Saturday, January 10, 2015

In the news, Saturday, December 27, 2014


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DEC 26      INDEX      DEC 28
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unfinished
Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from Breitbart

US CHAMBER OF COMMERCE THREATENS GOP ON IMMIGRATION, SPENDING

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from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)
from Forum for Middle East Understanding
(FFMU) (Shoebat.com)  [Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Muslims Are Calling To Revive An Ancient Horrifying Execution Method Against U.S. Led Coalition Pilots
If you think ISIS’s killing methods are bad, one video in Arabic done by a Muslim lady dressed in a Hijab argues that such methods as “beheading” and “shooting” are just too humane and will not work to stop the U.S. led coalition air raids which she complained that this is persecution against her living in Syria. To eliminate the attacks she suggested to reinstitute the Khazouk, an Ottoman method of execution which is a spike driven through the victim’s rectum.

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from The Heritage Foundation

Attorney: Government Accountability Board’s John Doe Justifications Don’t Hold Up to Law
We told somebody something, and that’s good enough. That’s effectively the line of defense from the state Government Accountability Board in the wake of stunning documents released Friday that allege the GAB was an out-of-control agency hell-bent on pursuing a partisan John Doe investigation into dozens of conservative groups and the campaign of Gov. Scott Walker.

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from RT (Russia Today)
(Russian government-supported propaganda channel)

Pakistan angered at 'hellhole' depiction in 'Homeland' – report
The Emmy-winning ‘Homeland’ series portrays Pakistan as an ugly, ignorant, terror-plagued “hellhole,” the country’s officials have complained to the New York Post, stressing “nothing is further from the truth.”

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from The Spokesman-Review

Snow brings crashes, icy roads
Cars are sliding off roads and down hills today as the region deals with its first significant snow fall of the season. There was an inch of snow outside the National Weather Service office on the west plains at noon today, said meteorologist Steven Van Horn, and the snow will continue to fall through this evening. By the end of the day Spokane should have about three inches of snow while North Idaho could see up to six inches.

Snow in forecast today, followed by blast of cold
The first significant snowstorm of the season was forecast across the Inland Northwest today and Sunday, to be followed by a new shot of arctic cold.

Firefighter’s BADAxx needs funding for production
Spokane firefighter Scott McCann worked in his personal shop for two years to create the BADAxx, designed as the life-saving Swiss Army knife of fire axes. McCann is looking to Kickstarter to help fund the first version of the ax, which he believes will save firefighters’ lives.

Conservationists, lumber industry team up to save logging town
Logs are piled high in the yard of the Malheur Lumber Co. mill in this small town in northeastern Oregon, ready to be sawed into lumber. John Day, a town of 1,700, nearly died two years ago. Its lifeblood, the sawmill, was about to close. So few logs were coming off the nearby Malheur National Forest, the mill’s owners decided it was time to shut down. But the mill and the town’s economy were rescued by a detente between the timber industry and environmentalists – foes since the battles over logging that erupted in the Pacific Northwest three decades ago. The sides uncovered a shared goal: thinning overgrown forests to prevent catastrophic wildfires.

Crew kidded, but goats recycle Christmas trees
Friday marked the first day the Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District in Nevada began using a unique – not to mention environmentally sustainable – method of recycling the symbol of Christmas. Pine needles and all.

Police visit baby they helped deliver on Philadelphia subway

Thousands attend wake for NYC officer

NATO is top threat, newly signed Russian doctrine says

Ukraine, pro-Russia rebels exchange prisoners
Ukrainian authorities and pro-Russia rebels exchanged nearly 370 prisoners Friday, a major step toward easing hostilities in eastern Ukraine.

Pregnant woman taken off life support in Ireland
A brain-dead pregnant woman was taken off life support Friday after a court ruled that her 18-week-old fetus was doomed to die – a case that exposed fear and confusion among doctors over how to apply Ireland’s strict ban on abortion in an age of medical innovation.

North Korea blames U.S. for Internet hacking

Colorado runner-up for regular pot users, study finds
The study by the National Survey on Drug Use and Health found about 1 out of 8 Colorado residents older than 12 had used marijuana in the past month, the Denver Post reported. Only Rhode Island topped Colorado in the percentage of residents who reported using pot as often.

