From the Trenches World Report

Mail.com

ATLANTA (AP) — More than 25 years after being locked away for a killing their lawyers say they didn’t commit, three former soldiers are free on bail and preparing to go home to spend the holidays with their families.

Mark Jason Jones, Kenneth Eric Gardiner and Dominic Brian Lucci were in their early 20s when they were convicted of murder in the Jan. 31, 1992, slaying of Stanley Jackson in Savannah, Georgia. Prosecutors said the crime was racially motivated. The three former soldiers are white, and Jackson was black.   Continue reading “Ex-soldiers get bail in murder case after 25 years in prison”

Mail.com

SYDNEY (AP) — The family of an Australian woman who was fatally shot by a Minnesota police officer in July demanded a more rigorous probe Thursday after a prosecutor cast doubts on the investigation. Hennepin County Attorney Mike Freeman faulted investigators last week when he complained that he doesn’t have enough evidence to charge Officer Mohamed Noor in the killing of Justine Ruszczyk Damond. Noor shot Damond in the alley behind her home after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault.   Continue reading “Slain Australian’s family demands integrity in US probe”

The Guardian – by Peter Beaumont

The United Nations general assembly has delivered a stinging rebuke to Donald Trump, voting by a huge majority to reject his unilateral recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital.

The vote came after a redoubling of threats by Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, who said that Washington would remember which countries “disrespected” America by voting against it.   Continue reading “UN votes resoundingly to reject Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as capital”

Yahoo News

WASHINGTON (AP) — Celebrations aside, President Donald Trump may wait until next year to sign the tax bill into law, delaying $120 billion in automatic cuts to popular programs such as Medicare and sparing Republicans from having to explain them in an election year.

Here’s why: If Trump signs the tax bill this month, it could trigger steep automatic spending cuts early next year to a raft of programs. But if Trump waits until January to sign the bill, the spending cuts would be delayed until 2019 — after next year’s congressional elections — giving lawmakers a full year to prevent them.   Continue reading “No tax cuts for Christmas? Trump might delay bill signing”

Fox 2 Detroit

DETROIT (WJBK) – A Great Lakes Water Authority mystery continues to grow.

For the third time in a week, an object that appears to be a body organ has been found at the Water Resource Recovery Facility.

The organ was found just before 7 p.m. Wednesday in the waste water at the facility. At this time, it’s not clear if the organ is from an animal or a human.   Continue reading “Third organ found at Detroit wastewater plant”

Yahoo News

In the three years since Michael Brown’s fatal shooting in Ferguson, police body-worn cameras have been sold to the public as a tool that would primarily deter police misconduct. One of the main selling points is the claim that the devices would have a “civilizing effect” on officers.

Officers would behave better, the argument goes, if they knew their actions were being recorded. Camera vendors have told departments that their devices would reduce excessive uses of force and complaints against officers.   Continue reading “The benefits of police body cams are a myth”

Zero Hedge – by Tyler Durden

Now that Republicans have finished patting themselves on the back for passing the first comprehensive tax reform bill in 31 years, and which hopes to stimulate the economy by rewarding those least likely to spend…
Continue reading “Republican Squabbling Could Force A Government Shutdown This Weekend”

Fellowship of the Minds – by Dr. Eowyn

As reported by Allison Sylte for 9News on December 12, 2017, Lori Jones works at the Horsetooth Inn and RV Park campgrounds at the southern tip of Horsetooth Reservoir in the very small town of Stout, Colorado (population: 47½).

Jones said that three weeks ago, a mama deer waltzed into her store.  Continue reading “Deer returns to Colorado shop with her whole family for more treats”

Wall Street Journal – by Jon Emont

SAIPAN, Northern Mariana Islands—This U.S. territory in the western Pacific is known for its epic World War II battle, white-sand beaches and the enduring culture of its indigenous Chamorro people.

But for a certain class of Chinese parents, Saipan has become known as the latest hot spot for birth tourism, a place where women can give birth to babies who will automatically acquire U.S. citizenship.   Continue reading “Saipan: The Island Where Chinese Mothers Deliver American Babies”

BBC News

Memphis has become the latest US city to remove Confederate monuments, taking down two of the statues overnight.

The likenesses of rebel leaders Jefferson Davis and Nathan Bedford Forrest were gone hours after the city sold them to a private group.

Earlier this month, Tennessee state denied the city council’s bid to get rid of the monuments.   Continue reading “Memphis defies state ban to remove two Confederate statues”

On the Contrary – by Michael Hoffman

You may have heard that earlier this year Amazon.com removed dozens of books for sale on its websitebecause they were judged to be “hateful.”

Books in praise of Communist butchers continue to be sold by Amazon, however.

The media inform us that Twitter has also embarked upon a campaign to nobly cleanse its digital premises of “hate.”   Continue reading “Vladimir Lenin’s ideology of hate is rehabilitated online without censorship or obstruction by hate speech police”

RT

TV personality Rosie O’Donnell offered $2 million to two Republican Senators to vote against the new tax bill – potentially opening herself up to federal bribery charges.

O’Donnell specifically targeted Senators Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Jeff Flake (R-Arizona), who were both slow to say they would support the legislation.

“2 million dollars to Senator Susan Collins and 2 million to Senator Jeff Flake if they vote NO. NO I WILL NOT KILL AMERICANS FOR THE SUOER [sic] RICH. DM (Direct message) me Susan. DM me Jeff. No s**t. $2 million cash each,” she said.  Continue reading “Rosie O’Donnell in ‘bribery’ storm for offering senators $2mn to kill tax reform”

Washington Examiner – by Anna Giaritelli

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has directed the Justice Department to interview FBI agents about evidence in a previous investigation into a foreign uranium deal that may have been connected to Bill and Hillary Clinton, according to a report published Thursday morning.

The interviews come a month after Congress asked Sessions to look into whether a second special counsel should be opened to investigate what has become known as the Uranium One deal, one Justice official told NBC News.   Continue reading “FBI agents who probed Uranium One deal now under Justice Department scrutiny”