This article is adapted from today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Nashville Shooting Update
A former middle school friend of the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/nashville-shooter-sent-chilling-messages-to-a-friend-moments-before-entering-christian-school" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Covenant school shooter</a> revealed chilling messages that she received via Instagram shortly before the attack on the Nashville Christian elementary school. Daily Wire reporter Zach Jewell has more:
<blockquote>The shooter’s former middle school basketball teammate Averianna Patton saw the disturbing messages, at 9:57 a.m., around 15 minutes before the shooter entered the school. 
The shooter wrote: “I’m planning to die today. THIS IS NOT A JOKE!!!! You’ll probably hear about me on the news after I die.” The messages show that Patton pleaded with the shooter, telling her that she had so much to live for, but the shooter responded with more chilling texts, including stating that “something bad is about to happen.” </blockquote>
Police Officers Praised For Decisive Action
Metro Nashville Police Department has <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graphic-bodycam-footage-shows-heroic-police-response-to-nashville-shooting" target="_blank" rel="noopener">now released</a> the names and bodycam footage of the officers who stopped the assailant.  Rex Engelbert, a 4-year veteran, and Michael Collazo, a 9-year veteran, were part of a team of first responders to the Covenant campus. The two men are being praised for their heroic and courageous quick action. Body camera footage shows they decisively entered the school upon arriving on the scene, ran toward the shooting, and successfully killed the shooter.
China And Utah Teaming Up?
A new investigative <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/china-influences-utah-lawmakers-by-appealing-to-mormonism-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> published this week by the Associated Press alleges that China has been able to forge ties in Utah that have led to the communist nation scoring public relations and legislative victories in the state and from its lawmakers. Daily Wire reporter Tim Pearce reported on &#8220;Afternoon Update&#8221;:
<blockquote>The report found that Chinese officials “appealed” to lawmaker’s ties to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to win favor. The Chinese later used that good will to score wins in a variety of areas, such as delaying legislation against Chinese propaganda, canceling resolutions that condemned China, and promoting false positive images of the Chinese regime. The report also said the Mormon church has “long dreamed of expanding in China.”  Some have speculated that Utah lawmakers&#8217; delayed decision to close universities’ Confucius Institutes, which the U.S. government has called Chinese propaganda groups, could be evidence of the Mormon Church’s goals.</blockquote>
Deadly Migrant Fire
More than three dozen people are dead after a fire at a migrant detention center in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/mexico">Mexico</a>, just across from the U.S. <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/southern-border">southern border</a>. 
According to officials, at least 39 people are dead and 29 others hospitalized after a fire broke out at a migration center in Ciudad, Juarez, run by the National Migration Institute. Those hospitalized are in “delicate to serious condition.” Mexico’s President alleged that the fire started after the migrants, mostly from Venezuela, found out they were going to be deported and started a protest in response. According to authorities, they put mattresses from the shelter at the facility’s entrance and then set them on fire. Details are still trickling in.
DHS Can&#8217;t Say How Reliable Mexico Is
Meanwhile, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas testified before the Senate today, yet he was unable to say whether or not Mexico was a reliable partner in cracking down on the flow of drugs and illicit border crossing over the southern border:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
DHS Secretary Mayorkas can&#39;t say whether or not Mexico is a &quot;reliable partner&quot; in the fight against fentanyl. <a href="https://t.co/2tz06xT8Fo">pic.twitter.com/2tz06xT8Fo</a>
&mdash; Townhall.com (@townhallcom) <a href="https://twitter.com/townhallcom/status/1640725370423894017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 28, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Miracle Baby Heads Home
And, the <a href="https://wgme.com/news/local/winner-youngest-surviving-baby-born-maine-living-home-family-medical-center-22-weeks#:~:text=PORTLAND%20(WGME)%20%E2%80%93%20A%20Maine,Maine%20Medical%20Center%20in%20July.&amp;text=MaineHealth%20says%20she%20is%20reportedly,ever%20born%20in%20the%20state." target="_blank" rel="noopener">youngest surviving baby ever born in the state of Maine</a> at just 22 weeks old last July has returned home after spending roughly 8 months in the hospital. The child’s name, fittingly enough, is “Winner” and her family says she will have to have a series of follow-ups with specialists but are thrilled to have her home. 
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Tuesday stock photo

Tuesday Afternoon Update: More Nashville Shooting Information, Migrant Fatal Fire, Maine Miracle Baby Heads Home

Tuesday Afternoon Update: More Nashville Shooting Information, Migrant Fatal Fire, Maine Miracle Baby Heads HomeTuesday Afternoon Update: 

