An image shared on Facebook purports the “longest-serving liberal judge is retiring from the Supreme Court.” Verdict: Misleading The claim refers to Justice Ann Walsh Bradley‚ the longest-serving liberal justice on the Wisconsin Supreme Court‚ who recently announced she will not be running for re-election‚ according to the Washington Post. A spokesperson for the Wisconsin […]

Our top 10 Lou Gramm songs list looks at the body of work of an American singer-songwriter who rose to fame as the lead vocalist of the successful rock band Foreigner. After clinching stardom with the band Foreigner‚ Lou Gramm would later establish a successful solo career. His success as a solo artist started with the release of the hit “Midnight Blue‚” the lead single to his debut album‚ Ready or Not. “Midnight Blue” was a pivotal track in Lou Gramm’s solo career‚ launching him into mainstream success after it topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Chart. This song not only provided Gramm with The post Top 10 Lou Gramm Songs appeared first on ClassicRockHistory.com.

News mountain man Joe Manganiello to Zombie It Up in Mountain Man Adaptation Another man walking through the undead wasteland‚ so alone‚ so utterly alone By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on April 19‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share True Blood and Magic Mike actor Joe Manganiello is set to star in and produce a feature adaptation of Keith C. Blackmore’s zombie thriller‚ Mountain Man. The Mountain Man books‚ of which there are seven‚ centers on a man named Gus Berry who‚ according to the blurb for the first novel‚ “must survive the zombie apocalypse armed with only a shotgun‚ a Samurai bat‚ and the will to live among the unliving.” Here’s the rest of the description for the first book‚ Mountain Man‚ to give you more details on the story: It’s been two years since civilization ended in an unstoppable wave of chaos and blood. Now‚ former house painter Augustus “Gus” Berry lives a day-to-day existence of waking up‚ getting drunk‚ and preparing for the inevitable moment when “they” will come up the side of his mountain and penetrate his fortress. Living on the outskirts of Annapolis‚ Gus goes scavenging for whatever supplies remain in the undead suburbia below. Every time he descends the mountain could be his last. But when Gus encounters another survivor‚ he soon realizes the zombie horde may not be the greatest threat he faces. According to Deadline‚ the other survivor is a “captivating woman who poses another threat altogether.” Manganiello will play Gus‚ and the project has John Lee (False Positive) on board to direct‚ with a script written up by Matt Deller. Manganiello will be producing along with his brother‚ Nick‚ via their company 3:59‚ as well as Danny Chan (Barbarian). “John is a brilliant creative mind. We’ve been looking for the right thing to do together since we filmed Pee Wee’s Big Holiday and it’s finally here‚” Joe and Nick Manganiello told Deadline. “Very excited to get to work on such weird‚ wild project with him.” No news on when this project will go into production‚ though the team is looking to sell it at Cannes this year. [end-mark] The post Joe Manganiello to Zombie It Up in &;lt;i&;gt;Mountain Man&;lt;/i&;gt; Adaptation appeared first on Reactor.

News Furiosa Anya Taylor-Joy Had to Do Driving Stunts on Furiosa All Without a Driver’s License She still doesn’t have one‚ by the way By Vanessa Armstrong | Published on April 19‚ 2024 Comment 0 Share New Share The Mad Max: Fury Road prequel Furiosa is set to release in theaters in mere weeks‚ and Total Film magazine has a feature on the film coming out in its latest issue. One of the tidbits in that piece includes details about a fifteen-minute action sequence dubbed “Stairway to Nowhere” that involved over two hundred stunt people and took seventy-eight days to shoot. That’s certainly a lot&;#33; But for anyone who has seen George Miller’s Fury Road‚ that seems about right for his prequel‚ where Anya Taylor-Joy takes on the titular role‚ a part that Charlize Theron played in the previous film. What’s perhaps more interesting is the fact that Taylor-Joy did all these driving stunts even though she has never had a driver’s license&;#33; (She apparently had to learn to do a J-turn on her first day of stunt school even so.) The sequence is meant to be formative for Furiosa. “George and I would have these big conversations about why this particular set-piece was so long‚” Taylor-Joy told Total Film. “It’s because you see an accumulation of skills over the course of a battle‚ and that’s very important for understanding how resourceful Furiosa is‚ but also her grit. It’s the longest sequence any of us have ever shot. On the day we finished‚ everybody got a ‘Stairway To Nowhere’ wine&;#33;” Cheers to that&;#33; In addition to Taylor-Joy‚ Furiosa stars Chris Hemsworth as Warlord Dementus‚ the leader of a Biker Horde who captured Furiosa when she was a child‚ leading her to a quest for vengeance that we presumably see unfold in the upcoming film. We can bear witness to this action sequence and see Taylor-Joy’s unlicensed driving skills when Furiosa zooms its way into theaters on May 24‚ 2024. [end-mark] The post Anya Taylor-Joy Had to Do Driving Stunts on &;lt;i&;gt;Furiosa&;lt;/i&;gt; All Without a Driver’s License appeared first on Reactor.

