Institute for Justice – by Nick Sibilla

The Iowa Department of Public Safety announced on Monday that it has disbanded its drug interdiction team, a unit roundly criticized for confiscating cash from motorists. Although local and state agencies can still pursue asset forfeiture cases, “the State Patrol no longer specifically assigns Troopers to [interdiction] duty on a full-time basis,” Iowa State Patrol Sgt. Nathan Ludwig said in a statement. Instead, more troopers will be assigned to handle traffic safety and special events.   Continue reading “Iowa Disbands a State Forfeiture Unit, Pays $60,000 to Settle Cash Seizure Case”

PINAC – by Eric McDonough

Homestead Police Department (HPD) has silenced the First Amendment with false stalking charges and restraining orders.

Their abuses leading to two of my three false arrest, and to me being served with four frivolous restraining orders.

Sadly, such abuses are not limited to Florida, and occur nationwide.   Continue reading “Stalking Away The First Amendment: Part 1”

The Newspaper

There are no limits on a private individual or government agency that seeks to track Virginia motorists by photographing their license plates and storing the information in a database. That was the ruling last month of a Fairfax County Circuit Court judge who rejected the contention that automated license plate readers (ALPR or ANPR in Europe) violate state data protection laws.

“There is one salient issue that this court must decide,” Judge Robert J. Smith wrote in his November 18 ruling. “If a license plate reader is personal information, then the Fairfax County Police Department has violated the act.”   Continue reading “Virginia Court Says License Plate Tracking Is Legal”

RT

The 21st Century Cures Act is heading to President Barack Obama’s desk after passing the Senate. Many are celebrating, but progressive senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren are concerned that it will provide handouts to the pharmaceutical industry.

The 21st Century Cures Act passed the Senate Wednesday in a 94-5 vote and is set to land on President Barack Obama’s desk. Obama has already spoken out in support of the bill and said he’ll be happy to sign it into law. Many have welcomed this bill as not only a step forward for medical research, but also as a sign of bipartisan unity.   Continue reading “21st Century Cures Act goes to Obama after Senate passage”

Mail.com

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s opposition-controlled parliament introduced an impeachment motion Thursday against President Park Geun-hye, setting up a likely vote Friday on whether to suspend her powers over a huge political scandal.

A parliamentary official reported the motion to a plenary session, which means an impeachment vote must take place between 24 and 72 hours. Friday is the final day of the current parliamentary regular session.   Continue reading “S. Korea’s parliament sets up presidential impeachment vote”

Mail.com

WASHINGTON (AP) — Did anyone see it coming, the apparent new rapport between President Barack Obama and President-elect Donald Trump? Just a few months ago they were regularly flinging insults back and forth. Today they’re trading phone calls and pleasantries.

Apparently, membership in one of the world’s most exclusive clubs, the club of U.S. presidents, has a way of changing things. On Wednesday, Trump talked about letting bygones be bygones. “I’ve now gotten to know President Obama. I really like him,” he said on NBC’s “Today” after Time magazine announced him as its Person of the Year. “We have, I think I can say, at least for myself, I can’t speak for him, but we have a really good chemistry together. We talk.”   Continue reading “Obama and Trump hurled insults, now trade pleasantries”

Mail.com

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — If Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad becomes the next U.S. Ambassador to China, he may want to leave any Masonic symbols at home. That’s because the Freemasons group that Branstad belongs to has been banned in mainland China for decades.

Masonic lodges still exist in Taiwan, but not in China. All the other chapters were eliminated after the communist revolution there in 1949. “Freemasons believe in freedom of thought, freedom of speech and freedom of action, and I don’t think that’s what the communist Chinese government is about,” said Tim Anderson, who is deputy grand secretary of the Grand Masonic Lodge of Iowa.   Continue reading “US envoy nominee Branstad member of Masons, banned in China”

Nestman – by Mark Nestman

Don’t trust banks to protect the money you’ve deposited? You’re hardly alone.

From a legal standpoint, the money you deposit in a bank no longer belongs to you. Instead, the bank owns it. You are merely just another one of their unsecured creditors. What’s more, in the event of future bank failures, the US government has now signed an international agreement confirming that it will not pay off depositors. Instead, it will force them to submit to a “bail-in” regime, like bank depositors in Cyprus experienced in 2013.   Continue reading “Carrying Cash? Be Ready to Lose It”

Mish Talk – by Mike “Mish” Shedlock

Global financial repression picks up steam, led by India. After declaring large denomination notes illegal, India now targets gold.

It’s not just gold bars or bullion. The government has raided houses, no questions asked, confiscating jewelry.   Continue reading “India Confiscates Gold, Even Jewelry, in Raids on Hidden Money”

News Thump – by Davywavy

The United States has added followers of Islamic system Al-Gebra to its list of terror organisations today.

The move follows a narrow escape after a follower of Algebra was found practicing his beliefs on an internal flight, leading to a security alert.   Continue reading “United States adds Algebra to list of terror organisations”

It is normal to have stress reactions after a traumatic event. Your emotions and behavior can change in ways that are upsetting to you. Even though most people have stress reactions following a trauma, they get better in time. But, you should seek help if symptoms:

  • Last longer than three months
  • Cause you great distress
  • Disrupt your work or home life

Continue reading “Symptoms of Election Overdose of Lies PTSD”

New York Times – by AMY CHOZICK

WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald J. Trump on Wednesday appeared to soften his stance on whether to deport the more than 700,000 young people who entered the country illegally as children and were permitted to stay by President Obama.

“We’re going to work something out that’s going to make people happy and proud,” Mr. Trump told Time magazine. “They got brought here at a very young age, they’ve worked here, they’ve gone to school here. Some were good students. Some have wonderful jobs. And they’re in never-never land because they don’t know what’s going to happen.”   Continue reading “Trump Appears to Soften on Deporting Thousands of Young Immigrants”

New York Post – by Yaron Steinbuch

Israelis in the army can toast l’chaim to their military service, which may be adding years to their lives, according to a new study.

Israeli men enjoy one of the world’s highest life expectancies — 80.6 years — second only to San Marino, and much greater than the worldwide average of 68.5 years, according to researchers at the Taub Center for Social Policy Studies, who said the age gap could be thanks to athletically grueling, mandatory 32-month service in the Israeli Defense Forces.   Continue reading “Israeli Army men have one of the world’s highest life expectancies”

SOTT

Batuli Lamichhane is 112 years old.

She’s smoked about 30 cigarettes a day for 95 years.

She lives in the hills of Nuwakot, Nepal and despite what her ID says locals believe she could be as old as 114.    Continue reading “112-Year-Old Woman Has Smoked for 95 Years and is Still Going Strong”