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

Sunday, April 19, 2015

North Carolina Flash Flood Alert

A very quick diary as I am going to crash early. Stress has caught up with me. However I wanted to alert people in the area which includes Winston Salem, Greensboro, High Point and surrounding areas.

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Fort Sill tribe asks New Mexico court to reconsider decision

The state Supreme Court denied the Fort Sill Apaches' initial petition in March without offering an explanation. The tribe had argued that Martinez ignored requests by its chairman to sign on to existing compacts.

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Washington's tax freedom day comes later than usual | Don Brunell

Will you celebrate Tax Freedom Day this year? Until April 24, every penny we've earned in 2015 goes to pay your taxes. While this year, national Tax Freedom Day is 114 days into the year, for us in Washington, it won't arrive until April 29. In 2015, Americans will pay $3.28 trillion in federal taxes and $1.57 trillion in state and local taxes, for a total tax bill of $4.85 trillion.

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Man's obituary: Don't vote for Hillary

A North Carolina man's obituary asked two things of friends and family: instead of sending flowers for the funeral, give the money to charity. And don't vote for Hillary Rodham Clinton in 2016.

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McCaskill challenges MU students to speak up about sexual assault

Sen. Claire McCaskill returned to the University of Missouri campus on Saturday to discuss the topic of sexual assault. McCaskill spoke on campus last fall about the same issue during her campus listening tour.

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Rail Runners Ground Fort Wayne Flite, 100-86

Led by Fred Sturdivant's team-high 16 points and Alex Wells , the Chattanooga Rail Runners defeated visiting Fort Wayne Flite, 100-86, Sunday at Brainerd High School.

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'Unforgiveable and Absolutely Unimaginable': Victims...

Every day when Dr. Rosslyn Biggs goes to work as a federal government veterinarian she is reminded of her mother, one of 168 people killed in the Oklahoma City bombing and honored Sunday on the 20th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil until Sept. 11, 2001.

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Amid Denver's Marijuana Celebration, Police Tweet Friendly...

Denver police said there were no major problems as marijuana celebrations continued for a second day on Sunday, but police tweeted a reminder that while recreational use of marijuana is legal in Colorado, people still can't use it in public. "We'd prefer not to be buzzkills this 4/20 weekend.

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GOP Candidates Spar Over Party's Future

The biggest gathering yet of Republican presidential hopefuls this past weekend sharpened divisions in the broad field of candidates over the path to return the GOP to the White House, making the 2016 primary race a moment for the party to define its national identity. On one side are Jeb Bush and Sens. Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham, who emphasized that the party's nominee needs to reach beyond the GOP's base of mostly white and older conservative voters, given how the general electorate is growing increasingly diverse.

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'Fast Track' Trade Bill Taps Tension in Ohio

WARREN, Ohio-Rep. Tim Ryan doesn't need to travel far from home to see the damage he ascribes to bad trade deals. "You can see how it's hollowed out," said the Democratic lawmaker, pointing to empty or underutilized steel plants on a recent tour of his district in northeast Ohio.

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US 'Reviewing Options' on North Korea Over Human Rights Violations

"We're reviewing options related to accountability for North Korean officials responsible for serious human rights violations, which the Commission of Inquiry concluded in many instances may amount to crimes against humanity," a State Department spokesperson told VOA's Korean Service, in reference to a United Nations panel report on North Korea's human rights conditions released in February 2014. The State Department official said Friday the U.S. will work with the international community to press for North Korea "to stop these serious violations, to close its prison camps, to urge greater freedoms for North Koreans and to seek ways to advance accountability for those most responsible."

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West Virginia's Manchin chooses Senate over statehouse

Faced with the choice of returning to the job he loved in West Virginia or trying to break the partisan gridlock in Washington, Sen. Joe Manchin has opted for gridlock. During an interview on CBS' Face the Nation Sunday, Manchin said he will abandon the idea of running for West Virginia governor in 2016 -- a job to which he'd previously said he looked forward to returning.

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Obama: 'No Greater Threat' to Planet than Climate Change

"Today, there's no greater threat to our planet than climate change," Obama said. "Climate change can no longer be denied or ignored."

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Rand Paul's views don't deserve backlash

On April 7, Sen. Rand Paul announced his run for presidency. As soon as he declared his candidacy, The Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America, a neoconservative nonprofit, revealed that they will launch an advertisement attacking Paul on his foreign policy views.

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Bill de Blasio's endorsement holdout show

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio refused to endorse Hilary Clinton in her run for President. ORG XMIT: IACN102 You've got to love Bill de Blasio.

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International religious freedom bill hopes to fight terrorism, promote security

Washington D.C., Apr 19, 2015 / 04:45 pm .- A bill boosting promotion of religious freedom abroad could deter terror groups like ISIS, protect vulnerable minorities and foster global security, advocates say. The bill is "an important first step in improving the ability of our nation to advance religious freedom globally," stated Bishop Oscar Cantu of Las Cruces, chair of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on International Justice and Peace, in an April 10 letter to Congress.

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Cuba could elect non-Communist officials

Hildebrando Chaviano - one of two opposition candidates who could become the Cuba's first non-Communist elected officials in decades. Photo / AP Cubans voted Sunday in local elections featuring two opposition candidates who could become the island's first non-Communist elected officials in decades.

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PunditFact fact-checks the April 19 news shows

A clause about abortion funding in an otherwise noncontroversial sex trafficking bill has stopped the Senate from voting to confirm President Barack Obama's nominee for attorney general, Loretta Lynch. We'll get into the clause and the stalemate in a second.

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Senate may soon vote on Loretta Lynch's attorney general nomination

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said on Sunday's "Meet The Press" that there will likely be a vote on Loretta Lynch's nomination for attorney general "within the next few weeks." Lynch was nominated to replace Eric Holder in November, but Republicans in Congress have refused to ratify her in part because of the president's executive action on immigration.

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In battle for authenticity, Scott Walker looks to Kohl's

Scott Walker brought his everyman pitch to New Hampshire this weekend, branding himself as the Kohl's-wearing, Harley-riding governor. The Wisconsin Republican's penchant for the discount clothing company -- headquartered in his home state -- first got attention when he spoke before an Iowa audience three months ago, and he's still charming audiences and getting big laughs for his unabashed enthusiasm about the department store.

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West Virginia's Manchin chooses Senate over statehouse

Our eNewspaper network was founded in 2002 to provide stand-alone digital news sites tailored for the most searched-for locations for news. With a traditional newspaper format, more than 100 sites were established each with a newspaper-type name to cover the highest-ranked regions, countries, cities and states.

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Rubio: Chasing the Unicorn

This alleged "feud" between the senator and Univision, which dates back to Rubio's first days as a member of Congress, has not gone unnoticed by politicos . Many question whether the network's apparent anti-Rubio position will kneecap his attempts to court one of the fastest-growing voting blocs in the country.

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Director reveals plot for 'Star Wars' film 'Rogue One'

Widow and daughter, 14, who disappeared without a trace during trip to Times Square three weeks ago, had been 'stressed' by battle over late husband's will with his five grown-up children Senator Robert Menendez used political clout to get visas for three of wealthy donor's foreign girlfriends, according to corruption indictment Jon Stewart says he quit The Daily Show after 17 years because he had become 'depressed' with US politics and 24 hour news 700 feared dead and only 28 survivors as fishing boat packed with migrants trying to reach Europe capsizes of Malta Toll of social media on girls' mental health: Sexualised images fuelling rise in anxiety among pupils aged 11 to 13 Head of the FBI under fire for claims that Polish people were 'murderers and accomplices' who helped kill Jews during the Holocaust How did a 27-year-old black man die of an almost severed spine after he was ... (more)

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Massive wildfires rage in Southern California threatening hundreds of homes

Republican Graham says '91 percent' chance he'll run for president

He is not yet ready to commit himself, but South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said on Sunday there was a "91 percent" chance he would enter the Republican presidential race. Graham, a prominent Senate critic of President Barack Obama's foreign policy, was among a group of potential and actual Republican candidates who gathered this weekend in New Hampshire, which holds next year's first presidential primary.

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OpinionWhat if the heavens don't open up over California?

If. In everyday usage, it's almost a throwaway word. But today, with the four-year drought turning California upside down, few words carry more meaning.

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Rangel: Going by the book helps minority party

Few things are as frustrating in the Republican-dominated Texas House of Representatives as when a member delays or kills a bill with a point of order. But for San Antonio's Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer and other Democrats in the 150-member chamber, when you don't have the votes to block legislation you consider harmful, the parliamentary rules can be your most powerful tool to derail it.

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Pitts: 'Normal' is a thing of the past

After all, NRA chief Wayne LaPierre traded his dog whistle for an air horn at a recent gathering of the gun faithful in Washington, D.C. "I have to tell you," he said, "eight years of one demographically-symbolic president is enough." Still, as insults go, it was a rather neatly-crafted twofer.

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U.S. Attorney General Confirmation Battle Intensifies

The coming week brings increased pressure on U.S. senators to vote on President Barack Obama's nominee for attorney general. Loretta Lynch testifies during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing to become U.S. attorney general in Washington on Jan. 28, 2015.

