Ruby Shane

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https://youtu.be/8fBhEA9JKaw

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Eden Lane keeps us up to date on the latest in entertainment news!

Eden talks about Our Friend, Bridgerton, & The Kid Detective.

Alfredo Cuadros

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MECCA, CALIFORNIA

Up to 300 immigrant farmworkers received a covid-19 vaccine in California in an effort to ensure the critical workforce in the food supply is protected.

The workers took time off from picking produce at Tudor Ranch in the farming community of Mecca, California.

The vaccination effort comes as California officials struggle to meet the challenge of vaccinating all those awaiting the shot, including millions of people 65 and older.

Executive Director Luz Gallegos for a farmworker group known as Training Occupational Development Educating Communities says the farmworker community is a tough community to vaccinate due to myths and misinformation. 

“So we started 3 months ago with our community education going to the fields. Talking to the workers, letting them know what the vaccine was,” said Gallegos, “Debunking the myths because our community was saying- they continue hearing about a chip that the Trump administration is putting in the vaccine so they can know where they’re at, so they can go and deport them.”

Alfredo Cuadros

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A Washington Man is facing wire fraud charges in connection to a scheme to collect funds in the name of COVID-19 relief.

46 year old Austin Hsu of Issaquah pleaded guilty in federal court to submitting 9 fraudulent loan applications and receiving 700-thousand dollars in covid relief funds.

The man is said to have first submitted a Economic Injury Disaster Loan for a company by using information of current and former employees, then Proceeded to re-apply for additional Paycheck Protection Program loans using the same names under other companies he owned.

Hsu applied for 1.1 million dollars in relief and obtained $700,000. 

He also admitted to incorporating a business in June of 2020 with the purpose of applying for a loan in July. 

Alfredo Cuadros

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WASHINGTON

President Biden is looking to reopen schools, signing an executive order that tasks the secretary of education and the department of health and human services. The order says the plan should not just open schools soon, but also plan to remain open for in-person learning.

According to the order signed this Wednesday, the goal is to mitigate learning loss created by the pandemic.

The order encompasses a wide range of age groups from head start programs to higher level institutions.

Remington Hernandez

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In his first hours as president, Joe Biden will aim to strike at the heart of President Donald Trump’s policy legacy.

Aides say Biden on Wednesday plans to sign a series of executive actions that will reverse his predecessor’s orders on a variety of issues including immigration.

The Biden administration’s expected softer line on immigration is the reason why some immigrant workers stopped into the Worker’s Justice Project’s offices in Brooklyn, New York, to watch Biden’s inauguration speech.

Ligia Guallpa, the executive director of the nonprofit, said the people her organization sees Biden’s inauguration as the end of four “painful” years under Donald Trump.

Gustavo Ajche, an immigrant from Guatemala, said he is hopeful that the Biden administration will provide an opportunity for immigrants to work towards a green card and citizenship, but said he thinks it will be a “long road.”

Michael Bergquist

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World leaders breathed an audible sigh of relief that the United States under President Joe Biden is rejoining the global effort to curb climate change, a cause that his predecessor had shunned over the past four years.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron were among those welcoming Biden’s decision to rejoin the the Paris climate accord, reversing a key Trump policy in the first hours of his presidency Wednesday.

“Rejoining the Paris Agreement is hugely positive news,” tweeted Johnson, whose country is hosting this year’s U.N. climate summit.

Macron said that with Biden, “we will be stronger to face the challenges of our time. Stronger to build our future. Stronger to protect our planet.”

The Paris accord, forged in the French capital in 2015, commits countries to put forward plans for reducing their emissions of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, which is released from burning fossil fuels.

Former President Donald Trump had questioned the scientific warnings about man-made global warming, at times accusing other countries of using the Paris accord as a club to hurt Washington. The U.S. formally left the pact in November.

“The United States departure from it has definitely diminished our capacities to change things, concretely to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions,” said Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo.

“Now we are dealing with an administration that is conscious of what is at stake and that is very committed to use the voice of the United States, a voice that is very powerful on the international level,” she said.

Biden put the fight against climate change at the center of his presidential campaign and on Wednesday immediately launched a series of climate-friendly efforts to bring Washington back in step with the rest of the world on the issue.

“A cry for survival comes from the planet itself,” Biden said in his inaugural address. “A cry that can’t be any more desperate or any more clear now.”

Experts say any international efforts to keep global warming well below 2 degrees Celsius (3.6 Fahrenheit), ideally 1.5C (2.7F), as agreed in the Paris accord would struggle without the contribution of U.S., which is the world’s second biggest carbon emitter.

Scientists say time is running out to reach that goal because the world has already warmed 1.2 C (2.2 F) since pre-industrial times.

Italy said the U.S. return to the Paris accord would help other countries reach their own climate commitments. “Italy looks forward to working with the U.S. to build a sustainable planet and ensure a better future for the next generations,” Premier Giuseppe Conte tweeted.

The Vatican, too, was clearly pleased given the decision aligns with Pope Francis’ environmental agenda and belief in multilateral diplomacy. In a front-page editorial in Wednesday’s L’Osservatore Romano, Vatican deputy editorial director Alessandro Gisotti noted that Biden’s decision to rejoin Paris “converges with Pope Francis’ commitment in favor of the custody of our common home.”

