President Trump sends a letter to the nations Governors

In a letter sent to the Governors of all 50 states, President Trump outlines guidance for the next phase of the war against the hidden enemy. Pay particular attention to the notion of guidelines designating counties as high, medium, or low risk.

In which county do you reside?

Link to Texas COVID-19 dashboard

Link to Florida COVID-19 dashboard

Report: 34 long-term care facilities in Florida have confirmed cases of COVID-19

The Florida Division of Emergency Management reports 1,227 cases of Coronavirus throughout the state with the counties of Miami-Dade, Broward, Palm Beach, Hillsborough and Duval counties representing 60% of all Florida resident cases.

FloridaDisaster.org data through March 23 identifies Miami-Dade County with 265 Florida residents, Broward County with 252 Florida residents, Palm  Beach County with 81 Florida residents, Hillsborough County with 70 Florida residents and Duval County with 46 cases of Coronavirus.

Additional analysis published by the FDEM reveals 34 cases are in residents of long-term care facilities, with 14 cases in Duval County and 13 cases in Broward County.

With data available now down to the city level, the FDEM reports the nine cities and counties with over 30 cases each. They are:

• Miami, Dade 152 

• Missing 59 *

• Hollywood, Broward 58 

• Tampa, Hillsborough 51 

• Fort Lauderdale, Broward 51 

• Jacksonville, Duval 42 

• Orlando, Orange 37 

• Miami Beach, Dade 35 

• Naples, Collier 30 

Death detail is available from the FDEM with 17 deaths through 10:20pm March 23, three in Broward County, two in Clay County, 3 in Duval County, and two in Lee County round out the top ten.

While County Examiner cannot independently confirm their information at this time, on March 23 the Palm Beach Post reported the bulk of the long-term care facilities with the 33 cases are in Jacksonville (Duval County) or Broward County, where two residents of the same nursing home died of COVID-19. 

Did the US Senate really consider a Coronavirus bill yesteday?

Over the past 18 hours have you seen headlines like these? "US Senate fails to pass cloture vote on Coronavirus stimulus bill" and "Senate falls short of votes needed to advance Coronavirus bill" or "Democrats block coronavirus bill that provides lifeline to economy, families"?

Ever wondered why the media outlets typically FAIL to include either the title of the bill, the bill number or a link to the bill number in their "news" pieces?

Because HR 748, the foundational bill the US Senate FAILED to advance to debate yesterday didn't even start out as a Coronavirus Stimulus bill.

HR 748 - The Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019---is the foundation of A bill the U.S. Senate failed to advance yesterday.

The Daily Caller article provided a clue:


The Senate on Sunday night failed to pass a procedural cloture vote on a phase-three coronavirus stimulus bill as there has been continued internal dispute between both parties.

The vote was 47-47. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said Sunday that the bill would include $75 billion for hospitals and that two-thirds of all new money in the bill would go to states, however, this vote will likely end consideration of this bill. McConnell also said, “it’s just about time to take yes for an answer.” Democrats have said the coronavirus bill lacks new SNAP funds and were reportedly pushing for expanded emergency leave provisions and more than three months of unemployment insurance.

Here's the Vote Summary on the U.S. Senate website; note the vote count is 47-47, with six Senators not voting.

Whats the measure number, including bill number and title? 

Measure Number: H.R. 748 (Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act of 2019 ) A bill to amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to repeal the excise tax on high cost employer-sponsored health coverage.

Does HR 748, a bill repealing the excise tax on employer-sponsored health care coverage sound like a Coronavirus Stimulus bill to you?

Not to me it doesn't.

Oh sure, five amendments were added to HR 748 by the U.S. Senate (here).

Two of the five amendments pertaining to the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) look a lot like the action taken by the Federal Reserve this morning here, here, and here. 

But the other three amendments had nothing to do with those $1200 per person direct payments, expanded state unemployment insurance and other measures designed to provide emergency assistance to individuals, families, and businesses affected by the 2020 Chinese Coronavirus pandemic.

So did the US Senate really consider a Coronavirus bill yesterday? 

Trump Administration releases details on suspension of travel to US from Schengen countries of Europe

Last night The Office of the White House Press Secretary released details on the suspension of travel into the United States from certain persons present in the twenty-six countries comprising the Schengen Zone of Europe for public health and national security reasons.

Congress vested this authority to the Executive under specific laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code.

