FEDERAL RESERVE CHAIR Jerome Powell (Wikipedia).

An investigation of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell was dropped on Friday by the Justice Department, ending an effort widely criticized as politically motivated. The action sets the stage for the confirmation of a replacement of Powell, according to United Press International.

Attorney General Jeanine Pirro added that the Justice Department has asked the inspector general of the Federal Reserve to investigate cost overruns in remodeling of the Fed’s headquarters building.

Pirro sought to have Powell prosecuted for making allegedly false statements to Congress during testimony on the costs. Critics of Pirro’s actions say that the threats came at the insistence of President Donald Trump, who was angry with Powell for not lowering interest rates.

Kevin Warsh is the new nominee to chair the Fed. He has insisted he will maintain independence from Trump.

Special Forces soldier arrested for bets

In today’s society, you can bet on just about anything, even the likelihood of the outcome of military events.

The New York Times reports that Master Sgt. Gannon Ken Van Dyke, a Special Forces soldier who helped capture Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro, was arrested for betting on the outcomes of the operation and won over $400,000.

Referring to prediction markets before the arrest, President Donald Trump said, “I’ve was never much in favor of it. I don’t like it conceptually. It is what it is. I’m not happy with any of that stuff.”

However, the president’s family owns a prediction market product and the president’s son, Donald Trump, Jr., “has ties to” Polymarket, that federal prosecutors say was used by the soldier for making “well-timed bets,” according to The Times.

Teenage girl killed in crossfire

A 15-year-year-old suspect has been charged in connection with a shooting in Louisiana that took the life of a teenage girl on Thursday. A search is on for another suspect.

According to the Associated Press, the incident took place at the Mall of Louisiana in the capital city of Baton Rouge. Gov. Jeff Landry, at a press conference, blamed the shooting on gang violence and vowed a crackdown.

In addition to the person killed, five others were wounded. The AP reports that the incident was an exchange of gunfire between two groups and not a “random attack.” Some of those hit were innocent bystanders and not part of those in the confrontation.

Three of those wounded were senior students from Ascension Episcopal School, it was revealed in a Facebook post.

Weather: Autumn in Spring

If you’re longing for the chill of October, you will be getting a taste of it this weekend. The forecast for our West Orange County area on Saturday will be for cloudy skies with an afternoon high of 66 with an overnight low of 57. Sunday will be slightly warmer during the day (67) but cooler at night (55) with partly cloudy skies. Things will begin to warm a bit on Monday at 69 (54) with partly cloudy skies. Spring temps return on Tuesday with most cloudy skies and temps of 73 (57).

Great Thoughts

“Keep your eyes wide open before marriage, half shut afterwards.”
– Benjamin Franklin

“If we get married, I want to be very married.”
– Audrey Hepburn

“A happy marriage is the union of two good forgivers.”
– Ruth Bell Graham