From the Trenches World Report
Enforce our Bill of Rights
President Trump on Tuesday exercised his pardon power, granting clemency to or commuting the sentences of nearly a dozen people convicted of crimes, including former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and junk bond pioneer Michael Milken.
Trump also referred to himself as the nation’s “chief law enforcement officer,” a title typically reserved for the attorney general. Continue reading “Trump declares himself ‘chief law enforcement officer’ as he issues numerous pardons”
Tampa Bay Times – by Mark Puente
A Tampa trucking company employee’s trip to Cleveland to buy several tractor-trailers in September has turned into a legal fight after federal agents at Tampa International Airport seized $181,500 in cash that the man was carrying. Continue reading “Feds seize $181,000 from trucker at Tampa airport. His company says ‘something is fishy.’”
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The Trump administration said Tuesday that it will waive federal contracting laws to speed construction of a wall at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The Department of Homeland Security said waiving procurement regulations will allow 177 miles (283 kilometers) of wall to be built more quickly in California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas. The 10 waived laws include requirements for having open competition, justifying selections and receiving all bonding from a contractor before any work can begin. Continue reading “Homeland Security waives contracting laws for border wall construction”
New York Post – by Amanda Woods
A hulking 700-pound black bear shot in New Jersey set a record for the largest ever killed with a bow and arrow in North America, a hunting organization announced.
Hunter Jeff Melillo shot the bear in Morris County on Oct. 14 — topping a record set in 1993 by a hunter in California, according to a statement from the Pope and Young Club bow-hunting and conservation organization. Continue reading “Killing of 700-pound black bear with bow and arrow sets North American record”
Just before 2 p.m. Friday, large groups of Texas A&M students and other area residents stood around, laughing and talking under a stunning blue sky. Minutes later and on cue, many of those same people wailed, pleaded for help, gesticulated wildly and mimicked severe ailments — all at the Texas A&M Extension Service (TEEX) Disaster City as part of the Texas A&M University Health Science Center’s 12th annual Disaster Day.
Continue reading “Hundreds of Texas A&M students take part in ‘Disaster Day’ drill”
A Cincinnati police captain was arrested and charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated Sunday, Loveland city officials said Monday.
Cincinnati Police Capt. Amanda Caton, 55, was stopped by a Loveland police officer at 2:24 a.m. after observing her vehicle hesitate when the light turned green, cut the turn and drive left of center through a turn. Continue reading “‘Tell your moms that you met real cops tonight’: Cincinnati captain’s arrest report”
Sprint and T-Mobile have moved yet another step closer to a merger, and it could lead to consumers paying more for wireless plans.
A federal judge in New York on Tuesday approved the $26.5-billion merger of the third- and fourth-largest wireless carriers, creating a much larger rival to AT&T and Verizon. Continue reading “Sprint and T-Mobile merger approved by federal judge. Here’s what it means for consumers”
Scientists are increasingly concerned about a new virus that has infected tens of thousands of people and killed more than 1,000. It is a coronavirus, and belongs to the same family as the pathogen that causes severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS. It causes a respiratory illness, can spread from person to person, and emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan in December. Continue reading “Coronavirus latest: WHO officially names disease COVID-19”
American Airlines extended its flight suspensions to mainland China and Hong Kong through late April, citing “reduction in demand,” the company announced Tuesday.
“We will continue to evaluate this schedule and make any adjustments as necessary,” American said in a statement. Continue reading “American Airlines extends flight suspensions to Hong Kong and mainland China amidst coronavirus”
President Donald Trump claimed Friday that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi “broke the law” when she tore up her copy of his State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
“I thought it was a terrible thing when she ripped up the speech. First of all, it’s an official document, you’re not allowed, it’s illegal what she did, she broke the law,” Trump told reporters on the White House South Lawn Friday. “That was terrible. It was a terrible — so disrespectful to our country, and actually very illegal, what she did.” Continue reading “Trump claims Pelosi broke the law by ripping up his State of the Union speech. That’s false.”
Robert Conrad, the athletic, two-fisted actor who starred as Secret Service agent James West and did his own spectacular stunts on the 1960s futuristic CBS Western The Wild Wild West, has died. He was 84.
