Sex outside marriage ban tests Indonesia's relationship with democracy



CNN
 — 

When Indonesia passed controversial amendments to its criminal code earlier this month, one aspect above all others dominated the headlines: the criminalization of sex outside marriage.

Tourism figures warned it would put foreigners off visiting and hurt Indonesia’s global reputation – no small matters in a country that welcomed up to 15 million international travelers annually before the pandemic and recently held the G20 presidency for the first time in its history.

Officials have since played down the likelihood of tourists being charged, but hundreds of millions of Indonesians still face the prospect of up to a year in jail for the same offense – and rights activists warn that this is only the start of the new code’s potential to threaten Indonesians’ personal freedoms and civil liberties. Indonesian officials, on the other hand, defend the move as a necessary compromise in a democracy that is home to the world’s largest Muslim population.

The new code also criminalizes cohabitation between unmarried couples and promoting contraception to minors, and enshrines laws against abortion (except in cases of rape and medical emergencies when the fetus is less than 12 weeks) and blasphemy.

It also limits Indonesians’ right to protest and criminalizes insulting the president, members of his cabinet or the state ideology.

Offenders face the prospect of prison terms ranging from months to years.

Rights groups have been scathing in their assessments.

“In one fell swoop, Indonesia’s human rights situation has taken a drastic turn for the worse,” said Andreas Harsono, senior Indonesia researcher at Human Rights Watch.

“Potentially, millions of people will be subject to criminal prosecution under this deeply flawed law. Its passage is the beginning of an unmitigated disaster for human rights in Indonesia.”

Protesters throw rocks at riot police on September 24, 2019, as demonstrations in Jakarta and other cities take place against proposed changes to Indonesia's criminal code laws. The changes were later watered down, but remain controversial.

The creation of the new code is in part a reflection of the growing influence conservative Islam plays in the politics of what is the world’s third-largest democracy.

About 230 million of the 270 million people who call this vast and diverse archipelago nation home are Muslim, though there are also sizable Christian and Hindu minorities and the country prides itself on a state ideology known as “Pancasila,” which stresses inclusivity.

The constitution guarantees a secular government and freedom of religion, and criminal law is largely based on a secular code inherited from the former Dutch colonial power – though the province of Aceh adopts and implements sharia law – and Islamic principles influence some civil matters and local level by-laws.

However, more conservative forms of Islam that were once repressed under the former dictator Suharto have in recent years emerged as increasingly powerful forces at the ballot box.

In the most recent general election, in 2019, President Joko Widodo controversially picked an elderly Islamic cleric – Ma’ruf Amin – as his running mate in a move that was widely seen as a move to secure more Muslim votes.

The appointment of Ma’ruf raised eyebrows among Widodo’s more moderate supporters, but it helped see off the challenge from the former military general Prabowo Subianto who had forged an alliance with hardline Islamist groups. Some of those groups had already demonstrated their clout by leading mass protests that led to the toppling of the Jakarta governor, Basuki Tjahaja Purnama, on a blasphemy charge.

The new criminal code – which updates the code inherited from the Dutch and was passed unanimously by lawmakers belonging to multiple parties – also reflects this growing influence of conservative Islam. Some conservative parties had been calling for an even stricter code, but previous proposals sparked mass street protests and were shelved after Widodo intervened.

Describing the new code as a “compromise”, Indonesian officials have said it needed to reflect a spread of interests in a multicultural and multi-ethnic country.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

Still, while the new code clearly has the backing of many conservative voters, critics paint it as a step backwards for civil liberties in what is still a fledgling democracy.

Indonesia spent decades under strong-man rule after declaring its independence from the Dutch in the 1940s, under its first president Sukarno and later under the military dictator Suharto. It was not until after Suharto’s downfall in 1998 that it entered a period of reformation in which civilian rule, freedom of speech and a more liberal political environment were embraced.

Rights groups fear the new code risks undoing some of that progress by pandering to the conservative religious vote at the expense of the country’s secular ideals and reinforcing discrimination against women and the LGBTQ community. They also fear its longer-term effects could be corrosive to the democratic system itself and see uncomfortable parallels to the country’s authoritarian past.

Aspects of the code relating to insulting the president or the state ideology could, they say, be abused by officials to extort bribes, harass political opponents and even jail journalists and anyone deemed critical of the government.

“It is never a good thing when a state tries to legislate morality,” said Zachary Abuza, a professor specializing in Southeast Asian politics and security issues at the National War College in Washington, DC. “The new code puts civil liberties at risk and gives the state powerful tools to punish ideological, moral and political offenses.”

One political blogger, who asked not to be identified for fear of persecution under the new laws, told CNN that he expected online surveillance and censorship by the authorities to increase.

“The terms are not clear – that’s what makes the code especially scary and dangerous,” he said. “It’s all left to interpretation by the government.”

He gave the example of someone liking a critical tweet about the president, asking if that would be enough to land the person in jail.

“It will boil down to whoever the government wants to prosecute,” the blogger said.

It will be at least three years until the revised code comes into effect, according to officials, so it is still early to predict how the new laws will be implemented and enforced.

