Erika Kirk: ‘The Cries of This Widow Will Echo around the World Like a Battlecry’

Headline USA Editor
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Erika Kirk: ‘The Cries of This Widow Will Echo around the World Like a Battlecry’

(, The Center Square) – Erika Kirk, widow of slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, mourned her husband at a news conference Friday night but vowed to keep his movement of spreading the message of Christianity and conservative values alive regardless his assassination.

In an emotional delivery, Erika shared her husband’s love of family and God but emphasized his death would only strengthen the movement’s resolve.

“The evildoers responsible for my husband’s assassination have no idea what they have done. They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith and of God’s merciful love,” Erika said. “They should all know this. If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you have just unleashed across this entire country and this world. You have no idea.”

Erika then mentioned the political battle ahead.

“The cries of this widow will echo around the world like a battlecry,” she said. “To everyone listening tonight across America, the movement my husband built will not die. It won’t. I refuse to let that happen.”

Kirk, an ardent supporter of President Donald Trump, was shot and killed Wednesday afternoon during an event at Utah Valley University attended by about 3,000 people, including Erika and their two young children.

Authorities announced Friday morning they had the suspect in the assassination in custody. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, 22, of Utah, told family members he thought Kirk was “full of hate and spreading hate,” and that he knew Kirk was speaking at Utah Valley.

Authorities also found the rifle they believe was used in the shooting. Bullets were found inside the rifle, one of which was engraved with the message, “Hey fascist! Catch!” authorities said.

Left wing activists and elected officials have often referred to Trump and his supporters as fascists.

Erika, often shedding tears at the memory of her husband, thanked the first responders who tried to save her husband’s life and prevented any other deaths from occurring. She thanked the Turning Point USA staff and friends who supported his work, as well as Vice President JD Vance, a close friend, and President Donald Trump, who she said her husband loved.

“My heart is with every one of my husband’s employees who lost a friend and a mentor,” she said. “He loved what he did,” referring to the work he did with Turning Point USA, a nonprofit that recruited high school and college students to learn about and spread conservative values.

Erika also talked about Charlie’s faith and devotion to family

“Two days ago, my husband Charlie went to see the face of his savior and his God,” she said, noting that Charlie wanted to be remembered for his faith. “Now and for all eternity, he will stand at his savior’s side, wearing the glorious crown of a martyr.”

“But most of all, Charlie loved his children, and he loved me, with all of his heart,” she said.

Erika said her husband’s top priotity was to revive the American family.

“My husband laid down his life for me, for our nation, for our children,” she said.

“I will never ever have the words to describe the loss I feel in my heart. I honestly have no idea what any of this means. I know God does but I don’t. But Charlie, baby, I know you do too.”

‘South Hill Rapist’ Likely to be Released to Adult Care Facility in Federal Way

Headline USA Editor
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‘South Hill Rapist’ Likely to be Released to Adult Care Facility in Federal Way

(, The Center Square) Twenty days from Friday, Spokane’s most notorious criminal is likely to be released from the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island, and The Center Square has learned that Kevin Coe is expected to move into an adult family home in Federal Way, Wash.

As reported by The Center Square, the Washington Department of Social and Health Services has informed lawmakers that Coe, 78, is scheduled for an unconditional release hearing on Oct. 2.

Coe, dubbed the “South Hill Rapist,” was accused of a string of violent rapes that terrorized Spokane in the 1970s and 1980s.

He was initially convicted of four rapes, but in 1984, the state Supreme Court overturned Coe’s rape convictions partly because three of the four victims were hypnotized before identifying Coe as the rapist.

Coe served 25 years at the state penitentiary in Walla Walla, and after his release, the state petitioned to have him declared a sexually violent predator, and a jury agreed. Coe was then sent to the Special Commitment Center on McNeil Island – located southwest of Tacoma in Pierce County, Wash. – where he has been ever since.

