New Mexico House Democrat Resigns Amid Criminal Probe Into Racketeering, Money-Laundering

New Mexico House Majority Leader Sheryl Williams Stapleton, a Democrat, resigned Friday amid a criminal probe involving allegations that include money laundering and racketeering, according to reports.

Stapleton announced her resignation in a July 30 letter, obtained by The Paper, to the Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, in which she “unequivocally” denied the allegations.

“This is a decision that weighs heavily on me, and which I have made after a tremendous amount of consideration of the best interest of the People,” she wrote, adding that she “must devote a significant amount of time and energy to fully defend against these allegations.”

While no charges have been filed against Stapleton, authorities are investigating her for possible racketeering, money laundering, kickbacks, and violations of a law governing the conduct of state lawmakers, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Stapleton’s attorney, Ahmad Assed, told the Albuquerque Journal on Wednesday that it’s too early to comment on the investigation.

“We have to do our due diligence and our own investigation,” Assed said. “Rep. Stapleton will have a comment when it is appropriate. That could be soon or later in the process.”

Authorities are probing Stapleton’s possibly illegal connections to a company that received more than $5 million in contracts to do business with Albuquerque Public Schools, and whether she received financial kickbacks.

As part of that investigation, the Attorney General’s Office on Wednesday executed search warrants at Stapleton’s home and businesses, and at Albuquerque Public Schools, where Stapleton oversees career technical education, according to documents featured in The Paper’s report.

“While we cannot comment on the specifics of an ongoing investigation, I can assure New Mexicans that because this matter involves schools and public funds, we will be swift and diligent in concluding this investigation,” Attorney General Hector Balderas said in a statement about the investigation.

Stapleton has been put on paid administrative by the school district, The Associated Press reports.

https://www.ntd.com/new-mexico-house-democrat-resigns-amid-criminal-probe-into-racketeering-money-laundering_652710.html

The Importance of Teaching Children to Become Resilient

For us, as adults, it’s easy to get frustrated these days. Whether you are a big-picture person, looking at the trends in surveillance technology and “The Great Reset” hubris, or an ordinary person frustrated by spiking prices and constant supply headaches. Many of us have had to tap into our inner resources to stand resilient in the face of these challenges.

How can we teach kids to do the same? How do we teach our children the vital skill of resilience?

Helping your children find their tribe

Many of us found our friendships and family relationships changed over the past year. I know my children have dealt with the same thing. With remote schooling, they could not see friends in person anymore. My children found, after talking online, many of their friends held widely different views on what has been happening. For example, my children have had former friends tell them it’s the fault of “people like us” (the vaccine-hesitant) that old people are all dying.

It’s worth the effort to help your kids find at least one or two kids with similar interests and values. My daughter has a Canadian pen pal who is very like-minded. They don’t correspond super regularly, but it’s enough for my daughter to know she’s not alone. My boys know to practice OPSEC in general, but we know a couple of families in town around whom we can speak freely.

Taking care of your own mental health will help your children

If you don’t lose it every time the power goes out or the toilet clogs, they probably won’t either. We had so many plumbing problems when I first got on septic. I was constantly plunging. There were plenty of tears and frustration at first, but as I got better at managing clogs, it just became more of a regular chore. These days, the kids only tell me about a clog if it’s a spectacularly bad one. Most of the time, they get the plunger and deal with it themselves. No drama.

The same mentality applies in terms of eating habits. If all of your meals are made “just right” at very set times, your kids will see you being picky about food and will be less likely to roll with changes. I’ve written before about spiking commodity prices and how most of us will have to make adjustments in terms of grocery shopping. Again, if you can handle these changes gracefully and be mentally resilient, your kids probably will too.

https://www.naturalblaze.com/2021/07/the-importance-of-teaching-children-to-become-resilient.html

DC Democratic mayor caught partying without face mask after enacting new mask mandate

When Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) of Washington, D.C., announced this week she was enacting a face mask mandate in the nation's capital, questions immediately arose over why the mandate would not take effect until days later.

After all, if COVID-19 transmission is serious enough to warrant another face mask mandate, should it not take effect immediately?

That question may have found its answer Friday night.