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was more muted in her reaction, noting on Thursday that her government would “probably have a more similar opinion” with Biden on issues such as the Paris climate accord, migration and the World Health Organization.

Youth activists who have been at the forefront of demanding leaders take the threat of global warming seriously said they now want to see concrete action from Washington.

“Many countries signed the Paris Agreement and they are still part of the Paris Agreement, but they make very free interpretations of what that implies,” said Juan Aguilera, one of the organizers of the Fridays for Future movement in Spain. “In many cases, signing it has become a show, because at the end of the day the concrete measures that are being taken, at least in the short term, are not satisfactory.”

Biden has appointed a large team to tackle climate change both on the domestic and international front. Former Secretary of State John Kerry, named as the president’s special climate envoy, on Thursday took part in a virtual event with Italian industry at which he touted the ‘green economy’ as an engine for jobs and said the U.S. planned to make up for time lost over the past four years.

Organizers of a meeting Monday on adapting to climate change said they hoped Kerry would take part too, and Biden himself has talked about inviting world leaders to a summit on the issue within his first 100 days in office.

Over the coming months the U.S. allies and rivals will closely watch to see by how much the administration offers to cut its emissions in the coming decade. A firm number is expected to be announced before the U.N. climate summit taking place in Glasgow, Scotland, in November.

Veterans of such gatherings noted the formidable diplomatic clout that the U.S. has managed to bring to them in the past.

Farhana Yamin, a British lawyer who served as adviser to the Marshall Islands in the Paris negotiations, said she left the climate talks in 2018 feeling “disillusioned” not only by the U.S. withdrawal but also by how other countries, including her own, were failing to live up to the agreed goals.

“I wish there were more progress here in the UK,” she said, adding she hoped that the change in the White House would mean others would increase their ambition on climate, too. “The U.S. always has massive influence on its allies.”

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Karl Ritter and Nicole Winfield in Rome, Oleg Cetinic in Paris and Aritz Parra in Madrid contributed to this report.

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Delaware Beekeeper and Apiary Annual Registrations are due January 30, 2021. This is an opportunity to register or renew your beehives while also providing important information to the Delaware Beekeepers Survey. Please note any person keeping bees, including migratory colonies, in the State are required by law to register annually with the Delaware Department of Agriculture, on or before January 30 of each year.

DELAWARE BEEKEEPER AND APIARY ANNUAL REGISTRATION Form is available here https://agriculture.delaware.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/108/2020/08/DDA-Beekeeper-Registration-Form-Interactive_8.1.20.pdf

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NEW CASTLE (January 21, 2021) – The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) in partnership with the Division of Public Health (DPH) is bringing a rapid COVID-19 testing program to group homes, day programs and other provider-managed settings in Delaware that serve individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Beginning this month, Delaware provider agencies serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to rapid antigen testing kits that detect active COVID-19 virus in 15 minutes.

“These testing kits are going to be a very welcomed resource to our provider community,” said Cory Nourie, Director of Community Services for DDDS. “Many of the individuals we support across the state have underlying health conditions that make them particularly vulnerable to COVID-19. But they also rely on the close contact and care provided to them daily by their direct support professionals and can’t always benefit from the standard tools of mask wearing and social distancing that others rely upon for staying safe. We’ve been waiting for a tool like this to be available, and I’m so excited we now have it for our provider network.”

Dr. Rick Pescatore, Chief Physician for the Division of Public Health, said, “During the pandemic, the state has been working to increase access to fast, accurate testing options. We all know that the sooner we can identify an individual as COVID positive, the sooner we can begin the process of isolation and contact tracing to minimize the spread of this terrible disease.”

“Getting access to rapid antigen testing is exactly what we were looking for and its use in the group home and congregate settings is a smart way to use this tool,” Pescatore added. “We’re excited to see this get out into the field and to see what impact it can have.”

The test is administered in the provider-managed setting by a trained staff member using a shallow nasal swab and a couple of drops of indicator, that when combined, provide a result in 15 minutes. Participating providers are able to test their direct support professionals on-site and identify asymptomatic COVID-19 positive individuals. This, in conjunction with the other safety precautions already in place, will provide an added level of protection and assistance in mitigating the spread to vulnerable Delawareans. Individuals testing positive will be required to isolate at home and obtain a PCR COVID test through Curative to confirm the rapid test. They will not return to work until they provide a negative PCR result or have completed their isolation period.

“The rapid test gives us one more option for ensuring the safety of service recipients and staff until we can bring the COVID-19 vaccine to everyone,” Nourie said.

The Rapid Antigen Tests are provided by Delaware’s State Health Operations Center. Providers interested in testing must obtain a CLIA waiver, a federally mandated waiver that allows laboratory testing to be performed outside of a traditional laboratory setting. Once the waiver has been obtained, and staff have been trained by DPH, testing kits are delivered directly from the State to providers.

The Division of Developmental Disabilities Services (DDDS) has more than 5,000 service recipients statewide, including 1,270 who receive residential habilitation services in group homes and similar community-based settings.

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WASHINGTON

The Biden Administration has recently announced a plan for the legalization of immigrants living in the United States as early as January 21, 2021, however those protections may not include immigrants awaiting asylum along the U.S. Mexico Border.