Much may depend on how satisfied more conservative voters are with the “compromise” code – or how angry those who protested on the streets against its earlier formulation remain.

At the same time, there are those who question whether lawmakers have made the mistake of listening only to the loudest voices in an attempt to pick up votes.

Norshahril Saat, a senior fellow at the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, said there was a “complex relationship between Islam, politics, and society in Indonesia.”

He pointed to a 2022 national survey commissioned by the institute that found most respondents considered themselves moderate and supported the idea of a secular state – even though more than half of them also felt it was important to elect a Muslim leader.

Norshahril cautioned against concluding that support for the new criminal code was evidence of “a conservative Islamic tide.”

“It may mean that the current slate of elected politicians are conservative but more likely that they are responding to pressure from some powerful conservative lobby groups,” he said.

Of more concern, he said, is that “in today’s Indonesia, all of the political parties unanimously agreed on criminalizing these ‘sins’.”

source

Incoming Kansas attorney general fined for 2020 Senate campaign finance violations



CNN
 — 

The Federal Election Commission has levied a $30,000 fine on incoming Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach and a private border wall organization he was once affiliated with due to campaign finance violations committed during his unsuccessful 2020 Senate bid.

In an agreement approved by the FEC last month, about a week after Kobach was elected, he admitted to illegally accepting an in-kind contribution from We Build the Wall, a Steve Bannon-linked group which ran a fundraising campaign to build a private border wall but became ensnarled in allegations of fraud.

CNN has reached out to attorneys for Kobach and We Build the Wall for comment.

In 2019, Kobach’s campaign rented We Build the Wall’s 295,000-person email list for just $2,000, a price significantly below the normal rate.

The campaign was also accused of additional campaign finance violations in connection with We Build the Wall, but the FEC, which is made up of three Democrats and three Republicans, either dismissed those allegations or was equally divided.

Kobach is an immigration hardliner and a longtime spreader of false election claims who served as Kansas’ secretary of state from 2011 to 2019 and has close ties to former President Donald Trump.

Kobach was narrowly elected Kansas attorney general in November, defeating Democrat Chris Mann 51% to 49% in the reliably red state. His victory came after two consecutive defeats in recent election cycles – losing bids for the governorship in 2018 and for the GOP nomination for US Senate in 2020.

He previously served on We Build the Wall’s board and as the organization’s general counsel.

Two men have pleaded guilty in federal court, and another was convicted of defrauding donors in connection with We Build The Wall. Bannon and the organization itself are now facing charges in New York state. Bannon, who has pleaded not guilty to state charges, had previously been indicted in federal court but was pardoned by then-President Trump at the end of his term.

source

Playoff-bound Chargers set for huge defensive boost with return of four-time Pro Bowler

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

The Los Angeles Chargers have played a majority of this season without possibly their best defensive player – they clinched a playoff spot last week

Sounds like a good time to get a four-time Pro Bowler back.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Joey Bosa has been activated from injured reserve and is expected to play for Los Angeles on Sunday in their Week 17 matchup against the L.A. Rams.

Bosa suffered a groin injury in Week 3 against the Jacksonville Jaguars and needed surgery to repair a muscle. He was designated to return from IR earlier this week.

The 27-year-old has made each of the last three Pro Bowls and won the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2016. He was the third overall pick of that year’s draft out of Ohio State. His younger brother, Nick, was the second pick the following season.

GIANTS ANNOUNCER REFLECTS ON BEING INSIDE MALL OF AMERICA DURING FATAL SHOOTING, MAKING SAFETY PLANS

Bosa had 1.5 sacks in the Chargers’ Week 1 win over the Las Vegas Raiders – he has 59.5 in 82 career games, reaching double-digit sacks in four seasons.

NFL Network initially reported that Bosa’s injury would require a six-week recovery, but Bosa will have missed just over three months.

After their contest against the Rams, the Chargers will head to Denver to close out their season against the Broncos. They are currently the sixth seed in the AFC, which at this point would match them up with the Cincinnati Bengals.

 

Read More 

 

YouTube star Keenan Cahill dead at the age of 27 after complications from open heart surgery

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Keenan Cahill, the YouTube star who created viral lip-syncing videos with celebrities including Katy Perry, Justin Bieber and 50 Cent, has died. He was 27.

The social media personality, who was diagnosed with the rare genetic disorder Maroteaux Lamy Syndrome at the age of 1, died Thursday after developing complications following a recent open-heart surgery, according to a GoFundMe set up by his family. 

“We are sad to announce the passing of Keenan Cahill,” a post on Cahill’s official Facebook page read. 

It continued, “Keenan is an inspiration and let’s celebrate by remembering all the content he created, artists he collaborated with, music he produced and the love he had for everyone who supported him over the years.”

YOUTUBE STAR COREY LA BARRIE DEAD ON 25TH BIRTHDAY AFTER CAR CRASH, DRIVER ARRESTED

The GoFundMe was organized by Cahill’s aunt Katie Owens, the sister of his mother Erin Cahill, in order to pay for the costs of his medical and funeral expenses. 