Earth Day is Monday‚ and once again President Joe Biden is putting the American people last and environmentalists first with Friday’s actions making swaths of Alaska off limits to the development of oil‚ natural gas‚ and critical minerals.   America’s air is getting cleaner every year‚ and carbon emissions have declined by 1‚000 million metric tons over the past 16 years. Even if America were to abandon all fossil fuels‚ global temperatures would only decline by two-tenths of 1 degree Celsius by 2100‚ according to government models. Oil prices are more than $80 per barrel‚ and Americans are frustrated that gasoline prices are rising. Why‚ then‚ in an election year‚ is his Interior Department banning oil development on 13 million acres in Alaska‚ including 40% of the Alaska National Petroleum Reserve&;#63; Oil prices are set by expectations of future production‚ and Biden’s actions are signaling that less oil and gas will be produced on his watch. White House senior adviser for climate policy John Podesta said in a statement‚ “Today’s historic actions to protect lands and waters in the western Arctic will ensure continued subsistence use by Alaska Native communities while conserving these special places for future generations. With these new announcements‚ the Biden-Harris administration has now protected more than 41 million acres of lands and waters … .” Podesta is a former president of the Center for American Progress‚ which has a goal of “an equitable and just path to a 100 percent clean economy with net-zero climate pollution‚ protection of 30 percent of lands and waters.” CAP’s donors are undoubtedly praising Podesta for the White House actions. This comes at a time when America‚ Russia‚ and China are in a race for valuable deep-sea minerals to power their electric vehicle batteries. America has some of the largest offshore Arctic deposits‚ but will cede them to foreign adversaries if American companies are not permitted to mine them. The Interior Department also failed to approve the 211-mile Ambler Road project‚ which would link the Dalton Highway to the Ambler River and open new areas to copper mining and other resource development. Rules from the Environmental Protection Agency require 70% of new car sales and 25% of new truck sales to be electric by 2032‚ and the road would have added to available critical minerals for electric batteries. Similarly‚ Biden has utilized the Antiquities Act to create five national monuments‚ collectively spanning more than 1.5 million acres of federal land. While these proclamations are ostensibly aimed at preserving areas of historical or archaeological importance‚ they often come at the expense of resource development. People reliant on logging‚ mining‚ and energy extraction have felt the brunt of the damage inflicted by Biden’s regulations. Biden recently designated nearly 1 million acres of land in Arizona to create the Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument. Just as Alaska has copper deposits‚ now off limits‚ Arizona has some of the America’s richest uranium deposits‚ making future uranium-mining operations impossible. Biden’s executive branch overreach makes America weaker and more dependent on China for critical minerals. It takes away local communities’ ability to provide economic stability for themselves and the nation. American oil companies and refineries have watched Biden take step after step to destroy their industry so as to appease environmentalists‚ all the while blaming these same producers for fuel shortages and lack of critical minerals. As well as cutting off supplies of oil‚ gas‚ and minerals‚ Biden has placed climate czars at the Securities and Exchange Commission and at the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. These officials discourage companies from investing in pipeline and fossil fuel equipment and banks from lending to companies to provide financing. At current usage rates‚ the nation’s recoverable reserves are large enough for at least two centuries of petroleum supply. Moreover‚ we are always finding more reserves or improving technology to access oil more efficiently. The U.S. Energy Information Administration sees no prospect of global oil demand decreasing between now and 2050. Ninety percent of Americans’ transportation needs are met with petroleum‚ and electric vehicles sales are slowing. Petroleum products are used for much more than transportation. Oil is used as a feedstock for everything from pharmaceuticals and plastics to clothing. America has an abundance of energy and critical minerals‚ if politicians would just allow access. Biden is playing politics with domestic and global energy markets. Average Americans don’t want to buy costly electric vehicles and are collateral damage‚ stuck with soaring electricity and fuel costs. It’s no gift for Earth Day. The post Biden’s Ill-Advised Alaska Oil Ban Bodes Continued Pain at Pump appeared first on The Daily Signal.

