'So we got kicked out of our storage unit'

'The campaigns are not yet serious about governing'

It is as if they live in two different countries

The Galapagos Conservancy successfully airlifted 136 juvenile tortoises to the volcanic terrain on Isabela Island‚ their only natural habitat on Earth. The giant Galápagos tortoises between the ages of 5 and 9 years were hatched and raised at the Breeding and Rearing Center on the island‚ where dedicated park rangers ensured their well-being and development […] The post Historic Effort Returns 136 Juvenile Galápagos Tortoises Conservationists Release into the Wild appeared first on Good News Network.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suspended his 2024 presidential campaign Sunday after finishing a distant second in the Iowa caucuses last Monday. “Nobody worked harder‚ and we left it all out on the field. Now‚ following our second-place finish in Iowa‚ we prayed and deliberated on the way forward. If there was anything I could do to produce a favorable outcome—more campaign stops‚ more interviews—I would do it‚” DeSantis said. “But I can’t ask our supporters to volunteer their time and donate their resources [when] we don’t have a clear path to victory. Accordingly‚ I am today suspending my campaign.” The Florida governor endorsed former President Donald Trump in the Republican primary. “It’s clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance‚” DeSantis said. “They watched his presidency get stymied by relentless resistance‚ and they see Democrats using lawfare to this day to attack him.” “While I’ve had disagreements with Donald Trump‚ such as on the coroanvirus pandemic and his elevation of Anthony Fauci‚ Trump is superior to the current incumbent‚ [President] Joe Biden. That is clear‚” the governor added. “I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee‚ and I will honor that pledge.” DeSantis contrasted Trump with former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley‚ the only remaining top challenger to the former president. DeSantis said Trump earned his endorsement “because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear‚ a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents. The days of putting Americans last‚ of kowtowing to large corporations‚ of caving to woke ideology‚ are over.” BREAKING: Ron DeSantis drops out‚ endorses Trump‚ slams Nikki Haley as representing the party’s old “warmed over corporatism” https://t.co/82BeoQgMIB— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) January 21‚ 2024 According to preliminary results‚ Trump won the Iowa caucuses with 51.0% of the vote‚ with DeSantis trailing at 21.2% and Haley at 19.1%. Entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy‚ who took a distant fourth with 7.7%‚ dropped out of the race and endorsed Trump as the results came in. DeSantis had invested heavily in Iowa‚ visiting all 99 counties and engaging in the retail politics that traditionally wins the Hawkeye state. Haley has poured her hopes into New Hampshire‚ which will hold its Republican primary Tuesday. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average‚ Trump leads with 50.3% in New Hampshire‚ with Haley taking a distant second at 35.3%. Haley praised DeSantis as he dropped out. “He ran a great race‚ he’s been a good governor‚ and we wish him well‚” she said. “Having said that‚ it’s now one fella and one lady left‚” she added‚ slamming Trump as “more of the same.” On Saturday‚ Trump touted a Rasmussen Reports poll showing him prevailing against Biden and Haley falling short. Trump narrowly leads Biden in general election polls‚ which analysts say carry little weight ten months out. According to the RealClearPolitics polling average‚ Trump has 46.6% to Biden’s 44.6%. The Electoral College‚ not the popular vote‚ decides presidential races‚ but these nationwide polls may prove a weak barometer for Americans’ leanings at the moment. Trump faces numerous legal claims against him‚ along with efforts to remove him from ballots. Have an opinion about this article? To sound off‚ please email letters@DailySignal.com‚ and we’ll consider publishing your edited remarks in our regular “We Hear You” feature. Remember to include the URL or headline of the article plus your name and town and/or state. The post Ron DeSantis Drops Out‚ Makes Endorsement in 2024 Presidential Race appeared first on The Daily Signal.

