72-Hour Cease-Fire Announced in Gaza - NYTimes.com

72-Hour Cease-Fire Announced in Gaza - NYTimes.com: "he United States and the United Nations announced a 72-hour humanitarian cease-fire in the Gaza conflict early Friday, a diplomatic bolt-from-the-blue that will suspend the bloody 24-day military campaign and set the stage for arduous negotiations between Israel and Hamas over a more lasting truce."

The Toll in Gaza and Israel, Day by Day

The daily tally of rocket attacks, airstrikes and deaths in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

See the daily tally

Latest totals updated July 31

3,754

targets in Gaza
struck by Israel

1,418

Palestinian deaths

 

2,848

rockets launched at Israel from Gaza

59

Israeli deaths

'via Blog this'

Tea party opposition puts fate of House Republican border bill up in the air - The Washington Post

Tea party opposition puts fate of House Republican border bill up in the air - The Washington Post: "“The Obama White House should put Ted Cruz on the payroll,” said Rep. Peter T. King (R-N.Y.), a vocal Cruz opponent. “We have a chance to pass a good bill, not a perfect bill. Boehner is working hard to get to 218 votes and yet there is Ted Cruz, telling us to do nothing. If he wants to come over and run for speaker, that’s fine, but otherwise he should stay over there in the Senate.”"

'via Blog this'

House Won't Vote on Border Supplemental Today

House Won't Vote on Border Supplemental Today: "GOP leaders, led by Speaker John A. Boehner of Ohio, issued a joint statement pinning the blame for pulling the bill on Obama."

'via Blog this'

House GOP Border Plan Vote Postponed - Business Insider

House GOP Border Plan Vote Postponed - Business Insider: "House Republican leadership abruptly postponed and then ultimately pulled a vote on its plan to deal with the crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, after a conservative revolt left leadership short of the votes needed to pass the bill. 
Soon after House leaders pulled the bill, however, a 3 p.m. ET Republican conference meeting was scheduled in an apparent attempt to revive the bill. Members were advised that additional votes were still possible.

The original pulling of the bill served as a remarkable setback for House Speaker John Boehner and the incoming House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, who had whipped support for the border bill."

'via Blog this'

House GOP Border Plan Vote, DACA Legislation - Business Insider

House GOP Border Plan Vote, DACA Legislation - Business Insider:

House Republican leaders abruptly changed their plan to deal with the crisis along the U.S.-Mexico border late Wednesday night, after they were not able to muster enough votes to pass the legislation before Congress leaves Friday for a five-week recess.

Conservatives in the House revolted against the Republican-led plan, which provides about $659 million in emergency spending for the border crisis through the fiscal year that ends Sept. 30.

... The Republican dissent was led by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), the conservative freshman firebrand who has miffed House leadership before by meddling in the House's affairs (most notably, last year, ahead of the government shutdown).'via Blog this'

Republicans deliver another self-inflicted wound - The Washington Post

Republicans deliver another self-inflicted wound - The Washington Post: "Republicans may yet win the elections in November. They may end up in control of both houses of Congress come January. But in the final week before a lengthy August recess, they have shown a remarkable capacity to complicate their path to victory.

The latest blow came Thursday in what has become predictable fashion: chaos in the House. Amid fractious infighting, House leaders abruptly pulled their alternative to President Obama’s bill to deal with the influx of Central American children crossing the border. What was said to be a national crisis turned into one more problem facing deferral.  But there was more over the week that could contribute to the deteriorated brand called the Republican Party."'via Blog this'

Star witness: ‘It was wrong’ to give Rolex to Va. governor - The Washington Post

Star witness: ‘It was wrong’ to give Rolex to Va. governor - The Washington Post: "Jonnie R. Williams Sr. testified in his second day on the stand that he gave the McDonnells vacations, pricey clothes and more in the hopes his relationship with the couple would help him promote a supplement created by his company, Star Scientific."

'via Blog this'

Take our Bob McDonnell trial quiz! - The Washington Post

BALLIN'!

Take our Bob McDonnell trial quiz! - The Washington Post: "The trial of former Virginia governor Bob McDonnell is only a few days old, but it already has produced enough fascinating revelations to make it hard to distinguish fact from (romantic) fiction.

