Lake county

Donald Trump has given an 11th-hour endorsement to a host of sitting members of Congress on the eve of the next round of Republican primaries. The former president backed candidates hoping to win their respective elections in Utah, Oklahoma and Illinois on Tuesday. While the apparent influence of a Trump endorsement has been the focal point in some GOP primaries, such as J.D. Vance's victory in the GOP Senate primary in Ohio or Mehmet Oz's eventual win in the Pennsylvania Senate primary, the latest batch of endorsements from the current president pose almost next to no risk. As with a large majority of Trump's endorsed candidates in primaries across the country, the former president has backed incumbents, who very rarely lose midterm elections, never mind party primaries. The lateness of the announcements may suggest Trump is attempting to boost the figures on his apparent knack for picking eventual winners in GOP primaries following a recent bout of losses in Georgia . … [Read more...] about Donald Trump backs surefire primary candidates in bid to boost success rate

A long-simmering dispute between San Francisco’s Catholic leaders and the city’s elected officials escalated Friday when a Bay Area archbishop took the extraordinary step of barring House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from receiving Communion over her support for abortion access. The move, occurring just as the U.S. Supreme Court appears poised to overturn Roe vs. Wade, underscores deep divisions among Catholics over the issue. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone told Pelosi in a letter Thursday that she had not offered “an accommodation to my many requests to speak with you again since you vowed to codify the Supreme Court’s Roe v. Wade decision in federal law” after a Texas law effectively banning most abortions took effect last year. Cordileone said he had written to Pelosi in April warning her that he was prepared to bar her from receiving Communion. “As you have not publicly repudiated your position on abortion, and continue to refer to your Catholic faith in justifying your position and … [Read more...] about San Francisco archbishop bars Rep. Nancy Pelosi from receiving Communion over abortion rights stance

Nearly a month after objecting to electoral votes cast for President Biden, Rep. Mike Garcia wanted to clear the air. In a lengthy Jan. 30 op-ed in a local newspaper, the Santa Clarita Republican and former Navy fighter jet pilot denounced the blowback on social media that branded him “a seditionist, a traitor, or even worse.” Roughly 150 miles to the north, Rep. David Valadao also had some explaining to do after voting to impeach President Trump for his part in inciting the deadly riot at the U.S. Capitol. He, like Garcia, was disparaged by some constituents as a traitor. Two votes in Congress in successive weeks — one to certify Biden’s election and another to impeach the president — snared the two California Republicans into the pitched battle over the future of their party: whether the GOP will demand allegiance to Trump or break from his influence. On one side sits Garcia and the majority of House Republicans, who on Jan. 6 aligned with Trump in rejecting the will of the … [Read more...] about For two California Republicans, diverging approaches to Trump lead to the same place: Backlash

TYLER, Texas — Five people were shot and injured early Sunday during an outdoor event in East Texas that featured a trail ride, according to authorities. The Smith County Sheriff’s Office said it received a call at 12:35 a.m. Sunday about multiple gunshot victims in a large pasture area in the eastern part of the county. People were taking part in an annual trail ride sponsored by Unified Elite Riderzz from nearby Marshall, Texas. Authorities say witnesses told investigators that following a fight near a concert stage, one or more trail ride groups started shooting into the crowd. After the initial shooting, some of the people at the event ran to the security area that had been collecting firearms from attendees and got their guns back, the sheriff’s office said. A second and third shooting then took place. Investigators believe all the injuries happened during the first shooting. Four of those shot have been treated and released from area hospitals. One person … [Read more...] about 5 people shot during Texas trail ride event

Three people were killed and two others injured after an Amtrak train crashed into a vehicle obstructing rail tracks near Brentwood, California, on Sunday, officials said. The East Contra Costa County Fire Protection District said the incident was reported at around 1 p.m. after a car carrying five people was struck by a train while attempting to cross the tracks at an unprotected railroad crossing. Three people in the car were killed at the scene, while two others, including a child, were injured, the fire service told NBC's KNTV , based in  San Jose, California. One person was flown to hospital via air ambulance, while the child was transported to the same hospital over ground, it said. The fire service said the Contra Costa Sheriff's office was handling an investigation into the deadly incident. In a statement shared with NBC News, Amtrak confirmed train 713 had "made contact with a vehicle that was obstructing the track in Knightsen." It said there were no … [Read more...] about 3 dead, 2 injured after Amtrak train crashes into car at California crossing

