Paradise News

Tag: General News

  • Using hearing aids can be frustrating for older adults, but necessary – Paradise Post

    Judith Graham | (TNS) KFF Health News

    It was an every-other-day routine, full of frustration.

    Every time my husband called his father, who was 94 when he died in 2022, he’d wait for his dad to find his hearing aids and put them in before they started talking.

    Even then, my father-in-law could barely hear what my husband was saying. “What?” he’d ask over and over.

    Then, there were the problems my father-in-law had replacing the devices’ batteries. And the times he’d end up in the hospital, unable to understand what people were saying because his hearing aids didn’t seem to be functioning. And the times he’d drop one of the devices and be unable to find it.

    How many older adults have problems of this kind?

    There’s no good data about this topic, according to Nicholas Reed, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health who studies hearing loss. He did a literature search when I posed the question and came up empty.

    Reed co-authored the most definitive study to date of hearing issues in older Americans, published in JAMA Open Network last year. Previous studies excluded people 80 and older. But data became available when a 2021 survey by the National Health and Aging Trends Study included hearing assessments conducted at people’s homes.

    The results, based on a nationally representative sample of 2,803 people 71 and older, are eye-opening. Hearing problems become pervasive with advancing age, exceeding 90% in people 85 and older, compared with 53% of 71- to 74-year-olds. Also, hearing worsens over time, with more people experiencing moderate or severe deficits once they reach or exceed age 80, compared with people in their 70s.

    However, only 29% of those with hearing loss used hearing aids. Multiple studies have documented barriers that inhibit use. Such devices, which Medicare doesn’t cover, are pricey, from nearly $1,000 for a good over-the-counter set (OTC hearing aids became available in 2022) to more than $6,000 for some prescription models. In some communities, hearing evaluation services are difficult to find. Also, people often associate hearing aids with being old and feel self-conscious about wearing them. And they tend to underestimate hearing problems that develop gradually.

    Barbara Weinstein, a professor of audiology at the City University of New York Graduate Center and author of the textbook “Geriatric Audiology,” added another concern to this list when I reached out to her: usability.

    “Hearing aids aren’t really designed for the population that most needs to use them,” she told me. “The move to make devices smaller and more sophisticated technologically isn’t right for many people who are older.”

    That’s problematic because hearing loss raises the risk of cognitive decline, dementia, falls, depression, and social isolation.

    What advice do specialists in hearing health have for older adults who have a hard time using their hearing aids? Here are some thoughts they shared.

    Consider larger, customized devices. Many older people, especially those with arthritis, poor fine motor skills, compromised vision, and some degree of cognitive impairment, have a hard time manipulating small hearing aids and using them properly.

    Lindsay Creed, associate director of audiology practices at the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, said about half of her older clients have “some sort of dexterity issue, whether numbness or reduced movement or tremor or a lack of coordination.” Shekinah Mast, owner of Mast Audiology Services in Seaford, Delaware, estimates nearly half of her clients have vision issues.

    For clients with dexterity challenges, Creed often recommends “behind-the-ear hearing aids,” with a loop over the ear, and customized molds that fit snugly in the ear. Customized earpieces are larger than standardized models.

    “The more dexterity challenges you have, the better you’ll do with a larger device and with lots of practice picking it up, orienting it, and putting it in your ear,” said Marquitta Merkison, associate director of audiology practices at ASHA.

    For older people with vision issues, Mast sometimes orders hearing aids in different colors for different ears. Also, she’ll help clients set up stands at home for storing devices, chargers, and accessories so they can readily find them each time they need them.

    Opt for ease of use. Instead of buying devices that require replacing tiny batteries, select a device that can be charged overnight and operate for at least a day before being recharged, recommended Thomas Powers, a consultant to the Hearing Industries Association. These are now widely available.

    People who are comfortable using a smartphone should consider using a phone app to change volume and other device settings. Dave Fabry, chief hearing health officer at Starkey, a major hearing aid manufacturer, said he has patients in their 80s and 90s “who’ve found that being able to hold a phone and use larger visible controls is easier than manipulating the hearing aid.”

