B Media Network Political News Editor’s Home Page: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

What does Indiana's religious freedom law do for Republicans?

The furor this week over Indiana's religious freedom law means new trouble nationally for a Republican Party that's been fighting an image of intolerance for years. Politically, this is the first big, bruising social issue skirmish of the 2016 campaign.

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WSJ: Hillary Clinton Displays Differing Views on Iran Nuke Talks

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is poised to announce her candidacy in the 2016 presidential race in the coming weeks, seems to have differing opinions on the nuclear talks with Iran. A Wall Street Journal report raises the question of whether Clinton would support the deal currently in the works between Iran and a group of six countries that includes the United States, or be against it.

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Cliven Bundy, supporters rally before Nevada lawmakers

Bills Seeking More Transparency From UConn Foundation Die in Committee

The University of Connecticut Foundation and its supporters appear to have successfully dodged another round of bills to require more financial transparency from the school's nonprofit fundraising arm that yielded $81.1 million in 2014. Two similar bills were never brought to vote in the Higher Education and Employment Advancement Committee and the Government Administration and Elections Committee .

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Actors' Equity Should Pull National Tours From Indiana

Mike Pence and the majority of Indiana lawmakers stated a very clear message last week with the passing of this supposed "religious freedoms bill." They made it clear that in Indiana, it is now OK to discriminate against someone based on anything that may conflict with your religious convictions.

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Arkansas gives final approval to religious-freedom bill

Arkansas lawmakers have given final approval to a religious-freedom bill that has drawn sharp criticism from opponents who say it opens the door to state-sanctioned discrimination against gays and lesbians. The House voted Tuesday to approve the measure, which prohibits the state and local governments from infringing on a person's religious beliefs without a "compelling" interest.

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Indiana governor wants changes to religious-objections law

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence asked lawmakers Tuesday to send him a clarification of the state's new religious-freedom law later this week, while Arkansas legislators passed a similar measure, despite criticism that it is a thinly disguised attempt to permit discrimination against gays. Pence defended the Indiana law as a vehicle to protect religious liberty but said he has been meeting with lawmakers "around the clock" to address concerns that it would allow businesses to deny services to gay customers.

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Arkansas lawmakers OK 'religious freedom' bill

Arkansas lawmakers OK 'religious freedom' bill The bill is now headed to the governor's desk for signature. Check out this story on HometownLife.com: http://usat.ly/1CtUoB0 LITTLE ROCK, Ark.

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Dress-wearing man killed by NSA police had lengthy record

Earlier, a firefight erupted when two men dressed as women tried to ram a car into a gate, killing one... . In this image made from video and released by WJLA-TV, authorities investigate the scene of a accident near a gate to Fort Meade, Md., on Monday, March 30, 2015.

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Congressman Neal stresses the importance of farming

Congressman Richard Neal spent some time away from Capitol Hill on Tuesday to visit an important industry in western Massachusetts; farming. Congressman Neal toured the Wheel-View Farm in Shelburne Tuesday morning.

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Political Journalists To Join Dan Lothian For Panel Discussion At UTC

As a former White House Correspondent for CNN, Dan Lothian was never sure what the day would bring when he woke up in the morning.

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Bobby Jindal responds to David Vitter's 'crazy' tax plan comment, compares senator to President Obama

Photo provided by NFIB -- All four major announced candidates in this year's governor race met on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, for a lunchtime forum hosted by the National Federation of Independent Business in Baton Rouge. All four major announced candidates in this year's governor race met for a lunchtime forum hosted by the National Federation of Independent Business in Baton Rouge.

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Indiana backlash: What you need to know

Gov. Mike Pence unleashed a firestorm on Indiana last week when he signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. As the controversy mushrooms, here's what happened and where things are likely headed.

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U.S. pledge for deep carbon cuts pressures Canada ahead of UN climate summit

A formal American pledge to cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 28 per cent over the next decade is shining a discomfiting spotlight on the Canadian government. The United States was one of a handful of countries to meet Tuesday's March 31 target for submitting emissions reduction pledges ahead of next December's United Nations climate summit in Paris, known as COP21.

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State legislature in Arkansas passes religious-freedom bill in the...

EXCLUSIVE: Inside the town Scientology built - where Tom Cruise, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley rule with vast estates while Sea Org members live six-to-a-room and pay $100k to learn super powers 'Oh God': Horrific cell phone video that was recovered from Germanwings plane wreckage shows last desperate moments of screaming passengers who knew they were going to die Pictured as a smiling schoolboy, killer co-pilot Andreas Lubitz - whose bosses knew suffered a 'serious depressive episode' SIX YEARS before French Alps disaster Friends of Germanwings crash pilot say he is being framed as part of a Lufthansa cover-up over mechanical failings... as Google Maps blur out his former home to stop people looking it up Pilot warned that suicidal airmen would use 9/11 security changes to lock themselves in cockpit and crash passenger jets just weeks before Germanwings disaster EXCLUSIVE: A 53-acre ... (more)

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City gets record $3B FEMA grant for Sandy repairs

New York's 33 public housing developments will get $3 billion from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, its largest grant ever, to repair damage from Hurricane Sandy and to protect against a future storm. About 80,000 tenants will benefit from more secure lobbies in buildings equipped with better lighting, security cameras, boilers and electrical equipment, said Mayor Bill de Blasio, who was joined by U.S Sen. Charles Schumer in announcing the grant Tuesday at a housing development in the Red Hook section of Brooklyn.

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Altec and NAM Recognize North Carolina Congressman George Holding

Altec Inc. presented North Carolina Congressman George Holding with the National Association of Manufacturers' Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence during a special ceremony held today at Altec's manufacturing facility in Creedmoor, NC. The NAM Award is given to congressional representatives whose voting record supports key manufacturing legislation.

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Kate Brown, nation's first sitting LGBT governor, denounces Indiana religious objections law

Gov. Kate Brown, the nation's first sitting LGBT governor, issued a statement Tuesday blasting Indiana's controversial religious objections law. "Indiana's new law offends me," Brown said in the statement.

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Watchdog group says 4 2016 prospects dodging finance law

A watchdog group is accusing four potential 2016 presidential candidates of skirting federal campaign finance rules while traveling and raising money as if they were off and running. In complaints filed with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday, the Campaign Legal Center says Florida Republican Jeb Bush , Maryland Democrat Martin O'Malley, Pennsylvania Republican Rick Santorum and Wisconsin Republican Scott Walker are raising money and campaigning for the presidency without incorporating presidential campaigns.

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US climate treaty pledge relies on uncertain Obama actions

The United States put forth its contribution Tuesday to a global climate treaty, relying entirely on a set of emission cuts ordered by President Barack Obama that may not survive beyond the end of his presidency. Environmental groups and like-minded governments hailed the U.S. pledge as substantial and ambitious, and Obama's aides waxed hopeful that the U.S. announcement would spur other countries to follow America's lead.

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EDITORIAL: Congress should rein in EPA

When Richard Nixon signed the legislation establishing the Environmental Protection Agency in 1970, he was praised for his vision and commitment to conservation "going forward," though that cliche had yet to be coined. A few critics - "outliers," in another cliche waiting to be born - warned that the EPA could grow into a nightmare of a bureaucracy, but no one paid attention.

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Romney, Fallon betting stakes: Ice cream at 'The Bubble' 0

Mitt Romney and Jimmy Fallon have a bet, and the stakes are high a round of ice cream at Bailey's Bubble.

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Arkansas lawmakers approve religious liberty bill despite firestorm over Indiana law

Amid intense criticism of Indiana's religious liberties law, which has prompted lawmakers in that state to vow to fix the legislation , another state charged ahead with a similar measure. Arkansas lawmakers on Tuesday passed their own religious freedom bill, putting the state on the verge of formally adopting a law that could lead to another firestorm.

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Haslama s Insure Tennessee plan fails again

The proposal to extend health coverage to 280,000 low-income Tennesseans was defeated 6-2 in the Senate Commerce Committee on Tuesday. It failed in a special legislative session last month.

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Watchdog Groups File Complaints Against Likely Candidates

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush is one of four "un-candidates" being targeted by liberal groups Campaign Legal Center and Democracy 21. They say the politicians have crossed the line into candidacy based on their activities in recent months. Two liberal watchdog groups are challenging the strategy that four presidential hopefuls - Republicans Jeb Bush , Scott Walker and Rick Santorum , and Democrat Martin O'Malley - are using to avoid legal contribution limits and disclosure requirements.

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Arkansas State Legislature Passes Own Version of 'Religious Freedom' Act

Arkansas's state legislature today passed its own version of the the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, despite the amount of criticism aimed at Indiana this week for its similar, recently-enacted law that critics say opens a door for businesses to discriminate against LGB customers without legal repercussion. According to the New York Times , the bill has passed through both chambers of the General Assembly, and is now on the desk of Governor Asa Hutchinson , who was sworn into office earlier this year.

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McCain Pushes Israel to Bomb Iran Before Peace Breaks Out

Zaid Jilani, AlterNet: Republicans have teamed up with their counterparts in the Israeli political system to do everything they can to obstruct a deal [with Iran] -- with tactics such as drafting new sanctions legislation and warning the Iranian leadership that the nuclear agreement will not outlast President Obama. But this past week Senator John McCain ratcheted up this sabotage to a new level.

