From the Our Polls Don't Mean Anything Department: Mika Brzezinski: "New polling from NBC News has Donald Trump ahead of President Biden by two points‚ 46% to 44%."  Joe Scarborough: "Excuse me one second‚ I've got to yawn [makes yawning sound.]" That was Joe Scarborough on today's Morning Joe‚ feigning insouciance in reaction to the latest bad polling news for Joe Biden. How desperate was Scarborough to make the case that Biden‚ who today turns 81‚ is not too old to be president? Scarborough actually pointed to Warren Buffett‚ who at 93 is still an investing whiz. Here's the difference‚ Joe -- Buffett continues his lifetime of investing success. The only notable money-making move that Biden‚ aka The Big Guy‚ has apparently ever made was to trade on his official position for a piece of Hunter's influence-peddling action.  Scarborough also expressed mock concern over Trump's verbal slips‚ suggesting he's the one who's not fit for the Oval Office. Making this race one about the relative mental and physical vitality of Biden vs. Trump is one Biden is sure to lose.  In yawning about Biden's bad poll numbers‚ Scarborough also took a shot at David Axelrod‚ who has suggested that Biden consider stepping aside. Scarborough slammed Axelrod for also having suggested in 2020 that Biden was "toast." Say‚ Joe: guess who else in 2020 suggested that Biden was a burned bagel? You! After Biden's pitiful showings in the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary‚ you're the guy who wrote a Washington Post column that amounted to a fond eulogy of Ol' Joe's political career!  PS: You know it's getting bad for Biden when even NBC's Saturday Night Live mocks his gaffes. Morning Joe played a clip of Colin Jost on the "Weekend Update" segment mocking Biden calling the rapper/TV star LL Cool J‚ "LL J Cool J." But Jost actually failed to mention Biden's much worse gaffe‚ calling Cool J‚ "that boy‚" before correcting himself and calling him‚ "that man." Imagine if a Republican had referred to a prominent African-American as "that boy." On Morning Joe‚ Joe Scarborough yawning past the graveyard of Joe Biden's bad polling numbers was sponsored in part by AT&;T‚ and Abbvie‚ maker of Rinvoq. Here's the transcript. MSNBC Morning Joe 11/20/23 6:58 am ET COLIN JOST: After President Biden's successful meeting with China's president‚ Xi Jinping‚ reporters asked Biden if he still believed that Xi was a dictator. And I don't know if Biden was supposed to say yes. Because look at this reaction from Secretary of State Antony Blinken. REPORTER: Would you still refer to President Xi as a dictator‚ a term you used earlier in the year? JOE BIDEN: Well look‚ he is. [Blinken turns head‚ grimaces.] JOST: Oh‚ man. That's the same face I make when my uncle starts a story by mentioning the race of the waitress. It's actually the same -- it's actually the same face I made when I heard Biden say this about LL Cool J. BIDEN: LL J Cool J. Ah‚ by the way‚ that boy's got -- that man's biceps bigger than my thighs. JOST: LL J Cool J? I think the second "J" stands for‚ Jesus! MIKA: [Laughs] That's pretty good. We can have fun. SCARBOROUGH: By the way‚ happy birthday. H MIKA: Happy birthday‚ Mr. President. SCARBOROUGH: Happy birthday‚ President Biden. MIKA: Yes. We'll take advantage of this day to talk about the one thing they think is wrong.  