Paradise News

Tag: General News

  • Wike Promises Construction Of Gwagwa, Karimo, Deidei Road To Ease Traffic Congestion In FCT

    FCT-Minister-Nyesom-Wike

    The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has pledged that his administration will construct the Gwagwa, Karimo to Deidei road, in a bid to alleviate traffic congestion.

    The minister made the announcement during the inauguration of the access road to Saburi 1 and 2 in the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) on Wednesday.

    The proposed road will stretch from the Outer Northern Expressway (Murtala Mohammed Expressway) to Old Keffi Road, near Dei-Dei International Market.

    The decision follows a request from AMAC Chairman, Christopher Maikalangu, who highlighted the road’s strategic importance and the urgent need for expansion to ease traffic congestion.

    Maikalangu said that the construction of the road would address the challenges, especially during the rainy season. He emphasized the socio-economic impact of the road, stating that the completed road would stimulate development in the area.

    During the event, Wike sought consensus from the residents, who unanimously agreed with Maikalangu on the Gwagwa-Karimo-Deidei road construction.

    Wike, thereafter, said, “Consider it to be done”.

    According to the minister, the essence of governance is responding to the needs of the people. He emphasized President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to rural development.

    “Mr President has emphasized that our people in the rural areas must be given attention because that constitutes the larger part of the population.

    “So. it is not only where the elite are living, but also where the poor ones are so that we will be able to reduce the level of insecurity, make economic activities thrive, and have our farmers bring in their goods to the market,” he said.

    Wike urged prayers for President Tinubu’s health and guidance to fulfill the promises of the renewed hope agenda.

    He announced plans to inaugurate additional roads across the FCT’s six area councils in the next three months, reinforcing the commitment to improving rural infrastructure.

    Also, Wike appealed to the Senate and House Committees on FCT to expedite the passage of the statutory budget, stating that it would enable his administration to deliver more roads and projects in rural communities.

    Speaking earlier, the Chief of Jiwa, Alhaji Idris Musa, expressed gratitude for the ongoing rural road projects across the six area councils.

    “Today is a great day for us and other Nigerians that are jampacked in Jiwa Chiefdom. The road you are constructing now, we are very grateful,” he said.

    In recognition of Wike’s efforts, Musa conferred the traditional title of Jagaban (Chief Warrior) Kudu of Jiwa Chiefdom on the FCT Minister, marking the fifth title bestowed by FCT communities.

    FCT-Minister-Nyesom-Wike-
    FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, exchanging pleasantries with Traditional rulers

    So far, the FCT Minister initiated the construction of six rural roads spanning 42.2 kilometers across the six Area Councils. The roads include 11 km road in Kwali Area Council, a 5 km dual carriageway in Kuje, a 9 km road in Gwagwalada, a 7.2 km road in Bwari, 5 km road each in Abaji and AMAC.

    Wike Promises Construction Of Gwagwa, Karimo, Deidei Road To Ease Traffic Congestion In FCT is first published on The Whistler Newspaper

    Source

  • Fact Check: Photo of Sen. Amy Klobuchar, Keith Ellison is altered; neither supports defunding police

    After Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., posted on Facebook about a Minnesota shooting that left two police officers and a paramedic dead, social media users began sharing a manipulated image to claim the senator and another state elected official previously supported defunding the police.

    The Feb. 18 fatal shooting happened after a standoff at a Burnsville home, where police responded to a domestic abuse call. Klobuchar posted several times on Facebook expressing sorrow and support for the victims’ families.

    A Feb. 19 Facebook post then juxtaposed screenshots of Klobuchar’s Facebook posts with a photo that shows Klobuchar, circled in red, at an event with Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, who is in the foreground.

    In the crowded room, three people appear to be holding signs that read, “Defund the Police.”

    “Amy’s page won’t let me post pictures, so I’m posting here … Klobuchar, Ellison and Flanagan … which is it Amy Klobuchar?????  You never let a tragedy go to waste,” the post’s caption read. Flanagan is likely a reference to Minnesota Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

    This Instagram post was flagged as part of Meta’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

    The photo is from a real event that Klobuchar and Ellison attended, but it has been altered to add the “defund the police” signs. Those signs do not appear in the original 2022 image. 

    (Facebook screenshot)

    Multiple X posts shared the same altered photo of Klobuchar and Ellison. Some of the X posts were tagged with a “manipulated media” label, which X says it uses on “synthetic, manipulated, or out-of-context media that may deceive or confuse people and lead to harm.” The label doesn’t identify what was manipulated.

    The image from one of the X posts has telltale signs of manipulation. For example, a woman seated in the front holding one of the signs appears to be doing so with a fingerless hand. The two signs in the background don’t appear to be held by any fingers.