“We are devastated to announce that our nephew, Keenan Cahill, passed away on December 29th at the age of 27,” Owens wrote on GoFundMe. “Twelve days earlier he had open heart surgery and was starting to recover, but complications arose that he couldn’t overcome.”

She continued, “Keenan had Maroteaux-Lamy syndrome, which is a progressive condition that causes many tissues and organs to enlarge, become inflamed or scarred, and eventually waste away.” 

“He was first diagnosed at the age of 1. Because of his rare disease, he has had countless surgeries over his short life including a bone marrow transplant.”

Born in Elmhurst, Illinois, Cahill became one of the first YouTube stars after rising to fame with his popular lip-syncing videos that he began posting on the platform in 2010. Cahill’s channel currently has 725,000 subscribers and over 500 million views. His first video, in which he lip-synced to Katy Perry’s hit song “Teenage Dream,” went viral and has 58 million views. The clip caught Perry’s attention, and she reached out to Cahill. 

The two met in 2011 during her California Dreams tour and the pop superstar joined Cahill for a duet of “Teenage Dream” that was posted on his YouTube channel.

In November 2010, 50 Cent appeared in a video on Cahill’s channel in which the two lip-synced to the rapper’s song with Jeremih “Down on Me.”

Other stars who collaborated in videos with the internet celebrity included Justin Bieber, Britney Spears, Ariana Grande, Nick Cannon, David Guetta, Jason Derulo, Tyra Banks and DJ Pauly D.

In 2011, Cahill appeared with Jennifer Aniston in a commercial for SmartWater. Cahill also joined electronic music duo LMFAO on stage for a performance at the 2011 American Music Awards.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER

The Youtuber appeared along with Adam Levine, Sia and Ryan Tedder in the music video for Sara Bareilles’ 2011 song “Uncharted.”

Owens noted on the GoFundMe page that Cahill “never made a lot of money, but he enjoyed what he was doing and brought smiles to the faces of so many people.”

After news of his passing broke, Pauly D shared a tribute to Cahill on Twitter. He posted a photo of himself with Cahill and wrote, “Rip Keenan. Thank You for always making the world smile.”

Perez Hilton shared a video of his duet with Cahill featuring the Maroon 5 song “Moves Like Jagger” and tweeted, “Rest in Love.”

 

Read More 

 

Chief Justice John Roberts say judges’ safety is ‘essential’ to the U.S. court system

US Top News and Analysis 

U.S. Supreme Court justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sonia Sotomayor, Clarence Thomas, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., Samuel A. Alito, Jr. and Elena Kagan pose for their group portrait at the Supreme Court in Washington, U.S., October 7, 2022. 
Evelyn Hockstein | Reuters

With security threats to Supreme Court justices still fresh memories, Chief Justice John Roberts on Saturday praised programs that protect judges, saying that “we must support judges by ensuring their safety.”

Roberts and other conservative Supreme Court justices were the subject of protests, some at their homes, after the May leak of the court’s decision that ultimately stripped away constitutional protections for abortion. Justice Samuel Alito has said that the leak made conservative justices “targets for assassination.” And in June, a man carrying a gun, knife and zip ties was arrested near Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s house after threatening to kill the justice, whose vote was key to overturning the court’s Roe v. Wade decision.

Roberts, writing in an annual year-end report about the federal judiciary, did not specifically mention the abortion decision, but the case and the reaction to it seemed to be clearly on his mind.

“Judicial opinions speak for themselves, and there is no obligation in our free country to agree with them. Indeed, we judges frequently dissent — sometimes strongly — from our colleagues’ opinions, and we explain why in public writings about the cases before us,” Roberts wrote.

Polls following the abortion decision show public trust in the court is at historic lows. And two of Roberts’ liberal colleagues who dissented in the abortion case, Justices Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, have said the court needs to be concerned about overturning precedent and appearing political.

After the leak and threat to Kavanaugh, lawmakers passed legislation increasing security protection for the justices and their families. Separately, in December, lawmakers passed legislation protecting the personal information of federal judges including their addresses.

The law is named for the son of U.S. District Judge Esther Salas, 20-year-old Daniel Anderl, who was killed at the family’s New Jersey home by a man who previously had a case before her.

Roberts thanked members of Congress “who are attending to judicial security needs.” And he said programs that protect judges are “essential to run a system of courts.”

In writing about judicial security, Roberts told the story of Judge Ronald N. Davies, who in September 1957 ordered the integration of Little Rock Central High School in Arkansas. Davies’ decision followed the Supreme Court’s Brown v. Board of Education ruling that segregated schools were unconstitutional and rejected Arkansas Gov. Orval Faubus’ attempt to stop school integration.

Davies “was physically threatened for following the law,” but the judge was “uncowed,” Roberts said.

“A judicial system cannot and should not live in fear. The events of Little Rock teach about the importance of rule by law instead of by mob,” he wrote.

