'I'm of Puerto Rican descent and I find it offensive': Democrats seek to ban government use of 'Latinx' in Connecticut



Five Democratic state lawmakers are pushing a measure to bar the Connecticut government from using the controversial term "Latinx" in official communications and forms.

The measure would "prohibit any state agency, or state employee on behalf of a state agency, from using the term 'Latinx' on any official communications or forms of the state agency," according to the text.

Democratic state Rep. Geraldo Reyes Jr. has described "Latinx" as a "woke" term, according to the Associated Press. "I'm of Puerto Rican descent and I find it offensive."

After being sworn in last month, Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) signed an executive order to remove the term anywhere it appears in state documents and replace it with Hispanic, Latino, or Latina. "One can no more easily remove gender from Spanish and other romance languages than one can remove vowels and verbs from English," the order stated.

CT Insider reported that Reyes said he thought that Sanders had "other motivations" for prohibiting the term.

"This has been offensive and derogatory to all Puerto Ricans, and it's something that hasn't sat well with a lot of people here for a while," Reyes noted, according to CT Insider. "When I found out that Arkansas Gov. [Sanders] banned it on her first day in the office, I saw that as an opportunity for me to do the same thing."

In December 2021, U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona (D) criticized the use of the term.

"To be clear my office is not allowed to use 'Latinx' in official communications. When Latino politicos use the term it is largely to appease white rich progressives who think that is the term we use. It is a vicious circle of confirmation bias," Gallego tweeted.

"Look y'all. Hispanic, Latin American are gender neutral. So we have already gender neutral options to describe the Latino community. Adding an x and creating a new word comes off as performative," he added. "It will not lose you an election but if your staff and consultants use Latinx in your mass communication it likely means they don't understand the Latino community and is indicative of deeper problems," Gallego tweeted.

\u201cLook y\u2019all. Hispanic, Latin American are gender neutral. So we have already gender neutral options to describe the Latino community. Adding an x and creating a new word comes off as performative.\u201d
— Ruben Gallego (@Ruben Gallego) 1638814418

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GOP candidate fires back at Dem lawmaker over 'racist and sexist' attacks targeting her name



Republican congressional candidate Tanya Contreras Wheeless fired back at Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) on Wednesday after being accused of using her Hispanic surname to curry favor with voters.

Contreras Wheeless is running for Arizona' redrawn 4th Congressional District.

What did Gallego say?

On Tuesday, in response to controversy involving first lady Jill Biden, Contreras Wheeless posted on Twitter that she is a "proud, conservative Latina."

Gallego responded to Contreras Wheeless by suggesting that she is only using her Hispanic surname because she is running for political office.

"In the years I have known of you in Arizona it wasn’t until you ran for office that you added Contreras. Glad you are proud Latina now hope it will stay after you lose," Gallego responded. "FYI… google Tanya Wheelers see how often Contreras comes up prior to her running."

\u201cIn the years I have known of you in Arizona it wasn\u2019t until you ran for office that you added Contreras. Glad you are proud Latina now hope it will stay after you lose. \nFYI\u2026 google Tanya Wheelers see how often Contreras comes up prior to her running.\u201d
— Ruben Gallego (@Ruben Gallego) 1657724589

The Democratic congressman even used Spanish to claim that Contreras Wheeless becomes a Latina only when it is beneficial for her.

"Tanya is Latina, Cuando le conviene," Gallego said.

Gallego's attacks are particularly confusing because Gallego and Contreras Wheeless are not running for the same congressional district.

How did Contreras Wheeless respond?

She released a statement through her campaign on Wednesday condemning Gallego for "sexist and racist" claims.

"Ruben Gallego's claim that I am not sufficiently Latina because I don't always use my fill name is disappointing, but not surprising," Contreras Wheeless said.

"Many women change their last name when they get married, but that doesn't change who they are or where they came from," she continued. "Attacking me for using my married name is sexist and racist. These gross attacks have sadly become too frequent in our political discourse."

Contreras Wheeless added that Gallego's "smear" was meant to ruin her day — but "mission failed."

"I am proud of my heritage and who I am — today and every day. I will use my name when and how I want," she declared. "I am proud to be part Mexican, party Canadian and 100% America, and I'll never stop fighting for the American dream."

According to her campaign website, Contreras Wheeless is the granddaughter of Mexican immigrants.

She is running against a handful of other Republican candidates in the Arizona primary election on Aug. 2.

Democratic lawmaker suggests seizing trucks if they form a convoy to clog the DC beltway: 'Perfect time to impound and give the trucks to small trucking companies'



As reports indicate that trucker convoys will likely descend upon the Washington D.C. area, Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego of Arizona has suggested that the trucks should be seized.

In light of reports that a convoy could target D.C.'s Capital beltway this week, Gallego, who has served in Congress for more than seven years, suggested seizing the trucks: "Perfect time to impound and give the trucks to small trucking companies looking to expand their business," Gallego tweeted.

Perfect time to impound and give the trucks to small trucking companies looking to expand their business.https://twitter.com/jesserodriguez/status/1496135433134256132\u00a0\u2026
— Ruben Gallego (@Ruben Gallego) 1645542241

Bob Bolus, a trucker convoy organizer, told Fox 5 DC, "We will be along the beltway, where the beltway will be shut down." He also noted that a lane would remain open to allow passage for emergency vehicles.

Conservative radio show host Dana Loesch, responding to Gallego's suggestion that trucks should be seized, noted that such action is, "Also known as theft."

"Shocking, the Democrat wants government to just steal people's property," another Twitter account declared.