On January 20, 2021 The U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that the program will not be taking in any new asylum applicants for its Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) program.

The Agency also advices that migrants awaiting outside of the country should remain waiting outside the country, however, the advisory is not meant to suggest that asylum seekers will receive legal status.

The in the advisory the agency says, “individuals outside of the United States will not be eligible for legal status under the bill President Biden sent to Congress.

Alfredo Cuadros

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The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) issued an update to the 2020 Post Election Analysis where it includes information of mail in ballots in the 2020 General Election and Georgia Run-off Election. 

According to the agency  a record 136 million ballots were processed in this election cycle. 

Key findings include:

2020 General Election – 

99.89 percent of ballots delivered to election officials within a week.

1.6 days on average to get ballots from voters to officials.

135 Million ballots processed and delivered.

2020 Georgia Runoff Election – 

99.42 percent of ballots delivered for the Georgia Senate Election. 

1.9 days on average to get ballots from voters to officials.

1.1 Million ballots processed and delivered.

You can see the full report here.

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Dover, DE — The Delaware Department of Correction (DOC) today announced that Michael
Harris, a 40 year-old inmate with chronic health conditions from Sussex Correctional
Institution (SCI), died on Tuesday evening, January 19 at Beebe Hospital from
complications from chronic illnesses, including Asthma, Diabetes, Chronic Pain
Syndrome, and COVID-19.
Harris received a rapid COVID-19 test at SCI on January 10 and tested positive after displaying
symptoms of illness. He was immediately moved to the SCI COVID-19 Treatment Center where
inmate patients receive round-the-clock monitoring and care. On January 13 as his symptoms
progressed Harris was admitted to Beebe Hospital for additional treatment and monitoring. On
January 19 Harris’s condition suddenly deteriorated and he was place on a ventilator.
Harris was pronounced dead by hospital staff at 11:10 p.m. on January 19.
Harris’s body was released to the Delaware Division of Forensic Science to determine cause of
death. Harris, from Dover, DE, has been in and out of DOC custody for the past 23 years. Most
recently, he has been in DOC custody since February, 2020 and was found guilty on December
16, 2020 of Manufacturing/Delivery/Possession with the Intent to Distribute a Controlled
Substance and Endangering the Welfare of a Child. He was sentenced to one year in prison,
followed by one year of Level IV DOC Supervision

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A single ticket sold in Maryland matched all six numbers in the Wednesday night Powerball® drawing to win the fourth-largest jackpot in Powerball history. Based on final ticket sales, the jackpot climbed to an estimated $731.1 million at the time of the drawing with a cash option of $546.8 million.

The lucky ticket holder will have the choice between an estimated annuity of $731.1 million, paid in 30 graduated payments over 29 years, or a lump sum payment of $546.8 million. Both prize options are before taxes.

The winning numbers in the Wednesday, January 20 drawing were white balls 40, 53, 60, 68, 69, plus Powerball 22, and Power Play multiplier 3X.

Participating lotteries are reminding players to check their tickets for one of the nine ways to win. In Wednesday’s drawing alone, more than 4.4 million tickets won prizes ranging from $4 to $2 million.

12 tickets matched all five white balls but missed matching the red Powerball in Wednesday’s drawing to win a $1 million prize. The $1 million-winning tickets were sold in California (2), Georgia (2), Illinois (2), Maine, Michigan, New Jersey (3) and Oregon. One other ticket, sold in Maryland, matched all five white balls and doubled the prize to $2 million, because the ticket included the Power Play® option for an additional $1.

Wednesday’s drawing was the 36th drawing in the jackpot run that started back on Sept. 19, 2020. The jackpot win in Maryland capped what has been has been the longest jackpot run in Powerball history.

For the next drawing on Saturday, Jan. 23, the Powerball jackpot resets to $20 million ($15 million cash value). The 10X multiplier will be in play as part of the Power Play® option since the advertised jackpot is under $150 million.

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Clayton- Delaware State Police Troop 9 is issuing a Gold Alert for 70-year-old Wesley Cahall of Clayton. Cahall was last heard from on January 19, 2021, in the Clayton area. Attempts to contact Cahall have been unsuccessful and there is a concern for his safety and wellbeing.

Cahall is described as a white male, 5’08” tall, approximately 190 lbs. with brown eyes, gray hair, and a mustache. Cahall was last seen wearing a navy blue sweatshirt, yellow t-shirt, and blue jeans.

Anyone with information regarding Cahall’s whereabouts should contact Delaware State Police Troop 9 by calling 302-378-5749. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com .

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Rehoboth Beach- Delaware State Police arrested 37-year-old Theodore F. Thompson of Rehoboth Beach on weapon and criminal charges after an assault incident Tuesday evening.

On January 19, 2021, at approximately 8:00 p.m., Delaware State Police were dispatched to a residence on Magnolia Road, Rehoboth Beach, for a reported assault. Through the investigation, it was determined a 51-year-old male was engaged in a verbal argument with his acquaintance, Theodore Thompson. The argument escalated and Thompson punched the victim before gathering some items from inside the residence and placing them into the trunk of his vehicle. While in the trunk, Thompson removed an unknown item and began charging the victim. The victim struck Thompson with a baseball bat he had retrieved to protect himself. Thompson tackled the victim to the ground and a physical altercation ensued. Thompson then attempted to gain entry into the residence by kicking the front door but was unsuccessful.  Thompson fled the area on foot in an unknown direction. The victim refused medical treatment.

