This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A school has gotten caught promoting online pornography as "art," and then concealing that agenda from parents.
And officials with the American Center for Law and Justice aren't letting it slide.
"Our clients, Stephanie Boyanski and Jessy Roberts, were horrified to learn that their seventh-grade children were assigned to visit an unvetted website containing graphic sexual images as part of an art project. The teacher, Ms. Bridgette Gates, displayed these images on a Smart Board in class, acknowledged that 'some images were inappropriate,' and then instructed students to 'ignore them and be mature,'" the ACLJ explained about the dispute that has arisen in Watertown City School District in New York.
There, students in seventh grade were ordered to see pornography "under the guise of an 'art lesson.'"
"This wasn't an accident. Students viewed this explicit material repeatedly over the course of approximately two weeks, for a graded assignment. No parental notice. No opt-out option. No filtering of graphic content. No alternative assignment," the legal team explained. "One of the students involved is a survivor of sexual assault. This assignment triggered traumatic memories, and this student is now in counseling as a direct result of the school's actions."
The lawyers said they are taking action, beginning with a formal demand letter to the superintendent outlining the district's constitutional violations and its failure to protect students from exposure to pornographic material.
"We are demanding a formal reprimand in the teacher's file, a clear policy barring teachers from showing sexually explicit content to children without parental notification, mandatory parental consent and opt-out procedures, and district-funded counseling for students traumatized by the assignment," the ACLJ explained.
It's a district with which the ACLJ is familiar, at it earlier refused to provide legally required access to a religious group.
The report noted the parents only found out about the violations by accident, through parents who reviewed an assignment on their students' school laptops and found the "sexually explicit" material.
The teacher at the time blamed the IT department for not blocking it, but the school then refused to let parents meet with the teacher.
The district then claimed the students had "come across inappropriate content," but that, the ACLJ said, wasn't the case.
"That phrasing was deliberately misleading. Students did not 'come across' anything. They were assigned to view this graphic content by their teacher."
When the dispute came before the school board, "The president of the teachers' union mobilized teachers to attend the meeting in 'solidarity,' canceled after-school activities to ensure staff attendance, and distributed 'Fact Over Fiction' pins – an unmistakable message aimed at parents. He went so far as to compare concerned parents to vandals of his Little Free Library outside of his home and dismissed them as 'internet warriors,'" the legal team explained.
But the law is on the side of the parents, the report said. "For over a century, the Supreme Court has affirmed that parents have the fundamental right to direct the upbringing and education of their children."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
PALM BEACH, Florida – While simultaneously bad-mouthing some members of his own political party, President Donald Trump on Sunday asserted Republicans are at their peak of unity.
"The Republican Party has never been so UNITED AS IT iS RIGHT NOW!" Trump exclaimed on Truth Social.
He then named at least three members of the GOP with whom he has serious problems, labeling them "lowlifes."
"Other than Rand Paul, Rand Paul Jr.([Thomas] Massie!), Marjorie 'Traitor' Brown, and a couple of other 'lowlifes,' and other than the fact that many want the Election threatening Filibuster TERMINATED (the Dems will do it in the first minute of their first chance!), and some don't, there is great spirit and cohesion."
"Plus, the Republican Party is MUCH BIGGER than it was when I announced in 2015 or, ever was before – Many Millions More Members!" Trump continued, as he touted the successes of his administration.
"We now have the Strongest Border EVER, Biggest Tax Cuts, the Best Economy, Highest Stock Market in USA History, and sooo much more. BUT, THE BEST IS YET TO COME! VOTE REPUBLICAN!!!"
According to the Pew Research Center: "Today, Americans are about evenly split between the two parties: 46% identify with or lean toward the Republican Party, and 45% identify with or lean toward the Democratic Party.
"This balance of partisanship is similar to 2024, but the current near-even division marks a shift from the affiliation advantage the Democratic Party enjoyed a few years ago."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Finally.
A judge NOW has ordered a man who has six dozen, or more, arrests on his record to remain in jail for allegedly lighting a woman on fire on a train.
Online reports confirm the Chicago man, Lawrence Reed, 50, who is accused of lighting a woman on fire on a Blue Line train, previously was arrested "at least 72 times."
"Judge Laura McNally ordered that Reed must remain behind bars ahead of his trial due to his criminal history. Gee, maybe he should have already been behind bars for one of his other 72 arrests," a social media report said.
At Fox News, a report said Reed, a "repeat offender," was charged federally for taking gasoline and a lighter onto a Chicago Blue Line train and attacking a woman.
Under federal law, he was accused of "committing a terrorist attack or violence against a mass transportation system," the report said.
In a court filing, federal officials determined, "He is simply too dangerous for pre-trial release."
