<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/immigration-and-customs-enforcement-ice">Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)</a> confirmed to the media this week that a man accused of kidnapping a 12-year-old girl and holding her hostage, as well as murdering three others, is a previously deported <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/illegal-immigration">illegal alien</a> who had entered the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-states">United States</a> without permission.
On Monday, the 12-year-old girl escaped the mobile home of 37-year-old José Paulino Pascual-Reyes. Police in Tallapoosa County, Alabama, responded to a 911 call from a driver who found the girl walking alone alongside a road in Dadeville, Alabama. Upon arriving at the scene, authorities found two corpses. Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett confirmed at a <a href="https://www.wsfa.com/2022/08/02/child-discovery-leads-alabama-police-2-bodies-arrest/">press conference</a> Tuesday that court documents revealed the girl had been assaulted, drugged with alcohol, and tied to a bed post for nearly a week before escaping.
In a statement given to Daily Caller News Foundation, an ICE spokesperson <a href="https://dailycaller.com/2022/08/04/alabama-alleged-suspect-12-year-old-kidnapping-illegal/">confirmed</a> that Pascual-Reyes was previously deported in 2014.
“It’s horrendous to have a crime scene of this nature and also a 12-year-old juvenile to deal with this horrendous situation,” Abbett said on Tuesday.
The girl was crucial in helping authorities launch a 24-hour investigation that led to the arrest of Pascual-Reyes in Auburn, Alabama — about 25 miles from the mobile home where he’s resided since February, police estimated.
Authorities also charged Pascual-Reyes on two counts of abuse of a corpse. He’s currently being held in Tallapoosa County Jail pending a bond hearing.
It’s unclear when Pascual-Reyes kidnapped the girl. According to the DCNF, the two bodies found were those of Pascual-Reyes’ girlfriend and her 14-year-old son.
Jacqueline Burgess, executive director of the Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center, told <a href="https://www.wsfa.com/video/2022/08/03/tri-county-children-advocacy-center-helping-year-old-girl-kidnapping-case/">WSFA</a> that the girl showed bravery and courage in ways she had never seen before.
Burgess said the girl remains safe and protected while the investigation continues.
“Our role in that is to interview the child in a way that’s not scary,” Burgess said. “That is developmentally appropriate so that they’re not questioned by 50 different people on what is probably the most traumatic thing that’s ever happened to them.”
“We don’t ever want their life to be defined by these events,” she added. “We want to teach them how to be resilient and how to heal from this trauma.”
According to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, over 365,000 reported missing persons, including youth, were filed into the FBI’s National Crime Information Center. Of those, nearly 90,000 records remained active by the end of 2020. About one-third of those cases were regarding individuals under 18 years old.
Brandon Drey contributed to this report.

Tallapoosa County Sheriff’s Office

Illegal Alien Accused Of Kidnapping 12-Year-Old Girl, Facing Three Counts Of Capital Murder, Was Previously Deported

Alabama

Crime

Homicide

Illegal Immigration

Illegals

Murder

A kidnapped 12-year-old girl who fled captivity by chewing through her restraints at a mobile home in Alabama on Monday morning led authorities back to the residence, where police discovered two decomposing bodies.
Tallapoosa County Sheriff Jimmy Abbett confirmed at a <a href="https://www.wsfa.com/2022/08/02/child-discovery-leads-alabama-police-2-bodies-arrest/">press conference</a> Tuesday that court documents revealed the girl had been assaulted, drugged with alcohol, and tied to a bed post for nearly a week before escaping.
&#8220;It&#8217;s horrendous to have a crime scene of this nature and also a 12-year-old juvenile to deal with this horrendous situation,&#8221; Abbett said.
Sheriff Abbett said just before 8:30 a.m., police responded to a call from a driver who found the girl walking alone alongside a road in Dadeville, Alabama.
From there, the girl helped authorities launch a 24-hour investigation that led to the arrest of 37-year-old José Paulino Pascual-Reyes in Auburn, Alabama — about 25 miles from the mobile home where he resided since February, police estimated.
Authorities charged Pascual-Reyes with first-degree kidnapping, three counts of capital murder, and two counts of abuse of a corpse. He&#8217;s currently being held in Tallapoosa County Jail pending a bond hearing.
It&#8217;s unclear when Pascual-Reyes kidnapped the girl and if he had any relationship or prior contact with her.
&#8220;It&#8217;s a fluid investigation,&#8221; Abbett said. &#8220;Things are changing, and I don&#8217;t want to jeopardize the identification of our juvenile.&#8221;
Authorities declined to offer information regarding the two bodies found in the Dadeville mobile home, but said the remains were sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences.
Jacqueline Burgess, executive director of the Tri-County Children&#8217;s Advocacy Center, told <a href="https://www.wsfa.com/video/2022/08/03/tri-county-children-advocacy-center-helping-year-old-girl-kidnapping-case/">WSFA</a> that the girl showed bravery and courage in ways she had never seen before.
Burgess said the girl remains safe and protected while the investigation continues.
“Our role in that is to interview the child in a way that&#8217;s not scary,&#8221; Burgess said. &#8220;That is developmentally appropriate so that they&#8217;re not questioned by 50 different people on what is probably the most traumatic thing that&#8217;s ever happened to them.&#8221;
&#8220;We don&#8217;t ever want their life to be defined by these events,&#8221; she added. &#8220;We want to teach them how to be resilient and how to heal from this trauma.&#8221;
Authorities have also hailed the girl as a hero for helping them in the investigation and arrest of Pascual-Reyes.
According to the <a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://ojjdp.ojp.gov/programs/missing-and-exploited-children#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20there%20were%20365%2C348,as%20of%20December%2031%2C%202020." target="_blank" rel="noopener">Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention</a>, over 365,000 reported missing persons, including youth, were filed into the FBI&#8217;s National Crime Information Center. Of those, nearly 90,000 records remained active by the end of 2020. About one-third of those cases were under 18 years old.
Sheriff Abbett also expressed appreciation for the driver who called for help.
&#8220;We always say &#8216;see something, say something,’” he said. &#8220;And it&#8217;s one of those things that you really don&#8217;t know what you&#8217;re actually doing, but you&#8217;re helping that young child when you&#8217;re stopping there and volunteering your services to do that.&#8221;
&#8220;And so we&#8217;re very appreciative to the people that actually came forward and identified and notified us,&#8221; he added.

