Politico

President Barack Obama wept openly Tuesday as he delivered a forceful defense of new executive actions on gun violence, a set of modest proposals to tighten loopholes that likely face quick legal challenges and could be vulnerable to reversal by a Republican White House.

The president ran through a list of mass shootings that have happened during his time in office, and teared up as he recalled the schoolchildren gunned down in Newtown, Connecticut in 2012.   Continue reading “Obama wipes away tears as he calls for new gun measures”

BallotPedia

The Holocaust Denial Speech Restrictions Initiative (#15-0073) is an initiated state statute proposed for the California ballot on November 8, 2016.

The measure would prohibit any speech that claims Jewish, Armenian or Ukrainian Holocausts did not exist in any state-funded school, museum or educational institution. It would also prohibit Holocaust denial organizations from distributing information or conducting activities at these state-funded locations.[1]   Continue reading “California Holocaust Denial Speech Restrictions Initiative (2016)”

Free Thought Project – by John Vibes

York County, PA — A California police officer was recently busted after driving 247 pounds of marijuana all the way across the country. Yuba County Deputy Christopher M. Heath was caught in York, Pennsylvania with a shipment of marijuana that was worth over $2 million. Heath was reportedly on vacation from his job at the Yuba County Police Department at the time of his arrest.

The York County Police Department has been cautiously silent about the investigation, and they have refused to comment on the details of the arrest, and how they became aware of the shipment.   Continue reading “Narcotics Cop Who Ruined Countless Lives for Weed Possession, Busted with $2 Million in Marijuana”

WFMY 2 News

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Winston-Salem Police say Officer Nicholas Powell was shot multiple times during a traffic stop just before 2:00 a.m. Monday.

Winston-Salem Police Chief Barry Rountree said another officer had pulled over a white Nissan Sentra for speeding on Highway 421/Business 40 near Lowery Street. When that officer smelled marijuana coming from the car, he called for backup. Officer Powell responded.   Continue reading “Winston-Salem Police Officer, Suspect Shot During Traffic Stop”

The Examiner – by Paul Bedard

Outgoing Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid is seeking to use $600,000 in campaign and political action committee funds to cover his expenses after leaving office, a request that has the Federal Election Commission concerned about the precedent it would set for using money raised while in office.

Dubbed an “administrative slush fund” by FEC Commissioner Lee E. Goodman, concerns were raised at a meeting in late December that it would let Reid run around the country promoting his agenda with funds given to help his reelection campaigns and as a senator.   Continue reading “Harry Reid demands retirement ‘slush fund,’ FEC defers”

Fusion – by Rob Wile

For at least the third-consecutive year, Oregon saw the highest percentage of inbound moves among all 50 states, according to a report from mover United Van Lines.

With 69% of its total moves inbound, the Beaver State easily topped runner-up Nevada, which rung up an inbound rate of 59%. Washington came in third at 56%.   Continue reading “For the third-consecutive year, this state was the most popular moving destination in the U.S.”

The Guardian – by John M Glionna and Jason Wilson

Federal authorities are planning to cut off the power of the wildlife refuge in Oregon that has been taken over by militia, exposing the armed occupiers to sub-zero temperatures in an effort to flush them out.

Armed militants will begin their third day at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge, a remote federal outpost in eastern Oregon, on Tuesday, and have vowed to remain for months in protest over the treatment of two local cattle ranchers.   Continue reading “Authorities plan to cut off power to militia at occupied Oregon refuge”

Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden

Despite Ammon Bundy’s best efforts to explain the motives of the militiamen who over the weekend seized control of a remote federal building in Oregon, it’s still not entirely clear why several dozen US citizens decided to occupy the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.

