BREAKING NEWS
Hurricane Beryl makes landfall in Matagorda County, Texas; flood watches, warnings in effect!
Hurricane Beryl came ashore in Texas at 4:00 a.m. Central Time, with the center of the storm running head-on as a Category 1 near Matagorda, Texas, according to the National Hurricane Center (NHC). which put parts of the Texas coast on a tropical storm warning and others on a hurricane watch.
Storm surge warnings are in effect for Mesquite Bay to Sabine Pass, including Matagorda Bay and Galveston Bay, and a hurricane warning is in effect for the Texas coast from Mesquite Bay northward to Port Bolivar. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Texas coast south of Mesquite Bay to Port Mansfield, and the Texas coast north of San Luis Pass to Sabine Pass.
Beryl is expected to weaken to a tropical storm Monday and a tropical depression Tuesday, the weather service said, forecasting a turn to the northeast and increase in speed Monday night and Tuesday.
Flood watches are in effect for Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and Missouri as Beryl turns into a tropical depression as it moves towards the New England states, dumping an estimated 3 to 5 inches of rain in its path.
1.5-million homes without power as Beryl makes landfall …
More than 1.5 million Texas households were without power Monday morning as Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the state’s central coast. Beryl’s eye crossed the Texas coastline early Monday near Matagorda, Texas.
PowerOutage.us reports that more than 1.5 million Texas electricity customers are without electricity — mostly from the impact of Hurricane Beryl. Power outages run from the central Texas coast, to Houston, and on to East Texas.
Energy industry meteorologist Matt Lanza posted on social media that more than 750,000 Texas homes were without electricity, just in the Centerpoint Energy service area (metro Houston). Thousands more are without power in counties ranging from the central Texas coast into East Texas.
Texas Division of Emergency Management officials warned that rain bands will lead to flooding in many areas of the state.
And above-average temperatures continue to plague a third of the U.S. population!
WORLD NEWS
French PM to resign after Left-Wing Coalition surges to Win the Most Seats in the Election!
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday asked his prime minister to stay in the role for now, pending what will be difficult negotiations to form a new government after a surprise left-wing surge in elections that delivered a hung parliament.
The leftist New Popular Front (NFP) emerged as the dominant force in the National Assembly after Sunday’s election, thwarting Marine Le Pen’s quest to bring the far right to power.
However, with no single group securing a working majority, the outcome heralded a period of political volatility just before the Paris Olympics and raised uncertainty among investors about who would run the euro zone’s second largest economy.
“It’s not going to be simple, no, it’s not going to be easy, and no, it’s not going to be comfortable,” Green party leader Marine Tondelier told France Inter radio. “It’s going to take a bit of time.”
A fragmented parliament will make it hard for anyone to push through a domestic agenda and is likely to weaken France’s role in the European Union and further afield.
The left won 182 seats, Macron’s centrist alliance 168 and Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) and allies 143, Interior Ministry data cited by Le Monde newspaper showed. Other media had slightly different counts, and final numbers will depend partly on individual MPs joining different groupings.
London court ruled Pfizer infringed on Moderna patent with COVID-19 vaccine!
Pfizer and BioNTech’s COVID-19 vaccine infringed on a patent held by rival Moderna, the High Court in London, England, found in a decision released on July 2.
The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines both utilize messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) technology.
Moderna patented mRNA processes that replace the nucleoside uridine with N1-methylpseudouridine, a modified RNA. The patent is titled, “ribonucleic acids containing n1-methyl-pseudouracils and uses thereof.”
The patent “is valid,” the court stated, adding that it was infringed “given that Pfizer/BioNTech conceded that it would be infringed if valid.”
The court rejected arguments made by Pfizer and BioNTech, including the argument that Moderna’s patent was not novel. It said parts of the patent were novel, from a method developed by the University of Pennsylvania.
The District Court of the Hague in 2023 found the patent to be invalid due to lack of novelty versus the method, but the London court said it weighed other evidence and found some factors persuasive that the Hague did not.
Moderna in 2020 said it would not enforce patents related to COVID-19 against rival manufacturers. However, in 2022, it revoked the declaration, meaning Pfizer and BioNTech came into violation of the patent, the high court said in a related decision.
Justice Jonathan Richards wrote in the ruling, that “Even if the pledge was an express waiver of rights, it was validly retracted by the March 2022 statement since Pfizer/BioNTech had not by that date materially changed its position in reliance on the pledge.”
The court also ruled that a second patent held by Moderna was invalid.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Judge grants Trump delay in classified documents case!
Judge Aileen Cannon agreed to grant a partial pause in former President Donald Trump’s classified documents trial after his legal team made the request on grounds that they should be allowed to argue the merits of the U.S. Supreme Court’s immunity decision before the trial moves forward.
In a July 6th paperless order, Judge Cannon granted a temporary stay of three pending deadlines in the case, giving Trump attorneys and special counsel Jack Smith’s team more time to file additional briefs on how the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity should factor into the case.
The paused deadlines are expert disclosures that were to be provided by Trump attorneys today, reciprocal discovery due from Trump counsel on July 10th, and the special counsel’s CIPA submission that was due on July 10th.
Following Judge Cannon’s order, the special counsel must respond to former President Trump’s motion by July 18, and any reply is due by July 21, with the court to decide on the additional briefing request after receiving these responses.
All other deadlines remain unchanged.
Judge Cannon’s order comes after the Supreme Court’s 6–3 ruling on former President Trump’s immunity claim. The high court ruled that former President Trump, like all presidents, have “absolute immunity” from charges related to official acts that fall under their “core constitutional powers,” and that he enjoys “presumptive immunity” from other actions taken while in office.
Citing that ruling, former President Trump’s attorneys on Friday filed a request to Judge Cannon to halt most of the proceedings in the case until she can resolve his immunity defense.
However, the judge rejected Trump co-defendant Walt Nauta’s motion to dismiss …
U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on July 6 rejected a motion to dismiss the classified documents case that special counsel Jack Smith is prosecuting.
Walt Nauta, valet of former President Donald Trump, was charged alongside the former president last year for allegedly obstructing law enforcement regarding classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
Mr. Nauta moved to dismiss the case based on selective and vindictive prosecution—a motion also separately raised by former President Trump.
