A large-scale winter storm will affect large regions of the United States, and much of the panicking has already led to food and supply shortages at grocery stores.Nearly half of the U.S. population is already under emergency watch, warnings, and alerts from Winter Storm Fern, according to the National Weather Service. 'This is a damaging ice event. We have been lucky for a long time, but the data is showing a setup that demands respect and preparation.'One meteorologist for WCNC-TV in North Carolina issued a dire warning on social media."Folks, I cannot stress this enough: Please prepare now!" said Brad Panovich. "We have all day today (Friday) and most of the daylight hours on Saturday to get ready. After that, the window closes. This is not a 'bread and milk' situation — this is a major to extreme ice threat. We are looking at a setup we haven't seen in at least 10 years, and if the higher ice totals hold, we could be looking at something we haven't dealt with in 20 years (think back to the 2002 ice storm)."He said that people should be prepared to be without electricity for hours and perhaps days. Travel will be dangerous beginning Saturday evening, and families should be "hyper-aware" about tree limbs that may snap above their homes.Families across the country are responding by stocking up on supplies and clearing out their local grocery stores. Many are comparing it to the panic from the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. "Tennessee is really tripping over the snowstorm. There is nothing in stores," wrote one witness on Facebook. "If you're from Oklahoma you know there's probably not any bread or milk left," another shopper said on a social media post. The administration has issued warnings about the storm. "We are anticipating a major winter weather event expected to impact much of the U.S. population this weekend, especially the Midwest and East Coast," said Department of Homeland Security Sec. Kristi Noem Wednesday. "DHS is working with state and local authorities, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to monitor and prepare for this likely adverse weather." RELATED: 'Snowmageddon': 'Ted Cruz Index' may predict bitter winter storm for DC Others took the opportunity to make jokes about the storm on social media. "Night crew here," reads a post from the Greensboro Police Dept. "Please remember that whoever you hang out with on Saturday, you're stuck with until at least Tuesday when the ice melts. You’re either going to be besties or not. Choice is yours." "Big storm on the way. Reminder: I don't run City Hall anymore. Yelling at me on Twitter will not speed up snow removal," former NYC Mayor Eric Adams wrote. Some even blamed the lack of an accurate forecast on President Donald Trump. "The Bottom Line: This isn't a 'fun snow day.' This is a damaging ice event," Panovich continued. "We have been lucky for a long time, but the data is showing a setup that demands respect and preparation," he added. "Use today and tomorrow to prepare your family and check on your elderly neighbors, then stay off the roads once this starts." Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Two of the anti-ICE protesters who stormed a Saint Paul church on Jan. 18 were ordered to be released from custody, according to a statement from the Racial Justice Network. Nekima Levy Armstrong and Chauntyll Allen were arrested for their alleged involvement in an activist protest at the Cities Church after identifying a pastor as an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.'Despite aggressive attempts by federal prosecutors to delay and derail the process, the courts stood firm in defense of constitutional rights, due process, and the rule of law.' Levy Armstong is a civil rights attorney and activist, while Allen is a member of the St. Paul School Board. Both were arrested on Thursday along with a male.The group claimed that they had been peacefully protesting against ICE and excoriated the Justice Dept. for seeking their prosecution."Despite aggressive attempts by federal prosecutors to delay and derail the process, the courts stood firm in defense of constitutional rights, due process, and the rule of law," their statement reads. "A second judge affirmed the original ruling issued on January 22, confirming that the activists must be released, a decisive rejection of prosecutorial overreach and political intimidation."They also posted a video of the arrest of Levy Armstrong.Critics of the protest have been outraged after a magistrate refused charges against former CNN anchor Don Lemon, despite his being at the protest. He has defended his actions by claiming to have been there as a journalist. "Once the protest started in the church, we did an act of journalism, which was report on it and talk to the people involved, including the pastor, members of the church, and members of the organization," Lemon said later. "That's it. That's called journalism." Further outrage ensued when it was discovered that the wife of the magistrate who refused the charges against Lemon is reportedly an assistant attorney general at Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison's office. RELATED: Anti-ICE radical who took credit for the invasion of Minnesota church ARRESTED by feds "Our fight is far from over," the statement from the Racial Justice Network continued."We will continue to organize, mobilize, and litigate until all charges are dropped against all detainees and meaningful accountability is imposed for this blatant abuse of power," they added. "All power to the people. Justice will not be silenced."