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Sinkhole unearths surprise underneath grandstands at historic NASCAR racetrack: 'Moonshine cave'

The Blaze -



NASCAR traces its roots to the days of moonshine runners, who used souped-up cars to escape authorities on rural roads in the southern United States.

Last week, that storied history inserted itself into the 21st century.

Speedway Motorsports announced on Tuesday that officials at the historic North Wilkesboro Speedway in the foothills of North Carolina recently discovered what they believe could be a "moonshine cave" unearthed by a sinkhole underneath the racetrack’s grandstands.

Ahead of NASCAR’s All-Star race at the track in May, track employees were cleaning and inspecting the grandstands when they noticed cracks in the original concrete in one section of the grandstands.

Upon further inspection, officials discovered a sinkhole under the concrete, approximately 700 square feet in size.

The discovery revived rumors about the speedway once being the site of a “secret moonshine still,” said Steve Swift, an executive of Speedway Motorsports, the company that owns North Wilksboro Speedway.

“When we began renovating and restoring North Wilkesboro Speedway in 2022, we’d often hear stories of how an old moonshine still was operated here on the property under the grandstands,” Swift said.

“Well, we haven’t found find a still yet, but we’ve found a small cave and an interior wall that would have been the perfect location to not only make illegal liquor but to hide from the law as well. We don’t know how people would have gotten in and out, but as we uncover more, there’s no telling what we might find,” he explained.

Driver Kyle Larson, winner of the 2023 NASCAR Cup All-Star race, lifting the All-Star Moonshine Still trophy. (Chris Graythen/Getty Images)

North Wilkesboro Speedway first opened in 1947 and became one of NASCAR's original tracks in 1949.

The speedway remained a staple of NASCAR's premier schedule until the track closed after the 1996 season, at a time when NASCAR was exploding in popularity and expanding to larger TV markets.

But the track regained life in 2021 when Gov. Roy Cooper (D) injected $40 million into three historic NASCAR racetracks in the state: Rockingham Speedway, Charlotte Motor Speedway, and North Wilkesboro Speedway.

NASCAR's premier series returned to the track in 2023 when it hosted the All-Star race, won by star driver Kyle Larson.

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Gov. Abbott celebrates success of Operation Lone Star, citing significant declines in illegal alien encounters

The Blaze -



The Biden administration has worked hard to hinder the Lone Star State's efforts to fend off invading waves of foreign nationals. In recent weeks, the Democratic administration has fought in the courts to prevent Texas from enforcing Senate Bill 4, which makes illegal entry into Texas a misdemeanor offense and enables state law enforcement officials to send illegal aliens packing.

Fortunately, Texas has other arrows in its quiver — some of which appear to have been thinning the waves of migrants encountered at the border.

Early Wednesday morning, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott highlighted recent indications that "Operation Lone Star is working."

The governor cited a recent Media Research Center report indicating that the number of encounters of illegal aliens at the border dropped by 28% between October 2023 and last month — from 560,920 to 406,458.

The report was referencing U.S. Customs and Border Protection data, indicating that there were steep declines in four of the Lone Star State's five Border Patrol sectors between the last five months and the same period in fiscal year 2023. El Paso saw a 46.8% decline; Big Bend, a 65.1% decline; Laredo, a 38.1% decline; and the Rio Grande Valley, a 22.6% decline.

The Del Rio sector saw less significant year-over-year decline in encounters of 5.7%. However, that number is likely to improve since the state took control of Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, where the Biden administration previously failed to prevent multitudes of illegal aliens stealing into the country.

Texas has since installed razor wire, fencing, and shoreline barriers in the area, reducing the number of unlawful entries by 41.2% in January and by 38.5% as compared with the same months in the previous fiscal year.

Meanwhile, sectors in Democrat-run states saw massive spikes. For instance, the San Diego sector saw a 76.1% increase in encounters. Tucson, Arizona, saw a 167.2% spike in illegal alien encounters at its southern border.

Newsweek noted that Kari Lake, presently running in Arizona for the U.S. Senate, previously attributed the surge at Arizona's border to the success of Texas' border control efforts.

"Because Greg Abbott is now working to secure the border in Texas, we're seeing an influx of people pouring across our border even more so than we had in previous months," Lake said in January. "The Tucson sector is being overrun with people from 168 different countries."

