If you’ve been on social media this week, you might have noticed Californians going crazy over the sudden appearance of millions of butterflies, flying north en masse through the state. It’s pretty much the exact joyful display of nature that the world needs right now
But it’s also a beautiful and rare sight in a world where insects are disappearing more rapidly than ever before. Experts are saying there hasn’t been this kind of butterfly migration through the state since 2005.
St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by millions across the country, often culminating in parties where drinking is involved. Sadly, this leads to tragedies on our roadways because of drivers who choose to leave parties impaired.
During the St. Patrick’s Day weekend, March 16-17, 2019 the Ventura Police Department will have additional officers on patrol ready to stop and arrest drivers suspected of driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.
According to data from the California Highway Patrol (CHP), one person was killed, and 48 others were injured in DUI crashes on St. Patrick’s Day last year. In 2017, 59 people were killed nationwide in drunk-driving crashes over the St. Patrick’s Day holiday (March 16-March 18), accounting for 37 percent of all traffic deaths.
Due to St. Patrick’s Day becoming a dangerous holiday on our roads, the Ventura Police Department encourages everyone to plan ahead and use a designated sober driver, ride-share or public transportation. Even one drink can be one too many.
“Don’t even put yourself in a position where you need to ask whether you are okay to drive,” Ventura Police Sergeant Mike Brown said. “If you feel the slightest hint of a buzz, you should not be driving.” The Ventura Police Department also wants to remind everyone that a “DUI Doesn’t Just Mean Booze.” Prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications and marijuana can all be impairing, especially in combination with alcohol or other drugs.
“We all know the dangers about driving impaired,” Ventura Police Commander Rick Murray said. “Let’s all be responsible adults and help each other get where we need to go safely.” Funding for St. Patrick’s Day DUI enforcement is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Ventura Police Department
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On March 15, 2019 at about 9:40PM, Officers made contact with Garcia in the area of Bonita Avenue and Second Street in Oxnard. During the contact, the officers learned that Garcia was in possession of narcotics. After an investigation, officers placed Vasquez under arrest for possession of narcotics for sale. During a search of the immediate area, officers located a loaded handgun that Vasquez attempted to discard during the contact.
Vasquez was arrested for possession of narcotics for sale, carrying a loaded firearm, and possession of a controlled substance while possessing a firearm, all felonies.
Anyone with information regarding this case or other criminal activity is encouraged to contact the Oxnard Police Department at (805) 385-7600, or online via the Oxnard Police Department’s website: www.oxnardpd.org, and clicking on Report Suspicious Activity. You can remain anonymous if you choose to do so. You can also remain anonymous by calling the Ventura County Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-8477. You can also visit this site: www.venturacountycrimestoppers.org to submit a tip via text or email.
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There have been substantial allegations that President Donald Trump sends some of his best tweets while sitting on the toilet, but this is not the first time a president took his professional tasks into the bathroom. Lyndon B. Johnson notoriously brought reporters and aides into the bathroom to continue conversations while he went about his business.
2. Married Woman Who Was Like His Daughter
Library of Congress
Many have flagged some of Trump’s comments about Ivanka’s physical appearance as off-putting. President Grover Cleveland took things a step further and actually married a woman that had essentially been his unofficial adopted daughter. Age 21 when they wed, Frances was 27 years younger than the President and had known him since the day she was born. She was the daughter of Cleveland’s law partner, and he became her legal guardian when her father passed away.
3. Ran To Get Fast Food
Dreamstime
While Trump may have induced a social media uproar when tweeted pictures of his fast food display for Clemson football went wild, President Bill Clinton indulged in such fattening meals on more than just special occasions. He was known to jog to local fast food establishments frequently, a habit that was very unpopular amongst Secret Service due to the pressure that accompanies protecting a president while he is on the move through unsecured areas.
4. Firmly Believed in Astrology
Ronald and Nancy Reagan, Reagan Library
Presidents up to and including Trump have had their share of superstitions or “unique” lines of thinking, though President Ronald Reagan took it to an unprecedented level. Though he claimed that he never allowed astrology to influence his political decision-making, he and Nancy did employ an astrological consultant to offer input on scheduling important events.
