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Heroic Firefighter Rescues Stranded Free Climber in Daring Georgia Rock Face Operation

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A gripping rescue unfolded on a Georgia cliffside when a free climber, marooned on a precarious ledge, dialed 911 for help. The dramatic rescue, involving a heroic firefighter’s descent, took place on Tuesday.

The climber, yet to be publicly named by authorities, found himself stranded on the west face of Mount Yonah—a daunting 3,166-foot peak nestled within the Chattahoochee-Oconee National Forest in North Georgia.

White County Public Safety officials reported that the climber, feeling trapped between the unforgiving stone and open air, made the emergency call around 7 p.m. Unable to navigate the perilous route up or down, he sought assistance.

In a strategic rescue operation, authorities deployed a drone to pinpoint the climber’s location, ultimately spotting him perched on a narrow 20-inch by 20-inch ledge, some 260 feet above ground level.

Mount Yonah rescue

The heroic moment came as White County firefighter Will Roper skillfully maneuvered beneath the stranded climber, who clung to the rocky face of Mount Yonah on the eventful evening of August 25, 2026. (White County Public Safety)

White County firefighter Will Roper rappelled down the mountain to reach the man. Drone video showed Roper maneuvering beneath him before securing him in a harness and clipping him to the rope. The climber was then hoisted to the top of the mountain.

The entire rescue operation took about 42 minutes, officials said.

Roper told FOX 5 Atlanta said this was the first time he’s had to rescue someone on a mountain.

Will Roper goes over the edge of the mountain

Firefighter Will Roper goes over the edge of Mount Yonah on Aug. 25 to rescue a stranded climber. (White County Public Safety)

“I’ve done a lot with dummies and a lot with other firefighters in training, but that’s the first time that I’ve ever done it, kind of in the heat of the moment with a live subject,” Roper said.

“It was a little nerve-racking going over the edge,” he added.

Roper said the climber was strikingly calm, telling FOX 5 he jokingly asked him: “Have you been rescued before? You’re pretty good at this.”

Will Roper and the free climber

Will Roper and the free climber are seen on the west face of Mount Yonah during the Aug. 25 rescue operation. (White County Public Safety)

The climber told Roper that he had experience with Mount Yonah but simply picked the wrong route and got stuck.

“I’ve been on kind of a high since then, just to have the first rescue,” Roper said, adding that he was glad to be able to help someone using his technical training.

Ex-Chick-fil-A Employee Pleads for Job Return After $80K Mac & Cheese Theft: The Real Story Behind His Actions

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This cheese was truly worth a fortune in cheddar!

In a candid revelation to The Post, a former employee of Chick-fil-A explained why he targeted mac & cheese in an audacious $80,000 theft. His choice boiled down to simple economics – it’s among the most expensive catering items on the menu.

Keyshun Jones, who is just 23 years old, recently admitted to orchestrating a calculated scheme involving roughly 800 fraudulent mac & cheese transactions. He rerouted refunds to his own credit cards while working at a Chick-fil-A location in Grapevine, Texas, last November.

“Our mac and cheese is undeniably tasty, but it also carries a hefty price tag,” Jones commented on Wednesday. This side dish, he noted, is priced at about $100 per tray when ordered for delivery, underlining why it made the ideal target for his plot.

Jones embarked on this cheesy misadventure after being let go from his job at the restaurant chain, a position he held for seven years.

He came back to eat with his friends, saw an unattended register, and decided to make his move, he claimed.

Security camera footage shows Jones slipping behind the counter and ringing up tray after tray of the cheesy favorite.

“Everyone thinks it was more premeditated, ‘Oh, I went in there with a plan.’” That was definitely not the case,” Jones told The Post from jail in Tarrant County.

“I let anger, as most people do, let anger and those feelings get in the way, and I went, and I made a bad decision,” he added.

Prosecutors had asked for a 10-year sentence for fraud and property theft, but Jones and his lawyer managed to bargain down to three years, minus time served, on Aug. 13.

“My attorney spoke with the DA, and we kind of explained everything. We all came to an agreement where it wasn’t one of those heinous acts … They got to know, ‘This guy isn’t what we all thought he would be,’” Jones said.