Abbott is evidently pleased with this turn of events, at least as it pertains to the well-being of his state and its inhabitants.

"Illegal crossings are going down in TX while at the same time they are skyrocketing in CA & AZ," wrote Abbott. "It's b/c of the border wall, razor wire barriers, the National Guard & arrests by DPS."

Abbott and the Texas Department of Public Safety launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021. Abbott said at the time, "Texas supports legal immigration but will not be an accomplice to the open-border policies that cause, rather than prevent, a humanitarian crisis in our state and endanger the lives of Texans. We will surge the resources and law enforcement personnel needed to confront this crisis."

The governor's office indicated on the third anniversary of Operation Lone Star earlier this month that the multi-agency effort has resulted in over 503,000 illegal alien apprehensions; 40,400 criminal arrests; 36,100 felony charges; and the seizure of 469 million lethal doses of fentanyl.

While Texas cannot presently lawfully eject illegal aliens from the U.S., under Operation Lone Star, it has sent them packing to Democrat-run sanctuary cities around the country, including over 12,500 to Washington, D.C.; 39,100 to New York City; 32,200 to Chicago; 3,400 to Philadelphia; 16,600 to Denver; and 1,500 to Los Angeles.

Several hours after celebrating the apparent success of Texas' efforts to secure the border, Abbott announced that 200 soldiers in the Texas Tactical Border Force had been deployed to El Paso to "bolster Texas' ability to hold the line."

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How To Boost Mortgage Business Profits

The Daily Caller -

Diving into the competitive world of mortgages takes more than just determination; it needs a keen eye for spotting chances to boost your income. Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, the journey to increase your profits is tough but incredibly fulfilling. Choosing the right tactics can steer your business towards more profitable […]

First lady of Oregon announces struggles with alcoholism, mental illness as accusations of nepotism swirl

The Blaze -



The legal partner of Democrat Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek has announced that she is in recovery for addiction and mental illness amid questions about her growing influence in the governor's office.

On Tuesday, Oregon first lady Aimee Kotek Wilson, 47, admitted her struggles with alcoholism. "I share this information about myself now, and have in the past, in the hopes it will make a difference and reduce stigma," Wilson said in a statement. "Far too often, individuals have remained silent about their experience because of shame, pain, and fear. ... And, that is why it is so important for me to do my part to reduce the stigma around addiction and mental health."

Wilson has not indicated the nature of her mental illness or how long she has been in addiction recovery, Oregon Live reported.

Her announcement also comes in the wake of heavy criticism about her newly expanded role in the governor's office. Though technically working as an unpaid volunteer, Wilson was recently given a private office in what Willamette Week described as "the governor’s crowded suite of offices."

Wilson likewise accompanied Kotek on a recent international tour and spoke with mental-health practitioners. As part of her work, Wilson has been issued extra security detail as well, paid for out of Kotek's existing budget.

Gov. Kotek is even exploring the possibility of opening an official Office of the First Spouse and onboarded Meliah Masiba, previously of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, earlier this week to serve as a short-term adviser in connection with it. Masiba will "also assist and support the current first spouse in her official capacity in support of the administration," according to a statement from governor spokesperson Elisabeth Shepard.

Masiba will remain as an adviser for six months and receive $72,000 for her work during that time. After the six months have expired, another individual will rotate into the position.

Though other states, including California and Maryland, already have an Office of the First Spouse, Oregonians may be leery of opening one in their state after a governor in recent memory was forced to resign at least in part because of his fiancée's influence-peddling.

In February 2015, just one month into his fourth term, Gov. John Kitzhaber (D) resigned after his fiancée, Cylvia Hayes, who attended official meetings and helped promote environmental policies, allegedly earned $118,000 in fellowships from environmental groups that had significant interest in the policies Hayes was promoting. There are also indications that Hayes failed to report that money on her tax filings. She eventually agreed to pay $44,000 in ethics violations.

No such allegations of financial impropriety have been made against Wilson, but three executive advisers will leave the governor's office in the next week or so, all reportedly on account of their strained relationships with Wilson.

Jeff Barker, a former Democratic lawmaker from Washington County, claimed he was "surprised" that Kotek would allow Wilson to wield so much influence in light of the Hayes scandal that plagued Kitzhaber's final years in office. "It looks too much like nepotism," Barker said.

