CONGRESS meets in the U.S. Capitol.
A bill to require the Justice Department to publicly release its files on Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender , was passed overwhelmingly on Tuesday by the U.S. House of Representatives. The Senate quickly followed with its pproval.
The House vote was 427 in favor (211 Democrats and 216 Republicans) and one (a Republican) against. Five did not vote.
But support for the bill grew to the point where they both yielded as it appeared that a combination of Democrats and Republicans would have enough support to pass it, so they relented.
Epstein was a wealthy financier with a wide circle of friends and associates who killed himself in jail in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of the sexually abusing the trafficking of underage girls.
Federal court blocks Texas redistricting
The new map of Congressional districts in Texas intended to create five more “Republican-friendly” seats has been blocked by a federal court in the Lone Star State.
TEXAS’ NEW maps for Congressional seats have been struck down (Shutterstock).
The New York Times is reporting that the court – in a 2-1 decision – issued a preliminary injunction that bars the use of the map in the 2026 election.
It is the action by the Texas state legislature to add GOP-leaning districts that prompted Proposition 50 in California – approved overwhelmingly by voters earlier this month – which created five new Democratic-leaning districts.
Judge Jeffrey V. Brown, writing the opinion for the majority, said that “substantial evidence shows that Texas racially gerrymandered the 2025 map.”
The decision was applauded by civil rights groups; Gov. Gregg Abbott said the state would appeal to the Supreme Court and that the maps were redrawn to “better reflect … conservative voting preferences” and “for no other reason.”
“Downsizing” of Ed Department is on?
“Unnamed sources” within the federal Department of Education are saying that the transfer of certain of its duties to other agencies will soon be announced.
According to United Press International, Education Secretary Linda McMahon has said the recently-ended closing of most federal agencies made the point that the department was not necessary.
“Forty-three days of government shutdown, and schools stayed open,” she said. “Students went to class and teachers got paid. Makes you wonder … do we really need [the Education Department] at all?”
Affected by the transfers – reports UPI – will be offices of civil rights, Indian education, elementary and secondary education, postsecondary education and special education.
Weather: Wet, but warming
We’re not out of the woods … that is, the storms … yet. Clouds and rain are expected to be in the coming days for our West Orange County cities. The forecast for Wednesday is for a daytime high of 65 and overnight low of 52 under partly cloudy skies. Rain is expected on Thursday with temps of 62 (52). On Friday, expect morning showers with a daytime high of 64 and an overnight low of 53. We finally break back into the 70s on Saturday with partly cloudy skies and a daytime high of 72; an overnight low of 53.
Great Thoughts
“I saw that you were perfect, and so I loved you. Then I saw that you were not perfect and I loved you even more.”
– Angelita Lim
“Love is that condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.”
– Robert A. Heinlein
“I love you for all that you are. all that you have been and all that you will be.”
– Unknown