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Democrats’ abortion bill goes down in flames after Manchin breaks with party in close vote

by CF Chief Editor

 

Nearly every Senate Democrat voted in favor of legislation Monday which would have radically expanded abortion rights beyond even the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade.

The Women’s Health Protection Act would have forced every state to allow abortions for any reason until at least the point of viability, generally defined at around six months into a pregnancy, and banned most restrictions on abortion up to the point of birth.

Every Republican voted against the bill, and every Democrat except Sen. Joe Manchin voted in favor, NBC News reported.

The WHPA would have invalidated all state and local laws restricting what types of abortion procedures are permissible while banning requirements that doctors give women medical tests such as ultrasounds before administering abortions, unless such requirements also applied to “medically comparable procedures.”

The bill proposed various deregulatory measures that would have loosened safety requirements nationwide for abortion providers, such as ending restrictions on doctors prescribing pills via “telemedicine” for do-it-yourself chemical abortions at home.

Abortion is a procedure used “primarily by women,” the bill explained before justifying the use of the word “woman,’ and noting that “transgender men” and “non-binary individuals” need abortion rights too.

“Women’s decisions over women’s health care belong to women, not to extremist right-wing legislatures,” commented Sen. Chuck Schumer, who called abortion a “fundamental right.”

Jeane Mancini, the president of the March for Life, said it was the most radical abortion legislation in American history. “This bill is obviously designed by pro-abortion politicians to appease the abortion lobby. Lawmakers, regardless of party affiliation, must reject it,” she commented.

The bill is an apparent attempt to codify the Supreme Court’s ruling in Roe v. Wade, which is being reconsidered by the Court and could potentially be overturned in June.

Turkey to block Russian warships in Black Sea

Shared/by Naveen Athrappully
Epoch Times
February 28, 2022 – Turkey will restrict the transit of Russian warships through the Black Sea, according to Ankara’s foreign minister Mevlut Cavusoglu, who also affirmed that Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine comes under the “war” category.

“Is this a conflict or a war? We decided on that. Article 19 of the Montreux Convention is very clear. This is a war,” Cavusoglu said in an interview with CNN. The 1936 Montreux Convention allows Ankara to limit naval transit via the Bosporus and Dardanelles straits that connect the Marmara, Aegean, and the Black Sea.

Ships can pass through the straits after giving Turkey a diplomatic notification subject to certain restrictions on the weight of the ships, the arms they can carry, and whether the ships come from a Black Sea country such as Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Georgia, and Bulgaria.

However, during times of war warships are only allowed to pass through if they are not from nations classified to be belligerent. If Turkey is part of the war or feels that it is threatened, it can block the transit of all warships whether they come from a Black Sea nation or not. But the country does not have the right to block civilian vessels, even under adverse conditions.

“Now this conflict has turned into a war, in this case, this is how we apply Montreux for the parties, Russia or Ukraine. Article 19 provides an exception,” Cavusoglu said. “If the ship of the war country will return to its port, an exception is made. We will implement all the provisions of Montreux with transparency.”

This will allow Russian warships to get back to their bases. The minister warned against nations abusing this exemption.

Ukraine had earlier appealed to Turkey to block Russian ships from entering the Black Sea as Moscow launched an invasion of Ukraine’s southern coast from the region. Six warships and a submarine from Russia have passed through Turkey’s straits for the month as of Feb. 27.

Turkey has good relations with both Russia and Ukraine. Ankara has been cautious against acting strongly against Moscow as the country is dependent on Russia for energy imports as well as tourism and trade. Turkey has, however, called for an end to the war.

“On the fourth day of the Ukraine war, we repeat President [Recep Tayyip] Erdogan’s call for an immediate halt of Russian attacks and the start of ceasefire negotiations,” Ibrahim Kalin, a spokesperson for the Turkish president, said in a Feb. 27 Twitter post. “We will continue our efforts to help the people of Ukraine and end bloodshed in this unjust and unlawful war.”

Grocery Workers Union to Escalate Contract Fight With Actions at Safeway Stores

submitted by UFCW 5

 

Union President Says Members Prepared for a Strike

Bay Area grocery store workers will step up their campaign to win a new contract with Safeway Stores next week with actions at two of the company’s largest stores.

 

When: Monday, February 28 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Where: 1701 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton and 525 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

 

After months of little progress at the bargaining table, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 5 is teaming up with local unions in Colorado, Washington State and throughout California to pressure Safeway and other grocery employers to reward pandemic-weary workers with contracts that reflect the sacrifices that they continue to make and the risks they continue to take.

