
Texas top court lets ban on gender treatments for minors take effect
By Brendan Pierson The Texas Supreme Court on Thursday allowed a state law banning gender-affirming care for transgender
2023-09-01 05:19

Every way the Colts have insulted Jonathan Taylor this offseason
A timeline of all the ways the Indianapolis Colts have disrespected star RB Jonathan Taylor, who has requested a trade from the franchise.
2023-09-01 04:59

Emmitt Smith 'frustrated' by the current valuation of NFL running backs
Cowboys legend Emmitt Smith broke down his thoughts on the NFL's current RB problem and his all-time Mount Rushmore for NFL running backs.
2023-09-01 04:58

Philadelphia Proud Boys leader sentenced to 15 years in prison for Jan 6 crimes
The former leader of a Philadelphia chapter of the neo-fascist gang the Proud Boys who stormed the halls of Congress on January 6 has been sentenced to 15 years in prison. Zachary Rehl, the son and grandson of Philadelphia police officers who used pepper spray against law enforcement outside the US Capitol then lied on the witness stand about it, had called for “firing squads” for “traitors” who wanted to “steal” the 2020 election from Donald Trump. He was convicted of seditious conspiracy earlier this year alongside three other members and allies of the group for their roles in an assault that federal prosecutors said “unleashed a force on the Capitol that was calculated to exert their political will on elected officials by force” to “undo the results of a democratic election.” US District Judge Timothy Kelly determined that Rehl committed perjury during the trial when he denied assaulting anyone. Video evidence appeared to show him using a chemical spray against police as the mob broke through barricades and marched to the Capitol. Rehl’s sentence is among the largest against defendants connected to the attack on the US Capitol during a joint session of Congress as lawmakers convened to certify election results. Joe Biggs, a prominent figure within the Proud Boys who marched to the Capitol alongside Rehl, was sentenced to 17 years in prison on 31 August, now the second longest sentence for a January 6 defendant to date. Judge Kelly also issued that sentence. The sentences for Biggs and Rehl are 15 years below sentencing guidelines and roughly half of what prosecutors have asked in their cases. A jury had convicted both Rehl and Biggs on the treason-related charge of seditious conspiracy as well as conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to use force, intimidation or threats to prevent officers from discharging their duties; interference with law enforcement during civil disorder; and destruction of government property. Sentencing guidelines suggested Rehl could face 30 years to life in prison. Federal prosecutors sought 30 years. Prosecutors also had sought 33 years for Biggs and former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who is scheduled to be sentenced on 5 September. Co-defendants Ethan Nordean and Dominic Pezzola will be sentenced on 1 September. Proud Boys emerged as what one former member called the “foot soldiers of the right” using the guise of male-dominated drinking clubs to wield threats and physical violence against political enemies, particularly antifascist organizers, while rallying against LGBT+ people and employing white nationalist and antisemitic tropes. “They turned that vigilantism from antifa to law enforcement and the government itself,” Assistant US Attorney Erik Kenerson told Judge Kelly. “Mr Rehl embraced that vigilantism, and he eventually used it to try to impose his vision of America by force.” Pennsylvania-area Proud Boys played an outsized role in the attack, from planning in group chats to joining the mob that breached barricades and broke into the Capitol on 6 January, 2021. In messages on social media, Rehl called for “firing squads for the traitors that are trying to steal the election.” “F*** ‘em, storm the Capitol,” Rehl shouted into a video he recorded moments after breaching a police line. Minutes later, video captures him firing what appears to be chemical spray towards officers in his path. Pezzola seized a riot shield from an officer and used it to break a window, through which the first members of the mob entered the Capitol, according to an indictment. Once inside, Rehl posed for selfies with other members of the Philadelphia Proud Boys chapter and smoked cigarettes as rioters broke into the office of Democratic US Senator Jeff Merkley. “Looking back, it sucked,” Rehl wrote in a message to Philadelphia chapter members the day after the attack. “We should have held the Capitol … Everyone shoulda showed up armed and took the country back the right way.” During the trial, Rehl expressed regret for his actions that day, admitting that he felt much differently about the assault in the months that followed than he did in its immediate aftermath as he celebrated with other Proud Boys. At his sentencing hearing, he broke down in tears, pointing to the baseless narrative of election fraud and manipulation that fuelled the attack in the first place, and apologizing to his family who suffered in its wake. “Politicians spread lies about elections,” he said. “I fell for it hook, line and sinker … It cost me everything.” Read More Proud Boy Joe Biggs sentenced to 17 years in prison for Jan 6 seditious conspiracy Who is Enrique Tarrio? Ex-Proud Boys leader faces longest prison sentence yet for January 6 ‘Donald Trump’s army’: Proud Boys members face decades in prison for January 6 sedition
2023-09-01 04:51

Mariners find themselves in rare spot heading into September: first place
The Seattle Mariners started August with a 6-4 loss to Boston that left them in fourth place in the AL West
2023-09-01 04:51

Cincinnati to open first season in Big 12 against Eastern Kentucky
Scott Satterfield opens his tenure at Cincinnati with a home game against Eastern Kentucky on Saturday
2023-09-01 04:48

Chinese officials, U.S. commander meet at Fiji conference
WASHINGTON A Chinese delegation met with a senior U.S. military official during a conference earlier this month, the
2023-09-01 04:26

Tearful Isner signs off with US Open loss
John Isner brought the curtain down on his tennis career Thursday in a five-set loss to fellow American Michael Mmoh in the second round...
2023-09-01 04:23

USWNT star Julie Ertz retires from professional football
Julie Ertz retires from professional football.
2023-09-01 04:16

PSG and Mbappe get tough Champions League draw in group with Milan, Dortmund and Newcastle
Paris Saint-Germain and its star forward Kylian Mbappe landed in the toughest group in the Champions League draw Thursday with former champions AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund, plus Newcastle
2023-09-01 03:50

Texas Tech opens season at Wyoming and with high expectations
Even when Super Bowl-winning quarterback Patrick Mahomes was running the show for Texas Tech, the Red Raiders didn’t have this kind of lofty expectations entering the season
2023-09-01 03:45

Pope keen to 'move on' after criticism of US Catholic Church
ABOARD THE PAPAL PLANE Pope Francis acknowledged on Thursday that his recent remarks calling out the U.S. Catholic
2023-09-01 03:29