Such a motion requires the defendant to show that “similarly situated individuals were not prosecuted” and the prosecution was “motivated by a discriminatory purpose.”
“Neither prong is satisfied here,” Judge Cannon wrote.
The judge found that Mr. Nauta failed to identify a similar case, and did not show that he was indicted based on a discriminatory purpose.
Parkinson’s specialist met with White House staff at least 9 times since July of 2023!
A Parkinson’s disease specialist from Walter Reed Medical Center visited the White House at least nine times in the past year, according to journalist Alex Berenson of Unreported Truths, while the NY Post has reported that a cardiologist was present during one of the visits.
Dr. Kevin R Cannard traveled to the White House’s medical clinic each time, meeting with either President Joe Biden’s personal physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor, or a naval nurse who coordinates care for the president and other senior officials. O’Connor notably gave Biden a clean bill of health after his February annual physical.
The visits spanned July 28, 2023 with the latest being March 28 of this year. That said, Berenson notes that the most recent logs are from April 1, so it’s unknown if Cannard has visited more recently.
According to Cannard’s physician profile page, he is a “neurologist and movement disorders specialist at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center” who specializes in treatments for “early Parkinson’s disease.” Since 2012, he has served as the “neurology specialist supporting the White House Medical Unit,” per his LinkedIn page.
His most recent paper was published in August 2023 in the journal Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, and focuses on the “early-stage” of the crippling disease.
Since Biden’s health is O’Connor’s primary responsibility, it is highly probable the meeting was about the commander in chief, according to Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Tx), the doctor for both Presidents Obama and Trump.
“It’s highly likely they were talking about Biden,” Jackson told The Post. -NY Post
“He should only be [regularly] treating the president and the first family,” Jackson continued.
Walter Reed cardiologist Dr. John. E. Atwood was also present during a Jan. 17 meeting, the NY Post reports.
According to Jackson, who has never treated Biden, O’Connor and Biden’s family are trying to “cover up” Biden’s declining cognitive health.
Ya think?
“I believe he and Jill Biden have led the cover up. Kevin O’Connor is like a son to Jill Biden — she loves him. It’s crazy. Kevin O’Connor was in that job on day one of the Biden administration because they knew they could trust Kevin to say and do anything that needed to be said or done and cover up whatever needed to be covered up. He is part of the Biden family,” said Jackson, who has warned about Biden’s cognitive decline for years.
Billionaire Bill Ackman no longer blames Joe Biden for not stepping aside …
Posting on X, billionaire Bill Ackman, who now supports Trump, says Biden no longer has the mental acuity to make important judgments about himself.
It is becoming increasingly clear however that the fault lies with @FLOTUS Jill Biden.
FL Jill Biden becomes irrelevant the moment her husband is no longer president. No more Air Force One. No more glamorous life. No more White House dinners for dignitaries. No more being treated like a queen when traveling the world.
I am sorry to be harsh, but what has become entirely clear is that the First Lady values what is best for herself over her husband’s health and the safety and security of the country at large.
Stress is a contributor to neurological deterioration and the doctors must have told her so. Think about how much stress she is putting Biden under by making him continue.
Now in public appearances she treats him like an infant (‘You answered every question!’) or an old man as she walks him off the stage. And she gets the crowd wound up and cheering at events. Perhaps she thinks the crowd is cheering for her.
Her power has clearly grown as he gets weaker. And she likes the feeling of power. She speaks for the president when he can’t or when he is napping. She tells his team and staff when he is available, and when he is not. She likes being in control. We all do.
Which begs the question, how many decisions of the president are actually made by the FL?
Her ‘friends’ likely don’t tell her the truth as they want to continue to be invited to the White House and to be able to say that they are friends with the FL and the president.
Jill Biden is destroying her own legacy along with the president’s. The whole thing would just be a tragedy for the Biden family if it didn’t put the country at greater risk in a world in turmoil.
Perhaps she didn’t understand what ‘in sickness and in health’ meant.
ZEROHEDGE: Democrats in turmoil as Biden says only ‘act of God’ will dislodge him!
After years of feigned outrage every time conservative media mentioned Biden’s obvious mental decline, the Democratic party is in complete disarray just four months before the election following last month’s disastrous debate against an uncharacteristically quiet Donald Trump.
On one hand, the Bidens now say it will take an ‘act of God‘ (so, the CIA) to remove him from the race.
On the other hand, seven major news organizations have staged a mockingbirdian PR coup against the man for whom they’ve spent five years running cover.
The list, per Just the News, includes:
- The New York Times
- The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
- The New Yorker
- The Chicago Tribune
- The Wall Street Journal
- The Boston Globe.
- The Economist
Of course, if they really want to twist the knife…
According to Axios, “outside Biden’s protective bubble, a fast-growing number of Democrats are praying for —and plotting — a more earthly intervention. They want everyone from the Obamas to congressional leaders to beg Biden to drop out by this Friday.”
As Just the News further notes, five Democratic Reps. have publicly called for Biden to step aside.
- Minnesota Rep. Angie Craig: “This is not a decision I’ve come to lightly, but there is simply too much at stake to risk a second Donald Trump presidency. That’s why I respectfully call on President Biden to step aside as the Democratic nominee for a second term as President and allow for a new generation of leaders to step forward.”
- Texas Rep. Lloyd Doggett: “I am hopeful that he will make the painful and difficult decision to withdraw. I respectfully call on him to do so.”
- Arizona Rep. Raúl Grijalva: “What he needs to do is shoulder the responsibility for keeping that seat — and part of that responsibility is to get out of this race.” Per an aide in the congressman’s office who spoke on the condition of anonymity who wasn’t authorized to speak publicly.
- Massachusetts Rep. Seth Moulton: “President Biden has done enormous service to our country, but now is the time for him to follow in one of our founding father, George Washington’s footsteps and step aside to let new leaders rise up and run against Donald Trump.”
- Illinois Rep. Mike Quigley: “Mr. President, your legacy is set. We owe you the greatest debt of gratitude. The only thing that you can do now to cement that for all time and prevent utter catastrophe is to step down and let someone else do this.”
