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”

MSN

LOS ANGELES, CA — After focusing on education and voluntary compliance with the county’s coronavirus health orders, the Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department announced plans Tuesday to crackdown on illegal gatherings deemed “supe-spreading events.” The effort began with a raid on a massive “underground party” in Palmdale that ended in 158 arrests.

The Saturday night party was organized by a teenager, but more than 100 adults attended the gathering, according to the sheriff’s department. The crackdown comes on a weekend when the county reported more than 10,000 new cases daily and as Gov. Newsom placed Los Angeles County on lockdown. Continue reading “158 Arrested At Party In LA Crackdown On Super-Spreaders”

Fox News

A California judge issued a ruling on Tuesday that said Los Angeles County acted “arbitrarily” and without rational justification when it banned outdoor dining late last month, according to reports.

“The Restaurant Closure Order is an abuse of the Department’s emergency powers, is not grounded in science, evidence, or logic, and should be adjudicated to be unenforceable as a matter of law,” wrote Los Angeles Superior Court Judge James C. Chalfant in a tentative ruling, according to Politico.  Continue reading “Judge sides with restaurants over Los Angeles outdoor dining ban: reports”

Yahoo News

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The state of Texas, aiming to help President Donald Trump upend the results of the U.S. election, said on Tuesday it has sued Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin at the Supreme Court, calling changes those states made to election procedures amid the coronavirus pandemic unlawful.

The long-shot lawsuit, announced by the Republican attorney general of Texas Ken Paxton, was being filed directly with the Supreme Court rather than with a lower court, as is permitted for certain litigation between states. The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority including three justices appointed by Trump. Continue reading “Texas asks U.S. Supreme Court to help Trump upend election”

Fox News

The chief investigator from Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger’s office filed a sworn statement in federal court claiming that video presented last week at a state Senate meeting does not show voter fraud, as was alleged by President Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani.

The video contains footage from the State Farm Arena in Atlanta, where votes were counted on election night. According to Giuliani, it showed workers counting ballots that had been brought in and hidden under a table until after poll watchers had left. Chief investigator Frances Watson disputed this, claiming that, according to his findings, this did not take place.  Continue reading “No ‘mystery ballots’ hidden under table in Fulton County, Georgia investigator swears in affidavit”

WTSP

OLYMPIA, Wash. — Two restaurants off Interstate 5 opened this week for indoor dining, in defiance of a statewide order.

The owner of Farm Boy south of Olympia reopened his dining room for customers Wednesday, violating Gov. Jay Inslee’s ban on indoor dining.

Continue reading “Two Washington state restaurants defy governor’s COVID-19 indoor dining restrictions”

Fox News

A Los Angeles bar owner was fighting back tears Friday, claiming Mayor Eric Garcetti had shut down the outdoor patio at her business — while letting a Hollywood movie crew set up an outdoor dining area just a short distance away.

The shutdown at the Pineapple Hill Grill & Saloon in the city’s Sherman Oaks neighborhood came amid a county-ordered ban on outdoor dining, a mayor-issued stay-at-home order — and California state-level plans for business shutdowns if coronavirus hospitalizations hit required levels. Continue reading “Los Angeles bar owner rips Garcetti, Newsom over double standard on outdoor dining”