The LuLac Edition #5, 624, April 9th, 2026

 

TRUMP  BACKS DOWN,

EVERYBODY GETS A

PARTICIPATION TROPHY

 

US, ISRAEL AND IRAN AGREE TO A 2-WEEK CEASEFIRE BUT MUCH REMAINS UNCLEAR AND SOME ATTACKS CONTINUE

Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire in an 11th-hour deal that headed off U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat to unleash a bombing campaign to destroy Iranian civilization. But hours after the announcement, Iran and Gulf Arab countries reported new attacks Wednesday.

It was not clear if the strikes would scuttle the deal, which U.S. Vice President JD Vance called “fragile.”

Even before the new attacks, much about the agreement was unclear as the sides presented vastly different visions of the terms.

— Iran said the deal would allow it to formalize its new practice of charging ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial transit lane for oil. But the details were not clear, nor was it known whether vessels would feel safe using the channel or whether ship traffic had resumed. It also was unclear whether any other country agreed to this condition.

— Pakistan, which helped to mediate the deal, and others said fighting would pause in Lebanon, where Israel has launched a ground invasion against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group. Israel said it would not, and strikes hit Beirut on Wednesday.

— The fate of Iran’s missile and nuclear programs — the elimination of which were major objectives for the U.S. and Israel in going to war — also remained unclear. Trump said the U.S. would work with Iran to remove buried enriched uranium, though Iran did not confirm that.

In the streets of Tehran, pro-government demonstrators screamed: “Death to America, death to Israel, death to compromisers!” after the ceasefire announcement and burned American and Israeli flags.

The chants underscored the anger animating hard-liners, who have been preparing for what many assumed would be an apocalyptic battle with the United States. Trump warned Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” if a deal wasn’t reached.

While Iran could not match the sophistication of U.S. and Israeli weaponry or their dominance in the air, its ability to control the Strait of Hormuz proved a tremendous strategic advantage. Iranian attacks and threats deterred many commercial ships from passing through the waterway, through which 20% of all traded oil and natural gas passes in peacetime.

That roiled the world economy and raised the pressure on Trump both at home and abroad to find a way out of the standoff.

The ceasefire may formalize a system of charging fees in the strait that Iran instituted — and give it a new source of revenue.

So Trump says the troops will hang around the strait but that might be a dangerous if not provocative move. The bottom line here is that Trump has become the American Putin. He thought bombing Iran was going to be a cakewalk. Just as Putin thought invading Ukraine was going to be a two-week effort. It wasn’t in both cases. Trump’s backing out of the Obama Kerry accord with Iran which reduced the hances for an atomic weapon was an egotistical racist blunder that he is now paying for.

That stated, look for Trump to say, “We won”, “we prevailed”, “I made peace” and “It was my leadership that led to this success”.  I will bet on or all of those phrases will be coming out of his mouth. He can say that a thousand times, but when you have a country saying “death to America” or “death to compromisers”, THAT AIN’T GOOD.  (AP, LuLac 

BERNIE MENGRENHAUSEN

 

Bernie Mengrenhausen passed away the other day and he was known as a fixture in Wilkes-Barre city politics and business. Always ready to lend a helping hand with a big smile, this guy will be missed. Bernie served on the Wilkes-Barre City Housing Authority, and he also served as chairman for the Wilkes-Barre Industrial Development Authority and Economic Development Corporation. He was a Luzerne County and Pennsylvania Sheriff's Association member. Bernie served on the finance committee of the Wyoming Valley Habitat for Humanity and as the treasurer for Wilkes-Barre Catholic Social Services. Bernie was a board member of the Salvation Army, the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen, and a board member and treasurer for Mercy Hospital. He also served on the King's College President's Council and as chairman for the Catholic Youth Canter. e was a member of the German-Austrian Union and a Gold Member of the St. Conrad's Young Men's Society. Bernie was a fourth- degree member of the Knights of Columbus, Wilkes-Barre Council 302, and the Alhambra Caravan # 4. He was very active and served as past president and current board member of the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Club and Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Wheelchair Club. He was also an active member of the Wilkes-Barre Jaycees and JCI Senators, serving as past president and state officer. Bernie was a volunteer board member of the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.