“The sh*t is going to hit the fan on Monday, when Congress returns,” one House Democrat told Axios. “People are scared about their own races. But they’re also worried about the country, and about democracy.”
That said, Biden still has strong support from several prominent Democrats, including:
Vice President Kamala Harris; Gov. Gavin Newsom; Gov. Kathy Hochul; Gov. Gretchen Whitmer; Gov. Tim Walz; Gov. Wes Moore; Sen. John Fetterman; Sen. Chris Coons; Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi; Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee; Rep. Haley Stevens; Rep. Jasmine Crockett; and Rep. John Garamendi.
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Target will no longer accept personal checks from customers starting July 15th!
Target will no longer accept personal checks from customers starting on July 15.
To justify the decision, the massive nationwide retailer cited that shoppers rarely utilized the traditional payment method.
“Due to extremely low volumes, we’ll no longer accept personal checks starting July 15,” a representative for the company wrote in a statement, according to KTLA. “We have taken several measures to notify guests in advance to aid an easy and efficient checkout experience.”
The Target spokesperson attempted to calm the fears of check users by pointing out all of the forms of payment that the Minnesota-based retail behemoth does accept.
“Target is committed to creating an easy and convenient checkout experience, and that includes providing our guests with numerous ways to pay, including our new Target Circle Cards (formerly known as Target RedCard); cash; digital wallets; SNAP/EBT; buy now, pay later services; and credit and debit cards,” the spokesperson said.
Target’s website notes that its stores do not accept the following payment options:
- Foreign checks and currency: Target doesn’t accept currency or coins from foreign countries. However, depending on where the Target store is located, stores may be able to accept Canadian dollars or Mexican pesos. Target stores update exchange rates weekly.
- Mall Certificates and Chamber Bucks: Exception – select stores accept payments using mall certificates or chamber bucks. Call your local store to find out if they are accepted.
- Money orders and cashier’s checks: Only accepted as payment on credit accounts
- Business checks are not accepted.
- Merchant gift cards (e.g., Disney), except Starbucks gift cards (which can be used at the in-store Starbucks registers)
The Federal Reserve has noticed that the use of personal checks has declined significantly in recent years. The Federal Reserve Payments Study – which collected data for the 2021 calendar year – discovered that checks used for payments declined at a rate of 7.2% per year since 2018, dropping to 11.2 billion in sales.
Despite the drop in the number of checks used, the value of checks increased from $1,908 in 2018 to $2,430 in 2021. The increase stems from fewer checks being written, but they were still used for higher-priced transactions such as rent and automobile purchases.
Accelerating the decline of personal checks was the COVID-19 pandemic, as more customers and businesses adopted contactless and digital payment methods.
Experts believe the use of personal checks will only continue to decline as more people utilize typical digital payments and up-and-coming cryptocurrencies.
HEALTH
Purple Korean bamboo salt delivers health-enhancing trace mineral goodness!
Evidence suggests that for more than 5,000 years, salt has been collected from natural sources such as salt springs, underground mines, or by evaporating seawater. As our environment becomes more polluted, the purity of salt from the ocean is increasingly questionable. This concern has led to the search for cleaner alternatives, resulting in the development of pink Himalayan and purple Korean bamboo salt.
Many people know pink Himalayan salt is mined from the ancient mountains of Pakistan and has one of the highest amounts of trace minerals. Since it developed under the ocean thousands of years ago, it contains very few toxic substances known to inhabit today’s ocean waters.
Purple bamboo salt, however, is less known as it has been used mainly by traditional medicine practitioners in Korea, where it was created in 1917 by herbalist Dr. Kim II-hoon. Practitioners believe purple bamboo salt is the purest salt because the extensive production process removes most toxins, leaving behind more than 70 essential trace minerals and micronutrients. However, because the process is labor intensive—every step is done by hand—it is considerably more expensive than other salts.
Colorado health officials confirm a human case of the plague; liken it to Black Death …
Health officials in Colorado are investigating a human case of the plague in a resident who contracted the infectious disease caused by the bacteria Yersinia pestis.
The Pueblo Department of Public Health and Environment (PDPHE) confirmed the case in a statement on July 5th, saying it is working with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to investigate the case.
The public health agency did not disclose details about the individual who contracted the plague—a potentially deadly disease known as the “Black Death” in the Middle Ages.
How the individual became infected, or which specific form of plague the case was, is also unclear.
Health officials confirm measles cases in Seattle and Ohio; caused by international travelers!
Two public health departments in Washington state and Ohio said they are looking into two separate measles cases involving people who recently came back to the United States following international travel.
In a statement, officials in King County, Washington, said that a contagious measles patient was at locations in Bellevue, Seattle, and Woodinville from June 27 to July 2, and that people who were in the vicinity of the person—identified only as an “adult”—may have been exposed to the virus.
“Measles is a very contagious infection and if you don’t yet have immunity, you can get it just by being in a room where a person with measles has been,” said Eric Chow, an official in the King County Public Health agency, said in a release.
“We’ve seen an increase in measles cases around the world and in the U.S., so it’s an important time to check your vaccination status and get vaccinated if you aren’t protected.”
On July 4, the Butler County General Health District in Ohio said that it confirmed a measles case in a child younger than 1 year of age who lived in the county. Children under the age of 1 are not generally advised to get a measles vaccine.
“This case acquired measles through international travel and returned to the United States through a Chicago-area airport and then returned to Ohio via car,” the agency said, adding that it is “not disclosing additional information about the affected individual.”
Scientists find new drug to help combat fentanyl overdoses!
Police officers, firefighters, and paramedics have been trained to save the lives of many overdose victims by administering naloxone, a drug that reverses the deadly effects of opioids such as heroin. But the recent flood of fentanyl into America—a synthetic opioid designed for severe and chronic pain relief that packs a punch 50 to 100 times greater than heroin—has stymied many life-saving efforts of first responders.
Researchers said Wednesday they have found a new compound, which they named compound 368, that can work with naloxone to enhance its life-saving power and overcome its limitations, according to a Stanford study published in Nature.
Naloxone is effective at rapidly reversing an opioid overdose when administered because it replaces the deadly opioids in the opioid receptors.
