Idaho's Governor Brad Little (R) signed legislation Friday allowing execution by firing squad beginning July 1.

"The families of the victims deserve justice for their loved ones and the death penalty is a way to bring them peace," said Gov. Little in a transmittal letter to Idaho's Speaker of the House, Rep. Mike Moyle (R).

"Fulfilling justice can and must be done while minimizing stress on corrections personnel ... For the people on death row, a jury convicted them of their crimes, and they were lawfully sentenced to death."

Idaho's House Bill 186 calls for the director of the Idaho Department of Corrections to determine within five days of a death warrant being issued whether lethal injection is available. available. If lethal injection is available, lethal injection will be used as the method of execution. If the director does not so certify, fails to file the certification, or determines lethal injection is not available, the method of execution shall be firing squad.

In addition, the bill says if a court finds lethal injection to be unconstitutional, the method of execution shall be firing squad.

The legislation applies to all executions carried out on or after July 1.

Pharmaceuticals used to carry out executions by lethal injection have become more challenging to acquire due in part to pharmaceutical companies barring the use of their drugs for that purpose, the Associated Press reported.

The Idaho Department of Corrections estimates the cost to retrofit a death chamber for firing squad executions at about $750,000, CBS News reported.

Idaho became the fifth state to permit execution by firing squad when Gov. Little signed HB 186. Other states allowing the method include Mississippi, Utah, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. South Carolina's law, however, is currently being challenged in court, AP also reported.

Ronnie Gardner, the most recent person to be executed by firing squad in June 2010, chose the method himself, according to the Death Penalty Information Center.

How are executions via firing squad carried out?

TheBlaze cautions readers that the following section contains graphic descriptions of death via firing squad.

The death row inmate sentenced to execution by firing squad is typically first bound to a chair with leather straps across his or her waist and head, DPIC explains. Sandbags surrounding the chair are meant to absorb the blood. The chair is positioned in front of a canvas wall.

A black cloth is pulled over the prisoner's head. A doctor pins a cloth over the target, the prisoner's heart.

A number of shooters either 3 or 5, depending on the state, stand in an enclosure about 20 feet away. Each shooter has a .30 caliber rifle with single rounds. One of the shooters is given blank rounds. In South Carolina, each shooter's rounds are live.

Each shooter aims his or her rifle through a slot in the canvas wall and fires. If the shooter(s) miss the prisoner's heart, the prisoner slowly bleeds to death.

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Philadelphia parents were arrested Friday after a 6-year-old boy was found locked in a in a dog cage and a partially clothed 3-year-old and 5-year-old, both girls, were found outdoors in the rain, according to a statement from the Philadelphia Police Department.

"This is just an absolutely tragic situation," Sergeant Eric Gripp told reporters. "We don't live in a world where under any situation whatsoever we should have a child inside a cage or young children outside standing in the rain."

The parents, 30-year-old Michelle Campbell and 31-year-old Paul Weber of the 4200 block of Glenview Street, were charged with endangering the welfare of a child and recklessly endangering a person.

Officers responded to the home after receiving a report about "screaming." When they arrived, they found the partially clothed girls, ages 3 and 5, wandering and crying in the yard at the rear of the house.

On entering the home, they discovered a third child, a 6-year-old boy. The boy was locked in a dog cage with a zip tie. He was reportedly nude and had a blanket and pillow. Sources told WPVI the boy has intellectual disabilities.

Police say the mother would often lock the little boy inside the dog cage while she was away from home, according to CBS News.

Five children in total live in the home. Two of the children were at school when police rescued the others, the outlet also reported.

Also in the house, police found two adults. The first was an 80-year-old woman in a wheelchair, believed to be the children's grandmother. The second was a reportedly intellectually disabled man in his 40s believed to be the children's uncle.

A woman claiming to be the children's mother arrived at the house while the police were there, Sergeant Gripp told reporters. That person was taken to Special Victim's Unit for questioning.

"They have Pampers on. They have no shirts, no pants, they have no shoes. They're screaming, it's raining, it's cold. They're screaming for their mother and father," Hector Perez, a neighbor who found the children when he came home from work told the outlet.

"This has been an ongoing drama man. I've been here 12–15 years," Perez also said. "Cops have been coming here on and off. Nothing has ever been done."

The children were transported to St. Christopher's Hospital for evaluation and will be under the care of the Department of Human Services, Philadelphia Police said.

President Biden warned Iran that the U.S. will "act forcefully" to protect Americans after a drone strike in Syria killed a U.S. contractor and injured five U.S. service members Thursday.

"My heart and deepest condolences go out to the family of the American we lost, and we wish a speedy recovery for those who are wounded," the President said at a joint press conference in Canada alongside Prime Minister Trudeau.

Biden prefaced his remarks by explaining that he had ordered airstrikes targeting "those responsible" for attacking American personnel.

"And to make no mistake: The United States does not — does not, I emphasize — seek conflict with Iran, but be prepared for us to act forcefully to protect our people," Biden said in his remarks. Biden said the United States would continue efforts to counter terrorist threats in the region along with coalition members like Canada to defeat ISIS.

