Le Journal

I have five kids. That’s a lot of shoes to buy and lunches to pay for and birthday parties to purchase gifts for. Which is why I always struggle when I see giving campaigns for organizations I find important. If I happen to have a few dollars or can set up a regular monthly payment, […] The post Inside LINK: You can support us without spending money (but don’t tell my boss!) appeared first on LINK nky.

Since last week’s shooting of two National Guard members in the nation’s capital by a suspect who is an Afghan national, the Trump administration announced a flurry of policies aimed at making it harder for some foreigners to enter or stay in the country. The administration said it was pausing asylum decisions, reexamining green card applications for people from countries “of concern” and halting visas for Afghans who assisted the U.S. war effort. Days before the shooting, a memo obtained by The Associated Press said the administration would review the cases of all refugees who entered the U.S. during the Biden administration. The stepped up effort to restrict immigration has been harshly criticized by refugee advocates and those who work with Afghans, saying it amounts to collective punishment. Critics are also saying it is a waste of government resources to reopen cases that have already been processed. The Trump administration says the new policies are necessary to ensure that those entering the country — or are already here — do not pose a security threat. Here’s a look at the major changes announced over roughly a week: All asylum decisions suspended The director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Joseph Edlow, said on the social platform X last week that asylum decisions will be paused “until we can ensure that every alien is vetted and screened to the maximum degree possible.” Besides the post, no formal guidance has been put forward, so details remain scarce about the planned pause. Department of Homeland Security 7 hours ago Kristi Noem calls for new travel ban following National Guard shooting Washington DC 19 hours ago National Guard member shot in DC has shown positive signs, West Virginia governor says Washington DC Nov 27 National Guard member, 20, dies on Thanksgiving Day after DC ambush shooting People seeking asylum must show to U.S. officials a threat of persecution if they were sent back to their home country, whether because of race, nationality or other grounds. If they’re granted asylum, they’re allowed to stay in the U.S. and eventually apply for a green card and then citizenship. The Afghan suspect in the National Guard shooting was granted asylum earlier this year, according to advocate group #AfghanEvac. The right to apply for asylum was already restricted by the Trump administration. In January, President Donald Trump issued an executive order essentially halting asylum for people who have come into the country through the southern border. Those cases generally go through immigration courts which are overseen by the Justice Department. USCIS oversees the asylum process for foreigners the government isn’t trying to remove via immigration courts. While Trump’s January order didn’t affect those cases, Edlow’s social media post suggests they will now come under additional scrutiny. Edlow did not say how long the agency’s pause on asylum decisions would last or what happens to people while those decisions are paused. Caseloads have been rising for all types of asylum applications. USCIS said there are currently 1.4 million pending asylum cases at the agency. Just a few years ago, in 2022, it was 241,280, according to the Office of Homeland Security Statistics. Separately there are about 2.4 million pending asylum applications in front of the Justice Department’s immigration courts. A focus on countries ‘of concern’ On Nov. 27, Edlow said his agency was conducting a “full scale, rigorous reexamination” of every green card for people he said come from “every country of concern.” “American safety is non negotiable,” Edlow said. The agency said in a press release that same day that it was issuing new guidance that could make it tougher for people from 19 countries the administration considers “high-risk,” including Afghanistan, when they apply for immigration benefits such as applying for green cards or to stay in the U.S. longer. The administration had already banned travel to the U.S. for…

As winter arrives once again, the Holiday Hope Charity Drive is preparing to make its return in 2025 — marking the 8th annual edition. Organized by Executive Transportation, this yearly event supports families served by Henry Hosea House in Newport, KY offering a vital opportunity for community members to come together and help neighbors in […] The post Annual Holiday Hope Charity Drive Returns for Its 8th Year — Bringing Warmth and Support to Newport Families appeared first on LINK nky.

