Friday, April 06, 2018
Minneapolis Schools Face $33M Deficit After City Paid $500M for NFL Stadium
Minneapolis Schools Face $33M Deficit After City Paid $500M for NFL Stadium:
"Teachers and staff of Minneapolis schools are expecting hundreds of layoffs due to a $33 million deficit only a few years after the city completed a taxpayer-funded $1.1 billion football stadium.
Minneapolis Public Schools — the state’s third largest district currently tasked with educating 36,000 young people — is expected to lay off 350-400 full time employees after last fall’s announcement that the education budget’s deficit had doubled for the following school year.
Teachers of many subjects are on the chopping block, including English and Math.
Social workers in charge of shepherding troubled students and security guards meant to provide protection during an event such as a mass shooting are also expected to be cut.
...Meanwhile, the taxpayer-funded US Bank Stadium hosted its first Super Bowl last month, with billionaire real estate tycoon and Vikings owner Zygi Wilf expected to reap $200 million from the new stadium each year in personal profits.
The city of Minneapolis budgeted a whopping $498 million of taxpayer money to aid in the construction of the stadium, as well as to the destruction of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which the new stadium replaced..."
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"Teachers and staff of Minneapolis schools are expecting hundreds of layoffs due to a $33 million deficit only a few years after the city completed a taxpayer-funded $1.1 billion football stadium.
Teachers of many subjects are on the chopping block, including English and Math.
Social workers in charge of shepherding troubled students and security guards meant to provide protection during an event such as a mass shooting are also expected to be cut.
...Meanwhile, the taxpayer-funded US Bank Stadium hosted its first Super Bowl last month, with billionaire real estate tycoon and Vikings owner Zygi Wilf expected to reap $200 million from the new stadium each year in personal profits.
The city of Minneapolis budgeted a whopping $498 million of taxpayer money to aid in the construction of the stadium, as well as to the destruction of the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, which the new stadium replaced..."
Read all!
You’ve Been Hoodwinked. (Perhaps.) | Sharyl Attkisson
You’ve Been Hoodwinked. (Perhaps.) | Sharyl Attkisson:
"If you watched the mash-up of Sinclair station anchors reading their national promo and were convinced it was something evil and nefarious, you’ve been hoodwinked.
Somehow, this was portrayed by leftists as “Turning news anchors into soldiers for Trump’s war on the media.” ...
"If you watched the mash-up of Sinclair station anchors reading their national promo and were convinced it was something evil and nefarious, you’ve been hoodwinked.
A few of you asked for my view on this continuing propaganda campaign put together by certain political interests and Sinclair’s competitors, as Sinclair seeks to close on a deal to buy Tribune companies.
From what I can tell, this issue breaks down along ideological lines, and minds are not likely to be swayed.
My friends on the far left are convinced that Sinclair anchors reading a national promo is Hitler-esque Orwellian brainwashing.
My friends on the far right are happy and hopeful that Sinclair might, indeed, be pushing conservative views.
Those in the middle don’t care or seem to think it’s much ado about nothing.
My friends on the far left are convinced that Sinclair anchors reading a national promo is Hitler-esque Orwellian brainwashing.
My friends on the far right are happy and hopeful that Sinclair might, indeed, be pushing conservative views.
Those in the middle don’t care or seem to think it’s much ado about nothing.
There’slegitimate debate to be heard on many topics surrounding media fairness and consolidation.
It’s obviously perfectly fine for you to disagree, but I find nothing to argue with in the nonpartisan, national Sinclair promos at issue.
(The text is printed at the end of this article. You can decide for yourself.)
In fact, I’ve heard many conservatives and liberals alike make these same points: That we have a problem with one-sided, false and biased news; that some reporters are pushing agendas; and that untrue stories are being published without proper fact checks.
These assertions are pretty indisputable, wherever you sit.
It’s obviously perfectly fine for you to disagree, but I find nothing to argue with in the nonpartisan, national Sinclair promos at issue.
(The text is printed at the end of this article. You can decide for yourself.)
In fact, I’ve heard many conservatives and liberals alike make these same points: That we have a problem with one-sided, false and biased news; that some reporters are pushing agendas; and that untrue stories are being published without proper fact checks.