And so, we decided to see if you could do exactly that. We took ten bizarre or interesting details from the ongoing trial and paired them with equally interesting fictional details. Can you identify the weirdness we made up from the weirdness that is now public record in a Richmond courtroom? Give it a shot.

Take the quiz."

'via Blog this'

Deadly Israeli strikes hit UN school, market area - US News

Deadly Israeli strikes hit UN school, market area - US News: "Israeli artillery shells tore through the walls of a U.N. school crowded with sleeping war refugees and back-to-back explosions rocked a market filled with shoppers Wednesday as Israel's stepped up campaign against Gaza's Hamas rulers claimed at least 116 Palestinian lives.

After the strikes near the shopping area in Gaza City, bodies lay scattered in the streets as the wounded screamed for help. "Where is the ambulance?" one man moaned as he lay on the blood-soaked ground.

Some 3,300 Gazans seeking refuge from the fighting had been crammed into the U.N. school at the Jebaliya refugee camp when a series of Israeli artillery shells hit before daybreak, turning a classroom where families had been sleeping into a tragic scene of bloodied clothing, bedding and debris."

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Republicans back away from the call to impeach President Obama: The GOP understands that message only helps Democrats.

Republicans back away from the call to impeach President Obama: The GOP understands that message only helps Democrats.:

Last week, House Republicans huddled in a Capitol conference room to figure out what kind of emergency immigration bill they might be able to pass. In his telling, Florida Rep. Ted Yoho wanted the party to jam the White House, to pack the bill with new border security measures and threaten to impeach Obama if he ignored them.

“He either enforces the laws on the books—as he was hired and elected to do—or he leaves Congress no option,”crowed Yoho to Breitbart.com. “This is not our choice, this is the president’s choice and I would advise him to uphold the law on the books.”

That wasn’t out of character for Yoho; for most of the past 12 months, he’d been calling on his party to impeach Attorney General Eric Holder. In 2011, beforehe was even elected to Congress, he delineated six reasons to impeach the president, from “the unconstitutional Nationalization of GM and Chrysler” to taking “commands from the U.N. or NATO.”'via Blog this'

GOP Rank-and-File Discusses Ways to Take on Obama Over Amnesty, Including Impeachment

GOP Rank-and-File Discusses Ways to Take on Obama Over Amnesty, Including Impeachment: "The proposals included trying to prevent a future executive amnesty by Obama, telling the president what he should do to enforce the law in a non-binding resolution, and even putting impeachment on the table.
Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) told colleagues that the House should pass legislation with new steps to secure the border, and tell Obama if he didn't implement it, they would impeach him."


'via Blog this'

John Boehner: Obama impeachment talk a Democratic scam - CBS News

Or.. I'm not taking responsibility for this!

John Boehner: Obama impeachment talk a Democratic scam - CBS News: ""This whole talk about impeachment is coming from the president's own staff and coming from Democrats on Capitol Hill. Why? Because they're trying to rally their people to give money and to show up in this year's election," Boehner said."

'via Blog this'

House GOP cuts border funding bill - Seung Min Kim - POLITICO.com

..because everything should be done on the cheap!

House GOP cuts border funding bill - Seung Min Kim - POLITICO.com: "House Republicans unveiled a significantly pared-back emergency funding package of $659 million for the border crisis and are angling for a Thursday vote before Congress flees Washington for the August recess.

That figure is dramatically lower than the $3.7 billion that President Barack Obama originally requested from Capitol Hill to respond to the influx of unaccompanied children, primarily from Central America, at the Texas border."

'via Blog this'

Lawmakers announce VA deal - Lauren French - POLITICO.com

Finally something gets done!

Lawmakers announce VA deal - Lauren French - POLITICO.com:
Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Jeff Miller have reached a $17 billion agreement to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The legislation, which was announced Monday afternoon, will give the VA secretary broad new authority to fire or demote senior officials accused of mismanagement and will create a system where veterans can seek private care if VA doctors are unable to treat the patients within 14 days.