Alejandro Mayorkas

China

Maine

Morning Wire

Nashville

Podcast

Police

School Shooting

Utah

How much of America&#8217;s &#8220;success&#8221; against <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/illegal-immigration" target="_blank" rel="noopener">illegal immigration</a> is based on pure dumb luck?
Consider the following story from the tiny town of Lisbon, Maine. Authorities were recently investigating a hit-and-run accident that led them to the discovery of an &#8220;elaborate human smuggling scheme&#8221; and the capture of 17 illegal aliens, according to a March 21 <a href="https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/local-media-release/border-patrol-infiltrates-elaborate-human-smuggling-scheme" target="_blank" rel="noopener">press release</a>.
In other words, had that car crash never occurred, it seems unlikely that officers from the Rangeley, Maine, Border Patrol station would have uncovered that an unnamed Massachusetts-based company was allegedly hiring foreign nations while housing them in a Maine rental. That is not their fault though, the lack of immigration enforcement can be attributed to the Biden administration. 
&#8220;We are seeing a sharp increase in the flow of illegal labor in and out of Maine,&#8221;  Chief Patrol Agent of the Houlton Sector William Maddocks said of the case.
Maddocks also argued that these individuals were being taken advantage of by greedy business owners.
&#8220;Housing 17 people in one house is unsafe and degrading,&#8221; he added. &#8220;The exploitation of the undocumented population will continue as long as there is no consequence. We will do all we can to remove the incentives that drive such exploitation, including the continued issuance of civil penalties, fines, and seeking federal criminal prosecution through the U.S. Attorney’s office for every criminal law violation we encounter.&#8221;
While illegal immigration has been a decades-long problem, this story also highlights a major problem with President Joe Biden&#8217;s  approach toward the matter.
Biden has reintroduced what is known as &#8220;catch-and-release.&#8221; That means that when illegal immigrants are first arrested they are &#8220;released&#8221; into the interior of the U.S. and told to come back for certain court hearings and removal proceedings.
<a class="c-link" href="https://onelink.to/dwapp" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer" data-stringify-link="https://onelink.to/dwapp" data-sk="tooltip_parent" aria-describedby="sk-tooltip-16147">CLICK HERE TO GET THE DAILYWIRE+ APP</a>
There is currently a <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/immigration-judges-are-moving-fast-but-case-backlog-keeps-growing-c8cc6922" target="_blank" rel="noopener">years-long backlog in immigration proceedings</a>, which means that these individuals are free to roam about the country. In this specific instance, four of the illegal aliens arrested &#8220;were found to have entered the United States illegally along the southwest border&#8221; and were subsequently released by authorities.
They then traveled all the way from the Sun Belt to the state of Maine. What they did in the interim, nobody knows. So long as they do not get caught committing a crime in the continental U.S. or caught up in one like that hit-and-run in Maine, U.S. authorities will likely never look for them. 
We know that because Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has made it clear that being a foreign national unlawfully in the U.S. is <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/30/immigration-us-will-no-longer-deport-people-simply-because-they-are-undocumented.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">not enough of an offense for removal</a>. Deportation efforts and immigration enforcement efforts will focus on those illegals who have only had run-ins with the fuzz for new transgressions committed in the U.S.
The bad news for Americans is that deportations for even &#8220;criminal illegal aliens&#8221; are <a href="https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/restoring-america/patriotism-unity/biden-deportations-of-criminal-immigrants-down-85-percent" target="_blank" rel="noopener">down 85% from the Obama era</a>.
So if those illegal aliens were smart — and it seems that they are for taking advantage of a porous southern border — then they will flee New England entirely. Perhaps they will go to <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/this-is-a-free-for-all-nyc-hotel-worker-describes-chaos-as-migrants-have-trashed-rooms-brought-in-drugs" target="_blank" rel="noopener">New York City</a> where they can hope to get a cushy life of hotels, meals, and more — all provided for on the taxpayers&#8217; dime.
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

(DenisTangneyJr via Getty Images) (Stringer/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Pure Dumb Luck Leads To Arrest Of 17 Illegal Aliens In Maine, Bust Of ‘Elaborate Human Smuggling Scheme’

Pure Dumb Luck Leads To Arrest Of 17 Illegal Aliens In Maine, ‘Elaborate Human Smuggling Scheme' Busted

Illegal Immigration

Immigration

Joe Biden

Law Enforcement

Southern Border

U.S.

A social worker at a Maine school gave a 13-year-old girl a chest binder and secretly supported her gender transition without informing her parents, the girl&#8217;s mother claims.
Earlier this month, mom Amber Lavigne gave an emotional <a href="https://rumble.com/v20zf1q-maine-mom-discovers-school-provided-chest-binder-to-her-13-year-old.html">speech</a> to the Central Lincoln County School System school board in southern Maine, claiming a social worker at Great Salt Bay Community School had provided her daughter with a chest binder, a device used to crush female breasts in order to achieve a more masculine appearance.
&#8220;She is a minor child,&#8221; the mom said, her voice breaking, &#8220;and under no circumstances should she have been provided a chest binder without knowledge of the parents.&#8221;
Lavigne said she discovered the chest binder in her daughter&#8217;s bedroom on December 2. She also noted that her daughter expressed that she had made the discovery because keeping a secret from her parents had been causing her distress, anxiety, and depression.
Binding can <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/social-issues/chest-binding-can-lead-to-chronic-pain-this-genderqueer-massage-therapist-wants-to-help/2018/12/26/cfadf6cc-0493-11e9-9122-82e98f91ee6f_story.html">cause</a> <a href="https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/what-is-chest-binding">a litany</a> of <a href="https://www.statsforgender.org/binding/">negative</a> <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13691058.2016.1191675?journalCode=tchs20">effects</a>, including rib fractures, shortness of breath, potentially chronic back and chest pain, bad posture, overheating, numbness, lightheadedness, and fungal infections. A 2016 <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/13691058.2016.1191675?journalCode=tchs20">study</a> found that more than 97% of people reported at least one of 28 different negative effects due to binding.
Lavigne has since pulled her daughter from the school.
The school social worker in question is allegedly Samuel Roy, <a href="https://www.themainewire.com/2022/12/damariscotta-maine-teacher-social-worker-gender-transition-sam-roy/">according</a> to the Maine Wire, a local outlet.
The <a href="https://greatsaltbayschool.org/?page_id=59">staff list</a> for Great Salt Bay Community School appears to have been scrubbed from their website since December 18. However, an archived <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20221218023545/https://greatsaltbayschool.org/staff/">version</a> of the webpage shows Roy listed as a social worker.
Lavigne&#8217;s daughter was originally assigned to a different social worker, but when Roy took over her care in October her parents were never informed, Lavigne told the school board. The social worker provided the 13-year-old with the chest binder just two weeks after meeting her, she claimed.
&#8220;A social worker at the school encouraged a student to keep a secret from their parents. This is the very definition of child predatory sexual grooming,&#8221; Lavigne said.
The school&#8217;s policies <a href="https://www.themainewire.com/2022/12/maine-school-hides-staff-list-after-report-on-secret-gender-transition-for-13-year-old-girl/">reportedly</a> prohibit staff members from &#8220;asking a student to keep a secret.&#8221;
Lavigne demanded that all district employees who were aware that the chest binder was provided to her daughter be fired immediately.
&#8220;Laws, policies, and parental trust were broken,&#8221; she said, &#8220;and the decisions made drove a wedge between a child and their parents.&#8221;
&#8220;No other parent should have to go through the trauma and distress, serious distress, that this has caused my family,&#8221; she said.
Lavigne told The Daily Wire that her attorney is filing a complaint with the Maine Human Rights Commission.
In a statement, School Board Chairman Samuel Belknap said the board is &#8220;not able to discuss confidential student and staff information in public.&#8221;
&#8220;When administrators receive concerns from parents and/or students about potential issues in school, the Board has specific policies and procedures in place that must be followed when addressing those concerns,&#8221; read the school board&#8217;s statement, provided to The Daily Wire.
&#8220;The Board is aware that rumors and allegations have been published and republished on various social media platforms relating to this issue,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;While it is unfortunate that some individuals have sought to use this issue to try and divide our community, as a Board, we are committed not only to following Maine law but also honoring our school&#8217;s core values, and focusing on treating each other with dignity and respect.&#8221;
Superintendent Lynsey Johnston provided the same statement but did not respond when asked whether the district is investigating the situation.

