PINK REPUBLIC/ MY BLOG IS A STORY MARATHON.

 Bruce Springsteen takes aim at Trump in new song Streets of Minneapolis  Bruce Springsteen has released a new song dedicated to Minneapolis, sharply criticizing President Donald Trump and federal immigration enforcement actions in the city following recent deadly encounters involving immigration agents. The song, titled “Streets of Minneapolis,” was released on Wednesday and features lyrics depicting a city under siege, with Springsteen describing “a city aflame” standing against what he characterizes as occupation by “King Trump’s private army.” The track was written and recorded over the weekend, according to Springsteen, in direct response to a second fatal shooting by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis. In a statement accompanying the release, Springsteen said the song is dedicated to “the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors, and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good,” the two individuals killed in the recent incidents. Musically, the song unf...

 TikTok star Shirley Raines, celebrated for feeding and honoring Skid Row residents, dies at 58 Shirley Raines, a social media creator and nonprofit founder devoted to helping people experiencing homelessness, has died at 58, her organization Beauty 2 The Streetz announced Wednesday. Known as “Ms. Shirley” to her more than 5 million TikTok followers, Raines became a familiar presence on Skid Row in Los Angeles and other communities in California and Nevada, where she distributed meals, hygiene supplies, and offered beauty services to people in need. Her organization said she had made an “immeasurable impact” through her tireless advocacy and dedication to bringing dignity, resources, and hope to underserved populations. The cause of death has not been disclosed. Raines, a mother of six who lost a son as a toddler, credited that personal loss with inspiring her work with the homeless. In 2021, when recognized as CNN’s Hero of the Year, she said, “It’s important you know that broken ...

 Democrats threaten government shutdown if White House refuses ICE reform demands  Senate Democrats are threatening to block a broad government funding bill on Thursday unless the White House agrees to new restrictions on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, raising the risk of a partial government shutdown. The legislation funds the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies, and Democrats say they will withhold support until ICE’s operations are overhauled following recent deaths of protesters at the hands of federal agents in Minneapolis. Democrats’ demands include requiring officers to remove masks and show identification, obtain warrants for arrests, coordinate with local law enforcement, and adhere to an enforceable code of conduct. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said the caucus is united behind these “common sense reforms” and that Republicans must act to prevent federal agents from “terrorizing our streets.” Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith added ...

Driver arrested after car crashes into Chabad World Headquarters in Brooklyn   A car crashed into the Chabad-Lubavitch World Headquarters in Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, and police are investigating the incident as a possible hate crime. The crash, captured on video, occurred around 8:45 p.m. at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights. New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said officers already on site heard a commotion at the building’s main entrance and witnessed a vehicle strike the rear door, reverse, and hit it again. No injuries were reported, and the driver was taken into custody. The NYPD Bomb Squad conducted a thorough sweep of the vehicle, finding no explosives or other dangerous devices. The NYPD Hate Crimes Task Force is leading the investigation. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the event “horrifying” and “deeply alarming,” emphasizing that “antisemitism has no place in our society.” The incident occurred during a Chabad holiday, when thousands had gathered at...

 Governor Chukwuma Soludo must also direct banks to open on Mondays so customers can access cash to buy goods from us- Mr Gibson Okafor, (Shop Owner in Onitsha Main Market).  Speaking in an interview with Channels television, Mr Gibson Okafor who is a shop owner in Onitsha main market, raised a very important concern for the traders in Onitsha. According to him, Prof Chukwuma Soludo must also direct banks to open on Mondays so that customers can have access to cash to buy goods from them. He maintained it would be a big challenge and limitation to the traders if they open their ships on Monday and banks are closed. Gibson opined opening the Banks will engender ease of business for traders, because some traders also make cash deposit in the bank daily to avoid going home with a large sum of money(cash) which can be a risk.

 Anambra State Government instruct Local Government Chairmen to shut down schools that refuse to be immunized The Anambra State Commissioner for Heath, Dr Afam Obidike has charged local government mayors in the State to close down any school in their council areas that refuse children access to immunization. Dr. Obidike who disclosed this during stakeholders engagement meeting with the  twenty-one local goverment area Mayors for upcoming Measles and Rubella Vaccine Introduction, urged the mayors to champion the immunization exercise, ensure that it is seamlessly done in their councils, and sacked those that are not competent in doing the job. Earlier, the Executive Secretary, Anambra State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Pharmacist Chisom Uchem, noted that the aims and objectives of the meeting is to contribute to the reduction of measles and rubella incidence in Anambra and Nigeria in general, and that all machineries are in place to cover all Anambra children. The St...

 Gov. Soludo cannot force or punish private business owners to close or open their shops or to trade or refrain from trading- Hon Obi Aguocha(The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation) The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Monitoring and Evaluation, Mr. Obi Aguocha, has warned Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, against attempts to end the Monday sit-at-home directive, cautioning that this action might worsen insecurity throughout the South-East. Aguocha, representing the Ikwuano/Umuahia North/Umuahia South Federal Constituency of Abia State, stated that the attempts by him and other stakeholders to stabilize the region were slowly producing results prior to what he referred to as the recent intervention by Gov. Soludo. “Gov. Soludo, unfortunately, has unleashed terror on an army of silent agitators who, for so long, had helped to abate the significance of the Monday sit-at-home rituals,” Aguocha said. "Over t...