Five passengers on board a small airplane departing from the Bill and Hillary Clinton National Airport in Little Rock, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/arkansas" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arkansas</a>, died Wednesday after the aircraft crashed outside a 3M plant shortly after takeoff.
The plane was en route to the John Glenn International Airport in Columbus, Ohio, carrying five employees — including the pilot — from The Center for Toxicology and Environmental Health (CTEH), which aids in large-scale emergency disaster recovery.
&#8220;We are incredibly saddened to report the loss of our Little Rock colleagues,&#8221; Dr. Paul Nony, senior vice president of CTEH, told The Daily Wire in a news release. &#8220;We ask everyone to keep the families of those lost and the entire CTEH team in their thoughts and prayers.&#8221;
Federal Aviation Administration officials told <a href="https://katv.com/news/local/authorities-responding-to-plane-crash-in-little-rock-fire-department-lrfd-firefighters-officials-bill-hillary-clinton-national-airport-arkansas-ark-3m-manufacturing-corporate-office-plant-walters-road-critcal-condition-passengers-crew-developing-breaking" target="_blank" rel="noopener">local media</a> the agency and the National Transportation Safety Board would investigate the crash.
A spokesperson from CTEH told The Daily Wire that the employees were responding to the incident at the I. Schumann and Company Metals Plant in Bedford, Ohio, after an explosion and large fire erupted on Monday, killing one maintenance worker and sending 13 others to the hospital with injuries.
&#8220;An explosion of unknown origin struck our Bedford, Ohio, facility today resulting in injuries to employees and significant damage to the facility,&#8221; I. Schumann &amp; Co. said in a statement, according to <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/explosion-ohio-metal-plant-i-schumann-co-oakwood-village/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">CBS</a> affiliate WOIO-TV. &#8220;Our efforts now are focused on supporting the first responders who came on scene quickly to help our employees.&#8221;
&#8220;We intend to cooperate with OSHA and other officials in their investigation as we search for answers in this tragic accident,&#8221; I. Schumann&#8217;s statement said. &#8220;We are working with our employees regarding their needs while the facility is idle and hope to have clarity on our operations in the near future.&#8221;
Authorities have not yet determined the cause of the explosion.
News helicopters flying over the scene at the time of the accident <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ohio-metal-manufacturing-plant-explodes-sending-multiple-people-to-hospital" target="_blank" rel="noopener">witnessed</a> fire and a large plume of smoke coming from the building, which firefighters reportedly have under control.
Several videos posted on social media showed debris surrounding the scene and fire-damaged vehicles nearby.
I. Schumann &amp; Co. is located about 70 miles northwest of East Palestine, Ohio, where a Norfolk Southern train carrying toxic chemicals derailed and forced thousands to evacuate their homes earlier this month.

Flight Departures Resume Across US After Nationwide Halt

Five Environmental Workers En Route To Ohio Metal Plant Explosion Killed In Plane Crash

Airplane crash

Alabama

General

Ohio

Ohio Train Disaster

U.S.

An Alabama man died in police custody after he was allegedly locked in a kitchen freezer as punishment, the man’s family says in its lawsuit against the police department.
Anthony Don Mitchell, 33, was arrested on January 12 after Walker County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies received a call from a person identified as a concerned family member, who said Mitchell had been making statements indicating he could harm himself or others, WBRC <a href="https://www.actionnews5.com/2023/02/15/graphic-man-froze-death-after-being-locked-jails-kitchen-freezer-punishment-lawsuit-says/">reported</a>. When deputies arrived at the scene, Mitchell was in the front yard and brandished a handgun at the deputies, according to the WCSO. He allegedly fired immediately at deputies and ran into the woods behind the home.
Multiple agencies worked to secure the area and eventually took Mitchell into custody, charging him with attempted murder. Deputies also said they found methamphetamine, heroin, and a handgun at the home.
Something happened while Mitchell was in police custody and was taken to the hospital. His family alleges that he faced “hours of neglect” and was locked inside a walk-in freezer “or similar frigid environment” in the jail’s kitchen as punishment for his behavior, WIAT <a href="https://www.cbs42.com/regional/after-release-of-video-lawsuit-claims-alabama-man-froze-to-death-in-police-custody-was-likely-placed-in-jail-freezer/">reported</a>.
The Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to WBRC that Mitchell had been taken to the hospital on January 26 and “became unresponsive at the hospital, where he was pronounced deceased.” Attorneys for his mother, however, released security camera footage from the jail showing officers carrying Mitchell’s body out of the facility to an awaiting vehicle. In the footage, Mitchell appears unresponsive.
“This is one of the most appalling cases of jail abuse the country has seen,” the 37-page federal lawsuit says, according to WIAT. “On the night of January 25 to January 26, 2023, Anthony Don Mitchell (“Tony”) froze to death while incarcerated at the Walker County Jail.”
Mitchell’s death, the complaint adds, “raises an appalling question: how does a man literally freeze to death while incarcerated in a modern, climate-controlled jail, in the custody and care of corrections officers?”
The lawsuit also alleges that Mitchell was “likely… placed in a restraint chair in the jail kitchen’s walk-in freezer or similar frigid environment and left there for hours.”
Mitchell’s treatment only came to light after a correctional officer released footage. Jon Goldfarb, the attorney representing Mitchell’s family, said that officer <a href="https://www.cbs42.com/digital-exclusive/unsatisfactory-service-sheriff-fired-officer-who-blew-whistle-on-treatment-of-mentally-ill-man-lawsuit-alleges/">was later fired</a>. Surveillance footage of his body being carried out of the jail was sent to local media outlets.
The video, WIAT reported, contradicted an earlier claim from the WCSO that Mitchell was “alert and conscious” when he left the jail for a local hospital.
“I am not sure what circumstances the patient was held in incarceration but it is difficult to understand a rectal temperature of 72° F 22° centigrade while someone is incarcerated in jail,” an emergency room doctor wrote in notes, according to the lawsuit. “The cause of his hypothermia is not clear. It is possible he had an underlying medical condition resulting in hypothermia. I do not know if he could have been exposed to a cold environment. I do believe that hypothermia was the ultimate cause of his death.”
Additional surveillance video screenshots reportedly showed Mitchell was naked during his incarceration. His family’s lawsuit said he was kept in a concrete isolation cell, like “a dog kennel,” during his two weeks in custody.
“The cell lacked a bed or other furnishing,” the lawsuit says. “There was only a drain in the floor that could be used as a toilet. The cell was bare cement, the equivalent of a dog kennel. But unlike a dog, Tony was not even given a mat to sleep on.”
Mitchell’s death is being investigated by state police.

