The LuLac Edition #4, 686, February 10th, 2022

 THESE GUYS VOTED AGAINST THE INFRASTRUCTURE BILL

THEY VOTED NO FOR THE STIMULUS PACKAGES FROM PRESIDENT BIDEN 

BUT THEY VOTED YES TO DECERTIFY THEIR OWN ELECTIONS 

THEY VOTED TO SIDE WITH TRUMP AND HIS INSTIGATION OF THE INSURRECTION! 

KELLER AND MEUSER- UNPATRIOTIC

LITTLE TEENY WEENY BOYS IN GROWN UP SUITS! 

 

 

TRUMP LEFT THE WHITE HOUSE IN A RUSH BECAUSE HE WAS SO PREOCCUPIED WITH TRYING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION, REPORT SAYS

Trump reportedly left the White House in a hurry amid his obsession with overturning the election.  But he managed to take at least 15 boxes of official White House records with him.  The National Archives is in the processing of recovering the boxes from Mar-a-Lago.

President Donald Trump rushed to leave the White House last year as he spent his final weeks in office obsessed with trying to overturn his 2020 election loss, The New York Times reported.

Several books on the final days of the Trump presidency said many of the president's aides and advisors had left the White House entirely or had largely checked out by the end of his term. The staff departures created a vacuum for figures like Trump's then-lawyer Rudy Giuliani and other conspiracy-theory-wielding figures like the attorney Sidney Powell to try to convince him of quixotic ways that he could stay in power.

"At the time," The Times wrote, the aides who remained "were either preoccupied with helping him overturn the election, trying to stop him or avoiding him."

Trump did manage to take multiple boxes of important records and documents out of the White House and back to Mar-a-Lago, his Palm Beach, Florida, club and winter residence. His lawyers have been in negotiations with the National Archives for the boxes to be returned to the agency's custody.

Both The Times and The Washington Post reported Trump carted off over a dozen boxes of White House materials, records, and other items that he should have turned over under the Presidential Records Act. The law requires White House officials to properly preserve official presidential correspondence and documentation, like memos, letters, emails, text messages, and social-media posts.

Some of the items in the boxes, according to The Times and The Post, included letters to Trump from North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, a note from former President Barack Obama, a map that Trump drew on with a Sharpie to mark a possible hurricane path to Alabama, and at least one piece of clothing.

 

 KENNEDY ON THE COURT VACANCY

Little John Kennedy (Photo: The Hill)

Sen. John Kennedy went viral on Wednesday for supposedly telling fellow Senate Republicans that he wants President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee — whom Biden has said will be a Black woman — to be someone who “knows a law book from a J. Crew catalog.”

That’s according to a Politico Playbook report on a private Senate Republican luncheon on Tuesday. It noted that Kennedy, who sits on the Judiciary Committee, “didn’t exactly tamp down his rhetoric” while discussing whether it was counterproductive for the GOP to battle against Biden’s SCOTUS nominee.

“No. 1, I want a nominee who knows a law book from a J. Crew catalog. No. 2, I want a nominee who’s not going to try to rewrite the Constitution every other Thursday to try to advance a ‘woke agenda.’” — Sen. John Kennedy

His remarks drew backlash on Twitter and elsewhere. Kennedy is no stranger to dumb statements or variations thereof. The J Crew reference was a shot at Michelle Obama the former First Lady who favored that clothing line. He seems to think that all black women wear J Crew. His obsession with catalogues is long standing. A few years back for example, while discussing whether then-President Donald Trump had the authority to declare a national emergency over the border wall, Kennedy told Fox News that, “Past presidents have used the National Emergencies Act 60 times. Anybody who knows an L.L. Bean catalog from a law book knows, ultimately, the U.S. Supreme Court will give us guidance on this.”

John Kennedy, not to be confused with the intelligent and vocally agile President is a one trick pony who comes up with unoriginal bromides that only he finds amusing on serious issues. (MSN, LuLac)

 

 MITT ROMNEY AND HIS NIECE

Sen. Mitt Romney, of Utah, is accusing the Republican National Committee of sending an "inappropriate message" about the legitimacy of violence on January 6, 2021, telling reporters on Monday that he had "exchanged some texts" over the issue with his niece, RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.

