Title 42, the policy that allowed the US to expel asylum-seekers using a public health pretext, will end on Thursday, June 17, when the COVID-19 pandemic emergency is lifted. Several US lawmakers have been trying to hold onto the Trump-era order and the Biden administration will replace the policy with several new ones based on the concept of trying to scare migrants from arriving at the border instead of addressing the cause of migration. The new policies include putting into effect a new asylum rule that will largely bar migrants who passed through another country from seeking asylum in the US. The rule will presume migrants are ineligible for asylum in the US if they did not first seek refuge in a country they transited through, like Mexico, on their way to the border. After the five-year ban expires, they could face criminal prosecution or be removed from the US as a result of a speedy deportation process called "expedited removal." The administration has sent 1,500 active-duty National Guard soldiers to help monitor the border, but this policy is expected to result in migrants continuing to arrive at the US-Mexico border as they will be searching for work and safety.

Former President Donald Trump's CNN town hall on Wednesday night was vintage Trump: whining, complaining, and blaming others for his problems. He used the first-person pronoun in nearly every sentence. The former president failed to acknowledge the very real pain felt by so many Americans and showed no empathy towards them. Trump's MAGA base might have enjoyed his airing of grievances, but he did not win over independent voters. Moreover, his narcissistic behavior, whining about the election he lost, and grumbling about being indicted in New York may mobilize anti-Trump voters even more. Notably, there's not a hint of empathy for the heroic cops who were brutally attacked on January 6th.

This was a typical Trump performance with no substance, but still, his followers keep admiring his showmanship. The former president's constant lies, vulgarity, and hate speech have caused significant damage to the body politic of our country, and it's time for responsible print and television journalists to refuse to provide him a platform. CNN's town hall was a platform that Trump used to spread his lies and conspiracy theories. Though it was essential to invite Donald Trump, the leading candidate for the GOP's presidential nomination, it is also crucial to hold him accountable for his words and not allow him to continue misleading the American people.

Daniel Penny is expected to face a charge of Manslaughter in the Second Degree following the chokehold death of Jordan Neely on a New-York subway train. Neely died following outbursts on the train, and several witnesses reported that he was yelling and harassing passengers. Despite not being specifically threatened by Neely, Penny, a Marine veteran, intervened and put Neely in a chokehold which led to his untimely death. Penny is to be charged with manslaughter in the second degree by the Manhattan district attorney's office, who expects him to turn himself in. Penny's attorney's stated that Mr. Penny will be fully absolved of any wrongdoing once all the circumstances surrounding this tragic incident are brought to bear. They added that Penny had acted to protect himself and his fellow passengers when Mr. Neely began aggressively threatening him. Nevertheless, the charge against him still stands. In the meantime, news media has reported that photojournalist Stephanie Keith, who was covering a protest over the killing of Jordan Neely, has issued a demand for charges to be dropped against her following her arrest and summons during a protest that turned violent.

On Thursday, House Republicans are set to vote on the Secure the Border Act of 2023, a bill designed to increase security measures at the US-Mexico border. It mandates the hiring and training of 22,000 Border Patrol agents, the development of a plan to upgrade existing technology, and the resumption of border wall construction. The same day also marks the end of Covid restrictions that allow for the rapid expulsion of migrants, known as Title 42. The vote is unlikely to be made into law as Democrats hold a slim majority in the Senate, and the White House has issued a veto threat stating the bill could make "elements of our immigration system worse." Democrats have previously warned that the bill extends beyond border security, punishing all non-citizens, including legal residents, trafficking victims, and refugees. Human rights organizations have called on Congress to vote against the legislation, highlighting the devastating implications it could have on LGBTQ+ individuals fleeing fatal violence and persecution. LGBTQ+ asylum seekers are systemically targeted for violence and blocked from seeking asylum due to Title 42.

President Biden has delayed a planned in-person meeting with congressional leaders on the issue of lifting the nation's debt limit, which is set to expire in early June. The meeting was called off after the staff-level talks between the White House and congressional leadership staff made progress towards resolving the issue. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's office informed that the meeting was no longer necessary as the discussions had advanced fruitfully. Although Biden has rejected the idea of negotiating a debt limit increase, he has expressed his willingness to negotiate spending levels. The White House is currently racing to reach an agreement with the Republicans on the spending level before the US faces default as early as June 1. A source familiar with the negotiations informed that the White House had raised non-negotiable items such as rolling back student debt forgiveness, Medicaid and SNAP benefits, among others, in Wednesday's meeting. Biden, however, said he sees staff-level meetings as the path to reaching a deal.

