Yuma Sector Border Patrol Catches Convicted Child Sex Offender Crossing Illegally

The Yuma Sector Border Patrol Wednesday said it caught a Mexican national who has a record of sexually abusing children crossing the southern border illegally.

The agents “caught a sex offender who illegally entered the U.S. from Mexico Wednesday,” and that “Marco Julio Bran, a 35-year-old Mex[ican] national, was convicted in 2008 for lewd and lascivious acts with a child under 14 and was sentenced to three years in prison,” according to Chief Patrol Agent Chris Clem.

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Progressive Wing of Virginia Democrat House Ousts Filler-Corn as Minority Leader

The highest-ranking member in the Democrat Party’s House of Delegates was ousted in an effort led by the progressive wing of her own party.

“I thank the people of Virginia and my colleagues in the House of Delegates for allowing me to serve as the first woman and first person of Jewish faith to serve as Speaker in the 403-year history of our Commonwealth — truly the honor of my life,” Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) said. “I was proud of all that we accomplished after taking the majority in 2019 and was willing to step up as Minority Leader once more to regain that majority. Our caucus is made up of 48 talented and diverse individuals and I look forward to working with them to retake the majority.”

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Tennessee House Bill Would Pave the Way for Transparency in School Library Books and Textbooks

A bill proposed by the Speaker of the Tennessee House would increase transparency into the library books and textbooks children are using in schools.

“Until today, no one has taken responsibility as to how library books have previously reached school libraries in the state,” House Speaker Cameron Sexton (R-Crossville) told The Tennessee Star Tuesday. “The Tennessee Association of School Librarians has since indicated librarians have been in charge of the process all along. This bill will establish a statewide process that includes both [Local Education Associations] and the Textbook Commission in the process for a uniform, approved list of school library books.”

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Ohio Gubernatorial Candidate Nan Whaley Announces Coalition of Mayors Who Have Endorsed Her Campaign

A gubernatorial candidate and her running mate have formed a coalition of more than 40 Ohio mayors who are supporting their bid Governor and Lieutenant Governor. 

“Today [Cheryl Stevens] & I are proud to announce a new coalition supporting our #OHGov campaign – Mayors for Whaley-Stephens! As two former mayors, Cheryl and I can’t wait to work with local leaders across Ohio to ensure each community has its own chance at economic success,” former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley announced on Twitter. 

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Florida House Rep Accuses Candace Owens of Supporting DeSantis for ‘Coins’

In what appears to be a racially-motivated attack, a member of the Florida House of Representatives attacked conservative commentator Candace Owens for her support of Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

“He knows how to break the law, violate constitutional rights, lie and bully. There I fixed it for you @RealCandaceO You should be ashamed of what #DeSantisDestroysFlorida is doing to Black communities in Florida. But of course…get them coins girls,” said State Rep. Angie Nixon (D-District 14) on Twitter.

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Biden Pardons Athens Man Convicted for Facilitating Drug Trafficking

An Athens man who was convicted for the facilitation of drug trafficking was pardoned Tuesday by President Joe Biden.

“Dexter Jackson is a 52-year-old man who was convicted in 2002 for using his business to facilitate the distribution of marijuana in the Northern District of Georgia,” according to a statement from the White House. “Mr. Jackson was not personally involved in trafficking marijuana, but allowed marijuana distributors to use his pool hall to facilitate drug transactions.  He accepted full responsibility for his actions at the time he was charged, and pled guilty.”

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Biden Appoints Kenyon College Graduate as Ambassador to Ukraine

President Joe Biden is expected to nominate a Kenyon College graduate to be the United States’ Ambassador to Ukraine, which is currently embattled in war with Russia. 

“Kenyon is proud that such an accomplished alumna has been selected for this critical diplomatic position,” Kenyon College Professor of Political Science David Rowe told The Ohio Star Monday. “Bridget Brink is being sent to one of the United States’ most important postings. How the Ukraine war is resolved will affect the fate of security and democracy in Europe and more broadly for a generation or more. We wish her all the best in what will likely be the challenge of a lifetime.”  