I was Bernie’s roommate in Washington, D.C. in 1986 when the Wilkes-Barre Kiwanis Club traveled to meet then Vice President George H.W. Bush. The trip was arranged by Rob Friedman through the good offices of Mark Holtzman. Bernie strove and was great company. We formed a friendly bond after that trip and that day,  The Kiwanis wheelchair club was/is one of the cornerstones of the club.

As we stood in line to meet Mr. Bush, Bernie nudged me and said, “This is something, two Democrats from Wilkes-Barre meeting a Republican!” I replied, “I won’t tell”. He retorted, “You better not or you’ll walk hone”. As I go to work every day AT Wilkes Barre City Hall, I’m honored to walk in the same path that this good man did. RIP Bernie.

 

GARRITTY’S COMPLAINS

ABOUT

SHAPIRO MARKETING

State Treasurer Stacey Garritty has been complaining about Governo Josh Shapro’s Public Relations budget calling it a multimillion dollar tax payer media outreach campaign. Yet Garritty is on the site taking advantage of it. And she like the Attorney General and Auditor General are included in that. But DON’T use it as a campaign issue because maybe you’ll be called a
hypocrite”.

https://pacast.com/m?p=29071

 

BRESNAHAN ANNOUNCES

NEPA LEADER

DR. LINDA THOMAS-HEMAK

APPOINTED TO NATIONAL

HEALTHCARE ADVISORY COMMITTEE

U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. announced that Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak, MD, President and CEO of The Wright Centers for Community Health and Graduate Medical Education, has been appointed to a federal healthcare advisory committee tasked with improving patient care and modernizing the nation’s healthcare system.

Dr. Thomas-Hemak was selected from over 400 applicants to serve on the 18-person board by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). Rep. Bresnahan provided a letter of recommendation for her appointment to the board.

“Dr. Thomas-Hemak’s appointment is an outstanding achievement and a big win for Northeastern Pennsylvania,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “She has spent her career expanding access to care, training the next generation of providers, and delivering results for patients in our communities. Now, she’ll bring that same real-world experience to the national stage, helping shape policies that impact families across the country, and her voice will help ensure communities like ours are part of the conversation.”

The Wright Center, headquartered in Scranton, has been a national model for community-based healthcare and graduate medical education, with a mission focused on increasing access to affordable, high-quality care, particularly in underserved and rural areas.

“I am deeply honored to be appointed to this distinguished federal Healthcare Advisory Committee that carries the important responsibility to provide thoughtful, expert guidance on strengthening the financing and delivery of care across Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and the Health Insurance Marketplace,” said Dr. Thomas-Hemak. “For more than 25 years, I have worked on the front lines as a physician, medical educator, and health system leader committed to advancing practical, patient-centered, evidence-based solutions. I am especially grateful to Congressman Bresnahan for his support and commitment to ensuring that the voices of Northeastern Pennsylvania and communities like ours are represented at the national level. “The federal advisory committee brings together healthcare leaders to provide recommendations on improving quality of care, strengthening the healthcare force, a and modernizing systems to better serve patients

ONE YEAR LATER,

GOVERNOR SHAPIRO

AND FIRST LADY SHAPIRO COMMEMORATE ARSON

ATTACK ON THE GOVERNOR'S RESIDENCE WITH INTERFAITH LEADERS

Governor Shapiro and First Lady Shapiro Host Interfaith Roundtable, Commemorate One Year Since the Attack on the Governor's Residence

Governor Josh Shapiro and First Lady Lori Shapiro held a roundtable discussion commemorating the first Passover Seder to be hosted at the Governor's Residence since the arson attack one year ago on the first night of Passover. Pennsylvania leaders from different faiths came together to offer their prayers and support, and spoke about the importance of condemning all forms of political violence.

Under Governor and First Lady Shapiro, the State Reception Room - the first room the arsonist attacked with a molotov cocktail - has hosted a number of faith-based gatherings over the last three years, including celebrations for Passover, Hannukah, Christmas, and Ramadan.

"In the last year, our family has found real healing in the prayers and the offerings of strength that we have received from people all across Pennsylvania and the country - especially those who don't worship like us, who come to their religions with different practices, and different approaches, but with the same throughline in our faiths and our shared humanity," said Governor Shapiro. "Now, I think it is so important we reaffirm our commitment to peace and our commitment to the principle of understanding that we may have disagreements, but violence is never the answer."