Abducted 12-Year-Old Girl Escapes, Helps Police Discover 2 Dead Bodies

Child Abuse

Child Protective Services

kidnapping

A veteran <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alabama">Alabama</a> news reporter was nearly barred from <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/capital-punishment">witnessing an execution</a> Thursday because her skirt was too short and her heels were inappropriate, but was allowed to do her job after donning a pair of fisherman’s waders.
Ivana Hrynkiw, a reporter and managing producer with <a style="font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit;" href="https://www.al.com/">AL.com</a>, arrived at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in Atmore to witness the execution of Joe Nathan James Jr., who killed his ex-girlfriend nearly three decades ago. But she was told by Alabama Department of Corrections Public Information Officer Kelly Betts she was in violation of the prison dress code, <a href="https://www.al.com/news/birmingham/2022/07/joe-nathan-james-jr-set-to-be-executed-tonight-for-1994-killing-of-ex-girlfriend-in-alabama.html">according to AL.com</a>.
“I have worn this skirt to prior executions without incident, to work, professional events and more and I believe it is more than appropriate,” Hrynkiw said later on Twitter. At 5′10″ with my heels on, I am a tall and long-legged person.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Ivana Hrynkiw Shatara,
Yes it’s a free country 
Yes a criminal found guilty &amp; given death penalty 
But POV 
Just reflect some respect for the action of life ending 
With how you presented 
Just a fun Sunday brunch Happy go lucky day outfit W a Smile <a href="https://t.co/JqZtVkcPXO">pic.twitter.com/JqZtVkcPXO</a>
&mdash; elizabeth (@elizabe32184838) <a href="https://twitter.com/elizabe32184838/status/1553146155277721600?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 29, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Hrynkiw said she had to borrow a pair of Columbia PFG fisherman’s waders from a local TV cameraman. Her open-toed heels were also deemed in violation, but she had tennis shoes in her car, she said.
“I put on the man’s pants and attached the suspenders underneath my shirt to stay up,” she said.
“Despite wearing a pair of waders from a man I have never met and casual tennis shoes, I continued to do my job,” Hrynkiw said. “This was an uncomfortable situation, and I felt embarrassed to have my body and my clothes questioned in front of a room of people I mostly had never met.”
A female reporter for the Associated Press also had her outfit scrutinized in the media center room, but Betts determined she passed muster.
“This was unacceptable, unequal treatment,” said Kelly Ann Scott, editor in chief and vice president of content for Alabama Media Group. “I’m proud to work with Ivana, who despite this treatment, continued to report the story with professionalism to our audiences in Alabama.
AL.com sent a formal complaint to ADOC, Gov. Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall on Friday.
The Associated Press also wrote Ivey late Friday afternoon asking her office to investigate and “ensure such behavior is not tolerated and does not occur again.
“Singling out female reporters for arbitrary clothing inspections is humiliating, discriminatory and simply unacceptable behavior toward professional journalists trying to cover one of the most serious events they are called upon to witness,” Julie Pace, Executive Editor The Associated Press, stated in the letter.
Betts provided an online link to a prison visitation dress code, which states that “all dresses, skirts, and pants shall extend below the knee (females only). Splits/Slits must be knee length or lower (females only).”
Betts released a statement Friday afternoon, after calling Hrynkiw and personally apologizing for the unexpected enforcement of the dress code.
“The wardens of each ADOC facility enforce this dress code based on each event and current safety conditions,” the statement said. “It will be the policy of ADOC in the future to remind all members of the media about this dress code before any media event taking place at an ADOC facility.
“We apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this regulation may have caused. We hope by including it in future media advisories, we can avoid this kind of situation.”
The death by lethal injection of James, 50, faced a three-hour delay due to problems with the IV line. He was pronounced dead just after 9 p.m.

