Two juveniles got arrested after trying to allegedly steal a purse from a woman in the middle of the night

'Fight literally started in line because one snowboarder'

'For too long‚ we all know the border’s been broken. It’s long past time to fix it'

'I'm not gonna ask for a refund or anything petty like that'

'Ms. Grant's lawsuit is replete with lies'

The BorderLine is a weekly Daily Signal feature examining everything from the unprecedented illegal immigration crisis at the border to immigration’s impact on cities and states throughout the land. We will also shed light on other critical border-related issues like human trafficking‚ drug smuggling‚ terrorism‚ and more. ——————————————————— “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” used to be American folk wisdom (and inspired a book by economist Milton Friedman). The greatest trick the American Left has played on young people is to convince them that free stuff is actually free. In fact‚ tax credits‚ student debt “relief‚” COVID-19 stimulus‚ rent control‚ and other giveaways simply redistribute existing wealth or borrow money that must be repaid by taxpayers. Relative to illegal immigration‚ it doesn’t matter how much you put aside for a rainy day if the rain never stops. Biden’s policies have locked in an unlimited flow of illegal immigration at the border. Many of those coming now have no U.S. relatives or employment waiting for them. They will continue to head for “sanctuary” megacities that offer free housing and benefits. Local authorities there seem to only now begin to understand the scale of demand with which they are dealing. Our open borders have resulted in housing shortages‚ closed schools‚ commandeered public spaces‚ and hospitals catering to patients no one voted to admit into the country while everyday taxpaying Americans wait in line. It’s not as if all Americans are rich and can absorb the costs of paying for these people who aren’t paying for themselves—particularly in the places where illegal aliens are amassing. At James Madison High School‚ which New York City closed down to house illegal immigrants for a few days due to bad weather‚ “73% of students are economically disadvantaged.” And as schools in New York and across the country absorb thousands more “limited English proficiency” students‚ they must hire more specialist teachers at additional cost. Only a few months ago‚ New York Mayor Eric Adams was talking about a mere $4 billion to cope with illegal immigrants over the next couple years. Now‚ he says it will be more like $10 billion. Gov. Kathy Hochul included $2.4 billion in the state budget to help‚ but it will never be enough. In announcing her budget‚ Hochul said she would focus on “fighting crime‚ fixing our mental health system‚ and protecting New Yorkers’ hard-earned money.” And yet‚ she plans to spend as much on supporting illegal immigrants as on mental health programs for the entire state. Already‚ 39% of New York state’s population is eligible for Medicaid‚ which is jointly funded by the state and the federal government. The state also offers free or subsidized health care to some illegal immigrants‚ and starting this year‚ will allow those who are older than 65 to enroll in Medicaid. Far from “protecting” her taxpayers’ hard-earned money‚ Hochul seems to be locking them into rising costs. The city of Philadelphia is best known as the place the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776. Today‚ its Kensington neighborhood was described by a French news site as “devastated by opioids.” Philly is also known for notoriously bad public schools and far-left activism. Continuing its activism trend‚ the city council just voted to end “medical deportations‚” banning hospitals from sending illegal immigrants to their home countries “without consent‚ consideration of health insurance eligibility‚ or consideration of health risks to the patient.” What does this mean for residents? If they pay health insurance premiums‚ they may pay more. If they rely on various free government programs‚ they will wait longer in line for services‚ as illegal aliens often consume them first and for free. According to local public radio station WHYY‚ “Hospitals will have clearly defined guidelines to prevent deportation and ensure immigrant patients and their families are informed of all possible choices.” One of those choices is to remain in the U.S.‚ regardless of their ability to pay‚ and even if there is free health care available in their home country. “Advocates‚” WHYY tells us‚ believe that illegal immigrants “deserve … basic human rights‚ which includes long-term health care.” Unilaterally declaring that health care is a “basic human right” is a breathtaking arrogation of other people’s money that the city of Philadelphia‚ states like Illinois and California‚ and the federal government will come to regret. Without a dedicated revenue source to pay for it and some kind of limit on new entrants‚ programs promising universal‚ lifetime‚ free care will slowly become bad checks that can’t be cashed. Health care for American citizens and legal residents will become collateral damage. As a consular officer in Ghana 20 years ago‚ I received a visa application from a man who had returned home for a funeral and wanted to go back to New York‚ where he had lived illegally for many years. While evaluating his case‚ I discovered that he had received over a million dollars in free health care from the city and state of New York—after arriving on a tourist visa. Of course‚ he wanted to go back‚ but allowing unlimited access to our expensive health care system to people who did not pay into it doesn’t add up. In Brunswick‚ Maine‚ the state government is renting 60 apartments for two years to house illegal aliens while they await immigration court decisions‚ which will take a lot longer than that—should they even bother to apply for asylum or fight the deportation process into which the Department of Homeland Security placed them when they were released after illegally entering the country. The director of the state’s subsidized housing program said “We have thousands of folks coming … who want to make Maine home. We’re doing everything we can to help that situation.” He has no idea of the worldwide demand for free housing‚ even in frosty Maine. Meanwhile in Illinois‚ Gov. J.B. Pritzker wrote to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott to “plead for mercy” and ask that illegal aliens not be bused to Chicago during storms because of lack of shelters to put them in. “While action is pending at the federal level‚” he wrote‚ “please … do not send more people to our state.” Pritzker’s claim that “action is pending at the federal level” is a stretch. Serious immigration reform hasn’t been legislated since 1996. If Abbott took the bait and suspended busing illegal aliens to Illinois until Washington produced a consensus‚ he might wait forever. Education‚ housing‚ and health care cost money. Every service has a price‚ and there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Read Other BorderLine Columns: Concerns About Proposed Senate Border Security Compromise Biden’s Border Madness Has Cheapened What It Means to Be an American Nazi Name-Calling Is the Last Refuge of the Progressive Chicago Mayor Lashes Out as Illegal Aliens Flood His Sanctuary City Biden’s Border Chaos—Crime Soars as Punishment Vanishes Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post No Such Thing as a Free Lunch: The Cost of Unchecked Illegal Immigration on Americans—The BorderLine appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Read the original post "Heart Shaped Cherry Hand Pies" on A Modern Homestead. These precious heart-shaped cherry hand pies are perfect for Valentine's Day dessert‚ lunch box treats‚ or just because. The sweet and tart cherry filling pairs perfectly with the buttery‚ flakey crust for a delicious treat everyone will love. I have to admit I love hand pies of all sorts. Whether it's a pile of pumpkin... Read More The post "Heart Shaped Cherry Hand Pies" appeared first on A Modern Homestead.

