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Addressing the wickedness of slavery in 1850, the great American abolitionist Frederick Douglass said the practice violates the great law of liberty, written on every human heart. Further, he said, it contravenes the laws of eternal justice, and tramples in the dust all the humane and heavenly precepts of the New Testament.

In 1865, America banished chattel slavery, but nowadays yes, even in 2023 a modern form of slavery persists in the form of illegal human trafficking. And there are thousands of victims living right here in America.

The crime of human trafficking occurs anytime someone uses force, fraud, or coercion to make another individual provide labor, services, or commercial sex acts. If a person performing commercial sex acts is under 18, the crime of human trafficking still occurs even without the elements of force, fraud, or coercion.

Because this evil $150 billion global enterprise operates in the dark shadows, compiling statistics on its reach is difficult. To stamp it out, we need the same kind of determination that the 19th-century abolitionists showed in their own fight for justice and liberty.

Human trafficking is enabled by those who choose to look the other way rather than paying attention to signs that someone might be a victim.

It is also enabled and exacerbated by elected leftist leaders (such as the current president) who willfully embrace the porous nature of the U.S.-Mexico border, across which so many victims are trafficked into the United States.

As Indianas attorney general, I am committed to promoting greater awareness among the public of human trafficking and I am committed to forcing our federal government to get serious about border security.

With January being National Human Trafficking Awareness Month, now is a fitting time to remind Hoosiers and all Americans to stay watchful for signs that someone might be a trafficking victim.

According to the U.S. State Department, those signs include observations that someone: lives with their employer. lives with multiple people in a cramped space. otherwise experiences poor living conditions. is prohibited from speaking alone to strangers. gives answers that appear to be scripted and rehearsed. has an employer holding their identity documents. shows signs of physical abuse. is submissive or fearful. is unpaid or paid very little. is under 18 and working in the commercial sex industry.

People in certain job roles such as medical professionals, restaurant workers, teachers, and truck drivers are particularly likely to come into contact with trafficking victims.

Anyone with suspicions that another person is being trafficked should immediately call local law enforcement. They may also call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888.

My office works with law enforcement to assist crime victims including administering our Address Confidentiality Program . This initiative enables victims of certain crimes, including trafficking, to conceal their residential address from the public and therefore from their victimizers.

Combating this scourge, however, also requires sealing our nations southern border from easy trespass by people with criminal intent.

The criminal cartels operating out of Mexico are responsible for a significant measure of the human trafficking that occurs within the United States.

In the U.S., immigrants, especially immigrant women, make up the largest portion of trafficking victims, notes Selene Rodriguez at TexasPolicy.com . In fiscal year 2021, there were nearly 2 million migrant apprehensions along the U.S.-Mexico border, and that number only accounts for the people encountered by border agents.

Studies done by the Latin American branch of the Coalition Against Trafficking International estimates that 60% of Latin American children who set out to cross the border alone or with smugglers have been caught by the cartels and are being abused in child pornography or drug trafficking.

As Indiana attorney general, I have filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit aimed at forcing the Biden administration to get serious about securing the border solely on behalf of Indiana, based on damages unique to our state.

Securing the border would bring relief to millions of Hoosiers and all U.S. citizens who are currently bearing the burdens of runaway illegal immigration. But it also would help prevent the victimization of women and children from Latin American countries who are being trafficked.

We need to talk about these issues not only during National Human Trafficking Awareness Month but indeed all year long.

And beyond the talk, we need action.

Todd Rokita is Indianas attorney general.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

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Sports

Ex-LSU WR Lacy turns himself in, released on bail

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Ex-LSU WR Lacy turns himself in, released on bail

Former LSU wide receiver Kyren Lacy, accused of causing a crash that killed a 78-year-old man on Dec. 17 and then fleeing the scene without rendering aid or calling authorities, turned himself in to authorities Sunday night, was jailed and then released on $151,000 bail, according to police records.

Lafourche (Louisiana) Parish Sheriff’s Office records indicate that Lacy was charged with negligent homicide, felony hit-and-run with death and reckless operation of a vehicle.

A warrant had been issued for Lacy’s arrest, and police on Friday said they had been in contact with Lacy and his attorney to turn himself in.

According to a news release from Louisiana State Police on Friday, Lacy was allegedly driving a 2023 Dodge Charger on Louisiana Highway 20 and “recklessly passed multiple vehicles at a high rate of speed by crossing the centerline and entering the northbound lane while in a designated no-passing zone.”

“As Lacy was illegally passing the other vehicles, the driver of a northbound pickup truck abruptly braked and swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision with the approaching Dodge,” a Louisiana State Police news release said.

“Traveling behind the pickup was a 2017 Kia Cadenza whose driver swerved left to avoid the oncoming Dodge Charger. As the Kia Cadenza took evasive action to avoid impact with the Dodge, it crossed the centerline and collided head-on with a southbound 2017 Kia Sorento.”

Police alleged that Lacy, 24, drove around the crash scene and fled “without stopping to render aid, call emergency services, or report his involvement in the crash.”