“The SCC forensic evaluator, as well as the State’s expert [has] concluded to a reasonable degree of psychological certainty that Mr. Coe no longer meets civil commitment criteria as a sexually violent predator,” Emma Palumbo, government and community affairs manager at the Behavioral Health Administration at DSHS, said in an email. “The parties are in agreement that the case should be dismissed, so it is highly likely that it will be.

“Upon an order for unconditional release, Mr. Coe will be released as soon as within 24 hours and will be going to a licensed adult family home in the 30th Legislative District.”

According to the office of Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell, Coe has been accepted residence upon his release to an adult family home in Federal Way.

“Coe will reside at the Win Win Adult Family Home in Federal Way and be a registered sex offender,” Ferrell’s Communication Manager Ben Miller emailed The Center Square.

Initially, Miller said the city planned to send a community notice out about Coe’s pending release, but was then informed it is prevented from providing community notice, unless Coe is released under a threat status of “highly likely to reoffend,” a Level 3 status for sex offenders.

“His only punishment for what he did should have been life without possibility [of parole]. That is the only punishment. What he did was impossibly terrible. We cannot risk further injury in society by allowing somebody that has earned life without possibility out at all,” said Rep. Dan Griffey, R-Allyn, who is the assistant ranking member of the House Community Safety Committee that oversees the Special Commitment Center. “He has to register as a Level 3 if he is released.”

Griffey said failing to notify the surrounding community that Coe could soon be a neighbor is unthinkable.

“We must always weigh in on the side of the innocent. The people who have not been violated and heavy restrictions have to be placed upon those who have violated in such a despicable and awful way as Kevin Coe did,” he continued. “No sexually violent predators should ever be released with less than 30 days’ notice, and we believe it should be 180 day notice, and that’s what we’re working for.”

The lawmaker said he has been working with a bipartisan group on legislation regarding community notice that they intend to introduce in the 2026 session.

Rep. Jenny Graham, R-Spokane Valley, whose sister was murdered by Green River killer Gary Ridgway told The Center Square that Coe does not deserve to be released back into society.

“It’s unconditional release with no supervision, and he can leave anytime he feels like it and go anywhere he chooses. And they talk about these people that they release, because of their age, being less likely to reoffend,” she said. “They don’t talk about their ability for him to victimize a child, a disabled person, or an elderly person, because that’s not who he originally attacked. Just because somebody’s older does not mean that they don’t sexually offend.”

The Center Square reached out to DSHS for clarification on community notification about Coe’s potential release and received the following email from DSHS Media Relations Manger Cynthia Shipley: “Notifications about the hearing have gone out to all legislative members and law enforcement. Victim/witness notifications also were sent out to people who are enrolled under Coe’s list.

This matter is pending litigation before the Spokane County Superior Court, where a Spokane County judge will hear the evidence and potentially decide Coe’s future at a hearing Oct. 2. If he is released, Coe will go to a care facility due to his physical condition. He will still be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.”

Karine Jean-Pierre Admits She Received Talking Points on Biden’s Mental Health

Luis Cornelio
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Karine Jean-Pierre Admits She Received Talking Points on Biden’s Mental Health

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Karine Jean-Pierre admitted Friday that talking points about former President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline were controlled at the senior level during her time as White House press secretary.

The self-described “historic” press secretary made the revelation during behind-closed-door testimony before the House Oversight Committee, which is investigating the cover-up of Biden’s failing health.

According to Fox News, Jean-Pierre told congressional investigators that “various advisors” controlled the information in her infamous press binder. She added that health-related talking points “were handled exclusively at the senior level.”

Jean-Pierre was one of Biden’s fiercest defenders during the height of public concern over his health, repeated gaffes and growing questions about who was truly governing the country.

She notoriously dismissed video evidence of Biden’s decline as “cheap fakes,” claiming they were manipulated by critics. They were not.

Jean-Pierre further testified that this “cheap fakes” line “appeared as a talking point in her binder, but she does not know specifically who added it,” according to source with knowledge of her testimony.

She also told investigators that the White House’s claims that Biden was sick when he bombed his debate with President Donald Trump was crafted by “senior staff.”