Jones — who claimed he is still on good terms with his old colleagues — wants to get out on parole soon and rebuild his life, ideally at Chick-Fil-A.

“I love Chick-Fil-A. Chick-Fil-A is my career. I’ve been there since I was 15 years old, it was my first job. And I hated that things had to end that way,” he said.

“I’m not what the internet claims me to be. I’m goofy. I’m fun. I’m kind-spirited. Everyone seems to like me … Hopefully I can show the rest of the world that I’m worth that second chance,” he said.

His wife, Keana Jones, seemed to agree.

“He’s a sweet boy,” Jones told The Post.

Jones’ former boss, who owns the Grapevine restaurant, declined The Post’s request for comment.

The convicted fraudster admits Chick-Fil-A probably won’t give him his job back when he’s set free, but he believes another eatery will let bygones be bygones.

In the meantime, he won’t be getting much mac & cheese in jail.

“There was just one time they did serve mac & cheese here. The irony of it all,” Jones said.

Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Mail-In Ballot Rule, Undermining Recent Supreme Court Victory

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Just when the United States Postal Service (USPS) appeared ready to roll out its freshly crafted regulations for mail-in ballots in preparation for the upcoming midterm elections, an unexpected twist emerged. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani has once again hit pause on the Postal Service’s plans.

This time, Judge Talwani introduced an intriguing legal twist that has only added to the drama surrounding the situation.

Earlier this week, Susie Moore, RedState’s in-the-know legal analyst, highlighted that the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) had paved the way for the Trump administration to advance significant elements of its mail-in voting policies. While SCOTUS did not pass judgement on the rule’s legality, it concluded that prior challenges were premature since USPS had yet to solidify the needed regulations to enforce these measures.

In response, USPS quickly moved to finalize these rules, officially putting them into effect by Wednesday.

With only a few months before the midterm elections, USPS has cemented a stringent new regulation for managing mail-in and absentee ballots during federal elections. Announced last Friday, this rule obliges states to notify the Postal Service about individuals eligible to receive such ballots. Additionally, these envelopes must carry unique identifiers, enabling precise tracking of each ballot as it traverses the postal system.

With the USPS rule in place, Democrat-led states – which definitely do not want stricter oversight of mail-in ballots – now had something to sue over.

And they wasted no time, running right back to Judge Talwani’s courtroom to argue that the finalized USPS rule exceeded the agency’s authority and unlawfully placed the Postal Service in the middle of federal elections. 

Talwani, an Obama appointee, agreed that the challengers had raised enough questions to justify temporarily putting parts of the new rule on hold, issuing a 14-day temporary restraining order Thursday.

And that brings us to the strange part of the whole thing: The Trump administration essentially had to be given permission to implement the policy so its opponents could launch the challenge the Supreme Court said was actually ready to be heard.

While Talwani isn’t technically overriding the SCOTUS ruling – they never ruled on the legality of the USPS rule and simply said challenges to it were premature – she certainly is inflicting some serious legal whiplash on those who’d like to ensure that mail-in ballots are properly tracked and handled ahead of the midterms.

“Based on the record presently before the court, Plaintiff States face irreparable harm where they are required to comply with a likely unconstitutional regulation for which compliance is practically impossible as to the 2026 midterm elections, now little more than two months away,” Talwani wrote in her 11-page order. “Most Plaintiff States have already ordered their mail ballots, and some are required by state law to send them to eligible voters as early as next week.”

The states, she continued, “have neither time nor funds to design new mail ballots, seek approval of the new designs, order production of mail ballots, update their own election management systems, train election officials to use the USPS portal, and upload citizen data to the portal, all before the midterms.”

For now, Talwani’s order lasts just 14 days, with another hearing set for September 3.

And with ballots already heading to the printers – and, in some states, already on their way to voters – this legal fight is quickly running out of time.

Editor’s Note: The 2026 Midterms will determine the fate of President Trump’s America First agenda. Republicans must maintain control of both chambers of Congress.

Help RedState continue to report on the Democrats’ radicalism and inform voters as our nation faces a crossroads. Join RedState VIP and use promo code FIGHT to receive 60% off your membership.