Last week, the Republican National Committee voted to censure Reps. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois for agreeing to help the congressional investigation into January 6, accusing the lawmakers of taking part in a "Democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens engaged in legitimate political discourse."

Speaking at the US Capitol, Romney said the resolution condemning his fellow Republicans "could not have been a more inappropriate message."

"One, to sanction two people of character as they did. But number two, to suggest that a violent attack on the seat of democracy is legitimate political discourse is so far from accurate as to shock and make people wonder what we're thinking," Romney said.

Romney, his party's standard-bearer in the 2012 presidential election, said he had shared his concerns with McDaniel to "express my point of view," adding that he thinks "she's terrific" and "a wonderful person, and doing her very best."

Nevertheless, he said he was worried the RNC's actions could hurt Republicans               in the 2022 midterms.                  

"Anything that my party does that comes across as being stupid is not going to                 help us," he said.  (AP)

 

SUPREME COURT ALLOWS 1 STATE'S ELECTION MAP OVER BLACK VOTE DILUTION CLAIMS

The U.S. Supreme Court has reinstated Alabama's new GOP-drawn congressional map over the objection of civil rights groups and decisions of two lower courts finding that it dilutes the influence of Black voters in violation of the Voting Rights Act.

The vote to temporarily stay a lower court order blocking the map was 5-4, with Chief Justice John Roberts joining the court's three liberals in dissent.

The decision means Alabama will not immediately have to redraw its political lines to include a second majority-Black district, as had been ordered by a District Court judge, allowing the original maps to take effect for midterm elections.At the same time, the Supreme Court's majority said it would take up the Alabama redistricting case on the merits later this year.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in a statement concurring with the decision, argued that the court should stay out of the political process so close to an election, insisting the decision makes "no new law regarding the Voting Rights Act" and simply allows time for a full briefing and oral argument. "To reiterate: The Court’s stay order is no. 

The politicization of the Supreme Court will deny people of color to vote effectively and honestly. (The Hill, LuLac)  

 

THE COURT BECOMES MORE POLITICAL

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At a time when the Supreme Court's prestige is at risk because 62 percent of the public considers the Court's decisions to be political, Justice Gorsuch sharing the podium with former Trump press secretary Kayleigh McEnnany and right wing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis seems at best injudicious. Particularly so without any press coverage.

The justifiable flap over Gorsuch's Federalist Society speech comes on the heels of an important disclosure by D.C. government watchdog, American Oversight: One of its Freedom of Information Act requests just turned up a June 2021 email from right wing activist Ginni Thomas, Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas's wife, saying that "my husband has been in contact with [DeSantis] too on various things of late."

Mrs. Thomas has drawn attention for having tweeted "love MAGA people" to the "Stop the Steal" demonstrators on Jan. 6, 2021, and for regularly promoting baseless conspiracy theories during the Trump years.

Appearances matter. In public life, perception is reality.  (CNN News)

 

 CASEY: PENNSYLVANIA TO RECEIVE $244 MILLION FOR ABANDONED MINE CLEANUP

ONE-THIRD OF THE NATION’S ABANDONED MINE LAND IS IN PENNSYLVANIA, APPROXIMATELY 43 OF PENNSYLVANIA'S 67 COUNTIES ARE AFFECTED BY ABANDONED COAL MINES

Senator Bob Casey (Photo: LuLac archives) 

U.S. Senator Bob Casey  is announcing Pennsylvania will receive $244 million this year in funding for abandoned mine land cleanup as a result of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The funding will create good-paying jobs in rural and energy communities in Pennsylvania while reclaiming abandoned mine lands and addressing the hazards and environmental pollution posed by legacy mining sites.

