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Hopes were high that the International Wine and Spirits' first-ever Global Judging event of North American whiskey on home soil would unearth some fantastic bottles. Well, it didn’t disappoint. An expert panel sampled almost 500 bottles in Kentucky in early September, and the results were just announced. Over 430 medals were awarded, including 30 golds and four outstanding golds. The judges were wowed, to say the least.

The pledge comes one week after he visited New York City for the anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced that, as president, he would make Ground Zero in New York a national monument. "I am announcing tonight that as President, I will officially make the Ground Zero site at the World Trade Center a national monument protected and maintained by the United States government, so that hallowed ground and the memory of those who perish there will be preserved for all time, preserved forever," he said at a rally in Uniondale,...

The Islamic Republic of Iran hacked former President Donald Trump’s campaign and turned over the stolen materials to the Biden-Harris campaign, federal officials said in a statement. Federal officials from ODNI, FBI, and CISA said in a joint statement that Iranian hackers sent the stolen materials to then-Biden-Harris campaign officials in June and July. Information that the hackers sent to the then-Biden-Harris campaign “contained an excerpt taken from stolen, non-public material from former President Trump’s campaign as text in the emails.” “This is further proof the Iranians are actively interfering in the election to help Kamala Harris and Joe Biden...

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will reportedly stay publicly neutral in the US presidential election and have simply urged Americans to go out and vote. The couple marked National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday by getting the Archewell team to take part in a letter-writing activity. Staff sent out letters to unregistered voters to encouraged them to vote in the upcoming presidential election. The statement read: 'Voting is not just a right; it's a fundamental way to influence the fate of our communities. 'At The Archewell Foundation, we recognize that civic engagement, no matter one's political party, is at...

~ The FReeper Canteen Presents ~ ~ Remembering Our Troops!! ~ Aloha, Makahiki! Sailors take part in the Makahiki Games at Pacific Missile Range Facility, Barking Sands, Kekaha, Hawaii, June 7, 2024. The Makahiki Games are a traditional Hawaiian competition consisting of multiple games meant to test contestants’ mental and physical capabilities. Sailors competed in Blue vs. Khaki Teams, with the Blue Team, or E-6 and below, emerging victorious. (U.S. Navy photo by Lisa Ferdinando) Canteen Mission StatementShowing support and boosting the morale ofour military and our allies' militaryand family members of the above.Honoring those who have served before....

During the presidential debate between President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, debate moderators curiously failed to include a question about efforts to “reform” the Supreme Court. The Biden administration is proposing radical changes to the Court, which include ending life tenure for justices and giving Congress the power to oversee the Court’s ethics. Others are calling to expand the size of the Court by adding more seats. Those proposals would destroy judicial independence and the rule of law. They’re a threat to Americans’ civil liberties. “Court packing would not simply alter the structure of the Supreme Court—it would...

The Arizona Cardinals have apologized to a woman who was told she had to remove a "Make American Great Again" hat in order to enter State Farm Stadium for the team's game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. The team confirmed it has reached out to the woman in a statement to Fox News Digital on Wednesday. The incident was initially publicized in a post on X by Turning Point Action Field Rep. VP Alyssa Goncales, who also posted alleged screenshots of text messages with other supposed attendees who were either also forced to remove MAGA hats or witnessed...

Following today’s successful burger benefit, Kaiden Wyatt Barrett’s family is preparing for a stem cell procedure. At OneLife Community Church, folks could stop by for a burger and other refreshments to help raise funds for Kaiden’s journey. Kaiden’s adoptive mother, Jennifer Barrett, said funds for the procedure and travel have been raised, and everything extra will go toward therapy post-procedure. Organizations from Seniorly Yours, Hospice Plus and others were there to pack boxes and hand them out. PREVIOUS STORY: Adoptive parents of abused, shaken baby fighting to end child abuse Organizers said seeing Kaiden hit milestones is impactful for everybody...

The United States Air Force celebrated its 77th birthday on Wednesday, Sept.18, marking the point at which it became a separate entity from the rest of the military. The Air Force officially became a separate division of the U.S. military when President Harry Truman signed the National Security Act of 1947. To this day, the Air Force continues to aim high and fight, as it delivers airpower anytime and anywhere to serve and protect our nation. This is a special shoutout to all of our airmen and women at Sheppard Air Force Base and to all members of the U.S....

The U.S. must increase defense spending to Cold War levels if it expects to contend with international threats posed by a malign alliance of Russia, China, Iran and North Korea that could lead to a global war, according to a commission appointed by Congress. On Wednesday, former California Rep. Jane Harman and Ambassador Eric Edelman, the chair and vice chair of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy, told lawmakers that the U.S. is facing its most severe threats in decades. The U.S. last fought a global conflict in World War II nearly 80 years ago and isn’t prepared for...