handle to walk-in fridge

A Man In Police Custody Died After Being Locked In A Kitchen Freezer, His Family Says In A Lawsuit

Lawsuit

Police

A <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tennessee" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tennessee</a> National Guard helicopter crashed on a highway in northern <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alabama" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alabama</a> Wednesday afternoon, killing two people on board, according to authorities.
The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed on a highway just north of Huntsville around 3:00 p.m., catching fire upon impact. Authorities reported that two people died in the crash, <a href="https://www.rocketcitynow.com/article/news/local/aircraft-crash-lands-near-hwy-53-and-burwell-rd-harvest/525-952190ff-58aa-40d0-9f25-3f074f7c1194" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to Fox 54. No one on the ground was <a href="https://www.fox10tv.com/2023/02/16/no-survivors-tennessee-national-guard-helicopter-crash/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">injured</a> as a result of the crash.
A U.S. official <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/survivors-after-black-hawk-helicopter-crashes-alabama-highway/story?id=97237264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> to ABC News that the aircraft belonged to the Tennessee National Guard. The two guardsmen were conducting a training mission when the aircraft spiraled to the ground. Video <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=alabama%20helicopter%20crash&amp;src=typeahead_click&amp;f=video" target="_blank" rel="noopener">captured</a> from a doorbell camera in a neighborhood near the crash showed the Black Hawk helicopter spinning out of control before it hit the ground, the Tennessean <a href="https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/local/2023/02/16/tennessee-national-guard-helicopter-crash-alabama-what-we-know/69909596007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a>. 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
A short video of the helicopter crash in Harvest (north of Huntsville) from Savanna Terry <a href="https://t.co/v1T5vk4gq5">pic.twitter.com/v1T5vk4gq5</a>
&mdash; James Spann (@spann) <a href="https://twitter.com/spann/status/1625974274275115016?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 15, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Witnesses described hearing a loud noise, like a car without a muffler, before hearing a bang.
“We saw it hit the ground and it exploded,&#8221; Tammy Adams <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/US/survivors-after-black-hawk-helicopter-crashes-alabama-highway/story?id=97237264" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>, adding. &#8220;We knew there could not be anybody surviving that.”
&#8220;There&#8217;s nothing there, at all,&#8221; Chermonica Johnson told WAAY. &#8220;You can&#8217;t even tell it was an aircraft.&#8221;
Alabama state troopers and officers with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department secured the scene on Highway 53 following the crash. State and federal authorities are investigating the crash, according to the Tennessee National Guard. 
Tennessee Governor Bill Lee released a <a href="https://twitter.com/GovBillLee/status/1626037626208768001" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> Wednesday night on the deadly crash. 
&#8220;Maria &amp; I are deeply saddened by the tragic loss of two Tennessee National Guard members,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Please join us in lifting their families up in prayer &amp; support during this time of unspeakable grief.&#8221;

