We can never forget that our first responders put their life on the line every day. Per the Detroit Free Press, two Detroit firefighters were trapped after a burning building collapsed on Thursday afternoon. One firefighter was able to escape, while one remained stuck until others came to the rescue, said Fire Chief James Harris. Eight firefighters were hospitalized with injuries. There were no civilian casualties. The building on fire was a vacant structure on West Hollywood Avenue near 7 Mile and John R. The street is lined with at least two other burned-out houses.
“Detroit has the finest and bravest firefighters anywhere,” wrote Mayor Mike Duggan on Facebook. “That was on display today on Hollywood Street, when a vacant house at which they were fighting a fire collapsed and trapped one of their partners. “Fighting heat exhaustion, they kept working until he was brought out safely. We owe all of our firefighters a deep debt of gratitude for the work they do every day,”
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A few weeks ago, I expressed my concern about the U.S. dependence on foreign countries to produce computer chips, which drive so many of our manufactured devices, especially automobiles and high-level appliances. A worldwide shortage in computer chips has created significant delays in high end items depending on computer chips.
It was great to hear that Congress has passed a bill that provides significant incentives to increase U.S. production of computer chips and increased funding for research. Republican U.S Congressman Peter Meijer, who voted in favor of the bill, wrote on Twitter that “China hates this bill” because it will boost domestic production of advanced chips and increase U.S. competitiveness: “I was more than happy to stand against the Chinese Communist Party today.”
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It is amazing how things turn quickly in the world of politics.
Betsy DeVos served as the Secretary of Education under Trump’s presidency. According to the Detroit News today, Eight of the 10 Republican candidates whom former President Donald Trump has endorsed for the Michigan Legislature signed a letter Thursday asking him not to “work” with his former education secretary and GOP mega-donor, Betsy DeVos.
“There is a war going on for the soul of the GOP in Michigan with Trump-endorsed candidates on one side and the establishment DeVos family on the other,” the letter obtained by The Detroit News said. Michigan Republicans who are close to DeVos have denied they’re at “war” with Trump’s preferred candidates. However, they have contributed to opponents of seven of them in recent weeks, as part of a larger effort that spans more than 25 contests.
Per the Detroit News, the United States government on Wednesday made public what everybody had suspected for months: it was negotiating a deal with Russia to free WNBA star Brittney Griner and Michigan resident Paul Whelan.
Reactions from experts in hostage negotiation were split. Publicizing deals to free Americans sets bad precedent and endangers Americans, some say. Others believe previous examples of such exchanges demonstrate it’s the only way to safely return wrongly detained prisoners. The State Department has determined that Griner has been “wrongfully detained” by Moscow.
Officially, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. made a “substantial proposal” to the Kremlin “weeks ago” but offered no specifics. It was the first public acknowledgement that the highest levels of diplomatic relations were working to bring the WNBA star home. Any agreement would involve a prisoner swap with Russia or concessions on recent economic sanctions, and CNN reported shortly before Blinken’s announcement that the U.S. had offered notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout.
This is a no-win situation for the U.S. I am a firm believer that Russia saw an opportunity with Brittney Griner to take advantage of her celebrity status and use her as a bargaining chip with the U.S.
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Elections Matter. Pray for peace and tolerance. What are you doing to stop the violence and mass killings?
Orchid of the Day: The Detroit firefighters and all first responders who put their lives on the line every day. We can never forget.
Onion of the Day: Primary politics. It is amazing how members of the same party turn on each other during the primaries and then expect unity come November.
Quote of the Day: “Been in this game one-hundred years, but I see new ways to lose ’em I never knew existed before.” Casey Stengel. It could also have been said by any Detroit Lion fans.
Question of the Day: Should the U.S. make the proposed deal with Russia in order to free Brittany Griner and Paul Whelen.
Video/Image of the Day: Whenever I need a little motivation I watch this video of Susan Boyle’s audition on Britain’s Got Talent.