with squabbling on Capitol Hill over border# security measures, the latest from the border## in Arizona where migrant crossings are# hitting record highs.

Then how the process## for college financial aid is changing and# how it's affecting students and parents.

WOMAN: I think a lot of advocates are worried# that students may miss out on a date that they## otherwise qualified for because so many# instances it's first come first serve.

JOHN YANG: And days before her funeral this week,# the legacy of Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day## O'Connor and the work she did after retiring# to end the practice of electing state judges.

(BREAK) JOHN YANG: Good into Gaza providing a second entry point# for a much needed humanitarian aid.

It's## at Kerem Shalom which is on the Gaza Strip# southwest corner.

It's south of the Rafah## crossing were desperate Gazan swarmed# the few trucks that arrived from Egypt.

Phone and internet service and Gaza# has been down for four straight days,## the longest period of# isolation since the war began.

Meanwhile, the Israeli military released footage# showing a newly discovered en ough for a car.

It's in areas which had been the# main pedestrian crossing between Israel and Gaza.

And in Tel Aviv last night, thousands of people# took to the streets as public pressure builds on## the government to renew negotiations for the# return of the 129 hostages still captured.

Former president Donald Trump is being# roundly criticized for anti-immigrant## comments he made last night at# a New Hampshire campaign event.

DONALD TRUMP, Former U.S. President: We get a# lot of work to do.

They're poisoning the blood# of our country.

That's what they've done.

They# poison mental institutions and th e world.

They're coming into our country# from Africa, from Asia all over the world.## They're pouring into our country.

Nobody's# even looking at them.

They just come in.

JOHN YANG: Republican rivals Nikki Haley# and Chris Christie both denounced Trump's## language and the Biden campaign said he# parented Adolf Hitler.

In the manifesto## Mein Kampf Hitler called immigration# and the mixing of races blood poisoning.

The waters off the entire east coast# from Florida to Maine or under gale or## storm warnings as a large weather system moves# north.

It dumped as much as five inche on Florida flooding streets.

High coastal winds# forced the cancellation of holiday boat parades.

The FAA warns that holiday# travelers could face delays,## especially at New York's three city airports.

Pope Francis turned 87 today becoming# the oldest Pope of the last an d one of the oldest Pope's ever.

He's# been hospitalized twice this year for## abdominal surgery and bronchitis.

He said he'd# consider resigning if he was unable to carry on.

And in Boston last night they marked the# 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party## with a reenactment.

People in 18th century dressed# dumped crate after crate of tea leaves into Boston## Harbor recreating the famous act of defiance# that helped kickstart the American Revolution.

The tea dumped last night was provided# by the East India Tea Company the same## British supplier whose tea was dumped# 250 years ago letting bygones be bygones.

Still to come on PBS News weekend,## what to know about changes to the federal# stud Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor worked to# end the practice of electing state judges.

(BREAK) JOHN YANG: This afternoon, White House officials# and Senate Republicans r deal on new border security measures.# Without an agreement, Republicans say## they will not vote for more money for Ukraine.# A record number of migrants on the southern## border could push President Biden to consider# restrictions that in the past he's denounced.

We'll look at the situation on the border,# Danyelle Khmara who covers the border for## Arizona Public Media.

Danyelle, we'll# hear these numbers.

We hear them say,## you know, record number record# surge of migrants at the border,## you're there you go to the border, what# does a record surge look like there.

DANYELLE KHMARA, Arizona Public Media: So# basically, the numbers of people that are## coming across the border right now in this region# have almost doubled area is now the area that's getting the# highest number of migrants crossing the## border.

And what it looks like is it looks# like hundreds of people a day so metimes over 1,000 people a day,# crossing the border, and then basically## turning themselves over to Border Patrol# waiting to be processed by border patrol.

And border patrol prioritizes processing families# and people with young children of which there are## many.

And then they will process these single# adults, mostly single men after that.

So some## of these migrants are waiting out in the# desert for days waiting to be processed.

JOHN YANG: Now I've read that# they've closed one port of entry## along the Arizona-Mexico border cutting# off DANYELLE KHMARA: Yeah, so basically, there's this# port of entry in this town called Lukeville that## got shut down a couple of weeks ago, officials# said that they were shutting that down so they## could move the dozen or so customs officers to# help Border Patrol process some of these migrants.

What that means is that the direct route that was# provided by that port of entry to Puerto Penasco,## to beaches that Arizonans lovingly call Arizona's# beach in Mexico, that route is now shut off,## which has had devastating effects for# the economy in that area, as well.

