From the Trenches World Report
Enforce our Bill of Rights
TOPEKA A federal judge has struck down a Kansas voter citizenship law that Secretary of State Kris Kobach had personally defended.
Judge Julie Robinson also ordered Kobach, who is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, to take more hours of continuing legal education after he was found in contempt and was frequently chided during the trial over missteps. Continue reading “Judge strikes down Kansas voter law, orders Kobach to take classes”
For the first time in over 20 years, the U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to review the constitutionality of civil forfeiture laws, which allow the government to confiscate cash, cars, and even homes. On Monday, the court granted a cert petition from Tyson Timbs, who was forced to forfeit his $40,000 Land Rover in civil court to the State of Indiana, after he pled guilty to selling less than $200 worth of drugs.
Like too many Americans, Tyson was addicted to opioids, at first taking prescription painkillers before switching to heroin. When Tyson tried to sell undercover officers four grams of heroin, he was arrested in 2013. As punishment, Tyson agreed to serve one year of house arrest and pay $1,200 in court fees. But the state also wanted his Land Rover, which Tyson had bought with life-insurance proceeds after his father died. Continue reading “Supreme Court Will Decide If Civil Forfeiture Is Unconstitutional, Violates The Eighth Amendment”
A drunk teenager who stole a golf buggy and then drove through a McDonald’s drive-thru has been banned from the roads for a year.
Jamie Elliot, 18, took the buggy from Catterick Golf Club, in Catterick Garrison, U.K., and drove it for 3.5miles with a pal on the hunt for takeaway food. Continue reading “Drunk teen stole golf cart for 3.5-mile McDonald’s run”
TOLEDO, Ohio — The FBI says a former Ohio sheriff accused of taking nearly $100,000 in bribes from drug dealers and others while in office has been indicted on federal charges.
Authorities say 54-year-old Samuel Crish, of Delphos, was charged Monday in U.S. District Court in Toledo with bribery, extortion and making false statements. Continue reading “FBI: Ex-sheriff extorted nearly $100K from dealers, others”
Nearly 60,000 immigrants with arrest records — including 10 accused of murder — have been allowed to stay in the United States under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) revealed Monday.
According to DHS, 59,786 DACA recipients have been arrested while in the U.S. — approximately 7.8 percent of all who have been approved to remain in this country under the program since it was created in 2012. Of those, 53,792 were arrested before their most recent request for a so-called “grant of deferred action” was approved. Another 7,814 were arrested after their request was approved. Continue reading “Thousands of DACA recipients with arrest records, including 10 accused murderers, allowed to stay in US”
Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen pulled no punches on Monday when defending the Trump administration’s highly controversial immigration policies during a speech at a meeting of the National Sheriffs’ Association.
“We will not apologize for the job we do or for the job law enforcement does for doing the job that the American people expect us to do,” Nielsen said during her speech in New Orleans. “Illegal actions have and must have consequences. No more free passes, no more get out of jail free cards.” Continue reading “DHS Secretary Nielsen says ‘we will not apologize ‘ for controversial immigration policy”
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — A bill sponsored by Wyoming U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney would impose fees on protests against oil and gas projects on federal land.
The Republican introduced the bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday, saying it aims to deter intentional burdens to Wyoming’s energy development. Continue reading “Cheney bill proposes fee for fed land oil and gas protests”
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy responded to Sunday’s deadly shooting at a Trenton arts festival by calling for new controls on guns. But a suspect’s gang membership — and early release from prison after Murphy took office — may have been bigger factors in an incident that left one person dead and 22 wounded.
Meanwhile, Murphy — a first-term Democrat in his first elected office — supports shorter sentences for offenders and cuts in prisoner rehabilitation programs. Continue reading “NJ governor sees guns, not shooter’s early prison release, as the problem”
KANSAS CITY, Kan. (AP) — A second sheriff’s deputy died early Saturday from injuries suffered when an inmate who was being transported in Kansas City overpowered two officers and may have used one of their guns to shoot them.
Kansas City, Kansas, police confirmed on their Facebook page that Deputy Theresa King, 44, died just after midnight following the shooting on Friday. Officer Patrick Rohrer, 35, died earlier. Continue reading “Police: 2nd Kansas sheriff’s deputy dies after shooting”
A dad in North Carolina bought his recently graduated son a billboard recognizing him as valedictorian even though the school refused to do so.