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Despite Criticism, Arkansas Passes Religious Freedom Bill

Rep. Warwick Sabin, D-Little Rock, center, leads protesters outside of the House chamber at the Arkansas state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark., on Monday. Despite criticism and protests, Arkansas legislators passed a religious freedom bill on Tuesday that is similar to the one passed by Indiana.

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Comedy Central: 'Unfair' to judge new 'Daily Show' host Trevor Noah based on tweets

A day after Trevor Noah was declared the new host of "The Daily Show," his graphic tweets targeting women and Jews are causing a social media backlash and Comedy Central is defending its newest late-night star. By Tuesday, Trevor Noah was a trending topic on Twitter as he drew fire for jokes described as tasteless, hateful - and unfunny.

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Governors of Connecticut, New York, and Washington Ban Travel to Indiana

The governors of Connecticut, New York, and Washington are sending a strong message to Indiana and other states that pass anti-LGBT legislation. Gov. Dannel Malloy of Connecticut signed an executive order Monday that prohibits state-funded travel to the Midwestern state or any others that approve so-called religious freedom acts.

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Obama commutes 22 drug-related sentences

President Barack Obama on Tuesday reduced the sentences of 22 individuals serving for drug-related offenses, many involving distribution of cocaine. The President has previously commuted 21 other sentences, all drug-related, as well.

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Nigeria new leader Muhammadu Buhari has strict reputation

Muhammadu Buhari waves to supporters after casting his vote in his home town of Daura, northern Nigeria Saturday, March 28, 2015. Nigerians went to the polls Saturday in presidential elections which anal... .

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Religious freedom laws not used against gays in the past

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence steps off the podium after a news conference discussing the state's new religious-freedom law, Tuesday, March 31, 2015, in Indianapolis. Pence said that he wants legislation on his desk by the end of the week to clarify that the state's new religious-freedom law does not allow discrimination against gays and lesbians.

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Union alleges CTA violates free-speech rights

A Chicago Transit Authority union has filed a federal lawsuit saying the agency is violating free-speech rights by barring workers from distributing leaflets in break rooms opposing Mayor Rahm Emanuel in an April 7 runoff election. The Amalgamated Transit Union filed the nine-page suit Tuesday in Chicago federal court.

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Google backs out of GOP senator's fundraiser

Google is backing out of a prescheduled fundraiser Tuesday night for Sen. Mike Lee , who is questioning the search giant over a years-old antitrust probe. The fundraiser was scheduled for Tuesday in Palo Alto, Calif., and hosted by a number of technology companies.

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Obama vetoes GOP attempt to kill his 'ambush election' rule for unions

President Barack Obama on Tuesday vetoed a resolution disapproving of a new federal regulation that Republicans say will put companies at an unfair disadvantage when their employees try to unionize. Earlier this month, the House and Senate each passed a resolution disapproving of what some call the National Labor Relations Board's "ambush election" rule.

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How to Surgically Reduce Health-Care Costs

Dr. Marty Makary is a surgeon at Johns Hopkins Hospital and author of "Unaccountable: What Hospitals Won't Tell You and How Transparency Can Revolutionize Health Care." President Barack Obama's Precision Medicine Initiative, a new research effort designed to promote personalized care over the traditional one-size-fits-all approach, is laudable but flawed.

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Arkansas Gives Final Approval to Religious-Freedom Bill

Happy Hour Roundup

Despite intensifying criticism from business leaders both within and outside of Arkansas, the state legislature on Tuesday passed its version of a measure billed as a religious freedom law, joining Indiana in a swirl of controversy that shows little sign of calming. The Arkansas bill, passed when the General Assembly concurred on three amendments from the State Senate, now goes to the state's Republican governor, Asa Hutchinson, who expressed reservations about an earlier bill but more recently said he would sign the measure if it "reaches my desk in similar form as to what has been passed in 20 other states."

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Mom: store ripped me for buying daughter boys suit

A Texoma mother said she was accused of mistreating her 5-year-old daughter for allowing her to wear a boys suit. "The woman's face was just a face of disgust," said Jennifer Giordano, who encountered the condemnation when she took her daughter Maddie shopping for Easter clothes at a store called Martha's Miniatures last weekend.

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No nuke agreement yet: Iran talks push past deadline

Officials of Britain, Russia, China, France, Germany, European Union, the United States and Iran wait for the start of a meeting on Iran's nuclear program at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland Mon... . Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, left, Head of Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi, second left, Special Assistant to Iranian president Hossein Fereydoun, second right, and Iranian Deputy Foreig... .

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Kansas Senate panel approves bill to overhaul civil service

A Kansas Senate committee has approved a bill that could shrink the state's civil service system and lessen job protections for government employees. The Commerce Committee's endorsement of the measure Tuesday sent it to the Senate for debate.

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FBI identifies man killed in NSA shooting

Haslam's Insure Tennessee plan fails again

Judge approves RadioShack sale to Standard General

The fight over "religious freedom" proposals facing increasing criticism from businesses and advocates who call them a license to discriminate against gays and lesbians has shifted toward Arkansas, which was poised... Indiana Gov. Mike Pence asked lawmakers Tuesday to send him a clarification of the state's new religious-freedom law later this week, while Arkansas legislators passed a similar measure, despite criticism that it is a... The warnings are strong and security is always tight, but most drivers are versed in the daily routine as thousands of employees and contractors stream through the closely guarded entrance to the National Security... Two cross-dressing men who were fired upon by National Security Agency police when they disobeyed orders at a heavily guarded gate had just stolen a car from a man who had picked them up and checked into a motel, police... Astronaut Scott ... (more)

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Commuters: CT should reconsider I-95 toll booths

Sen. Chuck Schumer says it's essential that New York speak up now because Connecticut is scheduled to release a study on the proposed tolls next month. Commuters say that Connecticut should reconsider its proposal to put up toll booths along the New York-Connecticut border on I-95.

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D.C. mayor issues order banning city-funded travel to Indiana

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser smiles after taking the oath of office at the her inauguration ceremony at the Convention Center in Washington on Jan. 2, 2015. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser issued an executive order Tuesday banning city-funded travel to Indiana until the state repeals its Religious Freedom Restoration Act - a controversial law Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed last week that many argue could be interpreted to allow businesses to discriminate against gay people in the name of religious freedom.

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Pence pledges to 'fix' Indiana law

RFRA is a big issue in small Indiana communities, too

Religious freedom and civil rights aren't just big city issues. Protests, political attacks and counterattacks have made headlines and filled TV screens for more than a week.

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U.S. charges against Sen. Menendez could come Wednesday: source

Democratic U.S. Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey has been advised by federal officials that he is likely to face corruption-related criminal charges, perhaps as soon as Wednesday, according to a source familiar with the matter. Menendez is the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

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Monday, March 30, 2015

Indiana lawmakers try to quiet firestorm surrounding new law

Gov. Mike Pence called off public appearances Monday and sports officials planned an "Indy Welcomes All" campaign ahead of this weekend's Final Four as lawmakers scrambled to quiet the firestorm over a new law that has much of the country portraying Indiana as a state of intolerance. Republican legislative leaders said they are working on adding language to the religious-objections law to make it clear that the measure does not allow discrimination against gays and lesbians.

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Dems: Make school lunch available 7 days a week, even when school is out

Democrats are once again proposing to expand the federal school lunch program to weekends and holidays, to create a full-time nutrition program during the school year for kids who are most at risk of going hungry when school is out. The federal school lunch program currently gives kids free and reduced-price breakfast and lunch.

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Recharge Wrap-up: Formula E reveals Monaco course, automakers seek ZEV rule changes

Formula E has revealed the track layout for the Monaco ePrix. The 12 turns and 1.09 miles make up a shortened version of the iconic Formula 1 circuit motorsports fans are already familiar with.

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Ted Cruz has nothing to offer

Imagine a politician so desperate to stay relevant that he runs out and takes the most contrary position possible to any rational argument. We don't have to imagine, though, since we have Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, now a GOP presidential contender.

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Apple's Tim Cook blasts 'religious freedom' laws

Apple CEO Tim Cook stepped up his condemnation of a growing number of laws, dubbed 'religious freedom' laws by supporters and discrimination laws by opponents, in an op-ed in the Washington Post. Apple's Tim Cook blasts 'religious freedom' laws Apple CEO Tim Cook stepped up his condemnation of a growing number of laws, dubbed 'religious freedom' laws by supporters and discrimination laws by opponents, in an op-ed in the Washington Post.

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Fears of meddling raised in Nigerian election vote count

Voting in Nigeria's elections continued in certain areas on Sunday after technical problems prevented some people from cast... . Members of the congregation raise their hands in celebration and prayer during a sermon at the Banner of Life bible church in the mainly Christian Sabon Gari neighborhood of Kano, northern Nigeria on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2015.

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Jay Z, Madonna, Minaj among owners of new streaming service

The spokesman for the Missouri auditor's office has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in what police described Monday as an apparent suicide. The death comes about a month after the state auditor also... Spence Jackson provided the official confirmation a month ago that his boss, Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich, was dead from what police described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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'Home' tops 'Get Hard' at box office with $52.1M debut

Entertainment Inc., Will Ferrell appears in a scene from the film, "Get Hard." . In this image released by Lionsgate, Naomi Watts appears in a scene from the film, "The Divergent Series: Insurgent."