"Defendant's actions and criminal history, as shown below, demonstrate that he is a serious danger to everyone in the community. The state court system has been unable to contain defendant's violent crimes, and federal intervention is now needed," the prosecutors charged.
Eventually, McNally said Reed must be detained until trial.
Authorities have described Reed's actions as "horrific and depraved." They charged the victim was "minding her own business" when Reed ignited her.
Reed, while surveillance images of the attack were shown in court, "smirked," the report said.
Prosecutors, in a court filing, pointed out his arrest record and said, "At least 15 of those arrests were since 2016, with the most recent occurring in August 2025. He has approximately 15 convictions, eight of which were for felony offenses including arson, criminal damage to government supported property valued over $500, drug trafficking, drug possession, and a felony traffic offense."
Prosecutors explained, "Defendant presents a clear danger and persistent threat of terror to the community. Defendant has been leniently treated in state court, including receiving probationary sentences for violent offenses and pre-trial release for a victim-involved crime. In exchange for such lenient treatment, defendant has consistently re-offended and delved further into criminality. Just three months ago, defendant physically attacked someone at MacNeil Hospital, but a judge ordered him released from custody pending trial. Undeterred, defendant, on Monday, set Victim A on fire."
Reed, at one point, told the judge, "Just make sure I eat. . . . If you want to trial me, you have to feed me."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Islam's religious law, Shariah, has been trigger point for a protest that involved punches thrown, scuffles, someone stealing a Quran and more in the Muslim-dominated city of Dearborn, Mich.
The result was a slew of online videos showing the fisticuffs and other violence.
One report confirmed, "Violent Muslim protesters attack provocateur Jake Lang as he hits a Quran with bacon," the consumption of which is banned by Islam.
The protest was to oppose the advance of Shariah Islamic law in America, and Muslim demands for a higher level of protection for Islam than for Christian or Judaism or their components. For example, an "artist" years ago created a stir and won acclaim for submerging a crucifix in Urine and calling it "P— Christ."
The Shariah opponents clashed with pro-Islam radicals in Dearborn, a city now run by Muslims in government there.
CBS reported the "dueling demonstrations stemmed from when Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Anthony Hudson falsely claimed that there was Shariah Law in Dearborn."
Hudson later walked back those comments, explaining, "If we're going to bring these people together, then we're going to lead by example and come down here, put boots on the ground and walk with these people and show that we can come together."
Joining the protest was Lang, a candidate for Senate from Florida.
Lang challenged the status quo by trying to burn a Quran, which was ripped from his possession by a counter-protester. He then grabbed another Quran, slapping it repeatedly with a slab of bacon before it, too, was stolen from him.
Lang had promoted his activism ahead of time.
And it's not the only action Lang is taking regarding what he feels is improper Muslim influence, with his lawsuit charging that the incoming New York City mayor, a Muslim, is discriminating against Christians.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
A handful of Democrats in Congress who served in the U.S. military and intelligence community are raising eyebrows with a new video encouraging current service members to refuse to follow "illegal orders" issued by the administration of President Donald Trump.
"We want to speak directly to members of the military and the intelligence community who take risks each day to keep Americans safe," the lawmakers say, taking turns in brief clips. "We know you are under enormous stress and pressure right now."
"This administration is pitting our uniformed military and intelligence-community professionals against American citizens. Like us, you all swore an oath to protect and defend this Constitution. Right now, the threats to our Constitution aren't just coming from abroad, but from right here at home.
"Our laws are clear. You can refuse illegal orders. You can refuse illegal orders. You must refuse illegal orders. No one has to carry out orders that violate the law or our Constitution.
"We know this is hard and that it's a difficult time to be a public servant. But whether you're serving in the CIA, the Army, our Navy, the Air Force, your vigilance is critical and know that we have your back. Because now, more than ever, the American people need you. We need you to stand up for our laws, our Constitution and who we are as Americans."
The video concludes with the message: "Don't give up the ship."
Democrats featured in the video are Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan, a former CIA officer; Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona, a former Navy captain and astronaut; Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania, a former Navy officer; Rep. Maggie Goodlander of New Hampshire, a former intelligence officer in the Navy Reserve; Rep. Chrissy Houlahan of Pennsylvania, a former Air Force officer; and Rep. Jason Crow of Colorado, a former paratrooper and Army Ranger.
Stephen Miller, Trump's deputy chief of staff for policy and homeland security, says: "Democrat lawmakers are now openly calling for insurrection."
LibsofTikTok commented: "Elected Democrats just released a video encouraging members of the military to commit treason and DEFY orders from Trump and Hegseth."
Others noted:
"This is seditious conspiracy. Arrest every one of them."
"That's a helluva way for the Dems to advocate for military members ending their careers."