Rep. Dan Crenshaw Takes On Dog-Grabbing Agent at United Airlines

Geez Louise. The left tries to ruin everything. Professional surfer and one-armed-athlete Bethany Hamilton is set to speak at the Oshkosh Women's Fund's Annual Power of the Purse event in Wisconsin in May. And due to her past statements on protecting real women in sports‚ protestors are boycotting the event and trying to get others to do the same. Because as we all know‚ the left hates to see anything that they disagree with succeed. The event coordinators announced last week that Hamilton‚ who lost her arm in a shark attack in 2003 before going on to become a decorated surfer‚ would be the keynote speaker. “Bethany’s story of overcoming obstacles and living with resilience‚ perseverance‚ and heart has helped her live an Unstoppable life. We’re thrilled for the community to hear her message - in hopes that it will inspire others to live unstoppable‚” the Facebook announcement noted. Back in February of last year‚ Hamilton announced that she refused to compete in World Surf League events after the group adopted the International Surfing Association’s policies to allow "transgender women" (aka men) to compete in women’s surfing competitions. At the time‚ Hamilton posted a video to social media backing up her boycott of the competition. “I personally think that the best solution would be to create a different division so that all can have a fair opportunity to showcase their passion and talent‚” she said at the time‚ according to Newsweek.  This past Tuesday‚ a letter was released that was signed by “dozens” of individuals from Oshkosh‚ Wisconsin‚ protesting Hamilton’s presence at the upcoming event. The letter read‚ in part: Bethany Hamilton wants transgender surfers to be segregated into a separate athletic division. Currently‚ there are no transgender athletes competing in the World Surf League‚ and only one transgender athlete‚ Australian longboard surfer Sasha Jane Lowerson‚ has ever won a professional surfing competition. Bethany Hamilton's boycott is not motivated by concerns about athlete safety or maintaining the integrity of a professional sport. Bethany Hamilton simply does not personally want to accept transgender women as women. Yeah‚ maybe because transgender women aren’t women? How 'bout that for some food for thought? While this group protests‚ others are in full support of not only Hamilton‚ but legal protection for women's safety‚ fairness‚ and the uniqueness of women’s sports in general. Related: SHOCKER: Miss America Is a Real Woman &; In the Military Riley Gaines‚ former NCAA swimmer who had to compete against transgender athlete Lia Thomas‚ used the opportunity to promote an event that she and Hamilton will both be at.  “Men should not compete in women's surfing‚” one group wrote. “Solidarity‚ Bethany. Women deserve our own sports‚” another insisted. One more wrote something similar: “Agree. Solidarity @bethanyhamilton. What a fantastic role model for girls and women in sport. Don't let the sexist misogynists get to you! Male surfers (however they identify) should be nowhere near women's surfing.” It’s rather unfortunate that saying that women deserve equal and fair opportunities to compete is enough to cause controversy. Kudos to Hamilton and anyone else who recognizes that. 

