“Two-thirds fewer illegal immigrants entered the country last year than crossed U.S. borders each year between 2000 and 2005, according to a new report by the Pew Hispanic Center. The total number of illegal immigrants living in the country has dropped by 8 percent to 11.1 million, down from a peak of 12 million in 2007.” [Yahoo]

We haven’t been paying much attention to all the resume-padding going on among candidates this year — then again, we haven’t been reminded before of our favorite Game Show God. Meet Colorado GOP gubernatorial nominee Dan Maes:

A statement he wrote on his campaign website that was later removed said: “At one point in my 2 years there I was place (sic) undercover by the Kansas Bureau of Investigations (sic) to gather information inside a bookmaking ring that was also allegedly selling drugs. I got too close to some significant people in the community who were involved in these activities and abruptly was dismissed from my position. I was blindsided and stunned to say the least.”

So was the director of the Kansas Bureau of Investigation, who can’t find any record of Maes in the archives.

GOP gubernatorial candidate Maes backs off claims of undercover police work [Denver Post, via TPM]

Update via TBD, 5 pm ET: “Police shot the suspect. His condition is not known. The three hostages are safe.”

At 5:30 pm, NBC is reporting that the suspect is dead.

Previously…

“A man possibly armed with explosives took at least one hostage Wednesday at the headquarters of the Discovery Channel in Silver Spring, Maryland, police said.” [CNN]

Read more »

Now that Talibunny-endorsed Joe Miller is the official Republican Senate nominee from the Great State of Reality-Television Casting, we thought we’d rectify an earlier omission and present for your viewing pleasure one of the more fascinating extended Northern Exposure references from the 2010 campaign season.

Oh, and let’s call this a Mission Accomplished Again Open Thread while we’re here.

Our afternoon guest columnist is WND publisher and mustache-wax hoarder Joseph Farah.

The Boy Scouts’ motto says it all: “Be Prepared!”

But in an era in which the threats to your safety include mass acts of terror, suicide bombers and potential nuclear and biological attacks, it’s easy to feel that in some situations, no amount of preparation will make the slightest bit of difference.

Actually, even amid such catastrophic circumstances, the smallest act of preparation could make all the difference for you and your loved ones. Through a tiny but powerful technological device, you can accurately and instantly measure if you’ve been exposed to radiation and know whether you need to seek medical treatment.

Read more »

“What we were finding was that the soldiers we’re getting in today’s Army are not in as good shape as they used to be,” said Lt. Gen. Mark Hertling, who oversees basic training for the Army. “This is not just an Army issue. This is a national issue.” [NYT, via Daring Fireball]