Methamphetamine is one of the most problematic drugs in central Florida because it is highly addictive, and can be made from common materials. Unfortunately, many people make the mistake of thinking that meth can be produced without any safeguards, and the chemical process of meth production can be unstable. In some instances, this can lead to highly dangerous explosions. One Sarasota man found this out the hard way after an explosion lead to his arrest.

Meth Maker Arrested After Lab Explosion

Popular crime television show, Breaking Bad, exposed the meth making process to the public, and this has lead to the misconception that meth can easily be made by mixing some common household ingredients together. While it might be simple for an actual chemist to create meth, the average person will probably have more trouble. Research by the United States Department of Justice finds that the number of labs keeps increasing as people become aware of the meth production process.

Home meth labs are not just problematic because they allow people to access a dangerous drug. When meth is not mixed together properly, highly volatile materials can explode. This is exactly what happened to 25 year old Andrew Ilardi on January 10th.

The quiet neighborhood along Fairview Drive was suddenly rocked by a massive explosion. Firefighters rushed to the area just in time to see Ilardi rushing from the home with burns across his hands and face. Andrew Ilardi then told the fire department that he had been trying to make meth with lighter fluid, lye, and ammonium nitrate.

The firefighters relayed this information to the police officers, and detectives were able to obtain a probable cause warrant. Within the ruins of the home, police officers found the chemicals and equipment needed for meth. Ilardi was then arrested for making meth.

Ilardi is now charged with one count of meth manufacturing, and this is a first degree felony in the state of Florida. Florida takes meth production very seriously because it is such a huge problem within the area. Lab explosions can be very dangerous, and in many sad instances the explosions and subsequent fires have lead to the deaths of people who were not even aware of the meth lab next to them.

Despite the strict sentence potentially awaiting Ilardi, many continue to produce meth in Florida. Even a single use of this drug can lead to severe addiction, and Florida has a higher average number of meth abusers than the national average. Those who cannot afford to buy more meth tend to resort to attempts at homemade meth, and these home operations are the most likely to end in explosions.

Unfortunately, Florida authorties are finding it difficult to stop meth production completely. Meth makers can steal most of the chemicals needed for cooking meth from local farms that use the chemicals for fertilizers, and the other ingredients can be bought from pharmaceutical stores. Though there are some limits on the amount of ephedrine or pseudoephedrine medicine that can be bought at a time, it is still relatively easy to access for home meth cooks like Andrew Ilardi.

What’s Next for Ilardi, the Meth Lab Owner

Ilardi is currently awaiting trial from jail, and his bond was raised to $15,000 by the judge. The actual sentencing will rely on many factors. Depending on the amount of meth he was producing and his past criminal history, Ilardi could be facing up to 25 years in prison. Since Ilardi cooperated with the police department so far, and no one was seriously harmed in the explosion, he may be able to get more lenient sentencing.

One of the biggest concerns with Donald Trump becoming the president of the United States was the potential for unethical behavior. As an international businessman, Trump could easily make money off of his presidency. Throughout his campaign, Trump attempted to ease fears that he was just trying to be president to make more money. However, it seems that the newly appointed president is already backing out on promises to avoid doing business for the next four years.

Trump Already Breaking Promises to Focus on Government Instead of Business and His Companies

Trump has spent the last few months repeatedly claiming that there would be no conflicts of interest between his presidency and his career as a businessman. Supposedly, the multiple Trump businesses would be ruled by a blind trust that would not share information with their owner. Trump also used Twitter to reassure followers that “no new deals will be done during my term in office.”

In a press conference on Wednesday, Sean Spicer, the spokesman for Trump, was supposed to share details about how he would distance himself from his businesses during his presidency. Trump used this opportunity to point out that he “could actually run my business and run government at the same time.” He also confirmed rumors that Trump will not be letting a trust control his businesses after all.

Instead, Trump will be resigning from leadership roles in his companies and turning them over to two of his sons. Both Donald Jr. and Eric have been on Trump’s transition team, so they have a great deal of insider information. This informal change in leaders will also allow Trump to continue sharing information between his businesses and his presidential office.

The president elect further qualified that his tweet about no new deals to explain that he only meant he would not do any foreign deals. Trump is now ideally placed to alter domestic policies to benefit his own companies. He could push legislation that reduces regulations intended to protect workers rights, and other laws could be manipulated to further allow corporations to make more profits from federal funding.

If Donal Trump is retaining contact with his businesses and companies, he could also use his new position to gain money from other nations. As president, Trump could potentially pressure foreign governments to accept favorable business deals, give him tax breaks, or remove competitors from the market. Foreign countries hoping for a closer relationship with America may stay at Trump owned hotels or pay for other Trump business services as a method of bribing the president.

