Aggregator

George Lombard Jr. continues to prove himself capable against MLB’s elite.

Australian Police confirmed to The California Post that Ruby Rose had formally completed a police report tied to explosive sexual assault claims tied to Katy Perry.

Virginia Governor Pushes Amendments On Gun Legislation Amid DOJ Warning

Authored by Michael Clements via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger wants the Commonwealth’s General Assembly to shore up what she sees as shortcomings in gun control bills it sent to her after its regular session.

Semi-automatic and fully automatic firearms, including some that were modified using 3D printed parts, at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) National Services Center in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on Sept. 4, 2024. Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images

Spanberger has requested amendments to clarify a bill banning so-called “assault weapons” and add universal background checks to a bill that raises the age to purchase a handgun or assault weapon from 18 to 21.

She also requested an amendment to clarify that rendering a gun inoperable with a gun lock will meet the safe storage requirements in the new law, and to clarify that the purpose of gun sell-back programs is “to provide Virginians who choose to safely return a firearm in their possession with a safe process to do so.”

The General Assembly is scheduled to reconvene and consider Spanberger’s amendments on April 22.

HB217, a ban on certain types of semiautomatic rifles, pistols, and shotguns, is one of the most closely watched bills in the gun legislation package, including by federal officials.

Harmeet Dhillon, assistant attorney general in charge of the Department of Justice’s (DOJ’s) Civil Rights Division, warned Spanberger to reconsider the gun control bills, especially the ban, in a letter dated April 10.

Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon speaks during a news conference at the Justice Department in Washington on Sept. 29, 2025. Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

“The Civil Rights Division will commence litigation in the event the Commonwealth of Virginia enacts certain bills that unconstitutionally limit law-abiding Americans’ individual right to bear arms,” the letter reads.

According to a statement from Spanberger’s office, the amendment for HB217 is to “provide additional clarity to law enforcement as it relates to the firearms included under this legislation, as well as protect the use of certain semi-automatic shotguns used for hunting.”

Under the new law, it would be illegal to import, sell, manufacture, purchase, or transfer an assault firearm as defined in the law, beginning July 1.

It defines an assault weapon as any semiautomatic rifle, shotgun, or pistol with a collapsible, telescoping, or thumbhole stock, a bayonet lug or grenade launcher, a magazine that holds more than 15 rounds, a second handgrip, or a threaded barrel to install a flash suppressor, muzzle brake, or compensator, among other things.

Those legally purchased before July 1 are grandfathered. However, the owners can only transfer them to licensed gun dealers outside the state, or to family members through private sale, gifting, or as part of an inheritance.

According to the DOJ letter, the U.S. Supreme Court has already opined that the AR-15 is “both widely legal and bought by many ordinary consumers.”

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger delivers the Democratic response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address in Williamsburg, Va., on Feb. 24, 2026. Mike Kropf/Getty Images

HB1525 raises the minimum age to buy a handgun or assault weapon from 18 to 21. It also restores universal background checks in Virginia. The law includes exceptions for students in ROTC or law enforcement training.

The amendments direct the Virginia State Police to resume background checks for private sales and to align the checks with HB217.

Additionally, the amendments include an emergency clause to implement the law upon action by the General Assembly.

HB702 would allow local law enforcement to develop policies and procedures to institute firearm buy-back or give-back programs by Jan. 1, 2028, and each year thereafter. Spanberger’s amendment is to ensure gun owners have a safe way to dispose of their firearms if they want to.

Spanberger signed bills banning unserialized guns and components, often called ghost guns, setting tighter regulations on firearms businesses, and two laws concerning possession of firearms by people under court orders, on April 10.

More Than 20 Bills Passed

These bills are among more than 20 gun control bills passed by the Virginia General Assembly during its regular session.

They include prohibitions on carrying guns on the Capitol grounds or within 100 feet of polling places or buildings used by election boards, and setting requirements for storing firearms in a home where children are present.

HB969 directs the secretary of public safety to study establishing a Virginia Gun Violence Prevention Center. Several states have set up similar offices modeled on the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention established under the Biden administration.

That office was closed on President Donald Trump’s second day in office.

In her statement, Spanberger said she supports the Second Amendment. She wrote that the new laws are about keeping Virginians safe.