"I can’t believe they are opening this can of worms," said another Democrat former lawmaker. "Very little upside and lots of downside."

On Monday, the Oregon Government Ethics Commission confirmed it had received a complaint about Kotek regarding Wilson's role as first lady. Details about the complaint have not been released.

"We will review and respond to any complaint upon receipt, consistent with Oregon state ethics laws," said Shepard, Kotek's spokesperson. "We have no further comment, as this is a pending complaint."

In a separate statement, Shepard claimed, "The governor makes all policy decisions on behalf of the office."

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The Thin Red Line: Virginia Gov. Youngkin Vetoes Onslaught of Anti-Gun Bills

The Truth About Guns -

 Virginia Gov. Youngkin Vetoes Onslaught of Anti-Gun Bills

With Virginia citizen’s facing an onslaught of anti-gun bills from the state’s Democat-led General Assembly, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed as many as 30 anti-gun bills designed to restrict the gun rights of law-abiding people and misguidedly empower criminals. The 30 proposed bills had sparked considerable debate across the state. While it was believed Youngkin would do exactly as he did—veto most of the bills and recommend amendments to others—he had remained publicly vague about what action he would take leading up to the vetoes.

Continue reading The Thin Red Line: Virginia Gov. Youngkin Vetoes Onslaught of Anti-Gun Bills at The Truth About Guns.

VA: Gov. Youngkin Vetoes Gun Control

Gun Owners of America -

Gov. Youngkin Vetoes Slew of Gun Control Bills

Dear Fellow Patriot,

Late last night, Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin vetoed numerous gun controls which were sitting on his desk.

And thanks to the efforts of pro-gun Virginians like yourself — numerous unconstitutional bills were stopped from becoming law.

While all the gun control bills were heinous and unconstitutional in nature, HB 2 — a so-called “assault weapons” ban would have made Virginia amongst the worst states to ban certain semi-automatic weapons if signed into law.

Youngkin also vetoed bills that would have:

• Banned magazines that hold more than ten rounds.
• Expanded dangerous “gun-free” zones.
• Restricted your right to open carry a firearm.
• Made obtaining a concealed handgun permit harder.
• Expanded the prohibitors for gun ownership.
• Required unconstitutional waiting periods and training for gun ownership.
• Stripped young adult’s right to own guns.

So please call Governor Glen Youngkin at 804-786-2211 and thank him for vetoing these dangerous gun control bills.

But you can be sure the anti-gun Left and the Moms Demand Gun Control advocates won’t take this legislative beatdown lightly.

They will keep coming back and drafting more un-American gun control bills when the Virginia General Assembly meets again in 2025.

And it’s up to the effective grassroots activism of pro-gun Americans like yourself to stop the onslaught of these rights destroying attacks.

Thank you for taking action and defending liberty.

Together we can keep Virginia safe and free.

In Liberty,
Chris Stone
Director of State and Local Affairs
Gun Owners of America

WATCH: Tulsi Gabbard tells Tucker Carlson who’s really running the White House

The Blaze -



Add together Joe Biden’s glaringly obvious cognitive decline and the abysmal decision-making taking place at the White House, and you get a clear picture: Joe Biden isn’t really in charge.

So, who is?

As the country continues to catapult toward what looks to be imminent disaster, more and more people are asking this question – one of those people being Tucker Carlson.

In a recent interview, Tucker asked Tulsi Gabbard who she thought was puppeteering Biden.

“Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama are not in office right now, but they still continue to wield immense power in influencing the decisions that are being made,” Gabbard said.

“Are you answering the question that everyone watching has, which is, 'Who is running the government?'” Tucker asked, adding that “it’s obviously not Joe Biden.”

“It’s not a leap of imagination to know that that’s true,” she said, referencing Obama and Hillary’s ongoing influence. “When you look at the people who are in Joe Biden's administration, they are the people who were the right hands for the Obama administration ... and for Hillary Clinton.”

“Hillary Clinton said herself the other day, ‘Oh yeah, I talk to the White House every day,’” Gabbard recalled.

“There's no shock or surprise who the influences are behind the policies that are coming out of this White House that many people say is the most radical and woke White House that our country has ever seen.”

Dave Rubin is impressed.

“Tulsi could actually be someone who’s a game changer,” he says.

Considering Trump has already declared that he’s considering her for VP, she may just get the chance.


