U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) (L), with her husband Verne Martell (C), takes part in a ceremonial re-enactment of her swearing-in by Vice President Joe Biden (R) in the Old Senate Chamber at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, January 5, 2011. REUTERS/Jonathan ErnstReuters – by Timothy Gardner

As incoming head of the Senate Energy Committee, Alaska’s Lisa Murkowski will gain more clout in January to reverse the 40-year ban on most U.S. crude oil exports, but she is unlikely to rush into legislative action.

The Republican senator has fought to relax the ban all year by issuing a series of papers detailing how such exports have been allowed in the past, holding a private meeting on the subject with Commerce Secretary Penny Pritzker, and hinting that 2015 could be the time to introduce ban-ending legislation.   Continue reading “New Senate Energy head will need time to lift U.S. oil export ban”

The final moments before Deputy Tyler Brockman killed Samantha Ramsey while fleeing from a party. (Image: YouTube)Police State USA

HEBRON, KY — Police charged into a darkened field trying to arrest teenagers for consuming alcohol without government permission, and killed a young woman in the process.

The deadly raid occurred in the early morning hours of Saturday, April 26th, 2014. After witnessing “cars full of juveniles” and “hear[ing] loud music and people screaming,” Boone County Sheriff’s Deputy Tyler Brockman radioed for “several patrol cars for assistance, as it seem[ed] like a large party with underage drinking was going on,” according to an official report.   Continue reading “No indictment: Kentucky cops raid teenagers’ field party, kill girl who tried to escape”

US justice officials are scooping up mobile phone data from unwitting Americans as part of a sophisticated airborne surveillance program designed to catch criminals, the Wall Street Journal reportedBusiness Insider

San Francisco – US justice officials are scooping up mobile phone data from unwitting Americans as part of a sophisticated airborne surveillance program designed to catch criminals, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Small aircraft deployed by the US Marshals Service from at least five major airports have been taking to the skies with “dirtbox” equipment designed to mimic signals from cell towers, according to the Journal.   Continue reading “US spies on mobile phones from the sky”

ABC News – by Michelle R. Smith

A graduate student has sued a textile company for refusing to hire her for a two-month internship because she uses medical marijuana to treat frequent and debilitating migraine headaches, a decision her lawyer calls discrimination.

Christine Callaghan, who is studying textiles at the University of Rhode Island, sued Westerly-based Darlington Fabrics Corp. and its parent, the Moore Company, on Wednesday. The Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing Callaghan, said it believes it’s the first lawsuit of its kind in the state.   Continue reading “Marijuana Patient Sues After Firm Won’t Hire Her”

Yahoo News

(Reuters) – Outgoing Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe said on Wednesday that he will pardon his son for a felony drug conviction, local media reported.

Beebe, who is set to leave office in January due to term limits, said he would pardon his son Kyle, now 34, for his 2003 felony conviction of marijuana possession with intent to deliver, local broadcaster KATV said.

“Kids, when they’re young, do stupid stuff. He was no different,” Beebe told KATV in an interview published online. “If they’ve straightened up, to get their life back on track and have a second chance, so this is no different. It’s different because it’s my son.”   Continue reading “Arkansas Governor to pardon son’s drug conviction: report”

Under Texas Bill, Cops To Collect Traffic Fines On the Spot Via Credit or Debit CardInfowars – by Adan Salazar

A house bill recently introduced in the Texas legislature would allow police officers to collect immediate payment from “defendants” for Class C misdemeanor traffic fines “by use of a credit or debit card,” completely circumventing the rule of law and citizens’ due process rights.

H.B. No. 121, introduced on Monday by State Rep. Allen Fletcher, concerns “an alternative means of payment of certain criminal fines and court costs.”   Continue reading “Under Texas Bill, Cops to Collect Traffic Fines on the Spot Via Credit or Debit Card”

Fox News – by Lucas Tomlinson

President Obama is planning to unveil a 10-part plan for overhauling U.S. immigration policy via executive action — including suspending deportations for millions — as early as next Friday, a source close to the White House told Fox News.

The president’s plans were contained in a draft proposal from a U.S. government agency. The source said the plan could be announced as early as Nov. 21, though the date might slip a few days pending final White House approval.    Continue reading “Source: Obama to announce 10-point immigration plan via exec action as early as next week”

CBS News

WASHINGTON — From furniture and food to fine art, members of the Obama administration received thousands of dollars in gifts from foreign leaders, but first lady Michelle Obama appears to have received the most expensive gift last year.

The State Department reported Tuesday that the queen of Brunei gave Mrs. Obama jewelry worth $71,468 in 2013. The flower-shaped white gold earrings, ring and necklace were studded with yellow sapphires and diamonds, according to the department’s annual accounting of gifts published in the Federal Register. That’s almost seven times more valuable than the most expensive gift received by President Barack Obama, a glass amber-colored sculpture of a falcon on a branch worth $10,400 from Qatar’s ambassador to the U.S.   Continue reading “Brunei queen’s jewelry tops Obama family’s diplomatic gifts”

jonathan_gruber_1Pundit Press – by Dan Butcher

The sound bites just keep coming from Obamacare architect and MIT economist Jonathan Gruber, that could help the GOP if they actually take up the fight to do something about the disaster known as Obamacare.