SCARBOROUGH: I know‚ I will say‚ seriously‚ I mean‚ you look at how old he is. And if you remember‚ just look back through history‚ like‚ just recent history‚ when Warren Buffett turned 81‚ remember everybody‚ they‚ they pulled all their money out of Berkshire Hathaway. MIKA: Right. No‚ I don't think so. And he turned 81‚ like‚ 12 years ago. SCARBOROUGH: A dozen years ago. And then -- oh‚ wait‚ I think he said‚ his most successful decade ever. MIKA: Oh‚ okay‚ well‚ there you go . . . Oh‚ and Donald Trump. Anyhow -- SCARBOROUGH: Well‚ no. Donald Trump's‚ like‚ he's -- if Donald Trump were elected next year‚ well‚ of course‚ that'd end democracy‚ but‚ also‚ he would be the oldest president ever elected. MIKA: Yeah. SCARBOROUGH: And I'm a little worried about him up there. He still doesn't know who he is running against. MIKA: Yeah‚ he sweats a lot. SCARBOROUGH: If you heard him this weekend‚ Jonathan Lemire‚ if you heard him this weekend‚ my gosh‚ it's not getting better. He thinks he's running against Barack Obama. He gets confused and rattled. You know‚ he talks about how Joe Biden can lead us into World War II. Very‚ very dazed and confused up there sometimes.  I'm‚ I'm worried about his age. I know you are‚ too. I mean‚ you have to be worried about his age. And the fact that he's running against a president‚ he thinks‚ that hasn't run for office in over a decade. . . .  MIKA: New polling from NBC News has Donald Trump ahead of President Biden by two points‚ 46% to 44%. SCARBOROUGH: Excuse me one second‚ I've got to yawn. Hold on a second [makes yawning sound.] MIKA: You're yawning? I know. This is a pattern. SCARBOROUGH: This is the end of the world! According to Democrats. According -- let's just say it‚ according to David Axelrod who‚ by the way‚ said Biden was toast several times in 2020. This is the end of the world. According to Democrats in Washington. They need -- to take a deep breath.  

Musk warns: “X has seen a number of attacks from activist groups like Media Matters and legacy media outlets who seek to undermine freedom of expression on our platform because they perceive it as a threat to their ideological narrative and those of their financial supporters.”

Turtles and‚ to a lesser extent‚ tortoises are popular pets in the United States and are found in millions of American homes. One question many have about these reptiles is whether they can feel their shell if‚ for example‚ you scratch or pet them. The answer is a resounding yes! Even though it’s hard and quite sturdy‚ turtles feel almost as much through their shells as we do through our skin! You can keep reading to discover how the amazing creatures feel through their thick‚ hard shells and how to ensure you don’t cause your turtle any pain when you handle them. How Do Tortoises and Turtles Feel Their Shells? It might surprise you that a tortoise or turtle’s shell is made of bone. The only difference is that‚ unlike most other animals‚ these bones are on the outside of the tortoise or turtle’s body rather than the inside. Over the bone are plates called scutes which‚ surprisingly‚ are made from the same material as your fingernails‚ keratin. You know it hurts if you’ve ever accidentally slammed a door on your finger or hit your fingernail with a hammer. That’s because your nails have nerve endings; the same goes for the bones and scutes of tortoises and turtles. Image Credit: Ivan Smuk‚ Shutterstock How Sensitive Is a Turtle and Tortoise’s Shell to Touch? According to researchers and scientists‚ the shells of tortoises and turtles are incredibly sensitive. If‚ for example‚ you scratch their shell‚ a turtle will sense the scratching as easily as if you were scratching their bare skin. In effect‚ their shells are highly sensitive to touch. Tortoises and turtles feel it when you scratch‚ stroke‚ or tap on their shells. Veterinarians recommend handling both reptiles gently and carefully‚ making sure not to drop them‚ hit them forcefully‚ or touch them in a way that might cause your turtle or tortoise to become alarmed or stressed. Can Turtles and Tortoises Feel Pain Through Their Shells? Knowing that turtles and tortoises can feel their shells‚ it’s not a large leap to realize that they can also feel pain via their shells. Many turtle owners don’t realize this or don’t believe reptiles feel pain. Sadly‚ many have also done things like drill holes in