KUTV – by Christina Flores

The passenger, who allegedly pointed a gun at the head of an Uber driver, is a federal police officer with the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA).

Byron McDonald was arrested on Oct. 20 and a day later, charged with aggravated assault, a third degree felony.   Nedra Darling, spokesperson for the Department of the Interior which oversees BIA, said McDonald is a Lieutenant with the Bureau of Indian Affairs Justice Services and  he was on “official travel at the time of the incident.”  McDonald bailed out of the Salt Lake County Jail on Saturday, after the Salt Lake County District Attorney filed the criminal charge.  Darling said in the written statement that BIA is investigating and will determine what steps to take next.   Continue reading “Passenger who pointed gun at Uber driver turns out to be a cop”

Image source: DaleysFruit.comOff the Grid News – by JD Lara

What would American life be without coffee? In the world of coffee consumption, Americans sip more than a third of the total coffee produced on the entire planet, yet none of it is grown in the continental United States. At least, not commercially.

Yes, there are vast plantations in Hawaii, and there’s an increasing number of growers in southern states like California, Florida and Georgia. But there are success stories of home-growing in northern regions, too, from Minnesota to Vermont. Don’t you think the rest of the states should be trying to grow coffee in their homes and greenhouses, too? If you’re up for the challenge, read on.   Continue reading “Simple Steps To Growing Coffee – Even Where You Live”

Prevent Disease – by Karen Foster

Getting ready for a halloween party or night of trick or treating with the kids or grandkids? The ghoulish evening of fright with thousands of different costumes, accessories, decorations and party favors also bring with them chemicals linked to asthma, birth defects, learning disabilities, reproductive problems, liver toxicity and cancer. Here’s what to look out for.

After dozens of costumes and accessories were tested, chemicals found included lead, bromine from flame retardants, chlorine from vinyl or PVC plastic, phthalates, arsenic, tin, lead, chromium, cadmium and mercury. The products were purchased from such retailers as CVS, Kroger, Target, Walmart, Walgreens and Party City.   Continue reading “5 Toxic Exposures You Need To Know About This Halloween”

Demonstrators outside Sunday's Pittsburgh Steelers game hold signs that read "Shame Komen" to protest the cancer charity's partnership with fracking giant Baker Hughes. (Photo: Josh Fox)Common Dreams – by Lauren McCauley

“Think before you pink!” chanted dozens of women’s health advocates who rallied outside a Pittsburgh Steelers game on Sunday to protest growing partnerships between national breast cancer charity Susan G. Komen and the polluters who are putting women’s health at even greater risk.

Komen’s founder, Nancy Brinker, was expected to accept a $100,000 check from the CEO of oil and gas drilling giant Baker Hughes during the halftime of the Steeler’s-Colts game. However, the presentation was called off in a move protesters attributed to Komen “feeling the pressure” from a growing critique of their “pinkwashed” breast cancer awareness campaign—a term coined by the group Breast Cancer Action to describe the “cause marketing” of breast cancer with emphasis placed on promoting rather than curing the disease.   Continue reading “‘Shame on Komen’: Protesters Charge ‘Pinkwashing’ over Fracking-Charity Partnership”

Bundy Ranch

Feds Retaliate against the Bundy Ranch and the Southern Nevada People On Friday October 10th, 2014 a Notice from the federal registry reveals that the federal government is mounting retaliations against the Bundy family and the Southern Nevada people.

Federal Register / Vol. 79, No.197 Notice, outlines plans to make the Bundy ranch and most of the rest of Southern Nevada, Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). 90 days from October 10th, 2014 these proposals will become federal law without consent from the Nevada State legislatures or the people of Southern Nevada.   Continue reading “Feds Retaliate against the Bundy Ranch and the Southern Nevada People”

AFP PhotoRT

A sustained cyberattack that lasted almost two weeks was detected on the computer network used by officials of the Executive Office of the President, a White House official said.

The official said Tuesday that, while the cyber attack was detected, measures have been taken to address the activity on the Executive Office of the President’s (EOP) unclassified computer network. Officials have not disclosed who might be responsible for the attack, Reuters reported.    Continue reading “White House computer network hit by sustained cyberattack”

AFP Photo/Greg WoodRT

The latest space hoax claiming NASA confirmed six days of ‘total darkness’ in December has been debunked – but not before it had been spread worldwide via Twitter.

The original report was published on a satirical news site Huzlers.com, citing NASA administrator Charles Bolden as the source.

Titled ‘NASA Confirms Earth Will Experience 6 Days of Total Darkness in December 2014,’ is said the space agency “confirmed” that there will be six days of darkness on Earth from December 16 to 22.   Continue reading “Earth to face a 6-day blackout, viral hoax cites NASA as saying”

Mail.com

DENVER (AP) — One of three suburban Denver girls who authorities say tried to join Islamic State militants in Syria was confused about what her role would be if she had actually made it there, the girl’s father said Tuesday.

