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife also gives us extra steps we can take to attempt to stay safe once a bear has noticed you.
- Identify yourself by talking calmly so the bear knows you are a human and not a prey animal. Remain still; stand your ground but slowly wave your arms. Help the bear recognize you as a human. It may come closer or stand on its hind legs to get a better look or smell. A standing bear is usually curious, not threatening.
- Stay calm and remember that most bears do not want to attack you; they usually just want to be left alone. Bears may bluff their way out of an encounter by charging and then turning away at the last second. Bears may also react defensively by woofing, yawning, salivating, growling, snapping their jaws, and laying their ears back. Continue to talk to the bear in low tones; this will help you stay calmer, and it won’t be threatening to the bear. A scream or sudden movement may trigger an attack. Never imitate bear sounds or make a high-pitched squeal.
- Pick up small children immediately.
- Hike and travel in groups. Groups of people are usually noisier and smellier than a single person. Therefore, bears often become aware of groups of people at greater distances, and because of their cumulative size, groups are also intimidating to bears.
- Make yourselves look as large as possible (for example, move to higher ground).
- Do NOT allow the bear access to your food. Getting your food will only encourage the bear and make the problem worse for others.
- Do NOT drop your pack as it can provide protection for your back and prevent a bear from accessing your food.
- If the bear is stationary, move away slowly and sideways; this allows you to keep an eye on the bear and avoid tripping. Moving sideways is also non-threatening to bears. Do NOT run, but if the bear follows, stop and hold your ground. Bears can run as fast as a racehorse both uphill and down. Like dogs, they will chase fleeing animals. Do NOT climb a tree. Both grizzlies and black bears can climb trees.
- Leave the area or take a detour. If this is impossible, wait until the bear moves away. Always leave the bear an escape route.
- Be especially cautious if you see a female with cubs; never place yourself between a mother and her cub, and never attempt to approach them. The chances of an attack escalate greatly if she perceives you as a danger to her cubs.
What To Do If You Are Attacked
Most bears are only interested in protecting food, cubs, or their space so attacks are rare. Being mentally prepared can help you have the most effective reaction. Every situation is different, but below are guidelines on how brown bear attacks can differ from black bear attacks. Help protect others by reporting all bear incidents to a park ranger immediately. Above all, keep your distance from bears!
- Brown/Grizzly Bears: If you are attacked by a brown/grizzly bear, leave your pack on and PLAY DEAD. Lay flat on your stomach with your hands clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder for the bear to turn you over. Remain still until the bear leaves the area. Fighting back usually increases the intensity of such attacks. However, if the attack persists, fight back vigorously. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the face.
- Black Bears: If you are attacked by a black bear, DO NOT PLAY DEAD. Try to escape to a secure place such as a car or building. If escape is not possible, try to fight back using any object available. Concentrate your kicks and blows on the bear’s face and muzzle.
If any bear attacks you in your tent, or stalks you and then attacks, do NOT play dead. This kind of attack is very rare, but can be serious because it often means the bear is looking for food and sees you as prey so fight back.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
The United States seems to be running full steam ahead with the legalization of Cannabis. America was not always so open minded. Federal Bureau of Narcotics Commissioner Harry Anslinger became a powerful anti-marijuana voice during the 1930’s. His campaign against Cannabis led to the passage of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, under which the importation, cultivation, possession and/or distribution of marijuana were regulated. Prior to 1937, cannabis had a 5000 year history across many cultures. By 1970, marijuana was classified with narcotics and new, tighter laws were enacted… until now.
