Tech Dirt – by Tim Cushing

Here’s something worth reading: the Burlington, Vermont Police Department has announced it will no longer be participating in the Dept. of Defense’s 1033 Program. This program is the well-intentioned effort to somehow make use of excess/old military inventory. Unfortunately, along with desks, computers, file cabinets and other office staples, the government also allows police departments to pick up mine-resistant vehicles, assault rifles, grenade launchers and other military gear — often at a steep discount that’s made even more inexpensive by Homeland Security grants.    Continue reading “Police Department Says It Would Rather Have A Good Relationship With The Community Than Cheap Military Gear”

Fox News – by Adam Shaw

Local sheriffs across America are voicing concern for the safety of the citizens they’ve sworn to protect after the biggest one-time release of federal inmates in U.S. history — though advocates of criminal justice reform maintain the release is being handled responsibly.

The 6,112 inmates were released from federal prison at the beginning of November in response to a decision by the U.S. Sentencing Commission to reduce sentences for most drug trafficking offenses and apply them retroactively. It coincides with a broader and bipartisan push for rethinking federal sentencing.    Continue reading “‘The biggest sham’: Sheriffs fume at mass release of 6,000 federal inmates”

Press TV

Israeli settlers have sneaked into a medical center in the southern West Bank city of al-Khalil (Hebron) and fatally shot a young Palestinian man hospitalized there for gunshot wounds sustained during clashes in the occupied Palestinian territories some weeks ago.

On Thursday morning, a group of 21 settlers made their way into the al-Ahli Hospital in al-Khalil under the disguise of the relatives of a pregnant woman, and went inside the room where injured Azzam Shalaldeh was resting, the Arabic-language Palestine al-Yawm news agency reported.   Continue reading “Israeli settlers kill young Palestinian in al-Khalil hospital”

Reuters

A gunman was shot and killed on Wednesday after firing several shots from a construction site next to a San Francisco hospital, police said.

The incident unfolded around 4 p.m. local time near the St. Luke’s campus of the California Pacific Medical Center in the city’s Mission District, San Francisco Police spokesman Albie Esparza said.   Continue reading “Gunman near San Francisco hospital killed after firing several shots”

Reuters – by Donna Owens

Baltimore police and an armed man exchanged gunfire on a city street on Wednesday, leaving the man dead and one officer hospitalized, according to a department official.

At least two officers were on patrol in Northwest Baltimore when they encountered a man walking with a handgun, police said.    Continue reading “Baltimore officer wounded, gunman killed in exchange of gunfire”

Yahoo News

A suspected burglar was shot dead by a 13-year-old boy who used his mother’s Colt. 45 pistol to defend himself while home alone.

On seeing a man entering the home through the back the young teen from Charleston, South Carolina, grabbed the gun and fired at him.   Continue reading “Home Alone Boy, 13, Shoots Suspected Burglar Dead With His Mother’s Gun”

Fortune – by Phil Wahba

Sales continue to drop.

Macy’s M -13.99% cold streak just keeps getting colder.

The department store reported Wednesday that comparable sales fell 3.9% last quarter for their third consecutive drop. Overall revenue totaled $5.87 billion for the period ended Oct. 31, well below Wall Street forecasts. Investors punished the stock, sending it down 5% in premarket trading. The company also said it would extend an already announced schedule of store closings.   Continue reading “Macy’s is Closing Even More Stores”

Free Thought Project – by Andrew Emett

Kissimmee, FL — Charged with felony child abuse and battery, another school resource officer has been caught on surveillance video aggressively using excessive force against a student. Although the teen never made a violent or threatening gesture towards the officer, the recently released video clearly shows the cop assaulting the student before throwing him to the ground and nearly breaking his wrist.   Continue reading “Video Shows Cop Attack a Non-violent 13-yo in School Lobby as His Mom Watched”

WSWS – by Andre Damon

On Monday evening, an American Airlines flight from Miami, Florida to Barbados was boarded by a paramilitary police unit wielding assault rifles, who demanded that passengers put their hands on their heads as they were forced off the flight.

Large sectors of the airport were effectively placed under lockdown during the operation. The gates of terminal cafes and restaurants were closed, leaving patrons locked inside by iron bars as police SWAT teams decked out in body armor and toting assault rifles swept through the terminal.   Continue reading “Paramilitary police in Miami force passengers to leave plane at gunpoint”

Press TV

The US government provided $5.9 billion in foreign military assistance last year from American taxpayers’ money, according to a new report by the US State Department.

