Jul. 15—Lebanon and Center Township firefighters trained together this week after a 10-month separation.

The Lebanon Fire Department in September suspended automatic aid from the Center Township Fire Department. The two departments had worked in concert for decades, but CTFD can no longer guarantee a minimum of three freighters per shift. National safety standards require three firefighters per apparatus to ensure firefighter safety.

Also, records revealed that CTFD did not inspect and maintain life-saving equipment according to minimum national safety standards. CTFD has since brought the equipment maintenance up to date.

"So, now we're addressing their staffing issues," LFD Chief Chuck Batts said.

Lebanon Fire Department Deputy Chief Robert Wirey, with input from CTFD Chief Mike Spidel and Assistant Chief Mark Brown, recently established a new protocol that accommodates CTFD's staffing challenges.

"We feel like this is for the greater good of the citizens of Lebanon and Center Township," Batts said. "It enables them to make runs within the city of Lebanon. And their staffing will determine if they're going to be integrated with another crew, or if they're going to work as a standalone engine company."

Three-man crews may enter a burning building to fight flames or rescue someone trapped inside. Two-man crews can't enter a burning building, but they can establish a command and a water supply, or join a crew from another engine to enter the building and perform other crucial jobs. CTFD will also resume aid for crashes in the city.

Whitestown and Zionsville fire departments are also automatically called to Lebanon during fires and collisions, as Lebanon is to Whitestown and Zionsville. This has been the practice for years, Batts said. When a Boone County fire department is called out, others come to help fight the fire or two occupy a fire station in the event of another emergency requiring firefighters and their equipment. The mutual aid even crosses county lines, as Lebanon and Jamestown fire departments are sometimes called to Hendricks County, and a Carmel Fire Department truck provided coverage in Zionsville last week, Batts said.

While the USSS is comprised of approximately 3,200 agents total, DHS requested communication from just two dozen agents.

Crucially, the security official's testimony appears to confirm part of what Cassidy Hutchinson previously testified.

Joe RaedleOn Thursday evening, the Jan. 6 committee played stunning footage of Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) running away from a mob of pro-Trump vigilantes that he was seen riling up just hours earlier.Despite the clip clearly showing the Republican lawmaker on the run, nearly 24 hours later, he pledged to a group of young conservative activists that he would not “run” away from a battle.“Hey, listen, I know what I’m talking about because I had them do it to me,” he proudly declared at Turning Poi

Sen. Marco Rubio made the comments to CNN as he was walking onto an elevator and Sen. Tammy Baldwin overheard him and confronted him.

Pro-Trump protesters and police clash on Jan. 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images)During the prime-time hearing on July 21, 2022 of the House January 6 committee, the two panel members leading the hearing used the phrase “dereliction of duty” to describe the conduct of then-President Donald Trump. Trump “was told by everyone to halt the violence,” Rep. Elaine Luria, a Democrat from Virginia, said. “But he refused to do anything…It was a dereliction

Trump also appeared to struggle with saying the word "yesterday," calling it "hard" for him to enunciate.

The California governor signed a gun control bill Friday that mimics Texas' abortion ban. He also unveiled an ad targeting Texas Gov. Greg Abbott.

Former President Trump on Thursday vented his anger with Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) during the House select Jan. 6 committee’s hearing, slamming him as a “disloyal sleazebag” despite the recent victories McConnell helped secure for Trump’s legacy. Trump appeared to lose his temper after the Jan. 6 committee played a clip of McConnell’s…

Critics just aren't buying her claim that she was too busy taking White House inventory to notice her husband's supporters were storming the Capitol.

Donald Trump's former adviser was charged two counts of contempt of Congress for ignoring the House Jan. 6 select committee's subpoenas.

The House Republican Conference publicly attacked Sarah Matthews, former deputy press secretary in the Trump White House, for testifying before the Jan. 6 Committee – despite the fact that she is currently working as a communications director for the Republican staff on the House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis. “Just another liar and pawn…

A retired senior Secret Service agent said the intense scrutiny surrounding the deletion of text messages around January 6 may do more harm than good.

Jean-Pierre later clarified her response, saying "what's important now is that ... he's working from the residence on behalf of the American people."

"Are you a real police officer?" one woman asked Fanone. "Are you disappointed that you're going to make men face years in jail because of your lies?"

"The Daily Show" showed one image that explains why so many House Republicans voted against the Respect for Marriage Act.

Al Drago/Bloomberg via GettyThe revelation that Donald Trump was glued to Fox News for two hours while the Capitol was sacked on Jan. 6 did not shock the hosts of The New Abnormal.The news from Thursday night’s Jan. 6 committee hearing that really struck Molly Jong-Fast was that instead of trying to stop the violence, Trump wanted to call senators and pressure them to throw out the election results or delay the certification.And of course he talked to Rudy Giuliani.“Rudy’s always the first call

"Kamala putting her sneakers on."View Entire Post ›

Thursday night's Jan. 6 hearing found that Trump did little to try to stop his fans from attacking the Capitol and appeared to resist punishing them.

Hawley tweeted a link to his campaign website, which is selling a white coffee mug with an illustration of a photograph of Hawley holding his fist up to protesters who later stormed the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. officials launched a trade fight over Mexican energy policies that it says favor state-run firms and disincentivize clean energy investment this week. Canada joined in.