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Breitbart News Sunday' on SXM 125: Religious Liberty Under Fire

On Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot channel 125 from 7PM to 10PM EST, Breitbart News Executive Chairman and host Stephen K. Bannon will be hosting the program and discussing all of the most important recent news of the week. He will be conducting interviews regarding the rise of the Islamic State, religious discrimination in the United States, and many other important topics.

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Rubio Team Backs Down From a Mistranslateda Defense of DACA Amnesty Remarks

The chief spokesman for Sen. Marco Rubio , Alex Conant, confirmed to Breitbart News in an on-record interview on Sunday that despite some initial confusion over the past couple days about the wording of two separate English language transcripts of Rubio's Spanish language interview with Univision's Jorge Ramos that aired this weekend, the thrust and meaning of what Rubio said was captured accurately by both transcripts-each of which shows just minor differences in wording, but not in meaning.

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Lake Bell showcases her slim post-baby body in a sleeveless...

Arnold Schwarzenegger and his girlfriend enjoy a bike ride in sunny Santa Monica

Alleged murder victim's daughter Rachelle Owen dies after being hit by train

GOP 2016 hopefuls address FITN Republican Leadership Summit bash Hillary Clinton

The entire 2016 GOP presidential field was in New Hampshire on Friday and Saturday, April 17 and 18, 2015 for the First-in-the-Nation Republican Leadership Summit in Nashua, where they made their case on the issues, criticized President Barack Obama and bashed Democratic frontrunner and recently declared candidate Hillary Clinton . Five hundred "activists," and the entire GOP field of 19 attended the two-day conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

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The drought and the end of liberal dominance of California

In a Sunday story in the Daily Beast, Joel Kotkin suggested that California is "over," not just because of the drought , but because of a death grip that the environmental lobby, Silicon Valley special interests, and the Hollywood elite has on that state's political power. The muscular infrastructure development that built the highways and aqueducts that made California the land of opportunity is out.

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The GOP Clown Show's Alternate RealityMike Barnicle

Saturday morning found the America that politicians endlessly seek and love to mention but barely know strolling along the first floor of Alec's Shoes on Main Street here in a city where at least 20 people running for President of the United States were at a hotel less than three miles away, talking. The candidates up the road ranged from a Bush, a Christie, one Paul, a Perry, a Trump, a Rubio, a Cruz, and more than a dozen others, all in town seemingly a decade before the primary next year.

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Fact-Checking the Sunday ShowsBy PunditFact.com

A clause about abortion funding in an otherwise uncontroversial sex-trafficking bill has stopped the Senate from voting to confirm President Obama's nominee for attorney general, Loretta Lynch. We'll get into the clause and the stalemate in a second.

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NRA Makes Obama Unofficial Mascot

Fairfax, VA. The NRA, a popular organization that fights tirelessly to support Americans' right to buy arms, has received a report of 2014's gun and ammunition sales with great enthusiasm.

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10 Reasons Why Progressives Need to Vote for Hillary

In 2008, progressives had the choice between a "moderately-progressive" Barack Obama and a moderately conservative Hillary Clinton. Obviously, we made the right decision-but what about now? I'm auguring that Hillary is our best and only chance to win in 2016.

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URGENT: Ohio Union Rights in Jeopardy

Ohio Republicans are trying to strip Ohio public university faculty of union collective bargaining rights, with NO DEBATE, rammed through in a budget bill - all with the usual underhandedness of Scott Walker and the Teabaggers. This will be voted on TOMORROW in committee, rammed through without debate, and before the public and most of the state know what's happening.

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Robot porters let loose in NHS: New hospital introduces fleet of 26 ...

Widow and daughter, 14, who disappeared without a trace during trip to Times Square three weeks ago, had been 'stressed' by battle over late husband's will with his five grown-up children Senator Robert Menendez used political clout to get visas for three of wealthy donor's foreign girlfriends, according to corruption indictment Jon Stewart says he quit The Daily Show after 17 years because he had become 'depressed' with US politics and 24 hour news 700 feared dead and only 28 survivors as fishing boat packed with migrants trying to reach Europe capsizes of Malta Toll of social media on girls' mental health: Sexualised images fuelling rise in anxiety among pupils aged 11 to 13 Head of the FBI under fire for claims that Polish people were 'murderers and accomplices' who helped kill Jews during the Holocaust Son of medical marijuana activist taken by child protective services after the ... (more)

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We all risk losing our most previous memories: Mobiles mean we're...

Widow and daughter, 14, who disappeared without a trace during trip to Times Square three weeks ago, had been 'stressed' by battle over late husband's will with his five grown-up children Senator Robert Menendez used political clout to get visas for three of wealthy donor's foreign girlfriends, according to corruption indictment Jon Stewart says he quit The Daily Show after 17 years because he had become 'depressed' with US politics and 24 hour news 700 feared dead and only 28 survivors as fishing boat packed with migrants trying to reach Europe capsizes of Malta Toll of social media on girls' mental health: Sexualised images fuelling rise in anxiety among pupils aged 11 to 13 Head of the FBI under fire for claims that Polish people were 'murderers and accomplices' who helped kill Jews during the Holocaust Son of medical marijuana activist taken by child protective services after the ... (more)

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Gov. Deal expected to sign autism insurance bill this month

Each day as Gov. Nathan Deal plods through a stack of more than 300 bills passed by the 2015 General Assembly, Anna Bullard becomes just a tad more anxious. When, she wonders, will he sign Senate Bill 1, turning what's now just another piece of legislation into Ava's Law - named after her little girl, and making Georgia the 41st state to require private insurance companies to cover therapy for children with autism.

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What scares Sen. Burr the most? Iran

North Carolina's former U.S. 5th District representative and current U.S. Sen. Richard Burr recently spoke to a group of Ashe County community leaders about efforts to revitalize the local economy, but he also spoke about issues that extend far beyond Ashe County, specifically, one in particular concerning the Middle East.

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Baltimore investigating Freddie Gray's death after he died in police custody

Widow and daughter, 14, who disappeared without a trace during trip to Times Square three weeks ago, had been 'stressed' by battle over late husband's will with his five grown-up children Senator Robert Menendez used political clout to get visas for three of wealthy donor's foreign girlfriends, according to corruption indictment Jon Stewart says he quit The Daily Show after 17 years because he had become 'depressed' with US politics and 24 hour news 700 feared dead and only 28 survivors as fishing boat packed with migrants trying to reach Europe capsizes of Malta Toll of social media on girls' mental health: Sexualised images fuelling rise in anxiety among pupils aged 11 to 13 Head of the FBI under fire for claims that Polish people were 'murderers and accomplices' who helped kill Jews during the Holocaust Son of medical marijuana activist taken by child protective services after the ... (more)

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Bernie Sanders: '99 percent of all new income today (is) going to the top 1 percent.'

When U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., finds a microphone these days, you can expect him to harp on the erosion of the American middle class. presidential run and caucuses with Democrats, made a striking point about the country's income inequality over the last 40 years in an April 19 interview on Fox News Sunday.

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Clinton moves to the left of past campaign positions

As a presidential candidate in 2008, she opposed gay marriage, equivocated on granting driver's licenses to people who were living in the U.S. illegally and endured heavy criticism from rival Barack Obama over her stance on campaign finance. During the opening week of her second presidential campaign, Clinton showed that she had retooled her positions to line up with the views of progressive Democrats .

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On 4/20, more doctors say ita s high time for medical marijuana research to expand

It's 4/20 Monday, which means weed is the word, and hundreds of events will be held in California and nationwide to observe cannabis culture , a tradition that stems back to the 1970s. Yet while the celebrations hail freedom, rebellion and a call for legalization, many of the questions surrounding the health benefits of cannabis remain locked in a haze of government control and even confusion from the public about its potential.

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2016 Presidential Toe-Dippers, Sunday Talk-Show Edition

A number of potential 2016 candidates edged closer to the presidential race on Sunday without actually jumping in, with some saying they'll wait until next month to decide. In separate television interviews, Republicans John Kasich, the governor of Ohio, and Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said they are considering running, as did Democrats Jim Webb, a former Virginia senator and Martin O'Malley, the former governor of Maryland.

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Saturday, April 18, 2015

GA Car Dealerships Expect Sales Of Electric Car To Drop

Car dealers say they expect sales in electric vehicles will drop now that Georgia is eliminating a tax credit to support them. Gov. Nathan Deal is expected to soon sign a bill eliminating the electric vehicle tax credit on June 30. The same bill imposes a $200 registration fee on those cars.

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The candidacy of Hillary Clinton

By knowledgeable accounts, Hillary Clinton did not come lightly to the decision to seek the presidency. Her strongest reservations are said to have centered on whether she was willing once again to subject herself and her family to the harsh public scrutiny that accompanies a run for the White House.

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If Democrats Let The TPP Pass. . .

If Democrats let the TPP pass I will NEVER vote for another Democrat the rest of my life !!! I will help start an Independent Progressive Party and there will be a mass exodus away from the Democrats. This could be the last straw.

