Elementary School Principal Says Swastika Is ‘Symbol of Peace’ in Some Religions — And Backlash Is Swift

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The backlash was swift after an elementary school principal in Washington state said the swastika is a “symbol of peace” in some religions — and now the principal is on administrative leave.

A swastika was found Monday on a wall at Phantom Lake Elementary School in Bellevue, KOMO-TV reported. After the discovery, the school district said Principal Heather Snookal sent two messages, KIRO-TV reported.

In her first message — a school text alert — the principal wrote that such “symbols of hate” have surfaced in their school and that the swastika was removed immediately, KOMO said, adding that the principal also encouraged families to communicate with their children the importance of respecting others and standing up against hate.

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. (Read more from “Elementary School Principal Says Swastika Is ‘Symbol of Peace’ in Some Religions — And Backlash Is Swift” HERE)

‘Transparently Crooked’: Biden-Harris Admin Might Just Be Buying Votes With New Medicare Changes, Experts Say

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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced in September that it would be reducing certain Medicare prescription drug premiums in what experts who spoke to the Daily Caller News Foundation called a ploy to buy votes before the November election.

Enrollees in the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit are slated to have lower average monthly premiums for their pharmaceutical drugs next year due to the Biden-Harris administration pouring billions into subsidies for insurers, with premiums set to fall $7.45 from $53.95 in 2024 to $46.50 in 2025, according to a CMS press release. The move by the Biden-Harris administration is a political bribe aimed at securing the votes of Americans aged 65 and over who have the highest voter turnout historically, experts told the DCNF.

“The $2,000 dollar cap [on Medicare out-of-pocket prescription drug costs] as well as other Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) provisions were slated to triple the cost of Part D,” Michael Cannon, director of health policy studies at the Cato Institute, told the DCNF. “If millions of senior citizens see their premiums triple, they’d go to the polls and vote out those responsible. The Biden administration wanted to avert that.”

Premiums were slated to rise in 2025, largely due to a $2,000 cap on Medicare out-of-pocket prescription drug costs enacted as part of provisions in President Joe Biden’s IRA that go into effect next year. To stave off the increase, the White House set up a “stabilization” demonstration program for 2025 that will offer Medicare Part D insurers $15 dollars a month per enrollee in exchange for keeping premiums roughly stable, an initiative that is estimated to cost taxpayers $5 billion in 2025. (Read more from “‘Transparently Crooked’: Biden-Harris Admin Might Just Be Buying Votes With New Medicare Changes, Experts Say” HERE)

Melania’s Abortion Support Further Discourages Pro-Life Votes For Trump

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It shouldn’t have been a surprise. Melania Trump had a successful career as a model. She’s married to one of the most prominent businessmen and politicians in the world. She fits the feminist demographic. Of course she supports abortion.

But for pro-lifers who’ve been arguing that Donald Trump is the pro-life option since 2016, it still hurts a little.

Melania’s book, titled Melania, isn’t set to be released until Oct. 8, but it’s already making headlines. The book reportedly reveals that the former and perhaps future first lady is an advocate of a supposed “right” to abortion, and in one promotional video for the book, Melania speaks explicitly about a woman’s right to what she calls “individual freedom.”

“Individual freedom is a fundamental principle that I safeguard. Without a doubt, there is no room for compromise when it comes to this essential right that all women possess from birth: individual freedom. What does ‘my body, my choice’ really mean?” . . .

“Why should anyone other than the woman herself have the power to determine what she does with her own body?” she reportedly wrote in her book. “A woman’s fundamental right of individual liberty, to her own life, grants her the authority to terminate her pregnancy if she wishes.” . . .

That is a radical statement. Melania, it seems, would oppose any restriction on abortion. She’s not even making the argument that many pro-abortion advocates make that abortions should at least be granted in cases of incest, rape, or when the life of the mother is threatened. Any restriction, at all, Melania has decided, violates a woman’s so-called right to choose. Never mind an unborn child’s right to life. (Read more from “Melania’s Abortion Support Further Discourages Pro-Life Votes For Trump” HERE)

Photo credit: Flickr

Video Shows Flames Shoot Out From Plane During Landing, Pilot Declares Emergency (VIDEO)

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Flames shot out from a plane as it made an emergency landing at Harry Reid International Airport in Las Vegas on Saturday afternoon, video shows.

After pilots declared an emergency due to smoke detection, Frontier Flight 1326 touched down around 3:40 p.m, KLAS reported.

Video posted on X by a witness shows the plane skid to a halt on the runway as smoke plumes from behind.