Thompson was located in the area on foot by troopers where he was taken into custody without incident. He was transported to an area hospital for his injuries where he was treated and released.

Thompson was transported to Troop 7 where he was charged with the following crimes:

• Possession of a Deadly Weapon During the Commission of a Felony (Felony)
• Aggravated Menacing (Felony)
• Assault 3rd Degree
• Criminal Mischief

He was arraigned in the Justice of the Peace Court #3 and committed to Sussex Correctional Institution on a $31,500 cash bond.

Alfredo Cuadros

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WASHINGTON 

Starting Friday, January the 22nd the U.S.  Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will begin a 100 day pause on deportations of non citizens ordered for removal. 

Acting Secretary of DHS David Pekoske signed a memorandum of understanding directing U.S. Customs and Border Protection along with relevant agencies to review and reset enforcement polices. 

They say this pause should give the department time re-evaluates its priorities and ensure a “fair and effective imigration enforcement system.”

Although the pause may mean less deportations, the agencies will be able to continue removing individuals on certain criteria such as threat level, those who arrived into the U.S. after November of 2020, and those that voluntarily leave the country.  

Remington Hernandez

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LONDON — For the second day running, Britain had another record increase in coronavirus-related deaths.

The government says another 1,820 people died in the 28 days after testing positive for the coronavirus. That takes the confirmed total to 93,290, which is Europe’s highest virus-related death toll and fifth highest in the world.

The lockdown restrictions across the U.K. have helped reduce the number of people contracting the virus, although the U.K. is still recording high levels of infections when compared with other nations in Europe, such as France or Germany.

On Wednesday, the U.K. recorded another 38,905 new cases. That’s up from the previous day’s 33,355. However, it’s below the seven-day average of nearly 60,000 earlier this month.

A tactical command vehicle operated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and agents keeps an eye on local activities near the U.S. Capitol during the Inauguration of Joseph R. Biden as the 46th president of the United States as they support security of the 59th Presidential Inauguration in Washington D.C, January 20, 2021. CBP Photo by Jerry Glaser

Rehoboth Beach- Delaware State Police are investigating a bank robbery that occurred Tuesday afternoon.

On January 19, 2021, at approximately 3:17 p.m., Delaware State Police responded to the PNC Bank located at 19745 Sea Air Ave, Rehoboth Beach, for a report of an armed robbery. The investigation determined the male suspect entered the bank, displayed an unknown type of gun, and ordered everyone inside the bank into a back room. He then obtained an undisclosed amount of money before fleeing the bank on foot in an unknown direction of travel.

The suspect was described as a male, approximately 5′ 6″- 6′ tall, and a large build. He was wearing a dark-colored hooded sweatshirt and light-colored pants. He was wearing a face covering, sunglasses, and gloves.

No one was injured during this incident and there are no surveillance photographs available.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation should contact Det. K. Wideman with Delaware State Police Troop 4 Criminal Investigative Unit by calling 302-752-3832. Information may also be provided by calling Delaware Crime Stoppers at 1-800-TIP-3333 or via the internet at http://www.delaware.crimestoppersweb.com .

Alfredo Cuadros

Sen. Richard Burr will not be facing charges after an investigation looked into whether or not he may have committed insider trading as a result of the Coronavirus.

In early 2020 the North Carolina senator, and then senate intelligence committee chairman, was believed to have exploited information about the covid-19 epidemic and sold up to 1.7 million dollars in stocks before markets plummeted.

The concern was whether or not he used his status and information channels to gain an unfair advantage in the markets.

Burr acknowledged in a CNBC interview that he did sells stocks because of the corona virus, but said he relied on publicly available news reports to inform his decision.

The Associated Press confirmed that the justice department will not bring charges in this case.

Alfredo Cuadros

On January 19,2021 officials announced that twelve members of the National Guard were been removed and sent home right before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden.

Prior to the ceremony, the FBI announced the vetting of all 25,000 troops stationed in Washington for the Inaugural events. One of the largest concerns at the time was a potential insider attack.

However not all members may have been tied to right wing extremism or white nationalism as previously speculated.

Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan R. Hoffman, National Guard Chief Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson and Washington Headquarters Services Director Thomas M. Muir, who leads the Defense Department’s presidential transition team say concerns of those removed may not have necessarily been as direct result of the inaugural events. In a joint press conference the Guardsmen site did not reveal the exact reason, nor what state the Guardsmen were from, but instead say this is part of their normal vetting efforts that may not be tied to recent talks of extremism.

Gen Hokanson said, “I’m not concerned as a large part of our organization. If you look at 25-thousand, we have had 12 identified and some of those they’re just looking into. It may be unrelated to this. But we want to make sure out of an abundance of caution, as I’ve stated earlier, that we do the right thing until that gets cleared up.”

Alfredo Cuadros

A man from queens is facing federal charges after threatening to kill elected officials online.

37-year-old Brendan Hunt, also known as “X-Ray Ultra” was in federal court this Tuesday  in connection to threatening to murder elected officials.