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Paul, Graham clash on foreign-policy

Republican presidential candidate US Senator Rand Paul speaks at the First in the Nation Republican Leadership Conference in New Hampshire April 18. NASHUA, N.H. - Republican presidential hopefuls Rand Paul and Lindsey Graham took their debate over America's role in the world from the US Senate floor to the campaign trail on Saturday in an early sign that foreign policy is likely to be a flash point in the 2016 election. At a gathering of 18 potential and actual White House contenders, Paul accused fellow Republicans of being too willing to commit U.S. troops to foreign conflicts without a clear idea of how to get them out.

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Stephanie Grace: 'Religious freedom' bill spurring battle in Louisiana

Most readers of this column probably hadn't heard of state Rep. Mike Johnson, of Bossier City, until recently, and for good reason. He's not just in his first term as a legislator.

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Kathleen Parker: Clinton's past and future problem

This is never truer than during a political season. It doesn't matter whether the past trumps the present or whether the future carries a whiff of embers and smoke.

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Die hard Republican's obituary asks people not to vote for Hillary Clinton.

You can't make this stuff up, as they say. A story from a local television station in North Carolina, hints at the kind of republicans have control of North Carolina.

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Scoring the Campaigns Week 1

The Clinton Campaign decided on a slow rollout, leading with an upbeat, positive announcement video. Nothing in the way of political combat so far.

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TOWIE's Ferne McCann keeps her look sophisticated matching a...

The spectacular moment lightning strike caused a chain reaction of explosions and decimated a chemical plant caught on camera - as huge storms cause havoc across the South and Midwest Mystery as Long Island widow and daughter, 14, drive to New York City to see a play, park their car and then disappear without a trace 'He's being set up:' Mobster, 78, who FBI suspect of being behind $500m Rembrandt theft from Boston museum is arrested on gun charge Plane passengers trapped on tarmac for SIX HOURS with hardly any food and one dirty bathroom 'because airline wouldn't pay $73 fee to let them get off' Oklahoma legalizes execution by NITROGEN gas chamber: State will kill prisoners with 'foolproof, fast and painless' method if lethal injection isn't possible PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Weiner family day out! Hillary's aide Huma goes for Mexican again - but skips the Chipotle next door 'When Hillary ... (more)

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EastEnders' Karin Smart warns Max Branning to 'get rid of the dodgy ...

Road trip, listening tour: Clinton dusts off old playbook

It was a nice April day when one of the world's most famous women dropped by a school in an out-of-the-way place to chat with students and staff about their challenges and dreams. That's how Hillary Rodham Clinton started her presidential road trip this week, visiting Kirkwood Community College in Monticello, Iowa.

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Michigan Gov. Snyder wants to be Prez

Michigan's Governor Rick Snyder is taking donations to travel around the U.S. to try to sell himself as the NEW comeback kid. I am sure the donations will be used for airfare/lodging and meals only, and will have the same amount of accountability as his after election "Nerd Fund" had.

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Ohio veterans receive overdue medals decades after service

A Vietnam veteran and the family of a World War II veteran who died in 2007 were presented with overdue military medals in a ceremony in Cincinnati. Vietnam veteran Ernest Stevenson received the Purple Heart and five other medals in the Friday ceremony at Cincinnati City Hall.

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The real N.H. GOP summit is upstairs, behind closed doors

While Carly Fiorina took the stage in front of a crowd of hundreds and a bank of television cameras, the New Hampshire primary continued upstairs, where US Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky huddled with a group of 20 college students. After his speech, Paul hosted three back-to-back meetings with liberty activists, college Republicans, and elected officials in different rooms on the top floor of the Crowne Plaza hotel.

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Christie questions if Obama cares about US

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie questioned Friday whether President Barack Obama cares about the United States, adding that, more than six years into Obama's presidency, "we still don't even know" who he is. "I feel like we really have had a President for the last six and a half years that we still don't even know," Christie said at a town hall event in Exeter, New Hampshire.

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Cuba: how it was added to the list of countries that sponsor terrorism

While a new battle line between the White House and Congress emerges with President Barack Obama's request to remove Cuba from the list of countries that sponsor terrorism, the issue raises the question: just how did Cuba get blacklisted? The story goes back to 1981, to the presidency of Ronald Reagan and the Cold War. A few weeks after his inauguration in March of that year, the National Security Council began debating over how to respond to the civil war in El Salvador.

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Sen. Charles Schumer Pushes Back on Pacific Trade Deal

Sen. Charles Schumer on Thursday took a firm stand against one of President Barack Obama's major second-term goals: a trade agreement with Japan and 10 other countries around the Pacific.

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Russian cyber attackers used two unknown software flaws

A widely reported Russian cyber-spying campaign against diplomatic targets in the United States and elsewhere has been using two previously unknown flaws in software to penetrate target machines, a security company investigating the matter said on Saturday. The campaign has been tied by other firms to a serious breach at U.S. State Department computers.

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Gwen Stefani, Usher perform for thousands at Earth Day rally

A daylong Earth Day concert had R&B star Usher dancing on crutches Saturday on the National Mall to rally thousands for political action to confront climate change and poverty. Usher, Mary J. Blige, Gwen Stefani, Common, Fall Out Boy and Train all performed during the free Global Citizen 2015 Earth Day rally hosted by will.i.am and Soledad O'Brien.

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GOP Presidential Hopefuls Find Endless Ways to Attack Clinton

Nineteen Republican presidential prospects gathered in New Hampshire this weekend and largely aimed their fire not at each other, but rather at Hillary Clinton, who's declared her candidacy for the Democratic nominiation. Clinton, who plans to arrive Monday in the Granite State for two days of events, was a ripe target for the GOP hopefuls -- a few who have already jumped into 2016 presidential race and others who appear to be getting ready to run.

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GOP White House hopefuls bicker over America's role in world

Paul, a first-term senator from Kentucky who favors a smaller U.S. footprint in the world, said that some of his Republican colleagues would do more harm in international affairs than would leading Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton. "The other Republicans will criticize the president and Hillary Clinton for their foreign policy, but they would just have done the same thing "' just 10 times over," Paul said on the closing day of a New Hampshire GOP conference that brought about 20 presidential prospects to the first-in-the-nation primary state.

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How Chris Christie has gone to pot

Amidst all the early GOP presidential jockeying, let's check on our Jersey boy Chris Christie. Looks like the tough-love guv surfaced this week on a radio show and ranted about reefer madness.

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Republicans' second choice, and he's Hispanic

Passing immigration reform appears out of the question with the current Congress, so what's a political party to do? Find a young, charismatic Hispanic who can channel the GOP's hopes and dreams, and win votes, that's the plan. His name is Marco Rubio, a first term senator from Florida who announced for president last week and has some Republicans imagining they have found their Barack Obama.

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Rubio on Immigration: Americans Want Security First

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Gerson: Shot of energy from 'reform conservatives'

The juxtaposition of Hillary Clinton's and Marco Rubio's announcements for president illustrates a serious problem for American progressivism: Its political bench looks as spry and novel as the old Soviet Politburo. Joe Biden? Jerry Brown? Elizabeth Warren? All fight for Social Security while qualifying for their full checks.

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Carl Hiaasen: It wasna t corruption a " it was a bro-mance

The New Jersey Democrat is upset about being indicted on fraud and bribery charges for allegedly using his political clout to benefit his longtime pal, Dr. Salomon Melgen of West Palm Beach. Melgen was also charged in the bribery case, and has separately been indicted for epic Medicare fraud.

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Bush calls for compromise on Medicaid

Jeb Bush was known more as a my-way-or-the-highway governor than a compromiser, but campaigning in New Hampshire last week he called on Florida and federal leaders to hammer out a deal to overcome a stalemate over funding hospital care and expanding Medicaid. "The feds and the executive branch and representatives from the House and Senate ought to get together and try to forge a compromise," he said, while campaigning in Concord on Thursday.

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Parker: Clinton, Rubio offer immediate stark contrasts

This never is truer than during a political season. It doesn't matter whether the past trumps the present - or whether the future carries a whiff of embers and smoke - we gallop into tomorrow like a dog who mastered the screen door latch, and find little worthy of regard in yesterday.

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Santorum talks jobs, security at Aiken convention

Staff photo by Derrek Asberry Hundreds stood and applauded former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum after his keynote address Saturday at the Aiken GOP Convention. He still hasn't announced that he's running for president, but former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum believes America is ready to hear more of the same message he delivered his first time in the Republican primary in 2012.

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Connecticut mobster Robert Gentile arrested on gun charge but could ...

The spectacular moment lightning strike caused a chain reaction of explosions and decimated a chemical plant caught on camera - as huge storms cause havoc across the South and Midwest Mystery as Long Island widow and daughter, 14, drive to New York City to see a play, park their car and then disappear without a trace 'He's being set up:' Mobster, 78, who FBI suspect of being behind $500m Rembrandt theft from Boston museum is arrested on gun charge St. Louis police fatally shoot black man, 23, 'after he charged at them with a knife and a bible and told his mother he was planning a black revolution' Plane passengers trapped on tarmac for SIX HOURS with hardly any food and one dirty bathroom 'because airline wouldn't pay $73 fee to let them get off' PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Weiner family day out! Hillary's aide Huma goes for Mexican again - but skips the Chipotle next door 'When Hillary travels ... (more)

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Buddhist sect leader wanted in China, gains followers in Pasadena, Monterey Park

Covina's council and city staff tour the H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III Cultural and Art Museum in Covina in July. The historic building has more than 200 pieces of art on display from artist H.H. Dorje Chang Buddha III.