Since leaving the White House, Jean-Pierre has written a book, left the Democratic Parry but has largely struggled to regain national relevance.

Her testimony to Congress comes as the House Oversight Committee probes alarming reports that White House staffers exploited the autopen to sign some of the largest batches of presidential pardons ever.

“I don’t think anyone’s going to argue that the process that was used for these autopens is the ideal process,” Comer said. “And what we’ve seen with the emails that have surfaced in the last week — even the Merrick Garland Department of Justice was very concerned about how this administration was using the autopen.”

Comer connected these questions to revelations in Jean-Pierre’s book.

Not a Joke: Jeffries Wants Chicago’s Crime Model Nationwide

Luis Cornelio
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Not a Joke: Jeffries Wants Chicago’s Crime Model Nationwide

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., on Thursday seemed to hold up Illinois as a model for Democrats nationwide, despite Chicago being one of the deadliest cities in America.

The top Democrat leader made the comparison when asked by a reporter about Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker’s downplaying polls showing Democrats are concerned about crime.

The reporter asked whether Pritzker was “out of touch?”

Jeffries replied: “I think Governor Pritzker is doing a tremendous job on behalf of the people in the great state of Illinois and is committed to continuing to drive crime down in Chicago as Democrats are committed to driving crime down all across the United States of America.”

Jeffries’s conflation of Pritzker’s policies with those of Democrats was shocking, given that Chicago has led the country in murders for a staggering 13 years.

Democrats have long dismissed this fact by pointing to population numbers to explain away the homicide rate.

It comes as Trump continues to call out Illinois Democrats for failing to address Chicago’s murder problem.

“Chicago is the murder capital of the world,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Sept. 2. Earlier, he had said, “Chicago is the worst and most dangerous city in the World, by far.”

The White House released an article fact-checking some of the Democrats’ defenses of Chicago.

“For 13 consecutive years, Chicago has had the most murders of any U.S. city,” the White House wrote. “For seven consecutive years, Chicago has had the highest murder rate among U.S. cities with more than one million people.”

It added, “In 2024, Chicago’s murder rate per capita was three times higher than Los Angeles and nearly five times higher than New York City. That’s more than double the murder rate in Islamabad and nearly 15 times more than Delhi.”

Gaming Platform Discord Says Tyler Robinson Didn’t Plot Kirk’s Assassination There

Ken Silva
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Gaming Platform Discord Says Tyler Robinson Didn’t Plot Kirk’s Assassination There

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) After law enforcement apprehended alleged Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson on Thursday night, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said the next morning that Robinson posted about killing Kirk on the gaming platform Discord.

“Investigators interviewed the roommate, who stated that his roommate (referring to Robinson) made a joke on Discord … each message was shown by Robinson’s roommate,” Cox said, reading from an affidavit for Robinson’s arrest.

“The content of these messages included messages affiliated with the contact Tyler, stating a need to retrieve a rifle from a drop point, leaving the rifle in a bush, messages related to visually watching the area where a rifle was left, and a message referring to having left the rifle wrapped in a towel,” Cox added.

“The messages also refer to engraving bullets, and a mention of a scope and the rifle being unique. Messages from the contact Tyler also mention that he had changed outfits.”

However, Discord says Robinson didn’t post about the Kirk assassination on its platform.

“We identified a Discord account associated with the suspect, but have found no evidence that the suspect planned this incident or promoted violence on Discord. The messages referenced in recent reporting about planning details do not appear to be Discord messages,” Discord said.

“These were communications between the suspect’s roommate and a friend after the shooting, where the roommate was recounting the contents of a note the suspect had left elsewhere. We have removed the suspect’s account for violating our off-platform behavior policy.”

To Discord’s point, the affidavit Cox was reading may have been poorly worded. In any event, Discord has been used by numerous mass shooters.

Perhaps the most notorious example of this is the 2022 Buffalo massacre. In that case, shooter Payton Gendron was active on Discord in the leadup to his killing spree. Even more bizarrely, Gendron had been chatting on Discord with a “retired federal agent” moments before he killed 10 people at the Buffalo supermarket.

