By Gloria Ogbonna As the Democrat-led government shutdown stretches into its 17th day, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem announced Friday that critical federal personnel, including Department of

On Friday night (aka No Kings eve), the Trump White House joined social media platform Bluesky. Yes, that soulless haven for demented Democrats. Being new to the social media site, President Donald

By Gloria Ogbonna White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Director Russ Vought announced on Friday that more than $11 billion worth of infrastructure and development projects across several

A massive stone water basin of unknown purpose has been discovered in the ancient site of Gabii, 11 miles east of Rome. Most of it dates to around 250 B.C., but there is evidence that some parts were built at an earlier date. It is one of the earliest examples of Roman monumental architecture that isnt a temple or a defensive wall.Mogetta, the chair of Mizzous Department of Classics, Archaeology and Religion, said monumental architecture is about more than realism its also a powerful tool for political expression.This discovery gives us a rare look at how the early Romans experimented with city planning, he said. Its location at the center of the city near the main crossroads suggests it may have been a monumental pool that was part of the citys forum, or the heart of public life in Roman towns. Since archaeologists still dont fully know what the early Roman Forum truly looked like, Gabii provides an invaluable window into its development.The ancient city of Gabii was one of Romes main rivals in its early days when it was ruled by kings. By the 5th century B.C., Gabii was a close ally of the Roman Republic. It was declined in the 1st century B.C. and was largely abandoned by 50 B.C. It was repopulated on a much smaller scale under the Roman Empire, but there was little new construction and all references to it on the historical record cease after the 3rd century.No modern city was built over it and the land lay fallow for millennia, so excavations have been able to uncover the original street layouts and foundations of structures going back to its earliest days. This makes Gabii a unique source of archaeological evidence of how Latin cities developed in the 1st millennium B.C.Next summer, Gabii Project archaeologists will continue excavating what has accumulated in the basin over time and the area around itfeaturing a large stone-paved area. In the future, they also plan to investigate a mysterious anomaly near the basin site. Initially revealed through thermal imaging scans, it could possibly be a temple or another type of large civic building.If its a temple, it could help us explain some of the artifacts weve already found in the abandonment levels of the basin, such as intact vessels, lamps, perfume containers and cups inscribed with unusual markings, Mogetta said. Some of these objects may have been deliberately placed there as religious offerings or discarded in connection with the ritual closing of the pool around 50 C.E.thus underscoring the crucial role played by water management in ancient cities.

Historical Events1240 - Ukrainian city of Chernihiv surrenders, but despite this, it is still sacked and pillaged by the Mongolian army of Batu1912 - The Treaty of Lausanne ends the Italo-Turkish War; Italy annexes Libya1921 - Charles Strite is granted US patent #1,394,450 for his invention, the automatic pop-up toaster1931 - Gangster Al Capone is convicted on five of the 23 counts of tax evasion against him, later fined $50,000 and sentenced to 11 years in prison1979 - USSR performs a nuclear test at the Semipalatinsk Test Site in northeastern KazakhstanMore Historical Events Famous Birthdays1844 - Harvey W. Wiley, American chemist known for leadership in the passage of the landmark Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906, born in Kent, Indiana (d. 1930)1870 - D. T. Suzuki, Japanese-American Zen Buddhist scholar, born in Kanazawa, Japan (d. 1966)1947 - (John) "JJ" Johnson, American NBA basketball player, 1970-82 (Cleveland Cavaliers, Seattle SuperSonics, and 2 other teams), born in Carthage, Mississippi (d. 2016)1948 - Isabel Elaine Allen, American biostatistician known for her work on distance education, born in the United States1960 - Jean-Claude Van Damme, Belgian actor (Double Impact, Kickboxer, No Retreat), born in Brussels, BelgiumMore Famous Birthdays Famous Deaths1570 - Manoel da Nbrega, Portuguese missionary, founder of the Jesuit mission in Brazil, dies at 531788 - Jean-Guillain Cardon, French harpist, composer, and teacher, dies at 561845 - Jean-Dominique, comte de Cassini, French astronomer, dies at 971997 - Bill Rotsler, cartoonist/writer, dies of cancer at 622000 - Julie London, American singer ("Cry Me A River") and actress (Emergency - "Nurse McCall"), dies at 74More Famous Deaths

One week following floods sweeping through huge portions of five states in eastern and central Mexico, the nations government has confirmed that 72 people have died, while 48 others are missing. Multiple

Most Virginians have accepted the apology of state attorney general nominee Jay Jones for his disturbing, violent threats about a Republican legislator, a top Democrat is saying. However, recent

The Family Research Councils Pray Vote Stand Summit 2025 begins on Friday, October 17. This years summit is the first to be held on the West Coast at theCalvary Chapel Chino Hills in Chino,

The Well-Lived Life of Stephen - Greg Laurie Devotion - October 18, 2025Saturday, October 18, 2025The Well-Lived Life of Stephen“Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed amazing miracles and signs among the people.” (Acts 6:8 nlt)The Bible gives us several different examples of well-lived lives. One is found in Acts 6, in the story of Stephen, the first known Christian martyr....

By Jarrett Stepman, Op-ed contributor Saturday, October 18, 2025Trans activists and their supporters rally in support of transgenderism on the steps of New York City Hall, October 24, 2018, in New York