House Speaker Mike Johnson lost more than 25% of his Republican conference Friday on a procedural vote to advance four foreign aid bills. The measure passed‚ 316-94‚ thanks to the support of Democrats‚ who typically oppose the majority party’s rules. In this case‚ however‚ Johnson‚ R-La.‚ won the backing of 165 Democrats compared to 151 Republicans. A total of 39 Democrats and 55 Republicans voted against the procedural rule. (See a complete list of those GOP members below.) More Democrats voted on the Republican rule than Republicans – historic moment.This rule violated the agreement we had to include the #1 national security issue – border security. I voted NO. The House is failing the American people by not holding the line on the border. pic.twitter.com/JYgr76kuhH— Rep. Victoria Spartz (@RepSpartz) April 19‚ 2024 Losing that many Republican lawmakers on a rule vote is extremely uncommon in the House of Representatives. Such measures are typically party-line votes in which the minority party is united in opposition to the majority. However‚ Johnson is counting on House Democrats to secure final passage of the package of four foreign aid bills Saturday and send it to the Senate. So Democrats had good reason Friday to align with the Republican speaker. It’s unclear if Democrats would do the same to protect Johnson’s leadership post. &;#63;Today‚ 55 bold conservatives in Washington stood up to their own party and voted against the Swamp’s Ukraine funding scheme. This is significant. Once again‚ @HouseGOP legislation passed with Democrat votes.America Last politicians are being exposed. This is a good thing.— Rep. Keith Self (@RepKeithSelf) April 19‚ 2024 House Republicans‚ meanwhile‚ voiced frustration that Johnson didn’t include border security in the four-bill package. Following the vote‚ a third GOP lawmaker‚ Rep. Paul Gosar‚ R-Ariz.‚ announced that he is co-sponsoring a motion to remove Johnson as speaker. Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene‚ R-Ga.‚ and Thomas Massie‚ R-Ky.‚ previously voiced support for ousting Johnson‚ who became speaker less than six months ago. “We need a speaker who puts America first rather than bending to the reckless demands of the warmongers‚ neo-cons and the military industrial complex making billions from a costly and endless war half a world away‚” Gosar said. It’s the latest indication of conservatives’ growing frustration with Johnson. Given the GOP’s narrow 218-213 majority‚ Johnson would lose the speakership by one vote if all Democrats voted with Gosar‚ Greene‚ and Massie on their motion to vacate the speaker’s chair. Rep. Paul Gosar‚ R-Ariz.‚ announced he was joining Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene‚ R-Ga.‚ on motion to remove House Speaker Mike Johnson‚ R-La. (Photo: Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) Johnson‚ who has vowed not to resign‚ defended his controversial decision to bring the foreign aid bills to the House floor in a consolidated package that matches President Joe Biden’s $95.3 billion request. Johnson’s strategy integrates funding bills for Ukraine ($60.84 billion)‚ Israel ($26.38 billion)‚ and the Indo-Pacific ($8.12 billion) with the 21st Century Peace Through Strength Act‚ a bill that would impose more sanctions on China‚ Iran‚ and Russia. In addition‚ the speaker’s strategy incorporates a bill that would require TikTok‘s parent company to sever ties with the Communist Chinese government or cease operations within the United States. Lawmakers also will vote on a bill related to border security‚ although it won’t be included in the four-bill package sent to the Senate. I just voted NO on the rule for the #AmericaLast foreign aid package.$95 billion in FOREIGN aid with NOTHING to stop the FOREIGN invasion of our own country.America’s border security should come FIRST.— Rep. Tom Tiffany (@RepTiffany) April 19‚ 2024 For months‚ conservatives have voiced objections to the Senate’s supplemental spending bill‚ advocating prioritization of border security and separate consideration of each bill. Heritage Action for America announced its opposition to the rule Friday—a rare stance against a procedural motion. “The rule put forth by leadership makes the House bills almost identical to the reckless‚ unrelated supplemental package passed by the Senate‚” Heritage Action Executive Vice President Ryan Walker said. “A conservative-led House can and must do better for Americans than promising a watered-down border bill that’s going nowhere and attaching a crucial TikTok bill that’s already passed the chamber.” “Heritage Action urges responsible‚ honest action to defend America’s interests—but the rule to combine these four bills fails on both counts‚” Walker said. Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine two years ago‚ the United States has allocated about $113 billion to Ukraine‚ averaging approximately $900 per American household. Despite this‚ the Biden administration persistently has sought an additional $60 billion from U.S. taxpayers to bolster efforts in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Below is the list of 55 Republicans who voted against the rule Friday. Rep. Mark Alford‚ R-Mo. Rep. Jim Baird‚ R-Ind. Rep. Jim Banks‚ R-Ind. Rep. Andy Biggs‚ R-Ariz. Rep. Dan Bishop‚ R-N.C. Rep. Lauren Boebert‚ R-Colo. Rep. Josh Brecheen‚ R-Okla. Rep. Tim Burchett‚ R-Tenn. Rep. Eric Burlison‚ R-Mo. Rep. Ben Cline‚ R-Va. Rep. Michael Cloud‚ R-Texas Rep. Andrew Clyde‚ R-Ga. Rep. Mike Collins‚ R-Ga. Rep. Eli Crane‚ R-Ariz. Rep. Warren Davidson‚ R-Ohio Rep. Scott DesJarlais‚ R-Tenn. Rep. Byron Donalds‚ R-Fla. Rep. Jeff Duncan‚ R-S.C. Rep. Russ Fulcher‚ R-Idaho Rep. Matt Gaetz‚ R-Fla. Rep. Bob Good‚ R-Va. Rep. Lance Gooden‚ R-Texas Rep. Paul Gosar‚ R-Ariz. Rep. Mark Green‚ R-Tenn. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene‚ R-Ga. Rep. Morgan Griffith‚ R-Va. Rep. Harriet Hageman‚ R-Wyo. Rep. Diana Harshbarger‚ R-Tenn. Rep. Clay Higgins‚ R-La. Rep. Doug LaMalfa‚ R-Calif. Rep. Debbie Lesko‚ R-Ariz. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna‚ R-Fla. Rep. Nancy Mace‚ R-S.C. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis‚ R-N.Y. Rep. Tracey Mann‚ R-Kan. Rep. Thomas Massie‚ R-Ky. Rep. Rich McCormick‚ R-Ga. Rep. Mary Miller‚ R-Ill. Rep. Cory Mills‚ R-Fla. Rep. Barry Moore‚ R-Ala. Rep. Troy Nehls‚ R-Texas Rep. Ralph Norman‚ R-S.C. Rep. Andy Ogles‚ R-Tenn. Rep. Scott Perry‚ R-Pa. Rep. Bill Posey‚ R-Fla. Rep. John Rose‚ R-Tenn. Rep. Matt Rosendale‚ R-Mont. Rep. Chip Roy‚ R-Texas Rep. Keith Self‚ R-Texas Rep. Victoria Spartz‚ R-Ind. Rep. Greg Steube‚ R-Fla. Rep. Tom Tiffany‚ R-Wis. Rep. William Timmons‚ R-S.C. Rep. Michael Waltz‚ R-Fla. Rep. Daniel Webster‚ R-Fla. The post Here Are the 55 Republicans Who Voted Against Speaker Johnson’s Foreign Aid Scheme appeared first on The Daily Signal.