Court filings show that the man was against elected officials, primarily those in the Democratic party.

He was shown to have made public comments on Facebook directed at the president saying:

“Trump, we want actual revenge on democrats. Meaning, we want
you to hold a public execution of pelosi aoc schumer etc. And if
you dont do it, the citizenry will. We’re not voting in another
rigged election. Start up the firing squads, mow down these
commies, and lets take america back!”

The Department of Justice says the video was one in a series of statements by Hunt posted on social media since at least December 6, 2020, in which he called for violence and “public execution” against members of Congress.

If convicted, Hunt faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.

Alfredo Cuadros

The  The U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Eastern District of Virginia and the FBI claim they plan on holding anyone accountable in connection to acts of violence or violates federal law.

In a statement Steven M. D’Antuono, Assistant Director in Charge of the Washington Field Office says.

“While the FBI respects the rights of individuals to peacefully exercise their First Amendment rights, those who wish to use this freedom to instigate violent and destructive behavior will not be tolerated.”

This statement was in response to law enforcement across the country ramping up their security measures in state capitals due to concerns of violent protests.

The agency continues to investigate the acts of violence as a result of the January 6th incident at the Capitol building in the meantime.

“FBI agents, analysts, and professional staff are working around the clock with our partners to identify, investigate, and respond to any threats that might arise in the National Capital Region,” said D’Antuono.

Alfredo Cuadros

TEXARKANA, TEXAS 

A Texas man is facing possible federal charges after an alleged attempt to cash in over 5 million dollars in Coronavirus relief funds for a seemingly fictitious business.

32-year-old Samuel Yates of Maud, Texas is being charged in connection to a series of fraudulent bank loan applications. Court filings allege that Yates asked for multiple business loans eligible through the Coronavirus Relief Economic Security Act (CARES Act) passed in March of 2020.

The man is said to have applied for bank loans claiming to have 412 employees and requested funds to keep his business running during the ongoing pandemic. 

The problem, says an indictment, is that the workers may not exist. Investigating Authorities believe Yates created proof of his employees using a random name generator website that is publicly available.

Yates could face up to 20 years of imprisonment and a fine of up to 250 thousand dollars, if convicted. 

Delaware Senate President Dave Sokola was among those to be vaccinated on Friday at Mill Creek Fire Hall in Wilmington.

Sen. Sokola’s wife and Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall Long were on-site administering the vaccines when Sen. Sokola says he received a call from the Lt. Governor to come down after it was evident they’d have extra doses following a cancellation from a large healthcare group.

“I am by the way 65,” Sen. Sokola explained. “I know that when Lt. Governor Hall Long calls people, because she gets information that there’s going to be openings, she calls people who she knows are going to be in 1b. And I know others that she’s called by the way, but I won’t tell their names.”

Currently, the State of Delaware is only supposed to be administering vaccinations to those who fall in the 1a phase, which according to their website includes “health care personnel with direct patient contact and care, emergency medical services agencies, and long-term care staff and residents will receive the vaccine first.”

“The reality is they want to use up the shots,” Sen. Sokola said. “I was told when my wife got home later that night that they used all the shots. No first responder did not get a shot. It was by in large a very successful event.”

Sen. Sokola said he has already signed up to be a volunteer to assist with vaccinating in the next phase.

We reached out to the Delaware Division of Public Health (DPH) to find out what, if any, policy they have when it comes to vaccinating elected officials.

“There is no policy about vaccinating elected officials specifically,” explained Jen Brestel, Chief of Community Relations for DPH. “They are treated as members of the public and would be vaccinated in accordance with phases.”

At the end of the month the State plans to begin the 1b phase for vaccinating which will include senior citizens age 65 and older, as well as those considered front-line essential workers including: police, fire, teachers, child care providers, food processing workers, correctional officers, and postal service, public transit and grocery workers.

Not everyone in the 1b phase will be able to be vaccinated at once due to limited supply of vaccine.

 Michael Strasser

FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Jan. 19, 2021) — Just days before leaving office, Vice President Mike Pence visited Fort Drum on Jan. 17 to thank 10th Mountain Division (LI) Soldiers for their service and to express gratitude to military families for their significant contributions to the nation.

“I am here to deliver a simple message to each and every one of you, on behalf of your commander in chief and every American: Thank you for your service,” he said. “I can assure all of you in uniform that the American people are more grateful for your service than you will ever know. The people of this country know, you’re the best of us.”

The audience was limited to roughly 150 Soldiers and family members – in compliance with COVID-19 safety measures – with many of the attendees having returned from deployments in the past several weeks.

“Not only to those of you who wear the uniform, but we are grateful to those who you serve alongside,” Pence said. “So many of you serve every day as a family, while you train and while you deploy. It is our wives, husbands and parents who keep the home fires burning.”

After the Sept. 11 attack on American soil, the 10th Mountain Division (LI) was the first conventional force in Afghanistan, and it has the distinction of being the most deployed division in the war on terrorism with 48 tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“Many people wonder all their lives if they have made a difference, but you will never have that problem,” Pence said. “The truth is, the Armed Forces of the United States is the greatest force for good in the history of the world. And you chose to be a part of that force. You chose to do your part in our time to defend freedom and ensure the survival of liberty in this generation and in the next.”