UH-60 Black Hawk

Two Dead After Tennessee National Guard Helicopter Crashes In Alabama

Military

National Guard

Tennessee

A pay-it-forward story is inspiring people after a <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/farming" target="_blank" rel="noopener">farmer’s</a> good deeds were revealed after he passed away on New Year’s Day.
Hody Childress, a farmer and Air Force veteran from Alabama, went into a drugstore about a decade ago and asked the owner if there were people who weren’t able to pay for their medicine.
“I told him, ‘Yes, unfortunately that happens often,’” Brooke Walker, the owner, <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2023/01/19/alabama-farmer-hody-childress-prescriptions/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “And he handed me a $100 bill, all folded up.”
But he didn’t want credit for it.
“He said, ‘Don’t tell a soul where the money came from — if they ask, just tell them it’s a blessing from the Lord,’” she said.
He continued to anonymously provide resources for people in the form of a $100 bill each month for years, and was able to bless those around him with his actions.
“His kindness motivated me to be more of a compassionate person,” Walker said. “He was just a good old guy who wanted to bless his community, and he certainly did. He established a legacy of kindness.”
The money he gave her grew to thousands of dollars and Walker was typically able to assist two people each month who needed help paying for their medicine.
Walker was considering reaching out to his family, but his daughter was also getting ready to inform people about the gifts at his funeral since he had told her about it before he died.
“He told me he’d been carrying a $100 bill to the pharmacist in Geraldine on the first of each month, and he didn’t want to know who she’d helped with it — he just wanted to bless people with it,” Tania Nix, his daughter, said.
“It was just who he was — it was in his heart,” Nix added.
Childress told Nix so that she could <a href="https://www.npr.org/2023/01/23/1150716078/friends-and-family-will-keep-hody-childress-kind-deed-going" target="_blank" rel="noopener">do it for him</a> when his health didn&#8217;t allow for it. Childress survived on a minimal retirement and Social Security.
“He didn’t spend a lot of money in life, but he always gave what he could,” she said. “If he took you out to eat, you had to be quick to grab the ticket, or he was paying for it.”
He had lived through tragedy, but was still an upbeat person. In 1973, his father and son were both killed in a tornado.
“That was really hard on him, but he never complained,” Nix said. “He never lost his optimism.”
When people in the community started figuring out at his funeral that he was the one who had helped them, they were shocked, she said.
“I heard from people who said they’d been going through a rough time and their prescriptions were paid for when they went to pick them up,” she said.
His actions have inspired people to keep giving to the pharmacy.
“We’re calling it the Hody Childress Fund, and we’re going to keep it going as long as the community and Hody’s family wants to keep it alive,” she said.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/25/us/alabama-pharmacy-donor.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> that since The Washington Post published the story, Walker, as well as Nix and her family, have been contacted by people from all over the country who want to give. A man from Miami was even inspired to go to his local drugstore to begin a fund.
One woman, Ms. Schlageter, was able to get her son an EpiPen because of Childress&#8217; money, but she didn&#8217;t know he was behind it.
“All of a sudden it comes out that Mr. Hody did it,” Schlageter said. “What he doesn’t know, now that he’s in heaven, is that he helped a kid that works on a farm that he started. Look at that circle.”

736954D1-3A8B-45E4-8A3F-E4E6B4C7E77B_1_105_c

Pay-It-Forward Story Of Farmer Inspires People Around The Country

Farmers

Farming

Actress <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/celebrities">Octavia Spencer</a> said she experienced &#8220;more <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/racism">racism</a>&#8220; when she first moved to Los Angeles than she ever had during her childhood in Alabama.
The 52-year-old actress, known for movies like &#8220;The Help&#8221; and &#8220;Hidden Figures,&#8221; talked about experiencing what she called racist behavior upon moving to L.A. during a recent <a href="http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episode-1402-octavia-spencer">interview</a> for the podcast &#8220;WTF with Marc Maron.&#8221;
Spencer also said she had positive recollections of her childhood growing up in Montgomery, Alabama, which Maron found surprising.
&#8220;It’s a beautiful place and beautiful people. You know, I love being from there,&#8221; the actress said.
&#8220;But it’s like, it’s heavy, man. Right?&#8221; Maron replied.
&#8220;I think everywhere is heavy. Everywhere has its history. You know what I mean? It’s &#8230; I think everywhere has problems,” Spencer said. &#8220;You can’t deny that southern history is intense,&#8221; she continued, before saying that her experience in Alabama happened during a less racist time. 
&#8220;Well, what’s beautiful for me is that stuff preceded me. You know, I was a child of the ’70s … You know, as you grow older and the things that you can remember. That wasn’t a part of my history. I learned about it. It’s not everything &#8230; anything that I experienced.&#8221;
&#8220;My mother definitely, you know, taught us about the world and the realities, the harsh realities of the world and history,&#8221; the “Self Made” star continued. &#8220;But growing up in Alabama, I’m going to be honest, I felt more racism when I first moved [to Los Angeles] than I ever, ever had in Alabama.”
Spencer said she expected Los Angeles to be progressive. She recalled thinking, &#8220;Oh, California is gonna be this free and liberal thinking place,&#8221; but claimed she was singled out while shopping in a store. 
&#8220;It is so funny. It’s right out of ‘Pretty Woman,’&#8221; she said of the experience. &#8220;I remember going into a shop and being followed, like, at first, I didn’t even — I was just, like, so excited, like just walking around, and then I realized that I was being followed.&#8221;
She continued, &#8220;It was kind of strange in that way,&#8221; saying the incident was &#8220;glaringly obvious,&#8221; but that she doesn&#8217;t believe she&#8217;s been discriminated against since then.
Spencer made her film debut appearing in the film adaptation of “A Time to Kill” in 1996. She went on to appear in small roles for several years before her breakout role in “The Help,” which earned her several awards including the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2012.

