New York Attorney General Leticia ‘Tish’ James‚ a former left-wing public advocate and council member‚ wants to bar Donald Trump from ever again working in the New York real estate industry. In a filing Friday‚ before closing arguments in the civil fraud trial‚ lawyers for James said they want Trump and other defendants to pay […] The post NY AG: $370M Fine &; Trump Barred for Life from NY Real Estate appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

OPINION Tina Peters and the Tyranny She Faces by Joe Fried A few days ago‚ Tina Peters tearfully revealed that her husband died after a long and difficult illness. It was just the latest disaster in the life of this brave‚ 67-year-old lady. In addition to her personal burdens‚ Peters has been charged with numerous […] The post Tina Peters and the Tyranny She Faces appeared first on www.independentsentinel.com.

A source close to Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce said both star’s families reportedly feel they have “never seen” the superstars happier and are supportive their romance. An insider with knowledge about the 34-year-old pop singer and Kansas City Chiefs tight end’s relationship told Entertainment Tonight that the couple are reportedly “closer than ever before and everyone around them can see that they’re an amazing match.” “They love being together no matter what they’re doing and appreciate the little things in life‚” the source said. “They try to lead as normal lives as possible as a couple and are enjoying the upswing and growth in their relationship.” “They believe that timing is everything and that this is their time‚” the source added. “Their families are both on board and everyone on Travis’ side loves Taylor and vice versa.” Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift’s families have never seen them happier.https://t.co/aF9HcW9m9o — Entertainment Tonight (@etnow) January 4‚ 2024 “It’s a supportive dynamic all around‚” the source continued. “Their loved ones have never seen either of them so happy and hope and believe that it will continue.” Swift and Kelce recently made headlines after pictures and videos surfaced of the couple looking cozy and sharing a passionate kiss while ringing in the new year together at a party following the Chief’s victory against the Cincinnati Bengals 25-17. The victory ensured Kansas City secured a spot in the playoffs as AFC West champions. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP During Kelce’s latest “New Heights” podcast with his brother‚ Philadelphia Eagles center Jason Kelce‚ he talked about having a fun New Years Eve game and night. “It was fun‚ and then we all got to celebrate New Year’s together‚” Travis told his brother. “It was cool‚ man‚ to have all the friends and family‚” he added. “I think I had over 50 to 55 people come in for this one. Yeah‚ a good New Year’s celebration with all the friends and fam.” Swift recently spilled the details about her romance with Kelce and said they were already a couple when she first attended a Chiefs game back on September 24. The superstar singer was named Time’s 2023 “Person of the Year‚” and in a wide-ranging interview‚ Swift included the timeline of her and the Kansas City player’s relationship‚ including when it really began. Related: ‘Killed It’: Travis Kelce Reveals Special Christmas Gift He Got From Taylor Swift’s Brother

The old arguments won’t work this time for United Teachers of Dade (UTD). For a change‚ it isn’t the amen chorus in the mainstream media or the politicians bought and paid for with decades of union money UTD’s leaders have to convince. It’s the educators whose legitimate workplace concerns have consistently been ignored while the union used millions of their hard-earned dues dollars to line their own pockets and fund a diverse collection of failed liberal candidates and causes at the local and national level. Even before conceding in mid-December what an independent audit had already confirmed − that less than 60% of those being represented by UTD thought enough of its services to actually pay for them − union president Karla Hernandez-Mats was in full cliché mode. “Our collective strength will be the defense against these attacks‚” she thundered. “And through our solidarity‚ we shall emerge victorious. The careers of our dedicated education workforce and the future of public education depend on our resilience and our unity.” The perceived attack‚ of course‚ takes the form of a new law‚ Senate Bill 256‚ passed by the Florida legislature last summer that‚ among its other provisions‚ requires public employee unions to petition the state for a recertification election when their paid membership drops below 60% of the bargaining unit they claim to represent.  The Freedom Foundation has joined forces with a group of local teachers to create the United Teachers of Dade‚ an alternative to the national teachers’ union that exists exclusively to serve teachers‚ and not politics. For months the group has been driving down UTD’s membership by offering an alternative option. While simultaneously‚ after a solid year of arm-twisting‚ the UTD has been purging the union’s membership rolls of inactive members and even bribing potential recruits with Amazon gift cards‚ she claimed to have bumped the number up to 58.4%.  