Pence previously visited Fort Drum in August 2018 when the President Donald Trump signed the National Defense Authorization Act. Speaking from the same aviation hangar at Wheeler-Sack Army Airfield where that ceremony occurred, the vice president reflected on the achievements of the Trump administration.

“From the first day of our administration, we have worked with members of Congress in both parties to make the strongest fighting force in history stronger still,” he said.

In the last four years, Pence said that the administration secured the highest pay raise for service members in a decade, bolstered national defense spending to provide troops with the supplies and equipment they need and strengthened partnerships with foreign allies.

The outgoing vice president said that the nation will depend on the 10th Mountain Division to remain ever vigilant.

“Mind your mission, respect the unified chain of command, keep taking care of each other and never doubt that every decision you make matters to the defense of our nation,” he said. “Give America your best every day in the very best tradition of the 10th Mountain Division. I want you to note the American people are behind you 100 percent.”

Pence said that his message of thanks was not simply the words of an elected official, but heartfelt sentiments from a son whose father was a Korean War veteran and a father whose son is on active duty as a Marine aviator.

This was a theme equally shared by his wife, Karen Pence, who also mentioned that their son-in-law is a Navy pilot currently on deployment.

“So we are a Blue Star family, just like your families,” she said. “We are grateful, so grateful for your service and sacrifice. You know, we are learning more now that our kids are in the military what a huge sacrifice it is. It is a huge sacrifice for service members, but it is also a huge sacrifice for your spouses and children. We know that they serve too.”

Concluding his remarks, Pence said that service members are the strength and pride of the nation, and they are in the thoughts and prayers of all Americans.

“And as our time in office draws to a close, allow me to thank you for the privilege of serving as your vice president,” he said. “It has been the greatest honor of my life. And it has been a special privilege to serve all of you, and men and women like you, who have been all over this country and all over the world wearing the uniform of the Armed Forces of the United States.”

Hong Kong Trump Supporters Change Twitter Avatars To Picture Of President’s Face, Condemn Censorship

Christina Aguayo

https://youtu.be/1uWqw47Jg6w

Hong Kong supporters of President Donald Trump are changing their Twitter avatars to show support President Trump and protest the censoring of his Twitter Account.

Hong-Kong’ers are connecting with the president saying they have been the victims of violations and suppressions of their  right to free speech by the Chinese Communist Party.

Twitter permanently suspended the Presidents account on Saturday after the protests on the Capitol.

Twitter said that the President’s Tweets violate Twitter’s policy against the glorification of violence.

One Twitter user told the local media,

“I think [Twitter’s banning of Trump] is not acceptable,” adding

“Why has the company not banned other accounts also appearing to spread fake news or incite violence?”

The Global Times called out Big Tech Companies in the U.S. for allowing Pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong to continue to use their platforms, while suspending the presidents platform for what they call ‘a lesser offence’

“The Hong Kong rioters who were actively inciting violence far outnumbered the U.S. protesters, and lasted longer, why didn’t they ban them? Those platforms will lose their moral high ground of advertising freedom of speech forever,” said a user of China’s Weibo microblogging platform quoted approvingly by the Global Times — which forgot to mention that Weibo exists because China’s authoritarian regime bans Twitter for everyone except Communist officials, who freely use the platform to disseminate propaganda and disinformation in the outside world.

Remington Hernandez

The woman accused of stealing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop is being investigated for allegedly attempting to sell it to Russia.

The revelations about Riley June Williams came out in court filings.

Prosecutors say footage shows her directing rioters toward Pelosi’s office during the capitol siege.

Later, an informant reported that Williams intended to send Pelosi’s device to a friend in Russia, who would then sell it to the country’s foreign intelligence service.

But the informant, who claimed to be a former lover, told officials the deal did not go forward.

Williams is still at large and faces charges of disorderly conduct and trespassing.

Alfredo Cuadros

WASHINGTON

Experts from research group and public policy organization, The Brookings Institution warn that calls for insurrection may go far past the January 20th event.

This week, John Hudak, Brookings Institution Senior Fellow tells the Associated Press, “The way in which Donald Trump supporters are being looked at and talked about by law enforcement is exactly the way that we look at and talk about al-Qaida and ISIS. We’re talking about online chatter. We’re talking about the dark web. We’re talking about efforts to commit violence against the United States and its institutions and to assassinate members of the government. In that sense, there is no difference between the president’s supporters who believe in those types of ideals or lack of ideals, and al-Qaida and ISIS, they are domestic terrorists, and they are not going to hang up their guns and their ammo vests on January 20th.”

With less than a day before the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, one of the biggest questions is whether or not the incoming president can deliver on his promise of uniting the nation.

One of the largest challenges for the Biden Administration is promoting unity during an ongoing pandemic and a heavily divided political climate. One that has led to one of the most scrutinized inaugurations yet.

As of January the 19th, federal agencies have announced the deployment of an estimated 25-thousand troops at the nation’s capital along with roadblocks and barricades starting earlier than originally planned.

Remington Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Capitol complex temporarily locked down Monday during a rehearsal for President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration after a fire in a homeless encampment roughly a mile away sent a plume of smoke into the air and caused security concerns in an already jittery city.

