Virginia has yet another new law in the hopper. This one will eliminate mandatory sentences for some horrific crimes. A new proposal before the Virginia General Assembly would eliminate mandatory minimum prison terms for several serious sex offenses, including rape and child pornography production, giving judges greater discretion in sentencing. House Bill 863, introduced during […] The post Virginia Plans to Turn Itself Into Seattle appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

Joy Behar complained on Tuesday that it was time to “do something” about President Donald Trump — and she argued that just getting out in the streets to protest and even voting were not cutting it anymore. Behar claimed that it was time for Trump to go, saying that Americans were just going to have to “step up” and make that happen, although she was largely unclear as to how that would work, logistically speaking. WATCH: The View calls for Congress to invoke the 25th Amendment (but they can’t). pic.twitter.com/wOFHJgGWHp — Nicholas Fondacaro (@NickFondacaro) January 20, 2026 “I think this is the end of it now for [President Trump]. It has to be. And Americans need to step up now. It’s not enough to go into the streets. It’s not enough to vote,” she said. “I believe that people need to start calling their congressmen and their Senators.” “I mean, he has eroded civil rights at this point, he’s erasing history … he’s wrecking the economy, it’ll be decades before we get back to where we’re supposed to be, and he’s alienating us from our friends in NATO,” Behar claimed, as the cohosts voiced their agreement. “And all because he’s not getting his award.” “You know, the shrinks call that a narcissistic injury,” Behar continued. “And that is what will get us into World War III because his ego is involved. And the only thing that Americans can do, including us, I mean, we have a forum here and we speak out.” Behar went on to claim that people loved “The View” for exactly that reason — and she called on the audience to call their representatives and say, “It’s time to do something about this guy, because he’s leading us into World War III.” Sunny Hostin followed Behar, claiming that Trump was only after Greenland because he wanted the rare earth minerals — and that people should take him seriously when he postured about taking the island nation by force. Behar interrupted then, claiming that she blamed Congress because she believed the president was not well and held them responsible for failing to do something about it. The 25th Amendment was mentioned, but as Alyssa Farah Griffin pointed out, that would have to come from the president’s own cabinet.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In an amazing environmental move, stingless bees in Peru’s Amazon rainforest have become the first insects in the world to be granted legal rights. This is nothing short of a brilliant step toward protecting some of the most critical pollinators on Earth. The ordinances, passed in the Peruvian municipalities of Satipo and Nauta, now legally recognize these bees as rights-bearing beings. The laws guarantee their right to exist, thrive, and inhabit a clean, stable ecosystem, marking a powerful turning point in the relationship between law and nature. “This ordinance marks a turning point in our relationship with nature,” said Constanza Prieto, Latin American director at the Earth Law Center. “It makes stingless bees visible, recognizes them as rights-bearing subjects, and affirms their essential role in preserving ecosystems.” Why stingless bees matter more than you think Found in tropical regions around the globe, stingless bees, despite what their name might suggest, are far from passive players in the ecosystem. These gentle creatures have been cultivated by Indigenous peoples since pre-Columbian times and are thought to be some of the oldest bee species on the planet. Roughly half of the world’s 500 known stingless bee species live in the Amazon, where they pollinate over 80 percent of local plant species, including essential crops like cacao, coffee, and avocados. Their cultural significance runs deep, too. For Indigenous Asháninka and Kukama-Kukamiria communities, the bees hold spiritual and ancestral value. “The stingless bee has existed since time immemorial and reflects our coexistence with the rainforest,” said Apu Cesar Ramos, president of EcoAshaninka of the Asháninka Communal Reserve. But these bees face growing threats: habitat loss from deforestation, pesticide contamination, climate change, and aggressive competition from invasive Africanized honeybees, often called “killer bees.” From honey sample to legal revolution The fight to protect these bees started with a sample of honey. During the early pandemic, Rosa Vásquez Espinoza, a chemical biologist and founder of Amazon Research Internacional, was asked to analyze honey used by Indigenous communities as a remedy for COVID-19 symptoms. What she discovered was astonishing: hundreds of medicinal compounds with anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antioxidant, and even anti-cancer properties. “The