A protester holds a placard with the colours of the trans

Social Worker Secretly Gave 13-Year-Old Daughter Chest Binder To Flatten Her Breasts, Mom Tells School Board

Gender

Public Schools

Social Issues

Hollywood A-lister John Travolta appears to be having some difficulty with a listing of his own — a <a href="https://nypost.com/2022/12/13/john-travolta-cant-sell-his-maine-mansion/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">real estate listing</a>, that is. His Maine compound — which the late actress <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/kirstie-alleys-cause-of-death-revealed/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kirstie Alley</a> found for him — has been on the market for nearly two years, and no one has been willing to cough up the $5 million the &#8220;Grease&#8221; actor is asking for it.
Travolta and his late wife, actress <a href="https://dailywire.com/news/ex-scientologists-discuss-john-travoltas-dark-side-james-barrett/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Kelly Preston</a>, designed the massive Isleboro estate in 1991, shortly after they were married — and Travolta put the property on the market less than a year after Preston passed away following a secret battle with breast cancer.
The 20-bedroom, eight-bathroom mansion sprawls over 10,830 square feet — and required a massive transformative effort. Travolta and Preston described how Alley had led them to the property and the work they put into the home — when they first renovated the space — during a 1999 <a href="https://www.architecturaldigest.com/story/john-travolta-and-kelly-preston-maine-house" target="_blank" rel="noopener">interview</a> with Architectural Digest.
&#8220;Kirstie had a big Kennedy-compound-style house on the water and wanted everyone to move there. So we looked at all these blue-blood homes. I loved them but knew they wouldn&#8217;t cut it size-wise for my whole family,&#8221; Travolta said, explaining that his lifelong dream had been to have enough space to host his 50-person family for Christmas.
&#8220;She said, ‘Well, there is another,’ and we came to this house. When I saw it, I said to Kirstie, ‘Why did you withhold this? It&#8217;s a fairy-tale house,’” he continued.
Travolta went on to explain that he and Preston had enlisted the help of interior decorator Sister Parish — who he said was &#8220;wonderful.&#8221;
&#8220;This house has always been a masterpiece, so Sister Parish knew what it was like before—very dark and somber,&#8221; he continued, and Preston added, &#8220;Almost spooky. And John and I came in and redid everything—carpets, furniture—in cream and eggshell. If you need to do it quickly, go white.&#8221;
The couple closed on the 1903 home in September of that year — and immediately invited 55 family members to spend Christmas with them, dramatically shortening the deadline for having the space livable. &#8220;It was madness — but so much fun,&#8221; Preston said of the marathon redecorating process.
Preston, who was pregnant with son Jett at the time, designed the entire third floor of the home with kids in mind. It included four themed bedrooms, a school room, a library, a stage, and even a diner.
Other features included a private sun porch, a square tower, a fieldstone fireplace in the living room, a walk-in refrigerator, and boat access.

Hollywood Film Festival’s 11th Annual Hollywood Awards – Backstage

Kirstie Alley Found It, Kelly Preston Decorated It, And Now John Travolta Can’t Find A Buyer For Maine Estate

Kirstie Alley Found It, Kelly Preston Decorated It, And Now John Travolta Can't Find A Buyer For Maine Estate

