Desmond Milligan

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The first of two cold fronts move into the Middle Tennessee region on Wednesday. The first front will bring an increased coverage of rain and storms, especially south of Interstate 40. There is a small risk for a strong to severe storm. The result for everyone is lower humidity to end the week! Nashville on Tuesday Nashville recorded its first 100-degree day of 2025 on Tuesday, August 19, with a high of 101°. This was one degree off from the record of 102° set back on August 19, 1925. ALERTS | Weather advisories in Middle Tennessee Source: WKRNStorm chances Wednesday The Storm Prediction Center has added a Marginal Risk (level 1/5) for the southern counties of Middle Tennessee for an isolated severe storm. A few storms could produce wind gusts and heavy rain with lightning. Source: WKRNSource: WKRNSource: WKRNThe storms will increase with additional daytime heating on Wednesday afternoon and interacting with a cold front. This front will set help the storms produce the heavy rain and lightning risk with an isolated severe storm capable of wind gusts over 40 mph. Storms end this evening as the loss of daytime heat occurs. RADAR | Track weather across TN live Source: WKRNSource: WKRNSource: WKRNSource: WKRNSource: WKRNA break from the heat is coming! Even though temperatures will be in the 80s to lower 90s, today is still humid. Feels like temperatures around 100° through the late afternoon. Source: WKRNSource: WKRNSource: WKRNNote that on Thursday through Saturday, despite it remaining warm, feels like temperatures will mainly be at or a few degrees higher than the air temperature. This is a welcomed break from the heat. FORECAST: Middle Tennessee & Southern Kentucky Weather Source: WKRNNEXT WEEK: even cooler Looking toward the end of August, temperatures will likely end below average! Another cold front (stronger than the one from Wednesday) will arrive Sunday into Monday. There are low rain chances this weekend and into next week. But, the focus is where high temperatures will drop into the 80s for the region and lows in the 60s. This will be welcomed relief and bring a taste of fall. Source: WKRNDon’t forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. View the full article

Graham Platner, a veteran and oyster farmer, is challenging Maine Sen. Susan Collins in the 2026 senate election, he announced Aug. 19. “We have watched this state become unlivable for working people. And it makes me deeply angry,” Platner, a Democrat, said in his announcement video. “Everywhere I’ve gone, it seems like the fabric of what holds us together is being ripped apart by billionaires and corrupt politicians, profiting off of destroying our environment, driving our families into poverty, and crushing the middle class.” He will be taking on Collins, a moderate Republican who occasionally bucks her party and has proven difficult to unseat. She is running for a sixth term in 2026. Graham Platner, a Democrat, is running to represent Maine in the U.S. Senate.Who is Graham Platner?Platner is a Sullivan, Maine, native who owns Waukeag Neck Oyster Company. He is also chair of the Sullivan Planning Board. In his announcement video, Platner is portrayed as an economic populist ready to take on “the oligarchy” of billionaires and "corrupt politicians." He criticized Collins, saying that he is "not fooled" by the "fake charade" of her moderation. "The difference between Susan Collins and (Texas Sen.) Ted Cruz is that at least Ted Cruz is honest about selling us out and not giving a damn," he said. His platform includes universal healthcare, stopping mass deportations and supporting unions. As a veteran who served three tours in Iraq as a Marine and another in Afghanistan with Army National Guard, he says he will “never, ever vote to send Americans into a pointless war.” Who is running against Susan Collins?Platner is the latest Democrat to announce his candidacy in the 2026 senate race against the incumbent Collins. Others include Jordan Woods, the former chief of staff to then-Rep. Katie Porter, and David Costello, who ran against Maine Independent Sen. Angus King in 2024. Collins is unpopular in the state, with 57% of Mainers finding her unfavorable in a June UNH Survey Center poll. But while Gov. Janet Mills’ name has been floated to challenge Collins, she has not committed and Democrats have yet to recruit a high-profile candidate. Maine Senator Susan Collins speaks during a press conference outside the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard April 17, 2025.With no prior political experience, Platner is not a high-profile candidate, either. But he has attracted some national attention with a launch video produced by Morris Katz, an advisor to the Democratic nominee for New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, according to reports. Some on social media have referred to him as “Maine Zohran.” This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Maine senate race: Graham Platner to challenge Susan Collins View the full article

Here are the latest updates on Hurricane Erin from the National Hurricane Center. Erin is considered a Category 2 storm based on its sustained wind speeds. Track all active storms Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Hurricane Erin located 446 miles east of Daytona Beach, FloridaSpecial note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Location: 30.1N, 73.7W 446 miles east of Daytona Beach Maximum sustained winds: 110 mph Present movement: North at 13 mph Minimum central pressure: 941 millibars Latest advisory from National Hurricane Center on Hurricane ErinAt 11 a.m. ET, the eye of Hurricane Erin was located near latitude 30.1 North, longitude 73.7 West. Erin is moving toward the north near 13 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected later today and tonight, followed by a faster motion toward the northeast and east-northeast by Thursday and Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Erin will move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda today through early Friday, and then pass south of Atlantic Canada Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 110 mph, with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is likely during the next day or so, and Erin could become a major hurricane again by tonight. Weakening is likely to begin by Friday, but Erin is forecast to remain a hurricane into the weekend. Erin is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 265 miles. Expected impacts from Hurricane ErinThe advisory warns of the following dangers: WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the North Carolina Outer Banks and the Virginia coastline beginning late today. Elsewhere along the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coast, wind gusts to tropical storm force are likely Thursday through early Friday. Tropical storm conditions are possible on Bermuda Thursday and Friday. SURF: Swells generated by Erin will affect the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days. These rough ocean conditions are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents. Please consult products from your local weather forecast office for more information. A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?ripCurrents STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide, Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina, 2 To 4 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?peakSurge. RAINFALL: The outer bands of Erin may bring 1 to 2 inches of rainfall to the Outer Banks of North Carolina this afternoon into Thursday. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall and flash flooding associated with Erin, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?rainqpf Hurricane Erin spaghetti modelsSpecial note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. Hurricane Erin: See projected path, storm trackerWatches, warnings issued for Hurricane ErinA storm surge warning is in effect for: Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina A tropical storm warning is in effect for: Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. A tropical storm watch is in effect for: Bermuda A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24 hours. Watches and warnings issued for FloridaNWS radar for Daytona Beach, FloridaHelpful hurricane resources and linksGet your home ready: Here's how to prepare your home for a hurricane, from well in advance to just before a storm's arrival Need to prepare for a hurricane? Here's what you should have in a disaster supply kit Video: Helpful tips for a hurricane survival kit Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones: What's an invest and why do they keep saying tropical cyclone? Officials encourage residents to assemble a hurricane kit early, storing enough supplies to last at least three days. Doing so ensures there are adequate supplies available on store shelves and prevents a rush and shortages that regularly occur when a storm is imminent. Stay informed. Get weather alerts via textWhat's next?We will update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Hurricane Erin: Follow the storm, possible impacts in Daytona Beach View the full article