But when UTD filed its annual registration with the state last month‚ it revealed UTD’s membership rate to be only 56%‚ indicating either that she was exaggerating UTD’s support or that the exodus has already begun in anticipation of the likely recertification election next year. The only commodity less credible than the union’s numbers is its lamentations about having to justify its existence at all. Since its creation in 1974‚ UTD has been re-certified exactly never. Like a pope or Supreme Court justice‚ union officials believe they were appointed for life regardless of their standing with the rank and file. They’re in for a revelation. Predictably‚ Hernandez-Mats and other apologists for Big Labor characterize the current struggle as an invasion by out-of-state aggressors. But in reality‚ it is a civil war between the union and its own members‚ justifiably dissatisfied with the union’s misplaced priorities. And with good reason. Last year alone‚ UTD − which is affiliated with both of the nation’s two large teachers’ unions‚ the National Education Association and American Federation of Teachers‚ and the AFL-CIO − spent 46% of its gross dues revenue on affiliation fees. Based on annual dues of $984.60 per full-time teacher‚ UTD diverts almost half − an estimated $453 per year − to organizations that have no direct connection with their unique concerns. Of the remaining balance‚ once you account for what UTD itself spends on local politics‚ the six or eight union officers earning in excess of $200‚000 a year‚ lavish office space and overhead‚ plus first-class travel and other incidentals‚ the union is left with only a pittance to spend on its own members. And it isn’t just guilt by association. Hernandez-Mats herself was Democrat Charlie Christ’s running mate in his failed 2020 run for governor against DeSantis‚ effectively eroding her claims to prioritize union business over partisan politics. Indignant media projections about the looming certification election assume that even if UTD’s paid membership stands at 56%‚ it still has a comfortable margin because it only takes a simple majority to be reinstated. But that’s an apples-and-oranges comparison. This week’s audit tabulated the soft support of thousands of teachers who believed there was nothing they could do to prevent their paychecks from being preemptively lightened by nearly $1‚000 a year. The certification election‚ however‚ will gauge how many actually want that relationship to continue and how many would rather see UTD disqualified and replaced with a newer‚ cheaper‚ less-political‚ more-accountable alternative. The election won’t be about outside forces‚ faceless corporate interests or the usual labor boogeymen. It will be a referendum on UTD’s 50-year record of corruption‚ incompetence and indifference. If that’s what you had to stake your future on‚ you’d be desperate‚ too. * * * Aaron Withe is CEO of the Freedom Foundation. The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the Daily Wire.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) confirmed in a statement to The Daily Wire that it is actively investigating Colony Ridge‚ the massive housing development northeast of Houston that’s become a magnet for illegal immigrants. The exact nature of the investigation and the potential violations that the federal agency is looking into remain unclear‚ with the EPA only confirming that it is actively investigating the sprawling land development. “Due to the active nature of this investigation‚ the EPA would be unable to provide a comment‚” Joe Robledo‚ an EPA Press Officer for Region 6‚ which includes Texas and other neighboring states‚ told The Daily Wire. The EPA investigation comes on the heels of a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) alleging that Colony Ridge engaged in predatory financing practices and bait-and-switch sales. In addition to the investigation from the EPA and the lawsuit from the DOJ and the CFPB‚ the New York Post reported that the embattled development is also under investigation by the Internal Revenue Service‚ the Army Corps of Engineers‚ and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. The flurry of investigations comes in the wake of two special legislative session calls from Texas Governor Greg Abbott‚ who called on lawmakers to introduce legislation concerning the development after an investigative report from The Daily Wire. READ MORE: Inside Colony Ridge: The ‘Fastest Growing Development’ In The U.S. Is A Magnet For Illegal Immigrants While it is unclear what exactly the EPA investigation pertains to‚ Colony Ridge‚ which is estimated to be home to anywhere from 40‚000 to 75‚000 people‚ has come under criticism for its water management practices‚ with one local researcher alleging that the embattled development flouted a wide range of regulations. Bob Rehak‚ who writes at Reduce Flooding‚ alleged that the development flouted drainage regulations and did not have nearly enough fire hydrants‚ with several blocks of the neighborhood having none at all. Rehak‚ who has extensively documented environmental concerns at the development‚ also asserted that the water and sewage manager for Colony Ridge dumped 48‚000 gallons of fecal-contaminated water into streams that have the potential to flow into Lake Houston‚ the primary source of drinking water for Houston‚ America’s fourth most populous city. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality later fined Quadvest‚ the company serving Colony Ridge‚ over the dumping of contaminated water. Meanwhile‚ the DOJ and CFPB lawsuit also alleges that Colony Ridge took advantage of language barriers to sell unsuspecting customers property that lacked proper electrical and water infrastructure‚ and that was even located on flood-prone land. Portions of Colony Ridge even experienced flooding as developer William “Trey” Harris hosted lawmakers in an attempt to rehabilitate the company’s image as it faced severe criticism from lawmakers. Abbott‚ who received a combined $1.5 million from Colony Ridge developer William “Trey” Harris and his wife‚ recently signed legislation allocating $40 million to the Department of Public Safety to patrol the development. Got a tip worth investigating? Your information could be the missing piece to an important story. Submit your tip today.