What is the background?

Bowser announced Thursday that people in the nation's capital, regardless of vaccination status, would be required to wear face masks indoors beginning 5 a.m. Saturday.

"We will continue to do what is necessary to keep D.C. safe," Bowser said. She did not explain why the mandate would take effect two days after her announcement.

What may explain the gap?

Photos surfaced on Saturday purportedly showing Bowser celebrating her birthday, which is Aug. 2. The photos show attendees, including the mayor and comedian Dave Chappelle, not wearing face masks.

The DJ who allegedly worked the celebration posted a photo on Instagram showing the maskless crowd. "When your asked to Dj for the Mayor!!! Happy Birthday @mayor_bowser," the DJ captioned the now-deleted photo.

Another photo showed Bowser and Deputy Mayor John Falcicchio posing with Chappelle.

Bowser's decision not to wear a face mask directly put the health of others at risk, at least according to her own COVID-19 face mask guidance. "Choosing not to wear a mask puts your own health as well as the health of others at risk," the DC face mask guidance states.

The guidance also states, "A mask is not a substitute for physical distancing." As the photos show, Bowser did not follow that directive, either.

https://www.theblaze.com/news/muriel-bowser-maskless-party

Hunter Biden Gushes Over His Art – Says His Dad Thinks ‘Everything I Do Should Be In National Gallery’

In a new interview on Thursday, Hunter Biden claimed that his father, President Joe Biden, thinks “everything I do should be in National Gallery” of Art. This comes as Hunter is selling artwork for $500,000 to “anonymous” investors.

Hunter Discusses Art

“Mom and Dad and Melissa, who think everything I do should be put in the National Gallery,” Hunter said on an art podcast, referring to his wife Melissa as well as his parents, Joe and Jill Biden.

“That’s what it’s about,” Hunter continued, when asked about reaching a larger audience. “Is to have the courage to kinda go out there and do that, and, you know, I could just stay my studio and paint for myself, and, ahhh, and, and, and I ultimately do do that.”

“But it’s kind of, ummm, exciting to know that there’s audience, and for that audience to be able to have their own interpretation of what your painting means to them,” he added. “I think it’s a great thing for an artist.”

Hunter Lashes Out At His Haters

While appearing on the NOTA BENE podcast to promote his art, Hunter was asked what he would say to those who condemn the practice of trading off his father’s name.

Politics

Hunter Biden Gushes Over His Art – Says His Dad Thinks ‘Everything I Do Should Be In National Gallery’

By LifeZette

July 30, 2021 at 6:22pm

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In a new interview on Thursday, Hunter Biden claimed that his father, President Joe Biden, thinks “everything I do should be in National Gallery” of Art. This comes as Hunter is selling artwork for $500,000 to “anonymous” investors.

Hunter Discusses Art

“Mom and Dad and Melissa, who think everything I do should be put in the National Gallery,” Hunter said on an art podcast, referring to his wife Melissa as well as his parents, Joe and Jill Biden.

“That’s what it’s about,” Hunter continued, when asked about reaching a larger audience. “Is to have the courage to kinda go out there and do that, and, you know, I could just stay my studio and paint for myself, and, ahhh, and, and, and I ultimately do do that.”

“But it’s kind of, ummm, exciting to know that there’s audience, and for that audience to be able to have their own interpretation of what your painting means to them,” he added. “I think it’s a great thing for an artist.”

Related: Former Obama Official Rips Hunter Biden Art Selling Exhibition – ‘Profiting Off The Presidency’

Hunter Lashes Out At His Haters

While appearing on the NOTA BENE podcast to promote his art, Hunter was asked what he would say to those who condemn the practice of trading off his father’s name.

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“F*** em… Look man,” Hunter said. “I never said my art was going to cost what it was going to cost, or how much it would be priced at. I would be amazed, you know, if my art was sold, for you know, for, umm, for ten dollars.”

“Just because the first time you ever go about it is the idea that someone is attracted to your art, let alone they would pay something for it,” he added.

https://thepoliticalinsider.com/hunter-biden-gushes-over-his-art-says-his-dad-thinks-everything-i-do-should-be-in-national-gallery/