Want more from Dave Rubin?

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Judicial Watch Sues to Get 911 Call, Arrest Report of Laken Riley’s Murder

Judicial Watch -

From Breitbart:

Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton announced a Georgia Open Records Act lawsuit against the University of Georgia (UGA) Police Department to get the 911 call made by Riley as she sought to fend off Jose Antonio Ibarra, the Venezuelan illegal alien charged with her murder.

The lawsuit also seeks to make public the UGA Police Department’s initial arrest report and initial incident report of Ibarra.

“There are many political forces that wish to suppress the truth about what happened to Laken Riley, but Judicial Watch will insist on transparency under the law for the public interest and public safety,” Fitton said in a statement.

On Feb. 22, nursing student Laken Riley was found bludgeoned to death in a wooded area on the UGA campus after she had gone for a morning run.

The following day, Ibarra — an illegal alien released into the United States from the southern border — was arrested and charged with her murder.

Read more here

The post Judicial Watch Sues to Get 911 Call, Arrest Report of Laken Riley’s Murder appeared first on Judicial Watch.

Did University of Delaware Lie About Biden’s Senate Papers? Lawsuit Seeks Answers.

Judicial Watch -

From The Daily Signal:

The Daily Caller News Foundation and Judicial Watch have asked a Delaware court to reopen their case seeking the release of President Joe Biden’s Senate records held at the University of Delaware.

Special counsel Robert Hur’s February report on his investigation into Biden’s retention of classified documents contained findings that contradicted the university’s claims that no tax dollars were used in processing the records sought by the Daily Caller News Foundation and Judicial Watch.

The Delaware Supreme Court previously sided with the university in July, shielding the documents from release.

“The stunning revelations from the Hur report extend beyond the president’s memory lapses and mental state,” Daily Caller News Foundation Editor-in-Chief Michael Bastasch said. “The court needs to reopen this case to determine whether the University of Delaware lied.”

Judicial Watch initially sued the university on behalf of itself and the Daily Caller News Foundation in July 2020 after it denied the request, claiming the records were not related to the expenditure of public funds.

Read more here

The post Did University of Delaware Lie About Biden’s Senate Papers? Lawsuit Seeks Answers. appeared first on Judicial Watch.

NBC News faces internal blowback from decision to cut Ronna McDaniel

The Blaze -



The ramifications of NBC News' decision to cave to internal outrage and cut ties with Ronna McDaniel are already taking shape.

As Semafor reported, the "backlash to the backlash" has begun, and rank-and-file journalists — those NBC News employees not upset about McDaniel joining their network — are feeling the heat.

"Political reporters here didn't take part in the backlash [against McDaniel], nor did they get to give input on the hire," one NBC reporter told Semafor. "But they'll be the ones who have to pick up the pieces with sources who are now dismayed with the organization."

More from Semafor:

Four NBC News staffers expressed concern that instead of fixing the problem, hiring and then firing McDaniel had only alienated liberal viewers while confirming Republican fears. Two Republican aides told Semafor they’d texted their NBC News contacts to express their anger with the decision.

The truth is that a small minority of prominent voices at NBC News and MSNBC — Chuck Todd, Rachel Maddow, Joe Scarborough, etc. — led the outrage against McDaniel's hire, which NBC News executives unanimously approved, according to multiple reports.

But the hasty decision to appease the small minority of loud voices will reverse inroads the network has made to appeal to Republican viewers, solidifying perceptions that NBC News is not a fair media source, Semafor noted. Ultimately, the long-term impact on NBC News' credibility of hiring then firing McDaniel could be a net negative.

That's why Republicans are declaring victory.

Stephen Moore, a Republican economist, said it's a "good day for our team, because it makes [Democrats] look ridiculous." Mick Mulvaney, moreover, said the incident "allows [NBC News] to completely shed their image as a legitimate news outlet, once and for all."

In a memo to NBC News staff, Cesar Conde, chairman of the NBCUniversal News Group, said that "no organization, particularly a newsroom, can succeed unless it is cohesive and aligned" and that "it has become clear that [McDaniel's] appointment undermines that goal."

It's true that any successful company needs to be aligned behind a central mission.

But it appears the decision to fire McDaniel days after hiring her had nothing to do with NBC News' company mission. If that were the case, executives would never have hired McDaniel, let alone unanimously.

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