    If that’s too difficult, try a remote control. GN ReSound, another major manufacturer, has designed one with two large buttons that activate the volume control and programming for its hearing aids, said Megan Quilter, the company’s lead audiologist for research and development.

    Check out accessories. Say you’re having trouble hearing other people in restaurants. You can ask the person across the table to clip a microphone to his shirt or put the mike in the center of the table. (The hearing aids will need to be programmed to allow the sound to be streamed to your ears.)

    Another low-tech option: a hearing aid clip that connects to a piece of clothing to prevent a device from falling to the floor if it becomes dislodged from the ear.

    Wear your hearing aids all day. “The No. 1 thing I hear from older adults is they think they don’t need to put on their hearing aids when they’re at home in a quiet environment,” said Erika Shakespeare, who owns Audiology and Hearing Aid Associates in La Grande, Oregon.

    That’s based on a misunderstanding. Our brains need regular, not occasional, stimulation from our environments to optimize hearing, Shakespeare explained. This includes noises in seemingly quiet environments, such as the whoosh of a fan, the creak of a floor, or the wind’s wail outside a window.

    “If the only time you wear hearing aids is when you think you need them, your brain doesn’t know how to process all those sounds,” she told me. Her rule of thumb: “Wear hearing aids all your waking hours.”

    Consult a hearing professional. Everyone’s needs are different, so it’s a good idea to seek out an audiologist or hearing specialist who, for a fee, can provide guidance.

    “Most older people are not going to know what they need” and what options exist without professional assistance, said Virginia Ramachandran, the head of audiology at Oticon, a major hearing aid manufacturer, and a past president of the American Academy of Audiology.

    Her advice to older adults: Be “really open” about your challenges.

    If you can’t afford hearing aids, ask a hearing professional for an appointment to go over features you should look for in over-the-counter devices. Make it clear you want the appointment to be about your needs, not a sales pitch, Reed said. Audiology practices don’t routinely offer this kind of service, but there’s good reason to ask since Medicare started covering once-a-year audiologist consultations last year.

    ____

    We’re eager to hear from readers about questions you’d like answered, problems you’ve been having with your care, and advice you need in dealing with the health care system. Visit kffhealthnews.org/columnists to submit your requests or tips.

    ___

    (KFF Health News, formerly known as Kaiser Health News (KHN), is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs of KFF — the independent source for health policy research, polling and journalism.)

    ©2024 KFF Health News. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

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  • A Silent Battle: Many Black Youth Struggle With Suicide

    According to the CDC the suicide rates among Black youth aged 10-24 years increased by over 36% between 2018 to 2021. Photo/istockphoto.com

    By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium

    Imagine a young, promising middle or high school student. On paper, their credentials are impeccable, preparing them for a bright future. However, beneath the surface, they struggle with severe self-esteem issues, traumas, and a lack of confidence. This contradiction is not uncommon, as mental health and well-being are complex and often difficult to fully understand. It’s a silent battle many are fighting without our knowledge, as we often cannot assume everything is fine based solely on outward appearances.

    Tragically, this scenario is increasingly becoming more common among Black teens across the nation, who are experiencing the highest rates of suicide among their peers. In response, King County and various public health organizations are intensifying efforts to provide essential resources for these young people, focusing on the mental battles they face.

    “I would love to see more resources but we do know that among young Black people there are so many things that can increase the risk of suicide,” says Makayla Wright, Program Manager for the Community Wellbeing Project/Program for King County. “So many things like a good sense of belonging or connection to their peers, or trusted adults, working with county we are trying to address some of these things that can get young people triggered or thinking about suicide, especially Black young people.”

    The statistics are alarming. The Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) reports a staggering 78 percent increase in suicide rates among Black youth aged 10-19 from 2000 to 2020. This rate is approximately twice that of their white counterparts. Confirming this trend, CDC data shows a significant increase in suicide rates among Black persons aged 10-24 years, from 8.2 to 11.2, a 36.6% rise from 2018 to 2021.

