This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A school principal in Washington state has been placed on leave after she made comments that the swastika, a Nazi symbol that in today's world is totally banned in Germany, actually sometimes is a symbol of "peace."
A report by the KIRO7 broadcast outlet explained the Bellevue school district also was apologizing for the comments.
The situation developed when one of the symbols was found on a wall of a playground.
The report explained that Principal Heather Skookal, of Phantom Lake Elementary, responded with several comments. One was that there were "multiple perspectives" about the image, and that it was a symbol of peace for some.
She's now on administrative leave pending an investigation.
The report said one parent defended the principal, explaining, "She is not erasing what happened to the Jewish community whatsoever. Because you know we all know about it. We all know what happened. But like she said, many symbols do mean different things for different cultures, so we cannot disassociate what one person did and forget what this symbol means to everyone else."
An official district statement charged, "Bellevue, like other districts, has seen a rise in antisemitic incidents, particularly this past year, and we are taking actions to address it. There is absolutely no place for hate in the Bellevue School District. In a time where words and symbols are used to divide us, we are working with administrators, staff and students to call our community in for courageous conversations to affirm each other's cultures, beliefs and identities."
A report at the Blaze said the principal's first comments were condemnation for the symbol of "hate."
Then she elaborated that it represents, to some, "peace."
She had said such "symbols of hate" have started appearing in her school, and they have been removed.
The report explained, "Hours later, parents shared with KOMO an email from the principal with the subject line: 'Follow-up on recent incident and cultural awareness.' The station said the principal in the email apologized for not acknowledging in her initial text alert that while a swastika is often associated with hate and intolerance, it's important to acknowledge the swastika also has deep historical and cultural significance in other parts of the world. She also thanked members of the community for bringing it to her attention, the station added."
The principal explained, "In Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and other ancient cultures, the swastika is a symbol of peace, prosperity, and good fortune. We recognize that for many of our families, this symbol has a positive and spiritual meaning, completely unrelated to the hateful associations it took on in more recent history."
A new report from Energy Policy Research Foundation analysis by researcher Max Pyziur blames California's high gas prices on its onerous climate change policies despite insistence from Democrat Governor Gavin Newsom that "Big Oil" was to blame for the state's higher than average prices on fuel.
AAA reported that the average gas price nationwide was around $3.17 a gallon, but in California the average price is $4.67 a gallon.
The study by Pyzier pointed out that gasoline formulations exceeding EPA standards account for 16 cents a gallon of added cost.
California's Cap and Trade program, an attempt to limit greenhouse gas emissions, is another cause of the higher prices. This program caps greenhouse gas emissions and charges a fee for those who exceed the "caps."
California also has an excise tax of 58 cents per gallon, which was only 18 cents a gallon in 2000.
The combination of these policies has made gas cost an average of $1 more per gallon in 2022 and 2023. So far in 2024, gas in California has averaged around 90 cents a gallon higher than the national average.
Despite this clear evidence that climate change policies are making gas in California more expensive, Newsom continues to blame oil companies for the discrepancy.
Oil refineries are moving out of the state due to the abuse and overregulation. Out of 43 refineries that existed in 1982, only 14 remain in 2024.
Chevron is the latest to move out of California; it moved to Texas in August.
Newsom has been actively trying to drive refineries out of the state even if it's detrimental to the people and to tax revenue in the state. He wants gas-powered cars banned in the state in the next 20 years or less.
Unfortunately, to an extent the rest of the country follows after California because it is the largest and has had a powerful economy in the past.
Their reputation won't last if things continue in the same way, however.
The U.S. is in no way ready to ditch gasoline-powered cars. The power grid would be strained to the breaking point, if not beyond it, and lots of electric cars would be sitting on the side of the road inoperable because of the strain.
There may be a time in the future when electric cars can work, but for now, oil is a needed resource to make our economy go--even in California, whether people like Newsom like it or not.
Deputy Mayor for Public Safety in New York City has become the latest to resign in the midst of a growing scandal involving Mayor Eric Adams (D) and some members of his administration and staff.
Banks is part of the probe involving Adams, which led to an Adams indictment two weeks ago on bribery and corruption charges.
Adams has not yet resigned and insists that he is innocent of any wrongdoing.
Banks's home was raided by the FBI on September 4 as part of the investigation and his devices were seized.
Adams said he had spoken to Banks about the resignations and his plans afterward.
