Saturday, March 7, 2015

In the news, Friday, February 20, 2015


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FEB 19      INDEX      FEB 21
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from Americas Freedom Fighters
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

OBAMA IGNORES FEDERAL JUDGE’S RULING- ILLEGAL AMNESTY GOES FULL THROTTLE!

[WATCH!] MUSLIM DEMANDS TEXAS PIG FARMER TO MOVE- HERE’S WHAT HE DID!

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from The Atlantic (& CityLab)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

The Danger of Being Neighborly Without a Permit
All over America, people have put small "give one, take one" book exchanges in front of their homes. Then they were told to tear them down.

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
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from Breitbart
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from BuzzPo
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from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)
from Money Talks News
from The Spokesman-Review

Gov’t sent 800,000 HealthCare.gov customers wrong tax info
The Obama administration says it sent about 800,000 HealthCare.gov customers the wrong tax information, and officials are asking those consumers to delay filing their 2014 taxes.

U.S. official: Mission to retake Mosul to begin in April or May
The operation to retake Iraq’s second-largest city from Islamic State militants will likely begin in April or May and will involve about 12 Iraqi brigades, or between 20,000 and 25,000 troops, a senior U.S. military official said Thursday.

Ex-Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell sentenced to 1 year
Former Virginia first lady Maureen McDonnell was sentenced Friday to one year and 1 day in prison for her role in a bribery scheme that destroyed her husband’s political career.

Senate panel calls for full audit of WWAMI
At the end of a sometimes contentious hearing Thursday over UW plans to expand the number of medical students it has in Spokane, the Senate Health Care Committee added a requirement for a full audit by legislative financial experts of the a multistate medical training program that involves Washington, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and Idaho and goes by the acronym WWAMI.

Coffee lovers served up good news
An extra cup or two of coffee may be OK after all. More eggs, too. But you definitely need to drink less sugary soda. And, as always, don’t forget your vegetables. Recommendations Thursday from a government advisory committee call for an environmentally friendly diet lower in red and processed meats. But the panel would reverse previous guidance on limiting dietary cholesterol. And it says the caffeine in a few cups of coffee could actually be good for you. The committee also is backing off stricter limits on salt, though it says Americans still get much too much. It’s recommending the first real limits on added sugar, saying that’s especially a problem for young people.

Feds say derailed oil train was not speeding
Speed doesn’t appear to have been a factor in an oil-train derailment in southern West Virginia, a federal transportation official said Thursday. The CSX train was going 33 mph at the time of Monday’s crash in the town of Mount Carbon. The speed limit was 50 mph.

Winter weather in U.S. a study in extremes
It may be hard to believe for a country that’s shivering from Maine to Miami, but 2015 has gotten off to a rather toasty start. Last month was the second warmest January on record globally, behind 2007, with temperatures 1.4 degrees above the average for the 20th century, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Meteorologists calculated that the United States in January was 2.9 degrees warmer than normal, making it the 24th warmest January since 1880.

Seaport talks still underway
Negotiators for dockworkers and their employers are still trying to break their deadlock and reach a new contract that would restore labor peace – and the free flow of international trade – to West Coast seaports.

China expands artificial islands on disputed reefs
New satellite images show China has rapidly expanded several artificial islands it is building atop disputed reefs in the South China Sea, raising fresh concerns across the region and in Washington about Beijing’s intentions. Dredging and sand reclamation over the last year at Hughes Reef, a shoal in the Spratly Islands, which are claimed by five nations, has created a 90,000-square-yard island with two piers, a helicopter pad and what appears to be an anti-aircraft tower or radar facility, according to HIS Jane’s, a defense research company.

Snowden leak: NSA helped British steal cellphone codes
Britain’s electronic spying agency, in cooperation with the U.S. National Security Agency, hacked into the networks of a Dutch company to steal codes that allow both governments to seamlessly eavesdrop on mobile phones worldwide, according to the documents given to journalists by Edward Snowden.

Clashing views in Greece, Germany drive Europe’s latest financial crisis
Greece, perhaps at German urging, might decide to leave the eurozone – the group of nations that use the euro as their currency – as early as today.

In brief: Campaign launched for missing reporter
Major U.S. media organizations launched a campaign Thursday to publicize the plight of missing McClatchy contributor Austin Tice, who disappeared in Syria in August 2012. Tice is thought to be still alive, and he isn’t a prisoner of the Islamic State group, which executed two American journalists last year. But there’s been no direct communication with his captors since he vanished near Damascus as he was traveling to Beirut.
Medical scope linked to bacterial outbreak
A commonly used medical scope linked to a deadly bacterial outbreak at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center may be so flawed it cannot be properly cleaned, federal officials conceded Thursday. But they stopped short of recalling the device or outlining any new sterilization procedures.
‘Parks and Rec’ producer found dead
Harris Wittels, who worked as a writer and executive producer on the NBC comedy “Parks and Recreation,” was found dead Thursday of a possible drug overdose at his Los Angeles home, police said. He was 30.
U.S. missionary accused of rebel ties
A court on Thursday rejected a request from prosecutors for the jailing of U.S. missionary Russell Martin Stendal, a 59-year-old Minnesota native who has worked for decades in some of Colombia’s most dangerous regions. to face charges of collaborating with Colombia’s main leftist rebel group, Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, ruling the evidence was not strong enough to warrant detention.

Key Ukraine town under rebel control; separatists celebrate
For the rebel fighters who seized control of the strategic town of Debaltseve, Thursday was a day of jubilation and bragging of victory. The retreating Ukrainian soldiers were grim, stunned and relieved to have escaped with their lives as the scope of their losses became clearer: at least 13 dead and hundreds missing, captured or wounded.

