(The Center Square) – A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s ban on new exports of liquified natural gas exports to non-free trade agreement countries.
Judge James Cain Jr. of the Western District of Louisiana issued a preliminary injunction against the U.S. Department of Energy’s partial LNG export ban after more than a dozen states sued, arguing the ban was illegal.
“It appears that the DOE’s decision to halt the permit approval process for entities to export LNG to non-FTA countries is completely without reason or logic and is perhaps the epiphany of ideocracy,” Cain wrote in his ruling.
The ban was put in place, according to the Biden administration, because the exports “no longer adequately account for considerations like potential energy cost increases for American consumers and manufacturers beyond current authorizations or the latest assessment of the impact of greenhouse gas emissions.”
After the Department of Energy announced the ban in January, 16 states filed suit, including Louisiana.
“This is great news for Louisiana, our 16 state partners in this fight, and the entire country,” Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill said in a statement following the judge’s decision. “As Judge Cain mentioned in his ruling, there is roughly $61 billion dollars of pending infrastructure at risk to our state from this illegal pause. LNG has an enormous and positive impact on Louisiana, supplying clean energy for the entire world, and providing good jobs here at home.”
Louisiana was joined by Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kansas, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming in the lawsuit.
Vance Boelter, accused of assassinating Minnesota House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman, her husband, and shooting state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, attempted to evade authorities by purchasing a Buick sedan and electric bike from a stranger. A 20-page affidavit reveals Boelter’s premeditated actions, including fake police plates, weapons, $10,000 cash, and passports in his SUV, alongside GPS data targeting politicians’ homes. He sent cryptic texts to family indicating violence and warned of armed visitors. Authorities found notebooks with politicians’ information, silicone mask sources, and tactical gear. Surveillance footage and recovered items detail his movements during the shootings.
(The Center Square) – The accused Minnesota shooter bought a Buick sedan and electric bike from an individual he met at a bus stop as he worked to escape authorities before being cornered and arrested near his home in Green Isle, Minnesota, according to a 20-page affidavit filed regarding 57-year-old Vance Boelter.
Boelter has been charged with stalking and killing Minnesota House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman and her husband along with the shooting of state Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and his wife. The Hoffmans are expected to make a full recover.
The affidavit shed light on the activities that led to and included the shooting of four people – two who were killed – early Saturday in what has been described by authorities as an assassination of elected officials.
Boelter allegedly texted his family members including his wife and children at 6:18 a.m. on Saturday, writing “Dad went to war last night … I don’t wanna say more because I don’t wanna implicate anybody.”
He also allegedly then texted his wife, writing “words are not gonna explain how sorry I am for this situation … there’s gonna be some people coming to the house armed and trigger-happy and I don’t want you guys around.”
The affidavit detailed that two handguns, $10,000 and passports for Boelter’s wife and children were found in the car with them.
Boelter’s SUV included a fake plate with the letters “POLICE” on the back from items he purchased at Fleet Farm. It also included a Garmin GPS device with the addresses of the politicians whose homes he went to along with the addresses of at least two other state officials.
It also included an address to a home he shared with a roommate, which authorities then searched and found notebooks with the names and addresses of Minnesota politicians.
Another notebook included the websites of three companies that sold silicone masks like the one he was allegedly wearing when he showed up at the homes of the individuals he is accused of shooting.
A receipt showed that Boelter allegedly bought a flashlight, tactical rifle case, ammunition and the materials used to make the license plate.
The affidavit also detailed what security cameras saw at the homes where he is accused of the shootings.
Many of the items described were found outside of the Hortmans’ home after Boelter allegedly fled to elude police.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
This article from *The Center Square* presents a factual account of a violent crime involving elected officials without inserting ideological commentary or partisan framing. It reports on the actions, evidence, and legal charges related to the accused without implying political motivations beyond what law enforcement has described. The focus is on the affidavit’s content, forensic details, and timeline of events, maintaining a neutral tone throughout. While it references Democratic officials as victims, it does so in a purely informational context, not as a vehicle for partisan sympathy or critique. Thus, the reporting remains balanced and fact-driven.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Alan Wooten | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-17 07:59:00
NAACP President Derrick Johnson announced President Donald Trump will not be invited to the NAACP’s national convention in Charlotte due to his perceived attacks on democracy and civil rights. Johnson criticized Trump for unconstitutional executive orders, military misuse, and undermining democracy for personal gain. If upheld, Trump would be the first sitting president in 116 years denied an invitation. Despite this, Trump has boosted support among Black voters, especially younger Black men, and historically won North Carolina three times. The NAACP, advocating civil rights, continues to litigate against Trump’s administration. North Carolina’s political landscape has shifted, with growing unaffiliated voters and a divided state government.