Simultaneous attacks were launched at U.S. forces in Syria late Friday, according to Voice of America News. Preliminary information suggested there was a rocket attack on the Conoco plant, where U.S. troops are stationed.

Another U.S. service member was wounded in Friday's fresh trio of attacks, CBS News reported, citing an unnamed U.S. official.

Thursday, a "one-way unmanned aerial vehicle" of "Iranian origin" struck a maintenance facility in northeast Syria, causing several American casualties. One American contractor was reportedly killed in the drone strike. At least five service members and an additional American contractor was injured.

"At the direction of President Biden, I authorized U.S. Central Command forces to conduct precision airstrikes tonight in eastern Syria against facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)," Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III said in a statement Thursday.

"The airstrikes were conducted in response to today’s attack as well as a series of recent attacks against Coalition forces in Syria by groups affiliated with the IRGC."

Videos on social media show explosions in Syria's Deir el-Zour, "a strategic province that borders Iraq and contains oil fields," Politico reported.

"We are postured for scalable options in the face of any additional Iranian attacks," United States Central Command Commander General Michael "Erik" Kurilla said in a statement Thursday.

"Our troops remain in Syria to ensure the enduring defeat of ISIS, which benefits the security and stability of not only Syria, but the entire region.”

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A Florida 16 year old was sentenced to life in prison for the stabbing death of a 13-year-old girl.

On May 10, 2021, then-14-year-old Aiden Fucci was arrested for the murder of 13-year-old cheerleader Tristyn Bailey.

Bailey and Fucci were schoolmates at Patriot Oaks Academy in Saint Johns, Florida. Less than a mile from Fucci's home, the seventh-grade student's mutilated body was found near a retention pond on Mother's Day, May 9, 2021.

Before his arrest, Fucci posted a photo on social media of himself near a police vehicle with the caption: "Hey guys has anybody seen Tristyn lately."

Bailey was stabbed 114 times. Circuit Judge R. Lee Smith said the teenage girl suffered 49 defensive wounds, 35 wounds to her head and neck, and 29 to her back and shoulder.

Smith told the courtroom, "Tristyn Bailey was conscious, she was aware and she was doing everything she could to fend off this attack. She suffered a painful, horrifying death from someone that she trusted. Her screams were most likely stifled by her own suffocating lungs."

On Wednesday, Bailey's family detailed the heartache they have endured following the murder of Tristyn. Siblings of Tristyn dropped 114 teal-colored stones into a glass jar to represent each time Fucci stabbed their younger sister.

Tristyn's sister Alexis Bailey told the courtroom, "Aiden Fucci didn’t just take Tristyn’s life that day, he took everything from us."

"I have nightmares about that moment. In my dreams, I try and reach out and grab her, beg her to spend the night, anything to prevent what happened just hours later," Alexis Bailey said. "Yet, every time, the door closes before I can get to her."

She added, "Our family broke that day, and I don’t recognize any of us anymore."

Tristyn's sister Brittney Bailey Russell – who was on her honeymoon when her sister went missing – said during the hearing, "Agony isn’t painful enough. Shattered to the core doesn’t crumble like how I feel. Infuriated doesn’t even come close to touching the amount of rage I find myself trapped in. And let me tell you, justice is just a word for comfort. It doesn’t bring her back,” she said.

Forest Bailey, Tristyn’s father, said on Friday, "Tristyn, I wanted to let you know we are so extremely proud of the person that you were in your time here. We have seen that when you went out into the world, you gave it your very best. You should be proud of the friend that you were, the teammate that you were, and what you left behind and the people that knew you that we trust will go forward and continue to make the world a better place."

Slain Cheerleader’s Siblings Tear Apart Aiden Fucci in Powerful Victim Impact Statements www.youtube.com

In February, Fucci pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. Fucci faced a minimum 40 years.

On Friday, Judge R. Lee Smith sentenced Fucci to life in prison. Fucci was not eligible for the death penalty because he was a juvenile when he committed the crime. Fucci's case may be reviewed by a judge in 25 years, according to Florida law.

Smith said, "This crime had no motive. There was no reason. There was no purpose. It was done for no other reason than to satisfy this defendant’s internal desire to feel what it was like to kill someone."

A stone-faced Fucci stood in the courtroom as the judge informed him that he would spend the rest of his life in prison.

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Moment Aiden Fucci learns he will spend the rest of life in prison for murder of Tristyn Bailey www.youtube.com

One person has been found alive in the rubble of an explosion at a chocolate factory in Pennsylvania that left at least two dead and five missing, WTFX reported.

"The discovery of life overnight, of the overnight recovery efforts, provides hope that others still may be found," West Reading's police chief, Wayne Holben said in a Saturday morning press conference.

"The rescue workers are continuing their efforts to search the area thoroughly, utilizing specialized equipment and techniques to locate signs of life," Chief Holben also said, adding that canines and imaging equipment are being used in the search and recovery effort.

West Reading Mayor Samantha Kaag declared a state of emergency about 1:00 a.m. Saturday morning. She noted that the declaration was strictly to "access more resources for emergency responders on scene."

Holben noted the the investigation into the Berks County blast is ongoing, and that tents had been erected in the area to help keep the scene dry as weather forecasts indicated thick cloud cover and rain.