    Brian Evans, an Ellison spokesperson, said the photo in the Facebook post “is digitally altered.”

    He pointed us to the original, unaltered photo, shared by Ellison in an Oct. 16, 2022, X post. It was taken at a Get Out the Vote event at the AFL-CIO Midwest Region building in Saint Paul, Evans said.

    “It’s worth noting that, in the weeks leading up to the 2022 midterms, numerous altered photos (like this one) were shared online to smear a variety of Minnesota candidates and elected officials,” Evans said. 

    He provided several examples, including another one featuring Ellison, that used the same image of a cardboard “defund the police” sign.

    Klobuchar has not supported defunding the police, said Jane Meyer, the senator’s spokesperson.

    “Senator Klobuchar strongly and publicly opposed the defund the police measure in Minnesota, has repeatedly made clear she opposes defunding the police, and is in fact the longtime lead author of the bipartisan bill in Congress which funds police,” Meyer said.

    Meyer is referring to the COPS Reauthorization Act, which stands for Community Oriented Policing Services and provides grants that fund state and local law enforcement agencies. 

    At a 2022 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Klobuchar reiterated her support for funding police, and said she opposed a Minnesota state ballot initiative, later defeated, that would have defunded police. 

    “One of the focuses has got to be, as you all know, reforming some of the practices, but at the same time, funding the police,” Klobuchar said before addressing questions to the panel’s witnesses. 

    Sen. Amy Klobuchar speaks about not defunding the police at a 2022 Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. (C-SPAN)

    Ellison also has not supported defunding the police, Evans said.

    “While the photo itself is fake, the idea it puts forward is false as well,” Evan said. “Attorney General Ellison does not and has never supported defunding the police.” He said Ellison has supported police and sought ways to reduce the use of deadly force during encounters with police.

    Ellison has said defunding police was “never a good idea” and “even worse phrasing,” according to the Minnesota Post. He told the Wisconsin Examiner in an October 2023 interview that “‘Defund the Police’ was an emotional reaction to a horrendous situation, but it was not a sound policy prescription.” The “defund the police” movement followed the 2020 death of George Floyd, a Black man, after a white police officer pinned his knee against Floyd’s neck for several minutes.

    Ellison repeatedly asked the state legislature for additional funding to expand his office’s Criminal Division, beginning when he took office in 2019, Evans said.

    Evans said Ellison’s 2022 midterm opponent tried to falsely portray Ellison as supporting defunding the police, pointing to Ellison’s support for a Minneapolis City Charter amendment that would have folded the city’s police department into a larger Department of Public Safety.

    That amendment would not have defunded the police, Ellison wrote in an op-ed for the Minneapolis Star Tribune in September 2021.

    Our ruling

    A Facebook post says a photo shows Klobuchar and Ellison posing at a “Defund the Police” event.

    The photo was altered.

    The original photo from a 2022 election event does not show anyone holding those signs. Neither Klobuchar nor Ellison support defunding the police. 

    The claim is False. 



    Source

  • 3 classic comfort food recipes you should master – Paradise Post

    Beth Dooley | (TNS) Star Tribune

    Though I’m getting older, my favorite dishes never do. When I reach for the tattered recipe cards and read my grandmother’s faded script, I hear her telling me to “tie back my hair and wash my hands, for pity sake.” And as the kitchen fills with warm roasting, sizzling and simmering scents, though I’m by myself I’m never truly alone.

    Let’s be clear, I don’t want to go back in time. I just want to conjure the sense of my grandmother and other cooks I’ve learned from and loved. However, the actual recipes might not be as delicious now as they were then — our palates evolve and ingredients change over time. As a child, I craved my mother’s mac and cheese, but I’m not going to use processed cheese on good pasta or stir condensed milk into my soup. Those pantry staples that served her generation have seen their days.

    I’m also not a professional chef. Rather, I’ve been a home cook for nearly 50 years, and I don’t think I’ll ever tire of that. I still love every slow turn of a wooden spoon, the scent of sizzling onions, the whack and thump of kneading dough. I haven’t mastered many culinary techniques; I just get satisfaction from doing the most basic dish meticulously and well. It’s good to slow down, engage my senses and relax my mind after a busy day at the screen. That might mean chopping herbs or lemons by hand, not with the food processor, so I can breathe in their bright smells.

    When re-creating well-loved meals, perfection is not the ideal. The wobbly pie crust whispers of foraging summer berries, the delightfully crisp sugar cookies were an accident because I forgot to add baking soda to the mix. These are recipes with stories to tell.

    Making something nice for dinner does not mean repeating every ingredient and every step over and over again on a kitchen treadmill. Familiarity should be freeing, a license to try a few new tastes and methods and to have fun, to surprise yourself. Trust your judgment, hone your skills.

