Singer Bans American Flag From Concerts, Says She Can’t Even Look At It While Trump’s President

Grammy-nominated recording artist Lana Del Rey is not a real patriot.

Sure, she’s featured the American flag as a backdrop to many of her concerts in the past

But because her candidate didn’t win the last presidential election, she’s now banning the Stars and Stripes.

The 32-year-old model-turned-singer told Pitchfork that she feels “uncomfortable” and “less safe” as an American living under President Trump.

As for using the American flag at her concerts:

“I definitely changed my visuals on my tour videos. I’m not going to have the American flag waving while I’m singing ‘Born to Die.’ It’s not going to happen.

https://conservativepost.com/singer-bans-american-flag-from-concerts-says-she-cant-even-look-at-it-while-trumps-president/

Church leader accused of sexually abusing a little boy; Houston police fear there may be more victims

HOUSTON — Houston police have announced charges against a church leader accused of sexually abusing a 9-year-old boy, and they say there may be more victims who have yet to come forward.

Jose Abel Mena, 60, is charged with continuous sexual abuse of a child for crimes dating back to January 2019. Police believe he sexually assaulted the little boy as recently as April 2020.

https://www.khou.com/article/news/crime/jose-mena-leader-at-pueblo-de-dios-charged-in-child-sex-assault/285-024d799e-0b6f-4966-9c6a-9845cd8e299e

The Latest: Lebanon customs chief arrested in Beirut blast

BEIRUT - Lebanon’s state news agency says the customs chief has been questioned by a judge over this week’s deadly blast in Beirut, after which the judge placed him under arrest. The report says the questioning took five hours. Sixteen other port officials and staffers are also under arrest. The agency gave no further details about Friday’s the arrest, three days after large amounts of ammonium nitrate exploded at Beirut’s port. The explosion killed 154 people, wounded more than 5,000 and caused wide destruction. The custom’s chief had told the AP earlier that he sent repeated letters to a judge warning of the dangerous chemical stored at the port.

https://www.thestar.com/news/world/middleeast/2020/08/07/the-latest-french-investigators-seeking-beirut-blast-clues.html

BELLE PLAINE, Kan. (AP) — A retired music teacher would become the first openly transgender member of the deeply conservative Kansas Legislature if she’s elected from a Democratic-leaning district she’s expected to win.

Stephanie Byers, of Wichita, would join the ranks of other transgender people who have served in legislatures in other states, including four who currently hold such office.

Byers, who advanced to the general election after running unopposed in Tuesday’s Democratic primary, “shattered a long-standing political barrier in Kansas,” said Annise Parker, president and chief executive officer of the advocacy group LGBTQ Victory Fund.

https://apnews.com/4e965ac75a3a70be9164bca28ba0c1f0

Judge rules E. Jean Carroll can continue to seek Trump's DNA in defamation suit

Trump's militarized policing of Portland has no place in the US (opinion)

All the coronavirus restaurant etiquette you need to know

CNN logoJudge rules E. Jean Carroll can continue to seek Trump's DNA in defamation suit

A New York state Supreme Court judge on Thursday denied President Donald Trump's effort to delay the proceedings in a defamation lawsuit filed against him by longtime magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll, a move that allows her to pursue his DNA sample in an effort to prove claims he sexually assaulted her in the 1990s.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/finance/companies/judge-rules-e-jean-carroll-can-continue-to-seek-trumps-dna-in-defamation-suit/ar-BB17HhJD

SAPD: Wife helped Army husband kill kids before double suicide

By Sig Christenson Updated 1:39 pm CDT, Friday, August 7, 2020

San Antonio police said Friday they believe Army Staff Sgt. Jared Esquibel Harless and his wife, Sheryll, murdered their four young children and killed themselves two months ago.

The cause of death: Carbon monoxide poisoning.

Harless, 38, and his wife, Sheryll Ann, 36, were found in the back of an SUV in the garage of their Northwest Side home on June 4 along with their children, Esteban Lorenzo Harless, 4; Penelope Arcadia Harless, 3; Avielle Magdalena Harless, 1, and Apollo Harless, 11 months.

https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local/article/SAPD-Wife-helped-Army-husband-kill-kids-before-15467450.php

The Latest: Ship Owner 1st to Sue Over Beirut Port Explosion

Lebanon’s state-run National News agency says a Lebanese businessman whose cruise ship was destroyed and in the Beirut port explosion has filed a lawsuit against those who will be found responsible for this week’s blast.

Orient Queen owner Merhi Abou Merhi on Friday became the first person to sue over the Tuesday explosion that killed at least 154 people, wounded more than 5,000 and damaged wide parts of the Lebanese capital.

Two Orient Queen employees, a Syrian and an Ethiopian, were killed and seven others were wounded in the blast.

https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2020-08-07/the-latest-french-investigators-seeking-beirut-blast-clues