KOIN

PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The town of Sandy’s mayor announced his intentions to not only defy state-mandated COVID-19 restrictions, but is backing a coalition which encourages businesses to do the same.

Mayor Stan Pulliam wrote Oregon Governor Kate Brown an open letter Thursday calling the rules “arbitrary” and said the restrictions have bankrupted family businesses and sent “our neighbors to spiral into depression and anxiety.” Continue reading “Sandy, Oregon Mayor encourages coalition of businesses to defy COVID rules”

Yahoo News

A train carrying crude oil derailed and caught fire on Tuesday in Washington state near the Canadian border, prompting a major emergency response and temporarily forcing the closure of Interstate 5 in both directions.

Authorities lifted an evacuation order Tuesday evening for residents of the small town of Custer, about 100 miles north of Seattle. Continue reading “BNSF train carrying crude oil derails, catches fire in Washington state near Canadian border”

Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden

In a move that was generally expected, on Wednesday afternoon Trump vetoed the $740.5 billion annual defense policy bill – not the covid stimulus bill which he also threatened to block last night – following through on his threat despite the legislation passing Congress with a veto-proof majority.

“I am returning, without my approval, H.R. 6395, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021,” Trump said in a statement to the House of Representatives, saying the NDAA “fails to include critical national security measures, includes provisions that fail to respect our veterans and our military’s history, and contradicts efforts by my Administration to put America first in our national security and foreign policy actions. It is a “gift” to China and Russia.”  Continue reading “Trump Vetoes Defense Authorization Bill, Calling It A “Gift” To China And Russia”

Washington Examiner – by Mike Brest

The city of Detroit is suing Black Lives Matter protesters after a group of organizers sued the local government.

Detroit’s suit alleges that demonstrators who participated in the racial justice protests this summer were a part of a “civil conspiracy” in which they attempted “to disturb the peace, engage in disorderly conduct, incite riots, destroy public property,” and resist police orders, among other “illegal acts.” The suit was filed in September, about a month after activists filed their own suit, alleging Detroit police officers “repeatedly responded with violence,” according to the Intercept. Continue reading “Detroit is countersuing Black Lives Matter protesters for ‘civil conspiracy’”

Gateway Pundit – by Brock Simmons

In a move that would make the Chinese Communist Party gush with envy, the Oregon state legislature took the bold move of holding secret floor sessions on Monday to pass a few bills involving the Covid shutdown. Patriots were having none of that.

Though the capitol was closed to the public and main entrance fenced off, a large group of patriots descended on the building to try and make their way in to participate in the legislative process. They were met by riot squads from the Oregon State Police and Salem Police Department. These officers essentially did the bidding of the corrupt politicians and worked to keep the public out. The riot cops deployed pepper spray and shot several people with rubber pellets, many of whom were seniors and petite women. Continue reading “Patriots Storm Oregon Capitol As Legislature Meets In Secret, Public Excluded, Police Protect Corrupt Politicians”

Fox News

Startling footage has emerged of a truck carrying hundreds of propane tanks bursting into flames following a crash early Tuesday morning in New York City.

Investigators told the New York Post that the truck likely overturned on the Long Island Expressway around midnight after passing over black ice.   Continue reading “Massive inferno in New York City after truck carrying propane tanks bursts into flames”

Washington Examiner – by Tim Gruver

Oregon lawmakers saw protests inside and outside of the state Capitol building as they convened on Monday to vote on pandemic relief amid the waning days of 2020.

Oregon Sen. Dallas Heard, R-Roseburg, held his own protest on the floor of the Senate as the day began, removing his mask before his fellow lawmakers in defiance of health restrictions requiring facial coverings in the building.  Continue reading “Protests rock Oregon Capitol as lawmakers convene hectic special session”

MSN

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — The manhunt continues today for Koby Francis, who Allegheny County Police say is a “danger to the community” after shooting a McKeesport police officer on Sunday.

According to court paperwork, Francis, 22, is accused of shooting Officer Geriasimos Athans, who is 32-years-old and is a four-year veteran of the McKeesport Police Department. Continue reading “Manhunt Intensifies For Koby Francis After Shooting Of McKeesport Officer Geriasimos Athans”

CBS DFW

Just because you’re off the clock over the holidays, doesn’t mean your boss can’t ask where you’re off to. Employees may face questions about their travel plans, and labor law experts say, for the most part, companies have a lot of leeway about what they can ask about and enforce

Making travel to virus hotspots off limits, requiring quarantine upon return and recommending a testing protocol could all be allowable according to Dallas attorney Rogge Dunn. Continue reading “Workers Expected To Face Questions About Holiday Travel Plans From Employers”

AP

CONCORD, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina police officer and a person with a weapon were killed in an exchange of gunfire that wounded a second officer, police said.

