The Biden administration said it will begin phasing in a new asylum process on Feb. 19 to deal with a backlog of migrants seeking asylum on the southern U.S. border, many of whom have been waiting in squalid camps in a state of limbo for court dates because of the Migrant Protection Protocols program.

Under pressure to make good on campaign promises on immigration and facing the prospect that a new wave of migrants seeking to escape desperate situations could flood the border, the Biden team said it plans to start allowing in a trickle of asylum-seekers — about 300 people per day — from among an estimated 25,000 people with “active cases” in the now-defunct MPP program.

Former President Donald Trump called the program “Remain in Mexico” because it forced migrants from Central American countries to await asylum hearings outside the United States. Ending the program was one of Biden’s first actions when he took office, part of a sweeping rollback of Trump’s measures aimed at curbing immigration. Biden promised a more “humane” system.

Source: Biden Team Unveils New Asylum System To Start Dealing With Migrant Backlog : NPR

Fox News is expanding The Greg Gutfeld Show to weeknights at 11 p.m. ET, making a rare effort to reach late-night viewers with a comedic show with the outspoken host.

The show will take the place of Fox News @ Night, anchored by Shannon Bream, which will move to the midnight slot.

Fox News said that Gutfeld, who headlines a show on Saturday night, will launch on weekdays in the second quarter. The network has not announced a replacement for Gutfeld’s weekend show.

The move is also the latest sign of Fox News expanding its nightly opinion and commentary. It recently shifted a 7 p.m. ET newscast, The Story with Martha MacCallum, in favor of Fox News Primetime, with a rotating group of hosts.

Source: Fox News Expands ‘The Greg Gutfeld Show’ To Weeknights At 11 PM – Deadline

Hannity calls out Dems over ‘breathtaking’ hypocrisy on violent rhetoric

PITTSBURGH —A 20-year-old woman who was reported missing and endangered has been found, Pittsburgh police said Thursday morning.The woman is safe, police said.

Source: Pittsburgh police say missing woman found safe

New Orleans police say two bystanders have been shot and wounded after an argument outside a hospital culminated in gunfire

Source: Louisiana hospital shooting: 2 people hurt, woman arrested – ABC News

By Erin Coates

Conservative talk radio host Rush Limbaugh was set to miss Wednesday’s show as he continues his battle with advanced lung cancer, according to an update from his producer.

Producer James Golden, known by the pseudonym Bo Snerdley, provided the information for Limbaugh’s listeners on Twitter.

“Our prayers are with Rush as he continues to fight the illness he has been afflicted with,” Bo Snerdley tweeted.

Source: Producer Provides Harrowing Update as Rush Limbaugh Misses Show

The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile is coming to Pittsburgh this weekend.

Here’s where you can check it out:

Thursday, Feb. 11: Seven Springs from 8 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Saturday, Feb. 13: PPG Ice Rink from 11a.m. – 2 p.m.

Sunday, Feb. 14: Heinz History Center from 10 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The Wienermobile has been traveling across America since 1936, and the Hotdogger program has been running since 1988.

Source: Hot dog! Wienermobile coming to Pittsburgh

(CNN)President Joe Biden said at the start of his administration that family conflicts of interest would not be tolerated in his White House, but not two weeks into his presidency, his brother’s actions as a part of his employment at a law firm in Florida are raising questions about how he’ll implement that pledge.

Francis “Frank” Biden, the President’s brother, was hired as a non-attorney, senior adviser for Berman Law Group, a Boca Raton law firm in 2018. The firm frequently touts Frank Biden’s ties to the President, featuring Frank and his family connections prominently on their website, in ads and on social media.

As Frank Biden was with his brother in Washington for the inauguration last month, the firm placed a two-page “advertorial” in a local Florida newspaper emphasizing the shared values between “the two Biden brothers.” With Frank Biden’s image placed prominently in the center of the ad, it also mentioned the firm’s lawsuit against sugar cane growers “filed against the backdrop of incoming President Joseph Biden Jr.’s commitment to environmental and social justice(.)”

Last week, the White House said that it is its policy to not let businesses imply they have Biden’s support or endorsement. But they declined to comment on the record specifically about the advertisement.

On Wednesday, a White House official told CNN that there is currently a process in place that involves the White House Counsel’s Office and family representatives to address issues as they may arise any questions of potential conflicts of interest.

Source: Frank Biden’s actions already testing Joe Biden’s ethics claims – CNNPolitics

In their prosecution of Donald Trump for inciting the 6 January attack on the United States Capitol in Washington DC, Democratic impeachment managers have focused on videos of the event, including previously unseen footage.

The managers, who act as prosecutors in the case, have shown clips to their audience of senators, who are in effect acting as jurors.

Source: Five shocking videos from the Capitol attack shown at Trump’s impeachment trial | US news | The Guardian

A White House spokesperson has responded to backlash over Joe Biden‘s executive order regarding transgender children competing in athletics in schools.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, was asked about what message Mr. Biden’s executive order should send to cis and transgender female athletes.

