Kathy Dotson, Lieutenant Governor for District 10, recently shared her thoughts on the Midland Kiwanis Club’s numerous accomplishments over the past year.
During the event, she also had the honor of officiating the installation of the club’s officers for the 2025-26 term.
Her remarks highlighted the dedication and impact of the club’s members, celebrating their commitment to community service and positive change.
https://www.ourmidland.com/news/article/midland-kiwanis-2025-officers-21120912.php
**Muir Woods Reopens Temporarily During Government Shutdown Thanks to Private Donations**
MARIN COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) — While the ongoing government shutdown has forced the closure of many Bay Area attractions, visitors to the North Bay are pleasantly surprised to find Muir Woods National Monument temporarily reopened — all thanks to private donations.
Nature guides have returned to the ancient Redwood groves, sharing the wonders of Muir Woods with eager visitors. Volunteer John Maclennan expressed his enthusiasm: “It feels great, I’m glad people have heard about the opening and they came back.”
After being closed for most of October due to the government shutdown, the National Monument’s gates have reopened to the public. Laila Mohamed, visiting from Raleigh, North Carolina, shared her excitement:
“Oh, I love it. I was tripping all over my feet looking up — they’re so tall.”
Mohamed added that she had not expected to visit the iconic trees during her trip. “I’m really grateful. My mom went on a tour earlier this week, but they weren’t able to come in because it was closed. I fully expected we weren’t going, but then they said Muir Woods is open. I was so happy!”
The Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy revealed that a group of park concessionaires and vendors raised enough funds to keep Muir Woods open with free admission through October 31.
Jerry Evola of *A Taste of San Francisco* tours noted, “This is the largest tour that we do as far as the numbers,” as he shuttled visitors into the redwood grove once again. He emphasized the importance of keeping parks open:
“If you have the opportunity to give people pleasure, education is always better than shutting something down.”
It’s not just Muir Woods that’s operating. Alcatraz tours continue to run during the shutdown thanks to a donation from the ferry operator, Hornblower Cruises. Leah Chopan from Dallas recounted her visit: “I went yesterday to Alcatraz, I even met a former inmate, Baker.”
Although about 80% of America’s 430 National Park sites remain open in some capacity, most are operating with minimal staff. Concerns about activities such as BASE jumping and illegal camping have led former park officials to call for full closures until the shutdown ends.
In a statement, the Coalition to Protect America’s National Parks said:
“Keeping parks open without adequate staff is in violation of the National Park Service’s founding mission and inconsistent with the laws passed by Congress. We recognize that closing parks is not an easy decision but it’s the responsible one.”
For now, at Muir Woods and Alcatraz, most rangers and volunteers remain on duty and are glad to be there. As Maclennan put it, “It’s all about the trees in here, not the birds, not animals — it’s about the trees.”
https://abc7news.com/post/muir-woods-marin-county-reopens-1-week-thanks-private-donations-during-government-shutdown/18068124/
As the federal shutdown approaches the one-month mark, there’s still no end in sight. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) continues to stand firm on the House-passed continuing resolution, while the Senate adjourned for the weekend on Thursday without scheduling another vote. Even if a deal seems possible next week, it likely won’t come in time to keep several government-funded benefit programs running without interruption. As November 1 approaches, millions of Americans may begin feeling the impact.
### The Big Day: November 1
The USDA has warned that two critical programs—the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) and the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)—could run out of federal funding by November 1.
WIC served more than 6.8 million families during fiscal year 2024. To help keep it afloat during the shutdown, the Trump administration has temporarily redirected $300 million in unspent tariff revenue to cover WIC expenses.
SNAP, which supports roughly 42 million people, does not currently have alternative funding sources sufficient to maintain benefits. At least 25 states plan to pause SNAP payments entirely next month, which will severely affect recipients’ ability to put food on the table.
Recipients are being advised to prioritize purchasing shelf-stable foods with existing funds or to visit food banks to help avoid hunger. Unfortunately, food banks are already feeling the strain from increased demand, with some reporting they are running low on supplies.
### Impact on Head Start Programs
Head Start, a federally funded program offering preschool and daycare services for children under kindergarten age, is also suffering. When the shutdown began, six Head Start locations—serving 6,525 children across three states—did not receive their funding.
By November 1, this number is expected to rise to 140 programs across 41 states and Puerto Rico. An estimated 65,152 young children will have to stay home. This situation may also force at least one parent to stay home, leading to reduced household income and potentially lost jobs.