Florida's Attorney General Ashley Moody has filed a lawsuit against the Biden Administration, seeking to prevent the government's latest immigration plan when the Covid-era Title 42 rules expire. Moody argues that the policies are "unquestionably cynical." Title 42 refers to a section of the US Code addressing public health, social welfare, and civil rights. President Trump used it to turn people away at the border on public health grounds during the pandemic, but now, with the policy expiring, the Biden administration is preparing to release migrants in the US on "parole." Moody is attempting to spur federal officials to explain how their latest immigration plan does not violate a court order obtained earlier this year. Meanwhile, U.S. Senator Josh Hawley wants the Biden Administration to continue using Title 42 to repel illegal immigrants, claiming that a "biggest number of people moving across our border ever" will occur. Hawley also calls for Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas to resign and wants Congress to impeach him if he does not step down.

A new immigration law signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis requires businesses with 25 or more workers to register employees under E-verify and have hospitals ask for citizenship status, causing fear in communities and potentially damaging the economy. Immigration advocates are pushing back, warning that the new legislation is creating unrest in the community and advising the undocumented community not to answer questions about their immigration status in hospitals. Advocates and agriculture workers are raising concerns, stating that people are scared of the new law and that this could prompt them to leave the state. "Immigrant communities are 20% of our state workforce, they contribute with over 13 billion to the state in taxes every single year," said David Metellus, Director of Policy and Politics at the Florida Immigration Solution. Some leaders in South Florida's Haitian community believe the bill will be challenged and see it as unconstitutional.

The U.S. House recently advanced HR 2, the “Secure the Border” Act, which aims to limit entry opportunities for asylum seekers who migrate to the country. However, the bill, introduced by the Republican party, is seen as a detrimental move for vulnerable members of the LGBTQ+ community, who flee fatal violence and persecution in their home countries. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and 143 other organizations have urged members of Congress to vote “no” on the legislation. LGBTQ+ asylum seekers often face systemic targeting for kidnapping, extortion, rape, and other violence besides living in fear for their lives on a global scale. The bill will only intensify the current humanitarian crisis rather than alleviate one, warn critics. Many LGBTQ+ refugees build their hopes on a lifeline to the U.S., especially those fleeing violence abroad, which is compromised by such a bill. Under the current policies of Title 42 and “Remain in Mexico,” LGBTQ+ asylum seekers' access to asylum has been continuously undermined, leading to increased risks and threats emanating from their refugee status. The Republican-led bill seeks to enhance the requirement of E-verify, the database employers use to verify immigration status, increases funding for border agents and technology, reinstates the “remain in Mexico” policy, introduces new rules for asylum seekers, and restarts the construction of the border wall.

As Title 42, the last remaining Covid-era immigration restriction, is set to expire, the US is bracing for an influx of migrants. Migrants have been bussed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott to northern cities that have declared themselves sanctuary cities. Major cities like New York, Chicago and Philadelphia are reportedly struggling to cope with the arrival of large numbers of migrants, forcing them to issue emergency declarations and demand more funding from the federal government. As immigrants continue to wait to be processed and make asylum claims, the impending crisis has put President Joe Biden under increasing political pressure from both sides of the immigration debate. Observers claim that the crisis could impact Biden's perceived level of competence, with critics drawing parallels to the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan. Meanwhile, Black Americans who have long struggled with poverty and underemployment are rejecting the influx of migrants that they say would divert much needed resources and create unnecessary competition for already scarce job opportunities. All eyes are on the White House to manage the situation.

On Thursday, Senate Democrats pushed for the confirmation of six judicial nominees, but notably excluded Michael Delaney, Biden’s pick for the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals. Delaney’s nomination has been riddled with controversy due to his handling of a 2016 civil suit surrounding the sexual assault of a minor while he was in private practice. This led to several key Senate Democrats, including Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan, voting against his confirmation. However, three Biden picks were able to advance on a party-line vote, requiring Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s attendance after her notable time away following a shingles diagnosis. Although previous confirmations have sparked intense Republican opposition, Democrats still push forward. Meanwhile, progressive groups have demanded increased investigative measures into the Supreme Court’s alleged corruption. Despite these calls for subpoenas and action from Ethic Reform supporters, the Court retains its current nine justices. Will the increased presence of Senate Democrats lead to more confirmations pushing Biden’s nominations through? Or will the courtroom continue to be hotly contested by opposing parties?