a turtle or tortoise’s shell to carry them more easily or chain them up so they can’t escape. You should not drill‚ cut‚ or otherwise damage a turtle or tortoise’s shell in any manner since it can be excruciating. Image Credit: Travel-Fr‚ Shutterstock Do Tortoises and Turtles Feel Pressure Through Their Shells? Just like you can feel it when‚ for example‚ someone puts pressure on your toe‚ a turtle or tortoise can feel pressure through their shell. So‚ for example‚ if you place a large rock on top of a turtle or tortoise (but please don’t)‚ they would indeed feel the pressure and likely feel very uncomfortable. Should You Paint a Tortoise’s or Turtle’s Shell? Many turtle and tortoise owners‚ especially those with children‚ paint their pet’s shells as a fun activity. However‚ that is a very bad thing to do. The reason is that‚ like humans and many other animals‚ these reptiles convert the sun’s UV rays into Vitamin D. Vitamin D is essential for their health and wellness‚ and without it‚ their health will suffer. In effect‚ painting a tortoise or turtle’s shell will block UV rays from passing into its body and thus prevent it from being able to make Vitamin D. This‚ in time‚ can lead to bone deformities‚ a weakened shell‚ and other health issues. In short‚ never paint your pet tortoise or turtle’s shell; if you have‚ remove the paint as soon as possible. Image Credit: Melina Massola‚ Shutterstock Can Turtles and Tortoises Come Out of Their Shells? This is a question many pet owners have‚ and the answer is that neither the turtle nor the tortoise can come out of their shells completely. Yes‚ they can stick out their heads‚ feet‚ and tails‚ but that’s just extending them. However‚ just like your tongue is attached to your body and isn’t removable‚ a tortoise or turtle’s shell is completely attached to the rest of their body and is not made to be removed for any reason. Their scutes fall off occasionally as the animal grows‚ much like a dog or cat’s hair falls out‚ and their finger and toenails grow and need to be clipped. Should You Pick Up a Turtle or Tortoise by Their Tails? Many people believe that‚ to move a turtle that might be able to bite‚ you should pick it up by its tail. This‚ however‚ is 100% false. Just like their shell is part of their skeletal system‚ a turtle or tortoise’s tail is part of their spinal cord and spine. Picking them up by their tails could paralyze or even kill a turtle or tortoise‚ so you should never attempt to do it. If you need to move a turtle or tortoise‚ the best way to do it is to gently grab the edge of its shell around the mid-point and lift it slowly. Be aware that many turtles and tortoises will urinate when picked up‚ so expect it and don’t drop them if they do. Move them where you want them to be‚ and then wash your hands. Image Credit: Lisa Holder‚ Shutterstock Final Thoughts As we’ve learned‚ tortoises and turtles can feel through their shells‚ including touching‚ scratching‚ and pressure. They also feel pain‚ so you should never drill or cut into a tortoise or turtle’s shell for any reason. The shell is an integral part of their skeletal system. It’s also their armor and protection from predators‚ has nerve endings‚ and also has keratin‚ just like human fingers and toenails. We hope this information has been enlightening and given you food for thought about your pet turtle or tortoise and how they experience the world around them. Sources Oliver Idley Project Central MS Turtle Rescue DNR Chat Nature Center SDZ Wilf Life Explorers Featured Image Credit: tamiti‚ Shutterstock The post Can Tortoises &; Turtles Feel Their Shell? Facts &; FAQ appeared first on Pet Keen.

Food storage‚ although a smart and cost-effective solution at times‚ can also bring along with it health hazards. The post How to Keep Your Food Storage Safe and Maintained appeared first on Survivopedia.