Gendron’s shooting was followed by other attacks that had early warning signs on Dicord.

In January 2024, 17-year-old mass shooter Dylan Butler—who killed a sixth grader, injured four others and fatally shot himself at a school in Iowa—was reported to have been in an extremist Discord chatroom. NBC reported days after the shooting that Butler was a member of a Discord group called “School Massacres Discussion,” which was dedicated to discussing school shootings. According to NBC, another Discord user had notified the FBI about the chatroom months before the attack.

Another Discord-linked shooting occurred some two months after the Butler shooting on Sept. 4, when 14-year-old Colt Gray opened fire at a Georgia high school and killed four people. After Gray’s shooting, the FBI admitted that Gray had been on its radar—but insisted that there was “no probable cause for arrest or to take any additional law enforcement action” against the teenager before his shooting spree.

About three months later, 15-year-old female student Natalie Rupnow, who went by the name Samantha, opened fire during a study hall at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin—killing another student and a teacher, and wounding six others before killing herself.

Rupnow’s apparent manifesto, which was published on Discord before her shooting, references previous school shooters, including the same ones that apparently infatuated Shockley.

Alleged would-be Trump assassin Thomas Crooks also had a Discord account. The platform said he didn’t use it much, and certainly didn’t plot to kill Trump there. The FBI has yet to release evidence on this matter.

Ken Silva is the editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.

ICE Kills Illegal Alien in Chicago After Car Attack

Luis Cornelio
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ICE Kills Illegal Alien in Chicago After Car Attack

(Luis Cornelio, Headline USA) Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents fatally shot an illegal alien in Chicago after he resisted detention by trying to flee in his car and allegedly dragging an officer in the process, the Department of Homeland Security said Friday in a statement obtained by Headline USA.

The now-deceased individual, Silverio Villegas-Gonzalez, was a Mexican national who entered the U.S. unlawfully at an unknown time and date.

The fatal interaction came after the Trump administration repeatedly urged sanctuary cities like Chicago to work with immigration officials to detain illegal aliens after local arrests, rather than in the streets, which can endanger both the suspect and the officers making the detention.

DHS said the officer sustained several injuries and is in stable condition. The officer reportedly feared for his life as Gonzalez tried to speed away while dragging him.

Video from the scene shows two ICE agents rushing to assist Gonzalez after the shooting. The agents pulled his body from the vehicle, which Gonzalez had seemingly crashed into a nearby truck.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

“We are praying for the speedy recovery of our law enforcement officer,” Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement.

McLaughlin noted the agent followed his training by using appropriate force and enforcing “the law to protect the public and law enforcement.”

DHS appeared to link the deadly incident to viral social media videos and activists “encouraging illegal aliens to resist law enforcement.”

It said these activists “not only spread misinformation, but also undermine public safety, as well as the safety of our officers and those being apprehended.”

The department said Gonzalez was a criminal illegal alien with a prior reckless driving record.

By contrast, Democrat Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., and state politicians blamed the death on President Donald Trump’s immigration operations in Chicago.

“What happened today is not an isolated incident; it is the consequence of Trump’s anti-immigrant agenda, ICE’s pattern of racial profiling, and their unlawful policing in our communities,” Ramirez and colleagues claimed.

“We have long warned that the militarized tactics used by DHS and the deployment of ICE agents, with no transparency or oversight, undermine the rule of law and create fear and chaos in our communities,” they added.

The Mexican Consulate in Chicago issued a statement demanding information about Gonzalez’s shooting.

Report: FBI Director Went to NYC Restaurant after Charlie Kirk Assassination

Ken Silva
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Report: FBI Director Went to NYC Restaurant after Charlie Kirk Assassination

(Ken Silva, Headline USA) While much of the public was still in shock from conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination on Wednesday, FBI Director Kashyap Patel was apparently stuffing his mouth at a fancy restaurant in New York City.

Citing two anonymous sources, NBC News reported Friday that Patel was dining at the Italian restaurant Rao’s.