Los Angeles Premiere Of Amazon Studios’ “Encounter” – Arrivals

‘The Help’ Actress Octavia Spencer Says She Encountered ‘More Racism’ In L.A. Than Alabama

'The Help' Actress Octavia Spencer Says She Encountered 'More Racism' In L.A. Than Alabama

Celebrities

Entertainment

Los Angeles

Racism

University of Alabama junior forward basketball player Darius Miles and another suspect have been charged with capital murder Sunday in the deadly shooting of a 23-year-old woman shot on the Strip in Tuscaloosa.
Miles had been ruled out for the basketball season one day before the shooting due to an ankle injury, local media <a href="https://www.al.com/news/tuscaloosa/2023/01/university-of-alabama-basketball-player-darius-miles-among-2-charged-with-capital-murder-in-deadly-shooting-on-the-strip.html">reported</a>. Just over 24-hours later, authorities arrested the college athlete and led him to the Tuscaloosa County Jail.
Video captured 21-year-old Miles crying during a perp walk repeating &#8220;I love you&#8221; and &#8220;I love you more than you can imagine,&#8221; to someone standing outside the county jail.
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Miles, and Michael Lynn Davis, 20, have been charged in the killing of Jamea Jonae Harris, which occurred around 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning, according to local media.
Authorities were dispatched to a shooting at the Walk of Champions at Bryant Denny Stadium.
University of Alabama police witnessed a stopped vehicle where they found Harris dead inside, Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Capt. Jack Kennedy told AL.com.
Authorities said the unidentified driver of the vehicle told police the car had been struck by gunfire and returned fire in self-defense, which the driver believes may have hit a suspect.
Kennedy spoke with multiple witnesses and reviewed surrounding video surveillance footage, which assisted in identifying the two suspects.
Kennedy said both suspects were interviewed and found that one had been struck by gunfire and had a non-life-threatening wound.
&#8220;It appears at this time that the shooting was the result of a minor argument that occurred between the victims and suspects after they encountered each other along the strip,&#8221; Tuscaloosa Violent Crimes Capt. Jack Kennedy told AL.com. &#8220;The member agencies of the Violent Crimes Unit utilized all their resources and worked together flawlessly to bring this case to a resolution in a rapid manner.&#8221;
The University of Alabama and its athletics department released statements to AL.com following the announcement of Miles&#8217;s arrest, saying that university officials &#8220;were made aware of the recent charge against student-athlete Darius Miles; he has been removed from campus and is no longer a member of the Alabama men&#8217;s basketball team.&#8221;
&#8220;The University of Alabama&#8217;s utmost priority is the safety and well-being of the campus community,&#8221; the statement reads, in part. &#8220;We are grieved by the incident that occurred near campus last night and extend our deepest condolences to the victim&#8217;s family and friends. We are grateful for the quick and thorough response of law enforcement and emergency response teams, and we will continue to fully support the ongoing investigation.&#8221;
&#8220;First and foremost, we extend our deepest sympathies to the family and friends of the victim from last night&#8217;s incident,&#8221; UA Athletics officials said.
The official Alabama athletics website removed Miles&#8217; profile after playing six season games before injuring his ankle.
Miles last played for the fourth-ranked Crimson Tide basketball team on Dec. 20, 2022, where he scored two points in Alabama&#8217;s 84-64 win over Jackson State, ESPN <a href="https://www.espn.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/35455668/alabama-basketball-player-darius-miles-charged-capital-murder-shooting">reported.</a>

Alabama v LSU

Univ. Of Alabama Basketball Player Charged With Capital Murder In The Deadly Shooting Of 23-Year-Old Woman

