More than 11,500 flights across the United States were abruptly canceled as a massive storm swept the nation on Saturday. Much of the country faces large amounts of snow, blocking major roadways and knocking out power for days.

As Sentinel reported earlier, law enforcement took out an armed thug in self-defense. Governor Walz followed up, saying, “I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening. The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out […] The post Minneapolis Is a War Zone appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

President Trump responded to the fatal shooting of an armed man who pulled a gun on ICE agents as he resisted arrest. Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go – What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they […] The post President Trump’s Response to Today’s DHS Self-Defense Shooting appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Virginia Democrats have introduced legislation that would significantly raise income and investment taxes, putting the Commonwealth on track to become the highest-taxed state in the nation. These proposals, which include new top tax brackets and higher levies on investment income, would push Virginia’s effective income tax rate above California’s. Democrats introduced the legislation shortly after consolidating power in Richmond, creating higher income tax brackets and expanding taxes on capital gains and other investment income. If lawmakers enact the bills, the changes would raise Virginia’s top effective income tax rate to roughly 13.8%, surpassing all other states. Lawmakers backing the measures argue the tax hikes are necessary to fund public priorities and stabilize state finances. Virginia Delegate Kelly Convirs-Fowler (D-VA) said the proposals would require “millionaires [to] pay their fair share of taxes,” arguing the revenue would help “buffer” Virginians from broader economic pressures. Left-wing policy group The Commonwealth Institute, one of the many groups behind this proposed plan, said a “Fair Share tax” could raise more than $1 billion annually for education, housing, and other public services. Democrats have positioned the tax proposals as part of a broader affordability agenda. Governor Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) has said her administration will prioritize lowering health care, housing, and energy costs. She campaigned on what she called an agenda to build a more “Affordable Virginia.” Throughout her campaign, Spanberger emphasized cost relief as a central theme. Her campaign promised that an “Affordable Virginia Plan will lower costs, save Virginians money, and make it easier for people who work hard to get ahead.” She later pledged that her administration would “lower health care, energy, and housing costs in 2026.” But critics argue the tax increases directly undermine those affordability promises. Virginia Republicans remain skeptical of these promises, with State House Minority Leader Terry Kilgore (R-VA) pointing to the tax proposals as the leading edge of what he calls a slate of “bad bills.” The Republican Party of Virginia released an official statement saying, “Spanberger’s economic agenda would take Virginia down the same failed path as California and New York.” The criticism quickly extended beyond Richmond. Conservative policy groups and Republican-aligned organizations warned the proposals would put Virginia at a competitive disadvantage nationally. “It’s always a bad time to raise taxes, but it would be particularly foolish for Governor Spanberger and the Democrats who now control Richmond to do so at this time of heightened state tax competition,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. Other conservative groups echoed that warning. The Congressional Leadership Fund (CLF), a major fundraising organization aligned with House Republicans, said the proposed tax increases would raise costs statewide, discourage investment, and drive jobs and capital out of Virginia. “It’s about to get very, very expensive to live, work, and raise a family in Virginia,” the organization said. The CLF also accused Democrats of moving quickly to raise taxes after campaigning on affordability, noting that “within 48 hours of taking power in Richmond, Virginia Democrats have introduced legislation creating new sales and retail taxes.” The group added that “Democrats campaign on affordability, but the minute they’re given power they rob hardworking families of their paycheck in the form of higher and new taxes.” Although lawmakers have not officially adopted the plan, Democrats’ 64-36 control of the House of Delegates and 21-19 majority in the Senate make passage likely. Still, as Democrats defend the tax hikes as a “fair share” contribution to fund affordability initiatives, the measures risk turning Virginia into a tax-hiking outlier and a liability for Democrats in the 2026 midterms, as voters increasingly see higher taxes as the party’s solution to affordability concerns.