variety was also really wild,” said Espinoza. “These molecules have been known to have some sort of biological medicinal property.” Her discovery sent her deep into the rainforest, where she began documenting the bees alongside Indigenous communities. But one alarming pattern kept surfacing: the bees were disappearing. Community members reported that where bees were once found within a short walk, they now had to trek for hours. Espinoza’s lab tests also found pesticide traces in the bees’ honey, even in areas great distances from large-scale farming. Meanwhile, the lack of international recognition for stingless bees became a barrier to both conservation and funding. “It almost created a vicious cycle,” she said. “I cannot give you the funding because you’re not on the list, but you cannot even get on the list because you don’t have the data.” In 2023, Espinoza and her team launched a large-scale mapping project that revealed a clear link between bee decline and deforestation. This evidence helped Peru pass a 2024 law designating stingless bees as native species, a status that legally requires their protection. Outcompeted and under threat But the bees are battling more than shrinking forests. One of their fiercest threats is a species created by humans: the Africanized honeybee. These aggressive bees were first bred in the 1950s in Brazil to create a more productive tropical honeybee, but they quickly spread and are now outcompeting native species. On an expedition to the Junín region of Peru, Espinoza met Elizabeth, an Asháninka elder whose gentle stingless bees had been pushed out by Africanized bees. “She had horror in her eyes,” Espinoza recalled. “She kept looking at me straight and asking: ‘How do I get rid of them? I hate them. I want them gone.’” That moment underscored the urgency of the issue and gave added momentum to the legal campaign. What rights for bees actually look like The new ordinances in Satipo and Nauta give stingless bees rights that go beyond symbolic gestures. They are now legally entitled to: • Exist and maintain thriving populations • Inhabit pollution-free environments • Access ecologically stable climate conditions • Be represented in legal proceedings if threatened or harmed These laws also compel local authorities to create specific conservation plans: restoring bee habitats, regulating pesticide use, supporting scientific research, and adopting the precautionary principle, which is the idea that any action potentially harming bees must be avoided unless proven safe. “These rights establish a mandate requiring habitat reforestation and restoration, strict regulation of pesticides, and adaptation to climate change,” said Prieto. The hope is that this precedent spreads globally. A petition calling on Peru’s federal government to make bee rights a national law has already drawn over 386,000 signatures. Advocates from the Netherlands, Bolivia, and the United States have expressed interest in replicating the legal model in their own regions. Redefining conservation, one bee at a time For Espinoza and the communities she works with, this legal recognition is not just a win for bees; it is a win for ancestral knowledge, biodiversity, and the future of conservation. “The stingless bee provides us with food and medicine, and it must be made known so that more people will protect it,” said Ramos. “This law represents a major step forward for us, because it gives value to the lived experience of our Indigenous peoples and the rainforest.” In a world where bees are often discussed solely in terms of their productivity, this shift reframes them as beings with intrinsic value, deserving not just of protection, but of rights. And if a tiny, stingless insect in a faraway rainforest can be granted legal standing, maybe it’s not such a stretch to imagine a world where ecosystems everywhere are treated with the same reverence and care.     Did this solution stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Barre has long been a go-to workout for those who want to tone up without the pounding impact of high-intensity training. Inspired by ballet, Pilates, and yoga, this elegant yet intense method delivers a total-body burn, often with just your body weight or a pair of light hand weights. But if you’ve ever left a class wondering whether your quivering muscles just got stronger or if your heart-thumping effort counted as cardio, you’re not alone. Is barre strength training? Is it cardio? The truth is: it might be a little of both. Here’s what experts have to say about the matter, and how to make barre work for your fitness goals. Barre and strength: where it fits in To understand whether barre “counts” as strength training, it helps to define what strength training actually is. True strength-building workouts typically involve lifting heavy weights (about 80 percent of your one-rep max) for just a few reps at a time. The goal is to increase the maximum force your muscles can produce, not just how long they can keep going, which is not exactly how most barre classes are structured. “Barre is an absolutely fantastic way