Nation & World Glance
Texas governor signs ban on so-called ‘sanctuary cities’
AUSTIN, Texas — Texas pushed to the forefront of national debate over immigration Sunday night when Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed a so-called “sanctuary cities” ban that lets police ask during routine stops whether someone is in the U.S. legally and threatens sheriffs with jail if they don’t cooperate with federal immigration agents.
The new Texas law was blasted by opponents as the nation’s toughest on immigrants since Arizona’s crackdown in 2010, disparagingly known as the “papers, please” provision. They are now vowing a court challenge in Texas similar to what unfolded in Arizona.
Every major police chief in Texas, which includes some of the largest cities in the U.S., opposed the measure that allows police to inquire about the immigration status of anyone they detain, a situation that can range from arrest for a crime to being stopped for a traffic violation.
Family sues Texas officer, dept. in 15-year-old’s death
DALLAS — The family of a black 15-year-old shot and killed by a white suburban Dallas police officer has sued the officer and his department, accusing the department of inadequately training the officer and ignoring warning signs that he was prone to erratic behavior.
Jordan Edwards’ funeral was Saturday, one week after he was shot dead in a vehicle leaving a house party in Balch Springs, Texas. According to the Edwards family’s lawyers, Officer Roy Oliver fired his rifle at the vehicle as it was driving away, piercing a passenger-side window and striking Edwards.
Oliver was fired last week and arrested on a murder charge.
The lawsuit, filed Friday, says police should have known Oliver had “exhibited a pattern of escalating encounters with the public,” including a prosecutor’s complaint about his aggressive behavior detailed in personnel records.
Trump pushes Senate to act on health care bill
BRANCHBURG, N.J. — President Donald Trump urged Senate Republicans on Sunday to “not let the American people down,” as the contentious debate over overhauling the U.S. health care systems shifts to Congress’ upper chamber, where a vote is potentially weeks, if not months, away.
Some senators have already voiced displeasure with the health care bill that cleared the House last week, with Republicans providing all the “yes” votes in the 217-213 count. They cited concerns about potential higher costs for older people and those with pre-existing conditions, along with cuts to Medicaid.
Sen. Susan Collins of Maine, a moderate Republican whose vote will be critical to getting a bill to Trump’s desk and who voiced similar concerns, said the Senate would not take up the House bill.
Nigeria leader meets Chibok girls, leaves for medical trip
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari expressed joy Sunday night at meeting with the 82 Chibok schoolgirls newly freed from Boko Haram extremists — then jolted the country by announcing he was leaving for London immediately for medical checkups as fears for his health continue.
“We’ve always made it clear that we will do everything in our power to ensure the freedom & safe return of our daughters” and all captives of Boko Haram, Buhari said on his Twitter account.
Minutes later, the 74-year-old president startled Africa’s most populous nation with the news of his departure. Buhari, who has missed three straight weekly Cabinet meetings, spent a month and a half in London on medical leave earlier this year and said he’d never been as sick in his life. The exact nature of his illness remained unclear.
“There is no cause for worry” about this latest medical leave, his office said.
Latest update: Additional lanes of traffic are starting to open at the site of this now year-long project. The week of May 8, there will be isolated lane restrictions in and near the 16th Street and 4th Avenue intersection. Sidewalk work will continue off the roadways. Turn lane work will take place on westbound 16th Street between Maple Avenue and 1st Avenue. Crews will return next month to apply thermoplastic lane striping.
The westbound off- and on-ramps at I-8 and Giss Parkway are closed through mid-June. The Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) will maintain two-way traffic on Giss Parkway and access to businesses in the work zone.
This is part of an ADOT project to improve the interchange area of westbound Interstate 8 and Giss Parkway, and will take approximately seven months to complete. The $1.8 million project will consist of the construction of a two-lane roundabout at the interchange to accommodate commercial trucks and other large vehicles. Work will also improve drainage, intersection lighting, signage and lane striping.
