The GOP-led Senate advanced on Thursday the “Laken Riley Act,” legislation that would require federal officials to arrest illegal immigrants who are charged with theft-related crimes in the United States. A bipartisan group of 84 members voted to invoke cloture, surpassing the 60-vote threshold to end a filibuster and open debate on the bill, which is expected to get a final vote on passage as early as next week. The legislation was named after Laken Riley, a 22-year-old Georgia nursing student who was killed last year. An illegal immigrant from Venezuela, Jose Ibarra, was convicted of murdering Riley and sentenced to life in prison. A press release from Rep. Mike Collins (R-GA), who reintroduced the Laken Riley Act for the new session of Congress, said that the bill “directly addresses one of the federal policy failures” related to Riley’s murder. Ibarra “is an illegal alien who had been previously cited for shoplifting by the Athens Police Department,” it said. “If local law enforcement had called ICE, and ICE issued a detainer and picked him up, Laken would be alive.” A summary of the bill says it would require “the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to detain certain non-U.S. nationals (aliens under federal law) who have been arrested for burglary, theft, larceny, or shoplifting.” The legislation would also authorize “states to sue the federal government for decisions or alleged failures related to immigration enforcement,” the summary — which appears on the Congress.gov website — also notes. JOIN THE MOVEMENT IN ’25 WITH 25% OFF DAILYWIRE+ ANNUAL MEMBERSHIPS WITH CODE DW25 In March of last year, the House passed the Lake Riley Act, but the Senate — then under control of the Democrats — did not take it up for a vote. The House passed it again — with more Democrat votes — earlier this week. NBC News reporter Sahil Kapur said in a post to X that Democrats are open to the bill as their party is “recalibrating on immigration, after getting pummeled on the issue in recent years,” including in the 2024 election. Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA), a co-sponsor of the Laken Riley Act, said during a Fox News interview that if Democrats could not come up with at least seven votes to break a filibuster on the bill, “that’s a reason why we lost.” In fact, most Democrats did vote to invoke cloture, including Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) and Fetterman. Just nine members — eight Democrats and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) — opposed moving forward. Some Democrats want amendments, including for the sections on theft and state lawsuits, as well as how it deals with “Dreamers,” but Punchbowl News’ Andrew Desiderio said Republicans are “likely to shut this down.”

It’s a somber day in the United States as we say goodbye to former President James Earl Carter. Before becoming our leader in 1977, he served his country as a member of the United States Navy. To honor that legacy, his funeral procession began in the United States Capitol building. Military officers carried the 39th president’s casket draped in an American flag to a hearse parked outside. The procession stopped for a 21-gun salute and a performance of Hail to the Chief. It’s an emotional sight to see, even for Americans who aren’t political enthusiasts. Jimmy Carter lived to be 100 years old, the only president in United States history to reach centenarian status. The casket of former President Jimmy Carter departed the U.S. Capitol and is en route to the Washington National Cathedral for a state funeral.Follow live updates: https://t.co/eKuQkAsZXi pic.twitter.com/j60bXI48Am— ABC News (@ABC) January 9, 2025 All Living Five Living Presidents Attended The Funeral Of Jimmy Carter It’s not often that we see political leaders with opposing views gather and appear to put their differences aside. But today, that’s what America saw. Bill Clinton, George Bush, Barack Obama, Joe Biden, and Donald Trump each sat in the pews of the National Cathedral, paying tribute to a man who held office before them. In addition to politicians, Jimmy Carter’s funeral highlights included Garth Brooks and Tricia Yearwood’s rendition of Imagine and the U.S. Marine Orchestra and Armed Forces Chorus singing Eternal Father, Strong to Save. President Biden said a eulogy for Jimmy Carter and Steve Ford, the son of President Gerald Ford, read a tribute to Jimmy written by his late father. In addition, Ted Mondale, whose father, Walter Mondale, served as Jimmy Carter’s vice president, read a message from his later father. Jimmy Carter lived a long and happy life, and the number of people at his funeral and the kind words spoken about him prove he was one of the good ones. May he rest in peace. This story’s featured image can be found here. The post Former President Jimmy Carter Gets Emotional Military Salute appeared first on InspireMore.