College sports

Crime

University of Alabama

Women can be prosecuted for taking abortion pills in Alabama, the state&#8217;s top law enforcement official said Tuesday following the federal government&#8217;s recent update to increase access to the drugs.
Attorney General Steve Marshall made the comments despite the state&#8217;s Human Life Protection Act that criminalizes abortion providers and prevents prosecution against women who have abortions.
“The Human Life Protection Act targets abortion providers, exempting women ‘upon whom an abortion is performed or attempted to be performed’ from liability under the law,” Marshall said in a <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/women-can-be-prosecuted-for-taking-abortion-pills-says-alabama-attorney-general.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to AL.com. “It does not provide an across-the-board exemption from all criminal laws, including the chemical-endangerment law—which the Alabama Supreme Court has affirmed and reaffirmed protects unborn children.”
The statement followed an update last week by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) stating that major pharmacy chains would be permitted to provide two medications, mifepristone and misoprostol, prescribed for medical abortions.
“Mifeprex and its generic Mifepristone Tablets, 200 mg, are available under a single, shared system risk evaluation and mitigation strategy (REMS), known as the Mifepristone REMS Program, which sets forth the requirements that must be followed for mifepristone for medical termination of pregnancy through ten weeks gestation,” the FDA shared in last week&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/information-about-mifepristone-medical-termination-pregnancy-through-ten-weeks-gestation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">update</a>.
<a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/article/2022/02/medication-abortion-now-accounts-more-half-all-us-abortions" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According</a> to the Guttmacher Institute, a pro-abortion research organization, medication abortion accounted for 54% of U.S. abortions in 2020. That percentage will likely grow even more as retail pharmacies provide abortion pills.
CVS and Walgreens, the nation&#8217;s two largest pharmacy franchises, stated that they plan to participate in the new program from the FDA.
&#8220;We are working through the registration, necessary training of our pharmacists, as well as evaluating our pharmacy network in terms of where we normally dispense products that have extra FDA requirements and will dispense these consistent with federal and state laws,&#8221; a Walgreens spokesperson <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/01/04/walgreens-abortion-pills-fda-regulation-roe" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Axios following the FDA&#8217;s change.
A CVS spokesperson confirmed to the outlet that the company would seek certification to provide abortion medications.
On January 3, California-based online pharmacy HoneyBee became the first company officially certified to dispense the medications under the FDA&#8217;s new guidelines.
“Doing this really important work has meant a lot to us at HoneyBee, and I’m excited for the rest of the pharmacy community to be able to do this as well,” Jessica Nouhavandi, co-founder of HoneyBee, <a href="https://news.bloomberglaw.com/health-law-and-business/abortion-pill-access-to-ease-with-first-fda-certified-pharmacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> Bloomberg Law.
In addition, the Justice Department recently issued a <a href="https://www.justice.gov/olc/opinion/file/1560596/download" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legal opinion</a> that the U.S. Postal Service can deliver abortion pills in states that have banned or restricted abortion, stating &#8220;the mere mailing of such drugs to a particular jurisdiction is an insufficient basis for concluding that the sender intends them to be used unlawfully.”
Marshall&#8217;s statement pushed back on the words from the Justice Department, arguing that the opinion does not change Alabama&#8217;s laws.
“Elective abortion — including abortion pills — is illegal in Alabama. Nothing about the Justice Department’s guidance changes that,” he said. “Anyone who remotely prescribes abortion pills in Alabama does so at their own peril: I will vigorously enforce Alabama law to protect unborn life.”
The Guttmacher Institute&#8217;s <a href="https://www.guttmacher.org/state-policy/explore/medication-abortion" target="_blank" rel="noopener">research</a> shows that 18 states require the medical professional providing a medication abortion to be physically present when the drug is administered, effectively prohibiting telemedicine to prescribe medication for abortion.

Abortion pills

Alabama Women Can Be Prosecuted For Taking Abortion Pills, AG Says

Abortion

Social Issues

Firebrand Florida <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/gaetz-says-hell-resign-if-dems-put-mccarthy-over-the-top-takes-swipe-at-trump/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Rep. Matt Gaetz</a> offered an olive branch to fellow Republican Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), over a tense confrontation Friday on the House floor that led to Rogers being physically restrained by colleagues.
Gaetz, who was one of the last GOP holdouts blocking Kevin McCarthy from assuming the role of speaker of the House, drew Rogers ire after Gaetz voted &#8220;present&#8221; in the 14th ballot to once again deny McCarthy. Rogers had to be held back by North Carolina Rep. Richard Hudson in the dramatic confrontation that was followed by another vote in which McCarthy took the speaker&#8217;s gavel.
&#8220;@RepMikeRogersAL and I have a six-year productive, working relationship,&#8221; Gaetz tweeted. &#8220;We&#8217;re going to work together wonderfully going forward. I don&#8217;t think there should be any punishment or reprisal just because he had an animated moment. He has my forgiveness.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepMattGaetz?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepMattGaetz</a> and I have a long and productive working relationship, that I am sure will continue. I regret that I briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening and appreciate Matt’s kind understanding. <a href="https://t.co/8GmbJHO3cK">https://t.co/8GmbJHO3cK</a>
&mdash; Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogersAL) <a href="https://twitter.com/RepMikeRogersAL/status/1612173457323614211?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 8, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Gaetz&#8217;s response also included a video link to his interview on &#8220;Fox News Live&#8221; in which he shared similar words.
&#8220;Mike Rogers is going to be a terrific chairman of the Armed Services Committee, and we share a deep commitment to our national defense, to our men and women in uniform,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Of course, in a late-night moment of high drama, people can have moments of frustration.&#8221;
Rogers soon replied with a public apology to Gaetz concerning his actions.
&#8220;@RepMattGaetz and I have a long and productive working relationship, that I am sure will continue. I regret that I briefly lost my temper on the House Floor Friday evening and appreciate Matt’s kind understanding,&#8221; he tweeted.
Gaetz was one of 20 Republicans who initially refused to vote for McCarthy to become House speaker.  The holdouts finally relented, with members either voting for McCarthy or voting &#8220;present&#8221; to lower the 218-vote threshold, after winning a series of pledges from McCarthy.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Most extraordinary CSpan floor video I have ever seen <a href="https://t.co/sFTPF8WCdJ">https://t.co/sFTPF8WCdJ</a>
&mdash; Erik Wasson (@elwasson) <a href="https://twitter.com/elwasson/status/1611692661504905216?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2023</a></blockquote>
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In an interview with the New York Post, Gaetz said some of McCarthy&#8217;s concessions to the GOP holdouts could be seen as early as Monday.
“I feel like the American people won. I feel that the House of Representatives will be a healthier institution,” Gaetz <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/01/07/freedom-caucus-earns-major-concessions-from-kevin-mccarthy/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&amp;utm_medium=SocialFlow&amp;utm_source=NYPTwitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told</a> the Post. “Many of these things had been resisted by Kevin McCarthy as early as Monday and now we have an exquisite rules package.”
Congress resumes on Monday to move forward on a rules package after the week of voting to select McCarthy.

