These type of articles are becoming all too common. Ellen Phillips‚ previously Ellen Shell‚ from Danville Kentucky just pled guilty to having multiple sexual relationships with “numerous teenage boys” during her time as a teachers assistant in 2022‚ the Eastern Kentucky U.S. Attorney's Office reported.  Phillips had inappropriate relationships with boys ages 14 to 16 from the Boyle and Garrard County areas. “Phillips would communicate with the victims via Snapchat‚ Facebook‚ or text messaging and‚ in many instances‚ would meet the victims for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity‚” the DOJ press release indicated. Phillips admitted that she was engaging in sexual activity with “multiple minors at the same time.” This is all while she was a teaching aid at Woodlawn Elementary School‚ Daily Mail reported. Freak. One specific incident happened last December when Phillips tried to get a 15-year-old boy to have sex with her. She messaged him on Facebook and encouraged him to sneak out of his house‚ even trying to bribe him with alcohol and oral sex. A mother spoke to FOX 56 and said that she and Phillips went to high school together and that their kids grew up together. The mother also said‚ “These boys are not aware of the laws that protect them and would not come forward because they thought they would be in trouble.” The mother noted that her son “said she brought them alcohol 3 to 4 times" and said "I can’t wrap my mind around the extent of what she’s done." Phillips was arrested back in April of 2023 after two boys came forward alleging that she raped them three separate times when they were just 16-years-old. Phillis is scheduled to be sentenced on April 26 and faces a minimum of ten years in jail after being charged with three counts of third-degree rape.  I don’t know what the character exam is like to be a teacher's aid but I think it needs to be a heck of a lot more strict.    

Speaking in Blue Bell‚ Pennsylvania‚ on Jan. 6‚ President Biden said that the 2024 election is about whether “democracy” is “still America’s sacred cause.” But is democracy “sacred”? Is the process by which we make choices “sacred‚” or is what we choose “sacred”? This is the time of year we think about sanctity of life. Although Roe v. Wade is no longer law of the land‚ the abortion issue is still very much before us as the U.S. Congress and as states across the nation work to crystallize what the next chapter will look like regarding abortion policy in our country. March for Life events will take place across the nation‚ as every year‚ noting the Jan. 22‚ 1973‚ Roe v. Wade decision that opened the door for more than 63 million unborn children destroyed in the womb. The abortion policy debate is defined by those who call themselves “pro-choice” and those who define their view as “pro-life.” “Pro-choice” basically says that what is most important is the process — that women are free to choose whether to abort. What is most important‚ in this view‚ is not what is chosen‚ but that there is choice. Those who are “pro-life” focus on what is chosen as the key. The issue is sanctity of life. Life is what is sacred. I often note the parallel to slavery. Sen. Stephen Douglas of Illinois‚ in the 1850s‚ championed democracy as the answer to how the nation would deal with the issue of slavery for new states entering the union. New states would decide whether slavery would be permitted in their state by voting. Again‚ the importance was given to process — how the choice is made — and not to what is chosen. Abraham Lincoln’s response to Douglas’ proposition was: “God did not place good and evil before man‚ telling him to make his choice. On the contrary‚ he did tell him there was one tree‚ of the fruit of which he should not eat‚ upon pain of certain death. I should scarcely wish so strong a prohibition against slavery in Nebraska.” For Lincoln‚ the focus of importance was on what is chosen — that good be chosen over evil. And‚ for Lincoln‚ slavery was clearly evil. Democracy was not the answer. Making the correct moral choice was the answer. In Biden’s remarks on Jan. 6‚ he cited Gen. George Washington’s leadership during the American war of independence‚ and Washington’s calling the values for which they were struggling “sacred.” Was Washington talking about a struggle for a political process or a struggle for sacred truths? We can answer this by noting Washington’s famous remarks in his farewell address to the nation in 1796. “It is substantially true that virtue or morality is a necessary spring of popular government‚” said Washington. “Where is the security for property‚ for reputation‚ for life‚ if the sense of religious obligation desert the oaths‚ which are the instruments of investigation in courts of justice? And let us with caution indulge the supposition that morality can be maintained without religion.” Latest Gallup polling says 28% are satisfied with the way democracy is working in our country — an all-time low. Only 22% are satisfied with the direction of the country. I think what is really bothering Americans is not about the state of our political processes but that we have lost touch with the core principles and truths that define our country. Slow economic growth‚ inflation‚ breakdown of the American family‚ massive government spending and debt all point to a breakdown of sacred truths‚ not political processes. It’s not about how we choose but what we choose. And to return to the abortion issue‚ I don’t see how a nation can see itself as free‚ with control over its destiny‚ without appreciation for the sanctity of life. Star Parker is president of the Center for Urban Renewal and Education and host of the weekly television show “Cure America with Star Parker.” Her recent book‚ “What Is the CURE for America?” is available now. To find out more about Star Parker and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists‚ visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.

