Home Blog Page 53

Camp Mystic Flood Tragedy Sparks Fury Over Safety Failures

American flag (David Everett Strickler/Unsplash)

Parents who lost daughters in a devastating flood at Camp Mystic in Texas are demanding urgent legislative action, calling the tragedy “100% preventable.” The floodwaters from the Guadalupe River swept through the elite Hill Country camp, killing 27 campers and counselors, including one of the camp’s owners. Two victims, including 8-year-old Cile Steward, remain missing.

Camp Mystic had appealed repeatedly to FEMA to be removed from a 100-year floodplain designation—a request that was approved, despite the camp’s location in “Flash Flood Alley.” The camp reportedly had no flood alarms, emergency communications, or evacuation systems in place. Campers were told to stay in their cabins as floodwaters rose, a policy in place since a similar 1987 flood.

During a Texas Senate committee hearing, parents called for sweeping safety reforms. Michael McCown, who lost his 8-year-old daughter Linnie, said, “We did not send Linnie to a war zone. We sent her to camp.” He called for updated communications, evacuation plans, and weather alert systems to be standard across all camps.

Cici Williams Steward, mother of missing camper Cile, said, “My daughter was stolen from us… because of preventable failures.” She testified that obvious safety protocols were ignored, and accountability is urgently needed.

Another grieving father, Clark Baker, emphasized the danger of housing young children in flood zones without proper safeguards. “Complacency… led to the deaths of 27 amazing, innocent, beautiful girls,” he said. “We simply ask for mandatory, common sense, state-regulated safety protocols for camps.”

Blake Bonner, whose daughter Lila also died, condemned the camp’s “stay-in-place” policy and inadequate preparation. “Our daughters paid the ultimate price for their obedience to a plan that was destined to fail,” he said. Bonner added that ignoring lessons from the past was “a failure of planning, prevention, detection, and response.”

Camp Mystic charges up to $15,000 per summer, with no cell service, radios, or emergency alarms in place. The camp’s communication blackout, parents argued, should not extend to staff responsible for children’s safety.

The Texas Senate committee advanced SB 1, a new bill that mandates weather alert systems, updated evacuation plans, and bans sleeping quarters in known flood zones. The legislation is expected to pass and be signed into law, bringing long-overdue oversight to the state’s 1,100 summer camps.

Trump Ends Sex-Ed Funds Over Gender Ideology

Trump Daddy
(Photo by Omar Havana/Getty Images)

The Trump administration has terminated a federal grant to California’s sex education program after the state refused to strip gender ideology from its curriculum. The grant, issued under the Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP), was worth over $6 million between 2020 and 2023 and targeted youth ages 10 to 19.

According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families (ACF), California’s PREP curriculum promoted gender-related surgeries, hormone treatments, and encouraged youth to consider changing their names or physical characteristics. The administration deemed these teachings a violation of federal law governing the program’s educational scope.

“California’s refusal to comply with federal law and remove egregious gender ideology from federally funded sex-ed materials is unacceptable,” said Andrew Gradison, acting assistant secretary of ACF. In March, the department requested a curriculum review and directed California to remove the gender ideology content. The state declined to comply.

California’s Department of Public Health defended the program, claiming it helps reduce teen sexual activity and increases safe sex practices. However, federal officials rejected the inclusion of gender ideology in taxpayer-funded educational material.

“The Trump Administration will not allow taxpayer dollars to be used to indoctrinate children,” Gradison added. “Accountability is coming for every state that uses federal funds to teach children delusional gender ideology.”

The move marks a significant push by the Trump administration to ensure federal education funding aligns with conservative values. States that continue to include controversial gender content in youth education risk losing federal support under the current enforcement approach.

Trump’s Migrant Deportations Skyrocket in 2025

ICE reporting bill
Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers (Photo by Bryan Cox/U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement via Getty Images)

President Donald Trump’s administration is on pace to deport over 400,000 illegal migrants in his first year back in office, according to figures reported by the New York Times. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has already deported 180,000 individuals, with current rates approaching 1,500 deportations per day.