Among the victims taken to Reading Hospital, two people are in fair condition, one was transferred to another facility, and five others were discharged, according to a statement from a Tower Health Spokesperson acquired by WTFX.

Though the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency reported that five people were killed in the explosion, local officials including Kaag and Holben say that figure is inaccurate. According to Kaag and Holben, the correct death toll figure currently stands at two and the number of missing stands at five.

"We are getting a lot of help from outside agencies, which we appreciate," said Holben. Among the agencies Holben mentioned were the Pennsylvania State Police, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the sheriff's office, and other local organizations.

In addition to the factory being "pretty leveled," as Kaag described it, there was also damage to a nearby apartment building and a church, WPSG reported.

"The building in the front, with the church and the apartments, the explosion was so big that it moved that building four feet forward," Kaag also said.

WTFX's weather camera positioned at the Candlewood Suites hotel across the street caught the blast on video as it occurred. Chunks of debris can be seen flying in multiple directions as clouds of smoke quickly obscure most of the viewable field.

R.M. Palmer Company, headquartered in West Reading, employs more than 850 people, according to their LinkedIn page and website.

During the Saturday morning press conference with local officials, Chief Holben indicated that R.M. Palmer Co. would be making their own official statement "shortly." As of Saturday around 12:30 p.m., the company had not yet posted a statement on their website nor their other social media channels.

R.M. Palmer did not respond to a request for comment from TheBlaze in time for publication.

Watch WTFX's coverage, including aerial footage of the deadly blast below.

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A 3-year-old Louisiana girl may never smile again after being mauled in a vicious dog attack. The foster dog ate the little girl's face during the attack.

On March 16, Emily Roark was attacked by a foster dog that her family had brought into their home in less than 24 hours before the horrific attack. The girl's mother said the dog and the girl were "very sweet together," according to the Daily Mail. The dog, named Tater Tot, even let Emily give it kisses on the snout.

Rebekka Bolline, Emily's mother, said, "They had a good relationship. The dog let her kiss her face, on the snout, let her pet her and everything."

"The little bit of time that they were around each other, they were very sweet with each other," Bolline said. "Emily came downstairs and she was petting the dog from the back of the neck to his back, very, very softly."

Bolline recalled, "In a matter of seconds, it barked and latched on her face and then started shaking her side to side, while I'm screaming, 'Get off my baby! Get off my baby!'"

"When the dog bit and latched onto her, she didn't make a sound," the mother explained. "Her body went limp and she was being thrown all over the place."

"At that moment, I just thought that she wasn't going to make it and that she was going to die," Bolline said. "I didn't know how to help her. I couldn't get the dog off her. I kept screaming. I don't remember how I got the dog off – I blocked it out."

The mother reportedly said the dog eventually released Emily from its jaws, but not before the animal had "ingested" some of the toddler's flesh from her face.

"Her cheek was chewed up very badly," Bolline added. "The dog ingested some of her face."

Emily was rushed from her house in Slidell to a local hospital and then transferred to the Children's International Pediatrics Hospital in New Orleans.

Emily suffered muscle damage that may prevent her from ever smiling again. She also has wounds on her cheeks, lips, and inside her mouth. Emily will require multiple reconstruction surgeries.

Tater Tot was euthanized by animal control after the dog attack.

Bolline said the whole reason that they started fostering Tater Tot was because Emily desperately wanted a puppy.

The mother said Emily now has a "fear of animals."

Bolline said, "Every once in a while, she's in a lot of pain she'll point to herself and say, 'Mommy I die, mommy I die. Puppy was hungry,' which is heartbreaking."

A GoFundMe was launched to raise money to pay for medical treatment for the young girl.

"March 16th my 3-year-old daughter got attacked by a pitbull. We were fostering a dog and that morning as Emily was softly petting the dog it attacked her," the profile on the crowdfunding website reads. "The doctors say she will not be able to smile or eat on one side of her face and her tear duct may have been damaged as well. We were discharged yesterday but will need multiple reconstruction surgery. Anything helps, God bless."

Bolline said, "I will never trust a dog ever again. It snapped for no reason."

In February, a 6-year-old girl was mauled during a dog attack, The brutal assault in Maine forced the little girl to undergo a 12-hour emergency surgery and require more than 1,000 stitches.

A family friend said of the girl, "Her salivary glands aren’t working … and doctors said she won't be able to smile again. Muscles are too damaged."

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Two migrants were found dead and 10 others were hospitalized after authorities found them 'suffocating' inside a shipping container on a train near the southern border Friday, according to the Uvalde Police Department.

"These individuals, they put themselves in so much danger, trying to come over to U.S.," Daniel Rodriguez, the chief of police for the city of Uvalde told the New York Times. "It’s just tragic that two people have to lose their lives. It’s a tragedy in a town that has seen a lot of tragedy."

"We need to be addressing what’s going on here in South Texas," Uvalde's Mayor Don McLaughlin Jr. said, the Times also reported.

The shipping container had been "wired shut," according to McLaughlin, and had to be pried open to release the sweltering migrants.

"Approximately 15 immigrants were discovered to be in need of immediate medical attention; five of the immigrants were flown out to San Antonio area hospitals; five were transported to area hospitals," UPD said. "Two of the immigrants were pronounced deceased."