    These increases highlight a broader issue of disparities in youth suicide rates. Factors contributing to suicide are varied and complex, including relationship issues, academic or job stress, financial problems, substance use, historical trauma, barriers to healthcare access, social isolation, mental illness, and even the impacts of disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. This pandemic has underscored the need for vigilance in prevention efforts, especially among disproportionately affected populations.

    Research indicates that suicide is preventable through a comprehensive public health approach that relies on data to drive decision-making, partnerships to expand outreach, and implementation and evaluation of multiple culturally relevant prevention strategies.

    A significant factor in youth suicide is adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), such as domestic violence, loss of a parent, or financial hardship. Unfortunately, children of color, particularly Black children, are disproportionately affected by ACEs. Wright highlights the need to destigmatize conversations around these issues.

    “From my professional perspective it is important that we need to destigmatize these types of conversations and be open and honest about some of things that we are seeing,” says Wright. “Of course, if you are seeing your young person starting to withdrawal, or if things are shifting, they are not hanging out with their friends, or they are more isolated, those can definitely be things to look out for.”

    “I also would say it could be helpful for parents to look into research and information for example there is a real good study that was done, The Adverse Childhood Experience Study, that talks about different adverse childhood experiences that young people can experience that can contribute to their mental health outcomes as well as their physical health and behavioral issues,” added Wright.

    Black children face additional burdens of racism and discrimination, which have also been linked to increased suicide risks. Black youth are more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, make suicide plans, and attempt suicide than those who do not.”

    According to AAMC, “Youth of color also bear the tremendous burdens of racial discrimination which is associated with suicidal behaviors. Studies suggest that feeling discriminated against can occur as young as six years of age for Black youth, and Black adolescents who perceive racial discrimination are more than three times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts, make suicide plans, and attempt suicide than those who do not.”

    “A big part of it is stress and toxic stress, disconnection and not feeling supported and we know that for an individual who has an identity that has historically been marginalized that is definitely something that can be stressful especially for a young person trying to figure out their identity and trying to make sense of it,” says Wright.

    “Also, for a Black youth or Black teens, looking at the data and knowing what we know historically about discrimination and other things, I would say that that can definitely be a contributing factor.”

    “I think it is really important for us just as supporters, even with the example that a young person could be doing well looking from the outside yet, there might be a lot things happen internally, so even being able to be aware of the source of stress for a young person and asking what is contributing to that anxiety or stress in that young person, how can I help them?” adds Wright.

    In addressing this issue, King County offers various mental health resources. During the school year, students in 8th, 10th, and 12th grades take ‘The Healthy Youth Survey,’ which includes questions about mental health. Moreover, King County and public school districts in the area have implemented school-based health centers, providing counselors and therapists to assist students.

            The CDC’s Suicide Prevention Resource for Action further supports state and community interventions based on the best available evidence to save lives. Additionally, the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline offers immediate help for persons in crisis.

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  • ‘I Wish Him Well’: Bitter Nikki Haley Drops Out, Refuses To Endorse Trump


    Disgruntled Haley tells Trump if he wants her followers’ votes, he’ll have to earn them.

    Long-shot Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley at long last ended her campaign Wednesday following a humiliating string of defeats in various state primaries on Super Tuesday.

    In a message to supporters Wednesday morning, Haley said she wished former President Donald Trump “well;” however, the scorned neocon stopped short of pledging her support to him, or asking her followers to back her Republican opponent.

    “In all likelihood Donald Trump will be the Republican nominee when our party convention meets in July,” Haley said during a message to supporters in Daniel Island, South Carolina. “I congratulate him and wish him well.”

    “I wish anyone well, who would be America’s president,” she said, adding “Our country is too precious to let our differences divide us.”

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    The former South Carolina governor went on to say, “I have always been a Conservative Republican and always supported the Republican nominee,” before adding, “But on this question, as she did on so many others, Margaret Thatcher provided some good advice when she said quote, ‘Never just follow the crowd. Always make up your own mind.’”