Also note the renaming of the novel (new) coronavirus to SARS-CoV-2.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2020

SUSPENSION OF ENTRY AS IMMIGRANTS AND NONIMMIGRANTS OF CERTAIN ADDITIONAL PERSONS WHO POSE A RISK OF TRANSMITTING 2019 NOVEL CORONAVIRUS - - - - - - - BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA A PROCLAMATION        On January 31, 2020, I issued Proclamation 9984 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus and Other Appropriate Measures To Address This Risk).  I found that the potential for widespread transmission of a novel (new) coronavirus (which has since been renamed "SARS-CoV-2" and causes the disease COVID-19) ("SARS-CoV-2" or "the virus") by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security.  Because the outbreak of the virus was at the time centered in the People's Republic of China, I suspended and limited the entry of all aliens who were physically present within the People's Republic of China, excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, subject to certain exceptions.  On February 29, 2020, in recognition of the sustained person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Islamic Republic of Iran, I issued Proclamation 9992 (Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus), suspending and limiting the entry of all aliens who were physically present within the Islamic Republic of Iran during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States, subject to certain exceptions.      The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a component of the Department of Health and Human Services, has determined that the virus presents a serious public health threat, and CDC continues to take steps to prevent its spread.  But CDC, along with State and local health departments, has limited resources, and the public health system could be overwhelmed if sustained human-to-human transmission of the virus occurred in the United States on a large scale.  Sustained human-to-human transmission has the potential to cause cascading public health, economic, national security, and societal consequences.      The World Health Organization has determined that multiple countries within the Schengen Area are experiencing sustained person-to-person transmission of SARS-CoV-2.  For purposes of this proclamation, the Schengen Area comprises 26 European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.  The Schengen Area currently has the largest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases outside of the People's Republic of China.  As of March 11, 2020, the number of cases in the 26 Schengen Area countries is 17,442, with 711 deaths, and shows high continuous growth in infection rates.  In total, as of March 9, 2020, the Schengen Area has exported 201 COVID-19 cases to 53 countries.  Moreover, the free flow of people between the Schengen Area countries makes the task of managing the spread of the virus difficult.      The United States Government is unable to effectively evaluate and monitor all of the travelers continuing to arrive from the Schengen Area.  The potential for undetected transmission of the virus by infected individuals seeking to enter the United States from the Schengen Area threatens the security of our transportation system and infrastructure and the national security.  Given the importance of protecting persons within the United States from the threat of this harmful communicable disease, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to take action to restrict and suspend the entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States.  The free flow of commerce between the United States and the Schengen Area countries remains an economic priority for the United States, and I remain committed to facilitating trade between our nations.      NOW, THEREFORE, I, DONALD J. TRUMP, President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), and section 301 of title 3, United States Code, hereby find that the unrestricted entry into the United States of persons described in section 1 of this proclamation would, except as provided for in section 2 of this proclamation, be detrimental to the interests of the United States, and that their entry should be subject to certain restrictions, limitations, and exceptions.  I therefore hereby proclaim the following:      Section 1.  Suspension and Limitation on Entry.  The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States is hereby suspended and limited subject to section 2 of this proclamation.      Sec. 2.  Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry.      (a)  Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:           (i)     any lawful permanent resident of the United States;           (ii)    any alien who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;           (iii)   any alien who is the parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21;           (iv)    any alien who is the sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21;           (v)     any alien who is the child, foster child, or ward of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;           (vi)    any alien traveling at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;           (vii)   any alien traveling as a nonimmigrant pursuant to a C-1, D, or C-1/D nonimmigrant visa as a crewmember or any alien otherwise traveling to the United States as air or sea crew;           (viii)  any alien                  (A)  seeking entry into or transiting the United States pursuant to one of the following visas:  A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee's immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 (or seeking to enter as a nonimmigrant in one of those NATO categories); or                (B)  whose travel falls within the scope of section 11 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement;           (ix)    any alien whose entry would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus, as determined by the Secretary of Health and Human Services, through the CDC Director or his designee;           (x)     any alien whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees, based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee;           (xi)    any alien whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees; or           (xii)   members of the U.S. Armed Forces and spouses and children of members of the U.S. Armed Forces.      (b)  Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to affect any individual's eligibility for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the regulations issued pursuant to the legislation implementing the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, consistent with the laws and regulations of the United States.      Sec. 3.  Implementation and Enforcement.  (a)  The Secretary of State shall implement this proclamation as it applies to visas pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of State, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, may establish.  The Secretary of Homeland Security shall implement this proclamation as it applies to the entry of aliens pursuant to such procedures as the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Secretary of State, may establish.      (b)  Consistent with applicable law, the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that any alien subject to this proclamation does not board an aircraft traveling to the United States.      (c)  The Secretary of Homeland Security may establish standards and procedures to ensure the application of this proclamation at and between all United States ports of entry.      (d)  An alien who circumvents the application of this proclamation through fraud, willful misrepresentation of a material fact, or illegal entry shall be a priority for removal by the Department of Homeland Security.      Sec. 4.  Termination.  This proclamation shall remain in effect until terminated by the President.  The Secretary of Health and Human Services shall recommend that the President continue, modify, or terminate this proclamation as described in section 5 of Proclamation 9984, as amended.      Sec. 5.  Effective Date.  This proclamation is effective at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 13, 2020.  This proclamation does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departed prior to 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 13, 2020.      Sec. 6.  Severability.  It is the policy of the United States to enforce this proclamation to the maximum extent possible to advance the national security, public safety, and foreign policy interests of the United States.  Accordingly:      (a)  if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid, the remainder of this proclamation and the application of its provisions to any other persons or circumstances shall not be affected thereby; and      (b)  if any provision of this proclamation, or the application of any provision to any person or circumstance, is held to be invalid because of the lack of certain procedural requirements, the relevant executive branch officials shall implement those procedural requirements to conform with existing law and with any applicable court orders.      Sec. 7.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:           (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or           (ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.      (b)  This proclamation shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.      (c)  This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.      IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fourth.

