Random Tuesday Morning Thoughts

Dak Prescott had just been drafted. 

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• The Wise County Sheriff appeared before the Commissioner's Court yesterday and attempted to defend the recent presence of ICE in the county and his office's cooperation with that federal agency because of his 287(g) agreement. Video (Begins at around 14:00.)
  
  
  
• He attacked the Messenger's reporting (a very Trumpian thing to do -- attacking the free press, that is.) 
• But the sheriff didn't dispute this sentence which appeared in the Messenger's story about the arrest of of a decades long Decatur resident: "Lira left to get gas for a machine he was using when he was stopped less than three minutes from home by a WCSO deputy for crossing a yellow line."  ICE was called in and Lira was whisked away.
  
  
  
• Commissioner Question: "What would you say [based upon an email I have received] to the hundreds of families who say they are living in fear?" Sheriff's Answer:  "If you are here legally, they shouldn't be in fear.  I'm sorry they feel they can't leave their house."  
• If this guy and Texas Scorecard (funded by the West Texas Oilmen PAC) is for you, you're probably on the wrong side of history. 
  
  
  
• Wise County First Responders were coming back from training in Fort Worth yesterday when they sprung into action after coming upon a wreck at 287 and I-35.  Fox 4 had a very brief story about it last night. Edit: Here's the original video on Facebook.
  
  
  
• I was watching a story about this wreck near Terrell on WFAA last night, and was very surprised to see the deceased's family had already hired a lawyer -- less than 24 hours later. (That's a strangely big firm.). 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• That's not exactly how the system is supposed to work. Story.
  
  
  
• I can't take it. 
  
  
  
  
• There was a pretty big earthquake in Japan just hours ago. 
  
  
  
• We've got a shocking update to the Michigan fire on Friday. Oh, my.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Not a chance, buddy. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
• He's crazy.
  
  
  
• Watch this story.  This is the example of the "shadow docket" and how a big Supreme Court decision could happen with the issuance of a simple order -- an order which would go a long way in Trump's effort to steal the mid-terms. 
  
  
  
• The Business Second™. Uh, who else was the government supposed to buy them from? (Side note: In this era of war-by-drone, the F-35 is a racket.)
  
  
  
• Gift link.   
  
• Benjamin Netanyahu and Trump meet in D.C. today. 

Random Monday Morning Thoughts

A news heavy week in the county ten years ago. 

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• ICE in Wise County updates:
• On Friday afternoon, the Messenger released a good story about what's going on. (Paywall)
  
  
  
• In that story, there was a reference to an online video of a group of people being rounded-up into a bus at the Women's Building.  Here's a screenshot: 
  
  
  
  
• Presumed ICE vehicles at the Wise County Sheriff's Office. 
  
  
  
• Wise County Rep. Ronny Jackson weighs in:
  
  
  
• The case was originally filed as a misdemeanor and then was pled down to the lowest level possible: A Class C (the equivalent of a traffic ticket). But social media went after him with pitchforks. 
  
  

  

  
  
  
  
• An absolutely wild video of guys shooting at each other at 8:30 a.m. in the morning in Sendera Ranch near the Wise County border. 
  

  

  
  
  
  
• In that weird story where a realtor in DFW was arrested in a "cold case",  her defense lawyer issued a press release which is really good.  And he even points out something I thought: That doesn't look like a woman caught on the old footage. 
  
  
  
• I wonder from time to time if anyone ever gets away with a "murder for hire" plan.  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
• You get temporarily furloughed by your employer, the City of Dallas, and on your first day back at work . . . 
  
  
  
• News from Friday I didn't get around to: 
  
  
  
  

  

  
  
• Remember when after ICE killed a man in Houston they bizarrely claimed that it looked like the dead man had methamphetamine on his dashboard? Well, it turned out to not be drugs at all. 
  
• Oh. come on. When you make a bold move, stand by it. 
  
  
  
• Trump: 
• There was another Orwellian development on Friday: 
  
  
  
• This was admitted in federal court pleadings. 
  
  
  
• If you missed the White House Correspondent's Dinner footage, consider yourself lucky. Here's a transcript of Trump's attempt at comedy when he wasn't going on tirades:
  
  
  
  
  
  
• After finishing almost last in an amateur golf tournament, Tony Romo's day got worse on Friday:
  
  
  
• But if it is going to happen to you, Wisconsin is apparently the place to be.  
  
  
  
• The Business Second™.
  
  
  
• Trouble this morning at the University of North Carolina where Bill Belichick enters his second year: The school just placed GM Mike Lombardi on paid administrative leave.

Random Friday Morning Thoughts -- Special Edition

Wise County: They Are Here

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• ICE, with the full support and assistance of the local Sheriff's Office, has officially come to Wise County. It was acknowledge by the sheriff late yesterday via a press release.

• Sightings of  ICE officials have been reported all over social media.  Typically the federal agents will be driving unmarked dark Nissan Pathfinders. They are equipped with red and blue lights, but you would never know it until they turn them on. 

• Once apprehended, individuals are often taken to the Women's Building at the Fairgrounds in Decatur. From there they are shipped to a detention center in the metroplex.

• And if you are one of those "Mass Deportation Now" fans, let me introduce you to Wise County resident Rosendo Lira, a local concrete contractor who for years has laid many a foundation in and around the county.  Mr. Lira has just been snatched up by ICE.  One of his daughters, Synthia, told his story on Facebook .  He was taken on Wednesday, the day before her sister, Bella, was set to have her quinceanera: 

• This isn't rounding up the "worst of the worst." You have been lied to.  And you should be livid about it.