PRESIDIO, Texas (CBSDFW.COM) – A commercial bus carrying $465,755 in unreported U.S. currency was stopped while leaving the United States at the Presidio port of entry July 20. The consequences for violating U.S. currency reporting laws are severe; penalties may include seizure of most or all of the traveler’s currency, and potential criminal charges. (credit: U.S. Customs and Border Protection) Two men were taken into custody as a result and the currency was seized. READ MORE: Small Aircraft Crashes With 2 People Aboard In Mineral Wells “The majority of CBP’s work involves the processing of people and items entering the U.S. from abroad however CBP also routinely conducts operations to stop the flow of unreported currency, weapons, ammunition and other items from leaving the U.S.,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha. The seizure was made just after noon when U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers and Homeland Security Investigations … [Read more...]

A new law signed this week by Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) will allow residents of the state to access birth control over the counter. The law, signed by Pritzker on Thursday, will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2022. The legislation mandates that state-regulated insurance covers birth control and aims to make sure contraception remains affordable in the state. ADVERTISEMENT It allows pharmacists to provide 12 months of hormonal contraceptives — such as birth control pills, rings and patches — without a prescription from a doctor. “This legislation that I’m signing into law today makes Illinois one of the first states in the Midwest to provide birth control over the counter, making contraceptives all the more accessible and affordable in our state,” Pritzker said. “In 2019, when I signed the Reproductive Health Act into law, I said that in Illinois we guarantee as a fundamental right, a woman’s right to choose. Today, we take yet another stand to fulfill that promise," … [Read more...]

Today, only eight states including New York are “may issue” for gun carry permits — meaning government officials “may issue” permits to applicants but are not required to (and hardly ever) do so. Litigation over what the Second Amendment means and requires is mostly limited to those states who are ruled by mega-cities. A law-abiding citizen who passes a background check in those states is still subject to a discretionary and random government decision about whether that person has “proper cause” to carry a firearm for self-defense. That means New Yorkers must distinguish themselves from their fellow citizens and be rationed a constitutional right by bureaucrats. In New York, gun licenses are restricted, expensive and the process is riddled with politics and bribery , making licenses inaccessible to most. This led to the judicial saga now before the U.S. Supreme Court of New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA) v. Corlett and a fundamental question for the Court … [Read more...]

The National Rifle Association (NRA) filed an appeal Wednesday after a judge last month upheld a Florida law that prohibits people younger than 21 from purchasing guns. Former Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) signed legislation in 2018 that enacted new restrictions on gun purchases following the deadly shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., which resulted in 17 deaths. Among other provisions, the law raised the age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21 and imposed a three-day waiting period for the majority of long-gun purchases. ADVERTISEMENT The NRA filed a lawsuit over the law shortly after it was signed, asking a federal judge to stop it from going into effect. The group, in a statement to The Hill, said it is filing the appeal to “protect the constitutionally guaranteed Second Amendment rights of all law-abiding adults,” before calling the restrictions on gun purchases for 18 to 21 years olds “nothing less than political … [Read more...]

(BPT) - Known as the cultural cross point between the South and Midwest, the Bluegrass State attracts novel tourists worldwide. With its rich history, breathtaking scenery and delectable bourbon, Kentucky is one of the most underrated travel destinations in the United States. If you're a bourbon lover, you can't miss all that the Bourbon Trail has to offer. Have a family or travel partner that's not as into bourbon as you? Kentucky lets you have the best of both worlds. What to do with 48 hours on the Bourbon Trail Whether you’re sipping the good stuff or taking in all of the sights, sounds and smells Kentucky has to offer, here are a few fun adventures you can’t miss: Watch the horses gallop and take in the scenic views Countless people tune in from home and gather in the stands of Churchill Downs to watch the action unfold. However, you don’t need to attend the Kentucky Derby to witness the state’s equestrian elegance and beauty. You can find plenty of them at the Meadow … [Read more...]

TOKYO — Inside a virtually empty stadium, during a moment of silence for lives lost, you could hear the protesters. Chanting through megaphones, banging on drums. “Cancel the Olympics. Stop them immediately. Stop the opening ceremony right now!” They didn’t stop the Games. The orchestrated television show opened and will continue for a 16-day run. No, the Olympics won’t be canceled. But they aren’t the same. This doesn’t feel like the real Olympics, but a hollowed-out version of the event. I don’t know how it came off on NBC, but inside the empty stadium it felt lifeless. These are shaping up to be a Games of turmoil and protest. So, it seemed fitting that Naomi Osaka, the Japanese-Haitian-American who has become an athlete of the moment with her raw honesty and peaceful protest, was selected to light the torch. Did it seem odd that an athlete from the United States (but who plays for Japan) had that honor? It makes as much sense as anything else in these Games. Athletes … [Read more...]