In brief: U.S., Britain say Libya needs government, not weapons
Two of the most powerful members of the U.N. Security Council are rejecting Libya’s call to lift a U.N. arms embargo so it can defend itself against the Islamic State group, saying Thursday that the chaotic country needs a national unity government first.
U.S. identifies Syrian group of trainees
Six months after President Barack Obama announced plans to degrade and destroy the Islamic State militant group, the Pentagon has identified the first batch of Syrian opposition fighters for U.S. military training to take on the group in Syria.

Islamic State showing internal strain
As the Islamic State group tries to expand and take root across the Middle East, it is struggling in Syria – part of its heartland – where it has stalled or even lost ground while fighting enemies on several fronts. Signs of tension and power struggles are emerging among the ranks of its foreign fighters.

Cancer-screening money available from Spokane health district
The Spokane Regional Health District wants to get the word out that it has money available for breast, cervical and colon cancer screenings.

NIC sex-for-scholarship scheme getting full review
Investigators want to know how far back a recently fired North Idaho College administrator had been offering students scholarship money in exchange for sex and if there are any victims of the alleged scheme. Joseph M. Bekken, who was fired Feb. 2 as NIC’s financial aid director, was ordered held in the Kootenai County Jail on $100,000 bond. He is charged with five felonies: attempting to procure a prostitute, attempting to misuse public money, bribery, computer crimes and burglary.

In brief: Escaped inmate shot in leg, arrested
Escaped inmate Roy Bieluch was shot Thursday evening in a confrontation with a homeowner near Wallace, Shoshone County Sheriff Mitch Alexander said in a news release.
Harvey dismissed in Kettle Falls Five trial
Larry Harvey, 71, will not stand trial for his involvement in the so-called “ Kettle Falls Five” marijuana collective farm, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

In brief: Police end probe into woman’s death
The Spokane County medical examiner said Emily Simons, 51, died from blunt-force trauma to the head. Her boyfriend, Rick Krupke, found her body Oct. 31. Spokane police Major Crimes Detective Steve Wohl said a review of Krupke’s cellphone records showed he was at work at the time she died. Information from the medical examiner also indicated her facial and head injuries could have been caused by her falling forward.
Man reporting intruder ends up being arrested
A man living outside Kingston, Idaho, called Shoshone County deputies Wednesday to report that someone was breaking into his home. Deputies couldn’t locate an intruder when they arrived, but they did find guns and drugs.  There was methamphetamine in plain view and there were guns positioned at every window, according to a news release from Shoshone County Sheriff Mitch Alexander. The man, identified as 26-year-old Justin T. Bartlett, “showed signs of paranoia.”
Nelson will owe $44.8M after release
When Doris Nelson is released from federal prison in 2022 she’ll owe investors in her payday loan scheme close to $44.8 million, a federal judge ruled Thursday.

Video from police, public examined in Pasco shooting
Investigators asked the public Thursday to provide more social media images and eyewitness accounts of a fatal police shooting that has sparked a series of protests in an agricultural community in Washington state.

Stopgap broadband funding gets Idaho House OK
Lawmakers have approved a $3.6 million emergency funding bill to sustain Idaho’s troubled broadband program for a handful of months.

Minimum wage hike, sick leave bills go to House
Proposals to raise Washington’s minimum wage to $12 an hour over four years and require sick leave for most workers passed a key committee Thursday on partisan votes.

Wal-Mart raising pay of 500,000 workers
Hike to $9 an hour will exceed federal minimum wage by $1.75

Self-driving vehicles to hit road in Sweden
Volvo made its self-driving ambitions clear Thursday with the announcement of a pilot program that will put 100 autonomous cars on Swedish roads by 2017.

Biotech firm Arvegenix developing the next cash crop
A Missouri biotech startup is trying to accomplish something that hasn’t been done since the middle of the last century. Researchers are trying to turn what currently amounts to a weed – in this case, pennycress – into a viable commodity crop for farmers. And they hope to do it before the end of this decade.

Study finds Idaho’s five tribes generate $1 billion in annual sales
Idaho’s five Indian tribes employ nearly 5,000 people and generate annual sales in excess of $1 billion, a new study says.

Business briefs: Initial jobless claims fall lower than expected
Initial jobless claims declined more than expected last week, falling back below the 300,000 level that indicates a healthy labor market.
Cargo numbers down in NW for third month
To almost no one’s surprise, cargo container numbers handled by the ports of Tacoma and Seattle declined by 13 percent last month.
Disney World tickets about to pass $100
It looks like Walt Disney World ticket prices will break the $100 barrier, possibly as soon as this weekend.
Alert devices sought for big rigs, buses
Four highway safety groups are asking the U.S. government to require tractor-trailers and big buses to have devices that alert drivers to stopped traffic and brake the trucks if they don’t respond.

Parental rights bill gets lengthy hearing
A bill seeking to expand parental rights in Idaho sparked concerns Thursday by attorneys who say its implementation could set off a new slew of lawsuits.

Idaho panel votes to repeal 151-year-old dueling law
A legislative panel is recommending that a 151-year-old Idaho law on duels be repealed. The House Judiciary, Rules and Administration Committee unanimously voted Thursday to eliminate the last remaining reference to dueling in Idaho law.

Washington House panel tables death penalty bill
An effort to abolish the death penalty in Washington state isn’t moving forward in the Legislature this year after the chairwoman of a House committee chose to not bring it up for a vote Thursday in advance of a key deadline.

