Author: Editor

Senate “sanctuary cities” bill hearing

After a 16-hour hearing that included tears, heckling, bursts of anger and warnings from lawmakers to witnesses to respect the rules of the Capitol’s upper chamber, the Texas Senate’s State Affairs Committee voted 7-2 along party lines early Friday morning to advance a controversial state-based immigration bill to the full Senate. Senate Bill 4, commonly known as the anti-sanctuary cities bill, would punish local government entities and college campuses that refuse to cooperate with federal immigration officials or enforce immigration laws.

The Threat from Within

It has been two weeks since he took over, imposing his dark vision upon this country. It has been two weeks since he declared war on religious minorities, our environment, our democracy.

Mnuchin’s denials don’t match record

Sen. Orrin Hatch says no, that the man nominated by President Donald Trump to be treasury secretary told the truth when he asserted that his former company, OneWest, had not engaged in the practice of “robo-signing” mortgage documents. That’s despite dozens of court cases uncovered by The Dispatch that showed OneWest officials’ robo-signatures, along with sworn testimony from one of his vice presidents describing how she did it.

Jim Jordan rejects calls to repair Obamacare

WASHINGTON In a growing rift among Republicans, Rep. Jim Jordan rejected calls by some GOP lawmakers to “repair” the 2010 health law, saying the law known as Obamacare was a “complete disaster” and needs to be swiftly and completely scrapped. During an interview Friday on Fox News, Jordan, R-Urbana said for Republicans “to say we’re going to repair something implies you can actually fix something.

Estate of Virgil Victor Becker Jr v. Avco Corporation Precision…

ESTATE OF VIRGIL VICTOR BECKER, JR., by its Personal Representative, Jennifer L. White, Petitioner, v. AVCO CORPORATION; PRECISION AIRMOTIVE LLC; VOLARE CARBURETORS LLC; MARVEL-SCHEBLER CARBURETORS LLC; TEMPEST PLUS MARKETING GROUP LLC; AERO ACCESSORIES, INC.; SYNERGY SYSTEMS, INC.; CASHMERE MOLDING, INC.; CREST AIRPARK, INC.; PREMIER AIRCRAFT ENGINES, INC; AUBURN FLIGHT SERVICE, INC; and ESTATE OF BRENDA L. HOUSTON, by its Personal Representative PAUL THOMAS CREWS, Defendants, FORWARD TECHNOLOGY INDUSTRIES, INC., Respondent.

Trump attacks restrictions on big banks, retirement advisers

President Donald Trump has launched his long-promised attack on banking rules that were rushed into law after the nation’s economic crisis, signing new orders after meeting with business and investment chiefs and pledging further action to free big banks from restrictions. Wall Street cheered him on, but Trump risks disillusioning his working-class voters.

ICYMI: Cleveland Mayor Frank Jackson’s three terms in office

With Mayor Frank Jackson’s announcement Tuesday that he will be seeking an unprecedented fourth four-year term, cleveland.com takes a look back at his record and policy decisions – his strengths and vulnerabilities — that likely will take center stage as more challengers enter the race. From police violence to economic development, the airport to the city’s schools, these are some of the issues upon which the next mayor of Cleveland will be chosen.

Peru to give visas to thousands of crisis-weary Venezuelans

Peru has created a temporary visa that will allow thousands of Venezuelans to work and study in the country, part of a migratory policy that aims to “build bridges” and “not walls,” the Andean nation’s interior ministry said. President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski’s government issued 20 temporary visas to Venezuelan migrants in Peru this week.

U.S. judge temporarily blocks Trump’s travel ban nationwide

A U.S. judge on Friday imposed a nationwide hold on President Donald Trump’s ban on travellers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries, siding with two states that had challenged the executive order that has launched legal battles across the country. U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle ruled that Washington state and Minnesota had standing to challenge Trump’s order, which government lawyers disputed, and said they showed their case was likely to succeed.

Idaho governor says Christian refugees deserve priority

Idaho Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter says he agrees with President Donald Trump that persecuted Christians should be treated as priority in the U.S. refugee program despite acknowledging that such preference is discriminatory. “It is,” Otter said during an interview on Idaho Public Television’s Idaho Reports.

NCAA agrees to pay $208 million settlement in antitrust case

The NCAA and 11 major athletic conferences announced Friday night they have agreed to pay $208.7 million to settle a federal class-action lawsuit filed by former college athletes who claimed the value of their scholarships was illegally capped. The settlement still must be approved by a judge and it does not close the antitrust case.

Building of Dakota Access Pipeline to start in second quarter: stakeholder

Native American “water protectors” celebrate that the Army Corps of Engineers has denied an easement for the $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline inside of the Oceti Sakowin camp as demonstrations continue against plans to pass the Dakota Access pipeline adjacent to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation, near Cannon Ball, North Dakota, U.S., December 4, 2016. The chief executive of Phillips 66 said on Friday he expects the Dakota Access Pipeline to start operations in the second quarter, even though the project – which has sparked protests by Native Americans and environmentalists – is still in the midst of legal battles and a U.S. regulatory review.

Judge Issues Nationwide Restraining Order on Trump Immigration Action

A federal judge in Seattle has issued a nationwide restraining order halting parts of the executive action signed by President Donald Trump that temporarily bars some immigrants and refugees from seven predominantly Muslim countries. The White House ripped the ruling hours later, at first calling it “outrageous” in a statement and then removing the word from an updated release.

Gambia’s ‘Trump’ and the dilemma of the Int’l Criminal Court

The stepping down , under duress, of long-term Gambian president Yahya Jammeh clearly illustrates the impact of credible collective security. However, for this ‘African solution’ to be replicable, much will need to be allayed regarding possible future attempts to renege on the deal, which reportedly provides him immunity from future prosecution’s.