The department received a 911 call from an unknown party Friday afternoon advising there were "numerous undocumented immigrants 'suffocating' inside of a train car."

Footage provided by Uvalde Mayor Don McLaughlin to Fox News correspondent Bill Melugin shows medical helicopters arriving on scene to transport the critically ill.

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United States Border Patrol were able to stop the train 2-3 miles east of Knippa, Texas, where they found approximately fifteen immigrants in need of immediate medical attention. Knippa is roughly 100 miles from the southern border.

The train had sat in the sun on the tracks for about three hours, Uvalde's Mayor McLaughlin told Texas Public Radio, describing the medical response as "enormous."

"There were more people than we had ambulances [currently] available in Uvalde. We called them in from everywhere — Kerrville, San Antonio, Hondo, and locally in Uvalde," McLaughlin also told the outlet

TPR reported that United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Homeland Security Investigations was looking at the possibility of human smuggling, but declined to provide details.

"We are heartbroken to learn of yet another tragic incident of migrants taking the dangerous journey," Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas tweeted Friday.

Mayorkas added his thanks to the authorities supporting the investigation and said DHS will work with the Uvalde County Sheriff's Office on holding the responsible parties accountable.

"Smugglers are callous and only care about making a profit," he also said.

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UPD says Union Pacific will lead the investigation.

The Union Pacific train was traveling east from Eagle Pass to San Antonio, KENS reported.

"Union Pacific is deeply saddened by this incident and the tragedies occurring at the border. We take the safety of all individuals seriously and work tirelessly with law enforcement partners to detect illegal items and people riding inside or on our rail cars," Union Pacific said in a statement, the outlet also reported.

Watch coverage from KENS moments after Border Patrol discovered the migrants.

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A meteorologist prayed live on air Friday as tornadoes ripped through Mississippi, leaving at least 23 dead.

"Dear Jesus, please help them," said WTVA chief meteorologist Matt Laubhan Friday night, as he warned residents of Amory, Mississippi to immediately take shelter.

"Oh, man," the Emmy winning weather professional said, briefly bowing his head as he offered the prayer.

"We can confirm 23 dead, dozens injured, 4 missing due to last night's tornadoes," the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency reported Saturday morning.

"We have numerous local and state search and rescue teams that continue to work this morning. A number of assets are on the ground to assist those that have been impacted," the agency also reported.

"Unfortunately, these numbers are expected to change," MSEMA also said of the morning update on the rescue efforts and death toll.

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WTVA shared photos of twisted metal, damage to the National Guard Armory in Amory, and damage to many other homes, businesses, and structures.

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Mississippi's Gov. Tate Reeves (R), requested prayers Friday, as well, as the storms wracked the Magnolia State.

"Many in the MS Delta need your prayer and God's protection tonight," he tweeted, adding that search and rescue was ongoing.

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The tornado that dropped around 8 p.m. near Sharkey County's town of Rolling Fork was at least a mile wide and traveled for more than 90 miles, WAPT reported.

At least 13 people lost their lives in Sharkey County as a result of the storm, Sharkey County Coroner Angela Easton told ABC News.

Rolling Fork, Sharkey County's county seat, is in western Mississippi. It is home to about 1,883 people in 663 households according to the 2020 Census.

Other Mississippi towns reporting significant damage include Anguilla and Silver Creek.

The storm reportedly took at least one life in Monroe County, where Amory is situated. Monroe County is in northeastern Mississippi, near the Alabama border

"Y'all trust me too much, ok?" said Laubhan, whose personal Twitter bio says "JESUS ≥ Family ≥ weather."

"I tell you where it goes, and some of you are like 'that's where it's gonna go.' But the reality is that this could be changing directions."

Watch Laubhan offer a prayer in the video below, as the deadly storm barrelled toward Amory, Mississippi, a town of about 6,666 people roughly 27 miles from Tupelo.

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Education Sec. Miguel Cardona is calling for a complete end of the practice of corporal punishment at schools.

In a message directed toward governors, chief state school officers, school district and school leaders, Cardona pressed them to put the kibosh on the practice of corporal punishment, which involves physical discipline, such as spanking.

"Our nation's schools should make every effort to provide children and youth with safe and supportive environments that protect and enhance their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. Unfortunately, some schools continue to put the mental and physical well-being of students at risk by implementing the practice of corporal punishment, defined by the U.S. Department of Education (Department) as the practice of paddling, spanking, or otherwise imposing physical punishment on students," Cardona wrote. "Therefore, if the use of corporal punishment is permitted or practiced in schools and educational settings within your state or district, I urge you to move swiftly toward condemning and eliminating it."

"Schools should be safe places where all students and educators interact in positive ways that foster students' growth, belonging, and dignity—not places that teach or exacerbate violence and fear. Let's all work together to move away from this harmful practice and to create learning environments that are safe and supportive for all students," Cardona wrote.

An endnote in the letter indicates that the practice of corporal punishment is explicitly prohibited in 27 states.