“We spoke yesterday and we spoke again this morning,” Adams said Monday morning on NY1.
“He stated that he wanted to transition to some other things with his life and he doesn’t want this to be a constant burden on the work that we are doing in the city and I accepted his resignation,” he continued.
“I wish my good friend well,” he added. Adams also praised the public work of Banks during his remarks.
According to reports, Banks had wanted to resign before the federal probe, but once his home was raided, he decided to stay and fight the investigation.
The investigation of Banks is looking into whether he funneled contracts to companies linked to his brother Terrence Banks.
Saferwatch, IT companies Derive Technologies and SVAM International and grocery store delivery app Mercato are some of the companies working with Terrence Banks that allegedly got contracts with the city.
The Adams indictment includes five charges, but so far no one else has been charged in the probe.
There are definitely suspicions about the involvement of several others in the deal, however. For one, retired NYPD Inspector Tim Pearson, who was in charge of migrant contracts, also resigned amid investigation by the feds.
Adams has reportedly gotten pressure from NY Governor Kathy Hochul (D) to pressure more top aides and officials to resign amid the probe.
A court in Ohio rejected a request from a Haitian group to issue arrest warrants for Republican nominee former President Donald Trump and running mate Sen. J.D. Vance (OH) over comments they made about Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio.
A panel of judges referred the request from the Haitian Bridge Alliance to county prosecutors for further investigation but found no probable cause for any charges at this time.
The group claimed threats were made against migrants after Trump and Vance made comments about migrants in Springfield eating dogs and cats of residents as well as other "pets" in response to allegations on Facebook that migrants were decapitating and eating ducks from a pond in the area.
Another resident said he saw a cat hanging at the home of a migrant neighbor, carved up in preparation to be eaten, after his friend's cat went missing.
Police in Springfield said they had heard the rumors but that no formal complaints had been made to them about migrants eating ducks or people's pets.
Around 20,000 migrants have been transported to Springfield, which has a population of about 60,000, during President Joe Biden's tenure after being processed at the U.S. border.
Residents have complained that city resources have been stressed by the influx.
The Haitian Bridge Alliance wants charges of felony inducing panic, disrupting public services, making false alarms, two counts of complicity, two counts of telecommunications harassment and aggravated menacing.
Charges could still be filed against Trump and Vance if investigators find any cause to do so.
The judges said that “particular consideration should be given to ‘the strong constitutional protections afforded to speech, and political speech in particular,'” adding that due to the presidential election being “less than 35 days away,” the topic of immigration was “contentious.”
“Due to the proximity of the election, and the contentiousness concerning the immigration policies of both candidates, the Court cannot presume the good faith nature of the affidavits,” the judges wrote.
While Trump still faces dozens of criminal charges, it would be the first time Vance was charged with a crime since he became a candidate for office.
No charges were recommended against the Biden administration or any of its members for violating border laws in allowing such a large number of migrants to enter the country and remain in the U.S.
Such is the state of justice in the country that people who are actually violating laws are getting away with it, while those that merely comment on the situation could end up in court over their words.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
JERUSALEM – One person was killed and at least 10 others suffered varying degrees of wounds in what appears to be both a shooting and stabbing attack at Beesheba's bus station on Sunday. Israel Border Police Cpl. Shira Chaya Suslik, 19, whom Magen David Adom first responders pronounced dead at the scene, is thought to be the only fatality from the attack so far. The perpetrator, a 29-year-old Bedouin man, was neutralized at the scene.
The reports about a terrorist event began to filter through at around 3 p.m. local time, although the details were not clear. Even the method of the attack – which now seems to be a combination of shooting and stabbing – was somewhat mysterious.
The Bedouin perpetrator, who was a resident of Ogbi, near Lakia, had a criminal record and an Israeli identity card. A relative of his was responsible for a 2015 terrorist attack in the same location. His actions have prompted some in the government to call for removing terrorists' families from the country, despite having citizenship. Transportation Minister Miri Regev said the families of terrorists should be deported: "The time has come for a deterrent punishment that prevents attacks on Israeli territory," she tweeted.
Israel's security services – including the IDF, Border Police, and Israel Police – are on heightened alert as there are fears terrorists will use the one-year anniversary of the Oct. 7 massacre to try and carry out atrocities.