    The bitter Haley went on to tell Trump if he wants her followers, he’ll have to earn them.

    “It is now up to Donald Trump to earn the vote of those in our party and beyond it who did not support him and I hope he does that.”

    So much for party unity!

    Compare the disgruntled Haley’s parting message to voters to that of former Republican candidate Ron DeSantis, who gracefully bowed out earlier this year by giving Trump his full-fledged endorsement, saying,

    “I signed a pledge to support the Republican nominee and I will honor that pledge. He has my endorsement because we can’t go back to the old Republican guard of yesteryear, a repackaged form of warmed-over corporatism that Nikki Haley represents.”

    Ahead of Haley’s backhanded departure, Trump – who did not mention Haley’s name during his victory speech Tuesday night – called on her to stay in the race and “fight it out until the end!”

    Nikki Haley got TROUNCED last night, in record setting fashion, despite the fact that Democrats, for reasons unknown, are allowed to vote in Vermont, and various other Republican Primaries. Much of her money came from Radical Left Democrats, as did many of her voters, almost 50%, according to the polls. At this point, I hope she stays in the “race” and fights it out until the end! I’d like to thank my family, friends, and the Great Republican Party for helping me to produce, by far, the most successful Super Tuesday in HISTORY, and would further like to invite all of the Haley supporters to join the greatest movement in the history of our Nation. BIDEN IS THE ENEMY, HE IS DESTROYING OUR COUNTRY. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!

    The war-mongering neocons, Democrats, Deep State operatives and mega-donors whose backing of Haley’s campaign failed are for now licking their wounds, but rest assured they’re regrouping and plotting their next political attack aimed at dethroning Trump.

    The globalists are increasing their attacks on Infowars and the stakes have never been higher!

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  • ‘Pay Our Stipends, We Are Suffering Economic Hardship’ -International Students On FG’s Scholarship Beg Tinubu

    Bola-Ahmed-Tinubu

    International students under the Federal Government Bilateral Educational Agreement (BEA) Scholarship in Russia, Morocco, Algeria, China, Hungary, and a few other countries have pleaded with the Nigerian Government to urgently pay their unpaid stipends to enable them survive in the respective countries they reside.

    A statement signed by Spokesman of the Coalition of all the Nigerian Bilateral Education Agreement Student Association, Ayuba Yushau, stated that for the past six to eight months, scholars enrolled in various institutions abroad have endured financial strain due to the delay in receiving their stipends.

    “In addition, from the last payments we received, there was a shortfall of practically two and a half months’ payment.

    “Moreover, some students in China have not received any stipends since they arrived in April and May 2023,” the statement added.

    The statement said that the delay has been harder for students in countries like Morocco, with no adequate provisions for school hostels.

    “This means that stipends are crucial for covering basic expenses such as housing, electricity bills, handouts, internet bills, water bills, transportation, and food,” the statement added.

    It further stated that with the delay in stipend disbursement, some students have faced eviction as they struggled to meet rent payments while others have tragically fallen ill due to hunger, requiring urgent medical attention.

    “Similarly, students in Russia are grappling with the harsh reality of an increased cost of living, exacerbated by the prolonged delay in stipend disbursement. Forced to navigate financial hardships amidst the pressures of academic stress, many students have been pushed to the breaking point which is diverting their focus from their primary goal of academic excellence,” it said.

    It noted that due to the economic reality of the nation, the students, receive insufficient or no additional support from their parents.

    “Moreover, prohibitions on employment in many of our host BEA Countries restrict our ability to supplement our incomes.

    “We implore the Nigerian government to recognize the plight of its scholars abroad and take immediate action to alleviate their suffering. As the nation grapples with economic hardships, it is imperative to prioritize the welfare of our students who represent the future of our country,” the statement said.

    The students pleaded with President President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to intervene “as a father figure and a visionary in education”.

    “His intervention in ensuring the prompt disbursement of our stipends will not only alleviate our current hardships but also allow us, his scholars, to focus wholeheartedly on our studies. We are confident that under President Tinubu’s compassionate and forward-thinking leadership, swift action will be taken to resolve this issue, enabling us to continue our academic pursuits without the burden of financial strain,” the statement concluded.