Texas cannot require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom, a judge said on Wednesday in a temporary ruling against the state’s new requirement, making it the third such state law to be blocked by a court. A group of Dallas-area families and faith leaders sought a preliminary injunction against the law, which goes into effect on 1 September. They say the requirement violates the first amendment’s protections for the separation of church and state and the right to free religious exercise. Texas is the largest state to attempt such a requirement, and US district judge Fred Biery’s ruling from San Antonio is the latest in a widening legal fight that’s expected to eventually go before the US supreme court. “Even though the Ten Commandments would not be affirmatively taught, the captive audience of students likely would have questions, which teachers would feel compelled to answer. That is what they do,” Biery wrote in the 55-page ruling that began with quoting the first amendment and ended with “Amen”. Related: New Texas law requires Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms “[T]he displays are likely to pressure the child-Plaintiffs into religious observance, meditation on, veneration, and adoption of the State’s favored religious scripture, and into suppressing expression of their own religious or nonreligious background and beliefs while at school.” Biery continued: “There is also insufficient evidence of a broader tradition of using the Ten Commandments in public education, and there is no tradition of permanently displaying the Ten Commandments in public-school classrooms. There are ways in which students could be taught any relevant history of the Ten Commandments without the state selecting an official version of scripture, approving it in state law, and then displaying it in every classroom on a permanent basis.” The lawsuit names the Texas education agency, state education commissioner Mike Morath and three Dallas-area school districts as defendants. Hailing the preliminary injunction, plaintiff Rabbi Mara Nathan said: “As a rabbi and public school parent, I welcome this ruling. Children’s religious beliefs should be instilled by parents and faith communities, not politicians and public schools.” Heather Weaver, senior counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union’s Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief, echoed similar sentiments. “Public schools are not Sunday schools. Today’s decision ensures that our clients’ schools will remain spaces where all students, regardless of their faith, feel welcomed and can learn without worrying that they do not live up to the state’s preferred religious beliefs,” Weaver said. Meanwhile, Freedom From Religion Foundation co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor said: “Religious instruction must be left to parents, not the state, which has no business telling anyone how many gods to have, which gods to have or whether to have any gods at all.” A federal appeals court has blocked a similar law in Louisiana, and a judge in Arkansas told four districts they cannot put up the posters, although other districts in the state said they’re not putting them up either. Although Friday’s ruling marked a major win for civil liberties groups who say the law violates the separation of church and state, the legal battle is likely far from over. Religious groups and conservatives say the Ten Commandments are part of the foundation of the United States’s judicial and educational systems and should be displayed. Texas has a Ten Commandments monument on the Capitol grounds and won a 2005 supreme court case that upheld the monument. In Louisiana – the first state that mandated the Ten Commandments be displayed in classrooms – a panel of three appellate judges in June ruled that the law was unconstitutional. View the full article

Key TakeawaysThe wild Banker horses of North Carolina’s Outer Banks have survived storms for centuries and instinctively know how to protect themselves. As Hurricane Erin approaches, experts say the horses will naturally head to high ground, gather in groups, and turn “butts to the wind” to brace against gusts. Despite evacuations for humans, the Corolla Wild Horse Fund reassures the public that rounding up the herd isn’t needed or safe—the horses are already storm-savvy. Even with the water rising and mandatory evacuations issued for parts of the Outer Banks due to Hurricane Erin's approach, wildlife experts aren't all too concerned about the wild horses that roam the barrier islands. Instead, they’ve been busy assuaging the public. "The Bankers have survived on these barrier islands for hundreds of years and have successfully weathered countless storms," the Corolla Wild Horse Fund wrote on Facebook Monday. "It’s a natural part of life for them and has been for many, many generations. We would never round them up and move them ahead of a storm. It’s completely unfeasible and unsafe for a mile-long list of reasons, and would be a gross overreach from a herd management perspective." At time of publication, Hurricane Erin is not expected to make landfall on the Outer Banks. Mandatory evacuations are currently in place to prevent people from becoming trapped by the flooding Erin is forecasted to generate from offshore. But the famous Banker horses will be fine even if things change and Erin does make landfall. Just like they did during hurricanes Florence and Dorian, the horses will huddle together and ride out the storm using a trick horses have used for centuries. The colonial Spanish mustangs will close ranks with their “butts to the wind,” which stabilizes them against storm gusts. “The wild horses are better equipped to handle a hurricane than most of us humans living on the Outer Banks,” the Corolla Wild Horse Fund wrote on Facebook ahead of Hurricane Dorian in 2019. “They go to high ground, under the sturdy live oak trees, to ride the storm out. Remember, they’ve been doing this for 500 years!” The horses group together when they sense changes in air pressure. “They have an institutional knowledge of where it’s high, dry, and safe,” Meg Puckett, herd manager for the Corolla Wild Horse Fund, previously told OBX Today. “It’s one of the few times we see a lot of the different harems come together.” Stay safe out there, y'all. And remember, butts to the wind! Read the original article on Southern Living View the full article

President Trump said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu are war heroes, touting the U.S. strikes against three Iranian nuclear facilities in June. The president praised Netanyahu in a Tuesday interview on “The Mark Levin Show,” then referenced the strikes that he has said obliterated Tehran’s nuclear capabilities and set back the country’s nuclear program for years. “Bibi is a good man. He’s in there fighting. He’s fighting. You know, they’re trying to put him in jail on top of everything else. How about that?” Trump told Levin. “He’s a war hero, because we work together. He’s a war hero. I guess I am, too.” The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The president, who never fought in a war, added, “The pilots came. I rewarded them. I brought them all to the Oval Office. The people having to do with that whole operation, which was so perfect, which was a total of, you know, just an obliteration.” The B-2 pilots who carried out the strike visited the White House for the Fourth of July holiday. The pilots carried out the unprecedented attack on Iran, dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer, dropping 30,000-pound bombs on underground nuclear enrichment facilities from “bunker busters” that took off undetected from a base in Missouri. Following the attack, Trump hit back at an initial Pentagon assessment that damage to the three nuclear facilities only set the Iranians’ nuclear program back a few months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) topped former Vice President Kamala Harris in a hypothetical 2028 Democratic presidential primary in the Golden State, a new poll found. The survey, released Wednesday from Politico and other partners, shows Newsom in the lead in a wide field of possible contenders with 25 percent support among California Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. Harris came in second with 19 percent, followed by former Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg’s 13 percent and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s (D-N.Y.) 10 percent. The other possible candidates included all received less than 5 percent, according to the results. The latest poll comes years before any votes will be cast in the next presidential election but is a marker of where opinion in the state may stand at this early stage. Newsom has taken on an increasingly public profile and risen as a top leader within the Democratic Party, most recently leading opposition to Republican efforts to enact mid-decade redistricting and try to pick up several more GOP seats in next year’s midterm elections. He has been a rumored possible presidential candidate since before last year’s election. Harris, coming off of her defeat to President Trump in November, ended speculation that she would run for California governor to try to succeed Newsom last month when she ruled out a bid. She said she wanted to spend some time outside the political system after years of public service. Her decision added more fuel to speculation that she may take another shot at running for president in 2028. The Politico poll also found respondents were slightly more excited at the prospect of Newsom running for president than Harris. Almost half said they were “very” or “somewhat” excited about the California leader possibly running, while 42 percent said the same about the former vice president. With Newsom as a two-term governor and Harris as a former U.S. senator from California, both would be seen as clear favorites in the Golden State primary, which awards more votes in the nominating process than any other state. The poll was conducted from July 28 to Aug. 12 among 1,445 registered voters, including 807 registered Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents. The margin of error for the entire sample was 2.6 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

The Justice Department has launched an investigation into Washington crime reporting data as President Trump clashes with city leaders over his takeover of local police. The investigation, led by the Office of the U.S. Attorney for D.C., comes from the same office that earlier this year publicized that violent crime in Washington had reached a 30-year low. Trump has claimed crime in the nation’s capital is worse than what the data shows, even as city officials release reams of data showing falling crime in a number of categories since a spike in 2023. The president has used claims of widespread and violent crime to justify the takeover as well as a National Guard presence in the capital, even as D.C. residents overwhelmingly oppose the move and fewer describe crime as a serious problem in the city. “D.C. gave Fake Crime numbers in order to create a false illusion of safety,” Trump wrote on social media earlier this week. The investigation comes after the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) suspended a former commander of one district after he was accused of shifting data on violent crime, NBC Washington reported last month. That district comprises three neighborhoods in the city. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche confirmed the probe in a Monday night interview on Fox News but said he was unsure whether any shifts were broader than the one officer. “Well, no. I can’t tell you for sure whether it goes further, but we are, as you just suggested, we are, of course, looking into this,” he said. “Because the reality is that we know that D.C. has been an incredibly unsafe place to live for a very long time.” “And so in some ways, it’s not surprising that we hear about reports of this type of conduct that suggests that D.C. is safer than everybody that lives here knows to be true,” Blanche continued. “So, we’re investigating it, and hopefully, we’ll get to the bottom of it at some point soon.” The D.C. police union, which supported Trump’s takeover of the force, has said it doubts crime is as low as the city reported. Statistics released by the city show a 27 percent drop in violent crime and a 4 percent drop in property crime from 2024 to this year. The declines are even more significant for the full year comparisons of 2023 and 2024, with violent crime dropping 35 percent and property crime dropping 11 percent. MPD did not immediately respond to request for comment nor did the U.S. Attorney’s Office. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser’s (D) office did not comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

