Once magnets for opportunity and growth, cities such as New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles are now experiencing a significant population exodus. The latest census data reveals that some of the United States’ most prominent cities are losing residents by the thousands, while less known cities such as Port St. Lucie, Fla., and Lewisville, Texas, are gaining. This trend has not always been the case. America’s flagship cities generally provide abundant job opportunities, a wide array of events and entertainment, superior dining options, and better schools and universities. But despite these appealing qualities, certain factors are driving the current demographic shift away from these cities. What are the primary reasons behind this trend? The data shows it is closely tied to state and local government policies, which have worsened the nation’s most notable cities’ crime rates, cost of living, and tax burdens. As a result, Americans are relocating to safer and more affordable places. These tables highlight the top 10 cities with the greatest population decline or growth since 2020. A broader trend emerges of cities in Texas and Florida gaining residents, while cities in California and other large metropolitan areas are losing population. Three primary factors explain this demographic shift. Crime Rising crime rates, especially in cities with policies that embolden criminals, are pushing residents away. The Heritage Foundation’s report, “The Blue City Murder Problem,” highlights the role of lax prosecutors in imposing policies that have led to rampant crime. For instance, San Francisco reported a staggering 3,384 thefts from vehicles (larceny) in September 2022 alone. Other cities, such as Baltimore and New Orleans, have homicide rates of 51.1 and 40.6 per 100,000 residents, respectively, making them the second- and third-deadliest cities in the U.S. Consequently, residents of these cities have fled to safer areas where the rule of law is upheld. The “defund the police” movement has also contributed to crime spikes. That policy is wildly unpopular with the American public: A Pew Research poll indicates that only 15% of adults want police spending to decrease, while 47% want it to increase. Despite such polls, research by the Judiciary Committee shows that cities such as Baltimore, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, and San Francisco cut a total of $1.35 billion in police spending following the Black Lives Matter riots of 2020. The consequences have been severe. Major felony offenses in New York City increased from about 95,000 in 2019 to 102,000 in 2021 and hit a citywide record of 126,700 in 2023. Philadelphia, another city that decreased its police spending, saw homicides spike from 353 in 2019 to 499 in 2020, reaching a record high of 562 in 2021. Instead of making their communities safer, local politicians have created environments where criminals face little risk of prosecution. Cost of living Crime isn’t the only culprit. The rising cost of living is also pushing residents out. For instance, the median home price in Los Angeles in April was $1.2 million, compared to Fort Worth, Texas, where the median home price is a much more manageable $355,000. The average median home-price listing in the top 10 shrinking-population cities was $716,070, compared with $445,900 for the top 10 fastest-growing cities. High home prices make it hard for people to buy a home, so they settle down in cities where homeownership can become a reality. The overall cost of living should also factor in grocery, transportation, and utility costs. Data from the Council for Community and Economic Research allows for “apples-to-apples” comparisons between cities, using an index where the U.S. average affordability has a value of 100. The data shows a clear pattern: Cities losing population are unaffordable, while affordable cities such as Jacksonville, Fla., and San Antonio, Texas, are gaining new residents. With the cost of living increasing nationwide, Americans are not looking to exacerbate this burden by moving to expensive cities. Taxes Taxes also play a crucial role in these migrations. Nine U.S. states, including Texas, Florida, and Nevada, do not have a state income tax. Notably, eight of the 10 fastest-growing cities are in those states. In contrast, none of the top 10 cities with the greatest population decline are in states without an income tax. A measure known as the “State-Local Effective Tax Rate” provides a clear comparison of state-specific tax burdens. New York ranks highest with an effective tax rate of 15.9%, while California ranks fifth at 13.5%. Conversely, Texas and Florida have much lower rates at 8.6% and 9.1%, respectively. This data indicates that Americans are favoring cities in states with more tax-friendly policies. Conclusion When local politicians focus on making their communities safe and affordable while keeping taxes low, residents respond by moving in. On the other hand, cities that fail to address high crime rates, rising living costs, and heavy tax burdens are witnessing significant population declines. This exodus not only diminishes the tax base, but also discourages new businesses and investments, perpetuating a cycle of economic challenges. Unless these cities recognize the urgency of these issues and implement effective policies to reverse these trends, they will continue to lose residents to more favorable environments. The demographic shifts we are witnessing today highlight the critical need for effective governance that prioritizes safety, affordability, and fiscal responsibility. The post 3 Reasons Why Americans Are Voting With Their Feet appeared first on The Daily Signal.

