Trump seeks greater control of independent regulators with his new executive order

• February 19, 2025

By JOSH BOAK

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is moving to give the White House direct control of independent federal regulators such as the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal Communications Commission.

The executive order that Trump signed Tuesday gives the president more power to shape the oversight of the financial system and lay out criteria for transportation safety, basic consumer protections and wireless, broadcast, satellite and broadband communications.

It is part of a broader push by the Trump administration to assert greater authority over the government, possibly limiting the spending of congressionally approved funds in ways that could set up lawsuits and lead courts to weigh in.

Past administrations saw public benefit in having regulators that could operate in the long-term interests of the country without the daily machinations of politics. Presidents could exercise informal control by whom they appointed to lead the agencies without necessarily requiring those agencies to submit strategic plans to the White House and lose access to funding initiatives as the order lays out.

But the Trump White House maintains that independent regulators could undermine the president’s agenda and the will of the voting public.

“For the Federal Government to be truly accountable to the American people, officials who wield vast executive power must be supervised and controlled by the people’s elected President,” said the order signed by Trump.

The move generated criticism that it could ultimately lead to abuses by the Trump administration.

“This action will serve only to politicize and corrupt independent agencies, which will now be subject to the political whims of those in power,” said Alexandra Reeve Givens, CEO of the nonprofit Center for Democracy & Technology. “For a century, these agencies have been independent for a reason — Congress needs these experts to interpret the laws it passes, and to initiate investigations and enforce those laws without political favoritism.”

Independent agencies go back to 1887 with the creation of the Independent Commerce Commission, which initially existed to deal with railroad monopolies and the rates they charged. Multiple other regulators were built on this format and operated through presidential appointments and congressional oversight.

Roger Nober, a professor at George Washington University and director of the GW Regulator Studies Center, called the order “very significant.” The rule goes beyond existing requirements that regulations with an economic impact of more than $100 million or more go through a review by the White House Office of Management and Budget.

“The intent of this is to significantly scale back the independence of independent regulatory agencies,” said Nober, who was previously chair of the U.S. Surface Transportation Board, an independent regulator, during George W. Bush’s presidency.

Nober stressed that he could understand why Trump might wish to bring a stock market regulator such as the SEC under greater White House control. But, he said, “we’ll have to see if this is the right approach in the long run to make independent agencies more politically responsible.”

The executive order covers the regulatory responsibilities of the Federal Reserve, but it would specifically keep its independence on setting short-term interest rates that can influence inflation rates and employment levels.

A Fed spokesperson declined to comment Wednesday on the executive order.

The order may have only a limited practical effect, at least in the short term. The Fed’s vice chair for supervision, Michael Barr, a Biden appointee, said last month that he would step down Feb. 28. The Fed also said it would pause any major rulemaking until Barr’s successor is confirmed.

Ian Katz, an analyst at the policy research firm Capital Alpha, believes a court challenge is one of the goals of the order.

“The White House and conservatives not only expect, but want, legal challenges to the executive order,” Katz wrote in an email. “They would like a Supreme Court ruling that further solidifies executive branch authority over the agencies.”

Under the order, the White House Office of Management and Budget would set performance standards and management objectives for the heads of independent agencies. The OMB could also change the funding apportioned to the agencies based on “activity, function, project, or object” that might be in conflict with the president’s agenda.

The heads of independent agencies would need to have special White House liaisons to coordinate with the president’s aides and advisers.

Associated Press economics writer Christopher Rugaber in Washington contributed to this report.

​ Orange County Register 

Travel: Enjoy a music and food tour through the Mississippi Delta and southern Louisiana

• February 19, 2025

It doesn’t get much better than listening to blues, Cajun and zydeco music while feasting on impeccably fresh seafood, an array of sausages and pulled-pork sprinkled with “bark” (the crisp pieces from the outside of the smoked pork butts), from the Mississippi Delta to the heart of Cajun country.

During a recent trip, we followed the Blues Highway (Route 61) from Clarksdale in the Mississippi Delta, then traveled deep into Cajun country where we made our base in Lafayette, Louisiana — one of the premier eating cities in the South, if not the entire country. Then we spent eight days that were chock-full of fabulous regional fare and music that will get even the most sedentary out on the dance floor.