“Naloxone binding to an opioid receptor turns it mostly off, but not all the way,” said Evan O’Brien, the lead author of the new study, in a press release. “Our data shows that compound 368 is able to increase the binding of naloxone and turn the receptor off more completely.”
The researchers, who searched through billions of compounds to find this one, said it can bind next to naloxone in the receptors.
Five foods common in the U.S. but prohibited internationally due to health concerns!
Americans eat five kinds of food other nations have prohibited due to potential health hazards. Despite inconclusive evidence, these foods may disrupt the immune system or increase cancer risk.
- Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs)
In the United States, genetically modified organisms (GMOs) include corn, soybeans, and canola, but more types are being introduced. GMO tomatoes are expected to be available soon.
GMOs are not subject to stringent restrictions in the United States, leading to considerable controversy regarding their use. Proponents argue that GMOs are safe and enable us to grow larger quantities of food, whereas many critics contend that they pose health risks.
Why, then, do Europe and other countries impose restrictions on GMO products? It is widely believed that natural products are generally healthier. Additionally, the long-term health impacts of genetically modified products remain uncertain.
- Chlorine-Washed Chicken
The chicken in stores often appears white, fresh, and clean. In reality, much of this chicken has been treated with chlorine-based antimicrobial agents. This process removes and prevents bacterial growth and makes the chicken look exceptionally clean and appealing.
However, a study by the University of Southampton in the UK revealed that chlorine-washed chicken may be unsafe. The study indicated that this method of disinfection does not effectively kill pathogens. Instead, it may cause bacteria to enter a “viable-but-nonculturable (VBNC) state,” allowing them to avoid detection.
- Milk Produced With Recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone
Recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH) is created through genetic recombination technology. It mimics cows’ natural growth hormone and increases milk production by stimulating the proliferation and activity of mammary cells.
As a hormone, rBGH can interfere with human hormone levels, potentially affecting thyroid function.
In 2007, the Cancer Prevention Coalition launched a petition requesting that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ban the use of rBGH. However, after a thorough investigation, the FDA rejected the petition in 2016, stating that rBGH “is safe and effective for its intended uses” and that “there is no significant difference between milk from cows treated with rbGH and untreated cows.”
- Hormone-Treated Beef
The fourth issue involves beef from cattle treated with sex hormones. These hormones, including testosterone, estradiol, and progesterone, promote rapid growth in cattle, thereby increasing beef production. However, these sex hormones may have adverse health effects on humans.
The European Union (EU) has banned these hormones in farm animals since 1981, citing estradiol-17-beta’s tumor-promoting effects. The EU also prohibits the import of meat from cattle treated with these hormones.
- Beverages Containing Brominated Vegetable Oil
Brominated vegetable oil (BVO) is a plant oil modified with bromine, an emulsifier used primarily in citrus-flavored drinks. The FDA regulates its maximum allowable concentration.
In 2022, an FDA study found that BVO might negatively affect human health, particularly thyroid function.
We don’t know enough about these commonly eaten foods and ingredients from China …
Not all food is created equal, and sometimes the quality depends a lot on where the food comes from since different countries have varying standards when it comes to production. So if you don’t want to consume potentially harmful items, take a look at this list of common grocery store products brought from China. While some are produced healthily and safely, many are not – here’s what to buy and what to avoid.
Rice noodles (contain cancer-causing sulfur dioxide)
Apple juice (may contain arsenic via the pesticides)
Cans of peaches (cans have lead lining that can leach into the peaches themselves)
Table salt (laden with toxic heavy metals)
Baby formula (has been found to contain melamine, a chemical used to produce plastics)
Cooking oil (many companies recycle used oil and sell it as new)
Black pepper (some sellers disguise mud pellets as black pepper)
Shrimp (contain a whole list of carcinogenic substances)
Soy sauce (over 25% of sauces coming from China contain carcinogenic 4-methylimidazole)
Beef that is actually pork (they add borax to the pork to make it look like beef)
Frozen fruits (excessive amounts of pesticides and unhealthy additives)
Rice (many brands contain synthetic resin)
Canned tuna (may contain lead)
Chinese tofu (contains iron sulfate and feces, added to speed up fermentation)
Honey (often diluted with syrup)
Eggs (may contain calcium carbonate and paraffin)
Tapioca pearls (contain cancer-causing polychlorinated biphenyls)
Cod (the water where they’re grown contains sewage and garbage)
Chicken (may contain avian flu and other diseases)
Fresh looking cabbage (actually covered in formalin spray)
Tilapia (contaminated and full of toxins)
Tea (certain brands contain up to 30 different toxic chemicals)
Corn (contains risky additives, including sodium cyclamate)
Salted duck eggs (contain dangerous, carcinogenic dyes)
Green peas (snow peas or soybeans added to masquerade the real thing)
Blood clams (linked to Hepatitis A)
Ginseng (contains dangerous chemicals and pesticides)
Frozen fish (fishes diets consist of feces from geese and pigs)
Mushrooms (mistakenly called organic, laden with chemicals and pesticides)
Watermelon (full of pesticides)
Chinese milk (may contain melamine that causes kidney damage)
Garlic (that soaked up pesticides)
Sweet potato noodles (testing showed they contained artificial and industrial dyes)
Ginger (scientists discovered toxic Aldicarb on ginger crops as a pesticide)
Frozen spinach (contains pesticides)
Pufferfish (the farmers harvesting these deadly fish may not have gotten rid of all the toxins)
Lamb (you may think it’s lamb, but it’s not … police found 20,000 pounds of rat meat)
Chinese wines (added fillers, dyes, artificial colors, chemical flavors)
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
Boeing pleads guilty in fatal 737 Max crashes says DOJ; pays hefty fine!
Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal Report this ad fraud conspiracy charge and pay a fine of $243.6 million to resolve a U.S. Justice Department investigation into two 737 MAX fatal crashes, the government said in a court filing on Sunday.
The plea deal, which requires a judge’s approval, would brand the planemaker a convicted felon in connection with crashes in Indonesia and Ethiopia over a five-month period in 2018 and 2019 that killed 346 people.