“Pennsylvania’s coal industry built and powered our Nation for decades. Now these communities bear the brunt of abandoned mine land pollution, including ravaged landscapes, property damage and poor health,” said Senator Casey. “For too long we’ve neglected the pressing needs of communities blighted by abandoned and polluted mines. This funding is just the start of what the infrastructure law will bring to Pennsylvania communities to address vital abandoned mine land and water reclamation projects, clean legacy pollution, create jobs and improve Pennsylvanians’ quality of life. I will keep fighting to bring home infrastructure investments to the Commonwealth and to ensure we are able to remediate acid mine drainage, ensuring all Pennsylvania families have access to clean water.”

As one of the largest coal producing states in the country, Pennsylvania is now disproportionately impacted by abandoned mine lands and the environmental impacts. One-third of the Nation’s abandoned mine land is in Pennsylvania, as tracked by the Department of Interior’s Office of Surface Mining Abandoned Mine Land Inventory System. 1.4 million Pennsylvanians live within one mile of an abandoned mine. 

Senator Casey has been a strong advocate for abandoned mine cleanup. Senator Casey has pushed for additional flexibility to allow states to use the infrastructure funding to address acid mine drainage (AMD), which seeps in Pennsylvanians’ drinking water. Senator Casey spoke to Secretary Haaland about the need for additional flexibility during her visit to Swoyersville, PA, and he will continue to push the Administration to allow states to use their AMD set-aside programs to complete acid mine drainage reclamation. In addition to supporting the infrastructure law, he introduced legislation to extend abandoned mine land cleanup funding and to provide a boost for coal reclamation projects that provide economic development and growth in communities impacted by the downturn in the coal industry.

Between formula funding and grant eligibility in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, Pennsylvania will be eligible to receive more than $3 billion over the next 15 years to clean up abandoned mine land and create a safer, healthier environment for all Pennsylvanians.

 

JOSH SHAPIRO EARNS THE UNANIMOUS ENDORSEMENT OF THE PENNSYLVANIA DEMOCRATIC PARTY IN HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR

Josh Shapiro (LuLac archives)

Attorney General Josh Shapiro earned the unanimous endorsement of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in his campaign for Governor. The Democratic Party is united behind Shapiro, and with this endorsement his campaign continues to demonstrate unparalleled strength and broad support for his record of taking on the big fights and his vision for the Commonwealth’s future.

In response to today’s endorsement, Josh Shapiro released the following                           statement:

“I am humbled and proud to have the endorsement of the Pennsylvania Democratic Party in my campaign to be the next Governor of Pennsylvania. The stakes couldn’t be higher in 2022, and who we elect as our next Governor will shape Pennsylvania’s future. Pennsylvania Democrats are united behind our campaign and ready to take on the big fights together and get things done for our Commonwealth.

While the Republican candidates fight among themselves, Pennsylvania Democrats will continue to focus on the issues that matter most to Pennsylvanians – growing our economy, creating good-paying jobs and lowering costs, improving our schools and keeping our communities safe so that every child and family in our Commonwealth has a chance to thrive. As Governor, I will fight for Pennsylvanians every single day – and I look forward to getting to work.”

PA Dems Chairwoman Nancy Patton Mills released the following statement                   about the 

“We are so thrilled to fully back Josh in his campaign to be Governor of Pennsylvania. For years, Josh has taken on the big fights on behalf of all Pennsylvanians, working tirelessly to fight for working families, hold powerful and corrupt interests accountable, and keep our communities safe. He is a uniter who will always stand up for the little guy and bring our Commonwealth together for a better, brighter future. We are proud of Josh and proud to work with him as we take on his next big fight together.”

This endorsement comes on the heels of the Shapiro for Pennsylvania campaign announcing a record-shattering fundraising haul, beginning 2022 with $13.5 million cash on hand.

Since launching in October, Josh Shapiro has continually built a strong, united movement behind his campaign for Governor. He has campaigned across the Commonwealth and earned the support of Democrats, Republicans, and Independents alike. He has won the endorsement of major Pennsylvania unions, including the SEIU PA State Council, Pennsylvania AFL-CIO, the Pennsylvania Conference of Teamsters, the Pennsylvania Amalgamated Transit Union, the EAS Carpenters, PSEA, Pennsylvania State Council of Sheet Metal Workers, UFCW 1776, PASNAP, and AFSCME District Council 13.  Josh’s unparalleled fundraising and record support from across Pennsylvania demonstrates his ability to bring people together behind his campaign and his vision. The Shapiro for Pennsylvania campaign will continue working hard every single day to earn Pennsylvanians’ votes and win this November.