Many experts on ethics in politics have mentioned how much Trump’s business plans concern them. The executive director of the Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington released a statement saying,

The only way for Donald Trump to avoid massive conflicts of interest is to sell his business outside the family and place the assets in a true blind trust. Every decision he will make as president… will be questioned as to whether his decision is in the best interest of the American people or the best interest of his bottom line.

The Next Four Years Will Be Filled with Uncertainty

It is difficult to predict just how much Trump’s businesses will influence his decisions. He could easily talk to his sons about how they are running his business or use insider information to gain profits, and anything construed as a bribe could potentially result in impeachment. The only thing that the American public knows for sure is that Trump will continue to face allegations of unethical behavior if he remains involved in his businesses.

 

Photo by Gage Skidmore, available under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic license.

Intense protests started nationwide over the weekend and early this week because of President Donald Trump’s executive order to halt the admission of refugees and boost the vetting of immigrants from Muslim-majority countries. With many on the left denouncing the policy as a “Muslim ban” and some refugees being held at airports, thousands of people gathered outside airports in cities like New York, while Democratic lawmakers staged a protest on the steps of the Supreme Court in Washington.

Order Rollout Marred By Protests, Airport Chaos 

Promises to limit refugee admission and specifically target immigration from Muslim majority countries were a staple of Trump’s rhetoric on the campaign trail. During the presidential race, the billionaire frequently railed against “stupid” immigration policies that he claimed led to terrorist attacks such as the San Bernardino shootings in December 2015 and the Orlando nightclub massacre in June 2016.

With the assistance of a team of policy advisors who normally work for conservatives in the House of Representatives, Trump’s team began drafting the outline of the immigration order during the presidential transition. (House Democrats are now pushing for an investigation as to whether that collaboration between executive and legislative staffers was legal.)

The plan was fully developed in the first week of the new administration but the order was abruptly announced on Friday afternoon. While Trump deployed his typical rhetorical flourishes to accompany the announcement, the rollout was botched from the start. For starters, key officials such as John Kelly, a former general who is now serving as Trump’s Secretary of Homeland Security, had never been briefed on the order before it was announced.

As Customs and Border Protection staff struggled to make sense of the order, the immediate effects were felt at airports across the country. While Trump’s executive order specifically applied to all refugees and targeted immigrants from overwhelmingly Muslim countries, confused border patrol agents stopped immigrants who fell far outside the scope of the order.

Hundreds of international travelers, immigrants, and refugees were held at airports and more were detained as planes landed on Friday night. In some cases, they were denied access to lawyers or contact with family members. In the meantime, attorneys from advocacy groups like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) stepped in, as did Democratic Senators, and members of Congress.

In a scene that played out across the country, two Democratic Representatives from New York, Jerrold Nadler and Nydia Velazquez, went to the John F. Kennedy Airport in New York City to meet with the families of immigrants and refugees being detained at the airport. There Nadler and Velazquez tried to persuade border patrol agents to grant the families’ access to their relatives. With news coverage of the members of Congress at the airport, huge crowds gathered around airfields in mostly peaceful demonstrations.

Protests at airports continued even after the ACLU secured an injunction from a federal judge who halted some key parts of the Trump order, which was widely hailed as a victory for the demonstrators. In Washington D.C., on the other hand, House and Senate Democrats gathered on the steps of the Supreme Court for their own candlelight protest.

Despite Opposition, Order Hinges On Court Verdicts

However, as the chaos of implementation has been abated, so did the large public protests. Trump publicly defended the order along with many senior figures in the Republican Party, such as House Speaker Paul Ryan (R.-WI).

With few Republicans falling in line with the protesters, it seems unlikely for the kind of legislative challenge Democrats have supported to emerge. That leaves the courts as the only remaining avenue for immigrants and refugees to challenge the order. Several cases are pending across the country.
Image Source: Flickr

Every U.S. president can discretionarily grant pardons to convicted felons during the last days of their mandate. Many of these pardons come as a form of goodwill as well as a way to solidify a president’s legacy after he leaves office. Obama granted clemency to numerous convicted criminals, most famously Chelsea Manning, an Army private convicted of revealing classified documents and state secrets to the public. However, Obama did not commute the sentence of Leonard Peltier, a convicted killer of two FBI agents, despite the pleas and intervention of his sympathizers such as Pope Francis.