The settlement drew swift criticism from victims’ families who wanted Boeing to face a trial and suffer harsher financial consequences.
The Justice Department’s (DOJ) push to charge Boeing has deepened an ongoing crisis engulfing Boeing since a separate January in-flight blowout exposed continuing safety and quality issues at the planemaker.
A guilty plea potentially threatens the company’s ability to secure lucrative government contracts with the likes of the U.S. Defense Department and NASA, although it could seek waivers.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Dane Wigington’s Global Alert News #465 …
Meteorologists Have Never Seen Anything Like Hurricane Beryl” (from Scientific American). “Hurricane Beryl Is the Earliest Category 5 Storm in Recorded History” (from MSN). “Dangerous, record-breaking heat expected to continue spreading across U.S.” (from CBS News). “Record-setting heat will continue to torment millions of Americans this weekend” (from CNN). Question, is Hurricane Beryl now scheduled to be utilized as a moisture pump to cool down portions of the superheating US? Even in the far north conditions are beyond alarming: “Wildfires ravage Arctic Circle” (from MSN). Is firestorm smoke being used by the weather makers to temporarily, toxically and very destructively block the sun from the rapidly melting polar ice? Are the climate engineers truly this desperate? How long till impact?
Americans aren’t buying EV’s; electric vehicle adoption continues to stall out!
The electric vehicle revolution is encountering significant hurdles as consumers grapple with high costs, infrastructure challenges, and geopolitical tensions, potentially slowing the transition from traditional gas-powered cars, according to a report by Fast Company.
Fast Company reports the automotive industry has undergone a significant transformation with the push towards electric vehicles in recent years. However, the road to widespread EV adoption is proving to be bumpy, with several obstacles threatening to stall progress.
One of the primary concerns for potential EV buyers is the cost. While a recent University of Michigan study suggests that there is rough price parity between EVs and gas-powered cars on a macro level, with EVs being more economical in some areas and gas cars in others, the upfront cost of electric vehicles remains a significant barrier for many consumers. This situation is likely to worsen as the Biden administration has dramatically increased the tax rate on imported EVs from 27.5 percent to 102.5 percent this year, a move aimed at curbing the influx of cheaper Chinese-made vehicles into the U.S. market.
Infrastructure challenges also continue to plague the EV industry. According to recent research by Harvard Business School, one in five charging points across the United States are non-functional. This lack of reliable charging infrastructure contributes to “range anxiety” among potential EV adopters, who worry about being stranded with a depleted battery. Loren McDonald of industry analysts EVAdoption projects that the U.S. will need approximately 2.8 million charging stations by 2030 to meet forecast demand, highlighting the enormous scale of infrastructure development required. Despite these lofty goals, the Biden administration has reportedly failed to produce even a single charging station with $7.5 billion allocated by Congress.
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
Canning cherries in a water bath canner or steam canner …
Canning cherries is a great way to preserve your fresh cherries for year round use. Because they are acidic, we use water bath canning or steam canning. (There’s no need to bust out the pressure canner.)
Canning Cherries – Raw Pack or Hot Pack
The most time consuming part of home canning cherries is cherry pitting. We usually gather the family around the table, put on a movie, and get ‘er done. You need around 2 to 2 1/2 pounds of cherries per quart.
We have a couple different cherry pitters, but often use a paper clip folded open to pull out the pit. The OXO Multi Cherry Pitter pits six cherries at one time.
See “How to Pit Cherries Without a Cherry Pitter” for a video of the paper clip trick and other pitter options.
Do you have to pit cherries before canning?
It’s safe to can cherries without removing the pits, but it’s much easier to use the cherries
with the pits removed. If you plan to eat the cherries and don’t mind spitting out the pits, keep them in. To prevent bursting and shrinking with the pits left in, prink each cherry with a clean needle or knife. I’m going to assume that you pit the cherries when writing up the directions, but it’s up to you.
Prepare Your Canning Equipment
Make sure your jars are clean and warm. Check them for any cracks or nicks on the rims. I run mine through the dishwasher. You can also keep them warm in the oven set on low heat, or in your canning water.
Prepare lids and rings. I keep mine in warm water on the back of the stove. Some lids don’t need preheating, but I find it improves seal rates.
Make a light or medium syrup and keep it warm on the stove. I used a medium syrup with 3 cups sugar dissolved in 5 1/2 cups water for 7 quarts of cherries. For a light syrup, use 2 1/4 cup sugar with 5 1/4 cup water.
If you prefer, you can use a honey and water syrup with 1 1/2 cups honey and 5 1/2 cups water. Other options are apple juice, white grape juice, or even plain water.
For flavor more like commercial canned cherries, opt for a heavy syrup with 4 1/2 cups sugar and 4 1/2 cups water.
I do recommend including some type of sugar. It keeps the fruit firmer and helps to retain the color of the canned cherries. We usually use plain organic cane sugar, because it gives the best cherry flavor.
Raw Pack Method
Wash, pit, and drain your cherries. Make up your syrup of choice and keep it hot. Ladle 1/2 cup of syrup into a hot jar, and then fill the jar with cherries.
Gently shake the jar to settle the cherries in the jar, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Add hot syrup to cover cherries, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. (See “Canning Headspace – Guidelines, Chart & Troubleshooting” for more information on measuring headspace.)
Remove air bubbles with a chopstick or bubble remover. Add more syrup, if needed, to maintain headspace. Wipe the jar rims with a clean, damp cloth to remove any spills. Place the lid and ring on and tighten to finger tight.
Process pints and quarts in a boiling water bath canner for 25 minutes. Increase processing times as needed to adjust for altitude. Start the time when the water reaches a full boil.
When the processing time is finished, turn off the heat and wait five minutes before removing the jars from the canner. This helps to reduce siphoning. Remove jars and place them on a clean kitchen towel on the counter, away from drafts.
Allow the jars to cool completely, from 12 to 24 hours. I usually let them sit overnight. Remove the rings and check seals. Wipe up any spills with a damp cloth, date and label the jars.
Store the jars in a cool, dry location, out of direct sunlight. For best quality, use within 12 to 18 months. Over time, the color of the fruit fades and it gets so”er. As long as the seal is intact and there are no signs of spoilage, it’s still safe to eat.