5. Skinny Dipped Daily
Library of Congress
President John Quincy Adams documented his daily life in a series of diary entries, one of which detailed his passion for skinny dipping in the Potomac River. He wrote that, on a few different instances, the waves nearly washed away his clothes while he was indulging.
6. Nude News Conference
LBJ Presidential Library
Another, far more public instance of presidential nudity, was exhibited by President Lyndon B. Johnson while delivering a media address from aboard Air Force One. The President invited reporters to walk into the plane to continue a conversation about the economy as he began removing layers of his clothing until he finally stood there, entirely nude, and waving a towel for emphasis.
7. “Saw a UFO”
Dreamstime
During his 1976 campaign for the Oval Office, President Jimmy Carter delivered an address at the Governor’s Conference in which he claimed to have seen a UFO. He described seeing red and green lights attached to a glowing orb in the sky above Georgia, and never backed down from the statement.
8. Planned to Kill a Reporter
Library of Congress
President Nixon’s paranoia at the height of the Watergate Scandal is very well documented. It is lesser known, however, that he developed a plan to kill reporter Jack Anderson. One idea included poisoning his food.
9. Refused to Engage with Electricity
Library of Congress
Serving as President of the United States during the turn of the century meant overseeing many drastic changes to the way Americans lived, including welcoming the introduction of electricity. It took President Benjamin Harrison a little while to come around to this idea, however. Electricity was officially installed in the White House in 1891, but Harrison and his wife refused to touch light switches or otherwise engage with the new phenomenon out of fear of being shocked.
10. Died Due to Overconsumption of Cherries
Library of Congress
President Zachary Taylor died in office after serving just 16 months of his term. He was a big fan of cherries, and at the White House Fourth of July celebration in 1850, he consumed a tremendous amount of the sugary fruit while gulping down milk. The combination of the acidic and basic foods is believed to have induced a series of symptoms that ultimately led to his death five days later.
LOS ANGELES – Today, the Metrolink Board of Directors voted to offer free train rides in support of Earth Day on Monday, April 22, 2019 to encourage more people to leave their cars at home and minimize their environmental footprint by producing cleaner air and less traffic through public transportation.
“As the largest commuter rail operator in the state and the second largest public transportation operator in the region based on passenger miles, Metrolink is a critical component to a sustainable Southern California,” said Metrolink Board Chairman Brian Humphrey. “Approximately 85 percent of our riders have an automobile, but choose to take the train. Therefore, Metrolink riders are reducing congestion and associated emissions by taking the train every day.”
If 1,000 people gave up their cars and rode Metrolink on Earth Day, they would reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 23,472 pounds, which is the equivalent of the carbon sequestered by a 12-acre forest, the size of 10 football fields.
For decades, the region has struggled with the effect of a growing number of vehicles driven on a fixed-capacity freeway system resulting in choking smog and slower commutes. The Los Angeles, Orange County and Inland Empire regions are consistently recognized as having the country’s worst air quality. Metrolink is committed to creating a sustainable future for our riders and the communities we serve. Metrolink removes approximately 8,500,000 automobile trips annually.
“Offering free rides is a way for Metrolink to attract new riders wanting to minimize their environmental impact and make a difference on Earth Day,” said Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins. “We are asking drivers to pledge to park their cars on Earth Day and enjoy the stress-free commute so much they become repeat Metrolink riders.”
Earth Day is an international recognition to demonstrate support for environmental protection. Earth Day is observed in 193 countries and has been celebrated since 1970.
On Earth Day, Metrolink is preparing for higher ridership by increasing customer service and call center support, adding brand ambassadors at high traffic stations and platforms and providing increased social media support for rider engagement.
Metrolink is Southern California’s regional commuter rail service in its 26th year of operation. Metrolink is governed by The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA), a joint powers authority made up of an 11-member board representing the transportation commissions of Los Angeles, Orange, and Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Metrolink operates seven routes through a six-county, 538 route-mile network. Metrolink’s passengers travel approximately 441 million miles each year, making Metrolink the second busiest public transportation provider in Southern California. Metrolink is the third largest commuter rail agency in the United States based on directional route miles and the eighth largest based on annual ridership.