The total includes an estimated 150,000 illegal border crossers and interior arrests that have more than tripled since Trump’s return. Many of those deported have no criminal record beyond immigration violations, a move that reflects Trump’s stated goal of restoring order to U.S. immigration policy.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced that 1.6 million illegal immigrants have exited the U.S. population within Trump’s first 200 days in office, whether by deportation or voluntary return. She cited improved public safety, lower burdens on schools and hospitals, and rising job opportunities for American workers.

The administration originally set a goal of one million deportations per year. While not yet at that target, officials expect numbers to rise significantly in 2026 as new resources come online. Congress has authorized $150 billion in multi-year funding to support this effort, including expanding detention facilities, processing capacity, and transportation infrastructure.

ICE has doubled its daily use of chartered planes for deportations, flying more than 1,000 missions to countries in Central and South America, Asia, and Africa. Additional capacity may come from a new deportation fleet under consideration.

Trump defended the effort as a long-term win for American workers. He told Breitbart News that fewer low-wage workers will push industries toward automation, boosting productivity and wages. “We’re going to need robots… to make our economy run because we do not have enough people,” he said, adding that streamlined labor will create a more efficient and prosperous economy.

NFL Transgender Cheerleader Quits Panthers Squad

super
Football (Dave Adamson/Unsplash)

Justine Lindsay, the first openly transgender cheerleader in the NFL, has announced he will not return to the Carolina Panthers’ cheerleading team for the upcoming season. Lindsay joined the TopCats squad in 2022, marking a first in league history, but now says his focus will shift to other pursuits, including pageantry, community activism, and a potential career in sports media.

Lindsay told Outsports that his departure is driven by a desire to have a broader social impact and pursue educational goals. “Being in the NFL was a stepping stone,” he said, crediting God for opening new paths and affirming a commitment to “educate and uplift the younger generation.”

His announcement follows increasing scrutiny of NFL cheer squads featuring men, with the Minnesota Vikings facing widespread backlash after recently adding two male dancers to their team. Social media users mocked the team for what many viewed as overly effeminate routines, igniting a broader debate about the direction of professional cheerleading in major sports leagues.

The inclusion of male and transgender members in NFL cheer squads is becoming more common. According to current data, at least 12 NFL teams now have men participating on their official cheer squads. Critics argue this trend undermines traditional cheerleading roles and raises concerns about the values being promoted to fans and families.

The NFL has not issued a statement on Lindsay’s departure. The Carolina Panthers have not announced whether a replacement will be named or if the cheer team will return to an all-female format. Lindsay did not indicate whether a return to the league is planned in the future.

Trump Celebrates ‘Big Win’ Amid Texas Redistricting

(Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

President Donald Trump issued a statement on Wednesday evening celebrating the House passage of Texas’s redistricting effort.

“Big WIN for the Great State of Texas!!! Everything Passed, on our way to FIVE more Congressional seats and saving your Rights, your Freedoms, and your Country, itself. Texas never lets us down,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Florida, Indiana, and others are looking to do the same thing. More seats equals less Crime, a great Economy, and a STRONG SECOND AMENDMENT.”

“It means Happiness and Peace. But Republicans, there is one thing even better – STOP MAIL-IN VOTING, a total fraud that has no bounds. Also, go to PAPER BALLOTS before it is too late – At one tenth the cost, faster, and more reliable,” he wrote. “If we do these TWO things, we will pick up 100 more seats, and the CROOKED game of politics is over. God Bless America!!!”

Trump’s statement comes as the Texas House of Representatives approved redistricting maps in an 88-52 vote. The maps must now be approved by the Texas State Senate and Governor Greg Abbott (R).

During the discussion of the bill, Democratic Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkin and Republican Rep. Todd Hunter sparred, The Houston Chronicle reported. “I’m talking about the Texas Legislative Black Caucus, who potentially will lose two seats. I’m talking about an interest group that I thought had a role,” the Democrat said.

“You want to be fair. Let me finish,” Hunter (R) stated. “You opened up the questions. You own the walkout, you said you did that. But don’t come into this body and say we didn’t include you. You left us for 18 days, and that’s wrong.”

Microsoft Anti-Israel Protest Erupts in Chaos

Microsoft
Microsoft (BoliviaInteligente/Unsplash)

Tensions escalated at Microsoft’s Redmond, Washington, campus on Wednesday as at least 18 people were arrested during a disruptive protest led by current and former employees. The group, calling themselves “No Azure For Apartheid,” targeted Microsoft’s AI contracts with Israel, accusing the tech giant of aiding the Israeli military.

