From the Trenches World Report
Enforce our Bill of Rights
With lethal injection under review by the U.S. Supreme Court, the Utah House of Representatives on Friday approved legislation to resume executions by firing squad, which were halted in 2004.
The bill, which narrowly cleared the Republican-controlled chamber, faces uncertain prospects in the GOP-dominated Senate, and Republican Gov. Gary Herbert has not said whether he would sign it into law. Continue reading “Utah House votes to resurrect firing squads”
Bloomberg – by Emily Greenhouse
On Friday afternoon, Gov. John Kitzhaber of Oregon resigned, and the Oregon secretary of state Kate Brown, also a Democrat, became the state governor. In an instant, Oregon had the first openly bisexual governor in American history.
For many of Gov. Brown’s constituents, this may mean little, because she is married to a man, and has been for many years. The adjective becomes easy to explain away, then; bisexuality is often dismissed as something made up, a risqué adolescent antic, something college girls do to impress boys. Last January, Lisa Diamond, a scholar of sexual orientation, told the reporter Michael Schulman that many people feel bisexuality “is a transitional stage or a form of being in the closet,” but that in fact it’s more common than strictly same-sex attraction. Continue reading “Does It Matter That Oregon’s New Governor Is Bisexual?”
Oregon Live – by Laura Gunderson
Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber resigned effective next Wednesday, Feb. 18, in a letter submitted to Secretary of State Kate Brown.
“I am announcing today that I will resign as Governor of the State of Oregon,” he wrote in a statement released just after noon on Friday.
“It is not in my nature to walk away from a job I have undertaken – it is to stand and fight for the cause. For that reason I apologize to all those people who gave of their faith, time, energy and resources to elect me to a fourth term last year and who have supported me over the past three decades. I promise you that I will continue to pursue our shared goals and our common cause in another venue.” Continue reading “Governor John Kitzhaber announces his resignation”
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Detroit Free Press – by Kathleen Gray
LANSING – A Senate Democrat faces an uphill battle in his quest to bring the death penalty to Michigan for people convicted of killing a police or correctional officer.
State Sen. Virgil Smith, D-Detroit, said he promised a constituent – James Bowens, father of Detroit Police Officer Matthew Bowens who was killed during a traffic stop in 2004 – that he would bring the issue up this year. Continue reading “Michigan State senator pushes death penalty for cop killers”
Members of a Connecticut commission reviewing the Newtown school shooting are sending their final recommendations to Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, hoping their ideas for addressing school safety, gun violence and mental health will be heeded nationwide.
Friday marked the final meeting of the Sandy Hook Advisory Commission, appointed two years ago by Malloy following the Dec. 14, 2012, shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Continue reading “Panel Sends Newtown Report to Governor, Hopes It Has Impact”
OMAHA, Neb. — TransCanada Corp. will temporarily suspend efforts to seize Nebraska land for its much-delayed Keystone XL oil pipeline after landowners sued, in what is one obstacle the Canadian company still faces in the 1,179-mile project.
A Holt County District judge issued a temporary injunction Thursday, keeping TransCanada from invoking eminent domain along the proposed Keystone XL route in northern Nebraska while a lawsuit by landowners in that county plays out. TransCanada agreed to the order, hoping to get an accelerated trial schedule so that it can quickly resolve the legal disputes. Continue reading “Company suspending efforts to acquire Nebraska land for Keystone Pipeline amid legal challenge”
One week ago, when previewing what may be the first lockout of the West Coast Ports since 2002, we cited the Retail Industry Leaders Association who, realizing that failure to reach an agreement between the dockworker union and their bosses, the Pacific Maritime Association representing port management would lead to devastating consequences for the US retail industry, had several very damning soundbites: Continue reading “The “Catastrophic Shutdown Of America’s Supply Chain” Begins: Stunning Photos Of West Coast Port Congestion”
The Obama administration announced creation of another federal intelligence center in the long list of law enforcement and spy services. This time its main task will be cyberintel.
The last year saw high-profile hacks into Sony Pictures, which set off a firestorm of controversy surrounding their film “The Interview.” But other security breaches, like cyberattacks on Home Depot, Target, and even the social media accounts of US Central Command, made President Obama to prioritize cybersecurity. Continue reading “US Creates Cyber-CIA to Fight Hackers”
BRUSSELS – The International Monetary Fund has agreed with Ukraine on a new bailout deal worth $17.5 billion that could climb to around $40 billion over the next four years with help from other lenders like Europe and the U.S.
Ukraine has so far received $4.6 billion as part of a $17 billion aid package from the IMF agreed on last year, but that program has run into trouble as the war ravaging the country’s eastern region has weighed on its economic prospects. Continue reading “IMF, Ukraine agree to $17.5B bailout deal”
ABC News – by Justin Pritchard
Seaports in major West Coast cities that normally are abuzz with the sound of commerce are falling unusually quiet.