### The Shutdown Time Crunch
The Senate is scheduled to reconvene on Monday, October 27—just three days before the November 1 deadline. The House will return on Tuesday, October 28. Even if a deal is hammered out quickly, restarting government functions that have already shut down will take time. Bureaucratic processes do not resume instantly, so service interruptions are likely to occur, even in the best-case scenario.
However, a brief interruption would be preferable to the alternative—an extended shutdown with ongoing consequences.
### Looming Challenges in November and Beyond
November also marks the start of open enrollment for Obamacare insurance plans. If pandemic-era subsidies are not renewed by December 31, they will expire, causing health insurance premiums to spike dramatically. Some estimates suggest premiums could double or even triple in certain cases, with new prices going into effect on November 1.
According to Art Caplan of the NYU Grossman School of Medicine, this will be the largest premium increase since the Affordable Care Act (ACA) took effect. The Congressional Budget Office estimates that as many as four million Americans may drop their health insurance because of the hike.
This looming crisis is why Democratic leadership in the Senate insists on reopening the government only with an ACA subsidy extension included. Yet, some Democrats, such as Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, who has frequently sided with Republicans to pass the House GOP’s continuing resolution, are urging a different approach.
“I don’t care about who’s winning, who’s losing, who’s going to blink,” Fetterman said to reporters on Thursday, October 23. “America loses. Just open up the whole thing and cut the s—t.”
### What Lies Ahead?
Congress will ultimately approve government funding—whether through a stopgap continuing resolution or full-year appropriations. The only remaining questions are when that will happen and how much collateral damage will be incurred along the way.
With crucial programs under threat and millions of Americans potentially impacted, the need for swift action has never been clearer.
https://www.libertynation.com/as-the-shutdown-drags-on-social-safety-nets-will-fail/
**IT’S OFFICIAL: Former Senator John E. Sununu Joins GOP Senate Primary Race**
Former Senator John E. Sununu has officially entered the GOP Senate primary race.
Sununu’s announcement of his candidacy earlier this week comes after a month of speculation and buzz within the New Hampshire political world.
This development significantly changes the landscape for Republicans in the upcoming race.
https://www.unionleader.com/opinion/columnists/patrick-hynes-sununu-for-senate/article_b8aee05b-f4f1-4e06-adca-e908d045a503.html
**Federal Workers in South Florida Struggle Amid Ongoing Government Shutdown**
*FORT LAUDERDALE, FLA. (WSVN)* — Federal workers across South Florida are facing financial hardships and growing disheartenment as the federal government shutdown continues, caught in the crossfire of a political battle.
At Miami International Airport on Friday, several Transportation Security Administration (TSA) agents were seen picking up food distributed by Feeding South Florida. With no end to the shutdown in sight, these federal workers are navigating tough times.
“It does help, especially for us that have kids at home and stuff, so it helps,” said one TSA worker. Another added, “I’m grateful for all the things that we are receiving today.” A third TSA agent commented, “It’s very nice of them, because we could use it.”
Friday marked the first payday federal employees have gone without their paychecks since the government shutdown began. Republican and Democratic lawmakers failed to pass a spending bill to keep the government open past October 1st. Currently, about 1.4 million federal workers are either on unpaid leave or working without pay.
Caught in the middle of the political stalemate, many federal workers are left trying to manage their finances amid uncertainty.
“So now you have to pick and choose, what can I pay now, what can I postpone, can I call the creditors to see if they’ll work with me,” said a 10-year federal employee who wished to remain anonymous. Having previously served in the military, including deployment to Afghanistan, she expressed deep frustration.
“It’s disheartening ’cause I’ve served with, you know, my country and I chose to do it again. On this side, it’s almost like a slap in the face,” she said.
Retired TSA instructor Harry Herring told 7News the financial stress caused by the shutdown adds to an already stressful job for TSA employees.
“Rent, car loans, car insurance, all those expenses that have to be taken care of, it’s not gonna be taken care of,” said Herring. “That causes what I call ‘interference with my ability to do my duty.’”
Shaunellia Ferguson, who represents nearly 700 Social Security Administration workers for the American Federation of Government Employees in eastern Florida, said her members continue to work despite the hardship.