    When THE WHISTLER contacted the Assistant Director, Press and Public Relations, Augustina Obilor on the issue, she did not pick her calls nor reply to the Whatsapp messages sent to her.

    ‘Pay Our Stipends, We Are Suffering Economic Hardship’ -International Students On FG’s Scholarship Beg Tinubu is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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  • Fact Check: Yes, Wisconsin correctional officer training classes are largest they’ve ever been

    Wisconsin’s prisons have been making big headlines over the last year for their lockdowns, rodent infestations and soaring staffing shortages. 

    To improve prison conditions and attract more staff, state lawmakers passed a pay raise for state employees last summer that boosted starting wages for corrections officers to $33 an hour. Wages could be as high as $41 an hour depending on location and shift.

    During a Feb. 11 appearance on WISN-TV’s “Upfront” program, Gov. Tony Evers claimed the pay raise is helping attract more people to the profession and producing record-high officer training classes.

    “We’re having the largest classes of correctional officers we’ve ever had before,” Evers said.

    However, Evers acknowledges that large class sizes haven’t yet solved the staffing shortages, saying, “We’re getting there.”

    The Wisconsin Department of Corrections said its training program for correctional officers has had a spike in graduates over the past six months.

    But is Evers correct that recent classes have been the largest ever? And, since Evers suggested they were making a major dent in shortages, we’ll touch on how the graduates stack up against soaring high vacancy rates.

    Correctional officer training program sees increased graduates

    People interested in becoming correctional officers must undergo a six-week training academy called the Facility Staff Training and Support Program before they can start security work at prisons across the state.

    The program is held at the Department of Corrections’ training center in Madison or at local academies, which currently are held at Green Bay Correctional Institution and Dodge Correctional Institution.

    A Feb. 21 graduation ceremony at Madison College for newly certified corrections officers had 214 graduates, according to the Department of Corrections.

    In a Department of Corrections press release, Secretary Kevin Carr said that was the department’s largest graduating class since at least 1981. The previous graduating class on Dec. 15 had 144 graduates.

    Graduate numbers have been increasing. In 2023, the state saw 568 graduates from multiple training classes, and in 2022, the total was 285 graduates, according to the Department of Corrections.

    Department of Corrections data shows staffing shortages shrinking

    Staffing vacancies for all state prisons reached a peak of 35% last August and have since been trending down, according to Department of Corrections data.

    Shortages have been especially tight at Waupun and Green Bay Correctional Institutions, where inmates’ movement has been limited since March and June because of low staffing.

    After the pay raise took effect in October, vacancies started trending down and currently sit at 26%. But that is still a relatively high vacancy rate for the prisons. Pre-pandemic rates consistently sat around 15% and didn’t go above 20%.

    In his interview, Evers mentions the pay bump has helped statewide staffing shortages, but places such as Waupun—where the vacancy rate is 56%—are still struggling. 

    Our ruling

    During a TV interview, Evers claimed pay raises for correctional officers had led to “the largest classes of correctional officers we’ve ever had before.”

    The governor acknowledged that conditions aren’t perfect yet and work remains to solve prison and staffing conditions.

    In February, the Department of Corrections graduated its largest training class to date with 214 graduates and the last class had 144 graduates.  

    And as graduating classes increase, staffing shortages at state prisons are trending down after peaking last summer.

    We rate this claim True.

     



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  • Haley’s exit from the GOP race pushes off the day Americans could elect a woman president

    By LAURIE KELLMAN (Associated Press)

    WASHINGTON (AP) — A woman ascends toward the heights of American politics, with the nation’s top elected office — the presidency — looming far out of reach. A man at the bottom predicts, unhelpfully: “You’ll never make it, sister!”

    Asked the Chicago Daily Tribune, in a 1922 editorial cartoon published two years after women won the right to vote: “How high will she go?”

