Monday, September 7, 2015

In the news, Wednesday, August 19, 2015


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AUG 18      INDEX      AUG 20
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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 ABC News (& affiliates)

Why This Unexpected GOP Candidate Is Breaking Away From the Pack
Second place in Iowa. Top three nationally. No, it’s not Jeb Bush or Scott Walker -- it’s Ben Carson. The neurosurgeon, who has never held elected office, is emerging from the middle tier as a top contender after the first Republican debate.

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

Angry Muslim Confronts Cashier For Wearing U.S. Flag… What Happened Next Had Store Cheering

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Why Is Billionaire George Soros Suddenly Buying Up Stocks of Companies in Industry He’s Demonized?
Billionaire hedge-fund manager and liberal political operative George Soros once called coal “lethal” to Earth’s climate while apparently trying to profit from the industry’s once-vast wealth. Soros has been a longtime financial contributor to liberal candidates and causes, including advocating for no longer using fossil fuels and transitioning to using only renewable energy, like wind and solar. The Guardian reported that at one point, Soros even referred to coal as “lethal” to the planet. But as stocks from at least two coal companies have fallen, perhaps partly as a result of Soros’ own influence, the billionaire investor’s money is now contradicting his words. According to Fox News, Soros purchased one million shares in the St. Louis-based coal company Peabody Energy and another 500,000 shares in Arch Coal, two investments that would have cost him a lot more money just a few years ago.

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from Breitbart
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from Britain Magazine

Palace exhibitions mark HM the Queen’s long reign
On September 9, Her Majesty The Queen will become Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, passing the 63 years and 216 day record set by her great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria. To mark the milestone, special photographic displays entitled ‘Long To Reign Over Us’ will open at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse from 9 September.

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from The Daily Beast

Cruz, Trump in Secret Talks
It’s a bromance with a payoff—the senator has been developing the billionaire’s support and their aides are even discussing joint events, but if Trump drops out, Cruz aims to clean up.

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from The Daily Caller
from The Heritage Foundation
from Huffington Post
[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Historic 'Tile' Discovery Gives Math World A Big Jolt
A team of mathematicians has wowed the math world with their discovery of a new kind of pentagon capable of "tiling a plane"--that is, fitting together on a flat surface without overlapping or leaving any gaps. It's said to be only the fifteenth such pentagon ever found and the first new one to be found in 30 years.

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from Independent Voter [IVN]

How to Find Substance in These Mostly Substanceless Primary Shows

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from KING 5 (NBC Seattle)

Twisp fire kills 3 U.S. Forest Service firefighters
THE FIRE JUMPS TO 16,000 ACRES OVER NIGHT AND THREATENS 50-100 HOMES
A fast moving wildfire near Twisp, Wash. killed three firefighters Wednesday afternoon as two nearby towns were forced to evacuate.

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from KIRO 7 Eyewitness News (CBS Seattle)

Don O'Neill takes looting in Chelan personal
Families in the path of wildfires charring the Chelan area now have one more thing to worry about: Looters. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office reports that looters are combing through neighborhoods left empty as wildfires approach.

3 firefighters killed in Washington state wildfire
Three firefighters were killed and three to four others were injured, at least one critically, as raging wildfires advanced on towns in north-central Washington on Wednesday, authorities said. Okanogan County Sheriff Frank Rogers said the deaths, in a wildfire near Twisp, had been confirmed, but he said he was not immediately releasing specific details about the circumstances or the victims, pending notification of their families.

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from Military Times
and Air Force Times, Army Times, Marine Corps Times, and Navy Times

IS beheads leading Syrian antiquities scholar
Islamic State militants beheaded one of Syria's most prominent antiquities scholars in the ancient town of Palmyra, then hung his body from one of the town's Roman columns, Syrian state media and an activist group said Wednesday. The killing of 81-year-old Khaled al-Asaad was the latest atrocity perpetrated by the militant group, which has captured a third of both Syria and neighboring Iraq and declared a self-styled "caliphate" on the territory it controls.

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from National Review
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Trump’s Critics Are Wrong about the Fourteenth Amendment and Birthright Citizenship

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from Overpasses For America

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from The Political Insider

Not Many People Know This About Trump’s Sister, But They Should
As Donald Trump continues to dominate the news, many of his supporters aren’t aware of something very interesting about the Presidential candidate. His oldest sister is a senior judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. Maryanne Trump Barry was nominated as a Federal District Judge by President Reagan in 1983. Bill Clinton then appointed her to the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in 1999.

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from The Right Scoop

YUGE! Ben Carson draws LARGER crowd than Donald Trump did in Phoenix
from The Spokesman-Review

Firefighters were overtaken by fire after vehicle crash
Three firefighters were killed and four others were injured Wednesday as raging wildfires advanced on towns in north-central Washington. A Forest Service news release said the deaths occurred on state land near Twisp. “The firefighters were engaged in initial attack operations and were involved in a vehicle accident when it is believed that the fire overtook the vehicle,” the news release said.
earlier: Three firefighters killed near Twisp

Officer involved shooting in Hunters
An officer involved shooting was reported in the town of Hunters in Stevens County around 8 p.m. today. Stevens County Sheriff Kendle Allen said deputies were looking for a suspect who had a gun and a man was shot. The suspect has died. Allen said only one deputy was involved in the shooting.