 

MEDIA MATTERS

WVIA NEWS

WALN

BOLD GOLD COMMUNITY FORUM

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.

 

THE LAURIE CADDEN SHOW

Tune in every Saturday morning at 9am for The Laurie Cadden Show on WILK FM 103.1 and AM 980 and 910. Laurie’s program has been a northeastern Pennsylvania mainstay every Saturday. Tune in to hear her insights and take on local issues as well as entertaining and informative interviews.

 

BOBBY V’S DOO WOP SUNDAY NIGHT SOCK HOP

 

BEATLE EDD’S FAB FOUR MUSIC HOUR

Tune in every week to the Home of Rock and Roll for a jam packed, unpredictable hour starting at 9am Sundays. Host Edd Raineri gives you facts and great music from the immortal Fab Four on ROCK 107.

 

THE LULAC TIME MACHINE

GEMINI 1 MERCURY

SUCCESSOR

April 1964

Gemini 1 was the first mission in NASA's Gemini program.An uncrewed test flight of the Gemini spacecraft, its main objectives were to test the structural integrity of the new spacecraft and modified Titan II launch vehicle. It was also the first test of the new tracking and communication systems for the Gemini program and provided training for the ground support crews for the first crewed missions.

Originally scheduled for launch in December 1963, difficulties in the development of both the spacecraft and its booster caused four months of delay. Gemini 1 was launched from Launch Complex 19 at Cape Kennedy (now Canaveral), Florida on April 8, 1964. The spacecraft stayed attached to the second stage of the rocket. The mission lasted for three orbits while test data were taken, but the spacecraft stayed in space for almost 64 orbits until its orbit decayed due to atmospheric drag. The spacecraft was not intended to be recovered, and holes were drilled through its heat shield to ensure it would not survive re-entry.

Project Gemini was conceived as a bridge between America's single-seat Project Mercury and the three-seat Project Apollo. With a design largely extrapolated from its predecessor,  the Gemini spacecraft would allow two astronauts to conduct the maneuvers inherent in Apollo's lunar mission: rendezvous, docking, and changing of orbit. Moreover, Gemini would support astronauts in space for extended flights, approximating the expected length of the Apollo missions.

After a flawless countdown, Gemini 1's Titan II booster lifted off from Cape Kennedy's (now Canaveral) Launch Complex 19[4]: 194  at 11:00:01 EDT, April 8, 1964.[4]: 197  The first stage was jettisoned after two and a half minutes with the rocket 64 kilometers (40 mi; 35 nmi) high and 91 kilometers (57 mi; 49 nmi) downrange. At that moment, there was an unexpected three-second loss of signal from the craft. It was later determined that this brief communications blackout was caused by charged ions from the separation and startup of the second stage, similar to the blackout during spacecraft reentry. All subsequent Gemini flights would have the same brief blackout.

The spacecraft achieved orbit five and a half minutes after launch. The launch vehicle had imparted an excess 7 meters (24 feet) per second of velocity to the Gemini 1, placing the spacecraft into an orbit with an apogee of 320 kilometers (200 mi; 170 nmi) instead of the planned 299 kilometers (186 mi; 161 nmi). This lengthened Gemini 1's lifespan from the planned three and a half days to four.

The formal mission of Gemini 1 was over long before that. Its battery had only been designed to last a single orbit, and only the first three orbits — lasting four hours and 50 minutes — were part of the flight plan. Gemini 1 and its attached second stage were tracked by the Manned Space Flight Network until they reentered over the South Atlantic, midway between South America and Africa, on April 12, 1964, during their 64th orbit.

As a result of the successful flight, the Titan II was considered "man-rated" (safe for use in human spaceflight). Man-rating the Gemini capsule itself would not be accomplished until the launch of Gemini 2 nine months later, on January 19, 1965.

With the four astronauts on their way home, Gemini 1 is a reminder of how far we’ve come in the exploration of space. Gemini was truly the successful bridge between Mercury and Apollo with no human casualties in the two programs….and this week in 1964 the number one song in LuLac land and America was ”Can’t  Buy Me Love”  by The Beatles.

By the way, this was the week that the Beatles ruled the top 5 with “Twist and Shout” (2) “She Loves You” (3) “I Want to Hold Your Hsnd” (4) and “Please, Please Me” at (5).