White House statement on how America will get it done!

Late last night, Wednesday March 11 the Office of the White House Press secretary released the following statement outlining the steps the Trump Administration are taking to respond to the coronavirus and protect the health & safety of the American people.

Office of the Press Secretary FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 11, 2020

PRESIDENT DONALD J. TRUMP HAS TAKEN UNPRECEDENTED STEPS TO RESPOND TO THE CORONAVIRUS AND PROTECT THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF AMERICANS “Together we are putting into policy a plan to prevent, detect, treat and create a vaccine against coronavirus to save lives in America and the world. America will get it done!” – President Donald J. Trump   RESTRICTING TRAVEL FROM IMPACTED AREAS: President Donald J. Trump is taking further action to curb the spread of the coronavirus to the United States from other countries. President Trump is issuing a proclamation under section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) to restrict travel to the United States from foreign nationals who have recently been in certain European countries. Section 212(f) of the INA only applies to the movement of human beings, not goods or cargo. The restriction applies to foreign nationals who have been in the Schengen Area, 26 countries in Europe with open borders agreements, in the last 14 days.    Those who are exempt from these restrictions, such as American citizens, will be directed to a limited number of airports where screening can take place. There is extensive travel back and forth between Europe that heightens the risk here in the United States.  LOOKING OUT FOR AMERICAN BUSINESSES AND WORKERS: President Donald J. Trump is committed to protecting American businesses and workers from the impacts of coronavirus. The President is announcing an economic assistance package to help support businesses and workers who have been harmed by this outbreak.   President Trump has instructed the Small Business Administration (SBA) to exercise available authority to provide loans to businesses affected by the coronavirus. These loans will help overcome disruptions caused by the coronavirus.  The President is calling on Congress to increase funding for this program by an additional $50 billion. The President will be instructing the Department of the Treasury to defer tax payments for certain individuals and businesses negatively impacted by the coronavirus.   This action will provide more than $200 billion of additional liquidity to the economy. President Trump is calling on Congress to immediately pass payroll tax relief.   The President announced that he will soon be taking emergency action to provide financial relief for workers who are ill, quarantined, or caring for others due to the coronavirus. The President also called on Congress to take action to extend this relief for workers. LEADING AN AGGRESSIVE, WHOLE-OF-GOVERNMENT APPROACH: President Trump has taken unprecedented steps to protect the health of Americans in response to the coronavirus. The President is leveraging all of our resources to respond to the coronavirus, bringing together government and private industry in a collaborative response. The Trump Administration declared a public health emergency in January to bolster response efforts. President Trump took early action to help curb the spread of the virus from other countries to the United States, providing important time for response and preparations. In January, President Trump acted quickly to restrict travel from foreign nationals traveling from China. In February, the President restricted travel for individuals recently traveling from Iran. The Administration put into place mandatory screening for all travelers coming into the country from Italy and South Korea. Travel advisories for severely impacted areas like Italy and South Korea have been raised to their highest level. Today, the President directed his Administration to make general-use face masks available to our healthcare workers.  The Administration’s actions will help make millions of general-use respirators available to keep healthcare workers safe and mitigate transmission of the virus. President Trump signed into law more than $8 billion to fund response efforts. The Administration has taken bold steps to incentivize the development of therapeutics and vaccines to treat and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Working across the public and private sectors, the Trump Administration continues to drastically expand testing capacity. More than 1 million tests have been distributed nationwide, with another 4 million tests being shipped out by the end of the week. Testing is now available in every State lab in the country and commercial labs are now deploying tests, which will help generate a dramatic increase in availability. The Trump Administration has released guidance on how to keep businesses, schools, community gathering places, and families safe. From the start, President Trump has made keeping the public informed a top priority. The Administration has announced that health plans with health savings accounts will be able to cover coronavirus testing and treatment without co-payments.