While Safeway continues to enjoy expanded profits resulting from the ongoing pandemic, the company has thus far been unwilling to seriously address legitimate issues raised by members, and as a result, strike preparations are underway, says Local 5 President John Nunes.

“Safeway workers deserve and expect to be rewarded for their ongoing hard work at significant risk to themselves and their families posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their hazard pay was hard-won but short-lived. It is well past time that the company deliver some justice and share their bloated profits with the workers that have struggled to create them,” said Nunes.

Workers are demanding better wages, more full-time opportunities, health care improvements, and stronger enforcement of workplace health and safety standards.

“I don’t understand why it has to be such a battle every three years,” says Safeway worker Samantha Webster. “I don’t understand the mindset of these companies and how they can appear to not properly value the employees who are the key to their success and the drivers of their profits, particularly in light of what we have been through for the past two years.”

The union will expand its store site actions to additional Safeway locations in the coming weeks as well as to Lucky and Save Mart stores where negotiations also remain unresolved.

Grocery Workers Union to Escalate Contract Fight With Actions at Safeway Stores

Submitted by UFCW 5

Union President Says Members Prepared for a Strike

Bay Area grocery store workers will step up their campaign to win a new contract with Safeway Stores next week with actions at two of the company’s largest stores.

 

When: Monday, February 28 from 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM

Where: 1701 Santa Rita Road, Pleasanton and 525 El Camino Real, Menlo Park

 

After months of little progress at the bargaining table, United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 5 is teaming up with local unions in Colorado, Washington State and throughout California to pressure Safeway and other grocery employers to reward pandemic-weary workers with contracts that reflect the sacrifices that they continue to make and the risks they continue to take.

While Safeway continues to enjoy expanded profits resulting from the ongoing pandemic, the company has thus far been unwilling to seriously address legitimate issues raised by members, and as a result, strike preparations are underway, says Local 5 President John Nunes.

“Safeway workers deserve and expect to be rewarded for their ongoing hard work at significant risk to themselves and their families posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Their hazard pay was hard-won but short-lived. It is well past time that the company deliver some justice and share their bloated profits with the workers that have struggled to create them,” said Nunes.

Workers are demanding better wages, more full-time opportunities, health care improvements, and stronger enforcement of workplace health and safety standards.

“I don’t understand why it has to be such a battle every three years,” says Safeway worker Samantha Webster. “I don’t understand the mindset of these companies and how they can appear to not properly value the employees who are the key to their success and the drivers of their profits, particularly in light of what we have been through for the past two years.”

The union will expand its store site actions to additional Safeway locations in the coming weeks as well as to Lucky and Save Mart stores where negotiations also remain unresolved.

Comedy: Frankie Quiñones/Adrián Aréas Fuze Band

by the El Reportero‘s staff

 

Frankie Quiñones is a stand-up comedian best known for his character work. He tours as himself, but also as Creeper (a reformed cholo turned fitness guru) and Juanita Carmelita (a spicy suburban drama queen).

Frankie’s characters have racked up millions of views and Creeper’s Cholofit exercise routines have become viral sensations. Frankie’s repertoire of characters also includes party bro Afradooshie, feel-good guardian angel Pachanga, and he’s got plenty more ready to debut.

In addition to his stand-up and online sketches, Frankie can soon be seen as a series regular in the sitcom The Dress Up Gang, and he voices a key character in Cartoon Network’s upcoming Victor and Valentino. Additionally, he has made appearances on Comedy Central, HBO, TBS, and Nickelodeon.

This show will be a phone-free experience. Use of cellphones, smart watches, smart accessories, cameras and recording devices will not be permitted in the showroom. Upon arrival at the venue, all phones and smart watches will be secured in Yondr cases that will be opened at the end of the event.

Guests maintain possession of their phones at all times, and can access their phones throughout the show at designated Phone Use Areas in the venue. All phones will be re-secured in Yondr cases before returning to the showroom. Guests are encouraged to print their tickets in advance to ensure a smooth entry process.

Anyone seen using a cellphone during the performance will be escorted out of the venue. We appreciate your cooperation in creating a phone-free viewing experience.

At the San Jose Improv. [doors open 6pm], a comedy, 62 S Second St, San Jose,

For further assistance contact San Jose Improv at 408.280.7475.