Celebrities

Hollywood

Kirstie Alley

Real estate

This article is a companion piece to today’s Morning Wire Afternoon Update. To listen to the podcast version, click <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/podcasts/morning-wire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>.
Biden Meets With Macron
President Joe Biden is hosting French President Emmanuel Macron at a White House dinner tonight. The French leader is using his visit to Washington in part to criticize aspects of his ally’s signature climate law as a bad deal for Europe. The presidents are holding talks in the Oval Office that officials say will largely center on efforts to stay united in their response to Russia’s war in Ukraine and to coordinate their approach to an increasingly assertive China.
&#8220;France is our oldest ally, our unwavering partner in freedom’s cause, through the spirit of Marquis Lafayette, who helped secure the success of our revolution, to the sacrifices of American GIs who stormed the beaches of Normandy, our history has been shaped by the courage of the women and men who crossed the Atlantic carrying in their hearts the flame of liberty,&#8221; the president said in his welcoming remarks.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
In address w/ Pres. Macron, Biden praises &quot;Marcus Lafayette&quot; <a href="https://t.co/h0QZf2TLPg">pic.twitter.com/h0QZf2TLPg</a>
&mdash; Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) <a href="https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1598326438305865738?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Democrat Criticizes Biden&#8217;s Lobster Dinner
At least one Democratic lawmaker is <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/get-rid-of-extravagant-state-dinners-at-the-white-house-were-sick-of-paying-for-them" target="_blank" rel="noopener">pushing back on the President’s White House dinner</a>, in which 200 live lobsters were ordered from Maine.
Congressman Jared Golden (D-ME) tweeted, &#8220;If the Biden White House can prioritize purchasing 200 Maine lobsters for a fancy dinner, [Biden] should also take the time to meet with the Maine lobstermen his administration is currently regulating out of business.&#8221;
Oath Keepers Founder Convicted  Over January 6
This week a Washington, D.C., jury <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/oath-keepers-founder-convicted-of-seditious-conspiracy-over-capitol-riot" target="_blank" rel="noopener">convicted Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes</a> of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6 riot.
Rhodes was convicted alongside Kelly Meggs, who headed the Oath Keepers Florida chapter, on sedition charges after three days of deliberation. Three other Oath Keepers were convicted of related felony charges over January 6, according to the Department of Justice.
Senate Reaches Rail Strike Deal
The Senate has <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/01/politics/senate-rail-vote" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reached</a> a deal averting a rail strike that would be detrimental to the U.S. economy. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced Thursday that the Senate will vote to make the legislation official.
Schumer made the announcement after negotiations between both the Republicans and Democrats.
Feds Pay Journalism Group $5M To Create Software To Turn People Into Anti-‘Misinformation’ Bots
A new investigative report from The Daily Wire <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/feds-pay-journalism-group-5m-to-create-software-to-turn-people-into-anti-misinformation-bots" target="_blank" rel="noopener">revealed</a> that the federal government has awarded $5 million to a group of journalists called Hacks/Hackers to develop software that will encourage regular Americans to confront their friends over “harmful” posts, and “correct misinformation” by replying with text suggested by the software.
The group is also organizing Wikipedia censors to determine who is a “credible source” on vaccines, and to block anyone else from being cited on the online encyclopedia. Job ads for the project do not require that applicants have any expertise in medicine.
Ex-Royals Release Netflix Trailer
Former British Royals Harry and Megan <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/netflix-drops-trailer-for-harry-meghan-documentary-series" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> the trailer to their new Netflix docuseries about their relationship on Wednesday.
The couple reportedly earned over 100 million dollars for their participation in the series. The release of the trailer coincides with the first day of Princess Kate and Prince William’s landmark US tour.
Boston Sticks It To The Brits One More Time
Meanwhile, Prince William and Princess Kate made an appearance at the Boston Celtics basketball game Wednesday night, but interim head coach Joe Mazzulla was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/american-hero-boston-celtics-coach-doesnt-care-one-bit-british-royals-sat-courtside-at-game-against-the-heat" target="_blank" rel="noopener">less than impressed</a> with the royal visit.
“A non-basketball question: did you get a chance to meet with the Royal family and if not, how was it like having them there in the building?” a reporter asked following the team’s victory.
“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph?” Mazzulla deadpanned back.
“The Prince and Princess of Wales,” she responded with a laugh.
“Oh, no I did not, I’m only familiar with one Royal family,” he answered. “I don’t know too much about that one. Thank you, but hopefully, they’re Celtic fans.”
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Answered with a straight face 😂 <a href="https://t.co/Mgfj4a9adC">pic.twitter.com/Mgfj4a9adC</a>
&mdash; bulbul🍜 📖 🏡 👩‍🌾 (@sue_then) <a href="https://twitter.com/sue_then/status/1598251698518380544?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 1, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
To listen to the audio version of this podcast, <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/morning-wire/id1576594336" target="_blank" rel="noopener">click here</a>. And for more in-depth discussion of the biggest stories of the day, listen to the latest full episode of Morning Wire every morning.

Thursday stock photo

Thursday Afternoon Update: Government-Paid Anti-‘Misinformation’ Bots, Biden Welcomes Macron, Boston Still Doesn’t Like The Brits

Thursday Afternoon Update: Government-Paid Misinformation Bots, Biden Welcome Macron, Boston Still Doesn't Like The Brits

Boston Celtics

France

January 6

Journalism

Railroads

Senate

Two school board members in one of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/maine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maine&#8217;s</a> largest school districts are facing recall elections over their support for a controversial gender identity school policy.
Nearly 700 people signed a petition to remove board members Julia Lester and Sarah Otterson from the Oxford Hills School District school board, which includes Paris, Maine.
At an emergency meeting of the town of Paris&#8217; select board on Monday night, the board voted to put the issue to voters. The town of Paris will now decide whether the pair of school board members will lose their seats.
Lester and Otterson support the Oxford Hills (MSAD 17) district&#8217;s new proposed gender identity <a href="https://themainewire.wpenginepowered.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/ACAAA-POLICY.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">policy</a> that deals with student names and pronouns, parental notification, and bathroom and locker room usage.
Last month, the Oxford Hills school board voted to provisionally approve the gender identity policy. Twelve school board members including Lester and Otterson <a href="https://www.themainewire.com/2022/10/oxford-hills-school-approves-rules-to-keep-student-gender-identity-changes-secret-from-parents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">voted</a> to approve the policy, while seven members voted against the policy.
The new rules would require school administrators to hide a child&#8217;s new gender identity from their parents unless the student has given express approval for their parents to know.
&#8220;Parent notification shall be contingent on student approval with the exception of school records accessed and disclosed under FERPA,&#8221; the policy <a href="https://www.themainewire.com/2022/10/oxford-hills-school-approves-rules-to-keep-student-gender-identity-changes-secret-from-parents/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reads</a>.
School officials are also directed to coach students on how to make sure their parents do not find out about their new identity. For example, officials must inform students that changing their name and gender on official school records could reveal the change to their parents since parents have access to those records.
The policy also allows students to use whichever single-gender bathroom and locker room aligns with their gender identity.
The policy also requires that students be addressed by &#8220;the name and pronoun they request&#8221; by teachers, school staff, and other students.
If the policy goes into effect, it will apply to all 3,400 <a href="https://www.msad17.org/page/district-profile" target="_blank" rel="noopener">students</a> at all 10 schools in the Oxford Hills School District, which includes eight elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school.
On Monday evening, some Paris select board members expressed their concerns with the new policy.
“I don’t want boys to be able to go into the girls room, and vice versa, and I have nothing against anybody who wants to live a certain lifestyle, I just don’t care. But I’d be worried if my grandchild was there, my little granddaughter and boys could go into the bathroom,” <a href="https://wgme.com/news/local/paris-to-hold-recall-election-for-school-board-members-who-support-gender-identity-policy" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> select board member Scott McElravy.
The policy&#8217;s critics cited the parental notification part of the policy as a major problem.
“Two people on the board was promoting policies that interfered with a parent’s right to know. Us parents have had enough. That policy promoted secrecy,” said Armand Norton, who organized the recall petition.
“Parents are the first line of defense if something happens to the kid, the parents are responsible for them, not the school,” Norton said.
There is currently some <a href="https://www.wmtw.com/article/paris-select-board-accepts-petition-to-recall-school-board-members-over-gender-id-proposal/42043237#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">legal confusion</a> around whether the town of Paris can remove school board members since the school district extends beyond Paris. Lester and Otterson represent Paris on the Oxford Hills School Board.
“If it is a law and it needs to be changed, maybe the town of South Paris is going to be the town to start changing things,” Norton said.
The recall election is <a href="https://www.wmtw.com/article/paris-select-board-accepts-petition-to-recall-school-board-members-over-gender-id-proposal/42043237#" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a> to be held in January or February.

