There are reports of a significant explosion at a border checkpoint at the Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls. Access into the United States and Canada has now been closed.

Fox News is currently reporting that the explosion at the border checkpoint is being treated as an act of terrorism. At least two people have been reported dead.

Governor Kathy Hochul mentioned about a half-hour later that she is traveling to Buffalo after being briefed on the incident.

“At my direction, the New York State Police is actively working with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force to monitor all points of entry to New York,” the governor added.

The FBI’s statement mentioned that it is coordinating the investigation with local, state, and federal law enforcement. “As this situation is very fluid, that’s all we can say at this time,” stated the FBI.

The Niagara Gazette reports “the Rainbow Bridge has been closed to all traffic amid reports of a vehicle explosion just outside an inspections plaza on the American side.”

One eyewitness reporting hearing a “huge explosion” followed by a fire. There’s no word on how many people were in the vehicle and if anyone was injured.

“A Niagara Falls police captain told onlookers they should leave the area because it was a ‘dangerous situation,’” the newspaper reported.

Explosion on the U.S.-Canada border. Video by Chorkor Millionaire pic.twitter.com/Xqgi44BAs7

— News Now 24🌐 (@GlobalNewsNow24) November 22, 2023

BREAKING: Strong explosion reported, incident involves vehicle entering US from Canada via Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls; access closed in both directionspic.twitter.com/jk75tSBoLn

— Insider Paper (@TheInsiderPaper) November 22, 2023

#Niagara #NiagaraFalls
Report of an incident with explosion at the US border crossing in Niagara Falls, NY at the Rainbow Bridge crossing.

No response/dispatch from NFFD on the Ontario-side.

Multiple tweets indicating a vehicle exploded at the toll. pic.twitter.com/qJUH4pulPk

— That Guy Shane (@ProfanityNewz) November 22, 2023

#BREAKING #URGENT

🚨🚨🚨🚨

Picture from the scene shows a massive explosion at the US/Canada border near Niagara Falls.

This was very likely to be an IED/car bomb given the size of the explosion. pic.twitter.com/XjrcgOCgYJ

— Brian’s Breaking News and Intel (@intelFromBrian) November 22, 2023

Confirmed reports suggest that the car explosion on Rainbow Bridge in Niagara Falls, New York, has been identified as a terrorist attack.

As initially reported by Slay News, a vehicle exploded at a toll booth on the border bridge between the United States and Canada on Wednesday.

Fox News indicates that the FBI is actively investigating the vehicle explosion as a terror attack. According to sources, explosives were present in the vehicle at the time of the incident, resulting in the death of two individuals who were in the car. Additionally, a border officer sustained injuries.

The vehicle, traveling from the U.S. to Canada, was reportedly attempting to approach the border officer building when the explosion occurred.

WATCH:

Following the incident, all bridges in the vicinity have been closed, and government buildings have been evacuated, as per the provided sources.

In response to the reported explosion, international border crossing points between Canada and Western New York are currently closed.

In addition to those inside the vehicle, at least one person sustained injuries. A 27-year-old male, believed to be a border agent, was transported to Niagara Falls Memorial Hospital with minor injuries, including back pain and minor cuts. Fortunately, his condition is not deemed severe.

“The FBI Buffalo Field Office is investigating a vehicle explosion at the Rainbow Bridge, a border crossing between the US and Canada in Niagara Falls,” the FBI said in a statement.

“The FBI is coordinating with our local, state, and federal law enforcement partners in this investigation.

“As this situation is very fluid, that’s all we can say at this time.”

The Rainbow Bridge links Niagara Falls, New York, with Niagara Falls, Canada. In light of the ongoing investigation into the incident, the Peace Bridge, Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, and Whirlpool Bridge have also been closed.

New York City’s Democratic Mayor, Eric Adams, recently unveiled significant budget cuts, redirecting taxpayer funds to address the growing challenges posed by the increasing influx of illegal migrants. The aftermath of President Joe Biden’s immigration policies has seen leaders in border states transporting illegal aliens to designated “sanctuary” cities like NYC, Chicago, and Washington D.C.

As was previously reported, Mayor Adams disclosed the necessity of imposing substantial budget reductions on the city’s police force and education department to manage the financial strain caused by the surge in illegal border crossings. Adams’ budget cuts, totaling $4 billion, will result in a freeze on police hiring, reducing the number of NYPD officers to below 30,000. Additionally, the Education Department budget will face cuts exceeding $1 billion over the next two years, impacting various school programs and libraries.