Roberts noted that officials are currently working to replicate the courtroom Davies presided over in 1957. Roberts said the judge’s bench used by Davies and other artifacts from the courtroom have been preserved and will be installed in the re-created courtroom in a federal courthouse in Little Rock “so that these important artifacts will be used to hold court once again.”

Before that happens, however, the judge’s bench will be on display as part of an exhibit at the Supreme Court beginning in the fall and for the next several years, he said.

“The exhibit will introduce visitors to how the system of federal courts works, to the history of racial segregation and desegregation in our country, and to Thurgood Marshall’s towering contributions as an advocate,” Roberts said. Marshall, who argued Brown v. Board of Education, became the Supreme Court’s first Black justice in 1967.

The Supreme Court is still grappling with complicated issues involving race. Two cases this term deal with affirmative action, and the court’s conservative majority is expected to use them to reverse decades of decisions that allow colleges to take account of race in admissions. In another case, the justices could weaken the federal Voting Rights Act of 1965, the crown jewel of the civil rights movement.

The justices will hear their first arguments of 2023 on Jan. 9.

Read More 

TPG staffers share their 2023 credit card New Year’s resolutions

The Points Guy 

As we enter another year, many of us are taking inventory of what we want to do better in different areas of our lives. And at TPG, credit cards are at the top of our list.

Whether you’re looking to level up your points and miles redemptions or improve your credit score, we all have credit card habits we’d like to adopt or remove this year.

Below, some of our TPG staffers share their 2023 credit card resolutions and why you may want to make them, too.

Track merchant offers

TPG managing editor Melanie Lieberman plans to find a better system for tracking which cards have what offers. “I often kick myself for missing an offer because I didn’t remember it was activated on a certain card,” she says.

Senior points and miles writer Katie Genter also resolves to track credit card merchant offers, like Chase Offers and Citi Merchant Offers, more carefully. She says, “My husband and I have various lists that we jot available offers that we might use in but we need to find a better system. I also want to make a plan to check these offers regularly (like once a week) instead of whenever I remember. There’s plenty of value to be found on purchases we’re making anyway — I recently got 10% back on a Hyatt stay thanks to a Chase Offer — so not maximizing these offers is essentially leaving money on the table.”

RGSTUDIO/GETTY IMAGES

Looking for and adding merchant offers to your cards is an easy way to save money and earn more points and miles on your purchases. No matter which credit cards you have, make sure you’re taking advantage of available merchant offers this year.

Related: How merchant offers can save you hundreds every year

Maximize spending categories

TPG editor Erica Silverstein wants to make sure she’s earning bonus points in all of her spending categories this year. She says, “My resolution is to find a card that gets me extra points for in-person supermarket and gas spending since I’m not maximizing these major expenses right now.”

As you think about your credit card plan for the year, consider which cards earn bonus points and miles for your highest spending categories. You may realize you already have cards that offer bonuses for your major categories; if so, make sure you’re intentional about which cards to use for different purchases. If you notice you have spending categories you can’t maximize, however, you might want to focus on adding a card to cover that earning gap.

Avoid travel portals

Matt Moffitt, TPG’s senior credit cards editor, wants to focus on letting go of a habit. He says, “My resolution is not to fall for earning more points on airfare by booking through travel portals, like Chase’s or Capital One’s offerings. In 2022, I had too many frustrating episodes in having to make changes to my bookings; it’s a nightmare with the portals and airlines passing the buck. I’d rather forgo the points for more streamlined management of my booking.”

MONGKOL CHUEWONG/GETTY IMAGES

There are many things to consider when making a decision about whether to use a travel portal or book your travel directly with a hotel or airline. There are certainly some benefits, like earning more points and miles, but as Matt reminds us, there can also be some frustrating drawbacks. Make sure to evaluate whether a streamlined booking process or maximizing points-earning is most important to you when purchasing travel.

Related: Using a portal vs. booking directly

Cut benefits overlap

TPG senior aviation business reporter David Slotnick wants to take a slightly more minimalist card approach. He says, “I have too many cards with benefits that are either redundant or that I don’t maximize. My resolution is to audit my cards, fees and benefits, and thin down my wallet a bit.”

When we focus on cards with the highest welcome bonuses or flashiest perks, we can accidentally collect multiple cards with similar benefits. We often think the annual fees for our favorite cards are worth paying, but David’s plan of a personal audit is a wise one. If you find you have multiple cards with similar benefits, it might be helpful to consolidate by canceling or downgrading some of them.

Related: Should I cancel my credit card? 

Be intentional when under Chase 5/24

TPG staffers know that the card decisions we make when we find ourselves under Chase’s 5/24 rule are critical.

Ryan Smith, credit cards writer, is carefully deciding what Chase cards he and his wife want to open next. He says, “Because my wife and I had a heavy dose of business credit card applications and upgrade offers, rather than new applications, over the past year, we are both under 5/24 right now.”

“We want to be strategic about this since we didn’t plan for it to happen. My wife already applied for the Ink Business Unlimited Credit Card to take advantage of its best-ever offer and the Chase Sapphire Reserve during its elevated bonus late last year. I am considering my options with United credit cards and also plan to apply for the Ink Business Unlimited.”

