Editor’s note: We are in no way shape or form advocating for more gun laws with this article. No knee jerk boomer rage is necessary, enjoy.

Following calls to defund the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) in 2020, a major budget cut from last year has left some communities requesting better law enforcement assistance.

Earlier this month, one father risked his life to save his twin daughters as their house lit up in flames. On July 17, what appeared to be a normal trip to a gas station, down the street and back, would result in catastrophe. Detroit natives, Ray Lucas and ShiAnn Brown, were only at the store for about 15 minutes. They left their 18-month-old twin daughters, Malaysia and Milan, sleeping in the basement, with Lucas’ grandmother and niece just upstairs. As the couple arrived back after a short time, the two saw their house pluming with flames. Lucas told reporters, “The house was engulfed in smoke, I saw my mom and niece were standing at the door and they were frantic. Lucas explained his motivation to act, saying that “I just had to get my babies out. That’s all that was on my mind.” With no time to waste, the heroic father plunged into the smokey labyrinth in search of his daughters. He said that, “I really only found my babies due to my memory, just knowing where they were and knowing how to get to them.” Feeling his way through clouds of smoke, Lucas made it down to the basement in time to grab them. The smoke was so severe that using his hands to guide him was the only option. The fumes resulted in Lucas being blinded for three days after the event. The family’s recovery Doctors told the father he was lucky to still have his sight. Even luckier, his daughters made it out with their lives intact. Lucas suffered second- and third- degree burns to his arms, neck, and face. Malaysia received intensive care treatment for severe burns as well, for nearly three days. Their other daughter, Milan, was treated for smoke inhalation and second-degree burns. The family lost all of their possessions in the fire, not to mention their home. They have set up a GoFundMe that is well beyond their original goal, but everything helps. Lucas told reporters, “If anybody can support that’ll be great.”

Defying all considerations of age and mobility, Ima Black celebrated her centennial birthday in a way that can only be described as elevated.

1st Lt. Amber English, 31, captured the Gold Medal in Women’s Skeet at the Tokyo Olympics. English is a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, who barely missed making the Olympics twice. This time, she would not only make the shooting team, but she set a new Olympic record. Watch her capture the Gold below!

“From my experience, being embedded and hanging out with (Veterans), these folks can do anything.” Pamela Hess, Executive Director of the Arcadia Center for Sustainable Food & Agriculture, told Pop Smoke Media this afternoon.

A $26bn global settlement was recently agreed upon by four major opioid manufacturers in the U.S.

Recycle for Veterans (RFV), a non-profit based in California, helps veterans clean up the environment by providing resources for personal growth in exchange.

Men’s fashion has always been an interest of mine, as I tend to think I have my own sense of style. Whether it be good or bad, and my father has always been a big advocate for “Look Good, Feel Good.” I enjoy a good suit for a regular occasion, that is just me, you can see in a lot of my events I’ll be in a suit.

USMC Veteran, Nick Novotny, has begun a solo cross country bicycle ride to raise awareness about the mental health crisis happening in the military community. This began after Nick lost a close friend who was struggling with mental health. We wanted Nick to tell the story in his own words. So, we asked a few questions, and listed his response below.

Top level journalism, not afraid of answering the real questions.