Eight Arrested in Grand Traverse County Child Sex Trafficking Operation

A two-day long sting operation in June led to eight arrests in Grand Traverse County, the Grand Traverse County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday morning.

It’s being dubbed as Operation “TC Safe” – a two-day undercover sting operation aimed at getting sexual predators off the streets.

“We were able to partner with the Genesee County Sheriff’s Office “GHOST” Team and learn the techniques and procedures they have refined for combatting online child exploitation and human trafficking,” said Grand Traverse Sheriff Tom Bensley.

Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson stood alongside Sheriff Bensley for the announcement. He says Genesee County has helped 42 Michigan counties in the last 18 months.

“This is not meant to scare, it’s meant to inform and educate,” said Swanson. “Predators have no boundaries. They have no boundaries of where they go, where they seek. Not a county, not a city, not even a state.” He added, “there is no corner of this county or this state or this country where predators don’t work and Sheriffs can’t go after them.”

In this case, officers got online and used apps and chat rooms, quickly finding willing participants.

“The majority of our contacts are made on the apps that you know by name. TikTok, Instagram, Snapchat,” said Swanson.

https://www.9and10news.com/2022/07/01/eight-men-arrested-in-grand-traverse-county-child-sex-trafficking-operation/

https://www.news.com.au/world/europe/prime-minister-anthony-albanese-visits-warravaged-towns-in-ukraine/news-story/7bf9e3a30e25c7883e63a3cda3d4d914

Illinois taxpayers to pay $17.9 million to subsidize electric vehicle purchases

Gov. J.B. Pritzker announced start of Electric Vehicle Rebate Program with a $4,000 taxpayer-funded rebate.

The race is on for Illinois consumers looking to get a $4,000 taxpayer-funded rebate for buying an electric vehicle.

Gov. J.B. Pritzker's administration announced the start of Illinois’ Electric Vehicle Rebate Program that brings about a $4,000 taxpayer-funded rebate for consumers who buy an electric car and a $1,500 rebate for electric motorcycles.

The program is a part of a $17.9 million taxpayer-funded plan to pay for rebates on electric vehicle purchases. The deadline to apply is Sept. 30. Applications are available at a state website.

Pritzker discussed his plans for EV in Illinois during his state budget address in February.

"We want to make it less expensive for consumers to buy and drive an electric vehicle," Pritzker said. "We will be offering $4,000 rebates to consumers and incentivizing the build-out of charging stations state-wide."

State Rep. Adam Niemerg, R-Dieterich, said the governor is focusing on the wrong issues.

"Instead of talking about real relief and reducing our energy costs here in Illinois, we're looking at increases of up to $600 for Ameren customers," Neimerg told The Center Square. "We are now energy dependent on other states and I think we are going in the wrong direction."

Last month, Ameren Illinois issued a letter to customers saying there could be sizable rate hikes this summer. The average Ameren customer is expected to see a price increase of over $50 a month.

“Illinoisans feel it at the gas pump, feel it in the grocery stores, and you bet they will feel it when their power goes out this summer," Niemerg said.

Pritzker said his plan is about bringing jobs to Illinois.

“With our nation-leading rebate program, it’s never been more affordable for Illinois residents to buy and drive an electric vehicle,” Pritzker said. “From these $4,000 rebates to our workforce development programs to help coal communities move into clean energy jobs, we are laser-focused on making Illinois a leader in addressing climate change and ensuring no community is left behind.”

Pritzker hope to have more than 1 million electric vehicles in Illinois by 2030.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the average price of an electric vehicle is $54,000, according to J.D. Power.

https://justthenews.com/nation/states/center-square/illinois-taxpayers-pay-179-million-subsidize-electric-vehicle-purchases

Utah County: 120 Come Forward with Information in ‘Ritualistic Child Sexual Abuse’ Investigation

The 120 figure includes victims and people who know victims, according to the Utah County Sheriff's office

An investigation into “ritualistic child sexual abuse” has continued to turn heads after 120 victims and those who know victims have come forward, a Utah sheriff reported. A local prosecutor was reportedly named in the probe during a May 31 press conference, though the sheriff’s office has not released names of potential victims or suspects.