    More than a century later, that question remains stubbornly unanswered. Nikki Haley’s suspension Wednesday of her campaign for the GOP presidential nomination makes her the latest in a long line of women with presidential hopes to crash against the monolith of a man — in this case, Republican Donald Trump — in a nation founded on the concepts of equality and opportunity for all.

    Without endorsing Trump, Haley withdrew from the contest with a shoutout to the women and girls who supported her, and by quoting a woman who did make it to the top in a democracy — Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s first female prime minister.

    “’Never just follow the crowd,” Haley said, suggesting she’ll become a private citizen, for now. “Always make up your own mind.”

    A PRECEDENT CONTINUES, WHETHER PEOPLE LIKE IT OR NOT

    Polls show most Americans do not necessarily oppose electing a woman president, hypothetically. And this year, Haley notched some history: She’s the first woman to win a Republican presidential primary, in the District of Columbia; she also won in Vermont. Supporters and analysts say she may have developed a playbook for confronting the former president who dominates the Republican Party — and for running in the post-Trump era.

    But once again, there’s no woman at the top of either party’s ticket. And the prospect of electing a woman president for the first time seems another four years off — again.

    Haley’s exit from the presidential contest sets up a rematch few people want between two white men of advanced age — Democratic President Joe Biden, 81, and his predecessor, Republican Donald Trump, 77.

    “The fact that voters in both parties have thrown their support to two elderly white men indicates that they believe that old white guys are still the most electable in a presidential race,” said Karrin Vasby Anderson, a professor at Colorado State University who studies gender and political culture.



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  • Legislature Adopts Ferguson’s Proposal To Launch Artificial Intelligence Task Force

    Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson

    Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson’s bipartisan proposal to create an Artificial Intelligence Task Force in the Attorney General’s Office recently passed the Legislature in a bipartisan 30-19 vote. The task force will convene technology experts, industry representatives, labor organizations, civil liberty groups and other stakeholders to discuss AI benefits and risks and make recommendations to the Legislature.

    Senate Bill 5838, sponsored by Sen. Joe Nguyen, D-White Center, previously passed the House and Senate in bipartisan votes. This vote reconciled the amendments in both chambers, and sends the bill to Gov. Jay Inslee’s desk for signature. Rep. Travis Couture, R-Allyn, sponsored the companion bill in the House.

    “AI is becoming a part of our daily lives, and it’s our duty to immediately begin working in a thoughtful way to ensure we protect Washingtonians against this technology’s risks while maximizing its benefits,” Ferguson said. “I appreciate the Legislature’s partnership, and I look forward to launching an inclusive task force that will develop recommendations to guide public policy in this important arena.”

    “AI is like fire — it has tremendous potential to do both good and bad,” Sen. Nguyen said. “How we use it and the data we put into it is incredibly important. This task force will be important for learning about the right legislative response to the explosion in AI tools and is a great step forward to smart, effective use of AI for the people of Washington.”

    AI technology is rapidly developing. In particular, generative AI — AI that creates content such as text, images or audio — has exploded in popularity. Tools like ChatGPT have become some of the fastest growing consumer internet applications of all time.

    According to a recent survey, 79% of respondents in North America reported at least some exposure to generative AI. Forty-one percent report using it regularly, and 22% say they are using it regularly at work.

    The legislation creates a task force supported by the Attorney General’s Office and composed of a nineteen-member executive committee and subcommittees as needed.

    The executive committee of the task force must investigate and submit reports on several areas of concern, including, but not limited to:

    • a review of public policy issues and existing protections;

    • identification of high-risk uses, racial equity, and civil liberty issues; and

    • recommendations for guiding principles, regulatory structures, and opportunities to support innovation.

    The task force will meet at least twice a year. The task force’s final report and recommendations are due to the Governor and Legislature July 1, 2026.

    At least 25 states have introduced legislation related to AI. Legislatures in states including Colorado, Illinois, Texas, Vermont and Virginia have created task forces or commissions to study AI. Several governors have also created AI task forces by executive order.