Mississippi Delta

Clarksdale is ground zero, a town with numerous juke joints (blues music venues) where the Delta spawned such legends as John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Ma Rainey, Howlin’ Wolf and B.B. King.

There’s even a memorial at the intersection of Highways 61 and 49, called The Crossroads, where Robert Johnson is said to have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for becoming the best blues guitarist of his generation. Right next door is Abe’s BBQ, where you can get your fill of pulled pork and other ’cue delights that are spicier than those found in Southern California.

We stayed at the Clark House Inn for three nights; it’s centrally located within walking distance of downtown Clarksdale. The antebellum mansion served breakfast daily.

Juke joints and blues clubs abound in Clarksdale — none more famous than the Ground Zero Blues Club, partly owned by actor Morgan Freeman. We caught an afternoon performance by LaLa Craig that was incredibly dynamic; it reminded me of a cross between Big Mama Thornton and Janis Joplin!

Sink your teeth into a fried green tomato, or pulled-pork sandwich or impeccably fresh deep-fried catfish at Ground Zero. Live music is performed Wednesday-Saturday evenings.

Other music venues worth checking out include The Bluesberry Cafe, where Guitar Frenchie holds sway; The Hambone Art & Music Gallery; and the Delta Blues Alley Cafe. Two restaurants stand out: Yazoo Pass offers such items as chicken and sausage gumbo, shrimp and grits and a pork rib-eye with horseradish cream; Lil Sistas offers brisket sandwiches, smoked turkey legs, collard greens, yams and a slab of ribs. Both are located downtown.

Next to Ground Zero is the Delta Blues Museum, which provides a comprehensive history of Blues music and the musicians who made it famous.

There are numerous day trips that you can take from Clarksdale. Highly recommended is the B.B. King Museum and Delta Interpretive Center in Indianola (bbkingmuseum.org), which offers a complete history with photos, film clips, artifacts and outfits worn by the legendary artist. His two-toned Rolls Royce also can be viewed here in this homage to one of the blues’ greatest impresarios. Expect a special celebration around the 100th anniversary of his birth, on Sept. 16.

After working up an appetite, head to Betty’s Place for an ethereally light fried catfish platter for lunch, or The Crown Restaurant for its legendary smoked catfish plate.

On your way to Louisiana, both Vicksburg and Natchez are worth visiting. Vicksburg’s National Military Park provides a self-guided driving tour of the place where one of the most consequential battles of the Civil War was fought. Don’t miss the reconstructed USS Cairo, an ironclad Union gunboat on display.

While in Natchez, enjoy views of the Mississippi River as you stroll around downtown and enjoy the antebellum mansions built along the river cliffs. Visit Magnolia Grill for shrimp and grits, or catfish, bass or walleye pike plucked from the Mississippi River.

2025 food/music events in Mississippi

• Clarksdale Juke Joint Festival, April 10-13
• Ground Zero Blues Club Anniversary, May 23-24
• Clarksdale Birthplace of American Music Festival, June 12-15

Southern Louisiana’s Cajun country

If anything exemplifies the French joie de vivre, it is southern Louisiana dancing to the sounds of Cajun and zydeco music; feasting on gumbo, jambalaya, crawfish étouffée and all things porcine, including cracklings and andouille sausage; and the world’s greatest bacchanal celebration: Mardi Gras.

Lafayette is the ideal home base for your trip, with its outstanding restaurants and music venues, allowing you to visit such legendary small towns as Breaux Bridge, Eunice, Mamoo, and New Iberia — each within about a 30-minute drive. Bayou Teche runs right through Breaux Bridge where you can take guided canoe rides, and the Atchafalaya Basin is less than an hour away.

Lafayette is the beating culinary heart of Cajun country. T’Frere’s House B&B (1905 Verot School Road, Lafayette; 337-984-9347) is an ideal place to stay during your visit.

On your first day in town, I’d highly recommend taking the Original Cajun Food Tour to get a true sense of Cajun cuisine. It makes five stops at local food places, and it’s easy to hop on and off the bus. Starting at $69 per person, it offers a taste of such local products as gumbo, étouffée and boudin sausage. Don’t miss it. (Reservations: 337-230-6169, www.cajunfoodtours.com)

There’s also an all-day Cajun experience that includes a guided tour of the historic Vermilionville Cajun Village, a swamp boat ride on beautiful Lake Martin or the Atchafalaya Basin, and a Cajun dance session at Gator Cove; you’ll also be fed like a local!