Founder of Living Proof Ministries Beth Moore has a message for former President Donald Trump’s supporters after the results of the Iowa caucuses. Trump pulled over 50% of the votes and 20 delegates‚ which has “sobered” Moore to the realization that “masses of people still hail Trump.” “He’s what they actually want in a leader. A bully. A verbally abusive‚ artfully and purposely divisive bully who has all but left the Republican Party unrecognizable‚” Moore wrote in a tweet on X. Moore continued that she could understand voting for Trump in 2020‚ as “the lesser of two evils.” However‚ she believes this is “quite another thing.” Rather than the lesser of two evils‚ she says‚ “This is wide-open-eyed‚ ‘we WANT Trump‚’” and that unfortunately‚ “our candidates are mirrors of ourselves.” Allie Beth Stuckey can see where she’s coming from‚ but isn’t quite sure that she agrees with Moore’s analysis. “To say that people want these aspects of Trump to be verbally abusive‚ to be a bully‚ whatever it is‚ however she describes him‚ that’s not true‚” Stuckey says. Rather‚ many people see Trump as “someone who is fighting against the system.” Stuckey also notes that Trump accomplished a peaceful presidency sans war‚ a booming economy‚ and overturned Roe v. Wade. “Assuming the worst motives of the people who are voting for him‚ you’re indicting millions of Americans who you are saying all support a bully because they themselves are bullies or love bullies‚” Stuckey says‚ “That’s just not true.” Want more from Allie Beth Stuckey?To enjoy more of Allie’s upbeat and in-depth coverage of culture‚ news‚ and theology from a Christian‚ conservative perspective‚ subscribe to BlazeTV — the largest multi-platform network of voices who love America‚ defend the Constitution‚ and live the American dream.

Left-wing political backer and billionaire George Soros was revealed to have donated millions to Democratic Party entities in Texas throughout the latter half of 2023.The Texas Majority PAC and several Democrat county parties took money from Soros between August-December 2023‚ with the PAC reportedly run by former members of Robert "Beto" O'Rourke's 2022 campaign‚ according to the Texas Tribune.On the receiving end of the Soros funds were Democratic Party affiliates in Cameron‚ Dallas‚ and Hidalgo‚ Texas. Along with some regional PACs‚ Soros also gave a reported $1 million to the Texas Majority PAC in August 2023‚ and another $400‚000 in October 2023.Officially‚ the contributions were intended to help entities register‚ contact‚ and support voter turnout "on a scale never seen before‚ year after year‚ in the key regions" of Texas‚ the PAC’s deputy executive director‚ Katherine Fischer‚ reportedly said."We need millions of more dollars and hundreds of more full-time staff to do this‚" Fischer continued. "Texas Majority PAC works with partners across the state to create the conditions that will make flipping the state possible."Fischer was the organizing director for O'Rourke's gubernatorial campaign. Jason Lee‚ O'Rourke's deputy campaign manager‚ is also working in the Texas Majority PAC. They are joined by Crystal Zermeño‚ a former staffer for the Texas Organizing Project‚ an group that also received at least $250‚000 from Soros in 2023.Yet another O'Rourke staffer‚ 2022 campaign manager Nick Rathod‚ was credited for helping organize the Texas Majority PAC. George Soros contributed $2.6M total to Democratic groups during the latest TEC period (July-December). Our story from last week on what's getting him more involved: https://t.co/jNufOJbRL4 #txlege — (@) Cameron County Democratic Chair Jared Hockema reportedly praised Soros‚ citing him as a Holocaust survivor while noting that Republicans too have relied on big‚ out-of-state donors."George Soros is a person who knows what’s at stake in the election we face‚" Hockema said. He knows the "specter of authoritarianism and fascism‚" he added.Executive director for the Texas Democratic Party‚ Monique Alcala‚ told the Texas Tribune that the party "welcomes any new investments and efforts that collectively achieve the ambitious goals of keeping Joe Biden in the White House."She also said she hoped to send "Ted Cruz packing" while "electing more Texas Democrats up and down the ballot.""With a state as big as Texas‚ there is no time or dollar to waste‚ and we’re ready to roll up our sleeves and get to work‚" Alcala explained.Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