Inslee signs supplemental budget for mudslide, fire relief
Gov. Jay Inslee signed a supplemental budget Wednesday that allocates nearly $218 million in state and federal money for expenses including the deadly Oso mudslide and last summer’s wildfires.

Shawn Vestal: Firing of VA hospital director raises other questions

Amy Goodman: Greece, Spain challenging rules

Editorial: Proposal gives administrative law system vital reforms

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from Vox
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from The Washington Examiner

Rand Paul returns $1.8 million in unused Senate office money
Just because he has it, doesn’t mean Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul feels compelled to spend every cent Uncle Sam gives him to run his Senate office. Following past practice, Paul today said he returned $480,000 in unused money to the Treasury, bringing his total sent back to $1.8 million.

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from WND (World Net Daily)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Last days? Heavenly signs abound during Netanyahu speech

OBAMA DHS: 'RIGHT-WING EXTREMISTS' GREATER THREAT THAN ISIS
Report predicts where 2015 violence will occur most frequently

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from 100 Percent FED Up
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

VIDEO FOR THE AGES: MEGYN KELLY RIPS LUIS GUTIERREZ TO SHREDS ON IMMIGRATION

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Posted by at No comments:

In the news, Thursday, February 19, 2015


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FEB 18      INDEX      FEB 20
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

________

from ABC News (& affiliates)

Why dope gives you the 'munchies'
Cannabinoids in the drug stimulate the appetite by flicking a switch in neurones that normally inhibit eating, say researchers in today's issue of the journal Nature.

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from Conciliar Post

TO PROVE A POINT
In one sense, Conciliar Post exists because people disagree, and they disagree about really important stuff. Discussion driven by dissenting opinion is not, in and of itself, a terrible thing. Much benefit can be derived from debate and disagreement—this idea lies at the heart of Conciliar Post’s purpose.

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from Downtrend.com

Dem Rep Falls Into Megyn Kelly’s Trap, Hurts Himself Repeatedly Trying To Get Out
Democratic Rep. Luis Gutierrez is an immigration activist. He crossed swords with Megyn Kelly last night and lost.

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from FactCheck.org

Moving the Goalposts
President Barack Obama says the Affordable Care Act is working “a little bit better than we anticipated,” based on the 11.4 million people who signed up for insurance on the exchanges during the recent open enrollment period. That’s better than the administration anticipated, but worse than a Congressional Budget Office projection.

Paul Knocks Flies and NIH Funding

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from Foreign Policy

The Winners and Losers from Falling Asian Gas Prices
Plunging natural gas prices in Asia are a boon for some countries -- but a massive headache from Vladivostok to Vancouver.

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from The Heritage Foundation
from NBC News (& affiliates)
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from POLITICO

Benjamin Netanyahu takes another swipe at the White House
Netanyahu challenges the White House to release details of its negotiations with Iran

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from Space.com (& CollectSpace)

LHC Ready to Hunt Down Mystery Dark Matter Particles
An upgraded, more powerful Large Hadron Collider, slated to begin returning to service next month, should open the door to new realms of physics, including possibly a glimpse of so-called "dark matter" particles, which, along with an equally mysterious dark energy force, dominates the universe.

Moon Water Ingredient More Plentiful on Slopes Facing Lunar South Pole

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from The Spokesman-Review

Police no longer investigating woman’s death
The Spokane County Medical Examiner said Emily Simons, 51, died from blunt force trauma to the head. Her boyfriend, Rick Krupke, found her body on Oct. 31, 2014.

Drivers injured in head-on collision on Bigelow Gulch Road
A head-on collision injured two drivers Thursday morning shortly after 8 a.m. near the intersection of Bigelow Gulch Road and East Weile Avenue. Spokane County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Deputy Mark Gregory said preliminary information from witnesses suggested the driver of the Jeep went over the center line while driving west. A man driving a Toyota Tacoma in the opposite direction attempted to avoid the collision by driving off the road, but the Jeep struck his on the front left side. The driver of the Jeep may have been under the influence. Both drivers were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Human remains found near Bayview from adult man
The human remains found by a hiker in a forested area near Cape Horn Road on Feb. 4 belong to an adult white man, possibly 30-50 years old, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said today.

SCRAPS seeking owner for runaway pot-bellied pig
Animal control officers are looking for the owner of a pot-bellied pig found running down a Spokane street on Valentine’s Day. The pig was found in the area of East Mallon Avenue and North Pittsburg Street.

Former NIC official held on $100,000 bond

NIC administrator accused of offering financial aid for sex
Joseph M. Bekken, a North Idaho College administrator accused of offering scholarship money to students in exchange for sex, told police he had made the solicitations on Craigslist for several semesters.

Obama: It’s not war on Islam, but war on those who have perverted the religion
Muslims in the U.S. and around the world have a responsibility to fight a misconception that terrorist groups like the Islamic State speak for them, President Barack Obama said Wednesday in his most direct remarks yet about any link between Islam and terrorism.

Health district offers students guided walks to school
The health district received a Safe Routes to School grant last year to implement the walk-to-school program during the next three years at seven elementary schools. Two programs will start this spring, one at Holmes in Spokane’s West Central Neighborhood and the other at Seth Woodard in the West Valley School District. The other schools are Stevens, Logan, Bemiss and Moran Prairie elementary schools in Spokane, and Sunset in the Cheney School District. Students will use what are called walking school buses – a chaperoned group of children using sidewalks as roadways, stopping at houses along the way to pick up students.

