After an explosive Senate hearing with Keith Ellison, Senator Hawley spoke with Sean Hannity on Hannity’s Fox News evening show to discuss Minnesota’s Attorney General and his arrogant, combative behavior when questioned. This is the key point that Hawley made: “… you know what the truth is, a hard thing, especially when you’re a […] The post Sen Hawley Wants Keith Ellison Indicted for Bribery appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

ICE officers are leaving Minnesota as “Operation Metro Surge” comes to an end, Department of Homeland Security funding is set to run dry on Saturday, and an “illegal immigrant enclave” in Texas agrees to a $68 million settlement. It’s Friday, February 13, 2026, and this is the news you need to know to start your day. Today’s edition of the Morning Wire podcast can be heard below: Homan Announces End To ‘Operation Metro Surge’ Border czar Tom Homan announced the end of “Operation Metro Surge” in Minnesota on Thursday. Homan said he is satisfied with his meetings with local authorities and has sufficient cooperation to conclude the operation, which means officers and agents flown in from across the country will return to their home offices. More police chiefs and sheriffs are apparently on board with honoring ICE detainers, and ICE will be readily available and stationed near jails to pick up inmates, rather than forcing local jurisdictions to hold them longer than necessary. Homan added that President Donald Trump greenlit the decision. Homan’s announcement is the big step toward Trump’s softer approach toward interior immigration enforcement after the shooting deaths of two Americans by federal agents in Minneapolis. Congress Stares Down Another Shutdown Homeland Security seems poised to experience a lapse in government funding on Saturday at midnight amid an intense debate on immigration reforms. A test vote in the Senate to see if there was enough support to pass another continuing resolution failed on Thursday afternoon. The House has gone home, but members could be asked to return if a deal is reached. Democrats have not appeared pleased with the White House’s counteroffer on immigration reform. Details on that counteroffer are still fairly unclear. Democrats want an end to masking for agents and a change in warrants. Warrants are likely to be the hottest topic among the changes, as shifting from administrative to judicial warrants for many of these arrests could make the process much more difficult. Trump DOJ Settles Colony Ridge Suit A settlement has been reached in the lawsuit against Colony Ridge, the massive Texas development that became a magnet for illegal immigrants. Colony Ridge was hailed by the developers as the fastest-growing development in the whole United States. But it wasn’t just a big development. The business model that The Daily Wire helped to uncover was that its marketing strategy was aimed exclusively at illegal immigrants, or at least foreign populations. Ultimately, the Biden administration sued the developer over loans and the marketing strategy. The Trump administration is now jointly settling this lawsuit with Texas’s Republican attorney general. The settlement reached lays the groundwork not only to put an end to the scheme but also to provide a major boost to the surrounding communities affected by it. The settlement is $68 million, not payments to anyone, but payments to fix what they created at Colony Ridge.

'I accepted her resignation'

'Contrary to our national interest'

Feature Photo courtesy of Mark Chatfield Mark Chatfield has recorded cult records with The Godz and Rosie and spent years on the road with Bob Seger. Lately, he’s taken over for Bruce Kulick in Grand Funk Railroad, yet he remains underappreciated. “I’m one of those guys who’s been around, but faceless and nameless to the masses,” Chatfield tells ClassicRockHistory.com. “I was never very good at self-promotion and tooting my own horn,” he explains. “In my hometown, I didn’t need to. Medium fish in a small pond.” As far as his playing and songwriting go, Chatfield is and always has been The post An Interview With Mark Chatfield Of The Godz And Grand Funk appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