Recommended restaurants in Lafayette

Don’s Seafood: 4309 Johnston St.; 337-981-1141. Must-try dishes include lump crab cakes, fried oysters, turtle soup.

Prejean’s: 3480 NE Evangeline Thruway; 337-896-3247. Live music; order the blue crab and crawfish items, and scrumptious fried catfish.

Vestal: 555 Jefferson St.; 337-534-0682. The city’s best craft cocktails! Excellent steaks and seafood.

Whiskey & Vine: 507 W. Pinhook Road; 337-534-0662. Live blues and jazz music daily; bottomless brunch with unlimited mimosas, Bellinis or sangria. Recommended: turtle bolognese, grouper topped with lump crab meat, house-smoked duck, bananas Foster.

Live music in Lafayette

The Blue Moon Saloon: 215 E. Convent St.; 337-234-2422. Cajun jam every Wednesday; top-draw talent includes Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys, and the Lost Bayou Ramblers.

Freetown Boom Boom Room: 300 McKinley St.; 337-806-9601. Open 6:30 p.m. to 2 a.m. daily except Sunday, which is from 6 p.m. to midnight. No reservations. Outside food allowed. Local, regional and national acts.

Rock ’n’ Bowl: 905 Jefferson St.; 337-534-8880. Not only can you bowl, but big-name Cajun and zydeco bands, including Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, play regularly. Cajun dancing is encouraged. Bar food is available.

Side trips from Lafayette

Be sure to take a side trip to Breaux Bridge, the crawfish capital of the world, for the Sunday Zydeco breakfast at Buck & Johnny’s. There’s live Zydeco music and a dance floor that’s always crowded with locals.

Try to score a table upstairs, which gives you a panoramic view of the band and the dance floor. No cover, and there is also live music Thursday to Saturday at night. The brunch menu is an extra added attraction with such enticing items as Eggs Savoy (two eggs over biscuits topped with crab portobello brie) and “troubled water” (grits topped with crawfish étouffée).

The regular menu is a blend of Cajun and Italian with such items as their justly famous zydeco or seafood gumbo; seafood pasta with shrimp, crab and crawfish; and the Ragin’ Cajun pizza with shrimp, tasso, smoked chorizo with two sauces. Reservations are essential for the Zydeco brunch. Book well in advance. 100 Berard St., Breaux Bridge; 337-442-6630.

The Bayou Teche is just down the road on Bridge Street. Take a canoe or kayak ride to burn off some calories. Guided and self-guided tours are available for variable distances. Bayou Teche Experience, 317 E. Bridge St., Breaux Bridge; 337-366-0337.

Eunice is a small town nearby known for its blend of Cajun, Creole and cowboy influences and is often regarded as the Cajun capital of the world. Visit the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center and the Cajun Music Hall of Fame. Also, don’t miss the Saturday jam session from 9 a.m. to noon at the Savoy Music Center for a truly enjoyable slice of Cajun life. Every Saturday evening from 6-7:30 p.m., a live French radio and TV show, called “Rendezvous des Cajuns,” is broadcast from the Center for Louisiana and Folklore at 200 W. Park St.

Mamou is considered the Cajun Music Capital of the World. Don’t miss the Courir de Mardi Gras on the morning of Fat Tuesday. Participants on horseback ride from town to town begging for ingredients to cook up a big batch of communal gumbo in Mamou.

Fred’s Lounge hosts a two-hour Cajun music radio show starting at 9:15 a.m. every Saturday. It’s a tradition that began in the 1960s. The lounge serves alcohol as early as 8 a.m. and offers samples of boudin sausage from T’Boys. Fred’s is only open on Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. with live music from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. It also hosts happy hour on weekdays from 4 to 8 p.m. 420 6th St.; 337-654-2026.

No trip to Southern Louisiana would be complete without a swamp tour, particularly in the Atchafalaya Basin, the biggest swamp in the United States. For my money, smaller boats with outboards and fewer people have it over the bigger and noisier airboats which scare wildlife and can’t navigate into smaller bayous, where you can get up close and personal with the fauna and flora and your chances of spotting gators and other wildlife greatly increases.

