American flag shirt / CBS news screenshotThe Daily Caller – by Robby Soave

Students in a California school district will not be allowed to wear American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo, due to concerns that such displays of patriotism would inflame racial tensions by offending Mexican students on their holiday.

The district’s policy concerned many free speech advocates, but was upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.    Continue reading “Students, It’s Illegal To Wear An American Flag Shirt On Cinco De Mayo”

PBS Newshour – by Lara Jakes

KINSHASA, Congo — The United States is prepared to give Congo $30 million in aid for stability and democracy-building – but wants President Joseph Kabila to agree to step down at the end of his current term in office, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said Sunday.

Kerry said Congo’s government also needs to schedule elections soon. The vote is tentatively set for 2016, although a firm date has not yet been set.   Continue reading “U.S. pledges $30 million to Congo for democracy-building”

Image: A wildfire burns in Oklahoma.NBC News – by Alexander Smith

Thousands of people fled a deadly wildfire burning across 4,000 acres in Oklahoma, officials said early Monday.

Some 30 fire departments battled the blaze overnight.

A 56-year-old man died after he chose not to evacuate his home near Guthrie, Okla., the city’s Fire Chief Eric Harlow said.   Continue reading “Oklahoma Wildfires Turn Deadly, Destroy Homes”

Yahoo News

Simferopol (Undefined) (AFP) – Several dozen Russian planes including what appeared to be strategic bombers and fighter jets have been spotted in the sky above the Moscow-controlled peninsula of Crimea, witnesses and experts said.

According to Russian media, President Vladimir Putin is poised to visit Crimea on Friday after overseeing the main military parade on Red Square when Russia celebrates its victory over Nazi Germany in World War II.   Continue reading “Russian bombers, fighter jets ‘seen over Crimea’”

SmartSystem_iP1-Pistole_1.jpgFox News

A Maryland firearms shop owner is backing away from plans to sell a smart gun after backlash from gun rights advocates who fear the technology in the high-tech firearm will be used to curtail their Second Amendment rights.

Andy Raymond, owner of Rockville gun store Engage Armament, told The Washington Post he is backing down from selling the gun after word about his plan was spread online by gun rights blogs. He said he even received a death threat.   Continue reading “Maryland gun dealer drops plans to sell ‘smart gun’ after backlash”

Gulf Times

Israeli officials have confirmed that the Tel Aviv regime has conducted an airstrike on Syria, following speculations by US officials that the Israeli regime had carried out the aerial assault.

The officials speaking on condition of anonymity said on Saturday that the Israeli fighter jets targeted a shipment of “game-changing” weapons in Syria on Friday.   Continue reading “Israeli officials confirm Syria strike”

FRANCIS GARY POWERSNBC News – by Andrew Blankstein

A relic from the Cold War appears to have triggered a software glitch at a major air traffic control center in California Wednesday that led to delays and cancellations of hundreds of flights across the country, sources familiar with the incident told NBC News.

On Wednesday at about 2 p.m., according to sources, a U-2 spy plane, the same type of aircraft that flew high-altitude spy missions over Russia 50 years ago, passed through the airspace monitored by the L.A. Air Route Traffic Control Center in Palmdale, Calif. The L.A. Center handles landings and departures at the region’s major airports, including Los Angeles International (LAX), San Diego and Las Vegas.   Continue reading “Spy Plane Fries Air Traffic Control Computers, Shuts Down LAX”

Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden

In the aftermath of several recent events such as i) the issuance of new mega batch of $12 billion in bonds by a suddenly domestic-cash strapped Apple, ii) the repatriation of $9 billion in offshore profits (and payment of $3 billion in taxes) by eBay, iii) the flurry of pharma M&A deals and reverse mergers in which US companies are redomiciled offshore (in low corporate tax hosts like Ireland) to avoid paying US taxes, and iv) the outright use of offshore funds to buy offshore companies such as the GE-Alstom deal which bypasses the US treasury entirely, two questions emerge: who has the most offshore cash, and who is most likely to be the next US corporation to engage in one or all of the above listed transactions which merely seek to optimize a company’s offshore cash holdings.   Continue reading “These Are The 15 US Companies With The Most Offshore Profits”

News Watch – by Jonathan Smith

In January the Satanic Temple announced plans to erect a monument glorifying the Dark Lord on the front lawn of the Oklahoma Statehouse. An Indiegogo campaign was launched with what seemed like a somewhat lofty goal of $20,000, but by the time donations ended almost $30,000 had been raised. Now an artist trained in classical sculpture is toiling away in New York, crafting a Baphomet figure sitting beneath a pentagram and flanked by two children gazing upward in loyalty. When it is finished, it will be cast in bronze and, the Satanists hope, eventually displayed in Oklahoma.   Continue reading “Oklahoma Statehouse To Shrine A Satanic Monument”

A woman looks at her smartphone as she attends the NYC Startup Job Fair in New York, April 11, 2014. REUTERS/Carlo AllegriReuters – by LUCIA MUTIKANI

U.S. job growth increased at its fastest pace in more than two years in April and the unemployment rate dived to a 5-1/2 year low of 6.3 percent, suggesting a sharp rebound in economic activity early in the second quarter.

Nonfarm payrolls surged 288,000 last month, the Labor Department said on Friday. That was the largest gain since January 2012 and beat Wall Street’s expectations for only a 210,000 increase.   Continue reading “U.S. payrolls surge in April, jobless rate hits 5-1/2 year low”

National Journal – by WWF – World Wildlife Fund USA

During his trip to Asia, US President Obama proved unable to resolve differences with Japan over the Trans-Pacific Partnership. Now back in Washington, the president faces growing opposition to the ambitious trade deal.

It’s one of the most ambitious free trade agreements ever undertaken, according to Peter Petri, an economist with the Peterson Institute for International Economics. The Trans Pacific-Partnership (TPP) would deepen integration among 12 economies in the Americas and Asia, covering 40 percent of the world’s economic output and 26 percent of its total trade. Continue reading “Little Headway On Trans-Pacific Free Trade Deal”

700 WLS, May 1, 2014

(Florence, Ky.)–Several callers to the 700 WLW news room overnight said that there were “black ops” helicopters flying over the Florence area.  Our news partners at Fox 19 said they received calls as well.  Callers said that they spotted at least two choppers,  and they were running without lights.

Callers said the helicopters circled an area near I-75 and U.S. 42.   Continue reading “Yes, Those were ‘Black Ops’ helicopters over Florence, Kentucky”