bobble head

If a city council member or county commissioner (who is also an attorney) knowingly violates state law to enact a local ordinance, they face significant ramifications, including potential removal from office (impeachment/recall) for misconduct, personal liability (though complex), and severe professional discipline from their state bar (suspension, disbarment) for violating their duty as officers of the court to uphold the law, a higher standard than regular citizens. Their actions undermine public trust, invite lawsuits against the municipality, and can trigger investigations by the Attorney General or District Attorney, as they are bound by oaths to follow the very laws they're supposed to create within the bounds of state authority. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

Ramifications for Officeholders

• Removal: Inefficiency, neglect, or misconduct can lead to removal hearings by the mayor or governing body, often preceded by charges and a hearing.
• Lawsuits: They could face personal lawsuits, though often liability focuses on the municipality, their willful disregard can expose them personally.
• Criminal/Civil Charges: Actions exceeding authority or violating rights can lead to investigations by the DA or Attorney General.
• Public Trust: Undermines faith in government and can lead to political consequences (e.g., recall, election loss). [1, 2, 3, 4]

Duties as Attorneys

• Officer of the Court: Attorneys are held to a higher ethical standard, obligated to uphold the law, not just follow it.
• Duty to the Law: They have a fundamental duty to the legal system, meaning they cannot use their public office to subvert the state's laws or constitution for local political gain.
• Ethical Violations: Breaching their oath can lead to sanctions from their state bar association, including license suspension or disbarment, notes a legal ethics resource. [3, 4, 5, 6, 7]

What They Should Do

• Adhere to the City Charter and state laws when legislating, even if they disagree.
• Seek legal counsel from the city/county attorney (if they aren't that person) to understand legal boundaries.
• If the governing body acts unlawfully, the City/County Attorney has a duty to advise against it and potentially take legal action to protect the government from illegal acts, according to this source. [4, 5]

AI responses may include mistakes.

[1] https://www.kslegislature.gov/li/b2025_26/statute/017_000_0000_chapter/017_023_0000_article/017_023_0043_section/017_023_0043_k/

[2] https://www.justanswer.com/law/7ztun-city-council-liable-willful-neglect.html

[3] https://www.justanswer.com/law/8no0s-when-city-it-s-officials-refuse-comply-statutes.html

[4] https://www.facebook.com/groups/418953404802170/posts/5462627343768059/

[5] https://www.iml.org/file.cfm?key=2597

[6] https://cowherdplc.com/worlds-are-colliding-when-attorneys-sit-on-hoa-boards/

[7] https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/research-reports/legal-ethics-and-rule-law

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Henry McClure 

Time kills deals

785-383-9994

www.henrymcclure.live

​Yes, the core claim is real, but the viral post's framing is heavily politicized and somewhat exaggerated for dramatic effect.

In April 2025, Valero Energy officially announced plans to idle (shut down refining operations) at its Benicia refinery in California by the end of April 2026. As part of evaluating its California operations (including the Wilmington refinery), the company recorded a pre-tax impairment charge of $1.1 billion in Q1 2025. This accounting write-down reflects the reduced value of those assets, essentially acknowledging they won't generate expected future profits under current conditions — and it's the figure widely cited as the "$1 billion loss" to exit.This isn't a direct cash payment to "get out," but rather a massive financial hit (impairment + related costs like asset retirement obligations) tied to ceasing operations rather than continuing under California's regulatory environment.Key details from reliable sources (including Valero's own investor statements and Reuters reporting):

• The decision stems from high operating costs, stringent environmental regulations (e.g., emissions standards, Low Carbon Fuel Standard compliance), fines (like an $82 million penalty in 2024 for violations), and broader market pressures.
• Valero cited the "challenging regulatory and enforcement environment" as a major factor.
• This follows similar moves by other refiners (e.g., Phillips 66 shutting its Los Angeles-area plant in late 2025), reducing California's in-state refining capacity significantly and raising concerns about future gas prices and supply.

The post's narrative — that Valero is "fleeing" Gavin Newsom's "toxic" mandates and political chaos at any cost — aligns with conservative commentary and X posts amplifying the story in late 2025/early 2026. Republican figures and outlets have framed it as proof of failed Democratic policies driving businesses away.However, some analyses (e.g., from UC Berkeley economists) point to additional factors like the refinery's age, past operational issues (fires, leaks), poor performance, and the long-term shift away from fossil fuels (including California's 2035 ban on new gas car sales), making continued investment unviable regardless of politics.Recent updates (as of January 2026) show Valero is powering down the refinery but plans to keep supplying California via imports and inventories after April — so it's not a full "exit" from the market, just from refining there. Ongoing talks with the state could even extend or modify operations.In short: The $1 billion+ hit and 2026 shutdown timeline are factual, driven significantly by California's tough regulations — but it's a complex business decision, not purely a dramatic "escape." The viral meme captures a real event but spins it strongly. This will likely contribute to higher gas prices in California as in-state supply drops.

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Henry McClure 

Time kills deals

785-383-9994

www.henrymcclure.live

Heart

The "heart light" (or light of the heart) is a beautiful, poetic, and deeply spiritual concept that appears in many traditions, meditations, and even everyday language.

Here are the main ways people understand and experience it:1. The Spiritual / Energetic Heart LightIn most spiritual, mystical, and energy-based teachings (yoga, chakras, New Age, Sufism, Kabbalah, HeartMath, etc.), the heart light refers to the radiant, living energy or divine spark located in the center of your chest — at the heart chakra (Anahata).It is often visualized or felt as:

• A glowing emerald-green, golden, white, or rose-pink sphere of light
• A soft, warm, pulsing radiance
• An inner sun or eternal flame that never goes out

This light represents:

• Pure unconditional love
• Compassion • forgiveness • empathy
• Your connection to the Divine / Higher Self / Source
• The seat of the soul or true "I"
• Healing & transformative energy that can expand outward to touch others

Many guided meditations invite you to:

• Place your hand on your heart
• Breathe slowly
• Imagine a small spark or ember in the center of your chest
• Watch it gently grow… brighter… warmer… until it fills your whole body
• Then let it radiate outward — to loved ones, to strangers, to the whole world

When this light is "turned on" or open, people often describe feelings of lightness, expansion, peace, emotional warmth, and a sense of being deeply connected to everything.2. The Emotional / Psychological Meaning ("Light Heart")In everyday language and literature, having a light heart (or "heart light") means the opposite of a heavy heart:

• Free from worry, guilt, or burdens
• Carefree • joyful • optimistic
• Cheerful and untroubled

Examples you might hear:

• "She left with a light heart" = happy and relieved
• "A light heart lives long" (old proverb) = cheerfulness promotes longevity

Neil Diamond even wrote a famous song called "Heartlight" (inspired by E.T.), with the chorus:

Turn on your heartlight
Let it shine wherever you go
Let it make a happy glow
For all the world to see

Here the heart light is both literal (glowing love) and metaphorical (spreading joy).Which one feels right for you?Most people who ask about "the heart light" are usually sensing the spiritual version — that inner glow of love and presence many feel during deep meditation, moments of profound gratitude, or when sending healing energy to someone.If you'd like, try this tiny 30-second version right now:

Close your eyes → breathe slowly → put one hand over your heart → imagine a soft, warm light beginning to glow there… like a tiny sunrise inside your chest… let it grow just a little with each breath… feel its gentle warmth spreading…

How does it feel? That's the heart light — quiet, powerful, and always already inside you.

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Henry McClure 

Time kills deals

785-383-9994

www.henrymcclure.live