Two uniformed service members stand at the door.Inside the military community, that moment has a name: “the knock.”When a U.S. service member dies, casualty notification teams deliver the news no family ever wants to receive. For the families who answer that door, life instantly divides into before and after.In the hours that follow, casualty officers guide survivors through the formal processes of military loss, notifications, benefits, memorial services and burial honors.But after the ceremonies end and the headlines fade, the grief is only beginning.For more than three decades, the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) has quietly stepped in to help…

When a legislative measure has a nickname with the word “killer” in it, that’s usually not a good sign. Such is the case with L.D. 1821 currently under consideration in the Maine legislature. The measure, called the “FFL Killer” bill by the National Rifle Association, is eligible for a vote on the House floor, despite receive an “ought not pass” vote in committee last month. According to a legislative update from NRA’s Institute for Legislative Action (NRA-ILA), the measure purports to ensure responsible business practices by licensed firearms dealers, but does little more than impose costly burdens on already highly…

This article was originally published by Tyler Durden at ZeroHedge under the title: Iran Says ‘No Room’ for Talks As US Seeks To ‘Partition Country, Take Oil’ – New Hardline Ayatollah Takes Command Summary: Younger, reportedly more ‘hardline’ Ayatollah takes command as regime stability continues: Military and political elites have pledged allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei, who replaces his slain father as supreme leader and is viewed as a figure favored by the IRGC. Offramp, or more global shock & pain ahead? Trump, after seeing oil prices: Short-term oil prices, which will drop rapidly when the destruction of the Iran nuclear threat is…

While the outdoor economy is still growing, it’s going a bit slower than in previous years. Make no mistake: outdoor recreation is mega-popular in the U.S. and continues to expand. Unadjusted for inflation, the outdoor industry represented $696.7 billion of the nation’s gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, according to data released last week by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. In raw dollars, that’s $1.3 trillion in economic output from spending on the most popular outdoor activities, including boating, RVing, and hunting. However, the industry grew by only 2.7% compared to 2023, when the industry saw a 5.3% increase. Perhaps…

Thousands of mourners of the late Reverend Jesse Jackson packed inside the House of Hope Chicago church, to say farewell to the civil rights icon on Friday. The church was brimming with dignitaries, including former Presidents Bill Clinton, Barack Obama and Joseph Biden, as well as former Vice President Kamala Harris, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, and a host of other local, state and federal leaders. But in the crowd, stood retired Sgt. Major Hal P. McKinley of Indianapolis, Indiana, who came to pay his personal respect to the man he called “an inspiration.”“I had to be here, first because…

Images by the author. (Yes, I left the paper “brand band” on the handguard.) I am no stranger to Smith and Wesson’s folding pistol carbine line. I reviewed two others, a good while ago, in .22LR and 10mm. They were well-built, effective firearms. So, it was no surprise that when they introduced the FPC in 5.7×28, I wanted to see it.  It did not disappoint. Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s look at the specifications. Specifications and Features Width: 2.5 in Length: 30.4 in Height: 8 in Weight: 65.2 oz (4 lbs., 2 oz) Caliber: 5.7x28mm Size: Rifle Capacity:…

Obviously, Idaho’s resort skiing and snowboarding get a lot of attention, yet the state offers plenty of backcountry access and more winter activities for enjoying its winter landscapes. There’s also nightlife to consider, whether that’s top-notch stargazing or enjoying a meal with friends or family. Below, we highlight some of the state’s best-known spots and quieter retreats. No matter your preferred style of winter fun, Idaho winters are full of adventures that are worth the chill. Explore Idaho Winter Sports Part of Sun Valley’s appeal is the balance of terrain across its 2,000 acres; (photo/Visit Idaho) Diverse Terrain for Every…

We want more people shooting. We want more people in key government roles who are truly pro-gun, who take our gun rights as seriously as we do. So, it was with a great deal of joy that I saw that Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon went to the gun range this weekend. As head of the civil rights division, she’s been a key ally in taking on oppressive gun control laws at the state and local level. I could make the argument that just about everything good we’ve seen out of the Department of Justice…

ELIZABETHTOWN, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky man who joined the Army straight out of high school is the seventh U.S. service member to die in combat during the Iran war, the Pentagon announced Monday. Army Sgt. Benjamin N. Pennington, 26, of Glendale, Kentucky, died Sunday after being wounded during a March 1 attack on the Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia, a Pentagon statement said. Mike Bell, retired pastor of Glendale Christian Church, said he’d known Pennington since he was a toddler and got a call from Pennington’s father when the soldier was hurt. “I talked to Tim Saturday morning,…

United States ruler Donald Trump claims that Iran bombed its own school during the U.S. strike on Minab. This claim goes against investigative reports that the U.S. ruling class was likely responsible for leveling the school. The strike on an Iranian school that killed 175 people, most of them children, and now Trump is claiming it was an Iranian missile that hit the school. U.S. Strikes Iranian School Killing At Least168 Children and Staff According to a report by RT, investigations by the Associated Press, CNN, the New York Times, and the Washington Post concluded that the U.S. was the…

Efforts to grow drilling on federal lands experienced a major setback in Wyoming last month. A district court judge ruled that the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) violated environmental law when it approved 5,000 oil wells spanning 1.5 million acres in the state. In a win for environmental groups, the BLM has to go back to the drawing board to continue this project. The Plan In 2020, the BLM, led by then–Department of the Interior Secretary David Bernhardt, announced that it had approved the Converse County Oil and Gas Project to develop 5,000 new oil and natural gas wells in…

The Golden Row is a ski traverse in Tromsø, Norway, that consists of three peaks and three ski descents — and it ain’t a cakewalk by any measure. That’s what drew extreme backcountry skier and filmmaker Nikolai Schirmer to attempt it. In the winter of 2024/25, he and three other skiers set out to complete this infamously brutal ski route. It claimed drones, ski bindings, and even several of the athletes along the way. Only two of the original four completed the route. But the rewards for those who did were huge: massive descents, incredible powder, and bragging rights that won’t…