McGee Swamp Tours out of Henderson, not far from Breaux Bridge, navigates either the Atchafalaya Basin or Lake Martin. You’re virtually guaranteed to see gators, water fowl and birds of prey on your trip. Your captain will dangle chicken parts on a line over the water and a gator is likely to jump up out of the water and devour that piece of chicken! McGee’s Swamp and Airboat Tours, 1337 Henderson Levee Road, Henderson; 337-228-2384.

Finally, we visited Avery Island, home to the Tabasco factory. Tours take you through the process from fresh tabasco chilis growing on plants to the finished bottled products. At the back of the gift shop and available to taste is an extensive array of different flavors you won’t see in your local grocery store. Make sure you have some water at the ready! And bring some home to spice up your life.

There is a restaurant at the factory site if you get hungry. Also, there’s a very nice self-guided driving tour, and a walking trail is available allowing you to enjoy the large moss-laden trees, waterways, and hundreds of white cranes nesting in a rookery along the marshy shore.

2025 festivals in Southern Louisiana

• Festival Internationale de Louisiana, Lafayette; April 23-27
• Étouffée Festival, Arnaudville; April 25-27
• Breaux Bridge Crawfish Festival, May 2-4
• Festivals Acadien et Creoles, Lafayette; Oct. 10-12
• World Championship Gumbo Cook-off, New Iberia; Oct. 11-12
• South Louisiana Black Pot Festival & Cook-off in Vermilionville, located in Lafayette; Oct. 24-25

​ Orange County Register 

San Clemente rejects proposal that would have required permits to serve food in public places

• February 19, 2025

An effort to require permits to serve food and drink on beaches and other public places in San Clemente was rejected.

The ordinance — prepared by City Manager Andy Hall at the request of Councilmember Rick Loeffler — failed to gain support on Tuesday, Feb. 18, with a 3-2 council majority rejecting it. Those opposed to the proposed ordinance said it infringed on freedom of association and religious rights and was generally an example of government overreach.

In the proposed ordinance — which Loeffler brought up for consideration because of the amount of trash left at North Beach — groups gathering at the beach or in other areas would have needed a city permit if they planned on serving food and beverages.

At issue, he said, was a growing number of groups, especially church groups and other volunteers, that gather regularly at North Beach and consume food and drinks. Residents in the area were unhappy, he said, and the city and park rangers have been getting more and more requests about litter and general nuisances.

Loeffler said the ordinance would also ensure that food preparation is regulated and that those consuming it know it is done under city licensing requirements.

Local activists, however, worried the ordinance would be another tool to target homeless people, while church groups said it infringes on religious freedoms and principles.

At least a dozen people spoke during the public comment portion of Tuesday’s City Council meeting, with the majority in opposition.

​ Orange County Register 

Universal sets opening date for year-round Horror Unleashed in Las Vegas

• February 19, 2025

Leatherface, Frankenstein’s Monster and the Wolf Man will soon be haunting the Las Vegas Strip when Universal Studios opens a new haunted experience this summer based on the popular Halloween Horror Nights events.

The new Universal Horror Unleashed year-round experience will debut on Aug. 14 in Las Vegas.

ALSO SEE: First look at Dark Universe monster land coming to Epic Universe

Tickets went on sale Wednesday, Feb. 19 for Universal Horror Unleashed at the Area15 entertainment district in a 110,000-square-foot indoor space near the Las Vegas Strip.

Universal Horror Unleashed will open with four haunted houses based on Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Exorcist: Believer, Universal Monsters and Scarecrow: The Reaping.

All four haunted houses have appeared during past Halloween Horror Nights events at either Universal Studios Hollywood or Universal Orlando, according to Universal Parks News Today.

ALSO SEE: Universal Studios Hollywood sets dates for Halloween Horror Nights 2025

Ticket prices for a single entry into each haunted house will vary by date and range from $69 to $99. An unlimited access pass will cost $99 to $149 a day. Discounts will be available for Nevada residents.

Universal Horror Unleashed will be open Thursdays through Mondays (closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays) throughout the year with extended hours in October.

ALSO SEE: What is Universal Fan Fest Nights? All about the first-ever fandom event

The new permanent haunted house will be an anchor tenant of Area15 — best known as the home of Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart immersive art experience.

