An inside look at how law enforcement prepares to keep communities safe during Fourth of July celebrations across the U.S.
This year, the Department of Homeland Security has activated its national terrorism advisory system following U.S. strikes against Iran.
In Fairfax County, Virginia, the Real Time Crime Center is the hub of police operations. For the Fourth of July, it's all hands on deck, Chief of Police Kevin Davis told CBS News.
"I think I wouldn't be doing my job if I wasn't always worried, but we know our ability to react is better than it ever has been," Davis said.
Police there have the ability to tap into more than 20,000 live cameras across the county, including those worn by officers.
"It puts us in a great position to get additional assistance to the police officers in the street," Davis said.
Nearly 300 officers in the county will be activated on Friday alongside the civil disturbance unit.
A helicopter and drones will also be on standby.
Assistant Chief of Police Bob Blakely expects large gatherings across the county's more than 400 parks.
"We try to always be highly visible. We believe, you know, preparedness, a little bit of prevention goes a long way," Blakely said.
Officers will be visible on the ground and along the waterways.
"July 4th is probably the busiest day of the year," said Master Police Officer Tim Judd, who captains Marine Patrol One. "We all work together to ensure a safe outcome."
For families who are nervous to bring their children to their local holiday fireworks, Davis advised, "have a plan, celebrate the Fourth of July and just know that your local police department is here to keep you safe."
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Associated Press
31 minutes ago
- Associated Press
July Fourth holiday marked by shootings in several cities and a fireworks-related death
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Yahoo
31 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - We have filed the case that could overturn Wickard and limit Commerce Clause powers
Roscoe Filburn owned a wheat farm in rural Montgomery County, Ohio. When he used his own farm to feed his own family, he fell under the hammer of the federal government. It was 1938, and America was in the throes of the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl. Agricultural commodity prices—and specifically, wheat prices—fluctuated wildly, costing farmers their fortunes, farms, and families. In an effort to stabilize wheat prices, the federal government intervened and artificially capped the amount of wheat each farmer could grow. It sought to shrink the wheat supply while demand remained the same, and thereby increase the wheat price. Under this federal policy, the government eventually fined Filburn. Justifiably skeptical that this was within the federal power, Filburn challenged the fine in court. The case was Wickard v. Filburn — one that lives in infamy and whose effects are felt strongly to this day. Unlike the state governments, the federal government is one of limited and enumerated power: It possesses only the powers specifically granted in the Constitution, and no others. As such, it based its wheat scheme on Congress's power 'to regulate Commerce … among the several States.' Widely known as the 'Interstate Commerce Clause,' as its text indicates, this federal power is restricted to commerce that takes place between states. Wheat and similar commodities are often bought, shipped, and sold across state lines, and their availability within one state can affect markets in others. On its face, then, intervention into the wheat market could seem a reasonable expression of the power to regulate interstate commerce. But the federal government went much further than that. Filburn's case began in 1940, when the federal government had imposed a wheat cap for Filburn's farm. He abided by that cap for wheat he sold on the market, but he retained some additional wheat to feed his family and his animals. Despite this wholly local, non-commercial use of his own wheat, the federal government fined him for exceeding his quota. After two years of proceedings, the Supreme Court notoriously sided with the government. The court's reasoning? By eating wheat he grew himself, Filburn was failing to buy wheat on the national market, and by not buying wheat on the national market, he was engaging in an activity which, if others were to follow suit, could affect that national market. The federal government could therefore regulate even Filburn's family activity on his own farm in Ohio because it could hypothetically affect interstate commerce. Congress and federal agencies have taken that reasoning and run with it ever since. Under the logic of this precedent and ensuing cases, the federal commerce power has stretched to reach virtually every activity under the sun. To this day, the federal government uses these cases to assert a nearly limitless sweep of power. The Commerce Clause has become a catch-all justification for thousands of federal laws and regulations. Agricultural production? Interstate commerce. Public health? Interstate commerce. Obscure spider species? Interstate commerce. Real estate disclosures? Also, somehow, interstate commerce. For decades, public-interest lawyers like ourselves have sought to rework this line of jurisprudence. In April, our firm, the Center for the American Future, filed Corley v. U.S. Department of the Treasury, with the aim of restoring the Constitution's proper balance of power in this space. The plaintiffs in that case, a real estate attorney and a property owner in Lubbock, Texas, want to transfer residential real estate into a legal entity. This should be as simple as filling out the deed, handling the closing details, and signing the paperwork — that is how it has always worked. And real estate is about the most 'local' activity there is. It does not cross state lines, and each property is intrinsically unique. It is a stretch to say that such an activity, especially when no financing has been secured and no money has changed hands, falls within interstate commerce. But, predictably, the federal government has argues otherwise. The Treasury Department's Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, known as 'FinCEN,' has put in place roadblocks, rules, penalties, and paperwork for this simple intrastate activity. These extra steps require the disclosure of sensitive information, such as social security numbers, birthdates, closing costs, financing, and other data. FinCEN's claimed purpose is to combat money laundering, but its restrictions apply to every single person making a covered real estate transfer, regardless of whether he or she is suspected of a crime. Most importantly, the regulations apply with no regard to interstate commerce. Even if the property is next-door and is transferred for free, according to FinCEN, the agency can reach it under the Commerce Clause. Our Constitution is clear in restricting federal power. Whether Congress legislates or an executive agency regulates, no part of the federal government may expand beyond the powers set forth in the Constitution. For more than 80 years, those restrictions have been ignored as the federal commerce power has been pushed beyond the bounds of reason. But the Center for the American Future, through carefully crafted legal arguments, hopes to restore the Constitution's careful balance of power. Clayton Calvin is an attorney with the Texas Public Policy Foundation's litigation arm, the Center for the American Future. Matt Miller is a senior attorney in the Center for the American Future. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
34 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Downtown mass shooting leaves 2 dead, 5 injured hours after firework celebration
This is a developing story and will update. Two people are dead and five others injured following a mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis July 5, just hours after thousands gathered for a fireworks show. At least three of the seven shot around 1:30 a.m. on West Washington Street and South Illinois Street were juveniles, one of whom died at an area hospital, officials from the Indianapolis Police Department said. Another person was pronounced dead at the scene. Four other people were also taken to area hospitals by first responders in unknown condition. A fifth person walked into a local hospital and is in stable condition. At a news conference outside Monument Circle, IMPD Chief Chris Bailey appeared visibly upset as he scolded parents for continuing to allow their children out at night unsupervised. Hundreds of unsupervised juveniles were out downtown after the fireworks ended, he said. "Parents and guardians have got to step up," Bailey said. "A kid is dead tonight. And we just don't know the age of the young man down the street, still here, dead. But he looks young." Police were responding to another fight when they heard gunshots one block away. When they arrived, they found several people shot, IMPD officials said. Seven were detained for questioning, and multiple guns were recovered, officials said. Bailey said last night was a scene of frequent conflict despite the presence of hundreds of officers from IMPD, state police and Capitol police. Officers made about 20 arrests and recovered guns from two children before the mass shooting happened, he said. One juvenile had an assault rifle stuffed in the front of his pants, officials said. Indiana police union leader Rick Snyder compared the shooting to a storm's arrival and said the inaction of local elected leaders caused the deaths. At least eight others were injured in shootings in the past 24 hours across Indianapolis, police said. This is Indianapolis' second weekend of violence, following last weekend's shootings that left seven dead and nine injured. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2 dead, 5 injured following mass shooting in downtown Indianapolis