An Israeli student pursuing a masters degree at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) filed a lawsuit after claiming she faced severe anti-Semitic harassment by peers and a faculty member who targeted her for several weeks. The plaintiff‚ Shiran‚ accuses assistant professor Chun-Shan (Sandie) Yi of issuing a new final assignment in a “Materials and Media In Art Therapy” course just 10 days before it was due‚ an apparent retaliation for her for filing an anti-Semitic harassment complaint. “The new assignment required Shiran and her classmates to respond to a collection of images allegedly drawn by Palestinian children that depicted Israeli soldiers engaged in brutal violence‚” a press release by Much‚ the law firm representing Shiran stated. The prompt for the assignment questioned if students could deal with their own “complicated feelings‚ internalized racism/ableism/homophobia/supremacy and countertransference” and remain professional while working with clients. Lawyers for Shiran‚ who The Daily Wire is referring to only by her first name due to concerns for her safety‚ say the mother of two is the only student in the course from either Israel or territories controlled by the Palestinian Authority‚ indicating that the prompt was clearly aimed at her. “In other words‚ she is the only student for whom the images could be described as ‘too close to home‚’ the statement reads. “The other students did not receive a corresponding assignment asking them to respond to images that might ‘upset’ or ‘trigger’ them.” A image shared in the lawsuit that Shiran was asked to reflect on during her final assignment. It is from the A Child’s View from Gaza exhibit.ld’ After Shiran reported the assignment‚ Yi allegedly continued her targeted harassment of Shiran through class-wide emails and changing grading standards‚ according to the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois on December 22. Meet The Chicago Jew Who Dropped Everything To Go Fight Hamas The lawsuit accuses the school of violating Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act and is seeking injunctive relief to prevent further discriminating against Jews and Israelis and money for damages and lawyers fees. A spokesperson for SAIC declined to comment on the specifics of the complaint‚ citing employee privacy interests and pending litigation.  “The School strongly condemns antisemitism and any discrimination based on religion‚ nationality‚ or any other aspect of a person’s identity‚” the spokesperson told The Daily Wire. “We have policies in place that prohibit discrimination‚ harassment‚ and retaliation‚ and the School is unequivocally committed to providing a safe and welcoming learning environment for all of our students‚ faculty‚ and staff.” History of Anti-Semitism On Campus The suit claims SAIC cultivated an atmosphere of hostility towards Jews and Israelis‚ citing an incident in 2018 when a student asked if kosher food would be available in the cafeteria‚ only to receive a response from the school “that there wouldn’t be and indicated that advertising kosher food may make some students uncomfortable.” It also describes a time when an anti-Israel teacher of “Philosophies of Sex” cited examples of problematic forms of BDSM including if someone wanted to “‘act out a nazi/Jew scene’ where the nazi says ‘Lick my book you dirty Jew.” “The professor explained this would be problematic if the submissive was actually Jewish‚” the lawsuit states. More recently‚ the suit describes anti-Semitic incidents that have taken place following Hamas’s brutal massacre against Israeli civilians on October 7‚ including a letter written a week after the attack and signed by faculty members who affirmed their “uncompromising solidarity with the Palestinian people in their righteous struggle for self-determination.” Professor Who Called Israelis ‘Pigs’ And ‘Irredeemable Excrement’ No Longer Employed‚ School Confirms Mika Tosca‚ an associate professor who was previously employed by the school‚ was also named in the lawsuit for posting an anti-Semitic message to social media shortly after Hamas’s massacre. “Israelis are pigs. Savages. Very very bad people. Irredeemable excrement . . . May they all rot in hell‚” Tosca wrote. Tosca has since apologized. Assistant Professor Mika Tosca calls Israelis “pigs” and “very very bad people” in a social media post. Source: micktosca.com Facing Anti-Semitism Before Day One Shiran was initially rejected from the school’s Art Therapy and Counseling program before an independent investigation into discrimination found the admission process did not follow the school’s “policy or expectations‚” according to the lawsuit. “In her admissions interview‚ she was denied the typical‚ mandatory panel of interviewers‚ and was instead subjected to the harassing inquisition of a single faculty interviewer who showed no interest in her academic qualifications and questioned her ability to work collaboratively alongside Arab and Palestinian classmates‚” the suit states. After seeing Tosca’s hateful social media posts‚ Shiran sent several emails seeking reassurance about her safety on campus that were ignored by SAIC’s Provost Martin Berger‚ acting provost Dean Felice Dublon‚ her department chair‚ Professor Adelheid Mers‚ and her program chair and advisor Katherine Marie Kunkel Kamholz.  