Smoke cloud darkens Spokane sky
Treacherous weather on raging wildfires in Okanogan County sent an elevated plume of smoke over the Spokane area this evening while air quality at ground level deteriorated to the unhealthy category for persons with health issues. The cloud darkened the sky and turned the sun orange, sending an eerie orange-brown light over the city.

State bans logging on forest lands due to fire danger
Logging and other industrial activities will be banned across Eastern Washington forests because of fire danger. It’s the first time in more than 20 years that the state has taken such a step.

Wildfire forces evacuation of Twisp, Winthrop
Okanogan County officials are evacuating the entire cities of Twisp and Winthrop because a fast-moving wildfire. The Washington Department of Natural Resources says the fire is eight miles west of Twisp. More than 20 structures are imminently threatened.

Ferry County sheriff warns residents to be ready to leave
All residents within Ferry County not already under an evacuation notice were put under a level one evacuation notice. “If the fires progress we will not have enough resources to go door to door,” said a news release from Ferry County Sheriff Raymond Maycumber.

Big chunk of N. Idaho national forest closed for fire danger
The U.S. Forest Service today closed a large chunk of the North Fork Coeur d’Alene River drainage due to a forecast of hazardous fire weather and because of close to 20 fires already burning on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District.

‘Red flag’ fire weather returns to region
The National Weather Service today issued a new “red flag” warning for dangerous fire weather through 5 p.m. on Friday as firefighters struggle to contain massive wildfires burning across the region. The warning extends from the Cascade crest across Eastern Washington and into North Idaho. Large areas of Oregon are under the warning as well.

Brush fire west of Spokane quickly contained
A fire that sent columns of smoke billowing into the air west of Spokane on Tuesday afternoon burned one outbuilding but was quickly brought under control by firefighters. Residents along Grove Road near Palisades Park were ordered to leave shortly after 4 p.m., as multiple planes and a helicopter dumped water from the Spokane River and retardant on the fire.

Washington state suspends popular GET college savings program
The state will suspend sales of prepaid college tuition units – called the GET program – for as long as two years while the group overseeing them wrestles with the downside of what many Washington lawmakers saw as a major legislative success: lower tuition at state colleges. The Guaranteed Education Tuition committee also signaled Tuesday the state would likely waive fees and penalties for investors who demand a refund of units purchased in recent years that are worth less now than when they were bought. That’s happening because the Legislature froze tuition for two years in 2013 and last month cut tuition between 5 percent and 20 percent for different schools over the next two years.

Stevens County volunteer firefighters help save community
Rick Anderson, is the fire chief for Stevens County Fire District 2. Over the last five days, his 20-person, all volunteer fire crew has battled a 5,000-plus-acre blaze near Fruitland. The Carpenter Road fire has destroyed 15 homes and displaced 75 people. Anderson is intimately connected to the fire. Carpenter Road is named after his grandfather.

Combat jobs for women likely to expand
Two women have now passed the Army’s grueling Ranger test, and even tougher and more dangerous jobs could lie ahead. The military services are poised to allow women to serve in most front-line combat jobs, including special operations forces, senior officials told the Associated Press.

Lobsters move north as Atlantic warms
The lobster population has crashed to the lowest level on record in southern New England while climbing to heights never before seen in the cold waters off Maine and other northern reaches – a geographic shift scientists attribute in large part to the warming of the ocean.

Teens’ e-cigarette use linked with later smoking
Teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely than others to later smoke conventional cigarettes and other tobacco products, a study at 10 Los Angeles high schools suggests. The study doesn’t prove electronic cigarettes are a “gateway drug” but some doctors say it bolsters arguments the devices should be strictly regulated as proposed by the Food and Drug Administration.

Democrat Menendez opposes Iran deal
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez announced Tuesday his opposition to the Iran nuclear deal, the second Democratic senator to go against President Barack Obama, who is heavily lobbying for a congressional endorsement of the international accord. Menendez, a senior member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, joins Sen. Chuck Schumer of New York in rejecting the deal.

Man in yellow shirt focus of Bangkok bombing investigation
In the grainy security video, a man in a yellow shirt sits on a bench at the crowded Erawan Shrine, removes a backpack he is wearing, and leaves it behind when he walks away. For police hunting who was responsible for Monday’s deadly bombing in central Bangkok, there was no doubt about the man with youthful shaggy dark hair and glasses. “The yellow shirt guy is not just the suspect. He is the bomber,” a police spokesman said on Tuesday.