The FBI declined to comment on the matter. Rao’s did not immediately respond to media inquiries.

Patel has come under fire for the way he handled the Kirk assassination—essentially live-tweeting the FBI’s investigation.

At 6:21 p.m. on Wednesday—before Rao’s opened at 7 p.m.—he tweeted that a “subject” had been taken into custody. At 7:59 p.m., he then tweeted that the subject had been released.

The next day Utah Gov. Spencer Cox clarified at the press conference that the man detained was a person of interest rather than a suspect.

On Thursday morning, Patel and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino reportedly ripped the agents who were investigating the murder in an online meeting, saying he wouldn’t tolerate any more “Mickey Mouse operations.” About 200 agents were on the call. Patel was reportedly made because, among other reasons, he wasn’t shared photos of the suspect immediately—though apparently that may have been because he was out at a restaurant.

To top it off, Patel said Friday that the FBI apprehended the alleged killer, Tyler Robinson, in “historic” fashion—despite the fact that Robinson was on the lam for over 30 hours, and that he was turned in by his own family.

Patel, a Hindu, then ended his statements by saying that he’d one day meet Kirk, a Christian, in Valhalla—what can be described as the Pagan version of heaven.

Correction: This article originally reported that Patel tweeted about having a suspect in custody, when he in fact tweeted about having a subject in custody.

Ken Silva is the editor of Headline USA. Follow him at x.com/jd_cashless.

Gerald Celente on Gold, the Economy, and the Decline of America

Money Metals News Service
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Gerald Celente on Gold, the Economy, and the Decline of America

(Money Metals News Service) In this episode of the Money Metals podcast, host Mike Maharrey sits down with Gerald Celente, publisher of the Trends Journal and one of the world’s most outspoken trend forecasters.

The wide-ranging conversation covers the state of U.S. politics, the fragility of the global economy, the rise of China in artificial intelligence, the suppression of gold in mainstream media, and the looming risks facing investors.

Celente also outlines his peace movement, his belief that Americans are dangerously uninformed, and his forecast that gold could break through $5,000 an ounce before the end of the year.

(Interview Starts Around 6:25 Mark)

The Decline of Politics and Media

In a fiery discussion with host Mike Maharrey, Gerald Celente, publisher of the Trends Journal, lambasted U.S. politics as a “crime syndicate.”

He recalled the 2008 financial crisis, criticizing the Federal Reserve for bailing out banks with an estimated $29 trillion while ordinary Americans suffered.

Celente accused Wall Street giants like JPMorgan Chase—convicted of multiple felonies, including market rigging in 2019—of corruption without accountability.

He extended his criticism to global leaders like Emmanuel Macron and Boris Johnson, and to mainstream outlets he derisively called “presstitutes,” claiming journalism has died in favor of corporate-driven propaganda.

Dragflation, Not Stagflation

Turning to the economy, Celente rejected the term “stagflation,” arguing instead for “dragflation.”

He explained that the economy is not stagnant—it is declining—while inflation continues to rise.

He pointed to recent job numbers: only 22,000 jobs created in a nation of 347 million, concentrated in low-wage sectors like healthcare and hospitality.

Since 2019, real wages have not increased, while housing costs are up 50% and cars nearly 39%. Meanwhile, billionaires thrive—Celente cited a Wall Street Journal report showing 1,135 billionaires in the U.S.—while small businesses have been wiped out by corporate chains.

Billionaires, War, and Peace

Celente criticized the “military-industrial complex” and its trillion-dollar budget, contrasting it with a lack of investment in peace.

He highlighted his Occupy Peace movement and announced a rally in Kingston, New York, scheduled for September 27, featuring speakers such as Judge Andrew Napolitano, Dennis Kucinich, Scott Ritter, Joe Lauria, and Roger Waters.

He blasted America’s billionaires and corporate elite as indifferent to peace, arguing their wealth has come at the expense of national decline.

Media Silence on Gold

Despite gold recently surging past $3,500 per ounce, Celente noted the media’s silence. He said CNBC and The Wall Street Journal ignored gold’s breakout, fearing it signals broader economic and geopolitical weakness.