According to KOMO News and Redmond Police, the protesters blocked pedestrian access, vandalized company property with red paint, and attempted to barricade areas using items from a local farmer’s market. The confrontation began when demonstrators refused to leave despite warnings from police. Authorities reported that the group became “aggressive,” forcing officers to act.

The protest follows mounting unrest among some Microsoft employees regarding the company’s contracts in Israel. In recent months, multiple employees have been fired for public disruptions during major corporate events. These latest arrests could result in charges ranging from trespassing and malicious mischief to resisting arrest and obstruction.

Microsoft responded by reaffirming its commitment to human rights standards. The company said it is reviewing allegations about the use of its Azure cloud platform in Israel and reiterated that while it upholds freedom of expression, it does not tolerate unlawful actions that disrupt business or damage property.

This week’s arrests are part of a broader campaign among far-left activists targeting major tech firms over their business dealings with Israel. Similar incidents have occurred at Google, where members of the “No Tech for Apartheid” coalition staged sit-ins at executive offices. In one case, activists occupied the office of Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian for over eight hours before being placed on administrative leave.

Microsoft, like Google, has been scrutinized for its participation in Project Nimbus—a $1.2 billion Israeli government cloud computing initiative. Activists claim these technologies are being used for military operations. However, critics argue that these protests often ignore the security challenges Israel faces from terror organizations like Hamas, and oversimplify complex geopolitical realities.

No injuries were reported during the Redmond incident. The Redmond Police Department is continuing its investigation and working with prosecutors to determine next steps for those arrested.

Trump-Putin Peace Talks Spark Global Prayer as Pope Leo Calls for Fasting on August 22

Leo XIV U.S. Catholic
(Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)

Pope Leo XIV has called for global fasting and prayer on August 22, urging Christians to plead for peace in war-torn regions. His appeal coincides with diplomatic efforts led by President Donald Trump, who hosted Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in separate meetings aimed at ending the conflict in Ukraine.

The pope issued the call during his Wednesday General Audience, designating the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary as a day of prayer. He specifically referenced the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, urging believers to seek peace through spiritual commitment.

Pope Leo declared, “I ask you to include in your intentions the supplication for the gift of peace – a peace that is disarmed and disarming – for the whole world, especially for Ukraine and the Middle East.” He later reiterated these themes during a speech at the annual Meeting for Friendship Among Peoples in Rimini, Italy.

While Pope Leo has consistently avoided political commentary, he has remained deeply engaged diplomatically. Since his election in May, the pontiff has spoken with both Putin and Zelensky, encouraging peace talks and even offering Vatican mediation. In June, he made a direct appeal to Putin during a phone call, urging Russia to take steps toward peace. He previously held a similar discussion with Zelensky, who has invited the pope to visit Ukraine.

These spiritual appeals parallel intensified diplomatic action. President Trump met with Putin in Anchorage, Alaska, last week. The meeting, held against the backdrop of U.S. military displays including a B-2 Spirit flyover, was described by both parties as productive. Following the summit, Trump welcomed Zelensky and key European leaders to the White House to discuss potential peace frameworks.

Leaders present included British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, and French President Emmanuel Macron. While no official framework has been released, Trump stated the next step would be to bring Putin and Zelensky together for direct talks, potentially in a trilateral summit including Trump.

On Wednesday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signaled caution, asserting that Moscow would not accept any European-led security agreement that excluded Russian input. He emphasized that efforts to define security guarantees without Russia were a “road to nowhere.”

Despite this, President Trump’s engagement with both leaders has added momentum to the peace process, with increased international coordination now underway. Meanwhile, Pope Leo continues to emphasize prayer as a vital component of any solution.

White House Reaches Major EU Trade Deal

European Union
European Union flags (ALEXANDRE LALLEMAND/Unsplash)

The United States and the European Union announced that a deal has been reached, demonstrating their commitment to “fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial trade and investment.”