Hot Pack Method
Canning cherries with the hot pack method may help reduce siphoning, because the fruit is hot when it goes into the jars. (Temperature di!erences increase the risks of siphoning, which I’ll explain in a bit.)
The fruit is canned in its own juice, which brings out more cherry flavor. I find raw pack a little easier, but you may want to try both.
Wash, pit, and measure your cherries. Put the cherries into a large stockpot, and add 1/2 to 3/4 cup sugar for every quart of cherries.
Cook the cherries and sugar, stirring gently, until all the sugar is dissolved and the cherries are hot. If you’re using unpitted cherries, add a little water to keep them from sticking together.
Ladle cherries and hot syrup into the jars, leaving 1/2 inch headspace. Remove air bubbles with a chopstick or bubble remover. Add boiling water, if needed, to maintain headspace.
Wipe the jar rims with a clean, damp cloth to remove any spills. Place the lid and ring on and tighten to finger tight.
Process pints for 15 minutes and quarts for 20 minutes in a boiling water bath canner. Increase processing times as needed to adjust for altitude. Wait 5 minutes after processing to remove the jars, just like the raw pack method.
Remove the jars from the canner and let them cool on the counter. Store and use them the same way as raw pack cherries.
Steam Canning Cherries
For steam canning (not pressure canning), use the same processing times as water bath canning. Steam canners have a few inches of water at the bottom of the canner, instead of an entire pot full of water. This makes them easier to lift. There are detailed operating instructions included with the canner.
If cherries are sticking out of the juice after processing, are they safe to eat?
Sometimes during canning, you may end up losing liquid from the top of the jar during processing. This is called “siphoning”. As long as the seal is good, the food is safe to eat.
That said, the food sticking out of the liquid will fade in color and flavor faster. It’s best to use those jars sooner rather than later.
To help avoid siphoning – reduce temperature fluctuations and variations.
Keep the canner at a moderate boil, not an extreme boil. Keep the equipment hot and fruit warm or hot. (Room temperature raw pack fruit is fine, but don’t raw pack fruit that just came out of the refrigerator.)
Let the jars rest in the canner for five minutes after processing. Make sure your jars are hot.
I screwed up a couple quarts of my second batch of cherry canning because the jars weren’t hot enough. I was in a rush because it was getting late. One jar had the bottom blown out, the other jar lost a lot of liquid. Learn from my mistake!
2ND AMENDMENT
Alec Baldwin manslaughter trial begins tomorrow; jury selection to begin …
Alec Baldwin heads to court Tuesday as his involuntary manslaughter trial is set to begin.
The “Rust” star will appear for the first time in a courtroom after waiving his pre-trial appearances. He faces two counts of involuntary manslaughter. If convicted, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer could sentence the 66-year-old actor to prison for up to 18 months.
Baldwin’s legal team fought hard to have the charge dismissed before the July 9 start date, but Sommer denied all three motions to dismiss the case. Alex Spiro and Luke Nikas gave a handful of legal reasons why the case should be dropped, including a prejudiced grand jury, failure to allege a criminal offense and destruction of evidence.
However, Sommer rejected each argument in a series of hearings.
Meanwhile, Rust armorer is requesting release from prison; says prosecutors hid evidence!
Hannah Gutierrez Reed is requesting immediate release from prison as the “Rust” armorer prepares to seek a new trial.
Gutierrez Reed’s lawyer accused the prosecution of withholding “bombshell exculpatory evidence,” which would have led to a “fundamentally different trial and likely a different outcome,” according to court documents filed June 27 and obtained by Fox News Digital.
The armorer’s team claimed the state did not disclose a report that found “unexplained toolmarks on critical surfaces of the trigger and sear” of the Pietta 45 Colt revolver replica used on the Western film set. Gutierrez Reed’s attorney, Jason Bowles, pointed out that the marks were not “the result of the damage incurred during the FBI’s impact testing.” The marks also “do not appear to be original manufacturing marks or use and abuse toolmarks based on [their] irregular orientation,” according to the report.
The state “buried this information” and it was “never disclosed” to Gutierrez Reed or her legal team, Bowles wrote.
Additionally, Bowles claimed the state then “called the expert at trial and sat idly by as he perjured himself during cross-examination.”
The report showing the “unexplained” toolmarks would likely have “bolstered” Gutierrez Reed’s defense, according to the court documents.
“Ms. Gutierrez Reed’s principal defense theory was that no one had committed a crime and that this was a tragic accident, and if there was any negligence, it was on the part of producers, as found by OSHA,” court docs read. “This defense would have been imminently bolstered by a legally unforeseeable intervening cause – such as a firearm malfunction – that caused Ms. Hutchins’ death.”
At least 100 people were shot during the July 4th weekend in Chicago!
At least 100 people were shot, 17 of them fatally, during the July 4th weekend in Mayor
Brandon Johnson’s (D) Chicago.
Earlier in the weekend, Breitbart News reported at least 58 people were shot in the city Wednesday night to Friday night alone. Eleven of the 58 gunshot victims succumbed to their wounds.
By Sunday morning, the tally of gunshot victims had risen to at least 87 people, 16 of whom died. The violence was so great that ABC 7 / Chicago Sun-Times pointed out one Chicago resident referred to July 4th as “assassination day.”
On Monday morning, CNN reported the number of gunshot victims was at least 100 people, 17 of whom died from their injuries. Moreover, CNN noted the July 4th “weekend gun violence in Chicago this year marks around a 27% increase in shootings over last year.”
The Chicago Sun-Times observed the number of people shot during the 2023 July 4th weekend was 73, with 11 fatalities.
The July 4th weekend lasted four days in 2024 and four days in 2023. It also lasted four days in 2019, when the total number of people shot was 68, five of which were shot fatally.
Chicago, like all of Illinois, has a 72-hour waiting period on gun purchases, a red flag law, an “assault weapons” ban, a “high capacity” magazine ban, and a Firearm Owners Identification (FOID) card requirement. The process of acquiring a FOID card involves a thorough background check by the Illinois State Police.
