A SHUTDOWN of the federal government was avoided (Shutterstock).

A shutdown of the federal government was averted Friday just around midnight.

The Associated Press is reporting that a new plan from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson that would pay for the operation of the national government for three months and disaster relief was approved.

Voting in favor were 366 representatives, with 34 against and 29 not voting. One member voted “present.”

Not included in the bill is President-elect Donald Trump’s request for an increase in the debt limit.

But there was more drama as the Senate had to approve as well and send the bill to President Joe Biden for signing. A few minutes after midnight, it was approved by 85-11 and a shutdown was avoided.

The President was expected to sign the bill on Saturday.

Biden forgives 55,000 student debtors

President Joe Biden will forgive the nearly 55,000 people working in public service their collective $4.28 billion in student debt, the White House announced on Friday.

STUDENT DEBT

Included will be teachers, law enforcement officials and nurses. With that, Biden has forgiven almost 5 million people, according to United Press International.

An attempt by Biden to cancel or forgive student debt for millions of Americans was blocked by the U.S. Supreme Court.

However, another 8 million working in public service may be forgiven their debt under new Department of Education rules approved in February.

Postal worker arrested for theft

An Orange County postal supervisor was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing over 20 checks from the mail and depositing over a quarter of a million dollars into her personal bank accounts.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Joivian Tjuana Hayes, 36, a resident of Compton, is facing a charge of bank fraud in connection with $281,000 taken from the post. She faces a maximum sentence of 30 years in federal prison if convicted.
She worked in a post office in Costa Mesa.

In addition to the stolen checks, she is alleged to have stolen cash and gold coins. U.S agents searched her home and her 2023 BMW.

Weather: Cool and cloudy

As we move toward the Christmas holiday, the West Orange County area can expect cool days and possibly even some light rain. Saturday’s daytime high is expected to be 65 with an overnight low of 50 with mostly cloudy skies. Sunday and Monday will be 65 (52/51) with partly cloudy skies. Tuesday (Christmas Eve) is forecast to dip to 64(49) with a 10 percent chance of rain.

Great Thoughts

“I give the password primeval. I give the sign of democracy. By God, I will accept nothing that all cannot have on equal terms.”
– Walt Whitman, poet