Equality March In Krakow

Gender Identity School Policy Leads To Recall Elections For Maine School Board Members

Education

Elementary Schools

Gender Identity

High School

A 24-year-old man in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/maine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maine</a> purchased a 700-year-old <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/christianity" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Christian</a> Medieval-era document for only $75 after visiting an estate sale looking for kitchen equipment. 
The man, Will Sideri, went to an estate sale in Waterville this month looking for a cake mixer but ended up purchasing a page from a  Christian liturgy book that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/history" target="_blank" rel="noopener">historians</a> believe originated in Beauvais, France during the 13th century. 
Sideri purchased the leaf, which was labeled at the sale as an &#8220;illuminated manuscript on vellum&#8221; from 1285, <a href="https://www.themainemonitor.org/looking-for-a-cake-mixer-finding-a-medieval-manuscript-in-waterville/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the Maine Monitor, which first reported the story. The actual value of the document is estimated to be worth up to $10,000, far more than what Sideri purchased it for. 
He says that he is not planning on selling the document and will keep it at his parent&#8217;s home for now. &#8220;This is something at the end of the day that I know is cool,&#8221; he <a href="https://apnews.com/article/oddities-entertainment-music-religion-3162da2fed026abbdf5820e72f11e523" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. &#8220;I didn’t buy this expecting to sell it.&#8221;
 He also looks forward to having something &#8220;vintage&#8221; to hang on his wall. &#8220;I have something very vintage. Like 1285 vintage,&#8221; Sideri said. 
According to Sideri, he believed that the document was legitimate and reached out to Megan Cook, who had been his professor at Colby College. &#8220;I have a question for you. I think this might be real,’&#8221; he texted her alongside a photo of the manuscript. 
&#8220;I said, &#8216;wow, that looks familiar,'&#8221; Cook said she told her former student. After contacting his former professor, Sideri left the sale to get a check to purchase the historic page.
Cook <a href="https://twitter.com/meganlcook/status/1568223508907364352?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1568223508907364352%7Ctwgr%5E5b14783a7cd47455a3991dc985886295d89761de%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.themainemonitor.org%2Flooking-for-a-cake-mixer-finding-a-medieval-manuscript-in-waterville%2F">said</a> on Twitter that she compared Sideri’s leaf with one held by Colby College, noting that the white vellum from Sideri’s leaf had been remarkably preserved in part because it had been framed since the 1940s. 
The page contained Latin texts that priests would use during prayer liturgy, said Lisa Fagin, a professor at Simmons University in Boston who was contacted by Cook about the find. Fagin is also the executive director of the Medieval Academy of America. 
She said that the page was taken from a missal, a Christian liturgy book, that had once been owned by New York businessman William Randolph Hearst, who ran a large newspaper empire. After Hearst sold the missal, individual pages were taken out and sold to artifact collectors, disseminating the ancient manuscripts throughout the country.
In an effort to digitally reconstruct the liturgy book, Davis has <a href="https://brokenbooks2.omeka.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener">created</a> an online website where she works to compile images of the various pages that have been discovered around the country. Originally 309 pages, Davis has found 114 of the manuscript pages, the Maine Monitor reported. 
“This stuff just shows up at the craziest places,’’ Davis said, referring to her efforts to locate the contents of the original book. 
RELATED: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/rare-find-woman-picked-up-2000-year-old-roman-artifact-for-35-at-thrift-store">The Story Of How A 2,000 Year Old Roman Artifact Ended Up In A Texas Goodwill</a>

