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Schoen: The southern border remains Biden’s Achilles heel

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Unfortunately for the Biden administration, immigration – a considerable Achilles Heel for the president – figures to be a significant issue in the 2024 presidential election. This is surely an unwelcome development for Biden’s reelection prospects, as the president continues to struggle with balancing voters’ demands for border security with the left’s calls for a more sympathetic immigration policy.To be clear, while the economy and inflation will surely be the top priorities when voters go to the polls next November, immigration will not be far behind. In fact, roughly one-quarter (24%) of registered voters say immigration is the most important issue facing the country, just slightly lower than those saying the economy (26%), and inflation (34%) – the top concern – according to a recent Harvard-Harris poll.Moreover, immigration is one of Biden’s biggest vulnerabilities. Only 31% of Americans – including 27% of Independents – approve of how Biden has handled immigration. Comparati...

Pooch pooper scoopers bag pretty big bucks

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Fendi, the 3-year-old golden retriever who can’t get enough cuddles, stared at the expanse of Mullica Hill, New Jersey, lawn where she does her business.There in the grass, which she’s been using as her personal privy, walked an intruder — Emily LaBeaume, a professional poop scooper and co-owner of Big Business Scoopers of Pitman.Using a rake and a bucket with a long handle, LaBeaume was picking up what Fendi had been putting down.Fendi’s owner, Taylor Kemery, 31, a pediatric nurse practitioner pays LaBeaume’s company around $20 a week. “This is a great convenience,” she said. “I never enjoyed picking that stuff up. Ever.”If you can pony up bucks for someone to cut your lawn, deliver your groceries or assemble Ikea furniture, why not throw money at a practitioner who performs an unceasingly odious task?“Customers are either grossed out, physically unable, or don’t have the time,” said Tim Stone, 36, of Dallas, preside...

PBS spotlights ‘The Busing Battleground’ in Boston

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

On Sept. 12, 1974, Boston stepped into the nation’s spotlight when Black and white students were, for the first time, bused between neighborhoods as ordered by a federal desegregation court.As “The Busing Battleground,” a 2-part, 2-hour documentary airing Monday on “American Experience” on PBS (GBH) vividly recounts, the intense and violent reaction saw protestors heaving rocks and epithets and children unfortunate targets.Directed by screenwriter Sharon Grimberg and Cyndee Readdean, “Busing” illuminates how Boston’s school integration issues went back decades.It begins on national TV in August 1963 as President John F. Kennedy declared civil rights a moral issue and being Black meant you were never given an equal chance. For decades, the all-white Boston school committee never made an effort to upgrade segregated Black schools. That court order was a last resort.“It’s a very resonant coincidence that there was that school meeting and JFK on television at the very ...

Dear Abby: Had it up to here with pal’s hostile hubby

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

Dear Abby: I’m writing for advice about my best friend “Eva’s” husband. I have known her more than 25 years. Her husband, “Dan,” doesn’t get along with me, but we both agreed to remain civil and neutral for the sake of the friendship. When there are get-togethers at their home, Dan usually stays in the basement. I stay away from him and don’t say a word to him.The last time I was there, he made rude and insulting comments directed at me. I didn’t react. Eva and I have agreed to not let him get in the way of our friendship. I’m not sure how to handle this, because Eva asked me not to respond, but Dan is pushing me to a point where it’s hard to not say something. When I told Eva about the situation, she said she’d talk to him. She never got back to me, and I feel she just brushes it off. Please help. — Stuck Friend in IllinoisDear Friend: It’s time for another chat with Eva about the treatment you are ...

'We got lucky': Aircraft makes emergency landing into Gillespie Field fence

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

EL CAJON, Calif. -- One person was slightly injured during an aircraft emergency near Gillespie Field Saturday morning, authorities confirmed.The Heartland Fire and Rescue Department responded to the scene at Airport Drive and Magnolia Avenue around 11 a.m., fire officials told FOX 5.The airplane crashed into the fence surrounding Gillespie Field, narrowly missing a vehicle on the road, Heartland Fire Battalion Chief Dave Hardenburger said. Officials say two people -- a pilot instructor and his student -- were on board the aircraft at the time of the incident. Police shooting involving a 16-year-old prompts road closures in Carlsbad One person reported to have slight injuries and the other walked away uninjured. Heartland Fire says both refused transportation to a medical facility. Fire crews respond to an aircraft emergency near Gillespie Field on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. (KSWB)Fire crews respond to an aircraft emergency near Gillespie Field on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023. ...