Tax exemption puts Spokane and county at odds
When city leaders encouraged Spokane voters to pass last year’s street levy, they promised that existing property tax rates wouldn’t change. Now that promise is in jeopardy. The state Department of Revenue says a long-standing tax exemption doesn’t apply to the levy, which passed with 77 percent of the vote. And now about 4,000 low-income senior citizens and people with disabilities in Spokane may face unwelcome tax bills as a result.

FDA warns cumin spice imports found to be tainted with peanuts
The Food and Drug Administration is advising people with peanut allergies to avoid cumin after several shipments of the spice tested positive for peanuts not listed on the label.

‘What Pet Should I Get?’ is Seuss-lovers’ next, best bet
Random House Children’s Books announced Wednesday that the late author Theodor Geisel’s manuscript with illustrations, called “What Pet Should I Get?,” will be published July 28. The publisher also plans for at least two more books from materials discovered in the late author’s La Jolla home in 2013.

Jeb Bush: U.S. must ‘tighten the noose’ in fight against IS
 Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday there can be no diplomacy with Islamic State militants, but only a U.S.-led coalition of Middle Eastern countries committed to “tightening the noose and taking them out.”

Kate Brown sworn in as Oregon governor
Kate Brown was sworn in Wednesday as Oregon’s governor following an influence-peddling scandal that prompted the resignation of fellow Democrat John Kitzhaber, who had been the state’s longest-serving chief executive before his swift fall from grace.

In brief: Obama chooses Secret Service director
President Barack Obama on Wednesday chose the former Secret Service special agent he installed temporarily in the wake of security breaches to become the agency’s next director, brushing aside an independent panel’s conclusion that the job should go to an outsider.
Blast devastates refinery; ash rains in area
An explosion devastated a section of a major refinery on Wednesday morning, raining down ash in the area and, experts say, likely helping to increase California gas prices, which have been creeping up in recent weeks.
Illinois’ new GOP governor calls for cuts
Illinois’ new Republican governor called Wednesday for deep spending cuts to Medicaid, pensions and other programs to fix the state’s budget mess without raising taxes – a pitch met with quick opposition from Democrats who control the Legislature.
Official: Video shows Jenner started crash
Video shows Bruce Jenner started a chain-reaction crash that resulted in a woman’s death on a Malibu highway, a law enforcement official told the Associated Press on Wednesday.

Arab leaders: Libya needs weapons
Arab leaders called Wednesday on the U.N. Security Council to lift arms sanctions against Libya to help its army fight the Islamic State group and warned the militants’ beheading of Egyptian Christians threatened to expand Libya’s civil war into a regional military conflict.

Superbug linked to 2 deaths at UCLA hospital; 100 potentially exposed
More than 100 patients at UCLA’s Ronald Reagan Medical Center may have been exposed to a potentially deadly bacteria from contaminated medical scopes after similar outbreaks at other hospitals across the country. The Los Angeles Times has learned that seven patients at the University of California, Los Angeles center have been infected by the drug-resistant superbug known as CRE, and the bacteria may have contributed to two of those patients’ deaths. Those numbers may grow as more patients get tested.

Israel on Wednesday unveiled the largest collection of medieval gold coins ever found in the country, accidentally discovered by amateur divers and dating back about a thousand years. The find was made two weeks ago near the Israeli port city of Caesarea and consists of roughly 2,000 coins, weighing about 13 pounds, the Israel Antiquities Authority said.

Government soldiers pulled out of a ferociously contested railway hub in eastern Ukraine on Wednesday, ending a siege so intense the retreating troops said they couldn’t get water or food amid relentless shelling by Russian-backed separatists. At least six soldiers were killed in the withdrawal and more than 100 wounded.

In brief: Attack on Shiite mosque kills three
An attack on a Shiite mosque in the Pakistani capital of Islamabad on Wednesday evening killed at least three people, the latest act of violence to target the country’s religious minority.
Pope joins walk on Ash Wednesday
Pope Francis walked in a solemn Ash Wednesday procession between churches on Rome’s ancient Aventine Hill, calling on people to humbly remember their human limits as faithful began their annual penitential Lenten period.
Canada: Mad cow case came after ban
Canada’s food safety organization says a cow discovered on an Alberta farm with mad cow disease was born two years after the government imposed a tougher ban on animal feed to guard against the disease.

Iran leader threatens energy embargo amid sanctions
In a speech to economists and officials from the western city of Tabriz, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei cast doubt on the likelihood of success in the decadelong negotiation over Iran’s nuclear capabilities and threatened to play his own sanctions card if the restraints on the Iranian economy aren’t lifted. “The enemy is going to use the weapon of sanctions to the hilt because their goal is to stop the progress of our people,” Khamenei was quoted as saying by the official Islamic Republic News Agency. “Even if we were to allow them to dictate to us on the nuclear issue, the sanctions will not be lifted because they are against the foundational principles of the revolution.”

Inmate’s escape sheds light on shortage of jail deputies
The escape of an inmate via the Shoshone County Jail’s front door has shed light on the jail’s low staffing – sometimes as low as one guard watching over 50 inmates.

House bills seek to provide clarity on police body camera use
Spokane’s police chief says his department may not deploy the 220 police body cameras the city already has purchased until the state Legislature finalizes rules about publicly releasing footage.

Body camera bills in the Washington Legislature

WSU, UW questioned on medical school budgets
The Legislature should not have to be forced to act like a parent to settle a fight between children in the dispute between the state’s two largest universities over medical education in Spokane, a key senator said Wednesday.

‘Punch hole clouds’ extend east of Spokane to North Idaho
Dawn unveiled an unusual and beautiful cloud formation Wednesday that was last documented in the Inland Northwest five years ago.