By contrast, his Trends Journal—priced at $2.59 a week for over 200 pages—covers global developments in detail. Celente warned that stock market valuations, especially among the “Magnificent Seven” tech giants, are dangerously inflated, predicting a “dot-com bust 2.0.”

He noted that in 1999 his forecasts predicted the original dot-com crash by Q2 of 2000, and he believes history is about to repeat.

The AI Boom and China’s Advantage

Celente traced the Artificial Intelligence (AI) frenzy back only three years, calling it an “infant industry” that has received trillions in speculative investment. He cited the rise of China, where the share of 18-year-olds attending college has grown from 10% in 2000 to nearly 70% today.

With 1.4 billion people and heavy state investment in high-tech, Celente argued China is poised to dominate AI. He warned that overinvestment in U.S. AI companies will trigger another crash, which in turn will send gold prices higher.

The Dollar’s Decline and Digital Gold

Celente predicted falling U.S. interest rates will weaken the dollar, pushing gold higher.

He described the dollar as “dying” and foresaw the advent of digital currencies, including a “digital gold” backed by bullion that could upend cryptocurrencies.

He also emphasized that gold’s dollar-based pricing makes it more attractive to foreign buyers when the greenback weakens.

Fed Policy, Trump, and Political Theater

On interest rates, Celente noted the Fed faces a dilemma: cutting rates could stimulate the economy but drive inflation higher, while holding rates risks further economic slowdown.

He dismissed the idea of Fed independence, pointing to examples like Trump pressuring Jerome Powell to cut rates in December 2018—the worst Dow December since the Great Depression.

Celente recounted a 1989 meeting with John Connally, the Texas governor who was wounded in JFK’s assassination and later Nixon’s Treasury Secretary. Connally told him Americans were clueless about the system’s corruption, warning that if they knew the truth, there would be a revolution.

Why Americans Ignore Gold

Despite record highs, American gold investment remains tepid, unlike strong demand from Asian and European buyers.

Celente attributed this to ignorance, distraction, and media misdirection.

He recalled buying gold in the late 1970s at $163 per ounce and making huge gains during the Iranian crisis, though later losing much as a young trader.

He argued Americans remain unaware of global crises—whether in Argentina, Turkey, or Somalia—while being fed trivial stories about celebrities like Taylor Swift or Jeff Bezos.

COVID, Freedom, and a New Political Movement

Celente blasted political leaders’ handling of COVID-19, ridiculing lockdowns and mask mandates as arbitrary and destructive to liberty.

He noted that when the World Health Organization declared a pandemic on March 11, 2020, only 4,290 people had died worldwide out of 8 billion.

He announced his creation of “We the People’s Party,” saying the domain name’s availability reflected Americans’ passivity.

For Celente, politicians have ceased to be public servants; instead, citizens serve the politicians.

Gold to $5,000 and Beyond

In closing, Celente reiterated his bullish stance on gold, forecasting it could break $5,000 an ounce before the year’s end.

He warned that the worst economic and geopolitical crises are still to come, emphasizing that only by “tracking trends” can people prepare, prevail, and prosper.

His Trends Journal aims to provide “history before it happens,” countering the mainstream narratives that leave most Americans blind to unfolding realities.

Conclusion

Gerald Celente’s conversation with Mike Maharrey painted a stark picture of corruption in politics, distortion in media, and fragility in the economy.

He connected the dots between Wall Street fraud, manipulated statistics, overvalued tech markets, and the rise of China, while urging Americans to pay closer attention to global trends. His call for peace, a new political movement, and preparation for the dollar’s decline underscores his belief that profound change is coming.

For Celente, gold remains the ultimate safeguard, and he warns that ignoring it—like ignoring history—will leave Americans unprepared for what lies ahead.