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Granny Get Your Gun

The most famous woman on the planet has a confounding problem. She can't figure out how to campaign as a woman.

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Next 25 Articles

Is another shoe about to drop on the Clinton Foundation, and on Hillary Clinton's problematic rollout? Newsweek's Rory Ross reported this morning that the largest individual donor to the Clinton family business has conducted trade with Iran, perhaps in breach of US sanctions. Ukrainian energy mogul Victor Pinchuk has connections to the Clintons that go back almost a decade, and financial connections to the regime in Tehran that go much farther: The fourth richest man in Ukraine, Pinchuk owns Interpipe Group, a Cyprus-incorporated manufacturer of seamless pipes used in oil and gas sectors.

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Boulder bot a force in new 'Star Wars' entry

The droid BB-8, powered by Boulder's Sphero robotics technology, is seen in the first trailer for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." "Star Wars" fans were treated to a bit of Boulder-bred robotic wizardry in a split-second shot toward the end of the trailer seen 'round the world this week.

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Christie questions if Obama cares about US

Cuban dissidents stand in local vote

Hildebrando Chaviano is an independent journalist and lawyer, and Yuniel Lopez a member of an outlawed political party, the Independent and Democratic Cuba Party. Both Mr Chaviano and Mr Lopez told foreign press agencies they thought the government was caught off guard by the strength of their support in the opening round.

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GOP contenders tangle in New Hampshire

None of the 19 declared or likely Republican presidential candidates who descended on New Hampshire this weekend for the state's first big GOP cattle call event came away with any sort of breakthrough moment. Instead, they got a glimpse of what could be a long slog of a primary, the natural outgrowth of a field rich with options.

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Preschool funding fight shows teachers union's political muscle

Gov. Mark Dayton addressed members of Education Minnesota on Saturday at their convention in Minneapolis. “Now is the time to make the push,” for universal preschool he told delegates.

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Letters to Editors - 04/18/2015

Dear Groong readers, We bring to your attention the following letters we've received. No statements made in these letters are to be construed as recommended by Groong's Administation or by USC.

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VA: Denver hospital will need $340 million in equipment

Be sure to include your name, daytime phone number, address, name and phone number of legal next-of-kin, method of payment, and the name of the funeral home/crematory to contact for verification of death. The Veterans Affairs Department expects to spend about $340 million to buy medical equipment and train staff for its new Denver hospital, on top of the estimated $1.73 billion to build the facility, officials said Saturday.

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Huckabee hits the trail, with a wink

Mike Huckabee says he feels better positioned financially to launch a campaign now than he did in 2008, when he was a long-shot candidate who ultimately went on to win the Iowa caucuses. The former Arkansas governor hit the trail in New Hampshire Saturday morning, one day after saying he'll announce his 2016 decision next month in Arkansas.

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FBI overstated forensic hair matches for decades

Nation's largest post-conviction review shows FBI examiners misstated forensic results in 95 percent of 268 trials before 2000. Washington a The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in an elite FBI forensic unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which they offered evidence against criminal defendants over more than a two-decade period before 2000.

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Here's one White House hopeful who wants to get big money out of politics

U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has an unusual message for a potential Republican presidential candidate: He wants to stem the flow of unregulated money in politics. That puts him at odds with much of his party, as well as fellow White House hopefuls who have taken advantage of weakened campaign-finance laws to aggressively raise money in the early months of the 2016 presidential campaign.

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The five questions people wish theyd asked a love one before it was too late

EXCLUSIVE: Disgraced ESPN reporter abandoned her car in Chinese restaurant parking lot after happy hour ... before abusing clerk when it got towed the next day Mystery as Long Island widow and daughter, 14, drive to New York City to see a play, park their car and then disappear without a trace 'He's being set up:' Mobster, 78, who FBI suspect of being behind $500m Rembrandt theft from Boston museum is arrested on gun charge St. Louis police fatally shoot black man, 23, 'after he charged at them with a knife and a bible and told his mother he was planning a black revolution' Plane passengers trapped on tarmac for SIX HOURS with hardly any food and one dirty bathroom 'because airline wouldn't pay $73 fee to let them get off' PICTURE EXCLUSIVE: Weiner family day out! Hillary's aide Huma goes for Mexican again - but skips the Chipotle next door 'When Hillary travels she will need two planes, ... (more)

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A geyser of money worthy of Old Faithful

Less than a week after announcing his 2016 campaign for president, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida doesn't need to worry about money. It's as good as in the bank.

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Boulder bot a force in new 'Star Wars' entry

"Star Wars" fans were treated to a bit of Boulder-bred robotic wizardry in a split-second shot toward the end of the trailer seen 'round the world this week. Sphero, the robotic ball manufacturer run by Boulder-based and TechStars alum Orbotix, crafted a rolling droid that was used in the new preview for "Star Wars: The Force Awakens," as well as in the highly anticipated film's first trailer , which dropped in November.

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Sondermann: Colorado has a front-row seat for 2016 presidential election

Democratic presidential hopeful and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton listens during a roundtable discussion with small-business community members in Norwalk, Iowa, last Wednesday. In this era of the perpetual campaign, there is no real demarcation line as to when the venture begins.

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Plenty of 2016 races to draw out Hispanic voters in Nevada

Hillary Clinton signaled with her first Nevada hires how important growing and winning the Latino vote is to her presidential campaign here.

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Ringo Starr, Green Day, Bill Withers enter Rock Hall

R... . In this Monday, March 30, 2015 photo, Ringo Starr poses for a portrait at The London Hotel, in West Hollywood, Calif.

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In New Hampshire, Republicans squabble over foreign policy, experience

More than a dozen Republicans eyeing the White House gathered here to make their case to hundreds of party activists, drawing out areas of disagreement in the expansive field that will likely emerge as contentious fault lines in the 2016 nominating process. The most potent conflict at the two-day conference came in the area of foreign policy, with hawks such as Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Ted Cruz of Texas calling for a muscular posture to defeat Islamic State.

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Friday, April 17, 2015

Fund for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder Hints at Presidential Run

People close to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder have formed a fund allowing him to travel the country to more aggressively tell of the state's rebound under his watch, raising the prospect of a potential Republican presidential bid. A spokesman for the governor told The Associated Press on Friday that a 501 group, Making Government Accountable, was established within the past month.

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In New Hampshire, Kasich will share a crowded stage

Fred Kocher hasn't been an Ohio resident in a number of years, but he still knows when a fellow Buckeye might be walking into an ambush. When Ohio Gov. John Kasich traveled to New Hampshire last month, he pretty much had the state that holds the nation's first presidential primary to himself.

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Marco Rubio: the 2016 presidential campaign's $40 million man

Less than a week after announcing his 2016 campaign for president, Republican Senator Marco Rubio of Florida doesn't need to worry about money. "Marco Rubio will have the resources necessary to run a first-class campaign, that's already been determined," said billionaire Florida auto dealer Norman Braman, a former Jeb Bush supporter who is now one of Rubio's highest-silhouette donors.

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Murphy acts on angel, HALOS bills

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn., is proposing a federal "angel" tax credit that would encourage affluent people to invest in early-stage companies. Inspired by a Connecticut program that several Stamford startups have used to leverage cash, U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy is proposing a federal "angel" tax credit that would encourage affluent people to invest in early-stage companies.

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Republican Contenders Clash in New Hampshire

The Republican Party's most ambitious stormed into New Hampshire on Friday for an early state showdown that highlighted the diversity, political challenges and sheer size of the GOP's 2016 presidential class. Nearly 20 Republican White House prospects were on the program for a weekend conference hosted by the state GOP, the year's first gathering of its kind in the first-in-the-nation primary state.

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Olivia Wilde sparkles in retro metallic top as she takes Jason...

Medal for cheating: Female winner of St. Louis marathon stripped of title after it's discovered she SKIPPED huge swath of the course EXCLUSIVE: NOT a word of personal apology for female tow company clerk from ESPN reporter who told the single mom: 'I'm on television and you're in a f***ing trailer. Lose some weight.'

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Blumenthal raises $1M in three months for re-election bid

Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., accompanied by fellow Senate Democrats, and speak during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, March 17, 2015, calling for a vote on the nomination of Loretta Lynch to become the 83rd Attorney General U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., center, flanked by Rep. John Larson, D-Conn., left, and National Committee to Preserve Social Security & Medicare, President and CEO Max Richtman, speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, March 18, 2105, to announcement of the introduction of the Social Security 2100 Act.

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24 new HIV cases reported in Indiana outbreak, 130 total

This April, 4, 2015 file photo shows medical waste containers stored in preparation for Scott County residents that are looking to exchange used needles at the Community Outreach Center in Austin, Ind. State and local health officials began a needle-exchange program Saturday where an HIV outbreak among intravenous drug users has grown to nearly 90 cases.

