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Tag: Craig Huber

  • Death toll in mass shooting, arson fire at Michigan church rises to 4

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    GRAND BLANC, Mich. — Police say four people are dead and eight injured following a shooting and arson fire Sunday morning at a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, Michigan. Two of the victims were fatally shot, and the remains of two others were found in the wreckage of the church.

    What You Need To Know

    • Four people are dead and eight injured following a shooting and fire at a church in Grand Blanc, Mich., Sunday morning 

    • Police said the suspect, a 40-year-old man from neighboring Burton, Mich., drove his vehicle into the front of the church, exited, and opened fire

    • At some point, the suspect set the church on fire. Police killed the suspect in the parking lot at 10:33 a.m. 

    • As of 5 p.m. Sunday, seven victims had been stabilized and one remained in critical condition 

    Police said it appears the suspect drove his vehicle into the church during service and opened fire. At some point, the church was set on fire. There were hundreds of people inside the church at the time. Investigators say it appears the suspect used an accelerant, likely gasoline, to start the blaze. 

    Two police officers engaged with the suspect, shooting and killing him. The suspect was identified as 40-year-old Thomas Sanford, of Burton, Mich. Police said he was armed with a rifle. Police said the suspect’s home and cellphone records will be searched. The FBI is speaking to victims and witnesses. 

    The injured victims were treated at nearby Henry Ford Genesys.

    Speaking at a news conference Sunday night, Grand Blanc Township Police Chief William Renye praised the bravery and quick action of first responders and members of the church. 

    “I’d also like to acknowledge the heroism of not only the first responders, but the people who were inside that church at the time. They were shielding the children who are also present within the church, moving them to safety,” he said. 

    Police received a call about the shooting at 10:25 a.m. Police were at the scene within a minute, and the suspect was killed in the church’s parking lot at 10:33 a.m.  

    Reuben Coleman, acting special agent in charge of FBI Detroit field office, said the bureau is investigating the shooting and fire as an “act of targeted violence.”

    “This act of violence has no place in our state or anywhere else in our country. The FBI is committed to continue finding out the facts, circumstances and motives behind this tragedy,” he said. 

    Authorities said they also investigated a series of bomb threats made to other locations, some of them churches. Those locations were cleared. 

    The church is located at 4285 McCandlish Road. Grand Blanc is located near Flint.

    An offsite reunification was set up at NCG Cinema — Grand Blanck Trillium, located at 9220 Trillium Circle Ave. 

    Grand Blanc Community schools canceled classes for Monday. 

    Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer released a statement saying her heart is breaking over the shooting. 

    Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich., released the following statement: 

    “This is horrifying. I will continue to monitor as more information is available and am prepared to support the community however possible. Grateful for the courage and quick actions of the first responders.”

    Vice President JD Vance asked for prayers for the victims and first responders. 

    President Donald Trump issued the following statement:

    “I have been briefed on the horrendous shooting that took place at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in Grand Blanc, Michigan. The FBI was immediately on scene, and will be leading the Federal investigation, and providing full support to State and Local Officials. The suspect is dead, but there is still a lot to learn. This appears to be yet another targeted attack on Christians in the United States of America. The Trump Administration will keep the Public posted, as we always do. In the meantime, PRAY for the victims, and their families. THE EPIDEMIC OF VIOLENCE IN OUR COUNTRY MUST END, IMMEDIATELY!” 

    Henry Ford Health released the following statement: 

    “Henry Ford Genesys Hospital is caring for patients injured in the tragic shooting and fire at a nearby church. Our hearts go out to our patients, their families, and the community—including the people worshiping when the tragic act of violence occurred. 

    “Our team has cared for 9 people injured in the shooting and fire so far.  Our hospital is fully staffed with experienced caregivers, and we are grateful to our team members who continue to care for all our patients at Henry Ford Genesys Hospital. Counselors and spiritual care are available to provide confidential support and counseling services for our patients and team members.” 

    Stay with Spectrum News for updates on the breaking story.

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    Craig Huber

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  • Texas sues Biden admin. to stop expansion of Title IX protections

    Texas sues Biden admin. to stop expansion of Title IX protections

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    TEXAS — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton on Monday announced he has sued the Biden administration to stop the expansion of the gender equity law known as Title IX.

    What You Need To Know

    • Texas Attorney Generla Ken Paxton has sued the Biden administration over the expansion of the gender equity law known as Title IX

    • The changes were announced last week and are set to take effect in August 

    • According to the Department of Education, the update prohibits discrimination “based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics in federally funded education programs” 

    • Paxton, in a news release announcing the lawsuit, said “Texas will not allow Joe Biden to rewrite Title IX at whim, destroying legal protections for women in furtherance of his radical obsession with gender ideology”

    The Biden administration last week detailed changes to Title IX that add protections for transgender, LGBTQ+ and pregnant students to federal civil rights law on sex-based discrimination. Those changes are set to take effect in August.