Bryan Kohberger’s former classmates in his Washington State University graduate program shared that he had multiple injuries on his body after he murdered the Idaho Four. In a People article published on Wednesday, August 20, the outlet obtained documents from Idaho State Police, Moscow State Police, and the Pullman Police Department, which revealed that multiple students had noticed injuries on him when he came back to class on November 29, 2022. Kohberger, 30, returned to school after he brutally stabbed Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Madison Mogen, 21, to death on November 13 in Moscow, Idaho. One female student told police that Kohberger — who was arrested six weeks after the murders — had “cuts on his hands” that were “similar to cat scratches,” which he used Band-Aids for, per People. A second student said she saw him with “bloody knuckles,” and that “the hands looked really beat up like he was hitting something,” but couldn’t remember if it was “just prior to the homicides,” or after. Instagram/Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Kaylee Goncalves and Madison MogenA third classmate told police Kohberger had “bruised knuckles,” with “redness halfway up the back of the left hand from his knuckles,” as well as “a cut on his ring finger,” according to People. An additional classmate noticed scratches on his hands and face, while another said that in December, he still had bloody knuckles and “bad” cuts. Kohberger reportedly told his fellow pupils different stories about how he sustained his injuries, including being a boxer, getting into an indoor accident and being involved in a car accident. While it is unclear if Kohberger got the bruising and scratches from the slayings, they could have been from Kernodle, as she is said to have fought back during the attack. In July 2025, Kohberger pleaded guilty to the murders. He is currently serving four consecutive life sentences at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution. View the full article

Empty chairs and desks in the House Chamber at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, US, on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. Credit - Kaylee Greenlee—Bloomberg/Getty Images I represent the people of El Paso, Texas in the state legislature, a west Texas district that is a 14-hour drive away from the Louisiana border. Yet, data from the Texas Legislative Council indicates that the congressional lines Republicans are rushing through Austin manages to somehow knit 90% of the state’s white voting power across that entire expanse—while slicing Latino and Black communities into pieces so small they have little power to choose their own representatives. Fueled by rapid Latino population growth, Texas has amassed new congressional seats. But these gains have not strengthened the political voice of the communities driving that growth. Instead, Texas Republicans have, in my view, used racial engineering to make sure Texans of color cannot meaningfully influence elections for Congress or the state legislature. Latinos now make up a larger share of Texas’s 31 million population than in California, the state often considered the Latino capital of America. Texas also has more Black residents than Georgia, despite Georgia’s reputation as a center of Black political power. Nearly 60% of Texans are people of color, and 95% of the state’s population growth in the past decade has come from those communities. Despite this reality, Texas’s new congressional lines position white voters to decide at least 26 of the state’s 38 congressional seats—putting power in the hands of white voters by design, not accident. In another three districts, a “Latino majority” exists only on paper: map-drawers split cohesive barrios, added high-turnout Anglo precincts, and minimized the share of voting-age Latino citizens, handing the keys to white voters in these districts as well. Together, the racially-engineered 26 white-majority seats—plus the three manufactured “Latino” seats—is how the federal and state government openly conspired to gain additional Republican congressional seats. But the Trump Administration’s ambitions come at the expense of Latino and Black Texans. Here’s the blunt math on the Texas Republican proposal: under this map, my team and I estimate it would take roughly 445,000 white residents to secure one member of Congress, but about 1.4 million Latino residents and 2 million Black residents to secure the same. In effect, the political “worth” of a Latino Texan is cut to one‑third of a white Texan’s, and for Black Texans, to one‑fifth. On paper the districts are equal in population; in practice the map assigns unequal electoral weight across racial lines. This means that the value of one Latino resident’s vote is worth just one-third the value of one white resident, and a black resident is one-fifth; it would take three Latino Texans, or five Black Texans, to equal the voting power of a single white Texan. Republicans insist this is just politics. But Texas has a long, well‑documented history of crossing the line from hardball politics to what I would define as unlawful racial engineering. In 2006, the Supreme Court threw out a South Texas district for unlawfully diluting Latino voting strength after a mid‑decade redraw. Federal courts found problems with parts of the state’s 2011 maps, too. Texas operated under federal “preclearance” for decades because of past discrimination. When Shelby County v. Holder in 2013 removed that guardrail, it invited states like Texas to test the limits—passing racially engineered maps that can stand for years while litigation drags on, yielding short-term gains of up to five additional U.S. House seats. Courts have recently required more Black opportunity districts in Alabama and allowed a second Black district to stand for now in Louisiana, underscoring that the Voting Rights Act still means something when states overreach. Texas, meanwhile, is moving in the opposite direction. Some Republicans argue that growing GOP support among a subset of Latino voters in Texas justifies these lines. But even if you accept their premise, the Voting Rights Act is about opportunity, not partisan outcomes—ensuring communities of color can form districts where they have a realistic chance to elect their preferred candidates, regardless of party. Here, the state is doing the opposite: cracking and packing Latino and Black neighborhoods to reduce the number of such districts. This potential racial engineering sidelines communities of color and ensures they cannot meaningfully influence elections for Congress or the state legislature. If this plan passes, Texas Latinos could become the most underrepresented racial or ethnic group in all 50 states. The level of under-representation in Texas’s proposal far exceeds the disparities that courts already forced Alabama and Louisiana to correct. Maps like this do not merely entrench a party; they entrench a racial hierarchy. By cracking Latino barrios and Black neighborhoods, dismantling multi-racial districts, and fine-tuning the citizen-voting-age share to keep those communities just below the thresholds where they can elect their candidates of choice, the lines ensure white voting blocs remain decisive—even inside districts labeled “Latino.” That is racial vote dilution: it denies Latino and Black Texans an equal opportunity to translate population into seats, and it teaches a generation that their ballots carry less electoral weight because of race, not ideas. A government that is not accountable to Latino and Black Texans teaches children early that their voices don’t count. Their families, who pay taxes, work hard, and build this state, are told their votes will be discounted by design and that representation can be rationed by color. When districts are drawn to dilute their votes, the message is that citizenship is conditional and equal protection negotiable. That is the very struggle the civil rights movement sought to end: government may not target voters based on race and then claim neutrality at the ballot box. We have seen this before, from literacy tests to poll taxes—different tools, same result, keeping power just out of reach. A true democracy demands maps that make our government accountable to all of its people, not just the ones it prefers. Contact us at [email protected]. View the full article