    The recipes in my “favorites” collection are essential to the way I live now. I know them by heart, but tweak them every time. I’ve streamlined steps, changed ingredients, switched up herbs and spices. I keep these three recipes — mac and cheese, meatloaf and tomato soup — in rotation for those blustery winter nights when hunger and loneliness rattle the kitchen windows.

    These old friends are familiar but never quite the same. I’m always looking for ways to lighten and brighten and freshen things up. Just as with all things in our lives, cooking should not stand still.

    Meatloaf Muffins with Mashed Potato Topping

    Makes 6 (3 1/2-inch muffins)

    These meatloaf muffins bake in half the time of a loaf. Any extras may be frozen for a later quick dinner for one. You might try a mix of different ground meats — beef, pork, lamb. Here, a little chopped pancetta gives it a bump. Don’t skimp on the mashed potatoes! Serve with a tart green salad or steamed broccoli on the side. Feel free to add red pepper flakes or ground chili, a shot of Tabasco or sautéed spinach. From Beth Dooley.

    • 2 to 3 tbsp. butter, softened
    • 1 1/2 lb. ground beef (or mix of beef, pork, lamb)
    • 1/4 c. diced pancetta, optional
    • 1/2 c. fresh breadcrumbs
    • 1/4 c. ketchup
    • 1/4 c. Worcestershire sauce
    • 1/4 c. diced onion
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • 1 large egg
    • 2 tsp. coarse salt
    • 1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
    • Mashed potatoes (see recipe)

    Directions

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter 6 (3 1/2-inch) muffin cups.

    In a large mixing bowl, work together the ground beef, pancetta, breadcrumbs, ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, onion, garlic, egg, salt and pepper. Pack into the muffin tins. Bake until the meat is browned and crusty on top and cooked through, about 30 to 40 minutes. A digital thermometer should read 165 degrees when inserted in the center. Remove pan from oven and set the heat to broil.

    Mound the mashed potatoes on top of each muffin, run under the broiler until the tops are nicely speckled brown. Serve with additional mashed potatoes on the side.

    Mashed Potatoes

    Serves 4 to 6.

    From Beth Dooley.

    • 2 lb. baking potatoes (Idaho or Russet), peeled and cut into quarters
    • Salt
    • 1/4 c. (1/2 stick) butter
    • 3/4 c. half and half or whole milk
    • Freshly ground black pepper to taste

    Directions

    Put the potatoes into a large pot and add enough water to cover them by 4 inches. Season with salt. Set over high heat, bring to a boil, reduce the heat and simmer until the potatoes are fork tender, about 30 minutes.

    Drain the potatoes, return to the pot, and mash them with the butter and half and half until smooth and creamy. Taste and season with more salt and pepper as desired.

    Mac and Cheese

    Serves 6.

    Inspired by a New York Times recipe, this recipe relies on ricotta cheese for its creaminess. There’s no need to pre-boil the noodles; they cook in the milk and cheese, absorbing all the flavor to be gooey and rich. Elbow pasta is the traditional shape, but fusilli tends to hold the cheese in all its nooks and crannies. From Beth Dooley.

    • 1/4 c. (1/2 stick) butter
    • 1 c. whole milk ricotta cheese
    • 2 c. whole milk or half and half
    • Generous shot Tabasco sauce
    • Generous pinch ground nutmeg
    • Generous pinch coarse salt
    • Generous pinch black pepper
    • 1 lb. sharp cheddar cheese, grated, plus a little more for the topping
    • 1/2 lb. uncooked elbow pasta or other pasta
    • 1/4 c. panko breadcrumbs

    Directions

    Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter a 9-inch (2 quart) baking dish with some of the butter. Cut a piece of aluminum foil large enough to cover the baking dish and butter the dull side.

    In the bowl of a food processor, place the ricotta, milk, Tabasco, nutmeg and salt and pepper and purée until smooth. Transfer to a large bowl and stir in the cheese and uncooked pasta. Transfer this to the prepared baking dish and cover tightly with the foil (butter-side down). Bake for 40 minutes.

    Remove the foil. Stir the pasta and sprinkle with a little more cheese. Sprinkle with the panko and dot with the remaining butter. Return to the oven and bake until browned, about 25 to 30 minutes. Remove and allow it to rest for 10 minutes before serving.

    Classic Tomato Soup

    Serves 4.

    Deliciously fresh when made with garden tomatoes, this is pure comfort with canned. I like the fire-roasted tomatoes for their bits of char and a little smoke. You can hold off on the cream and just add a little more stock for a lighter soup. Serve with grilled cheese sandwiches for dunking. From Beth Dooley.