A Mayo Clinic doctor has claimed that he was unjustifiably "silenced and punished" by the health clinic after he shared his research findings that touched upon politically divisive topics‚ such as transgenderism. Fox News Digital reported that Dr. Michael Joyner‚ who is a physiologist and professor of anesthesiology‚ filed a legal complaint on November 13‚ claiming that he was punished for making comments to the media about testosterone and the COVID-19 protocols of the National Institute of Health. During an interview with the New York Times in 2022‚ Joyner explained some of his findings about male and female swimmers. He felt that the differences between male and female swimmers were a good source of study‚ given that the sport is more than 100 years old and both sexes stick to a similar training and nutrition regime. The piece detailed that girls who have not reached puberty have a significant advantage over boys their age‚ given that they grow faster in the early years of prepubescence. However‚ when puberty hits‚ the dynamics change. "You see the divergence immediately as the testosterone surges into the boys‚" Joyner said. "There are dramatic differences in performances."The records currently held by elite adult male swimmers are‚ on average‚ 10% to 12% faster than their elite adult female counterparts.Joyner added that though there are social elements to sports‚ the physiology and biology cannot be ignored.Just months after the interview‚ Joyner was allegedly warned not to make future similar comments‚ which were characterized as unprofessional. The warning came just before he was prepared to give a lecture on "sex differences and human performance."Joyner was allegedly not only silenced about transgenderism‚ but he was also criticized for his comments about the NIH's COVID-19 protocols. Fox New Digital reported that Joyner said the agency had made it difficult to make changes to the protocol that could have made convalescent plasma treatment available to those especially vulnerable to the illness. The Mayo Clinic appears to have been so enraged by Joyner's media comments that it suspended him for one week without pay and threatened to fire him. FIRE reported that during a disciplinary hearing‚ the Mayo Clinic threatened to fire Joyner for giving "problematic" interviews that apparently did not reflect the "brand and reputation" of the clinic."Your use of idiomatic language has been problematic and reflects poorly on Mayo Clinic’s brand and reputation‚" the letter reads."Prior to the most recent incident this issue was discussed with you when your June 2022 comments in a NY Times article were problematic in the media and the LGBTQI+ community at Mayo Clinic. Members of the Personnel Executive Committee met with you on November 28‚ 2022‚ to discuss several concerns‚ including your use of language viewed as inflammatory in this context.""The fact that your selection of idiomatic expressions continues has caused the institution to question whether you are able to appropriately represent Mayo Clinic in media interactions."Joyner has reportedly insisted that his comments given during media interviews do not reflect the official positions of Mayo Clinic as a whole but that they are his views based on his own research.Joyner's legal counsel‚ Kellie J. Miller of Allen Harris Law‚ stated that the Mayo Clinic's performance reviews of Joyner are evidence that the clinic has not been honest with its recent assessment of the physician's work."Mayo’s attempt to deceive the public regarding Dr. Joyner’s stellar professional reputation is a clear effort to distract from Mayo’s own bad faith‚ retaliation‚ and unlawful actions‚" Miller said."Contrary to Mayo’s claims‚ Dr. Joyner’s three most recent performance evaluations‚ which cover the years in dispute‚ contain only high praise for Dr. Joyner’s character‚ professionalism‚ and achievements.""Academic freedom is essential to legitimate science‚ and the public deserves honest scientific opinions from doctors‚ not curated institutional statements promoting the Mayo 'brand' at the expense of scientific integrity‚" Mill continued. "Dr. Joyner hopes his lawsuit will result in the Mayo Clinic taking such issues seriously."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