We share the best things to do every weekend in The Weekend Scene newsletter – it’s completely free to subscribe! The Thanksgiving leftovers are gone, and ’tis the season for gift shopping and holiday lights. The National Christmas Tree Lighting happens Thursday night (watch out for road closures downtown!). The White House’s tree display is expected to open to the public a few days later, joining several other favorite holiday light displays returning to the DMV. Here’s what to do this week in the Washington, D.C. area. What to do in Washington, D.C. Ongoing winter favorites Step Afrika!’s Magical Musical Holiday Step Show: Dec. 5 to 21, Arena Stage, $49+ (see website for discounts) “A Christmas Carol”: Through Dec. 31, Ford’s Theatre, $42+ “The Nutcracker” by The Washington Ballet: Through Dec. 29, Warner Theatre, $63.50+ Sculpture Garden Ice Rink returns: Daily through winter, National Gallery of Art, $12-$15 admission and $7 skate rental Light Yards: Through Jan. 2, The Yards Park, free Season’s Greenings: Dino-Mite!: Through Jan . 4., U.S. Botanic Garden, free Downtown Holiday Market: Through Dec. 23, F Street NW (between 7th and 9th streets), free Winter Wonderfest: Through Dec. 30, Nationals Park, $29.50 ZooLights: Through Jan. 3, National Zoo, $9 Frosted at Franklin Park: Through Jan. 7, downtown D.C., free Theater – “ho ho ho ha ha ha ha” with Julia Masli: Through Dec. 21, Woolly Mammoth, $49 Holidays 14 hours ago New York home transformed into ‘Christmas Vacation' house for holidays Holidays Nov 26 ‘Dino-Mite': US Botanic Garden goes prehistoric for Season's Greenings holiday exhibit Weekend happenings Comedy – Adam Conover: Thurs., 7 p.m., The Lincoln Theatre, $45.30 Christmas Markt: Thurs. to Sun., Heurich House Museum, $14 (adult)/$2 (kids 2-15) Room Service – Holiday Edition: Dec. 5-7 and 12-14, 1345 4th Street NE, free FONA’s Winter Festival: Sat., National Arboretum, Visitor Center, free Holiday Her-Story Market: Sat., 1-5 p.m., Hotel Zena, free Georgetown Jingle: Sat., 1-4 p.m., throughout Georgetown, free Holiday Boat Parade: Sat., 5-8 p.m. (boats expected about 7 p.m.), The Wharf, free Native Art Market: Sat. and Sun., 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., National Museum of the American Indian (National Mall), free entry HCC Holiday Market: Sun., 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Congressional Cemetery, free entry What to do in Maryland Gingerbread House Contest & Show: Opens Fri., Darnall’s Chance House Museum, $2 (free for kids 4 and under) Jingle Jubilee & Tree Lighting: Fri., 6:30-8:30 p.m., Gaithersburg Concert Pavilion, free “Elf” with live accompaniment by the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra: Fri., 7:30 p.m., Music Center at Strathmore, $29+ Santa Fly-In and holiday celebration: Sat., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., College Park Aviation Museum, $10 for residents or $13 for nonresidents (Santa arrives at 11 a.m. and departs at 3 p.m., weather permitting) Bethesda’s Winter Wonderland: Sat., noon to 4 p.m., Norfolk and Cordell Avenues, free entry Winter’s Eve: Sat., 3-6 p.m., Glen Echo Park, free Light Up the Lakefront: Sat., 4-7 p.m., rio in Gaithersburg, free entry National Harbor Christmas Market and Holiday Craft Show: Saturdays and Sundays through Dec. 21, free entry Concert – Lea Salonga: Sat., 8 p.m., The Music Center at Strathmore, $28 to $108 Concert – Rare Essence: Sun., BlackRock Center for the Arts, $45 Concert – Monaleo: Sun., The Fillmore Silver Spring, $67+ Luminocity’s Wonder Journey holiday lights festival: Through Jan. 1, Montgomery County Fairgrounds, $33.47 (child)/$40.23 (adult) What to do in Virginia Holiday Walk of Lights at Neabsco Regional Park: Select dates through Dec. 4-28, Woodbridge, free Ice & Lights – The Winter Village at Cameron Run: Through Feb. 28, Alexandria, $9-$24 Rosslyn Cheer tree lighting, yappy hour and holiday market: Thurs. to Sun., free Concert – Johnnyswim: Fri. and Sat., The Barns at Wolf Trap, $60+ McLean Holiday Art & Crafts Festival: Fri. Sat and Sun., McLean Community Center, $5…