In contrast to some Democratic mayors, Adams has been forthright in assigning blame to the Biden administration for the crisis. He has openly criticized the federal government, accusing them of “abandoning” the deeply Democratic city. On Monday, the mayor asserted that the budget cuts directly stem from the Biden administration’s failure to address the ongoing border crisis, according to Politico.

“D.C. has abandoned us, and they need to be paying their cost to this national problem,” Adams told New Yorkers during a Brooklyn town hall.

“I tell people all the time when they stop me on the subway system, ‘Don’t yell at me, yell at D.C.,’” he added.

“We deserve better as a city.”

New York City has experienced an influx of illegal immigrants transported to the city after crossing the southern border in the last two years. The surge has overwhelmed city shelters, with more than 130,000 illegal immigrants seeking refuge since the previous year. Despite ongoing challenges, the flow of migrants shows no signs of abating.

Mayor Adams, expressing concern over the sustainability of the situation, disclosed that the city is currently receiving up to 4,000 migrants per week, a significant increase from the previous count of 2,400 individuals. In response to the strain on resources, the city officials announced cuts to police and education spending. Additionally, there are plans to reduce expenses related to “asylum-seekers” by 20%.

The immigration crisis has imposed a substantial financial burden on the city, prompting measures to address the escalating costs.

New York City officials estimate a spending of $12 billion on food and shelter for illegal immigrants through the 2025 fiscal year. Mayor Adams has consistently clashed with the Biden administration, urging more support and intervention to address the national humanitarian crisis at the southern border. Expressing frustration at handling the issue without adequate federal assistance, Adams emphasized that the recent budget cuts are just the beginning.

Despite multiple meetings between the mayor and Biden administration officials to discuss the border crisis’s impact on the city, substantial federal action has yet to materialize. Concurrently, Adams has become the subject of a federal investigation led by the Department of Justice (DOJ) under President Biden. In a recent turn of events, the mayor canceled plans to meet with the administration after learning of an FBI investigation into his 2021 campaign’s alleged conspiracy with the Turkish government, leading to the confiscation of his cell phones by federal agents.

Advisors overseeing Joe Biden’s public appearances are urging extra precautions to minimize the risk of him tripping or falling, amid growing concerns about the Democrat president’s age and physical condition. According to a recent report, Biden’s team is advocating for shorter walking distances on camera and the substitution of formal shoes with more comfortable alternatives. This development coincides with a rising number of Democrats expressing uncertainties about the strategies in place to address concerns regarding the president’s age.

“People close to the president have discussed having him walk shorter distances while on camera,” Politico reported.

“They’ve also advocated, at times, trading in formal shoes for more comfortable ones — both to make his stride seem less stiff, but also to reduce the risk of falls.”

Democratic strategists and donors are reportedly expressing frustration with how the Biden campaign is addressing concerns about the president’s age. Criticism suggests that the campaign has not adequately assuaged public worries on this matter. Joe Biden, who recently celebrated his 81st birthday, holds the distinction of being the oldest president in U.S. history.

“Many donors are directly urging top campaign aides to go on offense, leaning even harder into Biden’s age as proof of his wisdom in turbulent times,” Politico reported.

“They are pushing for more humor about ‘Grandpa Joe.’

Alan Kessler, a Democratic donor, stated to the outlet that concerns about Biden’s age are gaining traction among voters. He highlighted that 77-year-old President Donald Trump was seldom subject to such scrutiny.

“Neither are going to get any younger on their next birthdays, but yet Biden seems to get, on a continuing basis, knocked for his age while Trump does not,” Kessler said.

“No one brings up the age thing with [Trump].

“That double standard is troubling.”

It has also now been reported that members of Biden’s family were also concerned over his age.

“Those close allies believe that Biden is mentally up for the job, but some acknowledge that the president can at times appear frail, according to two people involved in the conversations but not authorized to speak publicly about internal deliberations,” the outlet reported.

Another contributor mentioned that when expressing reservations about Biden’s age, DNC officials “declined to acknowledge it as a problem.”

Former Obama adviser David Axelrod recently cautioned that the president’s “age issue” was a significant concern for him.

“The one number in the polling that was concerning, and in the CNN poll that followed after The New York Times poll, had to do with age, and that is one thing you can’t reverse no matter how effective Joe Biden is behind the scenes,” Axelrod told CNN.

“In front of the camera, what he’s projecting is causing people concerns, and that is worrisome.”

In September, Axios revealed that Biden’s 2024 team was actively taking measures to prevent the president from tripping during public appearances.

The initiative to address Biden’s age-related concerns coincided with the president grappling with a diagnosis of “significant spinal arthritis.” His team was reportedly planning to minimize stair climbs and encourage him to wear tennis shoes.