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. In Cyprus, a proposal to criminalize the dissemination of “misinformation” and “offensive” comments, with penalties reaching up to five years in prison, has stirred considerable controversy. This proposed amendment to the criminal code, debated earlier this month by the Cypriot Parliamentary Committee of Legal Affairs, aims to elevate certain offenses from civil to criminal status. Deputy Attorney General Savvas Angelides, and Committee Chair Nicos Tornaritis expressed that this amendment is only a “first step” in combating the spread of harmful “misinformation.” Angelides cleared recently of corruption allegations, emphasized the need to balance freedom of speech with the curtailment of reckless misinformation, stating, “There are defenses when there is good faith.” He assured that the amendment would not restrict professional journalists from performing their duties, as it explicitly excludes opinion and criticism. However, this stance is met with skepticism and alarm from various press freedom groups. Eleni Mavrou, representing the Association of Newspapers and Periodicals Publishers, described the amendment as a “blow to democracy,” arguing it would lead to self-censorship among journalists wary of criminal repercussions. Similarly, George Frangos, President of the Cyprus Union of Journalists, highlighted the subjective nature of terms like “fake news,” which could be exploited to suppress dissent. Critics also draw parallels with similar legislative trends in neighboring regions, such as the northern part of Cyprus and other EU member states, where comparable laws have been criticized for potentially stifling free speech. The Cyprus Mail voiced concerns about the ambiguity in defining what constitutes an “offensive” comment and how such a law could lead to arbitrary legal challenges against journalists. This legislative move aligns uncomfortably with broader European trends where “disinformation” is often not considered illegal per se but is increasingly criminalized, raising fears about the infringement of free expression rights enshrined in international and EU laws. If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net. The post Journalists Fear Self-Censorship as Cyprus Debates “Misinformation” Penalties appeared first on Reclaim The Net.

Emerson: Trump Runs the Table in Battleground States -- Including VA

About Last Night and a Take on Two Conventions

A strip of scarlet-red cloth that was discovered in Israel’s Cave of Skulls has been dated to over 3,800 years old, marking the earliest archaeological evidence of a dyed textile using crushed bugs. Despite being crafted in the Bronze Age, the color of the extremely rare pigment is still full of life – and mystery.The tiny scrap of material is smaller than a postage stamp. Despite its slight size, the relic caught the eyes of archeologists because of its vibrant red color.Alongside purple and royal blue, red is considered one of the ancient world’s most precious and expensive dyes, strictly reserved for religious elites and extra-fancy cultic contexts. The crimson pigment is coveted because it's obtained through a painstaking process involving Kermes, an insect that the Bible refers to as the "scarlet worm.”"In ancient times, the dye was produced from the female scale insect, which lives on the kermes oak tree (Quercus coccifera)," Dr Naama Sukenik, Curator of the Organic Material Collection at the Israel Antiquities Authority, said in a statement sent to IFLScience.“Collecting these kermes was done in a very short window of time – one month out of the year, in the summer, after the female laid her eggs but before they hatched— when the amount of dye was greatest. The short period in which the kermes could be collected, the difficulty in finding them due to their small size (between 3–8 mm [0.1 to 0.3 inches]), and their camouflage colors, that make it difficult to locate them, as well as the small amount of dye that can be produced from them — and on the other hand, the beautiful red hue (scarlet) that can be produced from them for dyeing textiles, made their use highly prestigious," said Dr Sukenik.Excavation in the Cave of Skulls, where the piece of fabric was discovered.Image credit: Yuli Schwartz / Israel Antiquities AuthorityFirst discovered in 2016, the piece of textile has recently been reanalyzed using carbon-14 analysis by researchers at the Israel Antiquities Authority, concluding it was made in the Middle Bronze Age (1767-1954 BCE).Chemical analysis also affirmed the pigment was derived from the acid of the so-called scarlet worm. Most remarkably, the researchers were even able to determine it came from a specific species (Kermes vermilio) that lives on a tree that is not native to the area. "Although it was discovered that Israel has a native species of scale insect living on Palestinian oak (Quercus calliprinos), capable of producing a red-orange color, the analytical results indicate that in the case at hand, the species of scale insects is Kermes vermilio which lives on the kermes oak tree (Quercus coccifera). This tree species is common in the central and eastern Mediterranean region, including Spain, France, and other areas, but is not found in the Land of Israel,” said Professor David Iluz from Bar-Ilan University, who also heads the Environmental Sciences and Agriculture Department at Beit Berl College.It’s unclear how the pigment ended up in the Cave of Skulls in the Judean Desert, far away from where the Kermes vermilio lives. Nevertheless, it is safe to assume that its distant provenience made the textile all the more valuable for the lucky souls who possessed it. “The rare textile is a testament to broad international commercial networks functioning already at this time and indicates the presence of an elite society," added Dr Sukenik.The study was published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports.