The lawyers say the administrators and faculty members have not responded to her emails‚ more than two months later. The lawsuit claims that in various classes‚ including Yi’s‚ professors facilitated “one-sided student-led conversations expressing vitriol toward Israelis.” “Shiran’s professors repeatedly demonstrated sympathy toward her classmates’ hostile antisemitic musings‚ and they continued to demand tha Shiran learn to hold space for her peers’ feelings‚” the lawsuit states. WATCH: Inside The Israeli Kibbutz Where Dozens Were Murdered By Hamas Yi also accepted a classmate Jannah Sellars’ request to present a project she worked together with Shiran on separately because she was “simply unable to work closely with any individual who denies the genocide so clearly taking place before us‚” according to the suit. “There were no attempts at discussion or resolution‚” the lawsuit states. “The school and professor Yi simply catered to the discriminatory request‚ without a second thought.” Shiran received a failing mark for “Professionalism: Collegial + Interpersonal Skills” for the joint presentation. She also received a failing grade on ‘Final Peer Evaluation” with her classmates accusing her of plagiarizing Jannah’s work. “I noticed that you mostly interacted with non-BIPOC-presenting students during skillshare‚” Professor Yi wrote in her feedback according to the suit. “Overall‚ it seems that there was some discomfort during your presentation.” The day after Sellars’ refusal‚ Shiran filed a complaint‚ causing SAIC’s Title IX office to engage outside counsel to review her claims.  The Final Assignment On December 5th‚ Shiran told SAIC’s lawyers that she wanted to initiate a formal process to investigate her claims against Yi. Just two days later‚ Yi created the new final assignment that the lawsuit claims targetted Shiran. The assignment showed two groups of pictures. In the first group‚ were images of “depictions of genital‚ physical‚ verbal or sexual abuse‚ violence and trauma incited [sic] on children and youth.” It includes a drawing of an Israeli father telling his son he is a “bad boy” in Hebrew.   The second set of images show Israeli soldiers being violent to Gazan families‚ including one of a soldier smiling while pointing a gun at someone and smiling.  A photo included in the lawsuit that a SAIC class was asked to respond to. The lawsuit alleges that the “sudden creation” of the assignment and selection of several images about Israelis “was a transparently deliberate effort to further harass and isolate Shiran‚ who had just days before requested a formal investigation into Professor Yi’s discriminatory behavior.” Rabbi Resigns From Harvard’s Anti-Semitism Advisory Committee: ‘Ignoring Jewish Suffering Is Evil’ Although the second set of images were withdrawn from the final assignment after Shiran told SAIC’s attorneys she would seek emergency legal relief‚ Shiran claims she continued to face harassment and retaliation from Yi. On December 18‚ Yi wrote to the class to apologize to students who felt their “learning was compromised” after the second part of the assignment was withdrawn. She added that she would “very much appreciate” if students wrote to the department chair about their perspectives‚ according to the lawsuit. The suit also accuses Yi of adjusting the courses grading standards to “increase the weight given to peer evaluations and feedback‚ class participation‚ and collegiality among classmates.” It added that the change harmed Shiran’s grades. Another image Shiran was asked to respond to for her final assignment‚ according to the lawsuit. “I am determined to shed light on this issue‚ not just for me but for everyone who faces discrimination‚” Shiran said in the press release. “I believe publicizing my story is crucial to raising awareness about the recent upsurge of antisemitic discrimination in higher education institutions and more broadly.” Shiran plans to continue studying at the school‚ which offers a world-class education in art therapy‚ according to the New York Post. Shiran’s lawyers declined to comment further than their press release. When requesting Yi to comment‚ The Daily Wire received an auto response claiming she is not available to respond during winter break and that the response is an effort “for an anti-capitalism &; anti-ableism practice Inbox.” Berger‚ Dublon‚ Mers and Kamholz did not respond to a request for comment. Got a tip worth investigating? Your information could be the missing piece to an important story. Submit your tip today.

