A convicted felon claiming to have a bomb held up a bank and took two hostages Tuesday in Fort Myers‚ Florida. When negotiations failed and the suspect appeared ready to slash a woman's throat‚ a SWAT sniper restored order with a well-placed shot. Shortly after 11 a.m.‚ the Lee County Sheriff's Office received a report of a robbery in progress with multiple hostages at the Bank of America in Bell Tower. Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno said during a press briefing Tuesday‚ "It was a chaotic scene." A man armed with a knife and claiming to have a bomb reportedly stormed the bank and leaped over the counter. The suspect has been identified as 36-year-old Sterling Ramon Alavache. The LCSO indicated that Alavache is a convicted felon with an extensive criminal history‚ including drug trafficking‚ aggravated assault‚ and unlawfully carrying a concealed firearm in various states. WZVN-TV noted that Alavache had three prior arrests just in Charlotte County. With the support of the FBI‚ the LCSO pulled out all the stops to resolve the incident‚ deploying a robotic dog‚ a SWAT team‚ electronics surveillance‚ and drones. "A group of deputies immediately went into that building ... and began to — as people‚ dozens of people ran out — they began to secure all other portions of the building while simultaneously hostage negotiations began with our suspect‚" said Marceno. New Video: Suspect dead after claiming to have explosives inside Fort Myers Bank of America at Bell Tower and US 41 in both directions has been reopened.\nhttps://t.co/JjLSmcCdiv — (@) Deputies attempted to negotiate with Alavache until he reportedly began to rough up the hostages. Marceno said that "at one point during negotiations he became physical. He started to put one of the hostages in like a headlock and he had the knife to her throat. SWAT team was in place. When he presented deadly force like that‚ our SWAT sniper shot and killed the suspect. We were in fear for her life and safety." Both hostages and all deputies apparently escaped the ordeal unscathed. Authorities did not confirm whether or not Alavache did in fact have an explosive device on his person. "It's a sad day when innocent lives are placed in jeopardy due to the senseless acts of others‚" the sheriff said in a subsequent statement. "My family members were faced with a tough decision today to neutralize an active threat to the public‚ during a very volatile situation. Let this serve as a reminder of how important it is to remain vigilant." The LCSO confirmed to WZVN that the sniper who made the lethal shot at the bank has been placed on administrative leave per protocol. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Bud Light released a new Super Bowl commercial featuring its biggest spokesmen on the same day that President Donald Trump expressed his support for the brand.Still attempting to recover from its 2023 marketing fiasco with alleged transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney‚ Anheuser-Busch's Bud Light received support from the 45th president.Commenting on his platform Truth Social‚ Trump called Bud Light's failed promotion a "mistake of epic proportions" for which a "very big price was paid."Indeed‚ Bud Light lost billions and its parent company's stock tumbled‚ but Trump asked if the brand deserved another chance."Anheuser-Busch is not a Woke company ... [it] spends $700 Million a year with our GREAT Farmers‚ employ 65 thousand Americans‚ of which 1‚500 are Veterans‚ and is a Founding Corporate Partner of Folds of Honor‚ which provides Scholarships for families of fallen Servicemen &; Women‚" Trump stated. "Anheuser-Busch is a Great American Brand that perhaps deserves a Second Chance? What do you think? Perhaps‚ instead‚ we should be going after those companies that are looking to DESTROY AMERICA‚" he added.Trump's endorsement may be tied to his reported significant investment in Anheuser-Busch InBev‚ however. According to data reviewed by the Independent in 2023‚ the former president owned between $1 and $5 million in stock under an account called "DJT Trust — Investment Account #2."Business Insider noted the same‚ citing a 100-page disclosure form filed with the Federal Election Commission on April 14‚ 2023.The positive words also came at the same time Anheuser-Busch lobbyist Jeff Miller was set to host a fundraiser for Trump. As reported by MSN‚ the beer giant paid Miller's firm $260‚000 in 2023.The fundraiser for Trump has a $10‚000 ticket price and reportedly features members of Congress and Republican leaders.The same day‚ Bud Light released what is most likely its most expensive commercial in recent history. Employing a galaxy of personalities‚ the ad featured Super Bowl champion Peyton Manning‚ a longtime supporter of the brand who has mentioned it in victory speeches.As well‚ musician Post Malone made an appearance. The star has publicly drunk the beer for years‚ even on episodes of Joe Rogan's podcast. UFC President Dana White was yet another big star in the ad. White is fresh off his public recommendation of the brand after re-signing a prominent sponsorship deal between the beer brand and the UFC. Filthy rich? Done. One REALLY big bicep? Yes. An epic night out with Peyton Manning‚ @postmalone &; @danawhite? The Bud Light Genie\u2019s here in our Super Bowl LVIII commercial to make it happen — (@) Trump's comments echoed White's from October 2023 when the fight promoter was asked how fans would react to a partnership with the recently shamed brand."For Anheuser-Busch it was about values‚ core values for me. I'm at a point in my life and I'm at a point in my career where nothing is just about money any more‚" White told reporters."Almost a billion dollars a year go to U.S. farmers for their crops‚ for their products; that is right up my alley‚ that's exactly who I am‚" White listed. "65‚000 Americans are employed by Anheuser-Busch‚ and thousands of them are vets; right up my alley‚" he added.Seemingly the only person missing from the Bud Light commercial was newly signed comedian Shane Gillis. Gillis too is a noted Bud Light consumer‚ drinking the beer on many of his podcast appearances.Gillis became a fan favorite for his lack of censorship‚ knowledge of history‚ and of course his impression of Trump.While Bud Light has certainly amped up its efforts to win customers back‚ the company still has not issued an apology that resonated. An April 2023 statement by Anheuser-Busch CEO Brendan Whitworth fell flat when he stated the company "never intended to be part of a discussion that divides people.""We are in the business of bringing people together over a beer‚" he added. The company did not address any of consumers' concerns surrounding the promotion of gender dysphoria.