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Jameis Winston working to leave off-field problems behind

Winston has spent much of the past two months crisscrossing the nation, sharpening his quarterbac... The spokesman for the Missouri auditor's office has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in what police described Monday as an apparent suicide. The death comes about a month after the state auditor also... Spence Jackson provided the official confirmation a month ago that his boss, Missouri Auditor Tom Schweich, was dead from what police described as a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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McAuliffe invites Indiana firms to 'open and welcoming' Virginia

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is putting out the welcome mat for Indiana business leaders who might be troubled by that state's new "religious freedom" law, which opponents say in effect legalizes anti-gay discrimination. In a letter to the editor submitted to the Indianapolis Star on Monday, McAuliffe makes a pitch for relocating to "open and welcoming" Virginia.

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Indiana's law delivers real hurt to this state tech grad

'I won't go to a place and contribute economically when my interests are not protected, and my interests do not hurt anybody else,' said Patrick Kozub, a recent Indiana tech grad Tech sector companies are far from angels on the issue of equality. Despite losing her case last week, Ellen Pao's lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, drew attention to the tech industry's "boys club" culture and gender imbalances.

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The 2 states Obama hasn't visited

He's visited steel mills in Indiana and movie studios in California; an oil spill in in Louisiana and a landslide in Washington State; military bases from New Jersey to Texas; even Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming. When President Barack Obama speaks at the Hill Air Force Base in Utah on Friday, he'll have traveled to 49 states as president, nearly reaching his goal of stopping in every single one during his eight years in office.

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Rubio to announce next campaign on April 13

Republican legislative leaders in Indiana say they are working on adding language to a new state law to make it clear that it doesn't allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. Gov. Mike Pence called off public appearances Monday and sports officials planned an "Indy Welcomes All" campaign ahead of this weekend's Final Four as lawmakers scrambled to quiet the firestorm over a new law that has... The spokesman for the Missouri auditor's office has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in what police described Monday as an apparent suicide.

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Fears of meddling raised in Nigerian election vote count

Newlyweds Jason Aldean and Brittany Kerr Plan to Expand the Family in the Next Few Years

Excessive yawning, whistling and too much laughter could possibly find you detained by airport security agents for further questioning, according to a recently r... -- A woman who spent her life caring for stray dogs received an unexpected -- and surprising -- tribute from the animals when she died.At the funeral for Margarita ... NEW YORK _ Susan Bernardo trusted her stockbroker. She wound up losing a fortune.

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Sen. Ted Cruz campaigns in a Barrington, N.H. manufacturing plant.

When Sen. Ted Cruz finally made it to the primary season campaign trail Friday, more than four full days after officially announcing his presidential bid, he said he felt good. Really good.

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House speaker looks to limit reach of Indiana religious law

The Republican leader of the Indiana House says he's working on a proposal that would limit how businesses could potentially invoke the state's new religious objections law. House Speaker Brian Bosma said Monday that House Republicans agreed that the law should not be used to support the denial of goods, facilities or services to any member of the public.

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Jason Aldean Part of Jay Z's New Streaming Service, Tidal; More Details Coming Later Today

Grapevine: Weinstein questioned about alleged assault

Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was questioned by NYPD about a sexual assault over the weekend, Trevor Noah to replace Jon Stewart on "Daily Show," plus other celebrity news Grapevine: Weinstein questioned about alleged assault Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein was questioned by NYPD about a sexual assault over the weekend, Trevor Noah to replace Jon Stewart on "Daily Show," plus other celebrity news Check out this story on detroitnews.com: http://detne.ws/1Cqo3Lw A 22-year-old Italian woman told New York Police that Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein sexually abused her. The incident allegedly happened in Manhattan Friday evening at the Tribeca Film Center.

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Brantley Gilbert Releasing Expanded "Just as I Am Platinum Edition" on May 19

White House investigates G20 Barack Obama 'passport leak'

The White House has confirmed it is looking into reports president Barack Obama's passport details were leaked by an Australian official during last year's G20 Summit, saying it will "take all appropriate steps" to prevent further breaches. "I have seen those reports.

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American Ebola Patient's Condition Improves to Fair

Fiancee says she discarded box at Aaron Hernandez's request

Hernandez is charged with killing Odin Lloyd. . Former New England Patriots football player Aaron Hernandez listens during his murder trial, Friday, March 27, 2015, in Fall River, Mass.

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John Fish is Boston 2024's main force - and its liability

He has grit, determination, and dedication to the Olympic dream - all important ingredients to a successful campaign to win the bid for Boston. But he also has thin skin, a tin ear, and a habit of blurting out what he really thinks about people who don't share his vision.

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Volvo to Build First Factory in US

6 reasons American voters prefer governors for president

Last week, for example, while the Senate spent hours and hours debating and voting on budget amendments, New Jersey's Chris Christie held a town hall meeting answering voters' questions about state pensions. Wisconsin's Scott Walker signed two bills into law.

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Connecticut's Democratic governor BANNING taxpayer-funded travel to ...

Connecticut's Democratic governor BANNING taxpayer-funded travel to Indiana over controversial religious freedom law that critics say encourages 'discrimination' Connecticut will be the first state to bar travel to Indiana since its governor signed the controversial religious freedom law last Thursday 'It is a sad fact that in our history religion was used as a basis to support treating black and white individuals differently' too, Connecticut's gov said Republican lawmakers in the state today said they'd be open to clarifying the bill's intent through legislative changes Indiana's GOP governor is not backing down: 'From people who preach tolerance every day, we've been under an avalanche of intolerance,' he said 'I found it disturbing, disgraceful and outright discriminatory,' the state's chief executive, Dannel Malloy, said during a news conference on an unrelated issue.

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Indiana Anti-Gay Activist Opposes Mike Pence's Plan to "Clarify" the RFRA

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence has been all over the media yesterday and today, pretending the "Religious Freedom Restoration Act" has nothing to do with discriminating against LGBT people, and today he announced that he'd push for a "clarification" of the bill, to show that it doesn't do that thing everybody knows it does. Pence has a problem, though; the anti-gay activists who helped ram this bill through the Indiana legislature are opposed to any such clarification , because of course they are.

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Herhold: Urban legend from Obama aide's Stanford years proves false

File: President Barack Obama sitting next to Senior Adviser Valerie Jarrett, and S. James Gates Jr., Director of the Center for String and Particle Theory at the University of Maryland, College Park, Friday, March 27, 2015, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. From the beginning, the claim was unbelievable.

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Aaron's Law

Aaron's Law is a bill introduced in Congress in 2013 to reform the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act of 1986 . Representative Zoe Lofgren wrote the bill in response to the 2013 suicide of Aaron Swartz, a computer programmer and political activist who co-founded Reddit .

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Senator Murray backs Schumer as next Senate Democrat leader

Smoothing the way for a succession of party power in the U.S. Senate, its No. 4 Democrat, Patty Murray, has endorsed New York Senator Chuck Schumer to be the chamber's next Democratic leader after the 2016 elections, replacing Harry Reid, a Murray aide said on Monday.

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Altmiller of Clarksville earns Congressional Silver Award

Altmiller of Clarksville earns Congressional Silver Award Recognizes public service, personal development and more Check out this story on theleafchronicle.com: http://leafne.ws/1bKqiAs Sarah Altmiller, right, holding her baby daughter Annabelle, receives the Congressional Silver Medal Monday from U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn. Sarah Altmiller of Clarksville became a Congressional Silver Medal Award winner Monday, in recognition of her 800 hours of voluntary public service and personal development.

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Senator Rubio to announce presidential decision on April 13

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida told Fox News on Monday he would announce on April 13 whether he will seek the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.

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Bernie Sanders endorses Rahm challenger

Sen. Bernie Sanders has become the latest high-profile progressive to endorse Cook County Commissioner Chuy GarcA a's challenge to Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel . "I am going to Chicago to support Chuy GarcA a and [City Council candidate] Susan Sadlowski Garza.

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Clinton: US-Israeli relations need to be 'constructive

Hillary Rodham Clinton said the U.S.-Israeli relationship needs to return to "constructive footing," according to a prominent Jewish leader who spoke to the former secretary of state during the weekend. Clinton said the U.S. and Israel need to get back to shared concerns and interests, including a negotiated two-state solution, according to the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations.

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It's Just Politics Round-Up

On Friday, an investigative report, by the Associated Press, about a controversial pardon made by Governor Rick Snyder came out. "Here's basically what we know, what happened: Governor Snyder made 11 pardons last year, at the very end of the year back in December," Zoe Clark, co-host of It's Just Politics on Michigan Radio said.

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UKIP election candidate quits after claiming Israel should 'kidnap Obama'

Jeremy Zeid stepped down as Ukip's parliamentary candidate for Hendon one day after he called for Barack Obama to be extradited to Israel, the JC understands. Mr Zeid, a member of Kenton United Synagogue, stepped down last Thursday after he wrote on his Facebook page: "Once Obama is out of office, the Israelis should move to extradite the bastard or 'do an Eichmann' on him and lock him up for leaking state secrets."

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UCF awarded up to $750,000 in grants to help local entrepreneurs

UCF is one of two institutions nationwide to receive both the i6 Challenge grant and Seed Capital Fund grant, announced U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker on March 30. "These funds will be a catalyst for communities to attract broader investments to their innovation ecosystems, which will create high-wage jobs and ensure America remains the world's leader in innovation," Pritzker said. The $500,000 i6 Challenge grant will help fund UCF Maker Space labs and the UCF NSF I-Corps Site program to get researchers out of lab and talking to customers.