Mike Rowe updated his fans on Friday about the condition of his 91-year-old father John‚ who had a heart attack the day after Christmas‚ saying he was doing better. The “Dirty Jobs” host posted to Facebook about getting to spend time with his father and noting how quickly time goes by — adding that all his friends are now 70. “As always‚ I’m still nine years younger‚ but still … don’t they go by in a blink? I’m sitting here with my 91-year-old dad this morning — who is doing better every day since his heart attack last week — and wondering how quickly the next thirty years will go‚ if I’m lucky enough to have them.” Speaks for itself‚ really.https://t.co/c9gLjCjvwM — The Real Mike Rowe (@mikeroweworks) December 27‚ 2023 Days earlier in his New Year’s Day post‚ the TV host wrote‚ “If you follow my mom’s page‚ you’ve probably heard my dad had a serious heart attack the day after Christmas.” “Obviously‚ we’ve all been worried‚ and anxious to understand what comes next‚” he added. “I’m happy to report that he’s home‚ and beginning what could be a long road back.” “On the other hand‚ tough as he is‚ it’s hard to say‚” Rowe continued. “Wouldn’t surprise me if he was rolling bocce balls in a week or so. I sure hope so. Thanks in advance for your thoughts and prayers. The Rowe’s are much obliged.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP The post contained a picture of his dad in a hospital bed with his mom standing close by‚ as well as a sweet family photo of Rowe‚ his two brothers‚ Scott and Phil‚ and their father. On the Discovery Channel host’s website‚ he also shared his mom Peggy’s post‚ who wrote about late Christmas night when her “husband awoke sweating profusely and with agonizing pain in his chest and arms.” “I found myself screaming into the phone—then feeling terror when the EMT shouted‚ ‘Stay with me‚ John! Stay with me!'” she added. “Four days later‚ I realize our good fortune. Especially since 50% of all heart attack victims do not make it to the hospital alive.” “Thanks to the medical professionals—especially the ‘interventionalist’ who performed a heart catheterization and inserted three stents into arteries with as much as a 95-98% blockage‚” Rowe’s mom continued. “And thanks to our kids for their support—now…and along the road to recovery. It’s nice to know they still like us.” Related: ‘Dirty Jobs’ Host Mike Rowe Rolling Out Own Tennessee Whiskey Line Complete With Memorable Sea Shanty

Wayne LaPierre‚ the longtime CEO of the National Rifle Association‚ announced his resignation Friday‚ according to Fox News. LaPierre worked for the organization for nearly five decades‚ joining in 1977‚ and has served as its executive vice president and CEO since 1991‚ Fox noted. His resignation will be effective January 31‚ and NRA President Charles Cotton said that Andrew Arulanandam‚ head of general operations‚ will step in as interim CEO. “With pride in all that we have accomplished‚ I am announcing my resignation from the NRA‚” LaPierre said in a press release obtained by Fox News. “I’ve been a card-carrying member of this organization for most of my adult life‚ and I will never stop supporting the NRA and its fight to defend Second Amendment freedom. My passion for our cause burns as deeply as ever.” “On behalf of the NRA Board of Directors‚ I thank Wayne LaPierre for his service‚” Cotton said in the press release. “Wayne has done as much to protect Second Amendment freedom as anyone. Wayne is a towering figure in the fight for constitutional freedom‚ but one of his other talents is equally important: he built an organization that is bigger than him.” LaPierre‚ 74‚ attributed his resignation to concerns about his health. LaPierre’s resignation comes as a lawsuit brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James against the NRA is set to go to trial next week‚ according to CNN. The suit alleges that the NRA violated laws concerning non-profits and accuses its leaders of using the non-profit’s money for personal use. The suit seeks to dissolve the organization. CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP “The NRA’s influence has been so powerful that the organization went unchecked for decades while top executives funneled millions into their own pockets‚” James said after she announced the suit in August 2020. After James filed the suit‚ then-NRA President Carolyn Meadows told CNN it was a “baseless premeditated attack on our organization and the Second Amendment freedoms it fights to defend. It’s a transparent attempt to score political points and attack the leading voice in opposition to the leftist agenda.” James has been highly critical of the NRA since before she was attorney general‚ calling it a “criminal enterprise” and a “terrorist organization” during her 2018 campaign for the position. “The NRA continues its defense of a lawsuit by the New York Attorney General‚ and LaPierre is an individual defendant in that action. It is well-known that the NYAG vowed to pursue the NRA when she was candidate for her office and‚ upon being elected‚ filed a lawsuit to dissolve the Association in August 2020. Trial proceedings in that case begin Monday‚” the NRA said in its press release announcing LaPierre’s resignation.