Timeline of State Medical Marijuana Legalization
In 1996, California became the first state to approve the use of Cannabis for medical purposes. In 1998 and 1999, Alaska, Oregon, District of Columbia, Washington, and Maine followed, also legalizing medical Cannabis. In 2000 Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada passed medical marijuana legislation. Vermont and Montana legalized medical use in 2004. New Mexico, Rhode Island, Michigan, and New Jersey all followed between 2007 and 2012, along with Delaware and Massachusetts. In 2013 and 2014 Illinois, New Hampshire, Minnesota, and New York legalized medical use. Arkansas, Florida, North Dakota, Ohio, and Pennsylvania had legislation passed in 2016. West Virginia and Oklahoma legalized medical use in 2017 and 2018. Many health benefits have been found in cannabis. There are also risks that are associated with different ways of consuming cannabis. Many states, however, have already legalized recreational use of marijuana.
Recreational Marijuana Legalization
Colorado and Washington were the first two states to legalize the recreational use of Marijuana together in 2012. Alaska and the District of Columbia joined them in 2014. California, Massachusetts, and Nevada legalized recreational use in 2016. Vermont passed a recreational marijuana legislature in 2018. Virginia passed recreational marijuana laws which will be enacted on July 1, 2021. Many states such as North Carolina, which introduced a legalization bill this week, are expected to be added to this list. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is an advocate of marijuana legalization. He says he is ready to move ahead with major changes to federal laws with or without the support of President Joe Biden. “I want to make my arguments to him, as many other advocates will,” Schumer said. “But at some point we’re going to move forward, period.“
Biden’s View on Cannabis
Biden continues to oppose legalization, according to Forbes. They report, Biden supports reforms such as decriminalizing possession, expunging past records, allowing medical cannabis and letting states set their own laws. In November of last year, Biden was criticized for suggesting “there’s not nearly been enough evidence that has been acquired as to whether or not it is a gateway drug.” Days later he was quoted on a conference call saying, “I don’t think it is a gateway drug.”
Schumer’s interest was renewed after New York moved to legalize recreational Cannabis. The law change will bring about $350 million in new tax revenue for New York. Cannabis has the ability to make the many other states a lot of money in tax revenue. In 2017, the USA accounted for 90% of the $9.5 billion cannabis trade, which is expected to grow to $47.3 billion by 2027. A key part of making those figures happen is federal legislation of cannabis.
Written by: Erinn Malloy
There has been an increase in auto thefts in the Denver area during the first part of 2021. This trend came with the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Last year, there were 1,035 auto thefts in January, 927 in February and 1,148 in March. The Colorado Auto Theft Prevention Authority’s Metropolitan Auto Theft Task Force already recorded 6,669 cars stolen in January, February, and March in the area of Adams, Arapahoe, Broomfield, Denver, Douglas and Jefferson. Denver accounted for 2,390 of those thefts.
Auto Thefts in Denver Area Escalating
“If trends continue as they are, we’ll see another more than 40% increase in auto theft in the Denver metro area for 2021,” said Mike Greenwell, head of the theft task force. “Auto theft not only deprives our neighbors of critical transportation for work, school, and other family needs, many stolen vehicles are used in the commission of additional felony crimes,” said Chief Paul M. Pazen. “To help address this issue impacting our community, we are working to raise awareness and encourage residents to partner with us in preventing auto theft to the greatest extent possible.”
The most popular cars that have been stolen and roughly how many.
Chevrolet Silverado: 325
Ford F250: 248
Honda Accord: 241
Kia Optima: 201
Hyundai Sonata: 197
Honda Civic: 184
GMC Sierra: 144
Ford F350: 139
Hyundai Elantra: 138
Kia Sportage: 127
6,669 cars have been stolen and 6,098 vehicles have been recovered. However, these recovered vehicles are often not in the same condition in which they were stolen, which is another reason to ensure theft deterrents are in place.
How can you be safe?
Keep your car safe by locking vehicle doors and keeping the windows rolled up. Remove your keys, fobs, and valet keys from the vehicle when you exit. Having a steering wheel lock or alarm enabled also could deter thieves. Drivers should not leave their car unattended while it’s running and park in secure garages whenever possible. Denver Police said officers will continue high visibility patrols to deter criminals and prevent auto thefts.