The Debate Surrounding Peltier’s Accountability

Peltier, who is currently serving his life sentence at the Leavenworth federal prison, was convicted for murdering two FBI agents in a 1977 gun-battle which took place on Native American lands. However, despite his involvement in the gunfight, there has been a debate about whether he was the true murderer. He undoubtedly had a hand in the gun-battle and definitely opened fire on the agents. Still, some people familiar with the case admit that it is impossible to know if the two agents died by Peltier’s bullets.

Despite the uncertainty, Peltier was convicted and sent to a federal prison. His supporters say he should be released since he has served more than 40 years and his health is declining. At 72 years of age, he suffers from a host of ailments that represent an immediate threat to his life.

Pope Francis and other sympathizers say it would be the ultimate act of mercy to release the aged felon from prison and let him live out his last days on his Native American lands. They argue that he is no longer a threat to the public and should be given the chance to spend what’s left of his life with his family. However, detractors of this argument insist that the families of the slain agents cannot ever enjoy such mercy themselves as Peltier stole their beloved ones. They agree with Obama’s decision to keep Peltier imprisoned and serve his life sentence.

The Controversy around Chelsea Manning’s Release

Supporters of Peltier and many in the public question why Manning was released when she admitted her own guilt in committing treason and espionage. Critics suspect Obama have commuted her sentence due to the campaigning of several Hollywood celebrities with whom he has close ties. Manning is indeed a media darling and has garnered widespread support throughout the world.

Incidentally, President Trump does not support Manning. Trump has labeled her a traitor and blasted her for being ungrateful after she slammed Obama and a called for liberal protests against Trump. The freshly minted president insists he would rather keep her imprisoned since she guilty of committing felonies that put the country’s sovereignty and security at risk.

Still, with Manning released, Trump could call on Julian Assange to make good on his promise to come to the U.S. for questioning. Trump now has the option of pardoning Assange, another global media darling, or binding him over for trial for his part in the WikiLeaks revelations. It is not yet known how much attention Trump will genuinely pay to Assange, however.

Presidents generally grant pardons to convicted felons that are considered to represent a low-level risk to the public. Obama himself granted pardons to numerous drug dealers and gang members serving time in federal prison. He also famously pardoned Chelsea Manning. However, calls for Leonard Peltier to go free have been largely ignored. Peltier’s next chance of pardon, if he lives long enough, rests with President Trump.
Image Source: Youtube

Two people who were looking for discarded metal around Lake Macquarie made a grisly discovery on New Year’s Eve. At first, the two men thought they had located a burnt-out vehicle. They noticed that the driver’s door was open. It was not until they approached the vehicle that they realized that there was a body inside. The pair immediately called the police who responded to the scene.

What May Have Happened?

Two people who were out looking for metal near Lake Macquarie discovered a body in a burned out vehicle. They were surprised by the find in the vehicle that was located along a dirt track off Archery Road near Wakefield, South Australia. The pair gave up their metal detecting for the day and called the cops at about 10:40 AM on Dec. 31, 2016.

The police say that they are baffled by the discovery. They believe that the vehicle had been sitting at the location for a short while. One of the things that makes the discovery so perplexing is that police and others often use M1 Motorway as a shortcut. The vehicle was found just off Archery Road which exits M1 Motorway near Wakefield Drive. Yet, no one had reported seeing the vehicle burning.

Metal collectors often scour the area because of the illegal dumping that occurs there. The vehicle was located near an entrance to a private property. The two men who made the discovery say that they had seen the vehicle awhile before they decided to investigate.

While first responders did not confirm the fact, the metal collectors have indicated that the body was in the driver’s seat. Officials have yet to confirm that the yellow Ford Ute had been on fire.

The body was removed from the vehicle and sent for autopsy. Police declined to describe the death as mysterious. They say that the driver may have had an accident and been unable to get out of the vehicle. Alternatively, investigators say that the man may have died from mysterious circumstances. The police however haven’t ruled out suicide.

Forensic police investigators scoured the complete area looking for clues. They refused to say whether they found any clues that may help them determine the person’s identity or what might have led to the person’s death.

Those responding to the grim crime scene did not make any comments. They are keeping any information that they have collected to themselves. They will likely say they believe the vehicle has probably been there since Dec. 27 but they will not disclose the facts that led them to that conclusion.

Police also refused to say who owned the vehicle. They can use the information they collected from the vehicle to search a computer database to identify the Ute’s owner. If they find it out, then they will be able to question that individual, if possible, to see if they can shed any light on the grim discovery.

Officials urge anyone with information to contact them.