This latest incident follows on from a horrific shooting attack at a light rail station in the ancient port city of Jaffa, carried out by two Hamas-inspired terrorists from Hebron, Judea. Armed with AR-15 style weapons – no doubt obtained as part of Iran's mendacious attempt to flood Judea and Samaria with increasingly powerful and more easily smuggled firearms – they brutally executed several people at short range, including a mother, who died while shielding her infant from the hail of bullets. The child survived and was taken to a local hospital for treatment.
The situation in Judea and Samaria is one which has the potential to spiral out of control. Unofficially, the third intifada began in 2021, as terrorist groups, some affiliated with Hamas, and many of the beneficiaries of Iranian largesse began ratcheting up the violence against Israelis. The IDF attempted to keep a lid on things for approximately two years; however, the Oct. 7 attacks changed its mindset from defense to strong offense. As such, the IDF has taken the fight to terrorist cells and organizational infrastructure in Judea and Samaria, using limited operations, as well as drone and even airstrikes to eliminate so-called battalion leaders among others.
The scope and existence of limitations on abortion remains a pressing question in states across the country in the post-Roe landscape, and one southern jurisdiction's stringent restrictions were just rejected by a judge, much to the disappointment of pro-life activists there.
As Breitbart reports, Judge Robert McBurney of Fulton County (Georgia) Superior Court blocked enforcement of the state's Living Infants Fairness and Equality (LIFE) Act late last month, dealing a victory to pro-abortion forces who also hope the issue will play an outsized role in November's presidential election and beyond.
McBurney's decision signals the death knell for Georgia's so-called “heartbeat law,” which prohibited abortions after six weeks' gestation unless certain, specified exceptions applied.
The judge determined, as Fox News noted, that the issue of abortion in the Peach State would be subject to regulation under the terms that prevailed prior to the enactment of the statute at issue, meaning that abortion was permissible up until 22 weeks gestation.
In the order announcing his decision, McBurney declared, “The authors of our Constitutions, state and federal, entrusted to future generations a charter protecting the right of all persons to enjoy liberty as we learn its meaning.”
He went on, “A review of our higher courts' interpretations of 'liberty' demonstrates that liberty in Georgia includes in its meaning, in its protections, and in its bundle of rights the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices.”
McBurney did, however, acknowledge that the power as articulated is not without limits, noting that “When a fetus growing inside a woman reaches viability, when society can assume care and responsibility for that separate life, then – and only then – may society intervene.”
The LIFE Act came into existence when Gov. Brian Kemp signed it into law back in 2019, but did not take effect until 2022, after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the precedent of Roe v. Wade.
Though critics complained that the six-week abortion ban would require women to have the procedure before many even realize they are pregnant, the statute did include exceptions for cases of incest, rape, and when the life of the mother is deemed to be in danger.
Notably, McBurney halted enforcement law once before, back in 2022, prompting the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn his decision and allow it to be implemented until the case was heard on its merits, a process which has now been completed.
In the wake of McBurney's ruling, Georgia Attorney General Chris Carr filed an appeal to the state's high court, declaring that a reversal of the judge's “barely veiled judicial policymaking” was likely.
The state's appeal asserted that the “superior court's new order is just as erroneous as its first” and that it was filled with “political arguments, irrelevant (and erroneous) legal tangents, and ad hominem attacks” without ever isolating “a genuine constitutional flaw” in the legislation.
With abortion once again playing a significant role in the current presidential election cycle, some believe that McBurney's decision on the LIFE Act at this particular juncture amounts to undue interference.
Ken Blackwell of the Family Research Council made this very claim, saying, “With his October Surprise, it looks like McBurney is attempting to curry favor with Kamala Harris to get appointed to a lifetime federal judgeship if Harris wins the presidency,” offering a seemingly cynical -- yet potentially quite accurate -- take on the current state of play.
The men of the Kennedy family have long been tied to tales of marital strife and infidelity, and such is the case with former independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr.
Rumors are increasingly swirling that RFK Jr. and his wife, actress Cheryl Hines, are on the verge of divorce in the wake of a scandal involving journalist Olivia Nuzzi, as the Daily Mail reports, with a recent outing in Malibu seemingly revealing mounting tension between the spouses.
The gossip mill has been working overtime in recent weeks, ever since news broke that Nuzzi had been placed on leave from her job at New York magazine due to allegations that she had been involved in a personal relationship of some sort with someone close to the 2024 presidential race – later revealed to be Kennedy.