(The Center Square) – Citing democracy and civil rights differences, NAACP President and CEO Derrick Johnson said President Donald Trump will not be invited to Charlotte for his organization’s national convention July 12-16.
“Right now, it’s clear – Donald Trump is attacking our democracy and our civil rights,” Johnson said. “He believes more in the fascist playbook than in the U.S. Constitution. This playbook is radical and un-American. The president has signed unconstitutional executive orders to oppress voters and undo federal civil rights protections; he has illegally turned the military on our communities; and he continually undermines every pillar of our democracy to make himself more powerful and to personally benefit from the U.S. government.”
Trump, second-term Republican, would be the first sitting president in 116 years to not receive an invitation, should it hold. The nation’s 47th commander in chief has worked from a campaign slogan of making America “great again,” implementing a series of orders that reverse several Biden-era policies, the majority of which Congress is yet to codify.
The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People has backed several litigations against the presidential administration, and the Republican majority General Assembly of North Carolina, often alongside with Democrats or their advocating entities. Trump has won North Carolina three times in presidential races, and in November swept the electoral college votes of seven swing states 93-0 against Democrat Kamala Harris.
Trump, in comparison to 2020 against Joe Biden, doubled his share of Black voters against Harris, and in the under age 45 category of Black men, he also doubled his share. Harris’ father is from Jamaica, her mother from India.
The NAACP convention arrives in a state once blue as they come and now with a voting bloc split in thirds.
On Jan. 1, 2004, the state’s more than 5 million voters were split 47.6% Democrats, 34.4% Republicans and 17.7% unaffiliated. That was five years after the state’s 10 executive offices – the Council of State – was occupied by 10 Democrats.
Today, the more than 7.5 million voters are 37.8% unaffiliated, 30.7% Democrats and 30.4% Republicans. And the Council of State has been a Republican majority before falling back in November to a 5-5 split.
A trip by Trump would have been his third since the Jan. 20 inauguration. His first venture from the White House was four days later to see the devastation in the western part of the state caused by Hurricane Helene. His second was a week ago to visit Fort Bragg as the Army celebrated 250 years.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Center-Left
The article presents facts about the NAACP’s decision not to invite Donald Trump to its national convention while quoting NAACP President Derrick Johnson’s strongly worded criticisms of Trump’s actions. The framing allows Johnson’s perspective to dominate early in the article, with phrases like “attacking our democracy” and “fascist playbook” left unchallenged or unexplored from alternative views. Although the article includes context about Trump’s electoral success and shifts in voter demographics, the lack of balancing quotes or responses from Trump’s team or other political figures suggests a subtle ideological leaning. However, the article refrains from editorializing in its own voice and includes verifiable data, keeping the overall tone close to factual reporting with a slight lean toward a progressive viewpoint due to emphasis and selection of quotes.
Police arrested Vance Boelter after a dangerous manhunt near Green Isle, Minnesota, where he was found with AK-47-style rifles, handguns, a ballistic vest, a mask, and a list of public officials. Boelter, disguised as a police officer, allegedly shot and killed House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman and her husband, and wounded State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife. The shootings were reported by Hoffman’s daughter. Boelter was seen fleeing in a Ford SUV and exchanged gunfire with police before escaping. Authorities condemned his use of a police disguise, saying he exploited the public’s trust in law enforcement.
(The Center Square) – Police found three AK-47 style rifles, a 9 mm handgun and a list of names of public officials in the Ford SUV of murder suspect Vance Boelter, according to a warrant request that was under seal until Boelter was arrested late Sunday.
Police also say they found a ballistic vest, disassembled 9mm firearm, a mask and a gold police-style badge, according to the warrant.
That warrant was released after Boelter was detained in the woods near Green Isle, Minnesota, following what Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz called a “complex and dangerous manhunt.”
Boelter is accused of dressing as a police officer and shooting and killing House Speaker Emeritus Melissa Hortman and her husband.
Boelter is accused of first going to the nearby home of State Sen. John Hoffman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and shooting both him and his wife.
The Hoffman’s daughter, Hope, had called 911 and reported the shooting.
Brooklyn Park Police then sent officers to the Hortmans’ home, where they saw the suspect, with the same Ford SUV, shoot Hortmans’ husband.
After exchanging fire with police, Boelter escaped the area and the manhunt began.
“Boelter exploited the trust our uniforms are meant to represent,” Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said in a Sunday night press conference.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
The content primarily reports factual information regarding a criminal incident, detailing the weapons found, the suspects’ actions, and official responses. It refrains from expressing opinions or commentary that would align with a particular ideological perspective. The article uses neutral language and focuses on law enforcement and public safety concerns rather than engaging in political advocacy or framing the events through a politicized lens. Thus, it maintains a balanced and straightforward reporting style without promoting any discernible political bias.