I notice that every time I check myself out of a Giant supermarket in central Pennsylvania‚ I see a poster indicating that this chain store is looking for new workers. When I then look at whom the employers have in mind as potential help‚ I behold the picture of a young black woman. This young woman looks cheerful and attractive‚ but that’s not the point here. The store is obviously not interested in hiring white men or even necessarily black men. It seeks to give preferential employment treatment to black women. And lest anyone doubt its purpose‚ Giant management underlines this preference with the picture that accompanies its help-wanted sign. The help-wanted poster is not exactly an inoffensive adornment. It is apparent that the grocery’s management is virtue-signaling and doing so in a very ugly way. It is building on the practice of our corporate capitalists who are removing white people and particularly white males from TV advertisements. Exceptions are made in these advertisements for white males with black spouses or homosexual partners or if it’s possible to stick them into a group made up predominantly of approved minorities. Mind you‚ I’m not blaming this primarily on black women. Our corporate elites‚ who are behind it‚ are mostly white and male. They apparently think that it’s OK to marginalize other white males in order to exhibit their own progressive values and to win the praise of woke peers. We might wonder how this ostentatious virtue-signaling is different from telling job applicants that Irish‚ Jews‚ and Italians need not apply because the prospective employer doesn’t like certain ethnic groups‚ even if he wouldn’t object to taking their money in commercial transactions. Yes‚ I’ve heard the predictable leftist cant (as a former academic‚ I’ve had my fill of it) that this sort of thing is different from older discriminatory practices because it’s what the French call “positive discrimination.” Once we’ve renamed the exclusionary custom in question‚ it becomes an expression of the highest virtue to follow it — provided we also believe that the ancestors of those being excluded today inflicted‚ albeit unknowingly‚ indescribable suffering on the ancestors of those who are now being strenuously “recruited.” Of course‚ this form of discrimination is not something that the virtue-signaler does quietly. Rather‚ he announces his intentions nonstop and even posts pictures to make sure that everyone gets his drift. The new discrimination is even crazier than older forms because it involves rich white people with fancy degrees dehumanizing other white people. I doubt that most of Giant’s customers bother to take offense‚ even in our heavily pro-Trump borough‚ when they see white people‚ and particularly white males‚ treated as less than desirable applicants for grocery store work. They also see their sex and race marginalized or degraded on their TV screens‚ but they may view these unpleasant features of contemporary American culture as something over which they have no power. My neighbors may in fact feel helpless as they watch their humanity being downgraded. Having grown up in a factory town in the Northeast in the 1950s‚ I can easily imagine that some of our local businesspeople preferred hiring white employees to black employees. Some also preferred hiring members of their own ethnic groups who spoke their ancestral languages (usually Hungarian or Italian where I lived) as opposed to employing those who seemed culturally more alien. Although my father had at least one black employee‚ I don’t recall him ever celebrating this as a mark of virtue. He hired the employees he thought would do the work he needed them to do. Whether they were black or white didn’t matter from his business perspective. Significantly‚ I don’t remember from my youth any grocery store owner putting up posters that showed the ethnic type he wanted to employ. Such conduct would have seemed gauche and even un-American. You just didn’t do those things back then‚ even if you wanted to hire a Sicilian-American man as opposed to a Hungarian-American lady to stack cans in your shop window. Now things have changed. We show off our bigotry as proud agents of an anti-discrimination regime‚ the very essence of which is a morbid commitment to discrimination in the name of anti-discrimination. Although I myself have not always been consistent in this practice‚ it seems that the only solution to the problem I have outlined is the enforcement of boycotts. Corporations that discriminate against white people and males in their advertisements should have their products massively boycotted. What worked for Bud Light could very well work for normal Americans in other situations. One may not be able to change the values of middle-level executives whose minds have been drenched with woke clichés. But one can make them pay for their bigotry; and one should begin this demanding task by pushing back against crude advertising.