    • 2 tbsp. butter
    • 1/4 c. diced shallot
    • 1/2 c. diced onion
    • Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
    • 3 c. (28-oz. can) diced tomatoes with juices
    • 1 tbsp. chopped fresh thyme or 1 tsp. dried
    • 2 1/2 c. chicken or vegetable stock, or more if needed
    • 1/2 c. heavy cream
    • Minced fresh parsley, for garnish

    Directions

    Melt the butter in a large, deep saucepan over medium-low heat. Add the shallot and onion, season with salt and pepper, and cook until they soften. Stir in the tomatoes and thyme, reduce the heat and simmer for about 10 minutes. Stir in the stock and cream. Taste and adjust the seasoning and add more stock if needed. Serve garnished with the parsley.

    ____

    Beth Dooley is the author of “The Perennial Kitchen.” Find her at bethdooleyskitchen.com.

    ©2024 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

    Source

  • Rainier Beach’s Mike Bethea: A Coach’s Commitment To Community And Character Building

    By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium

    In the heart of South Seattle, a figure looms almost as influential as any parent – the coach. For the Black community, where athletic prowess is often a source of pride and a pathway to success, coaches are not just sports trainers; they are architects of character, discipline, and success. Among these influential figures is Mike Bethea, the head coach of Rainier Beach High School’s varsity men’s basketball team, who has spent over 30 years shaping the lives of young people.

    Mike Bethea’s journey is one of remarkable dedication and achievement. Balancing a successful 45-year career at Boeing with his coaching responsibilities, Bethea has proven his commitment to both his professional and coaching roles. As a naturally talented athlete himself, his transition to coaching was almost predestined.

    Bethea’s résumé speaks for itself. He has amassed 16 Metro League titles, 15 district championships, and nine state championships. In addition, his two most noteworthy teams – the 2003 team ranked number one in the country, and his 2014 team ranked number two in the country – are still the standard for what other programs in the area strive for.

    Despite his success, coaching in the eyes of Bethea is far from just the wins and losses. For Bethea, molding young men is the challenge and gratitude that he accepts and receives from his efforts as a coach, as the game is merely a conduit used to transform young boys into young men.

    “I am family first, and I am about my community,” says Bethea. “This is not about winning championships, it is not about the wins and losses, it is about preparing these young men to go out into the world and deal with everyday life. Becoming young men. You get them as immature boys, and it is up to me and my staff to help them become well-rounded individuals, men that can go out and do something positive with their lives.”

    Bethea describes his coaching journey by the talent he receives each year. As his teams acquire incoming talent, Bethea then assesses just how far any particular team will go into the playoffs each season.

    “I actually started coaching at Rainier Beach in 1992 as an assistant with Francis Williams, and in 1994 I took over the program,” Bethea reflects. “We went through some growing pains, and in 1998, Jamal Crawford transferred in, and we had a pretty good team and won a state title then.”

    “The next year, Crawford’s senior year, we came up short, but the next year Nate Robinson enrolled at Rainier Beach, and as a freshman and starter, he too became the launching pad to where we are now,” continued Bethea. “I’ve been blessed to never have a losing season in 30 years of coaching.”

    Robert Delgardo, who coached with Bethea for 23 years, witnessed the growth of the team’s legacy and understood exactly what it takes to maintain a winning program.

    “The reason [the program was successful] is that a lot of players understood that our system, the way we ran it, was like the next level – the college level,” says Delgardo. “The way we dress, the way we carry ourselves, the confidence, the message to other coaches and schools, I think that intrigues kids to understand that not only do we present ourselves well, we play well and we win well.”

    “So, we set the tone, and all of those things play a big part when you talk about special teams,” added Delgardo. “That is why we always had at least four to five D1 players on our team every year for the 23 years that I was there.”

    The 2024 season is a testament to Bethea’s coaching acumen and the team’s resilience. Heavy with underclassmen on their roster, the Vikings embarked on an exhilarating journey through the SeaKing District tournament last week. Their campaign began with an impressive 21-point victory over Mercer Island. That momentum carried them into a showdown with the O’Dea Fighting Irish, the regular season Metro League champions, where they secured a hard-fought 55-51 victory. Despite their remarkable run, the team faced a setback in the semifinals against West Seattle, succumbing with a close score of 57-51. However, their earlier triumph over O’Dea ensured their spot in the state tournament, which is a significant achievement for a young team.

    “The rollercoaster ride continues with this team,” says Bethea. “We are a young team trying to come together, but it is difficult. We played a great game against O’Dea and knocked them off, only to lose to West Seattle the next game. Again, dealing with young men, you don’t know what you are going to get from day to day. And that has been the challenge all year.”

    “You have to get the kids to understand that it is one game at a time,” continued Bethea. “You can’t look ahead. Sometimes you can prep them as a coach, but they can’t help but look ahead, and that’s when you set yourself up for unexpected losses like the one against West Seattle.”

