TYB
Sheriffs demand DHS notify them if illegal immigrants are moved to their counties
February 23, 2022
Sheriffs across the country are demanding the Department of Homeland Security notify them when illegal immigrants are sent to their counties.
"You’re sending them to any county in this country, they need to notify the sheriff of that county who’s arriving," Sheriff Thomas Hodgson of Bristol County in Massachusetts told the Washington Times. "We have a right to know that. If they’re shipping terrorists into our neighborhood, we have a right to know that. Drug dealers, smugglers — we have a right to know that."
moar: https://www.foxnews.com/us/sheriffs-want-dhs-to-notify-them-if-illegal-immigrants-moved-to-their-counties
Virginia Senate Democrats kill slew of GOP voting bills
February 23rd 2022
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Democrat-led Virginia Senate committee has defeated a broad range of Republican-sponsored voting reform measures.
Among the bills voted down Tuesday were several measures that would have reinstated a requirement to present a photo ID before casting a ballot. The committee also killed proposals that would have moved up the deadline for returning an absentee ballot, ended same-day voter registration and shorted the early voting period.
The same Senate committee also advanced a campaign finance reform measure that would tighten up record retention requirements and implement reviews of campaign committee financial records by the Department of Elections.
https://wcyb.com/news/virginia-news/virginia-senate-democrats-kill-slew-of-gop-voting-bills
'Dr. Fauci has misled us': Dr. Oz decries vaccine and mask mandates
February 23, 2022
One of television’s most recognizable doctors, now a Republican candidate for Senate in Pennsylvania, believes the Biden administration has focused too heavily on a vaccine that doesn’t accomplish what was initially promised.
“Dr. Fauci has misled us,” Dr. Mehmet Oz told the Washington Examiner in an interview this week. “The biggest reason is we expected too much from the vaccines.”
Oz, a former cardiothoracic surgeon and longtime small-screen personality, noted that “vaccines are fantastic when used the right way with the right expectations.”
But he said the Biden administration has pushed boosters for people who don’t need them, arguing that the science doesn’t support the idea that young people should get a third shot, for example.
“The data definitely does not support boosting young people,” Oz said.
He cited objections from some prominent public health experts, including Food and Drug Administration adviser Dr. Paul Offit, to the recommendation that children line up for booster shots — and the Biden administration’s decision to ignore those critiques.
“It goes against a narrative that vaccines are the answer to everything,” he said.
moar: https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/dr-fauci-has-misled-us-dr-mehmet-oz-decries-vaccine-and-mask-mandates
Putin says Russia is open to diplomacy but won't compromise on its security
Feb 23,2022
President Vladimir Putin said on Wednesday that Russia was always open to diplomacy but put its own national security interests first and would continue to strengthen its military in the face of what he called a difficult international situation.
Putin, speaking in a video statement released to coincide with the annual Defender of the Fatherland Day, did not mention his standoff with the West over Ukraine which has seen Western sanctions imposed on Russia after he decided to recognise the independence of two breakaway Ukrainian regions.
But he used the appearance to send a message to the West about his stance over the issue all the same.
"Our country is always open to a direct and honest dialogue and ready to search for diplomatic solutions to the most complicated issues," said Putin.
"But I want to repeat that Russia's interests and the security of our people are unconditional. So, we will continue to strengthen and modernise our army and navy."
The United States has accused Putin of massing more than 150,000 troops near Ukraine's borders in preparation for what it fears could be a full-scale invasion. Russia has repeatedly denied plans for such an attack but says it has a duty to protect people living in the two breakaway regions.
"We can see the difficult international situation and the threats posed by current challenges, such as the erosion of the arms control system and NATO’s military activities," said Putin.
"And yet, Russia’s appeals to build a system based on equal and indivisible security that would reliably defend all countries, remain unanswered."
https://news.yahoo.com/putin-says-russia-open-diplomacy-094322436.html
Intel challenges the reign of Chinese Bitcoin mining rig makers
UPDATED FEBRUARY 23, 2022
Intel Corp.’s new Bitcoin mining chip may turn out to be the first major challenger to the Chinese rig manufacturers that have dominated the market for years.
The Santa Clara, California-based chip making giant unveiled its crypto mining initiative earlier this month and the first generation BonanzaMine chip in January. Jack Dorsey’s digital payment company Block Inc., and two mining firms Griid Infrastructure and Argo Blockchain will receive the first batch of the chips later this year.
Chinese manufacturers Bitmain and MicroBT have a lion’s share of the Bitcoin mining hardware market due to the proprietary technology they use to make their high-performing chips. Few competitors appear to have been able to make a chip that can match them until now.
Bitcoin mining, which is earning rewards in Bitcoin by using computers to secure the cryptocurrency’s network, has become a lucrative business amid the surge in the price of Bitcoin in recent years, enriching the rig makers along the way. The mining industry raked in $15 billion in revenue in 2021, more than doubled the previous year.
Intel’s entry could weaken the Chinese manufacturers’ pricing power and offer better maintenance services given the company’s close proximity to the miners in North America, industry participants said. The region dethroned China as the world’s Bitcoin mining hub as Beijing banned crypto mining last May.