“I support the Second Amendment. But gun violence is the leading cause of death for children and teenagers in America, and that should motivate all of us to ask ourselves what we can do to mitigate this harm,” Spanberger wrote.

Democrats passed similar gun control packages in the past two years, but then-Republican Gov. Glen Youngkin vetoed those bills.

In November 2025, Democrats took control of the General Assembly and the governor’s office. California, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, and Washington state have similar bans.

Tyler Durden Tue, 04/14/2026 - 23:25

For several seconds, nothing appeared before the truck was able to slate a “TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES” banner on the screen. 

Western Australia Establishes Strategic Fuel Reserve

Australia is facing a historic energy crisis with much of its gulf-sourced energy facing not one but two blockades. But at least some parts of the country are doing something about it, even if it is too little, too late. 

Western Australia will establish its own strategic reserves of diesel fuel to ease “acute shortages,” the state’s government said.

As Bloomberg reports, the government signed a deal with Cambridge Gulf to buy and store 4 million liters of diesel, which is expected to arrive in the coming weeks, according to a statement. The inventory may be expanded to 12 million liters, which should be enough to last the local infrastructure at least a few days. 

The move comes as the war in Iran and resulting blockades of the Strait of Hormuz hampered global oil flows, with panic buying in Australia leading to fuel shortages. Australia has a far bigger national fuel reserve, which included more than 2.8 billion liters of diesel as of April 7, but much of that is located on the nation’s east coast — thousands of miles away from Western Australia.

Read More: Are Australia’s Low Fuel Reserves Cause for Concern?: Explainer

Western Australia consumes a high amount of diesel due to its large mining and agricultural industries. Gas stations around the state have reported shortages, though just 18 of the 771 stations did so in the week to April 10, down from 61 in the prior period.

Western Australia is the country’s biggest producer of wheat and is home to vast mining operations including iron ore and gold, with Sanderson estimating the state accounts for 25% of the nation’s diesel consumption. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is due to visit more Southeast Asian nations this week in an effort to shore up fuel supplies as the Iran war shows no signs of abating.

“This would be solely for West Australians and be directed at the discretion of the state government to areas that need it most,” Energy Minister Amber-Jade Sanderson said at a press conference on Sunday, adding that more details would be provided in the coming days and weeks. The reserve would hold “millions of liters” and use “capacity in the existing distribution network,” she said.

“We have made real progress in the last month to address supply issues across regional areas, but we need to be prepared for the months ahead,” Sanderson said in a follow up statement Monday. “This strategic stockpile will give WA a source of fuel under its direct control - providing much needed flexibility as we continue to navigate this global issue.”

Establishing a strategic reserve is a “sensible move,” said Aaron Morey, chief executive officer of the Chamber of Minerals and Energy of Western Australia, adding that the CME was looking forward to continuing work with the government “on the design and implementation” of the mechanism.

The Western Australian Farmers Federation said that they proposed separate stockpiles at a roundtable with the government on March 10, according to a statement, adding that it would improve supply security for growers.

Tyler Durden Tue, 04/14/2026 - 23:00

See all the stars putting their best foot forward on the carpet.

See all the stars putting their best foot forward on the carpet.

Just what kind of challenge do the Knicks have on their hands?

The median monthly mortgage in LA came in at $6,240 a month compared to the median monthly rent cost of $2,819, according to the latest report from Construction Coverage.

The sicko was arrested in 2024 after a 10-year-old girl reported his inappropriate touching of her, which began when she was just 4.

The Heat lost big man Bam Adebayo in the second quarter of their play-in tournament game.

The bell rang for Round 2 to begin and only the Angels came out punching.

Shaknovsky allegedly requested staff to label the liver as a “spleen” and send it to pathology.

A new sexual assault allegation against former Congressman Eric Swalwell is now under active investigation by the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, according to an official statement released Tuesday.

Francisco Lindor checked off his first RBI and home run in one fell swoop.

A heavily armed Glendale man, Sean Steiner, is facing multiple felony firearm charges.

The U.S. military launched a strike on another boat accused of carrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Tuesday, killing four people in the fourth such attack announced in the past few days.

The former co-stars posed for cozy pics on the red carpet together.

The former co-stars posed for cozy pics on the red carpet together.

The gov has floated imposing a yearly surcharge on second homes in New York City that are worth $5 million and more, dubbed a pied-à-terre tax, which is aimed at the ultra-wealthy.