Herman Hall, of Thibodaux, Louisiana, who was a passenger in the Kia Sorento, later died from injuries suffered in the crash, according to state police. Hall was 78.

The drivers of the Cadenza and Sorento also sustained moderate injuries, according to police.

Lacy’s agent, Rocky Arceneaux, said in a statement that his client is “fully cooperating with the authorities.”

Lacy played two seasons at Louisiana before transferring to LSU in 2022. This past season, he had 58 catches for 866 yards with nine touchdowns and declared for the NFL draft on Dec. 19, two days after the crash.

ESPN’s Mark Schlabach contributed to this report.

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Science

Antarctica’s Pyramid-Shaped Peak: A Geological Masterpiece

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Antarctica’s Pyramid-Shaped Peak: A Geological Masterpiece

A peak resembling a man-made pyramid, situated in the snow-covered expanse of Antarctica, has captured widespread attention due to its striking symmetry. Located within the southern Ellsworth Mountains, this natural formation features four steep, symmetrical faces, drawing comparisons to ancient Egyptian pyramids. Rising approximately 4,150 feet (1,265 meters), the mountain has become a focal point of speculation since it gained internet fame in 2016, with many questioning whether its shape could be the work of ancient civilizations or extraterrestrial beings.

Natural Formation Through Erosion

As reported by Live Science, the unique geometry of the mountain is attributed to natural erosion processes. Experts suggest that the peak was likely sculpted by freeze-thaw erosion over millions of years. Mauri Pelto, a professor of environmental science at Nichols College, explained to Live Science that during this process, water fills rock crevices during the day, freezes at night, and expands, causing chunks of rock to break off gradually. This slow but consistent erosion is believed to have given the mountain its distinct pyramidal shape. Pelto noted that while three of the mountain’s sides appear to have eroded evenly, the fourth side—the eastern ridge—formed separately.

Conspiracy Theories and Expert Opinions

Speculation about the mountain’s origin surged when its images circulated online. Claims involving forgotten civilizations or extraterrestrial construction have been widely shared by conspiracy theorists. However, Eric Rignot, professor of Earth system science at the University of California, Irvine, and senior research scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, dismissed these ideas while talking to Live Science. Rignot stated that pyramid-like shapes are not uncommon in nature, citing that peaks with one or two steep faces are often observed, though fully symmetrical formations are rare.

Historical and Geological Significance

First observed during a 1935 flight by American aviator Lincoln Ellsworth, the Ellsworth Mountains hold significant geological history, including 500-million-year-old fossils. The pyramid-shaped peak adds to the intrigue of this remote region but is regarded by scientists as a testament to nature’s sculpting power rather than evidence of advanced or extraterrestrial involvement.

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Environment

Tesla Cybertruck gets $10,000 solar panel wrap that gives you more range

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Tesla Cybertruck gets ,000 solar panel wrap that gives you more range

A company managed to wrap a Tesla Cybertruck with solar cells that power an on-board battery pack. It costs about $10,000. Is it worth it?

In 2017, Tesla CEO Elon Musk said that he pushed his engineers to look into integrating solar cells on Model 3, but they concluded that it wasn’t worth it at the time.

Solar cell efficiency has since improved, and Tesla developed its own expertise in embedding solar cells through the development of solar roof tiles.

It led to a surprise announcement.

After the launch of the Cybertruck, Musk surprised many when he said that Tesla’s new electric pickup truck would have a solar roof option that would add 15 miles of range per day.

A few years later, Tesla filed for a patent that showed the solar cells would be embedded inside the retractable tonneau cover.

However, Tesla has since brought the Cybertruck to market with no solar roofs or tonneau cover options. A year after the launch, there’s no word about solar options coming to the electric pickup truck.

But now a third party has decided to offer its own solution, and it is even more ambitious: an entire solar cell wrap for the Tesla Cybertruck.

California’s Sunflare Solar is a developer of flexible solar cells that can be used as a wrap. They claim to have wrapped the entire Cybertruck with it to produce up to 1.5 kW of solar power.

For the area, it is a fairly small amount of solar, but it could technically add a similar amount of range, around 15 miles, as Musk claimed the solar tonneau cover would.

The entire Cybertruck solar wrap costs $10,000 and comes with a 5 kW battery inverter to send the energy to the truck.

Electrek’s Take

I think this is cool, but it’s also gimmicky and comes with massive reliability risk. One of the main features of the Cybertruck is its rugged paintless stainless-steel exterior that you don’t care about scratching that much .

Now, it is replaced by expensive and somewhat fragile solar cells. I don’t know about that.

Also, as always, a car is not the optimal place for solar panels. I do like the idea of solar roofs on super-efficient EVs, like Aptera’s solar car, which can add significant range thanks to the efficiency, but if you want to power your electric vehicle with solar power, the best place to install your solar panels are on your home, not your car.

If you want to power your electric vehicle with solar power, we can help you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing with EnergySage. EnergySage is a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar – whether you’re a homeowner or renter. They have hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20 to 30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and you share your phone number with them.

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

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