Two people were killed Saturday night in Houston when their car crashed into an Amtrak train as the driver of the car tried to beat the train at a railroad crossing, police said. The crash occurred at around 8 p.m. local time at Beaumont Highway and Van Hut Lane when the driver of the Chrysler 300 drove around the crossing arms that signaled the approaching train, the Harris County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, which said flashing red lights and a bell were activated at the crossing to indicate the train’s arrival. The car was engulfed in flames on impact, and the driver and the passenger were ejected, police said . Both were pronounced dead at the scene, police said. Two passengers on the train were taken to a hospital, Amtrak spokesperson Kimberly Woods said. The train was traveling from New Orleans to Los Angeles with 81 passengers and 11 crew members onboard, said Woods, who added that it remained upright and intact on the rails after the crash. Amtrak … [Read more...] about Two dead in Houston after car crashes into Amtrak train

Tory MPs in Conservative heartlands are set to demand Boris Johnson pays the party’s strongholds more attention in the aftermath of a crunch by-election. The Prime Minister will wake up 4,000 miles from home to two election results that could decide his premiership. Mr Johnson will give a speech at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Rwanda - alongside dignitaries from 54 nations and Prince Charles - followed by a press conference. But hours before he takes to the stage, results were due from ballots in Wakefield, West Yorks, and Tiverton and Honiton, Devon. The Mirror understands worried MPs in southern shires will pile pressure on the PM not to focus too much on the Red Wall at the expense of traditional strongholds. Boris Johnson during a visit to GS Kacyiru II school in Kigali, Rwanda, during the Commonwealth heads of government meeting. ( Image: PA) There is a mounting unease among some Conservatives that Mr Johnson … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson faces Tory pressure to focus on southern heartlands after by-election test

In a period like no other, the world of golf finds itself in a battling civil war following the controversial introduction of the Saudi-backed LIV Golf Invitational Series last week. The newly born circuit has seemingly trampled on the soul of the sport, leaving the iconic traditions and integrity in its wake. The mega money on offer has lured away some of the golf’s biggest names - with the likes of Bryson DeChambeau, Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson and Ian Poulter all pledging their allegiances to Greg Norman’s new Saudi-backed golfing empire. Despite pocketing millions, the breakaway rebels could well have surrendered their biggest asset of all in PGA Tour membership. LIV Golf’s founding playing members have all been issued suspensions from the PGA Tour’s chief Jay Monahan, with further sanctions from the likes of the Masters and Ryder Cup expected. As well as the sport’s leading circuit turning its back on the LIV rebels, a number of fellow stars - and friends - have … [Read more...] about US Open provides much-needed break from trials and tribulations of LIV Golf civil war

Jordan Spieth's Augusta demons returned to haunt him yesterday as took another quadruple bogey – this time with a nightmare NINE on the 15th hole. Last year the 2015 champion, who had led for 129 consecutive holes, slapped two balls into Rae's Creek on his way to a seven on the par-three hole. He finished three shots behind winner Danny Willett. Yesterday he returned to the 12th for the first time in competition to huge applause, he hit a solid short iron through the gusting wind to the fringe on the back of the green. His long birdie putt came up inches short and he tapped in for a stress-free par. The American had a nightmare on the 15th hole ( Image: Getty Images North America) When the world No 6 rolled in a birdie putt at 13, he was just a shot off the lead. But after bogeying 14 to return to level par, Spieth unravelled again in eerily similar style to last year. His third shot to the par-five 15th went into the lake in front of the green and he sailed his … [Read more...] about Jordan Spieth suffers another Augusta nightmare following quadruple bogey on 15th hole at The Masters