Biden's border wall
In a reversal from its campaign promises, the Biden administration is adding to the border wall. Mourners bid a fond farewell to the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein in San Francisco. And are you guilty of any annoying airplane behaviors? 😩
👋 Hello, Thursday! Laura Davis here, your official news companion. Let’s go!
But first: House fire or Halloween decoration? 🔥👻 See the display that sparked a 911 call in New York – and even fooled the professionals.
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About-face on the border wall
Despite President Joe Biden’s promise as a candidate not to add to the controversial wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that's long been a signature of Donald Trump, the Biden administration announced it is ... doing just that. Citing "high illegal entry," the Biden administration is bypassing 26 federal laws, including environmental restrictions, to build a new section of the border wall in South Texas. As a presidential candidate, Biden vowed not to build "another foot" of the wall – even saying Thursday he doesn't believe it is effective. But he said he had no choice because Congress did not agree to cancel the funding for it. 👉 Here's how we got here.
A heartfelt sendoff for a true trailblazer
The tributes poured in on Thursday for Dianne Feinstein, capping off an emotional hometown homegoing for the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history. Feinstein, who died at 90 last week in Washington, D.C., lay in state inside San Francisco's City Hall, where she was once mayor. Among those stopping by was former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who not only was a longtime friend and Congressional colleague but also lived not too far from Feinstein in San Francisco. 👉 Photos from the emotional tribute.
- The recognition she deserves: Feinstein's tribute eclipsed by Washington chaos.
What everyone's talking about
- Trouble when he walked in? Why NFL star Travis Kelce's personality was once throwing some red flags.
- Inside the Lindsay Shiver case: Alleged murder plot to kill her husband in the Bahamas.
- Trump has reshaped the GOP in his image. Can he do that on abortion?
- Momo the monkey, with sprint speeds up to 30 mph, finally nabbed in Indianapolis.
- ‘Beauty revolution’: Why Pamela Anderson going makeup-free matters.
- Head writers decline to go back to 'Drew Barrymore Show' after host’s strike controversy.
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From the White House to the dog house
Ruh-roh. Biden's dog Commander has gone and done it this time. After biting White House staff and U.S. Secret Service officers nearly a dozen times in the past year, Commander has been relocated. It was unclear where the dog was sent or whether he was expected to return, but a spokesperson for first lady Jill Biden said they were trying to figure out the next steps. And from what I can tell, nobody's been able to get a quote from Commander himself. Does he know something we don't know? 👀 Just kidding. 🐾 Here's everything we know about Commander's bite history.
Stop clipping your toenails on airplanes
Using both armrests? Reclining your seat? Taking off your socks? It gets worse. From flight disruptions to unruly passengers, it sometimes seems as if flying has become more of a chore than an enjoyable experience these days. Have you ever been seated near someone who clearly has no clue about personal space or how their gross behavior is affecting others? Poor airplane etiquette can completely ruin your travel experience. So what should we do – or not do? 🛩 Ranking airplane behaviors from least offensive (but still annoying) to most.
A break from the news
- 👯♀️ Stay booked and busy! How to find fun things to do near you.
- 🙅♀️ We need to talk about the brutal toll of microaggressions on women.
- 👀 Ads getting a little too targeted? How to keep retailers away from your private data.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at Paste BN. Say hello: laura@usatoday.com.This is a compilation of stories from across the Paste BN Network. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to Paste BN here.