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Southern California continues to feel heavy impacts from the wildfires

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'Common sense'

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"There was a picnic table. The table was very odd, however. It was painted a bright orange and was much larger than a typical picnic table in a park."This account was forwarded to me:"This took place in August of 2013, in the mountains of Southern Oregon. I am a USAF Security Forces Airman (military policeman). My girlfriend was at work, and as a swelteringly hot day began to turn into thunderstorms, my buddy Nick (another military cop) and I decided to go explore some back roads and get out of the heat in town.Southern Oregon is criss-crossed with logging roads, some actively used, and many totally forgotten and grown over. Nick and I spent many of our days off starting on roads that we knew, finding roads we didn't know, driving for hours into the mountains, and eventually navigating back to paved roads. On this particular day, with storm clouds building over the mountains, we set off on a road we had never been on and began the drive into the mountains.After driving for around an hour, we hadn't seen nor heard any signs of other people in the woods. We rounded a bend in the thick fir woods and emerged in a meadow that was totally surrounded by thick aspen groves. The meadow was perfectly flat, and eerily still. We both noticed the strange stillness almost immediately; no birds, hardly any insect noise, no squirrels, and certainly no other people. On the far side of the meadow, right at the edge of the tree line, there was a picnic table. The table was very odd, however. It was painted a bright orange and was much larger than a typical picnic table in a park. Remarking on this, Nick drove through the meadow to get a closer look.I remember being apprehensive as we approached. The whole scenario was exceptionally strange; the overall silence of the aspen grove was unsettling. Also, it was nearly impossible to see far into the trees as aspens grow extremely close together. When we parked by the table, I hopped out of the passenger seat of the truck to check it out. I'm not very tall, only about 5'5", regardless, the table was ridiculously oversized and practically unusable. The seats were nearly at chest level, meaning I would have to climb up to even sit on them.As I was looking at the table, Nick called me over to the truck, and I noticed he was looking back into the aspens. At first, I couldn't see what he was looking at, but then I noticed a splash of color that was completely out of place in the thick trees. A small one-man tent was set back in the trees, about 50 feet from the strange table.I had an initial feeling of dread and felt certain that there was someone in the tent, and if we could see the tent, they could see us. There were no campgrounds in this area; no people, no main roads for miles. Surely someone camping so remotely would be, at the very least, a strange person. However, as we observed the tent, we didn't see any movement or hear any sounds coming from it. Nick suggested I call out; I didn't want to, but I did. "Hey! Anyone in there?"No reply. Feeling completely on edge, Nick and I thought about driving away and leaving this strange area. But we began to fear the worst; what if there was a body in the tent? What if somebody had gotten kidnapped? Foolish, I know, but we thought it, all the same.After some debate, we decided to have Nick turn the truck around to drive away from the camp; should we need to leave in a hurry, he would be waiting behind the wheel. With my heart pounding, I started walking through the trees towards the tent. I was totally keyed up with my senses on full alert. When I reached the "campsite", several things struck me as odd. Backpacks were scattered all over. No fire had been built, no wood collected. The tent was literally full of backpacks, and women's clothing. Full of dread, I turned to leave and tell Nick what I had seen. As I left, I heard Nick start yelling."Let's go! Let's get the Hell out of here!" Not knowing why he was yelling, I ran back to the truck. When I broke out of the trees, I saw a beat-up old Ford Taurus on the road, blocking us from leaving the meadow. I immediately leaped into the passenger seat, and Nick floored the gas pedal. The car was occupied by two men; a third person was lying against the window in the back. As we drove across the meadow, the driver attempted to block us from the road, but Nick drove around them and accelerated the way we had come from. I looked back and saw the car attempting to turn around on the narrow road. Nick drove like a madman, and though I was honestly terrified that they would catch up, we hit the highway without seeing the car again. I still do not know if the person in the back was male or female.I called the State Police, and they promised to send a Trooper out to check out the scene. However, I received a call the next day from a Trooper stating that the campsite, the backpacks, and the women's clothing were all gone, though he could tell people had been in the area. The strange