In 2022‚ the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade after five long decades‚ giving hope to the millions of Americans who had passionately championed the protection of unborn children. Nearly two years later‚ however‚ many pro-life advocates are adrift‚ unsure of what exactly they should be doing to guard their historic achievement in the face of mounting hostility and adversity from the left. We must remain unwavering in our guiding principles: conviction‚ compassion‚ and an unyielding commitment to our duty to protect the unborn. At the direction of the Biden administration‚ the federal government intends to expand the opportunity to end life unilaterally. From the FDA deregulating abortion pills and the Pentagon funding abortions to the Justice Department targeting pro-life volunteers‚ state power is being deployed to an unprecedented extent in the service of a pro-abortion agenda radically out of step with everyday Americans. Alarmingly‚ though not surprisingly‚ given their agenda‚ Democrats continue to deny scientific reality involving unborn children. While supporting certain safety measures‚ such as requiring that beer‚ wine‚ and spirits be labeled with a warning that women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy and also barring pregnant women from riding roller coasters‚ high-ranking politicians on the left have refused to acknowledge the humanity of babies in the womb. Abandoning Bill Clinton’s “safe‚ legal‚ and rare” mantra‚ Democrats now advocate late-term abortions‚ deny care to surviving infants‚ and push for unrestricted taxpayer-funded abortions. Though polls show that many left-leaning Americans support reasonable abortion restrictions‚ their voices are often silenced‚ allowing extreme viewpoints to dominate the conversation. Instead‚ we hear militant voices like that of actress Anne Hathaway‚ who appeared on ABC’s “The View” and told viewers‚ “In my experience‚ abortion can be another word for ‘mercy.’” And‚ of course‚ the ladies of “The View” dogmatically cheered her on. Democrats have taken an even more bizarre approach to the abortion debate by forming an alliance with the Satanic Temple‚ which opened an abortion facility in New Mexico. In a repulsive act of trolling‚ the temple named the facility after Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s mother. Then again‚ nobody ever accused satanists of being tasteful. Unfortunately‚ the GOP appeared largely unprepared for success at the Supreme Court. This is perplexing and infuriating‚ given that the party had long supported overturning Roe. Many politicians stammered out awkward messaging. Others even seemed embarrassed by the court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization‚ raising pressing questions about their commitment to the cause. While a few Republican leaders‚ including Governors Ron DeSantis‚ Brian Kemp‚ and Greg Abbott‚ boldly addressed the issue‚ they remained exceptions in a party that noticeably distanced itself from its pro-life platform‚ especially during the 2022 midterms. Fortunately‚ the strength and readiness of the grassroots pro-life movement have provided a beacon of hope. Pregnancy medical centers‚ privately funded by compassionate citizens‚ now outnumber abortion providers 5-1 in post-Roe America. These centers not only reaffirm the movement’s commitment to protecting the unborn but also provide essential health care access to pregnant women in need. In light of these trials‚ the Republican Party must embrace the profound significance of pro-life victories and‚ accordingly‚ sharpen its messaging and develop strategies to seize upon the moment. First‚ the GOP must proudly and wholeheartedly celebrate the demise of Roe v. Wade‚ presenting the Supreme Court’s decision as a resounding victory for unborn rights and a triumph for the conservative movement. Instead of shying away‚ as it did in 2022‚ the Republican Party should assert its commitment to safeguarding the sanctity of life at every stage‚ shedding light on the stark reality of the Democratic position that permits taxpayer-funded abortion until the moment of birth. This stark contrast demands the nation’s attention. Second‚ the GOP must drive the pro-life battle to the grassroots. Investment in pregnancy medical centers‚ educational initiatives‚ and open dialogue at the local level can and will transform perceptions and win hearts. Our next imperative is to end abortion on state and local fronts‚ empowering communities to safeguard the unborn and offering alternatives to women who need support at a key moment in their lives. As we navigate this ever-evolving landscape‚ we must remain unwavering in our guiding principles: conviction‚ compassion‚ and an unyielding commitment to the undeniable truth: our duty to protect the unborn. Together‚ through the combination of strategic messaging and grassroots efforts‚ we can lead the way in championing the sanctity of life for generations to come.