House panel weighs bill to abolish death penalty in Washington

Police report says officers didn’t mistreat transgender victim
Spokane police say they found no evidence to support allegations that officers behaved improperly when responding to the assault of a transgender woman at Boots Bakery on Jan. 30.

In brief: Released from hospital, felon faces assault charge
The suspect wounded in an officer-involved shooting on Barker Road on Jan. 30 was released from the hospital this week and made his first court appearance Wednesday. Christopher R. Myers, 28, was ordered held on $750,000 bond on two charges of first-degree assault and a charge of unlawful possession of a firearm. Myers is a convicted felon and is prohibited from having a firearm.
Comments being sought on Deer Creek logging
The U.S. Forest Service is taking comments through Saturday on a plan to log 10 million board feet of timber as part of a forest restoration project north of Moyie Springs, Idaho.
Homicide suspect’s extradition delayed
An Eastern Washington state judge on Tuesday granted a motion to extend the time 29-year-old John Lee, of Moscow, will be held in the Whitman County Jail. Whitman County Superior Court Judge David Frazier granted the motion after being told that Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s order to extradite Lee to Idaho hadn’t arrived.
Seattle’s tunnel digger starts drilling again
Bertha, Seattle’s troubled tunnel machine, is on the move after being stalled for more than a year. The giant boring device that is trying to dig a new state Route 99 beneath the city started drilling late Tuesday and had moved 6 feet by Wednesday afternoon. Bertha must travel another 14 feet through unreinforced concrete to reach an access pit so workers can remove its front section for repairs.
Police: Texas driver had 25 pounds of pot
Idaho State Police said a traffic stop near Nampa apparently derailed a Texas man’s business model. A 24-year-old Houston man had been stopped by a trooper on Monday night for a traffic infraction on Interstate 84 when the trooper detected a strong odor of marijuana from the Ford Escape. The trooper called for a drug detection K-9 that found the car interesting, and police found roughly 25 pounds of marijuana inside.

Earthquake in Cascades not best sign for early warning system
A magnitude-4.3 earthquake that rumbled under Washington’s Cascade Range early Wednesday was “not a great advertisement” for an early warning system undergoing tests, an official said. The system noticed the quake 18 seconds late, said John Vidale, director of the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network at the University of Washington.

Richland florist who refused gay-wedding request broke law, judge rules
A florist in Washington who refused to provide flowers to a gay couple for their wedding violated state consumer protection and anti-discrimination law, a judge ruled Wednesday. Benton County Superior Court Judge Alex Ekstrom rejected arguments from the owner of Arlene’s Flowers in Richland that her actions were protected by her freedoms of speech and religion. While religious beliefs are protected by the First Amendment, he said, actions based on those beliefs aren’t necessarily protected.

Labor secretary urges deal
The nation’s top labor official is bringing a clear message to dockworkers and their employers amid a contract dispute that has crippled international trade through West Coast seaports: Reach a deal – and fast.

Workers who post offensive comments on social media put bosses at risk of lawsuits
Whether it’s comments about news events, long-held beliefs or a badly timed joke, an employee’s offensive posts on Facebook, Twitter and other popular social media sites can damage a company’s entire image and hurt its profits. If the social media comments are racist, homophobic, sexist or against a religious group, tolerating discriminatory comments puts an employer at risk for lawsuits and losing its customer base. Small businesses are typically unprepared when they are thrust into the spotlight in such a negative way. While many large companies have social media policies, small companies often don’t.

Pot industry growing in North Central Washington
The whirlwind first nine months of the state’s legal recreational marijuana business has yielded a handful of North Central Washington sellers, growers and processors who are already among the state’s top sellers. But even their short time in business has been long enough to get a glimpse of the future if they remain subject to double taxation, unregulated competition from the state’s medical marijuana dispensaries, a dearth of licensed pot retailers and big swings in the supply chain.

Cash saved at gas pumps staying in pockets
The lowest gas prices in five years had given people more spending money. Employers added over 1 million jobs from November through January, the best three-month pace in 17 years. Businesses even raised pay in December. Economists had forecast last week’s retail sales report for January would show a healthy rise. And yet – to analysts’ surprise – consumers held their wallets closely.

Record silver boosts Hecla
Hecla Mining Co. produced a record 11.1 million ounces of silver last year and reported sales of more than $500 million, officials said Wednesday.
Nestle to omit fake flavors
Chocolate lovers in the U.S. can kiss artificial flavors and colors in Butterfingers, Crunch and Baby Ruth bars goodbye, as Nestle aims to become the first U.S. candymaker to remove such ingredients from its chocolate products.
Caterpillar subpoenaed
The U.S. government is investigating how Caterpillar has been moving cash between its business units in the U.S. and overseas, the construction equipment company said Wednesday.

The Syrian government of President Bashar Assad is willing to suspend bombardment of opposition-held areas of the northern city of Aleppo for six weeks as part of a renewed diplomatic push in the war-ravaged nation, according to the special United Nations envoy to Syria.

Editorial: Idaho should give funds, power back to schools

Dana Milbank: Road to female presidency paved in testosterone

Cindy Hval’s regular newspaper feature inspires book of WWII romances
Young couples facing wartime trials forged relationships as seeds to 60- and 70-year marriages. Now, Cindy Hval’s first book “War Bonds: Love Stories From the Greatest Generation” describes 36 couples and their romances in the shadow of WWII. Casemate Publishers is releasing the book this month, and it’s available at Auntie’s, Barnes & Noble and Amazon.