In brief: FDA approves pill to boost women’s sex drive
Federal health officials have approved the first prescription drug to boost sexual desire in women, a milestone long sought by the pharmaceutical industry. But safety restrictions on the daily pill, called Addyi, mean it will probably never achieve the blockbuster sales of men’s impotence drugs like Viagra. The new drug’s label will carry a bold warning that combining it with alcohol can cause dangerously low blood pressure and fainting. Those problems can also occur if the drug is taken alongside certain common medications, including drugs used to treat yeast infections.
Guilty plea expected from Fogle on porn
An Indiana television station is reporting that Subway pitchman Jared Fogle is expected to plead guilty to child-pornography charges. The report comes six weeks after authorities seized electronics and other items from Fogle’s home in Zionsville, an affluent Indianapolis suburb.
Exec pleads guilty in West Virginia spill
One of the final executives charged in a chemical spill that contaminated West Virginia’s biggest drinking water supply has pleaded guilty. In federal court Tuesday in Charleston, former Freedom Industries executive Dennis Farrell pleaded guilty in front of Judge Thomas Johnston. The plea deal calls for a sentence of 30 days to two years in prison, as well as a fine up to $200,000. In January 2014, a Freedom tank leaked coal-cleaning chemicals into the water supply for 300,000 people, spurring a ban on using tap water for up to 10 days.
White House hires transgender staff
The White House announced Raffi Freedman-Gurspan’s appointment Tuesday as its first openly transgender staff member. Freedman-Gurspan is an outreach and recruitment director for presidential personnel in the Office of Personnel. Freedman-Gurspan previously was a policy adviser for the National Center for Transgender Equality’s racial and economic justice initiative.
California renews right-to-die bill
California lawmakers are making a new push to allow terminally ill patients to legally end their lives after previous efforts stalled amid religious opposition. Democratic legislators introduced the bill, which allows doctors to prescribe life-ending drugs, in a special session on health care convened by Gov. Jerry Brown. Religious groups and advocates for people with disabilities opposed a nearly identical bill this year, saying it goes against the will of God and puts terminally ill patients at risk for coerced death.

Storms slow recovery efforts after blast in China
Thunderstorms Tuesday complicated recovery efforts from last week’s massive explosions at a warehouse in China’s Tianjin port that killed at least 114 people, left 57 missing and exposed dangerous chemicals – including some that could become flammable on contact with water. As of Tuesday, 50 firefighters were confirmed killed and 52 others were among the missing, making the disaster the deadliest ever for Chinese first-responders.

Clinton’s server may answer many questions
A forensic examination of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s private computer server could unearth more details than what she put in her emails. It could answer lingering questions about the security of her system, who had access to it and whether outsiders tried to crack its contents.

Albino children getting protection, prostheses
As 5-year-old Baraka Cosmas Lusambo slept in his family’s home in western Tanzania in March, men wielding torches and knives burst in, knocked his mother unconscious, held him down and sliced off his right hand in the name of witchcraft. Baraka has albinism, a condition that leaves the afflicted with little or no pigment in their skin or eyes – and makes their body parts valuable on the black market in parts of Africa as ingredients in potions said to give the user wealth and good luck.

In brief: Six migrants drown off Turkish coast on way to Greece
Six Syrian migrants, including an infant, drowned off the Turkish coast Tuesday as they tried to reach a Greek island, a rescuer said, underscoring the deadly risks taken by migrants making even short crossings to Europe in overcrowded smugglers’ boats.
Man charged in lion’s killing
Zimbabwe has charged a man on whose land the well-known Cecil the lion was shot by American dentist Walter James Palmer in July. Charges have not been filed against Palmer, while in Minnesota the dentist has reopened his practice. Prosecutors on Tuesday accused Honest Ndlovu, whose property is near the vast Hwange National Park in western Zimbabwe, of allowing an illegal hunt on his land.

In brief: Man faces higher charge of first-degree murder
Edward Bushnell, the man accused of fatally shooting William Poindexter in East Central Spokane on July 21, now faces a first-degree murder charge. Bushnell, 27, was arrested immediately after the shooting and initially was charged with second-degree murder.
Officers identified in man’s shooting death
Authorities have named the three North Idaho police officers involved in last week’s confrontation with an armed Sandpoint man that ended with a sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing the man. Casey George Alarcon, 34, died Aug. 11 after he allegedly fired two shots at the officers. They were identified Tuesday as Sandpoint police Officer Jeremy Inman and Bonner County sheriff’s Deputies Aaron Walker and Tyler Jinright. Detectives have not said which deputy fired the single shot that killed Alarcon.
Semitruck driver has fatal heart attack
The driver of a semitruck was found dead in his cab just after noon Tuesday on Interstate 90. Kenneth Burch, 65, died of a heart attack, according to a news release. The St. Maries resident was entering the highway from Medical Lake Road, about 8 miles west of Spokane, when he left the road and struck a fence.

