A U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer walks through an apartment complex while searching for a fugitive search in Huntington Park (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

n a potential escalation of the conflict between the federal government’s immigration crackdown and those — state and local governments and ordinary residents º who feel the U.S Justice Department has gone too far, an investigation has reportedly begun into whether Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey have interfered with federal authorities.

The Associated Press is reporting that Walz and Frey called the investigation a “bullying tactic” intended to intimidate political opposition.

The investigation comes in the wake of a major push in the Twin Cities that’s resulted in the arrest of over 2,500 people.

Confrontations between immigration agents and the public were heightened with the fatal shooting of protestor Renee Good on Jan. 7.

Trump threatens more tariffs over Greenland

Punitive tariffs may be levied against nations that oppose President Donald Trump’s plan to take over Greenland.

DONALD TRUMP, 47th president (Gage Skidmore/Flickr).

According to United Press International, Trump made the threat in comparison to how he handled nations which paid different prices for prescription drugs.

“I may do that for Greenland on countries if they don’t go along with Greenland because we need Greenland for national security,” he said.

Greenland is under the jurisdiction of Denmark, a member of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. A military move by the U.S. into Greenland might bringAmerica into a conflict with Denmark, France, Germany and other NATO nations.

Restaurant chains on a diet

Several national restaurant chains with big footprints in California are planning on closing dozens of their eateries in 2025-26.

According to USA Today, the cutbacks are:
• Wendy’s expected to shutter as many as 240 to 360 stores out of its 6,000 locations.
• Red Robin planned to close 70 “underperforming” restaurants but now expected to make more modest cuts.
• Starbucks closed over 400 locations across the U.S. in the fall of 2025, but more widespread cutbacks are not expected.

Weather:Warm, then cooling trend

The summer-y conditions in our West Orange County cities will peak on Saturday with a daytime high of 84 and an overnight low of 53. Skies will be partly cloudy. Sunday will start a cooling trend with temps of 81 (50) and partly cloudy skies. Monday looks like 77 (51) and partly cloudy, followed by 74 (51) and mostly sunny on Tuesday.

Great Thoughts

“The problem with being tall is that people keep finding you.”
– Zelda French

“It was absolutely not fair that men grew to be taller than women.”
– Roseanna White

“As we grow older, our bodies get shorter and our anecdotes longer.”
– Robert Quillen.