table was still by the thick aspen grove. I have not returned to the area, and do not intend to." R**********WEIRDEST OF THE WEIRD 4 - INCREDIBLE ENCOUNTERS! | LIVE Chat | Q & A (REAL EYEWITNESS REPORTS!)RISSA MILLER - LEGEND OF 'HELL HOUSE' - LON STRICKLER - Live Chat - Q&A - (CREEPY MARYLAND HISTORY)PHANTOMS & MONSTERS VIDEO LIBRARYPOLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK? Vote & comment on paranormal, cryptid & unexplained mysteries!LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS & MONSTERS REPORTS & CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHAREPHANTOMS & MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on SpotifyPHANTOMS & MONSTERS READING LISTCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonOUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSBigfoot and Other Cryptid Videos on YouTubeLYCANS! - PENNSYLVANIA'S CRYPTID CANINES UPDATE'KILLER BIGFOOT' HUNTED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES / GLIMMER MAN / MANTIS HUMANOIDSCRAWLER HUMANOIDS - GRUESOME INVADERS! (REAL EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)WEREWOLVES: DO THEY EXIST?'DOGMAN IN OUR YARD!' - AN OHIO FAMILY'S 12-YEAR SAGA WITH CRYPTID CANINESHey, folks. Thanks for the congrats on 'The Mothman Revisited' episode on Unsolved Mysteries. As a result, we are receiving more sighting reports and are very excited and grateful for the new information!I sincerely thank the Unsolved Mysteries team and Netflix for allowing us to tell the world about this phenomenon.If you have information about this or any other cryptid or unexplained sighting or encounter, please feel free to contact me by email or at 410-241-5974. Thanks again! LonCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistChicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive MapEXCLUSIVE VIDEO of CHICAGO MOTHMAN RECORDED---------------Become a Phantoms & Monsters Radio Insider - just $2.99 monthly, and receive these perks. Thanks for your support!-Members-only live chats-Exclusive members-only videos-Priority reply to members' commentsHave perks suggestions? LMK-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. Lon Noted UFOlogist Dr. Raymond Keller believes the idea of extraterrestrials and even ultra-dimensional beings from many different planets and alternate realms living and working among us clandestinely is more than just another conspiracy theory.Available on Amazon.comSan Francisco Book Festival Honorable MentionNew York Book Festival Honorable MentionAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs,CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.OUR PRIVACY POLICYThis blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS & MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2025 Phantoms & Monsters - All Rights Reserved

"As I was nodding off, I think I heard voices. Nothing distinct, no clear words, but clearly a group of people was having a good time and laughing."I received the following account:"Hi. I'm an avid backpacker in the Pacific Northwest. Sometimes I'll hike for days on end without seeing another person. I think it's exhilarating being completely alone, there's really no feeling like it. You get used to it, but personally, I can never help but be on edge. The environment is completely serene and friendly, but there's a constant feeling in the back of your mind, that it's hard to put your finger on. Most of the time you'll be chugging along, comfortable in your mind, but when you stop for rest, or to fill up on water, you can't help but look over your shoulder.Nothing bothers me much out in the woods. I've run into brown bears, had elk trample through camps late at night, and much more. But one night was different. I was on a deep backwoods hike, in the late fall off-season. It was cold, but the snow hadn't quite started falling yet. I like that. In fact, I usually plan my trips this way. The forest ranger I talked to when I was organizing the trip said I was the only hiker she knew of who'd be up there at the time. I was using dispersed camping sites so far off the beaten path they didn't have fire pits. That night was 5 or 6 miles from the trail Into the area. I set up camp at a site about a hundred yards from a stream, close enough that a faint babbling was audible. I'd lit a fire, cooked dinner, read for a while, and was settling down to sleep. I lay listening for a while to the sounds of the woods and the creek. Just as I was nodding off, I think I heard voices. Nothing distinct, no clear words, but clearly a group of people was having a good time, laughing, maybe telling stories around a campfire.A feeling of dread came over me. I thought, "I shouldn't leave the tent." Fear like I've never felt engulfed me. All the hairs on my arms, legs, and the back of my neck stood on end. I lay there for a while in panic, the voices carrying on laughing indistinctly. After a while, they receded into the background noise. I still didn't leave the tent, I was too afraid.The next morning after a very short night's sleep, I searched the surrounding area, and the path to the site. The few shoe prints I found were faded and worn around the edges, too old and too few to be from the size of