According to another endnote, corporal punishment is explicitly allowed in some states, but some of the states that explicitly allow it also ban it for disabled students. "According to a review of laws and policies by the US Department of Education, depending on the state, corporal punishment remains legal because state law either expressly allows corporal punishment in at least some circumstances or does not expressly prohibit it," the endnote states.

"Despite years of research linking corporal punishment to poorer psychological, behavioral, and academic outcomes, tens of thousands of children and youth are subjected to beating and hitting or other forms of physical harm in school every academic year, with students of color and students with disabilities disproportionately affected. Schools should be places where students and educators interact in positive, nurturing ways that foster students' growth and development, dignity, and sense of belonging—not places that condone violence and instill fear and mistrust," Cardona said, according to a press release.

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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fielded a question about whether he would be willing to serve as former President Donald Trump's vice president, replying by characterizing himself as "more of ... an executive guy."

During the interview with Eric Bolling on Newsmax, DeSantis noted a desire to "do things" and said that part of why he became involved in his current role is due to the ability to "make things happen" — he said he believes that is likely what he is "best suited for."

Bolling also tried asking DeSantis whether he would consider Trump for his vice president, but DeSantis referred to the prospect as "interesting speculation" and did not provide a direct answer.

Gov. DeSantis: There hasn't been a bolder governor in the country www.youtube.com

Trump announced a 2024 presidential bid last year, and while DeSantis has not thrown his hat into the ring, he is widely viewed as a figure who might to do so in the coming months. DeSantis told Bolling that after the state's legislative session, "we'll see what happens."

During a recent interview with Piers Morgan, DeSantis said that he has not made a "final decision" on the matter — but DeSantis said during the same interview that he believes he has what it takes to be president and that he thinks he could defeat President Joe Biden.

DeSantis won a resounding re-election victory during Florida's 2022 gubernatorial contest.

Trump, who has been targeting DeSantis, has described the governor as a "RINO GLOBALIST" and "an average governor," and has even explicitly declared, "We don't want Ron as our President!

While DeSantis has not announced a White House bid, GOP Rep. Chip Roy of Texas issued a full-throated endorsement last week, saying in a statement, "It's time for Ron DeSantis to be President of the United States."

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A New York man was arrested after breaking into several day care centers in an effort to pretend to be a baby girl named "Baby Danielle," according to police.

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office said that officers were called to the Inspire Learning and Childcare on Lake Road in the Town of Clarkson on Feb. 18 at about 7:30 a.m. over a report of an intruder.

When they arrived, they saw an open door at the center and a man running out the back door.

They arrested 65-year-old Daniel Seeler and released an appearance ticket.

The director of the center told investigators that they had installed surveillance cameras after they learned of a break-in on Jan. 30 where someone had left a handwritten note asking employees to "play along" with a request for adult-sized diapers. They found $120 with the note.

They then found $200 in a second incident.

In a third incident on Feb. 11, the security system alert was activated, and the director found that someone had left another note and money after rummaging through the baby's diaper bins. That note contained sizes for pants, shoes, bras, and dresses.

It also said that the man liked to pretend to be a girl named "Baby Danielle."

In the final incident on Feb. 18, the director said that surveillance video showed a man putting together three diapers, going into the bathroom, taking off his pants, and putting on the diapers. He put his pants over the diapers before running out of the building.

The director said he had also used a bib and drank half a bottle of formula.

Police said that Seeler told them he was working through an addiction and that he allegedly admitted his involvement.

He was charged with third-degree burglary and petit larceny.

The owner of the day care said the man was not known to anyone at the center and that they were working to increase security.

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A teenager has been missing for more than a week since his parents snapped a photograph of him being punished by wearing a "disturbing" message, as described by police.

14-year-old Scottie Dean Morris went missing after he left his home in the town of Eaton at about 8:30 p.m. on Thursday in east-central Indiana.

In their first public statement about Morris, the Eaton Indiana Police Department shared a photograph of the boy with a recently shaven head and a T-shirt reading "I am a liar," "I hurt my brother," and other phrases meant to humiliate him.

They later deleted the image and replaced it with a cropped image.

Police also confirmed that the parents had made the teenager wear the shirt as a form of punishment, but they clarified that he had allegedly chosen to have his own head shaved.

"They went to Great Clips and that’s what he told them he wanted," said Eaton Police Chief Jay Turner. "But the shirt — it was kind of unorthodox. It was disturbing. And we’re looking into that."

Speculation online has run rampant since the details of the shirt were made public.

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Turner made it clear to the public that Felicia Morris, his mother, had been very cooperative with the investigation and had her make a public plea to Morris through the news media.

"Scott, I love you and I want you to come home," she said tearfully. "And I know that you're mad and confused. I'm afraid that you're scared of all this. Everyone is out looking for you and we're not trying to scare you."

Dozens of volunteers have joined the search for the teenager.

"We are a small department," Turner added. "We have four regular officers and 18 reserves. Our reserves and our regulars volunteered their time to come in and do these searches.

Police said he may be in "extreme danger" and need medical attention.

Here's the statement from the missing boy's mother:

Mother of missing teen Scottie Morris pleads for his return www.youtube.com

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Democratic Sen. John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who checked into Walter Reed National Military Medical Center more than a month ago due to clinical depression, will return "soon," according to communications director Joe Calvello.

