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Idaho Legislature Approves Child Sex Abuse Death Penalty Bill, Sending It to Governor

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The Idaho Legislature has passed a bill allowing the death penalty for adults convicted of sexually abusing children age 12 and younger. House Bill 380 now heads to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration.

The bill, cosponsored by Rep. Bruce Skaug, R-Nampa, and House Assistant Majority Leader Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, introduces a new charge: aggravated lewd conduct with children age 12 and younger, which would be eligible for the death penalty. It also establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for aggravated lewd conduct with minors under age 16 that do not qualify for the death penalty.

The bill passed the Senate on a 30-5 vote, with opposition from three Democrats and two Republicans. The House had previously approved it unanimously, 63-0, with seven members absent. Once transmitted to Gov. Little, he will have five days, excluding Sundays, to either sign the bill into law, allow it to become law without his signature, or veto it. If enacted, the law would take effect July 1.

Supporters Say Bill Sends a Clear Message

Skaug has argued that Idaho has some of the most lenient child rape laws in the country. Sen. Doug Ricks, R-Rexburg, a cosponsor, said the bill ensures severe consequences for the worst offenders.

“Unlike most states, Idaho currently lacks mandatory minimum sentences for these horrific crimes — meaning judges have the discretion to place the worst offenders on probation,” Ricks told the Senate. “This legislation ensures that those who commit the most severe offenses against children face significant consequences, sending a clear message that Idaho will not tolerate the sexual abuse of minors.”

Currently, Idaho law only allows the death penalty for first-degree murder with aggravating circumstances.

Idaho Senate Minority Leader Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, opposed the bill, stating that while child abuse should carry severe penalties, this bill represents a significant policy shift for the state.

“Unfortunately, I only heard from four sources regarding this bill. And that feels very uncomfortable, when I think we need a vigorous and long debate and discussion,” Wintrow said.

Potential Legal Challenges

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Kennedy v. Louisiana (2008) that imposing the death penalty for child rape is unconstitutional. However, Florida passed a similar law in 2023, followed by Tennessee in 2024.

Anticipating a legal challenge, Skaug told lawmakers he believes the Supreme Court could rule differently today.

“You can say, ‘Well, that’s unconstitutional, Bruce. Why would you bring that?’ Well, it was — according to a 5-4 decision in 2008. I don’t think that would be the case today,” Skaug, an attorney, told lawmakers. “That’s my professional opinion. That’s the opinion of many other attorneys.”

Skaug has stated that the death penalty would be rarely pursued under this bill. Currently, Idaho has nine inmates on death row.

Concerns Over Legal Ramifications

During a Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee hearing, David Martinez of the Idaho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers testified against the bill, warning that it could apply more broadly than intended.

“The bill doesn’t focus on ‘the worst of the worst,’ could potentially expose victims to decades of reliving trauma, and fails to account for Idaho’s shortage of qualified death penalty defense attorneys,” Martinez said.

The bill lists more than a dozen aggravating factors for seeking the death penalty, and Martinez argued that many cases would qualify under those criteria.

Holly Rebholtz, representing the Idaho Prosecuting Attorneys Association, disagreed, stating that aggravated lewd conduct cases would be rare.

“I don’t think these crimes are going to come into play very often. But when they do, they are the most serious crimes we see. And again, the prosecutors believe that the most serious crimes against children deserve a serious punishment,” Rebholtz testified.

Skaug estimated that, in a worst-case scenario, the bill could lead to two death penalty cases per year, with costs reaching up to $1 million per case.

Opposition From Some Republicans

Sen. Dan Foreman, R-Moscow, a retired police officer and combat veteran, voted against the bill, arguing that society is blurring the line between justice and revenge.

“I see society starting to go down a dangerous road here. Not just with this bill, but in general — where we are starting to equate revenge with justice. And that’s a slippery slope,” Foreman said.

Senate Majority Leader Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, countered that the bill is about accountability, not retribution.

“When I look at the types of circumstances that would lead to these charges — and I think about the irreparable and irreversible damage done to a child who then has to live with the consequences of these actions upon them for the rest of their lives — I think this is about accountability and about how we value life,” she said.

Second Attempt at Passing a Similar Bill

This is the second time Skaug and Tanner have introduced a child sex abuse death penalty bill. Last year, their proposal passed the House but never received a hearing in the Senate.

The new bill also establishes mandatory minimum prison sentences for aggravated lewd conduct with minors under 16. The minimum sentence would be 25 years in prison.

Under the bill, lewd conduct includes, but is not limited to, “genital-genital contact, oral-genital contact, anal-genital contact, oral-anal contact, manual-anal contact, or manual-genital contact” when intended to arouse, appeal to, or gratify “lust or passions or sexual desires.”

Gov. Little’s decision on the bill is expected in the coming days.

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Tim Walz asked Minnesota assassin to kill Senator Klobuchar so he could take seat, FBI letter claims

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In a disturbing twist to last week’s targeted violence against Minnesota officials, sources reveal that a conspiratorial letter left behind by shooting suspect Vance Boelter accuses Governor Tim Walz of orchestrating a political assassination plot. The letter, addressed to the FBI, allegedly claims Walz instructed Boelter to kill U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar so that Walz could seek her Senate seat—a position he has not expressed any intent to pursue.

Two individuals with direct knowledge of the letter described it as incoherent, one and a half pages long, and filled with paranoid ramblings. The letter allegedly outlines unsubstantiated claims that Boelter was trained “off the books” by the U.S. military, and that Walz had enlisted him to assassinate Klobuchar and potentially other politicians, including a veiled reference to Sen. Tina Smith.