 

 

GOV. WOLF PROPOSES NEW INVESTMENTS TO BUILD SUCCESSFUL FUTURE FOR PENNSYLVANIA FAMILIES

Governor Tom Wolf (Photo: LuLac archives)

After transforming the state’s budget from a severe shortfall to a record surplus over seven years, Governor Tom Wolf today outlined his vision for a generational investment in education and to raise wages, attract innovative industries and create good jobs that will make Pennsylvania an even better place to live and work. 

While this is his final budget speech before the General Assembly, Governor Wolf said he plans to spend every day continuing to fight for Pennsylvanians and deliver key budget priorities that will have long-lasting impacts on our commonwealth and its citizens.“These are days of opportunity for our commonwealth,” said Gov. Wolf. “That’s because, at long last, our fiscal house is in order. Over the past seven years, we’ve turned a $2-3 billion structural budget deficit into a $2-3 billion budget surplus. We’ve built our Rainy Day Fund to more than $2.8 billion—more than 12,000 times what it was when I took office.”

Thanks to Governor Wolf’s commitment to fiscal responsibility prior to and despite federal funding for pandemic relief, Pennsylvania has forged a new path forward. Governor Wolf will be the first governor since Dick Thornburgh, who left office in 1987, to turn over a budget surplus to his successor.

“We are no longer digging out of a hole. We’re ready to build. And this year’s budget does exactly that, by making new investments that will build a brighter future for Pennsylvania families​,” ​Gov. Wolf said.

The governor delivered his annual budget address today to a joint session of the             House and Senate.

Continuing to Invest in Students and Good Jobs

Governor Wolf has kept his promise to provide historic support of public education and this budget builds on that strong foundation with an additional $1.9 billion to benefit students from pre-k through college.

Early Education

Governor Wolf understands children in high-quality pre-K programs do better in school, are more likely to graduate, and earn more throughout their lives compared to kids without early learning programs. Over seven years, the number of young children in Pre-K Counts and Head Start has more than doubled and the governor is proposing additional investments so more young learners can start kindergarten ready to thrive.

$60 million increase for Pre-K Counts allowing 2,308 more young children to                   attend attendance.                              

$10 million increase for the Head Start Supplemental Assistance Program to assist with rising costs. 

Generational Investments in K-12 Schools

During his term, Gov. Wolf has reversed funding cuts and made historic investments of nearly $1.4 billion in public K-12 education. After a record $416 million increase last year, the governor is proposing a generational investment of $1.75 billion in our schools.

$1.25 billion in basic education funding, bringing the total going through the Fair Funding Formula to more than $2 billion, or 26 percent of state funding. 

$300 million for the groundbreaking Level Up initiative launched last year to support the 100 most underfunded schools.

$200 million increase for Special Education. 

$373 million in savings through commonsense charter school accountability reform. The governor’s plan ensures taxpayers do not overpay for cyber charter schools and special education at charter schools, allowing school districts to reinvest in students, teachers, and learning.

“We can afford to invest a whole lot more in the Fair Funding Formula without raising one penny in state taxes, and we can afford to do it without asking any school district, anywhere in Pennsylvania, to sacrifice one penny in state funding,” said Gov. Wolf. “Last year, we made a historic investment in our schools. This year, we have an opportunity to build on that momentum and make a generational difference for students all across the commonwealth.”

Continuing to Transform Higher Education

The governor is proposing to continue the transformation of higher education so students can succeed without crushing student loan debt. 

$200 million for the Nellie Bly Tuition Program for students attending a PA State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) university or community college so more people can earn a degree with less debt and encourage young people to remain in Pennsylvania.

