Yahoo News

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A judge called a New Hampshire man a “bully vigilante” and sentenced him Wednesday to more than seven years in prison for his role organizing armed backers of Nevada rancher Cliven Bundy after a standoff with U.S. agents in 2014.

Gerald “Jerry” DeLemus became the first person sentenced for his ties to the confrontation that became a rallying cry for those who want vast stretches of federal land in the U.S. West put under local control. Eighteen others are in custody.   Continue reading “1st prison sentence given in Bundy armed standoff in Nevada”

Anti-War – by Jason Ditz

The most recent figures related to President Trump’s proposed increases in Pentagon spending, along with cuts at the State Department, show the general national security budget of the United States rising once again, with the 2018 proposal in the ballpark of $1.1 trillion.

Needless to say, that’s the biggest military budget on the planet by a far measure. As the figures are broken down into their component parts, however, it becomes particularly shocking just how money is disappearing not just into the general war-fighting budget, but into related costs of having such a massive military for so long.   Continue reading “US Eyes $1.1 Trillion National Security Budget for 2018”

The Daily Sheeple – by Will Porter

A police sergeant was charged with murder on Wednesday for the October shooting of Deborah Danner, a 66-year-old woman with mental illness.

The sergeant, Hugh Barry, pleaded not guilty at Wednesday’s arraignment to charges that included second-degree murder, first- and second-degree manslaughter and criminally negligent homicide. Barry’s arrest came after months of investigation into the incident. He was released on bail.   Continue reading “New York Police Sergeant Charged With Murder of 66-Year-Old Mentally Ill Woman”

Free Thought Project – by Jay Syrmopoulos

Gardendale, AL — A regular summer right of passage for motivated teenagers across the United States in search of some extra spending money has always been cutting the neighbors’ grass. However, teens in Gardendale, Alabama, and many other cities across the United States, are about to get a rude lesson in how government overregulation stifles personal and financial growth.

Local officials and area law services have reportedly warned area teens that without a business license issued by the city, which costs $110, they are in violation of a city ordinance, thus violating the law, if they attempt to cut grass without a license.   Continue reading “Children Now Face Fines And Arrest If They Don’t Get A Permit To Mow Grass For Money”

Freedom Outpost – by Tim Brown

Government watchdog Judicial Watch has filed suit against the State Department and USAID for records about funding George Soros‘ Open Society Foundation in Albania.

“This is our second FOIA lawsuit to uncover the truth about the scandal of Obama administration’s siphoning tax dollars to the Soros operations in Europe,” said Judicial Watch President Tom Fitton. “We hope and expect the Trump administration to finally let the sunlight in on this growing controversy.”   Continue reading “State Dept Sued for Records about Funding George Soros’ Open Society Foundation”

Reuters

Western-backed Syrian rebels said on Wednesday that Russian jets attacked them as they tried to advance against Iran-backed militias in a region of Syria’s southeastern desert.

They said six jets bombed their positions as they moved towards Zaza checkpoint near Sabaa Biyar, a small town near the Damascus-Baghdad highway and the borders with Iraq and Jordan.

They identified them as Russian because they flew in formation and at higher altitude than Syrian jets.   Continue reading “Syrian rebels say Russian jets halt advance on desert outpost”

The Guardian – by Jason Wilson

As tensions continue in Portland following the racially charged murder of two men on Friday, the top Republican in the city said he was considering using militia groups as security for public events.

Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, 23, and Rick Best, 53, were stabbed to death and 21-year-old student Micah David-Cole Fletcher was injured when they came to the aid of two women being subjected to hate speech on public transport. The suspect, Jeremy Christian, 35, was found to hold white supremacist views and to have attended an “alt-right” rally in the city.   Continue reading “Portland Republican says party should use militia groups after racial attack”

Patch – by  Kathleen Culliton

BROOKLYN HEIGHTS — A development team with ties to Jared Kushner released plans on Wednesday to transform the Jehovah’s Witness Watchtower complex into an office and retail space hub in DUMBO.