A Tennessee hiker who picked up a rattlesnake during a trek through a state park died earlier this month after the snake bit him on the hand, officials said. The snake is believed to have been a timber rattlesnake. Rescuers found the man and began CPR before connecting him to a mobile CPR machine. While no official cause of death has been released, authorities believe he may have died from an allergic reaction to the venom. Timber rattlesnakes have a home in 67 counties across Alabama, along with six other venomous snake species, making it even more important to exercise caution as the state's wildlife continues to be active as the weather stays warm. Discover the venomous species in Alabama, where they are commonly found and how to identify them. What are the six venomous snake species in Alabama?Outdoor Alabama lists six venomous snakes that inhabit the state: the copperhead, cottonmouth, timber rattlesnake, pygmy rattlesnake, eastern diamondback rattlesnake and eastern coral snake. The copperhead and cottonmouth are pretty common species statewide. The copperhead is the most frequently encountered venomous snake in Alabama, according to Outdoor Alabama, and it is starting to increase its presence in areas in the coastal plains possibly. What to know about timber rattlesnakesThe timber rattlesnake is the most encountered rattlesnake species in Alabama, typically found in forested areas, flatwoods, and thickets. Timber rattlesnakes are venomous snakes known for their thick bodies, distinct black tails and dark crossbands along their backs. Though they once ranged widely, their numbers have declined in some areas due to habitat loss and human activity. These snakes live in forests, rocky outcrops and thickets, and they feed on small mammals like mice and squirrels. [']';;]l; Rattlesnake species of Alabama are not as common, but they still have a presenceAll rattlesnake species in Alabama are considered uncommon to rare. However, this doesn't mean you should let your guard down in areas that could be their habitats. Pygmy rattlesnakes, on the other hand, inhabit flatwoods near lakes, marshes, prairies, and sandhills. They can be found in about one-third of the state, primarily in the eastern part, reaching as far south as Lee County. The eastern diamondback rattlesnake is the largest rattlesnake species in the world, with some individuals growing up to nearly 7 feet in length. This species is of significant conservation concern due to potential threats to its survival. Copperhead snakes are the most common in AlabamaThere are both southern and northern copperheads. The copperhead snake has a copper-colored head that is broader than its neck. The southern copperhead's body can vary from light brown to pink, while the northern copperhead typically has a darker, reddish-brown body. Both species are most easily identified by their distinctive hourglass-shaped crossbands, resembling a Hershey's Kiss chocolate drop. Cottonmouth snakes are common, but are found in the more aquatic areasThe cottonmouth species, also known as the water moccasin, can be found in aquatic habitats such as swamps, marshes and roadside draining ditches but has a great presence in the coastal plains like the copperhead. The cottonmouth is a large species that can grow up to 48 inches in length as adults. They typically have a dark coloration, ranging from brown to black, with lighter or darker crossbanding patterns on their bodies. Juvenile cottonmouths are more brightly colored, featuring reddish-brown crossbands and a distinctive sulfur-yellow tail. Their heads are thick and wider than their necks, and their eyes are not visible if viewed from above. The cottonmouth gets its name from the striking white interior of its mouth, which it reveals by throwing its head back and opening its mouth wide. They are commonly found in flatwoods, overgrown fields, and abandoned farms and may also venture into marshes or swamps. Though each snake varies in size and color, they often inhabit similar areas. They all have the rattle at the end of their tails, which they use to warn you when you're too close to them. The eastern coral snake is rare to Alabama but still keep your eyes openThe eastern coral snake is a rare snake in Alabama that is of the highest conservation concern. These slender snakes have blunt heads and bodies adorned with alternating red, yellow, and black bands, where the red and yellow bands touch. These bands extend completely around the snake's body. They prefer habitats that range from dry and open to brushy, forested and flatwoods. As you explore Alabama's outdoors this season, always remain cautious and aware of the venomous snakes that call the state home, ensuring your safety and respect for these fascinating creatures. Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team for Gannett/USA Today. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at [email protected]. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What deadly snakes are in Alabama? There are 6 venomous species View the full article

Here are the latest updates on Hurricane Erin from the National Hurricane Center. Erin is considered a Category 2 storm based on its sustained wind speeds. Track all active storms Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Hurricane Erin located 475 miles east of Jacksonville, FloridaSpecial note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Location: 30.1N, 73.7W 475 miles east of Jacksonville Maximum sustained winds: 110 mph Present movement: North at 13 mph Minimum central pressure: 941 millibars Latest advisory from National Hurricane Center on Hurricane ErinAt 11 a.m. ET, the eye of Hurricane Erin was located near latitude 30.1 North, longitude 73.7 West. Erin is moving toward the north near 13 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected later today and tonight, followed by a faster motion toward the northeast and east-northeast by Thursday and Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Erin will move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda today through early Friday, and then pass south of Atlantic Canada Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 110 mph, with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is likely during the next day or so, and Erin could become a major hurricane again by tonight. Weakening is likely to begin by Friday, but Erin is forecast to remain a hurricane into the weekend. Erin is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 265 miles. Expected impacts from Hurricane ErinThe advisory warns of the following dangers: WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the North Carolina Outer Banks and the Virginia coastline beginning late today. Elsewhere along the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coast, wind gusts to tropical storm force are likely Thursday through early Friday. Tropical storm conditions are possible on Bermuda Thursday and Friday. SURF: Swells generated by Erin will affect the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days. These rough ocean conditions are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents. Please consult products from your local weather forecast office for more information. A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?ripCurrents STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide, Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina, 2 To 4 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?peakSurge. RAINFALL: The outer bands of Erin may bring 1 to 2 inches of rainfall to the Outer Banks of North Carolina this afternoon into Thursday. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall and flash flooding associated with Erin, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?rainqpf Hurricane Erin spaghetti modelsSpecial note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. Hurricane Erin: See projected path, storm trackerWatches, warnings issued for Hurricane ErinA storm surge warning is in effect for: Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina A tropical storm warning is in effect for: Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. A tropical storm watch is in effect for: Bermuda A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24 hours. Watches and warnings issued for FloridaNWS radar for Jacksonville, FloridaHelpful hurricane resources and linksGet your home ready: Here's how to prepare your home for a hurricane, from well in advance to just before a storm's arrival Need to prepare for a hurricane? Here's what you should have in a disaster supply kit Video: Helpful tips for a hurricane survival kit Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones: What's an invest and why do they keep saying tropical cyclone? Officials encourage residents to assemble a hurricane kit early, storing enough supplies to last at least three days. Doing so ensures there are adequate supplies available on store shelves and prevents a rush and shortages that regularly occur when a storm is imminent. Stay informed. Get weather alerts via textWhat's next?We will update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Hurricane Erin: Follow the storm, possible impacts in Jacksonville View the full article

Here are the latest updates on Hurricane Erin from the National Hurricane Center. Erin is considered a Category 2 storm based on its sustained wind speeds. Track all active storms Weather alerts via text: Sign up to get updates about current storms and weather events by location Hurricane Erin located 445 miles northeast of Stuart, FloridaSpecial note on the NHC cone: The forecast track shows the most likely path of the center of the storm. It does not illustrate the full width of the storm or its impacts, and the center of the storm is likely to travel outside the cone up to 33% of the time. Location: 30.1N, 73.7W 445 miles northeast of Stuart Maximum sustained winds: 110 mph Present movement: North at 13 mph Minimum central pressure: 941 millibars Latest advisory from National Hurricane Center on Hurricane ErinAt 11 a.m. ET, the eye of Hurricane Erin was located near latitude 30.1 North, longitude 73.7 West. Erin is moving toward the north near 13 mph. A turn toward the north-northeast is expected later today and tonight, followed by a faster motion toward the northeast and east-northeast by Thursday and Friday. On the forecast track, the center of Erin will move over the western Atlantic between the U.S. east coast and Bermuda today through early Friday, and then pass south of Atlantic Canada Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds have increased to near 110 mph, with higher gusts. Some additional strengthening is likely during the next day or so, and Erin could become a major hurricane again by tonight. Weakening is likely to begin by Friday, but Erin is forecast to remain a hurricane into the weekend. Erin is a large hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 265 miles. Expected impacts from Hurricane ErinThe advisory warns of the following dangers: WIND: Tropical storm conditions are expected over portions of the North Carolina Outer Banks and the Virginia coastline beginning late today. Elsewhere along the mid-Atlantic and southern New England coast, wind gusts to tropical storm force are likely Thursday through early Friday. Tropical storm conditions are possible on Bermuda Thursday and Friday. SURF: Swells generated by Erin will affect the Bahamas, Bermuda, the east coast of the United States, and Atlantic Canada during the next several days. These rough ocean conditions are expected to cause life-threatening surf and rip currents. Please consult products from your local weather forecast office for more information. A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?ripCurrents STORM SURGE: The combination of a dangerous storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide, Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina, 2 To 4 ft The deepest water will occur along the immediate coast where the surge will be accompanied by large and dangerous waves. Surge-related flooding depends on the relative timing of the surge and the tidal cycle, and can vary greatly over short distances. For information specific to your area, please see products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?peakSurge. RAINFALL: The outer bands of Erin may bring 1 to 2 inches of rainfall to the Outer Banks of North Carolina this afternoon into Thursday. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall and flash flooding associated with Erin, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at5.shtml?rainqpf Hurricane Erin spaghetti modelsSpecial note about spaghetti models: Illustrations include an array of forecast tools and models, and not all are created equal. The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest performing models to help make its forecasts. Hurricane Erin: See projected path, storm trackerWatches, warnings issued for Hurricane ErinA storm surge warning is in effect for: Cape Lookout to Duck, North Carolina A tropical storm warning is in effect for: Beaufort Inlet, North Carolina to Chincoteague, Virginia, including Pamlico and Albemarle sounds. A tropical storm watch is in effect for: Bermuda A storm surge warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. A tropical storm warning means tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area, in this case within the next 24 hours. Watches and warnings issued for FloridaNWS radar for Treasure Coast on Florida east coastHelpful hurricane resources and linksGet your home ready: Here's how to prepare your home for a hurricane, from well in advance to just before a storm's arrival Need to prepare for a hurricane? Here's what you should have in a disaster supply kit Video: Helpful tips for a hurricane survival kit Hurricanes, typhoons, and cyclones: What's an invest and why do they keep saying tropical cyclone? Officials encourage residents to assemble a hurricane kit early, storing enough supplies to last at least three days. Doing so ensures there are adequate supplies available on store shelves and prevents a rush and shortages that regularly occur when a storm is imminent. Stay informed. Get weather alerts via textWhat's next?We will update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look for our special subscription offers here. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Hurricane Erin: Follow the storm, possible impacts in Stuart View the full article