“This Framework Agreement will put our trade and investment relationship – one of the largest in the world – on a solid footing and will reinvigorate our economies’ reindustrialization,” a joint statement reads. “It reflects acknowledgement by the European Union of the concerns of the United States and our joint determination to resolve our trade imbalances and unleash the full potential of our combined economic power. The United States and the European Union intend this Framework Agreement to be a first step in a process that can be further expanded over time to cover additional areas and continue to improve market access and increase their trade and investment relationship.”

Under the agreement, the United States “commits to apply the higher of either the U.S. Most Favored Nation (MFN) tariff rate or a tariff rate of 15 percent, comprised of the MFN tariff and a reciprocal tariff, on originating goods of the European Union.” As of September 1, the United States will apply the MFN tariff to select resources, aircraft parts, pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical ingredients and chemicals.

“With respect to steel, aluminum, and their derivative products, the European Union and the United States intend to consider the possibility to cooperate on ring-fencing their respective domestic markets from overcapacity, while ensuring secure supply chains between each other, including through tariff-rate quota solutions,” the statement adds.

The European Union will further purchase at least $40 billion worth of AI chips and “plans to work with the United States to adopt and maintain technology security requirements in line with those of the United States in a concerted effort to avoid technology leakage to destinations of concern.”

World leaders hinted at such an agreement in July, saying it promises $750 billion in EU energy purchases, up to hundreds of billions in U.S. military hardware, and $600 billion in EU investment in American businesses, all of which comes at the cost of a 15% baseline tariff on European imports to the United States.

New Vaccine Shows ‘Extremely Promising’ Results Against Deadly Cancer

Cancer cells (Muhammed Haneefa Nizamudeen/Getty Images via Canva Pro)

A new experimental vaccine is showing strong potential in preventing the recurrence of aggressive cancers such as pancreatic and colorectal. Early trial results indicate the treatment could become a major breakthrough against two of the deadliest forms of cancer.

The vaccine, known as ELI-002 2P, targets tumors driven by KRAS mutations, which are found in nearly 90% of pancreatic cancers and about half of colorectal cancers. In a phase one study involving 25 patients, 84% developed immune responses against KRAS. Those with the strongest responses remained cancer-free for nearly 20 months, far exceeding typical survival timelines for these diseases. Six patients—three with colorectal cancer and three with pancreatic cancer—saw their cancer biomarkers completely disappear.

Unlike custom-tailored mRNA therapies, ELI-002 is designed as an “off-the-shelf” treatment. That makes it easier to produce, more affordable, and widely available if proven effective. Researchers also noted that the vaccine appeared to stimulate the immune system against other tumor-related mutations, suggesting broader protection beyond KRAS-driven cancers.

Experts call the results an exciting advance in a field where treatment options remain limited. Pancreatic cancer has a recurrence rate of about 80% after surgery, while colorectal cancer recurs in up to 50% of patients. These grim statistics underscore the urgency for new tools to extend survival.

Researchers caution that the findings are early and based on a small patient group. The trial did not include a control arm, and larger randomized studies are needed. A phase two trial using an updated version of the vaccine, ELI-002 7P, is already planned to test its effectiveness against a wider range of KRAS mutations.

If successful, the vaccine could significantly alter cancer treatment by reducing relapse rates and offering hope to patients facing cancers with historically low survival outcomes.

Reputed Terrorists to Speak at Detroit Conference, Sparking Security and Ethics Concerns

protest
Protest (Photo by Kent Nishimura/Getty Images)

Former Palestinian terrorists Hossam Shaheen and Omar Assaf are confirmed as featured speakers at the upcoming People’s Conference for Palestine in Detroit—raising alarm among conservative and security-focused observers.

Shaheen, who was released from Israeli prison in February as part of a hostage exchange, was convicted in 2004 for attempted murder, conspiracy to commit murder, and grenade attacks targeting Israeli vehicles. He allegedly recruited operatives and supplied weapons for attempted Jerusalem attacks.

Omar Assaf, a former official in the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine (DFLP), also slated to speak, has ties to a terrorist group. The DFLP was held responsible for the notorious Ma’alot massacre in 1994, where 21 children were killed.

Critics argue that allowing such individuals to headline a public forum normalizes extremist views and could encourage anti-Semitic rhetoric under the guise of activism.

1...525354...3,603Page 53 of 3,603
This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. ©2023 American Faith News Media. All rights reserved.