to build muscular endurance,” says Lisa Schale-Drake, instructor trainer at barre3. “It’s heart-healthy and fantastic for core strength, balance, mobility, and stability.” In most classes, you’ll do high-rep sequences using your body weight or light props like two- or three-pound dumbbells, mini bands, or sliders. You’ll often work within small ranges of motion called pulses that keep your muscles under tension for longer periods. Rather than building maximum strength, this kind of training is excellent for improving muscular endurance, which Schale-Drake explains as your ability to “move with integrity longer.” This endurance supports everything from posture to injury prevention. Andrea Fornarola, certified personal trainer and founder of Elements Barre Fit, agrees. “Rather than doing five or ten reps, you might do 24 or more reps per muscle group,” she says. You’ll also hold isometric exercises like planks or wall sits, which challenge your muscles without movement. If your goal is to deadlift heavy or build major muscle mass, barre might not be your primary strength-building tool. But it’s an ideal way to improve endurance, form, and control, all of which are essential foundations for functional fitness. Can barre double as cardio? If your heart is pounding during class, you’re not imagining it; barre can definitely deliver a cardio challenge. Cardiovascular exercise, or aerobic exercise, refers to any rhythmic activity that increases your heart rate and breathing while using large muscle groups. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), adults should aim for 150 minutes of moderate or 75 minutes of vigorous aerobic activity per week. “Barre-style classes can one hundred percent provide amazing heart-healthful benefits,” says Schale-Drake, especially when the class involves sustained, flowing movements. “You’re continuously moving, which keeps the heart rate elevated,” she adds. Most classes are designed to flow from one movement to the next. Think squats at the barre to planks on the mat and back up again in quick succession. This rapid transition helps create a cardio-like effect without requiring high-impact movements. “You’re moving quickly through small ranges of motion, so your heart rate stays up,” Fornarola explains. And depending on the class style, some barre formats like cardio barre or dance-based barre lean even more heavily into the aerobic zone. Choosing the right barre class for your goals Barre isn’t a one-size-fits-all workout. Some classes focus more on strength or power, while others emphasize cardio, endurance, or dance-based flow. If strength is your main goal, look for class descriptions that include phrases like “weight-based,” “resistance,” or “strength focus.” For example, barre3 offers dedicated strength classes, and Pure Barre’s Define class targets strength and power specifically. To boost cardio, check for class names or descriptions with words like “sweat,” “high-intensity,” or “cardio barre.” Dance-based options often sneak in serious aerobic benefits while keeping things playful. “We take it back to old-school music,” Fornarola says. “We get very Jane Fonda meets Madonna.” Whichever class you choose, don’t expect the same kind of gains you’d get from heavy squats or sprints. What you can expect are results that build a strong, balanced, and mobile body. Bonus benefits of barre Beyond cardio and muscular endurance, barre offers a host of other functional benefits. Core strength: You’ll train not just your abs, but deep core muscles, including the pelvic floor and spinal stabilizers. Balance and mobility: The emphasis on control and alignment helps improve your range of motion and ability to move smoothly through everyday tasks. Low impact: Barre is gentle on the joints, making it accessible for people recovering from injury or looking for sustainable movement. Fornarola emphasizes that this makes barre a smart cross-training tool. Powerlifters, runners, and even professional dancers have used barre to round out their programs with mobility and injury prevention. One of Schale-Drake’s clients uses barre to complement her marathon training, while another, a powerlifter, sees it as a way to improve her form and stamina. “She’s actually able to lift heavier because of it,” she says. How to make barre part of your routine If you’re new to barre, start with one or two sessions a week and see how your body responds. “You don’t need a big recovery window after barre,” says Schale-Drake. “It’s something that can be done on a daily basis.” And because many classes offer modifications, you can scale the intensity up or down depending on your energy levels. Check in with yourself after a few weeks. Is barre helping you feel stronger? More energized? Supporting your other fitness goals? If yes, you can consider adding more classes to your routine or simply keep enjoying it for what it is: a fun, functional workout with benefits that go far beyond the burn.     Did this solution stand out? Share it with a friend or support our mission by becoming an Emissary.

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