The deal will allocate $5 billion to hire new doctors and nurses and removes bureaucratic barriers that slowed hiring so the VA can more quickly fill medical vacancies.
'via Blog this'

How the E.U. Signed on to Sanctions - Video - NYTimes.com

How the E.U. Signed on to Sanctions - Video - NYTimes.com: "Why Europe had been so hesitant to act but is now set to dramatically escalate sanctions against Russia."

'via Blog this'

Defiant, Cuomo Denies Interfering With Ethics Commission - NYTimes.com

This smells dirty!

This is the second governor to do this this year.  The other was in the Lone Star state!

Defiant, Cuomo Denies Interfering With Ethics Commission - NYTimes.com: "Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Monday delivered a feisty and unrepentant defense of his handling of an anticorruption panel he created and then abruptly shut down, after five days in seclusion during which he encountered some of the harshest criticism he has faced as governor."

'via Blog this'

Obama: Buying Stocks Is A Potentially Good Deal - Business Insider

Heck of a call, Mr. President!

Obama: Buying Stocks Is A Potentially Good Deal - Business Insider: "So, that's not much. But it's not nothing. Presidents don't usually talk about stocks.

In a new note to clients, Goldman Sachs' David Kostin remembers another time Obama talked about stocks. From the note:

Some investors may remember Obama’s previous equity valuation comment from March 3, 2009 when the S&P 500 traded at 696: ”On the other hand, what you're now seeing is profit and earnings ratios are starting to get to the point where buying stocks is a potentially good deal if you've got a long-term perspective on it.” Since his observation, the S&P 500 has soared by 185% and this week reached a new all-time high of 1988.

March 3 was six days before the S&P 500 hit an intraday low of 666.

That was a pretty extraordinary call."

'via Blog this'

Obama: Buying Stocks May Be a 'Good Deal' - NYTimes.com

MARCH 3, 2009 2:00 PM

Obama: Buying Stocks May Be a 'Good Deal' - NYTimes.com: "“Profit and earning ratios are starting to get to the point where buying stocks is a potentially good deal,” Mr. Obama said, “if you’ve got a long-term perspective on it.” ...As his words were broadcast on cable networks shortly after noon on Tuesday, the indicator at the bottom of the television screen showed that the Dow Jones industrial average was down once again. On Monday, the Dow closed below 7,000 for the first time since 1997."

'via Blog this'

Smith & Wesson Pays $2 Million to Settle Bribery Probe With SEC - Bloomberg

Bribery!  

I get though.  The mission of the company is to sell weapons, the who and how does not matter.

Smith & Wesson Pays $2 Million to Settle Bribery Probe With SEC - Bloomberg: "Smith & Wesson Holding Corp. (SWHC) agreed to pay about $2 million to settle U.S. regulatory claims that it bribed officials in Pakistan, Turkey and other countries to win firearms contracts.

Smith & Wesson employees made improper payments from 2007 to 2010 to secure business with militaries and police departments, the Securities and Exchange Commission said in an administrative order filed today. The gunmaker settled the claims without admitting or denying the allegations."

'via Blog this'

Congressman Adam Kwasman Mistakes Bus of YMCA Campers for Migrant Kids

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Wife Set for Corruption Trial - WSJ

Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, Wife Set for Corruption Trial - WSJ: "Jury selection is expected to begin Monday in the corruption trial of former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, who are accused of accepting more than $160,000 in jewelry, cash, clothing and trips in exchange for promoting a wealthy backer's dietary-supplement business."

'via Blog this'

Corporations used to pay almost one-third of federal taxes. Now it's one-tenth. - Vox

Corporations used to pay almost one-third of federal taxes. Now it's one-tenth. - Vox: "Corporations are shouldering far less of a tax burden than they used to. Corporate tax revenues have declined as a share of GDP over the years, but individual tax revenues have held steady, according to a 2013 GAO report."

'via Blog this'

Oklahoma Governor Calls For Review Of Botched Execution : The Two-Way : NPR

Oklahoma Governor Calls For Review Of Botched Execution : The Two-Way : NPR: "Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin has ordered an "independent review" of the state's execution procedures and halted any further executions until the review is complete.