Britain has confirmed that it has provided Ukraine with long-range Storm Shadow missiles, which have a range of over 250km, and which it requested for its fight against Russian forces. The UK’s decision follows repeated pleas from Ukraine for more weapons from the West, after Russia targeted Ukrainian civilian infrastructure. The weapons will grant Ukraine the ability to defend itself and strike targets deep behind the front line. However, Ukraine has previously stated that longer-range missiles would not be used to attack Russian targets. There is concern amongst Western allies that Ukraine could use long-range missiles to strike against targets in Russia, potentially triggering Moscow's response. Britain has warned Russia of further gifts of capable weapons in December 2021 that could result from further attacks on Ukraine. Russian state news agencies have described the move as “escalating tensions”.

As Title 42 comes to an end, the Department of Homeland Security's expedited removal process may mean swift deportation of migrants apprehended under Title 8. However, the challenge for authorities facing a high number of border arrests is that Title 8 processing time is longer, posing a steep challenge. Title 42 had enabled the quick expulsion of migrants, which helped in reducing processing time. The administration is rolling out new asylum policies following the expiration of Title 42, which includes a new asylum rule that will largely bar migrants who passed through another country from seeking asylum in the US. If migrants are found ineligible for asylum, they could be barred from the US for five years.

Now that the policy has ended, wait times at the San Ysidro and Otay Mesa ports of entry are being impacted by the surge in migrants at the border. People coming into the US from Mexico on foot and by car are experiencing extended wait times, which are expected to increase. The U.S. Consulate in Tijuana has warned of longer wait times and possible closures, advising travelers to be prepared and track wait times on the U.S. Customs and Border Protection's wait-time tracking software. The US Customs and Border Protection conducted a planned training exercise at the San Ysidro Port of Entry, which was shut down for a short period, resulting in minimal processing delays.

On Wednesday night, former president Donald Trump held a prime-time town hall on CNN, deploying a barrage of falsehoods. Despite the public backlash, CNN Chairman Chris Licht issued a robust defense of the broadcast, stating that "America was served very well by what we did". Trump repeated several lies that birthed the insurrection and repeatedly asserted that the 2020 election was rigged. He expressed no remorse for Mike Pence narrowly escaping the Capitol riot. He beatified Ashli Babbitt, the Capitol rioter who was shot dead, and committed to pardoning most of the January 6 rioters. The former president ridiculed the "whack job" E Jean Carroll, who accused him of rape and won her lawsuit against him for sexual abuse and defamation. Immigration and energy remain Trump's talking points, compelling independents and working-class voters. CNN moderator Kaitlan Collins was no match for Trump's tactics. Despite the criticisms, Licht stated that it is the network's job to have "that messy conversation". If the 2016 campaign showed that many Americans could not agree on common facts, the Babel-like nature of Wednesday's town hall suggested that voters now occupy wholly different universes.

A leading progressive group is calling on Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the head of the Senate Judiciary Committee, to issue subpoenas in investigations into Supreme Court corruption following allegations of corruption involving Justice Clarence Thomas and his relationship with Republican donor Harlan Crow. The Progressive Change Campaign Committee is requesting that subpoenas be issued as “every day Clarence Thomas remains on the Court, it loses legitimacy." with Feinstein being the last vote needed. A petition initiated by the group has received more than 135,000 signatures.

Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) returned to the Senate on Wednesday, and relatively soon after, the Senate Democrats approved six Biden judicial nominees on the Judiciary Committee. Three of them were advancing party-line vote, meaning Feinstein's attendance became more necessary for advancement. Reshaping the judiciary with more liberal judges is one of the few things that President Biden and his fellow Democrats can do in a gridlocked government, where Republicans hold the House, and confirming judges was frequently brought up when Feinstein was called on to resign.

 However, the committee did not vote on former New Hampshire Attorney General Michael Delaney, President Joe Biden's embattled selection for the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals. The status of Delaney's nomination for a New Hampshire seat on the circuit court remains in limbo after a months-long campaign led by New Hampshire Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan.

