Month: December 2016

US considers mining limits in West to save sage grouse

The Obama administration offered five possible plans Thursday for limiting mining on federal land in the West to protect the vulnerable greater sage grouse, but it isn’t saying which it prefers. The options range from banning new mining activity on approximately 15,000 square miles for up to 20 years to imposing no additional restrictions on mine locations.

Garbage trucks to block possible Times Square truck attacks

Massive 20-ton sanitation trucks, weighted with an extra 15 tons of sand, will surround the iconic New Year’s Eve celebration in Times Square, officials said Thursday, describing a security measure meant to stop deadly truck-driving attacks into crowds like those in Germany and France. The placement of the 65 trucks, along with 100 patrol cars, at intersections surrounding Times Square is a new element to an already heavily policed event that will include 7,000 officers, specially armed counterterrorism units and bomb-sniffing dogs.

Kasich Veto Of Energy Bill Sets Up 2017 ‘Lame Duck’ Shooting Season

When Republican State Senator Bill Seitz issued his statement Monday, following Gov. John Kasich’s veto of Ohio House Bill 554, he didn’t spare the rod to spoil this governor. “It is apparent that Governor Kasich cares more about appeasing his coastal elite friends in the renewable energy business than he does about the millions of Ohioans who decisively rejected this ideology when they voted for President-elect Trump,” Seitz, representing Ohio’s 8th District from Cincinnati, said.

Predictions: DeWine-Rosenberger Gov. Ticket, Householder Returns To House Speaker

Governor John Kasich, who is being dubbed by some statehouse insiders these days as “John Who?” still has two years left in his term, but with the clout Majority Caucus Republicans will yield next year in the House and Senate, his last biennial budget could be dead on arrival, and any bills sent to him that he chooses to veto can be easily over ridden if Republican will is strong enough.

When telling the truth is actually dishonest

In the taxonomy of deception, many believe that the worst kind of lie is one of “commission” – intentionally misleading someone by knowingly making a false statement. But another common type of deception – one many have witnessed but probably didn’t know what to call – may be viewed just as badly.

U.S. punishes Russia for election hacking with sanctions, expulsion of diplomats

The Obama administration announced Thursday the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and new sanctions as punishment for meddling in the U.S. presidential election. The White House and the Treasury Department announced sanctions against Russia’s main intelligence organizations — the Federal Security Service, which is the main successor to the KGB, and the GRU, Russia’s military intelligence operation.

Obama retaliates against Russia for election hacking

Latvian President Raimonds Vejonis, right, looks at US Sen. John McCain centre left, during a press conference, Wednesday in Riga, Latvia, while Lindsey Graham, R-SC., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., stand in the background. Russia can expect hard-hitting sanctions from United States lawmakers if an investigation proves that Moscow interfered in the presidential election, a U.S. senator said Wednesday during a visit to Latvia.

Super rich always have divided the working class

After an uprising that grew from many voices, including my own, A&E has wisely canceled the eight-hour docu-series that was originally dubbed Generation KKK. A&E has canceled an upcoming documentary about efforts to help Ku Klux Klan members break away from the hate group after learning that cash payments were made “to facilitate access” to the filmA s subjects.

Spicer: Why won’t the DNC take some blame for hackings?

President-elect Donald Trump’s top spokesman demanded Thursday that Democrats take more responsibility for not preventing alleged Russian cyberintrusions. Sean Spicer, a top strategist at the Republican National Committee and the incoming White House press secretary, told CNN’s Jake Tapper that while he condemned the hackings, too much emphasis had been placed on the attempts and not enough on ways to prevent them.

Russia sanctions announced by White House

President Barack Obama took unprecedented steps Thursday retaliating against what the administration described as “Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities,” including sanctioning six Russian individuals and five Russian entities as well as ordering Russian diplomats to leave the country. This is the first time the names of Russian officials involved in the hacking have become public on the sanctions list.

Sen. Ted Cruz Slams Obama and Kerry Over Israel

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Tex., blasted President Barack Obama and Secretary of State John Kerry for their actions regarding Israel, calling both men “bitter clingers” who “are spending every last minute of this administration wreaking havoc domestically and abroad.” The Washington Examiner reports that Cruz claimed the lame duck administration’s actions were “designed to weaken and marginalize Israel and to embolden its enemies.”

Rep. Franks: Sanctions Based on ‘Leaks,’ Obama Acting ‘Hypocritically’

Congress has not yet been briefed on whether Russia interfered in the presidential election, and it’s a “little premature” to come to conclusions that lead to President Barack Obama’s sanctions against Russia, Rep. Trent Franks said Thursday, and he finds it hypocritical that Obama is making such accusations. “What we’re hearing is information leaked from the intelligence community, primarily from the Barack Obama administration apparatus,” the Arizona Republican, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, told MSNBC Thursday afternoon.