A kitten hiding in a wall decided to trust when a kind person spent an hour with her in the rain. Arya the kittenKristenAlli‚ an animal rescuer‚ received a call from a local cat colony carer who spotted a kitten coming in and out of a wall at a strip mall.The kitten had taken refuge in the corner where there was a missing brick. When Alli arrived‚ she found the tabby hidden away in the hole and too afraid to come out."It was going to be so cold that night‚ so I went right away and spent an hour in the rain coaxing her out of the wall‚" Alli told Love Meow. The kitten was seen coming in and out of a wallAlli"She would mew at me and reach her paws out to me‚ so I knew I just needed to give her time. She wanted so desperately to be out of the elements."Through words of encouragement‚ the kitten began to warm up to her rescuer. Slowly‚ she wriggled her way towards Alli. After an hour‚ she mustered the courage to make her tentative steps out of the wall. Arya hid in the spot where a brick was missingAlliAfter a few pets‚ the wariness in her eyes melted away. "I had a carrier with me‚ but all she wanted was to be held and loved."The kitten begged for attention‚ crawled into Alli's arms‚ and held her tight with both front paws. She switched on her purr engine and leaned into her rescuer for comfort. After an hour of coaxing‚ the kitten came out from hidingAlli"She purred and made biscuits in my arms the whole way home. This tiny girl has a huge heart and wants nothing more than to get pets and love."The kitten named Arya didn't have a family and had been fending for herself on the streets. Alli got in touch with Kristen‚ a foster volunteer for St. Francis Society Animal Rescue‚ who didn't hesitate to take her in. All she wanted was to be held and lovedAlliShortly after arriving at her foster home‚ Arya was on Kristen's shoulder‚ nuzzling against her cheek. She felt so content that she stretched her toes on her foster mom with purrs rumbling in her chest."She was sweet immediately and wanted and still wants nothing but love. Pets‚ kisses‚ cuddles - she wants it all‚" Kristen shared with Love Meow. AlliAt first‚ Arya was guarded around other kittens‚ hissing and growling at them. She was starved of human affection and demanded attention from her foster family whenever she could.When Kristen walks into the room‚ Arya greets her with whiny meows. Her purr motor starts running the second Kristen looks at her. "She is such a love bug." She loves people and is an attention-seekerKristen"Every day‚ she is getting more and more comfy with her fellow kitten foster friends and is even eating with them now."Arya loves nothing more than to purr and cuddle. She's affectionate‚ gentle‚ and always ready for a hug. She fawns over her people and follows them on their heels if she is not snuggling in their arms. Kristen"Her purrs are the sweetest music you'll ever hear."The tabby girl is fond of her comfy beds and soft blanket fort‚ where she sleeps like royalty. She enjoys sitting on a cat tree by the window‚ watching the day go by while soaking up the warm rays. KristenArya is ready to look for a forever family who will love and cherish her endlessly‚ a dream home where she can be the center of attention‚ the princess of her castle. KristenShare this story with your friends. More on Arya (in FL) and Kristen's fosters on Instagram. More from St Francis Society Animal Rescue on Instagram and Facebook.Related story: Two Kittens Seek Help Together‚ One of Them Appears Blind but Days later They Discover He Can See

'Take My Sanctuary City...PLEASE!'

Kamala Harris granted a softball YouTube interview to Katie Couric‚ who delighted in her abortion advocacy and asked her to explain just how reporters allegedly aren't talking up Biden's accomplishments. What? We're in another cycle of reporters complaining that the economy is doing great‚ and the voters just aren't accepting their spin. It began with several softballs on abortion. Couric noted Kamala was embarking on a Reproductive Freedoms Tour "to highlight the harm caused by abortion bans and restrictive laws" after Roe v. Wade was repealed. Kamala then answered for more than five minutes. That's an obvious sign of a softball interview. The answers go on as long as the subject wants. Couric also told the vice president "I also think there's a lot of disinformation about late-term abortions‚" mostly that they happen. Liberals will also say the issue is phony because the late ones are a small percentage (but there are still thousands). They assume that every one of them was very serious and based on terrible medical deformities. The questions about immigration and Israel were tougher‚ but then it shifted back to a sales job. Couric cited the big-spending legislation passed -- like infrastructure -- and touted how Biden was responsible for "low unemployment‚ millions of jobs created‚ inflation down‚ the stock market up. You don't hear that from reporters‚ do you?" Actually‚ you do. Many of them are wrong for claiming "inflation's down." The rate has slowed‚ but prices continue to go up. Bill D'Agostino made a video montage of all the TV journalists touting a "fantastic" economy and lamenting that voters are apparently too stupid to realize it. CNN host John Berman even suggested last summer that voters just "like being unhappy." That was less embarrassing than Stephen Colbert putting on sunglasses and playing the bongos and claiming "you're drowning in dough‚ but you don't feel it because it's not yet...bread!"  Enjoy the podcast below‚ or wherever you listen to podcasts.