Universal plans to continuously update the haunted houses, restaurants, bars, seasonal events and merchandise in the Vegas venue.

​ Orange County Register 

Should groundwater manager in OC spend $10,000 to fete police, firefighters?

• February 19, 2025

Now, $10,000 is barely pocket change for even the smallest local governments. But it could, say, pay for a modest wedding at a park overlooking the beach, or for a halfway decent used car, or for a year’s worth of property taxes for a lot of folks.

On Wednesday, Feb. 19, though, the Orange County Water District is slated to vote on whether to spend up to $10,000 on a “First Responder Appreciation Luncheon to express our gratitude and strengthen relationships.”

Why can’t someone just drop a cake off at the fire station, you’re wondering.

“First responders are crucial to emergency management and daily safety at OCWD, guiding staff evacuations, managing hazardous materials, and quickly addressing emergencies and suspicious activities,” says the agenda report, describing, well, a first responder’s job.

“OCWD’s water quality department collects groundwater samples from 1,500 sites, including high-crime areas, underscoring the need for solid partnerships with local law enforcement to protect our staff.”

Wow. We’ve never really thought about armed escorts at the water well! OCWD’s job is to manage the groundwater basin and pump the stuff to cities and other water districts, so it’s not generally responding directly to fires and such like other water districts might.

“Scheduled between July and December 2025, the event will facilitate interaction among first responders and District staff, fostering mutual understanding and cooperation,” the report to the board says. “The luncheon will feature a flexible ‘drop-in’ schedule to accommodate the varied availabilities of first responders from Fountain Valley, Huntington Beach, Costa Mesa, Orange County Intelligence Assessment Center, and WEROC.”

Hold on. What?! We’ve been reporting on Orange County governments since the earth’s crust hardened and have never heard of WEROC or an Intelligence Assessment Center!

WEROC, it turns out, is the Water Emergency Response Organization of Orange County, administered by the Municipal Water District of Orange County (MWDOC), “which supports and manages countywide emergency preparedness, planning, response, and recovery efforts among Orange County water and wastewater utilities.”

The OCIAC, meanwhile, is a “fusion center” that was formed in 2007 “to meet the need for information sharing among federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and other public safety disciplines.”

OK, so maybe we’re talking several cakes here. The OCWD board is slated to vote on allocating $10,000 for food and rental expenses for a fete for 250 to 350 people, and various OCWD departments support the idea, “citing its effectiveness in building community relations — a sentiment echoed by successful outcomes from a similar event at Moulton Niguel Water District,” the staff report says.

Moulton Niguel has been doing these luncheons for 10 years, said Joone Kim-Lopez, Moulton Niguel’s general manager. It often works directly with first responders during emergencies — the Coastal fire in Laguna Niguel in 2022 is one recent example — and Kim-Lopez views it as a chance for the water people to sit down with the emergency people over plates of barbecue to learn a bit about one another. That makes working together under stressful emergency conditions more effective and efficient, she said.

Moulton Niguel spent $8,011.39 on the appreciation luncheon last year. “We have firefighters, deputies, volunteers, EMTs — we have a really good turnout,” Kim-Lopez said. “It’s something that has grown in popularity. Councilmembers come out as well to thank first responders. It’s our way of showing our appreciation.”

Cynics might suggest it’s also a good way for water board members mulling runs for higher office to rub elbows with influential folks in the public safety unions. But we’re not cynical here!

So we asked the powers-that-be at OCWD to tell us more about all this. General Manager John Kennedy said board member Cathy Green was impressed by Moulton Niguel’s efforts and thought it would be nice to do at OCWD as well.

Kennedy sees it as an opportunity to get OCWD’s staffers together and show appreciation as well. It’s true that OCWD doesn’t work with first responders quite the way a city water district (or Moulton Niguel) would, but it’s had chemical exposures that sent a worker to the hospital, and security incidents where intruders came onto campus, and a minor fire, and even some heated board meetings where first responders stood by in case things got out of hand.

We asked if OCWD often needs armed escorts as it monitors wells in high-crime neighborhoods — and where these neighborhoods are. Kennedy said that, in some poorer neighborhoods, homeless people camp near the wells, and it can be a bit scary for OCWD workers, so it has occasionally requested assistance.