YUGANOV KONSTANTIN/SHUTTERSHOCK.COM

TPG points and miles reporter Kyle Olsen finds himself in a similar situation and is planning accordingly. He says, “In January, I’ll be back under Chase’s 5/24 rule. While I don’t see much value in Chase’s suite of Marriott cobranded cards (especially given the uncertainty of Marriott Bonvoy points), I’m considering opening the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card.”

“If the current grandfathered rules to the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card from Chase remain, I’ll be able to switch over from the Boundless to the Ritz-Carlton card after a year of holding the Boundless card. Even though the annual fee on the Ritz-Carlton card is $450 (instead of the $95 on the Boundless card), it would be worth it. The Ritz-Carlton card includes many lucrative benefits like three Ritz-Carlton club upgrades, $300 in airfare credits, an 85,000-point free night certificate and the same generous insurance benefits as the Chase Sapphire Reserve.”

The information for the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.

If you aren’t sure whether you’re under 5/24, start here. And if you are or will be under 5/24 this year, we recommend your next card is one from Chase while you have the option.

Related: The best ways to use your Chase 5/24 slots

Redeem leftover points

TPG senior writer Benjamin Smithson wants to clean up his various leftover points and miles balances. He says his resolution is to “clear out entire balances. I keep stumbling across accounts with 5,000-10,000 points that I may never use because it’s often too small to redeem for anything great.”

If you haven’t looked lately, you might be surprised to find several small rewards balances you have on cards you’ve banished to your sock drawer. The start of a new year is a great time to check all your rewards balances and either redeem or make a plan to replenish them.

Related: What to do with small points and miles balances

Bottom line

If you haven’t already, take a moment to reflect on your credit card habits from last year and set some goals for 2023.

Maybe you want to go back to the basics and revisit our beginners guide or 10 commandments of credit card rewards. Or perhaps you’re finally ready to get a premium credit card.

No matter your goals, you can be confident knowing TPG will be here to support you in working toward them all year long.

Read More 

Mothers share how crisis pregnancy centers helped them walk away from abortion: ‘huge enlightenment’

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Pro-life crisis pregnancy centers have endured vandalism and attacks at the hands of ravenous protesters angered by the overturn of Roe v. Wade and the events leading up to it.

These centers have been villainized by Democrats, but mothers who’ve been helped by them say nothing could be further from the truth.

Two crisis pregnancy centers in and around the nation’s capital, the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center in Washington, D.C., and Life First in Manassas, Virginia, opened their doors to Fox News Digital to share how they are helping women and families in the nascent stages of building their lives.

PRO-CHOICE PROTESTERS DISRUPT CAPITOL HILL CRISIS PREGNANCY CENTER’S BANQUET SCREAMING ‘BLOOD ON YOUR HANDS’

“My experience happened over a decade ago, so my oldest now is 11, so when I was pregnant, I came through Life First — formerly known as CareNet back then,” Alana Jenkins, a mother helped by Life First said.

Jenkins, a mother of five including her youngest, Rip, said she considered abortion when she was unexpectedly pregnant with her first but chose to keep her child after visiting with Life First.

“It was scary, you know, I wasn’t quite sure what I was expecting other than they offered free services I wanted to take advantage of,” Jenkins said. “I had already decided of having an abortion, but my husband and I decided that we wanted to get more information and a sonogram at the time to confirm I was pregnant.”

Jenkins said she “was greeted with nothing but love” from the staff at Life First and that it was “amazing” to see where her experience at the center “led to.”

“It was great to feel that comfort and love through professionalism, guiding me through the steps,” Jenkins said. “Not what I wanted to hear, but the education of what having a baby was all about, the steps, the process.”

“They offered support, which was huge for me for making my final decision, because I was scared, financially, we were not in a position for bringing on a child,” she continued. “But, again, with their professionalism and their support and what they offered, it was amazing.”

Jenkins said her pregnancy was confirmed by the center with a sonogram and that her time at the center led to a “step-by-step process” to help her and her budding family with what they needed.

Ten years and five kids later, Jenkins and her husband have made their home in Vint Hill, Virginia, where they own a CrossFit gym.

Jenkins said she fell out of contact with Life First after her first experience with them, but reconnected with the clinic after Life First CEO Becky Sheetz visited her gym promoting a church “sit-up” challenge fundraiser and shared her experience with the center.

“Anytime they need help, anything I can do of service, like here just explaining my experience and what the result of their assistance has done for my kids, my life, hopefully now for others,” Jenkins said.

Niya, a mother helped by Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center, initially visited to find out if she was pregnant. After confirming she was pregnant, the center gave her counseling and resources.

Niya was considering abortion at first, as she felt she “wasn’t ready” to be a mother, but knew she had to “get ready” and decided to keep her baby, Amara, after visiting with Maloney.

The team at Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center explained all the options for her baby that Niya could choose, such as raising the child or placing the child up for adoption, instead of going through an abortion.