China's aspirations of seeing its hundred-year marathon through to displacing the U.S. and becoming global hegemon by 2049 are growing increasingly fantastical. The economic and social problems the Asian nation faced in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic have not gone away. Rather‚ things have continued to deteriorate. Fallout of the one-child policy China faces a worsening demographic crisis‚ due in part to the Chinese Communist Party's one-child policy as well as to other correlated factors such as a decrease in the number of women of childbearing age‚ higher suicide rates in women than in men‚ sex-selective abortion‚ and declining fertility. The birth rate was over 20 births per 1‚000 people in 1990‚ one decade after the implementation of the one-child policy. Over the next 25 years‚ the country saw a precipitous decline in the birth rate‚ which a two-child policy in 2016 was unable to arrest. The rate hit a record low of 7.5 births per 1‚000 people in 2021. Data released by China's National Bureau of Statistics Wednesday indicated the birth rate reached a new low in 2023 of 6.39 per 1‚000 people‚ reported the BBC. The country's annual population has in turn fallen for a second consecutive year‚ this time by an estimated 2.08 million people. "It's not a surprise. They've got one of the lowest fertility rates in the world so this is just what happens - the population stops growing and starts to decline‚" Stuart Gietel-Basten‚ a population policy expert at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology‚ told the BBC. The country's fertility rate in 1950‚ the year after communists formally took power‚ was 5.29. The rate dropped to a record low of 1.16 in 2022. Blaze News previously noted that the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development regards 2.1 as the standard for a stable population. Demographic stability has been further undermined by a sex-ratio imbalance. As of 2021‚ there were over 34.9 million more men than women in the country‚ reported Newsweek. "It's kind of locked in now… this is just the next year in this new era of population stagnation or decline for China‚" added Gietel-Basten. The demographic problem has been compounded by economic stress as many of those in China who want and can physically have children reportedly cannot afford to do so. Economic woes Data released this week revealed the Chinese economy had allegedly grown at one of the slowest rates in over 30 years. Reuters reported that China's GDP allegedly grew by 5.2% in the fourth quarter of 2023‚ disappointing many investors and analysts. "Although the government met its 2023 GDP growth target of 'around 5.0%'‚ achieving the same pace of expansion in 2024 will prove a lot more challenging‚" said Julian Evans-Pritchard‚ head of China Economics at Capital Economics. The China Beige Book International's latest survey suggested‚ "Any true acceleration (this year) will require either a major global upside surprise or more active government policy." Craig Singleton‚ senior China fellow at the non-partisan Foundation for Defense of Democracies‚ told Newsweek that the regime's latest claims about the country's GDP growth "are just not credible." "Focusing on China's false GDP figures risks missing the forest for the tree‚" said Singleton. "The days of China's sky-high growth are over." "There is no getting around the fact that China is in damage control mode‚ attempting to project a sense of stability to the international community while grappling with myriad domestic challenges. If ever the cliché 'investor beware' applied‚ it's now‚" added Singleton. The country is struggling with high debt‚ a stock market in free fall‚ and a real estate crisis that continues to ravage the sector. Reuters indicated that amid China's disputed recovery and in the face of concerns about renewed lockdowns‚ the jobless rate nationwide increased to 5.1% last month and unemployment among Chinese youths ages 16 to 24 also remains high. The youth unemployment rate skyrocketed to 21.3% in June 2023‚ prompting the regime to suspend the release of monthly data. The rate allegedly sank to 14.1% in December‚ but is still high enough to create trouble for the regime‚ which has promised progressive increases in living standards in exchange for acceptance of its authoritarian rule. In addition to a potentially restive‚ largely male youth population‚ China has to contend with its massive elderly population. The BBC indicated that the retiree population‚ placing increasing pressure on the health care and pension systems‚ is projected to increase by 60% to 400 million over the next 10 years. The Guardian noted that 14% of China's population is over the age of 65 and is on track to have more geriatrics than the entire population of the United States. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A child-sex sting operation in California earlier this month led to the arrest of more than a dozen men‚ including a noted LGBTQ+ activist who had recently been appointed executive director of a "queer" nonprofit.Between January 5 and 6‚ members of several state and local agencies assisted police in Turlock‚ California — about 15 miles southeast of Modesto — in executing a sting operation to nab sexual deviants attempting to prey on minors. Undercover officers posed as teens ranging in age between 13 and 17 and began interacting with other users on dating apps. Various suspects eventually agreed to meet up with their dating app correspondents — whom they believed to be underage — "for the purpose of sexual activity‚" a press release from Turlock PD said."We got hits on every age‚" claimed Detective Gina Giovacchini‚ who orchestrated the sting.In all‚ police arrested 17 men‚ most of them from Stanislaus County. One of the local suspects swept up in the sting was Gerad Slayton‚ a 42-year-old man who had recently been appointed to be the executive director of the Rainbow Resource Center in Modesto. On its Facebook page‚ which has "BIGRAINBOWFLAG" as its username‚ the RRC describes itself as a "Non-Profit Queer Resource Center serving Stanislaus County. Not Your Typical Pride Center!"As with many other suspects‚ Slayton was charged with meeting with a minor for the purpose of sex‚ a felony‚ and booked in the Stanislaus County jail. He has pled not guilty and appears to have been assessed a bail of $250‚000. He is scheduled to appear in court again on January 29.The RRC issued a statement following Slayton's arrest‚ insisting that his alleged actions occurred "outside working hours and off-premises" and that organization leaders treat the allegations against him "with the utmost seriousness." "Mr. Slayton's actions do not represent our organization's values or mission‚" the statement added.In an interview with the Modesto Bee‚ RRC interim executive director Alex Gutierrez indicated that though Slayton joined the RRC a year and a half ago‚ at the time of his arrest‚ he was not interacting with many of the people the organization ostensibly serves. "He was new in that position and was working mostly with kind of staff roles‚" Gutierrez explained. "So I can’t say that he didn’t have‚ you know‚ any contact with people‚ with peers in general‚ you know‚ not to say zero contact‚ but we have definitely other layers of [contact] when you first come in‚ you don’t obviously meet the executive director."When pressed‚ Gutierrez admitted that the RCC does work with minors‚ though he said most people who go to the center are between the ages of 25 and 35."We’re obviously ready for whatever happens‚ but‚ you know‚ this was a personal decision made by one of our employees‚ and it’s unfortunate‚" Gutierrez added."So‚ it is‚ you know‚ very impactful for us. We are trying to get through it."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here! Turlock police arrest 17 in online child predator operation www.youtube.com

An Atlanta-based studio that teaches women to dance on a pole like a professional stripper has now decided to broaden its classes to target a much younger audience. With its new "Mommy and Me" classes‚ girls and boys as young as 4 can learn to twirl around a pole‚ prompting cries of outrage about the apparent sexualization of young children.Next month‚ Pink Dance and Aerial Studio‚ also known as Pink Poles Studio‚ will begin offering a workshop called "Mommy and Me." During the class‚ kids 4 and up will be "swinging‚ sliding and flipping on a pole" while "moms and peers cheer them on in the background‚" said a statement defending the classes on the company's website.Though the statement repeatedly insists that pole dancing has little or nothing to do with "stripping‚" a video to promote the class shows young girls performing pole stunts often associated with those seen in strip clubs. For this reason‚ Blaze News is choosing not to link to the promo video.No clothing is removed during the class‚ the statement claims. The "children wear age-appropriate gym wear‚ and adult students are fully clothed too." However‚ the statement also boasts that the course will help students‚ ostensibly including children‚ "embrace ... their sensuality."The statement also claims that the class gives families quality bonding time in which "moms can unleash their inner child with their daughters (or sons!)‚ exploring a variety of fun pole tricks and spins." Despite the strong backlash the course has received on social media‚ the overall response has been "overwhelmingly positive‚" the statement said.Tiajuanna "Tia" Harris supposedly founded the pole dancing studio a decade ago‚ despite having "no exotic dancer background or affiliation with stripping." An image contained in the statement indicates that the studio‚ which now has four Atlanta-area locations‚ was the result of divine inspiration. "God gave me a vision and fully funded‚" read the message attending an image of Harris‚ "now 10 years later I'm still winning and getting better each day."Another message attending the "Mommy and Me" promo video on Instagram likewise references divine intervention‚ claiming that God brought Harris together with a "gymnastics coach" known as Royalty Pole at just the right time. "We know she’s perfect for the job‚" the message said. "... God aligned us perfectly and [at] the perfect time."It appears that Royalty or another "gymnastics coach" like her will be supervising the kids during the "Mommy and Me" classes. Royalty's "adult" Instagram page does not appear to contain any videos of traditional