"He'll be back soon, at least over a week, but soon," Joe Calvello noted Thursday, according to the Associated Press.

Calvello said the lawmaker is getting daily in-person briefings from chief of staff Adam Jentleson, according to the outlet.

"While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks," a statement released last month by Jentleson said. "On Monday, John was evaluated by Dr. Brian P. Monahan, the Attending Physician of the United States Congress. Yesterday, Dr. Monahan recommended inpatient care at Walter Reed. John agreed, and he is receiving treatment on a voluntary basis," the statement noted at the time.

Earlier in February, Fetterman had been taken to George Washington University Hospital after experiencing lightheadedness, but he was released later the same week. "In addition to the CT, CTA, and MRI tests ruling out a stroke, his EEG test results came back normal, with no evidence of seizures," a statement released at the time by Calvello noted.

The left-wing politician had a pacemaker with a defibrillator implanted last year after suffering a stroke — he has been having problems with auditory processing in the wake of the stroke.

He took office earlier this year after defeating Republican candidate Dr. Mehmet Oz in the Keystone State's 2022 U.S. Senate race.

Earlier this month, Jentleson indicated that Fetterman was "well on his way to recovery."

"Society's expectations and traditional gender roles play a part in why men are less likely to discuss or seek help for their mental health. As always, John continues to challenge the conversation. So human, so kind, so cute," Fetterman's wife Gisele tweeted.

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A mother of an 11-year-old is speaking out after a text exchange in which he sent her a photograph of his mouth taped shut by his middle school teacher in Johnston, North Carolina.

The incident unfolded on February 14, but Catherine Webster didn't say anything about it until a police investigation was completed.

She said that her son Brady had sent her the photo while he was attending Smithfield Middle School. The photo was obtained by WRAL-TV and showed numerous strips of painter's tape over the boy's mouth all the way up to his eyes.

“I asked, ‘What is that? Who did that?’” Webster told WRAL. “And, he didn’t respond.”

Webster says her son can be a class clown and very talkative, but she says taping his mouth shut was an inappropriate way to deal with him.

She says that the school began an investigation after she told LaShunda Faisonm, the school's principal. The boy indicated that it was not the first time the teacher had taped his mouth shut and also that the teacher had done so to other students. He also said that the teacher had tied students' wrists together with the painter's tape.

Johnston County Public Schools said that the teacher resigned several days after the incident was reported.

The district released a statement about the incident.

“Johnston County Public Schools takes any allegations of staff misconduct seriously," the district said.

"Although we cannot discuss the specifics of an investigation into alleged staff misconduct, we can confirm that whenever such allegations arise, our administration responds swiftly, by investigating the allegations and, sometimes, by removing staff from classrooms pending completion of a thorough review," the statement continued. “School administrators are always able and willing to speak with any and all parents who may have concerns regarding any issue that occurs.”

The school said that the teacher had been recently hired in August.

Police told WRAL that there was not enough evidence to press charges against the former teacher, despite there being other accusations from separate parents.

“I want to know who is going to be held accountable, so this doesn’t happen again,” Webster said.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

Mother says her son's mouth was taped by Johnston County Schools teacher www.youtube.com

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A Detroit man has been accused of committing a rash of horrific crimes last summer after he had been arrested on other violent charges. A subsequent investigation then tied him to a murdered body discovered just days earlier.

Early last June, Zlayiah Frazier told police that her ex-boyfriend, Jonathan Welch, had brutally attacked her. Frazier claimed that Welch had burned her arms and legs, strangled her repeatedly, threatened her with a drill, and attempted to sexually assault her with an instrument. On June 12, Welch was charged with torture, using a harmful device to cause personal injury, first-degree home invasion, third-degree criminal sexual conduct, and assault with intent to commit penetration. Despite those heinous charges, Welch was soon released after paying 10% of his $100,000 bond.

Within weeks, Welch had allegedly murdered Frazier. He then barricaded himself inside the Harper Woods home belonging to his mother, Flossie Nicole Bray, and her husband, Robert Bray Jr. While inside the Brays' home, Welch reportedly murdered his stepfather and then stabbed his mother before she ran to a neighbor's house for help.

"I said, ‘Who stabbed you?'" neighbor Ruth Tabone recalled. "She said, 'My son, he's stabbing everyone in the house.'"

Meanwhile, Welch remained inside the Bray home. He reportedly fired at SWAT team members who had come to arrest him, poured gasoline inside the residence, and then lit it on fire. After a lengthy standoff, he exited the home and surrendered to the authorities. His mother eventually died from her injuries.

"They should have never let him out of jail," said Breonna, the sister of Welch's ex-girlfriend.

Breonna is not the only one to make that argument. Less than two weeks before the murder of Breonna's sister and the Brays, the dead body of 24-year-old Natayla Morse was discovered on Detroit's east side. Morse had died of "blunt force trauma" to her head.

Unfortunately, Welch was named the suspect in Morse's murder only after the deaths of Welch's ex-girlfriend, mother, and stepfather. Wayne County prosecutors believe that in the weeks before those three murders, Welch murdered Morse, stole her car, and then set it on fire. Welch was arraigned in connection to Morse's murder on Thursday.