“After that, I left, [Jamie] gave me a few pamphlets about adoption, giving your child to somebody else, a family that might want them,” Niya said. “And she was emailing me and stuff, checking on me. She sent me a gift for my baby, I told her I was going to keep it, and she’s just been in contact with me since.”

Both centers help new parents get on their feet through counseling and professional placement help, ensuring that the budding families have a steady source of income.

Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center, while not currently providing medical procedures such as ultrasounds, provides faith-based counseling to expectant mothers who may be considering abortion.

The center was hit with vandalism in the wake of the Supreme Court leak of the opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade. They were hit with red paint, eggs, and graffiti reading “Jane Says Revenge.”

Janet Durig, executive director of Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center, told Fox News Digital the center’s staff felt “violated” by the vandalism and it “comes back to people misunderstanding what pregnancy centers like ours do, or they really understand it and think it’s awful to help people.”

Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center’s annual banquet was interrupted by protesters who disrupted Durig while she was speaking on the work the center performs. The protest led to the center upping their security presence.

Durig said she was called by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), who told her that the protesting group, ShutdownDC, had been chattering about the banquet protest on social media.

The protesters inside the banquet had sat at the table with one mother, Niya, and her child as well as the center’s director of client and volunteer services, Jamie Maloney and dug into the meal provided to attendees before interrupting the event.

“They ate our meal, they ate our hors d’vours, they ate our meal, and even commented on how good it was from other people I’ve been told — and so did the other protesters, by the way,” Durig said in regards to the protesters.

“And then sat right next to Niya, the mother testimony-giver and her baby, and seemed to feel comfortable standing up and protesting the center,” Durig added.

Durig said the protest was mostly a lot of yelling, but nobody could “explain” to her how they have “blood” on their hands when they are “helping people who choose to give birth to their baby.”

“They want to have their baby, we don’t force that on anyone, and we don’t force that choice on anyone,” Durig said. “Where is the blood on our hands because that woman has chosen to keep her baby?”

Durig also noted that mothers coming to the clinic were “disconcerted” by the protests but they “all felt everything was under control” when handling the protest at the banquet.

She also said she believes that the protesters misunderstand what the center and others like it provide to families, such as job counseling.

Life First was also hit by vandalism prior to their move to their Manassas location “on the day that Roe v. Wade was overturned” at their old location, but CEO Becky Sheetz said the protesters tagged the back side of the building that is not as visible.

Sheetz also said the vandalism was not the reason behind the move.

“We came in one day and there was vandalism, graffiti, on the back of the center, on the side that we operated the building, so we reported it to local law enforcement right away and it was cleaned up,” Sheetz said.

“It was actually just graffiti, clearly targeted along the lines of the graffiti and vandalism that you were seeing all across the nation in the tens and tens, over 100 pregnancy centers that were vandalized,” she continued.

Sheetz said the vandalism was “intimidating” but that it was “comical” that the tagging happened on the back of the building that “none” of their “patients or visitors would ever see.”

“That was the best they had that day,” Sheetz added, noting that, in the wake of the vandalism, the staff and center were operating “business as usual.”

“So that didn’t change, the mission doesn’t change, so it made us feel like we were probably on the right track because we’re doing good work and we’re having an impact,” Sheetz said.

Additionally, both centers provide material goods and services to struggling mothers and families, carrying children’s clothes, diapers, and other necessities that are given to families that visit the center.

Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center provides baby formula and car seats, as well as approved baby playpens and crib analogues. They are also planning to get their own ultrasound up and running.

“We help them with material support, which is very important, but we also help them with free childbirth classes and free parenting classes,” Durig told Fox News Digital.

“They could call at any time to the client advocates, especially the ones they know, but anyone can fit in if they’re not available,” Durig continued. “… They know this is someone they can call.”

First Care Women’s Health Woodbridge Center director Pam Dudley told Fox News Digital that their clinic sees “women from all different nationalities, all different backgrounds and walks of life, but one thing that they all have in common when they walk through our doors is they’re facing an unplanned pregnancy.”

She also said that the center “partners with dozens of organizations that help with things like food and clothing and diapers and formula and housing, even,” as well as organizations that provide “free prenatal care, in some cases.”

“We could almost connect her with anything because of all partnering organizations that we work with,” Dudley said, adding their centers also provides prenatal and parenting classes “at no cost” to the mother.

While they don’t distribute car seats and baby formula, Dudley said First Care Women’s Health can connect mothers with organizations that do “so they can get a free car seat, they can get free formula.”

Sheetz said their product carrying comes down to “shelf life,” “storage,” and other similar factors, so First Care Women’s Health gives “away other items like diapers and wipes and goods like that, that we can keep and can have in a steady supply.”

Dudley said that the clinic looks to “empower women with all of their information” who are facing unexpected pregnancies and will try to be a “calming voice” for the mother over the phone. The service will then confirm with the women that they are pregnant when they come into the center.

Life First also provides faith-based counseling, but has a registered nurse on staff, Linda Kisha, who performs ultrasounds and keeps track of patient information on their First Care Women’s Health side of the operation.

“We talk to them about the ultrasound and how important that is as part of their decision-making process,” Dudley told Fox News Digital. “Many of them call and they’re looking for the abortion pill or they’re saying ‘I can’t have a baby right now.’”