OCWD is also “exploring the possibility of offering a designated work/rest space on the OCWD campus for patrol officers.” Is office space tough for public safety types to come by? Spokesperson Gina Ayala said it would just involve sharing space — and the kitchen — it already has with first responders out in the field. A place for them to rest, park their vehicles, write reports. And the $10,000 estimate is just that, she said — the district wouldn’t necessarily spend that much.

Most board members weren’t keen on chatting, but it appears there will be at least one “no” vote.

“Wasteful spending, such as this $10,000 luncheon that has zero impact on our local water supply, evokes anger and skepticism towards government, especially since there are more affordable ways for OCWD to express gratitude to our first responders,” said Stephen Sheldon.

We’ll let you know what the OCWD board decides. If you want to weigh in, send comments to the board online at www.ocwd.com/contact-us or call 714-378-3200.

​ Orange County Register 

Frumpy Mom: Why doctor’s appointments multiply like bunnies

• February 19, 2025

Some of you may be familiar with a certain ritual of American life: The doctor’s appointment.

I don’t know anyone who actually likes doctor’s appointments — except maybe the doctor — but it seems to be an inevitable part of our lives, especially when you get to be old like me.

As some of you know, I have cancer, so I’ve been to approximately 18 bazillion of these over the last six years. At one point, I realized I had 17 doctors. For real.

Because what happens is that once you have one doctor’s appointment, it multiplies like bunnies, and soon you have two, three, four, five, six or 507 subsequent visits. And this isn’t even with the original doctor, who makes you take tests and come back anyway, even if there’s nothing wrong with you.

It’s a rule of thumb that the more aggravating it is to get to a particular office, the more often they want you to come in.

Last year, I went to the eye doctor because I needed new glasses. But she told me, in the blink of an eye, (get it?) that I needed to go see another eye doctor — a specialist — because she couldn’t dilate my eyes.

So, I made an appointment with the specialist, and showed up on the appointed day. So far we’re up to two appointments, in case you’re counting.

But that eye doctor told me I needed to go see “a specialist.”

“Wait, I thought you were the specialist,” I told him, feeling confused.

“Well, yes, but now you need to see a retina specialist, then come back and see me again, because there’s something weird in your eyes I want him to look at,” he said.

So I did what he told me, got tested and returned. The weird thing is just “something we have to watch.” (Now we’re on the fifth appointment, in case you’re still counting, and I still have no new glasses.)

So the new old eye doctor told me I had cataracts and I should get surgery.

“Wait, wait,” I told him. “I just want a new pair of glasses.” But here’s the thing. He was very, very handsome. Now, I may be old, but I’m not blind. I had never once thought about cataract surgery, but suddenly I was talking to a nice woman in an office and signing a whole bunch of forms agreeing to have Mr. Handsome cut my eyes open and put in new lenses.

This is like when you agree to go to a meeting at a vacation hotel and it turns out to be a time-share presentation, and you walk out two hours later, having purchased a week in Colorado Springs every year into infinity.

So my surgery was scheduled for a month hence, and I filled out 18 pages of medical history that the hospital emailed me, including when I stopped wetting the bed and sucking my thumb. (Answer: Never.)

On the appointed day, my kind friend Samantha picked me up and drove me to the hospital at the crack of dawn (No. 6). When I checked in, the receptionist handed me a thick stack of forms to fill out. After I looked at them, I informed her that I had already filled out all these forms online.

She told me she didn’t have access to those, so please just fill them all out again.

The outpatient surgery was pretty fast, and they don’t even put you to sleep. They didn’t give me enough painkiller, so I kept wincing and jerking, at which point the two doctors working on me would yell and tell me to stop moving.

Afterward, though, there was no pain. The whole thing, including recovery, lasted a couple of hours, then my friend picked me up and brought me home.  My vision was better already, I noticed.

Two days later, my vision was good enough to drive back to the new old doctor for a checkup (No. 7), Everything was fine, so I went back home and had a snack.

I still didn’t have new glasses, and now I couldn’t get new lenses until my vision settled down after the surgery, which took about a month. This meant that I couldn’t read anything, because I had great distance vision now, but my close-up vision was still rotten.