The move comes a day after Oklahoma botched the execution of Clayton D. Lockett. As we reported, after a long legal and political battle, the state proceeded with Lockett's execution using a novel combination of drugs."

http://rt.com/usa/156012-oklahoma-botched-execution-review/
'via Blog this'

Gov Brewer Orders Review After Joseph Wood Botched Execution | Mediaite

Second or third time this year.  Way to go!

Gov Brewer Orders Review After Joseph Wood Botched Execution | Mediaite: "Arizona Governor Jan Brewer issued a statement tonight on the botched execution that left a death-row inmate reportedly gasping for air for almost two hours before he finally died. Brewer ordered a full review of the execution process in reaction to these reports of Joseph Wood‘s execution.

Brewer said, “I am concerned by the length of time it took for the administered drug protocol to complete the lawful execution of the convicted double murderer, Joseph Wood.”"

'via Blog this'

John McCain: Arizona execution 'torture' - Burgess Everett - POLITICO.com

Of course it is Torture!

John McCain: Arizona execution 'torture' - Burgess Everett - POLITICO.com: "A botched execution in Arizona on Wednesday amounted to “torture,” said the state’s senior senator John McCain.

The longtime Republican lawmaker, who experienced years of torture while being held in captivity by the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War, called the drawn-out lethal injection execution of Joseph Wood on Wednesday “terrible.”"
'via Blog this'

A Prolonged Execution in Arizona Leads to a Temporary Halt - NYTimes.com

A Prolonged Execution in Arizona Leads to a Temporary Halt - NYTimes.com: "PHOENIX — The Arizona attorney general on Thursday called a temporary halt to executions in the state, a day after the convicted killer Joseph R. Wood III died one hour and 57 minutes after his execution began. Death penalty experts said it was one of the longest times it has taken in the United States for drugs to kill a condemned man."

'via Blog this'

Lawyers call for outside probe of 'bungled' Arizona execution | Reuters

Lawyers call for outside probe of 'bungled' Arizona execution | Reuters: "Lawyers for an Arizona killer who took two hours to die from a lethal injection demanded an outside review on Thursday of what they called a terribly "bungled" execution that has prompted renewed debate over the death penalty in the United States."
'via Blog this'

Israeli fire hits U.N. school in Gaza, killing 15 - CBS News

Israeli fire hits U.N. school in Gaza, killing 15 - CBS News: " Israeli tank shells hit a compound housing a U.N. school in the Gaza Strip on Thursday, killing at least 15 people and wounding dozens who were seeking shelter from fierce clashes on the streets outside, Palestinian officials said, as Israel pressed forward with its 17-day war against the territory's Hamas rulers."



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Fire breaks out at West Texas refinery - Oil & Gas Journal

Fire breaks out at West Texas refinery - Oil & Gas Journal: "Western Refining Inc. has extinguished a fire that occurred early on July 23 in a boiler at its 128,000-b/d refinery at El Paso, Tex.
Valves controlling the crude oil supply to the boiler quickly were isolated, and the fire, which broke out about 8:30 a.m.  CST at a boiler in the proximity of other structures on the property, was brought under control and extinguished by Western Refining’s on-site fire and emergency personnel just after 9:00 a.m. CST, according to El Paso Fire Department postings to Twitter."

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Crews Extinguish Small Fire At Chevron Richmond Refinery « CBS San Francisco

Crews Extinguish Small Fire At Chevron Richmond Refinery « CBS San Francisco: "Chevron officials called the Richmond Fire Department at 2:10 a.m. as a precautionary measure. Crews arrived to find a broken processing line with a hydrocarbon liquid leaking which reportedly ignited the flames."

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Chevron Phillips: Cause of fire at Port Arthur refinery has not - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas

Chevron Phillips: Cause of fire at Port Arthur refinery has not - 12 News KBMT and K-JAC. News, Weather and Sports for SE Texas: "Two people were injured at the Chevron Phillips refinery in Port Arthur Monday after a fire broke out.  A company official said that the fire was reported at about 8 p.m.

Chevron Phillips is at West Gulfway Drive, near Highway 82 in Port Arthur."