“So all of us are trained to talk to them on the phone and explain our services and to get them to come in, especially to have an ultrasound,” Dudley said. “Because she needs to know that it’s a pregnancy that’s going to continue, and she needs to know how far along she is so that she knows how to make that next step.”

Dudley said the staff at the center will listen to the mothers; stories and “many times” the staff at First Care Women’s Health are the first people the mothers reach out to for help.

“We want to be that safe place, that nonjudgmental place, that caring place that she can come and learn about all her options,” Dudley said. “She may feel like abortion is her only option when she first comes in, but we can explain that she has does other options and how that would work.”

Kisha told Fox News Digital the First Care Women’s Health clinic provides medically-administered pregnancy tests, ultrasounds to “confirm her pregnancy” and if the baby is viable, as well as tests for the sexually transmitted infections (STIs) gonorrhea and Chlamydia.

“These are all things the patient needs to know if she’s going to have an abortion,” Kisha said.

“And explain the abortion procedures to her, as well, depending on how far along she is, from a medical professional,” Sheetz added.

Dudley also encouraged people who know mothers struggling with an unplanned pregnancy to visit First Care Women’s Health.

“I always tell every patient I meet with, ‘I’m so glad you came in today,’” Dudley said. “And we mean that genuinely. We welcome anyone who desires our services, who needs a little help, who doesn’t feel like she has support, that’s what we do.”

“That’s why we’re here: we’re that safe place for her,” Dudley continued. “So we would just welcome her in this place and we also encourage an ongoing relationship with her, if she would allow us to do that.”

Amara joined her mother at the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center’s recent banquet, where Niya’s spoke on her experience with the center.

During the dinner, though, Niya’s speech recounting the counseling and help she received from the Capitol Hill Pregnancy Center was interrupted by protesters who had planted themselves in the crowd.

“That is all blood on your f—ing hands, every last motherf—ing one of you,” one woman screamed as security escorted her out of the event. “Jane says revenge motherf—er,” she added.

Niya said she had clocked the protesters when she showed up to the banquet but was unaware that three of the protesters were sitting next to her during the event.

“They were talking, I was talking, saying how I felt about the people outside and stuff like that, and they were listening. I think one of them did have something they really wanted to say, but she didn’t say anything,” Niya said about the protesters. “And then they just start standing up and yelling.”

Niya said she was “confused” by the protesters at first and that the protesters had been complimenting her child’s cuteness before interrupting the banquet.

“Like, I understood what they were saying, but at the same time, that’s not how you go about stuff,” Niya said. “I just felt like everybody got a mind of their own, I went to a pregnancy center and didn’t have a problem with it.”

The mothers, however, say other women in similar situations to them should explore their options at crisis pregnancy centers.

“Don’t be scared! Like, don’t be scared,” Niya said, encouraging other women in similar situations to visit crisis pregnancy clinics. “I just feel like we all have a responsibility, whether you’re pro-choice or not. And that’s something you want to do, you have to stand up for what you believe in and do it.”

“Nobody changed my mind on anything like that,” she continued. “I changed my own mind because I knew deep down inside that I wasn’t built for abortion. I really didn’t want to, but I also wasn’t ready at the same time. So, don’t be scared. Do what you want to do. Don’t let nobody tell you what’s right for you.”

“My definition of success was what I thought it was, and when I came in, I really, firmly believed for my success, I needed an abortion,” Jenkins said. “The place I was in my life, financially as a professional athlete back then, success and my plan ahead did not call for a kid. It just didn’t look like that would equate.”

“And when I was given the support, the education, the resources, all that, it was just amazing to see a different perspective,” she said. “And when I got that different perspective, that success can be many different ways, that, yes, a decision to keep a child is hard, but when you know there’s support and everything else out there, especially centers like Life First that offers that, it really is a huge enlightenment to go out there and just get educated.”

“And with Life First not judging and offering the professionalism, that they care, it makes a huge difference,” Jenkins continued. “So I challenge women to get out there and get educated, and go to center, take advantage of centers, that offer their services.”

Fox News Digital’s Kristine Parks contributed reporting.

 

Read More 

 

Mega Millions jackpot climbs to $785M after no big winner

The first Mega Millions drawing of the new year will be a big one after no one won an estimated $685 million jackpot.

No ticket purchased for the lottery matched all six numbers drawn Friday night, Mega Millions said in a statement early Saturday. The top prize increased to $785 million ahead of the next drawing Tuesday night.

The numbers selected Friday were: 1, 3, 6, 44, 51 and gold Mega Ball 7.

The jackpot has grown so large thanks to long odds of one in 302.6 million that have resulted in 22 straight drawings without a big winner.

The estimated $785 million prize is for a winner who chooses to be paid through an annuity, with annual checks over 29 years. Nearly all winners opt for cash, which for the next drawing would be an estimated $395 million.

The jackpot is the largest since a $2.04 billion Powerball prize was won Nov. 8 in California. A winner hasn’t been announced for that record-setting payout.