FBI Burns 2 Pounds of Meth Inside an Animal Shelter, Poisoning Little Kittens and Workers Who Saved Them

Headline USA Editor
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FBI Burns 2 Pounds of Meth Inside an Animal Shelter, Poisoning Little Kittens and Workers Who Saved Them

(Headline USA) A cloud of smoke from two pounds of methamphetamine seized by the FBI and incinerated inside a Montana animal shelter sent its workers to the hospital, city officials in Billings said.

The smoke started to fill the building during a drug burn on Wednesday, apparently because of negative pressure that sucked it back inside, Billings Assistant City Administrator Kevin Iffland said Friday. A fan was supposed to be on hand in such situations to reverse the pressure so smoke would flow out of the building, but Iffland said it wasn’t readily available.

The incinerator is used primarily to burn carcasses of animals euthanized or collected by the city’s animal control division. But every couple of months local law enforcement or FBI agents use it to burn seized narcotics, Iffland said.

Fourteen workers from the nonprofit Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter evacuated and went to the hospital. The shelter’s 75 dogs and cats were relocated or put into foster homes, said Iffland and shelter director Triniti Halverson.

The shelter shares space with Billings’ animal control division. When smoke started filling parts of the building, Halverson assumed it was from burning carcasses because she said they had never known about the drug burns.

Halverson said she had a very intense headache and sore throat, and others had dizziness, sweating and coughing.

“Not a party,” she said.

The workers found out it was methamphetamine smoke through a call from a city official while they were the hospital, Halverson said. Most of the staff spent several hours in an oxygen chamber for treatment.

Symptoms have lingered for some workers, Halverson said.

They also were closely monitoring four litters of kittens that got more heavily exposed because they were in a closed room with lots of smoke, she said.

“They’re babies that already have lung issues and low immune systems,” said Halverson, as reported by a local news site. “I am worried about them, obviously, but we’re gonna do everything we can and just keep an eye on them.”

The FBI routinely uses outside facilities to conduct controlled drug evidence burns, agency spokesperson Sandra Barker said. She referred further questions to Billings officials.

A city animal control supervisor who was present for Wednesday’s burn declined to go the hospital, Iffland said. The FBI agents were told to go to the hospital by their supervisor.

The incinerator is meant to operate at a certain temperature so it doesn’t emit toxins. Iffland said officials were trying to determine if it was at the appropriate temperature Wednesday.

The shelter will remain closed until it can be tested for contamination. Shelter workers were tested for potential exposure, and Iffland said he did not know the results.

Billings resident Jay Ettlemen went to the shelter on Friday to donate dog food and said he was angry when he found out about the drug burns.

“Why the hell are they destroying drugs inside the city limits?” Ettlemen asked. “There’s so many other places in the middle of nowhere.”

Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press

 

Germany to Add More than 100,000 Troops to Army in Preparation for War With Russia

Headline USA Editor
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Germany to Add More than 100,000 Troops to Army in Preparation for War With Russia

(Kyle Anzalone, Libertarian Institute) The head of the German army is calling for more than doubling its forces in response to a perceived threat from Russia. The Army Chief said Berlin must be ready to fight a war with Moscow by 2029. 

Reuters reports viewing confidential German documents that show Army Chief Alfons Mais wants to add 100,000 new troops to the military. The increase in armed men will more than double the size of the German Army. 

“It is imperative for the army to become sufficiently ready for war by 2029 and provide the capabilities Germany pledged (to NATO) by 2035,” he wrote on September 2. 

The proposal comes as Berlin is increasing its defense commitments to Eastern European nations. Germany is in the process of establishing a permanent deployment of 5,000 troops in Lithuania. Additionally, Berlin is planning to increase its surveillance in Poland after about two dozen Russian drones entered Polish airspace. 

Berlin has yet to reach its 2018 goal of having 203,000 troops across its military. Earlier this year, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced Berlin was now trying to increase the size of its military to 260,000. 

Mais went on to say that Germany would also need hundreds of thousands of reservists that can quickly mobilize. “According to a first rough estimate, a total of around 460,000 personnel (from Germany) will be necessary, divided into some 260,000 active troops and around 200,000 reservists,” he wrote. 


This article originally appeared at The Libertarian Institute. 

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