Norwegian Royal Family Unveils Portrait of Newly Crowned King Haakon VIII

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In a significant moment for Norway, the Royal Family has introduced the official portrait of their new King as the nation grieves the loss of cherished monarch, King Harald.

The newly ascended King, previously known as Crown Prince, has been captured in his regal attire at 53, now formally recognized as His Majesty King Haakon VIII.

Accompanied by the heartfelt caption ‘All for Norway,’ the royal portrait was shared through the family’s social media channels.

King Haakon steps into his new position following the passing of his father, who was King Charles III’s cousin, after the former king passed away at 89 following a short hospital stay.

As the oldest reigning monarch in Europe after Queen Elizabeth II’s death in 2022, King Harald’s reign began on January 17, 1991, marking the end of an era with his passing.

Harald was being treated at Oslo University Hospital for haemolytic anaemia, a disorder which causes red blood cells to be destroyed at an abnormally fast rate. 

But the palace said his health had ‘deteriorated’ after he contracted an infection, with members of the Norwegian Royal Family rushing to his bedside on Thursday.

‘It is with deep grief that we announce that His Majesty King Harald has passed away,’ Norway’s Royal Court said in a statement.

‘King Harald died peacefully at Oslo University Hospital Rikshospitalet Friday, August 28 at 6.35am.’

Haakon becomes King during a turbulent time for the Norwegian royals, with scandal involving his wife Crown Princess Mette-Marit’s ties to Jeffrey Epstein.

The Norwegian royal family has officially released the portrait of its new King - as the country mourns the passing of their beloved monarch Harald

The Norwegian royal family has officially released the portrait of its new King – as the country mourns the passing of their beloved monarch Harald

One email released suggested she was still in contact with the late paedophile financier just months before his death.

Mette-Marit, 53, who was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis in 2018, later issued a grovelling apology in which she claimed the emails ‘do not represent the person who I want to be’.

However, King Harald defended her during a public appearance that month in which he insisted: ‘We must remember that the Crown Princess has not done anything illegal.

‘Unlike some others in Norway, she broke the connection very early. So I think we should give her credit for that.’

And in March, Haakon – then Crown Prince – told NRK: ‘I think it’s meaningful to reflect on the foundation the Crown Princess and I have built.

‘We stand on something strong. We’ve been together for over 25 years, and we’ve built it in a way that keeps us united. When you marry, it’s for better and for worse.

‘On the good days, everything feels easy. But it’s during the difficult times, when you have to weather the storm, that a strong foundation matters most.

‘This is our project; we’re in it together. And Mette is caring, wise, and very strong. That’s why I always want her on my team when challenges arise.’ 

As translated by HOLA! Mette-Marit added: ‘I have enormous respect for them and their work, which is why it was important for me to apologize,” she said. “They are the most wonderful in-laws and have supported me greatly throughout this process. I’m very grateful.’ 

Fresh scandal also came in June when Mette-Marit’s son, Marius Borg Høiby, was convicted on two couts of rape and jailed for four years following a six-week trial that laid bare allegations of violence, drug abuse and sexual misconduct.

An Oslo court also found him guilty of assaulting his former girlfriend, Nora Haukland, issuing threats and committing traffic offences, although he was acquitted of two other rape charges.

The 29-year-old had been charged with sexually assaulting four women who were asleep or otherwise unable to resist between 2018 and 2024.

The conviction marked a fall for Høiby, who grew up in the public eye after his mother married Crown Prince Haakon in 2001 when he was just four years old.

Although he does not hold a royal title or carry out official duties, he has long been closely associated with the Norwegian royal family.

On Friday, King Charles said he has extended his ‘deepest and most heartfelt condolences’ to the Norwegian royal family following the death of his ‘dear cousin’. 

King Harald of Norway, cousin of King Charles III, has died at the age of 89 after a brief stay in hospital

King Harald of Norway, cousin of King Charles III, has died at the age of 89 after a brief stay in hospital

Mourners gather outside the Royal Palace following the death of Norway's King Harald V on Friday

Mourners gather outside the Royal Palace following the death of Norway’s King Harald V on Friday

The pair were second cousins once removed, sharing great-great-grandparents Edward VII and Alexandra of Denmark. 