gymnastics performances but contains hundreds of posts and videos of stripper-like pole dancing‚ complete with platform shoes and other notorious erotic attire. Her child-friendly Instagram page‚ kidspoletoo_‚ offers just two videos. In both of them‚ she is wearing much more modest clothing.Though Royalty's gymnastics expertise is unclear‚ the Pink Poles Studios statement still hints that young "Mommy and Me" participants may grow up to become Olympic champions like beloved gymnasts Gabby Douglas and Simone Biles. "Pole is a SPORT‚" it states emphatically‚ "and if any of these kids aspire to compete in the Olympics one day‚ they can and will!"Sadly‚ that assertion may not be wrong. In 2020‚ the Global Association of International Sports Federation‚ the organization which determines whether an activity is considered a sport‚ gave pole dancing the official nod‚ creating a path for it to become an Olympic sport some day. After the official GAISF go-ahead‚ pole dancing enthusiasts quickly scrambled to figure out a way to make the sport competitive. "We had to come up with a scoring system‚ rules and anti-doping process‚ everything you would associate with a sport like [soccer]‚" Katie Coates‚ president of the International Pole Sports Federation‚ said at the time.The IPSF offers several age-related categories‚ including "senior 18+ women‚" "senior 30+ women‚" "Master 60+ Women‚" and "Junior Female." There are many categories designated for males as well‚ including a "junior" competition. The website does not state the age range for "junior" competitors. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The Silicon Valley technology moguls behind a plan to build a new city in California are trying to gain favor with skeptical locals by offering "ten Guarantees" that are "legally binding‚" according to a Wednesday news post on the project's website."California Forever‚" the firm behind the project‚ quietly purchased 52‚000 acres of land near Travis Air Force Base in Solano County and plans to transform the area into a bustling and sustainable walkable city. The firm is backed by big names in the technology and finance industries‚ including Andreessen Horowitz‚ Laurene Powell Jobs‚ Michael Moritz‚ Reid Hoffman‚ Patrick and John Collison‚ Daniel Gross‚ and Nat Friedman‚ according to an August New York Times report.On Wednesday‚ the firm announced "a powerful set of 10 guarantees to ensure the plan delivers on" the group's promise to create "more good paying jobs… and more county revenue to improve schools‚ promote public safety‚ reduce homelessness‚ and upgrade infrastructure."California Forever said it will contribute to the existing community's growth by "creating good-paying jobs." "The project has to support creation of at least 15‚000 jobs that pay at least 125% of county average weekly wage by the time we hit 50‚000 residents‚ or we can't grow‚" the firm's article read. According to United States Census Data‚ the median household income in the county was $97‚037 in 2022.The firm also promised to carve out "new pathways to homeownership" by providing hundreds of millions of dollars in down payment assistance. The development will primarily consist of row homes and apartment buildings."$400 million in funding for down payment assistance for Solano County residents to buy homes in the new community‚ including homes for working families‚ teachers‚ nurses‚ police and firefighters‚ and construction workers‚" the firm stated. "Funding can also be used to help build affordable homes for low‚ very low‚ extremely low‚ and special needs households‚ including veterans‚ seniors‚ and agricultural workers."California Forever guaranteed it would allocate $70 million to fund higher education scholarships and small businesses. Additionally‚ it committed to investing $200 million in revitalizing downtown areas in Solano County by "renovating or building homes‚ offices‚ shops‚ and other mixed-use buildings."As part of the group's sustainable energy commitments‚ the project includes permitting solar farms with the ability to power approximately 1.5 million homes.The massive land purchase near Travis Air Force Base by Flannery Associates‚ the investment group behind California Forever‚ sparked national security concerns‚ Blaze News previously reported. Prior to the Times' August report‚ the identities of the group's financial backers were unknown‚ leading some to believe the firm might have Chinese or other foreign adversary ties. As a result‚ the U.S. Treasury Department's Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States launched an investigation into the group's purchase‚ which is still ongoing.Many locals‚ including Fairfield Mayor Catherine Moy‚ have been pushing to block the elites from developing the new city. Moy expressed concerns about the investors' business connections with China. California Democratic Rep. John Garamendi accused the firm of implementing "strong-arm mobster techniques" to acquire the land from small local farmers. To win over critics and squelch national security concerns‚ California Forever announced that it is committed to developing "a new Travis Security Zone‚ by nearly doubling the size of the current buffer from 7‚971 acres in the 2008 General Plan to