Ask Doctor K: Minimize energy drink consumption

An arresting display of memorabilia
The Spokane Law Enforcement Museum at 1201 W. First Ave. is open to the public on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nearly 50 museum members donate $35 a year. Other funding comes from museum gate charges, which are $5 for adults, $4 for seniors or military personnel, $3 for students and $2 for children 12 and under.

Residents have mixed feelings for Browne’s tear down plan
The owner of two historic residential buildings in Browne’s Addition wants to tear out the structures to make room for a three-story apartment house with modern design. Kettrick Properties LLC is seeking a demolition permit to tear down the two 19th century houses that had been converted to apartments over the years. The house at 2335 W. Third Ave. was built in 1895 while the next-door property at 317 S. Coeur d’Alene was built in 1898.

Landers: Moose issues spur tough decisions for wildlife officials
To euthanize or tranquilize? That is the question state wildlife officials must ask as a last resort when moose become a high-risk threat to humans.

Safeway to close Argonne store in Spokane Valley
The Safeway at 1441 N. Argonne Road will shut its doors for the last time on March 4. The store is closing because the lease on the property is up and Safeway is not renewing it. The closure is not connected to the recent merger of Safeway and Albertsons. The store is located in a strip mall at the intersection of Argonne and Mission Avenue, just south of Interstate 90.

Pat Munts: Two trees come home from garden show trip

Randy Mann: Storm or two ahead before end of Inland NW winter

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from Think Progress
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Crunched By His Big Tax Cuts, Scott Walker Will Skip $108 Million In Debt Payments

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from TPNN (Tea Party News Network)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

VIDEO: Another Obama ‘Summit Without Substance!’ He Really Said That???
US President Barack Obama’s speech at the Terrorism and Extremism summit in Washington left many scratching their head.

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from The Washington Post (DC)
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from The Western Center for Journalism
(Western Journalism)

ISIS Militant Who Led Execution Of Christians Could Be An American

Freedom Of Speech Under Attack On Campus

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Posted by at No comments:

In the news, Wednesday, February 18, 2015


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FEB 17      INDEX      FEB 19
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

________


________

from Americas Freedom Fighters
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

FORMER BREITBART REPORTER GETTING DEATH THREATS FOR REVEALING OBAMA’S FAKE PAST!

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from Breitbart
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from The Christian Science Monitor

Norwegian Muslims vow to protect Oslo synagogue
In a show of solidarity with the Jewish community, a group of Muslims in Norway plan to form a human 'peace ring' around a synagogue in Oslo.

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from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)

HuffPo Thinks These Empty Feminist Gestures are ‘Changing the World’

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from Conservative Infidel

Bill Clinton’s Ties To Pedophile Epstein Start To Unravel Before Hillary Is Even Officially Declared A Candidate.
Hillary Clinton, who has yet to be named the Democratic candidate for President in 2016, finds herself enmeshed in a transatlantic scandal that is an untimely reminder of the scandal fatigue that Americans were forced to endure during the Presidency of her husband, Bill Clinton. Last Monday, the Guardian newspaper, the BBC, the French newspaper, Le Monde and dozens of other news outlets disclosed that the Swiss banking unit of the global behemoth bank, HSBC, had assisted the ultra rich in hiding assets and providing advice on how to evade domestic tax authorities.

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from Conservative Post
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Rev. Graham Exposes Mohammed and ISIS for What They Really Are

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from Forbes

Microsoft Is The New Google, Google Is The Old Microsoft

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from Foreign Policy

Let’s Call the Ukrainian Cease-Fire What It Is
It’s time for much harsher measures on Moscow.

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from The Heritage Foundation
from Money Talks News
from The Spokesman-Review

Police: No evidence of improper officer conduct in transgender woman’s assault
Spokane police say they found no evidence to support allegations that officers behaved improperly when responding to the assault of a transgender woman at Boots Bakery, 20 W. Main Ave., on Jan. 30.

NIC director linked by police to financial aid-for-sex scheme
Internet postings promising college grants in exchange for sex were traced by police to North Idaho College’s financial aid director. Joseph M. Bekken, who has been fired by NIC, now is facing charges of misusing public funds and soliciting prostitution in connection with the postings on Craigslist. Bekken was arrested today by Coeur d’Alene police following an investigation that also included the FBI and the Kootenai County Prosecutor’s Office.

Unusual “punch hole clouds” appear at dawn
An unusual “punch hole cloud” formation was seen over Spokane and North Idaho this morning, caused by ice crystals from jet exhaust falling downward through the sky, the National Weather Service said.

Kellogg man escapes from Shoshone County Jail
Former Kellogg resident Roy J. Bieluch, 48, escaped from the Shoshone County Jail Tuesday night and deputies are searching for him. Bieluch had been in the jail since December 12 on charges of burglary, malicious injury to property and failure to appear.

Hecla reports record silver production
Hecla Mining Co. produced a record 11.1 million ounces of silver last year and reported sales of more than $500 million, officials said today.

Obama picks Clancy as Secret Service director
The White House says President Barack Obama has chosen Secret Service Acting Director Joe Clancy to fill the position permanently.

McMorris Rodgers: Obama’s immigration actions defy his presidential power
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers on Tuesday called a Texas federal judge’s ruling halting President Barack Obama’s executive actions on immigration further proof a legislative fix is needed for the country’s “broken” system.

Washington panel mulls bill to trim vaccine exemptions
Personal or philosophical opposition to vaccines would not be an authorized exemption for the parents of school-age children under a measure that received a public hearing before a House committee on Tuesday, drawing at least two dozen opponents to the proposed change.