“Frontier flight 1326 from KSAN-KLAS just caught fire on a landing at KLAS,” the social media user wrote. “I caught it on video as it landed.”

“The pilots detected smoke and declared an emergency,” a spokesperson for Frontier Airlines told CBS News. “The aircraft landed safely and all passengers and crew were evacuated via airstairs. No injuries were reported, and passengers have been bussed to the terminal. The cause of the incident is currently under investigation.” (Read more from “Video Shows Flames Shoot Out From Plane During Landing, Pilot Declares Emergency (VIDEO)” HERE)

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Court Dismisses Haitian Group’s Request for Arrest Warrants Against Trump and Vance

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An Ohio court has dismissed a Haitian group’s request for arrest warrants against former President Donald Trump and his vice presidential running mate, Senator JD Vance (R-OH), following comments made by Trump about Haitian migrants. The Haitian Bridge Alliance, a non-profit organization that advocates for humane immigration policies, sought legal action based on Trump’s remarks during a recent presidential debate.

In a ruling issued by a panel of judges, the court found “no probable cause” to issue arrest warrants or summons for misdemeanor charges against Trump and Vance. The judges opted instead to refer the case to the Clark County prosecutor’s office for further investigation, as outlined by Springfield city officials.

The legal action stemmed from Trump’s claims that Haitian illegals were involved in acts of violence against local pets in Springfield. During a debate on September 10, Trump stated that migrants in the area were “eating the dogs” and cats belonging to residents. His comments followed allegations from numerous Springfield residents, who claimed to have witnessed Haitian migrants taking and killing ducks in a local park. There have been numerous personal accounts and police reports from locals documenting these allegations. One resident even alleged that a friend had lost her cat, which was reportedly found being prepared for consumption at a neighbor’s home.

The Haitian Bridge Alliance’s legal filing called for charges including felony inducing panic, disrupting public services, making false alarms, and telecommunications harassment, among others. However, the court emphasized the importance of First Amendment protections in its decision, noting the constitutional safeguards surrounding speech.

FEMA Abandons Devastated NC Town Residents Because They Can’t Drive Around ‘Road Closed’ Sign: ‘Nobody’s Been Bringing in Supplies Except Civilians’

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Residents of a tiny North Carolina town that was almost totally destroyed by Hurricane Helene fending for themselves after FEMA told them that a “road closed” sign is an insurmountable obstacle for the agency to navigate.

“FEMA called me and told me they wanted to inspect my house then called me back to say they couldn’t drive around the ‘road closed’ sign. They weren’t allowed,” local Chelsea Atkins, 38, told The Post.

“You can drive it by car for sure, it’s not that bad, you just have to drive around the ‘road closed sign’. I explained that to them. They said they couldn’t,” she said, recounting her maddening exchange with the embattled federal agency.

Left to fend for themselves, Bat Cave residents banded together — opening the roads and starting the arduous work of cleanup and recovery. Residents told The Post that they don’t need FEMA now — and at this point, they don’t even want the disaster relief agency to come.

While the sick and elderly residents of Bat Cave were airlifted to safety a week ago, those left behind have seen virtually no sign of government agencies, save for a handful of Louisiana State Police troopers “keeping an eye on everything,” who locals say haven’t done much of anything. (Read more from “FEMA Abandons Devastated NC Town Residents Because They Can’t Drive Around ‘Road Closed’ Sign: ‘Nobody’s Been Bringing in Supplies Except Civilians’” HERE)

Buttigieg Dishes on Dust-up With Elon Musk Over Hurricane Helene: ‘There Was an Issue With Pilots’

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Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg shed light on the call between him and SpaceX founder Elon Musk last week to clear the air on the tech guru’s public complaints that the government was hamstringing his company from helping Hurricane Helene victims.

Musk, 53, had taken to X, with allegations that the Federal Aviation Agency was blocking flights into storm-ravaged parts of North Carolina, prompting a response from Buttigieg, 42, who told the billionaire to give him a ring.

“He took me up on that. He called. We had a conversation. What we found out was actually happening was the FAA was not closing down any airspace,” Buggieg recalled on MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki.”

“But there was an issue with pilots who were helping get Starlink equipment to where it needed to be, having the right information. We worked that with local authorities and were able to take care of it.” (Read more from “Buttigieg Dishes on Dust-up With Elon Musk Over Hurricane Helene: ‘There Was an Issue With Pilots’” HERE)

Donald Trump and His Supporters Make a Triumphant Return to the Scene of His First Assassination Attempt

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It is a testament to the courage and fortitude of Donald Trump and his supporters that, on Saturday, tens of thousands returned to the scene of the first assassination attempt on the former president at Butler, Pa., to hear him speak.