A third video as now surfaced showing Gruber talking about how the “basic exploitation” of the ignorance of American voters contributed to the passage of Obamacare.   Continue reading “It just keeps getting better: Third video surfaces of Obamacare architect Jonathan Gruber calling Americans stupid”

FILE - This is a Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014 file photo provided by Britain's Royal Air Force of a Russian military long range bomber aircraft...Yahoo News

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia’s long-range bombers will conduct regular patrol missions from the Arctic Ocean to the Caribbean and the Gulf of Mexico, the military said Wednesday, a show of muscle reflecting tensions with the West over Ukraine.

A statement from Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu came as NATO’s chief commander accused Moscow of sending new troops and tanks into Ukraine — a claim quickly rejected by Russia.   Continue reading “Russian bomber patrols to reach Gulf of Mexico”

Former New York City police officer Gilberto Valle and his mother, Elizabeth Valle, leave U.S. District Court in lower Manhattan.Wall Street Journal – by Rebecca Davis O’Brien

A former New York Police Department officer whose trial in an alleged kidnapping and cannibalism plot drew an international media frenzy walked free Wednesday after being sentenced on a minor charge.

Gilberto Valle, who was dubbed the “Cannibal Cop” by tabloids, was sentenced to 12 months already served in prison and a year of supervised release for illegally using a police database.   Continue reading “Former Police Officer Accused of Cannibal Plot Goes Free”

Labourers work on an apartment building under construction in a Jewish settlement known to Israelis as Har Homa and to Palestinians as Jabal Abu Ghneim in an area of the West Bank that Israel captured in a 1967 war and annexed to the city of Jerusalem, October 28, 2014. REUTERS/Ronen ZvulunReuters

Israeli authorities gave initial approval on Wednesday for the construction of 200 new homes in an urban settlement in Jerusalem, a move that could aggravate tensions with Palestinians that Washington is trying to lower.

Violence has flared in the past few weeks over Jerusalem’s most sacred and politically sensitive site, holy to both Jews and Muslims. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry was due in Jordan on Wednesday for talks with King Abdullah and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas on efforts to calm the situation.   Continue reading “Israeli gives initial approval for 200 new homes in East Jerusalem”

Wisconsin Republican Gov. Scott Walker is greeted by members of his staff and Cabinet during a post-Election Day gathering at the Wisconsin State CapitolTwin Cities – by Dee J. Hall, Wisconsin State Journal

Wisconsin could have one of the nation’s most sweeping drug-testing requirements for those receiving public benefits if the proposal by Gov. Scott Walker to test those who apply for unemployment checks and food stamps becomes law.

But with scant details, it’s unclear whether any expansion beyond the current testing of drug felons would be allowed under federal law governing the state’s FoodShare program. It’s also unclear how Wisconsin could craft any broad-based testing program for public benefits recipients that would be found constitutional.   Continue reading “Wisconsin’s Scott Walker wants jobless, food stamp recipients to face drug tests”

The Daily Caller – by Chuck Ross

An illegal alien driving drunk and without a license crashed through a fence Sunday, hitting and killing a 3-year-old girl as she was waiting in line for ice cream in Porterville, California.

Adolf Balbuena, 18, mowed down the toddler, Angeles Moreno, as she and several others, including an 8-year-old boy, were waiting line at an ice cream truck.

After hitting Moreno, Balbuena backed up and drove away. He was arrested at his home around an hour later, the Fresno Bee reported.   Continue reading “Illegal Alien Drunk Driver Hits And Kills 3-Year-Old Waiting For Ice Cream”

Town Hall – by Katie Pavlich

Back in July the Washington D.C. ban on concealed and open carry of handguns was struck down by U.S. District Judge Frederick Scullin as unconstitutional. As a result, the DC City Council reluctantly voted to approve concealed carry, giving the power of writing the rules and regulations to the Washington D.C. police. Now, those rules have been written and they’re impossible to follow.

Investigative reporter Emily Miller and author of Emily Gets Her Gun has started the process of applying for a concealed carry permit in the District.    Continue reading “DC Police Employee on Concealed Carry: “The Second Amendment Was Written For When The British Were Coming””

China Obama_Cham640360.jpgFox News

President Barack Obama announced Wednesday that the U.S. has set a new goal to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases by between 26 percent and 28 percent over the next 11 years as part of a climate change agreement with China.

The new target is a drastic increase from earlier in Obama’s presidency, when he pledged to cut emissions by 17 percent by 2020. By contrast, Obama’s counterpart, Xi Jinping, did not pledge any reductions by a specific date, but rather set a target for China’s emissions to peak by 2030, or earlier if possible. Xi also pledged to increase the share of energy that China will derive from sources other than fossil fuels. China’s emissions have grown in recent years due to the building of new coal plants.    Continue reading “Obama vows US will cut emissions by at least 26 percent over next 11 years”