“Having a U.S.-based manufacturer with the size, scale and credibility like Intel is fantastic for the entire crypto industry,” said Dave Perrill, chief executive of Eden Prairie, Minnesota-based Compute North, which provides Bitcoin miners with data centers to operate their machines. “Competition is a good thing.”
moar: https://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article258672878.html
FBI searching for victims after man accused of exploiting girls for 10 years
Feb 22, 2022
HOUSTON (WVLA) – The FBI is hoping to speak with victims across the country who may have been contacted online by a 37-year-old Texas man accused of exploiting young girls for years.
Patrick Tran, of Cypress, has been charged with sexual exploitation of children, possession of child pornography, and coercion and enticement. He was awaiting trial Tuesday, according to a news release from the Department of Justice’s Houston office.
Authorities say Tran may have used the alias “Reggie Smith” or the Snapchat user name Travis_Story20 to entice hundreds of underage females over more than a decade. He may also have used Omegle to contact girls.
According to the allegations, Tran coerced them to make and send him sexually explicit videos of themselves. The FBI says Tran portrayed himself in videos as a Black male with short hair, wearing sunglasses, a necklace and no shirt.
Officers initially arrested Tran after a woman reported finding her 10-year-old daughter standing naked in front of her iPad, allegedly at the direction of Chan.
Tran was found to have roughly 4,000 web cam-based videos of underage girls engaging in sexually-explicit activity, according to the FBI.
Authorities believe his victims may be nationwide and are seeking help in identifying potential underage victims to aid in the ongoing investigation.
If you believe you are a victim or have any information regarding any such potential victims, you are asked to fill out the brief secure questionnaire available here.
If he is convicted, he faces life in prison.
https://www.8newsnow.com/news/national-news/fbi-searching-for-victims-after-man-accused-of-exploiting-girls-for-10-years/
Expanded parental rights fight brews at Arizona Legislature
February 22, 2022
The Arizona House gave initial approval Tuesday to a Republican-backed bill that boosts the rights of parents to know what is happening with their children in schools and allows them to push for penalties for teachers who they believe violated their parental rights.
The penalty provisions in the broad expansion of the state’s parents’ bill of rights could lead to fines, suspensions or dismissal for teachers or other school employees. It also allows parents to sue if they are not satisfied with the punishment or how the school districts handled their complaints.
"Parents have always had the ability to talk to the teacher and talk to the principal and voice their frustration, but that’s it," Republican Rep. Steve Kaiser, the Phoenix lawmaker who is sponsoring the bill. "There’s no other substantial pathway of recourse."
He said his proposal puts in specific ways that parents can complain and has penalties to ensure the state’s parent’s bill of rights is being enforced. He argued that teachers and other educators are giving students surveys and not telling parents and withholding medical and education records they should know about.
"It gives actual teeth to parents who want to see a difference in their school," Kaiser said.
The proposal drew strong pushback from Democrats, who called it an unneeded expansion of pressure on public school teachers. They said parents already have ways to discuss concerns with their teachers, administrators and school board members, but creating the potential for fines and punishment makes parents and teachers adversaries instead of partners.
moar: https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/expanded-parental-rights-fight-brews-at-arizona-legislature1
FBI, other agencies conduct raid on Alabama water board
Feb. 23, 2022
State and federal agencies raided the offices of Prichard’s water board Tuesday, just a little over two weeks after allegations that employees were using office funds to buy designer handbags, makeup and more.
The FBI, along with the Mobile County Sheriff’s Office and other agencies were at the scene of the Prichard Water and Sewer Board offices Tuesday afternoon, according to local outlets. The agencies join the Mobile County District Attorney’s Office in investigating allegations that employees misused funds that were supposed to go towards customer’s water bills.
“There are over 24,000 papers of credit card charges and receipts to review on its own not to mention allegations of illegally spending money for personal gain by numerous employees,” Mobile DA Ashley Rich said during a press conference earlier this month. “This process takes time.”
Former water board manager Nia Bradley is among the individuals being investigated for using a board-issued credit card to take trips to New York and Chicago, as well as purchase items from Louis Vuitton and Victoria’s Secret.
Rich also added in the press conference that the office is looking at other allegations, including bought property and other things bought through other financial and banking mechanisms.
https://www.al.com/news/mobile/2022/02/fbi-other-agencies-conduct-raid-on-alabama-water-board.html
Rick Scott Unveils an 11-Point Agenda That Includes Tax Hikes for Millions
February 22, 2022
Michael Rainey
Tue, February 22, 2022, 7:58 PM·3 min read
Senate Republican leaders have made it clear that they aren’t interested in detailing their plans if they win control of Congress in the midterms elections. Asked last month what his party’s agenda would be, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) dodged: “That is a very good question,” he said. “And I'll let you know when we take it back.”
Sen. Rick Scott of Florida, who chairs the National Republican Senatorial Committee, apparently has a different view. Scott has released an 11-point, 31-page plan laying out the conservative agenda he’d want to pursue if Republicans win Senate and House majorities this year and the White House in 2024.
The plan is heavy on culture war controversies and traditional right-wing talking points. It starts with the claim that “the militant left now controls the entire federal government, the news media, academia, Hollywood, and most corporate boardrooms – but they want more.” It promises to have kids say the pledge of allegiance and to finish construction of Trump’s border wall — and name it after the ex-president. There’s plenty of fodder for Trump supporters who still falsely claim that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
But Scott also proposes dramatic cuts to the federal government and calls for cutting the government workforce by 25% in five years. “Many government agencies should be either moved out of Washington or shuttered entirely,” the plan says.
moar: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/rick-scott-unveils-11-point-005824327.html