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U.S. Congress opens up free-trade debate, and Canada's paying attention

The U.S. Congress has opened a critical chapter in negotiations toward a massive, 12-country free-trade deal and the Canadian government is closely following developments. The government says it's watching the debate over a so-called fast track bill that would allow negotiations to move forward toward a Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement.

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Pence signs into law bill expanding use of overdose drug

Gov. Mike Pence has signed into law a bill that immediately allows Indiana residents to obtain and use a drug that can reverse heroin overdoses in their relatives, friends and loved ones. Previously, only health professionals could administer the drug known as Nalaxone or Narcan for people who overdosed on heroin and other opiates such as morphine and oxycodone.

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Oklahoma governor signs bill allowing nitrogen in executions

Oklahoma became the first U.S. state to approve nitrogen gas for executions under a measure Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law Friday that provides an alternative death penalty method if lethal injections aren't possible, either because of a court ruling or a drug shortage. Executions are on hold in Oklahoma while the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether the state's current three-drug method of lethal injection is constitutional.

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Hillary Clinton, a rude awakening and inspiration in lipstick: Our most-read stories of the week

It's officially the weekend, and that means you'll be looking for a Saturday morning read over a cup of coffee. We're here to simplify.

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Memorial Service Held for Germanwings Crash

A "road rage" incident caught on cell phone video at Kent State University has left an assistant professor at the school injured and facing charges, a universi... -- One of Saddam Hussein former top officials has reportedly been killed.Iraqi officials said on Friday that Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri, Saddam's former deputy who later... WASHINGTON _ President Barack Obama says the politics of international trade have always been difficult, especially within the Democratic Party. But he says U.S. oppositi... Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany says making freshmen ineligible in college football and basketball could help correct the imbalance between athletics and academics.

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Former Saddam Hussein Aide Reportedly Killed in Iraq

Oklahoma governor signs bill allowing nitrogen in executions

" Oklahoma became the first U.S. state to approve nitrogen gas for executions under a measure the state's Republican governor signed into law Friday that provides an alternative death penalty method if lethal injections aren't possible, either because of a court ruling or a drug shortage. Executions are on hold in Oklahoma while the U.S. Supreme Court considers whether the state's current three-drug method of lethal injection is constitutional.

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Washington governor repeats call for state auditor to resign

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday repeated his call for embattled state Auditor Troy Kelley to resign following his indictment by a federal grand jury. A letter from the governor was emailed Thursday night and then hand-delivered to the auditor's office Friday, Inslee spokesman David Postman said.

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For the Conference on the Israel Lobby: Press Blackout at the Press Club

Following the heavy coverage of AIPAC's multi-day annual Washington convention in March, the mainstream media might have been interested for once in covering alternative viewpoints like those discussed at the April 10th conference " The Israel Lobby: Is it Good for the US? Is it Good for Israel? " Fairness and balance in reporting should produce at least some coverage of such an event. Organized by the Washington Report on Middle East Affairs , which was launched about thirty years ago by a British Army Officer who served in World War II and two retired U.S. Ambassadors to countries in the Middle East , the day-long program at the prestigious National Press Club should have been intriguing to reporters.

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Many Northwest Democrats Noncommittal On Fast-Tracking Trade Deals

So far, few Northwest Democrats are getting on board with a deal to "fast track" a pending Pacific trade agreement, The Trans-Pacific Partnership. On Thursday, Oregon's senior senator Democrat Ron Wyden unveiled bipartisan legislation to clear the way and set sideboards around the biggest trade deal since NAFTA .

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Foreign Minister Julie Bishop enters Iran in hat and headscarf

Foreign Affairs minister Julie Bishop wearing a black head scarf and hat arrives in Tehran, Iran, in the early hours of Saturday. Women successfully broke into the old boy's club of international diplomacy long ago, but a rare visit to the theocratic state of Iran places a special burden on Australia's first female foreign minister.

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A plan to deal with nuclear waste

THE NATION'S nuclear waste strategy is - well, actually, the nation doesn't have much of a nuclear waste strategy. Nearly 30 years ago , Congress deemed Yucca Mountain, Nev., to be the site of a permanent geological depository for the thousands of tons of spent fuel and other radioactive wastes produced in nuclear power stations and other industrial facilities.

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Report: Chicago schools chief takes leave as feds probe no-bid contract

Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel's schools chief has taken leave from her job amid a federal investigation into the school system's $20 million no-bid contract with her former employer, Chicago officials said Friday. Her attorney, Michael Scudder, said Byrd-Bennett submitted a letter to the Board of Education requesting a leave of absence effective Monday.

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Huckabee to reveal presidential plans on May 5 in Hope, Ark.

Huckabee to reveal presidential plans on May 5 in Hope, Ark. Mike Huckabee says he will announce in his hometown on May 5. Check out this story on news10.net: http://usat.ly/1G2rB7Y Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speaks during the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum at the 2015 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits on April 10, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Fish found in suspected tsunami debris boat quarantined

A Philadelphia family has been awarded the rights to 10 rare gold coins possibly worth $80 million or more after a U.S. appeals court overturned a jury verdict. A U.S. appeals court Friday overturned a jury verdict and awarded a Philadelphia family the rights to 10 rare gold coins that could fetch $80 million.

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Spanish official slams Greece, says time 'running out'

New Yorkers may soon be able to count calories burned and miles traveled while pedaling Citi Bikes, the popular bicycle-sharing program with a troubled history that is undergoing a major overhaul under new leadership. New Yorkers may soon be able to count calories burned and miles traveled while pedaling Citi Bikes, the popular bicycle-sharing program with a troubled history that is undergoing a major overhaul under new leadership.

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Elizabeth Warren, Barney Frank to Headline CA Democrat Convention

California's Democratic Party will show its true blue colors by featuring two Massachusetts liberals as its keynote speakers at its convention next month in Anaheim: Sen. Elizabeth Warren and retired Rep. Barney Frank . Progressive darling Warren has been touted by the party's left-wing activists as a potential challenger to former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton for the presidential nomination in 2016 .

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Mike Huckabee Has Launched a 2016 Exploratory...

On Friday, Mike Huckabee, the Baptist preacher and former Republican governor of Arkansas, let it slip that he recently formed an exploratory committee in anticipation of a potential presidential bid. He followed up by appearing on Bret Baier's evening Fox News show to announce that... he will soon be announcing whether or not he will run for president.

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a Praises Fact Checkersa Too Much Agreement on Cable News, but Fox News a a Stroke of Geniusa

In part three of our three-part interview with Washington Post media reporter Erik Wemple, we discuss the media's handling of the Hillary Clinton's email scandal, the appropriate role of fact-checkers in our media , and a topic Wemple covers frequently and critically: Fox News. THE WASHINGTON POST'S ERIK WEMPLE: Just to push back a little, do you think the media is letting Hillary off easy with this email scandal? BREITBART NEWS NETWORK: That's a great question and I'm going to answer it.

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Physicians Want Dr. Oz Removed from Columbia University Medical Faculty

A group of renowned physicians petitioned Columbia University this week to fire television personality Dr. Oz from the school's faculty, characterizing the celebrity doctor's brand of medicine as being full of "various quack propositions" and "magical mystery cures." In a letter sent to Columbia University, ten prominent physicians questioned Dr. Oz's medical advice, along with the university's motivation for keeping him on staff.

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U.S. Congress opens up free-trade debate, and Canadaa s paying attention

Marco Rubio wants to become household name in New Hampshire

Seven years ago, Marco Rubio trekked to New Hampshire so invested in another politician's presidential campaign that a cop almost wrote him a ticket for darting through traffic as he shoved Florida oranges into bewildered drivers' hands. He returned to the nation's first primary state on Friday, this time as a Republican presidential candidate himself.

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Fund for Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder hints at presidential run

People close to Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder have formed a fund allowing him to travel the country and tell of the state's rebound under his watch, raising the prospect of a potential Republican presidential bid. An aide close to the governor told The Associated Press on Friday that a 501 group, Making Government Accountable, was established within the past month.

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Prosecutor: Reputed mobster discussed stolen Boston artwork

A mentally disabled Colorado man was set to be sentenced Friday for the murder of a Montana teacher whose death highlighted the downsides of an oil boom that has brought thousands of newcomers to the remote... A man was sentenced to 100 years in prison Friday in a Montana teacher's murder - a case that local officials say robbed the victim's rural hometown of its innocence amid an oil boom that's swept across the... A U.S. senator from Florida is pressing federal officials to disclose technical data and other information about a decade-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico that has been shrouded in secrecy.

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Huckabee to reveal presidential plans on May 5 in Hope, Ark.

Huckabee to reveal presidential plans on May 5 in Hope, Ark. Mike Huckabee says he will announce in his hometown on May 5. Check out this story on KHOU.com: http://usat.ly/1G2rB7Y Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speaks during the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum at the 2015 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits on April 10, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee.

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Huckabee to share 2016 plans in Hope, Arkansas, on May 5

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee speaks to reporters during a roundtable discussion in Washington, Friday April 17, 2015 about his future aspirations to run for President of the United States. Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee speaks to reporters during a roundtable discussion in Washington, Friday April 17, 2015 about his future aspirations to run for President of the United States.