Additionally, Cook County, where Chicago is seated, has its own “assault weapons” ban and ban on “high capacity” magazines. Yet at least 100 people were shot in the Windy City during the July 4th weekend.
COVID RELATED NEWS
Patrick Wood: BIODEFENCE: When a military coup took over public health!
Lockdown-until-vaccine is not a public health response, it is a response to a bioterror attack, benefiting the biodefense-industrial-complex.
In previous articles, I analyzed government documents showing that the Covid pandemic response in the U.S. was not designed or led by the public health agencies. Rather, it was a biodefense response, led by the National Security Council and FEMA/Department of Homeland Security.
In addition to military/intelligence agencies, the biodefense cartel that ran the Covid response encompassed global pharmaceutical companies enmeshed in public-private partnerships with governments to create and disseminate “countermeasures,” and global NGOs – most notably, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Wellcome Trust – who invest in and benefit from all the activities related to pandemic preparedness, first and foremost: vaccines.
The same thing happened in many countries:
Between January and mid-March 2020, the public health agencies were handling the coronavirus outbreak as they would any other. They monitored for local outbreaks where people were getting sick with symptoms, told people not to panic, and gave scientifically and epidemiologically sound advice: no masks necessary; wash your hands and stay home if you’re sick.
In mid-March there was a complete reversal on everything: suddenly both the political and the public health officials were saying millions would die if we did not shut everything down and wait for vaccines.
VP Harris’s husband, Doug Emhoff, tests positive for COVID while Kamala tests negative!
Second gentleman Doug Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Kamala Harris, has tested
positive for the coronavirus, while his wife has reportedly tested negative.
“Yesterday, the Second Gentleman tested positive for COVID-19 after experiencing mild symptoms,” Liza Acevedo, the communications director for Emhoff, wrote in a post on X. “He is fully vaccinated and three times boosted. He is currently asymptomatic, continuing to work remotely, and remaining away from others at home.”
Acevedo added that the vice president had been “tested for COVID-19” and that her results had come back “negative.”
“Out of an abundance of caution, yesterday, the Vice President was tested for COVID-19,” Acevedo wrote. “She tested negative and remains asymptomatic.”
The vice president is scheduled to appear at a campaign event in Las Vegas, Nevada, on Tuesday. Emhoff’s positive diagnosis comes as days earlier, the couple had celebrated the Fourth of July at the White House with President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden, according to ABC News.
The second gentleman previously tested positive for the coronavirus in March 2022, while the vice president tested positive for coronavirus in April 2022.
CANCEL CULTURE
The debacle that was President Biden’s performance at last Thursday’s Presidential debate divided America. Half were astonished to see someone with a crypt-keeper vibe who was obviously dazed and confused and whose language consisted mainly of mumbling nonsense that often trailed off into sheer incomprehensibility. The other half merely saw business as usual from Biden. Political pundits refer to this phenomenon as, in the words of Dilbert cartoonist Scott Adams, “one screen, two movies”.
Much of the blame for this societal dissonance lies in the unhealthy alliance of our MSM (mainstream media composed of broadcast networks and major newspapers) and the Democrat Party. Since at least the 1990s the MSM have been operating as a propaganda arm for the Democrat Party as opposed to providing “truth to power”. The MSM are gradually losing the battle for relevance in the huge Nourishing of, Orst, cable networks and now internet-based sites, podcasts and assorted social media, but they are still powerful in their waning days. They trashed Trump merrily during his Presidency, pushed Biden over the Onish line in 2020, and have carried Biden’s water since then.
And since 2020 the MSM have been carrying more water for Biden than the Ganges in monsoon season. Biden’s deterioration has been evident for some years and it became an issue in the 2020 election. Brit Hume, one of journalism’s gray eminences, posited that Biden was senile based on his manner, behavior and actions. MSM “fact-checkers” protected the precious candidate. But Biden and his handlers took notice that they had been rumbled and used the excuse of Covid from early 2020 on to hide Biden away campaigning from his basement. MSM ignored his concerning demeanor completely and supported him for President in words that would have embarrassed George Washington.
After a most unusual election came a most unusual Presidency, where the hiding away of the most powerful man in the world continued. Appearances were controlled, press conferences limited and interviews permitted only in controlled scripted environments such as with celebrities or on late night talk shows. Biden’s deteriorating physical condition, as well as his mental decline, were covered up by his handlers in a number of ways.
This year, two events began to poke serious holes in the view that Biden is just old. Last year a Special Counsel, Robert Hur, was appointed to conduct an investigation into the finding of classified documents at Biden’s residences. He reported his findings in January. The report was not kind to Biden to say the least. He stated that Biden should not be prosecuted for the documents because a jury would not find him guilty as they would be sympathetic to the fact he was a “well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory”. NBC News dutifully provided covering Ore for this by rolling out Democrat operatives to trash both Hur and the report.
Then there were the recent international events such as D-Day and the G7 meetings, where Biden was caught on camera spacing out and wandering off. The videos were shown on Fox News and went viral.
And then came the debate. Biden had slipped in the polls against Trump due to the response from voters to seeing a candidate pursue the Kafka- esque strategy of putting an opponent on trial. And so Biden and his handlers came up with a cunning plan – to challenge Trump to a debate in an environment they believed they could control. They set the rules, selected the moderators (CNN, who had earlier supplied the questions in advance to Hillary Clinton in a 2016 debate), had no audience that would cause Biden to lose focus, and banned any cross-talk to limit Trump’s quick repartee. Biden spent seven days at Camp David prepping for the debate as if there was nothing else going on that required his
attention. It was a brilliant strategy and only one thing could ruin it – the senility of the candidate. It did.
The reaction was immediate from folks believing in Biden. Democrats and Never-Trumpers were gob-smacked. But it is fascinating how their surprise was akin to reading the last few pages of an Agatha Christie novel. Massive surprise at the unveiling of the murderer is followed by an “oh yeah” as folks think back on the clues that were there all along. These reactions showed up in polls taken over the last few days. A CBS News poll two days after the debate showed 72% of folks now believe Biden’s cognitive issues prohibit him from being President, and this includes 42% of Democrat voters.