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NC Governor Questions Religious Freedom Bill

NC Governor Questions Religious Freedom Bill Republican NC Governor says religious freedom bill there "makes no sense." Check out this story on WLTX.com: http://on.wltx.com/1bKkOFU North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican up for re-election in 2016, said a broad religious freedom bill in his state "makes no sense."

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Hales: No city travel to Indiana until 'discriminatory' law is reversed

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales has joined leaders in two other major West Coast cities in calling for Indiana to reverse new policies that, many say, allow businesses to discriminate against homosexuals. Hales plans to issue an order Monday to "temporarily suspend any further city-funded travel to Indiana, in light of that state's passage of a new law that discriminates against lesbian, bisexual, gay and transgender residents."

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A third of Republicans are afraid of Obama

Reuters reported on Monday the results of a poll that asked people what sorts of people, countries, and things that people are most afraid of. One data point has eyebrows raising across the punditocracy.

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Our Opinion: Using religion to cynically discriminate

Freedom of religion is a cherished concept in the United States in large part because so many nations do not have it. That freedom is cheapened when it is exploited solely to discriminate against others.

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How Tennessee's religious freedom act is different from Indiana's

When former Gov. Phil Bredesen signed Tennessee's Religious Freedom and Protection Act on July 1, 2009, it was a far different political environment than it was for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence who signed a similar law for his state last week. How Tennessee's religious freedom act is different from Indiana's When former Gov. Phil Bredesen signed Tennessee's Religious Freedom and Protection Act on July 1, 2009, it was a far different political environment than it was for Indiana Gov. Mike Pence who signed a similar law for his state last week.

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Mayor Charlie Hales Forbids City-Funded Travel to Indiana

Just when there's finally a reason to visit Indiana , Mayor Charlie Hales is telling city employees they mayn't visit the Hoosier State on the public dime. Hales announced today he's using his perch atop the city's Office of Management and Finance to temporarily forbid city-funded travel there.

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Obama faces fight in Congress on Iran

If the negotiations with Iran now in their final hours in Switzerland produce the framework of a deal, President Barack Obama will face a leviathan task of selling it to a skeptical Congress. If they fail to produce anything by a self-imposed March 31 deadline, he'll confront an equally daunting challenge of holding off congressional moves to impose new sanctions on Iran while he tries to buys more time for negotiations.

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Indiana to Clarify 'Religious Freedom' Law

Indiana Republicans pledged on Monday to clarify a new "religious freedom" law, while similar proposals stalled in Georgia and North Carolina after businesses and activists said such measures could be used to discriminate against gays. Arkansas lawmakers, however, signaled they would move forward with a similar law, even after Indiana was rebuked by companies and executives including Wal-Mart Stores Inc, Apple Inc CEO Tim Cook, and Eli Lilly and Co.

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Ben Carson backs Indiana 'religious freedom' law

Gov. Mike Spence of Indiana on Sunday defended his state's new religious freedom law during an interview with ABC News. Dr. Ben Carson , the retired Maryland neurosurgeon who is seeking the 2016 Republican presidential nomination, on Monday endorsed Indiana 's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act .

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Asian-American bloc on the rise

From his new perch in Washington, Ted Lieu has suffered through an east coast winter and other confounding indignities of life as a freshman member of the House from the party out of power. No matter, he says; he learned from his predecessor, the 40-year member Henry Waxman, that influence will be marked in years and decades, not the three months he's been in the capital.

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Grayson Still Open to Senate Bid as Democrats Continue to Back Murphy

Florida Democrats keep lining up behind U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy, D-Fla., in the 2016 U.S. Senate race but U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Fla., continues to leave the door open to running. The latest Florida Democrat to get in line behind Murphy was U.S. Rep. Lois Frankel, D-Fla., who announced on Monday she was backing him in the Senate race.

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Sunday, March 29, 2015

Analysis: Gaps in Jindal budget appear in legislative review

As they unravel Gov. Bobby Jindal 's budget proposal for next year, lawmakers are finding cuts disguised as "efficiencies," gaps not disclosed by the administration and critical services reliant on shaky financing. Members of the House Appropriations Committee are questioning whether the Republican governor has provided spending plans that might work through the final six months of Jindal's term, but that could leave them with a financial mess in the second half of the fiscal year after Jindal is term-limited and gone from office.

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Looking for compassion in the 46th Ward

He ticked off the list of his endorsements. U.S. Sen. Durbin, U.S. Representatives Jan Schakowsky and Mike Quigley, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, state Senate President John Cullerton, the Sierra Club.

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ChicagoFioretti: 'For me, the candidate is Rahm.'...Continue Reading

Ald. Bob Fioretti insisted Sunday his endorsement of Mayor Rahm Emanuel did not equate to a quid pro quo, even though he plans on tapping Emanuel's donors to help retire his considerable campaign debt. Emanuel, standing beside Fioretti at a news conference, said he would support Fioretti's effort to reach out to campaign donors.

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The Deal: Iran Nuclear Talks Approaching The March 31 Deadline

The March 31 deadline for a deal on Iran's nuclear program is approaching, and the best the parties involved could do in 18 months is draft an outline, according to Reuters . Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted that all sides involved have exhibited " flexibility ," but the divides are still deep amongst the negotiating parties.

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Boehner Promises Sanctions Action if Iran Talks Fail

Speaker John A. Boehner , in an interview that aired Sunday, said the House will act quickly to tighten sanctions on Iran should the administration's nuclear talks with the Islamic republic fail. The Ohio Republican told CNN he's skeptical the Obama administration will reach a deal with Iran to rein in the country's nuclear program.

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Democrat Oa Malley irks Hillary Clint...

There was jostling Sunday on the Democratic presidential campaign trail between a top Hillary Rodham Clinton supporter and ex-Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley after he took a swipe at the former secretary of state, saying the presidency isn't a "crown to be passed between two families." "Let's be honest here, the presidency of the United States is not some crown to be passed between two families, it is an awesome and sacred trust to be earned,\ and exercised on behalf of the American people," Mr. O'Malley said on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos."

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Seattle mayor bans city-funded travel to Indiana following passage of anti-gay legislation

The mayor of Seattle has banned all city-funded travel to Indiana in response to the recently passed anti-gay Religious Freedom Restoration Act, signed by Indiana Governor Mike Pence , reports KOMO . Mayor Ed Murray addressed the ban on Saturday saying, "Laws that say you can discriminate have no place in this country."

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Indiana Governor Dodges Tough Questions Over Controversial Law Denounced As Anti-Gay

CBS San Francisco Connect With Us At KPIX 5 PROGRAM GUIDE: KPIX 5 TV Schedule WATCH: A Glimpse Inside The Working KPIX 5 Newsroom Breaking News Send news tips, video & photos, and video to the KPIX 5 [...] CONNECT WITH KCBS Welcome to KCBS All News 740AM & 106.9FM on CBSSanFrancisco.com! LISTEN LIVE RIGHT NOW: KCBS Live Audio Stream LIKE KCBS Radio On Facebook: KCBS is the Bay Area's only all news station, serving listeners with [...] INDIANAPOLIS - Indiana Gov. Mike Pence defended the new state law that's garnered widespread criticism over concerns it could foster discrimination against gays and lesbians and said Sunday it wasn't a mistake to have enacted it.

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Boston officer improving after surgery to remove bullet

An Alabama man was quickly apprehended and charged with... A house party that dissolved into a hail of gunfire and left seven young people hurt has officials on the Florida Panhandle pondering what to do with a spring break season they say has gotten out of control. A decorated Boston police officer shot point-blank in the face by a suspect was in stable condition at a hospital Sunday and improving after surgery to remove a bullet lodged below his ear, police said.

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Is more time needed to improvethe Iran nuclear deal?

The U.S. is facing a March 31 deadline to reach an agreement with five world powers and Iran to limit IranA s nuclear program, but a top Democrat and Republican are suggesting that rushing to meet that deadline could lead to a bad deal. From the "bits and pieces" he has heard about the negotiations, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, said that the deal, "doesnA t seem to be headed in the right direction."

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Next 25 Articles

James Baker can take credit for two presidencies and one vice presidency in the Bush family. So it's a tad ungracious for a Bush to take Baker to task.

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Arab League unveils joint military force amid Yemen crisis

Yemen's President Abed Raboo Mansour Hadi, speaking at an Arab sum... Seven people were injured, some critically, during an early-morning spray of gunfire Saturday at a spring break party on the Florida Panhandle, police said. An Alabama man was quickly apprehended and charged with... A house party that dissolved into a hail of gunfire and left seven young people hurt has officials on the Florida Panhandle pondering what to do with a spring break season they say has gotten out of control.

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032915-BerlinSalon_DD_D41_2401.jpg-37206869-BerlinSalon_DD_D41_2401-W.jpg

At any given moment, thousands of Canadians are following a generations-old tradition of travelling abroad with a visible Maple Leaf pin or decal attached to their backpacks or outerwear. Since the late 1960s and early '70s - the Pierre Trudeau era - the Maple Leaf has symbolized a proudly liberal middle power with a desire to inflict only peace and good governance on the world.

