Some GOP governors back showdown
WASHINGTON – Several Republican governors are urging GOP congressional leaders to stand firm this week in opposing legislation funding the Department of Homeland Security if it doesn’t also overturn President Barack Obama’s executive action on immigration.
Governors in both parties are meeting in Washington this weekend. While some call for compromise, a handful of high-profile Republicans charged that stopping what they see as Obama’s unconstitutional power grab may be as important as resolving the funding dispute.
The Obama administration last week put on hold plans to shield more than 4 million immigrants living in the country illegally from deportation after a federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked the effort the day the program was scheduled to begin.
Twenty-six states, led by Texas, filed suit in December arguing that the president does not have the authority to allow the groups of immigrants to legally stay and work in the United States.
The White House is appealing the ruling.
Head used to smash door, steal tickets
ORLANDO, Fla. – Florida authorities say a man used only his head to smash through the glass of a convenience store door and steal more than $10,000 worth of scratch-off lottery tickets.
Surveillance video shows the suspect barreling headfirst through the door as glass shatters around him onto the floor.
Lottery officials told WESH-TV in Orlando that the tickets were canceled before the suspect had a chance to use them.
Refinery workers strike to spread
The first nationwide oil refinery strike in more than 30 years was poised to expand this weekend in a labor dispute that may start having more of an impact on the price consumers pay for gasoline.
The union said in a statement that it expanded a strike that started Feb. 1 at refineries largely in Texas and California because the industry has refused to “meaningfully address” safety issues through good-faith bargaining. The union also wants to discuss staffing levels and seeks limits on the use of contractors to replace union members in doing daily maintenance work.
The union started negotiating a new contract Jan. 21 with Shell Oil Co., which is serving as the lead company in national bargaining talks.
Oil companies and energy experts have said that improved plant technology and strike-contingency plans should ease the blow to production from these strikes. But economists say pockets of the country served by refineries targeted in these strikes have likely already seen some impact to gas prices.
Associated Press