Gary Allmon purchased the large digital sign for his son, Joshua, on U.S. Highway 264 in Wake County, North Carolina to celebrate his four years of hard work. Continue reading “Dad buys billboard for son after school doesn’t recognize him as valedictorian”
House Republicans unveiled a draft proposal this week that would place fines on states that block offshore gas and oil drilling.
The Republican draft proposal, first reported by The Washington Post, will be discussed at the Natural Resources Committee on Thursday. Continue reading “Republicans propose penalties for states that oppose offshore drilling”
DENVER (AP) – The U.S. Army resumed destroying obsolete chemical weapons at a Colorado depot after a nine-month shutdown for repairs, officials said Wednesday.
The highly automated, $4.5 billion plant at the Pueblo Chemical Depot began a gradual restart this week. It could take 60 days to return to full operation, site manager Greg Mohrman said. Continue reading “US resumes destroying obsolete chemical weapons in Colorado”
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — City county council members will consider a resolution that urges lawmakers to ban high capacity weapons in Indiana.
The Community Affairs Committee will hear about the proposal at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday.
Councilman Duke Oliver introduced the resolution in April. He’s asking the Indiana General Assembly to ban sales on “assault weapons and high capacity magazines.” Continue reading “Discussions about a high capacity weapons ban in Indiana continue”
Cook County Sheriff’s Office police officers will enforce the county’s assault weapons ban in the Village of Northbrook, according to Village President Sandra Frum.
After listening to comments from seven people regarding the ban, also known as the Blair Holt Assault Weapons Ban, Frum read a statement announcing that village staff has determined that Cook County officials will be responsible for enforcing the ban in Northbrook. Continue reading “Cook County Sheriff’s Office will enforce assault weapons ban in Northbrook, officials say”
While NAFTA may be a distant memory in 2026, moments ago the NAFTA nations of US, Canada and Mexico won the right to host the 2026 football World Cup, marking the first time the tournament will be hosted by three countries, and overcoming reluctance in some countries to hand the prize to American President Donald Trump, according to the FT.
The joint North American bid, dubbed “United 2026,” (and also dubbed the NAFTA Cup) defeated Morocco in the race to hold one of the world’s biggest sporting events, following a vote on Wednesday by more than 200 member nations of FIFA. Continue reading “US, Canada And Mexico Win Bid To Host 2026 World Cup”
Cable customers may want to gird their loins for higher prices.
On Tuesday, a federal judge ruled against the Department of Justice in its case against AT&T T, -6.20% and Time Warner TWX, +1.68% allowing the $85.4 billion merger deal to proceed. The judge ruled that the DOJ could not block the merger from proceeding even if it were to launch an appeal. Continue reading “Why the AT&T-Time Warner merger could be bad news for consumers”
Millions of dollars in additional federal money may soon flow to the Port of Corpus Christi’s project to widen and deepen its ship channel to allow tankers to leave the port with larger loads of crude from Texas oil fields.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said another $23 million has been added to the corps’ 2018 work plan for the Port of Corpus Christi’s ongoing $327 million channel deepening project. Continue reading “Project to boost Texas oil exports to get more federal funds”
CHICAGO (AP) — With frustration mounting over lawmakers’ inaction on gun control, the American Medical Association on Tuesday pressed for a ban on assault weapons and came out against arming teachers as a way to fight what it calls a public health crisis.
At its annual policymaking meeting, the nation’s largest physicians group bowed to unprecedented demands from doctor-members to take a stronger stand on gun violence — a problem the organizations says is as menacing as a lethal infectious disease. Continue reading “Frustrated AMA adopts sweeping policies to cut gun violence”
Four young children were discovered dead at a west Orlando apartment complex late Monday, nearly 24 hours after a standoff that began when an Orlando police officer was shot responding to a domestic violence call.
The gunman was also found dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound in a closet when SWAT officers entered the apartment at about 9 p.m., Orlando Police Chief John Mina said at a news conference just before midnight. Continue reading “4 children, gunman found dead nearly 24 hours after Orlando standoff began”
WHIDBEY ISLAND, Wash. — It’s time to get out that tinfoil hat.
A mysterious object was spotted by a local photographer over the skies of Whibey Island early Sunday morning, leading to lots of speculation and questions, but no solid answers. Continue reading “Missile launch? Lens flare? Mysterious object spotted over Whidbey Island raises questions”