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Sen. McCaskill plans listening tour for Missouri seniors

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. a Missouri's U.S. Sen. Claire McCaskill will travel the state this week to hear about the concerns of senior citizens in Missouri on retirement, fraud and healthy living. McCaskill will hold eight events on Tuesday, Wednesday and ... (Read full article)

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Mayors of Two Major U.S. Cities Ban Municipal Employees From Publicly Funded Travel to Indiana

Joining the protests over Indiana's religious freedom law , the mayors of Seattle and San Francisco have banned city employees from travel to the Hoosier State using public funds. "Seattle has been a leader in the fight to protect civil rights and ensure equality for all people - no matter who you are, or who you love," Murray said in a statement.

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US Senate passes budget amendment to impose Iran sanctions

Senate Banking Committee member Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. , sitting next to Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont. at the committee's hearing on Iran sanctions, on Capitol Hill in Washington, January 27, 2015.

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Google may be the sole remaining superpower

I always knew Google was big, but I suppose I wasn't quite getting exactly how big they have become. It seems like they are now at a level of big which was best described by Douglas Adams in the Hitchhiker's Guide.

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How Washington dropped the ball in 2004

Making peace requires bold and creative diplomacy. It calls for courage to question past conventional wisdom and the capacity to look at familiar problems with fresh eyes.

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NBC News' boss faces challenge fixing liberal-leaning MSNBC

In this 2011 file photo, Phil Griffin, left, president of MSNBC, Rachel Maddow, center, host of "The Rachel Maddow Show," and Lawrence O'Donnell, host of "The Last Word," take part in a panel discussion on the show at the NBC Universal summer press tour, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Griffin has run MSNBC since 2006.

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How Obama outmanoeuvered hardliners and cut a Cuba deal

WASHINGTON/MIAMI: The December breakthrough that upended a half-century of US-Cuba enmity has been portrayed as the fruit of 18 months of secret diplomacy. But Reuters interviews with more than a dozen people with direct knowledge of the process reveal a longer, painstakingly cautious quest by US President Barack Obama and veteran Cuba specialists to forge the historic rapprochement.

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Springfield commemorates Vietnam Veterans Day 2015

For more than 25 years local leaders and veterans have gathered at Court Square in honor of those who served and those who died during the Vietnam War. A ceremony was held Sunday afternoon featuring the reading of the names of those killed or missing in action as well as laying a wreath at the Vietnam Memorial.

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EU not reassessing relationship to Israel yet, envoy says

Unlike the United States government, the European Union is not currently reassessing its approach to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the group's top envoy to Israel said Sunday. But if the incoming Israeli government continues to expand settlements in the West Bank and build in East Jerusalem, Brussels will intensify its efforts to pressure Israel, Ambassador Lars Faaborg-Andersen warned.

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Racism against the First Lady Michelle Obama

I am not going to be able to endure describing, nor posting examples of the posts at the site I am going to link to. A tag is a way to search for this diary.

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Thanks, Purdue, but no more "Pence" for you.

My husband received his graduate degree, all expenses paid, from Purdue University. His letter to the Purdue University Foundation today was: I regret to inform you that my annual gifts to Purdue University shall cease so long as the heinous bill passed by the Indiana Legislature and signed by Governor Pence remains in effect.

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Tough topics in final days of Ga. session

Georgia lawmakers are set to adjourn the 2015 session at midnight on Thursday, leaving only two working days left for the year and plenty to accomplish. A six-member committee began meeting last week in search of a compromise bill raising at least $1 billion for the state's roads and bridges.

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The Houston Chronicle Spanks Ted Cruz

The editorial board at the Houston Chronicle fortunately has little patience for political snake oil dealers, charlatans, hypocrites, fork tongued liars and narcissistic demagogues. At least this is the case when a major and one of the most diverse U.S. city's major newspaper has to hold on to its standing in the credibility department.

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When Indiana governor Mike Pence signed a religious-liberty-protection statute into law this past week, he probably didn't expect the activist backlash and accusations that he'd just endorsed or legalized discrimination. In part, that would be due to the fact that dozens of states and the federal government have had similar laws for years and there's been no epidemic of discrimination against gays and lesbians.

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Corker Urges Obama Administration, Negotiators Not To "Rush Headlong Into A Bad Deal With Iran"

Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, urged the Obama administration and negotiators for other P5-plus-one nations not to "rush headlong" into a nuclear deal with Iran just to meet a Senator Corker said, "I am concerned our negotiators may be cutting corners and overlooking significant issues as they rush headlong ... (more)

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Elections presents our fully interactive visualizations of the 2014 federal elections

Daily Kos Elections is pleased to present a comprehensive look back at the 2014 election results, illustrated with a broad range of fully interactive maps and data visualizations. The above map, for instance, shows the 2014 U.S. House results by overall winning margin between Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats in blue Republicans in red.

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'Let's be honest here,' Martin O'Malley challenges Hillary Clinton

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley took a major shot at Hillary Clinton on Sunday, saying the country needs a "new perspective" and "new leadership" in the 2016 election. "Let's be honest here," O'Malley said.

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Story from NorthCountryNow.com

A change in the way the federal government helps fund wastewater projects could help get backlogged sewer projects in cash-strapped North Country communities "off the backburner." For the first time in many years, more of the money for wastewater projects from the federal government can be used as grants and not just loans, a press release from New York's senior U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer said.

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Coney Island Roller Coaster Gets Stuck on Opening Day

Some Coney Island visitors in New York City had a scarier roller coaster ride than they expected Sunday when the Cyclone at Luna Park got stuck, stranding passen... -- A new round of airstrikes was conducted in Iraq and Syria by U.S. and coalition forces on Saturday.According to U.S. Central Command, there were 14 airstrikes in... The Custer County 4-H Public Speaking Contest will be held Monday, April 6 at the 4-H Building in Broken Bow, beginning at 6:30 p.m., according to Colleen Peterson, 4-H Aide a... Because of team defections the Binfield Relays at Scottsbluff turned into two duals between the Bearcats and Gering Saturday.

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Dwayne Johnson Hulks Out as President 'The Rock' Obama on 'SNL'

The former WWE star and Fast & Furious actor hosted Saturday Night Live this week. In the cold open, President Barack Obama was played by Jay Pharoah -- until he confronted John Boehner , Tom Cotton , and Ted Cruz , at which point he Hulked out and became President "The Rock" Obama.

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Arab League unveils joint military force amid Yemen crisis

Yemen's President Abed Raboo Mansour Hadi, speaking at an Arab sum... A decorated Boston police officer shot point-blank in the face by a suspect was in stable condition at a hospital Sunday and improving after surgery to remove a bullet lodged below his ear, police said. A decorated Boston police officer shot point-blank in the face by a suspect was in stable condition at a hospital Sunday and improving after surgery to remove a bullet lodged below his ear, police said.

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President Casey on Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act

"Several days ago, Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed into law the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Since then, we have all watched reaction to this bill and have seen the damage done to the State of Indiana, its institutions, and its citizens.

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Indiana governor: Religious objections law not a mistake; critics say it allows discrimination

An Air Canada passenger jet flying from Toronto to Halifax skidded off a runway early Sunday as it attempted to land in a blizzard. Annette Gross, of Indianapolis, addresses the crowd as one of the organizers of the rally.

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Boston officer improving after surgery to remove bullet

A decorated Boston police officer shot point-blank in the face by a suspect was in stable condition at a hospital Sunday and improving after surgery to remove a bullet lodged below his ear, police said. Emergency workers are painstakingly looking for signs of two missing people in the rubble of three New York City apartment buildings leveled in an apparent gas explosion, though authorities acknowledge the chances... Emergency workers found a second body Sunday in the mass of rubble left behind by an apparent gas explosion three days earlier in Manhattan's East Village, police said.

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Libertarian integrity

At a prayer breakfast in Washington, D.C. on Thursday morning, Rand Paul practiced pandering. The senator from Kentucky will announce that he is running for president in less than two weeks, and it seems the pressure to be all things to all people is resulting in the breakdown of his political brand, with the latest example being his newly articulated position on marriage.

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Two Sunday Show Segments Illustrate the Best and Worst of Political Punditry

It's become justifiably routine to dismiss the five Sunday morning political shows as talking point amplification systems disguised as pressure cookers, to the point that we've somewhat mythologized the shows' previous function as gatekeepers of truth. But two segments Sunday morning showed the heights and depths of the genre, and a quick study illustrates exactly where political punditry goes so wrong.

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Connecticut senators to hold meeting on hospital errors

Connecticut's two U.S. senators are holding a meeting to come up with ways to prevent deadly hospital errors. Monday's event at Goodwin College comes in the wake of a state Department of Public Health report that detailed hospital errors and patient injuries and deaths.

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Libs Silent as Obama Golfs with Halliburton Director

During the Bush years, the mere mention of Halliburton would draw a rabid, foaming at the mouth response from liberals who blamed the oil services firm for dragging the U.S. in to the Iraq war at the behest of Vice President Dick Cheney, Halliburton's former chairman. The Halliburton conspiracy theory was not just believed by impressionable MSNBC viewers, it was taken as gospel by well-educated professional adult liberals.

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Photo: Thousands of opponents of Indiana Senate Bill 101,

Thousands of opponents of Indiana Senate Bill 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, gathered on the lawn of the Indiana State House to rally against that legislation Saturday, March 28, 2015.

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Martin O'Malley challenges Hillary Clinton

After uproar, Utah restaurant statue loses prominent feature

Emergency workers are painstakingly looking for signs of two missing people in the rubble of three New York City apartment buildings leveled in an apparent gas explosion, though authorities acknowledge the chances... Emergency workers found a second body Sunday in the mass of rubble left behind by an apparent gas explosion three days earlier in Manhattan's East Village, police said. A discrimination lawsuit that put a spotlight on gender balance and working conditions for women at Silicon Valley firms ended with a jury rejecting the female plaintiff's claims.