a new total of nearly 15‚000 acres."The group further pledged that "the project has to pay its own way through taxes generated by its residents employers‚ without imposing any new tax or other fiscal obligation on any Solano County resident or business located outside of the proposed community.""All ten Guarantees are legally binding on California Forever and enforceable by the county‚" the firm stated.During a press conference on Wednesday announcing the details of the project‚ California Forever CEO Jan Sramek reaffirmed the group's commitment to work with the community and the military base."When we started the project‚ we had two roles. We knew we had to protect the base‚ but we didn't want to stop there. We wanted to be a partner that can make the base stronger today and for all the generations to come‚" Sramek stated. He noted that not only is the project planning to double the base's security buffer zone‚ but the entire community will be located outside the noise and the accident-potential zones established by base officials.A November vote will determine whether the project can advance. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

The so-called "non-binary" shooter behind the November 2022 massacre at a gay nightclub in Colorado Springs received five consecutive life sentences plus an additional 2‚208 years of prison time in June. He is now set add some years to the total‚ pleading guilty to 74 counts of federal hate and gun crime charges. The shooter hung out at Club Q on Nov. 19‚ 2022‚ then briefly left‚ returning dressed in body armor and toting a semi-automatic rifle. He proceeded to murder five people and injure 19 in what the Department of Justice characterized as a "willful‚ deliberate‚ malicious and premeditated attack." While he attempted to mow down dozens of additional victims‚ heroic patrons at the club were able to restrain him until police arrived on the scene. The victims killed in the shooting were Daniel Aston‚ 28; Kelly Loving‚ 40; Ashley Paugh‚ 35; Derrick Rump‚ 38; and Raymond Green Vance‚ 22. The mother of Ashtin Gamblin‚ a victim who was riddled with bullets but nevertheless managed to survive‚ asked the judge presiding over the shooter's state case to "lock this animal away to the depths of hell." Judge Michael McHenry obliged the victim's mother‚ ensuring the shooter‚ now 23‚ would never again walk free‚ with thousands of years of prison time and no chance at parole. "That is the longest sentence ever achieved in the Fourth Judicial District and the second‚ to my knowledge‚ longest sentence ever achieved in the state of Colorado‚ second only to the sentence achieved in the Aurora theater shooting case‚" said Fourth Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen‚ reported CNN. While the shooter‚ son of a pornographer‚ identified as "non-binary" in court filings for the case and indicated his pronouns were "they/them‚" Allen addressed him as a male throughout the case‚ stressing that "there is zero evidence prior to the shooting that he was non-binary." On Tuesday‚ the DOJ announced the shooter had been slapped with hate crime and firearms charges. CNN‚ which elected to use the shooter's preferred pronouns‚ reported that the shooter struck a deal with prosecutors whereby he will plead guilty to all 74 counts — including 50 hate crime charges — and in exchange receive "multiple concurrent life sentences plus additional consecutive sentences totaling 190 years imprisonment‚" in the event a judge approves of the plea deal. The Jan. 9 plea agreement was unsealed Tuesday after the shooter pleaded not guilty earlier in the day‚ reported the Associated Press. While the death penalty was on the table‚ the plea agreement would let the shooter squeak by unscathed. "It's angering and upsetting‚" said Ashtin Gamblin‚ reported Colorado Public Radio‚ which revised Gamblin's comments to respect the mass shooter's preferred pronouns. "Honestly I was hoping for a death penalty." "I feel like [they] just got grounded‚ personally‚ it feels like with the 2‚208 years‚ it's like [they] got grounded‚ go sit in your room for the rest of your life‚" said Gamblin. "The death penalty for me. … I just want [them] to sit with the thought of not knowing when [they're] going to die‚ or the fact [they] could die at any day‚ at any time‚ because that’s exactly what [they] did to us." Michael Anderson‚ who was bartending at the club on the night of the shooting‚ suggested the federal charges would send "a message to people who want to commit violent acts against this community‚ and lets them know this is not something that is swept away or overlooked." The shooter told the AP that at the time of the shooting‚ he was on a "very large plethora of drugs" and abusing steroids. Just over a year before the shooting‚ the "non-binary" shooter was reportedly arrested for threatening his grandparents and vowing to become "the next mass killer‚" stockpiling weapons and bomb-making materials. He was cut loose and his case was dismissed in 2021after his grandparents stopped cooperating with prosecutors. The shooter is presently siting in the Wyoming State Penitentiary‚ having been relocated on account of safety concerns. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!