THE GRAND RAPIDS PRESS
S U N DAY, F E B RUA RY 1 2 , 2 0 17
DON’T GO THERE We’re in the middle of winter. Days are getting longer, yes, but we’ve got a way to go before the joy of spring. To keep things light, today we offer you “Things You Should Never Say to a Yooper.”
Trump says he might give travel ban a tweak or a makeover WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said
he might give his refugee and immigration travel ban a second try, either as a revision or as a new order, as he contends with an appeals court ruling that prevents the ban from being enforced. Trump said he expected to win the legal battle over his original directive even though options were being considered by the White House. Advisers were debating the next step in response to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruling that upheld a restraining order on the travel ban. The White House directive had suspended the nation’s refugee program and barred all entries from seven Muslim-majority countries. A White House official initially suggested the administration would not ask the Supreme Court to overturn that order. But chief of staff Reince Priebus scrambled to clarify to reporters that “every single court option is on the table,” including a high court appeal or “fighting out this case on the merits” in a lower court.
President’s attacks on judiciary raise safety concerns for judges SEATTLE — When a judge who helped derail
President Donald Trump’s travel ban was hit with online threats, the abuse raised safety concerns among jurists across the country, and experts are worried that the president’s own attacks on the judiciary could make judges a more inviting target. U.S. District Judge James Robart imposed the temporary restraining order that halted enforcement of Trump’s ban last week. The president soon sent a tweet saying the opinion of “this so-called judge” was “ridiculous and would be overturned.” He also tweeted that the judge was “a known liberal sympathizer” and had “just opened the door to terrorists!” Robart quickly became a target on social media. Someone on Twitter called him a “DEAD MAN WALKING” and another on Facebook suggested he be imprisoned at the military detention center at Guantanamo Bay, “where other enemies of the US are held.” The president’s critical comments have consequences, said John Muffler, a former U.S. marshal who teaches security at the Reno, Nevada-based National Judicial College, because “people on the edge can easily be pushed over the edge once the rhetoric gets going.”
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Don’t bad-mouth Finland: The U.S. Census indicates the Upper Peninsula is home to the largest population of those of Finnish heritage outside of Finland. Don’t insult the motherland.
German visitor Lea Stubbe rubs water on a pilot whale that beached itself Friday at the remote Farewell Spit on the tip of the South Island of New Zealand. Volunteers in New Zealand managed to refloat about 100 surviving pilot whales Saturday and are hoping they will swim back out to sea after more than 400 of the creatures swam aground at a remote beach. AP
Powerful quake kills at least 6 in southern Philippines SURIGAO, PHILIPPINES — A powerful nighttime earthquake in the southern Philippines killed at least six people and injured more than 120, with officials combing through cracked buildings and nearby towns Saturday to check on the damage and other possible casualties. The magnitude 6.7 quake roused residents from their sleep late Friday in Surigao del Norte province, forcing hundreds of people to flee their homes. The quake was centered about 8 miles northwest of the provincial capital of Surigao at a relatively shallow depth of 6 miles, said Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Seismology and Volcanology. Nearly 100 aftershocks have been felt, officials said. Evacuation centers accommodated wary residents overnight, but many returned home Saturday, Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo said. At least six people were killed, mostly after being struck by falling debris and concrete walls, provincial disaster-response official Gilbert Gonzales said. At least 126 others were injured in Surigao, where the quake knocked out power and forced the closure of the domestic airport due to deep cracks in its runway,
officials said.
More whales stranded in New Zealand, bringing total to 650 WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND — A new pod of
240 whales swam aground at a remote New Zealand beach Saturday just hours after weary volunteers managed to refloat a different group of whales following an earlier mass stranding. In total, more than 650 pilot whales have beached themselves along a 3 mile stretch of coastline over two days on Farewell Spit at the tip of the South Island. About 335 of the whales are dead, 220 remain stranded, and 100 are back at sea. Department of Conservation Golden Bay Operations Manager Andrew Lamason said they are sure they’re dealing with a new pod because they had tagged all the refloated whales from the first group and none of the new group had tags. The news was devastating for hundreds of volunteers who had come from around the country to help with the initial group of 416 stranded whales that was found early Friday, many of them already dead. Volunteers were planning to return today to help refloat as many healthy whales as they can.
“I can’t stand the Packers!” Depending on where you are in the U.P., you most likely are in Packer territory. Yes, there are some Lions fans, as well as Vikings fans and an occasional Bears fan. Maybe just avoid the topic of professional football. “I got you this Michiganshaped gift that doesn’t include the U.P.” Don’t you dare give a current U.P. resident, former U.P. resident or a U.P. native anything that claims to depict Michigan and does not include the Upper Peninsula. Really, you shouldn’t give that gift to anyone. You are essentially giving them half of a gift. Sauna — you’re probably saying it wrong. Sure, when you’re under the bridge, hanging out with the other trolls, you can mispronounce it “sah-na.” In the U.P. though, you need to say it correctly. It’s “SOW-nuh.” It’s a Finnish word. Many in the U.P. have Finnish heritage. They know. “There’s half a foot of snow in my yard!” Never complain about snowfall to a Yooper. They have no sympathy and likely will laugh at you. To them, 6 inches is a dusting. — Jessica Shepherd, jessica_shepherd@mlive.com
Stroke: Are You at Risk? According to the National Stroke Association, cerebrovascular disease is the fifth-leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability. Yet research shows that too few people know what a stroke is and how to recognize when a stroke is happening. Join us for our Doctor Dialogue, where you’ll learn how to avoid a stroke through lifestyle changes and medical management. The evening will also provide information on the signs and symptoms of a stroke, how to get help FAST and the latest treatment options. WHEN Wednesday, February 15, 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. Complimentary light dinner provided WHERE Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park 1000 East Beltline Avenue NE, Grand Rapids
Think Love Think Stroke Prevention
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Muhib Khan, MD Vascular Neurology
THE DOCTOR DIALOGUE SERIES ©Spectrum Health 02.2017
Eanas Yassa, MD Vascular Surgery
Call or register online now to attend this free informational event.
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