$150 million in one-time federal ARPA funds for the PASSHE to support System Redesign, enhance student success, freeze tuition, and increase student aid to make college more affordable.

$125 million additional investment for higher education institutions including a $75 million increase in General Funds for PASSHE.

Making Pennsylvania the Best Place for Workers and Businesses

As the 18th largest economy in the world, Pennsylvania is a destination for workers and entrepreneurs. This budget continues to invest in job training that creates highly skilled workers to attract start-ups and well-established businesses to make the commonwealth an economic force for decades to come. 

Increasing the minimum wage to $12 per hour on July 1, 2022, with annual increases of $0.50 until reaching $15 in 2028, with an estimated 1.5 million people getting a boost in pay.

Reducing the corporate net income tax rate from 9.99 percent, among the highest in the nation, with a desire to show a path to 4.99 percent as quickly as possible to make Pennsylvania more competitive and expanding the tax base to level the playing field for all businesses. 

$30 million in funding for two new child care options for state employees. 

$1.5 million increase for Industrial Resource Centers (IRC) to help manufacturers respond to changing markets and new technology and remain competitive.

$2.35 million for Invent Penn State to help entrepreneurs turn ideas into commercial products and services. 

$1.5 million increase for the PREP Network to help small businesses and higher education institutions partner to benefit students and entrepreneurs. 

$8 million for job training through the Workforce and Economic Development Network of Pennsylvania (WEDnetPA), which has helped more than 2,000 companies train nearly 1.3 million Pennsylvanians.  

$2 million increase to address food insecurity and ensure more families have healthy meals through the Pennsylvania Agricultural Surplus System (PASS).

Keeping Pennsylvanians Safe through Criminal Justice Reform

Throughout his administration, Gov. Wolf has prioritized criminal justice reforms that make our justice system more just while keeping Pennsylvanians safer. Gov. Wolf’s proposal builds on those successful criminal justice reforms to further protect Pennsylvanians.

“We’ve made immense strides in reforming our criminal justice system and making our communities,” said Gov. Wolf. “But we still have a long way to go to. This is an opportunity for us to build on our hard work and make transformational changes to promote justice and safety across Pennsylvania.”

Improving Public Safety

Gov. Wolf has invested more than $50 million in gun violence reduction and prevention, furthered police reform by requiring background checks for law enforcement applicants and mental health evaluations for officers, and protected victims of abuse by preventing domestic abusers from possessing guns. This budget builds on those reforms to make our communities safer for all Pennsylvanians.

$35 million in grants and technical assistance to support community-led gun                   violence efforts.

$141 million increase in state General Funds to support Pennsylvania State Police to reduce reliance on the Motor License Fund.

$7.7 million to provide funding for technology necessary to increase public and law enforcement officer safety such as mobile video recorders and body worn cameras.

Establishing Pretrial Reforms

Gov. Wolf believes that everyone has a right to adequate legal representation, a fair trial and not to be held in prison based solely on inability to pay fees. Research shows that less time spent in jail pretrial lowers the chances of committing another crime. The inability to pay bail leads to increases in the likelihood of conviction, increased guilty pleas, higher average court costs, and longer incarceration sentences. This proposal will help Pennsylvania implement a best practices model for bail and pretrial services.

$1 million to create an Indigent Defense Fund.

Reforming monetary cash bail reform to promote equity across Pennsylvania counties, reduce the disproportionate impact on minorities in the criminal justice system, and reduce the total number of indigent defendants held in jail pretrial.

Supporting Reentry and Reducing Recidivism

Gov. Wolf has reduced the number of people incarcerated in state correctional facilities by 11,000 while simultaneously lowering the crime rate, enacted a first-of-its-kind Clean Slate Law to automatically seal certain types of criminal records and help reduce stigma against Pennsylvanians who have interacted with the criminal justice system, and signed into law Justice Reinvestment Initiative bills to make the state’s justice system fairer while keeping communities safe.

Gov. Wolf’s budget proposal builds on that work to further improve reentry supports and reduce recidivism. Research shows that supervising people who are at low risk of reoffending increases their likelihood of recidivism. Once an individual has served their sentence and is released back to the community, it is critical to ensure that they have the necessary supports to succeed in the community.