President Donald Trump on Saturday afternoon reacted to the Border Patrol-involved fatal shooting in Minneapolis, accusing Democrat leaders in the state of inciting insurrection and questioning if they called off local law enforcement so federal immigration officers would be left unprotected. The shooting, which occurred hours ago, reportedly involved an armed 37-year-old white male. “This is the gunman’s gun, loaded (with two additional full magazines!), and ready to go,” Trump posted to Truth Social, captioning an image of the gun. “What is that all about? Where are the local Police? Why weren’t they allowed to protect ICE Officers? The Mayor and the Governor called them off?” “It is stated that many of these Police were not allowed to do their job, that ICE had to protect themselves — Not an easy thing to do!” the president continued. Trump then brought up the stunning fraud scandal in Minnesota, where it’s suspected that billions of tax dollars were stolen. The scandal has been tied to the state’s large Somali population. “Why does Ilhan Omar have $34 Million Dollars in her account?” the president wrote. “And where are the Tens of Billions of Dollars that have been stolen from the once Great State of Minnesota? We are there because of massive Monetary Fraud, with Billions of Dollars missing, and Illegal Criminals that were allowed to infiltrate the State through the Democrats’ Open Border Policy.” “We want the money back, and we want it back, NOW,” he continued. “Those Fraudsters who stole the money are going to jail, where they belong! This is no different than a really big Bank Robbery. Much of what you’re witnessing is a COVER UP for this Theft and Fraud.” Trump also accused far-Left Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz (D) of “inciting Insurrection, with their pompous, dangerous, and arrogant rhetoric!” “Instead, these sanctimonious political fools should be looking for the Billions of Dollars that has been stolen from the people of Minnesota, and the United States of America,” Trump said. “LET OUR ICE PATRIOTS DO THEIR JOB!” he added. “12,000 Illegal Alien Criminals, many of them violent, have been arrested and taken out of Minnesota. If they were still there, you would see something far worse than you are witnessing today!” Truth Social: Donald Trump As reported by The Daily Wire, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said the incident occurred Saturday morning during a “targeted operation” for an illegal immigrant “wanted for violent assault,” when another individual came up to Border Patrol agents with a “semi-automatic handgun.” Related: Armed Suspect Fatally Shot By Federal Immigration Authorities In Minneapolis

Governor Tim Walz, Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN), and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have all released public statements after an armed suspect was fatally shot by federal immigration authorities in Minneapolis on Saturday morning. While none of the officials mentioned that the suspect was armed in their initial statements, all three placed blame on the Trump administration. Walz said, “The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota.” Rep. Omar said, “This appears to be an execution by immigration enforcement.” The congresswoman added that she is “absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled” that federal agents “murdered another member of our community.” She claimed the shooting was not “isolated or accidental,” but the result of the Trump administration “trying to beat us into submission.” Omar said President Trump has turned Minnesota from a place of refuge into a “warzone where unchecked federal forces murder our neighbors.” Mayor Jacob Frey said, “How many times must local and national leaders plead with you Donald Trump to end this operation and recognize that this is not creating safety in our city.” The Department of Homeland Security told The Daily Wire that the incident occurred as immigration officers carried out a “targeted operation” for an illegal immigrant “wanted for violent assault.” The individual who was shot approached Border Patrol agents with a “semi-automatic handgun.” The man was pronounced dead at the scene. The statement put out by the Department of Homeland Security stands in sharp contrast to those put out by local and national leaders. “At 9:05 AM CT, as DHS law enforcement officers were conducting a targeted operation in Minneapolis against an illegal alien wanted for violent assault, an individual approached US Border Patrol officers with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun,” DHS said. “The officers attempted to disarm the suspect but the armed suspect violently resisted.” Other prominent leaders in Washington, D.C., are voicing their opinions as well. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) said, “Americans are being killed in the street by their government. Our Constitution is being shredded and our rights are dissolving. Resist.” She added, “We have a responsibility to protect Americans from tyranny.” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) declared that ICE needs to be “out of Minnesota now.” New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani stated, “As tens of thousands across America protest the violence that ICE sows with impunity, federal agents shot and killed another person in Minneapolis today,” adding, “ICE terrorizes our cities. ICE puts us all in danger. Abolish ICE.” The Department of Homeland Security has said additional details about the armed struggle are forthcoming.

In the early 2000s, Paris Hilton was the furthest thing from a mom we could think of.  She likes to party and have fun, and live that “simple life.” She’s come a very long way in the last few decades, and now she’s focusing on her son Phoenix, 3, and daughter, London, 2. Having two toddlers will certainly keep you on your toes. But 44-year-old Paris looked like she had it all under control at a recent red-carpet event for her new documentary, Infinite Icon: A Visual Memoir. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Paris Hilton (@parishilton) Paris Hilton Loves Being a Mom Following the premiere, Paris Hilton gushed to People about being a mom to Phoenix and London. “It’s the best thing ever. My babies are my world, my life,” she said. “I get to take them all around the world with me on my adventures. And they both love music so much. They’re so proud of me. So it makes me feel, really, just like a proud, cool mom, just to have my kids be able to experience all these things in my life.” Paris Hilton’s new documentary shares the story of her music career from her partying days until now. She told People that having Phoenix and London beside her and her husband, Carter Reum. “It’s been an amazing journey,” Paris added. “I’ve been through so much of my life, and music has been the one thing that’s just been my passion and my love.” It’s nice to see that being a mom hasn’t changed Paris Hilton. She’s still the over-the-top hotel heir, but she’s got a bit of a softer side now that she’s chasing little kids around. We’re sure today’s Paris would tell her younger self to enjoy every minute. It goes so fast. This story’s featured image is by Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty Images.