‘As Norway mourns the loss of so towering a figure, my whole family join in remembering a much-loved kinsman and friend whose kindness, compassion and deep sense of duty echoed from across the sea and across the decades,’ King Charles III said.

‘The Queen and I extend our deepest and most heartfelt condolences to Queen Sonja and all her family, as Britain shares in Norway’s grief at this time of such heartbreaking loss.’ 

Born on February 21, 1937, Harald was the third child and only son of King Olav V of Norway and Princess Martha of Sweden.

He is a great-grandson of Edward VII and his godparents included Queen Mary and her son George VI (grandmother and father respectively of the late Queen Elizabeth).

His early life was marked by the vicissitudes of the Second World War. In April 1940, when Harald was just three, Nazi Germany invaded Norway.

Harald and his two older sisters, Ragnhild and Astrid, were swept up by their mother and taken first to Sweden.

A woman cries as she and other mourners gather to pay tribute to King Harald V of Norway on Friday

A woman cries as she and other mourners gather to pay tribute to King Harald V of Norway on Friday

People gather at Slottsplassen Palace Square in Oslo to mourn Norway's King Harald V after the announcement of his death

A group of women comfort one another outside the Royal Palace, following the death of Norway’s King Harald in Oslo

King Haakon VIII of Norway is pictured at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Friday following the death of his father

King Haakon VIII of Norway is pictured at the Royal Palace in Oslo on Friday following the death of his father

Whilst Harald’s father and grandfather – the reigning King Haakon VII – held out in Norway as their heroic countrymen battled the German invasion, they too finally fled in June and headed to London with the Norwegian government-in-exile.

In August that year, Harald and his mother and sisters then went to the United States, where they spent the rest of the war, living in Washington.

Then Crown Prince Olav and King Haakon – whose wife Queen Maud (sister of George V) had died in 1938 – were initially guests at Buckingham Palace.

A young Princess Elizabeth at one point found them ‘both snoring away’ on the floor of the royal air raid shelter.

‘Though we love having them,’ she told her grandmother ‘it is rather a bore never to be alone’.

In June 1945, Prince Harald – now aged seven – returned with his family to Norway, after Nazi Germany’s defeat in the war.

During five years of occupation, the royal palace had been turned into a prison, whilst ordinary Norwegians had been starved.

King Harald and Queen Sonja posing at the Royal Palace after their wedding ceremony in August 1968

King Harald and Queen Sonja posing at the Royal Palace after their wedding ceremony in August 1968

A crowd gathers to lay flowers and pay their respects to the late Norwegian monarch on Friday morning

A crowd gathers to lay flowers and pay their respects to the late Norwegian monarch on Friday morning

King Harald V died after a short stay in hospital, it was announced on Friday morning

King Harald V died after a short stay in hospital, it was announced on Friday morning

In 1954, nine years after the family’s return, they were hit by tragedy when Harald’s mother died of cancer.

The prince, then just 17, would go on to name his firstborn Märtha in honour of her memory.

Three years later, King Haakon VII died at the age of 85, after nearly 52 years on the throne.

Harald, now the heir, went on to study at the University of Oslo and also enrolled in the Norwegian Military Academy, graduating in 1959.

It was at his graduation ball that he brought along the woman who would become his wife.

Harald had met Sonja Haraldsen, the daughter of an Oslo draper, earlier that year. It was her status as a commoner that ruffled royal feathers.

The pair initially kept their relationship a secret but when it did become public knowledge, the Palace repeatedly insisted that the pair would not marry.

But when Harald threatened to remain a bachelor forever if he did not get his way, his father relented and let him wed the woman he loved.

Their 1968 wedding at Oslo Cathedral came after both had studied in England.

Whilst Sonja read English at Cambridge, Harald went to Oxford to study Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Balliol College.

Harald became Norway’s Crown Prince in 1957 after the death of his grandfather. 

After attending high school in Oslo, Harald went to Balliol College, Oxford from 1960 to 1962, where he studied history, economics and politics. 

The Anglophile became a keen rower, having been taught by renowned coach Nick Bevan, who was studying at the same college.

But sailing was his sport: he went on to represent Norway at the Olympics in Tokyo in 1964, Mexico City in 1968 and Munich in 1972.