Spain, Mallorca, Library in monastery, Valldemossa, Ancient manuscript

Maine Man Purchases Rare 700-Year-Old Christian Document For Incredible Bargain

Christian

History

An environmental watchlist angered fishers, and even state political leaders when it &#8220;red listed&#8221; Maine lobsters.
Seafood Watch, an environmental watchlist maintained by the Monterey Bay Aquarium in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/california" target="_blank" rel="noopener">California</a>, placed American lobsters caught in the Gulf of <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/maine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maine</a> and the Georges Bank, as well as others caught in the seas off of northwestern Canada, on its &#8220;red list&#8221; of seafoods to avoid buying. Seafood Watch claimed that lobster fishing equipment is harming the critically endangered population of North Atlantic right whales, which get tangled in the fishing gear.
&#8220;American lobster caught in the U.S. Atlantic (Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank fishery) with pots is an Avoid,&#8221; <a href="https://www.seafoodwatch.org/recommendation/lobster/american-lobster-19701?species=127">Seafood Watch</a> said. &#8220;This fishery poses a risk to overfished or at-risk species, including endangered North Atlantic right whales. Entanglement in fishing gear is the leading cause of serious injury and death to North Atlantic right whales.&#8221;
The list went on to claim that &#8220;current management measures do not go far enough to mitigate entanglement risks and promote recovery of the species. [Lobster] Pots typically have fewer impacts on habitat, but the cumulative effects of large-scale fishing are likely underestimated. Some measures to protect the ecosystem have been implemented, but stronger policies are needed to protect American lobster&#8217;s role in the food web.&#8221;
Lobster pots are fishing gears that are set on the seafloor or in underwater using vertical lines, usually attached to a buoy. According to the <a href="https://www.pressherald.com/2022/09/06/seafood-sustainability-group-red-lists-lobster/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Portland Press-Herald</a>, fishers use pots or similar gears for catching 14 different species, including the Jonah crab and Gulf of Maine flounder, which have also been &#8220;red-listed.&#8221; Right whales have been known to get caught in the lines, causing serious injury and even death. The Press-Herald reports that less than 340 North Atlantic right whales are alive today.
The Seafood Watch project partners with a number of major restaurants, distributors, and grocery stores; it currently maintains major partnerships with food services distributor Aramark, Bon Appetit magazine, The Cheesecake Factory restaurant chain, and Whole Foods grocery stores. Buyers for these companies use the Seafood Watch listings to influence purchasing decisions and menu selections, often avoiding red-listed seafood, the Press-Herald reported.
Industry groups and restaurateurs blasted the decision.
“Lobster is one of the most sustainable fisheries in the world due to the effective stewardship practices handed down through generations of lobstermen,” Maine Lobsterman’s Association executive director Patrice McCarron told the Press-Herald. “These include strict protections for both the lobster resource and right whales.”
A spokesman for the Red Lobster restaurant chain said that the specific cause of the whale deaths remains uncertain, but deaths from Maine fisheries have declined significanlty. &#8220;Thus, we find it misleading to suggest to consumers that avoiding Maine lobster would benefit whale preservation efforts,&#8221; Red Lobster told the Press-Herald.
The move also caught the ire of political leaders in Maine.
&#8220;Today&#8217;s decision by Seafood Watch to &#8216;Red List&#8217; Maine lobster is simply absurd and flies in the face of common sense,&#8221; Senator <a href="https://www.king.senate.gov/newsroom/press-releases/statement-from-senator-king-on-absurd-seafood-watch-designation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Angus King</a> (I-ME) said in a statement Tuesday. &#8220;The Maine lobster industry – one of our state&#8217;s most important economic drivers and a source of pride – has long been committed to environmentally conscious, sustainable fishing.&#8221;
&#8220;There hasn’t been a whale entanglement attributed to Maine lobster gear since 2004 and no documented right whale death has ever been attributed to Maine lobster gear,&#8221; he added.
&#8220;Consumers and businesses must see through this list and recognize that lobstermen are partners in conservation and sustainability and that the delicious Maine lobster can and should continue to be enjoyed,&#8221; Governor <a href="https://www.maine.gov/governor/mills/news/governor-mills-slams-seafood-watchs-attack-maine-lobster-industry-2022-09-06" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Janet Mills</a> (D-ME) added.

Iconic New England Lobster Caught In Global Tariff Tit-For-Tat

Fishers, Restaurateurs, Even A U.S. Senator Up In Arms After Maine Lobsters Placed On Environmentalist ‘Red List’

Fishers, Restaurateurs, Even A U.S. Senator Blast Environmental Watchlist 'Red-Listing' Maine Lobsters

Animals

Environmentalism

Fish

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/country-music" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Country superstar</a> Luke Combs stopped in the middle of his <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/music" target="_blank" rel="noopener">performance</a> Friday night to call out two young fans who worked hard to earn money to buy concert tickets. 
Combs was on his “Middle of Somewhere” tour at a stop in Bangor, Maine, when he spotted the two fans in the crowd holding a sign that said, “We made $100 bucks stacking 5 cords of wood, bought two Luke Combs tickets. Man, he sounds good.”
“Our Dads swore it was a waste of time, oh but they were wrong. Today&#8217;s my 12th birthday, oh Lord when it rains it pours.”
Per the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11184497/Luke-Combs-stops-concert-two-fans-140-learning-stacked-firewood-buy-tickets.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Daily Mail</a>, the 32-year-old “Beautiful Crazy” singer stopped the show, read the signs out loud, and then offered the boys money from his own pocket to refund the cost of tickets. 
“OK I&#8217;ve got a question for y&#8217;all,” Combs said after sitting down on the stage. “How much were your tickets? $100? Y&#8217;all made $100? $200? $100 apiece? Oh my God, I only got $140 right here. Y&#8217;all want that, pay yourselves back. I&#8217;ll get you some more.”
The lucky concertgoers also got signed hats from the musician and were invited to hang out backstage after the show.
“I prayed for it to happen. I hoped. I prayed, and it happened,” Bo Fenderson, 12, told <a href="https://www.wabi.tv/2022/09/04/hard-work-pays-off-luke-combs-rewards-young-maine-fans-who-attended-bangor-show/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">WABI TV5 </a>in an interview. He explained that his mother was trying to teach the boys about hard work and responsibility.
“The concert was brought up and it was an immediate hard yes,” Bo’s mom, Desiree, explained. “But the tickets were pricey so it was, ‘Well we can take you, but you know, think about what you just did, and earned, and you know if you guys could buy your own tickets, we could make it happen.’ And they said, ‘Yes,’ and I think it was a great lesson for both of them; for all of them.”
“Hard work pays off,” Bo’s friend, Tanner, agreed.
Bo said Combs told him backstage, “The two most important things in life are hard work and kindness.”
“He’s a great role model to take the time and do that, and really acknowledge what they did,” Desiree said of the experience. 
“It wasn’t just Luke, it was the rest of the staff too that made it happen and made it a point to come find us and the boys and fulfill that promise that he made to them. I think for all of the sisters, the cousins, and the friends that they all learned a valuable lesson.”

CMA Fest 2022 – Day 3

‘Hard Work Pays Off’: Luke Combs Stops Concert, Repays Two Young Fans Who Stacked Wood To Earn Money For Tickets

Luke Combs Stops Concert, Repays Two Young Fans Who Stacked Wood To Earn Money For Tickets