Job transfer between city departments raises questions
For the second time in as many years, the Spokane Police Department is paying the salary of an employee who has left the department for another city job, raising questions and causing concern among members of the city’s park board and the City Council. A spokeswoman for Spokane’s Parks and Recreation Department is paid nearly $90,000 by the Spokane Police Department, about $10,000 more than she made in 2014 as the police spokeswoman. Next year, she is scheduled to earn $96,000. Monique Cotton was hired by police Chief Frank Straub in 2013 to lead the department’s communications and marketing strategy, a role she maintained until May when she was transferred from police to parks – a decision park board members were informed of only after the decision was made even though the board controls park spending and is charged with managing the department.

Mother, young daughter die in RV fire near Elk
A 37-year-old woman and her young daughter died in a motor home fire early Tuesday in north Spokane County. A dog, caged outside the home and unable to flee, also perished in the fire.

Despite progress, Chelan-area fires still growing
Progress has been made, but homes and other structures continue to be threatened by the Chelan Complex fires that have already destroyed 35 residences and 21 outbuildings around Lake Chelan and farther north. Fire crews continue to provide structure protection on several fire fronts that are still actively spreading, fire spokeswoman Janet Pearce said Tuesday. The Chelan Complex fire, burning on 63,425 acres, is now 30 percent contained. Thirty-five homes have been confirmed lost to the fire, but that doesn’t include many others in areas still too hot to be assessed.

Evacuated Motel 6 in Bremerton partly collapses in blast
An explosion demolished part of a Motel 6 in Bremerton on Tuesday night just minutes after the acting hotel manager had evacuated the building because of a gas leak.

Vegetable oil spill kills thousands of fish in Lewis County
Officials believe vegetable oil and shortening that had recently been delivered to a food warehouse in Winlock washed into Olequa Creek, a tributary of the Cowlitz River, as firefighters doused a fire that destroyed the warehouse early Tuesday. The spill killed fish as far as 7 miles downstream, with what appeared to be a “100 percent kill for 5 miles,” ecology spokesman Chase Gallagher said.

Idaho wildfire season worst since 1926
Fire conditions in Idaho are the worst they’ve been since 1926, the state forester reports, and things are only looking to get worse. In the past week, the state’s estimate of its firefighting costs for the season has jumped by $10 million to roughly $25 million, said state Forester David Groeschl. The number of major fires requiring incident management teams on lands that Idaho Department of Lands protects has increased from four to 12.

Home building pace picking up
U.S. builders started work on single-family houses last month at the fastest pace since the Great Recession began in late 2007.

Profits shrink as Wal-Mart, other retailers reinvent selves
Wal-Mart’s second-quarter earnings report, released Tuesday, showed its investments in its workers and its efforts to overhaul the store experience are dragging down profits more than it expected. The comforting news for Wal-Mart’s shareholders: The efforts are perking up sales and traffic at its U.S. namesake stores. Wal-Mart isn’t alone in facing some pain as it aims to deliver cleaner stores and faster and friendlier service to increasingly demanding shoppers shifting their spending to dollar stores or online. Retailers’ second-quarter earnings reports show how the reinvention efforts from the likes of Kohl’s, J.C. Penney and Macy’s are all weighing on their profits.

Target will pay $67 million in data breach settlement
Target has reached a deal to pay up to $67 million to settle Visa claims related to a massive 2013 data breach that resulted in the theft of millions of debit and credit card numbers.
GM recalls more vehicles because of faulty headlights
General Motors Co. is adding 181,000 cars in the U.S. and Canada to a 2014 recall for headlights that can stop working, and it will have to repair thousands more for a second time because the first fix could fail again.
Google offers smartphone in six African nations for $98
Google is introducing a low-priced smartphone in six African countries where most people still can’t afford an Internet-connected device.
Yum Brands names new CEO for its operations in China
Yum Brands, the parent of KFC, Pizza Hut and Taco Bell, is naming a new CEO of its China division as it works to reverse a sales skid in a key market. Micky Pant, 60, is now the CEO of its China division. He replaces longtime leader Sam Su, who is retiring.

Feds investigate Volkswagen air bags after inflator ruptures
A June collision between a Volkswagen SUV and a deer in which a side air bag inflated with too much force has triggered a federal investigation and raised questions about the safety of newer air bags made by Takata Corp. of Japan.

Home Depot’s second quarter beats forecasts
The world’s largest home improvement retailer reported second-quarter results on Tuesday that surpassed Wall Street expectations, thanks largely to consumers opening their wallets. But Home Depot knows it’s a change in mindset that is spurring homeowners to action. “When consumers believe their home is an investment and not an expense, they spend differently,” Chief Financial Officer Carol Tome said.

Islamic State war, oil prices take toll on Iraq’s economy
In business since the 1960s, Karim al-Aboudi’s family has seen Iraq’s economy boom with oil wealth and bust through wars and the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, but today marks the worst downturn he’s seen in decades. Forced to fire 65 percent of his staff and close two of his six aluminum and glass factories, al-Aboudi’s troubles mirror those facing business owners across Iraq. As the country battles the Islamic State group on the ground, it faces massive budget deficits brought on by the lowest global oil prices in six and a half years.