His and Sonja’s first child, Princess Märtha Louise, was born in 1971, with her brother, Crown Prince Haakon, arriving the following year.

But Prince Haakon would have a long wait before he became first in line to the throne.

His father did not become king until January 1991, when he was 53.

Harald’s closeness to King Charles was demonstrated five years later, when he went to Sandringham for a shooting weekend.

The monarch was also at Charles’s 50th birthday party in 1998, when 250 guests descended on Highgrove.

In 2011, Harald was among the dozens of European royals who attended the wedding of the Prince and Princess of Wales and was a guest at the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Lunch the following year.

In another demonstration of the closeness between the Norwegian and English royal families, Her Late Majesty was the only head of state to make three state visits to Norway, in 1955, 1981 and 2001.

In 1955, they arrived on the Royal Yacht Britannia, having sailed up the Oslo Fjord between what was described at the time as a ‘lane of fire’.

‘Every few miles along this island-dotted coastline, flames and sparks from midsummer bonfires shot skyward with red, white and blue rockets,’ the Daily Mail reported.

US Responds Swiftly as China’s Economic Influence Reverberates Across Africa

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A senior official from the U.S. State Department has issued a stern critique of China, citing what analysts have dubbed the “China shock wave” that is currently devastating African economies.

African manufacturing is reportedly reeling under the pressure of a wave of Chinese imports. The situation is multifaceted as China extracts raw materials, including vital minerals, from Africa, while inundating the continent with its state-subsidized goods. Furthermore, Beijing’s imports of African products are alarmingly disproportionate.

According to The China Global South Project, Chinese exports to Africa reached a staggering $225 billion in 2025, while imports from Africa tallied approximately half that figure at $123 billion.

Xi Jinping with African leadersPresident of Comoros Azali Assoumani (L), South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Presidnet of China Xi Jinping, and Senegalese President Macky Sall attend the China-Africa Leaders' Roundtable Dialogue on the last day of the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg on August 24, 2023.

In attendance at the China-Africa Leaders’ Roundtable Dialogue during the final day of the 2023 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg were prominent figures such as China’s Xi Jinping, Comoros President Azali Assoumani, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, and Senegalese President Macky Sall. (Image: Alet Pretorius/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Trump administration is now poised to address this disparity and foster opportunities for American enterprises.

“China continues to flood Africa with exports,” Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Frank Garcia told News Media. He added, “No country is immune to the negative impacts of China’s unfair trade practices and state-subsidized overcapacity. China’s economic engagement with African countries has often led to unsustainable debt, economic coercion and an oversupply of Chinese imports threatening to displace and preventing the development of local industries.”

He continued, “The U.S. government aims to offer credible alternatives that leverage public and private financing in priority areas that make America safer, stronger and more prosperous. The United States is committed to maintaining the strong, open investment environment that benefits our economy and our people, while enhancing our ability to protect our nation from new and evolving threats that can accompany foreign investment.”

Elaine Dezenski, senior director and head of the Center on Economic and Financial Power at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies (FDD), told News Media China is the number one trading partner for many African countries but warned “that doesn’t mean that African countries are moving up the value chain. On the contrary, some African countries are increasingly tied into a cycle of mineral and other natural resource exports to China, only to be on the receiving end of finished goods, also from China.”

WHITE HOUSE EXPOSES ‘TRANSSHIPMENT SCAM’ COSTING US UP TO $26B, POINTS FINGER AT CHINA

Chinese made bridge in Africa

A general view of the Chinese-built Maputo-Katembe Bridge taken on Nov. 10, 2018 in Maputo, Mozambique. (Roberto Matchissa/AFP via Getty Images)

Dezenski added, “Africa wants to manufacture. Chinese exports are getting in the way. Key exports from China are substituting for specific products that could be manufactured in Africa. As China is increasingly shut out of U.S. and European markets through high tariff regimes, Africa is feeling the effects, while China still claims it’s supporting emerging economies.”

China has lent the money to build new roads, bridges and other infrastructure in Mozambique. But in this, the fifth-poorest country in the world where jobs are in short supply, Beijing insisted that Chinese companies should do the construction. Mozambicans in some cases stood by, while workers brought 7,000 miles from Beijing to dig up the streets became a feature in this African country.

