President Donald Trump’s end of year speech to the American public that took place on December 17th was full of conceits over how the United States under the new regime in power is moving ahead on all fronts to benefit the American people. The reality is somewhat different with a struggling economy, inflation and growing unemployment as well as wars and rumors of wars. The only economic sector that appears to be doing just fine is the “military industrial complex” (MIC), or should one call it the warfare conglomerate, fattening on the one trillion dollar plus budgeted for military and related spending. For sure, the warfare bill is helping to expand the nation’s debt while providing little in the way of national security due to profound ignorance combined with serial blundering by those in power in and around the White House.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents terrorized Columbus today, trolling parking lots and arresting people in various parts of the city. Officials with the City of Columbus, including the Mayor, City Attorney, Police Chief, City Council President Shannon G. Hardin, and Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla held a press conference to reiterate their support for immigrants who have chosen to make Columbus their home.  

From what's left of the White House...

...Trump has made it clear that he's thrilled the Reiners are dead...

...and that he wishes the same for all who would dare oppose him...

...re-confirming that Trump Derangement Syndrome festers because he's deranged.

This article first appeared at Ohio Capital Journal

One Ohio-based Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer was convicted this year of abusing women and another was arrested on such charges. That has an advocate for immigrants calling on the agency to explain what it’s doing to screen agents as it seeks to rapidly grow its ranks.

ICE didn’t respond when asked that question.

President Donald Trump came into office promising to deport what he claimed were undocumented, violent criminals.

But NPR reported last week that more than a third of those arrested — about 74,000 — had no criminal records. 

Of the rest, about half have pending charges and half have convictions. Most of the convictions are for low-level offenses such as traffic violations, the news organization reported. 

Save Ohio Parks volunteers across Ohio are distributing literature outside theatres and museums to educate Ohioans that pristine state parks featured in a new docu IMAX film are at risk of being despoiled if Ohio public lands continue to be fracked for natural gas.

The nonprofit has already hand-distributed brochures to hundreds of people across the state, including to many planning to view the new Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) docu film, “Wild at Heart.” The film promotes Ohio’s state parks and includes scenes from these state parks: Hocking Hills; Kelley’s Island; Magee Marsh; John Bryan; Mohican; Punderson; and Shawnee.

“We love our Ohio state parks,” said Anne Sparks, board member at Save Ohio Parks. “That’s why we need to protect them. Fracking pollutes our air and increases the risk for cancer and other illnesses. It depletes and contaminates our fresh water; destroys biodiversity; and heats the planet.”