Washington‚ D.C.‚ Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a public emergency in an attempt to address skyrocketing incidents of youth crime and an ongoing opioid problem in the capital city.In a recent press release‚ Bowser released statistics related to the shocking increases in crime among children‚ including 458 juvenile arrests for robbery in the first nine months of 2023‚ a 10% increase from all of 2022.Other crimes included homicide‚ assault with a dangerous weapon‚ and carjacking. A third (151) of all carjackings in the city were committed by children.Also in the first nine months of 2023‚ 97 juveniles were shot‚ and 15 of those were killed‚ another near-10% increase from the same period of 2022. The mayor's message also noted that in the last five weeks leading up to the emergency declaration‚ five youths who were already being electronically monitored were killed.Bowser announced that the city would increase placements in shelter homes‚ group homes‚ and supervised facilities. This includes psychiatric programs as well.In addition‚ the city planned to increase substance abuse and trauma counseling for youth.For crime prevention‚ the mayor signed emergency legislation that "established a rebuttable presumption that pre-hearing detention is necessary where the D.C. Superior Court determines there is a substantial probability that a youth committed certain violent crimes." This is aimed at lowering repeat offenses.The mayor's office also explained that overdoses of opioids have more than doubled in the last year‚ from 213 to 461.Fentanyl was linked to 96% of the opioid-related overdoses in 2022. For 2023‚ that number increased to 98%‚ meaning nearly all opioid deaths were due to fentanyl and its "analogs."To address the issue‚ the mayor's office insisted an increase in data-sharing is the solution. Bowser announced "enhanced and expedited data sharing" in order to provide a "complete picture of opioid-related fatal and suspected non-fatal overdoses."This‚ the mayor claimed‚ would allow for the deployment of "outreach teams" who would go to "overdose hotspots" in order to engage in "harm reduction services and supports."The provided data noted that the opioid deaths are predominantly among black men and residents of Wards 5‚ 7‚ and 8. In addition‚ the mayor claimed that the health crisis raised "concerns" about "health equity."Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu blasted the Palestinian Authority on Sunday for suggesting that Hamas was not responsible for the massacre that took place at a music festival on October 7. Netanyahu's Sunday evening address came after the Palestinian Authority said Israeli helicopters were responsible for the deaths of hundreds of people at the Supernova music festival near kibbutz Re'im‚ according to Fox News Digital.Hamas' terrorist attack against the Jewish state on October 7 reached a music festival‚ where dozens were killed and others abducted — many of whom are still being held hostage by the extremist group.The Palestinian Authority's claim that Israel was somehow responsible for the attack appears to stem from a report by Haaretz‚ which suggested Israeli helicopters had accidentally hit attendees at the festival while trying to take down Hamas terrorists.In response to the Palestinian Authority's claims‚ Netanyahu took to X‚ posting: "Today‚ the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah said something utterly preposterous. It denied that it was Hamas that carried out the horrible massacre at the nature festival near Gaza." — (@) "It actually accused Israel of carrying out that massacre. This is a complete reversal of truth."Netanyahu continued: "Abu Mazen‚ who in the past has denied the existence of the Holocaust‚ today is denying the existence of the Hamas massacre and that's unacceptable.""My goal is that the day after we destroy Hamas‚ any future civil administration in Gaza does not deny the massacre‚ does not educate its children to become terrorists‚ does not pay for terrorists and does not tell its children that their ultimate goal in life is to see the destruction and dissolution of the State of Israel. That's not acceptable and that is not the way to achieve peace."In response to Hamas' attack against the Jewish state on October 7‚ Israel declared war‚ quickly moving military operations into Gaza. Recent reports have suggested Hamas terrorists have been operating under Gaza's largest hospital‚ using civilians as human shields against military opponents.Israel has repeatedly urged civilians in northern Gaza to move south as the conflict rages on. Blaze News reported last week that Israeli forces discovered evidence that Hamas had kept child hostages in the basement of the Shifa Hospital. The evidence included bottles‚ diapers‚ rope‚ and a chair.Though there have been reports that Israel and Hamas are working out a deal that could see hostages freed in exchange for a temporary ceasefire‚ no deal has yet been reached. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