Why political satire may become even more important in Trump era

John Oliver, pictured here at a February 2015 Comedy Central event, used nearly the entire season finale of his HBO show on Nov. 13, 2016, to criticize President-elect Donald Trump. “This week saw the biannual nuclear security summit in Washington,” begins John Oliver to a cheering crowd on a segment of his HBO show, “Last Week Tonight.”

new Obama retaliates against Russia for election hacking

In a sweeping response to election hacking, President Barack Obama on Thursday sanctioned Russian intelligence services and their top officials, kicked out 35 Russian officials and shuttered two Russian-owned compounds in the U.S. It was the strongest action the Obama administration has taken to date to retaliate for a cyberattack. “All Americans should be alarmed by Russia’s actions,” Obama said in a statement released while he was vacationing in Hawaii.

Obama Sanctions Russia For Interference in the U.S. Election

President Barack Obama on Thursday authorized a series of sanctions against Russia for intervening in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and warned of more action to come. “These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior,” Obama said in a statement.

Seventh Circuit Allows FCA Claim Based on Inferences of Fraud to…

In United States ex rel. Presser v. Acacia Mental Health Clinic, LLC , 836 F.3d 770 , the Seventh Circuit addressed Rule 9 ‘s application to a False Claims Act complaint, elaborating on when it considers a relator’s allegations sufficiently particular to meet Rule 9 ‘s heightened pleading standard when a relator does not have access to the particular claims being submitted to the government for payment.

Utah attorney general to sue over monument

The Republican attorney general of Utah says he’s going to sue over President Barack Obama’s designation of the Bears Ears National Monument that spans 1.35 million acres in the state. Attorney General Sean Reyes said in a statement Wednesday that he’s working with local officials to file a lawsuit.

Utah attorney general to sue over monument

The Republican attorney general of Utah says he’s going to sue over President Barack Obama’s designation of the Bears Ears National Monument that spans 1.35 million acres in the state. Attorney General Sean Reyes said in a statement Wednesday that he’s working with local officials to file a lawsuit.

President Obama designates two more nat’l monuments, infuriating right wingers in Utah and elsewhere

Donald Trump has won the presidency after narrowly carrying a few states to put him above 270 electoral votes.But according… Senate Republicans refused to give President Obama’s pick to replace Supreme Court Justice Scalia even the courtesy of a… American Indian petroglyphs, some dating back 5,000 years, cover “Newspaper Rock” located in what is now Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah. Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada also contains a “Newspaper Rock.”

President Obama designates two more nat’l monuments, infuriating right wingers in Utah and elsewhere

Donald Trump has won the presidency after narrowly carrying a few states to put him above 270 electoral votes.But according… Senate Republicans refused to give President Obama’s pick to replace Supreme Court Justice Scalia even the courtesy of a… American Indian petroglyphs, some dating back 5,000 years, cover “Newspaper Rock” located in what is now Bears Ears National Monument in southeastern Utah. Gold Butte National Monument in Nevada also contains a “Newspaper Rock.”

21 Officers Died in Ambush Shootings in 2016, Report Says

Dallas Police Chief David Brown talks to reporters following a deadly night in which a dozen police and transit officers were shot, five of them killed. This year was particularly deadly for police officers in the United States, with 21 deadly ambush shootings marking the highest number in more than two decades, according to a law enforcement advocacy group that tracks fatal shootings of officers.

Ode to the Pundits

Award-winning animator Mark Fiore bestows a special award upon “the pundit class” who helped bring us the Donald Trump presidency in his latest clip. Watch the video and read Fiore’s thoughts on pundits below.

Ode to the Pundits

Award-winning animator Mark Fiore bestows a special award upon “the pundit class” who helped bring us the Donald Trump presidency in his latest clip. Watch the video and read Fiore’s thoughts on pundits below.

After Legislative Coup, North Carolina Can No Longer Be Considered a Democracy, Study Finds

A new report finds that North Carolina’s democratic institutions are so flawed that the state should no longer be considered a functioning democracy. The report, by the Electoral Integrity Project, or EIP, “points to extreme gerrymandering, voter suppression of communities of color and the recent stripping of power of incoming Democratic Governor Roy Cooper by Republicans,” reports “Democracy Now!” EIP gave the state a score of 58 out of 100 points-similar to those of Cuba, Sierra Leone and Indonesia.

After Legislative Coup, North Carolina Can No Longer Be Considered a Democracy, Study Finds

A new report finds that North Carolina’s democratic institutions are so flawed that the state should no longer be considered a functioning democracy. The report, by the Electoral Integrity Project, or EIP, “points to extreme gerrymandering, voter suppression of communities of color and the recent stripping of power of incoming Democratic Governor Roy Cooper by Republicans,” reports “Democracy Now!” EIP gave the state a score of 58 out of 100 points-similar to those of Cuba, Sierra Leone and Indonesia.

Punishment for Alleged Russian Hacking Expected to Be Announced Today

The Obama administration later today is expected to announce retaliatory steps against Russia for a cyber assault on Democratic political organizations during the 2016 presidential campaign, according to sources familiar with the matter. Federal authorities are also expected to expand on why Washington is confident that Russia was behind the hacks, which some officials believe may have influenced the U.S. presidential election .

Small plane crash in Fla. kills Minnesota mother active in public education

A small airplane crashed while trying to land in central Florida, killing both people aboard, one of them a central Minnesota woman being remembered for her tireless dedication to public education in her community. Deb Solsrud, 51, of New London, died when the single-engine plane she was in crashed early Tuesday evening in the front yard of a home in Port Orange, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.