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Arizona Gubernatorial Candidate Ditches Election Integrity as Campaign Issue

An Arizona gubernatorial candidate has apparently abandoned the issue that was the cornerstone of her campaign, in favor of issues that she now thinks matter more to Arizonan voters. 

Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, currently running in the Democrat Party’s gubernatorial primary, was known for her staunch criticism of former President Donald Trump’s challenge of the 2020 election results in Arizona. She was so ardent in her opposition to Trump’s challenge, that she made it the central talking point of her campaign. 

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Twitter Bans Ads Contradicting U.N. Climate Science

Twitter will no longer sell ads with messaging that contradicts the United Nations’ (UN) scientists, according to a statement from the Silicon Valley tech giant. 

“To better serve these conversations, misleading advertisements on Twitter that contradict the scientific consensus on climate change are prohibited, in line with our inappropriate content policy,” the statement says. “We believe that climate denialism shouldn’t be monetized on Twitter, and that misrepresentative ads shouldn’t detract from important conversations about the climate crisis. This approach is informed by authoritative sources, like the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Assessment Reports.”

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Ohio Attorney: Ohio Elections Commission ‘Hamstrung Voters’ by Delaying Investigation into Blystone’s Campaign Finances

The attorney representing the Ohio woman who filed a campaign finance complaint against businessman Joe Blystone’s gubernatorial campaign blasted the Ohio Elections Commission (OEC), saying the government organization has done a disservice to voters by failing to take action against Blystone’s campaign for alleged financial mismanagement. 

“They hamstrung the voters,” Curt Hartman, attorney for complainant Mary Cappellan, told The Star Friday. “The heart of campaign finance is full disclosure and information available to the voting public. It’s disappointing in the Elections Commission’s initial delay that they didn’t appreciate that that’s why they exist.” 

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Emory University, Claiming Racism, Drops Honorific Names of Two Alumni

Emery University, Georgia’s largest private college, has decided to drop the honorofic names of two of its alumni, citing racism. 

“Emory University President Gregory L. Fenves will rename campus spaces and professorships honoring Robert Yerkes, a psychologist who vigorously supported eugenics, and L.Q.C. Lamar, who was a staunch defender of slavery,” a statement from the school said. “The Yerkes National Primate Research Center will be known as the Emory National Primate Research Center, effective June 1. Professorships in the Emory School of Law named after Lamar will become the Emory School of Law Distinguished Professors.”

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Trump Jr. Shares Video Shredding Mandel for Establishment Ties

With the Trump family squarely in the camp of J.D. Vance, running for U.S. Senate in Ohio, Donald Trump Jr. shared a video of Vance’s main opponent lying about his involvement with “establishment Republicans.”

“Ohio friends – Meet the real @JoshMandelOhio. The Club for Chinese Growth backed establishment candidate in the #OHSen race,” Trump Jr. said in a Tweet, sharing the video. 

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Renacci Blasts Paduchik for ‘Fake News’ About Campaign Loan

Ohio gubernatorial candidate and former U.S. Congressman Jim. Renacci (R) blasted Ohio Republican Party (ORP) Chairman Bob Paduchik, who falsely accused him of repaying a $4 million loan given to his own campaign. 

“The Ohio Republican Party Chairman needs an accounting lesson. Four minus four plus four equals four. No wonder the ORP’s books are a mess,” Renacci said. “The establishment knows we are going to win this election and are resorting to low fake news attacks in the final days to try to distract from all of DeWine’s failures.” 

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Dave Stewart: George Floyd Murder Brought Attention to MLB’s Lack of Diversity in Ownership

On the heels of the news that World Series Most Valuable Player and Major League Baseball (MLB) All-Star Dave Stewart will lead a Diverse Equity Ownership Initiative for the Music City Stars baseball organization, Stewart told The Tennessee Star that George Floyd’s murder is one of the reasons why the new initiative exists. 

