Human Rights First – Issue Brief, February 2016

The prison at Guantanamo Bay, which now holds 91 detainees, is vastly more expensive to operate than the equivalent federal prisons. Indeed, it’s come to be called “the most expensive prison on earth.” 1 Meanwhile, operating the Guantanamo military commissions, which have proven highly inefficient, is also much more expensive than conducting terrorism cases in federal courts. Keeping the prison open and trying military commission cases at the U.S. naval base in Cuba is a waste of valuable resources. This is fiscally irresponsible at a time when important programs for soldiers and veterans, and support for military functions, are being reduced due to lack of funding.   Continue reading “The Cost of the Guantánamo Bay Prison”

CNN – by Matt Egan

Don’t be fooled by the recent spike in oil prices. The world continues to drown in excess supply.

U.S. oil stockpiles skyrocketed by 9.4 million barrels last week to 532.5 million barrels, according to figures released on Wednesday by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. That’s roughly triple what analysts had been bracing for and adds to “historically high” inventory levels.   Continue reading “Epic oil glut gets worse”

Fox News

A small town in northwestern Minnesota was evacuated Thursday afternoon after a Canadian Pacific freight train collided with a propane truck that caught fire.

Minnesota State Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow told the Associated Press that the town of Callaway, population 230, was evacuated as a precaution. The evacuation was to remain in effect until at least noon Friday.   Continue reading “Minnesota town evacuated after train, propane truck collide”

The Hill – by Christina Marcos

Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick (D-Ariz.) has introduced legislation that would allow young immigrants who came to the U.S. as children to work for congressional offices.

Qualifying individuals who came to the U.S. illegally as children and hold temporary work permits through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program currently are not eligible to be employed by lawmakers. Only U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and certain refugees can work for members of the House and Senate.   Continue reading “Dem: Let some illegal immigrants work on Capitol Hill”

SB Nation – by Tim Cato

A statement issued by the NBA on Thursday put into question Charlotte’s status as a host for the 2017 All-Star Game, following North Carolina passing one of the nation’s most anti-LGBTQ laws on Wednesday. The statement is as follows:

“The NBA is dedicated to creating an inclusive environment for all who attend our games and events. We are deeply concerned that this discriminatory law runs counter to our guiding principles of equality and mutual respect and do not yet know what impact it will have on our ability to successfully host the 2017 All-Star Game in Charlotte.”   Continue reading “NBA implies 2017 All-Star Game could be moved after North Carolina passes anti-LGBTQ law”

Fox News

Authorities in Florida have arrested a man they say stole a BMW after trying to buy it with a food stamp debit card.

The Martin County Sheriff’s Office tells news outlets in a statement that 36-year-old Nicholas Jackson was arrested Friday and charged with grand theft auto.   Continue reading “Man steals BMW he tried to buy with food stamp card, investigators say”

Freedom Outpost – by Tim Brown

Not backing off from the threat of tyrants, two Bundy Ranch protesters have made requests for pretrial discover that is sure to expose the corruption in the DC government. Radio show host Peter Santilli has filed a similar pretrial discovery request to that of militia leader Joseph O’Shaughnessy who was also arrested the day that Santill was.

According to the request, which was dated at the first of March, Santilli requested the following:   Continue reading “What These Two Bundy Ranch Protesters Filed For Will Have the Feds Shaking in Their Boots”

Fox News

An American Mormon missionary who was injured in Tuesday’s terror attack at the Brussels airport was a block away from the site of the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013.

Mason Wells, 19, of Sandy, Utah, suffered a severed Achilles tendon, head gash, shrapnel injuries and severe burns when two bombs ripped through the airport’s departure hall Tuesday morning. He is expected to make a full recovery.    Continue reading “Mormon missionary wounded in Brussels survived Boston Marathon bombing”

Life Daily

The Clintons are no strangers to media attention, and certainly no strangers to scandal. During his tenure as President, Bill Clinton implicated himself, and his wife, in several controversial ‘affairs’…

However, with the spotlight now on Hillary and her presidential campaign, pundits and opponents have rebuked the former First Lady for her proven track record of scandalous dealings, both past and present. She may just have a knack for being in the wrong place, at the wrong time; or maybe there’s more to Hillary’s past…   Continue reading “16 Most Notorious Hillary Clinton Scandals”

The Hill – by Rafael Bernal

A group of elected officials from the Texas-Mexico border is criticizing Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump‘s call to “close up” borders following Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in Brussels.

“Closing our land border with Mexico would be a ridiculous staging of security theater: the practice of false efforts intended to provide the feeling of improved security while doing little or nothing to actually achieve it,” the Texas Border Coalition (TBC) said Tuesday in a release.    Continue reading “Border mayors: Closing border would be ‘security theater’”

WCAX – by Tyler Dumont

BURLINGTON, Vt. – A 76-year-old man is dead– shot by police after a standoff in a Burlington apartment. Police were called to the downtown building at about 5 p.m. Monday for a welfare check, after complaints of what they described as threatening behavior.

Police say Ralph “Phil” Grenon met officers at his door armed with knives and then went back inside. After several hours of negotiations, authorities say Grenon advanced toward officers, so one decided to pull the trigger.   Continue reading “‘Mentally ill’ Burlington man killed in standoff with police”

CNN

Brussels, Belgium (CNN)Three explosions that ripped through the Belgian capital of Brussels on Tuesday killed at least 28 people, according to Belgian media, and raised the reality of terror once again in the heart of Europe.

“We were fearing terrorist attacks, and that has now happened,” Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel told reporters.   Continue reading “2 explosions at Brussels airport, 1 at subway station; 28 killed”

Fox News – by Ted Starnes

Lifelong atheist Patrick Greene has a huge problem with a giant cross under construction alongside Interstate 37 in Corpus Christi, Texas – a city whose name literally means “Body of Christ.”

“It’s tacky as hell,” Mr. Greene told me.   Continue reading “Giant Texas cross sparks atheist lawsuit (and you won’t believe why)”