These assertions are pretty indisputable, wherever you sit.
The promos go on to say that Sinclair stations are committed to factual reporting neither “left nor right.”
The anchors were even instructed not to wear blue or red, lest the colors be incorrectly interpreted as politically-charged in today’s environment. Somehow, this was portrayed by leftists as “Turning news anchors into soldiers for Trump’s war on the media.” ...
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Franklin Graham puts bull’s-eye on Target’s open restrooms
Franklin Graham puts bull’s-eye on Target’s open restrooms:
"“Why is anyone shocked? Target prides itself in its policy that allows biological men to use women’s restrooms. On Sunday in one of their Chicago-area stores, a man entered the ladies restroom and exposed himself to a little girl who was at the store shopping with her mom,” wrote Graham, the CEO of both the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association and the relief and development organization Samaritan’s Purse.
“Customers interviewed were right – it’s very sad. And it is so preventable. The American Family Association is calling for a boycott of Target stores – you can sign it at www.afa.net/target. Call the Target headquarters at 612-304-6073 and let them know that you think they should change their decision and make their restrooms safe again. And you can voice your concerns on the Target Facebook page.”"
“Customers interviewed were right – it’s very sad. And it is so preventable. The American Family Association is calling for a boycott of Target stores – you can sign it at www.afa.net/target. Call the Target headquarters at 612-304-6073 and let them know that you think they should change their decision and make their restrooms safe again. And you can voice your concerns on the Target Facebook page.”"
Detroit Land Bank accused of not paying demolition contractors
Detroit Land Bank accused of not paying demolition contractors
"Up to $8.7 million in payments have been delayed because of alleged issues in the agency.
Demolition contractors who have been working on the blighted homes project in Detroit have not been paid by the Detroit Lank Band Authority (DLB), a report by the Detroit Free Press says.
Up to $8.7 million has been delayed because of alleged issues stemming from within the agency.
Land bank officials rebuffed the claims in the report, but the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), with offices in Lansing and Detroit, said in a statement to the Free Press that the “backlog is currently in the DLB office in getting us invoices for review.”
The land bank is reimbursed by the state agency to pay contractors....
Detroit received $258 million in federal Hardest Hit Funds and has spent $144 million, the report says..."
Read on!
"Up to $8.7 million in payments have been delayed because of alleged issues in the agency.Demolition contractors who have been working on the blighted homes project in Detroit have not been paid by the Detroit Lank Band Authority (DLB), a report by the Detroit Free Press says.
Up to $8.7 million has been delayed because of alleged issues stemming from within the agency.
Land bank officials rebuffed the claims in the report, but the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA), with offices in Lansing and Detroit, said in a statement to the Free Press that the “backlog is currently in the DLB office in getting us invoices for review.”
The land bank is reimbursed by the state agency to pay contractors....
Detroit received $258 million in federal Hardest Hit Funds and has spent $144 million, the report says..."
Read on!
Howard students occupy admin building, demand disarming of police
Howard students occupy admin building, demand disarming of police
"Currently, there is no effective system in place for students to report misconduct and harmful behavior, such as the use of sexist, classist, colorist, queerphobic, ableist, and xenophobic language..."
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- Student protesters at Howard University have now been occupying an administration building for eight days following revelations that employees had stolen about $1 million in financial aid money.
- The students have issued a list of demands, calling on the university to disarm its campus police force and create a "grievance system" to report "sexist, classist, colorist, queerphobic, ableist, and xenophobic language."
- Student activists at Howard University are demanding that the school disarm its police force and create an “investigative body of students” to evaluate offensive language.
"Currently, there is no effective system in place for students to report misconduct and harmful behavior, such as the use of sexist, classist, colorist, queerphobic, ableist, and xenophobic language..."
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Judicial Watch: State Department Records Show Obama Administration Helped Fund George Soros’ Left-Wing Political Activities in Albania - Judicial Watch
Judicial Watch: State Department Records Show Obama Administration Helped Fund George Soros’ Left-Wing Political Activities in Albania - Judicial Watch:
"Judicial Watch obtained 32 pages of records showing the Obama administration sent U.S. taxpayers’ funds to a group backed by billionaire George Soros, which used the money to fund left-wing political activities in Albania, including working with the country’s socialist government to push for highly controversial judicial “reform.” The records also detail how the Soros operation helped the State Department review grant applications from other groups for taxpayer funding.