Metrolink
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On Saturday, March 23rd, the Simi Valley Historical Society will conduct exclusive small-group tours at 6:30 pm, 7 pm & 7:30 pm at Strathearn Historical Park & Museum.
Each tour is about one hour and is limited to twelve participants per time-slot.
Visitors will see the park after dark with luminaries lining the meandering paths as they are guided through the grounds and buildings to experience the lifestyles of eras 1840 – 1960.
Inside the buildings participants are back in time, living by candle and lantern light.
It is recommended that young children are signed up only for the 6:30 pm tour. Tours will begin promptly at the times stated.
Tickets are $6 for all ages and must be purchased in advance, by time-slot at www.simihistory.com – click on “Park Events” for details & Twilight Tour ticket purchase.
Simi Valley Historical Society
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At the request of a scandal-plagued Democratic senator tried for bribery and corruption, the head of the government’s international media networks is abusing his office to punish employees behind a broadcast critical of leftwing billionaire George Soros. U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) Chief John F. Lansing, an Obama appointee, is utilizing Stalinist techniques to retaliate against the journalists and producers involved in the Spanish-language segment which aired in May 2018 on Television Martí and was available for months online. Eight reporters and editors at the taxpayer-funded media outlet have been fired and Lansing has ordered a review of all content to address “patterns of unethical, unprofessional, biased, or sub-standard journalism.”
George Soros
An employee at the Miami, Florida-based Martí headquarters said in a local newspaper report “the environment that has been created by the upper hierarchy of the Agency for Global Media is repressive. People write with fear. Adjectives are no longer used.”
Television Martí—and its radio counterpart—operate under the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB) and comprise one of the USAGM’s five international multimedia networks. The others are Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia and Middle East Broadcasting. The media outlets get about $685 million a year from American taxpayers and reportedly reach 345 million people worldwide in 59 languages. The global media agency was created to counter disinformation spread by oppressive regimes abroad. The USAGM website states that its mission is “to inform, engage and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.” Television and Radio Martí were created to promote freedom and democracy by providing the people of Cuba with objective news and information programming.
The Soros broadcast focused on his efforts to cripple sovereign governments in Latin America. Judicial Watch was cited as a source because it investigated State Department funding of Soros groups in Colombia and published a report on Soros’ initiatives to advance a radical globalist agenda in Guatemala. Judicial Watch also released a special report documenting the financial and staffing nexus between Soros’ Open Society Foundations (OSF) and the U.S. government. In that document, Judicial Watch connects the dots between U.S.-funded entities and OSF affiliates to further the Hungarian-born philanthropist’s agenda seeking to destabilize legitimate governments, erase national borders, target conservative politicians, finance civil unrest, subvert institutions of higher education, and orchestrate refugee crises for political gain. A few years ago Judicial Watch exposed a scheme in which the U.S. government spent millions of dollars to destabilize the democratically elected, center-right government in Macedonia by colluding with Soros’ OSF.
More than five months after the Spanish-language Soros broadcast aired on Television Martí, the segment caught the eye of disgraced New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez. In an October 31, 2018 letter to Lansing, the senator orders an immediate investigation into the Soros broadcast as well as an audit “on patterns of unethical and unprofessional reporting” at OCB. Menendez also smears Judicial Watch, stating that the Soros segment had “no credible sourcing” and “occasionally cites only a fringe website.” Lansing uses similar language in a mainstream newspaper article about the recent Martí firings over the Soros video. “The person developing the Soros story was using Judicial Watch as a source as I understand it — the story was not only poorly sourced, it relied heavily on one less-than-credible source,” Lansing says in the article, which states that “Soros has emerged as a leading boogeyman on the right.”
Menendez, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee despite his sordid history, blocked President Trump’s nomination last year to replace Lansing as USAGM chief. A few years ago, Menendez was charged with federal bribery and corruption stemming from his relationship with a crooked south Florida eye doctor that lavished him with cash, gifts and trips in exchange for political favors. The eye doctor, Salomon Melgen, got convicted of stealing $73 million from Medicare and was sentenced to 17 years in prison. Menendez got off because jurors were unable to reach a verdict and his trial ended in mistrial. His colleagues on the Senate Ethics Committee determined that the veteran lawmaker not only violated senate rules, but also federal law and applicable standards of conduct. In a public letter of admonition, the committee writes that over a six-year period Menendez knowingly and repeatedly accepted gifts of significant value from Melgen in violation of senate rules and federal law. “Additionally, while accepting these gifts, you used your position as a Member of the Senate to advance Dr. Melgen’s personal and business interests,” the committee writes.