A third House Republican has announced he will co-sponsor a motion to vacate introduced by Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene‚ R-Ga.‚ that‚ if passed‚ would end Mike Johnson’s tenure as House speaker after fewer than six months. If all 213 House Democrats vote in support of the motion to remove Johnson‚ R-La.‚ as speaker‚ only three Republicans would need to cross over for the motion to carry‚ 216-215‚ once Rep. Mike Gallagher‚ R-Wis.‚ resigns‚ as he plans to do imminently. Rep. Paul Gosar‚ R-Ariz.‚ announced that he would join the Georgia Republican’s effort to oust Johnson‚ saying in a written statement: [R]ather than spending the resources to secure our southern border and combating the invasion of 11 million illegals and despite repeated promises there would be no additional money going to Ukraine without first securing our border‚ the United States House of Representatives‚ under the direction of the speaker‚ is on the verge of sending another $61 billion to further draw America into an endless and purposeless war in Ukraine. “Our border cannot be an afterthought‚” Gosar added. “We need a speaker who puts America first rather than bending to the reckless demands of the warmongers‚ neo-cons and the military industrial complex making billions from a costly and endless war half a world away.” My statement joining .@RepThomasMassie on cosponsoring .@RepMTG Motion to Vacate:Gosar Statement on Supporting the Motion to Vacate the SpeakerWashington‚ D.C. — Congressman Paul A. Gosar‚ D.D.S. (AZ-09)‚ issued the following statement after cosponsoring H.Res. 1103‚…— Rep. Paul Gosar‚ DDS (@RepGosar) April 19‚ 2024 Rep. Thomas Massie‚ R-Ky.‚ announced earlier this week he supports Greene’s motion to vacate. Gosar’s decision comes as Johnson relied on House Democrats’ votes to pass a series of foreign aid bills opposed by many conservative Republicans. Johnson brushed off the threat of Greene’s motion to vacate Wednesday‚ saying: “I am not resigning. And it is in my view an absurd notion that someone would bring a vacate motion when we are simply here trying to do our jobs.” Johnson became House speaker in October after the ouster from the post of his predecessor‚ former Rep. Kevin McCarthy‚ R-Calif.‚ by a motion to vacate. The Kentucky Republican has faced increasing pressure from conservatives in the House. Johnson continues to have the support of former President Donald Trump‚ who said Johnson is doing a “very good job” when the two appeared together April 12 at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago home in Florida. “I stand with the speaker‚” Trump said. Johnson was elected House speaker with the votes of 220 Republicans. His predecessor‚ McCarthy‚ was removed as speaker after eight Republicans and all Democrats voted against him. Since Johnson became speaker‚ McCarthy and Rep. Ken Buck‚ R-Colo.‚ have resigned and left Congress. Former Rep. George Santos‚ R-N.Y.‚ was expelled in a House vote‚ and Rep. Mike Gallagher‚ R-Wis.‚ plans to resign soon. When Gallagher leaves office‚ that will leave 217 Republicans and 213 Democrats‚ a razor-thin Republican majority. Jarrett Stepman contributed to this report. This article has been corrected to reflect which state Johnson represents. The post Third Republican Announces Support for Ousting Johnson as House Speaker appeared first on The Daily Signal.