WaPo is probably correct to say that there “are gun rights issues, religious overtones, broad strains of anti-government sentiment and even the tactics of the Occupy Wall Street movement” at play, but like the Occupy movement, those holed up in the snowy government outpost have yet to articulate a coherent set of grievances to justify their cause.   Continue reading ““It’s Time For You To Leave”: Oregon Sheriff Demands Militiamen “Peacefully” Depart”

CBS News – by Mike DeNardo

HADDON HEIGHTS, N.J. (CBS) —  Students at a Haddon Heights Elementary School are getting a real-life lesson in Constitutional law.

Staffers at Glenview Elementary School say it became a daily ritual for students to say “God bless America” after the morning recital of the Pledge of Allegiance.
Continue reading “New Jersey School Skips Legal Battle, Will No Longer Recite “God Bless America””

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

SALT LAKE CITY —  In response to news media inquiries, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints issued the following statement Monday, January 4 (for more context on this issue, see this story from the Washington Post):    Continue reading “Mormon Church and Cattlemen’s Association Condemn Actions in Harney County, Oregon”

Mail.com

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — A former South Carolina policeman charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed black motorist will remain under house arrest until his trial begins in the fall.

The release of Michael Slager on bond Monday was a disappointment to the family of the victim, Walter Scott, said Justin Bamberg, the attorney for the family. “The family is not happy about Mr. Slager getting bond,” Bamberg said shortly after Circuit Judge Clifton Newman said Slager could be released on $500,000 surety bond.   Continue reading “Family not happy officer out on bond in motorist’s death”

Mail.com

CHICAGO (AP) — A top city of Chicago lawyer stepped down after a federal judge accused him of hiding evidence in a fatal police shooting, the latest allegation of wrongdoing amid ongoing scrutiny of how the city deals with such cases.

Separately, the city agency that investigates police shootings vowed greater transparency, saying Monday that it would start divulging some details of active cases as it tries to bolster public confidence in the process.   Continue reading “Chicago lawyer resigns after judge rules he hid evidence”

Mail.com

PEARL HARBOR, Hawaii (AP) — When the U.S. wanted to show the world it didn’t recognize what it called China’s “excessive” territorial claims in disputed waters of the South China Sea this fall, it sent a warship near one of Beijing’s newly built artificial reefs.

The move came amid a debate about whether the U.S. has enough ships to meet challenges posed by a fast-growing, increasingly assertive Chinese navy that is unsettling some of its neighbors. In its latest move, China announced last week that it would build its second aircraft carrier, this one with domestic technology.   Continue reading “US Pacific Fleet shrinks even as China grows more aggressive”

Cincinnati – by Amber Hunt and Bowdeya Tweh

The police department in Arlington Heights – a village that area motorists for years had branded a speed trap before two of its officials were convicted with pocketing hundreds of thousands of dollars in taxpayers’ fines – has disbanded, tapping the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Office with patrolling the tiny village.

Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters, who called for the village’s dissolution in 2012, on Friday applauded the move, saying it was long overdue.   Continue reading “Arlington Heights disbands its PD; Hamilton County Sheriff will patrol instead”

Breitbart – by AWR Hawkins

“We will be looking for those individuals who seek to avoid registering,” Attorney General Loretta Lynch told reporters following a Jan. 4 meeting with President Obama regarding executive gun control.

Lynch was referencing the portion of Obama’s pending executive-action gun-control measure that will require gun-sellers to register as federally licensed gun dealers if they meet criteria demonstrating they are “engaged in the business of dealing in firearms.”   Continue reading “AG Lynch Explains Obama’s Gun-Control: Gov’t Looking For ‘Individuals Who Seek To Avoid Registering’”

Tech Dirt – by Tim Cushing

No surprises here, although the contempt for government authorities that aren’t the NYPD is a bit audacious.

Most of former NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly’s emails on his desktop computer were deleted at the end of his tenure despite an order they be preserved for a high-stakes class-action suit alleging a summons quota system within the department.  

Continue reading “Former NYPD Boss Ray Kelly’s Emails ‘Inadvertently’ Wiped Despite Court Order To Preserve Them”