THE DEPARTMENT of Educaiton is slated to lose half of its employees (Shutterstock).

The federal Department of Education is cutting half of its staff, as President Donald Trump has vowed to “wind the agency down.”

According to the Associated Press, more than 1,300 of its employees will be laid off, it was announced on Tuesday. With the terminations and previous buyouts and firing of probationary employees, the total number of employees in the Education Department – established in 1979 – is decribed as half of its previous numbers.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon said that reduction in “bloat” would make it possible to direct more money to local education.

The next federal agencies to face downsizing is the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Social Security Administration, reports the AP.

Tariff threat is withdrawn, for now

TARIFFS on Canada, Mexico and China are coming (Shutterstock).

President Trump’s threat to double tariffs on the importation of steel and aluminum products from Canada on Tuesday was withdrawn a few hours later.

The New York Times is reporting that the province of Ontario threatened to slap a surcharge on electricity sold into the U.S., which prompted a threat from Trump to hit back with higher tariffs.

The president said that he would “probably” reduce the tariffs on metals from Canada.

Weather: Rain through Friday

The outlook for our West Orange County area is for more rain toward the weekend. Wednesday should have a daytime high of 60 with an overnight low of 51 with showers. More rain is predicted for Thursday with temps of 58 (43) and a 73 percent chance of the wet stuff. Afternoon showers are forecast for Friday with a 57 percent chance of rain and temps of 55 (46). On Saturday, there’s a warming trend to 65 (47) with partly cloudy skies.

Great Thoughts:

“Have the courage to be wise.”
–Virgil, Roman poet

“The second, sober thought of the people is seldom wrong.”
– Martin Van Buren, 8th president of the United States