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TexasTowelie

TexasTowelie's Journal
TexasTowelie's Journal
June 30, 2022

144 Ukrainian soldiers released by Russian separatists - DW News



144 soldiers have been released by Ukraine and Russia respectively. The Ukrainian soldiers included 95 from the Azov regiment that defended Mariupol's steel factory. The head of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic -- which is backed by Russia -- said it had secured the release of the same number, including soldiers from the Russian army.
June 30, 2022

Cluster weapons being used in Russia-Ukraine war, evidence shows - BBC News



A BBC investigation has gathered evidence of the repeated use of cluster munitions in the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine.

These weapons, rockets or missiles - which deploy a large number of small explosives - are banned by more than 100 countries because of the harm they cause civilians.

But neither Russia nor Ukraine have signed up to the international treaty prohibiting them.
June 30, 2022

Why Turkey Suddenly Approved Finland & Sweden Joining NATO - TLDR News



On Tuesday Turkey, Sweden & Finland signed an agreement which sees Turkey revoke their veto on their NATO membership. So in this video we run through what the 3 countries agreed to, and why President Erdogan suddenly changed his mind on the Nordic nations.
June 30, 2022

Frontline Ukrainian city Mykolaiv comes under Russian fire again - FRANCE 24



The southern city of Mykolaiv has found itself on the front line of the fight for almost all of the war thus far, with nearby Kherson occupied by Russia. The uptick in strikes have added another element to deal with for a city that has known little but tension for months. FRANCE 24’s reporters Luke Shrago, Taline Oundjian and Achraf Abid went to Mykolaiv to find out just how its residents - and defenders - were coping.
June 30, 2022

Will Scotland be denied a second independence referendum? - DW News



On Tuesday Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced plans for a referendum on independence from the United Kingdom, to be held in October next year. That's less than a decade since Scots rejected independence in a referendum in 2014.
June 30, 2022

See Melania Trump text message that left former Trump press secretary 'sickened' - CNN



Former Trump White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham discusses a text exchange between her and former first lady Melania Trump asking to release a statement condemning any violence on January 6. The former first lady replied "No." Grisham shares more on New Day about how she felt about the conversation.
June 30, 2022

Former GOP lawmaker reacts to Sean Hannity bashing latest Jan. 6 hearing - CNN



Former GOP congressman Joe Walsh reacts to Fox host Sean Hannity's criticism of the recent January 6th hearing.
June 30, 2022

Growing concerns over Chinese project near U.S. military base - CNBC Television



CNBC's Eamon Javers reports on security concerns over a Chinese company buying land to build what it claims is a corn milling plant near a U.S. Air Force base.
June 30, 2022

As they target South Texas, Republicans say one Democratic county isn't maintaining campaign finance

As they target South Texas, Republicans say one Democratic county isn’t maintaining campaign finance records

by Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune


All eyes are on South Texas this election season as Texas Republicans try to make new inroads there. The increased attention has spotlighted a concerning campaign issue, according to one GOP group: a lack of publicly available campaign finance reports in Starr County documenting donations and spending for its local elections.

Under state law, counties are required to maintain such reports for candidates for local office, including races for county judge, county commissioner and justice of the peace. But that is apparently not happening in Starr, one of the four counties that make up the Rio Grande Valley, according to a recently filed ethics complaint from a GOP group.

The group, Project Red TX, is working to unseat the Democratic county judge, Eloy Vera, and has filed public records requests seeking his latest campaign finance reports. However, the county has said in response to the group that it does “not currently retain” the reports.

The county did not respond to a request for comment, but Project Red TX provided documentation of its correspondence to The Texas Tribune.

The situation raises a host of questions, including whether candidates are filing reports at all and whether the county ever maintained the reports to begin with. Vera did not respond to multiple messages seeking comment.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/28/starr-county-campaign-finance-reports/
June 30, 2022

Texas will increase checkpoints for trucks crossing from Mexico after migrant smuggling deaths

by Patrick Svitek, Texas Tribune


Gov. Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that Texas will add new checkpoints for trucks entering the state from Mexico after after over 50 migrants died in connection with an abandoned tractor-trailer found in San Antonio.

The Department of Public Safety “will create and implement a checkpoint strategy beginning immediately where they will begin targeting trucks like the one that was used where these people perished,” Abbott said during a news conference in Eagle Pass.

DPS directer Steve McCraw suggested the checkpoints would be along "smuggling corridors" that connect ports of entry from Mexico to major Texas cities like San Antonio and Houston. Abbott declined to say where exactly the additional checkpoints will be, saying the state wanted to “surprise the cartels and the smugglers.”

Additional details were unclear, including how different the new checkpoints would be from the expanded commercial vehicle inspections that Abbott ordered in April, snarling trade for days along the border and costing the state $4.2 billion by one estimate. He eventually ended that policy as Mexican governors made commitments to better secure their side of the border.

Read more: https://www.texastribune.org/2022/06/29/greg-abbott-texas-migrant-deaths-checkpoints/

Profile Information

Gender: Male
Hometown: South Texas. most of my life I lived in Austin and Dallas
Home country: United States
Current location: Bryan, Texas
Member since: Sun Aug 14, 2011, 03:57 AM
Number of posts: 112,451

About TexasTowelie

Retired/disabled middle-aged white guy who believes in justice and equality for all. Math and computer analyst with additional 21st century jack-of-all-trades skills. I'm a stud, not a dud!
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