“The president believes that trans rights are human rights,” Ms Psaki responded before referring the reporter to individual institutions for how they’ll treat their athletic programmes.

The executive order under scrutiny, entitled the “Executive Order on Preventing and Combating Discrimination on the Basis of Gender Identity or Sexual Orientation”, was signed by Mr. Biden in January.

Source: Jen Psaki fires back at controversy over LGBTQ executive order: ‘Trans rights are human rights’ | The Independent

PITTSBURGH —

More than 300 school closings and delays were reported as snow hit the Pittsburgh area on Tuesday morning.

Among the districts making changes were the McKeesport Area School District, which closed for a flexible instruction day and the Washington School District, which also opted for a flexible instruction day.

A complete list of school closings and delays can be found here.

Source: More than 300 school closings and delays as February snow hits Pittsburgh

Sen. Kevin Cramer made it clear Tuesday what he thought about the historic second impeachment trial of Donald Trump: “Welcome to the stupidest week in the Senate.”

Shortly before the trial was set to begin, the North Dakota Republican released a video statement criticizing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for using impeachment “flippantly” as a political tool.

“As a response to her view that Donald Trump demeaned the Office of the President, the House Speaker is now making a mockery of Congress and one of the most serious institutions in our country,” Cramer said. “It’s disgusting.”

“While Speaker Pelosi sent these backbenchers to tie up the Senate,” Cramer said, referring to the House impeachment managers, “she sent the rest of the House home instead of leaving them here to carry out the actual work of the American people.”

Source: Trump impeachment trial: Live updates, online coverage & highlights – POLITICO

Bucs quarterback Tom Brady texted an apology to Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu following multiple on-field verbal altercations during Super Bowl LV, a source told ESPN’s Jenna Laine.

TAMPA, Fla. — Immediately after the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs 31-9 in Super Bowl LV on Sunday, Bucs quarterback Tom Brady texted an apology to Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu for several on-field verbal altercations, according to a source with knowledge of the situation.

ESPN was read the contents of the text out loud.

Brady apologized to Mathieu for losing his composure in the heat of the moment, of which Mathieu said, “I’ve never really seen that side of him.”

Source: Source — Tampa Bay Buccaneers QB Tom Brady apologized to Kansas City Chiefs safety Tyrann Mathieu in text message after Super Bowl

WASHINGTON — White House press secretary Jen Psaki on Monday mocked a reporter who asked when workers on the canceled Keystone XL pipeline would get “green jobs” promised by President Biden.

It’s expected that up to 11,000 jobs will be lost following Biden’s day-one decision to immediately shut down construction of the pipeline that was supposed to carry oil from Canada to Texas — leaving South Dakotans reeling and 1,000 people immediately out of work.

“Where is it that they can go for their green job?” Fox News reporter Peter Doocy asked Psaki at her Monday afternoon press briefing, referring to Biden’s promise to create good-paying union jobs in the green energy sector as his administration attempts to end the nation’s reliance on fossil fuels.

“That is something the administration has promised and there is now a gap so I’m just curious when that happens, when those people can count on that?” Doocy added.

“Well, I’d certainly welcome you to present your data of all the thousands and thousands of people who won’t be getting a green job,” Psaki snarked. “Maybe next time you’re here you can present that.”

Source: Psaki mocks reporter asking about Keystone pipeline job losses

YANGON, Myanmar (AP) — Myanmar’s new military rulers on Monday signaled their intention to crack down on opponents of their takeover, issuing decrees that effectively banned peaceful public protests in the country’s two biggest cities.

The restrictive measures were ordered after police fired water cannons at hundreds of protesters in the Myanmar capital, Naypyitaw, who were demanding the military hand power back to elected officials. It was just one of many demonstrations around the country.

Rallies and gatherings of more than five people, along with motorized processions, were banned, and an 8 p.m. to 4 a.m. curfew was imposed for areas of Yangon and Mandalay, the country’s first- and second-biggest cities, where thousands of people have been demonstrating since Saturday.

Protesters in Yangon rallied Monday at a major downtown intersection raising three-finger salutes that are symbols of resistance and carrying placards saying, “Reject the military coup” and “Justice for Myanmar.”

There were also demonstrations in towns in the north, southeast and east of the country.

The decrees enabling the new restrictive measures were issued on a township-by-township basis, and were expected to be extended to other areas as well. They say they were issued in response to people carrying out unlawful actions that harm the rule of law, a reference to the protests.

The growing wave of defiance — particularly in Naypyitaw, where such protests are unusual — was striking in a country where demonstrations have been met with severe force in the past. That resistance was happening in Naypyitaw, whose population includes many civil servants and their families, spoke to the level of anger among people who had only begun to taste democracy in recent years after five decades of military rule.

“We do not want the military junta,” said Daw Moe, a protester in Yangon. “We never ever wanted this junta. Nobody wants it. All the people are ready to fight them.”

Source: Myanmar junta imposes curfew, meeting bans as protests swell