Beijing has now targeted Africa in another way. Between 17% and 40% of all car sales in South Africa are for vehicles from China. The goal appears not to stop at imports. The Chinese government-owned carmaker Chery has recently bought South Africa’s Nissan plant, and will make Chinese models such as Jetour near Johannesburg.

Chery Autombile Group

Chery Automobile Chairman Yin Tongyue (R2) and South African Deputy President Paul Mashatile (R3) attend the launch of the Chery manufacturing facility at the former Nissan factory on July 3, 2026, in Rosslyn, Pretoria, South Africa. China’s Chery formally took over Nissan’s car manufacturing plant in Rosslyn on Friday under a deal that was announced in January, and executives said the company will spend millions of dollars upgrading and adding machinery ahead of starting vehicle production in South Africa in mid-2027. (Sun Xiang/China News Service/VCG via Getty Images)

But China has won over many South African consumers. “China is delivering better vehicles and better prices to South African consumers — and this is pushing Western-oriented firms out of the market,” analyst Frans Cronje told News Media.

Cronje, president of the Washington-based Yorktown Foundation for Freedom, added, “The South African and broader sub-Saharan business communities have always shown a Western lean or bias, in large part a consequence of the region’s colonial past. But China’s industrial influence is changing, and as the South African vehicle industry shows, that change can be rapid and occur with the support of consumers. Privately, many Western firms say they don’t know if they can remain competitive.” 

The U.S. is making its own waves in Africa though. The administration’s Bureau of African Affairs has reported it has worked on 37 commercial transactions that have closed since the beginning of President Donald Trump’s second term — representing $25.67 billion in total value, with more still being reported.

Chinese investment in Africa.

A sign at the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) memorial park in Lusaka, Zambia, on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. For over a decade, China poured more than $120 billion of government-backed loans through its Belt and Road Initiative to build hydropower plants, roads and rail lines across the continent as well as unparalleled influence. (Zinyange Auntony/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

There’s a way to go. While American goods traded with Africa last year were valued at $83.4 billion by the Office of the United States Trade Representative, Beijing’s General Administration of Customs claimed bilateral trade between China and Africa reached $348 billion for the same period.

The will to succeed, though, is clear. Assistant Secretary Garcia added, “The United States is committed to reshaping the global critical minerals and rare earths market to make it more diverse, secure and reliable. We will work with African partners to address risks from non-market actors and ensure supply chain security. We are using diplomatic and economic tools to promote fair and transparent markets that work for everyone.”

News Media reached out to the Chinese Embassy spokesman in Washington, D.C., for comment.

Treasury Takes Strong Stand Against Activist Groups Posing as Charities

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Taxpayers, regardless of their political leanings, should not have to financially support activist agendas they disagree with. Aiming to address this issue, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent is formulating strategies to strip bogus political “charities” of their tax-exempt status.

According to reporting by The Post’s James Franey, Bessent and the IRS are scrutinizing the operations of a handful of prominent progressive nonprofits. These include George Soros’ Open Society Foundations, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the Council on American-Islamic Relations. The investigation could lead to these organizations losing their tax-exempt status.

Such a move might generate a significant $165 million in new tax revenue from these entities. More critically, it would halt taxpayer-funded support for questionable political activities.

“The woke left pushes to ‘tax the rich,’ yet these same organizations go to great lengths, sometimes even bending the law, to sidestep paying their own taxes,” remarked a source acquainted with the Treasury’s intentions. “This is hypocrisy in its purest form.”

To maintain a 501(c)(3) tax exemption, nonprofits must primarily function with the goal of religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational objectives. They are strictly prohibited from engaging in substantial lobbying activities or supporting “propaganda,” legislation, or political campaign efforts.

More From Post Editorial Board

Treasury is reportedly looking to treat nonprofits that are political activists in disguise as businesses or political machines for tax purposes, as per the law.

That’s appropriate. Open Society, after all, famously uses its billions to fund groups that back far-left causes — including criminal-justice reforms, climate change, legal privileges for illegal immigrants, DEI and more.

Why shouldn’t it have to pay its “fair share,” rather than force other Americans — most of whom object to much of its agenda — to pick up the tab?

