Day: December 14, 2024

Commentary: America Must Stay Out of the Crisis in Syria

American Greatness
Trump Syria

After the sudden overthrow of Syria’s brutal dictator Bashar al-Assad, there has been plenty of media commentary expressing optimism about the likely new Syrian government led by the rebel group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Although this group is a former al Qaeda offshoot, it claims to have reformed, intends to establish a moderate and tolerant government, and plans to hold elections.

The Biden administration appears ready to give a new HTS government the benefit of the doubt. Biden officials have said they will recognize and support a new government in Syria if it makes certain commitments to the U.S., including renouncing terrorism and destroying chemical weapons in the country. The Biden administration also is considering lifting U.S. terrorist designations from the HTS and its leader, Abu Mohammed al-Golani.

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Virginia Immigrant Group Opposing Youngkin’s Sanctuary City Proposal Lost $1.5 Million over Lip Balm, Fidget Toy Purchases

Tom Pappert
Glenn Youngkin

The immigrant group that opposes the proposal by Governor Glenn Youngkin to strip funding from so-called sanctuary cities that refuse to cooperate with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), was denied federal funding by the Prince William County commission in February after it reportedly filed nearly $200,000 in expenses that are unfit for federal dollars distributed by the county.

Youngkin on Thursday unveiled a budget plan that includes a “No Sanctuary Cities” proposal that would require local law enforcement agencies to coordinate with ICE or lose funding.

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Biden Lifts Sentence for Former Ohio Dem Official Convicted of Taking Bribes, Corruption

Daily Caller News Foundation
Jimmy Dimora

President Joe Biden granted clemency Thursday to a former Ohio Democratic official who was convicted on charges related to taking bribes for nearly a decade.

Former Cuyahoga County Commissioner Jimmy Dimora took over $166,000 worth of bribes, which included “cash, home improvements, lavish meals at high-end restaurants, services from prostitutes, gambling trips to Las Vegas and Canada, and other items,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

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Arizonans Could Decide Fate of Death Penalty in 2026

The Center Square
Patty Contreras

An Arizona Democratic lawmaker is seeking to let voters decide if the death penalty could be legal in 2026.

Rep. Patty Contreras, D-Phoenix, filed House Concurrent Resolution 2001 for the upcoming legislative session, which would ask voters if a ban on capital punishment be placed in the state constitution. The resolution would need to pass both chambers of the Republican-majority legislature in order to make it onto the ballot.

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Request for Alleged Manifesto of Luigi Mangione Denied by Police amid Refusal to Release Bodycam Video, Arrest Inventory

Tom Pappert
Luigi Mangione

The City of Altoona, Pennsylvania on Friday denied the Right-to-Know request filed by The Pennsylvania Daily Star for copies of the documents found during the arrest of Luigi Mangione, who stands accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York.

Altoona denied the Right-to-Know request filed by The Daily Star on Monday, which specifically sought copies of any written documents found with Mangione at the time of his arrest, including his purported manifesto, as well as any documents, journals, or diaries, citing an exception to public information requests for ongoing investigations.

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More Details Emerging About the City of Tucson’s ‘Shocking’ Criminal Speeding Charges Against Conservative State Senator

Rachel Alexander
State Sen Justine Wadsack

State Senator Justine Wadsack (R-Tucson) is suing the City of Tucson for charging her with criminal speeding months after she was pulled over by a police officer and not given a ticket. Wadsack and her attorney Brad Miller, who is the incoming Pinal County Attorney, spoke to radio host Garrett Lewis last week during an interview about some new developments in the situation. Lewis asked Miller and Wadsack a series of questions about the “mythical speeding ticket that never existed.” 

The City of Tucson has been unable to provide any proof that Wadsack was speeding, neither from a radar gun nor the officer’s pacing, Miller said. A city attorney admitted they had no evidence. Miller conducted an interview with the Tucson Police officer who pulled Wadsack over and discovered that the officers “don’t provide any type of printout or scientific way to show that the radar guns are, first of all, working, and second, they cannot provide those to any alleged defendants at all.” Additionally, officers do not include everything they do in their reports, “so he purposely kept out pieces of information.” 

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Businesses Report Inflation Is Taking Wrench to Their Cash-Strapped Customers

Daily Caller News Foundation
Grocery Shopper

Dollar stores are reporting softened demand and increased financial stress among their lower-income consumers, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Some businesses say their customers are spending less money toward the end of the month and more focused on purchasing from cheap store brands, according to the WSJ. Dollar General said in a December earnings call that its best-performing category in its last quarter was its “value valley” aisle, which offers $1 products, the WSJ reported.

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