With questions still unanswered about why he was ever placed in harm’s way on July 13, Trump stood in the same place and spoke at the same time as he did when an assassin’s bullet came within a hair’s breadth of killing him on live television, but miraculously only clipped the top of his ear.

His defiant return felt like a weighty moment in history, traced equally with awe and dread, but, this time at least, there was bulletproof glass in front of Trump as he stood on stage, counter-snipers were on every rooftop and giant containers shielded him from the roof of the unguarded building where 20-year-old shooter Thomas Crooks had taken aim.

Many of the rallygoers were wearing T-shirts emblazoned with the unforgettable words Trump uttered moments after the attack when he rose from the ground (right), his face streaked with blood, raised his fist, and said: “Fight! Fight! Fight!” as the crowd roared with relief.

“America is the home of the brave, and there’s no truer test than courage under fire, so who do you want representing America?” said Elon Musk, the billionaire MAGA convert who was invited onstage by Trump Saturday. “We had one president who couldn’t climb a flight of stairs and another who was fist pumping after getting shot.” (Read more from “Donald Trump and His Supporters Make a Triumphant Return to the Scene of His First Assassination Attempt” HERE)

Photo credit: rawpixel.com / National Archives

North Carolina Hurricane Victims Demand Accountability Following Helene’s Devastation

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In the wake of Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic impact, victims from the hardest-hit areas of western North Carolina are expressing deep frustration and anger at the federal government’s response. Communities such as Asheville, Chimney Rock, Swannanoa, and Biltmore Village have experienced significant destruction, with flash flooding leading to the tragic loss of more than 200 lives.

Residents are struggling to navigate the aftermath, with many questioning the effectiveness and timeliness of the government’s aid efforts. An Asheville woman, standing amid a pile of debris, voiced her despair in an interview with NBC News, stating, “No. No,” when asked if she had any faith in receiving help from the government. “Nobody’s going to help us… I don’t know what we’re going to do,” she added, capturing the sentiment of many in the community.

Jordan Lanning, another resident, articulated his outrage during a Thursday interview with Fox News host Jesse Watters. He criticized the delayed response, noting it took five days for President Biden to visit the affected areas. “He didn’t think we were worth coming down to see us himself. He had to fly over on his way to Raleigh,” Lanning remarked, expressing a feeling of neglect from those in power.

The frustration has been further amplified by Vice President Kamala Harris’s recent announcement of a mere $750 in immediate aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) for victims of Hurricane Helene. This decision has sparked nationwide backlash, especially in light of the Biden administration’s simultaneous pledge of $8 billion to support Ukraine. When questioned by Watters whether this amount was sufficient, Lanning responded emphatically, “No, it is not.”

“There are people who have lost everything,” he continued. “I’m not expecting [them] to give us thousands of dollars, but they can do more than that.” His comments resonate with many who feel that the government’s assistance does not reflect the scale of the disaster.

As the clean-up efforts continue and survivors grapple with their losses, the call for accountability from the federal government is growing louder.

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Bombshell Lawsuit: Arizona’s Elections Chief Is Hiding Info on 218K Voters Lacking Proof of Citizenship

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Arizona’s Democrat elections chief is illegally withholding the identities of approximately 218,000 registered voters on the state’s voter rolls who lack documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC), a lawsuit filed Wednesday alleges.

Brought by the Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona (SCFA) against Democrat Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and the Arizona Department of State, the legal challenge “seeks to restore public trust in [Arionza’s] electoral system by ensuring transparency about the Defendants’ failures to ensure that registered voters have provided DPOC, as required by law.” The group is represented by America First Legal and a law firm spearheaded by former Arizona Assistant Attorney General Jennifer Wright.

The lawsuit addresses an issue that first came to light last month, in which Arizona election officials announced they discovered approximately 98,000 registered “full-ballot” voters who have not provided documentary proof of citizenship required to participate in state and local elections. The error appears to have resulted “from the way the Motor Vehicle Division provides driver’s license information to the state’s voter registration system,” according to Votebeat Arizona.

Fontes said most of the affected voters are registered Republicans, according to the outlet.

In Arizona, voters registering via state registration form must show DPOC to vote in state and local races. Individuals who are unable to provide such documentation are registered as “federal-only” voters and can only cast ballots in federal races. (Read more from “Bombshell Lawsuit: Arizona’s Elections Chief Is Hiding Info on 218K Voters Lacking Proof of Citizenship” HERE)