Pamela Anderson has left Hollywood buzzing after a candid confession, revealing that working with Liam Neeson on “The Naked Gun” reboot ignited an unexpected spark. Recall that a few weeks ago, sources confirmed the movie stars were romantically involved. Now, the Hollywood icon has described what it felt like filming with Neeson, describing the screen legend as a “gentleman” who many cannot help but fall in love with. Pamela Anderson Gushes About Liam NeesonNDZ/starmaxinc.com/Newscom/The Mega AgencyWhat started as professional chemistry on the set of “The Naked Gun” quickly turned into a spark that has now taken on a life of its own. During an interview with OK! Magazine, Anderson spoke candidly about her time with Neeson on set. The 58-year-old revealed that she was initially nervous about working with the actor, but he made the experience very enjoyable for her. “He’s such a gentleman, such a sweetheart, so giving and generous, and so complimentary and supportive that, you know, you can’t help but fall in love with him,” she said. The former Playboy model also revealed that their connection was beyond the cameras. “We do have chemistry and, you know, off-set, he’s silly. He has that little boy sense of humour. Yeah, he’s funny,” she shared. Reflecting on their time filming together, Anderson explained that while they kept things professional during takes, rehearsals were lighter. “On set, I don’t think we broke too much, but in rehearsals, we’d be playing around and having a bit of a laugh,” she recalled. Inside The Couple’s RomanceZUMAPRESS.com / MEGASpeculations about a romance between Pamela Anderson and Liam Neeson began circulating during the promotion of their movie, which premiered on August 1. The lovebirds were photographed kissing on the red carpet in New York and London. Following the surprising sight, sources confirmed in July that the duo had been dating for a while. At the time, an insider told PEOPLE Anderson and Neeson’s relationship was a “budding romance in the early stages.” Despite how new it was, they revealed the love they shared was “sincere” and that they were smitten by each other. Pamela Anderson Brags About Neeson’s Gestures To Her FriendsMEGAAnother source also shared that Anderson was loud about the things Neeson would do for her. “She has been telling friends he is smitten and does a lot of sweet things for her, like sending her flowers, and spending time with her sons and dogs,” the insider told the Daily Mail. They revealed that despite being famous, the duo preferred keeping their love life private, spending time together at Anderson’s house in Canada. “Pam cooks and gardens at home... it's wholesome and appealing and very un-Hollywood and Liam loves that,” the source stated. Pamela Anderson And Liam Neeson Channel Their Inner Rose And JackSince Anderson and Neeson’s romance became public, the movie stars have been giving fans something to talk about. Recently, they left fans stunned after recreating the famous “Titanic” pose during a press stop in Berlin for their movie. The playful moment saw the 58-year-old in a flowing green dress standing at the front of a boat with her arms stretched wide as the 73-year-old held her by the waist, perfectly mimicking Rose and Jack’s legendary scene as Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On” played in the background. The clip, shared by the Film Updates account, instantly went viral on X and other platforms, sparking chatter about their undeniable chemistry both on and off-screen. Many viewers joked that Anderson and Neeson were giving their own version of “Titanic,” calling it unexpected but perfect. Andy Cohen Approves Of Anderson And Neeson’s RomancePamela Anderson and Liam Neeson have received a lot of support from fans as well as popular names, including Andy Cohen, who was a close friend of the “Taken” actor’s late wife, Natasha Richardson. In a July episode of “Andy Cohen Live,” the television personality gave his seal of approval to Anderson and Neeson’s budding relationship, saying the pair “just work” together in a heartfelt comparison to Richardson. Cohen revealed that the “Baywatch” star reminded him of his late friend in ways that mattered. “She [Anderson] is an independent woman just like Tash was. She loves to cook. She has her own thing going on. She has two boys,” he said, adding that they are “very much stanning whatever this is.” Cohen also praised Anderson as a “formidable human being,” adding, “She really is. What she's been through and how she kind of reclaimed herself and redefined herself." View the full article

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S.-led mediators said on Wednesday they were appalled by the continuous deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan and called for urgent action by the warring parties to protect civilians. The mediators, known as the Aligned for Advancing Lifesaving and Peace in Sudan (ALPS) Group, include the United States, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, among others. "The ALPS group urgently reiterates that international humanitarian law must be fully respected. This includes the obligations to protect civilians, including humanitarian personnel, their premises and assets, as well as to allow and facilitate rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to all those in need," the ALPS Group said in a statement. (Reporting by Katharine Jackson and Bhargav Acharya; editing by Rami Ayyub) View the full article

「過渡性房屋住戶特別津貼試驗計劃」自2023年8月開展，一直為有需要的過渡性房屋住戶提供資助，支持搬遷和適應新的居住環境和社區。截至2025年7月底，試驗計劃已收到約10,316個住戶的資助申請，涵蓋共約18,675名受惠者。 過渡性房屋住戶特別津貼試驗計劃延長兩年，並上調津貼金額。（何永賢Facebook圖片）用於搬遷添置傢俱電器及轉校等屋局局長何永賢周三（20日）在社交平台表示，考慮到大部份過渡性房屋項目在未來數年將會繼續營運，將編配上樓後騰空的單位流轉服務新住戶，而餘下約2,700個單位亦會在今明兩年內落成。 在扶貧委員會的支持下，試驗計劃會延長兩年至2027年8月21日，繼續為過渡性房屋甲類和乙類新住戶提供一次性的特別津貼，讓他們用於搬遷、添置傢俱電器、孩子轉校和重新建立社區網絡等，減輕他們的開支壓力。 金額視乎項目地點及家庭人數鑑於過去數年生活成本有所上漲，試驗計劃經延長後，津貼金額亦會作出調整。視乎項目地點及家庭人數，津貼金額由1,800元至11,550元，上升至1,950元至13,000元。有需要的過渡性房屋甲類和乙類新住戶，可向其居住項目的非政府機構提交津貼申請。 過渡性房屋｜新推搬遷津貼　兩人家庭搬新界/離島可獲近5,500元輪候公屋現金津貼計劃6月完無意延長　何永賢：簡約公屋等可替代施政報告派錢懶人包　向初生嬰派錢2萬生育津貼　中年再就業獲2萬過渡性房屋｜逾900個新界單位仍空置　擬設統一申請　推搬遷津貼施政報告│派糖措施一覽　交通津貼延長　輪候公屋基層派現金津貼 View the full article