    Also set to change is a Trump-era guidance on how schools should handle cases of sexual assault.

    Specifically, according to a Department of Education fact sheet, the update prohibits discrimination “based on sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics in federally funded education programs.” That includes protections for transgender students.

    Paxton, in a news release announcing the lawsuit, characterized the changes as an attack on women.

    “Texas will not allow Joe Biden to rewrite Title IX at whim, destroying legal protections for women in furtherance of his radical obsession with gender ideology,” Paxton said. “This attempt to subvert federal law is plainly illegal, undemocratic, and divorced from reality. Texas will always take the lead to oppose Biden’s extremist, destructive policies that put women at risk.”

    Paxton said America First Legal is serving as co-counsel. It’s president, Stephen Miller, who was senior adviser to former President Donald Trump, said the update will force women and girls to share locker rooms and bathrooms with assigned males at birth.

    “America First Legal is honored to stand with the great Ken Paxton and the State of Texas in filing this emergency lawsuit to stop Biden’s war on women. Biden’s new Title IX regulation is a vile obscenity: it forces women and girls to share locker rooms and restrooms with men,” Miller wrote.

    The 1,577-page regulation finalized last week seeks to clarify Title IX, the 1972 sex discrimination law originally passed to address women’s rights.

    At least 11 states have adopted laws barring transgender girls and women from using girls’ and women’s bathrooms at public schools.

    The new regulation opposes those sweeping policies.

    It states that sex separation at schools isn’t always unlawful. However, the separation becomes a violation of Title IX’s nondiscrimination rule when it causes more than a very minor harm on a protected individual, “such as when it denies a transgender student access to a sex-separate facility or activity consistent with that student’s gender identity.”

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    Craig Huber

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  • Trump says Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ‘absolutely’ on VP shortlist

    Trump says Texas Gov. Greg Abbott ‘absolutely’ on VP shortlist

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    EAGLE PASS, Texas — Former President Donald Trump, during a visit to the Texas border town of Eagle Pass on Thursday, said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is “absolutely” on his shortlist of potential running mates in this year’s election.

    What You Need To Know

    • Former President Donald Trump, during an interview with Fox News from Eagle Pass, Texas, on Thursday, said Texas Gov. Greg Abbott is on his shortlist for vice president

    • “Yeah, certainly he would be somebody that I would very much consider,” Trump said

    • Abbott on Friday downplayed the idea, saying, “I’ve announced that I’m running for reelection two years from now, and so my commitment is to Texas, and I’m staying in Texas”

    • Abbott was not named during a recent town hall when Trump was asked about potential running mates

    There’s been a great deal of speculation about Abbott, the fiercest critic of the President Joe Biden’s border polices. Abbott, though, has largely remained mum about the possibility.

    Trump’s comments came during a joint interview with Abbott on Fox News. Sean Hannity asked the former president about the possibility, and Trump said “he’s done a great job. Yeah, certainly he would be somebody that I would very much consider.”

    “So he’s on the list?” Hannity asked.

    “Absolutely, he is,” Trump replied.

    According to the Texas Tribune, Abbott downplayed the possibility during a news conference on Friday.

    “Obviously it’s very nice of him to say, but I think you all know my focus is entirely on the state of Texas,” Abbott said. “As you know, I’m working right now on the midterm election process. I’ve already talked about that. I’ve announced that I’m running for reelection two years from now, and so my commitment is to Texas, and I’m staying in Texas.”

    Interestingly, Abbott was not mentioned by Trump about a week ago when he was asked about it during a Fox News town hall. At the time, he said his list included Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida Rep. Byron Donalds, former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy and South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott.

    The front-runner for the GOP nomination, Trump did not produce the names on his own but was rather presented them by town hall host Laura Ingraham, who said audience members suggested them. Ingraham then asked Trump, “Are they all on your shortlist?” Trump answered, “They are.”

    It’s possible other names could also be on Trump’s list. There has been speculation, too, surrounding New York Rep. Elise Stefanik, Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, among others.

    Trump, 77, said the most important quality he’s seeking in a running mate is someone who could be a great president if something happens to him.

    Abbott, 66, has served as governor of Texas since 2015. He was Texas attorney general from 2002 to 2015 and a justice of the Texas Supreme Court from 1996 to 2001.

    Spectrum News’ Ryan Chatelain contributed to this report.

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    Craig Huber

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