The false alarm briefly interrupted the rehearsal for Wednesday’s inauguration ceremony, a quadrennial exercise in which stand-ins take the roles of Biden and other VIPs and the U.S. Marine Corps Band goes through its paces, including practicing “The Star-Spangled Banner” for Wednesday’s performance by Lady Gaga. Rehearsal resumed not long afterward, accompanied by frequent passes by a helicopter patrolling the skies over the Capitol.

Law enforcement officials said there was no threat to the public and the fire was not believed to be a threat to the inauguration. Local firefighters put out the blaze quickly. The evacuation of some participants and the lockdown were ordered by the acting chief of Capitol Police in an abundance of caution, officials said.

But the fast decision to lock down underscores the fear that has gripped Washington since the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters and prompted extraordinary measures ahead of the inauguration. Armed protests planned for this past weekend around the country were mostly a bust, but anxiety is still skyrocketing.

U.S. Secret Service tightened security in and around the Capitol a week early in preparation, and the city center is essentially on lockdown with streets blocked, high fencing installed and tens of thousands of National Guard and other law enforcement officers stationed around the area.

But U.S. defense officials, worried about a potential insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing the event, pushed the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into the area. Acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said in a statement Monday that vetting of National Guard troops continues and that the Pentagon has found no intelligence so far that would indicate an insider threat.

Still, the Secret Service issued a bulletin over the weekend about what it sees as an “uptick” in National Guard troops posting pictures and details of their operations online.

The Associated Press obtained the “all concerned” message sent to all the National Guard troops coming to Washington. Without getting into specific postings, the bulletin said, “No service members should be posting locations, pictures or descriptions online regarding current operations or the sensitive sites they are protecting” and urged them to stop immediately.

Asked about the bulletin, a spokesperson for the Secret Service issued a statement saying it “does not comment on matters of protective intelligence.”

President Donald Trump has refused to attend the inauguration, the first time a sitting president has not attended since Andrew Johnson, though Vice President Mike Pence will be there as well as other former presidents.

Capitol police spokeswoman Eva Malecki said there were currently no fires on or within the campus. “Members and staff were advised to shelter in place while the incident is being investigated,” she said in a statement.

Firefighters were called to the homeless encampment shortly before 10:15 a.m., where a woman who lived there had a portable heater with a flammable gas tank, fire department spokesman Vito Maggiolo said. The woman, who was injured but declined medical treatment, told firefighters that the flames spread quickly and her possessions were burned. The fire was extinguished almost immediately after firefighters arrived.

Participants were ushered from the West Front of the Capitol. Those who had gathered for a walk-through, including a military band, were directed to head indoors and moved in the direction of a secure location inside the Capitol complex.

People involved in the rehearsal said security officials yelled “this is not a drill.”

The lockdown was lifted about an hour later.

Five people died in the Jan. 6 riot, including a police officer.

Eden Lane tells us about the latest in the box office and the 99th birthday of Betty White!

https://youtu.be/siIlCyOTf-s

https://youtube.com/watch?v=9h1bF4BRLS0

Christina Aguayo

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BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A city councilman in Louisiana has been arrested for alleged election fraud, the state attorney general’s office said Wednesday.

Attorney General Jeff Landry said Amite City Councilman Emanuel Zanders was arrested Tuesday on eight counts of election fraud. He was booked into the Tangipahoa Parish Prison and later released on bond, booking records show.

In October the Tangipahoa Parish registrar of voters contacted the Secretary of State’s Office with concerns that voter registration forms had been turned in with fraudulent information. Landry accused Zanders, the city’s former mayor pro tem, of illegally registering voters at addresses in his council district at which they did not live, news outlets reported.

According to Attorney General Jeff Landry, Zanders allegedly told 22 people to use the addresses of vacant lots when they registered, in order to up the number of people voting for him.

Landry said Zanders “purposefully manipulated citizens into illegally changing their voter registrations,”

Zanders won re-election to his council seat 206 to 187 a difference of just 19 votes.  Landry said his office started investigating after they received a tip.

Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin joined Landry at the news conference where he said election fraud would not be tolerated in the state and said he would push for Zanders’ prosecution.

Abigail TaylorPOSTED ON JANUARY 18, 2021

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WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. defense officials say they are worried about an insider attack or other threat from service members involved in securing President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, prompting the FBI to vet all of the 25,000 National Guard troops coming into Washington for the event.

The massive undertaking reflects the extraordinary security concerns that have gripped Washington following the deadly Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol by pro-Trump rioters. And it underscores fears that some of the very people assigned to protect the city over the next several days could present a threat to the incoming president and other VIPs in attendance.

Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told The Associated Press on Sunday that officials are conscious of the potential threat, and he warned commanders to be on the lookout for any problems within their ranks as the inauguration approaches. So far, however, he and other leaders say they have seen no evidence of any threats, and officials said the vetting hadn’t flagged any issues that they were aware of.

”We’re continually going through the process, and taking second, third looks at every one of the individuals assigned to this operation,” McCarthy said in an interview after he and other military leaders went through an exhaustive, three-hour security drill in preparation for Wednesday’s inauguration. He said Guard members are also getting training on how to identify potential insider threats.

About 25,000 members of the National Guard are streaming into Washington from across the country — at least two and a half times the number for previous inaugurals. And while the military routinely reviews service members for extremist connections, the FBI screening is in addition to any previous monitoring.