The inability to read is a major disadvantage to a writer, so I went to Dollar Tree and bought some cheaters for $1.25 each to get me over the hump. I had to go in for a few more checkups (Nos. 8 and 9) and then back to the retina specialist (No. 10).

Eventually, the happy day came when I got permission to get new lenses, which required an appointment with an eye doctor who fits glasses. (No. 11). And $85 later, I walked out with a prescription, and ordered new spectacles which were a big relief when they arrived and I could once again see my computer screen. So it all had a happy ending. You will note that I mentioned my 17 doctors, but I will spare you the details of my visits to all of them. Let’s just say the stories add up. Where’s Marcus Welby making house calls when we need him?

​ Orange County Register 

Trump officials want to ban junk food from SNAP. Past efforts show it’s not easy to do

• February 19, 2025

By JONEL ALECCIA, Associated Press Health Writer

A push to ban sugary drinks, candy and more from the U.S. program that helps low-income families pay for nutritious food has been tried before — but it may soon get a boost from new Trump administration officials.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed health and human services secretary, and Brooke Rollins, the new agriculture secretary, have both signaled that they favor stripping such treats from SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.

Kennedy has been most vocal, calling for the government to stop allowing the nearly $113 billion program that serves about 42 million Americans to use benefits to pay for “ soda or processed foods.”

“The one place that I would say that we need to really change policy is the SNAP program and food stamps and in school lunches,” Kennedy told Fox News host Laura Ingraham last week. “There, the federal government in many cases is paying for it. And we shouldn’t be subsidizing people to eat poison.”

In one of her first interviews after being confirmed, Rollins said she looked forward to working with Kennedy on the issue.

“When a taxpayer is putting money into SNAP, are they OK with us using their tax dollars to feed really bad food and sugary drinks to children who perhaps need something more nutritious?” Rollins said. “These are all massive questions we’re going to be asking and working on in the coming months and years.”

But removing certain foods from SNAP — known for years as food stamps — isn’t as simple as it sounds.

The program is run by the USDA, not HHS, and is administered through individual states. It is authorized by the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, which says SNAP benefits can be used for “any food or food product intended for human consumption,” except alcohol, tobacco and hot foods, including those prepared for immediate consumption.

Excluding any foods would require Congress to change the law — or for states to get waivers that would let them restrict purchases, said Katie Bergh, a senior policy analyst for the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, a nonpartisan research group. Over the past 20 years, lawmakers in several states have proposed stopping SNAP from paying for bottled water, soda, chips, ice cream, decorated cakes and “luxury meats” like steak.

“None of those requests have ever been approved under either Republican or Democratic presidents,” Bergh said.

In the past, Agriculture Department officials rejected the waivers, saying in a 2007 paper that no clear standards exist to define foods “as good or bad, or healthy or not healthy.” In addition, the agency said restrictions would be difficult to implement, complicated and costly. And they might not change recipients’ food purchases or reduce conditions such as obesity.

Anti-hunger advocates point to research that shows SNAP recipients are no more likely than other low-income Americans to buy sugary drinks or snack foods. And they say that limiting food choices undermines the autonomy and dignity of people who receive, on average, about $187 per month — or about $6.16 per day, according to latest figures.

“This is just another way to cut benefits,” said Gina Plata-Nino, a deputy director at the Food Research and Action Center, a nonprofit advocacy group. “It’s like, how do we restrict people more? How do we stigmatize them more?”

Bills are pending in Congress and in several states to restrict SNAP benefits from paying for soda, candy and other items.

Rep. Josh Breechan, an Oklahoma Republican, sponsored the Healthy SNAP Act.

“If someone wants to buy junk food on their own dime, that’s up to them,” he said. “But what we’re saying is, ‘Don’t ask the taxpayer to pay for it and then also expect the taxpayer to pick up the tab for the resulting health consequences.’”

One SNAP recipient said she uses her monthly $291 benefit to buy necessities such as meat, oil, milk and coffee. Martina Santos, 66, of New York City, supplements those foods with fresh vegetables and fruits from a pantry run by the West Side Campaign Against Hunger, where she’s also a volunteer. Because she has diabetes and other health conditions, she said she understands the importance of using the benefits only for nutritious options.

