North Carolina Governor Vows to Veto a Bill Seen as Targeting Gay Marriage - NYTimes.com

North Carolina Governor Vows to Veto a Bill Seen as Targeting Gay Marriage - NYTimes.com: "In a sharp rebuff to lawmakers in his party, North Carolina’s Republican governor said on Thursday that he would veto a measure to allow certain public officials to refuse to perform marriage ceremonies on the basis of their religious beliefs.

The proposal, written by one of the General Assembly’s most influential Republicans, would allow magistrate judges “to recuse from performing all lawful marriages” if they harbored “any sincerely held religious objection.”"

'via Blog this'

GOP panel on Benghazi finds no Obama administration wrongdoing - LA Times

GOP panel on Benghazi finds no Obama administration wrongdoing - LA Times: "The CIA and the military acted properly in responding to the 2012 attack on a U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya, a Republican-controlled House committee has found. Its report concluded that there was no wrongdoing by Obama administration officials."

'via Blog this'

U.S. Defense Secretary Blames Iraqi Forces for ISIS Victory in Ramadi - NYTimes.com

U.S. Defense Secretary Blames Iraqi Forces for ISIS Victory in Ramadi - NYTimes.com: "Defense Secretary Ashton B. Carter said Sunday that Iraqi forces had demonstrated “no will to fight” against the Islamic State, blaming them for a retreat that led to the terrorist group’s victory in capturing the Iraqi city of Ramadi.

While that critical assessment of Iraqi security forces has been voiced in Congress and by policy research institutes, Mr. Carter’s remarks on CNN’s “State of the Union” were some of the administration’s strongest language to date about Iraq’s repeated inability to hold and take back territory from the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL."

'via Blog this'

Conservative Criminal Justice Advocates Embrace Obama's Police Militarization Move - BuzzFeed News

Conservative Criminal Justice Advocates Embrace Obama's Police Militarization Move - BuzzFeed News: "Conservative-leaning criminal justice advocates cautiously praised President Obama’s reforms to federal programs that funnel millions in military equipment to local law enforcement Monday, while progressive leaning advocates called the changes surprisingly robust.
“I see no reason why a 20-ton mine resistant vehicle should ever roll down any city in our country. The president can change some of this through executive order and I commend him for doing so,” Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said in response to a question from BuzzFeed News at a press conference following a campaign event in Philadelphia. The libertarian-leaning Republican and 2016 presidential candidate was the most vocal politician to speak out against so-called police militarization in the wake of the Ferguson, Missouri, unrest in 2014."



'via Blog this'

American Future Project Ad: Religious Liberty

Lockheed Contractor Must Repay $27.5M for Overcharging Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan - Defense One

Lockheed Contractor Must Repay $27.5M for Overcharging Troops in Iraq and Afghanistan - Defense One: "A defense contractor producing products and services for U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan agreed on Friday to repay the government $27.5 million to settle overbilling charges brought under the False Claims Act."

'via Blog this'

Pentagon Paid $998,798 to Ship Two 19-Cent Washers (Update3) - Bloomberg

Pentagon Paid $998,798 to Ship Two 19-Cent Washers (Update3) - Bloomberg: " A small South Carolina parts supplier collected about $20.5 million over six years from the Pentagon for fraudulent shipping costs, including $998,798 for sending two 19-cent washers to an Army base in Texas, U.S. officials said.

The company also billed and was paid $455,009 to ship three machine screws costing $1.31 each to Marines in Habbaniyah, Iraq, and $293,451 to ship an 89-cent split washer to Patrick Air Force Base in Cape Canaveral, Florida, Pentagon records show."

'via Blog this'

New Unemployment Claims Fall to Near 15-Year Low - NYTimes.com

New Unemployment Claims Fall to Near 15-Year Low - NYTimes.com: "The number of Americans who last week filed new claims for unemployment benefits fell to near a 15-year low, indicating that the jobs market was on solid footing even as the economy struggles to regain momentum after abruptly slowing in the first quarter.

Initial claims for state unemployment benefits slipped 1,000 to a seasonally adjusted 264,000 for the week that ended May 9, the Labor Department said on Thursday, within a whisker of a 15-year low reached two weeks ago."

'via Blog this'

Capitol Hill's zPizza Announces Closure Due to New Minimum Wage Law - Eater Seattle

Capitol Hill's zPizza Announces Closure Due to New Minimum Wage Law - Eater Seattle: "Since Seattle's new minimum wage went into effect April 1, restaurateurs have been experimenting with different coping strategies. Tom Douglas instituted then removed a service charge before deciding to raise menu prices.  Ivar's and three Renee Erickson restaurants have hiked/will shortly hike wages straight to $15 per hour and eliminate tipping, and Erickson's restaurants will also add a 18.5 percent service charge to share between the front and back of the house."

'via Blog this'

Six officers charged in death of Freddie Gray - The Washington Post

Charged!

Six officers charged in death of Freddie Gray - The Washington Post: " Six police officers were charged Friday in the death of Freddie Gray as Baltimore’s top prosecutor acted with surprising swiftness in a case that ignited protests and rioting here. She described how Gray allegedly was arrested illegally, treated callously by the officers, and suffered a severe spine injury in the back of a police van while his pleas for medical help were ignored."
 'via Blog this'

NYPD Officer Shot In The Face In Queens: Reports

NYPD Officer Shot In The Face In Queens: Reports: "An officer with the New York Police Department was critically wounded after being shot in the face on Saturday in Queens, the fifth NYPD officer shot in as many months."
 'via Blog this'