The Department of Education just released its long-delayed Title IX rule—a rewrite of the 50 year-old civil rights law so vast that it promises to turn Title IX’s guarantee of sex equality in education completely upside down.   Title IX of the Education Amendments Act of 1972 is all of a single sentence. It simply bars sex discrimination in any federally funded education program. It does not matter how much federal funding a school or institution of higher education receives. And it does not matter whether such funding from the federal government is direct or indirect. So yes‚ even the vast majority of private schools must comply with the rule.    But this simple longstanding prohibition on sex discrimination has been manipulated by the Biden administration to both undermine constitutional freedoms—like the freedom of speech—and erase the very women that Title IX was enacted to protect.   The Department of Education has unilaterally expanded the prohibition against discrimination based on “sex” to include a prohibition against discrimination based on: “sex stereotypes‚ sex-related characteristics (including intersex traits)‚ pregnancy or related conditions‚ sexual orientation‚ and gender identity.”  Under the Biden administration’s sweeping new Title IX rule‚ any K–12 school or institution of higher education that receives any federal funding would have to open girls’ bathrooms‚ locker rooms‚ housing accommodations‚ sports teams‚ and any other sex-separated educational program or offering to biological boys who claim to “identify” as girls. Similarly‚ boys’ facilities would have to be accessible to biological girls who “identify” as boys.  And the law’s decimation of equality doesn’t stop there. The regulations also eliminate due process protections for students accused of sexual misconduct (like the right to call witnesses‚ introduce evidence‚ or be represented by counsel during an investigation)‚ and violates the First Amendment to the Constitution by forcing teachers and fellow students to use of a student’s “preferred pronouns.”   The regulations also require K-12 schools to accept a child’s gender identity regardless of biological sex without providing any notice to‚ much less seeking the approval of the child’s parents.  And while the Education Department has punted‚ at least for the moment‚ on its second Title IX rule—one that applies only to athletics—the Biden administration’s representation that sports are not included in today’s rule is a complete head fake. By expanding the definition of “sex” to include “gender identity” and applying the rule to all “extracurricular activities‚” male and female athletic teams will be a thing of the past. Indeed‚ the word “athletics” appears in the new rule at least 31 times.  Furthermore‚ the Department of Education’s reading of Title IX lacks any support in the text of the title‚ its implementing regulations‚ and the law’s congressional history.   Congress had a chance in 1987 to amend the Title IX “sex” definition to include “gender identity‚” when it amended Title IX under the Civil Rights Restoration Act. But it did not.   Executive agencies are empowered only to promulgate “rules” or “regulations” that implement or interpret laws passed by Congress—not to create completely new laws.   Apparently‚ the Department of Education has forgotten that.    Now the question isn’t if legal challenges will follow‚ but how fast they’ll come.   The Independent Women’s Law Center has already indicated it is readying a lawsuit against the Department of Education.  Others are likely to follow. Let’s hope so.  The post Department of Education’s New Title IX Rule Just as Bad as Expected  appeared first on The Daily Signal.

When Dexter Reed died in a shootout with Chicago police on March 21‚ the incident was quickly grafted onto a narrative that began in 2014 after a policeman killed Michael Brown in Ferguson‚ Missouri—namely‚ that the U.S. faces an epidemic of violence by unbridled cops who do not believe black lives matter. “Killing of Dexter Reed raises questions about Chicago police reform. ‘The message is‚ go in guns blazing‚’” blared a headline in the Chicago Sun-Times. Reed’s death joins a long list of police shootings that have received wide media coverage and political scrutiny—especially those involving African Americans. Over the years‚ many police departments embraced reforms‚ including the use of bodycams‚ to document incidents—an effort bolstered by a public eager to use smartphones to record the behavior of cops. In 2015‚ The Washington Post created a database logging every person shot dead by police in the U.S. The belief was that this attention would make all law enforcement officers‚ especially the bad ones‚ think twice before pulling the trigger‚ and significantly reduce the number of shootings—which stood at 994 the year Brown was shot. Instead‚ there have been steady‚ incremental increases. “Police killed the highest number of people on record in 2023‚” the Post reported as the number of deadly police-involved shootings hit 1‚162 last year. But if neither a glaring spotlight nor reform gestures to date have moved the needle much in terms of reducing fatal police shootings‚ perhaps something else explains law enforcement lethality and public alarm about it. Numerous professional criminologists told RealClearInvestigations that the problem isn’t racist or trigger-happy police officers. Instead‚ a handful of intertwined factors are at work: the almost immutable math of crime and demographics; media sensationalism; distorted public perceptions about race and guns; and the inability of inertia-bound police departments to adapt in ways to make a difference. —First‚ the math. “The number of improper‚ bad shootings is very small‚” said Geoffrey Alpert‚ a professor in the criminal justice department of the University of South Carolina. “The vast majority are not questionable.” There are some 18‚000 police departments in the United States with a