Shawn Vestal: Law enforcement accountability a worthy aim

Editorial: Spokane’s targeted incentives strategy is worth keeping

Michael Smerconish: Conservative media steers GOP

Crisp, thick-skinned peppers prove versatile
Tomato and Avocado Salad in Pale Yellow Sweet Bell Peppers
Mediterranean Pepper Salad

Freshly picked sweet corn is a summer must
Sweet Corn and Radish Salad
Spicy Corn Fritters with Cilantro Cream
Breakfast Succotash with Poached Eggs and Herb Oil

Smoked lentil chili a robust fall favorite
Smoked Lentil Chili

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from Sputnik
[Russian government-supported propaganda channel]

Despite plans to hand over control of the Internet to an international body by the end of 2015, the US appears to be getting cold feet. With that deadline fast approaching, the government has extended its oversight role by one year, and could potentially maintain control even longer.

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from The Star (Grand Coulee, WA)

North Star Fire threatens Nespelem
[UPDATED] Evacuations were initiated for parts of the Nespelem community Tuesday night as fire spread toward homes. For days, firefighters on the North Star fire have worked to contain the southern edge of the fire that has burned more than 30,000 acres, but shifting winds now give cause for increased caution. A Level 3 Evacuation, an order to leave immediately, was issued before 9 p.m. last night for residents north of Nespelem from Gold Lake Road to Stepstone Road north.

Smoky skies from above
In this annotated image from NASA's Earth Observatory site, several sources of the smoke choking the area become clear. The satellite image was taken Sunday. As of Tuesday morning, there were 105 large, uncontained fires in the nation, 35 in the Pacific Northwest; 166 new fires, 21 in the Northwest.

Medical center accepting fire evacuees
With most of Nespelem in level 2 evacuation status, Coulee Medical Center has accepted several residents of the Colville Tribal Convelscent Center, and the hospital has set up an incident command center to be ready for more should the need arise. People not in need of medical attention but who need shelter as a result of the fires can find it at Lake Roosevelt Schools at 503, Crest Drive in Coulee Dam.

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from ThatsNonsense.com

The top 5 Facebook scams of 2015
Despite the efforts of many, a number of scams have still been running riot across Facebook throughout 2015. And whilst most of them exploit ‘tried-and-tested’ techniques of yore, some come with slightly new twists. We outline the 5 most popular scams (we’re not including rumours or hoaxes) that we have had reported to us in 2015 so far.
Free cars & airline tickets
Your account has been suspended by Facebook Security
Facebook Lottery
Facebook, CNN and that charity will donate…
Facebook Cloning

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from Think Progress
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]
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from The Washington Post (DC)
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from The Weekly Standard

Obama’s Nuclear Deal is the Most Likely Path to War
How might the United States end up in a boots-on-the-ground shooting war with Iran? This is the specter that President Obama summons when he warns that congressional rejection of his nuclear agreement with Iran would lead to “some form of war . . . . if not tomorrow . . . then soon.”  But it is Obama’s deal itself that is more likely to lead to such a regrettable outcome. It is all but guaranteed to make a region that is already convulsed in violence, thanks to Obama’s strategy of reducing America’s presence, that much more violent. The administration virtually acknowledges this by suddenly promising all our regional allies vast new transfers of weapons to allay their anxieties about his Iran deal.

Downsizing the Army: What Are the Consequences?
Today, the Army is facing a drawdown to 450,000 soldiers, the smallest it has been since before World War II.

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from The Wenatchee World

Unhealthy smoke may clear Thursday
Heavy smoke from several North Central Washington fires will cloak much of the region today and Thursday, creating potentially dangerous health conditions for people with lung and heart problems, as well as children and the elderly. A cold front expected to blow into Eastern Washington Thursday will begin to clear the air, but winds could also fan wildfires burning in the Lake Chelan Valley and Okanogan County. Air conditions should improve Friday, but are likely to return to unhealthy in fire areas by the weekend.

A scorched Chelan Fruit gets back to business
Millions of pounds of fruit destroyed. Tens of thousands of stacked bins burned. Thousands of square feet of warehouse space razed. Hundreds of people temporarily out of work. But it could have been worse. Top executives for Chelan Fruit Co-op and its marketing division Chelan Fresh said Tuesday that last week’s loss of the company’s Plant 1 packing line and warehouse facility in the Chelan Complex Fire was a tough blow but not as devastating as it could have been. “No lives were lost, and it was one of our least strategic facilities,” said Mac Riggan, director of marketing for Chelan Fresh. “We’ve shifted operations to our other plants and will help relocate as many workers as we can.”