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6, 2012 file photo, Troy Kelley takes questions at a news conference in Olympia, Wash., during his successful campaign for State Auditor. In an indictment unsealed Thursday, April 16, 2015, a feder... .

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Senator: Decade-old Gulf oil leak is 'unacceptable'

A U.S. senator from Florida is pressing federal officials to disclose technical data and other information about a decade-old oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico, after an investigation by The Associated Press revealed evidence that the spill is far worse than a company or government regulators have publicly reported. In a letter Friday to Interior Secretary Sally Jewell and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, Sen. Bill Nelson said it is "unacceptable" that oil is still leaking from the site off Louisiana's coast where an oil platform owned by Taylor Energy Company toppled during Hurricane Ivan in 2004.

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"The threat is growing, not diminishing."

Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul appeared before a breakfast meeting of The Ripon Society yesterday morning, delivering remarks in which he not only discussed his panel's agenda for the coming year, but stated that the threat America is facing from terrorists around the world "is growing, not diminishing." McCaul was joined at the meeting by two of his Subcommittee Chairs: U.S. Rep. John Katko , who serves as Chair of the Transportation Security Subcommittee; and, U.S. Rep. Martha McSally , who serves as Chair of the Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications.

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Morford: Put a woman on the $20

Eleanor. A leading contender, and an obvious choice Eleanor. A leading contender, and an obvious choice Eleanor.

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Adventists Cancel 'Holy Sexuality' Confab; Egyptian Court ...

A Russian nonprofit group, the St. Petersburg-based Coming Out , celebrated April 17 International Day of Silence by releasing a video "Break the silence," which ends with "silence can break us / but we can break the silence." A small Day of Silence protest last Sunday was reportedly broken up by police as "unauthorized."

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IBM Attacks Religious Liberty

No one knew how anti-Christian IBM had become until it unleashed its fury against a religious-liberty bill in Louisiana. Its governor, Bobby Jindal, is a practicing Catholic, and he plans to sign a law that protects religious liberty from its enemies.

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Elsewhere in Science, 17 April 2015

Each week, the Science family of publications publishes articles that are likely to be of interest to Science Careers readers. So, every week, we're pointing our readers toward articles relevant to careers in science and other technical fields.

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Lincoln Academy Cuts Ribbon For New Buildings

U.S. Sen. Angus King cut the ribbon to mark the opening of Lincoln Academy's new residence hall and technology center Friday, April 17. The brief ribbon-cutting ceremony followed speeches by King and others before a standing-room-only crowd in the Cable-Burns Applied Technology and Engineering Center, or ATEC. "Education and technological literacy are just like the air we breathe," King said.

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House GOP adds broadband funding to budget proposal

Republicans in the Minnesota House have carved out space in their budget to improve Internet service in the state after getting flak from Democrats and constituents. The majority party added $8 million for broadband development grants to its budget Friday.

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Finally, a break in the congressional gridlock?

Could this city actually be working? The past week has witnessed several developments - on the Iran nuclear agreement, Medicare reimbursement rates and fast-track trade authority - that offer grounds for, if not irrational exuberance, then tempered optimism. Emphasis on tempered.

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Washington governor repeats call for state auditor to resign

Washington state Auditor Troy Kelley listens to a question from a reporter, Thursday, April 16, 2015, in Tacoma, Wash. Earlier in the day, Kelley entered a not guilty plea to a federal grand jury indictment on charges of filing false tax returns, attempted obstruction of a civil lawsuit and possession of stolen property.

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Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee (R) talks to CNN's Wolf Blitzer on November 19, 2008.

Update frrom CNN's Jeff Zeleny: Mike Huckabee will not jump into the Republican presidential race tonight in his interview on Fox News, he said, but rather will reveal "when and where" he will make an announcement. It's another tease from Huckabee, the former Arkansas governor who sought the GOP presidential nomination in 2008.

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Oklahoma governor signs bill allowing nitrogen in executions

President Obama Welcomes Italian Prime Minister Renzi to the White House

President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Matteo Renzi of Italy participate in a press conference in the East Room of the White House, April 17, 2015. Earlier today, President Obama hosted Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi at the White House for a bilateral meeting and a working lunch.

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Ending the stalemate

There is no immediate end in sight to Greece's woes. The government of Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and its European lenders are locked in a dispute on the way forward with both sides setting terms which the other side is finding hard to swallow.

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Thursday, April 16, 2015

Rand Paul Announces Run For The Presidency

Senator Rand Paul kicked off his presidential campaign this past Tuesday as a top contender for the presidency. The one-term senator from Kentucky enjoys wide support from a variety of voters, placing him near the top of the presidential polls.

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Is Congress sabotaging a nuclear deal with Iran?

US lawmakers weren't sitting at the table with Iran during the nuclear negotiations in Switzerland. But they were certainly the elephant in the room.

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Letters: Final indignity: No help for poor to pay burials

Under Gov. Bruce Rauner, the state no longer will pay burial costs for the indigent. Photo by Joseph P. Meier, Sun-Times More than 50 years ago, a Boston attorney named Joseph N. Welch stopped Sen. Joseph McCarthy in his tracks with the words: "Have you no sense of decency, sir?" It is time to ask Gov. Bruce Rauner the same question.

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Obama signs overhaul of how Medicare pays doctors

President Barack signs the bill H.R. 2 Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015, Thursday, April 16, 2015, in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington. The president signed legislation permanently changing how Medicare pays doctors, a rare bipartisan achievement by Democrats and Republicans.

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Jeb Bush: Loretta Lynch deserves a vote

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush suggested in New Hampshire on Thursday that Senate Republicans should allow a vote on Loretta Lynch, the White House attorney general nominee. "I think presidents have the right to pick their team," Bush said at a "Politics and Pies" event in Concord, where he is testing the message he will deliver if he runs for president.

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Adrian Peterson Reinstated by NFL

Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson will be reinstated on Friday following a months-long suspension for injuring his four-year-old son by using a tree... -- A baby echidna, after being seriously injured when a bulldozer dug up its burrow, is making an impressive recovery, according to the Taronga Zoo in Australia.Zooke... LINCOLN - Nebraska Agriculture Director Greg Ibach today sent a letter to two federal officials expressing his concerns with draft recommendations regarding national die... Kearney, Neb.

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Homeland chief: Gyrocopter came in 'under the radar'

A Capitol Police officer flashes a thumbs up after inspecting the small helicopter a man landed on the West Lawn of the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, April 15, 2015. Police arrested a man who steered his tiny, one-person helicopter onto the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol Wednesday, astonishing spring tourists and prompting a temporary lockdown of the Capitol Visitor Center.

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UN Chief Calls for Immediate Cease-Fire in Yemen

United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon called Thursday for an immediate cease-fire in Yemen to spur peace talks and get lifesaving aid into the impoverished Middle East nation. The U.N. chief addressed "the many fateful challenges" the world confronts, from 50 million refugees and displaced people - the largest number since World War II - to the urgent problem of climate change in a speech at the National Press Club.

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Randy Houser Gives Props to Pal and Tour Mate Luke Bryan in New House Band TV Episode

Gov. Raimondo supporting Clinton for president in 2016

Gov. Gina Raimondo says she's supporting Democratic favorite Hillary Rodham Clinton , who launched her 2016 presidential campaign this week. The Democratic governor says she'll support Clinton even if former Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln Chafee , her predecessor as governor, decides to run.

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Jindal defends Louisiana's 'religious liberty' bill

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal defended a proposed religious objections bill Thursday, saying that as people learn more about the proposal, the more they will accept it. At a news conference Thursday, Jindal said the bill only prevents the state from discriminating against businesses or business owners who choose to exercise their religious beliefs.

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'Never Givin' Up' recites MLK's 'Letter' to call for justice

Anna Deavere Smith italicizes phrases of psychological acuity and underscores ideas that are especially pertinent today. Anna Deavere Smith, whose documentary theater offerings have investigated the Rodney King riots and the crisis in U.S. healthcare , among other societal flash points, has been hard at work on a new piece on the school-to-prison pipeline in poor minority communities.

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George W. Bush thinks his brother Jeb would be 'a damn good president'

Presidential hopeful Jeb Bush has now secured the all-important endorsement of the worst president ever, aka his brother Dubya . "So I said to Jeb, 'Hang in there; you can do the job.

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US Sen. Roberts' 'Frozen' ringtone creates hearing hysterics

Sen. Pat Roberts is urging people to "let it go" after his cellphone filled a somber committee hearing room with the first few bars of a song from Disney's "Frozen." The Kansas City Star reports that the 78-year-old Kansas lawmaker was questioning Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Thursday when his phone went off.

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Congressman admits relationship with airline lobbyist

This May 16, 2013 file photo shows House Transportation and Infrastructure Full Committee Chairman Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa.

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Obama signs overhaul of how Medicare pays doctors

Ending years of last-minute fixes, President Barack Obama on Thursday signed legislation permanently changing how Medicare pays doctors, a rare bipartisan achievement by Democrats and Republicans. The bill overhauls a 1997 law that aimed to slow Medicare's growth by limiting reimbursements to doctors.