“He lived a wonderfully long life and while the family is saddened by his passing, he will live forever in their hearts,” family spokesman Jeff Ballard told People magazine. No other details of his death were immediately available. Continue reading “Robert Conrad, Star of TV’s ‘The Wild Wild West,’ Dies at 84”
Orson Bean, the 91-year-old veteran actor-comedian and a mainstay of the Westside’s theater scene, was killed when he was hit by two cars Friday night while crossing Venice Boulevard on his way to see a play, according to police and friends of the actor.
Los Angeles police said he was on Venice Boulevard near the Pacific Resident Theatre outside a marked crosswalk around 7:30 p.m. when he was struck by a Honda Civic traveling west. He was hit a second time by a Toyota Prius. Both drivers remained on the scene. Continue reading “Actor-comedian Orson Bean is killed when struck by two cars on Venice Boulevard”
Bangkok, Thailand (CNN)A manhunt is underway for a Thai soldier accused of killing at least 20 people in a shooting spree that began at a military site and then sent shoppers hunting for cover after the suspect entered a mall, authorities told CNN.
“We can’t confirm if there are any hostages taken. But we believe he (the shooter) is still holding inside Terminal 21 shopping mall. We are working on this,” Lt. Gen. Thanya Kiatsarn on Saturday told CNN from the scene. Continue reading “A Thai soldier has killed at least 20 people in a shooting spree, authorities say. He may be at a mall”
COLLEGE STATION, Tex. (KBTX) – On Thursday, the British Minister for International Trade Conor Burns visited the Brazos Valley to create trade relationships in the area.
News 3’s Kathleen Witte sat down with Minister Burns at the George Bush Presidential Library and Museum for a conversation on his trade goals during this Texas trip. Continue reading “Why the British international trade minister came to the Brazos Valley instead of D.C.”
Kirk Douglas, the son of a ragman who channeled a deep, personal anger through a chiseled jaw and steely blue eyes to forge one of the most indelible and indefatigable careers in Hollywood history, died Wednesday in Los Angeles. He was 103.
“It is with tremendous sadness that my brothers and I announce that Kirk Douglas left us today at the age of 103,” son Michael Douglas wrote on his Instagram account. “To the world, he was a legend, an actor from the Golden Age of movies who lived well into his golden years, a humanitarian whose commitment to justice and the causes he believed in set a standard for all of us to aspire to.” Continue reading “Kirk Douglas, Indomitable Icon of Hollywood’s Golden Age, Dies at 103”
National Review – by David Harsanyi
Mike Bloomberg’s Super Bowl ad combined two standard elements of contemporary anti-gun rhetoric: emotionalism and falsehoods. As Kyle Smith points out, the fatuous spot was little more than taste signaling: “Vote for me, I hate the same stuff you hate.” And Reason’s Jacob Sullum points out, the ad is predicated on an obvious lie. Continue reading “Mike Bloomberg vs. the Imaginary All-Powerful Gun Lobby”
Ten people on board a cruise ship docked in Japan have tested positive for novel coronavirus, according to Japanese media reports.
A passenger on the Diamond Princess, operated by Carnival Corp.’s Princess Cruises, tested positive for the virus after leaving the ship in Hong Kong on Jan. 25. That prompted officials in Japan, where the ship had later arrived, to delay the Diamond Princess. A team of quarantine officials and medical staff boarded the ship and began medical checks of everyone on board, the Associated Press reported, citing an unnamed health ministry official. Continue reading “10 Passengers on Cruise Ship in Japan Test Positive for Coronavirus; China Travelers Banned, Cruises Canceled”
A sizeable herd of people in business suits gathered in a government hearing room this week to talk about tax law.
So why are you reading this?
Continue reading “Analysis: A Texas sales tax rule hinges on a question: What’s local?”
At least 10 House Democrats are boycotting President Trump‘s State of the Union address on Tuesday night on the eve of the expected Senate vote to acquit him in his impeachment trial. Continue reading “10 Democrats to boycott Trump State of the Union address”
MIAMI (AP) — Two men charged with drug trafficking could have done a better job hiding their wares than using a package labeled “Bag Full of Drugs,” Florida authorities said.
Ian Simmons and Joshua Reinhardt, both 34, were pulled over in Santa Rosa County on Saturday after a trooper clocked them going 95 mph on Interstate 10 on the state’s Panhandle, according to a Florida Highway Patrol arrest report. Continue reading “Package labeled ‘Bag Full of Drugs’ leads to Florida arrests”