Older Americans Are Hooked On Vitamins Despite Scarce Evidence They Work | California Healthline
Older Americans Are Hooked On Vitamins Despite Scarce Evidence They Work | California Healthline
"When she was a young physician, Dr. Martha Gulati noticed that many of her mentors were prescribing vitamin E and folic acid to patients.
Preliminary studiesin the early 1990s had linked both supplements to a lower risk of heart disease.
Even worse, studies linked high-dose vitamin E to a higher risk of heart failure, prostate cancer and death from any cause.
"When she was a young physician, Dr. Martha Gulati noticed that many of her mentors were prescribing vitamin E and folic acid to patients.
Preliminary studiesin the early 1990s had linked both supplements to a lower risk of heart disease.
She urged her father to pop the pills as well: “Dad, you should be on these vitamins, because every cardiologist is taking them or putting their patients on [them],” recalled Gulati, now chief of cardiology for the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix.
But just a few years later, she found herself reversing course, after rigorous clinical trials found neither vitamin E nor folic acid supplements did anything to protect the heart. Even worse, studies linked high-dose vitamin E to a higher risk of heart failure, prostate cancer and death from any cause.
“‘You might want to stop taking [these],’” Gulati told her father..."
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Susan Pinker: The secret to living longer may be your social life | TED Talk
Susan Pinker: The secret to living longer may be your social life | TED Talk:
"The Italian island of Sardinia has more than six times as many centenarians as the mainland and ten times as many as North America.
Why?
According to psychologist Susan Pinker, it's not a sunny disposition or a low-fat, gluten-free diet that keeps the islanders healthy -- it's their emphasis on close personal relationships and face-to-face interactions.
Learn more about super longevity as Pinker explains what it takes to live to 100 and beyond."
"The Italian island of Sardinia has more than six times as many centenarians as the mainland and ten times as many as North America.
Why?
According to psychologist Susan Pinker, it's not a sunny disposition or a low-fat, gluten-free diet that keeps the islanders healthy -- it's their emphasis on close personal relationships and face-to-face interactions.
Learn more about super longevity as Pinker explains what it takes to live to 100 and beyond."
CDC Study: Use of Firearms for Self-Defense is ‘Important Crime Deterrent’
CDC Study: Use of Firearms for Self-Defense is ‘Important Crime Deterrent’
(CNSNews.com) – “Self-defense can be an important crime deterrent,”says a new report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
The $10 million study was commissioned by President Barack Obama as part of 23 executive orders he signed in January.
“Studies that directly assessed the effect of actual defensive uses of guns (i.e., incidents in which a gun was ‘used’ by the crime victim in the sense of attacking or threatening an offender) have found consistently lower injury rates among gun-using crime victims compared with victims who used other self-protective strategies,” the CDC study, entitled “Priorities For Research to Reduce the Threat of Firearm-Related Violence,” states.
The report, which notes that “ violent crimes, including homicides specifically, have declined in the past five years,” also pointed out that “some firearm violence results in death, but most does not.”
In fact, the CDC report said, most incidents involving the discharge of firearms do not result in a fatality..."
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(CNSNews.com) – “Self-defense can be an important crime deterrent,”says a new report by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC).
“Studies that directly assessed the effect of actual defensive uses of guns (i.e., incidents in which a gun was ‘used’ by the crime victim in the sense of attacking or threatening an offender) have found consistently lower injury rates among gun-using crime victims compared with victims who used other self-protective strategies,” the CDC study, entitled “Priorities For Research to Reduce the Threat of Firearm-Related Violence,” states.
The report, which notes that “ violent crimes, including homicides specifically, have declined in the past five years,” also pointed out that “some firearm violence results in death, but most does not.”
In fact, the CDC report said, most incidents involving the discharge of firearms do not result in a fatality..."