"Typical Democrat. Never pass up a chance to steal what other people have earned," someone else tweeted.

Any convoys that show up in the D.C. region would come after people in Canada recently engaged in blockades in that country, though some participants were arrested and those demonstrations have been quashed.

The mayor of Ottawa, Canada has said that he inquired with the city manager about how the trucks towed from the protest could be seized and sold to cover costs incurred in connection with the demonstration.

4 people with names on terror watchlist arrested at US southern border since October 1: reports



Four people whose names match those of suspects on the FBI's Terrorist Screening Database have been arrested trying to enter the U.S. from Mexico since Oct. 1 of last year, according to multiple reports.

What are the details?

Axios first reported that U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed to Congress Tuesday that three of the individuals apprehended were Yemen nationals and another was Serbian, citing an unnamed congressional aide who was purportedly "briefed on the correspondence."

Fox News then confirmed the report, citing a congressional aide "familiar with CBP information," noting that the "Serbian national was encountered on Jan. 28, amid an increasing surge in migrant numbers in recent months."

The outlet pointed out that "House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy [R-Calif.] said on Monday, during a visit to the border, that Border Patrol agents had been warning lawmakers about foreign nationals on the terror watch list getting in," adding that "McCarthy said migrants were coming from Yemen, China, Sri Lanka and Iran." Fox also reported that "Border Patrol agents arrested 11 Iranian citizens in Arizona last month."

The Daily Wire reported that Rep. John Katko (R-N.Y.) also warned that terror suspects were "starting to exploit the southern border" under President Joe Biden's loosened policies on border security.

"Individuals that they have on the watch list for terrorism are now starting to exploit the southern border," Katko — the top Republican on the House Homeland Security Committee — said during a press conference at the border. "People who they've got in the last few days… have been on the terror watchlist."

Meanwhile, The Washington Post reported that Democrats dismissed McCarthy's claims, even calling him a liar.

Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) tweeted in reaction to the minority leader's comments, "Weird as the Chairman of the subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations and a border state member of Congress haven't heard anything about this. Gonna ask for a briefing. Pretty sure he is either wrong or lying."

Weird as the Chairman of the subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations and a border state member of Congr… https://t.co/WPTcVrHGPB
— Ruben Gallego (@Ruben Gallego)1615852391.0

The Post wrote:

McCarthy's claims echo repeated assertions by President Donald Trump and members of his administration that terrorists were using the southern border to sneak into the United States, a line Trump often used to justify his attempts to build a wall and tighten immigration rules.

But those claims withered under scrutiny.

McCarthy shared the Axios story on social media on Tuesday, tweeting, "The crisis at the border is a national security vulnerability for the U.S. As I said yesterday and Border Patrol confirmed today, they have caught individuals on the Terrorist Watch List attempting to enter our country. We must secure our border now."

The crisis at the border is a national security vulnerability for the U.S.As I said yesterday and Border Patrol c… https://t.co/4H9kK9JmYb
— Kevin McCarthy (@Kevin McCarthy)1615922596.0

Authorities arrest single mom for leaving young kids alone in motel while she worked. A GoFundMe for her rakes in more than $80,000 in 2 days.



A crowdfunding page has received more than $80,000 in donations after authorities arrested a mother for leaving her 10-year-old and 2-year-old alone at a motel while she worked at a nearby pizza shop.

What are the details?

Last week, authorities arrested 24-year-old Shaina Bell of Liberty Township in Ohio after they received a tip that she left her young children alone at a motel while she worked.

Bell is now facing two charges of child endangerment, a first-degree misdemeanor that carries a potential maximum sentence of six months in jail as well as fines up to $1,000.

WFMJ-TV reported that the older child told police that their mother was expected to return in just a few hours. When police found Bell at the nearby pizza shop, she told them that someone checks on the kids hourly while she works.

Following her arrest, authorities placed her children into their father's custody. She was released from jail after making bail and is scheduled to attend an April court hearing. She has pleaded not guilty to the charges.

After Bell's story went viral, her mother set up a GoFundMe page to help assist her daughter.

In just two days, the page has raised more than $82,000 in donations.

Bell's mother, Danielle Hosey, wrote, "My name is Danielle Hosey and I was notified that there are people in the community that would like to send assistance to my daughter and her children. This fund was set-up specifically for Shaina and her children and for anyone interested in assisting the family at this time."

"Shaina is a single mother of three young children," Hosey explained. "She works hard and she loves her family very much. On Thursday February 11, 2021 Shaina was arrested at her job and taken to jail for leaving two of her children (ages 10 and 2) alone in their hotel room while she went to work. She was released the next day but found herself in the need of immediate housing."

"This campaign was created to help Shaina and her children raise the money they need in order to secure permanent and safe housing," she continued. "Everything raised will go directly to establishing a safe and permanent home for Shaina, Faith, Jai'Sean and Jade."

She concluded, "We understand that everyone has a story and we are grateful that you are listening to ours. From the bottom of our hearts we not only appreciate the financial contributions, but also the outpouring of support in the form of kind words and understanding."

In response to the viral news of Bell's arrest, Arizona Rep. Ruben Gallego (D) tweeted, "Women are damned if they do or damned if they don't. Stay at home with your kids and receive government assistance and you are a leach [sic], go to work for poverty wages and can't get consistent sitters and go to jail."

Women are dammed if they do or damned if they don’t. Stay at home with your kids and receive government assistance… https://t.co/pUpcGLLe7s
— Ruben Gallego (@Ruben Gallego)1613397889.0