The wounded officer was taken to a hospital for non-life threatening injuries following the shooting in Concord late Wednesday evening, the city’s police department said in multiple posts on their Twitter page. The city’s about 23 miles (37 kilometers) northeast of Charlotte.

Continue reading “North Carolina officer, armed person both killed in gunfire”

Daily Caller – by Jake Dima

A New Jersey gym owner who repeatedly defied coronavirus lockdowns and was fined roughly $1.2 million told the Daily Caller News Foundation that he doesn’t plan to pay a cent.

Ian Smith, co-owner of Atilis Gym, has incurred roughly 60 citations and is charged nearly $15,500 per day that he remains open in defiance of Democratic New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy’s COVID-19 closures, he told Fox News. Smith alongside Frank Trumbetti, another owner of the fitness facility, were arrested in late July after the pair refused to close their business following a weeks-long fight with state, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported. Continue reading “New Jersey Gym Owner Fined $1.2 Million for Defying COVID-19 Lockdowns Vows Not to Pay”

Fox News

Attorney General Bill Barr resigned Monday touting President Trump’s record and accomplishments, despite what he called a “partisan onslaught” and “relentless, implacable resistance.”

Barr, who will leave the Justice Department next week, had his departure announced by President Trump on Twitter Monday evening.  Continue reading “Attorney General William Barr announces resignation”

Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden

The Supreme Court on Friday tossed a last-minute bid by the state of Texas to overturn the 2020 election by challenging the results of four battleground states.

Citing a lack of standing, Justice Samuel Alito wrote in a brief order that the state “has not demonstrated a judicially cognizable interest in the manner in which another State conducts its elections,” adding “All other pending motions are dismissed as moot.” Continue reading “Supreme Court Tosses Texas Bid To Overturn Election”

Fox News

Hunter Biden’s past dealings with Chinese nationals – including some flagged for “potential financial criminal activity” – are outlined in a Senate committee report reviewed by Fox News.

The details come as Biden – the 50-year-old son of President-elect Joe Biden – on Wednesday acknowledged that he has been under a grand jury investigation through the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Delaware since 2018 over his “tax affairs.” Continue reading “Hunter Biden’s China business deals leading up to 2018 probe detailed in Senate report”

Yahoo News

A group of 48 U.S. attorneys general led by New York filed an antitrust lawsuit against Facebook (FB) on Wednesday, alleging the social media giant is violating antitrust law by buying up competitors and depriving consumers of alternatives that would better protect their privacy. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a separate suit alleging similar antitrust violations.

At the heart of both lawsuits are claims that Facebook’s acquisitions of Instagram in 2012 for $1 billion and WhatsApp in 2014 for $19 billion, as well as other smaller technology companies, were carried out in order to quash competition. As part of its lawsuit, the FTC wants to force Facebook to break off both Instagram and WhatsApp. Continue reading “Facebook sued by FTC, 48 attorneys general alleging it operates an illegal monopoly”

Epoch Times – by Janita Kan

Seventeen states are urging the U.S. Supreme Court to take up Texas’s request to challenge the 2020 election results in four battleground states.

The states, led by Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt, filed a friend-of-the-court brief on Dec. 9, underscoring that the case filed by Texas is of great public importance and requires the attention of the nation’s top court. Continue reading “17 States Urge Supreme Court to Review Texas Bid Challenging Election Results in 4 States”

Gateway Pundit – by Jim Hoft

Col. Allen West joined Steve Bannon Tuesday evening on The War Room.   Allen West, the Republican Party Texas state leader, went on to discuss today’s Texas lawsuit against Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania at the Supreme Court.

West told Steve Bannon that Louisiana joined the lawsuit on Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading “Allen West: Seven States Will Join Texas in SCOTUS Lawsuit Against Georgia, Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania”

Disrn – by Peter Hook

A year-long investigation into Chinese espionage in the United States revealed that a Chinese spy managed to forge several strong, well-connected ties to multiple state and national politicians, including Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA).

Fang Fang, also known as Christine Fang, used personal charm, campaign fundraising efforts, extensive networks of associates, and even sexual relationships with two Midwestern mayors to gain information and influence. Continue reading “Chinese spy compromised several U.S. politicians, including Rep. Swalwell, investigation reveals”