Reforming probation to promote proper services for individuals while providing             necessary accountability for a limited period of time.

$425,000 for increased staffing resources to provide additional technical assistance to county juvenile probation offices and improve consistency between counties.

$1 million to make reentry services available at the local level for women to give them the best opportunity to start fresh and reduce recidivism.

$7 million in state funds for the Department of Human Services to open a wing of beds for elderly inmates leaving the state correctional facilities with complex medical or behavioral health needs, to provide transitional support for medical release.

Expanding Clean Slate to provide comprehensive reform and ensure true progress in eliminating the stigma of a conviction

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

Gov. Wolf’s 2022-23 budget reaffirms the commonwealth’s long history as a leader in caring for its most vulnerable citizens, including children, seniors, veterans, individuals with mental health concerns, and individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Supporting Health and Quality of Life for Vulnerable Populations

Gov. Wolf believes that every Pennsylvanian deserves an opportunity to thrive. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, it has never been more important for Pennsylvania to invest in initiatives that provide support for vulnerable Pennsylvanians.

$91.25 million increase to Medical Assistance rates for skilled nursing facility providers and $14 million for state veterans’ homes to help long-term care providers hire staff to comply with new regulations that call for increased staffing ratios to promote improved care for residents and drive increased funding to the bedside.

$50 million to increase the supplementary payments rates for personal care homes to invest in supportive services and caregivers.

$36.6 million increase in county mental health base funds to support efforts to provide critical behavioral health services.

$14.3 million increase to the minimum Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit for low-income older adults and adults with disabilities.

Using American Rescue Plan Act Dollars to Support Pennsylvanians

Last week, Gov. Wolf announced his plan to spend billions of dollars of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding that the federal government gave Pennsylvania to help Pennsylvanians weather the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We can’t keep sitting on this money – not when Pennsylvanians are hurting,” said Gov. Wolf. “This isn’t an abstract issue – people are hurting, and we have the resources to help, so we must take action to help. It’s imperative that we drive out funding now to help the Pennsylvanians who need it.”

Gov. Wolf’s previously announced plan for these ARPA funds builds on the initiatives included in his budget to further support vulnerable populations, help Pennsylvania continue its recovery from the pandemic and lay the foundation for a brighter future.

$500 million to create the PA Opportunity Program to provide relief to workers and families from the high cost of childcare and household expenses and support opportunities to complete a degree, credential, or license to strengthen skills and increase income—all leading to a better quality of life.

$225 million to help 11,000 small businesses through the COVID Relief Statewide Small Business Assistance Program. The grants will help small businesses to stabilize and reopen.

$204 million to increase property tax relief through the existing Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program.

$325 million to support health care workers in Pennsylvania.

$450 million to invest in vital conservation, recreation, preservation, and community revitalization projects and address the threat of climate change.

Pennsylvanians can find out more about Governor Wolf’s budget at budget.pa.gov.

 

MEDIA MATTERS 

 

THE MIDDAY MUSSOLINI WELCOMES BO SNERDLEY

The midday Mussolini on WILK will be interviewing Rush Limbaugh’s wing man Bo Snerdley Friday on WILK. Snerdley has written a book and the M.D.M. says he read it. Tune in for the fun. Both of these guys will just love bashing the Democrats which BTW was the party oc Mid Day before he saw an opportunity to jump the fence. We all know how that went.

 

AFTERNOON BUFFOON  AGAINST PROGRESS

The Afternoon Buffoon on WILK has been railing against any type of progress for Electric cars or saving of energy for the planet. He was also whining about how much money he has to pay for gas. No per diem anymore like in the old days I guess. The former Dem BLAMES EVERYTHING on Democrats but readily lapped up their benefits when he was in office before being shown the door. If there is a Democratic policy to help people, it is terrible. He’s against t. This one goes out to the Afternoon Buffoon.