Obama answers immigration ruling with vow to fight courts, Congress
The Obama administration promised Tuesday to fight against opposition from both the courts and Congress to keep in place its expansive new programs to shield millions of immigrants from deportation.

Idaho pulling plug on broadband network
The much-vaunted Idaho Education Network is officially defunct, state lawmakers declared Tuesday, as they approved new emergency funding for school districts to find their own vendors and buy broadband services for the rest of the school year.

Paid sick leave policy leads to local thanks
Next time you get a burger at the Lantern Tap House in Spokane’s Perry District, rest assured it didn’t come with a cough. The restaurant has enacted a paid sick leave policy for its 10 kitchen employees, prompting immediate gratitude from its cooks and dishwashers, as well as an upcoming visit from U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash.

Boston residents overwhelmed by massive snowfalls the last month have been recording videos of themselves jumping out of windows and into snowbanks and then posting the videos on social media websites, and Mayor Marty Walsh wants them to cut it out. He says, “It’s a foolish thing to do, and you could kill yourself.”

In brief: Separatists claim advances in Ukraine
Ukrainian troops and separatists battled for control of the strategic railway junction of Debaltseve on Tuesday, with each side blaming the other for violating a weekend cease-fire meant to end 10 months of combat in eastern Ukraine.
Report blasts Netanyahu for spending
In a scathing report with potential political and criminal repercussions, Israel’s state comptroller sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday for excessive spending of public funds in his official and private residences.
Amid thefts, Mexico won’t ship gasoline
Slammed by a 70 percent increase in illegal pipeline taps in one year, Mexico’s state oil company announced Tuesday it will no longer ship finished, usable gasoline or diesel through its network of ducts.

Iraq’s ambassador to the United Nations asked the U.N. Security Council on Tuesday to look at allegations that the Islamic State group is using organ harvesting as a way to finance its operations.

UN Security Council meets Libya after Islamic State violence
The U.N. Security Council called an emergency session today to address the explosion of terrorist violence in Libya, but world powers appeared sharply divided on how to deal with the country’s deepening turmoil. There appeared to be little appetite for the kind of international military mission sought by Egypt, which bombed an Islamic State base in Libya in a retaliatory raid Monday.

The Obama administration unveiled a new policy Tuesday allowing foreign allies to buy military drones, a move that could have potentially far-reaching implications for global security partnerships and the U.S. aerospace industry.

Obamacare enrollment this year hits 11.4 million, White House says
Approximately 11.4 million people have signed up for health coverage through the Affordable Care Act this year, President Barack Obama announced Tuesday, signaling a strong conclusion to the federal health law’s second enrollment period.

Just Biden being Biden? VP’s odd moves give pause
Here’s the thing about impromptu moments in politics: Often they work, sometimes they fall flat, but occasionally they turn out downright awkward. Vice President Joe Biden learned that the hard way Tuesday – twice.

In brief: AG: Findings of Ferguson probe to be released soon
Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday that he soon will announce the findings of a federal criminal investigation into the police shooting death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, as well as an administrative review of that police department’s use-of-force policies and its relations with the black community there.
Head of U.S. Islamic school charged with sexual assault
The longtime head of a suburban Chicago Islamic school has been charged with sexually assaulting a woman who worked there, and a civil suit filed Tuesday accuses him of abusing that employee and three teenage students.

Police plan for second downtown Spokane precinct
The Spokane Police Department plans to create a second downtown precinct at the Intermodal Center, continuing a two-year push to focus on neighborhood-based policing.

Spokane County judge denies prison time compensation to three men
Robert Larson, Tyler Gassman and Paul Statler sued the state in January 2014 and sought about $680,000 under a law written to compensate prisoners who were wrongfully jailed. The three men were convicted of charges including assault, robbery and drive-by-shooting stemming from drug-related activity in April 2008 and have maintained their innocence. Judge John Cooney, who heard four days of testimony last month in the case, issued his ruling Thursday finding that the men had a claim for legal malpractice, but were not entitled to compensation under the state’s wrongfully convicted persons law.

Instant racing ban passes Idaho Senate
An effort to outlaw slot machine-like betting terminals being used in Post Falls and elsewhere cleared the Idaho Senate on Tuesday.

Yakima voting districts aim to boost Latinos’ voice
U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice ruled last summer that Yakima’s system for City Council elections “suffocates” the will of Latino voters. He asked the city and the ACLU chapter to come up with proposals for new systems. In a ruling Tuesday, he adopted the ACLU’s version, the Yakima Herald reported. He said the city’s plan would not have ensured Latinos were adequately represented.

Ocean XPrize teams try for cash, solutions
One of the biggest threats to the world’s oceans is chemical changes that occur when carbon dioxide from power plants, cars and other human activity dissolves in the water, making it more acidic. At the Seattle Aquarium, 14 teams from around the world competing to build better ocean pH sensors – and take home $2 million in prize money.

In brief: High-water warnings for Spokane River issued early
Officials typically issue high-water advisories for the Spokane River in March or April, but recent mild weather and the unusually early snowmelt have created dangerous water conditions well before spring arrives.
County firefighter dies in Hawaii
A firefighter on vacation in Hawaii died Monday in a snorkeling accident, Spokane County Fire District 10 announced on its Facebook page. Shane Robins, who joined the department about two years ago, was reported missing by his wife while he was snorkeling in Maui. He was found in the water several minutes later, and attempts to resuscitate him were unsuccessful, the district said.
Official suggests renaming Valley
Spokane Valley Deputy Mayor Arne Woodard rattled an old cage at Tuesday’s City Council winter workshop when he suggested renaming Spokane Valley.