"Every attempt to take over this country has failed. Now the Epstein documents are coming out. And coincidentally you're asking our military to commit treason, just as you all probably have. How fitting."
"Who's going to charge them with treason? No one. And they know it, so they feel totally free to break the law."
"I notice they didn't mention what, specifically, the danger is. In what way is our laws and constitution being challenged? In fact, they didn't even vaguely state this. Just more nonsense."
"Is this unlawful? If so, arrest them. If not, ignore them."
"Looks like some treason indictments are needed. @FBI @DOJCrimDiv."
"The Democrat party was built on treason."
"Haha, these are the same people who voted against our military personnel and federal employees receiving compensation for their work."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
While the federal government cracks down on illegal aliens who obtained commercial driver's licenses from California, the state of New York has its own scandal where employees of the Department of Motor Vehicles were allegedly getting paid to take the written driving tests on behalf of trucker-wannabes.
Seven people, including DMV employees, have been charged with 51 felony counts by the Nassau County District Attorney's Office on Long Island.
"Bypassing that safeguard is far from a harmless shortcut, it is a dangerous threat to public safety," said New York Inspector General Lucy Lang last month.
WABC-TV reported: "Among those charged include Kanaisha Middleton, a supervisor at the Garden City branch of the DMV, as well as her sister, Jamie Middleton, who is accused of taking at least 10 different permit tests for no-show drivers.
"Surveillance images show Jamie Middleton wearing different disguises, even fake facial hair as she posed as a man who would be applying for a commercial driving permit, but she forgot to take off her fake nails."
"We think it's pretty, pretty poor. The finger nails kind of gave it away," Nassau County District Attorney Anne Donnelly said.
"She's in disguise, coming in different clothing and even going so far as to wear fake mustaches, beards, glasses, masks – almost like a spy in an espionage thriller,"
according to the New York Post.
"These disguises were all about selling the scheme for the cameras," she said. "[The real applicants] never set foot in the Garden City DMV, never clicked a single button to take the required test."
Authorities say the defendants charged up to $3,000 per test, with two of the accused working the DMV counters so they could wave through the phony test taker.
Donnelly said Middleton sat for at least 10 tests, despite looking nothing like the applicants.
"One day, she actually sat twice. Came out, went back to the counter, and back in five minutes later," Donnelly said.
Charges include impairing the integrity of a government licensing examination, tampering with public records, corrupting the government and falsifying business records.
If found guilty, the accused face a maximum sentence of 2.5 to 7 years in prison.
As WorldNetDaily reported last week, an investigation by the U.S. Department of Transportation revealed California has issued 17,000 commercial licenses to "dangerous" foreign-born truck drivers.
"After weeks of claiming they did nothing wrong, Gavin Newsom and California have been caught red-handed," Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Wednesday.
"Now that we've exposed their lies, 17,000 illegally issued trucking licenses are being revoked."
"This is just the tip of the iceberg. My team will continue to force California to prove they have removed every illegal immigrant from behind the wheel of semitrucks and school buses."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
An Oregon school district has agreed to pay $650,000 to settle with two educators who were punished, then fired, for speaking out against the injurious transgender agenda the district was adopting.
The trans ideology as promoted by Joe Biden and his administration for years includes giving chemicals to children to delay puberty, then doing mutilating body surgeries on the child.
Grants Pass, Ore., educators Katie Medart and Rachel Sager had launched a grassroots movement called "I Resolve" to speak out on a school gender identity education policy, and to offer alternatives that would allow teachers to continue teaching without submitting their religious beliefs to the social agenda.
And one that would respect the rights of parents to know what their children were being given in school.
They posted a video on their own website promoting their beliefs and efforts.
Subsequently, Grants Pass School District 7 officials suspended them, then fired them.
"Educators are free to express opinions on fundamental issues of public concern—like gender identity education policy—that implicate the freedoms of teachers, parents, and students," said Mathew Hoffman, of the ADF, which represented the teachers along with the Pacific Justice Institute.
"The Grants Pass School District is taking the right step by acknowledging that teachers don't give up their First Amendment rights when they set foot on school property. Public schools can't retaliate against speech simply because they disagree with what's said."
Sager and Medart have worked in the education field for many years, including at North Middle School in Grants Pass. Sager served as assistant principal, and Medart taught science there, the legal teams explained.
Their legal action charging the school violated their free speech, religious freedom and equal protection rights was settled with the district agreeing to pay $650,000 in damages and attorneys' fees.
And the school is issuing a public statement acknowledging that the teachers' wrongful termination fell short of its standards and responsibilities, providing positive letters of recommendation for both, and revising the district's policies and practices to comply with the First Amendment.
