Time’s Up For ‘Cuomosexual’ Clothing; Biden’s Taliban Gamble

Good morning! It’s Saturday, Aug. 14, and here are a few of the things we’ll be telling you about: Afghanistan is proving treacherous terrain for President Joe Biden. A luxury boutique takes a seam ripper to “Cuomosexual” sweaters. And the Census Bureau has started its data dump, revealing surprising and unsurprising trends.

Census: A Decade Of Change

Quickly, the U.S. Census Bureau is starting its data dump. Here are some things to know:

• America Isn’t Nearly As White As A Decade Ago
• Redistricting Battle Royale Sets Up In Burbs
• 5 Takeaways From The 2020 Census

Biden’s Gamble In Afghanistan

The Taliban’s strikingly rapid onslaught in Afghanistan is causing a reckoning for President Joe Biden. He said in April the war had gone on too long and cost too many lives, but this week he ordered thousands of U.S. troops back to Kabul to help safely evacuate American diplomats from the bunkered U.S. Embassy.

The rapidly deteriorating situation gives the appearance Biden — who ignored the Pentagon’s advice that the United States maintain a small force in Afghanistan — bungled the troop withdrawal, but the president has remained steadfast. “I do not regret my decision,” he said, despite intelligence that Kubal could fall before the month is out. » Read it in The Washington Post: Afghanistan Is Proving Treacherous Terrain For Biden.

Time’s Up On Clothier’s Stitches

It seemed like the best idea since sliced bagels back when New Yorkers admired their governor for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic: A luxury clothing store started selling sweaters embroidered with “Cuomosexual.”

Time’s up on that slogan now that Gov. Andrew Cuomo has said he’ll resign after multiple women accused him of sexual harassment. The boutique, Lingua Franca NYC, is offering to take a seam ripper to it and re-embroider the sweaters with something more fitting, including “Believe Survivors.” » Read it on West Village, New York, Patch.

Cuomo announced his resignation in a rambling news conference Tuesday that was at once defiant and contrite. He decried what he called a politically motivated probe against him, but acknowledged impeachment proceedings would consume New York’s government at a critical time.

Army Base Lockdown Lifted

A lockdown was lifted Friday afternoon at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., after authorities searched for two reported active shooters. Shots were fired just after noon local time Friday. » Read the latest on Washington, D.C., Patch.

Hell’s Front Porch

If you’ve ever described midsummer weather as “hell’s front porch,” you’re not far from wrong, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, which just announced July was Earth’s hottest month on record.

Around the globe, the combined land and ocean surface temperature was 1.67 degrees Fahrenheit above the 20th century average of 60.4 degrees. It may not sound like a big shift, but NOAA administrator Rick Spinrad cautioned, “This new record adds to the disturbing and disruptive path that climate change has set for the globe.” » Read it on Across America Patch.

The report comes on the heels of a “code red” UN report on global warming, via Across America Patch.

Around 'The Patch'

House Porn: From uptown luxury to country chic, imagine you’re having your coffee in these seven dreamy kitchens, via San Francisco Patch.

Good News Fix: Start your day with a smile or inspiration with these stories from local Patch editors, via Across America Patch.

Half-Foot Battle Line: The owner of a former button shop on New York City’s Upper East Side won a fight with a developer over a 6-inch strip of land, via Upper East Side, New York City, Patch.

“Suffering And Dying In Agony”: Hundreds of animals are dead, hundreds more have been injured or neglected, and at least one person has been fired from a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lab, via Atlanta Patch.

Find Your Local Patch

Patch is in more than 1,000 communities across America. Find your community and see what's happening outside your front door.