Conclusion

Two Australians looking for scrap metal near an illegal dumping site discovered a Ford Ute containing a dead body. Wakefield police responded to the site that is located just off the M1 Motorway. Police had very little to say except asking for the public’s help in investigating the case. So far, they do not know if it was a suicide, an accident, or a murder. They are also looking for information about the owner of the Ford Ute.
Image Source: Flickr

Sinkholes might not be as deadly or terrifying as tornadoes, but these natural disasters can cause a huge amount of devastation. Yet another community near Detroit was disturbed by an unexpected sinkhole over the holidays. County officials estimate that the community of Fraser will need to spend millions of dollars to fix the area. In the wake of the disaster, many are starting to wonder if past corruption scandals may be responsible for the damage.

Sinkhole Damages Dozens of Homes

On Christmas Eve, a 100 foot wide and 300-foot long sinkhole appeared in the Fraser suburb right outside of Detroit. The new sinkhole is even bigger than the 2004 sinkhole that affected an area near Fraser, and the damage is extreme. At least 22 homes have been evacuated along 15 miles and Eberlein roads, and entire stretches of the roads have also been closed as a precautionary measure.

A local state of emergency has been declared in the area, and police officers are patrolling evacuated homes to protect them from looting. Hopefully, only three of the homes will need to be entirely rebuilt, but many others will require significant repairs. Fraser officials say that most residents will be back home within two weeks unless the sinkhole continues to expand.

Unfortunately, the sinkhole comes at a time of transition as Macomb County Drain Commissioner Anthony Marrocco lost his re-election bid to Candice Miller. There have been many accusations that Morocco is not bothering to find solutions to the sinkhole because he will be out of his office in one week. The mayor of Fraser praised Miller’s prompt response to the situation, saying

“she and her team have hit the ground running even though they don’t take office until the end of the week.”

Despite the confusion over who will be in charge of repairs, residents are hopeful about the future of their homes. Congressman Sander Levin has offered aid to the residents who are still homeless, and sinkhole stabilization efforts and home repairs are already underway. Residents will be updated on repair efforts at a 6 p.m. Fraser City Hall meeting on January 9th.

The incident may have some connection to the previous 2004 sinkhole that occurred along the same major roadway. It seems to have been caused by issues with the giant sewer transmission line that runs beneath the road. Both sinkholes happened along the 15 Mile Road that is located above a lengthy, 12-foot wide sewer pipe.

The Macomb Interceptor sewage line was previously in national news after a corruption scandal revealed that former Detroit Mayor Kilpatrick was stealing money from the repair fund to fix the 2004 sinkhole. Many worry that the dangerously unstable underground area was further damaged during the corrupt and inept repairs.

The question of who will pay for the repairs is causing many residents to worry. A federal judge ruled that the communities who used the sewage line were responsible for repairs for the 2004 sinkhole, and each resident had to pay about 20$ a year in fees to fix it. Now citizens in the area are worried that they will have to pay more money towards fixing the damages.

Fraser Residents Face an Uncertain Future

The sinkhole may have been caused by government corruption or an improperly built sewage line, but most of the suburb residents are not too focused on the cause right now. They just want to be able to move back into their homes and quit living like refugees. Hopefully, most of these displaced residents will be back home by the end of January, but the political and economic consequences of the sinkhole may linger for years.

Image source: Wikipedia

His bombastic personality and controversial statements have made President-elect Donald Trump into a worldwide celebrity. Some might love him while others hate him, but either way, almost everyone is discussing Donald Trump. According to the Chinese zodiac, the nation is currently in the year of the rooster. To commemorate this occurrence while referencing political events, one shopping mall has erected a giant Trump statue that is inspired by the President-elect.

Mall Constructs Trump Statue With Trump’s Hairdo

The Chinese zodiac assigns an animal to each year and gives certain traits to people born with certain years. According to this system, 2017 is the year of the rooster, which symbolizes those who are amusing, outspoken, enjoy the spotlight, and like telling others of their accomplishments. For many, these traits also describe president-elect Trump, so one artist decided to highlight the comparison with a massive statue.

At the Artwalk Mall of Taiyuan, a towering statue of a rooster that resembles Trump was installed in an outdoor plaza. The rooster is painted bright white, gold, and red, and it looms over shoppers because it has a massive height of 23 feet tall. It was designed by Casey Latiolais, a Seattle-based artist who claims that he was shocked to learn just how tall the statue would end up being after he drew it.

There’s definitely a resemblance! A ‘Trump-style’ rooster figure will welcome Chinese New Year in Taiyuan (Photos: https://t.co/jWESKKu63F ) pic.twitter.com/qClXUrKTgr

— Dublin Chinese NYF (@dcnyf) December 28, 2016

When the owners of the mall requested a rooster statue design, they gave Latiolais free reign to create something in his original style. Latiolais was inspired by Trump’s unique appearance, so he gave the bird a fluffy coif of gold hair and formed its wings into the pointing hand gestures that Trump is so famous for. The mall directors were amused by the resemblance and the rooster’s grumpy little face, so they went ahead and approved Latiolais’ design.