Columbia Heights Associates — a venture controlled by Kushner Companies, CIM Group and LIVWRK Holdings — will transform five buildings at 25-30 Columbia Heights into a 742,000-square-foot campus with the capacity to host about 5,000 workers, developers announced Wednesday.   Continue reading “Jared Kushner Venture Releases Plans For Brooklyn Heights Watchtower Renovation”

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Sports Illustrated – by Jon Taylor

The English language can be a complicated one for even the best native speakers, littered as it is with bizarre conjugations and spellings. Take silent letters like the “B” in plumber, for instance, or our use of double consonants. There’s no reason for most of those to exist, yet there they are, constantly tripping us up as we try our best to write out “psoriasis” or “embarrassment.”   Continue reading “This map of America’s most commonly misspelled words is highly disturbing”

Daily Nexus – by Maura Fox

Congressman Salud Carbajal of Santa Barbara introduced a bill in the U.S. House of Representatives on Tuesday that would encourage states to develop more comprehensive gun control laws.

Introduced on the anniversary of the tragedy of May 23, 2014, The Gun Violence Restraining Order Act would incentivize states to allow courts to issue temporary firearm restraining orders against those the court determines to be a threat to themselves and others.   Continue reading “Congressman Introduces Federal Gun Control Legislation”

Baltimore Post Examiner – by Bill Hughs

A contingent of antiwar protesters in the hundreds, gathered Tuesday for a rally, at 11 a.m., at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. They were led by the president of the Veterans for Peace, Barry Ladendorf. They demanded a “stop to the endless war,” and a start to a genuine “peace-building movement.”

A coalition of about ten other antiwar, peace and justice organizations joined with the Veterans for Peace in the spirited demonstration. Nine speakers participated in the two-hour program, along with music provided by Pat Scanlon, the Fugs and others.   Continue reading “‘Veterans for Peace’ confront President Trump about endless wars”

RT

This could be the most uncomfortable State Department press briefing moment yet.

During a press conference about US President Donald Trump’s recent trip to the Middle East, AFP journalist Dave Clark asked a department official why the US criticizes the Iranian elections and its record on democracy, but not Saudi Arabia.

“How do you characterize Saudi Arabia’s commitment to democracy, and does the administration believe that democracy is a buffer or a barrier against extremism?” Clark asked.   Continue reading “State Dept official stumped for 20 seconds when asked why US slams Iran but not Saudis”

Mail.com

PRAGUE (AP) — A smoking ban in Czech bars, restaurants and cafes came into effect Wednesday, putting to an end to the Czech Republic’s status as one of the last havens for tobacco smokers in Europe. The ban, which applies to inside areas of bars and restaurants as well as public places like cinemas, theaters and sports venues, was approved by Parliament following years of heated debate and signed by President Milos Zeman, a chain smoker.   Continue reading “Czech restaurants, bars go smoke-free after years of debate”

Mail.com

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A massive suicide truck bombing rocked a highly secure diplomatic area of Kabul on Wednesday morning, killing 80 people and wounding as many as 350, an attack that left a scene of mayhem and destruction and sent a huge plume of smoke over the Afghan capital.

The target of the explosion in the Wazir Akbar Khan area was not immediately known, but Ismail Kawasi, spokesman of the public health ministry, said most of the casualties were civilians, including women and children.   Continue reading “Bombing in diplomatic area of Kabul kills 80, wounds scores”

Mail.com

BERLIN (AP) — German state police questioned a 17-year-old asylum-seeker on Tuesday after a tactical unit took him into custody on suspicion that he was planning a suicide attack in Berlin. Police in Brandenburg state said the teenager was detained Tuesday in the village of Gerswalde, 100 kilometers (60 miles) northeast of Berlin, after they learned he had sent a farewell message to family members and told them that “he had joined the jihad,” or holy war.   Continue reading “Germany: Teen asylum-seeker held in alleged suicide attack”

VOA News

WASHINGTON —  Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said Tuesday that he would sign deals for U.S. goods and services worth $15 billion to $17 billion during his visit to Washington, mainly for high-technology products and for services.

“Vietnam will increase the import of high technologies and services from the United States, and on the occasion of this visit, many important deals will be made,” Phuc told a U.S. Chamber of Commerce dinner.   Continue reading “Vietnam to Sign Deals for Up to $17B in US Goods, Services”