population of more than 335 million people‚ leading to some 50 and 60 million annual encounters between police and civilians‚ according to an analysis of Justice Department data‚ said Justin Nix‚ a criminal justice professor at the University of Nebraska. Nix said only a tiny fraction of those interactions—“we’re talking about some .002% a year”—result in lethal gunfire. Under present circumstances‚ he said‚ the ballpark figure of 1‚000 fatal police shootings annually is “baked into the cake‚” adding‚ “You have to wonder what all the reforms can do that would really make a dent in this.” What’s more‚ police aren’t exaggerating the lethal threats they face. In 2023‚ The Washington Post database showed 83% of people killed by police bullets were armed—62% with a gun and another 15% with a knife—percentages that criminologists said have held steady over the years. In other cases‚ officers are facing potentially lethal situations with vehicles‚ or even deranged people charging them with swords‚ hatchets‚ or garden tools. —Second‚ media coverage distorts the circumstances of most fatal police shootings. Several criminal justice professors stressed that the overwhelming majority of lethal shootings by police involve clear justification. Nevertheless‚ the media and its audience tend to focus on those deaths where there is no clear justification‚ or where the claim of justification appears dubious. The focus on the small subset of dubious or wrongful shootings often reflects “split-second syndrome‚” said John Shjarback‚ a criminal justice professor at Rowan University. That means a focus on the moment a trigger is pulled and a bullet fired‚ rather than the time that led up to that fateful moment. “We focus on the split-second when the officer pulled the trigger‚ but there are myriad reasons for that and a lot of them are upstream from when they do so‚” Nix said. “We need to move beyond that final frame to understand why the encounters ended the way they did.” But that rollback works both ways‚ criminologists said‚ and may show steps taken by the suspect that made gunshots more likely too. Michael Brown’s death in Ferguson is a case in point. In the immediate aftermath of his shooting‚ a version of events quickly took hold that Brown‚ 6-foot-4 tall and weighing more than 290 pounds‚ was a “gentle giant” who had been in the road‚ submissive with hands raised‚ saying‚ “Don’t shoot.” That made the shooting seem like an extrajudicial execution. But when the tape was rewound back from that final frame‚ and after a meticulous investigation by President Barack Obama’s Justice Department‚ it emerged that in the time leading up to the lethal encounter‚ Brown had physically bullied a shopkeeper after stealing from him and later grappled with the officer‚ trying to get his handgun. He never raised his hands in surrender. No charges were brought against the officer. Shjarback said you can endlessly parse raw numbers that seem to tell an alarming story‚ but when they are examined more carefully‚ they challenge the claim that there is a national crisis around police shootings. “Most of these cases involve incidents where cops were well within their authority to use lethal force‚” Shjarback said. “However‚ you could also look at cases that were lawful but awful. There might have been cases where officers escalated things‚ failed to use proper tactics (e.g.‚ distance‚ cover)‚ or placed themselves in situations called ‘officer-created jeopardy‚’ that eventually lead to them having to use deadly force.” But that rollback works both ways‚ criminologists said‚ and may show steps taken by the suspect that made gunshots more likely‚ too. The fatal Reed shooting is an illustration. Overlooked by many in the furor over the heavy fire poured out by Chicago Police Department officers—96 shots—is the fact Reed deliberately disobeyed repeated orders from increasingly nervous police officers‚ then opened fire and wounded one of them‚ precipitating the bloody ending. —Third‚ distorted public perceptions of racial bias also heighten alarm. Research also challenges the idea that African Americans are targeted by the police. In 2023‚ The Guardian newspaper published a dataset—Mapping Police Violence—including not just shootings but all lethal encounters involving police. It concludes that black people “were killed at a rate 2.6 times higher than white people.” But such raw numbers ignore the fact that blacks are more likely to commit crimes. In a seminal study of Houston police that echoes other findings‚ Roland Fryer‚ a black economist at Harvard University‚ reported‚ “On the most extreme use of force—officer-involved shootings—we find no racial differences in either the raw data or when contextual factors are taken into account.” Once the number of police encounters was factored in‚ Fryer found‚ police were markedly less likely to shoot at blacks and Hispanics than at whites. After publishing his paper—whose conclusions he found so surprising that he ran the numbers twice—Fryer said‚ “all hell broke loose.” He told Bari Weiss of The Free Press‚ “I had colleagues take me to the side and say‚ ‘Don’t publish this. You’ll ruin your career.’” —Fourth‚ distorted public perceptions about guns compound the alarm. Some criminologists RealClearInvestigations spoke with said the proliferation of guns helps explain why the number of fatal police shootings has not gone down. Americans have bought more than 60 million firearms since the COVID-19 pandemic‚ and purchases are rising. But while Americans now own about 400 million legal firearms‚ the percentage of households possessing at least one firearm has‚ with ups and downs‚ remained largely unchanged since 1972—at about 43%‚ according to Statista. Although several states have passed concealed carry laws‚ there is no consensus among experts about their impact. “Evidence that concealed-carry laws may increase violent crime is limited‚” a RAND Corp. study found. Ultimately‚ however‚ the issue of gun