    At the beginning and end of the day, Bethea’s philosophy centers around hard work, a value he instills relentlessly in his players. He often cites Kevin Durant’s famous quote, “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard,” to emphasize the importance of effort over innate ability. His coaching ethos is encapsulated in what he calls the four “ins.”

    “The motto I live by I call the four ‘ins.’ Believe in, Trust in, Buy in, and All in,” says Bethea. “The biggest challenge with this team was getting them to trust in, getting them to believe in, getting them to buy in, and those are the everyday things like getting to class on time, getting to practice on time, giving a hundred percent effort.”

    “Eighty to ninety percent of the game is psychological,” says Delgardo. “You have to be able to be coachable. The other thing is hard work will always outdo talent. So, if you can play well together with less talent, you’ll be more successful.”

    One of the biggest challenges Bethea has faced with this team is getting them to play hard for the 32 minutes, which can not only be a point of frustration but also a learning lesson that his players will hopefully learn from as they progress through the season and in life.

    “You can’t play hard for 24 minutes and then take the rest of the night off; that’s been the reason we’ve lost some of the games we’ve lost,” says Bethea.

    Beyond the court, Bethea’s role as a mentor and community leader is equally significant. He is acutely aware of the stereotypes and challenges his players face outside of basketball. In a community often confronted with narrow and misrepresentative perspectives, Bethea stands as a defiant voice, preparing his players for life’s broader challenges.

    “Sometimes people put you in a box, for lack of better words ‘a bunch of ghetto players,’ and nothing can be further from the truth,” Bethea emphasizes. “They put us in this box, but the message I like to send is I have future leaders, so don’t try to put that tag on us.”

    Coach Bethea and his team will embark on the final leg of their 2024 season as they enter the state 3A tournament as the #10 seed and will face the winner of the Lincoln-Lake Washington in a loser out game Saturday evening at Bellevue College.

    Source

  • After 2 years of war, Ukraine’s resolve does not falter [photo gallery]

    People handing bricks to each other at construction site (© Genya Savilo/AFP/Getty Images)

    As Russia’s unprovoked, full-scale invasion enters its third year, Ukrainians are confronting the war’s devastation with resilience and strength.

    Across the country, schools are open, fields are tilled and communities are rebuilding.

    Ukrainians are determined in the face of Russia’s aggression.

    However, carrying on under daily bombardment has come at a tremendous cost to Ukrainians.

    Woman and children in traditional Ukrainian dress holding hands as they walk up stairs (© Andrii Marienko/AP)
    (© Andrii Marienko/AP)

    Although Russia has damaged or destroyed more than 3,790 schools, children are still learning. In Kharkiv, schools relocated underground for safety.

     

    Children in traditional Ukrainian dress playing with toys (© Anadolu/Getty Images)
    (© Anadolu/Getty Images)

    Students continue their education in classrooms set up in metro stations and other bomb shelters.

     

    Women cutting fabric around large table (© Francisco Seco/AP)
    (© Francisco Seco/AP)

    Russia’s war has pushed more than 7.1 million Ukrainians into poverty. But people adapt. In Zaporizhzhia, fashion designers turn their talents to making body armor for soldiers.

     

    Aerial view of farm equipment moving around rocket crater in field (© Efrem Lukatsky/AP)
    (© Efrem Lukatsky/AP)

    Russian mines and explosives have ruined millions of hectares of farmland. Now, as Ukrainians reclaim land from mines and bombs, farmers in Dnipropetrovsk region collect harvests … carefully.

     

    Woman working on cement block building (© UNDP Ukraine)
    (© UNDP Ukraine)

    Russia’s indiscriminate attacks on civilians have destroyed nearly 1.5 million homes. Across the country, Ukrainians are coming together to rebuild.

     

    Bride and groom walking past destroyed military vehicles (© Gleb Garanich/Reuters)
    (© Gleb Garanich/Reuters)

    People still get married.

     

    Person in medical gear holding newborn in hospital room (© Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)
    (© Evgeniy Maloletka/AP)

    And even when bombs force maternity wards into basements, Ukrainians look to the future.

    Source

  • “Thanks For F***ing Up The City!” – Man Trolls Ex-NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio After Posing For Selfie


    All corrupt politicians need to be called out by citizens on a daily basis

    In a hilarious video going viral online, a New Yorker bumped into former Big Apple Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio and got him to pose for a selfie.

    As he posed for the citizen’s phone camera, the guy told de Blasio, “Thanks for fucking up the city! Asshole,” while the ex-mayor walked away.

    As mayor, de Blasio crippled the city’s economy by locking down businesses during the Covid pandemic and he also let BLM rioters wreak havoc in the streets in the aftermath of George Floyd’s death.