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Matt Gaetz Says All Is Forgiven After House Floor Row With Fellow GOP Rep

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A baggage handler for an American Airlines regional carrier died Saturday after reportedly being sucked through the engine of a jet at an Alabama airport, authorities said.
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The gruesome tragedy occurred at the Montgomery Regional Airport at around 3 p.m. The victim, who was not immediately identified, worked for Piedmont Airlines, a subsidiary of American Airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board are investigating, <a href="https://www.al.com/news/2023/01/american-airlines-ground-crew-worker-killed-at-montgomery-airport.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to AL.com</a>.
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“We are devastated by the accident involving a team member of Piedmont Airlines, an American Airlines regional carrier, at Montgomery Regional Airport (MGM),” a spokesperson for American Airlines said. “Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and our local team members. We are focused on ensuring that all involved have the support they need during this difficult time.”
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According to Reuters, two sources briefed on the incident said the employee died in &#8220;an accident involving one of the airplane&#8217;s engines that was running.&#8221;
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Today around 3 pm an American Airlines ground crew piedmont employee was involved in a fatality, no additional information is available at this time. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the deceased.
&mdash; Montgomery Regional Airport (@flymgm) <a href="https://twitter.com/flymgm/status/1609342211480588288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 1, 2023</a></blockquote>
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The aircraft was reportedly an Embraer 175, a narrow-body plane designed to carry up to 124 passengers and used frequently for short- to medium-range routes.
Airport Executive Director Wade Davis issued a statement following the tragic accident.
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“We are saddened to hear about the tragic loss of a team member of the AA/Piedmont Airlines,” Davis said.
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The airport resumed normal operations Saturday evening, the airport tweeted.
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The “worker was fatally injured on the ramp at Montgomery Regional Airport where American Airlines Flight 3408, an Embraer E175, was parked,” the FAA said in a statement to AL.com.
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A preliminary report from the FAA is expected on Monday, according to the agency.
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Although extremely rare, such incidents have <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AF55oyAJDBk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">occurred in the past</a>. <a href="https://aerocorner.com/blog/can-a-human-get-sucked-into-a-jet-engine/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">According to Aerocorner.com</a>, jet engines use a powerful compressor to suck up to 1.2 million tons of air per second through them, even while idling or powering up. The suction created is strong enough to pull a human through the engine if he or she gets too close. Baggage, tools, and birds have all been sucked through the engines.
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American Airlines

Airport Horror As Baggage Handler Dies After Reportedly Being Sucked Through Jet Engine

An <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/alabama">Alabama</a> couple who share the same birthday will have room enough for three after they welcomed a baby girl on the same day.
Cassidy and Dylan Scott were both born on December 18, two years apart. Last week, Cassidy gave birth to the couple&#8217;s firstborn daughter, Lennon Kate, at 12:30 A.M. on December 18. According to the Huntsville Hospital for Women and Children, there is just a 1 in 133,000 chance of a father, mother, and child all sharing the same birthday.
&#8220;Congratulations to Cassidy and Dylan Scott who just welcomed their firstborn child into the world!&#8221; Hunstville Hospital for Women and Children wrote on its <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HHWCFan/photos/a.317447745086287/2498406836990356/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Facebook page</a>. &#8220;This is an exciting time for any family, but it&#8217;s extra special for this family because they all share the same birthday. That&#8217;s right! On Sunday, Dec. 18, a chance that&#8217;s one in 133,000 occurred when their daughter Lennon was born. She held on until 12:30 a.m., just in time for the celebration. Please join us in wishing this sweet family a very happy birthday!&#8221;
Messages of congratulations and well wishes for mother, father and baby poured into the comments under the post. At least one commenter wrote that she shares a birthday with her husband and firstborn son. &#8220;Enjoy&#8230;and get used to people being amazed when you tell them lol!&#8221; she wrote. &#8220;Happy birthday to you all!&#8221;
In an interview with <a href="https://www.today.com/parents/mom-dad-newborn-daughter-birthday-scott-family-rcna63138" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TODAY</a>, the Scott family said that baby Lennon Kate was due to arrive on December 27th. “I didn’t want her to be born on my birthday at first because I wanted her to have her own day,” Cassidy Scott told TODAY. “The closer I got, Dylan talked me into it. He had me come around to the idea of wanting it to happen.”
But while the couple was out at a restaurant to celebrate their shared birthday, Cassidy&#8217;s water broke. “I started having contractions, and I was like, Oh my gosh, this might actually happen,” she said. “And so I didn’t really have a choice at that point. I had to come around.”
Cassidy was born on December 18, 1996. Dylan was born on the same day two years later, in 1998.
“I always say now I don’t have a day to myself,” Dylan said. “But now I really don’t have a day to myself.”
The couple told TODAY that family and friends are already encouraging the couple to try to have their next child on the same day. &#8220;[W]e’ll try, but you know, no problem,&#8221; said Cassidy.
“If we can do it once, we can do it twice,&#8221; added Scott.
A similar phenomenon made headlines <a href="https://apnews.com/article/oddities-la-state-wire-baptist-mississippi-ms-state-wire-920e288dd42e41d9979342a25782aae5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">in 2017</a>. Luke and Hillary Gardner were also born on the same day, and their son Cade Lee Gardner was born on the same birthday as both his parents. The Gardner family has something else in common with the Scotts: they were also all born on December 18. Luke and Hillary were not separated by years, though; they were born just six hours apart, on December 18, 1989.
The odds of a husband and wife sharing a birthday is about 1/365.