'via Blog this'

Pharmaceutical Tax Inversion Deals - Business Insider

Pharmaceutical Tax Inversion Deals - Business Insider: "Earlier this morning, AbbVie, which is based in Illinois, announced a deal to acquire Ireland-based Shire in a $53 "



'via Blog this'

Israel Insulted Over FAA Ban - Business Insider

Israel Insulted Over FAA Ban - Business Insider: "The Federal Aviation Administration put a 24-hour ban on American flights to and from Israel's Ben Gurion Airport Tuesday, after a rocket landed a mile away from the airport, and extended the ban an additional 24-hours through Thursday earlier today.

Israel's Transportation Ministry stated on Tuesday that Ben Gurion, the main international airport in the country located a few miles outside Tel Aviv, “is safe and completely guarded and there is no reason whatsoever that American companies would stop their flights and hand terror a prize,” according to Roll Call."

'via Blog this'

Koch Brothers Donation to HBCUs: A Hot Political Mess

So much to say here!!  The main point being set up an arm that'll support students who direct their work in Black or Latino areas.  Not in Libertarian causes!

Koch Brothers Donation to HBCUs: A Hot Political Mess | UPTOWN Magazine:

With Historically Black Colleges and Universities literally hurting for money, survival instincts cut in: who wouldn’t take a $25 million check to stop the hemorrhaging?  That question got a bit more complicated when the nefarious Koch Brothers – typically caricatured as ultra-conservative evil twins on a world domination binge – dropped that stunning amount on a hungry United Negro College Fund desperate for a save.

The UNCF, a longtime reliable fundraising funnel for HBCUs, definitely grit its teeth when accepting the Koch donation, but ends justify the means.  As they apparently did when the Los Angeles-area NAACP was called out for accepting annual donations from the notorious Donald Sterling.

But, HBCUs are between a heavy rock and a hard place these days: on one hand, their very survival threatened by everything from lack of academic and irrelevance to precipitous drops in federal financial aid.  They face competition from mainstream or predominantly White public and private schools because Black students can go anywhere they want now.  Then sudden and draconian Obama administration changes in Parent PLUS loan cut financial lifelines to 28,000 HBCU students who couldn’t meet tuition deadlines – not to mention the schools that, as a result, lost $160 million in cheese (see WashingtonPost graph below).'via Blog this'

Health Care Spending Growth Continues To Slow - Business Insider

Health Care Spending Growth Continues To Slow - Business Insider: "The primary driver of future projected debt and deficits has been the growth of federal healthcare spending, something that has alarmed economists as a wave of baby boomers retires and more people are added to the Medicare and Medicaid rolls. "

'via Blog this'

Trump Plaza in Atlantic City to close, adding to city's woes: report | Reuters

Just sad!

Trump Plaza in Atlantic City to close, adding to city's woes: report | Reuters: "The Trump Plaza Hotel in Atlantic City could shut its doors in September and lay off 1,000 workers, a local newspaper reported, in what could make it the fourth casino to close this year in the faltering New Jersey resort city."

The seashore casino is one of the poorest performers in Atlantic City, which began the year with 12 casinos. Trump Plaza booked less than half its rooms in the first quarter of 2014, and had the lowest gaming revenue of any of the city's casinos in May, according to state documents.

'via Blog this'

Air Canada cancels tonight’s Israel flight after rocket lands near Tel Aviv airport | Toronto Star

Air Canada cancels tonight’s Israel flight after rocket lands near Tel Aviv airport | Toronto Star: "Air Canada joined U.S. and European airlines in stopping flights to Israel on Tuesday after a rocket, fired from the Gaza Strip, landed near Tel Aviv airport.
Air Canada Flight 84, a daily route from Toronto to Tel Aviv, was cancelled shortly after the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration ordered all U.S. airlines to suspend their Tel Aviv flights for 24 hours."


'via Blog this'

Catholic Bishops Respond Gov. Perry's Plan To Send 1,000 Guard Troops To The Border | KERA News

Catholic Bishops Respond Gov. Perry's Plan To Send 1,000 Guard Troops To The Border | KERA News: "In North Texas, the two catholic bishops had questions for the Governor. Speaking to reporters at the Diocese of Dallas, Bishop Kevin J. Farrell says immigrant children who have crossed into the US from Central America are refugees.