by the author of The Flat Broke Cookbook There’s no denying that for many of us, times are tight. Many homes have a basket by the door full of unopened bills. Bank accounts are in overdraft. Every week the charges at the grocery store are a little bit higher than the week before, and for less food. Kids want new clothes and that latest video game, the car needs to be fixed, and people’s jobs are draining the very life from them. It is vital to take time out of the day to relax.  It rejuvenates you, improves your health, and calms your mind so that you can think more clearly. Relaxation, creative activities, and family time can actually be frugal endeavors and not distractions that take away from your efforts to make ends meet. It can also support your mental health to have productive, enjoyable hobbies during stressful times. When you have a million and one things to do, though, sometimes it’s difficult to force yourself to stop. This is because stress releases two hormones into your body: adrenaline and cortisol. Excesses of these hormones can cause blood pressure spikes, food cravings that lead to weight gain, and heart disease, to name just a few of the pitfalls. So, you’ve got to unwind. You need a hobby. But not these hobbies. But beware. Some hobbies end up costing you money with nothing to show for it. Lots of people spend their time doing things like playing golf or tennis, going to concerts or nightclubs, playing pool in a bar, drinking alcohol with friends, or shopping. All of these things have their place, of course, but as a regular part of your daily routine, they can certainly add up in price. If you are already stressed about your finances, these hobbies will give you a brief respite, but in the end, just cause your stress to be worse because of all the money you’ve spent. Other hobbies kill off a few brain cells as you sit there, passively entertained in an altered state in front of the television or a video game. These things may not really cost you a lot of money, but in the long run, will do little to alleviate stress. Studies have shown that watching television induces low alpha waves in the human brain. Alpha waves are brainwaves between 8 to 12 HZ. and are commonly associated with … brain states associated with suggestibility…Too much time spent in the low Alpha wave state caused by TV can cause unfocused daydreaming and inability to concentrate….Advertisers have known about this for a long time and they know how to take advantage of this passive, suggestible, brain state of the TV viewer. There is no need for an advertiser to use subliminal messages. The brain is already in a receptive state, ready to absorb suggestions, within just a few seconds of the television being turned on. All advertisers have to do is flash a brand across the screen, and then attempt to make the viewer associate the product with something positive. Passivity actually opens up the door to your brain and allows you to be programmed – it becomes easier to convince you that you need these things that are being advertised. It inhibits your critical thinking skills and leaves your brain craving even more time in this low Alpha state. This is the reason that some people sit blankly in front of the TV for hours every night until they fall asleep on the couch and then get up to do it all over again. It’s important to choose your spare time activities in a manner that enhances your brain function, instead of reducing it. In a world where, for many, entertainment means playing on your iPhone or sharing photos on Facebook, opting for industry for your downtime can be an unusual choice. But choosing productive hobbies is a great way to relax. What’s more, if your brain is engaged in an activity while you view a television program or movie, then you are not as susceptible to messages, either subliminal or blatant. This means that you don’t actually have to keep the TV turned off at night – you just need to refrain from zoning out in front of it. Hobbies keep me sane. I’ve been grounded for three years with chronic illness and disability. My time to get up and move around is limited. I have to ration out household chores in 15-minute increments throughout the week. So clearly, when I’m not writing, you can often catch me streaming TV shows or learning something from YouTube videos. The difference is, I don’t just sit there. Actually, I’m pretty much incapable of simply sitting there watching something. My brain just doesn’t work that way. I’ll fall asleep or lose track of the show. I use the time I spend watching a show to get through the mindless tasks I just don’t enjoy, like mending, repairing broken items, or paying bills. If I’ve got no passive chores, then I crochet, embroider, or do something artsy-craftsy. I’m no researcher, but I think being actively engaged in other activities while the television is on makes a big difference regarding the low alpha waves described above. When the TV is not on, I spend time doing word puzzles (hello, NYT crossword puzzle, the only good thing to come out of the NYT), learning languages, and reading. If I didn’t take joy from doing things like this, I would have truly lost my mind over the past three years since I destroyed the tendon in my ankle. At first, I resisted, thinking I’d be better in no time, and I didn’t need to learn any new hobbies. I lay there on my couch, staring at the television. I was depressed, and my brain wasn’t engaged in anything. Half the time, I couldn’t remember what I’d watched the day before. But, as it turned out, I wasn’t better, and things with my health went sideways. Developing hobbies and skills has been a saving grace for me. I’m really lucky I’ve found things I enjoy to fill the time I used to spend traveling, going to the gym, and walking. I’m not saying making a piece of art for the front