A New York City transportation supervisor was caught on video cursing allegedly at a Jewish woman waving an Israeli flag on a Manhattan street earlier this month‚ the New York Post reported.Kenneth Foster in the clip can be heard saying‚ "F*** Israel and f*** you‚ too‚" the paper noted‚ adding that he also told the unidentified woman‚ “I got the right to say what the f*** I want‚ I’m American.”Foster‚ 57‚ said in an interview with the Post that on Nov. 11 he was walking down Columbus Avenue on the Upper West Side with his mother when the woman’s flag “almost hit” him.A video of Foster cursing and issuing a middle finger was posted on Instagram; a panel on the Instagram post also claims Foster was "spotted intimidating and harassing Jews hanging up posters of kidnapped hostages taken by Hamas on October 7th." Foster‚ however‚ told the paper he was unaware of any posters. “I stated‚ ‘Why are you waving that flag that is part of an apartheid state?'” Foster told the Post. “So she got mad‚ like they mostly always do when you talk about Israel. I said‚ ‘F you’ and ‘F Israel.’ I didn’t say nothing about Jews to her ... now I have to defend myself."Foster added to the paper that he has nothing against Jewish people and should have “just walked away.” “I’m against oppression of anybody because I’m black‚ so I know what oppression is‚” he added to the Post. Foster told the paper he's worked for the MTA for 36 years; the Post added that he earned just over $143‚000 last year for managing track maintenance and construction. The paper said Foster has shared pro-Palestinian posts on his public Facebook page since Oct. 7.An MTA spokesman told the Post that the transportation agency "has no tolerance for hatred or discrimination" and that it has "begun an investigation to determine all the facts.” Content warning: Middle finger: Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

After becoming the first state in the nation to decriminalize hard drug use‚ including heroin‚ cocaine‚ and fentanyl‚ Oregon is reconsidering its decision due to a drastic increase in open-air drug use‚ the Telegraph reported.Police chiefs‚ district attorneys‚ and city officials are calling for Oregon lawmakers to partially or entirely reverse Measure 110‚ the Drug Addiction Treatment and Recovery Act. In 2020‚ Oregon voters opted to pass the referendum‚ claiming it would help to address the state’s drug addiction and overdose crisis by shifting focus to providing treatment options.“Law enforcement should spend more time on community safety‚ but Oregon law enforcement officers in 2017 arrested more than 8‚000 people in cases where simple drug possession was the most serious offense‚” Measure 110 states. “In many instances‚ the same people were arrested for drug possession‚ again and again‚ because they are unable to get treatment.”Under the measure‚ those in possession of a gram or less of hard drugs are subject to a ticket and a maximum fine of $100. Individuals can have the fine waived by calling a 24-hour hotline to seek treatment. Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner stated that approximately 6‚000 people have received the citations‚ but fewer than 125 called the hotline. Additionally‚ individuals are not penalized for failing to pay the fine. “We don’t have even really one successful example of somebody that went from a citation issued on the street to self-assessment to addiction services to a place of wellness‚” Skinner told Eugene City Council.He noted that Oregon is “on pace to shatter the record for overdose calls for service and shatter the record for overdose deaths.”“Police officers and firefighters are administering Narcan‚ lifesaving Narcan‚ at an alarming rate‚” Skinner added.According to a recent Emerson poll‚ 56% of Oregon voters want to repeal Measure 110.Law enforcement officials do not support a complete repeal of the act but are urging for drug possession to be a class A misdemeanor‚ compelling drug addicts to seek treatment.Jason Edmiston‚ police chief in Hermiston‚ said‚ “We don’t believe a return to incarceration is the answer‚ but restoring a [class A] misdemeanor for possession with diversion opportunities is critically important.”Tiffany Edwards‚ vice president of policy and community development at Eugene Chamber of Commerce‚ told the Telegraph‚ “When measure 110 was passed‚ we in our community started to see a significant rise in crime and‚ in particular‚ open-air drug use.”“There were a lot of complaints from the business community. It is having a severe impact on our businesses‚ economic development‚ and the wellness of our community‚” she continued. “We recognised while Measure 110 coincided with the explosion of fentanyl in the U.S. in general‚ I think what we learned was that there were a lot of flaws in how the measure was implemented.”Democratic state Senator Kate Lieber said‚ “Everything’s on the table” when it comes to exploring solutions to make Oregon’s streets safer.Republican lawmakers recently wrote a letter to Democratic Governor Tina Kotek‚ urging her to call a special session to address the drug crisis. They insisted that “treatment should be a requirement‚ not a suggestion.”Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!