Taking Iraq’s Oil

The leaders of the United States have provided many reasons for their numerous interventions in Iraq. President Donald Trump has focused on one thing: the United States should take the country’s oil.

Mixed Signals: Now, White House Says Israeli Settlement Building May Not Help Peace

The tone was more measured than previous pro-Israel announcements, but did not go so far as to condemn settlement activity. The Trump administration said on Thursday that Israel’s building of new settlements or expansion of existing ones in occupied territories may not be helpful in achieving peace with Palestinians, adopting a more measured tone than its previous pro-Israel announcements.

This Week with AG Josh Hawley

As the nation learned on Monday, Neil Gorsuch is President Donald Trump’s pick for the U.S. Supreme Court. An opinion piece in The New York Times called Gorsuch the “nominee for a stolen seat” referencing then-President Obama’s choice, Merrick Garland, never getting his shot at Senate confirmation.

US judge temporarily blocks Trump’s travel ban nationwide

A U.S. judge on Friday imposed a nationwide hold on President Donald Trump’s ban on travelers and immigrants from seven predominantly Muslim countries, siding with two states that had challenged the executive order that has launched legal battles across the country. U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle ruled that Washington state and Minnesota had standing to challenge Trump’s order, which government lawyers disputed, and said they showed their case was likely to succeed.

Here’s what Trump’s ‘send in the feds’ could mean for Chicago

President Trump has warned he may soon “send in the feds” to Chicago to help reduce gun violence there, and while that may sound like a threat from the new president, there’s a precedent for federal aid in reducing gun violence. And though it may sound like federal intrusion into local issues, there already signs that some cities might welcome that aid.

US hits Iran with sanctions

The Trump administration ordered sanctions against more than two dozen people and companies from the Persian Gulf to China on Friday in retaliation for Iran’s recent ballistic missile test, increasing pressure on Tehran without directly undercutting a landmark nuclear deal.

Howard Stern says Trump ‘wants to be loved’

Howard Stern, the famous radio show host, said Wednesday that he wished his longtime friend, President Trump, did not run for president because he is concerned about his mental health because “he just wants to be liked.” “I personally wish that he had never run.

Dakota Pipeline: Arrests Made of 74 ‘Rogue’ Protesters Over New Camp

The Dakota Access Pipeline area saw 74 arrests Wednesday after a group of protesters attempted to start an illegal camp on private land, causing concern among the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which had been leading the opposition to the structure. The tribe called the gathering “a rogue group of protesters” that tried to start a new camp against the wishes of the tribal council and district leaders, CNN reported .

Christie ‘Really Willing Partner’ in Defunding Sanctuary Cities

Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J., never made it into President Donald Trump’s Cabinet after being fired as head of the transition, but he vowed to be a “really willing partner” of Trump’s potential federal defunding of “sanctuary cities” in his state. “The fact is that those folks should be enforcing federal law, and the federal government has to give tools to the states to be able to help them have the enforcement of federal law,” Christie told Fox News’ “The O’Reilly Factor” on Thursday night.

The Latest: Official: Officer’s death homicide by trauma

Mounted police patrol travel along Smyrna Landing Road alongside James T. Vaugh Corrections center, Thursday, Feb. 2, 2017 in Smyrna, Del. Inmates used “sharp instruments” to assume control of the building at the James T. Vaughn Correction Center on Wednesday, taking three prison guards and a woman counselor hostage.

Environmentalists Want Your Baby Dead

In an appearance on Tucker Carlson Tonight , the executive director of the Sierra Club, Michael Brune, advocated abortion to reduce human population , saying that abortion “helps to address the number of the people that we have on this planet. We feel that one of the ways in which we can get to a sustainable population is to empower women to make choices about their own families.”

Faith leaders call on sheriff to meet witha

Faith leaders called on DoA a Ana County Sheriff Enrique “Kiki” Vigil to break his silence with the local immigrant community Faith leaders call on sheriff to meet with immigrant community Faith leaders called on DoA a Ana County Sheriff Enrique “Kiki” Vigil to break his silence with the local immigrant community Check out this story on lcsun-news.com: http://lcsun.co/2k5EHfa Brandon Vasquez, living in the United States legally under the immigration policy known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, speaks Friday, Feb. 3, 2017, outside the DoA a Ana County Sheriff’s Office, about his experience as an undocumented immigrant.

Obamacare sign-up period ends with a whimper, sees first decline

The number of Americans signing up for coverage through HealthCare.gov dropped by a half-million for 2017, as efforts by President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans to demolish the Affordable Care Act propelled the first enrollment decline in its history. The lower total, with 9.2 million consumers choosing health plans in ACA marketplaces through the enrollment deadline Tuesday, marks a striking turnabout from the trend as former President Barack Obama’s administration neared its end – when sign-ups for coverage under the law were running steadily ahead of a year ago.

Trump Boots Reporters Out of Oval Office: – They’re Not…

The White House press pool got the boot from the Oval Office on Friday after one journalist dared to ask the president a question about Iran. According to the pool brief, the small circle of reporters were escorted into the Oval Office at 1:18 pm ET for a signing ceremony of an executive orders on financial regulations.

Dem Senate operative: The big Supreme Court fight will be over the next nominee, not Gorsuch

The potential political downside could be much greater for the Democratic Party with Gorsuch than it ultimately was for the GOP with Garland – leaving reason to doubt that Democrats would fully obstruct the nominee rather than seek a more favorable fight elsewhere. “I think it’s likely he’ll be confirmed,” said one Democratic Senate campaign operative, “and there will be a larger fight on the next one.”