DC Residents Revolt Over Soaring Utility Bills

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DC Residents Revolt Over Soaring Utility Bills (Maria)

The author writes, “Shocked by your winter utility bill? You’re not alone. Nearly 100 residents, small business owners and advocacy groups testified before the DC Council last week, blasting eye-popping bills and questioning why the Public Service Commission (PSC) keeps approving rate hikes. No one expects their bill to double or triple — especially if their energy use hasn’t changed.”

US Troops Were Told Iran War Is for ‘Armageddon,’ Return of Jesus (Sean)

The author writes, “A combat-unit commander told non-commissioned officers at a briefing Monday that the Iran war is part of God’s plan and that Pres. Donald Trump was ‘anointed by Jesus to light the signal fire in Iran to cause Armageddon and mark his return to Earth,’ according to a complaint by a non-commissioned officer. From Saturday morning through Monday night, more than 110 similar complaints about commanders in every branch of the military had been logged by the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF).”

‘South Texas Will Never Be Red Again’: Home Builders Warn GOP Over Trump’s Immigration Raids (Dana)

From Politico: “Home builders are warning President Donald Trump that his aggressive immigration enforcement efforts are hurting their industry. They’re cautioning that Republican candidates could soon be hurt, too. Construction executives have held multiple meetings over the last month with the White House and Congress to discuss how immigration busts on job sites and in communities are scaring away employees, making it more expensive to build homes in a market desperate for new supply. Beyond the affordability issue, the executives made an electability argument, raising concerns to GOP leaders that support among Hispanic voters is eroding, particularly in regions that swung to Trump in 2024.”

Exclusive: US Aims To Bring in 4,500 White South Africans Per Month as Refugees, Document Says (DonkeyHotey)

From Reuters: “The U.S. aims to process 4,500 refugee applications from white South Africans per month, far above President Donald Trump’s stated refugee program cap, and is installing trailers on embassy property in Pretoria to support the effort, a U.S. contracting document said. The new target, contained in a previously unreported document from the U.S. State Department dated January 27, signals a push to ramp up admissions from South Africa, while refugee applications from other areas have been severely curtailed.”

What Are the Biggest Climate Polluters Near You? (Laura)

From Yale Climate Connections: “Many people already understand that climate-warming pollution is rising globally and that it’s caused by human activities like burning fossil fuels and releasing methane gas. But do you know if there are major climate polluters near you? Thanks to several publicly available mapping tools, it’s never been easier to find out. As environmental protections are being rolled back at the federal level in the U.S., local knowledge may be more powerful than ever.”

An Ohio Newspaper Has a New Star Writer. It Isn’t Human. (Russ)

The authors write, “The Plain Dealer, Cleveland’s largest newspaper, has begun to feature a new byline. On recent articles about an ice carving festival, a medical research discovery and a roaming pack of chicken-slaying dogs, a reporter’s name is paired with the words ‘Advance Local Express Desk.’ It means: This article was drafted by artificial intelligence.”