News With References

Airline CEOs urge Congress to end shutdown and pay airport TSA officers The CEOs of major US airlines urged Congress on Sunday to move quickly to end a 29-day partial government shutdown that has forced 50,000 airport security officers to work without pay, warning it could further disrupt US air travel. Absences by Transportation Security Administration (TSA) officers had already disrupted travel at some major airports over the previous week, raising alarm as the busy spring break travel season continues. ...The homeland security department’s funding lapsed on 13 February after Congress failed to reach a deal on immigration enforcement reforms demanded by Democrats. ... Ref: www.theguardian.com

6 US soldiers killed in war to be honored with dignified transfer The dignified transfer of the six U.S. soldiers killed during the ongoing conflict in the Middle East will be held Saturday at Dover Air Force Base... The six soldiers who died have been identified as: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Marzan, 54, of Sacramento Maj. Jeffrey O’Brien, 45, of Indianola, Iowa Sgt. Declan Coady, 20, of West Des Moines, Iowa Sgt. 1st Class Nicole Amor, 39, of White Bear Lake, Minnesota Capt. Cody Khork, 35, of Winter Haven, Florida Sgt. 1st Class Noah Tietjens, 42, of Bellevue, Nebraska Ref: www.fox10tv.com

Trump Warns Rioters: Federal Property Will Be Defended 'Very Forcefully' he ordered Department of Homeland Security Director Kristi Noem to protect federal buildings from vandals and agitators, he said in a Truth Social post. "Please be aware that I have instructed ICE and/or Border Patrol to be very forceful in this protection of Federal Government Property," Trump said. "There will be no spitting in the faces of our Officers, there will be no punching or kicking the headlights of our cars, and there will be no rock or brick throwing at our vehicles, or at our Patriot Warriors.” Ref: townhall.com

‘Melania’ Humiliates Media, Exceeds Expectations with Best Documentary Box Office Opening in Decade The legacy media are eating crow once more now that Melania has scored the best box office opening for a documentary in a decade. ...The far-left Deadline reports that Melania will close the weekend box office in third place with an $8 million opening, a “result that would mark the best start for a docu in the last decade.” Reference: www.breitbart.com

Trump Tax Changes: Experts Issue Advice to 2026 Filers highlighted the new benefits for older taxpayers: “Starting in 2025, taxpayers who are 65 or older may claim an extra $6,000 deduction per year—an extra $12,000 if you file a joint tax return with your spouse and you are both 65 or older.” Only older taxpayers who fall within specific income ranges can receive the full $6,000 benefit. The maximum deduction is available to individuals with modified adjusted gross income of $75,000 or less Ref: www.newsweek.com

Federal probe targets alleged Minnesota Somali fraud 'network' The Small Business Administration is investigating a network of Somali groups in Minnesota that it says is tied to a massive COVID fraud scandal highlighting alleged systemic failures by Gov. Tim Walz’s team to properly audit public funds. ..."Numerous individuals and nonprofits indicted in the $1 billion Minnesota COVID fraud scandal, including Feeding Our Future, received SBA PPP loans in addition to other state and federal funding," Small Business Administrator Kelly Loeffler announced on X. "I have ordered an investigation into the network of Somali organizations and executives implicated in these schemes." ... Ref: www.foxnews.com