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Carly Fiorina likely GOP candidate, attacks Clinton

Carly Fiorina, Former CEO of Hewlett-Packard Company, speaks to guests at the Iowa Freedom Summit on January 24, 2015 in Des Moines, Iowa. Former technology executive Carly Fiorina says she is more than 90 percent likely to seek the Republican presidential nomination.

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Barack Obama, the Iranian Candidate

Barack Obama is more than just sympatric to Iran . He is the Iranian Candidate. Mr. Obama is more concerned about Iran than he is about America.

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Ted Cruz On Why He's Is Not Likable: 'Part Of The Problem' Is Texas Should Be The U.S. Capital

Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz argued in a recent interview that the United States would be better off -- and he would be more liked -- if the White House moved to Texas. On Sunday's edition of State of the Union , CNN host Dana Bash pointed out to Cruz that he was "not the most popular person" among Republican lawmakers.

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Watch This Fox Host Realize Gohmert Is Bonkers As He Unveils His 'Plan' To Bomb Iran

Possible Republican presidential candidate Louie Gohmert shocked Fox News host Arthel Neville with what she said was a "dangerous" and "volatile" plan to bomb Iran's nuclear sites. During an interview on Sunday, Gohmert argued that President Barack Obama negotiations with Iran had already failed because he was "already allowing them to go full-blown nuclear."

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Bill Kristol Claims Deal With Iran Will Only Make Things Worse In The Middle East

How many times does Bloody Bill Kristol get to be wrong about everything before he's drummed out of polite society? Here he is on ABC's This Week ignoring completely that it's the policies he has endorsed that have resulted in the Middle East being "in flames" to begin with, claiming that coming to a peaceful deal with the Iranians on their nuclear program will make it worse and blaming the turmoil in the region on President Obama pulling our troops out of Iraq. But Fareed, let me begin with you on this tangle the United States is now in with Iran.

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Before leak, NSA mulled ending phone program

The National Security Agency considered abandoning its secret program to collect and store American calling records in the months before leaker Edward Snowden revealed the practice, current and former intelligence officials say, because some officials believed the costs outweighed the meager counterterrorism benefits. After the leak and the collective surprise around the world, NSA leaders strongly defended the phone records program to Congress and the public, but without disclosing the internal debate.

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Saturday, March 28, 2015

Bill signed clearing path for Cotton presidential bid

Arkansas has cleared the way for Republican U.S. Sen. Tom Cotton to run for re-election and president in five years, even though the freshman senator hasn't expressed any interest in a White House bid. A spokesman said Friday Gov. Asa Hutchinson signed into law legislation that would allow U.S. Senate and congressional candidates to simultaneously run for president or vice president.

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Senate approves religious protection bill

Arkansas inched closer Friday toward becoming the second state this year to adopt a law that critics say would sanction discrimination against gays and lesbians, with the state Senate approving a religious protection bill. The bill, approved by the Senate 24-7, prevents state and local government from taking any action that substantially burdens someone's religious beliefs unless a "compelling" interest is proven.

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Book review: 'Whatever You Choose to Be' by Ann Romney shares 8 lessons for graduates

Ann Romney shares eight lessons targeted at graduates in "Whatever You Choose to Be: 8 Tips for the Road Ahead." " WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO BE : 8 Tips for the Road Ahead," by Ann Romney, Shadow Mountain, $13.99, 41 pages Ann Romney shares eight lessons targeted at graduates in "Whatever You Choose to Be: 8 Tips for the Road Ahead."

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UPDATE 1-Thousands march in Indiana to protest law seen targeting gays

Thousands of people marched in Indiana's largest city on Saturday to protest a state law that supporters contend promotes religious freedom but detractors see as a covert move to support discrimination against gay people. Waving signs reading "No hate in our state" and carrying rainbow flags, a crowd of at least 2,000 people including Democratic elected officials rallied the same day that business-rating website Angie's List put on hold its plans to expand its Indianapolis operation, citing the new law.

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Hundreds Rally Against Indiana 'Religious Freedom' Law

Hundreds of people are gathered outside of Indiana Statehouse to rally against the state's new law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gay people. Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill Thursday prohibiting state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs.

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Senate passes efficiency bill in early morning surprise vote

Following a long day of votes on a proposed budget resolution, Sens. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., in the early morning hours of March 27 snuck in an approval of an energy efficiency bill by holding a voice vote with only the two senators on the floor. The Senators passed the Energy Efficiency Improvement Act of 2015, S. 535, only days before a U.S. Department of Energy decision would have prevented manufacturers from continuing to produce large electric resistance water heaters that many electric cooperatives use as a sort of demand response product.

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Nuclear waste, renewables top fighter Reid to retire; Schumer likely replacement

Reid's retirement also leaves open the question of whether his replacement will play the same active role in hand-picking some members of independent agencies, such as FERC and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, as the current minority leader has undertaken. of renewable energy, particularly solar power, while opposing the construction of the controversial Yucca Mountain nuclear waste storage site in his home state.

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Rubio planning mid-April announcement in Miami

Sen. Marco Rubio is planning a major announcement for mid-April in Miami, sources tell CNN, with that announcement likely to be the launch of his presidential campaign. The announcement is expected the week of April 13, and will very likely come as soon as that day, a Rubio source confirmed to CNN.

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Democrats back John Bel Edwards as candidate for governor

Hoping to avoid a crowded gubernatorial race that would dilute their strength, leaders of the Louisiana Democratic Party on Saturday endorsed state Rep. John Bel Edwards, of Amite, as their candidate for governor. Edwards gave a short speech blaming Gov. Bobby Jindal for policies that cut $700 million from higher education and led to the closing of the only emergency room serving Mid City and downtown Baton Rouge.

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Next 25 Articles

Sen. Marco Rubio is nearing an announcement of his presidential campaign - it now seems to be just a matter of when and where exactly itA ll happen. Aides to the senator donA t deny reports first published late Friday by the Tampa Bay Times that heA s reserved space at MiamiA s iconic Freedom Tower for a possible announcement on the afternoon of April 13. A team of Rubio advisers is traveling to Miami next week to put finishing touches on the anticipated rollout - and their tasks will include picking the spot where the senator and his family can make the Will the fight for the G.O.P. presidential nomination be Hillary Clinton's secret weapon in the 2016 election? Not according to the best political science research.

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Experts: Sex bias case will embolden women despite verdict

The jury are due back in court on Friday in Pao's lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Pao says the firm discriminated ... .

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Watch this hilarious mock tourist pitch for Indiana: 'It's a great place to be a bigot'

Since the signing of the so-called the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act into law on Thursday, one of the top trending topics on Twitter is #BoycottIndiana . With Gov. Mike Pence taking a beating on Twitter, and businesses reviewing their plans in the state, little beyond next week's Final Four in Indianapolis is going right for the Hoosier State.

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John Fugelsang: Mike Pence should be grateful there isn't a law ...

Appearing on MSNBC's The Ed Show , popular comedian and Sirius XM radio host John Fugelsang piled on Indiana Gov. Mike Pence , saying the governor should be "grateful there isn't a law that prohibits businesses from serving fake Christian bigots." Fugelsang's comments came after the anti-gay Religious Freedom Restoration Act was signed into law on Thursday by the embattled governor.

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La. Democratic Party endorses John Bel Edwards for governor

Hoping to avoid a crowded gubernatorial race that would dilute their strength, leaders of the Louisiana Democratic Party on Saturday endorsed state Rep. John Bel Edwards, of Amite, as their candidate for governor. Edwards gave a short speech blaming Gov. Bobby Jindal for policies that cut $700 million from higher education and led to the closing "Louisiana has lost its way," said Edwards, of Amite, adding that state government had stopped making strategic investments in the future.

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Thousands march in Indiana to protest law seen targeting gays

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Several thousand demonstrators gathered in Downtown

Thousands protest 'religious freedom' law in Indiana Critics say the law could allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. Check out this story on pal-item.com: http://usat.ly/1bEY7D4 A campaign to boycott Indiana because of its religious freedom law has gained traction, but some argue a boycott isn't the answer.

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Priebus Slams Clinton on Emails: 'Even Nixon Didn't Destroy the Tapes'

Republican National Committee Chairman Reince Priebus on Saturday slammed former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for purging her private server of all the emails during her four years as the nation's top diplomat. "Even Nixon didn't destroy the tapes," Priebus said, referencing the Watergate scandal that led to the Republican president's resignation in 1974.

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'Llama drama' owners say USDA draws line against appearances

The llamas that became a social media sensation running around a Phoenix-area retirement enclave last month are saying goodbye to the spotlight with one last event Saturday. Kahkneeta and Laney, whose televised dash mesmerized the Internet and Sun City residents, will likely be making their final public appearance at a Phoenix race track, according to owners Bub Bullis and Karen Freund.

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Rumor Mill: Rubio Could Announce His Presidential Run on April 13 | Matt Vespa

Dan has been following the 2016 rumblings being made by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio. He's reportedly "frustrated" with the Senate, and doesn't plan to run for re-election.

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Broadway Star Audra McDonald Tears Indiana Gov. Mike Pence a New One...

