Monday morning news: October 24, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

2.4 million migrant encounters » Migrant encounters at the U.S. southern border have soared to a new record high, almost two-and-a-half million over the past year. Democratic Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar said that follows nearly two million the year before.

CUELLAR: Plus if you add the getaways, that’s going to be over 5 million individuals in just two years.

Cuellar said he disagrees with Vice President Kamala Harris’ recent claim that the border is secure.

Border officials just released the figures for the fiscal year. It shows that they stopped 2.4 million migrants—either trying to cross illegally or gain entry without prior permission. That’s more than twice the highest level during former President Donald Trump's administration in 2019.

With the surge has come a sharp increase in migrant deaths at or near the border.

Lt. Christopher Olivarez with the Texas Dept of Public Safety:

OLIVAREZ: So many human smuggling cases play out along the border where these human smugglers are placing the lives of these migrants in danger. And at times, some of them are being killed because they’re involved in these high-speed chases.

Officially, some 750 migrants died over the past year at the border or in smuggling-related accidents. But experts say the actual number is likely much higher.

Judge sides with California baker over same-sex wedding cake » A California judge has ruled in favor of a bakery owner who declined to make wedding cakes for a same-sex ceremony because it violated her Christian beliefs.

The state of California sued Tastries Bakery in Bakersfield, arguing owner Cathy Miller discriminated against the couple and violated a state civil rights law.

Miller’s attorneys argued that she has First Amendment rights to free speech and religious expression. And Kern County Superior Court Judge Eric Bradshaw agreed.

An earlier decision in the same court also went Miller’s way, but an appeals court later overturned it and sent the lawsuit back to the county.

Ukraine » President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is asking the Ukrainian people to conserve electricity. He said “the stability of our state energy industry depends” on it. That follows repeated Russian attacks on Ukraine’s power grid just as the weather turns colder.

A cab driver in Kyiv said rolling blackouts started on Friday.

AUDIO: [Ukrainian]

He said the outages lasted 2 to 3 hours each. More rolling blackouts are expected in the weeks ahead as power crews work to repair the damage from Russian attacks.

Xi gets third term » Chinese leader Xi Jinping has become the country’s most powerful dictator since Mao Zedong.

On Sunday, he was officially named to a third term as head of the ruling Communist Party in a break with tradition.

U.S. Congressman Michael Waltz noted that Xi Jinping also promoted allies who support his vision of tighter control over society.

WALTZ: All with a major step toward what he sees as his legacy, and that’s returning China to become the global superpower.

The 69-year-old Xi took office in 2012 and is expected by some to try to stay in power for life.

Trump subpoena Jan. 6 panel » Former President Trump has reportedly told associates that he’ll consider complying with a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee if he can answer questions during live televised testimony.

Committee vice chair Liz Cheney was asked on Sunday if the panel will consider having Trump testify publicly. She did not directly answer the question, telling NBC’s Meet the Press:

CHENEY: He’s not going to turn this into a circus. This is not going to be his first debate vs Joe Biden and the circus and the food fight that that became. This is far too serious a set of issues.

Cheney said the questioning could take place over multiple days.

Box office » At the weekend box office, a new superhero flick soared to first place.

TRAILER: My son sacrificed his life to save me. These powers are not a gift, but a curse...

Black Adam starring Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson hauled in $67 million domestically in its opening weekend. Worldwide, it opened with more than $140 million.

The rom-com Ticket to Paradise starring George Clooney and Julia Roberts finished second with $16 million.

I'm Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org.

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