“She told me they were going to get there and somebody is going to contact them,” said the father of a 16-year-old Sudanese girl, who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because he is concerned for the girls’ safety. “I ask her, ‘Who’s that person?’ She actually didn’t have a clear idea about what’s going on. They’re just like, you know, stupid little girls. They just want to do something, and they do it.”   Continue reading “Girls accused of trying to join jihadis confused”

Mail.com

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court late Tuesday halted the execution of a Missouri man who killed a woman and her two children, citing concerns that his legal counsel was ineffective.

Mark Christeson, 35, was scheduled to die by injection at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday at the state prison in Bonne Terre before the late stay of execution was issued. Missouri Department of Corrections spokesman Mike O’Connell said it wasn’t clear what will happen next for Christeson.   Continue reading “US Supreme Court stays Missouri inmate’s execution”

Mail.com

PAHOA, Hawaii (AP) — Jeff and Denise Lagrimas’ single-story home is just across the street from properties where lava from Kilauea volcano is expected to slither past on its way to the ocean.

But they’re moving to another town 14 miles away before they’re able to find out whether this forecast comes true or whether the molten rock oozes into their home instead. “I don’t want to stick around and just wait for it to come and take it,” Denise Lagrimas said while taking a break from loading kitchen cups and bowls in cardboard boxes. “You just never know.”    Continue reading “Hawaii residents leave homes as lava flow nears”

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Al-Qaida is using U.S.-led coalition airstrikes in Syria as a reason to extend olive branches to the renegade Islamic State group, saying the two should stop feuding and join forces to attack Western targets — a reunification that intelligence analysts say would allow al-Qaida to capitalize on the younger group’s ruthless advance across the region.

Analysts are closely watching al-Qaida’s repeated overtures, and while a full reconciliation is not expected soon — if ever — there is evidence the two groups have curtailed their infighting and are cooperating on the Syrian battlefield, according to activists on the ground, U.S. officials and experts who monitor jihadi messages.   Continue reading “Analysts: Al-Qaida still offers olive branch to IS”

CDC -by Theodore L. Aquino, DO1, Gary T. Brice, PhD2, Sherry Hayes, MPH3, Christopher A. Myers, PhD2, Jaqueline McDowell, MD3, Brenda White, MSPH, MPH2, Rebecca Garten, PhD4, Daniel Johnston5

On February 10, 2014, the USS Ardent, a U.S. Navy minesweeper, was moored in San Diego, California, while conducting training. Over the course of 3 days, 25 of 102 crew members sought medical care because of influenza-like illness (ILI). Nasal swab specimens were collected from each patient, and initial rapid influenza testing indicated 16 cases of influenza A. Ultimately, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing conducted by the Naval Health Research Center determined that 20 specimens were influenza A, of which 18 were subtype H3N2. Continue reading “Proof that vaccines are B.S.: Influenza Outbreak in a Vaccinated Population — USS Ardent”

Orlando Sentinel – by Jeff Weiner

Law enforcement officials from across the country on Monday called for background checks on all gun purchases, including private and gun-show sales.

“We must close off all avenues for dangerous people to acquire firearms,” Orlando Police Chief John Mina said, during a press conference for the National Law Enforcement Partnership to Prevent Gun Violence at the Orange County Convention Center.

The partnership is comprised of nine national law-enforcement groups, including the International Association of Chiefs of Police, which is holding its annual conference at the convention center on International Drive.   Continue reading “Police chiefs call for expanding gun background checks”

Mother Jones – by AJ Vicens

Most people don’t think about judicial elections until they find themselves staring at a group of unfamiliar names on the ballot. But judges are selected by voters in 39 states, whether in an initial election or a retention election after being appointed. The explainer below details how special-interest money has increasingly flooded the system over the last several decades—including the first ever set of data on campaign money in lower court races.   Continue reading “How Dark Money Is Taking Over Judicial Elections”

Town Hall – by Hugh Hewitt

Folks trying to plan their personal fiscal ’15 are at a loss. They can’t do a budget because they don’t know what their health insurance costs will be.

Nobody knows because Team Obama has conveniently arranged for you to be kept in the dark on your health insurance costs until after everyone votes next week.

Most are expecting 5 percent to 10 percent hikes, but there are rumblings of far nastier surprises.   Continue reading “How High Will Your Health Insurance Premiums Go In 2015?”

ebola screen 263x164 Insurance Companies Begin Writing Ebola Exclusions into PoliciesNatural Society – by Christina Sarich

Remember the promise of universal health care with Obamacare, with no refusal for ‘pre-existing conditions’? It looks like your insurance company may not have to cover you if you get Ebola. U.S. and British insurance companies have begun writing Ebola exclusions into standard policies to cover hospitals, event organizers, and other businesses vulnerable to local disruptions.

While it is estimated that expenditures to treat the original Dallas Ebola patient, Thomas Eric Duncan, were approximately $100,000 an hour (though he passed anyway), it looks like insurance companies won’t be footing the bill.   Continue reading “Insurance Companies Begin Writing ‘Ebola Exclusions’ into Policies”