Though the entanglement, which supposedly started after Nuzzi interviewed Kennedy for a political profile article, did not turn physical, it was said to have involved texting of an intimate nature.
Kennedy has been married for 10 years to Hines, of Curb Your Enthusiasm fame, and he has had a notorious history of extramarital affairs, having once reportedly maintained a list of over 40 such conquests in his phone.
The former Democrat has been upfront about these failings, writing in 2001 that he has struggled with what he referred to as “lust demons.”
In light of the most recent cheating rumors, attention has turned to Hines' take on the situation, with speculation now rife about the fate of the celebrity marriage, and according to the Mail, some of Hines' friends now believe that her union with Kennedy may be on its last legs and that the actress is eager to dissolve the marriage.
One person close to Hines told the Mail that the Hollywood star had been “blindsided” by the Nuzzi story and had been convinced that her husband's days of infidelity were over.
“She adored being a member of America's royal family and having the famous Kennedy name attached to hers, but now she's thoroughly embarrassed and furious about his adulterous actions,” the source revealed.
The source added that while “Cheryl was always very aware that Bobby had a long history of womanizing,” she also “firmly believed Bobby, in his seventh decade and with political aspirations, finally had his sex demons under control” and now feels “totally blindsided and humiliated.”
On Friday, the troubled pair were spotted on a coffee run to a Malibu, California Starbucks, with both husband and wife reportedly looking serious, not to mention, rather tense.
Reports have suggested that the couple has barely communicated in recent weeks, and though Hines was seen walking on the sidewalk solo on this particular excursion, the pair did ride in the same vehicle to their destination and sat side-by-side.
Eagle-eyed celebrity watchers noted, however, that Hines' ensemble of jeans, t-shirt, and dark glasses was lacking one noteworthy accessory, namely, a wedding ring.
Whether the marriage of Kennedy and Hines has what it takes to weather this embarrassing public storm, only time will tell, but if the Mail's sources are correct, things do not look particularly promising.
A street in the Bronx has become an unsettling hub for homeless individuals engaging in drug use and other indecent activities, sparking serious safety concerns among its residents.
Residents and local authorities have been experiencing escalating quality-of-life issues due to the pervasive presence of homeless heroin addicts on a residential street near key civic landmarks, the New York Post reported.
This street, situated near the Bronx County Courthouse and the office of Borough President Vanessa Gibson, is now frequented by homeless individuals struggling with substance abuse. For residents, the troubling transformations seen on their sidewalks encompass much more than minor disturbances.
The street, which once was an ordinary part of the neighborhood, now finds itself caught in a cycle of chaos and neglect. Descriptions of the scene evoke a snapshot of urban decay: used syringes, broken glass, and drug baggies litter the area, painting a grim picture of the current state of affairs.
Neighborhood inhabitants have repeatedly raised alarms about public drug consumption and other distressing behaviors. One resident explained his observations about the state of local park stairs and spoke to a shared frustration among his neighbors.
More than just an eyesore, lawlessness has become commonplace. Public acts of indecency are reportedly frequent, with another neighbor expressing disbelief at seeing inappropriate actions in the park itself. The frequency of these encounters underscores a broader issue that seems to be largely ignored by those in positions of power.
Despite these disturbing reports, official responses appear lacking. An exasperated resident noted how calls to report issues frequently end with cases being closed due to insufficient evidence, illustrating a cycle of inaction that continues to exasperate local community members.
Over the summer, things took an alarming turn when indecent behavior near a woman’s parked car was recorded. Residents shared that the situation made her feel trapped, a stark reminder of the vulnerability felt by those who live nearby.
Witnessing these activities daily has left some community members feeling unsafe in what should be familiar environments. In one poignant instance, a reporter encountered a person with a significant hand injury who casually attributed it to a fall.
The disheartening scene is not confined to one area but extends to the local park. The city Parks Department insists they focus on keeping these public spaces clean and safe for visitors, although challenges persist.
The Sanitation Department's efforts to combat the problem illustrate a broader battle against a recurring issue. One resident highlighted their responsiveness but lamented the short-lived relief their clean-ups offer, describing it as a cycle that provides a clean slate for those returning.
Hazardous waste left behind by the street’s occupants necessitated a Hazmat crew to intervene. Discarded items like vials of blood and numerous needles underscore the public health risk looming over the neighborhood.