Baby feet in mother hands. Tiny Newborn Baby’s feet on female Heart Shaped hands closeup. Mom and her Child. Happy Family concept. Beautiful conceptual image of Maternity

Couple With The Same Birthday Welcomes Newborn Baby On The Same Day

Alabama Couple Welcomes Newborn Baby On Their Shared Birthday

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Three more governors are joining the growing number of states banning employees from using <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/tiktok">TikTok</a> on state-owned devices.
In separate orders announced Tuesday and Wednesday, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum, and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey all prohibited state employees from using the Chinese-owned social media app on devices owned by the state. The three states are the latest to ban the app, following similar moves already made by a half-dozen other states, and bipartisan legislation to ban TikTok in Congress.
“It is clear that TikTok represents a national security risk to our country and I refuse to subject the citizens of Iowa to that risk,” Reynolds said in a <a href="https://governor.iowa.gov/press-release/gov-reynolds%C2%A0issues-directive%C2%A0to-ban%C2%A0access-to%C2%A0tiktok%C2%A0on%C2%A0state-of-iowa%C2%A0devices%C2%A0" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> Tuesday. “They trust us with their personal and confidential information and we will take every step possible to protect it, including from the Chinese government. The safety of Iowans is my number one priority and that includes their cybersecurity.” Reynolds&#8217;s order prohibits state agencies from owning or subscribing to a TikTok account and bans the app on state-owned devices.
In a memo to all state agency heads in Alabama, <a href="https://twitter.com/GovernorKayIvey/status/1602517248924684289" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ivey</a> announced that she had ordered the Secretary of Information Technology to prohibit the app from accessing the state&#8217;s IT network and devices, with some exceptions for law enforcement and other critical functions. She also called for state agencies to take steps to prevent TikTok from accessing sensitive state data. &#8220;Protecting Alabama&#8217;s IT infrastructure from cyber threats is vital to ensuring the safety and success of our State,&#8221; Ivey wrote in the memo.
&#8220;The computer devices and networks used by our state government house significant amounts significant amounts of Alabamians&#8217; sensitive data. They also ensure the proper functioning of numerous automated government functions.&#8221; Ivey pointed to recent reports from <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/04/us/tiktok-pentagon-military-ban.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">national security officials</a> warning about the excessive amounts and types of data the app asks permission to take from a user&#8217;s device, as well as parent company ByteDance&#8217;s ties to the Chinese Communist Party.
Burgum&#8217;s <a href="https://twitter.com/BrendanCarrFCC/status/1602825493291864066?s=20&amp;t=GDZm2mYxEaUXxcdW_A9H5g" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Executive Order</a> went a step further than either Reynolds&#8217;s or Ivey&#8217;s; in addition to blocking the application from state devices, North Dakota state employees are prohibited from even visiting the TikTok website on state devices. Burgum also announced that his state agencies would be implementing controls to prevent state employees from using the platform. The order also voiced similar concerns about reports from the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/we-do-have-national-security-concerns-fbi-director-warns-chinese-community-party-uses-tiktok-to-compromise-american-privacy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">FBI</a> about the company&#8217;s ties to the CCP. It also made mention of federal government efforts to ban the platform.
More than a half-dozen states have already banned state employees from using the Chinese-owned platform from state-owned devices. Nebraska Governor <a href="https://governor.nebraska.gov/press/gov-ricketts-announces-tiktok-app-ban-state-devices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Pete Ricketts</a> was the first to ban the app on state devices, back in August 2020. South Dakota Governor <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/south-dakota-governor-noem-blocks-state-employees-from-downloading-tiktok" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kristi Noem</a> blocked the app in November of this year. The move set off a chain reaction from other Republican governors; the Republican governors of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/a-clear-and-present-danger-to-its-users-south-carolina-gov-bans-state-employees-from-using-tiktok-amid-national-security-concerns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">South Carolina</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/another-governor-bans-tiktok-from-state-devices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maryland</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/texas-gov-greg-abbott-bans-state-employees-from-using-tiktok-amid-chinese-espionage-threats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Texas</a>, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/effective-immediately-utah-bans-tiktok-from-state-devices" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Utah</a>, and <a href="https://kfor.com/news/local/oklahoma-governor-bans-tiktok-from-state-devices/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Oklahoma</a> have since banned the app from state devices.
A bipartisan effort to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-block-tiktok-in-u-s" target="_blank" rel="noopener">ban the app</a> is also underway in Congress. On Tuesday, Republican Florida Senator Marco Rubio announced legislation to ban TikTok in the U.S. Republican Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher and Democratic Illinois Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi unveiled the same bill in the House.