ownership and permit laws has little bearing on police killings because the guns police encounter are so frequently illegally acquired‚ said Jeff Bumgarner‚ director of the criminal justice department at Texas State University. And if gun purchases and pro-gun rights laws were directly linked to fatal police shootings‚ the annual total would reflect much bigger increases. Instead‚ the U.S. has seen creeping increases. —Finally‚ police departments can make meaningful adaptations to make a difference‚ but aren’t doing so. Criminologists say there has been more talk than action regarding police reforms since 2015—even after the high-profile turmoil and budget-focused (and largely unsuccessful) “defund the police” campaigns that activists led after the deaths of Brown in 2014 and George Floyd in Minneapolis six years later. “Policing does not change fast‚” said Philip Stinson‚ a criminal justice professor at Bowling Green State University who specializes in police crime‚ or “the arrests of sworn officers.” “To my knowledge‚ firearms training and use of force training has not substantively changed across policing. It is business as usual in policing and that is why we haven’t seen a reduction in police shootings.” While some big-city police departments have improved training‚ the effort‚ funding‚ and commitment to change have yet to be widely embraced by the nation’s roughly 18‚000 police forces. But if there were a complete reorientation in the approach of most law enforcement agencies‚ the numbers could be reduced‚ many criminologists believe. Chuck Wexler‚ the executive director of the Police Executive Research Forum is one who believes “business as usual” can change. At its core‚ this involves abandoning the ancient mantra of cops beginning a shift—get home safely—to “the sanctity of human life.” Wexler said it will be “much more challenging” to shift the numbers on the 60% of lethal shootings that involve a suspect with a gun‚ “but with the other 40%‚ that’s where I believe we can make a difference.” “Instead of ‘get home safe’ we should be thinking‚ ‘everyone gets home alive’—arrested‚ in custody‚ but alive‚” he told RealClearInvestigations. The idea seemed revolutionary when cops in Scotland first presented it to him‚ Wexler said‚ because it cut against the blue line’s ingrained philosophy. Bumgarner‚ a former cop‚ seconded the concept. “The culture of police should shift to where there is a primacy on life‚” he said. That thinking animated a set of “Guiding Principles on Use of Force” that the Police Executive Research Forum published in 2016‚ two years after Brown’s shooting. There was an intense backlash against the manifesto‚ led in part by the International Association of Chiefs of Police‚ which did not respond to RealClearInvestigations’ request for comment in this story. Not all law enforcement officials objected to the new thinking‚ however. One of them was Sheriff Michael Chitwood of Volusia County‚ Florida. The former Daytona Beach police chief was elected in 2016 and he embraced the Police Executive Research Forum’s “Integrating Communications‚ Assessment‚ and Tactics‚” a training program PERF offers free through the Howard G. Buffett Foundation to any officer who comes to its Decatur‚ Illinois‚ facility. “In my first six months in office we had more than a half a dozen shootings‚” Chitwood said. “Something had to change. I started looking into it and it was crazy‚ given how quickly they would return fire‚ I couldn’t believe my deputies hadn’t wound up shooting each other.” The Volusia County deputies had six incidents involving deadly force in 2017‚ Chitwood’s first year in office‚ and since then the number has fallen: from four‚ then two‚ three‚ four‚ and‚ in 2022‚ zero. The sheriff’s office said its 2023 report was not concluded‚ but there was an incident last August in which a career criminal was killed in a shootout with authorities. Investigators concluded the killing bullet did not come from a Volusia County deputy‚ however. The decline and eventual full year without a lethal shooting happened because deputies made the “sanctity of life” their cardinal principle‚ Chitwood said‚ a change that began to take root around 2019. The training was sorely tested last December when‚ around 4:30 a.m.‚ they were called about a theft from a Wawa convenience store by a robber with a knife. The suspect fled in a getaway car‚ tried to ram one deputy’s vehicle‚ blew two tires on a traffic rail cops set down‚ and wound up in the driveway of his house. When officers tried to approach him there‚ he opened fire. By now‚ cops were swarming a scene that seemed destined to end in bloodshed. Deputies managed to clear the suspect’s son and dog from the house and then used a Bearcat‚ a SWAT vehicle‚ to block the suspect’s driveway and force the car into the garage. From there‚ the suspect went into his house and up to the attic‚ and eventually set his home ablaze. At this point‚ Chitwood said‚ the cops were convinced the suspect was trying to commit “suicide by cop‚” which would still have involved bullets flying to and from the house. As smoke and flames began to appear‚ the suspect emerged a moment later on a second-floor balcony. That’s when deputies used a giant rook on the Bearcat to tear down the balcony and arrest the man on the ground. “A few years ago‚ they would have just shot that guy—there’s no doubt in my mind‚” Chitwood said. “I mean‚ every time a bad guy would open fire they’d respond.” But the results seem convincing‚ if not indisputable. Chitwood said the use of force by the department is down by about 50% and injuries to his officers by 62%. The 600‚000 people of Volusia County seem to like their new force‚ too: Chitwood’s been reelected twice—running unopposed both times. This article was originally published by RealClearInvestigations and made available via RealClearWire. The post Why Fatal Police Shootings Aren’t Declining: Some Uncomfortable Facts appeared first on The Daily Signal.

