Dan Mehochko

Husband to Julie, dad to three, Papa to one. First Christian Church. Views are my own. #fullbunny

[Tracy Shuchart (𝒞𝒽𝒾 ) @chigrl]

The original Declaration of Independence

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.

He has refused his Assent to Laws, the most wholesome and necessary for the public good.

He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing importance, unless suspended in their operation till his Assent should be obtained; and when so suspended, he has utterly neglected to attend to them.

He has refused to pass other Laws for the accommodation of large districts of people, unless those people would relinquish the right of Representation in the Legislature, a right inestimable to them and formidable to tyrants only.

He has called together legislative bodies at places unusual, uncomfortable, and distant from the depository of their public Records, for the sole purpose of fatiguing them into compliance with his measures.

He has dissolved Representative Houses repeatedly, for opposing with manly firmness his invasions on the rights of the people.

He has refused for a long time, after such dissolutions, to cause others to be elected; whereby the Legislative powers, incapable of Annihilation, have returned to the People at large for their exercise; the State remaining in the mean time exposed to all the dangers of invasion from without, and convulsions within.

He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.

He has obstructed the Administration of Justice, by refusing his Assent to Laws for establishing Judiciary powers.

He has made Judges dependent on his Will alone, for the tenure of their offices, and the amount and payment of their salaries.

He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance.

He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.

He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.

He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation:

For Quartering large bodies of armed troops among us:

For protecting them, by a mock Trial, from punishment for any Murders which they should commit on the Inhabitants of these States:

For cutting off our Trade with all parts of the world:

For imposing Taxes on us without our Consent:

For depriving us in many cases, of the benefits of Trial by Jury:

For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offences:

For abolishing the free System of English Laws in a neighbouring Province, establishing therein an Arbitrary government, and enlarging its Boundaries so as to render it at once an example and fit instrument for introducing the same absolute rule into these Colonies:

For taking away our Charters, abolishing our most valuable Laws, and altering fundamentally the Forms of our Governments:

For suspending our own Legislatures, and declaring themselves invested with power to legislate for us in all cases whatsoever.

He has abdicated Government here, by declaring us out of his Protection and waging War against us.

He has plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people.

He is at this time transporting large Armies of foreign Mercenaries to compleat the works of death, desolation and tyranny, already begun with circumstances of Cruelty & perfidy scarcely paralleled in the most barbarous ages, and totally unworthy the Head of a civilized nation.

He has constrained our fellow Citizens taken Captive on the high Seas to bear Arms against their Country, to become the executioners of their friends and Brethren, or to fall themselves by their Hands.

He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us, and has endeavoured to bring on the inhabitants of our frontiers, the merciless Indian Savages, whose known rule of warfare, is an undistinguished destruction of all ages, sexes and conditions.

In every stage of these Oppressions We have Petitioned for Redress in the most humble terms: Our repeated Petitions have been answered only by repeated injury. A Prince, whose character is thus marked by every act which may define a Tyrant, is unfit to be the ruler of a free people.

Nor have We been wanting in attentions to our Brittish brethren. We have warned them from time to time of attempts by their legislature to extend an unwarrantable jurisdiction over us. We have reminded them of the circumstances of our emigration and settlement here. We have appealed to their native justice and magnanimity, and we have conjured them by the ties of our common kindred to disavow these usurpations, which, would inevitably interrupt our connections and correspondence. They too have been deaf to the voice of justice and of consanguinity. We must, therefore, acquiesce in the necessity, which denounces our Separation, and hold them, as we hold the rest of mankind, Enemies in War, in Peace Friends.

We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

[Tessa Krull @KrullTessa23]

Thank you @ica_softball for choosing me for 1st Team All State! Congratulations to my teammates @HPfeifer2027 and @EmmaMino2027 for making 1st and 2nd team as well!🍀🥎

@SHS_IrishSball @IndStSoftball @CoachWThees

[Lady Irish Softball @SHS_IrishSball]

☘️🥎☘️
3 of the best to ever play at Seneca!

@KrullTessa23
@camryn_stecken
@LexieBuis08

They carried the weight of tough losses and high expectations with them and led us to a state championship game. They were truly…#TougherTogether

Go Irish!
☘️🥎☘️

[Brian Hoxsey 📰 @TT_BrianHoxsey]

Senior trio guided Seneca softball to state’s biggest stage ... Lexie Buis, Camryn Stecken, Tessa Krull led Irish to Class 2A runner-up finish
@SHS_IrishSball @Irish_Athletics @SenecaHS
https://t.co/ufwZRKOur9

[Seneca Irish Athletics @Irish_Athletics]

Check out the medal and trophy presentation from Saturday’s Class 2A Softball State Championship. Congratulations on an unforgettable season, @SHS_IrishSball! We are so proud of you! #RollShrocks ☘️

[Seneca Irish Athletics @Irish_Athletics]

STATE RUNNER-UPS 🥎

@SHS_IrishSball BATTLED until the final out but ultimately came up just a bit short in the State Championship on Saturday against Carterville, 3-1. We could not be PROUDER of the INCREDIBLE run that these girls and coaches have taken us on this year.