Screen Shot 2022-07-29 at 7.41.57 PM

Reporter’s Skirt Deemed Too Short To Witness Execution, So She Dons Hip Waders

Reporter's Skirt Deemed Too Short To Witness Execution, So She Dons Hip Waders

Capital Punishment

Media

A family participating in the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alabama">Alabama Deep Sea Fishing Rodeo</a> got a little more than they bargained for after a gigantic <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/animals">eagle ray</a> hopped in their boat and gave birth to several babies last Friday.
April Jones <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/alabama-400-pound-spotted-eagle-ray-boat-birth.amp">told</a> Fox News, &#8220;We were out fishing off the coast of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/united-states">Sand Island Lighthouse</a> on Friday and I wasn’t catching anything — but my husband, husband’s father and son all were.&#8221; Jones then decided it was time to try a new location off the coast of Alabama when she suddenly heard a commotion in the boat.
She said, &#8220;We were trying to get a fish for me to catch. So I told them I was ready to leave and head to a different spot,&#8221; she explained. &#8220;We packed everything up — and as we were pulling away, there was a hard hit and a water splash.&#8221;
Then, the family turned and saw an estimated 400-pound, seven-foot wide eagle ray on the deck of their boat.
&#8220;We thought she’d be able to get herself out of the boat, but due to her weight, she couldn’t get herself out,&#8221; Jones said. &#8220;We tried to get her out, but she weighed too much.&#8221;
&#8220;She was so heavy that she was also weighing the boat down, and we were getting water in the back of the boat,&#8221; she added. The family attempted to make calls, but needed to get the ray out of their boat quickly.
&#8220;We drove to the closest boat launch, which happened to be where the Dauphin Island Sea Lab was,&#8221; the mother <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/alabama-400-pound-spotted-eagle-ray-boat-birth.amp">added</a>. &#8220;I ran into the lab to see if anyone could help get her out. In the meantime, some people had come to the boat and helped her get out.&#8221;
Then, the Jones family noticed something even more shocking. Once docked at the boat launch, &#8220;we found out she had delivered four babies. We had no idea when she did it. They were not moving.&#8221;
The family donated the baby eagle rays to the Sea Lab after it was determined they had not survived. Officials said the corpses could be used for educational purposes. The Sea Lab also told the Jones family that if rays &#8220;are in any type of stressful situation, they will give birth,&#8221; Jones also told Fox News.
The eagle ray likely jumped into the boat in an attempt to get another fish off its back, experts speculated.
&#8220;It&#8217;s not uncommon for wild animals to release their young when they feel their life is in danger. This is surely an adaptation that gives the parents a better chance at producing offspring and passing along their genes in the population,&#8221; Brian Jones, curator of the Alabama Aquarium, Dauphin Island Sea Lab, told Fox News.
The lab curator said that in four decades of work, he has only seen five eagle rays.

Eagle Ray Stock Photo

Rare, Giant Sea Creature Jumps Into Alabama Boat And Gives Birth

Rare, Giant Sea Creature Jumps Into Boat And Gives Birth

Animals

Atlantic Ocean

Fish

Sports

A male African lion at a zoo in Alabama mauled a female to death just moments after the two were introduced to each other.
The Birmingham Zoo posted the news to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/BirminghamZoo">Facebook</a> Tuesday. The lion, named Josh, was brought into the zoo to provide companionship for the lioness, named Akili. Akili&#8217;s mate died in 2021. But almost immediately after the two lions were introduced, Josh attacked Akili, and the lioness suffered injuries that proved to be fatal.
&#8220;Birmingham Zoo is mourning the passing of beloved African lioness Akili,&#8221; the zoo said in a statement posted to Facebook. &#8220;The lion was fatally injured on Monday afternoon, July 18th, during introductions to male lion Josh. The staff is devastated at this unexpected loss of a long-time favorite animal and member of the Zoo family.&#8221;
According to the statement, Akili was born at the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo, in Colorado Springs in 2005. In 2007, she was moved to the Birmingham Zoo to live with a male named Kwanza. The two became companions, and had a litter of five cubs in 2011. Kwanza died in 2021, and the zoo worked in cooperation with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums&#8217; Lion Species Survival Plan to identify a new mate for Akili. Josh was identified as a potentially suitable companion, and arrived at the zoo in April. From there, the process of gradual introductions began.
“Animal introductions are always risky because wild animals can be unpredictable and we cannot control their interactions,” Hollie Colahan, the Birmingham Zoo&#8217;s Deputy Director and coordinator of the Lion SSP, said in the statement Tuesday. “Unfortunately, Akili sustained serious injuries within the first few minutes of the meeting and despite immediate intervention by the Animal Care and Animal Health teams, she succumbed to her injuries and died Monday afternoon.”
“The loss of an animal is always sad but when it is sudden and unexpected, that makes it particularly difficult,” zoo President and CEO Chris Pfefferkorn added. “Please keep the amazing team and everyone that worked with Akili in your thoughts as there are no words that can ease the pain of such a spontaneous loss. We are thankful that so many in the community had a chance to see and experience Akili, she was a great ambassador for her wild counterparts.”
<a href="https://www.newsweek.com/male-lion-mauls-female-death-alabama-zoo-minutes-meeting-1726215">Newsweek</a> notes that African lions are highly territorial and will become aggressive if they feel threatened. Male lions are also aggressive when attempting to assert dominance over others. In the wild, a male lion who takes over a pride will kill the cubs of the ousted male. Sexually frustrated males have also been known to kill females that will not breed with them, Newsweek notes.
In the meantime, Josh will remain at the Birmingham Zoo until keepers determine the appropriate next steps. “Josh will stay at the Birmingham Zoo and we are committed to providing him with the same great care as always,&#8221; zoo officials said in a statement to local news outlet <a href="https://www.wbrc.com/2022/07/19/birmingham-zoos-african-lioness-akili-dies-following-introduction-new-lion/">WBRC</a>. &#8220;When the timing is right, we will work with the Lion Species Survival Plan (SSP) to determine next steps. The goal is to get him an appropriate social setting for his well being.”