In President Trump’s White House, scandals compete with each other for oxygen. Deported American citizens are bumped from the front pages by sprawling ICE raids. Leaks at the Pentagon wrestle with the salacious drip-drip-drip of details about Trump’s relationship to child sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. It’s exhausting. Trump’s chorus of noise and distraction isn’t strategic, but chaos doesn’t need to be strategic in order to paper over MAGA Republicans’ less visible horrors. Just ask Oklahomans, who just awoke to a world where out-of-state teachers are now required to pass an “America-first exam” meant to test their loyalty to the GOP’s nativist “anti-woke” ideology. If you don’t pass, you don’t teach. Oklahoma’s effort to conform to Trump’s far-right politics comes as the state faces a near-record teacher shortage. That hardly matters to state Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters. In Walters’s view, a statewide teacher brain-drain is preferable to hiring a “woke indoctrinator” who used to live in New York City. Oklahoma’s schoolkids will pay a terrible price for their state’s cynical stunt. The state’s new exam brings to life one of Republicans’ biggest imagined grievances against the left — that Democrats and other shadowy forces are indoctrinating our children by injecting radical politics into their education. Yet Oklahoma Republicans are now relying on a loyalty exam created in part by conservative media outlet PragerU, an unaccredited “university” whose founder has openly called for using schools to “indoctrinate” children into conservative ideology. Walters must appreciate irony. Teachers moving to Oklahoma from California or New York will now be required to agree with Republican-revised state history standards that falsely claim the 2020 election was stolen from Trump by Democratic trickery. They’ll also need to teach the discredited theory that COVID-19 was the result of a “lab leak.” Meanwhile, units on racial history have either been sanitized or completely removed. For a state that ranks a dismal 48th in education quality, MAGA’s takeover of Oklahoma schools will mean students fall even farther behind their peers. That’s a loss students can’t afford — not when Oklahoma’s college enrollment rates have already declined 20 percent over the last decade and only about one-third of high school graduates go on to attend college. That number will surely drop now that Oklahoma students will graduate with a master’s in MAGA and little else. Oklahoma may be the first red state to surrender its schools to the church of MAGA, but it won’t be the last. Walters’s actions are just the Republican Party’s first effort to implement Trump’s executive order “Ending Racial Indoctrination in K-12 Schooling” on the state level. That order escaped heavy media coverage because Trump quickly lost interest, but conservative state lawmakers are picking up the slack ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Oklahoma’s rotten loyalty test now serves as the blueprint for future state efforts to turn educators into partisan evangelists. Trump’s order baselessly accused teachers of “Imprinting anti-American, subversive, harmful and false ideologies in our nation’s children,” offering Republican lawmakers a fabricated reason for swinging back against those so-called “false ideologies.” For the millions of Republicans who believe discussing America’s racial history is tantamount to hating the country, forcing teachers to shut up about all that history sounds like a blessing. The implication, of course, is that Trump’s MAGA nativism is America’s one true ideology and always has been (though it’s apparently an ideology so weak it can only stand on its own when all competing ideas are banned). It’s an ideology that uplifts the vague idea of “Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.” while stripping away all the details about what King believed or why he was assassinated, as Texas schools have. It’s American education reduced to comforting fairy tales. That isn’t education. Those simplified myths of American history might comfort the insecure MAGA hordes, but they set our children up for failure in a modern world that depends on actually understanding what’s going on. How can we cultivate prosperous citizens, let alone competent political leaders, if we are denying them even a basic understanding of their own national reality? A free society should recoil at the idea that educators must pass a political loyalty test in order to teach math and science. In their rush to score political points with the White House, Oklahoma’s Republicans are on the verge of setting their children back by a generation. If that’s what passes for American exceptionalism in the Age of Trump, our country is in for a brutal wake-up call. Max Burns is a veteran Democratic strategist and founder of Third Degree Strategies. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

A majority of residents in the nation’s capital are opposed to President Trump’s takeover of the city’s police department, according to a poll released Wednesday. The latest survey, released The Washington Post, shows 69 percent of participants said they “strongly” oppose the president’s decision to take federal control over the Metropolitan Police Department, and 10 percent said they “somewhat” oppose the move. Another 9 percent said they “strongly” approve of the Trump administration’s federalization of local police, while 8 percent said they “somewhat” support the crackdown on crime. About 4 percent said they had no opinion, the poll found. Trump has sought to justify his decision by pointing to violent crimes and carjackings in the nation’s capital. The argument comes as data shows crime in the District has slowed in recent months. The Justice Department announced this week that it launched a probe into the crime data. The president has also deployed hundreds of National Guard troops to help federal law enforcement patrol the streets. Amid rising tension, some have even been equipped with weapons. As the survey shows, many D.C. residents are frustrated by the administration’s show of force. “Trump’s overheated rhetoric about D.C. crime has evoked strong feelings among many residents offended by such characterizations of their city,” said Mark Rozell, dean of George Mason University’s Schar School of Policy and Government, which co-sponsored the poll. “A federalized takeover of any aspect of a city’s operations will naturally create a backlash, and that is clearly happening here,” Rozell continued. “Residents are saying it is not as bad as the president claims, and they want to reclaim the image of their city against a presidential narrative that is tarnishing D.C.’s reputation.” South Carolina, West Virginia and other states have deployed their own National Guard troops to help with the president’s police takeover. The president has also pushed to extend the federalization of law enforcement beyond the 30 days allowed under the city’s Home Rule Act. “This doesn’t make sense. You know it doesn’t make sense,” D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser (D) said during a recent press conference. “The numbers on the ground in the District don’t support a thousand people from other states coming to Washington, D.C. You know that.” In the latest poll, around 31 percent said crime was “extremely” or “very” serious in the District, compared to 41 percent who said it was only “moderately” serious. Another 28 percent of participants said it was “not too” serious or “not at all” serious.” The Post-Schar School poll was conducted Aug. 14-17 among 604 residents in Washington has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.1 percentage points. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has created a legal defense fund as he prepares to fight an investigation into his Maryland home sparked by the Trump administration. President Trump has routinely fixed on the California senator, who investigated Russia’s 2016 election interference and served as the lead manager on Trump’s first impeachment. Schiff was also a member of the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Since taking office for the second time, Trump has repeatedly bashed Schiff and suggested he wrongly obtained more favorable lending conditions for his Washington-area home, a claim the lawmaker denies. “It’s clear that Donald Trump and his MAGA allies will continue weaponizing the justice process to attack Senator Schiff for holding this corrupt administration accountable,” Marisol Samayoa, a spokesperson for Schiff, said in a statement. “This fund will ensure he can fight back against these baseless smears while continuing to do his job.” Schiff has said the investigation, sparked by a criminal referral from the Federal Housing Finance Authority, is baseless. “So the president today is accusing me of fraud. And the basis of his accusation is that I own a home in Maryland, and I own my home in California. Big surprise—members of Congress, almost all of them, own more than one home or rent more than one home because we’re required to be on both coasts. So he is using my ownership of two homes to make a false claim of mortgage fraud,” Schiff said in a July video when Trump first raised the charge. Schiff’s office said his lender was aware he also owned a home in California, and that he considered both homes to be a principal residence. He has only claimed the homestead exemption in California. Former President Biden signed a preemptive pardon for Schiff and the other members of the Jan. 6 committee – something Schiff said at the time was “unwise.” “I continue to believe that the grant of pardons to a committee that undertook such important work to uphold the law was unnecessary, and because of the precedent it establishes, unwise,” Schiff said in a statement. “But I certainly understand why President Biden believed he needed to take this step in light of the persistent and baseless threats issued by Donald Trump and individuals who are now some of his law enforcement nominees.” Schiff has tapped Preet Bharara, a former U.S. attorney under Obama, to represent him in the matter. The Justice Department has appointed a special attorney to oversee the matter, Ed Martin, who was likewise named U.S. Pardon Attorney and the head of the newly formed Weaponization Working Group after the Senate failed to approve his nomination for a U.S. attorney post. In addition to Schiff, Martin is also investigating a mortgage taken out by New York Attorney General Letitia James. “Mr. Martin is a January 6-defending lawyer who has repeatedly pursued baseless and politically-motivated investigations to fulfill demands to investigate and prosecute perceived enemies. Any supposed investigation led by him would be the very definition of weaponization of the justice process,” Bharara said when the probe was first confirmed. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