“Baseball has been – for as long as the sport has been played – it’s been owned, it’s been run by people other than minorities,” Stewart told The Star. “Unfortunately, the George Floyd murder brought attention to a topic that really needed to be addressed by mostly white people in America – and that is what are we practicing in our daily lives, and are we really recognizing the fact that we don’t open ourselves to people other than ourselves?” 

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Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce Leaning Leftward, Hosting DEI Summit in May

The Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce (GCC) will continue its flirtation with the political left by hosting a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) summit next month.

“Exposure to diversity alters the way individuals think by promoting creativity and innovation, as well as decision-making and problem-solving skills,” says an explainer for one of the panels at the session. “You will learn what these experts, educators, and executives are doing to develop a more inclusive mindset.”

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Ohio Attorney General’s Office Warns of New Deadly Synthetic Drug

Ohio’s top attorney this week is warning residents of a new class of designer drugs that are more deadly than fentanyl. 

“Frankenstein opioids are even more lethal than the drugs already responsible for so many overdose deaths,” Attorney General Dave Yost said in a press release. “Law enforcement and the public need to pay attention to these emerging hazards.” 

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Atlanta Nonprofit Group Stands Up ‘Woke’ Coca-Cola, Papa John’s over BLM Support

A black-run nonprofit this week is standing up to “woke” companies like Papa Johns, Coca-Cola and others who have pledged their support to Black Lives Matter (BLM). 

“Officials with Concerned Communities for America (CCA) today delivered a pledge for signing by Papa Johns CEO Robert Lynch and Coca Cola CEO James Quincey to signal support of the women and men who serve their communities as police officers,” according to a Wednesday CCA press release. “This pledge is in response to Papa Johns’ and Coca Cola’s blind support, vocally and/or financially, of the Black Lives Matter Global Network Foundation and its affiliates.”

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DeSantis Signs Bill to Increase Transparency in College Curriculum

Florida’s governor Tuesday signed into law a bill that will increase transparency into the curriculum at state-funded colleges, as well as updated guidelines for tenured faculty members.

SB 7044, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis (R), ensures that colleges are openly disclosing textbooks, syllabi, and other course-related material on their websites. This way, the bill says, prospective students, as well as parents, can see what students are being taught.

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ADF Says College’s Settlement with Professor a ‘Victory for Free Speech’

The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is celebrating a court victory for one its clients, a professor who was punished by his employer for refusing to use the preferred gender pronouns of a student. 

“Dr. Meriwether’s victory is a free speech victory for professors all across the country,” Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel and director of the Center for Academic Freedom at ADF told The Ohio Star Wednesday. “The court rightly decided that his First Amendment rights were likely violated and vindicated these rights for all professors. No one should be forced to say something they believe is untrue and we are grateful the court has recognized that.”

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Ohio Doctor Accused of 14 Murders Found Not Guilty

Dr. William Husel

An accused Ohio serial killer and doctor was found not guilty Wednesday by a jury of his peers, after more than one week of deliberations in the high-profile case. 

Dr. William Husel was criminally charged with 14 murders between 2015 and 2018 – and suspected of up to 25 – when prosecutors alleged that he gave dying patients at Mount Carmel West Hospital enough fentanyl to kill them. 

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Masters Outraising Opponents in Arizona Senate Race

An insurgent candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona outraised his opponents – including the state’s Attorney General – over the past year. 

According to records from the Federal Elections Commission (FEC), venture capitalist Blake Masters raised $3,577,745.06 between April 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. The campaign registered $3,293,712.58 in itemized contributions, defined as contributions over $200, and $257,932.48 in unitemized contributions during that time period. 