Add six time Tony Award-winning actress Audra McDonald to the list of big names who are pissed off at Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for singing a bill allowing businesses to discriminate against people on religious grounds. On the phone w/ @united so long I forgot what year it was, then saw the law Indiana Gov.Pence just signed & remembered...It's 1950 #NOHATE .

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Businesses fight Indiana religious freedom law

Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act gives businesses owners who oppose homosexuality for religious reasons the right to turn away gay, lesbian and transgender people. Governor Mike Pence signed the law Thursday, hailing it as a victory for "religious liberty."

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In Minnesota's foster system, kids go from bad to worse

Rosalyn Feather, 19, at Beverley A. Benjamin Youth Lodge in St. Paul. She estimates she's lived in at least eight homes in four years.

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The Real Reason Harry Reid is Retiring

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid explains his shocking decision to not seek re-election and retire when his term ends in 2016 by telling the New York Times, "he was worried his race would consume campaign money that would be needed in other competitive states as Democrats try to regain control of the Senate." "I think it is unfair for me to be soaking up all the money to be re-elected with what we are doing in Maryland, in Pennsylvania, in Missouri, in Florida," Reid told the Times.

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Obama Flies to Florida for Another Golf Vacation

President Barack Obama kicked off the spring season on Saturday with a weekend golf getaway in Florida, teeing off with former NBA star Alonzo Mourning and former sportscaster Ahmad Rashad. During his stay at the Floridian National Golf Club, less than 50 miles up the coast from Palm Beach, Obama planned to be out of public view, with no official events scheduled.

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Experts: Silicon Valley gender bias case will inspire women despite jury verdict

A long legal battle over accusations that a prominent Silicon Valley venture capital firm demeaned women and held them to a different standard than their male colleagues became a flashpoint in the ongoing discussion about gender inequity at elite technology and venture capital firms. Though Ellen Pao lost her lawsuit against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, Silicon Valley observers say her case and the attention it received will embolden women in the industry and continue to spur firms to examine their practices and cultures for gender bias.

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Senate picks winners, losers among Kansas college students

The Senate budget bill overhauling Kansas' need-based financial aid program makes winners of 1,500 private college students and generates 3,500 losers at public universities. Senate Republicans rallied around Salina Sen. Tom Arpke's strategy to cut $5.3 million in aid from universities supervised by the Kansas Board of Regents, including Kansas State University and the University of Kansas, and award that money to independent colleges operating in the state.

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Deer in the headlights: Lawmakers grapple over resolution to disputed antlers

Lt. Jason Sawyers with the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks and Tourism points out the nearly flawless antlers of a deer that was poached in 2011 in Osage County. Tim Nedeau is fighting to gain possession of this 14-point deer that he claims was poached on his land in 2011 in Osage County.

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Garcia gets election PUSH as fight for black vote intensifies

A young Jesus "Chuy" Garcia eulogized Chicago's first black mayor when he died in office in 1987. He was the aldermen then of the 22nd Ward, and he addressed Harold Washington in rhyme as a "querido amigo," a "dear friend".

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GOP hopefuls near-unanimity on the issue of their own guns

Some of the contenders have been building their collections since childhood. Sen. Lindsey Graham, South Carolina, is up to 12 now, including an AR-15 assault weapon that he has talked about using if law and order ever breaks down in his neighborhood.

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"High Priest of American Civil Religion" Salon Indicts Cruz

Over at Salon Magazine, columnist Matthew Rosza takes on Senator Cruz, while fretting as do I that Americans could repeat a horrible mistake in 2016. ...voters elected a cocksure, right-wing adopted Texan, long on discredited ideology but short on wits, who plunged the United States into a sinkhole of economic and foreign policy chaos from which it has yet to fully emerge.

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A 'liberty' that doesn't set you free

Republican presidential candidates for 2016 sure do have some interesting issues and positions to consider going into this campaign season. Cater to the virulently free-market, anti-science crowd and deny climate change, as Florida Gov. Rick Scott insists on doing in his low-lying coastal state? Or face reality and help your community deal with a near and present future when climate change's impacts are very real and very dangerous? Even more recently there's the question of what stance to take on the whole religious "freedom" angle being trumpeted by those who would use their beliefs as a cudgel against others who don't share them.

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Will Russ Feingold get a second act?

On Oct. 22, 2010, Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold was onstage, sitting at a table next to his Republican challenger, businessman Ron Johnson. It was the night of the final debate between Feingold and Johnson, barely more than a week before an election night that appeared to be heavily favoring Republicans.

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Experts: Sex bias case will embolden women despite verdict

'No hate in our state': Hundreds rally against Indiana Religious Freedom bill

Hundreds of people gathered outside of the Indiana Statehouse on Saturday, some carrying "no hate in our state" signs, to rally against a new law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gay people. The law's supporters, however, contend the discrimination claims are overblown and insist it will keep the government from compelling people to provide services they find objectionable on religious grounds.

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What's in store for Nevada after Harry Reid retires

The scene during the annual winter bald eagle survey by the National Park Service near Echo Bay Marina at the Lake Mead National Recreation Area Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015. Special to the Pahrump Valley Times - Federal safety analysts have found a flaw in the plan to bury nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain - the government does not have the necessary water rights to operate at the Nevada site.

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Cubs Phenom Kris Bryant and Theo Epstein at Odds Over Major League Call-Up

Twenty-one were injured on Saturday after a train slammed into a car at a grade crossing in Los Angeles.

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Marco Rubio May Announce Presidential Campaign in Miami

Twenty-one were injured on Saturday after a train slammed into a car at a grade crossing in Los Angeles.

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Charles Barkley Calls Indiana's New 'Religious Freedom' Law 'Unacceptable'

Basketball player Charles Barkley speaks as Fall Out Boy takes the stage at American Express All-Star Live at Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City. A new "religious freedom" law in Indiana has NCAA basketball analyst and NBA legend Charles Barkley calling foul -- and calling on officials to move next week's March Madness Final Four tournament out of the state.

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Rand Paul and the Koch Brothers Are Having a Nixon-in-China Moment

The question had to be asked, and Van Jones was there to ask it: How would the Koch brothers get rich from prison reform? How would bipartisan criminal justice reform - the cause that had brought Jones together with dozens of organizers for an all-day Washington summit - add to the bottom line? "Are they gonna make a billion dollars off of this?" asked Jones of Mark Holden, the general counsel of Koch Industries. "Or are they going to invest a billion dollars?" asked Neera Tanden, the president of the Center for American Progress.

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Letter: Kansas is better than Senate Bill 175

The Kansas Senate recently passed legislation, Senate Bill 175, that would allow religious student organizations to discriminate against students in accordance with their "sincerely held religious beliefs." Once again, state government is harassing the LGBT community.

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Founder surprised Open for Service effort spreading nationwide

Founder surprised Open for Service effort spreading nationwide Valparaiso native is happy to see his anti-discrimination effort take off in his hometown and elsewhere Check out this story on IndyStar.com: http://indy.st/1Ckdolv These storefront stickers, which cost $10, are part of the Open for Service campaign for businesses who want to show their disapproval of the "religious freedom" law and to show that they serve all customers. VALPARAISO, Ind.

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Thousands protest 'religious freedom' law in Indiana

Thousands of people gathered in downtown Indianapolis on Saturday to protest the passage this week of a controversial "religious freedom" law that critics say could allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. The protesters chanted and held signs as they marched from Monument Circle to the Indiana Statehouse to express their displeasure with Republican Gov. Mike Pence, who signed the legislation Thursday.

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An MIT connection in Iran nuclear talks

At the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the mid-1970s, Ernest J. Moniz was an up-and-coming nuclear scientist in search of tenure, and Ali Akbar Salehi, a brilliant Iranian graduate student, was finishing a dissertation on fast-neutron reactors. The two did not know each other, but they followed similar paths once they left the campus: Moniz went on to become one of the nation's most respected nuclear physicists and is now President Obama's energy secretary.

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The 9 most brutal things Harry Reid has said about his fellow Americans | WashingtonExaminer.com

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., may be ending his three-decade Senate career with a whimper, but he knew how to punch - literally and figuratively. My life's work has been to make Nevada and our nation better, the Nevada lawmaker said in a video statement that declined to mention how the Democrats lost a Senate majority and most major Nevada offices on his watch.

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Josh Reynolds for The Boston Globe In N.H., Cruz appeals to conservatives

Texas Senator Ted Cruz, proudly portraying himself an anti-establishment candidate, came to New Hampshire this weekend hoping to jump start the 2016 presidential primary contest here and win the early support of the state's more conservative voters. Cruz's visit came just days after he formally announced his candidacy, the first major Republican to do so.

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Organizers of a major gamers' convention and a large church... . A window sign on a downtown Indianapolis florist, Wednesday, March 25, 2015, shows it's objection to the Religious Freedom bill passed by the Indiana legislature.

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Marco Rubio to announce presidential candidacy

Sen, Marco Rubio, R-Fla., plans to announce his candidacy for president on April 13 in Miami, two Republican sources said Saturday. That could make Rubio the third Republican senator to enter his party's presidential nomination contest.

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Did Hillary Clinton destroy evidence in 'wiping clean' her email server?

House Select Committee on Benghazi Chairman Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C. speaks at a news conference on Capitol Hill March 3, 2015, about former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton using her personal email account for official business. Behind the saga of Hillary Rodham Clinton 's personal email account and the messages said to no longer exist is the implication that she has something to hide.