Menendez has been embroiled in other corruption schemes throughout his political career and Judicial Watch has served as a credible source in uncovering them. As far back as 2007, Menendez was investigated by a federal grand jury for illegally steering lobbying business to his former chief of staff Kay LiCausi, with whom he was also romantically linked. In just a few years, her firm reported $1.3 million in business with nearly $300,000 coming from a New Jersey medical center that was later awarded government funding thanks to a push from her former boss and lover. In 2010, Menendez and his colleague in corruption, New Jersey Democrat Frank Lautenberg, allocated $8 million for a public walkway and park space adjacent to upscale, waterfront condos built by a developer whose executives donated generously to their political campaigns. Perhaps not so coincidentally, the developer’s Washington D.C. lobbyist was a longtime senior aide to Menendez. The senator was also embroiled in a hooker scandal in the Dominican Republic with his incarcerated eye doctor pal and he hired an illegal immigrant sex offender to work in his senate office.
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Sixty million tax dollars is being spent to build an additional jail building to house sixty jail inmates with four beds in a medical area. Yes, your tax dollars are going to be spent at one million dollars per jail inmate bed. Construction costs of nearly $1,000 per square foot! Are they building it out of marble and gold or some very pricey concrete? Construction costs for a deluxe home can run $300 per square foot, industrial is well under $200 per square foot.
What should it cost to build a jail-barracks to house sixty men? In the Army one barracks to house sixty men in bunks would be generous at 1400 sq feet. Add a medical room/sick bay and a day room office and two ‘counseling rooms” and you have 2250 sq feet, i.e. lots of room. Industrial construction standards would get that done for under $450,000 and furnish it with anything you want and equip it. The cost – $50,000. The County spent sixty million dollars on a $500,000 building.
This is not a ‘mistake’ or an ‘oversight’ this is a fundamental way that the County and the Sheriff’s office spend our tax money with zero concern as to who is paying for it.
We need a Sheriff than can get a half-million dollar jail-barracks built for a half a million, not sixty million dollars! I am that cowboy.
The ground breaking ceremony included (left center) County CEO Mike Powers, County Supervisor Linda Parks, and Ventura County Sheriff Bill Ayub, Photo Tim Pompey
Bruce Boyer, candidate for Ventura County Sheriff.
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President Donald Trump vetoed a congressional disapproval resolution of his national emergency declaration at the U.S. southern border Friday afternoon, in a ceremony at the Oval Office.
Trump characterized the resolution as “dangerous” in Oval Office comments, and maintained that “the protection of the nation is my highest duty.”
Trump’s national emergency declaration nearly a month ago is paired with a number of executive actions designed to make approximately $8 billion of funding available to begin construction on a wall along the southern border.
The resolution passed the Republican-controlled Senate and the Democrat-controlled House by a large majority and officially registers a rebuke of Trump’s action. The resolution is non-binding however unless both chambers of Congress are able to muster a two-thirds majority, support they are not currently able to demonstrate.
Twelve Republicans joined the Democrats in voting for the resolution, saying that Trump is circumventing Congress’s enumerated power of the purse to appropriate funds and using them as he pleases. Nearly all have noted that future Democratic presidents would exploit Trump’s action and declare their own national emergencies to fulfill campaign promises. (RELATED: 3 Senate Republicans Are Banding Together To Support Resolution To Terminate Trump’s National Emergency)
They included Sens. Marco Rubio, Rob Portman, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Pat Toomey, Roy Blunt, Lamar Alexander, Mitt Romney, Rand Paul, Jerry Moran, Mike Lee, and Roger Wicker.
Trump made clear ahead of the vote and after the vote that he would issue a swift veto. The veto will likely put the matter to rest as neither chamber of Congress appears to have the necessary two-thirds majority to overturn Trump’s veto.
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