Moroccan villagers mourn after earthquake brings destruction to their rural mountain home

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

MOULAY BRAHIM, Morocco (AP) — The ground shook with a force few had ever felt, thundering through the remote Moroccan village in the dark of night. When the earthquake was over late Friday, the town carved into the Atlas Mountains lay in devastation — possibly dozens dead, scores of homes crumpled and walls reduced to rubble. Soon crews were listening for desperate sounds of life within the ruins of Moulay Brahim.A village of fewer than 3,000 people, Moulay Brahim attracts tourists and outdoor enthusiasts with its stunning vistas and proximity to Marrakech. Streets brimmed with small hotels and cafes overlooking gorges and green valleys.But after the 6.8-magnitude earthquake that killed more than 2,000 across Morocco, the scene in the village is bleak.People in the poor rural community about 45 kilometers (28 miles) northeast of the quake epicenter live in homes made of clay brick and cinder block, many of which are no longer standing or safe to inhabit. Fallen walls exposed the inn...

G20 leaders pay their respects at a Gandhi memorial on the final day of the summit in India

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

NEW DELHI (AP) — G20 leaders paid their respects at a memorial site dedicated to Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi on Sunday — a day after the forum added a new member and reached agreements on a range of issues but softened their language on Russia’s war in Ukraine. India, this year’s Group of 20 leading rich and developing nations host, ended the first day of the summit with diplomatic wins. As the first session began, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the group was adding the African Union as a member — part of the Indian leader’s drive to uplift the Global South. A few hours later, India announced that it was able to get the disparate group to sign off on a final statement, but only after softening language on the contentious issue of Russia’s war in Ukraine.With these major agenda items taken care of, Canada’s Justin Trudeau, Australia’s Anthony Albanese and Japan’s Fumio Kishida, among others, shook hands Sunday and posed for photos with Modi at...

Special election in western Pennsylvania to determine if Democrats or GOP take control of the House

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Photos PAGP501-504 Majority control of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives will again come down to a special election later this month, when Republican voters attempt to flip power back to their caucus while facing a strongly Democratic lean in a Pittsburgh district.The race pits a former Democratic congressional staffer against the daughter of two local officials who were politically active.Democrat Lindsay Powell, 32, and Republican Erin Connolly Autenreith, 65, will face off for the Allegheny County state House seat on Sept. 19, one week before the chamber is scheduled to return to floor session in Harrisburg.They are vying to replace a progressive Democrat, former state Rep. Sara Innamorato, who resigned in July to seek the county executive job. Her departure left the House at a 101-101 tie. The district is a Democratic stronghold Democratic strategists predict their party will be able to retain. A previous special election in which the Republican ca...

Russia is turning to old ally North Korea to resupply its arsenal for the war in Ukraine

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

After a year and a half of fighting in Ukraine, Russia needs to replenish its supplies of ammunition for what could be a long war of attrition. Along with ramping up its domestic arms production, Moscow is turning to an old ally with a vast arsenal — North Korea.Estimates say the reclusive and isolated Asian country has tens of millions of artillery shells and rockets that could give a huge boost to the Russian army.United States officials expect North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to visit Russia in the coming days to seal a possible deal on munitions transfer with President Vladimir Putin. That would be a remarkable reversal from the 1950-53 Korean War, when the Soviet Union provided the communist North with weapons and ammunition.“We know that Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu has visited recently for artillery shells predominantly, and most likely that will be discussed between Putin and Kim Jong Un,” said Alexander Gabuev, head of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center.Shoigu beca...

Instant Analysis: Texas picks up historic victory in the Steve Sarkisian era

Published Sat, 22 Feb 2025 14:00:00 GMT

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The Texas Longhorns stormed into SEC country and took a giant swing at mighty Alabama on their home turf — and they landed a knockout blow.The No. 11 Longhorns topped the No. 3 Crimson Tide 34-24 behind five quarterback sacks by their defense and 349 passing yards from Quinn Ewers. The win snapped Alabama's 21-game home winning streak, and for the third time since 2007 when Nick Saban took over at Alabama, a former assistant beat the legendary coach. That former assistant is, of course, Steve Sarkisian.Jonathan Thomas and Billy Gates talked about the big win and you can listen to their conversation in the video above. Some students were so pumped about the win that they went and jumped in the Littlefield Fountain on campus with the looming presence of the UT Tower, glowing in burnt orange.