A house in Arlington‚ Virginia‚ blew up on Monday night just minutes after police posted on social media that they were investigating the home over reports of someone shooting off a flare gun. News of the explosion came after people on social media began reporting hearing massive explosion in the area and began posting photos of large fire off in the distance. “ACPD is in the 800 block of N. Burlington Street investigating a suspect who has discharged a flare gun from his residence‚” Arlington police said in a statement. “Expect continued police activity and avoid the area.” “As officers were attempting to execute a search warrant at the residence‚ the suspect discharged several rounds inside the home‚” police said several minutes later. “Subsequently‚ an explosion occurred at the residence and officers continue to investigate the circumstances of the explosion.” WATCH: Video of the explosion. Hope everyone was out of the house#Arlington #ballston @ARLnowDOTcom @RealTimeNews10 pic.twitter.com/JSZE7LkoTD — c “” maj (@connormaj) December 5‚ 2023 Police said that officers on the scene reported only suffering minor injuries and no one was transported to the hospital. “Monitoring the emergency response to a major explosion in the Bluemont neighborhood of Arlington tonight‚” said Rep. Don Beyer (D-VA). “This is very‚ very scary‚ and my profound thanks go out to first responders working to secure the area and keep everyone safe.” Monitoring the emergency response to a major explosion in the Bluemont neighborhood of Arlington tonight. This is very‚ very scary‚ and my profound thanks go out to first responders working to secure the area and keep everyone safe. — Rep. Don Beyer (@RepDonBeyer) December 5‚ 2023

At least four gold bars that federal investigators recovered during their search of Sen. Bob Menendez’s (D-NJ) home are directly linked to one of the men accused of bribing Menendez. In 2013‚ businessman Fred Daibes filed a police report stating that he was the victim of an armed robbery and that the assailants took $500‚000 in cash from him and nearly two dozen gold bars. Police later caught the suspects and Daibes’ property was returned to him‚ including the gold bars. According to Daibes‚ who had to sign a document certifying that the property was his‚ the gold bars all had unique serial numbers that would never be duplicated onto another gold bar. “Each gold bar has its own serial number‚” he told investigators at the time. “They’re all stamped … you’ll never see two stamped the same way.” Four of the gold bars that investigators recovered from Menendez’s home have the same serial numbers as four of the 22 gold bars that were stolen and later returned to Daibes. Daibes was charged in the federal indictment for allegedly conspiring to bribe Menendez and conspiring to commit fraud. The indictment says that Menendez and his wife had a corrupt relationship with New Jersey businessmen Wael Hana‚ Jose Uribe‚ and Fred Daibes‚ who allegedly gave the senator bribes worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. According to the DOJ‚ the bribes were intended to protect the businessmen and to benefit Egypt. NBC legal analyst Danny Cevallas said‚ “All of this spells bad news for Senator Menendez because the chain of custody – it appears – is going to be really easy to prove up.” Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) called for Menendez to be expelled from the Senate last week after the U.S. House of Representatives expelled now-former Rep. George Santos (R-NY). “Senator Menendez‚ he needs to go‚” Fetterman said. “And if you are going to expel Santos‚ how can you allow somebody like Menendez to remain in the Senate? And‚ you know‚ Santos is kind of‚ lies were almost‚ you know‚ funny. And like‚ you know‚ he‚ you know‚ landed on the moon and that kind of stuff.” “Whereas‚ you know‚ I think‚ you know‚ Menendez‚ I think is really a senator for Egypt. You know‚ not New Jersey. So I really think he needs to go‚” Fetterman said. “He has the right for his day in court and all that‚ but he doesn’t have the right to have those kinds of votes and things that — that’s not a right. And I think we need to make that kind of decision to send him out.”

'They have been working on it for a while'

'The Democratic voters feel as though this party no longer represents them'