CAIR, too, spends much of its time and money slamming a key US ally, Israel. That’s not political?

It’s also been accused of having ties to Qatar and was named an unindicted co-conspirator in the 2007 Holy Land Foundation terrorism-financing trial.

Just this month, prosecutors charged the left-leaning Southern Poverty Law Center’s ex-finance officer, Heidi Beirich, with leading a scheme that “knowingly misled donors” and funneled cash to “senior leadership” at a white supremacist group. (Her lawyer insists she’s innocent.)

Plus, the SPLC promotes blatantly political positions, like ending “unjust imprisonment,” eliminating “economic inequality” and legislation to “expand access to the ballot box.”

It has fiercely attacked critics of causes it supports, including DEI, school-based lefty indoctrination programs, allowing boys into girls’ sports and bathrooms.

In 2023, it tarred harmless pro-child activists at Moms for Liberty as a “hate” group.

And yet it’s somehow tax-exempt.

The Soros “charity” vehemently insists Treasury has no excuse for looking at it; CAIR and the SPLC declined to comment on the issue.

The probe may target other lefty groups, including MediaJustice, which lobbies for racial-equity policies in the telecom industry, defunding police tech and censoring online “disinformation,” as well as labor-backed entities like the Service Employees International Union’s Strategic Organizing Center and the anti-Amazon Athena Coalition.

Bessent and his team are on the right track: Private groups have every right to promote their political agendas — but no right at all to taxpayer support for that activism.

Especially when the taxpayers find those agendas so abhorrent.

Afternoon Storms Forecasted Before Heat Intensifies in September

ORLANDO, Fla. – Central Florida is gearing up for another wave of afternoon thunderstorms on Friday, bringing the potential for heavy rainfall, lightning, and strong gusts. As the weekend progresses, these storm patterns will move further inland, accompanied by rising temperatures and humidity, setting the stage for a sweltering start to September.

Friday

A familiar late-August weather pattern prevails on Friday, characterized by light winds facilitating the movement of the Atlantic sea breeze inland.

This will ignite a 50-60% likelihood of scattered showers and thunderstorms from early to mid-afternoon, initially near the coast and gradually advancing toward the interior areas later in the day.

Some of these storms could persist past sunset, particularly around the Orlando metropolitan area. There is also a chance that a few storms might drift back towards the Volusia coastline this evening.

With a substantial amount of moisture present, some storms might bring intense rainfall, with localized areas receiving up to 2-3 inches of precipitation.

Before storms arrive, temperatures will climb into the low to mid-90s, with heat indices between 100 and 105 degrees.

Weekend

A subtle pattern change begins this weekend as high pressure builds across the Southeast.

That will allow onshore flow to become dominant, helping the Atlantic sea breeze push inland more quickly each afternoon.

Storms will still develop daily, but the focus will shift more toward the interior, with storms likely moving quickly inland and potentially colliding with the Gulf breeze near Orlando or farther west.

Coastal communities will generally have lower rain chances.

Next Week

As the upper-level ridge strengthens, the weather will turn increasingly hot and humid heading into next week.

Afternoon storms will continue to provide some relief, but increasing heat and humidity could push heat indices toward 108 degrees in some spots.

So while the daily storms aren’t going away, September is likely to start feeling hotter across Central Florida.

Emily Exposes Heather’s Shocking Vegas Behavior on RHOC

On the latest episode of Real Housewives of Orange County, the spotlight is on Carmella as she hosts an event in Rancho Santa Fe. Tensions are high as the women voice their frustrations with Heather’s alleged hypocritical behavior and tendency to flaunt her lifestyle. Despite extending apologies, Carmella remains conflicted about her strained relationship with Vicki, still trying to process the emotional weight of their past issues.

RHOC Recap: Emily Exposes Heather’s Off-Camera Comments About Carmella and Calls Out Her ‘Aggressive’ Behavior in Vegas, Shannon Breaks Down Her Finances and Calls Vicki a Dumb**s

Back in Orange County, the Housewives regroup as they recover from their Vegas escapades, armed with IV drips, chicken, and a healthy dose of gossip. Tamra, Emily, and Vicki find themselves discussing Emily’s marriage, which she describes as “transactional” and lacking emotional depth.