hallway is as good as a trip to Greece, but with the right mindset, it helps me be happy and content with the life I have now. A brief lesson from young Ben Franklin In 1726, 20-year-old Benjamin Franklin sought to cultivate his character. He listed off the thirteen virtues that he believed were important to living a good life, one of which was industry. Franklin wrote of this characteristic, “Industry: Lose no time; be always employed in something useful; cut off all unnecessary actions.” He believed that the pursuit of productivity would build character and help the practitioner to lead a more successful and moral life. In his autobiography, Franklin wrote, “I hope, therefore, that some of my descendants may follow the example and reap the benefit.” Think back to the days before television. People worked hard all day long, producing food, cutting wood, cooking, hunting, building…it was a full-time job to survive and thrive. In the evenings, by candlelight, they could stop and put their feet up for a while. Books were not widely available like they are now, so families passed the time by performing stitchery, carving, making furniture, mending things and creating items that made their lives more pleasant and beautiful. Sometimes a family member would read aloud, play an instrument or sing. Time was of value and not to be wasted, and there was rarely money to spare on an “evening out”. Opt for activities that enhance your frugality Nearly 300 years later, we can apply Franklin’s philosophy of industriousness and productivity to our lives today. When choosing leisure activities, consider opting for a productive hobby. It should either… Teach something Create something Repair something Improve something That leaves the door wide open to a broad range of choices. If you tend to be an overachiever, then you can relax without the guilt of worrying about all the things that you “should” be doing instead of chilling out. As a longtime student of cheapskatery, I’ve found that most people who are effectively frugal have hobbies that are productive and don’t enjoy wasting time, even leisure time. Sometimes your hobby can even turn into an additional source of income. Many people have been extremely successful in setting up starting their own Etsy empires or participating in the craft show circuit. I have found hobby supplies at many places that are less expensive than big box stores like Hobby Lobby and Michaels. Amazon can be a cheap source of supplies, and I’ve found many supplies at yard sales and thrift stores. I also love to incorporate things from nature. Be creative about where your craft items come from and you will open the door to much more creativity. Some productive hobbies to choose from… Not only can some of these hobbies be an enjoyable way to pass the time or add to your economic bottom line, but they can provide beautiful, lower-cost options for gift-giving, which is a frugal bonus. Not only should you, yourself, be indulging in these pastimes, but you should be passing these skills on to your children. When you do, you are creating not only useful and lovely items but irreplaceable family memories. Our living room was always filled with pretty baskets which all hid the supplies for various crafts and hobbies. Of an evening, you could most often find us creating while a movie or music plays in the background. Reading Sewing clothing, curtains, and soft furnishings Knitting, crocheting, and weaving Carving Repairing broken items Mending Making soap and other personal care items Building furniture Making pottery Cooking Baking Writing Drawing and creating art Playing an instrument Singing Making cards Making jewelry Fletching Gunsmithing Making ammo Welding and soldering Learning a language Caring for animals Playing a word, math, or strategy game Marksmanship (archery and firearms) Exercise Gardening Preserving food Practicing outdoor skills like hiking, camping, tracking, and foraging Hunting Fishing Automotive repair Scrapbooking Embroidering or cross-stitching Upcycling old things into new, useful ones Crafting greeting cards Refinishing furniture Puzzles (Jigsaw, crossword – all of them are good for your brain) Playing games with the kids (this can be educational and fun at the same time) Bicycling What are your productive hobbies? This list is certainly not comprehensive. If I’ve left off your favorite pastime, take a couple of minutes to tell us about it in the comments section. How do you unwind?  What do you like to do in your spare time? About Daisy Daisy Luther is a coffee-swigging author and blogger who’s traded her air miles for a screen porch, having embraced a more homebody lifestyle after a serious injury. She’s the heart and mind behind The Organic Prepper, a top-tier website where she shares what she’s learned about preparedness, self-reliance, and the pursuit of liberty. With 17 books under her belt, Daisy’s insights on living frugally, surviving tough times, finding some happiness in the most difficult situations, and embracing independence have touched many lives. Her work doesn’t just stay on her site; it’s shared far and wide across alternative media, making her a familiar voice in the community. Known for her adventurous spirit, she’s lived in five different countries and raised two wonderful daughters as a single mom.  Daisy is the best-selling author of 5 traditionally published books, 12 self-published books, and runs a small digital publishing company with PDF guides, printables, and courses at SelfRelianceand Survival.com You can find her on Facebook, Pinterest, and X. The post A Thrifty Guide to Productive Hobbies appeared first on The Organic Prepper.

See Smithsonian magazine contest photos that honor U.S. presidents and their monuments

Fire and ICE: Authorities Look for Arsonist Seen Setting Kansas City Building Ablaze