TikTok : Illustration

Three More States Ban State Employees From Using TikTok Over Security Concerns, CCP Ties

Iowa, Alabama, North Dakota Ban State Employees From Using TikTok Over Security Concerns, CCP Ties

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Multiple tornadoes were confirmed across southern states Tuesday night through Wednesday morning, with at least two people dead.
Montgomery County Emergency Management Director Christina Thornton confirmed two deaths in Alabama early Wednesday morning.
&#8220;We don&#8217;t have an exact number, and I do not want to give out incorrect information,&#8221; she said in a <a href="https://www.foxweather.com/weather-news/montgomery-county-alabama-tornado-deaths" target="_blank" rel="noopener">statement</a> to Fox Weather. &#8220;But there are minor, moderate (injuries) and the two fatalities that we have suffered in our community at this time.&#8221;
Search and rescue teams operated overnight to help those impacted by severe storms and tornadoes.
&#8220;It&#8217;s absolutely looking like a small community has been wiped off the map,&#8221; Thornton said. &#8220;It&#8217;s really devastating to think about when you look across the field, and you know that there were homes there the day before on your way to work, and when you&#8217;re leaving work this morning, they&#8217;re not going to be there.&#8221;
The Montgomery Advertiser later <a href="https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/news/local/2022/11/30/two-dead-in-tornado-north-of-montgomery-alabama-lower-wetumpka-road/69688019007/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confirmed</a> that the victims included a 39-year-old woman and an 8-year-old boy who were mother and son. They lived just north of Montgomery, where a tornado touched down around 3 a.m. local time. Some schools in the area have been closed.
The severe weather caused heavy damage in Eutaw, Alabama, including the partial destruction of an apartment complex.
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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tornado?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Tornado</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Damage?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Damage</a> at apartment complex in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Eutaw?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Eutaw</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Alabama?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Alabama</a>. <a href="https://t.co/PVTG4LLh9h">pic.twitter.com/PVTG4LLh9h</a>
&mdash; WxChasing- Brandon Clement (@bclemms) <a href="https://twitter.com/bclemms/status/1597945157705682945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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More than 55,000 customers were without power in parts of Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and Alabama, according to PowerUsage.us as of early Wednesday. Over 34,000 of the homes and businesses without power were located in Alabama.
AccuWeather <a href="https://www.accuweather.com/en/severe-weather/live-news/live-updates-severe-weather-tornado-threat-southern-us/1377321?utm_campaign=accuweather&amp;utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=twitter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reported</a> nearly two dozen tornadoes had been spotted across Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi overnight.
WCBI also tweeted images of tornado damage in Mississippi, including the destruction of a fire station in Lowndes County, where a twister trapped several people in Malone&#8217;s Grocery Store. The building was damaged, but everyone later left without injuries, <a href="https://www.wtva.com/news/tornado-confirmed-in-choctaw-lowndes-counties/article_b66348b8-703f-11ed-a024-f750da093297.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> WTVA.
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Tornado damage reported near District One Volunteer Fire/Rescue in Lowndes County, MS tonight. <a href="https://t.co/SXz7HdY15v">pic.twitter.com/SXz7HdY15v</a>
&mdash; WCBI Weather (@WCBIWEATHER) <a href="https://twitter.com/WCBIWEATHER/status/1597782157174243328?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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The outlet&#8217;s Scott Martin reported that one bridge washed away during the storm.
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Bridge on Wolfe Road near Reeves Circle is washed out. The Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is asking people to avoid the area. <a href="https://twitter.com/WCBIWEATHER?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WCBIWEATHER</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/WCBINEWS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WCBINEWS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/Wx_Isaac?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Wx_Isaac</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abryantwx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abryantwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/DylanHudlerWX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DylanHudlerWX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/jchastainwx?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@jchastainwx</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BryleeFaithWX?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BryleeFaithWX</a> 📸 MCSO <a href="https://t.co/emnWUhsRID">pic.twitter.com/emnWUhsRID</a>
&mdash; Scott Martin (@Scott_MartinTV) <a href="https://twitter.com/Scott_MartinTV/status/1597819801493471233?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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At least one church was also damaged in the storm, with WTVA reporting a toppled steeple at Mt. Zion Church in Caledonia.
Some parts of Mississippi, such as Vaiden, reportedly experienced hail up to two inches in diameter. The community is located in the northwestern part of the state.
Dickson, Tennessee, approximately 30 miles west of Nashville, also reported large hail, <a href="https://twitter.com/NC5/status/1597759350667354112" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to</a> NewsChannel 5.
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The storm that came through dropped some amount of hail in Dickson. This picture from Jamie McDaniel shows what she saw. 
Stay with us on our Storm 5 Alert: <a href="https://t.co/Qar7NT4HKn">https://t.co/Qar7NT4HKn</a> <a href="https://t.co/4BrICy4gN5">pic.twitter.com/4BrICy4gN5</a>
&mdash; NewsChannel 5 (@NC5) <a href="https://twitter.com/NC5/status/1597759350667354112?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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