Text messages sent in 2020 by Jeanine Pirro, the former Fox News host and new top prosecutor in Washington, D.C., show her bragging about helping President Trump ahead of the election and blasting Fox colleague Sean Hannity. “I work so hard for the party across the country. … I’m the # 1 watched show on all news cable all weekend. I work so hard for the President and party,” Pirro texted the then-head of the Republican National Committee, Ronna McDaniel, in September 2020. The text messages, which were first reported by The Washington Post, were unredacted and submitted in court by voting systems company Smartmatic as part of its ongoing litigation against the network over its coverage of the 2020 election. In another text message, sent in October of that year, Pirro wrote about an Oval Office meeting with Trump and complained about Hannity. “Sean [Hannity] is an egomaniac. I was in the Oval with Hariri talking to POTUS,” she wrote. “He storms in like he owns the place, throws his papers on the Pres desk and says, you don’t mind if I use your private bathroom, and walks into bathroom within Oval and uses it. Looks at me and says, I got to talk to him. Ie, you go. It’s all abt him, period. No one else matters.” Pirro, a firebrand political commentator and close ally of the president, left Fox earlier this year when Trump tapped her to serve as U.S. attorney in Washington. She has vowed to help the president crack down on crime in the District and blasted community activists and Democrats who have pushed back on the president’s anti-crime efforts. Pirro is among the Fox hosts who Smartmatic has alleged in court documents knowingly promoted Trump’s false claims about voter fraud and defamed the company with criticism of its software, which the president and his allies were pushing. Fox has countered in legal filings and public statements that it was merely covering newsworthy allegations of an improper election being pushed by the president and his allies, and has argued Smartmatic is inflating its valuation. The network has also highlighted allegations of bribery and money laundering that executives at Smartmatic has faced in recent months. “The evidence shows that Smartmatic’s business and reputation were badly suffering long before any claims by President Trump’s lawyers on Fox News and that Smartmatic grossly inflated its damage claims to generate headlines and chill free speech,” the network said in a statement to The Hill. “Now, in the aftermath of Smartmatic’s executives getting indicted for bribery charges, we are eager and ready to continue defending our press freedoms.” A trial in the Fox-Smartmatic case is not expected for months. The Hill has reached out to Pirro’s office for comment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

A US federal judge on Wednesday blocked a Texas law that would require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in every classroom. District Judge Fred Biery issued a preliminary injunction barring implementation of the law, which was to take effect on September 1 and was challenged by families of diverse faiths with children in public schools. The Texas state law, known as Senate Bill 10, is unconstitutional and "impermissibly takes sides on theological questions and officially favors Christian denominations over others," Biery wrote in his 55-page ruling. "The displays are likely to send an exclusionary and spiritually burdensome message to the child-Plaintiffs -- who do not subscribe to the approved version of the Ten Commandments --that they 'are outsiders who do not belong in their own school community,'" he said. Rabbi Mara Nathan, one of the plaintiffs in the case, welcomed the ruling. "Children's religious beliefs should be instilled by parents and faith communities, not politicians and public schools," Nathan said in a statement. Rachel Laser, president of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, also welcomed the decision, saying it sends a "strong and resounding message across the country that the government respects the religious freedom of every student in our public schools." Another federal judge blocked a Louisiana law in November that would require the display of the Ten Commandments in every public school classroom in the conservative southern state. District Judge John deGravelles said the law is unconstitutional and a violation of the First Amendment of the US Constitution. The separation of church and state is a founding US principle and the First Amendment forbids the establishment of a national religion or the preference of one religion over another. In a similar case in 1980, the US Supreme Court ruled that the display of the Ten Commandments in schools in Kentucky was unconstitutional. In Oklahoma, the highest education official in the conservative state recently ordered public schools to teach the Bible, a move that is also facing legal challenges. cl/dw View the full article

Several Texas Democrats joined state Rep. Nicole Collier (D) on Tuesday to protest new guidelines preventing party members from leaving the House chambers without a police escort and signed agreement. Democratic State Reps. Mihaela Plesa, Morales Shaw, Rhetta Bowers, Cassandra Garcia Hernandez and Salman Bhojani joined Collier and House Minority Leader Gene Wu on the floor after their Monday overnight in rebuke of GOP lawmakers’ redistricting efforts. Several members tore up their “permission slips” outside the chamber. Texas lawmakers will vote on whether to add five new congressional seats on Wednesday after a group of Democrats fled the state for 15 days seeking to prevent a quorum, the number of present legislators required to proceed with votes. “Yesterday, I left in custody and I came back in custody, because I stand with Nicole Collier and Gene Wu,” Shaw said. “This is illegitimate, this is a wrongful use of power, and I will not condone it, and I don’t want to be a part of setting a very bad and low precedent for future legislators,” she added. Texas House Speaker Dustin Burrows (R) said Monday lawmakers who leave the floor would have to agree to be shadowed by a Department of Public Safety officer until Wednesday morning. “This is a blatant violation of our freedoms as Texans, as Americans and as duly elected officials,” Bowers said, as reported by CNN. Collier gained national attention over her decision to remain inside the House chamber overnight instead of leaving with an officer. “I refuse to comply with this unreasonable, un-American and unnecessary request,” Collier, who spent two nights on the House floor, told CBS News. The Democrat said she received a call from former Vice President Harris encouraging her to continue her efforts in the Lone Star State. “She said, ‘Keep going.’ She said, ‘Don’t give up. Stand strong. Stand tall, and don’t back down,’”she told CNN’s Dana Bash on “The Arena.” Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. View the full article