Morse's sister, Aaliyah, claimed that she had never seen Welch before and did not believe her sister knew him. "Honestly, it kind of doesn’t really make any sense how [Morse and Welch] have any connection whatsoever," Aaliyah said.

"Did he deserve a bond? No. Especially that low," Aaliyah said about Welch's release from custody after the attack against Frazier, his ex-girlfriend. "It’s absurd. I’m honestly speechless."

Frazier's sister, Breonna, had even stronger words for the suspect. "You need to go to hell," Breonna said. "Burn in hell."

Welch is scheduled to appear in court in connection to the other three murders on Friday.

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A Washington state homeowner was stunned to find that a 24-year-old man was living in the attic of his property after he smelled cigarette smoke and noticed that he was missing some items in the house.

The unidentified homeowner called police on Monday after he followed the scent of the smoke and discovered signs of a person living in a loft area of a building on his property.

"They found a makeshift bed, clothes that didn't belong to them, food that was halfway eaten, drug paraphernalia, a heater turned on upstairs," police said in their report.

He also reported that he was missing about $3,000 along with his passport and a wallet with bank cards and a license.

Police removed the items in the attic and told the homeowner that whoever was living there would likely return.

Their prediction was correct.

On Tuesday, police were called after the homeowner said someone had locked him out of the building. When police responded, they found Daniel Tomoiaga inside the property with all of the items that he had allegedly stolen from the homeowner.

Police were able to arrest Tomoiaga after spending half an hour to get him out of the home and said they found fentanyl and meth on him.

He was booked into the Snohomish County Jail and charged with second-degree theft, residential burglary and knowingly possessing fentanyl and methamphetamine. He was given a $25,000 bail by a judge.

Police said Tomoiaga was well known to them and had a long criminal past, including nine felonies and misdemeanors. Among those was a charge for trespassing just two weeks prior to the newest incident. He was first charged as a ten-year-old for theft.

Here's a local news report about the incident:

Man found living in Washington homeowner's attic after residents smelled cigarette smoke www.youtube.com

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More than a dozen House Republicans have signed onto a letter calling for an appropriations bill to include language to prohibit funds from being used to enforce a Medicare and Medicaid-related COVID-19 vaccine mandate.

"As you draft the upcoming Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for FY 2024, we request that you include language in your bill that would defund COVID-19 vaccine mandates," the letter declares.

The letter is directed to House Appropriations Committee chair Kay Granger (R-TX), Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-Ct.), and Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies subcommittee chair Robert Aderholt (R-AL).

A copy of the letter was provided to TheBlaze by Nate Madden, communications director and strategic advisor for GOP Rep. Chip Roy of Texas.

The lawmakers specifically ask for the inclusion of language to block funding for a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule.

"None of the funds provided under this Act to the Department of Health and Human Services, or provided under a previous or subsequent appropriations Act to such department, or provided from any account in the Treasury of the United States derived by the collection of fees available to such department, may be used to enforce the rule titled 'Medicare and Medicaid Programs; Omnibus COVID-19 Health Care Staff Vaccination', which was issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services on November 5, 2021, or any substantially similar rule," the suggested language reads.

"Congress holds the power of the purse and must take every step possible to defund these tyrannical mandates once and for all," the letter declares. "Again, we are asking that you include language that specifies that none of the funds appropriated shall be used for enforcing COVID-19 vaccine mandates."

The GOP lawmakers who signed the letter include Reps. Chip Roy of Texas, Jeff Duncan of South Carolina, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Mary Miller of Illinois, Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Claudia Tenney of New York, Dan Bishop of North Carolina, Andy Ogles of Tennessee, Glenn Grothman of Wisconsin, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Kat Cammack of Florida, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Daniel Webster of Florida, Eli Crane of Arizona, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Bill Huizenga of Michigan, Scott DesJarlais of Tennessee, Troy Nehls of Texas, and Bob Good of Virginia.

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A Florida principal was forced to resign following a controversy surrounding a school lesson revolving around Michelangelo's "David" statue.

Tallahassee Classical School principal Hope Carrasquilla was reportedly given a choice of being fired or resigning following outrage by parents over a recent art lesson that included Michelangelo's iconic "David" statue and his "Creation of Adam" fresco painting.

Some parents were upset that the 6th-grade art lesson on March 17 included the nude Renaissance sculpture. One parent called the 16th-century sculpture "pornographic," according to the Tallahassee Democrat.

The Tallahassee Classical School instituted a rule in February requiring teachers to provide parents with at least a one-week advanced notice of lesson plans that include sensitive topics, words, or images. Then parents can decide if they want their child to participate in the class.

Carrasquilla admitted that a notice should have gone out, but the letter didn't go to parents due to a "series of miscommunications."

Carrasquilla said one parent was "point-blank upset" and "felt her child should not be viewing those pieces."

"One parent, she was so upset, she was the one who said it was pornographic and shouldn’t happen,” Carrasquilla told WCTV. "The other two, as soon as the art teacher and I called them, were appreciative and said they wished we had sent out the letter. Unfortunately that didn’t end the situation."