Lion

Birmingham Zoo Lion Kills Lioness Just Minutes After Being Introduced

attack

Colorado

At least five states that banned abortion before 1973 were left in legal limbo after the U.S. Supreme Court&#8217;s Friday decision overturning <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/roe-v-wade">Roe v Wade</a>.
Many states will continue to permit abortions, while others have in place so-called &#8220;trigger laws&#8221; that automatically banned or restricted the practice as soon as the landmark case was overturned. But a handful may be poised to simply revert to laws that were in place 50 or more years ago.
The issue becomes particularly thorny in states with Democratic control over prosecuting, such as Wisconsin and Michigan, where attorneys general have already vowed not prosecute abortion cases. However, pro-life executives in red states could have an avenue to ban abortion through pre-Roe restrictions.
Alabama, one of the states where abortion <a href="https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-abortion-ruling-states-a767801145ad01617100e57410a0a21d">could</a> become illegal, has a 1951 abortion ban that officials might attempt to enforce, as well as a more recent 2019 law that also effectively banned all abortion with the exception for women with “serious health risk.” The 2019 law was blocked by a court, but this could now be reinstated with the disbanding of Roe. 
Attorney General Steve Marshall (R-AL) <a href="https://www.alabamaag.gov/newsviewer/11b166ae-98c7-4749-a710-b6923f8d96c5">said</a> Friday that “Alabama laws that prohibit abortion and that have not been enjoined by a court are in full effect. For those laws that have been halted by courts, the State will immediately file motions to dissolve those injunctions.”
Marshall added, “Any abortionist or abortion clinic operating in the State of Alabama in violation of Alabama law should immediately cease and desist operations.”
Another state with a pre-Roe ban is Arizona, which had a law passed in 1901 effectively banning all abortions. Roe left this law unenforced, and pro-life lawmakers could now attempt to implement this law. Governor Doug Ducey (R-AZ) has previously indicated that the state’s more recent 15-week ban would take precedent, but that law &#8220;specifically says it does not overrule the total abortion ban,” the Associated Press reported.
In Michigan, the battle over the state’s response to Roe will be contested as the state does have a 1931 ban on abortion, which <a href="https://www.michiganradio.org/politics-government/2022-06-24/what-you-need-to-know-about-michigans-1931-abortion-law">was</a> blocked by a court, but is under appeal and expected to be heard by a higher court.
“I will not prosecute women, girls, or their doctors for seeking or providing abortion services. Nor will my staff seek licensure discipline against medical professionals who safely perform these procedures,” Attorney General Dana Nessel (D-MI) <a href="https://wwmt.com/news/local/roe-wade-michigan-decisionattorney-general-dana-nessel-responds-overturn-prosecute-abortion-ban-states-supreme-court-decision-matt-deperno-november-voting-ballot">said</a>.
Though Nessel admitted she cannot prevent other attorneys from prosecuting if the injunction against the law is blocked, some county attorneys have already followed suit, saying they will not prosecute abortion cases.
If elected in November, Republican rival Matthew DePerno <a href="https://www.wlns.com/news/michigan/nessel-blasts-opponent-deperno-over-abortion-stance/">said</a> that he would enforce the abortion law “immediately” upon taking office.
Wisconsin is in a similar <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/wisconsin-governor-calls-special-session-to-repeal-states-abortion-ban-ahead-of-scotus-decision">situation</a> with Attorney General Josh Kaul (D-WI) <a href="https://www.wisn.com/article/state-attorney-general-says-he-wouldnt-enforce-abortion-ban/39909730">saying</a> before the decision that he would not enforce the state’s 1849 abortion ban if Roe were overturned, though local officials could.
Eric Toney, the attorney general of Fond du Lac County and a Republican seeking to challenge Kaul in November, has said he would enforce the law as attorney general and that he would <a href="https://twitter.com/EricJToney">start</a> enforcing the abortion decision within his county due to the Supreme Court’s decision.
In West Virginia, pro-life legislators could turn to an 1848 abortion ban or a recently passed amendment to the state constitution saying there was no right to abortion in order to outlaw abortion.
It is unclear yet how Attorney General Patrick Morrisey will proceed, but he did release a statement <a href="https://wvpress.org/wvpa-sharing/attorney-general-morrisey-applauding-supreme-courts-decision-to-overturn-roe-vs-wade-in-dobbs-case/">praising</a> the decision.
“Our Constitution should never have been interpreted in a way that lets it override the states’ compelling interest to protect innocent life,” he said. “In the next few days, I will be providing a legal opinion to the Legislature about how it should proceed to save as many babies’ lives as humanly and legally possible.”
In North Carolina, there was a pre-Roe abortion ban, but Politico noted that this law was later “modified.” It seems like there could be a way forward through court action, though the state’s governor and attorney general are Democrats.
Other states with pre-Roe abortion laws that also have trigger laws banning abortion include Mississippi, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Texas. The trigger laws in these states already ban abortion rendering the pre-Roe laws effectively unnecessary.