Trump may be depicted as a rooster in this statue, but in reality, the Chinese zodiac marks him as a man born in the year of the dog. Traditionally, those born in this year are viewed as honest yet stubborn, so they are well suited to politics. When Trump was first elected, many Chinese people approved of his zodiac sign and had hopes that he would better their economics since Trump has worked with Chinese factories in the past for many of his products.

Unfortunately, Trump’s popularity in China has somewhat decreased in the past few weeks. Chinese politicians are displeased by his political support of Taiwan while businessmen are worried about his appointment of a China critic to an important trade post. Some are concerned that one of the United States’ largest allies may not get along well with the new president.

Whether or not they agree with Trump’s policies, most shoppers seem to find the Trump rooster amusing. Many stop to take pictures of it as they walk by, and some stores are selling tiny replicas of Trump’s doppelganger. One businessman explained:

“I think the rooster is very cute and funny, the hairstyle and eyebrows look very much like Donald Trump. I’m sure it will attract a lot of customers.”

The Future of the Trump Statue

The owners of the ArtWalk Mall have been getting a lot of attention for their Trump rooster statue, but they have no plans to remove it anytime soon. According to the deputy director of the planning department, Cao Mingliang, the Trump chicken will remain as the mall’s outlet for the foreseeable future. They plan to also start selling products and smaller versions of the statues to interested customers.

Image source: Wikipedia

House Speaker Paul Ryan has high hopes for a new and bold Republican platform in 2017. As evidenced by the upset win of President Elect Donald Trump, the November 2016 elections delivered a mandate for change.

According to MSNBC, November 8th exit polls revealed that 54 percent of US voters disapproved of President Obama’s 8-year legacy. And, 79 percent of voters were disappointed with the divided government performance of Congress. Paul Ryan wants to change public opinion and looks for a unified Republican party to show the way.

With wider control of the House of Representatives and solid control of the Senate, it is all systems “go” for Republicans and their standard bearer President Elect Donald Trump in 2017. After being re-elected to lead House republicans, Wisconsin’s Ryan told media:

“If we are going to put our country back on the right track, we have got to be bold, and we have to go big.”

For a country that voted against a continuation of Obama policy and leadership, change will be welcome. After six grueling years of divided government, Tea Party uprising and a relentless Washington quagmire, House Majority Leader Paul Ryan admits that divided government has failed.

Republicans Post Election Gains

The November 2016 election was divisive but with control of the House and Senate Representative Paul Ryan has renewed energy and purpose. After election results were tallied, Ryan told the press:

“Welcome to the dawn of a new unified Republican government.”

Paul Ryan, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and President Elect Trump are busily preparing a new agenda that will commence with budget reforms, tax cuts and more aggressive trade initiatives. In 2008, President Obama and Democrats controlled Congress but in 2010, Republicans gained a majority in the Senate and government remained contentious for the next six years.

Speaker Paul Ryan Prioritizes New Budget

Speaker Ryan is a fiscal conservative who has come to grips with the President Elect’s commitment toward tighter fiscal controls. Americans can expect to see new budget reforms as early as January 2017. Speaker Paul Ryan’s goal is to introduce a new budget reconciliation bill that will signal the end of Obama’s tenure and agenda as soon as possible.

Together Trump and Ryan have targeted the repeal of the Affordable Care Act and defunding Planned Parenthood, two initiatives Democrats are sure to resist. As evidenced by his meetings with Boeing, President Elect Trump has shown a willingness to roll up his sleeves and address issues. This is the type leadership Trump’s supporters expected.

Originally, Paul Ryan did not warm to Trump. But, since Trump’s election success, Paul Ryan has embraced change and new leadership. Like Trump and his Republican allies, Ryan advocates smaller government and US debt reductions. By the end of April, Paul Ryan intends to present a 2018 budget that will have little semblance to Democratic budgets of the last 8 years.

After a long candidacy, Trump and Paul Ryan have mended fences and appear to be on the same page as McConnell and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus, who predicted 2017 would begin with tax legislation and healthcare reform, two essential ingredients in the 2018 budget.

What to Look for From Paul Ryan

Ryan was elected House Leader for his fiscal awareness and discipline. Trump ran on a campaign of change that includes Congress and Washington. The President Elect has already as already shown he is not afraid to step on liberal toes. This is Paul Ryan’s chance to tighten the budget and reverse many Obama programs in the process. Look for Paul Ryan to unleash unified Republican Congressional power in 2017.

Image source: Flickr