In brief: Israeli high court orders West Bank settlement demolished
Israel’s Supreme Court has ordered the government to demolish the West Bank settlement of Amona within two years and relocate its 300 Jewish residents, moving to end a years-long legal battle.
Police question IRA veteran after wife is found stabbed
Detectives interrogated a prominent Irish Republican Army veteran Friday on suspicion of stabbing his wife several times on Christmas Eve, an attack condemned by the IRA-linked Sinn Fein party.

State Supreme Court grants new trial in DUI case
The case hinged on WSP Trooper Chris Stone’s use of only the horizontal gaze nystagmus (HGN) test, where a driver is asked to track a pen or finger with his or her eyes, to determine Quaale was drunk. Five Supreme Court justices said that evidence alone was not enough for Stone to offer an expert opinion that Quaale was driving while intoxicated, but four of their colleagues and Spokane County prosecutors said that distinction sets a dangerous precedent.

Lawsuit alleges assault during arrest by police
A Spokane man arrested on domestic violence charges that were later dismissed is suing the Spokane Police Department, claiming five officers assaulted him and violated his constitutional rights. But reports from responding officers indicate Lucas T. Cassidy, 35, was uncooperative and resisted arrest when police attempted to take him into custody.

In brief: Suspected 911 caller faces threat charges
Andrew W. Wattles, 22, who reportedly told witnesses he’d made several fake calls to 911 because he was bored, was in court Friday after being arrested Christmas Eve on a charge stemming from a July 25 bomb threat. He was freed without bond Friday pending further proceedings.
Woman dies after Highway 95 crash
Patricia McCoy, 64, of Priest River, Idaho, was turning onto the highway from Dufort Road near Sagle in her 1991 Nissan Sentra at 2:30 p.m. when it collided with an SUV. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
Dog rescued after stranded on cliff
A yellow Labrador that got spooked on a Christmas Day hike in the Columbia Gorge, snapping her leash and plunging 150 feet down a cliff, was rescued in the dark by a climber who rappelled to a narrow ledge where the dog was trapped.
Riders soon allowed to reserve ferry spot
SEATTLE – Starting Jan. 5, riders will be able to reserve a spot on the San Juan ferry sailing from Anacortes, Friday Harbor and Orcas Island.

Poultry producers worry bird flu will impact trade
Commercial poultry producers say they’re concerned the outbreak of highly pathogenic bird flu virus found in Washington and Oregon will hurt exports by prompting some nations to impose trade barriers.

101,000 buy health coverage in state’s open enrollment
Between renewals and new customers, 101,000 Washington residents have bought health insurance through the Washington exchange so far this open enrollment period.

Faith and Values: God’s love is experienced through interactions with others
Editor’s note: This is one of Paul Graves’ occasional letters to his grandchildren.



The Internal Revenue Service has sued former Microsoft Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer and a slate of other former and current executives, seeking to compel them to testify in an investigation into the company’s tax practices.


Missouri became the first state Friday to have an average statewide gas price fall below $2 per gallon since 2009, while Oklahoma’s average was expected to drop below that threshold sometime over the weekend, according to AAA.
After five-day rally, ruble slips 4 percent
MOSCOW – The Russian currency has ended its five-day rally and declined 4 percent as the markets remain jittery over the outlook of the Russian economy.
Stimulus plan in works to fight Japan recession
TOKYO – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning about 3.5 trillion yen ($29 billion) in fresh stimulus, including subsidies and job-creating programs, to help pull the world’s third-largest economy out of recession.

After FedEx and UPS failed to deliver some presents in time for Christmas last year, the two package carriers improved their performance this holiday season.

Online video games still disrupted
Sony’s PlayStation network remained offline Friday on the second day of an outage that began roiling the online world just as eager video game players were unwrapping new consoles on Christmas morning. Microsoft’s Xbox Live service, which also went down Thursday, was back online Friday although the company reported problems with some functions in the afternoon.

New rules set for ‘boarding’ psychiatric patients
Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services said it complied with a Friday deadline set by the state Supreme Court to stop “warehousing” mentally ill people in emergency rooms and hospitals just because certified treatment facilities are already full.

Shawn Vestal: Washington’s mental health services a disservice

Froma Harrop: Tax cuts don’t produce a magic kingdom

Michael Gerson: Movie a reminder to make room for genius

Outside view: It’s time to build on strengthening economy

Other voices: Immigration fix should address vacant tech jobs in U.S.

Gary Ferguson: Fear of nature outweighs its risks

Ask Dr. K: Body, systems coordinate to create balance

Jazz clarinetist Buddy DeFranco dies at 91
(17 Feb 1923 - 24 Dec 2014)

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from Yahoo News

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