PRESIDENT JOE Biden acted to show asylum pressure at the border (Shutterstock).

President Joe Biden on Tuesday signed a presidential order placing major restrictions on would-be immigrants seeking asylum in the United States after traveling from Mexico and parts south.

Biden, citing a Congressional impasse on border reform, said “Republicans have left me no choice,” and acted to close border points of entry when encounters there hit 2,500 per day.

Based on that, the border would be closed immediately.

The restrictions would lifted be two weeks after encounter numbers hit and or declined below 1,500 per day, based on a seven-day average.

Push is on to accept cease-fire

HAMAS vs. Israel (Shutterstock).

The United States is pressing Israel to accept a cease-fire deal that might end – or at least, pause – a bloody conflict between Israeli forces and Hamas militants in Gaza.

Under the proposed plan, Hamas would release the Israeli prisoners it still holds and Israel would withdraw all its forces. However, Hamas has insisted that Israel release as least some of the Palestinian prisoners that it holds.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has been speaking with leaders of over a dozen Arab states in an effort to help Hamas accept the cease-fire terms.

Opening statements in Hunter Biden trial

Hunter Biden’s trial on gun charges started Tuesday with a new juror impaneled. The juror who wished to leave claimed she had transportation “issues” and didn’t realize she would have to be at the trial every day.

Hunter is the son of President Joe Biden. He’s has a history of drug abuse, and pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of possession of a firearm while under the influence of illegal drugs.

The First Lady Jill Biden – attended the trial.

Election 2024: Who’s in the lead?

With the 2024 presidential election about five weeks ahead, who’s leading in the race?

Based on the latest polling, nobody’s really in the lead. One summary of polls publicized by Newsweek has President Joe Biden with a slim 1.1 percentage edge over former president Donald Trump, but 538.com puts Trump ahead of Biden by a margin of 1.4 percent.

However, almost all of that polling was conducted before the announcement that a New York jury had convicted Trump on 34 felony charges of falsifying business documents.

Presidents are not elected by the popular vote but by the Electoral College. The website 270towin.com projects that Trump is leading in enough states to get 235 votes to Biden’s 225. But if Biden can win three key states he won in 2020 – Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania – he would be re-elected.

Weather: It’s the Mid-70s for us

The West Orange County area will continue to enjoy mid-70s daytime highs right into the weekend. The forecast calls for morning clouds on Wednesday morning and afternoon sun. Temps will vary from 75 to 77 during the day and 62 to 63 at night.