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You won’t hear much about the YouTube attack because the suspect doesn’t fit the media narrative – Glenn Beck
You won’t hear much about the YouTube attack because the suspect doesn’t fit the media narrative – Glenn Beck:
"The blame-assigning and mud-slinging got more and more ridiculous as the rumors began to pile up. But here are the facts. The shooter was an Iranian woman who was irate at YouTube’s new content policies. After disappearing for two days, her father called the police to warn them that she might be on her way to YouTube. The police found her sleeping in her car but let her go.
How do I describe this woman? She’s a militant vegan, animal rights activist, bodybuilder and the creator of some of the most bizarre videos you’ve ever seen. In between wild rants in Farsi, she can be seen working out, dancing, cuddling with rabbits and chickens and then back to random militant vegan tirades."
How do I describe this woman? She’s a militant vegan, animal rights activist, bodybuilder and the creator of some of the most bizarre videos you’ve ever seen. In between wild rants in Farsi, she can be seen working out, dancing, cuddling with rabbits and chickens and then back to random militant vegan tirades."
Diversity unto Death - Literally :: SteynOnline
Diversity unto Death - Literally :: SteynOnline:
"...From my Sunday Telegraph column of January 5th 2003:
Meanwhile, America's traditionally high and England and Wales's traditionally low murder rates are remorselessly converging.
In 1981, the US rate was nine times higher than the English.
By 1995, it was six times.
Last year, it was down to 3.5.
Given that US statistics, unlike the British ones, include manslaughter and other lesser charges, the real rate is much closer.
New York has just recorded the lowest murder rate since the 19th century.
I'll bet that in the next two years London's murder rate overtakes it.
I got a little ahead of my skis on that last line.
Nevertheless:
London's murder rate has overtaken New York City's numbers for the first time ever, according to a new report.
...What a positively Dickensian roll-call.
Of the three names a Londoner might have had at the time of, say, Darkest Hour, Lewis Blackman was a black man stabbed to death by six teenagers; Hannah Leonard was a middle-aged Irish lady also stabbed to death, by a couple from Kilburn; and Mark Smith apparently met his end at the hands of a woman "of no fixed abode".
At least eighty-five per cent of that grim toll would have been wholly unknown to pre-multicultural London, because neither perpetrators nor victims would have been residents of the United Kingdom.
If you were to say that on Twitter, Scotland Yard would stop investigating today's stabbing and investigate you instead.
...To reprise my old line: In Britain everything is policed except crime.
A great nation is dying in darkness..."
Read on!
"...From my Sunday Telegraph column of January 5th 2003:
Meanwhile, America's traditionally high and England and Wales's traditionally low murder rates are remorselessly converging.
In 1981, the US rate was nine times higher than the English.
By 1995, it was six times.
Last year, it was down to 3.5.
New York has just recorded the lowest murder rate since the 19th century.
I'll bet that in the next two years London's murder rate overtakes it.
I got a little ahead of my skis on that last line.
Nevertheless:
London's murder rate has overtaken New York City's numbers for the first time ever, according to a new report.
...What a positively Dickensian roll-call.
Of the three names a Londoner might have had at the time of, say, Darkest Hour, Lewis Blackman was a black man stabbed to death by six teenagers; Hannah Leonard was a middle-aged Irish lady also stabbed to death, by a couple from Kilburn; and Mark Smith apparently met his end at the hands of a woman "of no fixed abode".
At least eighty-five per cent of that grim toll would have been wholly unknown to pre-multicultural London, because neither perpetrators nor victims would have been residents of the United Kingdom.
If you were to say that on Twitter, Scotland Yard would stop investigating today's stabbing and investigate you instead.
...To reprise my old line: In Britain everything is policed except crime.
A great nation is dying in darkness..."
Read on!
History for April 6
History for April 6 - On-This-Day.com:
Rose Schneiderman 1882 - U.S. women’s rights activist, Lowell Thomas 1892 - Broadcaster, journalist, Merle Haggard 1937 - Country musician, songwriter
Billy Dee (December) Williams 1937 - Actor ("Brian's Song", "The Return of the Jedi", "Batman"), John Ratzenberger 1947 - Actor ("Cheers"), Vince Flynn 1966 - Author
1830 - Joseph Smith and five others organized the Mormon Church in western New York.