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US Senate rivals Strickland, Sittenfeld note differences

Two Democrats seeking Ohio's U.S. Senate seat in 2016 didn't mention each other by name, but they did point out their differences at party's annual legacy dinner in Columbus. Former Ohio governor Ted Strickland and 30-year-old Cincinnati councilman P.G. Sittenfeld were among the featured speakers at the sold-out event Friday night.

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US Senate rivals Strickland, Sittenfeld note differences

Friday, March 27, 2015

Harry Reid retiring, wants Schumer to succeed him

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, a pugnacious and glamour-averse tactician who united Democrats to help deliver tough victories for President Barack Obama, said Friday he's retiring next year. He immediately endorsed brash New York Sen. Chuck Schumer to succeed him as leader of a party desperate to regain the Senate majority.

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Why Jerry Brown should run for president: Opinion

On “Meet the Press” last Sunday, Jerry Brown said again that he won't run for president in 2016. Everyone seems to accept that he shouldn't, for several reasons: Because Hillary Clinton is a shoo-in for the Democratic nomination.

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Indiana Officials Look to Stem Religious Objections Fallout

The heat over Indiana's new religious objections law spread Friday across social media and to the White House as many local officials and business groups around the state tried to jump in and stem the fallout. Use of the hashtag #boycottindiana spread across Twitter, spurred on by activists such as "Star Trek" actor George Takei, who argued that the measure opens the door to legalized discrimination against gay people.

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Congress shouldn't cut military research on climate change

The new House budget would boost funding for the military's Overseas Contingency Operations account . It would also slash funding for military climate change research, which seeks to prepare for contingency operations before they are necessary.

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Intense backlash hits Indiana after religious freedom law passes

Indiana is under fire by corporations and celebrities after adopting a religious freedom law denounced as discriminatory and offensive to LGBT individuals. It was originally designed by the Clinton administration to protect Native Americans.

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Public-Radio Listener Barack Obama Calls In to Say Hea s Going to Miss ...

"I'm going to miss you so much." "Well, I'm going to miss you more." "No, I'm going to miss you the most."

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Vitter to push VA on Lake Charles clinic, says delays are unacceptable

U.S. Senator David Vitter today said that the Department of Veterans Affairs has delayed construction for a new Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Lake Charles, La. Vitter says the delays are unacceptable and is scheduling a call with VA Secretary Robert McDonald to discuss the delays.

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Obama's inconsistency is an insult to Israel

From Reuters, “ Arab League, Abbas reject recognising Israel as 'Jewish state ,” , "The Arab League on Sunday endorsed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas's rejection of Israel's demand for recognition as a Jewish state, as U.S.-backed peace talks approach a deadline next month."   From the Associated Press, “ Obama chief of staff: US cannot pretend Netanyahu didn't disavow Palestinian state ,” , "President Barack Obama's chief of staff rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to distance himself from his comments rejecting Palestinian statehood, telling an Israel advocacy group Monday that the U.S. can't just overlook what Netanyahu said on the eve of his re-election."

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Mystery of California hilltop piano solved

A brother and sister whose bodies were found in a deep freezer in their Detroit home had been beaten to death, autopsies determined Friday, painting a more complete picture of the horrors that unfolded inside the home for... The U.S. Justice Department says teenagers awaiting trial on adult charges in Baltimore are being kept in solitary confinement for far too long - up to 143 days in one case.

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Private Education Push Gathers Pace

A growing number of statehouses are considering measures that would allow school districts, parents and students increasingly to use taxpayer funds to explore alternatives to traditional state-backed public education. The flurry of new bills-which range from supporting private-school options to putting education dollars directly into parents' hands-comes amid concerns of federal overreach in schools and a backlash against the widespread implementation of common education benchmarks and standardized testing.

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Notre Dame eyes history with shot at beating Kentucky

Notre Dame plays unbeaten Kentucky a regional final on Saturday, with the... . Notre Dame's Pat Connaughton answers question during the team's news conference at the NCAA men's basketball tournament regional, Friday, March 27, 2015, in Cleveland.

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U.S. ethics panel probes Kentucky lawmaker over wife's lobbying

A special investigative panel will probe allegations that a Kentucky lawmaker helped his wife lobby on behalf of the Humane Society of the United States, the U.S. House of Representatives Ethics Committee said on Friday. Rep. Ed Whitfield, a Republican, also faces allegations he "used his official position for the beneficial interest of himself or his wife, and dispensed special favors or privileges to either his wife, the Humane Society Legislative Fund or the Humane Society of the United States," according to a statement released by the committee's leaders.

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20 terms you should ACTUALLY ban for describing Hillary Clinton

A mysterious group and Twitter account called HRC Super Volunteers has made a big splash lately by e-mailing a New York Times reporter a list of Things Not To Say About Hillary Clinton, crying "coded sexism." If some of these words were "coded sexism," it is very well coded, approaching ENIGMA-like levels of encryption.

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Happy Hour Roundup

Sen. Elizabeth Warren has already taken herself out of the running to succeed Harry Reid as minority leader, despite an early push from progressives. Warren's office told National Journal the first-term Massachusetts lawmaker will not run for the position to succeed Reid, who announced he would not run for reelection in 2016.

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Woman loses Silicon Valley gender-bias lawsuit

The jury in San Francisco reached the verdict in a lawsuit filed by Ellen Pao against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers. Jurors heard conflicting portraits of Pao during closing arguments.

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With gay marriage case pending, religion bills gain ground

With the Final Four a wee... LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - With the nation's highest court set to hear arguments next month over the constitutionality of same-sex marriage bans, legislation is advancing in several states that critics say gives businesses license to deny services to gays and lesbians on religious grounds.

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Sunday's Letters: A better idea than mandatory voting

Letters of about 200 words are preferred. Longer letters will be edited for space.

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Harry Reid retiring: Democrats who could replace him

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid's announcement that he will not seek reelection in Nevada sent shockwaves through the political world Friday and set up a potentially intense, intra-Capitol battle to determine the next Democratic leader that Reid moved quickly to forestall. Reid had repeatedly assured other senators, staff and reporters that he would seek reelection in 2016, even after an early January accident forced the senator to have multiple eye surgeries this year.

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Reid Backs Schumer to Replace Him

Unless Dick Durbin makes a stink about it, it appears that Chuck Schumer will replace Harry Reid as the Senate's Democratic leader come 2016. In an interview after announcing that he would not run for re-election, Reid tells the Washington Post that the New York senator is his pick.

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Costs of major Minnesota Capitol renovation creeping up

A major renovation of the state Capitol is threatening to run $30 million over budget, state officials advised lawmakers Friday. Construction crews started substantial work on the century-old building last year with aims to finish in 2017.

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Indiana HIV outbreak cases now 81 as virus continues spread

State health officials say 81 people have now tested positive for HIV as an outbreak of the virus in southeastern Indiana continues among intravenous drug users. The state Department of Health said Friday there have been 74 confirmed HIV cases and seven preliminary positive HIV cases.

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Some Kansas students to face deeper financial aid cuts

Students attending public, four-year universities and colleges in Kansas may see cuts in their financial aid due to a legislative action on a program governing school grants. The Lawrence Journal-World reports that the clause added to Gov. Sam Brownback's request to the Comprehensive Grant program would only leave $2.4 million for students attending public institutions.

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Jury decides Silicon Valley firm did not discriminate

A jury decided Friday that a prestigious venture capital firm did not discriminate or retaliate against a female employee in a case that shined a light on gender imbalance and working conditions for women in Silicon Valley. The jury in San Francisco reached the verdict in a lawsuit filed by Ellen Pao against Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers.

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Lawmakers, police chiefs clash over secrecy of officer names

Villasenor, writing as chief of the Arizona Association of Chi... The U.S. Justice Department says teenagers awaiting trial on adult charges in Baltimore are being kept in solitary confinement for far too long - up to 143 days in one case. Teenagers awaiting trial on adult charges in Baltimore are being kept in solitary confinement for far too long - up to 143 days in one case, according to a highly critical review by the U.S. Justice Department's... Arizona lawmakers thought they were doing police a favor when they passed a measure that would keep secret for two months the name of any officer involved in an on-duty shooting.

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Gun owned by agent who toppled Capone headed to Vegas museum

This Wednesday, March 25, 2015 photo shows the defaced serial number on a Smith & Wesson .38 Special in Mountainside, N.J. Stored for the past 50 years in attics, closets and a bank safe-deposit box in New Jersey, the gun b... . In this Wednesday, March 25, 2015, photo, Internal Revenue Service Special Agent In Charge Jonathan Larsen, holds a Smith & Wesson .38 Special during an interview in Mountainside, N.J. The gun belonged to IRS investigator M... .

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Will Latinos back Ted Cruz?

Sen. Ted Cruz speaks during the 2013 NRA Annual Meeting and Exhibits at the George R. Brown Convention Center on May 3, 2013, in Houston, Texas. Cruz fields questions from Bruce Rastetter at the Iowa Ag Summit on March 7, 2015, in Des Moines, Iowa.

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Edward Kennedy, John Boehner, Ted Cruz: Sunday

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, will be a guest on CNN's 'State of the Union' this weekend. UPDATED: The dedication of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate will be a topic on the Sunday morning programs.

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Calls to 'boycott' Indiana after law

Activists have encouraged a boycott of Indiana after the US state enacted a "religious freedom" law, which they say discriminates against gay people. The National Collegiate Athletic Association said it was " especially concerned " about how the law would affect its employees and student athletes.

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