“The primary factor that drives these young people,” Farrell said. “The one thing that comes out all of the time is that they are running away from the tremendous violence, drug wars that go on in their own places.”

Farrell says it’s not a political issue, it’s a humanitarian issue.  "

'via Blog this'

Rubio: U.S. Cannot Admit All Children Seeking Asylum : The Two-Way : NPR

Wow!!!!!!!  He sold Cuba down the river!

'Wet Foot, Dry Foot' - gone!

Cuba is now different from 1958, no automatic asylum for Cubans?? 

#JustForTheRepublicanPrimaries

Rubio: U.S. Cannot Admit All Children Seeking Asylum : The Two-Way : NPR: "Rubio said that even the law regarding Cuban immigrants needs to be modernized in order to reflect changing times. He'd like to see more migrants granted legal status based on job skills, as opposed to giving preference more often to those who have family ties or who are seeking asylum.

"I fully recognize that's how my parents came in 1956, but the country and the economy is fundamentally different than it was 60 years ago," he said, "and our immigration laws have to reflect this.""

'via Blog this'

Ron Paul Defends Russia After Malaysian Plane Crash - Business Insider

What!!  That's the second republican to do this.  What' going on!!

Ron Paul Defends Russia After Malaysian Plane Crash - Business Insider: "Former Congressman Ron Paul defended the Russian government on Sunday and slammed Western leaders for spreading "propaganda" after a Malaysian Airlines plane was allegedly shot down by Kremlin-backed separatists in Ukraine.
"Western politicians and media joined together to gain the maximum propaganda value from the disaster. It had to be Russia; it had to be Putin, they said," the former presidential candidate wrote. "While western media outlets rush to repeat government propaganda on the event, there are a few things they will not report.""

'via Blog this'

UK Wants To Hit Russia With Sanctions That Will Actually Bite - Business Insider

Oh!! Now you want to get on board??

UK Wants To Hit Russia With Sanctions That Will Actually Bite - Business Insider: "Britain will push for EU sanctions targeting whole sectors of the Russian economy in the wake of the Ukraine plane disaster even if it means taking a short-term "hit" to the economy, its ministers said on Monday.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said "the time has now come for sanctions to be tightened further", and stressed that inaction so far over the Ukraine crisis had "not served us well"."

'via Blog this'

Obama okays sonic cannons for offshore oil exploration - CSMonitor.com

Obama okays sonic cannons for offshore oil exploration - CSMonitor.com: "Opening the Eastern Seaboard to offshore oil exploration for the first time in decades, the Obama administration on Friday approved the use of sonic cannons to discover deposits under the ocean floor by shooting sound waves 100 times louder than a jet engine through waters shared by endangered whales and turtles.

The US Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's approval of this technology is the first step toward identifying new oil and gas deposits in federal waters from Florida to Delaware."

'via Blog this'

Immigrant Surge Rooted in Law to Curb Child Trafficking - NYTimes.com

What!!!  Dubba again!

Immigrant Surge Rooted in Law to Curb Child Trafficking - NYTimes.com: "It was one of the final pieces of legislation signed into law by President George W. Bush, a measure that passed without controversy, along with a pension bill and another one calling for national parks to be commemorated on quarters.

“This is a piece of legislation we’re very proud to sign,” a White House spokesman, Tony Fratto, told reporters on Dec. 23, 2008, as the president put his pen to the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008, named for a 19th-century British abolitionist. “This program has been very effective around the world in trying to stop trafficking in persons.”"
'via Blog this'

Photo: U.S. Anti-Trafficking Bill is Unanimously Reauthorized by Congress

YEP!

Photo: U.S. Anti-Trafficking Bill is Unanimously Reauthorized by Congress: "President Bush signed the William Wilberforce Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2008 on December 23, 2008, surrounded by executive branch officials, Congressmen, and NGO advocates in the fight against Modern Day Slavery."

'via Blog this'

Fear of gangs, rampant violence send Central American kids north - CBS News

Fear of gangs, rampant violence send Central American kids north - CBS News: "President Barack Obama was meeting Wednesday evening with congressional leaders on the surge of illegal immigrant children on the southern border.

