When Compensated College Athletes Get a State Tax Bill Next Year, They Can Blame California

The Sob Stories Always Fall Apart

For some time, people have assumed the "X" for a kiss was started by an English naturalist, but this is not the case.

And the species that are doing this are the ones you'd least expect.

The sheriff's office in Bay County, Florida, said officers responded Tuesday to a reported home invasion robbery at a residence in the 8200 block of Random Road. The area is about 10 minutes north of Panama City Beach.Patrol deputies made contact with the victim, who reported that two masked suspects entered his home while he was sleeping and stole a large amount of cash, officials said.He said Swartz earlier in the evening contacted him by phone requesting to visit his home and stating that she got his number through a mutual acquaintance, officials said.The victim stated he confronted the suspects inside the residence and chased them out, officials said, adding that the suspects then fled in their SUV.The victim then entered his own vehicle and pursued the SUV off Random Road and eastbound on Highway 388, officials said.During the chase, the victim reported striking the suspect vehicle multiple times in an attempt to stop it, officials said, adding that after the final impact, the suspect vehicle swerved and crashed into a ditch.When deputies arrived, they learned that the occupants of the crashed vehicle fled on foot into a nearby wooded area, officials said.Investigators soon learned that the crashed vehicle was registered to 22-year-old Sarra Swartz, officials said. While processing the scene, investigators found a large amount of cash in the vehicle and on the ground near the driver’s door, officials said, adding that the cash appeared consistent with the victim’s report of money taken during the home invasion. The victim amid the investigation also provided additional information about events preceding the robbery, officials said.RELATED: Florida home invader threatens homeowner with weapon, advances toward him, refuses to leave. But crook picks wrong victim. Image source: Bay County (Fla.) Sheriff's OfficeHe said Swartz earlier in the evening contacted him by phone requesting to visit his home and stating that she got his number through a mutual acquaintance, officials said.The victim agreed, and Swartz arrived soon after and remained at the residence for about 15 to 30 minutes before leaving, officials said.The victim added that he displayed a large amount of cash while giving money to his girlfriend — and while Swartz was present — which may have been observed, officials said.After Swartz left, the victim fell asleep, officials said, after which he said his girlfriend woke him up screaming that individuals were taking his money.The victim saw two masked males inside the residence, officials said, and described one as a tall, larger white male and the other as a shorter black male armed with a baseball bat. The victim’s girlfriend also reported seeing what appeared to be a handgun in the possession of one of the suspects, officials said.Deputies detained one suspect in the woods, later identified as 37-year-old James Crowe, officials said, adding that Crowe provided information identifying two additional suspects and detailed events leading up to and following the robbery. As the search continued, investigators found Swartz walking along a road west of the crash site, officials said.A short time later, investigators saw the third suspect, Devarius Stewart, seated in the passenger seat of a vehicle stopped in the area, officials said.Stewart initially refused commands to exit the vehicle, officials said. However, with the arrival of additional units, Stewart and Swartz were detained and transported to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office for interviews, officials said.RELATED: Armed Florida homeowner fights back against 4 thugs who reportedly try to force their way into his residence (L to R) James Crowe, Sarra Swartz, Devarius Stewart. Image source: Bay County (Fla.) Jail, compositeCrowe, Swartz, and Stewart were arrested and charged with home invasion robbery with a deadly weapon, officials said.Bay County Jail records indicate that all three remained behind bars Friday morning; Swartz's bond is $75,000, Stewart's bond is $100,000, and Crowe is being held without bond. Records also indicate that Crowe faces an additional charge of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon; his bond is $20,000 for that charge.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

President Donald Trump's allies on Capitol Hill are pushing a crucial election integrity bill that continues to be championed by the MAGA base. Although most Republicans have touted the legislation, the usual suspects in the Senate have been stubborn. The SAVE America Act passed the House with unanimous Republican support on Wednesday, with even one Democrat voting in favor of the bill. The legislation would put in place the bare minimum requirements to safeguard federal elections by requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote as well as photo ID to cast a ballot.'Federal overreach is not how we achieve this.'Despite the overwhelming support from Republican constituents, several lawmakers in the Senate have refrained from backing the key legislation. As of this writing, 49 of the 53 Senate Republicans have co-sponsored the SAVE America Act, including Senate Majority Leader John Thune (S.D.), according to Republican Sen. Mike Lee of Utah. Senate Republicans who have withheld their support so far include Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, all of whom have a history of bucking Trump. RELATED: Lone Democrat joins all Republicans to pass landmark election integrity bill barring noncitizens from voting Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesRepublican holdouts have argued the legislation is another case of government overreach that would federalize elections, while others have simply maintained a vague position on the bill."When Democrats attempted to advance sweeping election reform legislation in 2021, Republicans were unanimous in opposition because it would have federalized elections, something we have long opposed," Murkowski said in a post on X. "Now, I’m seeing proposals such as the SAVE Act and MEGA that would effectively do just that."Notably, Murkowski was the sole Republican who voted to advance the same 2021 voter reforms she referenced. RELATED: Lone Republican defies Trump, votes to tank the SAVE Act Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images"Once again, I do not support these efforts. Not only does the U.S. Constitution clearly provide states the authority to regulate the 'times, places, and manner' of holding federal elections, but one-size-fits-all mandates from Washington, D.C., seldom work in places like Alaska.""Imposing new federal requirements now, when states are deep into their preparations, would negatively impact election integrity by forcing election officials to scramble to adhere to new policies likely without the necessary resources," Murkowski said in a post on X. "Ensuring public trust in our elections is at the core of our democracy, but federal overreach is not how we achieve this.""I am looking at it," Collins said Thursday. "The House made significant changes to it. ... This is a work in progress."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Sen. Lisa Murkowski's SAVE Act Gaslighting (on STEROIDS!) Torched By the Most Perfect Community Note EVER

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The Steam Deck is popular, but it's also a significant financial investment, which is why owners are flocking to this third-party case to keep them safe.