President Biden caused an awkward moment when he suddenly interrupted his remarks at a “Friendsgiving” celebration to engage with a six-year-old girl at the Naval Station Norfolk.

Approaching the child, Biden expressed admiration for her ears and inquired about her age. Throughout the encounter, First Lady Jill Biden displayed a grimace and directed a glance toward a Secret Service agent.

New York City’s Democratic Mayor, Eric Adams, is appealing to the city’s affluent residents for financial assistance amid the challenges posed by President Joe Biden’s migrant crisis. Adams is urging wealthy New Yorkers to contribute financially to help the city navigate the strain on resources caused by the influx of illegal aliens. This request follows the recent announcement of significant budget cuts in the city.

“This is a moment where it’s an all hands on deck moment,” Adams told a Police Athletic League lunch on Friday.

“The way it goes, New York goes, America goes, but I’m going to need you more than ever to support many of these organizations like PAL, Robin Hood Foundation, and others,” he said, according to the New York Post.

“A moment where our philanthropic interests must align with some of the gaps and services that we are seeing today.”

Adams has also urged New Yorkers to voice their concerns to Washington, D.C., requesting additional support for the city facing what he deems a “national crisis.” These comments followed the announcement by the “sanctuary city” that it would reduce police numbers to redirect funds toward assisting migrants. Budget cuts have been initiated in various sectors, including education and sanitation. Adams unveiled a $110.5 billion budget, asserting that cuts across all agencies were unavoidable.

The city spent $1.45 billion in fiscal 2023 addressing the migrant crisis, with an anticipated expenditure of an additional $11 billion in taxpayer funds in 2024 and 2025. The New York Police Department (NYPD) will implement a hiring freeze to reduce numbers to below 30,000 by the end of fiscal year 2025, aiming to lower the current count from over 33,000. Significant cuts are also planned for education programs, including the universal pre-kindergarten initiative, and sanitation services. Since last year, over 130,000 migrants have arrived in New York City.

The situation is a consequence of the prolonged crisis at the southern border, spanning nearly three years, primarily attributed to Biden’s policies. It’s worth noting that the figures observed in NYC represent only a fraction of the over 2.4 million migrant encounters at the southern border in FY 23. Despite this, Adams has expressed concern that the crisis could have a devastating impact on the city. The recent budget cuts have sparked anger from the city’s teachers and police unions.

“This is truly a disaster for every New Yorker who cares about safe streets,” police union President Patrick Hendry said.

“Cops are already stretched to our breaking point, and these cuts will return us to staffing levels we haven’t seen since the crime epidemic of the ‘80s and ‘90s.”

“We cannot go back there. We need every level of government to work together to find a way to support police officers and protect New York City’s thirty years of public safety progress,” he said.

New York City, along with other liberal jurisdictions such as Massachusetts and Chicago, has appealed for increased federal assistance due to the escalating numbers of migrants. The Biden administration highlights that it has allocated over $770 million in the past year to support communities dealing with migrant influx. The White House also emphasizes the recommendations provided by its teams of experts.

A DHS official contends that the department has deployed personnel to aid in authorizing work permits and educating migrants about the immigration system. Additionally, the White House has requested an extra $14 billion in emergency funding for border operations, including $1.4 billion in grants for local governments and nonprofits. Despite these efforts, the border crisis persists, with over 249,000 migrant encounters in October, only slightly lower than the record set in September. Since the start of the fiscal year, there has been an average of over 1,000 detected gotaways per day.

A Georgia high school football coach, Coach Isaac Ferrell, who faced backlash over inviting a local pastor to share the Gospel with players resulting in several conversions, has been terminated.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), an atheist group, lodged a complaint, claiming the coach abused his authority and pressured students into religious activities.

“The district must refrain from infusing its football program with religion, and coach Ferrell cannot be allowed to preach to student athletes or allow a local pastor to preach to and baptize students,” FFRF Staff Attorney Chris Line wrote in a letter to Tattnall County School District Superintendent Kristen Waters.

“Football players shouldn’t be forced to get baptized to play football,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “Student athletes will feel coerced to oblige with their coach’s wishes.”

The school district, under investigation for the baptisms, asserted the coach’s firing was unrelated to the incident. The FFRF hailed the decision, stating they were pleased the district sought a new coach respecting constitutional duties.

Parents, like Latifa Johnson, celebrated their children’s independent decisions to embrace Christianity. Johnson expressed pride in her son’s choice and observed the boys’ genuine enthusiasm.