On Wednesday a Pew Center poll found 53 percent of Americans support accelerating the legal deportation process while 38 percent want to stay with the current policy. There are nearly 9,000 illegal immigrant children in U.S. custody waiting for a hearing on whether they can stay.

Those children were part of a surge of 57,000 unaccompanied minors who have come from Central America since last October."


'via Blog this'

Boys Drawn to Gaza Beach, and Into Center of Mideast Strife - NYTimes.com

Family members of the four boys were distraught on Wednesday after identifying their bodies at the hospital in Gaza City.CreditTyler Hicks/The New York Times

Boys Drawn to Gaza Beach, and Into Center of Mideast Strife - NYTimes.com: "The four Bakr boys were young cousins, the children of Gaza fishermen who had ordered them to stay indoors — and especially away from the beach. But cooped up for nine days during Israeli bombardments, the children defied their parents and went out Wednesday afternoon, the eldest shooing away his little brother, telling him it was too dangerous.

As they played on and around a jetty in the late-afternoon sun, a blast hit a nearby shack. One boy was killed instantly. The others ran. There was a second blast, and three more bodies littered the sand. One was charred, missing a leg, and another lay motionless, his curly head intact, his legs splayed at unnatural angles."

'via Blog this'

Foreclosure activity hits lowest level in eight years

Foreclosure activity hits lowest level in eight years: "Foreclosure activity has been falling steadily for the past few years as the housing market recovers, but the latest reading shows it has hit a new milestone.

According to RealtyTrac, a foreclosure sales and analytics company, 107,194 U.S. properties had a foreclosure filing in June—the lowest level since July 2006, before the housing price bubble burst."

'via Blog this'

Pope Francis: Child Migrants to U.S. Must Be ‘Welcomed and Protected’ | TIME

This position totally makes sense!

Pope Francis: Child Migrants to U.S. Must Be ‘Welcomed and Protected’ | TIME: "Immigrants "continue to be the subject of racist and xenophobic attitudes" said the pontiff, as the U.S. struggles to deal with a wave of unaccompanied child migrants at its southern border
'via Blog this'

Brownback-Obama blame game as Kansas' bond rating is cut amid revenue shortfall | The Kansas City Star

Cut revenue much!

Brownback-Obama blame game as Kansas' bond rating is cut amid revenue shortfall | The Kansas City Star:
Plummeting revenues, underfunded pensions and millions in court-ordered school spending led Moody’s Investors Service on Thursday to cut the state’s credit rating by a notch.

The ratings agency slightly lowered the state’s credit rating because of mounting financial pressure on the Kansas state budget, partly from massive income tax cuts that Republican Gov. Sam Brownback signed into law in 2012 and 2013.

... Brownback blames the national economic climate and President Obama’s policies for the shortfall.
'via Blog this'

Moody's downgrades NJ debt as Christie's budget problems grow | NJ.com

Cut revenue much!

Moody's downgrades NJ debt as Christie's budget problems grow | NJ.com: "Another Wall Street rating agency — Moody’s Investors Service — has downgraded New Jersey’s debt and is sounding the alarm about the state’s "lagging economic performance."

It was the third ratings cut this year for New Jersey, the sixth downgrade since Gov. Chris Christie took office, and the latest sign that the Garden State’s ailing fiscal condition is taking a turn for the worse."

'via Blog this'

Former White House Lawyer Convicted Of Attempted Murder - Business Insider

Former White House Lawyer Convicted Of Attempted Murder - Business Insider: "A former White House lawyer in both Bush administrations was convicted Friday of attempted murder and other charges in the beating of his wife at their Connecticut home four years ago."

'via Blog this'

Germany Wins 2014 World Cup - Business Insider

World Cup Champs!  Deutschland!

Germany Wins 2014 World Cup - Business Insider: "The final score line: Germany 1, Argentina 0 in extra time.

Germany is the first European team to win a World Cup on South American soil. It's their fourth title."

