IMMIGRATION enforcement has proven to be controversial. The Homeland Security Dept. may be shut down in a budget battle (Shutterstock).

The Department of Homeland Security may be shut down today (Friday) as members of Congress prepare for a 10-day break and negotiations over the conditions of the immigration crackdown.

According to the Associated Press, Democrats are demanding that ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) agents and other federal law officers wear better identification, have a new code of conduct and increase use of judicial warrants.

Controversy over the conduct of HLS, ICE and the Border Patrol has widespread opposition to the crackdown, spurred especially by the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis.

An earlier compromise in Congress provided funding for most of the rest of the federal government, but a “carve-out” was created to separate money for HLS in order to get the overall budget package approved.

Vaccine mandates under new attack?

A new effort is underway to repeal long-standing laws requiring vaccination against childhood diseases such as measles and polio.

VACCINATION policy for children may be changing (Shutterstock).(Shutterstock).

The New York Times is reporting that supporters of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., secretary health and human services have formed a “coalition” to promote a rollback of those vaccination mandates.

Opponents fear that such actions would increase the widespread increase in outbreaks of dangerous and sometimes deadly diseases which have been held in check due to those injections.

“Ultimately, the goal is to remove mandates,” said Kim Mack Rosenberg of the Children’s Health Foundation. “It’s about putting the power back in the hands of the individual,” she said.

In South Carolina, where a vaccination mandate has been lifted, there’s been an outbreak of more than 900 cases of measles with 19 persons hospitalized for complications.

USA hockey starts off with a win

The American ice hockey team began its pursuit of a gold medal in the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy with a 5-1 win over Latvia.

Brock Nelson scored two goals for Team USA, and Connor Hellbuyck had 17 saves on 18 shots. The Americans and Canadians are favorites in the tournament.

As of our deadline, Norway is leading the medal count with 18 total medals, of which eight are golds for first place finishes. Italy, the host nation, is tied with 18 medals, but with six golds.

The United States is in third with 14 metals and four golds. Rounding out the top five are France with 10 medals (four golds) and Germany with 11 (four golds).

Weather: Clouds and then rain

Some true winter weather is on the way for our West Orange County cities. Saturday is expected to have a daytime high of 68 with an overnight low of 49 under partly cloudy skies. Sunday should cool a bit to 66 (53) with cloudy skies. The rain is forecast to move in on Monday with temps of 60 (49). Tuesday should be similar at 61 (47) with more rain.

Great Thoughts (regrets)

“Never regret anything that made you smile.”
– Mark Twain

“Let us prepare our minds as if we’d come to the very end of life. Let us postpone nothing.’
– Seneca

“Better to sleep on things beforehand than lie awake about them afterwards.”
– Baltasar Gracián.