Country Music

Entertainment

Music

According to a new report, Department of Homeland Security Secretary <a href="http://dailywire.com/news/house-republicans-call-on-mayorkas-to-use-available-technologies-to-slow-border-crisis/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Alejandro Mayorkas</a> is more than 2,200 miles away from the United States&#8217; <a href="http://dailywire.com/news/northern-border-state-with-a-southern-border-problem-montana-reeling-as-fentanyl-seizures-skyrocket/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">southern border</a>, yet only 55 miles away from <a href="http://dailywire.com/news/dhs-ready-to-end-trump-era-remain-in-mexico-border-policy/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mexico</a>.
How can that be? Mayorkas is reportedly vacationing in South Casco, Maine, a town 2.5 hours away from Mexico, Maine.
It would appear Mayorkas is enjoying his time at the lake while America&#8217;s invasion at the southern border continues unabated.
&#8220;A source tells me DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas is currently on vacation in South Casco, Maine while the border crisis continues to get worse and worse every day,&#8221; The Daily Caller&#8217;s Henry Rodgers tweeted Tuesday morning. &#8220;He had security surrounding him at a picnic tonight. Yet, our border is being flooded with drugs and criminals.&#8221;
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NEW: A source tells me DHS Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas is currently on vacation in South Casco, Maine while the border crisis continues to get worse and worse every day. He had security surrounding him at a picnic tonight. Yet, our border is being flooded with drugs and criminals.
&mdash; Henry Rodgers (@henryrodgersdc) <a href="https://twitter.com/henryrodgersdc/status/1564410788278063104?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Rodgers&#8217; assessment of the border is accurate.
Since October 2021, border authorities have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/bidens-press-secretary-on-illegal-immigration-its-not-like-somebody-walks-over-actually-millions-do" target="_blank" rel="noopener">apprehended</a> 66 illegal aliens on the terror watch list. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has had nearly 4.9 million encounters with illegal aliens — including an estimated 900,000 who snuck into the country undetected — since President Joe Biden took office.
On Tuesday, Fox News reported that Border Patrol Chief Raul Ortiz testified under oath that Biden&#8217;s policies are to blame for the increase in illegal immigration.
Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody is suing DHS and the Biden administration over what she contends are immigration policies that flout federal law.
During a July deposition, Ortiz <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/border-patrol-chief-says-border-crisis-caused-bidens-no-consequences-policies-illegal-migrants" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stated</a> that he believes illegal immigrants increasingly come to the U.S. when there are &#8220;no consequences.&#8221;
&#8220;So, if migrant populations believe that they&#8217;re going … there are not going to be consequences, more of them will come to the border. Is that what you&#8217;re saying?&#8221; questioned the attorney.
&#8220;There is an assumption that if migrant populations are told that there is a potential that they may be released, that, yes, you can see increases,&#8221; he responded.
The attorney then asked,  &#8220;So, it will increase at an exponential rate. Is that what is being suggested here?&#8221;
&#8220;Well, I do think it will increase, yeah,&#8221; he answered.
It is unlikely that Mayorkas will see Ortiz&#8217;s comments anytime soon— the man is allegedly on vacation after all.
Perhaps Mayorkas can make a pit stop in Portland, Maine if he&#8217;s visiting the Pine Tree State. He doesn&#8217;t need to travel all the way to the southern border to see the ramifications of Biden&#8217;s open border nightmare — he can just look at Maine&#8217;s largest city.
In April, Portland <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/maines-largest-city-in-dire-situation-due-to-unprecedented-volume-of-migrants-arriving-from-southern-border">announced</a> it was in a &#8220;dire situation&#8221; due to the “unprecedented” number of individuals arriving from the southern border.
It might be news to Portland that Mayorkas claimed in July that the border is &#8220;secure.&#8221;
&#8220;Look, the border is secure,&#8221; Mayorkas <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/politics/mayorkas-claims-southern-border-secure-historic-migrant-crisis-rages" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> over the summer. &#8220;We are working to make the border more secure. That has been a historic challenge.&#8221;
If this is what a secure border under Biden looks like, can you imagine what an open border would look like?
The views expressed in this piece are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Mayorkas

Report: Biden’s Homeland Security Chief Is On Vacation While Illegal Immigrant Invasion Continues Unabated

Report Claims Biden's Homeland Security Chief Is On Vacation While Illegal Immigrant Invasion Continues Unabated

Border

<a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/maine">Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)</a> blasted the Biden administration for failing to secure the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/southern-border">southern border</a> while allowing <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/fentanyl">fentanyl</a> to pour into the country, resulting in tens of thousands of overdose deaths in America.
During a hearing titled, &#8220;Fighting Fentanyl: The Federal Response to a Growing Crisis,&#8221; Collins proclaimed, &#8220;We have to face the very unpleasant truth that what we&#8217;re doing is not working.&#8221;
In late December 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/fentanyl-deaths-skyrocket-becoming-nations-leading-killer-for-adults-age-18-45">announced</a> that fentanyl overdoses had become the number one cause of death for U.S. adults aged 18-45, as nearly 79,000 Americans died from the drug between 2020 and 2021.
Collins blamed the growing problem directly on the Biden administration not providing border patrol enough resources to crack down on illegal immigration and drug trafficking at the U.S.-Mexico border.
&#8220;I&#8217;ve been to the border with Mexico,&#8221; she <a href="https://www.medpagetoday.com/psychiatry/addictions/99911?xid=nl_mpt_morningbreak2022-07-27&amp;eun=g2042099d0r&amp;utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=MorningBreak_072722&amp;utm_term=NL_Gen_Int_Daily_News_Update_active">said</a> during the hearing.&#8221;I&#8217;ve talked with the Border Patrol officers out on their midnight shift, and they&#8217;ve expressed such frustration that they have had to divert their resources to handling the tremendous influx of people crossing the border, rather than focusing on illicit drug interdiction.&#8221;
In March 2021, Collins visited the southern border with a group of colleagues and said they heard members of drug cartels from across the river throughout the night.
&#8220;This has been truly extraordinary. It&#8217;s midnight. We&#8217;re on the banks of the Rio Grande and across the river, we can hear the sounds of cartel members, taunting us, yelling at us. They&#8217;re exploiting vulnerable women and children,&#8221; Collins <a href="https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/maine-sen-susan-collins-to-visit-us-mexico-border/97-df60fc81-650c-4d52-a164-c9b42505cf21">said</a> at the time. &#8220;This system is inhumane. It&#8217;s dangerous.&#8221;
On Tuesday, Collins stated, &#8220;So I cannot help but conclude that our inability to secure the border has an adverse impact and contributes directly to our inability to stop the flow of drugs into this country.&#8221;
Collins noted that the fentanyl crisis had particularly hit her state hard over the past year.
&#8220;The data overwhelmingly demonstrate [that], whether you look at national data, or data from the state of Maine,&#8221; she stated.&#8221;Last year, fentanyl was involved in 77% of deadly overdoses in Maine. That&#8217;s a dramatic increase,&#8221; she continued.
Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA) also pleaded with the Biden administration to clamp down on the border.
&#8220;We have to recognize that a policy at the border which has been feckless and ineffective &#8230; not just allows people to come here who are illegal immigrants — it allows drugs to come across as well,&#8221; he said.
&#8220;We&#8217;ve got to control that border. If there&#8217;s a message I wish the administration to get, it&#8217;s use your tools to control it,&#8221; Cassidy added.
Much of the fentanyl that flows through America&#8217;s borders is from Mexican drug cartels, the federal government has previously stated. “Sinaloa and the New Generation Jalisco (Cártel de Jalisco Nueva Generación or CJNG) cartels are likely the primary trafficking groups responsible for smuggling fentanyl into the United States from Mexico,&#8221; <a href="https://www.dea.gov/sites/default/files/2020-03/DEA_GOV_DIR-008-20%20Fentanyl%20Flow%20in%20the%20United%20States_0.pdf">according</a> to a January 2020 Drug Enforcement Agency report.
Former Attorney General William Barr also <a href="https://www.newsmax.com/newsmax-tv/newsmaxtv-billbarr-mexicancartels/2022/07/22/id/1080025/">recently blasted</a> President Joe Biden and his administration because they have &#8220;essentially abandoned the border&#8221; to the drug cartels.
Appearing on Newsmax, Barr told Greta Van Susteren that the Biden administration’s strategy against illicit international criminal organizations is not working.
“They are effectively terrorist organizations,” Barr claimed. “They are increasingly building their connections with terrorists. Their paramilitary can take on the Mexican military, and they have so much money they can corrupt any system.”
Barr added, “The United States [has been] relegated to working through Mexico to try to deal with the cartels, and I think that’s a losing proposition.”
The former attorney general declared that these nefarious actors should be treated “more like ISIS and less like the mafia.”
For the Biden administration&#8217;s part, Kemp Chester, a senior advisor for the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said on Tuesday that the government needs to expand its capability to stop drugs from new and unique access points.
&#8220;What we have to do is very quickly identify when we have new vulnerabilities, when the traffickers have changed the way that they do business, and close those gaps and vulnerabilities as quickly as we possibly can,&#8221; Chester <a href="https://www.medpagetoday.com/psychiatry/addictions/99911?xid=nl_mpt_morningbreak2022-07-27&amp;eun=g2042099d0r&amp;utm_source=Sailthru&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=MorningBreak_072722&amp;utm_term=NL_Gen_Int_Daily_News_Update_active">said</a>. &#8220;And that&#8217;s what we&#8217;re in the process of doing right now.&#8221;
&nbsp;