Companies that operate marine terminals said they weren’t calling workers to unload ships Thursday that carry car parts, furniture, clothing, electronics — just about anything made in Asia and destined for U.S. consumers. Containers of U.S. exports won’t get loaded either. Continue reading “West Coast seaports mostly shut down amid contract dispute”
Reuters – by PAVEL POLITYUK AND ELIZABETH PINEAU
The leaders of Germany, France, Russia and Ukrainehave agreed a deal to end fighting in eastern Ukraine, participants at the summit talks said on Thursday.
The deal reached after all-night negotiations in the Belarussian capital Minsk included a ceasefire that would come into effect on Feb. 15, followed by the withdrawal of heavy weapons. Continue reading “Ceasefire agreed for eastern Ukraine after Minsk summit”
Sent to us by a reader.
SMITHFIELD (WGME) — Police arrest a man after they say he swore at a police dog and then challenged a cop to a fight.
Officers say they found 22-year-old Jonathan Damon drunk and pounding on the door of a home in Smithfield Sunday morning.
According to the morning sentinel, deputies say Damon started taunting a police dog in the back of a cruiser and challenging the dog to come get him. Continue reading “Police arrest man after for allegedly swearing at police dog”
Police officers and firefighters who helped save lives in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing and the shooting at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin were honored with the Medal of Valor in a White House ceremony Wednesday.
Vice President Joe Biden draped the purple and yellow striped ribbons around the necks of 20 public safety officers, and presented medals to the families of two officers killed while responding to armed robberies. The two were off-duty at the time. Continue reading “Medal of Valor: Officers Saved Lives in Boston, Wisconsin”
Here is the full text of the proposed war authorization bill sent to Congress by President Obama:
JOINT RESOLUTION
To authorize the limited use of the United States Armed Forces against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant. Continue reading “Text of Obama’s ISIS War Authorization”
One of the most liberal states in the country also is one of the most passionate about defending the right to bear arms, a fact that is coming to the fore following proposed legislation to expand background checks and add other gun regulations.
Hundreds of Vermont residents are expected to pack the state House chamber for a public hearing Tuesday night on Senate Bill 31, which would expand background checks from retail to private gun sales, step up reporting about people deemed psychologically unfit to have a gun and add state jurisdiction to what is now just federal enforcement of the ban on convicted felons possessing guns. Continue reading “In Liberal, Gun-Loving Vermont, New Restrictions Face Fight”
Sent to us by the author, Brett Redmayne-Titley
The Hamas Movement on Thursday warned it would not remain passive any more if the blockade on the Gaza Strip continued.
As reported by Ma’an News Agency, Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri called for swiftly moving to lift the siege on Gaza from all sides or else the Movement and its armed wing al-Qassam Brigades would have to escalate the situation and break the blockade. Continue reading “Israeli Crimes in Gaza Force Hamas to War”
Sent to us by Human Wrongs Watch.
Human Wrongs Watch – by Tony Robinson, Pressenza
Greek Prime Minister, Alexis Tsipras, addressed parliament on 8 February 2015 to outline a number of measures that seek to end the enormous suffering inflicted on the population over the five years of austerity imposed by the troika of institutions.
Included in the first wave of policies are: Continue reading “Greece says, “Antio litotita” (Goodbye austerity)”
GRAND HAVEN, MI – A suspect is in custody this morning after breaking into the U.S. Coast Guard Station in Grand Haven and assaulting Coast Guard personnel, according to a release by the Grand Haven Department of Public Safety.
Per the release, the male suspect crashed his truck through the gate of the Grand Haven Coast Guard Station, 601 S. Harbor Drive, before breaking into the facility at approximately 6:07 a.m, on Sunday, Feb. 8. Continue reading “1 arrested after crash into Grand Haven Coast Guard Station, personnel assaulted”
America Herald – by Eran Shayovich
In the last few days emergency authorities from Washington and Oregon have reported the appearance of a smooth white, ashy substance. Even if there are active volcanoes close-by the two states authorities suggest that this mysterious substance must be originating from thousands of miles away or may be leftovers floating in the environment from an close by wildfire. Another theory is that the milky substance is simply some kind of dust lifted up from a close-by storm that took place recently. Continue reading “Washington and Oregon Milky Ash Source Still Not Confirmed”
USA Today – by Michael Winter
ABC News
AJC – by MARGERY A. BECK, AP
Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden
Space War
Fox News
ABC News – by Josh Ledeman
Weekly Standard
ABC News
MLive – by Dillon Davis