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How Bill Clinton got his name on the ballot

In most instances, presidential candidates file their own New Hampshire primary paperwork on an antique desk at the secretary of state's office - using the occasion for photo ops and remarks to the State House press corps. But there have been exceptions.

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Welcome back and catch up

List not exhaustive Nitish Kumar and Narendra Modi shake hands at the wedding reception of Lalu Prasad's daughter. Another handshake: between Barack Obama and Raul Castro A dog on his lap, the Congress vice-president leaves his 12 Tughlaq Lane residence with mother Sonia Gandhi.

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How Texans in Congress are Spending Campaign Cash

Midnight marked the deadline for Texas' members of Congress to file their campaign fundraising and spending reports with the Federal Election Commission. The documents, which are filed quarterly, offer insights into the health of an incumbent's re-election campaign and explain how they spend their cash.

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Fight looms in Congress as many Democrats oppose fast-track trade authority

Ranking Member Ron Wyden , left, and Chairman Orrin Hatch , right, speak during the Senate Finance Committee hearing on Congress and U.S. Tariff Policy in the Senate Dirksen Office building on Thursday. Congressional leaders in the tax writing committees reached a deal that would allow President Obama "fast track" authority on negotiations on the Trans-Pacific Trade Agreement.

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House Passes Bill to Permanently Repeal the Death Tax

U.S. Congressman Mac Thornberry voted today in support of a bill that permanently repeals the death tax. The "Death Tax Repeal Act of 2015," H.R. 1105, passed the House by a vote of 240-179.

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Gov. Jindal vehemently defends religious objections bill

Gov. Bobby Jindal on Wednesday gave a full-throated defense of a divisive religious objections bill that critics say could sanction discrimination against same-sex couples in Louisiana. The Republican governor, speaking to reporters in a wide-ranging interview, attempted to flip the script on opponents by describing the bill as an anti-discrimination measure designed to protect Christians who are morally opposed to same-sex marriage in an increasingly permissive society.

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Doddering grandma forgets traffic laws and parks in handicap space

This is straight from the "rules are for little people" school of governance. The school that teaches you how to make $100,ooo over night trading in agricultural commodities and that it's fine to take multi-million dollar contributions from foreign governments in exchange for policy concessions.

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Republican legislator proposes oil tax change to help close budget gap

With the state facing multibillion-dollar deficits, a Republican Alaska lawmaker who recently proposed a personal income tax on Alaskans now wants to raise corporate income taxes on the international oil companies operating in the state. Rep. Paul Seaton of Homer introduced a measure last weekend to change a state accounting method that allows oil companies to deduct losses from out-of-state operations against the corporate income taxes they pay in Alaska.

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In positive sign ahead of Abe visit, members of Congress offer bipartisan fast-track trade bill

Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch speaks Feb. 19 in Salt Lake City. Top lawmakers, including Hatch, struck a bipartisan agreement Thursday to allow President Barack Obama to negotiate trade deals subject to a yes-or-no vote from Congress without the possibility of changes.

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Dallas Kossacks Meet Up April 25th

When: April 25th at Noon for lunch! Where: Uncle Julio's Mexican Restaurant 4125 Lemmon Ave Dallas, TX 75219 Why: Margaritas, fajitas, burritos and other fine quality progressive company!! Part of the plan: discussing creating a "taskforce" of people ready to swoop down on the county courthouse when marriage equality reaches Texas to greet happy couples with roses and banners celebrating the new recognition of their unions! If you are a member of Dallas Kossacks, please come join us! We're going to make good things happen in North Texas! If you want to join Dallas Kossacks go to the search and search for "Dallas Kossacks" under groups and send us a message letting us know you want to join! A tag is a way to search for this diary.

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Gyrocopter pilot grounded

The Florida mailman who landed a gyrocopter on the U.S Capitol grounds and put Congress lockdown on Wednesday, appeared Thursday wearing his USPS jacket at federal court. He was charged with two federal crimes and let out on bail.

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KS Senator Pat Roberts Leaves Cell Phone on, Blares "Let It Go"

While Kansas Republicans are planning a hearing of sorts to boot someone from the state house for lack of decorum, Senator Pat Roberts had his own breakdown of manners today, leaving on his cell phone. The cell phone came to life in the middle of testimony, launching into the power ballad from Disney's Frozen "Let It Go".

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Flying 99% Airline

"How did this happen?" said Senator Chuck Schumer. It was funny to me to see the reaction to the guy from Florida who flew his little air buggy to the Capitol building to protest the way our politicians are bought and sold these days after Citizens United.

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Philly native named WH social secretary

Deesha Dyer, a 37-year-old Philadelphia native, has been named the new White House social secretary, first lady Michelle Obama announced Thursday. She replaces Jeremy Bernard, the first male social secretary, who recently announced that he would be leaving the post.

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Scott Walker and Ron Johnson Tanking in Wisconsin Polls; RoJo Taking Action; Walker - Meh

I realized something was up when I actually received a reply to an email I sent to Wisconsin's Junior Senator, Ron Johnson : I signed the letter because it told the truth - a truth that needed to be conveyed. The deal being negotiated with Iran regarding its nuclear program will have grave repercussions for the region and the world.

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Judges question timing of challenge by states toa

Two federal judges questioned Thursday why Indiana and 14 other states should be able to challenge a pending federal rule restricting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants before the rule is f Judges question timing of challenge by states to EPA power plant rule WASHINGTON - Two federal judges questioned Thursday why Indiana and 14 other states should be able to challenge a pending federal rule restricting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants before the rule is f Check out this story on pal-item.com: http://pinews.co/1FZ4BXE Two federal judges questioned Thursday why Indiana and 14 other states should be able to challenge a pending federal rule restricting greenhouse gas emissions from power plants before the rule is finalized this summer.

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US Sen. Roberts' 'Frozen' ringtone creates hearing hysterics

Governor signs $1B bonding bill for KPERS

The governor of Kansas signed a bill authorizing issuance of $1 billion in bonds to inject investment capital into the state's pension system for government workers and teachers, officials said Thursday. Gov. Sam Brownback, who recommended $1.5 billion in borrowing for benefit of the Kansas Public Employee Retirement System, settled for the lower amount by signing Senate Bill 228.

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EXCLUSIVE: Hillary Clinton Said to Hire Former Wall Street Cop as Campaign CFO

Hillary Clinton is planning to name Gary Gensler, a former top federal financial regulator and strong advocate for strict Wall Street rules, as the chief financial officer of her campaign, according to a Democrat familiar with the decision. Gensler , in his role as chairman of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, was a leading player in the drafting and then implementation of the Dodd-Frank Act, the financial rules that President Barack Obama signed into law in 2010 in the wake of the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

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5 Arguments Republicans Are Using to Try and Defeat Hillary Clinton in 2016

With Hillary Clinton's formal entry into the 2016 presidential race last Sunday, the arguments against her candidacy-made by her Republican rivals-have already begun to take shape. In part, that's because there was little question that Clinton would assume the mantle of Democratic frontrunner, giving strategists years to plot their battle plans.

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Bill Clinton receives award from Tina's Wish and interview with Andrew Brozman

Tina's Wish honored President Bill Clinton with the Inaugural Global Women's Health Award at a reception held on April 14, 2015, at 6 p.m. at the Waldorf Astoria New York. The event was the first time Bill Clinton made a public appearance after wife Hillary Clinton officially launched her presidential campaign.

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Congressman admits relationship with airline lobbyist

The chairman of the House committee that handles aviation legislation acknowledged Thursday that he has a "private and personal relationship" with an airline industry lobbyist. Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa., chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, said Shelley Rubino, a vice president for global government affairs at Airlines for America, a trade association for major U.S. airlines, doesn't lobby him or his staff.

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Gov. Deal signs medical marijuana bill, making Georgia the 36th state to legalize cannabis oil

An emotional Gov. Nathan Deal signed legislation Thursday that immediately legalizes the use of medical marijuana in Georgia to treat eight serious medical conditions. Sponsored by state Rep. Allen Peake, a Republican from Macon, the new law makes it legal for people to possess up to 20 ounces of fluid cannabis oil.

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"That's the Way We Play Our Game"

Throughout his career, New York mayor Bill de Blasio has been accused of using his family as a political prop. During his 2009 campaign for public advocate, then-council member Charles Barron, a former Black Panther, called de Blasio's frequent use of his black wife and biracial children in campaign literature 'disgraceful' and 'an insult to the black community.'

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Al-Qaida's jihadist rampage: Terrorists seize Yemeni airport and seaport

Rampaging jihadists from what's known as al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula on Thursday morning invaded a major Yemen airport and seaport placing that Saudi Arabian neighbor's most populous province under the control of Sunni radicals. Meanwhile, rest of Yemen is being torn apart by Shiite rebels known as the Houthi group fighting a Saudi-led air campaign and Sunni militias.

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Newspaper's role in Capitol stunt examined

A Florida newspaper that knew ahead of time that a man planned to fly a gyrocopter into restricted airspace at the U.S. Capitol faced questions Thursday about whether its editors should have used this knowledge to try and stop the risky stunt. The Tampa Bay Times, which posted reporter Ben Montgomery in Washington on Wednesday to document postal worker Doug Hughes' self-styled protest flight that landed on the Capitol grounds, said that its responsibility was to cover, not change, the story.