[GenuWin Reign @GenuWinReign]

Congrats on that 2nd place finish on this spectacular season Seneca!! @KrullTessa23 @AuroraWeber21 @AmeliahWeber66 @EmmaMino2027 @reignsoftballJO @Reign14uSP #reignfam

[Seneca Irish Athletics @Irish_Athletics]

Bring It Home 🏆

Countless hours on the diamond & in the cages, endless miles of road trips, early morning practices & weight room sessions. It’s all led to this moment. At 12:15 PM, @SHS_IrishSball will take the field to play for the 2026 IHSA Class 2A State Championship!

[Seneca Irish Athletics @Irish_Athletics]

STATE-BOUND 🎟️

The Lady Irish Softball Team has punched their ticket to the IHSA Class 2A STATE SEMIFINALS after defeating the Brimfield Indians on Monday in the East Peoria Super-Sectional, 3-0!

[Lady Irish Softball @SHS_IrishSball]

☘️🥎☘️
Seneca 3
Brimfield 0

🚨🚨STATE BOUND🚨🚨

Lady Irish win the East Peoria Supersectional!!

@HPfeifer2027 💎 7IP, 4H, 11K
@KrullTessa23 💪🏼 RBI
@AmeliahWeber66 3 for 3 🤯 1RBI

Next up, IC Catholic on Thursday!

#TougherTogether

Go Irish!
☘️🥎☘️

[Lady Irish Softball @SHS_IrishSball]

☘️🥎☘️
Seneca 6
Beecher 5

🏆🏆Sectional Champs🏆🏆

Wild one in Pontiac tonight!

@EmmaMino2027 with the walk off single!

@HPfeifer2027 7IP, 11K & 💣
@AmeliahWeber66 💣 & 1B to start the 7th

At the East Peoria Super on Monday vs. Brimfield!

#TougherTogether

Go Irish!
☘️🥎☘️

[Lady Irish Softball @SHS_IrishSball]

☘️🥎☘️
Seneca 9
Bishop Mac 2

🏆3 Straight Regional Championships🏆

What an effort!

@LexieBuis08 💣
@HPfeifer2027 💣 & 7IP - 14K’s
@KrullTessa23 2️⃣RBI

At Pontiac on Tuesday vs. Prairie Central or St. Bede!

#TougherTogether

Go Irish!
☘️🥎☘️

[Lady Irish Softball @SHS_IrishSball]

☘️🥎☘️
Last Friday against Manteno, @KrullTessa23 reached a huge milestone...

🚨9️⃣0️⃣0️⃣K’s!!🚨

What an amazing accomplishment for one of the best athletes and teammates out there. She’s as humble and hard working as they come. Congrats Tessa!

Go Irish!

#TougherTogether

☘️🥎☘️

[Dan Mehochko @DanMehochko]

And, another three years went by and now we have a law school graduate! @vanderbiltlaw has been an awesome place for Mark and he will miss @VanderbiltU. Seems like yesterday he was excited to start kindergarten. @NotreDame Can’t wait to see what he accomplishes

[Dan Mehochko @DanMehochko]

Well, those four years went fast. Lots of tears of joy. Super proud, off to @vanderbiltlaw thank you @NotreDame for helping him grow and experience so many things .#ND2023

[Dan Mehochko @DanMehochko]

Well, those four years went fast. Lots of tears of joy. Super proud, off to @vanderbiltlaw thank you @NotreDame for helping him grow and experience so many things .#ND2023

[Vanderbilt Law @vanderbiltlaw]

We're celebrating the J.D., LL.M., and MLS Classes of 2026 today at 11AM CST.

Tune in to watch the full livestream of the Law School Hooding Ceremony and make sure to share this link with any loved ones who may not be able to attend in person: https://t.co/HLmXRdH9Wi

#VU2026

[Dan Mehochko @DanMehochko]

Hey! Our son is in a couple of those photos. Graduation day today

[Vanderbilt Law @vanderbiltlaw]

Esports is growing fast. At Vanderbilt Law’s JETLaw Symposium, experts examined the legal challenges shaping the future of competitive gaming, from gambling and visas to labor and AI.

More: https://t.co/xXtiq1Zj2V

[Dan Mehochko @DanMehochko]

@sanegrain I did something similar early in career. Said something I shouldn’t because I was stressed. Got in my truck, drove over and apologized. To quote the great Coach Holtz, “never a wrong time to do the right thing, and never a right time to do the wrong thing.” Well done.

[Dan Mehochko @DanMehochko]

So, can we expect a new podcast to be spun up called the Refiners Cut? #basis @elevatorscut @hog_wheeler @weevilhog

[Dittie @DittiePE]

The oil price you see online is what’s called the futures market. It’s paper trading. The physical price—what refiners actually pay for the actual barrels of oil being delivered today—just hit $141.

That’s a $32 gap. The Chevron CEO has even said that the futures market is based on a perception and just a little bit of information.

The last time the physical price was this high was back in 2008 after Bush’s incompetence sent us into the Great Recession.

You’re watching the wrong numbers.

[The Times - Shaw Local @MyWebTimes]

Seneca's Tessa Krull pitched and hit the Fighting Irish past Joliet Catholic on Saturday, while Marquette swept a doubleheader from Princeville. Plus, more results from around the Times area. https://t.co/xaiqZef34M