It is having an impact on the small communities# that live around that port of entry,## who used to have a direct route to have# to cross the border to visit family to go## shopping to go to doctor's appointments.

And# now they no longer have access to that direct## route.

And they would have to go hours out# of their way to be able to do that crossing.

JOHN YANG: In addition to that# having to go farther to cross the## border.

How is this affecting life# for residents on the American side DANYELLE KHMARA: Yeah, so you know, as far as# the large numbers of migrants that are crossing,## it is not affecting the majority of residents# that live on the border and around the border.## And the reason why is because a number of# nongovernmental organizations have really## rallied together to put up services# for these migrants temporary services.

There are a number of them along the border,# Border Patrol, will drop off migrants with## these services.

And then there are more robust# services that sent buses to bring the migrants## to Tucson and to Phoenix where they can give them# overnight services.

They can give them clothes,## food and assistance to make their travel# arrangements to go to their final destination,## which is typically with friends and family# members in other parts of the country.

So your average person living in these# border communities is not seeing these## large groups of migrants on a regular basis# or for most people, probably not much at all.

JOHN YANG: Now I know the governor has# sent the National Guard to the border,## what are the National Guardsmen going to do?

DANYELLE KHMARA: Yeah, so she just announced# this on Friday that she would Na tional Guard to the border.

We have in this# region right now.

I believe it's 243 National## Guard.

So as far as what they're going# to do, she said that they are going to be## helping with border security measures that# could include drug interdiction that could## include possibly helping with the number of# migrants that are crossing into the country.

But since she just announced it on Friday,## it is yet to be seen what that is# JO HN YANG: And she's also asking for# help from the federal government.

Sh wrote a letter to President Biden, what# does s DANYELLE KHMARA: Yeah, well, basically,# she asked President Biden to open the## Port of Entry immediately, which was# one of the reasons why local officials## want that port opened is because Arizona's# economy, especially their tourist economy,## does get a lot of money from Mexican# tourists coming into the region.

And also our Governor and other elected# officials have been asking for more robust## money and more robust services to be# helping with getting these migrants## services once they come into the country# and getting them to their next destination.

JOHN YANG: Is this situation sustainable?# Or does something really have to change?

DANYELLE KHMARA: One of the many things that's not# sustainable is that a lot of or ganizations that are helping migrants in cities# like Tucson and Phoenix are constantly in a state## of concern that they are not going to have enough# resources to continue providing these services.

And the reason why is because the federal# government has been doling out grants to## help cover these services, in short, short# funding amounts.

So these nongovernmental## organizations can only plan so far ahead.# And with the large influx of migrants,## the fact that more and more people keep# coming and that number keeps growing,## the money is not lasting as long as# these organizations need it to last.

They have been saying for quite some time now that## they need a funding source that is# more sustainable JOHN YANG: Danyelle Khmara of Arizona# Public Media Thank you very much.

DANYELLE KHMARA: Thank you so much.

JOHN YANG: Paying for college can be costly# and confusing.

The road to financial aid## usually begins with what's called the# Free Application for Federal Student Aid## or FAFSA.

It helps determine which federal# grants and loans a student qualifies for,## and schools use the information on the# forum to make their financial aid decisions.

Now after years of delays, a new version# of the form is to be released at the end## of the month.

And while it promises# increased access to financial aid,## the delays are likely to be putting# universities and students in a bind,## giving them less time to crunch the numbers and# comb over the details of fina Danielle Douglas-Gabriel covers the economics and## finances of higher education for# The Washington Post.

Da what are the big changes in this form?

There was# significant changes and why DANIELLE DOUGLAS-GABRIEL, The Washington Post: So## there are a lot of questions instead of 106 are down to 36# questions, which is great for families.

Also, there are far more people who# will qualify for the maximum amount## of the Pell Grant Award.

This is a form# of federal aid that goes to low and middle## income students.

Now instead of only a few# million, being able to qualify for the max,## another 1.5 million students will get the full# max, which at this year stands at over $7,000.

And then also it'll be a whole lot easier for# families to get their financial information## from the IRS automatically populated onto# the FAFSA form, which also really saves## you time skip a bunch of questions make# the whole process go by a lot faster.

JOHN YANG: bringing up this new form revising# the form.

Why is this taking so long?

DANIELLE DOUGLAS-GABRIEL: Well, the Education# Department says that it has been a monumental## undertaking, I think they've used that exact# phrase several times in talk in part because you have to overhaul the existing# system systems that haven't been updated for 30,## 40 years.

In some instances, they have# to meet new security standards set by## the IRS to make sure that information that# they're populating onto the forum is secure.