Multiple officials said the process began as the first Guard troops began deploying to D.C. more than a week ago. And they said it is slated to be complete by Wednesday. Several officials discussed military planning on condition of anonymity.

“The question is, is that all of them? Are there others?” said McCarthy. “We need to be conscious of it and we need to put all of the mechanisms in place to thoroughly vet these men and women who would support any operations like this.”

In a situation like this one, FBI vetting would involve running peoples’ names through databases and watchlists maintained by the bureau to see if anything alarming comes up. That could include involvement in prior investigations or terrorism-related concerns, said David Gomez, a former FBI national security supervisor in Seattle.

Insider threats have been a persistent law enforcement priority in the years after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. But in most cases, the threats are from homegrown insurgents radicalized by al-Qaida, the Islamic State group or similar groups. In contrast, the threats against Biden’s inauguration have been fueled by supporters of President Donald Trump, far-right militants, white supremacists and other radical groups. Many believe Trump’s baseless accusations that the election was stolen from him, a claim that has been refuted by many courts, the Justice Department and Republican officials in key battleground states.

The insurrection at the Capitol began after Trump made incendiary remarks at the Jan. 6 rally. According to McCarthy, service members from across the military were at that rally, but it’s not clear how many were there or who may have participated in the breach at the Capitol. So far only a couple of current active-duty or National Guard members have been arrested in connection with the Capitol assault, which left five people dead. The dead included a Capitol Police officer and a woman shot by police as she climbed through a window in a door near the House chamber.

Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, has been meeting with Guard troops as they arrive in D.C. and as they gather downtown. He said he believes there are good processes in place to identify any potential threats.

“If there’s any indication that any of our soldiers or airmen are expressing things that are extremist views, it’s either handed over to law enforcement or dealt with the chain of command immediately,” he said.

The insider threat, however, was just one of the security concerns voiced by officials on Sunday, as dozens of military, National Guard, law enforcement and Washington, D.C., officials and commanders went through a security rehearsal in northern Virginia. As many as three dozen leaders lined tables that ringed a massive color-coded map of D.C. reflected onto the floor. Behind them were dozens more National Guard officers and staff, with their eyes trained on additional maps and charts displayed on the wall.

The Secret Service is in charge of event security, but there is a wide variety of military and law enforcement personnel involved, ranging from the National Guard and the FBI to Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department, U.S. Capitol Police and U.S. Park Police.

Commanders went over every aspect of the city’s complicated security lockdown, with McCarthy and others peppering them with questions about how the troops will respond in any scenario and how well they can communicate with the other enforcement agencies scattered around the city.

Hokanson said he believes his troops have been adequately equipped and prepared, and that they are rehearsing as much as they can to be prepared for any contingency.

The major security concern is an attack by armed groups of individuals, as well as planted explosives and other devices. McCarthy said intelligence reports suggest that groups are organizing armed rallies leading up to Inauguration Day, and possibly after that.

The bulk of the Guard members will be armed. And McCarthy said units are going through repeated drills to practice when and how to use force and how to work quickly with law enforcement partners. Law enforcement officers would make any arrests.

He said Guard units are going through “constant mental repetitions of looking at the map and talking through scenarios with leaders so they understand their task and purpose, they know their routes, they know where they’re friendly, adjacent units are, they have the appropriate frequencies to communicate with their law enforcement partners.”

The key goal, he said, is for America’s transfer of power to happen without incident.

“This is a national priority. We have to be successful as an institution,” said McCarthy. “We want to send the message to everyone in the United States and for the rest of the world that we can do this safely and peacefully.”

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Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.

The Second Amendment Foundation has released a statement claiming that President-Elect Joe Biden is launching an attack on every gun owner in the nation..

In a statement the foundation points to a pledge made by Joe Biden to defeat the NRA saying,  “it’s just cover for a bigger goal.”

“Joe Biden has labored relentlessly for decades to reduce the Second Amendment to rubble,” adding that “he may attack one group by name, but his goal is to crush the rights of every gun owner in our country.”
SAF Founder and Executive Vice President Alan Gottlieb said,

“By attacking the second amendment rights of 100 million Americans, Biden is not bringing us together but dividing us further. If people take to the streets in protest, if violence occurs it will be his fault and he should be impeached for violating our constitutional rights and inciting violence. maybe it is time to ban him from Twitter and Facebook!”
Gottlieb added,
“He spent 47 years on Capitol Hill trying to turn the right to keep and bear arms into a regulated privilege. Now that he’s headed to the White House he thinks he will be able to complete his mission. We’re working to swell the ranks of our 2nd Amendment First Responder project to stop him.”

“We didn’t start the fire,” he said “Biden did.” The foundation was reacting to a pledge that President-Elect Joe Biden made on the 10th anniversary of the Tucson shooting, saying “I pledge to continue to work together with congresswoman Giffords, and with survivors, families, and advocates across the country, to defeat the NRA and end the epidemic of gun violence in America.”

Biden’s campaign for the presidency included many pledges about gun control including enacting taxes on rifles and “high capacity” magazines.

He has also advocated for universal background checks, a national buyback or surrender of firearms and removing liability protection for gun manufacturers.