“On only three previous occasions has the Mega Millions jackpot gone beyond $700 million, and all three times those rolls continued on past $1 billion,” Mega Millions said.

Mega Millions is played in 45 states as well as Washington, D.C., and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

source

Rep.-elect George Santos faces scrutiny over campaign filings his team blames as ‘database error’: Report

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

A federal insider is questioning embattled Republican Rep.-elect George Santos’s explanation that dozens of $199.99 campaign expenses were the result of an FEC “database error.”

“I don’t believe it,” Ann Ravel, former FEC chairwoman, told the New York Post about the Santos claim that the mysterious expense filings were the result of a database error. “There are too many expenditures for the $199 that were filed.”

Santos, who is currently under investigation after admitting to several lies about his personal life and resume on the campaign trail where he was eventually elected to represent New York’s 3rd Congressional District in November, has defended himself against questions about the FEC expense filings.

“This reporting issue is the result of a database error and amendments were filed with the FEC. We believe that accurate information has been provided to the FEC,” a Santos campaign representative told the New York Post in an email.

NY GOP REP-ELECT GEORGE SANTOS GRILLED OVER BIOGRAPHY ‘LIES’: ‘DO YOU HAVE NO SHAME?’

According to FEC filings, the Santos campaign recorded 37 expenditures between April 2021 and February 2022 that totaled $199.99, one cent below the threshold for federal law requiring receipts.

Among the expenses were rooms at Florida hotels, supply runs to Staples and Target, airline flights and meals at various restaurants.

“If they did provide an amending filing to the FEC to change it, and if the FEC agrees that it was a database error, the FEC would have already changed the website,” Ravel said.

MEDIA MELTDOWN OVER GEORGE SANTOS, WON’T ADMIT BIDEN IS SERIAL LIAR

Christian Hillard, a representative for the FEC, agreed that “any amended transactions and filings submitted by committees would be reflected in the data through the FEC website.”

The Santos campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

HOUSE DEMOCRATS CALLING ON SANTOS TO RESIGN OVER RESUME LIES SILENT ON BIDEN’S LONG HISTORY OF FABRICATIONS

Santos recently admitted to fabricating his business resume, Jewish faith, and education and told Fox News “Tucker Carlson Tonight” guest host Tulsi Gabbard that everyone makes mistakes.

“I think humans are flawed, and we all make mistakes, Tulsi,” Santos said. “I think we can all look at ourselves in the mirror and admit that once in our life we made a mistake. I’m having to admit this on national television for the whole country to see. And I have the courage to do so because I believe that in order to move past this and move forward and be an effective member of Congress, I have to face my mistakes, and I’m facing them.”

Santos has faced criticism from fellow Republicans and calls to resign but has refused to do so, and the Democrat he defeated in November has demanded an election rematch.

“George, if that’s even your real name, if you’re so convinced that #NY3 voters still trust you – resign & run against me again in a special election,” Democrat Robert Zimmerman tweeted Tuesday. “Face the voters with your real past & answer questions about your criminal history. Let the voters decide.”

 

Read More 

 

What’s The Weirdest Thing You Can Find On This AutoZoned Audi S4

Carscoops 

Car customization is an important facet of automotive culture. For many, it’s important that their car not only reflects their lifestyle but also that it’s distinguishable from other similar models on the road. One owner took that to the extreme with a bunch of accessories that make this Audi S4 truly one of a kind… we hope.

Spotted at a grocery store parking lot that we think is in Michigan, this S4 is full of unique touches. We’ll start with the lights because it looks like the owner has made a functional change to them by adding a honeycomb effect to each housing. Sure, they’re probably dimmer than they were originally, but who cares when they look so cool?

Then there’s the plethora of stickers everywhere. On the rear panel alone you’ll find a Tampa Bay Buccaneers logo, fake bullet holes, Wylie Coyote, the Roadrunner, Nike logos, and even one sticker that says “Official racing car 526 HP.” Keep in mind that a stock S4 of this vintage makes about 350 hp (261 kW) from the factory.

More: What’s The Most Annoying Tuning Mod These Days?

Now, there’s no telling if the owner of this S4 has added any horsepower to this car but considering all that they’re willing to do to the outside, we’re certainly hopeful that they started with actual performance mods, which are arguably far more important. What’s clear is that this person was not content to stop adding body modifications once the stickers were applied.

On the rear deck, there are no less than seven spoilers if we count the lip on the trunk lid. That of course doesn’t count the tiny winglets placed on the rear quarters of the car or the additional six spoilers we could find on the roof of the car. On top of all of that aero, there are at least three mini-spoilers, two sets of chin spoilers, and even a little toy fighter plane on the front of the car.

There’s a lot to soak in when looking at this Audi S4 and we’re wondering what’s the weirdest thing in your eyes. Could it be one of the numerous fake exhausts or the weird flame tips on the real tailpipes? Maybe it’s the triangular tow hooks that are stuck onto the bumper (one of which is placed just above the actual tow hook location). Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Image Credit / Source: Nikky296 on Reddit

Read More