WSU medical school bills take detour in House, Senate
Bills that would give Washington State University the authority to start a medical school in Spokane, which last week seemed on the fast track, have hit an unexpected detour. The House and Senate budget committees will hold hearings on the costs of a proposed medical school before legislative leaders will allow full votes in either chamber.

In brief: Spokane Valley woman claims she hurt autistic son, records say
A Spokane Valley woman faces a first-degree assault charge after allegedly telling a dispatcher she cut her autistic son’s throat with a knife because she was “desperate for help.”
Bill would change state’s presidential primary
Washington’s presidential primary would award at least some delegates to each major party’s national conventions under a bill supported by Secretary of State Kim Wyman.
Rosauers employee wins bagger championship
A Rosauers employee was scheduled to appear on “Late Show with David Letterman” on Tuesday after being named the top grocery bagger in the country. David Tochinskiy works at the supermarket chain’s Five Mile store and recently won top honors at the National Grocers Association Best Bagger Championship.
Man says assailant used screwdriver, rocks
A man waiting to have breakfast with his wife on Valentine’s Day told police he was assaulted by another man who spit at him, cut his arm with a screwdriver and threw rocks at him. Siddapa R. Tall, 44, is facing a charge of second-degree assault for his alleged role in the attack in the 1200 block of West Summit around 9:45 a.m. Saturday.

What winter? Northwest enjoys high temperatures
While the Northeast is buried under snow, the opposite corner of the country has been hosting the opposite of the winter weather spectrum. The Northwest has had a record-breaking winter, but for warm temperatures.

Idaho Land Board delays decision on Salmon River dreding
The Idaho Land Board has voted to delay a decision on awarding a suction-dredging lease for gold on the Salmon River so commissioners can review documents submitted by the miner and a conservation group.

Debt limits home-buying
Younger Americans are struggling to keep up with steadily rising student debt loads, a burden that is limiting their ability to buy homes.

In brief: Jails sell e-cigs to inmates
E-cigarettes keep popping up for sale at county jails around the country even as some government officials, schools and health experts urge tighter control over the devices, especially in public buildings.
S&P edges ahead to new high
The Standard and Poor’s 500 gained three points, or 0.2 percent, to 2,100, beating its record from Friday.
Trust sells holdings in Coke
The Gates Foundation Asset Trust, which manages the assets of the $42.3 billion Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, has sold its holdings of Coca-Cola stock and added UPS to its portfolio,
AMC revenues down for 2014
AMC Entertainment Holdings Inc. said 2014 ended well for it financially though its total revenues dipped slightly from a year earlier.
New lattes at Starbucks
Starbucks fanatics on Tuesday might have noticed new menu offerings at their favorite shop, including a new tiramisu latte and a favorite from last year, a caramel flan latte, along with a new coconut milk option for all its coffees.

Japanese company buys Sandpoint’s Quest Aircraft
Japanese firm Setouchi Holdings Inc. has acquired Sandpoint-based Quest Aircraft Co., which builds the Kodiak single-engine turboprop airplane.

Dockworkers’ union wants new arbitrator, sources say
The labor-management standoff that is disrupting billions of dollars of international trade at West Coast seaports now centers on the future of one man who resolves workplace disputes at the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach.

Cybersecurity firm finds spyware, possibly from U.S., in computers around world
A new report from Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab said its researchers identified a new family of malicious programs or worms that infected computers in multiple countries, primarily overseas. Targets appeared to be specifically selected and included military, Islamic activists, energy companies and other businesses, as well as government personnel.

Shawn Vestal: Speaker David Cay Johnston shines light on ‘stealth subsidies’

Doyle McManus: Foreign policy key issue in 2016

Editorial: Presidential primary might give Washington voice

Meyer lemons balance blend of tart and sweet
Grilled Golden Trout with Meyer Lemon Sauce
Meyer Lemon and Thyme Gimlet
Roast Meyer Lemon and Sumac Chicken
Meyer Lemon Finishing Salt

Spokane sculptor Dorothy Fowler dies at 88
Spokane sculptor and aviator Dorothy Fowler, widely known for her bronze statues and cathedral door reliefs, died Saturday. Fowler, whose late husband, Jack, was the founding father of Schweitzer Mountain Resort near Sandpoint, took up sculpting in her 50s and created some of the best-known pieces of public art in the Inland Northwest. Her tribute to Spokane astronaut Michael P. Anderson, killed in the 2003 explosion of the space shuttle Columbia, stands in the breezeway between the INB Performing Arts Center and Convention Center, and also outside the Museum of Flight in Seattle.

Obituary: Clem, Agnes A.
23 Aug 1921 - 15 Feb 2015     Tekoa

Obituary: Kautz, Laverne E. (Shutz)
22 Apr 1923 - 15 Feb 2015     Ritzville

Obituary: Hubble, Jewell M. (Born)
6 Dec 1923 - 4 Feb 2015     Farmington

Obituary: Thrailkill, Margaret (Charters)
5 Apr 1916 - 1 Feb 2015     Spirit Lake

Obituary: Presho, Weldon Ellis
26 Feb 1931 - 15 Feb 2015     Springdale, Quincy

Obituary: Miller, Kay Lynn (O’Halloran)
17 Apr 1944 - 15 Feb 2015     Oaksdale

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from The Telegraph (UK)

Putin will target the Baltic next, Defence Secretary warns
Defence Secretary warns Nato resolve could be tested as Ukraine ceasefire unravels

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