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DeSantis Calls Special Session to Review Disney’s ‘Special District’ Status

In what is being viewed as an escalation in the conflict between Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) and The Walt Disney Company, the Florida governor has called a special legislative session to review a 1968 law – designed for the company – that allows it to govern itself. 

According to a proclamation from the governor’s office, “it is necessary to review such independent special districts to ensure that they are appropriately serving the public interest,” and that it is “also necessary to consider whether such independent special districts should be subject to special law requirements of the Florida Constitution of 1968.”

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Virginia State Troopers Partnering with Homeland Security on Human Trafficking Initiative

In partnership with two federal law enforcement agencies, the Virginia State Police (VSP) is conducting a three-day sweep to combat human trafficking on the I-95 corridor. 

“U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Washington, D.C. partnered with the Virginia State Police and the Virginia Trucking Association in order to detect, deter, and raise awareness of the growing problem of human trafficking,” said an ICE press release. “During mid-April, they will conduct Operation Safe Passage, a high‐visibility, human trafficking prevention and public outreach initiative.”

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Nearly Two Dozen Alleged Terrorists Arrested by Border Patrol Last Year, Some in Arizona

A U.S. Congressman from Arizona Monday reacted to a report that nearly two dozen suspected terrorists were caught crossing the border into the United States illegally in 2021. 

“As seen by the events on 9/11, we know that it only takes a handful of harmful actors to wreak devastation on our country,” Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) told The Arizona Sun Times. “[U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s] latest figures are alarming but are not unexpected.”

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Exclusive: Gwinnett County School Board Pushing Chamber of Commerce to Go ‘Woke’

According to emails obtained by The Georgia Star News, far-left Gwinnett County School Board (GCSB) Chairwoman Dr. Tarese Johnson pushed for the Gwinnett County Chamber of Commerce (GCCC) to adopt social justice initiatives. 

In a chain of internal GCSB emails from August, Johnson complains that the GCCC put on a skit regarding the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), the public transit system in the city, that “perpetuated deeply rooted stereotypes.” 

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Lima Mayor Endorses Nan Whaley for Governor

The mayor of a prominent Ohio city Monday announced her endorsement of former Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley (D), who is running for governor. 

“Hi, my name is Mayor Sharetta Smith, and I’m mayor of the great city of Lima, Ohio, and I’m here to offer my support and my endorsement of my great friend Nan Whaley, former mayor of Dayton, Ohio, in her bid to become Ohio’s next governor,” Mayor Sharetta Smith (D) said in a video. “I believe in Nan. I believe in her platform to help working families. She’s talked about how under her leadership, our wages will go up, and our bills will go down. Nan is also a former mayor, and no one knows better the issues facing our local families. She’s a hard worker. Her boots have been on the ground. She sees firsthand what’s happening with our families, and I believe Nan is the one for us – to go to Columbus and fight for us.” 

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Mandel Reacts to Trump’s Endorsement of Vance in Primary Race

After former President Donald Trump Friday endorsed J.D. Vance in Ohio’s hotly contested U.S. Senate race, Vance’s opponent and current leader in the polls reacted. 

“I continue to be a proud supporter of President Trump and the America First agenda. I look forward to earning his endorsement in the general election and working with him to defeat Tim Ryan in November,” said former Ohio State Treasurer Josh Mandel. 

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Pennsylvania ACLU Organizes Petition in Favor of Trans Athletes

A far-left nonprofit is advocating against a bill passed by the Pennsylvania House of Representatives that says transgender athletes must participate in athletic competition based on their sex at birth.

“Transgender people want to participate in athletics for the same reasons as their peers: to challenge themselves, improve fitness, and be part of a team. Banning trans students from participation in athletics is cruel and discriminatory,” the Pennsylvania ACLU said in a petition on its website. 

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Trump Endorses J.D. Vance for U.S. Senate in Ohio

After months of speculation about whether former President Donald Trump would wade into the high profile U.S. Senate race in Ohio, Friday afternoon he released a statement endorsing author, attorney and former U.S. Marine J.D. Vance. 