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre showed her displeasure on Tuesday when confronted about President Joe Biden's cognitive health.On Sunday‚ Biden raised eyebrows when he told a crowd in Las Vegas that he spoke with François Mitterrand after winning the presidency. But that's impossible because Mitterrand‚ the former French president‚ died almost 30 years ago in 1996. The White House later edited the official transcript of Biden's speech to show the president meant to say "Macron‚" a reference to the current president of France‚ Emmanuel Macron.At the press briefing‚ Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked Jean-Pierre how this latest incident fits with the narrative that Biden is mentally healthy."How is President Biden ever gonna convince the three-quarters of voters who are worried about his physical and mental health that he is OK even though in Las Vegas he recently told a story about talking to a French president who died in 1996?" Doocy asked.The question clearly angered Jean-Pierre."I'm not even gonna go down that rabbit hole with you‚ sir‚" she responded‚ trying to move on to a different reporter."Why? What is the rabbit hole?" Doocy followed up. "He said he talked to Mitterrand."Jean-Pierre incoherently responded‚ "You saw the president in Vegas‚ in California. You’ve seen the president in South Carolina‚ you saw him in Michigan. I’ll just leave it there."And with that‚ Jean-Pierre cut off Doocy and refused to allow him any further questions. — (@) Perhaps Jean-Pierre's fuse was shorter on Tuesday because of the question that Doocy asked just prior to confronting her about the Mitterrand incident. In that query‚ Doocy dismantled the Biden administration's narrative that congressional Republicans bear responsibility for the border crisis."You guys talk a lot about how the border wouldn't be such a big deal if Congress would've just passed your immigration bill on Day 1. Who was in charge of Congress on Day 1?" he asked.If Jean-Pierre had answered the question honestly‚ she would have had to admit that Democrats controlled Congress for the first two years of Biden's presidency. Unfortunately‚ she didn't take that route but instead continued to blame Republicans."So the Democrats who were charge the first two years — no responsibility?" Doocy follow up."I'm not saying that Democrats have not been in control the first two years. ... I'm saying House Republicans have gotten in the way — they have!" Jean-Pierre responded. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Boeing 737 9 MAX airplane that experienced a mid-flight door panel blowout last month may have left the factory without key bolts‚ according to the United States National Transportation Safety Board's preliminary report.In January‚ an Alaska Airlines flight headed to California from Oregon was forced to make an emergency landing when an exit door panel blew out. As a result of the terrifying incident‚ all Boeing 737 9 MAX planes were grounded for several weeks pending quality control inspections. Alaska Airlines and United Airlines reported finding loose bolts on several planes.The door panel that blew off mid-flight was designed to be held in place by four bolts and 12 "stop fittings." The safety board's initial investigation found that the bolts appeared to be missing. "Once the plug is in place‚ it is secured from moving vertically by a total of four bolts‚" the Tuesday report explained. "Overall‚ the observed damage patterns and absence of contact damage or deformation around holes associated with the vertical movement arrestor bolts and upper guide track bolts in the upper guide fittings‚ hinge fittings‚ and recovered aft lower hinge guide fitting indicate that the four bolts that prevent upward movement of the [mid exit door] plug were missing before the MED plug moved upward off the stop pads."According to the NTSB‚ Spirit AeroSystems‚ a former Boeing subsidiary‚ had previously removed the door plug in September to fix damaged rivets."Photo documentation obtained from Boeing shows evidence of the left-hand MED plug closed with no retention hardware (bolts) in the three visible locations‚" the report continued. "The investigation continues to determine what manufacturing documents were used to authorize the opening and closing of the left MED plug during the rivet rework.""When was the last time those bolts were installed?" asked U.S. aviation safety expert John Cox‚ Reuters reported. "Did Spirit not install them and then when Boeing opened it the guys didn't realize that they didn't have the bolts? Or did Boeing not install them? That is something that I don't think we have an answer for yet."Jennifer Homendy‚ chair of the NTSB‚ told CNN that a similar incident could happen again."Of course‚ something like this can happen again‚" Homendy said Wednesday. "This is the reason the NTSB exists to ensure this never happens again.""There is no way that this plane should have been delivered with four safety-critical bolts missing‚" she added. "There's a problem in the process. We're not just digging into what's going on at Boeing. We're also digging to FAA's oversight of Boeing as well. I'm very encouraged by the administrator's comments."Boeing's shareholders have since filed a lawsuit against the aircraft company‚ claiming that its "serious safety lapses" and "poor quality control" measures led to the terrifying incident‚ which ultimately prompted a dip in stock prices. Shareholders accused Boeing of prioritizing profits over safety.In a recent statement‚ Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun said‚ "Whatever final conclusions are reached‚ Boeing is accountable for what happened. An event like this must not happen on an airplane that leaves our factory.""We simply must do better for our customers and their passengers‚" he added.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The set combines their greatest hits with beloved album tracks and classic live performances The post Eagles Announce Career-Spanning ‘To The Limit’ Collection appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