the group I'd heard. I tried to shrug it off as nerves, maybe nervousness got the best of me, but I couldn't shake a certain tension. I made good time to my next site, the last of the trip, looking around a little more than usual. Still, nobody to be seen.That site had no stream. Dry camping isn't a blast, but it's doable if you pack enough water for cooking and drinking for the night. It was a lot quieter, just the chirps of bugs and the wind rustling the trees. I cooked my dinner and stayed up a good while after dark sitting on a log, looking at the stars and listening to the sounds of the forest, trying to hear the voices from the night before, but there was nothing. I turned in for the night, stretching every act out. I lay there, restless for what felt like hours. Finally, calm comes over me. And then it's back. Nothing threatening or particularly scary, just the sounds of a group of 15-20 having a good time, barely audible above the background noise. This time I'm calm, and there's what seems like an internal dialogue in the back of my mind, "Why not join them? Sounds like they're having fun. I'd really rather stay here." This is entirely unconscious and goes on for a while. I'd never experienced anything like this. I was worried that I'd lost it. After a time, the noises faded away into the white noise, and I felt that I was alone.The next day I packed as quickly as I could and got out of there. During the day I was more at ease, like I had always been in the past. I was relieved when I got to the car and started back home.I told the story a few times, and every time I felt a little of that dread from the first night. I really had no reason to feel strongly about what had happened. I just heard strange noises in the forest, nothing extraordinary, but I felt it.On one occasion, I told the story to my professor who's native. He got quiet for a minute, then said I had run into 'Stick Indians.' He said that it was good that I didn't leave the tent. Stick Indians are evil and dangerous beings that prey on children and women. The look on his face was sober. He told me not to go back to that place again. These spirits are extremely aggressive and attack and kill at the slightest provocation, including even saying their Salish name, which he refused to do.Whenever the subject comes up, I get that same fear in me. As I write this I'm thousands of miles from those sites and my arms are still quaking." F**********WEIRDEST OF THE WEIRD 4 - INCREDIBLE ENCOUNTERS! | LIVE Chat | Q & A (REAL EYEWITNESS REPORTS!)RISSA MILLER - LEGEND OF 'HELL HOUSE' - LON STRICKLER - Live Chat - Q&A - (CREEPY MARYLAND HISTORY)PHANTOMS & MONSTERS VIDEO LIBRARYPOLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK? Vote & comment on paranormal, cryptid & unexplained mysteries!LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS & MONSTERS REPORTS & CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHAREPHANTOMS & MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on SpotifyPHANTOMS & MONSTERS READING LISTCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonOUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSBigfoot and Other Cryptid Videos on YouTubeLYCANS! - PENNSYLVANIA'S CRYPTID CANINES UPDATE'KILLER BIGFOOT' HUNTED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES / GLIMMER MAN / MANTIS HUMANOIDSCRAWLER HUMANOIDS - GRUESOME INVADERS! (REAL EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)WEREWOLVES: DO THEY EXIST?'DOGMAN IN OUR YARD!' - AN OHIO FAMILY'S 12-YEAR SAGA WITH CRYPTID CANINESHey, folks. Thanks for the congrats on 'The Mothman Revisited' episode on Unsolved Mysteries. As a result, we are receiving more sighting reports and are very excited and grateful for the new information!I sincerely thank the Unsolved Mysteries team and Netflix for allowing us to tell the world about this phenomenon.If you have information about this or any other cryptid or unexplained sighting or encounter, please feel free to contact me by email or at 410-241-5974. Thanks again! LonCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistChicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive MapEXCLUSIVE VIDEO of CHICAGO MOTHMAN RECORDED---------------Become a Phantoms & Monsters Radio Insider - just $2.99 monthly, and receive these perks. Thanks for your support!-Members-only live chats-Exclusive members-only videos-Priority reply to members' commentsHave perks suggestions? LMK-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. Lon Noted UFOlogist Dr. Raymond Keller believes the idea of extraterrestrials and even ultra-dimensional beings from many different planets and alternate realms living and working among us clandestinely is more than just another conspiracy theory.Available on Amazon.comSan Francisco Book Festival Honorable MentionNew York Book Festival Honorable MentionAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs,CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.OUR PRIVACY POLICYThis blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS & MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2025 Phantoms & Monsters - All Rights Reserved