All of these moving parts and pieces# are happening at the same time,## as the department has a laundry list# of policy projects to try to get done,## including making it easier for public servants to# get loan forgiveness to make it easier for people## who have been paying back their loans for 20,# 25 years to get some loan forgiveness as well,## in addition to lots of other policy# priorities, and there are only but so## many people at the department and they're all# working on all these very So as a result, the department# says there has been some delays.

JOHN YANG: This is a whole new system,# it's going to be brand new.

Are there# advocates for students who for financial# aid who worry that there are go be some glitches unforeseen problems# that will screw up the w DANIELLE DOUGLAS-GABRIEL: I mean, that's always a# possibility when you are standing up a ne and when you're making such big changes to# an existing system.

I think of advocates are more concerned with what# the delays will mean for students and their## families in terms of making informed decisions# about financial aid and where to attend college.

As you remember, John, this form not only is# used by the federal government to determine aid,## but also states to determine state# aid for college students as well as## the schools of which they attend.

So all# of those pieces have to come together in## order for families to figure out where# could they can afford to go to college.

JOHN YANG: And it's becoming available sort of in# the middle of the college application process.

used to be available at the beginning in# October what effect is that delay have?

DANIELLE DOUGLAS-GABRIEL: So the issue here# is for a lot of the states that rely on the## facet to make their student aid determinations.# Some states have those forms so me states have them out at the end of December.

So having delays on the federal end# could delay student's advantage of state aid.

And without# the federal government saying, hey,## states, were a little bit behind.

Can# you please cut students a little slack?

I think a lot of advocates are worried# that students may miss out on aid that## they otherwise would have qualified for.# Because so many instances it's first come,## first serve.

And if there's a delay on one# end, then it kind of sets everything else back.

JOHN YANG: What are the other changes# I understand wanting to make was to## adjust the numbers automatically in# the form to consider for But that hasn't worked out quite as well has it?

DANIELLE DOUGLAS-GABRIEL: Not exactly.

So,# one of t Congress passed in order to make all these# changes possible was that there'd be a great amount of income protection.

So for parents an# increase of 20 percent, students an increase of## 35 percent, and students who# have children on their own,## an increase of 60 percent of your income# would be protected in In addition to that protection, all of# that would be adjusted for inflation.

Now,## the department accidentally forgot to# input that inflation adjustment.

And it## happened to be at one of the periods# of the highest level of inflation,## inflation records that we haven't seen for# generations.

So as a result of that, it## creates an artificially high calculation of what# people should be paying, or what they actually## should receive in federal student aid, and state# and institutional aid.

So that's a huge concern.

The Department says they're aware of# it, they're going to fix it for the## next cycle.

But for this upcoming# cycle, the '24, '25 academic th ere are a lot of students who may not get# as much aid as they are actually entitled to.

JOHN YANG: This is, as we've been talking# a very complicated, very complex process,## sort of daunting for parents and students# to go through what advice do you have for## parents and students who are doing# this, perhaps for the first time?

DANIELLE DOUGLAS-GABRIEL: Don't be# frightened, I have to say this forum## is a lot simpler and a lot easier to# access than many moons ago.

And I think that's a great# thing, right?

It's a lot shorter.

It's a lot## more intuitive.

And it should be really helpful# for parents to get through this with ease.

I would also advise to get it# done as quickly as you can, again,## a lot of states are first come, first serve# with their scholarships and grants institutions in some instances also think# about it in that way.

But all that really## matters is getting the form filled out and# don't think because you are a you know,## upper middle income family that you shouldn't# fill it out there is aid available for everyone.## And it's not just need based aid for this.# It's also merit based in some instances.

So please make sure to take advantage of this form## in order to get as much money as# your student could qualify for.

JOHN YANG: Good advice from# Danielle Douglas-Gabriel with## the Washington Post.

Thank you very much.

DANIELLE DOUGLAS-GABRIEL: Thank you.

JOHN YANG: Tomorrow, Sandra Day O'Connor,# who died earlier this month at 93 will lie in## repose at the Supreme Court, the setting for the# accomplishments she may be best remembered for.

But her 2006 retirement for the court was# not the end of her involvement in public## affairs.

She spent her last active years# working to end the election of judges,## which is currently the practice in 39# states.

She saw it as incompatible with an## independent judiciary.

She explained it at a 2010# conversation with Judy Woodruff on the NewsHour.

SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR, Former Associate Justice# of the Supreme Court of the United States: You## campaign contributions when you have# elections.

And I don't think we should## have any cash in our courtrooms.