On Saturday's The Chris Wallace Show‚ CNN demonstrated that‚ in spite of promises of reforming its biases‚ worthwhile discussions of how to deter mass shootings are still lacking as a panel that actually included two conservatives still failed to point out the link between gun-free zones and mass killings. After recalling that the Justice Department just released a report critical of the police response to the Uvalde school shooting from 2022‚ Wallace went to the panel for reaction‚ leading New York Times reporter Lulu Garcia-Navarro to complain about the U.S. being "awash in guns" and suggesting that nothing would work to make schools safe. After right-leaning contributor Jonah Goldberg used his allotted time to complain that media coverage leads to copycat attacks and recommended police reforms in places like Uvalde‚ but still did not mention the evidence that arming teachers works‚ Kara Swisher jumped in to declare: "The reason is there's too many guns. That's really pretty much it." After Goldberg merely responded‚ "But that's not a solvable problem right now either‚" Swisher added: "Well‚ it's not a solvable problem‚ but there's only one reason there's school shootings all the time‚ is‚ one‚ we've become very numb to it‚ like‚ 'Oh‚ another school shooting.' And‚ two‚ there's too many guns. It's really pretty much the entire --" Right-leaning panelist Reihan Salam of National Review then weighed in by first bringing up recommendations popular with liberals like questionable red flag laws and safe storage requirements before host Wallace was the one who brought up the issue of arming teachers: "Should teachers -- in at least 30 states around the country‚ at least some teachers in those states are allowed to bear arms. Is that an answer?" Salam responded by merely calling it "reasonable" for teachers to volunteer to arm themselves rather than touting it as a possible game changer. Swisher then jumped back in to proclaim that arming teachers is not the answer because "you don't know who they're going to shoot at‚ and there's kids in the way." After Wallace asked her why she was opposed‚ she added: "Because this is -- we're not in a movie here. We're not in some Western. There are kids in the way. If there's one mistake and a teacher shoots a kid‚ it's just - it's just incomprehensible." The right-leaning Salam then timidly jumped to voice partial agreement with his liberal colleague as he responded: "I absolutely agree with you that it shouldn't be a free-for-all‚ and it should be something where you have folks who are disciplined and well-trained." Garcia-Navarro then admitted that she had spoken with teachers in Utah who approve of bringing their firearms to school for protection‚ but then added: "But the other side of this is that‚ of course‚ they also know that putting a gun inside of a classroom might mean that they harm the wrong child. And having a teacher point a weapon at a student‚ what message does that send to the other students? It's a very complicated issue." It was not addressed that there is research finding that nearly all mass killings in public spaces occur in those that do not allow civilians to be armed (gun-free zones)‚ and that the possibility of teachers misusing their firearms is a exaggerated by liberals. Right-leaning crime researcher John Lott frequently criticizes the media for failing to note during a mass shooting when the target is a gun-free zone (which is usually the case). Transcript follows: CNN's The Chris Wallace Show January 20‚ 2024 10:29 a.m. Eastern CHRIS WALLACE: We want to focus on the bigger issue: how to keep our kids safe in school. And take a look at this. Since 2018‚ there have been 185 school shootings resulting in injuries or death. So‚ Lulu‚ big picture: Can we keep our kids safe in school? LULU GARCIA NAVARRO‚ NEW YORK TIMES: Not in this America unfortunately‚ and I think Uvalde shows that. It's a devastating -- devastating day when the report came out and you just see the families in absolute agony. And I think that‚ you know‚ when you have a country that's awash in guns‚ it doesn't matter how hard we make the schools. It doesn't matter if we give our kids‚ you know‚ clear backpacks and put metal detectors and have school resource officers and on and on and on and arm our teachers. The fact is that‚ no‚ we can't‚ I think‚ in this America right now. (...) (Jonah Goldberg of the National Review suggests improving police procedures and complains about Nikki Haley recommending increased screening as impractical‚ and that excessive media coverage causes copy catting.) (...) KARA SWISHER: The reason is there's too many guns. That's really pretty much it. JONAH GOLDBERG‚ THE DISPATCH/CNN CONTRIBUTOR: But that's not a solvable problem right now either. SWISHER: Well‚ it's not a solvable problem‚ but there's only one reason there's school shootings all the time‚ is‚ one‚ we've become very numb to it‚ like‚ "Oh‚ another school shooting." And‚ two‚ there's too many guns. It's really pretty much the entire -- REIHAN SALAM‚ MANHATTAN INSTITUTE/NATIONAL REVIEW: Well‚ just‚ I mean -- GOLDBERG: I don't think it's the entire thing at all. SALAM: There are other market democracies that have similar levels of firearm ownership per capita. The thing that's really scary about this that it's -- there's an almost virality to this. There's a copycat element to it. And I think that‚ you know‚ one really big thing that we need to do is to effectively prosecute gun crimes. I think it is legitimate to say if you are not storing firearms properly in your home‚ there should be legal consequences for you -- I'm thinking about the parents of kids who are disturbed. Red flag laws are something that are‚ you know‚ just identifying people who have severe mental illness‚ and seeing to it that those guns are taken away. ... (inaudible) ... a lot of bipartisan support (inaudible) ... WALLACE: But let me -- let me ask you about another question. SALAM: Please. WALLACE: Should teachers -- in at least 30 states around the country‚ at least some teachers in those states are allowed to bear arms. Is that an answer? SALAM: I think it's entirely reasonable for teachers to raise their hand and volunteer for training in how to use firearms responsibly and effectively. I think that's legitimate. This is a big‚ diverse county‚ and I think you're going to have -- SWISHER: ... (inaudible) that the answer to guns is more guns with teachers‚ and you don't know who they're going to shoot at‚ and there's kids in the way. SALAM: It is reasonable for citizens to raise their hands and say‚ "I am going to undertake the kind of training to be someone who is a responsible person who's able to respond to (inaudible)" ... WALLACE: Why do you think that guns (inaudible) in classrooms? SWISHER: Because this is -- we're not in a movie here. We're not in some Western. There are kids in the way. If there's one mistake and a teacher shoots a kid‚ it's just - it's just incomprehensible. SALAM: I absolutely agree with you that it shouldn't be a free-for-all‚ and it should be something where you have folks who are disciplined and well-trained. NAVARRO: I've actually interviewed teachers who have trained in Utah to carry guns after Uvalde‚ and what I will say is that it is a complicated issue. I actually -- there is some nuance here‚ which is this: Teachers do not feel safe in this country. They are afraid -- they look at Uvalde‚ and what I will say is it is a complicated issue. I actually -- there is some nuance here‚ which is this: Teachers do not feel safe in this country. They are afraid. They look at Uvalde‚ and they say‚ "Who is going to come for us? Who is going to protect us? We are there with a potentially disturbed child who might have a gun‚ and what are we going to do to protect ourselves?" Which is happening. But the other side of this is that‚ of course‚ they also know that putting a gun inside of a classroom might mean that they harm the wrong child. And having a teacher point a weapon at a student‚ what message does that send to the other students? It's a very complicated issue.

