A source of contention many Americans has is that illegal immigrants have been essentially exempted from most federal COVID-19 health and safety mandates, including mandatory vaccination and the wearing of masks in schools.
In New Jersey, photos of a maskless school on a federal military base show refugee Afghan children maskless in a classroom. But in New Jersey, the average American citizen child has to wear a face mask in public schools.
When asked why President Joe Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate doesn’t apply to illegal immigrants, President Joe Biden’s Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas said it’s “different,” during his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee on 11/16/2021.
When asked why immigrants shouldn’t be required to be vaccinated upon entry into the U.S., DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas explained.
“The analysis for migrants encountered at the border is quite different than for the federal workforce that leads by example,” Mayorkas said.
- There’s a Memorial for the 1916 Shark Attack Victims in New Jersey, Here’s Where
If you're ever wandering around Matawan, New Jersey, make sure to stop by 5 Dock Street. It's a pretty unassuming spot—except for the small plaque commemorating one of the most unexpected and chilling events in the area’s history: the deadly shark attacks of July 1916.
Back then, Matawan was a quiet town. Far removed from the typical dangers of the beach, it was completely blindsided by the attacks. On July 12, 1916, 11-year-old Lester Stillwell and 24-year-old Stanley Fisher were both killed by a shark in Matawan Creek, a body of water no one ever expected to be home to such a predator.
The plaque, unveiled on the 100th anniversary of the attacks, stands as a somber reminder of that day.
These weren't just any shark attacks. This was part of a larger event, later dubbed the Jersey Shore Shark Attacks of 1916, a series of incidents that saw four people killed and one seriously injured in just 12 days.
The strange and terrifying nature of these attacks during a sweltering summer heat wave and polio epidemic shook the nation. Thousands of people flocked to the beach to escape the heat, but instead, they found themselves in the middle of a real-life horror story.
What made these attacks even more shocking was the setting. We’re not talking about open ocean here—this was a creek, miles from the ocean! It's one of the reasons why people still debate which shark species was responsible. The usual suspects? The great white and the bull shark.
Both species can be aggressive, but bull sharks, in particular, are known for swimming into freshwater, adding to the mystery of what kind of predator could have found its way into Matawan’s waters.
The terror was so intense that it sent the public into a frenzy. Resort towns along the Jersey Shore immediately reacted, stringing up steel nets to keep sharks out, while others embarked on shark hunts, trying to wipe out the supposed "man-eating" sharks.
The scientific world was just as stunned. At the time, shark behavior was largely misunderstood. Many scientists thought that sharks wouldn’t attack humans, or at least not under such bizarre circumstances. After 1916, the ichthyologists—shark scientists, if you want to impress your friends—had to go back to the drawing board.
These attacks also planted a permanent seed of fear in the American consciousness. Sharks quickly became the villains of the sea, showing up in cartoons as symbols of danger and chaos. Over the decades, the story of the 1916 shark attacks became the inspiration for documentaries and TV specials. You might've even heard about it during Shark Week, or in the 2004 film 12 Days of Terror.
Oh, and did we mention that these attacks also partly inspired Jaws? Yeah, you can thank the Jersey Shore for that. So, the next time you watch a summer blockbuster about a massive shark terrorizing beachgoers, remember that it all began in the quiet waters of Matawan Creek.
If you're ever in town, take a moment to visit the plaque. It’s a small, understated piece of history, but behind it lies a story big enough to send shivers down your spine.
- Days After Saying She Won’t Take Anyone’s Guns Away, Kamala Harris Announces She’s Taking Your Guns Away
Kamala Harris recently stirred conversation after contrasting statements about gun ownership and gun control. She previously chuckled off claims that she wanted to take people's guns, emphasizing that she and Minnesota Governor Tim Walz are both gun owners.
Yet just days later, she doubled down on her advocacy for stricter gun laws, tweeting in support of reinstating the federal Assault Weapons Ban.
Harris pointed out that the 1994 ban led to fewer mass shootings, positioning her in favor of reducing access to certain firearms despite the earlier dismissal of "gun-grabbing" accusations.
"30 years ago, President Clinton signed the federal Assault Weapons Ban into law. During the 10 years it was in effect, people across our nation were far less likely to die in a mass shooting," she said today. "It is long past time to renew it."
The shift has prompted critics to accuse her of mixed messaging, particularly with the ongoing national debate on Second Amendment rights. Her stance reveals a desire to balance being a responsible gun owner while pushing for reforms aimed at curbing mass shootings(
- Maryland State Police investigate triple fatal crash in Charles County
NANJEMOY, Md. — Maryland State Police are investigating a triple fatal crash that occurred early Friday morning in Charles County, involving a senior-living facility transportation bus and a dump truck.
According to authorities, the crash happened shortly before 8 a.m. near the intersection of Port Tobacco Road and Bowie Road. Troopers from the Maryland State Police La Plata Barrack responded to the scene, where they found three occupants of the bus, including the driver, had died. Their identities are being withheld pending notification of next of kin.
The driver of the dump truck was not injured in the collision.
Preliminary reports indicate that the bus was traveling westbound on Port Tobacco Road when it lost control for unknown reasons and collided head-on with the eastbound dump truck. Investigators do not believe impairment played a role in the crash.
Port Tobacco Road remains closed as the Maryland State Police Crash Team continues its investigation. The investigation is ongoing.
