Month: September 2021

Federal Judges Block Tennessee’s School Mask Opt-Out in 2 More Counties

Federal judges granted injunctions on Sept. 24 in two more Tennessee counties against the enforcement of Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order requiring that school districts allow parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates. The two U.S. District Court judges blocked Lee’s order from being enforced in Knox and Williamson counties, as…


Federal Judges Block Tennessee’s School Mask Opt-Out in Two More Counties

Federal judges on Sept. 24 granted injunctions in two more Tennessee counties against the enforcement of Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s executive order, which required school districts to allow parents to opt their children out of school mask mandates. The two U.S. District Court judges blocked Lee’s order from being enforced in Knox County, Williamson County,…


Shapps Defends Foreign HGV Driver Plan and Blames Haulage Group for Fuel Queues

British Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has defended his foreign visa plans to solve the heavy goods vehicle (HGV) driver shortage as he accused a haulage group of sparking petrol station queues. Shapps said the queues and closures at fuel stations were a “manufactured situation” created by the Road Haulage Association (RHA) leaking comments from BP…


Foreign HGV Driver Visa Plan ‘Insufficient’ to Fix Christmas Supply Chain Issues: UK Government Warned

The UK government’s plans to offer 5,000 three-month visas for foreign lorry drivers are “insufficient” to address supply issues in the lead up to Christmas, according to business groups. The government has announced a temporary visa scheme that will see 5,000 heavy goods vehicle (HGV) drivers and 5,500 poultry workers allowed to take up employment…


Video: Squirrel Enjoys Listening to a Professor of Music Practice His Saxophone at a Park

A heartwarming video of a squirrel watching attentively as a professor of music at Oklahoma Christian University practices his saxophone at a park has tugged at netizens’ heartstrings. “He acted like a little person and really seemed like he liked the music I was playing,” Heath Jones, 51, told The Epoch Times via email. Jones,…


Fashionable Contempt

Commentary Twenty-five years ago, I heard for the first time of a fact that in the last few years has become a central feature in American life. A few months before, I had left academia to work as a low-level political appointment at the National Endowment for the Arts in the Bush administration. I hadn’t…


Avoiding Secession Through an Amendments Convention

Commentary The national divide has gotten so deep that even the brilliant Roger Simon has broached the subject of succession: “I never thought I’d be writing about secession or anything close. Not in a million years,” he wrote. After reciting his love of country, Simon continues, “But the times being what they are and the…


Shen Yun Leaves Deep, Powerful Impression

HOUSTON, Texas—Like many audience members, Simon and Claudia Tanner were left deep in thought after two hours of wonderful artistry by Shen Yun Performing Arts. “I really enjoyed the performance, the depth of it, the spirituality,” Claudia Tanner said of her Shen Yun experience. She said that the performance hit on “a lot of deep…


Lavrov Says Russian Government Not Involved in Mali Deal With Private Russian Military Company

UNITED NATIONS—Mali has asked a private Russian military company to help it fight against terrorists, Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday at the United Nations. Mali’s year-old military junta is close to a deal to recruit the Russian private military contractors the Wagner Group, sources have told Reuters, triggering opposition from France, which…


At Least 3 Dead, Multiple Injured After Amtrak Train Derails in Montana

At least three people have been declared dead and multiple injured after an Amtrak train derailed on Saturday afternoon in North-Central Montana, an official at a local sheriff’s office said. The Empire Builder train, which departed from Chicago for Seattle, derailed around 3:55 p.m. local time near the small town of Joplin, Amtrak spokesman Jason…