A medical doctor in Georgia has been sentenced to seven years behind bars after setting out to find a hitman on the dark web to have his girlfriend killed‚ according to the Daily Mail. The dark web is characterized as the underbelly of the internet‚ which includes websites that are not typically found on popular search engines.Dr. James Wan‚ 54‚ was sentenced on Thursday in Atlanta federal court. The verdict comes after Wan pleaded guilty in October to a single count of using a facility of interstate commerce in the commission of murder-for-hire.U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan said that "[t]his defendant believed he could mask his homicidal intentions by using electronic means.""By using the dark web to conceal his search for someone to kill his girlfriend‚ Wan expected to evade detection‚ even going as far as using crypto currency to pay for the crime."Wan was an internal medicine specialist from an Atlanta suburb. The report added that he transferred more than $16‚000 in Bitcoin to a marketplace on the dark web to find someone who would kill his girlfriend. While the girlfriend was targeted for murder‚ she was not harmed.The FBI placed her in protective custody before any serious action could be taken."Despite his cowardly concealment on the dark web‚ Wan’s cold hearted murderous plot was averted due to the exceptional work of our team. He will now face the full consequences of the criminal justice system‚” Keri Farley said‚ Special Agent in Charge of FBI Atlanta‚ according to the United States Attorney's Office for the North District of Georgia. “This case shows that the FBI will not tolerate heinous acts of violence and will go to great lengths to protect our citizens.”The U.S. Attorney's Office noted that Buchanan presented the following statement in court: "On April 18‚ 2022‚ while in the Northern District of Georgia‚ Wan accessed a dark web marketplace from his cellular telephone and submitted an order to have a hitman murder his girlfriend. The order included the victim’s name‚ address‚ Facebook account‚ license plate‚ and car description. In the order‚ Wan stated: 'Can take wallet phone and car. Shoot and go. Or take car.' Wan then electronically transferred a 50% downpayment of approximately $8‚000 worth of Bitcoin to the dark web marketplace."Wan faced a maximum penalty of ten years behind bars.The Daily Mail noted that an attorney representing Wan in the case did not return a request for comment. Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced that he had suspended his 2024 presidential campaign on Sunday afternoon. DeSantis endorsed former President Donald Trump‚ and proclaimed him to be a "superior" candidate over President Joe Biden. DeSantis shared a video on the X social media platform announcing that he was dropping out of the presidential race on the eve of the New Hampshire primary. DeSantis declared that "nobody worked harder‚" and "we left it all out on the field." He added that if there was anything he could have done to make his campaign more successful‚ then he would have done it. The 45-year-old Republican governor said‚ "I'm proud to have delivered on 100 percent of his promises‚ and I will not stop now.""It's clear to me that a majority of Republican primary voters want to give Donald Trump another chance‚" DeSantis stated. "They watched his presidency get stymied by relentless resistance and they see Democrats using lawfare to this day to attack him.""While I've had disagreements with Donald Trump‚ such as on the coronavirus pandemic and his elevation of Anthony Fauci‚" DeSantis continued. "Trump is superior to the current incumbent‚ Joe Biden – that is clear." "He has my endorsement because we can't go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear‚" he added. DeSantis bashed Nikki Haley as representing "warmed-over corporatism." DeSantis ended his campaign a few days after finishing in second place in the Iowa caucuses with 20.1% of the vote‚ barely edging Haley and coming in 30 points behind Trump. — (@) Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors‚ sign up for our newsletters‚ and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!