Conconully evacuated as Okanogan Complex fires merge
The fishing resort town of Conconully north of Omak was evacuated Tuesday night as two fires in the Okanogan Complex merged. That came after a third fire in the complex near Riverside burned at least four homes and one outbuilding, and jumped the Okanogan River and Highway 97, closing the major north-south route through Okanogan County for several hours.

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In the news, Tuesday, August 18, 2015


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AUG 17      INDEX      AUG 19
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from ABC News (& affiliates)
from Capital Press

Chelan FFA advisor loses home to wildfire
FFA advisor Rod Cool and his family are among the dozens of people who lost their homes to the massive wildfire that burned through the Chelan, Wash., area. Cool lost his home and outbuildings Aug. 14. He’s not sure about the cost to replace it all, but said he has good insurance. He planned to begin the rebuilding process this week. Cool and his family were evacuating when the fire hit. “I drove by the driveway and the trees were on fire in the yard, that’s how close it was,” Cool said. “The fire really came fast.”

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from The Cato Institute


Jeb Bush Abandons Mainstream, Finds Inner Neocon
Jeb Bush has amassed a sizable war chest and positioned himself to be the safe establishment pick after Donald Trump’s expected implosion. Alas, on foreign policy Bush has turned hard right.

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from Conciliar Post

Over the past couple years, there’s been an increasing discussion in the Christian blogosphere over the “The Benedict Option,” an idea proposed by The American Conservative editor Rod Dreher as a response to the perceived end of Christianity as a Western cultural force. What is the Benedict Option, and why do we need it?  In today’s post, I’ll explore answers to these questions. While I have my own opinion on the matter, my aim here is not to persuade but to attempt to describe a concept that is  much-debated and somewhat difficult to pin down.

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from The Daily Caller

Ohio Man Charged With Manslaughter For Shooting Burglar
Shooting a burglar can land you with voluntary manslaughter charges. David Hillis, 21, has been charged with voluntary manslaughter for shooting a home invader earlier this month, The Plain Dealer reports. Two men, Marcus Glover, 25 and Terry Tart, 37, broke into the home in Akron around 2 p.m. Hillis was in his home with two other people when two burglars broke in. The burglars held him at gunpoint but Hillis pulled out his own gun and the criminals fled. Hillis chased them into the yard and fired multiple shots. Glover was found dead not far from the home.

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from euronews

Crimea: Putin blames Kyiv for Ukraine violence, warns Tatars not to expect special status
Russian President Vladimir Putin has blamed Kyiv for the latest burst of fighting in Ukraine’s restive east. Putin made the accusation on the second of a three-day trip to Crimea – the peninsula Russia annexed from Ukraine last year. The visit has angered Kyiv, which still considers the Black Sea region Ukrainian. However, the Russian president praised the 2014 takeover as a matter of historic justice.

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from Examiner.com
[Information from this site may not be vetted.]
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from The Heritage Foundation

What the Left Misunderstands About Cuba’s History

4 Reasons Obama’s New Methane Emission Regulations Don’t Make Sense

How US Sugar Policies Just Helped America Lose 600 Jobs
The manufacturer of Oreo cookies recently announced plans to move production of Oreos from Chicago to Mexico, resulting in a loss of 600 U.S. jobs. This should be a wake-up call to defenders of the U.S. sugar program and other job-destroying trade barriers. The leading ingredient in Oreos is sugar, and U.S. trade barriers currently require Americans to pay twice the average world prices.

One Iranian Family’s Fight to Keep a Colorado City From Taking Their Property
Nasrin Kholghy and her family own Authentic Persian and Oriental Rugs in Glendale, Colo. The city threatened to take their store, along with other property they own, through eminent domain.

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from The Hill

Surging Ben Carson looks to peel off Donald Trump's voters
Ben Carson has his sights set on Donald Trump. The retired neurosurgeon is surging in the polls, but faces a huge hurdle in overcoming Trump, the runaway leader of a pack of 2016 presidenital candidates looking to tap into the anti-establishment fervor that is energizing the Republican base. Trump still holds a big lead in the polls, but several recent surveys show Carson taking second place nationally and in Iowa.

McConnell: Obama has ‘great likelihood of success’ on Iran deal

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from Huffington Post
[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Surging Ben Carson looks to peel off Donald Trump's voters
The retired neurosurgeon is surging in the polls, but faces a huge hurdle in overcoming Trump, the runaway leader of a pack of 2016 presidenital candidates looking to tap into the anti-establishment fervor that is energizing the Republican base. Trump still holds a big lead in the polls, but several recent surveys show Carson taking second place nationally and in Iowa.

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from KHQ Local News (NBC Spokane)

Okanogan Complex fire continues to burn; evacuations in place
The Okanogan Complex is made up of the Lime Belt Fire, the Blue Lake Fire, the Tunk Block Fire, the Beaver Lake Fire. The 4,204 acre Nine Mile Fire is also being managed under the complex. The four remaining fires are burning about 12,000 acres.