Habitat loss and destruction is one of the key issues facing species today. Fortunately, conservation groups are working hard, both with species in conservation areas and with those populations that need to be raised in captivity, to bolster the population. Now, for one species at least, it seems the results are paying off as the critically endangered Siamese crocodile population is increased by 60 new arrivals.At one point, the Siamese crocodile (Crocodylus siamensis) was thought to have gone extinct, but was rediscovered in 2000. Since the rediscovery, local communities and organizations have launched a conservation breeding program to help increase numbers. This involved breeding these crocodiles in captivity and then releasing the offspring back into the wild. To date, the team have released nearly 200 Siamese crocodiles back into the wild from this program. This is the beginning of the road for this population’s journey to recovery.Pablo SinovasA further boost for the population came in May 2024, when local people in the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia, found three nests. What is even more remarkable is that these nests were discovered in an area that the captive bred populations had not been released, suggesting that the population is beginning to expand and recover. The finding was swiftly followed by a second discovery of two more nests in a different area. At the end of June, 60 healthy Siamese crocodiles were hatched, representing a real positive outcome for this species.               “As the largest wild Siamese crocodile breeding event recorded in Cambodia this century, it is incredibly encouraging. While a large proportion of the 60 hatchlings may not survive during the first year due to natural causes, such as predation, some will likely survive and start breeding 8-10 years from now. This is the beginning of the road for this population’s journey to recovery, after two decades of very limited breeding in the wild,” Pablo Sinovas, Country Director, Fauna & Flora Cambodia Program, told IFLScience. Siamese crocodiles are a freshwater species that were once widespread throughout Southeast Asia, but now their range is restricted to Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. The crocs feed on snakes, frogs, and fish. While a total population estimate is not known, the best guess suggests there are around 400 individuals. Siamese crocodiles have a slow life history, taking nearly a decade to reach sexual maturity. They have been driven to this point due to hunting for the crocodile skin trade as well as competition for rice fields, explains Fauna & Flora International.To ensure these new arrivals have a safe environment to grow up in, the international teams have worked with governments and locals to put protections in place for these critical habitats. “We work with local community wardens, who patrol these habitats on a regular basis to monitor and deter threats. We also work with relevant government departments so protection measures are enforced, and to afford some of the most important sites for Siamese crocodiles additional protection in the form of locally-managed crocodile sanctuaries,” continued Sinovas.The Chorng Indigenous people have also been instrumental in the survival of the Siamese crocodile, explained Sinovas. “The Chorng Indigenous people revere Siamese crocodiles as sacred. They have long been protecting the species in the Cardamom Mountains for spiritual reasons and this may be the reason why it remains there.” This entire project highlights the incredible benefit of long-term conservation projects in collaboration with governments, charities, and local people to benefit the survival of a species. “We have been working closely with Fauna & Flora to protect this critically endangered species for several years, and we were excited to have found these crocodile nests. This discovery indicates that our conservation efforts have paid off, and I believe that with our ongoing conservation efforts, the population of Siamese crocodiles will continue to increase in the future,” said Toy Chorn, a community warden, in a statement sent to IFLScience.