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  • Watch: Psaki, Maddow & Joy Reid Laugh At Virginia Voters Concerned About Illegal Immigration


    It’s not like the Biden administration just got caught secretly flying over 300,000 illegals into unknown cities

    During MSNBC‘s Super Tuesday Primary coverage the network featured a panel of top establishment talking heads, including Rachel Maddow, Jen Psaki, Joy Reid, Nicolle Wallace and Alex Wagner.

    One segment of their roundtable talk is going viral online as it illustrates how much the left-wing news anchors are out-of-touch and ignorant to what is going on in America.

    In the brief video clip, ex-Biden Press Secretary Jen Psaki ostracized voters in her home state of Virginia for citing illegal immigration as their top issue in exit polls.

    Psaki said, “If you look at some of these exit polls, I mean I live in Virginia. Immigration was the number one issue… again, these could change, in Virginia!”

    Joy Reid erupted in laughter before Rachel Maddow interrupted to mock Virginians concerned with the millions of illegals who have entered the U.S. under Biden’s administration.

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    “Well, Virginia does have a border with West Virginia. A very contested area,” Maddow said, with Reid adding, “Build the wall!”

    Psaki said people in New Hampshire are also worried about immigration because, “Trump has indoctrinated people with this fear of people who do not look like them being a threat to them.”

    Later, the MSNBC anchors told viewers “migrant crime is not a thing” after mocking anyone who believes illegal immigration is dangerous for Americans.

    Of course, the segment was full of ad hominem attacks and jabs based on stereotypes instead of data or facts.

    One reason Virginians could be worried about the border crisis is that the Biden administration was just caught secretly flying over 300,000 illegal aliens into unknown cities across the U.S. from undisclosed cities around the world.

    Popular X account Libs of TikTok suggested Maddow, Psaki and the others “talk to this teen girl who was raped in Virginia by an illegal” to better understand why people there might want the government to follow the law and secure its territories.

    Many people also accurately noted Laken Riley, who was recently brutally murdered by an illegal alien, lived over 1,000 miles from the Mexican border in Georgia.

    In fact, the Biden White House insinuated Laken Riley’s death was the GOP and Trump’s fault!

    Fox News covered the disgusting MSNBC segment on Wednesday:

    In addition to the violent crimes being committed across the nation by illegal migrants, there have also been known terrorists coming across the border and warnings by various top security experts that a 9/11 or Red Dawn-style attack could take place any day.

    X user lambasted the MSNBC hosts:



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  • Reps Move To Enact Law To Fine Abusers Of Nigerian Flag, Coat Of Arms

    Front view of the House of Representative | Nneoma Benson

    The House of Representatives on Tuesday said abusers of the national flag and the coat of arms will be charged a fine of N100,000 against the N100 fine.

    This follows the adoption of a “Bill for an Act to amend the Flag and Coats of Arms Act to regulate the display and use of national flags” passed second reading in the House of Representatives.

    The bill sponsored by Hon. Sada Soli (APC-Katsina state) sought to increase the fine for offenders from N100 to N100,000.

    Leading the debate, Soli said that both individual, public and corporate organisations violate the use of the national flag.

    The lawmakers said there is a need to curb such excessive abuses of the flag, hence the need for the amendment bill.

    He said that the bill sought to increase the number of organisations that can arrest any person for abuse or misuse of the flag.

    He said that section 8 of the bill sought to empower the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and paramilitary organisations to seize or remove any flag seen to be abused against only the Police.

    The Flag and Coats of Arms Act states that; “Subject to the provisions of this section, if in any public place in Nigeria, the national flag is to be exhibited or flown for any purpose, it shall not be exhibited with or be flown on the same staff or crossbar with the flag of any state, or the flag of any Commonwealth or foreign country.

    “The National Flag or any other flag when exhibited or flown shall not appear in a defaced or tattered condition: but the national flag shall not be deemed to be defaced by reason only of the fact that it is embodied in or forms part of a state flag.

    “Where the flag of any state is flown in the state to which it relates or elsewhere than in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, it shall not be necessary for the national flag to be flown at the same time.