 

The Adrian Areas Fuze Band will be Performing @ Art House Gallery & Cultural Center in Berkeley

Come enjoy yourselves with the Adrian Areas Fuze Band and have a great time at the historic Continental Club

SPECIAL GUEST: José Octavio “Chepito” Areas Dávila, is a Nicaraguan percussionist best known for co-funding and having played timbales and Conga drums in the Latin rock group Santana in 1969–1977 and 1987–1989.[1] In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for his work in Santana.

At the Continental Club, 1658 12th St, Oakland, 8 p.m.-12 a.m.

$10 cover charge.

Mexcaltitán, the island that could be the place of origin of the Mexicas

by Mexico News Daily

 

According to its inhabitants, Mexcaltitán is the mythical island of Aztlán, the place where the Mexicas came from. We tell you about this place that could inspire the ancient floating city of Mexico-Tenochtitlán.

Mexcaltitán is one of the most amazing towns in Mexico. In fact, its history is closely linked to the national history. Its name means “in the house of the Mexicans or of the moon”, and according to a legend, this place is Aztlán, from where the Mexicas left for the center of Mexico. It is located in the municipality of Santiago Ixcuintla, near the Nayarita Pacific.

According to the locals, a priest had a vision in which he saw an eagle perched on a cactus eating a snake, which was interpreted as the beginning of the pilgrimage to Tenochtitlán. Due to the similarities with the mythical island of Aztlán described by the Mexicas, Wigberto Jiménez Moreno considered that it was the same place, despite the lack of evidence. Another point to consider was the structure of the cities of Mexico-Tenochtitlán, which was founded on islets in Lake Texcoco.

This wonderful island is located in the state of Nayarit, it has an oval shape and is located in the middle of the lagoon with the same name. The perimeter of the island is 1 kilometer. The streets of Mexcaltitán are iconic for their high sidewalks, which are prepared for the rise of water during the rainy season, when the town is flooded.

Due to its geographical and pluvial location, there are no cars on the small island. Likewise, due to its peculiarities it is known as the “Mexican Venice”.

Mexcaltitán, “the place of the herons”

The island of Mexcaltitán emerged taking advantage of one of the many islets in the area made up of the San Pedro River. Thanks to the above, visitors and residents of Mexcaltitán can take advantage of the river to do water activities or obtain products such as shrimp or fish. The latter directly influences the local gastronomy, which includes dishes such as shrimp meatballs or fish cooked with recipes of pre-Hispanic origin.

Another of the things that travelers who make a stopover on the island most like are its small tiled houses, which have the appearance of low houses from the early twentieth century. In addition to them, this town of barely a thousand inhabitants has a beautiful parish church and a central square.

What to do on the island

  • Admire its narrow streets and houses with open doors.
  • Visit the Museo del Origen with its archaeological pieces and find out why it is said that this town is the cradle of Mexicanness.
  • Walk through its small square and visit the parish of San Pedro Apóstol.
  • Acquire the different handicrafts made from mangroves and water lilies: lamps, tortilla holders, hats, bags, sandals, fans and the barcinas, very traditional spheres made with blankets and palm leaves used for the conservation of dried shrimp.
  • Take a boat tour around the island.

Chayote may help prevent and treat skin cancer

02/19/2022 /by Joanne Washburn

 

Chayote (Sechium edule) is a type of summer squash that belongs to the gourd family. It’s well-known in the Southwestern United States, but it remains a novelty food item in other parts of the country.

Though botanically considered a fruit, chayote is eaten like a vegetable. All parts of this gourd are edible, including its flowers, seeds and skin. The chayote’s pale green flesh is crisp when raw and softens when cooked. Beloved for its cucumber-like mild and slightly sweet flavor, chayote can be used in many dishes and cooked in different ways.

Chayote has many of the vitamins and minerals you expect to find in a good vegetable. It also contains a host of powerful compounds and cancer-fighting antioxidants. In fact, a study by biology students showed that chayote may help prevent and treat lentigo maligna melanoma, a type of invasive skin cancer.

Chayote has the potential to treat skin cancer

Lentigo maligna melanoma develops from Hutchinson’s melanotic freckle. It usually grows on the surface layer of the epidermis – the upper or outer layer of the two main layers of cells that make up the skin – but it actually begins developing below the skin’s surface.

People with a family history of skin cancer, have light skin and have a history of skin spots face a greater risk of developing lentigo maligna melanoma than those without any of these characteristics. Experts also believe that too much unprotected sun exposure is a major risk factor as well for developing this type of skin cancer.

To address this concern, a group of biology students from Indonesia – where there are over 3,300 new cases of melanoma annually – sought to find a natural cure for lentigo maligna melanoma.