'via Blog this'

6 Israelis Held Over the Killing of Palestinian - NYTimes.com

6 Israelis Held Over the Killing of Palestinian - NYTimes.com: "An Israeli police spokesman, Micky Rosenfeld, said there was a “strong possibility” that the motive for the killing of Muhammad Abu Khdeir, 16, was “nationalistic,” indicating that it was a revenge attack by right-wing Jewish extremists for the recent kidnapping and killing of three Israeli teenagers in the West Bank. Muhammad’s body was discovered on Wednesday, about an hour after he was forced into a car in East Jerusalem, a few yards from his home."

'via Blog this'

Citigroup Fine - Business Insider

Fine!

Citigroup Fine - Business Insider: "As expected, Citigroup has announced a $7 billion fine and settlement over investigation into pre-crisis mortgage practices."  Under the terms of the settlement, Citigroup will pay a total of $4.5 billion in cash and provide $2.5 billion in consumer relief. The cash portion consists of a $4 billion civil monetary payment to the DOJ and $500 million in compensatory payments to the State AGs and the FDIC. The consumer relief will be in the form of financing provided for the construction and preservation of affordable multifamily rental housing, principal reduction and forbearance for residential loans, as well as other direct consumer benefits from various relief programs. Citigroup has agreed to provide the consumer relief by the end of 2018.

'via Blog this'

Largest-Company-By-Revenue-In-Each-State-2014.jpg (1920×1080)

Largest-Company-By-Revenue-In-Each-State-2014.jpg (1920×1080):

'via Blog this'

Judge tosses Florida congressional map - POLITICO.com Print View

Way to go Florida GOP.

Judge tosses Florida congressional map - POLITICO.com Print View: "Circuit Court Judge Terry Lewis blasted the GOP-controlled state Legislature for working with political consultants to make a “mockery” of Florida’s Fair Districts amendments — passed by voters in 2010 — that call for the decennial redistricting process to be conducted without taking into account partisan makeup or incumbent advantage.

“Republican political consultants or operatives did in fact conspire to manipulate and influence the redistricting process,” Lewis writes in the opinion. “They made a mockery of the Legislature’s proclaimed transparency and open process of redistricting by doing all of this in the shadow of that process, utilizing the access it gave them to the decision makers, but going to great lengths to conceal from the public their plan and their participation in it.”"

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It sure looks like Obamacare is driving down the uninsured rate - Vox

So many people are now insured!

It sure looks like Obamacare is driving down the uninsured rate - Vox: "The downturn in the uninsured rate coincides with the start of the largest expansion of health insurance coverage in more than five decades, which is more commonly known as Obamacare.

The evidence is pretty overwhelming at this point that Obamacare has driven down the uninsured rate. Data from Gallup, the Commonwealth Fund, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation/Urban Institute, RAND Corporation and the Kaiser Family Foundation all have similar findings. Namely, that millions more people have insurance than before Obamacare's insurance expansion."

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Sen. Robert Menendez seeks probe of alleged Cuban plot to smear him - The Washington Post

Wow - way to go TDC!

Sen. Robert Menendez seeks probe of alleged Cuban plot to smear him - The Washington Post: "The allegations first became public on Nov. 1, 2012, days before Menendez stood for reelection, with the Daily Caller reporting that two women said they had met Menendez around Easter that year at the Casa de Campo resort and that Menendez paid them for sex acts."

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Boehner releases his plan to sue President Obama - Vox

The EMPLOYER MANDATE!

Boehner releases his plan to sue President Obama - Vox: "On Thursday, Speaker John Boehner released a draft resolution authorizing the House of Representatives to sue President Obama over the delay of Obamacare's employer mandate. Is there any precedent for this suit? How would it proceed? We answer your questions below."

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Man suspected in slaughter of 6, including 4 children, surrenders after Houston-area standoff - NY Daily News

Man suspected in slaughter of 6, including 4 children, surrenders after Houston-area standoff - NY Daily News: "Six people, including four children, were shot dead and a 15-year-old girl survived a bullet to the head in a grisly massacre Wednesday afternoon at a home in suburban Houston, police said.

The suspected killer, still armed and reportedly an uncle of some of the victims, held officers at bay for hours in a cul-de-sac some three miles from the Spring, Texas crime scene. He surrendered around 10 p.m. local time as police closed in."



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