 

WALN TV 

 

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM 

PA Executive Director Khalif Ali and other representatives of Common Cause will discuss gerrymandering and its effect on voters of color. You'll hear the program Sunday at 6 on 94.3 The Talker; 6:30 on 1400 am The Mothership and 7:30 am on 105 The River. 

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SOCK HOP

 

1975

Our 1975 logo.

Thieves in Italy broke into the Ducal Palace art museum at Urbino and stole the paintings La Muta by Raphael , and the masterpieces  The Flageation of Christ and Madonna di Senigallia, by Piero della Francesca, considered to be three of the ten most famous Italian paintings from the ^Renaissance  The works were recovered, unharmed, on March 24, 1976, from a hotel room in Locrno, Switzerland,........An Australian visitor to South Africa became the first victim of a new outbreak of the Marburg virus,  thought to have been eradicated eight years earlier, after beingstung by an unknown arthdrooped near Hwange. He would die on February 19 in Johannesburg…Former White House aide Charles W. Colson told the Today Show that President Nixon had talked to him on December 18, 1973, about resigning, but did not do so because he was afraid that Vice-President Ford "couldn't control Henry Kissinger". Nixon's resignation had taken place almost eight months later, on August 9, 1974…

Margaret Thatcher was elected as the new leader of the United Kingdom's Conservative Party, becoming the first woman to lead a major British political party and the first female Leader of Her Majesty's Opposition. Thatcher received 146 votes of the 276 Conservative members of the House of Commons, a majority, and her closest rival, William Whitelaw, received 79. When the Conservatives formed a government in 1979, Mrs. Thatcher, a research chemist and tax lawyer, became the first female British Prime Minister….Voters in South Korea overwhelmingly reaffirmed the 1972 "Yushin Constitution", with 80% of the persons eligible casting ballots. Because that constitution had given the President of the Fourth Republic greater power, the vote was seen as a referendum on the popularity of President Park Chung Hee….An intense fire broke out on the 11th floor of the North Tower of the World Trade Center  shortly after midnight, then spread across six floors, from the 9th to the 14th, before being brought under control. There were no serious injuries, but 16 firemen were treated for smoke inhalation. Only fifty people, all maintenance employees, were present in the towers and were safely evacuated. New York City Councilmen Howard Golden and Stephen Kaufman, citing the need for mandatory installation of sprinkler systems, wrote in a joint statement, "Had that fire erupted during the working day, we could have had another Triangle Shirtwaist Disaster "…. The highest scoring professional basketball game, up to that time, took place in San Diego as the San Diego Conquistadors beat the New York Nets, 176-166, in an American Basketball Association contest. The "Qs" tied the Nets, 129-129, when Travis Grant scored at the buzzer. With seven seconds left in overtime, Julius "Dr. J" Erving of the Nets tied the game again, 144-144. Bill Melchionni of the Nets tied the score 152-152 with 22 seconds left in the second overtime, and the Nets' Brian Taylor closed the third overtime with the score at 161-161. When the game ended after four overtimes, and more than 3 hours of real time, a record 342 points had been scored. The record would later be broken in an NBA game on December 13, 1983, when the Detroit Pistons beat the Denver Nuggets, a former ABA team, 186-184 in three overtimes…

P. G. Wodehouse (Sir Pelham Grenville Wodehouse), passed away at the age of 93. The English humorist and novelist known for creating the character of the quintessential butler and servant, "Jeeves", in a series of short stories and novels, starting in 1915……Jerry Pettis, 58, U.S. Congressman from California since 1967, and deputy minority whip for the Republican Party in Congress, was killed while flying his own private plane from Palm Springs, California toward San Bernardino, where he was to hold a press conference at a meeting of the state Public Utilities Commission. Midway through a 30-minute flight, Pettis encountered strong winds and his Beechwood Bonanza plane struck a hillside at the San Gorgonio Pass near Beaumont. His wife, Shirley Neil Pettis, who had been waiting at San Bernardino to meet his plane, would later win a special election to fill the vacant seat for California' 37th District, and would serve until 1979…..and this week in 1975 the number one song in LuLac land and America was “My Eyes Adored You” by Frankie Valli.