ICE arrests over 100 dangerous criminals in Utah, Nevada and Idaho

More than 100 criminals who posed a threat to public safety, national security and border security were arrested in Utah, Nevada and Idaho during the last week in February, according to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) news release.

Among those arrested was a 31-year old Laotian man who evaded law enforcement authorities for almost 14 years after he  was previously convicted in Utah of attempted homicide:

• A 36-year-old Mexican national who was convicted of larceny;

• A 50-year-old Mexican national who was convicted of domestic violence;

• A 38-year-old El Salvadoran national who was convicted of DUI;

• A 54-year-old Mexican national who was convicted of cruelty toward a child;

• A 42-year-old Mexican national who was convicted of prostitution.

Jason Somchanmavong, 31, an aggravated felon, is now in ICE custody waiting removal to his home country. He was convicted of attempted homicide and discharging a firearm from a vehicle Feb. 13, 2006. 

In addition to Somchanmavong's arrest, Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) officers made more than 110 arrests in Utah, Nevada and Idaho during the last week of February. Recent arrests include:

"We applaud ICE for removing a known dangerous illegal alien from the community and sparing innocent Americans from possible harm," said Maria Espinoza, National Director of The Remembrance Project.

"We would like to see a more expeditious conviction and removal process with future cases prosecuted in these states" Espinoza added.

"There must also be justice for the American taxpayer; Congress must seek to be reimbursed from the Mexican government," she emphasized.

Grand jury returns indictment against two Irving, TX men for assaulting a federal officer

A Laredo, Texas grand jury returned an indictment against two men for their role in assaulting a federal officer, an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) news release dated March 5 revealed.

According to the indictment the incident stemmed from two men who applied for admission into the United States at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo, Texas. 

LAREDO, Texas — Two men from Irving, Texas were charged Thursday for their role in forcibly assaulting a federal officer.

U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick, Southern District of Texas, announced the charges. The case was investigated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) with the assistance of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) Office of Field Operations.

A Laredo grand jury returned the indictment Feb. 25, 2020 against Juan Alfredo Crisencio Martinez, 20, and Jaythan Trevonne Phillips, 20, both from Irving, Texas. Both men went before U.S. District Judge Diana Song Quiroga who charged them with forcible assault.

According to the indictment, the assault took place Feb. 8, 2020. The incident began after they applied for admission into the United States at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in Laredo. A CBP officer allegedly began to conduct an immigration inspection and asked them to exit the vehicle. They refused, according to the allegations.

The charges allege authorities swarmed the lane to apprehend the occupants. At that time, Martinez allegedly reached for the officer’s belt from inside the vehicle. He also opened the driver’s side door in order to prevent a responding officer from assisting, according to the allegations.

Law enforcement allegedly had to physically carry Phillips to the secondary inspection area.

Martinez continued to resist, according to the allegations. Law enforcement allegedly had to deploy a Taser in order to subdue him.

Read the rest here.

US Department of Labor recovers back wages for Texas oilfield services workers

An oilfield services company in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas area has paid $139,165 to 47 employees to resolve violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

From the U.S. Department of Labor new release:

MISSION, TX – After an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division (WHD), Mobile Diesel Services LLC – based in Mission, Texas – has paid $139,165 to 47 employees to resolve violations of the overtime requirements of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA).

WHD investigators found that the employer, which provides diesel mechanic service to oil fields in the area, violated FLSA overtime requirements when it paid straight time to hourly employees, rather than overtime, when they worked over 40 hours in a workweek. The law requires employers to pay overtime at time-and-one-half workers’ regular rates of pay for those hours. Mobile Diesel also violated FLSA recordkeeping requirements.