Vicki expresses her irritation with Heather, feeling she’s excessively entitled. Emily believes Heather demands everyone play by her rules, while Tamra recalls how Heather confronted Vicki after an incident where she chastised Carmella about her parenting. Tamra is quick to label Heather as two-faced, noting her contradictory behavior when Carmella is not present. Emily even reveals that Heather once referred to Carmella as “trashy,” sparking further doubts about Heather’s authenticity and underlying motives.

Later, Heather visits Carmella’s workplace to discuss rental properties for her daughter. After wrapping up business matters, the conversation shifts to the group’s dynamics and the fallout from Vegas, with Heather acknowledging the strain caused by their ongoing disagreements.

Heather pays a visit to Carmella’s job to talk rentals. Heather is looking for a place for her daughter and Carmella delivers with some options. After the business aspect, Heather chats about the character assassination in Vegas and points out that it hurts the group when they all don’t get along.

Shannon and Jenn head to doggy obedience class…mainly for Shannon’s dog who needs a bit more attention. It’s odd to them that Heather was the one that was questioning Carmella the most and that Heather makes these calculated moves.

Shannon meets with Vicki to get real about money. Shannon admits that she has to be better with her finances and that after Real for Real was shut down, she lost her savings. Spending $3,000.00 a month on Ubers and paying $10,500.00 a month on rent sure ain’t helping Shannon’s situation.  She looks overwhelmed when addressing her spending habits and patterns.

Gina, Emily, and Jenn start shopping for Carmella’s pool party.  Carmella has invited them to come eat a hot dog, enjoy some ice cream, and see her life down in Rancho Santa Fe. The ladies are excited to see this side of Carmella, and are especially excited to meet her boyfriend- the one who cheated on her.  Gina is certain Carmella will not recover from the infidelity…

As they shop, Emily calls Heather “controlling” and “monopolizing.”  She’s sick of being made out to be the aggressive one when it’s Heather who just never gets focused on. Gina points out that Heather gets defensive when questioned and Emily feels like Heather only shares the good and positive parts of her life.

Later, Emily and Shane head out for their anniversary dinner, after much ado, considering the issues that her son is going through. Emily chats about upcoming marriages and upcoming divorces.  She wonders how she has stayed with Shane for 17 years, especially because of Shane’s stay-at-home-dad role. It’s a very non-traditional marriage and Emily remains unaware that Shane can use a break.

Carmella is prepping to host the ladies and she reminds her children to stay appropriate. When Vicki arrives, Carmella makes it a point to show Vicki “the kids she left behind.” Carmella introduces her boyfriend, Danny, to the group, but it’s weird since many of the ladies know all the infidelity secrets.

Carmella shares that things have been better with Danny since Vegas.  She feels like she has to let go of her anger since he has stepped up.  Now they are trying to rebuild and make things work.

Tamra points out that Shannon and Vicki have birthdays coming up, but while they talk, Heather lets the others know she is feeling excluded. Tamra gets in Heather’s ear, “yelling stand down,” impersonating Heather when she got in Vicki’s face.  Emily jumps in to discuss the Vegas shenanigans. Emily left feeling irritated because Heather always tries to control the situation.  Heather is confused because there are people that love how extra she is.

Carmella talks about being “heavy-hearted” after Vegas and wonders if Vicki had those mom-shaming thoughts. Vicki makes it clear that was never her intent, but Carmella is hopeful that Vicki realizes she made a mistake. According to Vicki, they are now BFF. 

When Tamra brings up Heather’s dad, Heather does not like that, even though she threw him in the mix last season. Seems like Heather can’t take “her own medicine.” Heather wants the ladies to tell her when they are bothered and Vicki rudely gets up to leave because she has another party to get to.  Classic Vicki.

The ladies share cheating stories and Gina explains her ex had his mistress saved under a different name in his phone.  After Shannon reconciled with her ex-husband, she looked at his phone and found out he reconnected with his mistress.  Carmella laments that you start questioning reality when this occurs.  Although a lousy common ground to find, the ladies connect on this subject.  After some of Heather’s “son”-gria and hotdogs, Carmella’s successful get-together wraps up.

TELL US – THOUGHTS ON THIS EPISODE OF RHOC?