“I was extremely proud of him because he made the decision on his own. I didn’t have to hold his hand, and he did it because he wanted to do it,” Johnson told the television station. “It was so sweet because you see the boys and they looked like they wanted it,” said Johnson, “You know, like everyone looked excited, from the ones I was able to see. So was cheering thank you, God. Yes, yes, yes. I was all for it.”

Coach Ferrell, a respected figure in the community, received support, with many affirming his positive impact on student-athletes.

While the coach has not publicly addressed his dismissal, he continues to share Bible verses and inspirational messages online. The recent message from the Book of James emphasizes endurance through faith testing for spiritual maturity.

New York City Mayor Eric Adams faced a critical decision: allocate funds to support the police department and libraries or direct taxpayer money to undocumented immigrants. He opted for the latter.

Adams unveiled over a billion dollars in substantial budget cuts, resulting in the elimination of summer school and pre-kindergarten programs for children. The city’s police force will now have fewer than 30,000 officers, marking the first time figures have been this low since the 1980s.

In a controversial move, the mayor also announced the closure of several public libraries to provide assistance to undocumented immigrants, citing the need for broader support from Washington, D.C. to address what he termed a national humanitarian crisis.

Adams acknowledged the severe impact of these cuts on the nation’s largest city, stating, “In all my time in government, this is probably one of the most painful exercises I’ve gone through.”

He informed The New York Times that the migrant crisis’s cost was projected to reach nearly $11 billion over two years, contributing to a significant $7 billion gap in the next year’s budget. The immediate implementation of the cuts and the mayor’s ability to enforce hiring freezes were highlighted by city officials.

Law enforcement officials expressed concerns about the potential exacerbation of the city’s existing crime problem. Patrick Hendry, head of the police union, warned, “This is truly a disaster for every New Yorker who cares about safe streets,” emphasizing that the cuts would roll back staffing levels to those witnessed during the crime epidemic of the ’80s and ’90s.

Critics argue that New York City, having embraced sanctuary city status for undocumented immigrants, now faces the consequences of its choices in electing pro-criminal, pro-illegal Democratic leaders. The impact underscores the distinction between an America First agenda and an America Last agenda.

There has been widespread discussion on social media regarding a service member spotted holding a Chinese flag at the APEC Summit meeting in San Francisco, sparking significant outrage.

Renowned conservative actor James Woods expressed his concern, stating, “My father fought in the Korean War. I miss him with all my heart, yet I am grateful he never had to see an American serviceman holding a communist Chinese flag.”

Many Americans were appalled at the sight of a member of the Armed Forces seemingly honoring the Communist regime, known for the deaths of millions of innocent people.

Former NYPD Commissioner Bernard Kerik questioned, “Why is an American soldier holding a communist Chinese flag?”

According to Department of Defense guidelines, it is against regulations for service members in uniform and in an official capacity to carry flags of foreign nations, veterans’ groups, or other non-military organizations.

The incident prompted strong reactions from citizens, with one expressing, “Unbelievable. The leadership of Biden is pro any country but America. Every American should be outraged.”

Earlier during the visit, numerous San Francisco streets displayed the Chinese flag, with no American flags in sight, creating a perception as if the Bay Area had been invaded and conquered.

The image of a member of the military in full uniform holding the flag of an adversary stirred comparisons to a modern-day version of Red Dawn.

Elected officials in New Jersey will no longer be required to pledge an oath to Almighty God, as the state has agreed to modify its traditional oath of office following a federal lawsuit filed by a Wisconsin-based atheist group.

James Tosone, a non-theist planning to run for Congress in 2024 as a Libertarian, faced challenges due to the religious language in the petition required for candidates running for office in New Jersey. The phrase “so help me, God” posed a conflict for Tosone, preventing him from verifying his candidacy forms with a secular affirmation.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, co-led by Annie Laurie Gaylor, contested this requirement, describing it as a violation of freedom of conscience and an outdated practice. The state swiftly responded by amending its stance and providing guidance on secular affirmations to all New Jersey clerks.

Expressing satisfaction with the state’s response, Tosone remarked, “I’m very happy with the state’s response to my lawsuit and their commitment to follow the Constitution’s ‘no religious test for public office.'”

Gaylor added, “We’re glad that the state of New Jersey saw the error of its stubbornly noninclusive ways,” emphasizing that residents will no longer face a choice between dishonesty or abstaining from running for office.

Regarding the concern about who Tosone might swear to in the absence of religious beliefs, the article humorously suggests possibilities like his pet cat or a shrubbery. It concludes by noting the potential dilemma atheists would face if the case had gone to trial, given the typical requirement for witnesses to affirm their commitment to truth with the phrase “so help you God.”