In the study, they used chayote to make an ointment that can treat the condition. They used the green gourd because it is a common agricultural crop in Indonesia. But while chayote is often used in cooking, its skin or rind is tough, so it is often removed. As such, chayote skin remains underutilized even though it secretes a clear, latex-like liquid that could be beneficial for health.

To determine the cancer-fighting compounds in chayote, the students ran several tests using a cell line with the same proliferation character as lentigo maligna melanoma cells. They used chayote paste as a test sample.

They confirmed that chayote contains saponins and flavonoids with anti-cancer potential. They then processed chayote to obtain an extract and ran an anti-proliferation test using that. The results of the test showed that the extract can help inhibit the growth of skin cancer cells.

Thanks to their findings, the students successfully processed the chayote extract into an ointment that they say can be applied to cancerous moles.

AMLO says Russian airlines welcome but minister’s Aeroflot tweet creates a stir

As other countries shut out Russian airlines, tourism minister extended ‘warm greetings’

 

by Mexico News Daily

 

Mexico will not ban Russian airlines from flying to Mexico despite Russia’s decision to launch a large-scale invasion of Ukraine last week.

President López Obrador said Monday that airlines from all countries can fly into into Mexico.

“We’re not going to close the country. … Let it be known, we’re not going to close to any country,” he said.

Mexico has condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but hasn’t imposed any sanctions.

López Obrador’s remarks at his regular news conference came after the European Union’s decision on Sunday to close its airspace to Russian airlines and other Russian-owned aircraft. They also followed Tourism Minister Miguel Torruco’s publication of a widely-condemned tweet inviting Russian flag carrier Aeroflot to fly into Mexico City.

“Warm greetings to our friends at the prestigious airline @aeroflot, hoping for prompt connectivity between nations and of course to Mexico City. I remind you that tourism is a synonym of peace, friendship and understanding between people,” Torruco wrote Saturday in a tweet he later deleted.

The tourism minister posted nine other tweets about Russian tourism to Mexico that remain on his Twitter account, noting that visitor numbers and spending were up last year compared to 2020, among other tidbits of information.

“The armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine could represent a series of economic sanctions by the international community on the government of the Russian federation, which would cause the 2022 program of flights to be affected,” Torruco said in a final tweet on the subject.

Twitter users described his tweet to Aeroflot, and his Russian tourism-related posts more broadly, with unflattering descriptors such as “unfortunate,” “lacking empathy,” “stupid” and “inopportune.”

The European Union and Canada have banned Russian flights from entering their airspace but the United States remains open.

López Obrador also announced that a Mexican Air Force plane dispatched to Romania to pick up Mexicans who have fled Ukraine had touched down in Bucharest.

“The plane is there, it already has permission to be there a considerable time, and we’re going to continue with these kinds of actions. We’re obliged to bring our citizens home safe and sound,” he said.

López Obrador also indicated he would be willing to grant asylum to Ukrainians fleeing the violence in their homeland.

“Mexico is a … country that protects, that takes care of refugees, persecuted people, people seeking to save themselves from war and confrontations,” he said.

The president predicted that Russia’s full-blown assault on Ukraine – now in its fifth day – won’t have much of an impact on the Mexican economy.

With reports from Reforma and Emeequis

Military flight to repatriate Mexicans fleeing Ukraine

Roughly a quarter of the more than 200 Mexicans living in Ukraine requested help to return home

 

by Mexico News Daily

 

The Mexican Air Force will fly to Romania to pick up Mexicans who have fled Ukraine and wish to return to Mexico, Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard announced Friday.

He said on Twitter that President López Obrador had ordered a special flight to transport families who are being evacuated from Ukraine and wish to be repatriated.

“I am grateful for the support of [Defense] Minister Luis Cresencio Sandoval,” added Ebrard, who said Thursday that Mexico “vigorously” condemns Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

A group of 22 Mexicans left the western Ukraine city of Ivano-Frankivsk on Friday to travel 190 kilometers south to the Romanian city of Siret.

“Guillermo Ordorica, our ambassador in Romania, tells me he’s already in Siret, on the border with Ukraine, to wait for and support the first 22 Mexicans who will arrive with the support of the protection protocol organized in conjunction with Olga García Guillén, [Mexican] ambassador in Ukraine,” Ebrard said on Twitter late Friday morning.

The foreign minister later posted a video showing Odorica thanking Romanian Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă for his support.

Romania’s ambassador to Mexico said on Twitter that Mexicans will always be welcome in Romania.

“The Romanian government is working to welcome people of all nationalities who are fleeing this unjust and immoral war,” Mariuz Lazurca wrote.