The school held an emergency meeting a few days after the controversial class, and Carrasquilla was given the option to resign or be fired by the school board’s chair, Barney Bishop. Carrasquilla — who had only been principal at the school for less than a year — decided to resign.

Carrasquilla said the art teacher who gave the controversial lesson was required to write an apology letter to parents but was not disciplined by her or the school board. Bishop said it would be up to the new principal if any disciplinary action is taken against the art teacher.

Bishop told HuffPost that the nude sculpture controversy was not the sole reason for breaking ties with Carrasquilla but did not offer specific issues.

Carrasquilla said, "Over time he didn’t like the way I did, or didn’t do, certain things. I was a new principal in the beginning of the year. I didn’t know."

"It saddens me that my time here had to end this way," Carrasquilla remarked.

Bishop accused Carrasquilla of trying to "gin up a lot of publicity" by going public with her situation.

Bishop said the remote learning during the pandemic allowed parents to get a firsthand view of their children's education.

"Parental rights trump everything else," Bishop said. "They didn’t like the woke indoctrination that was going on."

Bishop noted, "We don’t use pronouns. We don’t teach CRT and we don’t ever mention 1619 — those are not appropriate subjects for our kids."

"Parents have left public schools because they don’t like what’s being taught in those schools, those parents come to our school because it’s a [choice] that they make," Bishop proclaimed.

The Tallahassee Classical School "joined the Barney Charter School Initiative, an outreach of Hillsdale College" in 2017. Hillsdale is a conservative Christian institution.

Carrasquilla noted the lesson was part of an existing Hillsdale College curriculum.

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A nuclear power plant in Minnesota temporarily shut down for repairs on Friday after officials discovered that radioactive material was leaking into the groundwater.

At least 400,000 gallons of water contaminated with radioactive tritium have leaked from Xcel Energy's nuclear power plant in Monticello, which sits along the Mississippi River. The leak was first made public last week. But the plant was forced to shut down after monitoring equipment detected more radioactive water had leaked.

From Minnesota Public Radio:

Tritium is a mildly radioactive form of hydrogen that occurs naturally in the environment but also during nuclear power production. It mixes with oxygen to produce radioactive water. State and federal officials say it’s hazardous only if ingested in large quantities.

After the initial discovery last November, Xcel Energy installed a container to catch the contaminated water, a statement from Xcel Energy said. Though it was meant to be a "short-term solution," it was discovered this week that the container had spilled over.

This time, only "hundreds of gallons" of contaminated water spilled into the environment, the company said.

"Ongoing monitoring from over two dozen on-site monitoring wells confirms that the leaked water remains fully contained on-site and has not been detected beyond the facility or in any local drinking water," Xcel Energy explained in a statement.

As of Thursday, Xcel Energy had cleaned up about 32% of the leaked radioactive water. The company said the leak does not pose a threat to the environment or residents.

The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and Minnesota Department of Health corroborated the assessment, saying there is "no evidence at this point to indicate a current or imminent risk to the public and will continue to monitor groundwater samples."

Chris Clark, president of Xcel Energy's operations in Minnesota and the Dakotas, said that while it was not exactly clear what caused the leak, the pipe responsible for the spill will be removed and sent to a laboratory for testing.

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A 17-year-old male is accused of using a ticket-issuing machine to repeatedly pummel a Long Island Rail Road conductor in the face earlier this week.

What's more, a second conductor who tried to help was also hit in the face and "thrown around the train," one authority said. Both victims were hospitalized.

What are the details?

The suspect was riding through Brooklyn around 10:40 a.m. Wednesday when two conductors asked him for his ticket, the New York Daily News reported, citing Metropolitan Transportation Authority police.

The teen allegedly refused and took a ticket-issuing machine from one conductor and started hitting him in the face with it, Long Island News 12 said.

News 12 used the following clip in its video report on the attack:

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— (@)

The conductor tried to defend himself but suffered multiple face fractures, Anthony Simon, chairman of the union that represents conductors, told News 12.

"Then the assistant conductor came in and tried to help, then he got hit five or six times in the face as well and thrown around the train," Simon added to News 12.

Image source: Twitter video screenshot via @von_henrich

Both victims were treated for their injuries at a hospital and then released, News 12 said, adding that one conductor is from Long Island and the other is from Queens.

Police told News 12 the suspect fled the train at the East New York station but was arrested shortly after and charged with two counts of felony assault in the second degree and one count of robbery in the second degree.

The Daily News said it was unclear Thursday if the suspect will be treated as an adult or a juvenile.

“Assaulting conductors who are doing their jobs helping riders get to jobs, health care, and other places they need to go is intolerable, outrageous, and will result in aggressive investigation,” MTA Police chief John Mueller said in a statement, according to the paper.

Mueller added, "Having made a rapid arrest, it is now up to prosecutors to ensure the law is enforced so this violent perpetrator faces consequences, and the victims receive the justice they deserve," according to News 12.

Simon also demanded the teen’s prosecution, the Daily News said: “Two of our conductors were brutally attacked just doing their jobs trying to collect fares on the Atlantic Branch. These assaults must be prosecuted to the fullest extent possible and a ban imposed to send a clear message to all riders that assaulting our members will not be tolerated.”

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