The U.S. Supreme Court Overturns Roe V. Wade

Roe Decision Could Put Old Abortion Bans Back On The Books In These States

Roe Decision Could Put Old Abortion Law Back On the Books In Multiple States

Arizona

Michigan

Roe v. Wade's Long And Brutal Legacy

Supreme Court

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Two American <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/military">military</a> veterans from <a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/alabama">Alabama</a> captured earlier this month by pro-<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/russia">Russia</a> forces in<a href="http://dailywire.com/topic/russia"> Ukraine</a> could be executed.
Alex Drueke and Andy Huynh — who respectively served in the U.S. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/u-s-army">Army</a> and the U.S. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/marines">Marines</a> — were fighting on behalf of Ukraine on June 9 when they were separated from their group. The pair were <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russian-state-media-releases-video-of-two-alabama-veterans-captured-in-ukraine">subsequently captured</a> by a Russian patrol.
Earlier this week, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed that the soldiers had been captured and said that because they were not official military personnel, they were not subject to protection under the <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/geneva-convention-relative-treatment-prisoners-war#:~:text=Prisoners%20of%20war%20must%20at,breach%20of%20the%20present%20Convention.">Geneva Convention.</a> It states that imprisoned soldiers cannot be subjected to physical mutilation or other inhumane treatment.
“They should be held responsible for those crimes they have committed. Those crimes have to be investigated,” Peskov told MSNBC, per <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/kremlin-says-american-basketball-player-griner-broke-law-faces-prosecution-ria-2022-06-20/">Reuters</a>. “The only thing that is clear is that they have committed crimes.”
John Kirby, the coordinator for strategic communications at the National Security Council, said that the United States is “trying to learn more about these two individuals,” yet denounced the Russian official’s sentiment.
“It’s appalling that a public official in Russia would even suggest the death penalty for two American citizens that were in Ukraine,” Kirby said, per <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/21/politics/white-house-americans-russia/index.html">CNN</a>. “And we’re going to continue to try and learn what we can about this.”
Kirby expressed concern about Peskov’s comments, regardless of the eventual fate of the two men.
“It’s equally alarming, whether they actually mean what they’re saying here and this could be an outcome, that they could levy a death penalty against two Americans in Ukraine,” Kirby continued. “Or that they just feel it’s a responsible thing for a major power to do, to talk about doing this as a way of signaling to the President of the United States and the American people. Either one of them is equally alarming.”
RT, a Russian state-funded media outlet, posted <a href="https://t.me/s/corrkosarev/703">videos</a> of Drueke and Huynh earlier this week.
“Mom, I just want to let you know that I’m alive and I hope to be back home as soon as I can be,” Drueke said in one video. “So, love Diesel for me. Love you,” he said in reference to his dog.
Based upon his use of a keyword and a gesture established before his service in Iraq, Drueke’s mother could confirm that he was okay. “Unmistakably under duress, but thank God they’re alive,” Bunny Drueke told <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/missing-americans-ukraine-russia-alexander-drueke-andy-huynh-russia-video/">CBS News</a>. “I was just relieved he looks not like he’s been beaten or mistreated. That was really encouraging to me.”
Huynh’s fiancée, Joy Black, told the outlet, “They missed their rendezvous point and that had been a few days prior. They’ve gone and searched, they didn’t find anything. And later I found out they’d done drone searches and still found nothing, no traces.”
A State Department spokesperson told <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/20/world/americans-missing-ukraine-donetsk-intl-hnk/index.html">CNN</a> last week that they “have seen the photos and videos of these two US citizens reportedly captured by Russia’s military forces in Ukraine” and were “closely monitoring the situation.”
“We are in contact with Ukrainian authorities, the International Committee of the Red Cross, and with the families themselves,” the spokesperson said. “Due to privacy considerations, we have no further comment on these cases.”

Ukrainian Army

Russia Might Execute Two American Veterans Captured In Ukraine

American Veterans Captured In Ukraine Might Be Executed By Russia

Military

Russia

Ukraine

Ukraine-Russia War

Alabama Senate candidate Katie Britt has defeated Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL) in the state&#8217;s GOP primary run-off election.
As of press time, Britt has secured 66.54% of the vote and Brooks has earned 33.46%, <a href="https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/june21-2022-elections/">according</a> to Decision Desk HQ, with enough votes counted to project a winner.
Britt secured former President Donald Trump&#8217;s endorsement after coming in first place with a plurality of votes in the GOP primary election in May. Brooks was endorsed by Trump prior to that election. He then lost Trump&#8217;s support after saying that it was time to move on from the 2020 election. He placed second during Alabama&#8217;s GOP primary election. Since neither candidate had 50% or more of the vote, the run-off election was held on Tuesday, June 21.
While endorsing Britt, Trump <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/10/trump-endorses-britt-in-alabama-republican-senate-race-00038991">released</a> a statement on Friday, June 10, saying, “Mo has been wanting it back ever since,” in reference to his rescinded endorsement, “but I cannot give it to him!”
&#8220;Katie Britt, on the other hand, is a fearless America First Warrior,” he claimed.
“When I endorsed Mo Brooks, he took a 44-point lead and was unstoppable. He then hired a new campaign staff who ‘brilliantly’ convinced him to ‘stop talking about the 2020 Election,’” Trump <a href="https://www.alreporter.com/2022/03/23/trump-pulls-mo-brooks-endorsement-calling-him-woke/">said</a> in March when he pulled his support from Brooks.
“Very sad but, since he decided to go in another direction, so have I, and I am hereby withdrawing my Endorsement of Mo Brooks for the Senate,” he continued. “I don’t think the great people of Alabama will disagree with me. Election Fraud must be captured and stopped, or we won’t have a Country anymore.”
Britt, meanwhile, has been positioning herself to voters as a steadfast supporter of Trump’s America First agenda, who will also bring something new to the Capitol.
“We are relentlessly visiting with voters across this great state,” Britt <a href="https://yellowhammernews.com/fmr-trump-adviser-steve-cortes-economic-populist-katie-britt-is-next-generation-of-america-first/">told</a> Yellowhammer News. “It is clear that people want new blood, they want fresh blood. They want someone to go to D.C. to shake it up — somebody that will fight for our values and fight for our people. And so there is no doubt that we are the best America First candidate and the person to go make those things happen. So we’re excited to make this happen on June 21st and look forward to continuing to earn the votes of every Alabamian across the state.”
Former Trump adviser Steve Cortes also endorsed Britt and appeared with her on the campaign trail.
“I live nearby. I live just across the border in Tennessee, but if I did live in Alabama, I’d be voting for Katie, and I’ll tell you why,” Cortes <a href="https://yellowhammernews.com/fmr-trump-adviser-steve-cortes-economic-populist-katie-britt-is-next-generation-of-america-first/">told</a> Yellowhammer News. “She is really the dynamic, next generation of America First.&#8221;
Britt will now face Democratic candidate Will Boyd in November.