In another Twitter post, Ebrard said that Ambassador García had informed him that she and other diplomatic staff were unable to enter the Mexican Embassy in Kyiv because there was an explosion in an adjoining building.

He said she was working from her residence and acknowledged her “extraordinary courage” in continuing to provide assistance to Mexicans in the country.

A 36-year-old Tamaulipas man who lives in Kyiv with his wife told the newspaper El País they were having trouble getting out of the Ukrainian capital.

“We’ve been trying to leave Kyiv for days, my wife is six months pregnant,” Alex Ricalday said Wednesday. “… [But] there are no train tickets, we can’t find flights on any airline. … We thought we would have more time,” he said.

Ricalday said he finally managed to reserve a rental car and planned to drive to Lviv before crossing the border to Poland.

A 41-year-old Chihuahua woman told El País that she was hunkering down in Kyiv with her husband and nine-year-old step-son, who don’t have travel documents to leave the country.

“For me this is something completely new,” Ivette Rossano said. “I’m Mexican and although we have some conflicts with the cartels I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t afraid.”

More than 200 Mexicans who live in Ukraine registered their details with the Mexican Embassy, and at least 50 requested assistance to leave the country.

In addition to Romania and Poland, people fleeing Ukraine are also heading to Hungary and Slovakia. All four countries belong to the North American Treaty Organization, or NATO, and their security is thus guaranteed by the other member nations.

With reports from Sin Embargo, El Universal and El País

Bishop pleads not to execute a woman convicted of the death of her 2-year-old daughter

Shared/by Walter Sánchez Silva

ACI Press

 

Msgr. Daniel E. Flores, Bishop of Brownsville, begged the authorities of Texas (United States) not to execute Melissa Lucio, a 53-year-old woman who was sentenced to death for the death, in 2007, of Mariah Álvarez, her two-year-old daughter.

“15 years ago, the Rio Grande Valley was shocked to hear of the death, in Brownsville, of Mariah, a two-year-old girl. Today Melissa Lucio, mother of the little girl, and now grandmother, is sentenced to death, waiting to be executed for the death of her daughter,” explained the Prelate in a recent statement.

“There are many circumstances that raise questions about Melissa Lucio’s conviction for first-degree murder. The information on the case and the mitigating circumstances around it are available to those who want to know more about it,” said the Bishop.

Regarding the future execution, the Bishop stressed that “death is not the answer to death. You don’t make a tragedy better by killing someone else. Justice is not restored because another person dies.”

“Executing Melissa will not give her children peace, it will only cause more pain and suffering.

I plead with the state of Texas to commute Melissa’s death sentence. Let’s not rule out her life.”

“I ask everyone to work and pray to end the death penalty in Texas and in the country,” he concluded.

Melissa Elizabeth Lucio is the first woman of Hispanic descent in Texas to be sentenced to death since the state reinstated capital punishment in 1976.

Lucio had 14 children, and nine of them lived with her and her boyfriend, Robert Álvarez. On February 17, 2007, paramedics were called to her home because the youngest girl, two-year-old Mariah Álvarez, was unresponsive, not breathing, and had a broken arm.

The girl was pronounced dead at a local hospital, where the emergency room doctor said that in 30 years of practice she had not seen a case of child abuse worse than Mariah’s, after which Lucio was arrested.

It was later determined that Mariah’s arm had been broken two to seven weeks prior to her death and she had not been treated for this condition.

Melissa Lucio was convicted and sentenced to death on Aug. 12, 2008. She is currently in the Mountain View Unit which has a “death row” for women in Texas.

In 2011 an appeal was rejected. In 2019, a three-judge panel of the Federal Court of Appeals overturned the sentence due to the trial court’s interference in Lucio’s right to present a defense.

This decision was later overturned and Lucio remained on death row.

In August 2021, a group made up of jurists, experts on violence against women and representatives of 16 organizations that fight against violence against women presented a brief in favor of Lucio.

However, in January 2022, Cameron County officials signed an execution order for Lucio, which is scheduled for April 27.

Melissa’s lawyer defends that the woman is innocent and that “her daughter died from an accidental fall and not from a criminal hand.”

Sonia, Melissa Lucio’s sister, said that “as long as we can, we will continue fighting for Melissa because she is innocent.”

According to Telemundo40, the sister asks “that they write to the Governor and they can also call him. Let them watch the film and give Melissa mercy and let her off the hook. She already suffered a lot.”

The film she is referring to is the 2020 documentary “The State of Texas vs Melissa.”

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