The Utah County Sheriff’s Department has asked for assistance in the investigation from the FBI, which it has received. “It’s common practice for the FBI to offer assistance, when requested, to our law enforcement partners. We are assisting, and so I will defer to the lead agency, which is the Utah County Sheriff’s Office,” said FBI spokeswoman Sandra Barker.

“I don’t know the exact number, but it is now over 120 people who have contacted us. [Of that number], I am sure. There are likely more than 120 at this point,” Sgt. Spencer Cannon told The Epoch Times.

The 120 figure is comprised of both victims and people who know victims, Cannon said.

According to the department, the alleged abuse took place between 1990 and 2010. The Utah County Sheriff’s office previously announced the investigation — which has been underway since April 2021 — in a May 31 press release.

The department detailed its investigation into “ritualistic sexual abuse and child sex trafficking” in Utah’s second largest county. In addition, law enforcement uncovered similar instances in neighboring Juab County and Sanpete County during the same period.

Utah County Attorney David Leavitt was reportedly among those named in the probe.

Leavitt has denied the allegations and described one of the alleged victims as “tragically mentally ill” after the May 31 press release. “I learned that my wife and I were part of those allegations, allegedly that we were guilty of cannibalizing young children, and murdering young children,” Leavitt said before denying the allegations.

The prosecutor has also criticized the handling of the investigation by Sheriff Mike Smith and has accused him of conducting a politically motivated “witch hunt” in an election year.

“Mr. Leavitt named himself,” Cannon, who did not confirm or deny any names, told The Epoch Times. “What I will say, however, is that the case Mr. Leavitt referred to is not the case we began investigating in April 2021. He implies otherwise, but he is wrong,” Cannon said.

Another suspect is a therapist previously charged with a series of sex crimes against young female family members, according to Adam Herbets of Fox 13. Police said they had a taped confession, but the Utah County Attorney’s Office dismissed the charges.

The investigation is currently ongoing.

https://nationalfile.com/utah-county-120-come-forward-with-information-in-ritualistic-child-sexual-abuse-investigation/

US Funding Software For Russians To Access Banned Websites

The US is funding technology to allow Russian citizens to get past Russian government censors in efforts to circumvent an information crackdown related to the war in Ukraine.

The US-backed Open Technology Fund is paying out cash to a number of American companies who provide virtual private networks (VPNs). These are now seeking to allow Russians access free of charge, which aids in both accessing blocked websites and preventing Kremlin authorities from tracking IP addresses, thus better protecting online identity.

"Our tool is primarily used by people trying to access independent media, so that funding by the OTF has been absolutely critical," said a spokesman one of the involved companies, identified as Lantern.

An attorney with an information access rights group called Access Now said of the program, "It's so very important for Russians to be connected to the whole world wide web, to keep resistance going."

One firm cited in AFP receiving US government funds reported that on average 1.5 million Russians are using its tools daily, and further:

Tech firms Psiphon and nthLink have also been providing sophisticated anti-censorship applications to people in Russia, with OTF estimating that some four million users in Russia have received VPNs from the firms.

Psiphon saw a massive surge in Russian users, with the number soaring from about 48,000 a day prior to the February 24 invasion to more than a million a day by mid-March, said a company senior advisor Dirk Rodenburg.

This US program to fund companies providing VPNs to assist users living under "authoritarian regimes" has been ongoing for years, but greatly ramped up in the wake of the Ukraine invasion and short-lived attempts of Russian groups to mount protests in major cities like Moscow and St. Petersburg.

A spokesman for Lantern said that getting past Russian censors is fairly easy with the right tools, given "They weren't ready to block anything" - in reference to Kremlin authorities. "Over time, Russia learned how to block the easy stuff but Lantern and Psiphon are still up and running."

https://www.zerohedge.com/geopolitical/us-funding-software-russians-access-banned-websites

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