Border security is swaying some Calif. Dems — and could sway control of US Congress
Tribune News Service
The Republican effort to solidify immigration as a decisive issue in the November election promises to influence the rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, and has already intensified the pressure on swing-district Democrats as their party fights to win control of Congress.
Seeking a political advantage, Trump continues to hammer Biden over his administration’s border policies and stoke anti-immigrant sentiment — vowing mass deportations of people residing in the country illegally, dehumanizing them as “animals” and accusing them of “poisoning” communities.
Biden has adopted a stricter tone in recent months as he urges House Republicans to pass a bipartisan border security bill, saying he would shut down the border immediately if given the chance. The bill itself marks the first time most Democrats in Congress have supported immigration legislation without a provision for people to seek legal status.
The same theme is playing out down the ballot, as some Democrats grow more outspoken about their support for stronger border security and harsher immigration policies.
–Los Angeles Times
The Kansas House advanced a bill that would prohibit the use of diversity, equity and inclusion statements in public universities during admissions and when hiring university employees.
Lawmakers voted to advance the measure 81-39 along party lines Thursday. While the legislation does specifically name DEI statements as ideas university hiring managers cannot require prospective hires or students to agree or disagree with, it also forbids universities from requiring candidates to make a statement about “any political ideology or movement.”
A 2022 survey from the American Association of University Professors found that 21.5% of surveyed universities indicated they include such criteria in their tenure standards, and an additional 38.9% are considering adding the statements.
According to some Kansas Republicans, the statements are required by public universities in Kansas during the hiring process, too. Rep. Steven Howe, a Salina Republican, spearheaded the legislation. He told The Kansas City Star Wednesday that the measure would protect academic freedom and freedom of speech on college campuses because it would not require candidates to agree or disagree with any political ideology.
–The Kansas City Star
FRESNO, Calif. — Some Clovis parents say a Christian group is trying to indoctrinate their children during lunchtime, lured to pray and talk about Jesus Christ by being offered free pizza.
Three parents with children attending Reyburn Intermediate and Clovis East High schools said their children were offered free pizza to go to the lecture hall in groups of three to five during their lunch period.
Upon arrival, parents said a representative from the Fellowship of Christian Athletes meets with students. After praying and hearing about Christianity, parents said students then receive their free pizza in yellow boxes.
“I feel that they’re doing wrong,” one parent with a student at Clovis East told The Fresno Bee. “They’re basically luring in kids that are under 18, that are still trying to find themselves and are still trying to explore.”
–The Fresno Bee
The United Nations on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution on artificial intelligence proposed by the United States and co-sponsored by dozens of other countries calling for safe and secure development of the technology.
“This is such an important moment because AI is one of the most consequential technologies of our times and it has extraordinarily broad applications and broad implications for how people will live and work around the world,” a senior administration official told reporters Wednesday ahead of the U.N. action.
The resolution, adopted by consensus from all 193 countries that are part of the U.N., “focuses on how to manage AI risks so that we can seize its benefits,” the official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity.
“It lays out a comprehensive vision for safe, secure and trustworthy AI and emphasizes that human rights and fundamental freedoms must be central as we develop AI. These are the values that will shape how the AI story unfolds around the world.”
–Cq-roll Call