It doesn't# belong here.

How can the judge be expected## to be absolutely fair and impartial?# If the donor is a forum and the court.

JOHN YANG: She worked on this project with# the Institute for the Advancement of the## American legal system at the University of# Denver.

Rebecca Love Kourlis i executive director of that organization.# She's also a former Supreme Court justice## in Colorado where we should add that since# 1966, all state judges have been appointed.

Rebecca, when I've heard Justice# O'Connor talk about this in the past,## she always linked it to her disappointment,# I guess you'd say or disma effects of a decision in the court in which she# was in the majority.

Can you tell us about that?

REBECCA LOVE KOURLIS, Former Exec.

Dir., Institute# for the Advancement of the American Legal System:## which there was a determination by the# United States Supreme Court that judges## could not under the for First Amendment# be constrained in their campaign speech.

The practical implication of that is that# or has been that judges are free to actually## campaign for a judicial seat too much as one# would campaign for any other elective office## without the constraints that the judicial# Code of Conduct would otherwise impose.

JOHN YANG: So much of American politics# over the last few years has played out## in the courts the fight over the# 2020 election.

Earlier this year,## there was record spending in a Supreme Court# reason Wisconsin, North Carolina redistricting## changed when the majority on the court changed.# To what extent are events making the case for you?

REBECCA LOVE KOURLIS: Yes, actually, they# absolutely are.

But the problem is that changing## judicial selection processes is constitutional# in the various states across the country.

And,## of course, just for clarification, we're# talking here now about state court judicial## selection.

Federal Judicial selection is a# whole different ball of wax or can of worms,## whichever way you want to look at it.# But that's not something with which we## worked with Justice O'Connor, and that# is a United States Constitution issue.

So these are state by state constitutions, which# are very difficult to change.

But you are so## right, the infusion of partisan politics where# they don't belong, and the increasing polarity## of partisan politics absolutely makes the argument# that judges should not be in the middle of that.

JOHN YANG: Now, your organization# and Justice O'Connor came up with## a blueprint for how to achieve this.

What# are th REBECCA LOVE KOURLIS: It's a Four Point Plan,# which is called the O'Connor Judicial Selection## Plan.

In the first instance, it involves choice of# a panel of individuals by a nominating commission,## variously appointed, depending# upon the state you're looking at,## but from different appointing authorities# and with a bipartisan makeup, that commi tenders names to the governor of that state,# who then chooses one of those individuals.

The individual serves for a provisional# term is subjected to a judicial performance## evaluation process, and then stands for what# is known as retention on the ballot for a yes,## no up or down vote from the electorate# but with the benefit of having gone## through sort of the job evaluation that the# judicial performance evaluation interposes.

JOHN YANG: How much progress do you# feel you're making on this issue?

REBECCA LOVE KOURLIS: Not much, to be entirely# candid notion that they want judges to be accountable.# And to some extent, I get that you don't want## robe judges who have no connection to their# community or to the pulse of the community.

On the other hand, what that accountability# looks like is really the issue, a partisan## election where there's an R or a D or# an I or a U next to the judges name,## and where the judge has to campaign# and express opinions.

And as Justice## O'Connor said in that clip, raise# money.

That's not the answer.

There are other ways such as this judicial# performance evaluation process to achieve## accountability without it invading# impartiality.

But it's a tough sell## American electors want the capacity to yank# somebody out of office if they think they're## out of line or have some sense of control# over the process.

So it's a very tough sell.

JOHN YANG: As you worked with# Justice O'Connor on this,## did you get a sense of how# important this was to he REBECCA LOVE KOURLIS: Oh, was incredibly# important.

There was in Nevada in 2010.

And Justice O'Connor worked# the state.

I mean, she literally made herself## available for interviews and clips and almost# pounding the pavement in an effort to communicate## to Nevada voters how important this was, and it# ended up losing 58-42, I think if my memory serves But she was willing to go all out she was# so passionate about trying to ensure that## judges had the capacity to be impartial that the# noises in their head or the angels or devils on## their shoulders were not comprised of trying to# elicit public opinion in some way or raise money.

JOHN YANG: Rebecca love coreless talking## about working with Sandr REBECCA LOVE KOURLIS: You're# very welcome.

Thank you so much.

JOHN YANG: Now online, how nurses who worked at# historic black hospital are fighting to keep i memory alive decades after it closed.

All that# and more is on our website, kpbs.org/newshour.

And that is PBS News Weekend for this Sunday.# I'm John Yang.

For all of my colleagues,## thanks for joining us.

Have a good week.