Despite visible efforts, residents remain critical of the slow or ineffective responses to their ongoing concerns. Community Board 4 and Borough President Vanessa Gibson's office have been approached, but widespread change remains elusive.
Reflecting a collective sentiment, a Walton Avenue local described the neighborhood as barbaric, a sentiment rooted in frustration over witnessing objectionable scenes on a regular basis.
Former first lady Melania Trump's upcoming memoir is already making headlines, as she used the opportunity to open up about her otherwise private family life, especially concerning her son, Barron Trump.
Many on the left have dialed in on Barron Trump since he turned 18 earlier this year, and some, including Rosie O’Donnell and other rabid, anti-Trump celebrities have suggested that the teenaged Trump is on the autism spectrum
They're downright nasty about it, too.
Melania Trump addressed those claims and others in her upcoming book, which is already smashing presale records online.
The former first lady's book will hit the physical and virtual shelves on Tuesday and according to media outlets that have reviewed advanced copies, shines a whole new light into the family of former President Donald Trump.
She opened up about the controversy regarding the autism claims that went viral due to a tweet from O'Donnell that meant to give the appearance of being sympathetic.
"Barron Trump Autistic? If so - what an amazing opportunity to bring attention to the AUTISM epidemic," O'Donnell wrote at the time, sending the internet into a total meltdown as a result.
She had attached a video link of a video attempting to prove that Barron was autistic.
Melania, and millions of others, saw right through the former "The View" host's messaging, which was clearly meant to attack Barron Trump, who was only 10 years old at the time.
“I was appalled by such cruelty,” Melania wrote in her new book. “It was clear to me that she was not interested in raising awareness about autism. I felt that she was attacking my son because she didn’t like my husband.”
Understandably, the former first lady was appalled by the video of her young son, whose privacy she guarded fiercely.
“Someone had painstakingly compiled the footage and added captions like, ‘His hands are moving erratically and aren’t touching each other. Then he was spotted making strange movements in his seat, typical of children with autism.’”
Melania wrote, "There is nothing shameful about autism (though O’Donnell’s tweet implied that there was), but Barron is not autistic."
The former first lady and super model also called out the left's violent rhetoric about her husband and family, blaming it for the two attempts on her husband's life. And she's not wrong.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Homeschool moms in Arizona are suing the state over pencils, and books, and flashcards, and erasers.
They are just some of the standard classroom materials needed – that the state suddenly and arbitrarily banned them from purchasing with their state-allotted Empowerment Scholarship Account funds.
It is the Goldwater Institute that is helping them.
"ESAs allow parents to use a portion of their children's allotted state funding to purchase books, school supplies, and other curriculum materials that they can use to educate their children. Under the law, parents can then submit their expenses to the state for reimbursement. But over the summer, AG [Kris] Mayes conjured up an illegal new rule requiring that to qualify for reimbursement, each of those purchases must be explicitly called for in a curriculum," the legal team said.
For homeschool moms Velia Aguirre and Rosemary McAfee "that meant no pencils, no erasers, no poster of the periodic table of elements, no flashcards, and no classic educational books like 'Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?'—unless they could sink hours into tracking down or coming up with various 'curricula' that explicitly call for each and every book title or material's use."
The charges include that Mayes "twisted the law to change the rules of the program, imposing an absurd new burden on ESA parents blocking their purchases of everything from kids' books to the Constitution," the institute reported.
"The law is clear: ESA families have the right to use these educational materials without being forced to justify to the attorney general or state bureaucrats why they're buying pencils or picking individual books for their children," explained Goldwater Institute lawyer John Thorpe.
Aguirre noted, "The government is changing the rules and putting impossible burdens on me." She said she is "individualizing" her children's school days, meaning her curriculum is constantly changing.
"All of a sudden, we have a government telling us, 'Here's one more thing for the list,'" said McAfee.
She has nine children, seven in the program.
"I feel like the AG clearly doesn't have any interest in what an education looks like for a homeschool child."
The legal team pointed out that public and private schools don't list "pencils" or "erasers" in their curriculum, either.
Further, the institute noted, "the AG's new mandate simply ignores state law and violates the Department of Education's own handbook, which safeguards the ESA program by requiring documentation for unusual purchases, but not for common-sense purchases of items that are 'generally known to be educational.'"
The lawsuit challenges the "wrong-headed" demands and seeks a court order to allow parents to run homeschool classes without undue paperwork.