GOOD NEWS
Teen breaks homeschooling stereotypes; reveals how it strengthened her family bond!
Eighteen-year-old Nadine Lauffer has become part of a movement of homeschooling families who are debunking myths surrounding the community. With her weekly podcasts, she’s also been helping teens homeschool fearlessly through high school.
Ms. Lauffer, currently based in Pennsylvania, spent years growing up in the Netherlands and Florida as her dad used to work in chemical engineering sales.
At the age of 3, she began her educational journey at a Dutch-speaking school. However, when her family moved to Florida, she had to restart kindergarten since she didn’t know any English but successfully overcame that challenge.
Ms. Lauffer attended a public school until the fourth grade when her parents decided to make the switch to homeschooling.
Sharing the reasons for the move with The Epoch Times, she said: “The first thing was that our school was getting incredibly overpopulated. We lived next to the third fastest growing community in the nation at the time, so they could not build schools fast enough to keep up with the amount of students moving there.”
With the size of classes growing, Ms. Lauffer and her sister weren’t able to get enough personal attention from their teachers.
At church, the Lauffer family was acquainted with a homeschooling family and found the personalities of their kids to be positive.
“The teenagers,” she said, “were very different from the normal teenagers that I’d met coming from the public school system. They were more attentive, they knew how to talk to adults, and they were joyful.”
Thus, when their church created a co-op for homeschooling families, the Lauffer family opted in, taking a better turn for their children’s education.
Initially, Ms. Lauffer, who was entering fifth grade, wasn’t too thrilled about the idea of homeschooling. She was looking forward to a lot of exciting things and was surrounded by her friends at school.
However, she didn’t contest her parents’ decision as she knew they had her best interests at heart.
Embarking on her homeschooling journey, Ms. Lauffer noticed there was a great upside to being a homeschooler.
“We were home a lot more; I got to grow my relationship with my sister more than I ever would,” she said. “She is three grades behind me, so there would be no contact with her [in the public school] during the majority of my school year.”
Additionally, through her co-op, Ms. Lauffer made new friends in her community and enjoyed having her mother as her teacher.
ICYMI
Caitlin Clark breaks WNBA rookie record in victory over first-place New York!
On Saturday, Caitlin Clark became the first rookie in WNBA history to hit a triple-double as she notched 19 points, 13 assists, and 12 rebounds. Also, she became the first player in the history of the Indiana Fever ever to record a triple-double. And, as you might expect, since she’s a rookie, Clark also becomes the youngest player to hit a triple-double.
The Fever needed every bit of Clark’s contributions on Saturday night. Indiana trailed the Eastern Conference front-runners 75-68 with 4:21 remaining. However, Indiana rallied for an 11-0 run that put them ahead to stay. The Fever won 83-78.
Minnesota Vikings rookie Khyree Jackson, 24, killed in triple-fatal car crash in Maryland!
Minnesota Vikings’ rookie Khyree Jackson, 24, has been killed in a car crash in Maryland early Saturday morning, authorities confirmed.
The deadly crash also claimed the lives of Isaiah Hazel, 23, and Anthony Lytton, Jr., 24.
The triple fatal vehicle collision happened around 3:15 am in Prince George’s County, according to a statement by Maryland State Police.
Troopers responded to a crash on northbound Route 4/Pennsylvania Avenue and Presidential Parkway north of Dower House Road in Upper Marlboro.
The three vehicles involved in the crash were a silver Infiniti Q50, a silver Chevrolet Impala, and a maroon Dodge Charger.
All three victims were occupants of a maroon Dodge Charger.
Mr. Hazel, the driver, was transported to the University of Maryland Capital Regional Medical Center where he was later pronounced dead.
Mr. Jackson was seated as the front passenger and Mr. Lytton was a passenger in the rear of the vehicle. They were both pronounced dead at the scene.
“Investigators believe alcohol may have been a contributing circumstance in the crash,” state police said.
A preliminary investigation shows that the driver of the Infinity was traveling northbound on Route 4/Pennsylvania Avenue when she attempted to change lanes while speeding.
Colorado teen dies after falling into electrified lake in Virginia during 4th of July celebrations!
A teenager in Colorado drowned after jumping into what may have been an electrified lake in Virginia, according to the Daily Mail.
Jesse Hamric, 18, attended a Fourth of July celebration with his family and friends at Smith Mountain Lake in Huddleston. They reportedly stayed at a private home with a dock. After Hamric was already in the lake, two of his friends tried to jump in, but they soon felt an electric shock.
While they were eventually able to get Hamric out of the water and perform CPR, the boy passed away at a local hospital on Thursday. The local authorities believe that Hamric and his two friends were electrocuted by the water. It is believed that faulty wiring on the boat could have sent an electric current throughout the lake, according to the report.
Medical examiners are still performing an autopsy in the hopes of finding out what specifically led to Hamric’s untimely death. The report mentioned that there was a boat lift located around the scene of the horrific incident, which could have malfunctioned, causing the accident.
A second report noted that the authorities tested the water, and electricity was discovered. Investigators are operating under the assumption that stray voltage from a privately owned dock was the case of the current in the water. Hamric’s two friends who helped him out of the water were also treated for injuries following the incident.
Firework Stories Abound: Uncle Sam costumed man blows the top of his head off!
A South Carolina man died suddenly on the 4th of July after placing a large firework on his head while dressed in an Uncle Sam costume. Around 10:30 p.m., 41-year-old Allen Ray McGrew was celebrating the festivities at a local neighborhood block party in Summerville and had been drinking that day and placed a large firework on his head. His wife thought he was
merely posing with the firework in an attempt to entertain onlookers when the firework went off. Deputies discovered McGrew’s lifeless body in the road after they rushed to the scene following the sudden end of the party.
Another man died from a fireworks accident on July 4th in Greenback, Tennessee. The man – 35-year-old Matthew Sellars – was reportedly holding a lit firework in his hand when it exploded and caused a large chest wound around 10 p.m. on the 4th.
“I saw a large hole in Mr. Sellars’ chest and a cut on his right hand. Mr. Sellars was pronounced deceased at 2230 hours and was transported to Blount Memorial Hospital by AMR,” the incident report from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office read.
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