Israel with $3.1 billion, and Egypt with $1.3 billion, received about 75 percent of all US foreign military aid handed out by Washington in 2014, according to the government’s Foreign Assistance report.   Continue reading “Over half of US military assistance goes to Israel: US government report”

Gothamist – by Christopher Robbins

A dozen pedestrians have been killed by drivers in the past twelve days. At least three of them were killed crossing the street with the right of way, and four of them were killed as they walked on the sidewalk. In response to one of those deaths, in which a hit and run casino bus driver killed a pedestrian in Flushing, the NYPD is going to start handing out more jaywalking tickets.

“If you’re crossing in the middle of the street, you’re wrong, you’re endangering yourself, you’re endangering others, you’re endangering drivers,” Queens Assemblyman Michael Simanowitz said, standing next to NYPD Deputy Inspector Thomas Conforti, the commander of the 109th Precinct,according to DNAinfo.   Continue reading “Drivers Keep Killing Pedestrians, So The NYPD Will Crack Down On Jaywalkers”

MSNBC – by Ari Melber

When three Virginia police officers put Linwood Lambert in a squad car around 5 a.m. on May 4, 2013, they said they were taking him to the ER for medical attention because he was speaking delusionally. Just over an hour later, Lambert died in police custody.

He was never given medical care, though the officers of South Boston, Va. did drive him to the hospital. He was not initially put under arrest, though the officers ultimately arrested him, shackled his hands and legs, and tased him repeatedly.  While in custody he was agitated and ran from the officers. Ambulance workers say police later claimed he fought them at a time when videos show he was actually unconscious. Police dispute that account and deny allegations of excessive force.   Continue reading “Driven to hospital, Virginia man tased, shackled and dies in police custody”

True Activist – by Amanda Froelich

Plastic pollution is one of the greatest burdens to the environment. Believe it or not, enough plastic is discarded every year to circle the globe four times. Even worse, it is estimated that 50% of the plastic on this planet is used only once before being thrown away.

To curb the issue of plastic pollution, the city of San Francisco has just done something monumental: it has  become the first in America to ban the sale of plastic water bottles.    Continue reading “San Francisco Becomes First City To Ban The Sale Of Plastic Bottles”

Yahoo News

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) – A former Sacramento police officer convicted of raping a 75-year-old stroke victim in her senior living apartment has been sentenced to life in prison, court records show.

Prosecutors said Gary Dale Baker, 52, entered the woman’s apartment at least three times from 2010 to 2012, raping her twice as she suffered from a stroke-related inability to speak.   Continue reading “Ex-California cop sentenced to life for raping stroke victim”

The Organic Prepper

When you first start prepping you want everything RIGHT NOW. You look around your home and see nothing but shortcomings. You don’t have enough food, you don’t have a woodstove, you have no secondary water source…that’s it. You and your family are doomed.

You feel a panicked urgency because you’ve learned just enough to know that you are NOT prepared.You know that there are all sorts of supplies that you need, but if you’re like most of us, you’re on a budget. Very few of us can afford to buy everything we need all at once.   Continue reading “A Quick-Start Guide for New Preppers Who Want to be Ready RIGHT NOW”

RT

The Senate has passed a defense spending bill that bans moving Guantanamo Bay detainees to the United States. This throws a wrench in President Obama’s 2008 campaign promise of closing the camp.

The $607-billion National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) passed the Senate with a veto-proof 91-3, with Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) notably casting a “no” vote.   Continue reading “Senate passes defense bill that halts Gitmo closure, gives military aid to Kiev & Syrian rebels”

The Daily Sheeple

“Apparently the quiet streets of Bastrop County worked so well for the U.S. military and their Jade Helm exercise this summer that they’re coming back. This time Special Forces has an unconventional warfare exercise with a catchy acronym,” KEYE TV reports.

A new military exercise has just been approved in Bastrop County, Texas. It’s known as “Unconventional Warfare Exercise 2016″ or UWEX16 for short.   Continue reading “The Next Jade Helm? “Unconventional Warfare Exercise 2016″ Coming Soon”