The Boston Celtics defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 114-102 in Game 3 of their Eastern Conference semifinals, with Al Horford playing a key role in the win. Philadelphia got as close as two points in the third quarter but failed to capitalize due to their poor execution offensively. Sixers' coach Doc Rivers believes that the Celtics trusted more in the past than his team did, leading to his team losing the game. James Harden had an off-night with only one made shot much to their detriment. Harden and Tyrese Maxey's return improved the Sixers' offense and helped them become the best offense in the league. Now with Joel Embiid returning, Harden may have to adapt to a lesser role and depend more on open shots and dive cuts instead of the coach's isolation plays. He had a lot of success attacking Al Horford in Game 1, which Philadelphia should continue to do so. Moreover, Boston may be one of the more aggressive teams when sending help at Embiid, which means the ball may come out of his hands faster, opening opportunities for Harden. Will the Sixers bounce back and win Game 4?

The Minnesota Vikings' schedule for the 2023 season has been released, but the order of the games is yet to be determined. The Vikings are set to have eight home and nine away games against notable opponents. Out of the nine games away from home, six of them will be against teams from the NFC North, and three will be played against the Falcons, Panthers, Raiders, Broncos, Bengals, and Eagles. The Vikings were the NFC North champions last season, and they will play the entire AFC West division and NFC South division in 2023, along with the Chiefs, Buccaneers, 49ers, and Saints. So, which of these games are most likely to get prime-time slots? A ranking by Tyler Forness suggested the Packers, Bears, Lions, Chargers, Eagles, Panthers, and the 49ers. However, it remains to be seen which of these games will get a prime-time slot. Fans will have to wait until September to see how the Vikings fare in the upcoming season.

The 58th Academy of Country Music Awards, hosted by Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks, was streamed live on Amazon Prime on May 11. HARDY received seven nominations going into the night and he ultimately won two awards, including Song of the Year for "Give Heaven Some Hell". Lainey Wilson, who was closely behind HARDY with six nominations, took home the award for Female Artist of the Year. Carrie Underwood won the Entertainer of the Year award, making this her second time winning this title after her win in 2009. She also performed her new single, "Stronger Than Ever" during the show.

Luke Combs was the biggest winner of the night, taking home three awards, including Album of the Year for What You See Ain't Always What You Get, Male Artist of the Year, and Collaboration of the Year for his song with Billy Strings, "The Great Divide".

Other notable winners include Miranda Lambert, who won both Vocal Event of the Year and Video of the Year for "Settling Down"; Chris Stapleton, who won for Single of the Year with "Starting Over"; and Sugarland's Kristian Bush, who won the Music Event of the Year award with Nelly for their song, "Take Me Home". The ACM Awards also featured performances from a variety of country music artists, including Ed Sheeran, who made his ACM debut, Keith Urban, and Ashley McBryde.

ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins dissected Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton's performance against Denver Nuggets' Nikola Jokic, scrutinizing the Suns big man for a perceived lack of fight on the court. Perkins' new ESPN segment, called "iSpy with Big Perk," featured clips that showed Ayton supposedly fearful of the former back-to-back MVP. It's hard to discredit Big Perk's harsh assessment against Ayton since Jokic was able to dominate throughout the series, improving his case against Ayton. Perkins asserted: "I see a guy whose heart is pumping kool aid in Deandre Ayton, and the one thing is that film don't lie."

Business Intelligence (BI) is increasingly vital within the financial sector to facilitate data-driven decision making and optimize operations. BI tools can effectively mitigate risk management within finance, accurately assessing the probabilities of loan repayments, minimizing losses and encouraging shrewd decision-making. Moreover, the enhanced accuracy of data-driven software helps to circumvent human error, and the timely analysis of large data facilitates optimized market evaluation and increased profit margins. BI also enables efficient fraud detection by analyzing transactional data and detecting any anomalies that might affect the business. Despite its numerous benefits, companies can face disconnects with internally siloed departments - leaders must integrate budgets with operations and sales. By aligning financial planning with operational planning, organizations can layer financial risks and opportunities on top of sales and operational outcomes, creating a more robust, agile, and connected supply chain. Ultimately, the implementation of BI facilitates incisive decision-making, enabling financial organizations to optimize their operational planning, and generate higher profits.

When it comes to ringing the bell before a Sixers game, it seems like having a recognizable celebrity can do more harm than good. With Game 6 being the most important game in the last five years for the team, Sixers fans are petitioning for the most unknown person possible to ring the bell. This could be anyone from a retired weatherman to a random fan at the front door. The tradition of ringing the bell started in 2018 with the postgame bell-ringing ceremony as a way to commemorate wins. However, the bell-ringing ceremony has now turned into an important pregame ritual rooted in the team's culture. The coaches decide who deserves the honor after each victory, nominating either the leading scorer or a player returning from an injury.