 “Oil field employees work hard for their money and must be paid all the wages they legally earn,” said Wage and Hour Division District Director Nathan Barrow, in McAllen, Texas. “We encourage employers to contact us with any federal labor law questions and to take advantage of all resources the department makes available to them. Violations like those in this case can be avoided, so that workers receive what they have earned, and that employers compete on a level playing field.” 

You can read the rest here.

BOOM! Secretary Azar tells lawmakers Obama FDA put up roadblocks controlling testing kits

For all the Democrats bellyaching, crying and whining about the availability of coronavirus testing kits, it seems their wrath should be directed to the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) under President Obama and not the Trump Administration. 

Here's what happened yesterday while you were preoccupied with voting, wall-to-wall media coverage of Super Tuesday and Fed Chair Jerome Powell remarks. 

President Trump held a roundtable briefing on coronavirus yesterday at the Vaccine research Center at the National Institutes of health in Bethesda, Maryland.

During that briefing HHS Secretary Azar was asked the following question: 

Mr. Secretary, can you talk about your meeting with lawmakers today and what specifically they’re asking the federal government?  What’s their biggest concern?

Here's his response:

As you know, our excellent teams down at the CDC developed the test really in record time, within t CD- -- at the FDA, under an emergency use authorization in record time.weeks of getting the genetic sequence back in January.  And we approved the diagnostic at CD- -- at the FDA, under an emergency use authorization in record time.

We’ve been able to be testing at CDC throughout, without any backlog in testing.  Our throughput has been great there.  We've had 12 labs qualify to be able to do the testing.  We did suffer a manufacturing issue on that test as it went out to the rest of the public health labs.

We've gotten that issue solved in the last week, so that’s up and running in the public health labs.  We also have gotten this test produced by this contractor to get it out.  So we will, this week, have up to 75,000 tests shipping out there to public health labs, as well as available to hospitals who order it.

And then something really important happened on Saturday morning.  

So one of the biggest issues around testing that people don’t understand is, during the Obama administration, the FDA, for the first time, asserted control and regulatory jurisdiction over what are called "lab developed tests."  

Before that, if a hospital or a lab, like a Quest Diagnostics, a Lab Corps, or an academic medical center would develop a test on their own with reagents and tests, they could just do that if they were a certified clinical lab, called a CLIA lab. 

But under the Obama administration, the FDA asserted jurisdiction and said, "You have to come to us first and get approval of that test before you can do it."  On Saturday morning, Commissioner Hahn issued guidance saying, under an emergency use authorization, we are permitting these labs -- these public health labs, these hospital labs, commercial labs -- to go ahead, get the test going, do your own test, make it available, and come to us for approval after the fact under emergency use authorization.

That will make, as Commissioner Hahn has said, millions of tests per week available quite rapidly. 

I'm beginning to wonder if it's even necessary to hold a Congressional vote on a coronavirus supplemental spending bill. 

Bribery investigation involving alien detainee roster lists results in indictment

County Examiner has frequently wondered how some alien detainees secure legal representation. According to this press release from Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), legal representation was alledged to have occurred through the Raymondville, Texas "friends and family" program.

From the ICE newsroom:

BROWNSVILLE, Texas — A South Texas woman was taken into custody Monday, following an indictment alleging she made a false statement to authorities in a bribery investigation involving alien detainee roster lists.

This announced was made by U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Patrick, Southern District of Texas. This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s (ICE) Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR), ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and the Office of Inspector General (OIG).

On Feb. 18, 2020, a federal grand jury returned an indictment on Cynthia Alanis, 27, from Weslaco, Texas. She as arrested Feb. 24, 2020, without incident.

The charge stems from a bribery investigation involving Benito Barrientes, 42, from Lyford; Exy Adelaida Gomez, 42, from Los Fresnos; and Damian Ortiz, 30, and her brother and McAllen attorney Roel Alanis, 39, both from Weslaco. They were charged with conspiracy to commit bribery and bribery in relation to obtaining alien detainee roster lists.

According to court documents, the indictment against Alanis alleges she falsely stated she did not receive nor know of any alien detainee roster lists given to the Alanis law firm. However, the charges allege she had previously received detainee roster lists and knew of such lists given to the law firm.

Barrientes and Ortiz were employed at the Willacy County Regional Detention Center as a classification clerk and a senior program director, respectively. Gomez was a corrections officer at the El Valle Detention Center. Both facilities are in Raymondville, Texas.

The indictment also alleges Barrientes, Ortiz and Gomez obtained alien detainee roster lists from the El Valle Detention Center and the Port Isabel Detention Center in Los Fresnos while employed in their respective capacities.

