Random News and Notes 19 February

We start in Oakland California today where the Mayor’s official vehicle was stolen. And not just stolen, but taken from the street right in front of City Hall in broad daylight. The black Ford Expedition, used by Lee’s security detail, was taken around 10 a.m. on February 17 and recovered hours later in Vallejo, 30 miles away, with no arrests yet. Police believe they know the suspect and have a warrant.

Oakland has notoriously high car theft rates—9,914 in 2024 and 842 so far in 2026. A police union spokesman highlighted the city’s crime risks, even at City Hall.

Some Pittsburgh area high school students decided they wanted to test the school staff by staging a walkout to protest. Organized by three freshmen, the walkout protested U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement amid rumors of an ICE agent nearby. A 41-second video shows an adult telling the group outside the brick building, ‘If you stay out here, we will get your names. You will be suspended,’

It’s a good start I suppose. I can also tell that the majority of those kids were never told no by their parents.

This comes on the heels of an Oklahoma school suspending 122 kids for walking out of class to protest ICE.

Sticking with ICE for a minute, they arrested an Indian couple for running a human smuggling ring. Immigration and Customs Enforcement took the Indian national and his spouse into custody on Wednesday at a Houston USCIS office, citing human smuggling, document fraud, and visa overstay charges.

The arrests sparked online talk linking to complaints in North Texas suburbs like Frisco and Plano, where residents have raised concerns about H-1B visa holders subleasing homes and straining housing. Local debates also spotlight Dallas school district’s use of H-1B teachers for shortages, amid pushback from officials like Gov. Greg Abbott and Sen. Ted Cruz.

Time for the sports report. The Team USA Men’s hockey team made it into the semis in the Olympic Hockey tourney. They beat Sweden 2-1 in OT yesterday. Quinn Hughes – who plays for the Minnesota Wild – scored the game winner. They face Slovakia tomorrow. Win, lose or draw, they will make it to the medal round.

There was an amazing short-track speed-skating finish yesterday. Abzal Azhgaliyev from Kazakhstan won because everyone ahead of him crashed. Italian Pietro Sighel finished 2nd skating backwards.

With the win, Azhgaliyev advanced to the quarterfinals.

Here is today’s medal count: Norway is still way out in front with 16/8/10, host Italy sits 2nd with 9/5/12, Team USA holds 3rd spot with 7/11/6, France is in 4th with 6/8/5 and rounding out the top 5 is the Netherlands with 6/7/2.