    After his tenure as NYC mayor, the Democrat was accused of misusing $475,000 by using NYPD officers for his security detail during his failed 2020 presidential campaign.

    • Save 40% on DNA Force Plus NOW! Try it today and see why so many listeners have made it an essential part of their daily routine!

    Showing the ex-politician’s life has severely unraveled since his exit from office, de Blasio’s wife left him in July of last year and he even blamed the Covid pandemic for his separation!

    Americans across the country are fed up with politicians selling them out and even in Democrat strongholds like New York they are starting to push back.



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  • Fact Check: ‘So, who’s right?’ PolitiFact reader feedback on immigration, fact-checking Trump

    PolitiFact readers started 2024 with deep reading and thoughtful comments to our newsroom. They sounded off in emails to reporters and through social media comments about immigration, our fact-checking of former President Donald Trump and a debunk of the cemetery mail truck hoax. 

    Below, our readers’ thoughts, lightly edited for length, clarity and style. Readers can email us fact-check ideas and feedback at [email protected].

    Learn more about PolitiFact’s process, and how we’re working to make our fact-checking more transparent.

    Immigration 

    The reader who requested our piece “Ask PolitiFact: What branch of government is ‘really’ responsible for the crisis at the border?” wrote in to thank PolitiFact, and immigration reporter Maria Ramirez Uribe:

    “Thank you for your response. I really appreciate the thoroughness of your report although Immigration is clearly a muddled mess from any angle. However, I feel you answered my question and I’m sticking to my original idea that Congress should bear a larger portion of the blame for not doing their job over the last 30 years, thereby making it more difficult for the other two branches to work the way they should. Thanks again. I really am grateful for your great reporting!”

    One reader thought the question in our piece was pedantic.

    “So, who’s right? Is there more Biden can do? Or is it on Congress to update immigration law, which hasn’t been changed in decades?”

    So what if it hasn’t ‘changed in decades’?  Existing law gives him the power to protect our borders for crying out loud.  That’s why he reversed Trump’s policies … to create the invasion.  And he has certainly succeeded in doing that.

    Let me ask … if someone is seeking asylum from say, Gaza, why must they seek it in the United States?  Or if they are from Venezuela, why don’t they seek asylum in the very first country they cross the border into? Come on.”

    Another reader followed up about the framing of the immigration piece:

    “What if the question was asked differently: A proactive action by which arm of government would have the most impact? Is the Executive branch able to perform an action(s) that would make a big improvement in immigration outcomes? Or would a proactive action by the courts make the bigger improvement (a nonstarter, courts are reactive, not proactive)? Or would a proactive action by the Congress, if they chose to do it) make the biggest improvement at the border? Personally, I think the ability to create the biggest improvement (at) the border lies with Congress. Thank you for your article.”

    The mail truck in a cemetery 

    Social media users (and a former president of the United States) have falsely claimed that hundreds of thousands of ballots were sent to dead people — and pets — in Virginia and Nevada.

    As evidence, these posts often share the same photo of a mail truck in a cemetery; some claim Democrats have something to do with it.

    It’s possible to view these social media posts — many with laughing emojis — as a joke, which is why we didn’t fact-check these claims on our Truth-O-Meter. However, these posts spread the falsehood that U.S. elections are marred by widespread fraud.

    Some readers thought we simply couldn’t take a joke. 

    “The mail truck in the cemetery is a joke and doesn’t say Republican Democrat. So you need to get a sense of humor. It’s (a) joke.”

    “It is just a joke intended for those who have a sense of humor.”

    We heard from the original poster of the Facebook post:

    “You fact-checked my sharing on FB of the above post. I am very amused at your action on this post. Evidently you have never heard of sarcasm or satire. Just to be helpful, satire is defined as the use of exaggeration, humor, or irony to criticize someone.

    “Well, congratulations on stopping the distribution of a good joke. But do not ever try to convince anyone you are an impartial arbiter. You are a radical, left-wing propagandist using fact-checking to reduce free speech of your political opponents. It is evident you do not follow the famous quote, ‘I detest what you say but I will defend to the death your right to say it.’ I hope you never have to live under a regime that you are helping to build.”

    Our fact-checking of Trump: 

    A reader wrote to us on Threads about the Trump food prices inflation check: 

    “By the way, you forgot to point out that higher prices (are) a trailing indicator of inflation (i.e., a rapid increase of the money supply). Remember when Trump said he liked “a weak dollar” (an old mercantilist idea)? How do you think you weaken the dollar? Blaming Biden for inflation Trump caused is the most grotesque show of chutzpah one can imagine.”