    “But if the flag of a state and the national flag are to be flown at the same time in a public place in that state or elsewhere in Nigeria, the national flag of at least the same size as the state flag shall fly above that of any state flag.”

    Soli said that section 10 of the bill sought to increase the fines of the offence from N100 to N100,000 for anyone liable.

    In his ruling, the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Benjamin Kalu referred the bill to the relevant committee for further legislative action.

    Reps Move To Enact Law To Fine Abusers Of Nigerian Flag, Coat Of Arms is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

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  • Sharks’ Mackenzie Blackwood to return soon; NHL trade deadline looms

    SAN JOSE – San Jose Sharks goalie Mackenzie Blackwood is optimistic he will not have to miss much more time after he came down with a minor groin injury last week in a game against his former team, the New Jersey Devils.

    Whenever Blackwood does return, or soon after, he knows it’s possible, if not likely, that some of his present teammates – including fellow goalie Kaapo Kahkonen – could be with other organizations as the Sharks’ rebuild continues.

    The NHL trade deadline is Friday at noon (PST) and Kahkonen, along with a few other Sharks players who are pending unrestricted free agents, could be shipped to playoff-contending teams.

    “Everyone’s aware of what’s coming up and the situation we’re in,” Blackwood said. “But at the same time, you still have a job to do, right? Obviously, no one wants to see their friends get traded, but at the same time, if they get moved to a place where they’re in the hunt for the playoffs, I’d be happy for them as well.

    “So it’s mixed feelings, but day to day, you’ve just got to do your job.”

    Blackwood’s present injury – and his injury history — and Kahkonen’s possible departure certainly raise questions about the Sharks’ organizational depth at the goaltending position, and what the team’s long-term solution in net might be.

    After all, Blackwood could be in Kahkonen’s spot this time next season. The Sharks are not expected to be playoff contenders in 2024-2025, and Blackwood is set to become an unrestricted free agent after his two-year deal expires in 2025.

    Who’s to say he won’t be on the block as well in a year?

    In other words, the Sharks might not have a long-term solution in net. That’s rather important, considering plenty of rebuilds around the NHL have gone off the rails because teams didn’t have adequate goaltending. See New Jersey, Ottawa, and Columbus for further details.

    Magnus Chrona, who could be Blackwood’s tandem mate soon after Friday’s deadline, showed Saturday that he could be ready for the next step in his development.

    The 6-foot-4 Chrona shined as he made 36 saves in what became a 3-2 shootout loss to the Dallas Stars. It was a vast improvement over his one other NHL start in December when he allowed four goals on 12 shots against the Edmonton Oilers and was pulled after one period.

    Before the start, Blackwood, who was on the Sharks’ trip over the weekend to Dallas and Minnesota, gave Chrona some sage advice.

    “I said all you can control is your game,” Blackwood said. “In the NHL as a younger guy, you get really worked up and excited and feel a bunch of emotions. But I told him, less is more a lot of times.

    “So he told me after the game, he comes up and goes, ‘Less is more.’ ”

    Still, Saturday’s game was one start, and even Sharks coach David Quinn said that any rookie, regardless of position, has to be consistent to remain in the NHL.

    Can any of the goalies in the Sharks’ pipeline be a full-time NHL backup?

    Before Saturday, Chrona, Georgi Romanov, and Eetu Makiniemi had combined for a less-than-spectacular 17-27-8 record and a .893 save percentage with the Barracuda.

    That’s not all on the goalies, of course. But it inspires only so much confidence that any one of the three will be ready for a full-time NHL role next season or beyond.

    Chrona and Romanov are signed through next season, but the Sharks are going to have to decide on Makiniemi, a soon-to-be restricted free agent who they acquired from the Carolina Hurricanes as part of the Brent Burns trade two years ago.

    Makiniemi has a .898 save percentage in 36 games over two seasons with the Barracuda but hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He had hip surgery last offseason. played his first game this season on Oct. 20, then sat out for another month. Makiniemi, who hasn’t played since Jan. 26, was dealing with an illness as of last week.

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