Katie Britt, Mo Brooks

Trump-Endorsed Katie Britt Defeats Formerly-Trump-Endorsed Candidate Mo Brooks In Alabama GOP Senate Run-Off Election

Katie Britt Defeats Congressman Mo Brooks In Alabama GOP Senate Run-Off Election

2022 Election

Donald Trump

U.S. Senate

Police announced on Friday that a “hero” church-goer subdued an active shooter who killed two people and injured another at an Alabama church on Thursday night.
The lone suspect, who was an “occasional attendee of the church” and a 71-year-old white male, attended a dinner at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on Thursday night, Vestavia Hills Police Department Captain Shane Ware <a href="https://youtu.be/I99Sna4fIcE?t=145">stated</a> during a press conference on Friday morning. The suspect began shooting at some point with a handgun, striking three victims, until he was stopped by a church-goer.
 “Another attendee at the event subdued the suspect, and held him down until law enforcement arrived,” Ware reported. Ware referred to the person who subdued the suspect as a “hero,” noting that the act of heroism was “extremely critical in saving lives.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
Police say someone at the church event subdued the suspect. VHPD Captain Shane Ware called that person a hero. Officers aren’t identifying the suspect until warrants are signed <a href="https://twitter.com/CBS_42?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@CBS_42</a> <a href="https://t.co/VdUzBCPUJ7">pic.twitter.com/VdUzBCPUJ7</a>
— Michael Clark (@mclarkreports) <a href="https://twitter.com/mclarkreports/status/1537808050538553344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 17, 2022</a></blockquote>
Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) released a statement after the deadly shooting, saying, “This should never happen,” The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-one-killed-multiple-injured-in-alabama-church-shooting">reported</a>.
“As we are learning about the shocking and tragic loss of a life at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia, we want to offer our prayers for the victim’s family, the injured and the entire church community,” Ivey said. “I am glad to hear the shooter is in custody. This should never happen — in a church, in a store, in the city or anywhere. We continue to closely monitor the situation.”
When a reporter asked Ware if police knew what motivated the suspect, Ware said that “it is still being looked into by too many agencies.”
The victims were identified by Ware as Walter Rainey, an 84-year-old male; Sarah Yeager, a 75-year-old female; and an unnamed 84-year-old female. Rainey was deceased at the scene of the event, and Yeager passed away at UAB Hospital. The unnamed female is being treated at a local hospital currently. All of the victims were white.
The suspect is currently in custody at the Vestavia Hills Police Department and will remain there while warrants for capital murder are issued by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s office later on Friday.
“There is no threat to the community,” Ware stated during the press conference, adding that numerous agencies and detectives are actively investigating the case and still remain on scene at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.
This shooting comes amid a number of other shootings that received national attention and led to calls for gun reform. Notably, in May, an 18-year-old gunman <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/shooter-kills-10-wounds-three-in-buffalo-grocery-store-authorities-investigating-as-racially-motivated-attack">killed</a> 10 people and wounded three in a Buffalo grocery store, allegedly targeting the establishment because of racial hatred and extremist ideology, and another 18-year-old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/uvalde-is-the-second-deadliest-school-shooting-on-record-heres-what-we-know">killed</a> 21 people and wounded 17 at an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
After these shootings, President Joe Biden <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-claims-gun-control-not-about-taking-away-rights-before-listing-ways-he-wants-to-take-away-rights">called</a> for clamping down on Americans’ Second Amendment rights during a speech.
“We need to ban assault weapons and high capacity magazines,” Biden said. “And if we can’t ban assault weapons, then we should raise the age to purchase them from 18 to 21, strengthen the background checks.”