The lists were then allegedly provided to Roel Alanis, an attorney with a practice in in the Rio Grande Valley. Roel Alanis then allegedly paid money to the employees in return for receiving the lists which contained names, dates of birth, country of origin and A-numbers of alien detainees. The charges allege Roel Alanis would visit the illegal aliens for the purpose of hiring his law firm as their attorney in immigration proceedings. Alternatively, he would instruct his sister or others to do so, according to the charges.

If convicted, Alanis faces up to five years in federal prison and a possible $250,000 maximum fine.

Barrientes and Ortiz have pleaded guilty and are set for sentencing April 29, 2020.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Oscar Ponce, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted this case. An indictment is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.

Are Florida legislators really on the road to banning "Blazing Saddles"?

Could sharing the "Yeah, but I shoot with this hand" and the "If you shoot him, you'll just make him mad" scenes from Blazing Saddles on social media get you charged with a third degree felony?




If the Florida Legislature passes SB 728 and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signs the bill into law, anyone caught speaking or writing words from scenes in the movie "Blazing Saddles" or "A Christmas Story" could be charged with a third degree felony.

SB 728 would amend Section 790.162 of the Florida Statutes to read:

"Threats involving a firearm, weapon or destructive device--It is unlawful for any person to threaten to throw, project, place, or discharge any destructive device with intent to do bodily harm to any person or with intent to do damage to any property of any person. A person who violates this subsection commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084"

The problem with bills such as SB 728 is the Florida media covering these legislative committee hearings just cant bring themselves to point out to their readers--and to the Legislators--WORDS FROM A MOVIE, including the classic running gag in Ralphie's quest to get a Red Ryder BB gun take us down the path of codifying draconian speech codes into law so a politician can say they did something!--anything!




Sine die is March 13th; one week from this Friday.

Lets hope SB 728 dies a slow death.

Epic FAIL! Orlando Sentinel endorses Buttigieg three days before Pete suspends his campaign for President

If regular folks need yet another reason to distrust and disregard any and all endorsements published by newspaper editorial boards, they have one now. The timing of this one endorsement is just rich--and it occurred three days before the endorsed candidate suspended his Presidential bid.

Three days ago, specifically on February 28, 2020 the Orlando Sentinel editorial board published their endorsement of Pete Buttigieg for President in the Florida Democratic primary. 

"Our endorsement in the Florida Democratic Primary: A fresh start with Pete Buttigieg" was the title of the opinion piece.

Too bad for the Orlando Sentinel editorial board that yesterday, March 1, 2020 and just two days before early voting begins in certain Florida counties in the states' Presidential Preference primary Mayor Pete suspends his 2020 Presidential campaign.

From the Washington Times:

"Pete Buttigieg on Sunday ended his run for the Democratic presidential nomination, bringing an abrupt end to a campaign that took the openly gay former mayor to the top tier of the race."

The Orlando Sentinel editorial board endorsed Buttigieg three days before Pete suspends his campaign for President; it doesn't matter how many votes Mayor Pete gets from Florida Democrats; he won't win the Democratic nomination.

Meaning this endorsement is just an epic fail for the Orlando Sentinel editorial board.

Trump, Pence, coronavirus taskforce to meet with Pharma at 3:00 pm eastern

In advance of President Trump's Keep America Great rally in Charlotte, North Carolina later today the President received his intelligence briefing and is scheduled to meet with Vice President Pence and members of the Coronavirus Task Force and pharmaceutical executives at approximately 3:00 pm Eastern.

Earlier this morning Beatriz Pascual Macías of EFE, a leading Spanish news agency shared this pool report with remarks from President Trump:

Trump mentioned that he is going tonight to North Carolina for a rally. "We are working very hard with the CDC with everybody on a subject that has become a very big subject, our country is doing very well, our professionals are doing really an incredibly job., We are also working with other countries to help them , because they really have a fear of the unknown, we are working very much with a lot of other countries, including Colombia"
 
"Again we are doing very well. Some additional people were reported. We are in good shape but we have additional people that were reported, and not very many in the United States. "
 
"I am also meeting with the pharmaceutical companies, right around this afternoon."
 
"We're talking about a vaccine; maybe a cure is possible. So, we'll see about that. But we're about a vaccine; and they're moving along very quickly, all of the pharmaceutical companies, are moving along very quickly"
 
"We've asked them to accelerate whatever they're doing in terms of a vaccine. Absolutely."