“We are human beings too. We don’t make a lot of money, we’re not wasteful, we’re not parasites the way they’re calling us, we’re not,” said Ferguson. “Especially now without getting paid, you’re still doing it, you’re still hearing all the concerns and you’re sitting there wondering ‘How is my rent gonna be paid?’ or ‘How am I gonna cover child care?’ We have feelings just like everyone else and we work and we are here to serve you, the American public.”
Organizations like Feeding South Florida have been working tirelessly to support federal workers throughout the country. However, Ferguson emphasized that what federal employees truly want is for politicians to come together and find a solution.
US Inflation Ticks Up to 3% in September, Paving the Way for Federal Reserve Rate Cuts
US inflation edged up in September to 3%, a slightly lower-than-expected figure that clears the path for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates at its policy meeting next week.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 3% over the past 12 months ending September. This marks the fastest inflation rate since the start of the year and a small rise from August’s 2.9%. Despite this increase, economists polled by Bloomberg had anticipated a slightly higher year-over-year inflation rate of 3.1%.
On a monthly basis, the CPI rose by 0.3%. Core inflation, which excludes the more volatile food and energy prices, also grew by 3% over the last 12 months. This was a slight decline from the previous month’s 3.1%, while economists expected it to remain steady at 3.1%.
The release of September’s CPI report was delayed by more than a week due to the ongoing federal government shutdown, now the second-longest in US history at 23 days with no clear end in sight. The report, originally scheduled for October 15, finally provided insight into inflation trends amid significant economic uncertainty.
“Inflation coming in weaker-than-expected further solidifies a continuation of the Federal Reserve’s rate cutting cycle, at least for the next two meetings,” said Skyler Weinand, Chief Investment Officer at Regan Capital. He added, “Once the government reopens and if we start to see weak unemployment data and the unemployment rate rises precipitously towards 5%, we could expect either a 50 basis point cut for December or the Fed to communicate a string of cuts in 2026.”
Wall Street welcomed the data with cautious optimism. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose by 66 points, or 0.1%, in premarket trading. However, concerns remain about the accuracy of the consumer inflation report, given the disruption caused by the government shutdown.
The Federal Reserve is widely expected to cut interest rates at its policy meeting next Wednesday, following its first quarter-point reduction since December, which was implemented last month. However, there remains some disagreement among Fed officials on the pace of easing. For instance, Fed Governor Stephen Muir, recently appointed by President Trump, has advocated for a half-point cut, while others, including Christopher Waller, favor a more gradual quarter-point reduction.
Economists are also monitoring any indications that President Trump’s tariffs are beginning to impact consumer prices. As inflation and economic signals evolve, all eyes will remain on the Fed’s upcoming decision and the broader effects of ongoing fiscal policies.
https://nypost.com/2025/10/24/business/us-inflation-rises-to-3-in-september-paving-way-for-fed-to-cut-rates-next-week/
Democrats in the Virginia legislature will reconvene next week to consider redrawing the state’s congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms, House of Delegates Speaker Don Scott announced Thursday.
The initiative has the full backing of Minority Leader Congressman Hakeem Jeffries, who has been pushing blue states to redraw maps in response to red states’ redistricting efforts.
In a letter to lawmakers on Thursday, Speaker Scott notified them that they will need to return to Richmond for a special session beginning Monday afternoon. During this session, Democrats are expected to introduce a bill that would allow them to redraw Virginia’s congressional maps. The House of Delegates is the lower chamber of Virginia’s bicameral General Assembly.
Scott’s decision to call the special session was first reported by Virginia Scope.
If Democrats move forward with the plan, they would likely target two or three congressional seats currently held by Republicans. For instance, Congresswoman Jen Kiggans, who narrowly won re-election last year, could see her district redrawn to include the more Democratic parts of Norfolk and its surrounding suburbs.
Similarly, Congressman John McGuire, who currently represents Charlottesville and the more rural southern part of Virginia, might have his district reshaped to include more of Richmond. Congressman Rob Wittman may also see his district shift leftward if Democrats redraw it to incorporate parts of Richmond or Fredericksburg.
Prior to Speaker Scott’s special session announcement, the majority leader of the state Senate, Scott Surovell, confirmed to the New York Times that the legislature would be returning to “address” the redistricting issue.
The process Democrats are pursuing in Virginia mirrors similar efforts in other states, such as California. Over the summer, Governor Gavin Newsom asked California’s legislature to disempower the state’s non-partisan redistricting commission, enabling lawmakers to set up a statewide ballot initiative scheduled for this November. If approved by voters — which polling indicates is likely — Democrats there would regain control over redistricting and could gain five congressional seats.