Silhouette of Caucasian Man Mourning at Graveyard

‘Hero’ Church-Goer Subdued Active Shooter, Police Say

'Hero' Church-Goer Subdued Active Shooter, Police Say

Church

Guns

Shooting

Two people died and another was injured after a shooting at a church just south of Birmingham, Alabama, Thursday evening, according to authorities.
Police said they were called to reports of an active shooter at St. Stephen&#8217;s Episcopal Church in Vestavia Hills at 6:22 p.m., and multiple police and fire departments responded, AL.com <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2022/06/vestavia-hills-church-shooting-1-dead-multiple-people-injured.html">reported</a>. Initially, authorities said that three people were shot, one person fatally. A second person later died after being transported to a hospital. The suspected shooter was reportedly taken into custody.
“It is shocking that it happened here but we are going to love each other and take care of each other and find our way forward,” said Kelley Hudlow, who works in the bishop&#8217;s office. “We are praying for the people who have been hurt, the doctors and nurses that are helping them and we are also praying for this community that is going to be shocked and hurt by this.”
According to the church&#8217;s <a href="https://www.calendarwiz.com/calendars/calendar.php?crd=ssechurch&amp;jsenabled=1&amp;winh=789&amp;winw=1440&amp;inifr=false">website</a>, a &#8220;Boomers Potluck&#8221; event was being held in the church&#8217;s Parish Hall at the time of the shooting.
At a press briefing following the shooting and before a second person had been reported dead, Vestavia Hills Police Department Captain Shane Ware said two of the three victims were being treated at a hospital. He also reiterated that the suspect was in custody. &#8220;We know of no additional threat to either the community of Vestavia Hills or our neighboring community of Mountain Brook,&#8221; Ware said.
Governor Kay Ivey (R-AL) released a statement after the deadly shooting, saying &#8220;this should never happen.&#8221;
“As we are learning about the shocking and tragic loss of a life at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Vestavia, we want to offer our prayers for the victim’s family, the injured and the entire church community,” Ivey said. “I am glad to hear the shooter is in custody. This should never happen — in a church, in a store, in the city or anywhere. We continue to closely monitor the situation.”
This is a developing story; refresh the page for updates.

US-CRIME-GUNS

Two Killed, One Injured In Alabama Church Shooting

An Alabama man who was arrested earlier this year for placing boxes of flowers on his fianc​​é​​e&#8217;s grave has been found guilty of criminal littering.
Winston &#8220;Winchester&#8221; Hagans was brought to Auburn Municipal Court by his would-be father-in-law, Rev. Tom Ford, father of the late Hannah Ford, <a href="https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/trial-set-alabama-man-jailed-placing-flowers-fiancees-grave/Q2NZDHMT6NFOLBFLIJXS3MSJZA/">reported</a> KIRO 7. Rev. Ford filed a complaint with the city after Hagans continued to place planter boxes containing flowers and photographs of the couple at Hannah’s grave.
Hagans was ordered to pay a $50 fine and $251 in court fees, <a href="https://oanow.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/judge-rules-against-winchester-hagans-whose-fianc-e-s-father-charged-him-with-littering-at/article_619bef68-e847-11ec-b528-d3e47fc44d92.html">according</a> to the Opelika-Auburn News. Judge Jim McLaughlin also suspended a 30-day jail sentence for Hagans, which will remain suspended so long as he does not place any more flowers on the site.
Hagans&#8217; defense attorney, Jeff Tickal, plans to file an appeal. If that appeal is granted, the case will move on to the Lee County Circuit Court, and the initial fines and fees will be dropped.
Ford was killed in a three-car crash on January 17th, 2021, roughly a mile from her home, according to KIRO 7. Her father owns the deed to the grave, located at a cemetery operated by the City of Auburn, and the City Prosecutor Justin Clark stated in court that according to city regulations, “benches, urns, boxes, shells, toys and other similar articles are not permitted to be placed or maintained on any lot of grave in said cemetery,&#8221; <a href="https://oanow.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/judge-rules-against-winchester-hagans-whose-fianc-e-s-father-charged-him-with-littering-at/article_619bef68-e847-11ec-b528-d3e47fc44d92.html">reported</a> Opelika-Auburn News.
According to a report by <a href="https://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:D4uypBAFAuUJ:https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/06/11/alabama-flowers-fiancee-grave-littering-hagans/+&amp;cd=1&amp;hl=en&amp;ct=clnk&amp;gl=us">The Washington Post</a>, city officials told Hagans that he could continue placing the boxes so long as there wasn’t a formal complaint. 
“The police don’t enforce the law unless the owner of the plot tries to do something about it,” Hagans told the outlet.
Rev. Ford explained that he filed the complaint because every time he and his family visited and saw the boxes on the grave that they did not want, they had to remove them.
Hagans said that Ford’s family never directly told him to stop leaving the boxes, although the family disapproved of the relationship and asked him not to come to Hannah’s funeral.
Sari Card, the administrative assistant of Auburn Parks and Recreation, testified that she had spoken with Hagans several times about the problem with the planter boxes.
“He said he didn’t care,” Card told the court, according to Opelika-Auburn News. “[He said] that every time a box is removed he would make another one to replace it.”
In a statement to The Washington Post, David Dorton, a spokesperson for the city of Auburn, explained, “Any citizen has the right to pursue a criminal charge against another upon showing that sufficient probable cause exists to believe that a crime has been committed.”
“I find no joy to be here, and I did everything I could not to be here,” Rev. Ford told the court, reported Opelika-Auburn News.
“&#8230; I don’t get paid to have emotions or to rule on what’s right, or what’s nice, or what’s moral, or what’s Christian,&#8221; Judge McLaughlin said. &#8220;I’m paid to rule on the law and the facts. When you take all the other out of it … you got a deed that says no boxes. You got a gentleman who’s been told no boxes by the City of Auburn uncontroverted testimony. You got a gentleman who says — this frankly is where I lose my patience — ‘I don’t care what the rules are and what the law says, I’m gonna do what I want.’”
Before his conviction, Hagans thanked friends and family who had supported him during his grief and subsequent legal battle on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/winston.hagans/posts/10221416557506104?__cft__[0]=AZX5iE6cLS1wbva4rrcERRXSjQ_f8J7P_WsdBdId467sRe4avprqpPArhEugz3cxs48BilcsWoQ4xWtqvIOftVqzr9CPSWzLqF1hs-S5P01IklW3Uthv5F_IfpAtwM2-_Xbf-2T093w_ddDXr0cxJMaGusZecwv99NWoiC5c1uSEfQ&amp;__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R">Facebook</a>. “It means more to me than you will ever know,” he wrote. “It has honestly saved my life.”
&nbsp;