After three consecutive years of massive progress expanding education freedom and choice‚ 2024 is shaping up to be another banner year. This week‚ Missouri expanded its education choice policy and Nebraska adopted a new school choice policy. So far this year‚ five states have enacted new education choice policies or expanded existing ones‚ and several additional state legislatures are making significant progress on the issue. Three years ago‚ Missouri lawmakers enacted the Missouri Empowerment Scholarship Accounts policy (MOScholars)‚ which empowers families with the freedom to choose the schools and other learning environments that accord with their values and best meet their children’s learning needs. Under the MOScholars program‚ low-income families and parents of students with special needs can receive scholarships worth $6‚375 to spend on tuition‚ textbooks‚ tutoring‚ curriculum‚ educational therapy‚ transportation costs‚ and more. On Thursday‚ the Missouri House of Representatives voted 82 to 69 in favor of a bill to expand MOScholars to more families. The bill needed 82 votes to pass‚ meaning that the support of three Democrats who crossed the aisle to support school choice proved crucial. Sponsored by state Sen. Andrew Koenig‚ a Republican‚ SB 727 will expand eligibility for MOScholars from 200% to 300% of the federal poverty level‚ or from $62‚400 to $93‚600 for a family of four. Until now‚ the children of a typical firefighter‚ police officer or registered nurse in Missouri were not eligible‚ but they will be once Gov. Michael Parson signs SB 727 into law. The bill had faced some headwinds from critics concerned that education choice policies like MOScholars would increase regulations on private and home schools. Those concerns are understandable‚ but misplaced. The lawmakers who designed the MOScholars policy made sure to include guardrails against regulatory creep. The statute already stipulated that a private school that voluntarily accepts MOScholars funds from participating families “shall not be considered an agent of the state or federal government due to its acceptance of the payment” and “shall not be required to alter its creed‚ practices‚ admissions policy‚ or curriculum.” The statute also makes clear that the policy “shall not be construed to permit any governmental agency to exercise control or supervision over any qualified school” in which a MOScholars student enrolls. There was also some confusion about a line in the bill that defined a “home school” as a type of school for purposes of meeting the state’s compulsory education requirement. Some groups had misinterpreted the text to mean that all the regulations applying to public and private schools—including bans on guns on school property—would be applied to the home schools. Thank you Missouri Firearms Coalition for dispelling the LIES being spread by the public school political machine. The level of lies and manipulation of the truth by people who falsely claim to be conservative is disgusting. School Choice is a tenant of conservatism&;#33; @Koenig4MO… pic.twitter.com/r9NJr2BMv3— Eric Burlison (@EricBurlison) April 10‚ 2024 That’s not the case. Indeed‚ this language is not new‚ but rather was imported from Missouri’s existing homeschool statute‚ which has never been interpreted to incorporate all the regulations governing public and private schools. Fortunately‚ Missouri lawmakers saw through the cloud of confusion and voted to expand education freedom and opportunity. Also on Thursday‚ Nebraska lawmakers voted 33 to 14 to pass a new scholarship policy for students from low-income families. As in Missouri‚ the bill received exactly the number of votes necessary to pass—in this case‚ a supermajority was needed to overcome a filibuster—so the support of Democratic state Sen. Justin Wayne was crucial. Wayne called out the hypocrisy of his colleagues who voted against expanding education choice for others while exercising choice themselves. “The only people who are denying choice are the people who have choice‚” he said during the debate over LB 1402‚ noting that the legislators speaking against the bill “are the same ones opting their kids into private schools” or who have the ability to “pick up and move and go somewhere else.” Democrat Nebraska Senator Justin Wayne CALLS OUT his colleagues for being HYPOCRITES on school choice.&;quot;The only people who are denying choice are the people who have choice…opting their kids into private schools&;quot;The bill passed with 33 votes. It needed 33.He voted for it. pic.twitter.com/UfgfDmhGHg— Corey A. DeAngelis‚ school choice evangelist (@DeAngelisCorey) April 19‚ 2024 Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen‚ a Republican‚ is expected to sign the bill. Meanwhile‚ state lawmakers elsewhere are also making progress on advancing education choice. The Louisiana House of Representatives on April 8 passed a bill to create an education savings account policy for all K-12 students. The vote was 71-32‚ including six Democrats. The bill is now under consideration in the state Senate. The New Hampshire House of Representatives likewise in March passed a bill to expand eligibility for the state’s Education Freedom Scholarships from 350% to 500% of the federal poverty level‚ or from $109‚200 to $156‚000 annual income‚ for a family of four. However‚ the bill has encountered some obstacles in the New Hampshire state Senate‚ where lawmakers reduced the income cap to 400% of the federal poverty line‚ or $124‚800 for a family of four. That would leave out a lot of families who would be eligible under the House version‚ but not the Senate version‚ such as a typical elementary school teacher married to a typical registered nurse in the state‚ or a physical therapist married to a police officer. Instead of curtailing the proposal‚ state lawmakers should follow the lead of Louisiana’s House and the 10 states that have already expanded eligibility for their education choice policies to all K-12 students. As the organization EdChoice’s most recent Schooling in America survey shows‚ the public prefers when education choice policies are open to all. The EdChoice survey found that 76% of the public supports Education Savings Accounts that are available to all families‚ regardless of income‚ while only 54% support ESAs that are targeted based on financial need. Whatever happens next‚ 2024 is already a banner year for education choice. The post Missouri‚ Nebraska Advance Education Freedom appeared first on The Daily Signal.