Virginia’s redistricting requirements are slightly different but comparable. Two sessions of the state legislature must independently approve legislation to suspend the state’s redistricting commission. Speaker Scott, Senator Surovell, and other Democratic leaders would need to pass one bill in the upcoming special session, and then another after the new legislative session begins in January.
While the state Senate’s next election isn’t until 2027, Virginians will vote for new members of the House of Delegates next month. Democrats are expected to pick up seats in the chamber and flip the governor’s mansion from red to blue.
After the legislature approves suspending the redistricting commission in two separate sessions, voters must approve the move via a statewide ballot initiative.
National Democrats have been actively seeking blue states where they can redraw congressional maps ahead of the 2026 midterms. Maryland Governor Wes Moore has indicated he may collaborate with legislators to eliminate his state’s lone Republican district.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul also expressed readiness to “go to war” with the GOP over redistricting, though such efforts there won’t be possible until at least 2027. Colorado and New Jersey are other states Democrats believe could redraw maps either by next year or in time for the 2028 elections.
On Thursday, Congressman Jeffries confirmed his support for Illinois Democrats’ efforts to redraw their maps. However, redistricting in Illinois has faced concerns among Black lawmakers seeking to protect majority-minority districts. Jeffries assured reporters that those districts would be safeguarded.
Earlier this week, Punchbowl News reported that Jeffries is slated to headline a fundraiser in Ohio, where Republicans may redraw their congressional maps. He told reporters on Thursday that he supports ballot initiatives in Missouri and Ohio aimed at blocking gerrymandered maps from being used in the 2026 elections.
As redistricting battles continue to unfold across the country, Democrats are focused on leveraging legal and legislative avenues to create more favorable electoral districts ahead of upcoming midterms.
https://www.nysun.com/article/virginia-democrats-call-legislature-into-special-session-to-redraw-congressional-maps
Though we needed no reminders, the latest outrages out of Washington have proven that would-be dictators and their empowered henchmen will seek to shut down free speech and hide their misdeeds whenever they can.
Fortunately, in Connecticut, government by and for the people has remained much healthier. This is thanks to heroes ensuring that our state and municipal meetings, records, and officials remain open and accessible, and that the freedom to speak—to critique and criticize—remains robust.
I am on the board of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government, which for more than three decades has sought to educate the public about the vital need for freedom of information. As part of that effort, we honor its champions. We are journalists, lawyers, professors, state and local officials, and others dedicated to the notion, as Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis famously asserted, that “If the broad light of day could be let in upon men’s actions, it would purify them as the sun disinfects.”
We know—and we want the public to know—that open government benefits liberals and conservatives, Democrats and Republicans, and everyone in between. All parties and people should be able to see what their public officials are doing and both take part in decisions or comment on them. If they could, they would understand government better and stop believing the wild conspiracy theories, myths, and misinformation that bad actors peddle.
Open, transparent, accessible government is bipartisan—call it what you will. It is for everyone. It protects everyone.
Sadly and dangerously, President Trump doesn’t agree.
In just the last month, he’s had his FCC chairman threaten TV networks unless they stifle Jimmy Kimmel and other critics. His Attorney General has threatened to prosecute people for “hate” speech. His Vice President has encouraged people to report critiques of Charlie Kirk and other matters to their employers, hoping those uttering criticism will be fired.
Meanwhile, Congressional Republicans and the Justice Department refuse to release the Epstein files. The FBI refuses to release the tape of immigration czar Tom Homan allegedly accepting cash in a paper bag from those seeking border security contracts. The administration refuses to produce documents, tapes, or other evidence that the Venezuelan boats it has blown out of the water were actually smuggling drugs.
Information is not free in this administration. Government is not transparent.
But here in Connecticut, the Freedom of Information Act is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
There are those, to be sure, who want to limit access to public records and keep government meetings closed to the public. But the overwhelming majority of state and local officials—led by the Freedom of Information Commission, leadership in the General Assembly, and hundreds of sterling mayors, first selectmen, town clerks, and town councilors—are keeping records available and meetings open.
Last week, more than 100 guardians of those rights gathered at the Mark Twain House & Museum to honor some of those heroes. Among them were the Republican and Democratic leaders of the state House of Representatives, Vincent Candelora and Jason Rojas, who have distinguished themselves in recent years—and particularly this year—by defending government transparency in the face of determined efforts to shield government actions from the public.
