From the Trenches World Report
Enforce our Bill of Rights
MOSCOW (Reuters) – Three Russian servicemen and four gunmen were killed in a shootout in southern Russia on Wednesday during a sweep for militants before the Sochi Winter Olympics.
Russia’s National Anti-terrorism Committee (NAC) said the dead gunmen included a man accused of carrying out a car bomb attack in the city of Pyatigorsk late last year which killed three people. Continue reading “Russian security forces battle militants before Olympics”
Yahoo News – by Rob Garver, The Fiscal Times
Between 2002 and 2012, federal agencies spent more than half a trillion dollars ($688 billion) on payments that should never have been made.
Every year, according to their own recordkeeping, the agencies that administer major federal programs are now paying out more than $100 billion dollars improperly, and even though they’re aware of the problem, they recover only a tiny fraction for taxpayers. This adds up to huge losses for the U.S. Treasury. Continue reading “Feds Blow $100 Billion Annually on Incorrect Payments”
The FBI has so far found no evidence that would warrant the Justice Department filing criminal charges in its investigation into the IRS targeting scandal, federal officials confirm to Fox News.
The findings, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal, could intensify the debate over the scandal, in which the IRS allegedly targeted Tea Party and other conservative groups applying for non-exempt tax status for special scrutiny. Continue reading “Officials say no evidence criminal charges warranted so far in IRS targeting probe”
The omnibus spending bill before Congress continues to fund U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) advertising programs for food stamps in foreign countries like Mexico, Breitbart News has learned.
The bill was hashed out between House Appropriations Committee chairman Rep. Hal Rogers (R-KY) and Senate Appropriations Committee chairwoman Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD). The funding will continue despite claims in a document the House Appropriations Committee published that the bill contains a “prohibition” on such programs. Page three of this press document states regarding food stamps that the omnibus spending bill contains a “prohibition on advertisements or outreach with foreign governments.” Continue reading “Omnibus Spending Bill Continues Funding Food Stamp Ads in Mexico”
Efforts to renew emergency federal jobless benefits for 1.5 million Americans stalled in the Senate on Tuesday when Democrats and Republicans rejected each other’s proposals.
Both sides vowed to keep looking for a compromise, but it appeared unlikely they would find one before next week’s Senate recess. Continue reading “Effort to extend jobless benefits stalls in Senate”
Two Kentucky water systems temporarily shut down their intakes early Monday as a plume of the chemical spilled last week in West Virginia passed in the Ohio River.
The cities of Ashland and Russell stopped drawing water from the Ohio after the chemical — 4-methycyclohexane methanol, or MCHM — reached Ashland at 5:30 a.m., according to the Kentucky Department for Environmental Protection. Continue reading “Two Kentucky water systems shut intakes as chemical plume passes in Ohio River”
New York Times – by EDWARD WYATT
WASHINGTON — Internet service providers are free to make deals with services like Netflix or Amazon allowing those companies to pay to stream their products to online viewers through a faster, express lane on the web, a federal appeals court ruled on Tuesday.
Federal regulators had tried to prevent those deals, saying they would give large, rich companies an unfair edge in reaching consumers. But since the Internet is not considered a utility under federal law, the court said, it is not subject to regulations banning the arrangements. Continue reading “Rebuffing F.C.C. in ‘Net Neutrality’ Case, Court Allows Streaming Deals”
ABC News – by LARA JAKES AP National Security Writer
The United States pledged Wednesday to send an additional $380 million in aid this year to help victims of Syria’s brutal civil war, but warned that international efforts to ease their suffering will fail if Syrian President Bashar Assad refuses to let humanitarian assistance get to people who need it.
The U.S. is the largest single international donor to the Syrian crisis. But its new funding commitment, announced by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry, is only a fraction of the $6.5 billion the United Nation hopes to raise for aid to Syria in 2014. Continue reading “US Pledges Additional $380m for Syria War Victims”
Yahoo News – by Leticia Pineda
Apatzingán (Mexico) (AFP) – Mexican federal forces launched an offensive to take over security in a violence-torn western state, seizing a drug cartel’s bastion and clashing with vigilantes who refused to disarm.
A convoy of 200 military and federal police forces rumbled into Apatzingan and disarmed municipal police officers in the city, which is known as a stronghold of the Knights Templar gang in Michoacan state. Continue reading “Mexican troops in deadly clash with vigilantes”
Anger and frustration continued to build a day after an Orange County jury acquitted two former police officers of beating a homeless man to death in a case that generated national debate.