“Many supporters seated behind Trump onstage went to the ER after the rally with “blurred vision” and “burning” to the eyes. I spoke to several who still have not fully recovered. As many as 20 were affected,” Kelly wrote on X. The cause of the symptoms remains unknown, and an active investigation is underway. Supporters from the “Latinos for Trump” group were among the most severely impacted, including Pastor Eli Moreno and his wife, Francesca. Pastor Moreno described mild discomfort, but his wife’s symptoms were far worse. “Her vision blurred, her face swelled up, and we had to rush to...

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi addressed the possibility of war with Hezbollah on Wednesday, in the wake of electronic devices exploding in Lebanon: “We still have many capabilities that we have not yet activated.” Israel has not formally acknowledged responsibility for the detonation of thousands of pagers carried by Hezbollah officials and terrorists on Tuesday, nor for the explosion of hundreds of walkie talkies. Together, the explosions were responsible for about 20 deaths and over 3,000 injuries, and the destruction of Hezbollah’s communications system.

The Finance Minister has ruled out abolishing inheritance tax, saying it would not be fair. Former Justice Minister Alan Shatter has launched a campaign to abolish the tax. Children can currently inherit €335,000 from their parents before they have to pay tax, but anything above that rate is taxed at a rate of 33%. Jack Chambers said he thought “having capital acquisitions tax is important in a balanced economy in terms of fairness and equity.” …

[Catholic Caucus] Pope Francis personally invites pro-LGBT Fr James Martin, Cardinal Cupich to October SynodPope Francis' personal picks for the Synod remain largely the same this year as last year, including controversial figures such as Cardinals Blase Cupich, Jozef De Kesel, Wilton Gregory, Robert McElroy and Father James Martin, S.J.The Vatican’s press office released details of the upcoming Synod on Synodality starting later this month, which, like last year, includes a list of heterodox attendees invited by Pope Francis.While the Synod begins on Monday, September 30, with all participants taking part in a two-day retreat, meetings do not begin in...

Speaker Mike Johnson’s (R-LA) gambit to attach the SAVE Act to a stop-gap spending bill failed in the House on Wednesday after Republicans opposed the bill. The six-month stop-gap spending bill, otherwise known as a continuing resolution (CR), failed 202-220. Fourteen Republicans voted against the legislation and two voted “present,” while three Democrats voted in favor of the bill.

Nashville food banks are being pushed to their limits with people needing help now more than ever before. Over the past couple of years, demand has skyrocketed at The Branch because of higher grocery prices. Angie Thomas said they now serve more than 1,200 families per month. There was a constant line of cars outside of the building on Wednesday for their senior food box giveaway. “We have a heart for this community,” Thomas said. “We want this community to thrive. When we are able to provide something that our community needs, like food, like English language classes, like entrepreneur...

A blue bus bearing the words “Fighting for Reproductive Freedom” pulled up behind the Pennsylvania Capitol on Wednesday with a message that access to contraception, in vitro fertilization and abortion care hangs in the balance in this presidential election. Among the supporters of Democratic nominee, Vice President Kamala Harris, on the campaign bus was 22-year-old Kentuckian Hadley Duvall. She spoke at the Democratic National Convention and has appeared in Harris campaign ads sharing her story about being raped and impregnated by her stepfather at age 12. Duvall recalled standing in the bathroom doing a pregnancy test and having no idea...

Iran's president committed his country to deeper ties with Russia to counter Western sanctions on Tuesday, state media reported, amid U.S. worries that Tehran is supplying Moscow missiles to hit Ukraine. Russia's top security official Sergei Shoigu arrived in the Iranian capital days after meeting North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Pyongyang. More than two and a half years into its conflict with Ukraine, Moscow has been seeking to develop ties with the two nations, both hostile to the United States. "My government will seriously follow ongoing cooperation and measures to upgrade the level of relations between the two...

The International Brotherhood of Teamsters declined to endorse a presidential candidate on Wednesday after releasing internal polling that showed a majority of its members supported former President Donald Trump over Vice President Kamala Harris. *** “Unfortunately, neither major candidate was able to make serious commitments to our union to ensure the interests of working people are always put before Big Business,” Teamsters President Sean O’Brien said in a statement. “We sought commitments from both Trump and Harris not to interfere in critical union campaigns or core Teamsters industries – and to honor our members’ right to strike – but were...

It's official! - Robots are replacing humans. Chipotle restaurants in California have introduced two robots to replace human workers in an effort to slash labor costs in response to the state-mandated $20 minimum wage. The first robot called the "autocato" can peel, stone, and cut an avocado, and then turn it into guacamole in 26 seconds. The other robot dubbed the "digital makeline" has the ability to portion salads and bowls based on orders from the mobile app. The robots are part of an automation push that Chipotle's executives think could reduce the number of employees and help lower rising...