The most memorable bell-ringing ceremonies have involved surprisingly unknown individuals, such as Wanda Sykes or Meek Mill when he was released from jail. While the team will undoubtedly choose another worthy bell ringer for Game 6, the pressure is high, and it might be the most critical decision for the Sixers' success in the game.

The Boston Celtics are making a major change to their starting lineup in a must-win Game 6 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Celtics' head coach Joe Mazzulla has decided to swap guard Derrick White with center Robert Williams. This move would bring Williams back into the All-Defensive Team starting center role he played last season. Injuries have limited his game time this season, resulting in him being used as a reserve. This matchup against the Sixers, who are led by MVP Joel Embiid and veteran point guard James Harden, could be a turning point for Williams to shine.

This sudden change by Mazzulla comes as no surprise to the Sixers, as they prepare for the unexpected at Wells Fargo Center. With Williams as their starting center, the Celtics have a better defensive stance in protecting the rim against Embiid's offensive prowess and Harden's pick-and-roll plays. Williams' strong presence on the perimeter and his ability to rebound and screen for the team make him an ideal candidate for starting in this crucial game, according to Mazzulla.

The Celtics' starting five has remained the same in all their postseason games so far, but with their backs against the wall, Mazzulla is looking for a spark to ignite his squad. It remains to be seen whether this change will work in the Celtics' favor and allow them to force a Game 7 or if the Sixers will secure their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in over two decades.

James Harden, NBA star and player for the Philadelphia 76ers, has invited shooting survivor John Hao to attend Game 3 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Boston Celtics. Hao was one of the victims of the mass shooting incident at Michigan State University in February of this year. Previously paralyzed from the waist down, Hao has made a remarkable recovery and can now attend the game to watch his favorite player in action. Harden had promised Hao that he would invite him to a game as soon as he was able to attend. The star player had previously sent Hao a pair of game-worn shoes, among other memorabilia, and offered words of encouragement via Facetime. With the series tied at 1-1, Game 3 proves crucial for the 76ers who seek a win against the Celtics.

Philadelphia 76ers star center Joel Embiid has been named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for the 2022-23 season, after a scattering start to his career. He underwent foot surgery and then had to be benched again due to a knee injury. But doubts about his ability to fully recover from these injuries were laid to rest as he led the NBA in scoring for a second straight year. This is also a boost to what the Sixers called The Process, which was initiated in the 2010s and was seen as a way to lose numerous games so that they could land young prospects like Embiid. The move was met with criticism and the term 'tanking' was coined afterwards. In the first two rounds of the NBA playoffs, the 76ers was undefeated. Embiid is the fifth 76er ever to win the NBA MVP, following in the footsteps of legends Wilt Chamberlain, Moses Malone, Julius Erving, and Allen Iverson.

Disney CEO Bob Iger's return to the helm of the company was met with great fanfare from park loyalists who openly criticized his handpicked successor's "business first, customer last" mentality. Since his return, Iger has taken a personal interest in new projects and worked to reconnect with theme park fans. Changes were quickly rolled out, such as free overnight self-parking and free digital downloads of ride photos for guests. Additionally, Disney has ramped up character meet-and-greets, introduced new characters, and brought back the annual pass at Disney World.

While many park-goers are pleased with these changes, analysts warn that keeping everyone happy at the parks is a tall order. Some may still complain about reduced prices leading to larger crowds. But Iger has acknowledged the previous pricing strategy may have been too aggressive and smart pricing could maintain the brand's value of accessibility. Despite the challenges, it seems that Iger’s initiatives are starting to restore the magic and bring back the incentives that drew guests to Disney-owned resorts.

After the Celtics tied up their second-round series against the Sixers with a dominating 128-103 victory in Game 2 on Wednesday night, head coach Joe Mazzulla made an apparently sarcastic comment during his press conference by asking the media if anyone wanted to ask about the adjustments they made from Game 1 to Game 2. This was an “idiotic” move and not a “mic drop moment” as Mazzulla suggested, according to a recent WEEI podcast. Analysts criticized him, saying that he’s adding to the emotional rollercoaster of the team and showing immaturity. On Thursday, Mazzulla made a comment on a hot mic that went viral, where he said he was the worst coach ever. However, he cleared up the comment before Game 3, saying he forgot to recognize Celtics guard Marcus Smart for winning the NBA Hustle Award during a press conference the day before. This award is based on a player's advanced hustle statistics, and Smart won it for the second consecutive year and the third time overall.