Obama’s farewell speech will be a call to action, aides say

Several of the thousands who lined up Jan. 7, 2017, for tickets to President Barack Obama’s farewell speech, to be held Jan. 10 in Chicago, share their thoughts on what the presidency meant to them. Several of the thousands who lined up Jan. 7, 2017, for tickets to President Barack Obama’s farewell speech, to be held Jan. 10 in Chicago, share their thoughts on what the presidency meant to them.

Volkswagen Executive Arrested for Alleged Role in Emissions a Conspiracya

Volkswagen executive Oliver Schmidt was arrested by the FBI on Saturday for his alleged role in the company’s suspected “scheme” to cheat emissions standards, according to a criminal complaint unsealed Monday. Schmidt, who led the automaker’s U.S. environmental regulatory compliance office from 2012 to 2015, allegedly conspired with other VW employees to defraud the federal government – and American consumers – by concealing the installation of a device designed to cheat emissions tests.

George Madison Stevens

Services for Mr. Stevens, who passed away Jan. 5, 2017 after a courageous 11-year battle with stroke and Alzheimer’s, will be conducted Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017 at 2 p.m. at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes. Visitation will be from 1-2 p.m. with a Masonic service and military honors to his life to follow the visitation.

Jared Kushner

President-elect Donald Trump appointed his influential son-in-law Jared Kushner as a White House senior adviser Monday, putting the young real estate executive in position to exert broad sway over both domestic and foreign policy, particularly Middle East issues and trade negotiations. Trump has come to rely heavily on Kushner, who is married to the president-elect’s daughter Ivanka.

Meryl Streep overrated? Donald Trump picks a decorated star

President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter on Monday, calling Meryl Streep “one of the most over-rated actresses in Hollywood” following her speech Sunday night at the Golden Globe awards. While “overrated” is an opinion, Streep, who took aim at Trump in her speech while accepting the Globes lifetime achievement award, holds the record for the most Academy Award nominations of any actor.

Sanders: Dems won’t repeal Obamacare

Bernie Sanders insisted Monday he would challenge President-elect Donald Trump on issues such as repealing Obamacare but urged fellow Democrats against simply obstructing the incoming administration. “I’m going to do everything I can — and I believe I speak for virtually every member of the Democratic caucus, that we’re going to do everything that we can to improve the Affordable Care Act,” Sanders said at a town hall in Washington sponsored by CNN and moderated by Chris Cuomo.

D.C. officials vow to fight for uninsured if Obamacare repeal passes

D.C. officials have vowed not to leave the city’s most vulnerable residents without health insurance if Congress repeals the Affordable Care Act, despite the possibility of a $623 million shortfall for health care in the District. As the chairman of the D.C. Council’s newly formed Health Committee, Vincent Gray is uniquely positioned to take the lead in dealing with the aftermath of a dismantled ACA in the District.

Dead whale brought to Angel Island for analysis

A dead whale found in the bay over the weekend has been secured to a pier on Angel Island for analysis by researchers from the Marine Mammal Center and California Academy of Sciences. The 50-foot whale carcass – believed to be that of a sub-adult female blue or fin whale – was spotted Saturday morning at Oakland Harbor’s Howard Terminal.

Kushner to Take Unpaid White House Role

Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President-elect Donald Trump, will be named a senior adviser to the president and will work for free, according to two people familiar with the matter. It’s not clear what Kushner’s portfolio would be.

Trump Advisers to Meet With Paul Ryan on Tax Reform, Obamacare

Top advisers to President-elect Donald Trump will meet Monday evening with House Speaker Paul Ryan and his policy staff to discuss taxes and other policy issues, according to two people familiar with the plans. Topics on the agenda include tax reform, the budget, Obamacare and infrastructure, said one of the people, who’s a Trump adviser.

Republicans may speed up parts of Obamacare replacement

Senate Republican leaders, under growing criticism for not having their own alternative to Obamacare, are actively exploring moving more quickly to replace key elements of the law earlier in the year. They are looking at folding some new health care provisions as part of the bill to repeal Obamacare, a proposal that Congress could enact as soon as this month, according to senior GOP aides and a top party leader.