A shy cat who was in a kennel for over a month just had her dream come true. She feels like a kitten again. Charlie the catSaltyAnimal RescueA long-haired tabby cat was found as a stray and brought into an animal shelter‚ needing placement. Days turned into weeks‚ and the cat waited in her kennel for over a month.She was overwhelmed by the shelter environment and retreated to the back of the confined space‚ trying to stay hidden. She needed a home to allow her true self to shine.When Karly and Katelyn Saltarski‚ cofounders of Salty Animal Rescue (an all volunteer organization)‚ received a request to help the cat‚ they couldn't say no. She was very shy at the shelterSaltyAnimal RescueSydney‚ a volunteer of the rescue‚ offered to foster the cat named Charlie. She was ready to shower her with love and help her gain confidence.Charlie moved into a quiet‚ spacious room with a food station‚ a comfy couch‚ and plenty of soft things. Charlie moved into a foster homeSaltyAnimal RescueShe stayed in her carrier to decompress before mustering the courage to explore.She found a hiding spot behind the couch and wedged herself in while she continued to adjust. When Sydney came in to offer a few pets‚ Charlie was timid but didn't refuse the gesture. She hid behind a couch but started to warm up to her peopleSaltyAnimal RescueAfter experiencing love through touch‚ she grew more comfortable and curious and poked her head out from behind the couch.As her confidence rose‚ Charlie realized she no longer had to hide in the shadows‚ and her sweet‚ goofy personality emerged. "We were expecting Charlie to be a little spicy‚ but she quickly showed her foster mom that she's a playful love bug‚" Karly shared. SaltyAnimal RescueOvercoming her initial shyness‚ Charlie transformed into a velcro cat‚ a constant companion.She curled up next to Sydney when she sat down to read. Charlie always had at least one paw touching her foster mom so that they could stay connected. She always had a paw or two on her foster momSaltyAnimal Rescue"Once she gets comfortable‚ she's all about her humans. She loves to snuggle and play and makes the cutest little chirps and meows."Sydney gave Charlie all the attention‚ love and care a kitty could ask for. Slowly but surely‚ Charlie blossomed into a happy cuddle muffin‚ incredibly affectionate towards the people she trusts. She adores snugglesSaltyAnimal Rescue"She let her foster mom know just how much she missed her and was so happy when she got some Charlie time."Basking in the comfort and safety of indoor life‚ Charlie felt like a kitten again. "She's still just a baby at a year old‚ so she has so much potential. Charlie really is a dream kitty." Her favorite thing to do is hanging out on the couch with her peopleSaltyAnimal RescueFrom wandering the streets to waiting in a kennel to thriving in a foster home‚ Charlie was finally ready to look for a place of her own.A wonderful family came across Charlie's story and was completely smitten with her. They opened their hearts and their home and welcomed her into their lives. She curled up next to her foster mom when she was readingSaltyAnimal Rescue"Charlie's adopters understand it's a huge change‚ and sometimes the new family member needs a little time to show their true self‚" Karly shared."She's being a shy girl‚ but her new family knows that in a few days‚ Charlie will be a whole new love bug." Charlie has found her forever homeSaltyAnimal Rescue"The amount of rehoming requests we get is mind-blowing. Our shelters are overflowing." With Charlie being adopted‚ Sydney can bring in another cat like Charlie‚ giving them a chance they deserve."We are so happy for Charlie and her new family and know she will have the best life from here on out." SaltyAnimal RescueShare this story with your friends. More on Salty Animal Rescue on Instagram and Facebook.Related story: Kitten Left Behind on a Stoop After Birth Fights Her Way Back‚ Now Has Cats to Dote on Her All Day

This Vox Story About Millennials and Motherhood is Optimistic but Also Somewhat Sad

Drip‚ Drip. More Payments from Hunter Biden to The Big Guy

A star college football player was the victim of a drive-by shooting on Wednesday‚ according to Florida police‚ but his life was spared because his cellphone took a bullet for him. The 20-year-old man was walking from the Step in Food convenience store to his father's home in Port Salerno at about 11 p.m. when someone fired at him from a car‚ according to Martin County Sheriff's Office Chief Deputy John Budensiek. "It's by the grace of God that we're not discussing a serious homicide case today‚" said Budensiek. "As he was getting near his house‚ a vehicle drove up‚ and the passenger in the front of that vehicle opened fire at him with a high-powered rifle‚" he added. Two of the bullets struck the man in the thigh and in the hand. One shattered his cellphone‚ which he was holding up to his face while talking. Police say that the cellphone likely saved his life. Investigators did not release the man's name but did confirm that he had no criminal history. "This is alarming for us‚ that area is a relatively safe‚ quiet area‚" Budensiek added. He added that the football player was in town for the holidays but normally attended school out of state. Dominick Victor‚ a close friend of the victim‚ told WPTV-TV that he was horrified when he got the call about his friend. "None of this feels real‚ it's hard to like‚ so much emotion‚ it just doesn't feel real‚" he said. Police are trying to identify a suspect and released a surveillance video from a Ring camera showing what they believe to be the car of the shooter speeding away. They are still investigating whether the shooting was targeted or random. "It's an attempted homicide case‚ inches from a homicide case‚" said Budensiek. Here's a local news report about the incident: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Actor Kelsey Grammer of "Frasier" fame has noted that he still supports former President Donald Trump."I am‚" Grammer said during an interview with BBC Radio 4's "Today" when asked whether he is still a Trump supporter. He added that he would "let that be the end of it."A radio host noted that "Kelsey Grammer himself was perfectly happy to go on talking about it. The Paramount+ PR people‚ less happy that he talked about it‚" the radio host added‚ indicating that the PR people decided that there had been "plenty of time for our interview." Grammer‚ who played the character Frasier Crane on the sitcom "Cheers‚" portrayed the character again for the sitcom "Frasier‚" which ran from 1993 until 2004. Grammer is reprising the role of Frasier Crane in the Paramount+ reboot‚ also titled "Frasier‚" which came out this year — the season 1 finale will come out later this week. During a 2019 interview‚ Christiane Amanpour noted that Grammer is conservative and had voted for Trump and then asked the actor whether he had taken hits for it. "I'm unaware of taking a hit for it‚" Grammer said.The actor played Christian pastor Chuck Smith in the 2023 film "Jesus Revolution‚" which was based on a true story. The real Chuck Smith passed away in 2013. While Trump is facing GOP primary competition‚ he has been able to maintain a massive lead in the polls and appears likely to clinch the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!