“MAGA patriots from across the nation are set to deliver an election landside [sic] for Republicans that will serve as a devastating rebuke of the failures of Joe Biden and the Radical Left Democrats,” Trump said in a statement. “In the Great State of Ohio, the candidate most qualified and ready to win in November is J.D. Vance. We cannot play games. It is all about winning!”

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Kemp Touts Lower Prices at the Pump Month After Gas Tax Suspension

Georgia’s governor is touting lower gas prices one month after he signed into law a bill suspending the state’s tax on gasoline. 

“A month ago, I signed HB304 to temporarily suspend the state gas tax and help counter Biden-flation at the pump,” Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said on Twitter. “This week, the price of an avg. gallon in GA was down 57 cents. We’ll keep doing our part to lessen the impact of failed policies on Georgians’ wallets.”

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States Preemptively Banning ESG Practices Pushed by Big Capital

States across the country are preemptively banning Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) scoring, which some say would lead to a massive consolidation of wealth among the most powerful investment companies in America. 

“In an attempt to secure vast amounts of wealth and influence over society, corporations, bankers, and investors, working closely with key government officials, have launched a unified effort to impose environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards on most of the industrialized global economy. (ESG standards are also referred to as ‘sustainable investment’ or ‘stakeholder capitalism.’),” Justin Haskins at The Heartland Institute said. 

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Michigan Gubernatorial Candidate Demands Answers on Whitmer’s Involvement in FBI-Led Kidnapping Plot

A Michigan gubernatorial candidate is demanding to know what Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) played in her alleged kidnapping plot that he says was conceived by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

“Michiganders deserve an answer,” candidate Garrett Soldano said in a press release. “As we all saw last week, the FBI conceived a plot to kidnap Gretchen Whitmer and preyed on Michiganders to push it along. These events had a direct impact on the 2020 election results in Michigan, one of the most important swing states in the country. Did Gretchen Whitmer play a role in these targeted efforts to influence the 2020 election? Was Gretchen Whitmer working with the FBI to fake her own kidnapping?” 

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Voting Group Says Atlanta Schools Doubling Down on Left-Wing Indoctrination

The largest high school in Atlanta has partnered with a far-left group to implement the progressive agenda in schools, and now will partner with the same group to register students to vote, according to Greater Georgia, a right-wing voter registration group. 

“With over 2,000 students, North Atlanta High School is the largest public high school in Atlanta. If they truly cared about civic engagement, school administrators would invite a range of groups to help register this tremendous number of future voters, instead of turning groups away,” former U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler, Chairwoman of Greater Georgia, said in a Wednesday press release. “The truth is, Atlanta Public Schools are not interested in civics, or basic voter registration. Instead, they are working with the liberal New Georgia Project to indoctrinate and transform students into progressive activists. In their quest to turn Georgia blue, APS and NGP will silence those that don’t promote their ideology. Every parent deserves to know what is being taught to their kids – and reject the partisan indoctrination that is replacing real civics education.”

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Republican Candidate for Connecticut Governor Won’t Commit to Banning Trans Athletes

Connecticut’s Republican nominee for governor Tuesday would not commit to banning biologically male transgender athletes from competing in women’s sports, instead choosing to tiptoe around the issue. 

“Connecticut law prohibits discrimination,” Bob Stefanowski reportedly said. “It’s incumbent upon the high school athletic conferences to seek out the voices of young female athletes, coaches and parents to come up with policies that ensure a level playing field and protect girls’ sports.”

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Arizona Senate President Says Maricopa County Election Officials Had USPS Destroy Live Ballots

Arizona’s Senate President took to a popular podcast last week to reveal that audit results from the 2020 election show major problems with how absentee ballots were handled. 