1830 - Relations between the Texans and Mexico reached a new low when Mexico would not allow further emigration into Texas by settlers from the U.S.
1862 - The American Civil War Battle of Shiloh began in Tennessee.
1896 - The first modern Olympic Games began in Athens, Greece.
1903 - French Army Nationalists were revealed for forging documents to guarantee a conviction for Alfred Dryfus.
1909 - Americans Robert Peary and Matthew Henson claimed to be the first men to reach the North Pole.
1965 - U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson authorized the use of ground troops in combat operations in Vietnam.
1987 - Sugar Ray Leonard took the middleweight title from Marvin Hagler.
Thursday, April 05, 2018
More than a million illegal immigrants scored California driver's licenses, state DMV announces | Fox News
More than a million illegal immigrants scored California driver's licenses, state DMV announces | Fox News:
"More than one million illegal immigrants living in California have received driver's licenses, according to a new report.
The state's Department of Motor Vehicles announced that as of March 31, 1,001,000 illegal immigrants have received licenses, The Sacramento Bee reported on Wednesday."
The state's Department of Motor Vehicles announced that as of March 31, 1,001,000 illegal immigrants have received licenses, The Sacramento Bee reported on Wednesday."
Medicare Advantage Can Solve Bureaucratic Bumbling | Economics21
Medicare Advantage Can Solve Bureaucratic Bumbling | Economics21:
...Fortunately, the objectives of the law can be achieved through Medicare Advantage – an insurance plan embraced by a third of Medicare beneficiaries.
"Anyone who has ever received an “Explanation of Benefits” statement has likely been struck by the complexity of medical billing.
Even relatively simple consultations can yield a list of separate charges for physician work, facility costs, and diagnostic tests.
For hospitalization, many additional payments (for anesthesiology, radiology, drugs, rehabilitation, and so on) may accompany the direct costs.
Yet, all are often bound together as parts of the same course of treatment.
Medicare Advantage protects patients and taxpayers from high medical costs, while encouraging innovation and reducing micromanagement.
Medicare costs have risen steadily from $8 billion in 1970, the program’s inception, to $679 billion in 2017.
...Thankfully, there is a better alternative – Medicare Advantage, which already protects taxpayers and patients from providers claiming reimbursement for inflated volumes of low-value care without government micromanagement.
Medicare Advantage provides a single payment for its beneficiaries to receive healthcare coverage from their choice of private insurers.
Its plans must bear any costs incurred treating patients, regardless of whether they operate with tight managed-care networks or as fee-for-service benefits without networks.
All have an incentive to deliver the best quality of care for the lowest cost..."
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New FCC Rules Will Accelerate 5G Rollout | Economics21
New FCC Rules Will Accelerate 5G Rollout | Economics21:
"The stakes for a prompt and successful rollout of the 5G network, the fifth generation wireless broadband network, are high.
This next generation will require a substantial amount of infrastructure in order to be deployed but will require a dense network of many small cells rather than the 100-foot tall towers that previously supported wireless networks.
Despite these differences in the types of infrastructure, until recently, small cell deployments were subject to the same environmental and historical review processes as the massive towers.
These requirements imposed substantial delays and additional costs that slowed the 5G rollout, with a range of adverse spillover effects.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to update its rules on March 22nd so these small cells should no longer be required to go through the old regulatory framework, which will accelerate deployment of the 5G network.
...These new rules should reduce the time to deploy small cells by months and lower associated costs for carriers.
This would incentivize a more comprehensive and swift rollout of the infrastructure needed to support the 5G network..."
Read on!
"The stakes for a prompt and successful rollout of the 5G network, the fifth generation wireless broadband network, are high.
This next generation will require a substantial amount of infrastructure in order to be deployed but will require a dense network of many small cells rather than the 100-foot tall towers that previously supported wireless networks.
These requirements imposed substantial delays and additional costs that slowed the 5G rollout, with a range of adverse spillover effects.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) voted to update its rules on March 22nd so these small cells should no longer be required to go through the old regulatory framework, which will accelerate deployment of the 5G network.
...These new rules should reduce the time to deploy small cells by months and lower associated costs for carriers.
This would incentivize a more comprehensive and swift rollout of the infrastructure needed to support the 5G network..."