    On our look into our 1,000 fact-checks of Donald Trump, one reader asked: 

    “Does this matter really? So, he said false facts. Talk is cheap. Actions are what matter. Would you rather have someone that speaks the truth all the time and their actions say otherwise or vice versa?” 

    And a general comment: 

    “I am getting tired of hearing about Donald Trump and his problems. It’s getting really old.”

    A few notes of appreciation:

    We also have a few comments from supporters that show the value of our fact-checking reporting: 

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  • Five biggest storylines for the Warriors on their playoff push

    The Warriors lived a thousand lives before the All-Star break.

    Their all-world defensive anchor was suspended — and suspended again. A beloved coach tragically died. Jonathan Kuminga publicly aired his grievances, then made The Leap. Chris Paul played alongside Stephen Curry, an unimaginable idea for most of this century. Steve Kerr toggled through dozens of lineup combinations as the team blew scores of leads. Steph Curry, still transcendent at 35, at one point said not changing things up would be the “definition of insanity.”

    All in just a few months.

    The helter-skelter start has the Warriors (27-26) emerging from the All-Star break in 10th place in the West at .500. Green is back from his indefinite suspension and playing at a high level. Paul is due back possibly this month, and Kerr has decided to bring future Hall of Famer Klay Thompson off the bench.

    Here’s what to watch for as the Warriors fight to extend their dynasty.

    How real is Brandin Podziemski?

    The rookie wall comes for everyone, but the Warriors can’t afford for Podziemski’s play to slide. Podziemski leads all rookies — even Victor Wembanyama and Chet Holmgren — in games with at least 10 points, five assists and five rebounds. He leads the NBA in charges drawn and is third among regular rookies in net rating.

    The Santa Clara product, whose confidence is his superpower, has earned a spot in the Warriors’ starting lineup. Even the biggest Podz fans couldn’t have seen his rapid ascension coming when Golden State drafted him with the 19th pick.

    If he can keep this up, he’ll be by far the best Warriors rookie of the dynasty era. If not, it’ll be clear just how much the Warriors are suddenly leaning on the indispensable 21-year-old to produce in the margins.

    Podziemski should always be able to make the type of winning plays Steve Kerr constantly lauds. The consistency of his outside jumper and array of unorthodox finishes in the paint could be the key to whether he can reach an All-Star-level ceiling seemingly out of nowhere.

    Is Klay really content with coming off the bench?

    All that said, Podziemski probably isn’t going anywhere. His skills as a connector, team defender and pace-booster aren’t traits that ebb and flow like hot shooting does. Barring injury, he’ll leave Klay Thompson coming off the bench at tipoff and watching the end of them from the sidelines, too.

    Thompson can say all the right things, but how will that really look in practice? Watch his body language; for as difficult as coming back from consecutive severe lower body injuries was, much of Thompson’s battle is mental at this point. What happens when Thompson misses his first four or five shots and is further relegated to a 15-minute game instead of 25 minutes? How might he bounce back from an inevitable down night?

    The Warriors, now and going forward, are going to be at their best with Thompson embracing the Manu Ginobili archetype. If he’s not ready to buy into the bench role, that’ll change everything — from the Warriors’ playoff hopes to his impending free agency.

    Can Draymond stay on the straight and narrow?

    In the opening weeks of the season, anything felt possible for Green at any moment. He was a loose cannon ready to explode at any moment.

    Green was ejected with two technicals against Cleveland. He earned a five-game suspension for putting Rudy Gobert in a chokehold. Two weeks later, he smacked Jusuf Nurkic for the infamous indefinite suspension.

    Heart-to-heart talks between Green and key members of the organization ensued. The big man knows he needs to stay on the court for his team to have a chance at anything meaningful. He needs to straddle the line of intensity without leaning into the unhinged.

    Not just this year, but over the course of his career, it’s clear that is a tough balance for Green to strike.

    Since returning to the team, Green has avoided any serious incidents while playing up to his potential on both ends of the court. His play and presence was the biggest reason Golden State finished the first half strong and decided to double down on the core at the trade deadline. They’ll need him to continue to tip-toe the tightrope.

    Is the Green-Kuminga-Wiggins trio sustainable?

    The Warriors’ recent surge has directly coincided with moving Green into the starting center role and flanking him with athletic wings Andrew Wiggins and Kuminga. With Green sidelined, Kuminga and Wiggins were a completely untenable duo. But having Green in the fold unlocks them in a dangerous way.

    Around that frontcourt, the Warriors can play ample shooting and playmaking. Wiggins and Kuminga give Golden State its best chance to compete athletically with the best wings in the game, and Green remains a defensive maestro conductor.

    That frontcourt, plus Curry and Podziemski, is +26.9 per 100 possessions in over 100 minutes. The three-man combination alone is a team-high +16.9.