It ushered in the singer-songwriter era and has endured as a beacon to listeners and like-minded musicians for half a century. The post Review—James Taylor’s ‘Sweet Baby James’: Fire and Rain appeared first on Best Classic Bands.

Take the tactical combat and turn-based strategy of the phenomenal Into the Breach‚ but melded with the card game elements of beloved roguelike deckbuilder Slay the Spire‚ and you have Tendryll. One of the most promising new games I’ve played during the ongoing Steam Next Fest‚ you can try out Tendryll right now courtesy of a free demo‚ and I’d definitely recommend giving it a shot if you’re after that next roguelike hit after all those big 2023 winners such as Wildfrost and Cobalt Core. Continue reading Slay the Spire meets Into the Breach in new roguelike‚ demo out now

How do you transfer Palworld Game Pass save data to the Steam version? If you're reading this‚ it's because you wish to migrate your saved world over from the Game Pass PC client to the Steam version‚ whether it's to ensure you won't lose your progress or join other Steam users. The good news is that there is a way to do it‚ and it ensures that all the Pals you've caught and your crafted gear won't be lost. You'll need to download some external software to transfer Palworld Xbox data. Thankfully‚ it's relatively simple to use‚ and once the process is complete‚ you can continue in the survival game from where you left off. So‚ if you've already beaten a few Palworld bosses‚ explored much of the Palworld map‚ and tinkered with the Palworld settings until they're just right‚ here is how you can keep your progress. Continue reading How to transfer Palworld save data to Steam from Game Pass MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Palworld bosses‚ Palworld map‚ Palworld settings

GTA 6 has arrived early‚ at least in spirit‚ courtesy of a new GTA 5 mod that brings upcoming protagonist Lucia to the second best-selling game of all time. Rockstar’s behemoth is over a decade old now‚ and while this addition is a fun little early taste of what’s to come from the long-awaited next Grand Theft Auto game‚ it’s also a welcome reminder of just how far videogames have come as we book our tickets to Vice City. Continue reading GTA 6 comes to Los Santos with this new GTA 5 mod MORE FROM PCGAMESN: GTA 5 RP servers‚ GTA 6 release date estimate‚ GTA 5 cheats

After years of dominance by Intel followed by a more recent battle for supremacy with Samsung‚ the crown for the biggest silicon chip manufacturer has finally been claimed by industry stalwart TSMC. Having for years been the producer of chip designs by AMD‚ Apple‚ Intel‚ Nvidia‚ and many other companies‚ the imaginatively named Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Corporation (TSMC) has produced many of the best gaming CPUs and GPUs for a long time. However‚ with Intel dominating the broader processor market and Samsung producing masses of mobile and memory chips‚ it's only now TSMC has finally taken the top spot. Continue reading Intel and Samsung have officially lost the chip making crown MORE FROM PCGAMESN: Core i5 14600K review‚ Best gaming CPU‚ Core i9 14900K review