Read on!
U.S. Arrests 99 MS-13 Gangsters Who Entered as ‘Unaccompanied Minors’
U.S. Arrests 99 MS-13 Gangsters Who Entered as ‘Unaccompanied Minors’:
"Ninety-nine confirmed MS-13 gang members arrested over the last eleven months as the result of a joint operation conducted by the federal Department of Homeland Security and local New York law enforcement agencies came across the border into the United States as “unaccompanied minors,”"
FBI closing in on 'pernicious' infiltration by Chinese government in U.S. schools and universities---Spero News
Spero News
"FBI closing in on 'pernicious' infiltration by Chinese government in U.S. schools and universities
The National Association of Scholars (NAS) released a report on Wednesday on the influence of the Confucius Institutes in American colleges and universities and underwritten by the communist government of China.
With more than 100 operating in the U.S., the Confucius Institutes offer for-credit courses in Chinese language and culture that are staffed and funded by China’s Ministry of Education and through the Office of Chinese Languages Council International (Hanban).
In addition, Hanban also operates similarly organized Confucius Classrooms (CCs) at 501 American primary and secondary schools.
The 604 educational outposts of the Confucius Institutes in the U.S. represent a plurality of China’s 1,579 Confucius Institutes and classrooms worldwide..."
Read on!
The National Association of Scholars (NAS) released a report on Wednesday on the influence of the Confucius Institutes in American colleges and universities and underwritten by the communist government of China.
With more than 100 operating in the U.S., the Confucius Institutes offer for-credit courses in Chinese language and culture that are staffed and funded by China’s Ministry of Education and through the Office of Chinese Languages Council International (Hanban).
In addition, Hanban also operates similarly organized Confucius Classrooms (CCs) at 501 American primary and secondary schools.
The 604 educational outposts of the Confucius Institutes in the U.S. represent a plurality of China’s 1,579 Confucius Institutes and classrooms worldwide..."
Read on!
Doug Ducey 'welcomes' Trump deployment of National Guard to border - Washington Times
Doug Ducey 'welcomes' Trump deployment of National Guard to border - Washington Times:
"Arizona’s Republican governor is embracing President Donald Trump’s announcement that he wants to deploy the military along the border with Mexico.
Gov. Doug Ducey says in a Wednesday Tweet that the state “welcomes the deployment of National Guard to the border.” He says Washington has ignored the issue and help is needed. Ducey says that for Arizona “it’s all about public safety.”"
Gov. Doug Ducey says in a Wednesday Tweet that the state “welcomes the deployment of National Guard to the border.” He says Washington has ignored the issue and help is needed. Ducey says that for Arizona “it’s all about public safety.”"
Lunch video-----Overloaded C-5 Takes Every...Single...Inch Of The Runway To Takeoff | Frontline Videos | Raw, Uncut, Real Videos From The Frontlines
Overloaded C-5 Takes Every...Single...Inch Of The Runway To Takeoff | Frontline Videos | Raw, Uncut, Real Videos From The Frontlines:
WONDER WHAT THE CONVERSATION IN THE COCKPIT WAS LIKE...
WONDER WHAT THE CONVERSATION IN THE COCKPIT WAS LIKE...
In this video, you'll see a C-5 that is flying on their calculations alone with no option to abort after a certain point. Filmed at MSSS (Illapango International Airport) in El Salvador, this Galaxy crew had quite a white-knuckle takeoff.
Probably maxed out on weight and facing a tailwind, these guys seriously took every inch of that runway to takeoff.
Check it out. It's pretty sweat-inducing.
Disney Princess Rips Planned Parenthood: ‘Abortion Doesn’t Empower’ Women
Disney Princess Rips Planned Parenthood: ‘Abortion Doesn’t Empower’ Women:
"A former Disney World princess who had an abortion condemns the recent controversial Planned Parenthood tweet calling for a “Disney princess who’s had an abortion,” by slamming the feminist narrative that abortion “empowers” women."
"A former Disney World princess who had an abortion condemns the recent controversial Planned Parenthood tweet calling for a “Disney princess who’s had an abortion,” by slamming the feminist narrative that abortion “empowers” women."
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