As leaders admired by their respective caucuses, they are both uncommonly influential when they take a stand on issues, and have proven their philosophical opposition to government secrecy when reviewing proposed legislation.
This year, in contrast to Washington—where compromise and bipartisan agreement are almost nonexistent—they were instrumental in promoting sincere caucus-to-caucus discussions that ultimately defeated bills that would have:
– Kept hidden higher education records pertaining to teaching or research
– Restricted access to voter records
– Permitted public review of complaints against police and corrections officers only after they had been “investigated and adjudicated by the proper legal authority”
– Allowed school superintendents to attend closed executive sessions of boards of education without limitation, creating a slippery slope that might have unleashed unlimited closed sessions by councils, boards of selectmen, and other public bodies in future years
Other honorees included The Housing Collective, which works to create affordable homes across Connecticut. Each week, it publishes a comprehensive listing of land-use commission meetings’ times, locations, and agendas—where housing creation decisions are made—so residents can attend and voice concerns. It also provides a list of vacancies on land-use boards so residents can seek appointment or election, along with explanations of what land-use boards are empowered to decide and information on how to understand their actions and offer input.
If every policy organization in Connecticut—environmental, public health, education—did the same, government would be more visible and less mysterious. Connecticut residents would be less inclined to believe the misinformation and conspiracy theories fed to them by those trying to mislead them.
Journalist Katherine Revello, of CT Inside Investigator, was also honored for writing more than 150 pieces in the last year explaining the Freedom of Information Act and open meetings law.
Colleen M. Murphy, the current executive director and general counsel of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission, received a special award for her steadfast advocacy of open government. With 35 years as an FOI attorney and 20 years as the commission’s leader, she is widely respected as a fair, objective, and brilliant attorney, and is a sought-after speaker nationally on government transparency, privacy, and FOI issues.
The honor they all received—the Mitchell W. Pearlman Freedom of Information Award—is named after the first executive director of the state FOI Commission and the father of the state’s FOI Act. He attended the ceremony, standing to the side, smiling.
We will all have a reason to keep smiling if government records, officials, and meetings remain open and accessible.
But “government of the people, by the people, for the people,” as Abraham Lincoln understood, will perish from the earth if the abuses out of Washington continue and spread. Democracy will only remain alive if we ensure that “We the People”—all the people—can see, petition, and shape their government.
The heroes honored last week were richly deserving. But they can’t do it alone. We have to be heroes, too.
*David Fink is a Board Member of the Connecticut Foundation for Open Government.*
https://ctmirror.org/2025/10/24/an-open-transparent-accessible-government-protects-everyone/
The Trump administration has demolished the White House East Wing.
Work began earlier this week as the crew started preparations to make room for a new 90,000 square foot ballroom.
This expansion marks a significant change to the historic White House structure, aiming to enhance its event-hosting capabilities.
https://www.cbsnews.com/video/whos-paying-trumps-300-million-white-house-ballroom/
Stephen Miller Rants on Sean Hannity’s Show After Robert De Niro Calls Him a “Nazi”
Stephen Miller, known as President Donald Trump’s top aide, went on an unhinged rant during an appearance on Sean Hannity’s show this Wednesday. The outburst came in response to actor Robert De Niro labeling Miller a “Nazi” during a heated exchange on MSNBC over the weekend.
Here’s what set Miller off: While appearing on MSNBC’s “The Weekend” on Sunday, the Oscar-winning actor Robert De Niro, 82, launched into a sweeping critique of the Trump administration. At one point, De Niro singled out Miller, comparing him to Joseph Goebbels—the chief propagandist for the Nazi Party.
De Niro stated, “We see it, we see it, we see it… all the time he will not want to leave. He set it up with… I guess he’s the Goebbels of the cabinet, Stephen Miller. He’s a Nazi.”
The “Goodfellas” star didn’t stop there. He added, “Yes, he is and [Miller’s] Jewish, and he should be ashamed of himself.”
When Sean Hannity invited Miller to respond to De Niro’s comments, Miller eagerly launched into a fierce attack. Notably, Miller completely ignored the Goebbels comparison and instead directed his ire at those he described as tracking what he called “their ICE Gestapo.”
The exchange highlights the ongoing tensions and heated rhetoric surrounding key figures in the Trump administration, with Miller defending his role amid increasingly personal attacks from public figures like De Niro.
https://crooksandliars.com/2025/10/peewee-goebbels-very-unhappy-robert-de