Susan Collins

Susan Collins Blasts Open Borders Biden Admin For Fentanyl Crisis

Susan Collins Blasts Biden Admin For Fentanyl Crisis

Biden Admin

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that the government cannot ban taxpayer-funded tuition assistance for private education from being used by citizens for private religious education.
In the case Carson v. Makin, SCOTUS ruled 6-3 along ideological lines that the state of Maine&#8217;s tuition assistance program, which barred guardians from using the funds for private religious education, was unconstitutional as it violated the First Amendment.
&#8220;BREAKING: U.S. Supreme Court just ruled in a 6-3 decision that preventing school choice families from taking their children&#8217;s taxpayer-funded education dollars to religious private schools violated the Free Exercise Clause of the 1st Amendment,&#8221; school choice proponent Corey DeAngelis tweeted.
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BREAKING: U.S. Supreme Court just ruled in a 6-3 decision that preventing school choice families from taking their children&#39;s taxpayer-funded education dollars to religious private schools violated the Free Exercise Clause of the 1st Amendment.
&mdash; Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeAngelisCorey/status/1539256454594674688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts opined, &#8220;Maine’s &#8216;nonsectarian&#8217; requirement for its otherwise generally available tuition assistance payments violates the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.&#8221;
&#8220;In short, the prohibition on status-based discrimination under the Free Exercise Clause is not a permission to engage in use-based discrimination,&#8221; Roberts added.
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Chief Justice Roberts (Carson v Makin, 2022): &quot;In short, the prohibition on status-based discrimination under the Free Exercise Clause is not a permission to engage in use-based discrimination.&quot; <a href="https://t.co/Oi3CvjKxR8">pic.twitter.com/Oi3CvjKxR8</a>
&mdash; Corey A. DeAngelis (@DeAngelisCorey) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeAngelisCorey/status/1539258055430443014?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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Prior to oral arguments last spring, SCOTUS Blog <a href="https://www.scotusblog.com/2021/12/separation-of-church-and-school-justices-will-weigh-maines-ban-on-funds-for-religious-education/">explained</a> that the case was brought by two families who wanted &#8220;to send their children to Christian schools in the state&#8221; and asked for the help of Maine&#8217;s tuition assistance program. Those plaintiffs argued &#8220;that the state’s exclusion of schools that provide religious instruction from the program violates the Constitution.&#8221;
&#8220;Although the justices’ ruling will directly affect fewer than 5,000 students in Maine, the court’s eventual decision could have a significant impact on public funding for religious education well beyond the state’s border,&#8221; SCOTUS Blog also noted.
For its part, Maine argued that allowing tax dollars to go toward private schools, such as certain Christian schools, could trample upon the idea that “a public education is both defined by inclusion and tolerance, and reflective of the diversity of our students and our community.”
SCOTUS Blog noted that one of the schools in question hired only born-again Christians and had an anti-LGBTQ educational agenda, and as a result, the state was not required  to “fund their educational program as the substantive equivalent of a public education.”
The Supreme Court disagreed with those arguments. Now, supporters of parents&#8217; rights, religious freedom, and school choice see the victory as monumental in its potential ramifications across the country.
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This is huge. Now is the time for universal school choice.
&mdash; Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) <a href="https://twitter.com/realchrisrufo/status/1539266715854446592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 21, 2022</a></blockquote>
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This is a developing story: please check for back updates.

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Supreme Court Rules Maine Can’t Ban Taxpayer-Funded Tuition Assistance From Being Used Toward Religious Private Education

In Makin v. Carson, Supreme Court Rules Maine Can't ban Taxpayer Tuition Assistance From Being Used Toward Religious Education

SCOTUS

Supreme Court

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