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from KREM 2 News (CBS Spokane)

First female soldiers to graduate from Army Ranger School
Two female soldiers will graduate from the Army’s legendary Ranger School this week, the first women to complete the course since it was opened to them on an experimental basis this year, the U.S. Army said Monday evening. The two were part of a group of 19 female soldiers who passed a rigorous screening process to begin the physically demanding course that had been closed to women since it opened more than six decades ago. Their names were not revealed.

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from KTVZ - NewsChannel 21 (Bend)

You know the infernos are out of control when 25,000 firefighters aren't enough to stop them. About 200 active duty military personnel will help battle blazes in Western states, the National Interagency Fire Center said. It's the first time soldiers have fought wildfires since 2006.

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from The Living Church

To be or not to be … an evangelical
An enduring question for at least some of us is whether we still think of ourselves as evangelicals — what is gained and lost in doing so. And that question is actually two questions disguised as one: whether we indeed aspire to be evangelicals and, if so, whether the label retains any utility in describing however it is that we like to think of ourselves. Anyone interested in the American religious scene will know that “evangelical” is a disputed category and that it is likely to remain so for the foreseeable future. At the height of its powers, evangelicalism is ebbing in discernment and in the process of spending down its real capital.

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from Mad World News
[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Pack Of Thugs Targets Family & Terrorizes Them As Mom Begs For One Thing

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from Military Times

Officials: Military likely to open most combat jobs to women
Two women have now passed the Army's grueling Ranger test, and even tougher and more dangerous jobs could lie ahead. The military services are poised to allow women to serve in most front-line combat jobs, including special operations forces, senior officials told The Associated Press.

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from Money Talks News

IRS: Tax Data Breach Was Much Worse Than Thought
The personal information of nearly 400,000 Americans may have been at risk in a recent data breach reported by the IRS. How will you know if you were among the targets?

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from National Review
from NBC News (& affiliates)
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from New York Times

Familiar Talk on Women, From an Unfamiliar Trump
The outspoken scion of the New York real estate developer Fred C. Trump stood on stage in Washington one day in 1992 and told a mostly female crowd of law enforcement agents to lighten up when it came to sexual harassment. The aversion to political correctness and the dispensing of unorthodox advice were straight from the playbook of Donald J. Trump, the Republican presidential candidate who has made a business, and now the beginnings of a political career, out of over-the-top oratory. But these particular Trumpisms came instead from his older sister, Maryanne Trump Barry.

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from The Omak-Okanogan County Chronicle

Firefighters battle blazes near Omak

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from POLITICO
from The Right Scoop

BillO tries to STUMP Donald Trump on anchor babies

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from Rolling Stone

Watch Hendrix Play Fiery 'Purple Haze' in Clip From New Doc
Film captures biggest U.S. show of late guitar icon's career

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from The Spokesman-Review

Motel 6 in Bremerton explodes after gas leak; one worker critically injured
An explosion demolished part of a Motel 6 in Bremerton, Washington, on Tuesday night — critically injuring a gas company worker just minutes after the acting hotel manager had evacuated the building due to a leak.

Charges increased to first-degree murder in East Central shooting
Edward Bushnell, the man accused of fatally shooting William Poindexter in East Central Spokane July 21, now faces a first-degree murder charge in the killing.

Fire burning near Airway Heights
A helicopter and several planes are dumping water and retardant on a brush fire that erupted Tuesday afternoon west of Spokane near Palisades Park.

3 officers named in fatal Sandpoint shooting
Authorities have named the three North Idaho police officers involved in last week’s confrontation with an armed Sandpoint man that ended with a sheriff’s deputy shooting and killing the man. Casey George Alarcon, 34, died Aug. 11 after he allegedly fired two shots at the officers. They were identified today as Sandpoint Police Officer Jeremy Inman, and Bonner County Sheriff’s Deputies Aaron Walker and Tyler Jinright.

Subway pitchman expected to plead guilty to child porn charges
An Indiana Television station is reporting that Subway pitchman Jared Fogle is expected to plead guilty to child-pornography charges.

Idaho fire conditions worst since 1926
Fire conditions in Idaho are the worst they’ve been since 1926, the state forester reports, and things are only looking to get worse.

Semi driver dies on Interstate 90 west of Spokane
The Idaho driver of a semi trailer was found dead in his cab just after noon Tuesday on Interstate 90, the Washington State Patrol said. Kenneth Burch, 65, died of a heart attack, according to a news release. The St. Maries resident was entering the highway from Medical Lake Road, about eight miles west of Spokane, when he left the road and struck a private fence. No other vehicles were involved and the incident did not block traffic. When aid arrived, Burch was pronounced dead.

Two dead in early morning Chattaroy RV fire
A 37-year-old woman and her young daughter died in a motor home fire early Tuesday in the Chattaroy area. A dog, caged outside the home and unable to flee, also perished in the fire.