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Newly released bodycam and surveillance videos show a Miami-Dade Sheriff's Office deputy fighting an armed shoplifting suspect last fall and then fatally shooting the suspect as he runs away with a gun, authorities said.The incident took place at a Walmart in southwest Miami-Dade on the morning of Nov. 6, WFOR-TV reported.'We are grateful at this time. The circumstances could have gotten so much worse.'Deputies were notified that a male allegedly was shoplifting inside the store, the station said, adding that surveillance video shows the suspect walking through the aisles before exiting the building, the station said, citing the sheriff's office.Authorities said a deputy tried to stop the male as he left the store, WFOR said, citing the sheriff's office.The male in question later was identified as 36-year-old Kennedy Graham, the station said.More from WFOR:Body camera video shows Graham running from the deputy as a struggle breaks out. In the footage, the deputy can be heard yelling, "Don't resist, don't resist," as the two wrestle on the ground.Deputies say the officer called for backup while trying to detain Graham.Investigators say the video was slowed down to show Graham was armed during the encounter. Store surveillance video shows the deputy pinning Graham to the ground and holding him by the neck with his legs as Graham continued to fight back.At one point, Graham dropped the gun, then picked it up again and ran, investigators said. The deputy is then seen pointing his weapon and firing.RELATED: Wild video: Florida cop clings to hood of moving car, shoots through windshield on busy downtown street in broad daylight Graham was rushed to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, the station said, adding that no one else was hurt.Miami-Dade Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz back in November defended the deputy's actions, WFOR said: "I will say this, this individual had an extensive criminal past. We are grateful at this time. The circumstances could have gotten so much worse."Investigators also displayed the weapon they say Graham was carrying at the time of the shooting, the station said, which added that the deputy involved has not been identified. WTVJ-TV reported that Graham's gun was loaded."We recognize that incidents of this nature raise questions and concerns within our community, and I believe the public has the right to see critical incidents involving law enforcement," the sheriff's office said in a Thursday statement, according to WFOR.The Florida Department of Law Enforcement is still investigating the incident, which is standard practice in police shootings, WTVJ added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A Republican congressman from Texas pre-empted criticism from Democrats on an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in his district after Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) announced that she would visit to oversee operations. Crockett said the Dilley Detention Center near San Antonio was in her crosshairs after reports indicated that a 5-year-old was being sent to the facility after being used as "bait" by ICE agents. 'Democrats are doing everything they can to spin the truth against law enforcement.'The Department of Homeland Security has vehemently denied the claims and said that the boy had been protected by agents after his father fled from an immigration enforcement operation. An attorney for the family said the boy's father had a pending asylum claim, but Vice President JD Vance contradicted that claim and said he was an illegal alien. Democrats have used the media framing of the issue to hammer away at the administration. "I am aware of reports that this precious 5-year old, Liam Ramos, who was kidnapped by ICE as he returned home from preschool in Minneapolis may be in San Antonio, Texas," wrote Crockett Friday on her social media account. "I will be visiting the Dilley Detention Center in San Antonio next week to conduct oversight and will demand answers on the whereabouts and well-being of Liam. If it were up to me, we’d be at the Dilley Detention Center RIGHT NOW getting answers. But let’s be clear about what’s really happening here: The Trump Administration is illegally blocking Members of Congress from conducting lawful oversight," she added. "We have an absolute right — under federal law and the Constitution — to enter detention facilities, unannounced, to ensure the safety and well-being of people in government custody," Crockett continued. "I am outraged. My heart aches for Liam’s family. We will get answers." Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas posted a video of the facility to undermine any possible suggestion from Crockett that Ramos might be maltreated. "In the coming days, you’ll see a lot of grandstanding by politicians at the Dilley ICE Center in my district, #TX23. It’s all for show," he wrote on social media. "I've been there & seen the state-of-the-art facilities & protocols that @ICEgov follows," he added. "Our ICE agents & CBP personnel are doing their jobs, & yet again, Democrats are doing everything they can to spin the truth against law enforcement." RELATED: Trump admin blasts Ilhan Omar over 'vile lie' accusing ICE of using autistic child as baitIn the coming days, you’ll see a lot of grandstanding by politicians at the Dilley ICE Center in my district, #TX23. It’s all for show. I've been there & seen the state-of-the-art facilities & protocols that @ICEgov follows. Our ICE agents & CBP personnel are doing their… pic.twitter.com/9fEAOEEyIW— Rep. Tony Gonzales (@RepTonyGonzales) January 23, 2026 Among those on the left who have pounced on the story is failed presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "Enforcing the law is one thing. Terrorizing a population, using children as pawns, is another. My heart aches for Liam Ramos and his family," she wrote. Clinton and her husband could face contempt of Congress charges after refusing a subpoena related to the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!