Nation & World Glance
Migrants moving again in Guatemala, Trump targets Democrats
CHIQUIMULA, Guatemala — More than 2,000 Honduran migrants traveling en masse through Guatemala resumed their journey toward the United States on Wednesday as U.S. President Donald Trump sought to turn the caravan into a political issue three weeks before midterm elections.
A day after warning Central American governments they risk losing U.S. aid if they don’t do something and saying that anyone entering the U.S. illegally would be arrested and deported, Trump turned his sights on Democrats and urged Republican allies to campaign on border security.
“Hard to believe that with thousands of people from South of the Border, walking unimpeded toward our country in the form of large Caravans, that the Democrats won’t approve legislation that will allow laws for the protection of our country. Great Midterm issue for Republicans!” Trump said in a Wednesday morning tweet.
“Republicans must make the horrendous, weak and outdated immigration laws, and the Border, a part of the Midterms!” he continued.
In Guatemala, the migrants rose early and many left without eating breakfast, bound for Zacapa, the next city on their route. Overcast skies and a light drizzle took the edge off the sweltering heat and humidity, making the trek more bearable.
Police officer lectures black 11-year-old carrying BB gun
A police officer in Columbus, Ohio, instructed an 11-year-old caught Saturday with a BB gun to remember one name: Tyre King.
The 13-year-old King was killed in 2016 when another police officer responding to reports of an armed robbery saw him pull what appeared to be a gun from his waistband. By the time officers determined the object was a BB gun, it was too late.
When Officer Peter Casuccio stepped out of his patrol car to confront an 11-year-old on Saturday, his own weapon was drawn. Like King, the youngster pulled the gun from his waistband before dropping it onto the sidewalk. Casuccio said he knew it was a BB gun only when it broke into pieces on impact.
“You could’ve been gone,” Casuccio told the youngster in front of his family members. “Everything you wanted to do in this life could’ve been over in less than three seconds.”
Casuccio was patrolling the neighborhood when he heard a report of two young black males flashing a gun. Body camera video shows Casuccio telling the youths, ages 11 and 13, “this is getting kids killed all over the country.”
California zoo euthanizes beloved 47-year-old elephant
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — A California zoo had to euthanize one of its most beloved and oldest residents, a 47-year-old Asian elephant named Sujatha, officials said Wednesday.
Sujatha was euthanized in her enclosure on Tuesday surrounded by her caretakers at the Santa Barbara Zoo.
CEO Rich Block said in a video posted on Twitter that Sujatha’s death “is perhaps the most difficult moment” in his 20 years at the facility.
“And I know for the people that care for the elephants this may be the toughest moment in their entire career,” Block said. “There is no way to describe the sadness that is felt.”
Sujatha had been in declining health for the past few years but was able to live comfortably with treatment, Block said. Her wellbeing declined precipitously in the past couple weeks and she stopped responding to treatment, he said.
Sujatha and her female companion, Little Mac, arrived at the zoo from India in 1972, when they were just 1½ years old, and they’ve lived together ever since.
After Sujatha was euthanized, zoo officials say they allowed Little Mac to visit her in hopes of helping the grieving process.