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Press release distribution, EDGAR filing, XBRL, regulatory filings

Dr. Hsu comes to the firm from Winston &... )--Solvay Specialty Polymers USA, LLC this week launched an expansion at its Augusta manufacturing facility to install the first world-scale polyether-etherketone ... )--SM Energy Company announces that production for the first quarter of 2015 is expected to be 16.8 MMBOE, or 186.4 MBOE/d.

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Ted Cruz Out-Fundraises Romney Suggesting Big Money Race

Ted Cruz is raising money for his presidential campaign at a significantly faster rate than Mitt Romney did four years ago, eclipsing the early total raised by the former Massachusetts governor who went on to win the Republican nomination in 2012. The conservative Texas senator, who is seeking to unite the Republicans' tea party wing behind his White House run, raised $4.3 million during the final days of March - his first full week after declaring as a candidate for president .

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Ohio man accused of plot to attack US military base, prison

In this Feb. 25, 2015 file photo, Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud, left, speaks with his defense attorney, Sam Shamansky, during a hearing to set bond on charges of money laundering and providing support for terrorism in Columbus, Ohio.

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Harry Reid threatens to force a Senate vote on Loretta Lynch

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid on Thursday warned Republicans that if they don't hold a vote soon on Attorney General nominee Loretta Lynch, he'll use a rare Senate procedure to force a vote on the long-stalled nominee. "I had a conversation today with a number of Republicans and told them really to get her done or I will make sure they will have an opportunity to vote against her," Reid said in an interview on MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show that will air Thursday night.

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Overnight Energy: Judges leery of challenge to Epa climate rule

NOT QUITE YET: Coal companies and states challenging the Obama administration's climate rule for power plants might have to wait out federal officials' rulemaking process. Two of the three federal judges hearing the case today were very skeptical of the challenge by West Virginia, Murray Energy Corp. and other states and energy companies, since a court has never overturned a proposed rule before.

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President, Congress spar over tax rates, estate tax

President Obama says it's all about middle-class economics. He's asking members of Congress to embrace his middle class economics plan, saying it's all about making the economy work for everyone.

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U.S. House votes to end estate tax

The measure would make it possible for the wealthiest Americans to do what the other 99.8 percent already can do - pass their assets to their children without a federal estate tax. The measure would save taxpayers - and cost the U.S. government - $269 billion over a decade.

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New Kansas rules would limit spending of welfare benefits

Gov. Sam Brownback, left, shakes hands with Department for Children and Families secretary Phyllis Gilmore after signing a welfare reform bill into law Thursday in Topeka, Kan. Brownback signed the bill that specifies several dozen items poor families will not be able to buy with their welfare benefits.

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Wednesday, April 15, 2015

Chicago not releasing video of officer-involved shooting

Chicago Alderman Edward Burke, 14th, stands at the start of city council meeting Wednesday, April 15, 2015, in Chicago.

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No quick fix

President Barack Obama's choice for the position is Glyn Davies, a seasoned diplomat. He is awaiting the US Senate's nod for his Bangkok posting, which was vacated by high-profile diplomat Kristie Kenney in November last year.

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Why Obama flipped on Iran bill

Over the past two weeks, President Barack Obama made a full-court press to persuade lawmakers to back his Iran diplomacy and abandon a bill giving Congress a say in any final deal. Ultimately, though, the White House was forced to bow to the reality: Enough Democrats supported the principle of allowing Congress to weigh in on the nuclear deal that even a veto threat couldn't stop it.

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Minnesota governor orders missing Lindstrom umlaut restored

Something has been a little off in Lindstrom, Minnesota, since the town named after a 19th century settler from Sweden got new city limits signs following the 2010 U.S. census. The umlaut, two dots over the "o" in Lindstrom that indicate a specific Swedish pronunciation, was missing, a casualty of federal rules, the state Transportation Department said.

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House energy panel backs bill to give states authority to manage coal ash

A House committee approved a bill Wednesday granting states authority to regulate waste generated from coal burned for electricity, largely bypassing a federal rule issued last year. The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved the bill 32-19, sending the measure to the full House.

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Has Hillary's time passed?

Generational politics will be at play in 2016. Is Hillary Rodham Clinton on the wrong side of that dynanmic, which will be exploited by candidates such as the relatively youthful Marco Rubio? This is never truer than during a political season.

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Five years ago today, Obama crippled NASA space exploration

Five years ago today, on April 15, 2010, President Barack Obama ventured to the Kennedy Space Center and crippled NASA's space program for the rest of his presidency . Two different views of the event were published Wednesday.

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Clinton represents everything Democrats say they oppose

Clinton represents everything Democrats say they oppose - Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign raises an awkward question: How low is the self-esteem of America's Democrats? - Clinton embodies all the things Democrats supposedly reject. But she's got money and powerful allies in politics

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Indian PM Narendra Modi was first to be born in independent India

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a three-day visit to Canada. Here are five things to know about the charismatic and controversial leader: - Modi led his Bharatiya Janata Party to a sweeping victory in national elections last year, sending shockwaves through a political landscape long dominated by the Congress party.

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Jorge Ramos Corners Rubio: Would You Attend a Gay Wedding?

One day after he confirmed to CNN's Jake Tapper that he believes marriage should be between one man and one woman , Sen. Marco Rubio went on Jorge Ramos' Fusion show where the host confronted him on the issue using a new angle. "If someone in your family or your office that happens to be gay and they invite you to their wedding, would you go?" Ramos asked the senator.

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Lindsey Graham: I Don't Know Why Gyrocopter Wasn't Shot Out of the Sky

A gyrocopter caused a panic when it landed near the U.S. Capitol today. The man flying it, Doug Hughes , was protesting Citizens United and wanted to make a statement , but he ended up arrested.

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Hillary Clinton has a new position on same-sex marriage

As recently as a year ago, Hillary Clinton was sparring with a public radio host about her position on same-sex marriage, defending her past reticence to discuss the issue and falling well short of full-throated support. Now, in a markedly new position, Clinton is offering just that, calling gay marriage a right afforded by the Constitution.

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8 takeaways from Chris Christie's New Hampshire town hall

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie brought his favored town hall format to New Hampshire on Wednesday, fielding unscreened questions for nearly two hours and introducing himself to voters on a multi-day trip to the state. As the Republican gets closer to launching his likely presidential bid---he says he'll make his decision in the late spring or early summer---Christie has become more comfortable talking about national issues and staking out positions on hot topic debates.

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O'Malley Slams Hillary: 'History Celebrates Profiles in...

Sex-education funds to be renewed

The Senate has approved funding for sex education that includes the "comprehensive" approach favored by the Obama administration and the "risk-avoidance" one favored by traditional-values supporters. Both funding streams were included in the massive Medicare overhaul bill, also known as H.R. 2 or the "doc fix" bill.

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A.B. Stoddard: Where Clinton must win

Hillary Clinton may be one of the most famous people in the world, and most people have already decided whether her chance to become our first woman president tops everything else they know of her. But there is a pocket of the electorate left for her to penetrate.

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With Iran deal, Washington shows it can work - sometimes

Republicans and Democrats talked to each other. President Barack Obama and several members of his administration conversed with lawmakers, too.

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Chicago not releasing video of officer-involved shooting

Months after a teenager was shot 16 times by a Chicago police officer, the city is still refusing to release the dash-cam video of the fatal shooting and didn't even show it to aldermen Wednesday before they approved a $5 million settlement with the family. The October 2014 shooting death of Laquon McDonald hasn't generated the same kind of national attention as other recent high-profile confrontations involving officers.

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Candidate Ted Cruz; oil and gas interests

A declared presidential candidate has a proven track record that supports his promises to honor the Constitution and his Christian faith. He has the audacity to imagine smaller, less-intrusive government, healthcare between doctor and patient without government, a greatly simplified tax system with a flat tax, a strong military, our unabridged right to bear arms, a controlled southern border and education controlled by the states - not by the federal government or the United Nations.

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Conservative group to audition Republican candidates for 2016

A group of conservative activists will meet privately next month in suburban Washington to hear from potential Republican presidential candidates and determine who among them to support, a Republican involved in the effort said on Monday. Many conservatives want one of their own as the 2016 Republican presidential nominee and would prefer to avoid establishment candidates such as former Florida Governor Jeb Bush, who is expected to seek the nomination.

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The military option to block Irana s nukes

A star is born. That's my reaction to the extraordinary interview Sen. Tom Cotton has just given to The Atlantic in respect of President Obama's appeasement of Iran.

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Republican backer of U.S. Export-Import bank: renewal to beat deadline

A Republican lawmaker pushing to reauthorize the U.S. Export-Import Bank said on Wednesday he was confident the export credit agency would get a lifeline before a June 30 deadline, based on "positive interactions" he has had with Ex-Im critic Jeb Hensarling. Hensarling, chairman of the House of Representatives committee with jurisdiction over the bank, has said he wants the bank's mandate to expire in June and he plays a key role in deciding whether legislation to renew it can progress to a vote.

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