“What they’re not telling you is all the ballots that were returned to the post office – undeliverable – and you know what, they said ‘we don’t want them back, you can keep them. You can just destroy them. We don’t need them,'” Senate President Karen Fann (R-District 1) said on The Conservative Circus Podcast. “So those ballots never went back to the Election Department. They told the Post Office “oh, you can just destroy them, we don’t need them.'” 

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Kemp Signs Constitutional Carry Bill into Law

Georgia’s governor Tuesday signed a bill into law that will allow residents of the state to carry a concealed firearm without a permit.

“I certainly want to thank all of those legislators – many of them – that along with us have been pushing to get this bill across the finish line for a long time,” Gov. Brian Kemp (R) said in the bill signing ceremony at Gable Sporting Goods in Douglasville.

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Loeffler Nonprofit Holds Voter Registration Drive in Metro Atlanta

A voter registration group led by a former U.S. Senator held a registration drive over the weekend at gas stations across the metro Atlanta area. 

“Part of Greater Georgia’s broader mission that has already registered tens of thousands of lean-conservative voters, this latest registration drive will continue at a variety of consumer marketplaces over the coming weeks, including at gas stations, grocery stores, and gun stores,” that group said in a press release. “It will also include an accompanying digital and text registration campaign in counties across the metro area.”

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Nancy Mace Calls for Hunter Biden Laptop Investigation 18 Months After Scandal

Eighteen months after the contents of Hunter Biden’s now-infamous laptop were confirmed to be authentic and released to public, a South Carolina congresswoman is finally calling for an investigation.

“I’ve got news for Hunter Biden: when Republicans take the majority next year, he will be called to testify before the Oversight Committee that I sit on,” Rep. Nancy Mace (R-SC-01) said on Tiwtter. “Republicans will get to the bottom of the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, which the mainstream media refused to cover in 2020.”

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Rep. Andy Biggs Lists Ramifications for Ending Title 42

As President Joe Biden’s White House plans to end a rule implemented by the previous administration that helped to expeditiously expel illegal aliens, an Arizona Congressman voiced his concern.

“What’s going to happen is you’re going to have a cascading catastrophe,” Rep Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) said on Fox News. “What’s going to happen is you’re going to have the Border Patrol totally overwhelmed. So, you’re going to have more opioids, fentanyl coming across [the border], it’s going to cheapen that drug, and it’s going to make it more accessible. You’re going to have more opioid overdose problems.”

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Failed Ohio AG Candidate Nominated to Head ATF

A failed candidate for Ohio Attorney General and former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio Monday was tapped by President Joe Biden to head the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF).

“Today, to lead and support the dedicated men and women of the ATF, I’m proud to nominate Steve Dettelbach,” Biden said during a Rose Garden speech, apologizing for mispronouncing his pick’s last name. “Steve is immensely qualified. He served the Department of Justice for two decades. He worked side by side to support the work of federal, state and local law enforcement, including ATF agents. One of the cases he personally tried as a U.S. Attorney were the serial arsonists who firebombed the courthouses and police headquarters in Mansfield, Ohio.”

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Arizona County Using COVID-19 Relief Funds to Upgrade Emergency Response System

Cochise County officials have approved a plan that will repurpose COVID-19 relief funds to upgrade its emergency response system.

“Sierra Vista Fire and Medical Services and Fry Fire District proposed the Fire Station Alerting System project,” according to reports. “Plans include software installation and technology upgrades for all Cochise County fire stations and special districts to increase the overall effectiveness and efficiency of dispatch centers.”

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Far-Left Ohio State Senator Announces Opposition to Divisive Concepts Bill

An LGBT Senator in Ohio is upset over a recently-introduced bill that would prevent “divisive concepts” from being taught in the classroom. 

“HB 616 is more than just about censoring LGBTQ discussion. The bill combines the worst parts of Ohio’s curriculum bans censoring topics of race and intersectionality. A more expansive version of Florida’s Recent Bill,” State Sen. Nickie Antonio (D-District 23) said. 

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