Overnight, protesters swarmed the streets of Fullerton, taunting passing patrol cars and waving signs saying “No More Killer Cops” and “Change 4 Justice.” Continue reading “Kelly Thomas verdicts: Police monitoring for death threats”
An elderly deaf Oklahoma man was beat by two highway patrol troopers earlier this month for allegedly refusing to comply during a traffic stop.
According to reports, 64-year-old Pearl Pearson left the scene of a minor automobile accident before being pulled over by Oklahoma Highway Patrol on January 3.
After issuing several vocal commands from their police vehicle, troopers claim Pearson refused to show his hands. Despite a large placard on his driver’s door stating, “Driver is deaf,” Pearson claims troopers immediately began hitting his face as he attempted to show his ID, which also states that he is hearing-impaired. Continue reading “Police Beat Elderly Deaf Man For ‘Refusing Orders’”
NBC Los Angeles – by Christina Cocca
Hours after two former police officers were acquitted of all charges in the 2011 beating death of a homeless man at a Fullerton, Calif., transit station, the FBI announced Monday it would examine evidence in the trial to see if further investigation is needed.
Jurors reached the verdicts in just one day regarding whether Fullerton Officer Manuel Ramos and former Cpl. Jay Cicinelli were responsible for the death of 37-year-old Kelly Thomas. Both were found not guilty. Continue reading “FBI to Examine Kelly Thomas Trial Evidence After Officers’ Acquittals”
Miami Herald – by JUAN O. TAMAYO
Fifteen young Cubans, from rappers to dissidents, will begin classes at Miami Dade College Tuesday in an unprecedented scholarship program for students from a country were universities regularly expel opposition activists.
With some of the students already wearing sky-blue MDC hoodies, the 15 were introduced in a ceremony Monday to the professors who will see them through a six-month program of English, computer, business and social studies. Continue reading “15 Cuban students will start at Miami Dade College”
ABC News – by DON BABWIN Associated Press
The city of Chicago, which has fought for decades to keep guns out of the hands of its residents, now must craft an ordinance within 180 days that will allow gun stores to open there, a federal judge ruled Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge Edward E. Chang granted the city’s request for the delay, a small victory for a city that has lost a series of recent legal battles in its efforts to keep guns out. Chicago officials now find themselves ushering in a new era in which the city must welcome business that sell guns and residents who legally carry concealed weapons. Continue reading “Judge gives Chicago 6 months to OK gun sales law”
Police State USA – by SovereignSon
HOLLY HILL, FL – A police officer opened fire and seriously wounded a man’s dog after forcing his way into the wrong residence while searching for a woman convicted of a consensual sex act.
Officers were searching for Josie Bobbitt — a woman who had violated probation for soliciting sex — when one of them disregarded “no trespassing” signs and warrantlessly wrenched open the gate leading to Richard Stotler’s backyard where his four-year-old Rottweiler named Lady resided. Continue reading “Police break into wrong backyard, shoot owner’s dog”
New York Daily News – by STEPHEN REX BROWN
Authorities canceled classes Tuesday at a Colorado school after a chemical device “went off,” according to police.
Nine patients from SkyView Academy in Highlands Ranch were being evaluated following the incident, according to a statement posted on the Douglas County Sheriff website around 1 p.m. New York time. Continue reading “Police: Chemical device ‘goes off’ at Colorado school, five taken to hospital”
A suspect has been taken into custody following a shooting Tuesday at Roswell middle school in New Mexico, according to Roswell police.
At least three people have been injured, Roswell police told Fox News. KRQE-TV reports that a 14-year-old was being taken to the hospital with injuries. Continue reading “Suspect nabbed in N.M. school shooting; injuries reported”
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans bought more clothes in December, shopped more frequently online and ate out more often, providing a boost to economic growth at the end of the year. But sales at most traditional stores declined, as the holiday shopping season ended on a lackluster note.
Retail sales rose 0.2 percent last month, the Commerce Department said Tuesday. That follows strong gains in October and November, helped by healthy auto sales. Continue reading “US Retail Sales Inch Up, But Holiday Spending Weak”
The persecuted in an anthem,
Their lives shine more brightly
As holy waters poured out freely
Abundantly upon a large altar Rock
Place of lasting honor,
Names as banners held up high Continue reading “Persecution – An Anthem”
Yahoo News 
Fox News
Breitbart – by MATTHEW BOYLE
Kentucky.com – by BILL ESTEP
LA Times – by Adolfo Flores
USA Today
NPR