    The samples are now longer small. It appears the Green-Kuminga-Wiggins frontcourt is here to stay. The early returns on the combination probably played a part in Golden State staying pat at the deadline, so it better be.

    Will Kerr and Warriors make a long-term commitment?

    All signs point to the Warriors allowing Steve Kerr to coach the team for as long as he’d like. They’d be foolish not to.

    And Kerr has given every indication that he intends to remain with the team beyond this year, when his contract expires.

    So, what’s the hold-up?

    While Kerr has drawn criticism from the fan base for his rotations and late-game decisions tactics this year, he has navigated the difficult dynamics within the locker room. His free-flowing offensive system remains a breath of fresh air in a league that has tilted toward heliocentrism and foul-hunting.

    Kerr has called Kevon Looney the “moral compass” of the Warriors. But in truth, he embodies that for the franchise — and in some ways, the league. Even if he might not be the strategist Erik Spoelstra is, he has earned Spo money, if that’s what he seeks, and is the best coach to keep Golden State’s championship window open. An extension could send the right message for the team’s direction going forward.

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  • NeighborCare Health Names Dr. Brandi Basket As Chief Health Officer

    Dr. Brandi Basket, DO

    NeighborCare Health recently announce the appointment of Dr. Brandi Basket, DO, as the organization’s new Chief Health Officer (CHO). Dr. Basket’s extensive experience in family medicine and her commitment to comprehensive, multidisciplinary healthcare make her a valuable addition to the NeighborCare Health team.

    Drawing on her experience as a physician at multiple Federally Qualified Health Centers, Dr. Basket recognizes the collaborative strength of team-based care. In her previous roles, Dr. Basket demonstrated a deep dedication to integrated, whole-person care. Her passion for delivering high-quality patient care is reflected in her proactive approach to connecting with community members and fostering strong partnerships with providers and partners — serving as a bridge between perspectives. 

    With a background as the Corporate Medical Director at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona, Dr. Basket brings a unique perspective to NeighborCare Health. Her experience in payer relations signifies a commitment to collaboration with payers, aligning with our organization’s goals to enhance community healthcare through strategic partnerships. 

    Dr. Basket’s leadership extends beyond traditional healthcare boundaries. As a previous member of the Michigan Coronavirus Task Force on Racial Disparities, she actively contributed to addressing health disparities, showcasing her commitment to reducing inequities in healthcare access and outcomes. 

    “We are confident that Dr. Basket’s leadership will advance clinical excellence, service integration, health equity, and overall strategy in the realms of medical, dental, and behavioral health,” said Rashad A. Collins, Chief Executive Officer. 

    NeighborCare offers medical, dental, behavioral health, social work, pregnancy care, health education, nutrition services, and more in 30-plus medical, dental and school-based health clinics mostly in Seattle, and in Olympia and on Vashon Island.

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  • Dr. Phil Details Biden Admin Facilitation Of Human Smuggling, Child Sex Trafficking At US/Mexico Border


    Biden administration has turned Border Patrol guards into ‘social workers’ for illegal immigrants and concierges for traffickers

    Former host of the “Dr. Phil” show, Dr. Phil McGraw, joined the Joe Rogan Experience podcast this week for a wide-ranging conversation including a detailed account of Dr. Phil’s recent trip to the U.S.-Mexico border.

    In just one day at the border, the doctor said he was shocked about the situation and explained the Biden administration has turned Border Patrol guards into “social workers” for illegal immigrants.

    “They went down there to be guards and they say, ‘What we’re doing now instead of apprehending these people is we’re greeting these people and we’re processing them and giving them money and and resources…’” he told Rogan.

    Dr. Phil told the podcast host the Texas border guards will arrest, process and deport illegals they catch while the federal Border Patrol guards are instructed to arrest, process and release them into America.

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    He said the illegals will literally run towards Border Patrol guards, who wear green uniforms, and run away from Texas guards, who wear brown.

    The ex-television host also told Rogan he talked to the head of the Border Patrol Union, who told him the government doesn’t need any more money or agents to fix the border crisis.

    Instead, he said politicians could just enforce laws that have already been established to catch and deport all invaders.

    Playing a video clip from his interview with a border patrol agent, Dr. Phil exposed the fact that children coming into the country with the illegals are often sent into sex slavery.

    The Border Patrol and government officials are aware of this, yet continue facilitating the industry via U.S. tax dollars.

    The pair also touched on the glaring threat of allowing military-aged men from around the world to enter the country, with Dr. Phil noting China has been purchasing land near American military bases while simultaneously flooding the nation with young men sporting military haircuts and six pack abs.

    Full podcast below:

    Also, don’t miss Infowars’ exclusive border coverage from earlier this month!



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