The case had been headed for trial, which the district avoided by reaching the settlement, after the usually far-left 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in the teachers' favor by partly vacating a lower court's decision for the school, and ordering a trial to be held.
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
In a result that could be filed under, "Well, Duh!" a new report says leftist, high-tax states like New York and New Jersey recently have lost the taxes on some two-thirds of a trillion dollars in residents' taxable incomes.
It's because residents are fleeing states where gender ideology, communist ideas and socialism is surging.
It is the Unleash Prosperity organization that reported this week that New York lost the ability to tax more than $517 billion in residents' incomes from 2013 to 2022. New Jersey, another enclave of leftists, lost $170.1 billion.
California lost the taxes on $370.1 million in residents' incomes and Illinois lost the taxes on $315.2 billion.
The four states alone, all dominated by Democrat politics and politicians, lost the ability to tax nearly $1.4 trillion in income, and that will continue into the future.
A report at Fox Business said, "The report covers cumulative gains and losses in each state's resident income, as a mover takes their income to another state for subsequent years – not just the first year after their move."
"New York and New Jersey combined have lost two-thirds of a trillion dollars in net income and purchasing power over the last decade due to moving vans departing these states," said Steve Moore, economist and co-founder of Unleash Prosperity, in an interview.
"This has been one of the greatest wealth losses for one region in American history. New Jersey and New York are being bled to death by low tax states in the South," Moore said.
At the other end of the scale was Florida, where a gain of $1 trillion in taxable income was confirmed, as well as Texas, with saw a $290 billion increase.
The report said, "Based on tax filing data from the 2011-12 period through 2021-22, New York lost a net 1.757 million residents to domestic migration, while California lost 1.632 million, Illinois 881,012 and New Jersey 350,111 over that period."
Florida gained nearly 1.6 million and Texas 1.2 million.
The report, according to the New York Post, follows "an election where New Jersey chose to stay left and New York City opted to go farther left.
It explained, "It's not uncommon to look at the one-year losses and gains of income from internal migration such as taxpayers fleeing New York for Florida, but that fails to capture the long-lasting impact: The migrant's income is lost (or gained) year after year for the rest of his or her life."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
It's more important than climate change, schools, gun violence, health care and inflation.
More significant that the economy, taxes, immigration and abortion.
A higher priority than crime, morals and political divisions.
It's fighting President Donald Trump. It's holding onto Trump Derangement Syndrome.
That's the result of a polling done by the Atlanta Journal-Constitution of Democrat voters in the state.
A full 20% of the Democrats responding said "standing up to Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans" is their most important issue.
Only 17% cited inflation and 15% the economy and jobs.
Longtime Democrat focal points, climate change, abortion, immigration and such all were in single digits.
A report from Townhall said, "The poll found that among likely Georgia Democratic primary voters, 17 percent cited inflation and the cost of living as their top concerns. About 15 percent said the economy and jobs are number one. Yet, when it comes to 'standing up to Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans,' about 20 percent indicated this is their top issue."
GOP respondents in the same polling picked cost of living, 18%, as their highest priority, followed by economy 14%, immigration, 13%, crime 12%. Schools and taxes came in at the high single digit levels.
The report said, "So, despite higher prices at the grocery store and elsewhere (thanks Biden), Democratic voters in the Peach State believe the Orange Man What Is Bad™ is the most pressing issue facing them today. Yes, they are concerned about economic issues when you combine the numbers for inflation and jobs, but the fact that they are still fixated on the president shows how deeply Trump Derangement Syndrome runs among Democrats."
It continued "Imagine being more concerned about who sits in the White House than crime in your communities and the lack of quality education — issues that the president has little control over. These are issues that state and local governments are supposed to address. Yet, too many voters still think the president is the most important issue facing the country."
Social media included several opinions:
"In a new poll out of Georgia, Democrats say their 'single most important issue' is standing up to Abraham Lincoln and anti-slavery Republicans."
"I'll live under a bridge if it means standing up to Trump! That'll show him!"
"DNC convinced a certain demographic to put TDS over prosperity …and they're guzzlin it"."
Interesting to see abortion and climate change have suddenly become non-issues for liberals. Powerful, the TDS is within them."
This story was originally published by the WND News Center.
Some comments have the power to simply bring the conversation to a halt.
Even when the conversation is on video, with a podcaster from the New York Times.
It is Greg Gutfield of Fox News that leveled the field when he was asked about Planned Parenthood getting mean letters.
"Well, I mean, they are killing children," he said, leaving the New York Times host with a stunned look on his face.
Commenters online gave Gutfield heart and thumbs-up emojis,
One abortion promoter oddly felt it important to add to the conversation about Planned Parenthood, one of the biggest abortion industry providers in the world: "Zero kids are killed at Planned Parenthood. Kids are born."