With back-to-school season commencing, have you ever wondered what happens to the people who blatantly lie on college applications? Darren Star Productions / Via giphy.comSome of them inevitably get caught, and it's definitely not the best look for them. In one Reddit thread (which you can see here), college admissions officers and independent college consultants shared the wildest instances of lying they've seen on an application, and some of these are so bad, it's hard not to chuckle a little. Here are 15 memorable instances of people who inflated or even completely fabricated their experiences, as told by the pros themselves: Related: 17 Signs From The Past Week That Made Me Laugh So Hard, I Spit Out The Water I Just So Happened To Be Drinking 1."There was an application that was talking so elegantly about music, their supposed expertise, and when they submitted a music supplement, it got the lowest faculty rating lol. Don't know if that's lying or being delusional or both. Funny all the same." –Aggravating_Humor 2."They submitted a fake 'official' transcript. But they screwed up our mailing address, so it was returned to sender. They had the wherewithal to use the return address for the school they were faking, so it was sent back to that school's registrar. The registrar reached out to me, saying, 'Hey, this student didn't go here.'" –frankenplant 3."Not an admissions officer, but I work with families as an independent consultant. A blatantly faked part of an application I've seen is an essay draft where every period in the sentence was followed by two spaces... that's what the older generation (i.e. parents) was taught with typing." Dariogaona / Getty Images"A relic of the typewriter and early word processing (who calls it that anymore) days. Having seen previous examples of the student's actual writing to compare with, it was pretty obvious that the parent had more than a heavy hand in that draft. We stopped working together after I gently called them out on it and warned them. They got very defensive lol." –Brother_Ma_Education 4."I used to be an admissions officer, and the one that is most common was when a student would say they had no disciplinary history, but the counselor's letter would say or imply otherwise." –coral225 Related: 20 Of The Greatest, Most Wholesome Posts From The Internet This Week That You've Gotta Read Right Now If You're In Need Of A Mood-Booster 5."The student wrote about his experience in the womb. While this isn't technically lying, it's pretty damn wild." –EmploymentNegative59 6."It’s not hard to see through most 'non-profits.' Perhaps not lying, per se, but if your website looks like a standard Squarespace site or has 10 officers who are all college seniors, the BS detector is going off." –FieldOfFutureDreams 7."I had one homeschooled applicant whose mom's transcript reported all As, but the transcripts directly from community college (for dual enrollment) showed Cs and Bs." Threespeedjones / Getty Images–admissioncat Related: "My Alarm Bells Were Going Off": People Are Sharing Their Wildest "I F—ing Knew It" Moments That Prove You Should ALWAYS Trust Your Gut 8."There was one student who had letters of recommendation where one was talking about how they were the absolute best student in the world, but the counselor's LOR destroyed the student, calling them the most immature student who cheats on exams. One person was lying on this application. I never looked into it because they weren't very competitive in the end, anyway." –Aggravating_Humor 9."I'm a professional consultant and not a former AO, but there are several instances in my career when I refused to continue working with a student, or they refused to continue working with me, because I would not support fabricated information." Fizkes / Getty Images"A student who spent time in Afghanistan wrote in an essay draft that the Taliban bombed a television studio where he was working because it aired a documentary he made about women's education. There was a bombing at the TV studio around that time. Still, he was nowhere near the building, and the Taliban's stated reason was the TV station's coverage of military activities. I'll also add that I met only with the kid's dad, and it was clear that he would be the one revising the essays. When I insisted that I meet directly with the student and explained that he needed to be honest (and that AOs could discover what I did), the dad ghosted me." –AppHelper 10."I had a student write an essay about holding her grandmother's hand while she died, watching the heart rate monitor, and feeling a sense of peace. Upon questioning, she was THREE when her grandmother passed. She said she didn't really remember it, but her mother had told her about it." –FoolishConsistency17 11."I had an applicant who put down 'University Donor' on their activities list, indicating they donated $100 to the university. Do they think we don't have access to this database? Even if it was true (which it wasn't), definitely don't put that on the activities list." –EliteScholarAdvising 12."Triplets and their cousin all in the same graduating class at a high school used the same expensive independent college consultant. She wrote their (bad) essay for them and submitted the same one for all four students." Klh49 / Getty Images"We rejected all four and took a step further to notify the other schools they applied to (back when Common App asked and students willingly put their whole college list — never do that). One had already been admitted to Notre Dame and had it rescinded. The parents and students accused us of lying and threatened to sue until we simply showed them their identical four essays. I think they turned on the consultant after that. The best part? This was a prominent college consultant in her 60s who was working with some of the most affluent schools in a large TX city for decades. We ended up combing back through all the essays from the area that year and found a few more. We didn’t bother looking into past years. AI would have been nice back then." –LicketLicketyZooZoo Related: 24 "I'm So Self-Centered And Oblivious" Screenshots That Are Pure Entitlement 13."They submitted fake letters of reference. I was suspicious of the email address for one recommender, so I Googled them to try and find a different way to contact them to verify they actually submitted the letter. The person had been dead for almost two years." –Frankenplant 14."My dad has reviewed apps for a summer research program before. One guy put he started a nonprofit that helped 800k North Korean refugees establish themselves (for reference, there’s 200-300k total)." –PhilosophyBeLyin 15.And finally, "If you haven’t watched the Varsity Blues scandal documentary on Netflix, I highly recommend it. These kids lied about wild stuff. The one that eventually broke the case wide open was one kid saying he did varsity crew for 4 years at high school. His high school didn’t have a crew team… AO thought his app was suspicious, so he called the counselor to confirm." –ndg127 What do you think? Let me know in the comments! Also in Internet Finds: These 15 Hilarious Internet Fails From Last Week Made Me Laugh So Hard I Shed A Single Tear Also in Internet Finds: "He Would Squeeze People's Hands When He Shook Them": 26 Incredibly Chilling Stories From People Who Knew Murderers Also in Internet Finds: 33 "Brutal Truths" Men Say They Could NEVER Reveal To Women's Faces Read it on BuzzFeed.com View the full article

A New York state Department of Health employee who was charged with stalking and harassing family members of the slain UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson has been put on leave from his job. Shane Daley, 40, was arrested last week and accused of "sending harassing and threatening voicemail messages to a family member" of Thompson, according to authorities. His employer said Tuesday in a statement that Daley was placed on administrative leave. "This alleged behavior in no way reflects the Department’s values or mission," a spokesperson for the department said. "We condemn hate speech, harassment of victims of a senseless crime and any threats of violence." Daley's attorney, Samuel Breslin, said in an email that his client's "rights, including the presumption of innocence, are preserved as we continue to review the facts and evidence." Daley is from Galway, New York, about 35 miles northwest of Albany. He was hired at the state's Department of Health in January 2024, according the agency's spokesperson. Authorities said that Daley made threatening phone calls to Thompson's family members from Dec. 4 to Dec. 7 in the hours just after the late CEO was gunned down on the streets of midtown Manhattan. "In a series of voicemail messages, Daley used threatening and harassing language that focused on, among other things, Thompson’s killing, expressed satisfaction over the fact and manner of his death, and stated that the victim and Thompson’s children deserved to meet the same violent end,” prosecutors said in a statement last week. Daley was released from custody under GPS monitoring, officials said last week. He is also temporarily prohibited from obtaining firearms or consuming alcohol. Thompson, 50, was fatally shot in December by a masked gunman outside the New York Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan, hours before he was set to speak at UnitedHealth Group’s investor conference. After a dayslong manhunt for the gunman, authorities arrested Luigi Mangione, 27, and charged him with state and federal charges in connection with Thompson's murder. Mangione pleaded not guilty to all of the charges. He could face the death penalty if convicted of federal charges. Thompson's killing and Mangione's arrest prompted a national debate about the high costs of healthcare in the United States. A legal defense fund for Mangione has surpassed $1.2 million since he was arrested in December. On Tuesday, Mangione’s attorneys filed a letter requesting an evidentiary hearing to discuss what they say is prosecutorial misconduct on the part of the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office in their pursuit of Mangione’s medical records. "This calculated lack of transparency is concerning, as the files that Aetna produced contained medical diagnoses and statements made by Mr. Mangione to health care providers to receive medical care and treatment," one of Mangione's attorneys, Karen Agnifilo, wrote in a letter to the judge. Mangione is scheduled to next appear in state court on Sept. 16. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com View the full article

A Rhode Island prosecutor is under review after police body camera footage recorded her warning officers “you're gonna regret this” while she was being arrested. Devon Flanagan, a special assistant attorney general, was arrested outside a restaurant by Newport police Aug. 14 for trespassing, according to law enforcement. Body camera footage provided by the police department shows Flanagan asking an officer multiple times to turn off his body camera and then repeatedly saying “I'm an AG.” The footage shows the officers approaching someone from the restaurant and asking if “they want them trespassed." The person clasps his hands and responds saying “Trespass, yeah. Cuff 'em, please.” When the officer says Flanagan and the individuals also with her are trespassing, the attorney says "We’re not trespassing, you haven’t notified us that we’re trespassing.” “What did I just say to you? You’re trespassing,” says the officer, who is not identified in the video. “I'm an AG. I'm an AG,” Flanagan later says. “Good for you," the officer says and then an expletive. Eventually, Flanagan is put in a patrol vehicle and says, “Buddy, you’re gonna regret this. You’re gonna regret it.” According to the Attorney General's office, Flanagan has worked for the state's top legal office for nearly seven years and is currently assigned to the criminal division's appellate unit. A spokesperson for the attorney general said the office was reviewing the incident and declined to comment further, citing personnel reasons. During an interview with WPRO on Tuesday, Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said Flanagan was “going to take some steps” to address the arrest, which include an apology to Newport police, but said no decision had been made regarding discipline. "Look, she’s put me in a bad position. She’s embarrassed herself, humiliated herself, treated the Newport Police Department horribly,” Neronha said. “I’ve got 110 lawyers. She embarrassed all of them, in a sense,” he added. View the full article