Federal prosecutors say Boelter left the letter in a Buick abandoned near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota. It is believed to include a confession to the killings of Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as the shootings of Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

Boelter, 57, now faces federal charges including:

  • Two counts of stalking Rep. Hortman and Sen. Hoffman using interstate facilities;
  • Two counts of murder in the deaths of the Hortmans;
  • Two counts of firearm use in the shootings of the Hortmans and Hoffmans.

While federal authorities declined to comment on the letter’s contents, local officials addressed the severity of the situation. Hennepin County Attorney’s Office spokesperson Daniel Borgertpoepping stated they could not comment on an open investigation, but added, “We have seen no evidence that the allegations regarding Governor Walz are based in fact.”

Gov. Walz’s spokesman, Teddy Tschann, called the events “deeply disturbing for all Minnesotans” and praised law enforcement and prosecutors for their swift actions.

Sen. Klobuchar issued a strong response, saying, “Boelter is a very dangerous man and I am deeply grateful that law enforcement got him behind bars before he killed other people.”

Documents obtained by the Minnesota Star Tribune also reveal that Boelter held a valid carry license as recently as 2020, issued while he was still affiliated with his family’s private security firm.

With more details likely to surface as the investigation unfolds, the letter marks a chilling insight into Boelter’s delusions—and highlights the growing threats facing public officials.

SOURCE: STAR TRIBUNE

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Tech

ChatGPT use linked to cognitive decline, MIT research finds

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A new study from the MIT Media Lab has raised concerns about the long-term effects of using artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT on human cognition. The research, released this month, suggests that relying on large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT could impair an individual’s critical thinking abilities, especially with prolonged use.

Researchers observed participants over several months as they completed SAT-style essay assignments. The subjects were divided into three groups: one using ChatGPT, another using Google’s search engine, and a third group relying solely on their own thinking—dubbed the “brain-only” group.

To analyze brain activity during the writing tasks, researchers used electroencephalography (EEG) to monitor neural engagement across different regions of the brain. The results showed a stark difference in cognitive involvement among the groups.

According to the study, those using ChatGPT demonstrated the lowest level of brain engagement. Over time, these participants began to rely more heavily on the AI, eventually moving from asking structural questions to simply copying and pasting complete essays. The researchers noted that this group “consistently underperformed at neural, linguistic, and behavioral levels.”

Participants who used Google showed moderate brain activity, while the “brain-only” group displayed the strongest and most widespread neural activity, indicating deeper cognitive involvement throughout the writing process.

The study’s lead author, Nataliya Kosmyna, emphasized the urgency of the findings, particularly as AI tools become more integrated into education.

“What really motivated me to put it out now before waiting for a full peer review is that I am afraid in 6–8 months, there will be some policymaker who decides, ‘let’s do GPT kindergarten.’ I think that would be absolutely bad and detrimental,” Kosmyna told Time

magazine. “Developing brains are at the highest risk.”

The study highlights growing concerns among educators about how easily accessible AI tools are enabling academic dishonesty and changing how students learn. Despite these concerns, AI integration in classrooms appears to be accelerating.

In April, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order promoting the use of AI in American schools. The policy aims to prepare young students for a future economy shaped by AI advancements.

“The basic idea of this executive order is to ensure that we properly train the workforce of the future by ensuring that school children, young Americans, are adequately trained in AI tools, so that they can be competitive in the economy years from now into the future, as AI becomes a bigger and bigger deal,” White House staff secretary Will Scharf said at the time.

As the debate over AI’s role in education continues, this new research may fuel broader discussions on how to balance technological innovation with cognitive development—especially for younger generations.

SOURCE: MIT RESEARCH

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Biden Administration

Kamala Harris Allegedly Covered Up Biden’s Mental Decline, Democratic Source Says

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SACRAMENTO, CA — Former Los Angeles Mayor and current California gubernatorial candidate Antonio Villaraigosa has publicly alleged that Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra were involved in concealing former President Joe Biden’s mental and physical decline during his time in office.

Villaraigosa, a Democrat, made the claim amid a heated California gubernatorial race. Becerra, the former Secretary of Health and Human Services, is also a candidate, while speculation continues over a potential Harris bid. The race comes as current Governor Gavin Newsom reaches the end of his second and final term, per California’s two-term limit.

In a statement referencing recent reporting and excerpts from the book Original Sin, Villaraigosa stated:

“What I’ve seen in news coverage and excerpts from the new book ‘Original Sin’ is deeply troubling. At the highest levels of our government, those in power were intentionally complicit or told outright lies in a systematic cover up to keep Joe Biden’s mental decline from the public.”

Both Harris and Becerra previously served as California Attorney General. Villaraigosa emphasized their past leadership roles, stating:

“Now, we have come to learn this cover up includes two prominent California politicians who served as California Attorney General – one who is running for Governor and another who is thinking about running for Governor.”

He added:

“Those who were complicit in the cover up should take responsibility for the part they played in this debacle, hold themselves accountable, and apologize to the American people. I call on Kamala Harris and Xavier Becerra to do just that – and make themselves available to voters and the free press because there’s a lot of questions that need to be answered.”

Becerra responded in a statement, saying:

“It’s clear the President was getting older, but he made the mission clear: run the largest health agency in the world, expand care to millions more Americans than ever before, negotiate down the cost of prescription drugs, and pull us out of a world-wide pandemic. And we delivered.”

Kamala Harris has not issued a public response. Fox News Digital reported that it reached out to the offices of Harris and the Bidens but had not received a reply at the time of publication.

The allegations come as discussions about Biden’s cognitive and physical health continue. Earlier this month, during an appearance on The View, Biden dismissed claims of cognitive decline during his presidency.

In related developments, Biden’s personal office recently confirmed that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer characterized by a high Gleason score and metastasis to the bone.

Villaraigosa’s comments are the latest in a growing list of concerns raised within the Democratic Party about leadership transparency and accountability in the final years of the Biden administration.

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