Yesterday one of the longest solar prominences seen in years caused the Sun to fire out a major coronal mass ejection (CME). The prominence is estimated to have reached a length greater than the distance between the Earth and the Moon, around 380,000 kilometers (236,000 miles). Although CMEs are common so close to solar maximum, this one stands out a little, both because it looks to be heading straight for Mercury, and because some remarkable images have been captured.CMEs are the cause of auroras and their associated activity. They occur when solar flares lift magnetic field and plasma from the Sun and fire both into space. Not all flares, and not even all large flares, produce CMEs, which is one of the things that make solar activity hard to predict. When they do occur the charged particles lifted off the Sun can, if pointed at Earth, be funneled by the magnetosphere towards the poles, where they ionize excite atoms that release light as they return to their ground state.Mercury has no atmosphere, so until recently, it was thought nothing interesting would happen when a CME hits. However, a year ago today, evidence was published showing it does something that would be just as spectacular as an aurora for anyone who can see in the X-ray part of the spectrum. The CME’s electrons reach the surface unimpeded causing the rocks themselves to fluoresce at X-ray wavelengths, after compressing Mercury’s magnetosphere.It’s easy to feel as though the Sun took notice, because in March it fired one major CME at Mercury, and now it has sent another towards the little planet.Sadly NASA's SOHO only caught part of the event, but it still makes for spectacular viewing.Imnage Credit: NASA SOHOHopefully, this will keep happening because in December next year, the BepiColombo spacecraft will, all going well, enter orbit around Mercury. It has already made three fly-bys of its destination, using the planet’s gravity to adjust its path around the Sun, as it did twice with Venus, to enable eventual orbital insertion. Three more fly-bys are still to come. Data from one of these quick visits was what alerted astronomers to the whole X-ray fluorescence, so if a CME hits while the craft is in orbit the scientific benefits could be enormous. Whether the solar maximum will continue that long remains to be seen.NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory only caught part of the CME, as it was undergoing calibration, but NOAA's GOES-16 Solar Ultraviolet Imager caught it all, as did NASA’s Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO), whose images are shown above.   However, all of these were arguably outdone by Argentine astrophotographer Eduardo Schaberger Poupeau. A frequent winner of astrophotography awards, Schaberger Poupreau has plenty of previous solar images on his Instagram, but even among those, the one at the top of this story stands out.“This afternoon, despite the enormous turbulence of the atmosphere (during winter, my "seeing" is very bad), I managed to photograph a gigantic plasma tongue on the Sun with my H-alpha telescope," Poupea told Spaceweather.com. "As I watched, the prominence kept growing and reached an impressive height of more than 380,000 km, more than the distance between the Earth and the Moon! This solar phenomenon was truly spectacular. The gigantic plasma tongue extended like a serpent of fire. The magnitude and beauty of this event left me in awe, reminding me once again of the majesty and power of the universe around us.” 

As part of his book promotion, Tom DeLonge offered his first interview to a publication in a long time and he didn’t talk about music at all. Tom discussed the UFO Phenomenon’s nature and what he thinks is happening with not only these objects but the nature of reality as well. DeLonge seems to think the Interdimensional Hypothesis is a real way to explain this phenomenon. He says: “I think it’s an absolute. I think what we’re dealing with is that the universe is kind of like the mind of God, if you will, and all things that could be happening past, present, and future are happening simultaneously, kind of like that movie Everything Everywhere All at Once. “I think what we’re dealing with are life forms that are traversing timelines through the use of artificial frequency variation and also biologically might be able to traverse timelines without a craft, just through their consciousness.” He continued: “I think we’re dealing with something that’s very, very complicated. I have a working theory that I’m not a hundred percent on just yet about why there hasn’t been disclosure. “What I’m leaning towards is that there is a unique law of physics where free will matters and what you think creates reality. Consciousness is a force that flows through the human being, and it is then created into physical matter. “So, your body, your mind, your entire being is a transducer of its environment. You’re taking an energy wave and turning it into a particle. So, you have to believe something, see something, think something for it to be there and that’s quantum physics.” The post Tom DeLonge on UFOs, religion, and consciousness appeared first on Anomalien.com.

If it’s acceptable for leftist media to label conservative shows as “unindicted co-conspirators” when a terrorist attacks, then turnabout is fair play, Media Research Center President Brent Bozell said in a radio interview Tuesday. Appearing on “O’Connor and Company,” Bozell and Host Larry O’Connor discussed MSNBC’s decision to pull Donald Trump-hating hosts Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski from their morning show on Monday, in the wake of Saturday’s attempted assassination of the Republican presidential candidate. Asked why MSNBC would pull Scarborough and Brzezinski that day, Bozell explained that the network couldn’t take the risk that they might say something incendiary that would harm the network: “They don’t trust them. They can’t trust their own show not to go into the direction that the media have been going in the last couple of years about Donald Trump, about him being a threat to democracy.” “Because, it’s not just that statement that their making, but the hysteria behind the statement that they’re making,” Bozell said, quoting times the two hosts have claimed that, if elected, Trump would “imprison,” “execute,” and “drive from the country” any one he doesn’t like. “One year from now, [democracy] could be over,” Bozell quoted Scarborough claiming. The liberal media’s lock-step claim that Trump is “an existential threat to democracy” isn’t a new tactic, Bozell said, recalling how they called conservative media hosts “unindicted co-conspirators” in the Oklahoma City bombing. “Okay, if that’s fair, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” Bozell said: “And I will hereby say that Joy Reid and Scarborough and Mika and the countless other people in the national news media that have been pushing this narrative that Donald Trump was an existential threat to America, they are unindicted co-conspirators in attempted assassination of the president.”