[Guest post by DRJ]

Following the Supreme Court decision in McDonald, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley announced plans to issue strict new handgun laws:

“The measure, which draws from ordinances across the country, would ban gun shops in Chicago and prohibit gun owners from stepping outside their homes, even onto their porches or garages, with a handgun.”

Technically, it seems Daley has refused to give up on trying to keep legal guns out of lawful users’ hands.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Don Coryell, a “founding father” of the modern pro football passing game, died today in California. Coryell’s high-power, load-’em-up offenses were exciting in an era when most offenses were pretty dull. I consider Coryell an originator of the West Coast offense that Bill Walsh perfected.

My condolences to his family, and my thanks to Coach Coryell for some great games.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Fox News reports that, near the Arizona border, rival Mexican smuggling and drug cartels engaged in a massive gun battle that left 21 dead:

“A massive gun battle between rival drug and migrant-trafficking gangs near the U.S. border left 21 people dead on Thursday, prosecutors said.”

And in Juarez, gunmen chased and killed a special prosecutor and one of her bodyguards.

Since 2006, over 4,300 people have been killed in Juarez and over 23,000 are dead nationwide. Mexico can barely function like this. How can it ever prosper? Plus, it’s inevitable that more and more violence will cross the border.

H/T Dana, with my thanks for consistently good links.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

When Maywood, California, couldn’t get insurance, it opted to lay off all its employees and outsource its functions. Instead, it will turn to the private sector, a move that is expected to save money without sacrificing services.

If this works, maybe other communities will get on board. Who knows? Maybe it would also work for health care.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Earlier this week, I posted on a report that the El Paso, Texas, City Hall was hit by bullets originating in Juarez. Six to seven bullets hit the building, including one that entered an office.

Today El Paso Police Chief Greg Allen announced the bullets were from AK-47s, the guns typically used by drug cartels. That’s a large caliber bullet. It’s fortunate no one was hurt.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Hurricane Alex swept through Northern Mexico and South Texas, leaving 2 dead in Mexico and dumping rain on most of Texas. This Corpus Christi TV report shows hurricanes can even move asphalt:

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

A rather common situation can become very uncommon when you add money, politics and intrigue, especially in France. The participants:

87-year-old Liliane Bettencourt, heiress of the L’Oreal SA cosmetics empire and one of the richest people in the world.

Her daughter, Francoise Bettencourt-Meyers. Mother and daughter are no longer on speaking terms.

Photographer Francois-Marie Banier, who is accused of exploiting his relationship with Liliane for financial gain and could be sentenced to three years in prison if convicted.

Bettencourt’s butler, who apparently is not accused of wrongdoing but has provided 21 hours of recordings of the heiress talking to her advisers.

The problem:

“The butler’s lawyer, Antoine Gillot, has vouched for the authenticity of the recordings and the accuracy of excerpts leaked to the press.

In them, Bettencourt’s financial adviser speaks to her as though to a child, and she is sometimes confused. The heiress’ lawyer defended her mental acuity, saying she is simply hard of hearing.

At one point in the taped conversation, adviser Patrice de Maistre reminds Bettencourt that she signed over her private island in the Seychelles to Banier.

“I wanted to give him an island?” a puzzled Bettencourt asks, according to the media excerpts.”

The trial began today but was suspended within hours following suggestions that the foreign accounts were established to help Bettencourt evade French taxes. Over the past weeks, leaks of these allegations of government wrongdoing (as well as other problems) have reportedly sent conservative President Nicolas Sarkozy’s approval rating to a “dismal 26 percent.”

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

Enoch Root at POWIP has today’s silly Wisconsin news:

“Eagle, WI – a couple of weeks ago, a tornado touched down in Eagle, WI.

The village of Eagle has since been informed that it should not hold it’s breath for Federal Assistance, despite Governor Doyle declaring the area a State of Emergency. Because it’s not coming.

The Village of Eagle, ravaged by a tornado last week that caused millions of dollars in damage, is ineligible for federal relief, according to Deputy Village Clerk Darlene Sterzinger.

Gov. Jim Doyle visited the village last week, declared a state of emergency, and said he was likely to request federal disaster relief.

The reason? Simple – the residents of Eagle, WI are too responsible.

…Sterzinger said the federal government requires a minimum number of uninsured victims and public property damage before awarding federal aid. Eagle has assessed that it does not meet minimum requirements, she said.”

Actually, I should have said Enoch Root has today’s silly U.S. government news.

On a completely different and very responsible topic, congratulations to Enoch Root, author.

— DRJ

[Guest post by DRJ]

PowerLine introduces us to J. Christian Adams, the DOJ whistleblower in the Black Panther case, and Fox News’ Megyn Kelly interviews Adams:

Kelly’s follow-up interview with Adams will air today. I’ll try to add it later.

— DRJ

UPDATE 7/2/2010: PowerLine has part 2 of Kelly’s interview.

[Guest post by DRJ]

Just as it took the lead in investigating John Edwards’ love child, the National Enquirer is all over an accuser’s claims of unwanted sexual contact by Al Gore in 2006. Now ABC reports the Portland police have re-opened their investigation.

Not a good year for Al Gore.

— DRJ