White And Red Rose On Tombstone

Man Found Guilty Of Criminal Littering For Flower Displays He Left On Fiancée’s Grave

Man Found Guilty Of Criminal Littering For Leaving Flower Boxes On Fiancée's Grave

Former President Donald J. Trump has re-entered the Alabama primary, this time endorsing senate candidate Katie Britt after he previously unendorsed her election run-off opponent Congressman Mo Brooks (R-AL).
In late May, The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/alabama-gop-senate-hopefuls-katie-britt-mo-brooks-head-to-run-off-election">reported</a> that Britt received the most votes in the state’s GOP primary, but failed to secure more than 50% support on election night. She will now face Brooks, who placed second in the election, in a primary runoff on June 21. Britt, outgoing Alabama GOP Senator Richard Shelby’s former chief of staff, secured 44.76% of the vote, <a href="https://results.decisiondeskhq.com/may24-2022-elections">according</a> to Decision Desk HQ, while Brooks received 29.16%.
Friday evening, Trump <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2022/06/10/trump-endorses-britt-in-alabama-republican-senate-race-00038991">released</a> a statement saying, &#8220;Mo has been wanting it back ever since,&#8221; in reference to his rescinded endorsement, “but I cannot give it to him!&#8221;
&#8220;Katie Britt, on the other hand, is a fearless America First Warrior,&#8221; he claimed.
In March, Trump pulled his support for Brooks after the congressman said it was time to move on from focusing on the 2020 election.
&#8220;When I endorsed Mo Brooks, he took a 44-point lead and was unstoppable. He then hired a new campaign staff who ‘brilliantly’ convinced him to ‘stop talking about the 2020 Election,’” Trump <a href="https://www.alreporter.com/2022/03/23/trump-pulls-mo-brooks-endorsement-calling-him-woke/">said</a> at the time.
&#8220;Very sad but, since he decided to go in another direction, so have I, and I am hereby withdrawing my Endorsement of Mo Brooks for the Senate,&#8221; he continued. &#8220;I don’t think the great people of Alabama will disagree with me. Election Fraud must be captured and stopped, or we won’t have a Country anymore.&#8221;
Britt meanwhile has been positioning herself to voters as a steadfast supporter of Trump&#8217;s America First agenda, who will also bring something new to the Capitol.
&#8220;We are relentlessly visiting with voters across this great state,&#8221; Britt <a href="https://yellowhammernews.com/fmr-trump-adviser-steve-cortes-economic-populist-katie-britt-is-next-generation-of-america-first/">told</a> Yellowhammer News this past week. &#8220;It is clear that people want new blood, they want fresh blood. They want someone to go to D.C. to shake it up — somebody that will fight for our values and fight for our people. And so there is no doubt that we are the best America First candidate and the person to go make those things happen. So we’re excited to make this happen on June 21st and look forward to continuing to earn the votes of every Alabamian across the state.&#8221;
Former Trump adviser Steve Cortes also endorsed Britt and appeared with her on the campaign trail this past week.
&#8220;I live nearby. I live just across the border in Tennessee, but if I did live in Alabama, I’d be voting for Katie, and I’ll tell you why,” Cortes <a href="https://yellowhammernews.com/fmr-trump-adviser-steve-cortes-economic-populist-katie-britt-is-next-generation-of-america-first/">told</a> Yellowhammer News. &#8220;She is really the dynamic, next generation of America First. And what I mean by that specifically is that she believes in sovereignty, she believes in cultural conservatism, she believes in populist economics for this country, and really placing America first.&#8221;
“And I’ll also tell you, on the other hand, when I look at her opponent, when I look at Mo Brooks, I see someone who unfortunately has sold out all too often to the Washington establishment,” he added. “Somebody who has, at times, [been] tired and predictable in his views, and to be specific, especially as it relates to his views and vote on Ukraine.”
For his part, Brooks blasted Trump&#8217;s decision Friday night.
&#8220;This is weird: last time Donald Trump talked about Katie Britt, he said she was unqualified for the Senate,&#8221; Brooks <a href="https://twitter.com/MoBrooks/status/1535462541484335106?s=20&amp;t=G9S2NGb879qrXVZ1FTou6g">tweeted</a>. &#8220;Donald Trump is the only man in American politics who could get conned by Mitch McConnell twice in an Alabama Senate race.&#8221;
&#8220;Let’s just admit it: Trump endorses the wrong people sometimes,&#8221; he <a href="https://twitter.com/MoBrooks/status/1535462543468240902?s=20&amp;t=G9S2NGb879qrXVZ1FTou6g">added</a>. &#8220;He endorsed Mitt Romney, he endorsed John McCain and now he’s endorsed Katie Britt, who his own son, Don Jr. called &#8216;Alabama’s Liz Cheney.’”
&#8220;Alabama grassroots remember in 2017 when Donald Trump and Mitch McConnell got involved in a Senate primary in Alabama—and we rejected them,&#8221; he <a href="https://twitter.com/MoBrooks/status/1535462774922432513?s=20&amp;t=G9S2NGb879qrXVZ1FTou6g">concluded</a>. &#8220;The people of Alabama will decide.&#8221;

Donald Trump Endorses Katie Britt In Alabama Senate Primary After Yanking Support For Mo Brooks

2022 Midterms

Republican

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