First on CNN: Condoleezza Rice endorses Sessions for attorney general

Condoleezza Rice, who served as secretary of state to former President George W. Bush, endorsed former Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions Monday to be President-elect Donald Trump’s attorney general. Rice, who is also from Alabama, wrote a letter of appreciation to Sen. Chuck Grassley about Sessions, where she said that Sessions, a “friend,” was someone she admired “greatly.”

Assemblyman Gomez gets BERNED in Delegates Selection Rehearsal for…

The Congressional Campaign of Assemblyman Jimmy Gomez, is reeling from the BERN inflicted upon it via Sunday’s 51st Assembly District Delegate Elections by former Democratic Presidential Candidate Bernie Sanders Progressive Supporters, in a possible Dress Rehearsal of the upcoming 34th CD Special Election. ** Blogger’s Notes: Its true ……….., and cause by humans .

Democrats push bill to keep Trump from presidenting for personal profit

Donald Trump has won the presidency after narrowly carrying a few states to put him above 270 electoral votes.But according… force Donald Trump to get rid of his opportunities to profit from the presidency by putting his money into a blind trust. But Democrats aren [Sen. Elizabeth Warren] – backed by nearly 30 House and Senate Democrats – will introduce legislation Monday that would require Trump and Vice President-elect “The American people deserve to know that the President of the United States is working to do what’s best for the country – not using his office to do what’s best for himself and his businesses,” Warren said.

Nothing to Worry About Here

Between the Trump transition team’s infighting, incompetence, and high-profile resignations, any decisions that signaled even a modicum of stability for the country would come as a relief at this point. Unfortunately, the nascent Trump Administration isn’t inclined to calm anyone’s nerves.

Amazon will soon start accepting food stamps

Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Washington, Iowa, and Oregon, though the USDA says it hopes to expand the online program nationally and add more retailers. “Amazon is excited to participate in the USDA SNAP online purchasing pilot,” the company said in a press release .

Former Volkswagen Exec Charged With Conspiracy To Defraud US

Oliver Schmidt, who used to serve as the top emissions compliance manager for Volkswagen AG in the U.S., was arrested by the FBI on Saturday, charged with conspiracy to defraud the United States over the company’s diesel emissions cheating scandal. The former executive will appear U.S. District Court in Miami on Monday afternoon.

Democrats Push For Independent Commission On Russian Election Meddling

From left, Rep. Elijah Cummings, Sen. Ben Cardin, Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Eric Swalwell hold a news conference Monday to call for an independent, bipartisan commission to investigate foreign interference in the 2016 presidential election. WASHINGTON – After intelligence officials issued a bombshell report on Russia hacking the Democratic National Committee, House and Senate Democrats are renewing their call for an independent commission to investigate Russian interference in the presidential election.

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KIMT News 3 – An immigration bill backed by some of Iowa’s U.S. lawmakers is meant to honor the memory of an Iowa woman who was killed in a car accident last year in the state. The man who hit the SUV she was riding in was in the country illegally.

Sen. Tammy Duckworth Slams Jeff Sessions’ Disability Rights Record

A day before Sen. Jeff Sessions’ Senate confirmation hearing to be Donald Trump’s attorney general, newly elected Sen. Tammy Duckworth on Monday expressed concern about his fitness for the post. Duckworth, a veteran who lost her legs in the Iraq War , questioned Trump’s selection of Sessions, when the Americans With Disabilities Act already appears to be under attack.

Air Forces grants honorable discharge to 91-year-old gay vet

” A 91-year-old veteran who was dismissed from the U.S. Air Force as “undesirable” in 1948 because he is gay has had that discharge status changed to “honorable.” The move by the Air Force comes in response to a lawsuit filed in November by H. Edward Spires of Norwalk, Connecticut, who served from 1946 to 1948 as a chaplain’s assistant, earning the rank of sergeant.

McConnell meeting Trump on eve of hearings

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is meeting with President-elect Donald Trump a day before the Senate begins confirmation hearings on Trump’s Cabinet picks. The government ethics office says it hasn’t received even draft financial disclosure reports for some of the nominees set to appear before Congress this week.