GERRYMANDERING is spreading (Shutterstock).

Texas and California are already in it. Illinois may join and now Missouri could be the latest state to “gerrymander” – redraw legislative district boundaries for partisan advantages– in the rising struggle for control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

The Associated Press is reporting that Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe will call his state’s lawmakers into a special session to redraw the Show Me State’s districts.

At present, Republicans hold a narrow edge in the U.S House. With mid-term elections coming up in 2026, President Donald Trump asked Texas to redraw its House districts to potentially gain five more seats for the GOP.

However, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has led the Golden State to consider a ballot measure that could potentially add 10 seats to the Democratic column.

Missouri has eight representatives in Congress: six Republicans and two Democrats. Illinois has 17: 14 Democrats and three Republicans.

Judge rules some tariffs illegal

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit on Friday affirmed a lower court’s finding that many of the tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on goods imported into the U.S. exceeded his authority, reports The New York Times.

The issue may be ultimately decided by the U.S. Supreme Court, which has recently been receptive to an expansive view of presidential authority.
The effect of the rulings is delayed until October giving the White House an opportunity to appeal to the high court. In the meantime, the tariffs remain in effect.

All-gender bathrooms against the law?

All-gender bathrooms in Denver Public Schools violate federal laws against sex discrimination, the U.S. Department of Education has ruled.

United Press International is reporting that changing a second-floor girls -only bathroom at East High School into an all-gender bathroom was against Title IX of a 1972 federal civil rights act.

The school’s response to convert a boys-only facility into a gender -neutral facility was inadequate because it created a “hostile environment for students by endangering their safety, privacy and dignity,” stated the DOE.

Weather: Summer getting hot

If you thought that 88 was hot, wait until Monday in our Orange County cities when the the daytime high is predicted to hit 91. The forecast for Saturday is for a daytime high of 87 and an overnight low of 67. Sunday is similar at 87 (68) but partly cloudy. The hot stuff is on Monday at 91 (71) with sunny skies and Tuesday at 91 (72) and mostly sunny skies.

Great Thoughts

“Humans were so stupid. They had something so precious, and they barely safeguarded it at all. They threw away their lives for money, for packets of powder, for a stranger’s charming smile.”
– Cassandra Clare, author

“We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.”
– John F. Kennedy, president

“This is is to be mortal, and seek the things beyond mortality.”
– Lord Byron, author