A lane will be closed on 18th Street near its intersection with Arizona Avenue for a 60-day project that requires access to a manhole. Work is to finish by mid-July. Signs will be posted to direct traffic to keep right when traveling in either direction on 18th Street near the area.
A trenching and manhole installation project near Avenue 3E and 40th Street will require the lane closure of Avenue 3E’s northbound lane in the area. The lane closure will be in place for 30 days, now through May 15. Access to businesses in the area will be maintained. The Marine Corps Air Station Yuma main gate will be closed for the duration of the project.
Crews have begun a project to relocate a waterline along 1st Avenue and Madison Avenue, between 24th and 26th streets. Additionally, they will be replacing pavement along 1st Avenue and replacing four sewer manholes in that area. Work is
A project to install a bond wire on 18th Street between 4th and 6th avenues will require a road closure. Work will take a total of one day, and will be scheduled sometime before May 27. During the one-day project, there will be a partial closure of 18th Street. Additionally, 5th Avenue will be closed to through traffic between 17th and 18th Street. Detours include 4th and 6th avenues.
Drivers will not be permitted to use the nearby alleyways that are located between 4th and 5th avenues and between 5th and 6th avenues as a detour.
A partial closure along Magnolia Avenue will be needed for shoulder work along the roadway from 3rd Street to Colorado Street, and then east to 9th Avenue, as crews access a manhole to pull a fiber cable through an existing conduit. Work is to be completed by May 26. Traffic control signs will be posted in the work zones as crews move throughout the area. Additionally, there will be no parking permitted along some sidewalks near the work zone while crews are in the area.
A project to relocate a waterline on Araby Road near its intersection with Interstate 8 is underway with estimated completion in June. Drivers are urged to avoid the area if possible. This work precedes a series of roundabout installations ADOT has planned for this vicinity.
8th Street is closed between Castle Dome and Pacific Avenue. Pacific Avenue is closed to through traffic north of 12th Street, and closed to all traffic north of 8th Street. Roadway, water and sewer work is being done in conjunction with the Pacific Avenue Athletic Complex. Detour by using 12th Street between Pacific and Castle Dome Avenue. The project is anticipated to be complete in late summer.
Work is underway on the bridge on U.S. Highway 95 spanning Fortuna Wash northeast of Yuma and is expected to be completed by next winter. The bridge is going in at milepost 34, approximately 12 miles northeast of Yuma and 10 miles south of the turnoff (Imperial Dam Road) to Yuma Proving Ground. Crews are scheduled to work weekdays between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. Motorists should allow extra travel time as lane restrictions will be in place and flaggers will occasionally need to alternate traffic through the work zone.
Caltrans crews continue to work on the reconstruction of Interstate 8 in Imperial County, west of Yuma. Beginning Monday, Caltrans will close westbound Interstate 8 ramps at Algodones Road/State Route 186 (SR-186) due to ongoing construction. Signs will be in place to alert motorists to the ramp closures and alternate routes. The closures and detours will be in place through August. Crews continue work on I-8 from SR-111 to the California/Arizona border in Imperial County. Lane closures and traffic closures along I-8 may cause delays.
The last portion of the spring slurry seal project will require a complete closure of 24th Street and Avenue B’s intersection for one day only, on Saturday. No through traffic will be permitted. Crews will apply the slurry seal mixture between the hours of 4 a.m. and noon and should finish by the same evening. Drivers will be asked to detour using nearby roadways while the project is underway. Drivers may use avenues A and C, as alternative routes to Avenue B, to get to and from the north and south ends of town. Traffic traveling eastbound in the intersection’s area may detour using 31st Avenue, following the detour signs to be put in place. Westbound traffic may detour through 21st and/or 22nd drives. City crews will post road signs prior to the project’s initiation. Access to local businesses will be maintained through alternative routes.
Asphalt maintenance crews will conduct operations Monday through Friday in various locations as needed: • Trail Estates (crack seal) • Desert Groves (crack seal) • Vista Del Sol (grinding) • Rio Colorado Estates (grinding)