"I would hear 'knocking' sounds on the trees around us at night. I would brush it off as just wind but then the sounds would get louder and closer and then they started surrounding us."I received the following account:"Hi, Lon. I thought that I'd write you. I still can't explain this. I was out in the mountains of Pennsylvania in the Poconos, and this happened multiple times. I would be in the woods and would hear 'knocking' sounds on the trees around us at night. I would brush it off as just wind but then the sounds would get louder and closer and then they started surrounding us in a circle. Then we heard screaming from the woods surrounding us, not yelping but in some kind of language. It was absolutely insane. It sounded like people dying. It wasn't coyotes, I've heard them many times. This was human.While the screaming and knocking kept going in circles we would huddle near each other at the fire, looking at each other like "WTF?" Then it would stop after about 20 minutes. When we were in our tents sometimes we would hear it again and hide under the blankets. Sometimes we would even hear footsteps. This was in an area that, historically, had a lot of Native American violence so maybe that could be why? Just grasping at straws here, because there was no way we could explain it. Whenever we went to the same area it would happen.The last time we were there we ended up staying at my friend's cabin and I really only stayed one night and day because 2 people (my friends) had to leave and I didn't want to be alone with the last person there whom I didn't know all that well. They were kinda odd, to say the least, and I didn't feel right without cell service or my own car in the middle of nowhere with a stranger. Nothing out of the ordinary there though, just a campfire, some beers, grilled food, etc.This was in a different area than the above. No weird sounds that I could hear, even while venturing into the woods looking for them. But maybe someday I'll hear them again! I've talked to friends and family about this. Some of them suggested that we encountered a group of Bigfoot. One friend told me that they had experienced the same thing in the same area (near Arrowhead Lake). What are your thoughts?" WNOTE: The Poconos are well-known for a variety of unexplained activities and cryptid sightings. Bigfoot and cryptid canines have been reported in the past, as well as ghostly phenomena. Honestly, it seems possible that this was Bigfoot activity. Lon**********WEIRDEST OF THE WEIRD 4 - INCREDIBLE ENCOUNTERS! | LIVE Chat | Q & A (REAL EYEWITNESS REPORTS!)RISSA MILLER - LEGEND OF 'HELL HOUSE' - LON STRICKLER - Live Chat - Q&A - (CREEPY MARYLAND HISTORY)PHANTOMS & MONSTERS VIDEO LIBRARYPOLL: WHAT DO YOU THINK? Vote & comment on paranormal, cryptid & unexplained mysteries!LISTEN TO NARRATIONS OF PHANTOMS & MONSTERS REPORTS & CASES - PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, LIKE & SHAREPHANTOMS & MONSTERS RADIO Podcasts on SpotifyPHANTOMS & MONSTERS READING LISTCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistHave you had a sighting or encounter?Contact me by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. LonOUR SOCIAL MEDIA LINKSBigfoot and Other Cryptid Videos on YouTubeLYCANS! - PENNSYLVANIA'S CRYPTID CANINES UPDATE'KILLER BIGFOOT' HUNTED BY U.S. SPECIAL FORCES / GLIMMER MAN / MANTIS HUMANOIDSCRAWLER HUMANOIDS - GRUESOME INVADERS! (REAL EYEWITNESS ENCOUNTERS!)WEREWOLVES: DO THEY EXIST?'DOGMAN IN OUR YARD!' - AN OHIO FAMILY'S 12-YEAR SAGA WITH CRYPTID CANINESHey, folks. Thanks for the congrats on 'The Mothman Revisited' episode on Unsolved Mysteries. As a result, we are receiving more sighting reports and are very excited and grateful for the new information!I sincerely thank the Unsolved Mysteries team and Netflix for allowing us to tell the world about this phenomenon.If you have information about this or any other cryptid or unexplained sighting or encounter, please feel free to contact me by email or at 410-241-5974. Thanks again! LonCHICAGO MOTHMAN / O'HARE BATMAN YouTube PlaylistChicago / Lake Michigan Winged Humanoid Regional Interactive MapEXCLUSIVE VIDEO of CHICAGO MOTHMAN RECORDED---------------Become a Phantoms & Monsters Radio Insider - just $2.99 monthly, and receive these perks. Thanks for your support!-Members-only live chats-Exclusive members-only videos-Priority reply to members' commentsHave perks suggestions? LMK-----YOUR SUPPORT IS APPRECIATED! THANKS-----Have you had a sighting or encounter?Contact us by email or call the hotline at 410-241-5974Thanks. Lon Noted UFOlogist Dr. Raymond Keller believes the idea of extraterrestrials and even ultra-dimensional beings from many different planets and alternate realms living and working among us clandestinely is more than just another conspiracy theory.Available on Amazon.comSan Francisco Book Festival Honorable MentionNew York Book Festival Honorable MentionAlso available with audiobooknarration by Terry Springs,CBS-TV Las Vegas affiliate.OUR PRIVACY POLICYThis blog and newsletter are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Work 3.0 United States License.Registered trademark PHANTOMS AND MONSTERS ® / PHANTOMS & MONSTERS ® - USPTO #90902480 - Lon D. Strickler© 2005-2025 Phantoms & Monsters - All Rights Reserved