Biden’s plans to curb gun violence

President Joe Biden is taking aim on gun violence in the United States. According to USA Today, the president plans on announcing six executive orders regarding weapons used in recent mass shootings.

The actions will include having the Department of Justice work to curb the use of “ghost guns” – makeshift firearms – that can be built at home or that lack a serial number. Also on the agenda is to bring a “stabilizing brace” that helps make a handgun work like a rifle under federal regulation.

Additionally, the newspaper reports, Biden will nominate David Chipman – a gun control advocate – as director of the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

News: “No need” for kneeling on Floyd

The action that experts say led to the death of George Floyd – a police officer kneeling on the neck of an unarmed handcuffed African American man – was not necessary.

That’s the testimony given Wednesday by Sgt. Jody Stiger of the Los Angeles Police Department. Stiger was called to testify as a “national expert in the proper use of force by police,” according to Reuters news service.

“My opinion was that no force was reasonable in that position,” Stiger said. “The pressure … caused by the body weight could cause positional asphyxia and could cause death.”

Former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin is on trial for the May 2020 murder of Floyd while in police custody.

Business: Tax hike compromise at 25 percent?

A compromise between the Biden Administration and major conglomerates could result in a new corporate tax rate of 25 percent, according to Reuters news service.

The rate was at 35 percent until reduced to 21 percent under former President Donald Trump and a Republican Congress. President Joe Biden, with a Democratic Congress, has proposed a 28 percent rate to help finance his infrastructure and investment plans.

Wall Street was split on Wednesday as two major stock indexes rose while the third fell.  The Dow climbed 16.02 points to 33,446.26, while the S&P 500 gained 6.01 to close at 4,079.95. Nasdaq, however, dropped by 9.54 points to 13,688.84.

Sports: Tiger was speeding at time of crash

Pro golf legend Tiger Woods was driving an estimated 84 to 87 miles an hour when his car went out of control and crashed, injuring him severely. That’s the word Wednesday from Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villaneuva at a press conference today (Wednesday).

The accident took place on a winding road in the Rolling Hills Estates on Feb. 23. The primary cause of the crash is listed was “driving at an unsafe speed.”

After going off the road, the vehicle struck a tree at an estimated 75 miles an hour. No citations were issued and no charges have been filed.

• Oakland 4, Dodgers 3 (10 innings): The A’s scored once in the bottom of the ninth and another run in the 10th to earn the come-from behind win. The loss dropped the LA team to 5-2, while Wednesday’s win at home was Oakland’s first of the new season (1-6). The defeat wasted a strong performance as starter by Trevor Bauer, who worked 6.2 innings, yielding just three hits and two runs. He struck out 10 batters and walked just one.  The Dodgers built an early 3-1 lead, but the host team began chipping away. Chris Taylor and Corey Seager had two hits for the visitors. Matt Chapman had two hits for Oakland, including a solo home run in the seventh inning.  The Dodgers have Thursday off, and will have their home 2021 season opener on Friday, hosting the Washington Nationals (1-2). Despite Wednesday’s loss, the Dodgers remain atop the National League West.
• Kings 4, Arizona 3. At Staples Center, the Kings posted a come-from-behind victory over the Coyotes. After falling behind 2-0 early, the Kings rallied with goals by Jaret Anderson-Dolan, Johan Larsson, Adrian Kempe, Jeff Carter and Carl Grundstrom to take the lead. Jonathan Quick had 24 saves in goal. The win improved the Kings’ record to 15-17-6, good for 36 points. The team remains in seventh place in the NHL West. Next up will be a two-game set in San Jose Friday and Saturday.

Weather: More of the same

Some sun, some clouds. Daytime highs in the mid-70s; mid-50s overnight. That’s pretty much the weather story through to the weekend for the West Orange County area. In coastal Huntington Beach, expected the days to be five to seven degrees cooler. A small craft warning remains in effect with winds up to 15 miles an hour.