“For me, SNAP is to be used toward healthy food to get people to avoid all the disease they’re having around right now: obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure,” Santos said.

In Kansas and elsewhere, bills that would ban soft drinks and candy highlight some of the challenges of such changes.

Several pending bills seek to keep SNAP from paying for soft drinks, but they would continue to allow drinks containing milk, milk alternatives like soy or almond milk, or drinks with more than 50% vegetable or fruit juice. Candy is characterized as any unrefrigerated, flourless preparation of “sugar, honey or other natural or artificial sweeteners in combination with chocolate, fruits, nuts or other ingredients or flavorings in the form of bars, drops or pieces.”

By that definition, Kit Kat and Twix bars, which contain flour, wouldn’t be banned. And juices that contain high amounts of sugar, but are more than half fruit juice by volume, would be allowed.

Such conundrums have stymied changes to the SNAP program for decades. But this moment could be different, said Dr. Anand Parekh, chief medical officer of the Bipartisan Policy Center, a think tank based in Washington, D.C.

The momentum behind Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” movement could spur a new focus on solutions to poor diets that account for leading risk factors for early disease and death.

“When we talk about the SNAP program, we have to remind people that the ‘N’ stands for nutrition,” Parekh said. “It’s about time that both parties can come together and see what are the innovations here to improve diet quality and nutrition.”

Associated Press video journalist Mary Conlon contributed to this report.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

​ Orange County Register 

Americans’ confidence in air travel safety dips slightly after Washington plane crash: new poll

• February 19, 2025

By LINLEY SANDERS, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans’ confidence in air travel and the federal agencies tasked with maintaining air safety has slipped a little from last year, following a recent crash in Washington, according to a new poll, but most still believe air transportation is generally safe.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows that 64% of U.S. adults say plane travel is “very safe” or “somewhat safe.” That’s down slightly from last year, when 71% said that. About 2 in 10 U.S. adults now say air transportation is very or somewhat unsafe, up from 12% in 2024.

Faith in government agencies’ ability to ensure safe air travel dipped as well. Just over half of U.S. adults have “a great deal” or “a moderate amount” of confidence in federal government agencies to maintain air safety, down slightly from about 6 in 10 last year.

The poll was conducted Feb. 6-10, shortly after the Jan. 30 collision between an American Airlines passenger jet and an Army helicopter in Washington but before a Delta jet flipped on its roof while landing in Toronto. The Washington collision, which killed all 67 people aboard the two aircraft, was the country’s deadliest aviation disaster since 2001. The decline in confidence, while small, suggests that the event may have rattled some Americans. The 2024 poll was conducted after another incident that raised questions about the safety of air travel, in which a panel blew off an Alaska Airlines jetliner above Oregon, leaving a gaping hole in the side of the plane.

Overall, Americans think traveling by plane is about as safe as walking or taking a car. About two-thirds say either walking or driving are safe forms of transportation. Only about half of U.S. adults say a local subway, metro or light rail system is safe, in line with 2024.

After the Washington crash, President Donald Trump, a Republican, blamed federal diversity and inclusion promotion efforts and reassured Americans that it is safe to fly. That may help explain why Democrats and independents, but not Republicans, have seen a drop in trust.

Independents’ belief that plane travel is safe fell substantially, from about 6 in 10 calling it safe last year to about 4 in 10 now. About 7 in 10 Democrats say plane travel is safe, down slightly from about three-quarters in 2024. Republicans have not changed their views about air travel being safe.

Democrats and independents also have less faith in the government’s ability to ensure air safety than they did four years ago. The poll was conducted before the firing of probationary Federal Aviation Administration employees, but at least some of the shift is likely related to the change in presidential administration, from Joe Biden, a Democrat, to Trump.

In January 2024, when Biden was still president, about 7 in 10 Democrats said they had high confidence in federal government agencies to maintain air safety. Now only 6 in 10 Democrats say that. Independents’ confidence also declined, while Republicans’ opinions did not move.

The poll found that U.S. adults’ confidence in pilots and commercial airlines remains unchanged. About 8 in 10 U.S. adults have a high level of confidence in pilots, and about three-quarters say that about commercial airlines.

The AP-NORC poll of 1,112 adults was conducted Feb. 6-10, using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 4.1 percentage points.

​ Orange County Register