Wildfire smoke brings unhealthy air across Northwest
An air quality alert issued Monday is expected to remain in effect across a broad swath of the Pacific Northwest until at least Thursday because of wildfire smoke pollution. “Air quality is currently in the unhealthy category and is forecast to continue to range from unhealthy to hazardous in the next few days,” the National Weather Service in Spokane said in a statement.

Embattled Airway Heights Mayor Patrick Rushing resigns
The embattled mayor of Airway Heights has submitted his resignation following a public furor in July regarding comments he made about President Barack Obama and first lady Michelle Obama that were considered racist. Patrick Rushing did not acknowledge the controversy in a news release issued Monday by the city. “I find it difficult to continue due to my declining health issues,” Rushing is quoted as saying in the statement.

IRS says computer breach much worse than thought
A computer breach at the IRS in which thieves stole tax information from thousands of taxpayers is much bigger than the agency originally disclosed. An additional 220,000 potential victims had information stolen from an IRS website as part of a sophisticated scheme to use stolen identities to claim fraudulent tax refunds, the IRS said Monday. The revelation more than doubles the total number of potential victims, to 334,000. The IRS said Monday that thieves started targeting the website in November. Originally, investigators thought it started in February. The website was shut down in May. The IRS estimates it paid out $5.8 billion in fraudulent refunds to identity thieves in 2013.

Glenrose neighbors work to reduce wildfire risk
Glenrose residents have banded together to join the Firewise fire protection program, a nationwide effort to help communities resist the threat of fire. The focus of the program is on rural and semirural communities where wildlands and residential developments meet. The program involves clearing brush, thinning timber, mowing grass, protecting propane tanks, installing fireproof roofing and otherwise cleaning most vegetation away from homes.

Chelan wildfires surpass 100,000 acres
Fires continued to rage across Washington and Idaho on Monday as thousands of firefighters were deployed from the parched rain forests of the Olympic Peninsula to the dun hills of Stevens County. Hardest hit is Chelan, where a group of six fires spread in several directions to burn 102,000 acres, 32 homes, and Chelan Fruit Inc.’s processing plant – a major employer in the region. News reports indicate that the fire, ignited by lightning strikes Friday, also burned a winery and a lumber yard.

Oldest known U.S. WWII vet dies at 110
A Michigan woman who was believed to be the nation’s oldest veteran at 110 has died, about a month after meeting President Barack Obama in the Oval Office. Didlake was a 38-year-old wife and mother of five when she signed up in 1943 for the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. She served about seven months stateside during the war, as a private and driver.

White House takes steps to slow heroin epidemic
The White House is zeroing in on the growing heroin epidemic, announcing federal funding Monday to combat use of the drug with a focus on both public health and safety. About $2.5 million from President Barack Obama’s anti-drug programs will target heroin abuse in New England, Appalachia and East Coast cities, and $1.3 million will go to fight trafficking on the border with Mexico, drug czar Michael Botticelli said.

Judge orders release of oil train reports
A Maryland judge rejected two rail carriers’ arguments that oil train reports should be withheld from the public, ordering them released to McClatchy and other news organizations that sought them.

In brief: Judge allows Kentucky clerk to deny marriage licenses during appeal
A federal judge on Monday gave a Kentucky county clerk room to continue denying marriage licenses to gays and lesbians while she takes her religious objections case to a higher court. U.S. District Judge David Bunning ordered Rowan County Clerk Kim Davis last week to issue licenses to two gay couples, and ruled Monday that she is not entitled to any more delays. But because “emotions are running high on both sides of this debate,” he also stayed his decision while she takes her case to the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeal.
Women earn Ranger designation
Two women have passed the Army Ranger School and will graduate at Fort Benning, Georgia, on Friday morning, making them the first female soldiers to earn the elite special operations forces tab and complete the Army’s most difficult training regimen.
Florida clinic asks for abortion ruling
Planned Parenthood in Florida asked a judge Monday for an emergency ruling to allow them to continue to perform abortions at 12 and 13 weeks after a discrepancy with the state about what constitutes first- and second-trimester abortions.

Up to 305 Clinton emails might have classified data
The State Department review of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s emails so far has found as many as 305 messages that could contain classified information and require further scrutiny by federal agencies, the department said Monday.

Pentagon plans to increase drone use by 50 percent
Faced with escalating aggression from Russia and China, the Pentagon is planning to increase its use of drones by about 50 percent over the next several years, using the Army and civilian contractors to put more of the unmanned aircraft in the air.

Former Iraqi premier may face charges over Mosul’s fall
Who lost Mosul? The question could lead to Iraq’s former prime minister and many top lieutenants facing criminal charges. Iraqi lawmakers on Monday referred to the public prosecutor a report calling for former Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki and other senior civilian and military officials to be held to account for the fall of Iraq’s second-largest city to the militants of Islamic State last summer.

In brief: Indonesian crash left no survivors
 An Indonesian official says that rescuers have managed to reach the crash site of an Indonesian plane that went missing two days ago with 54 people on board and that there were no survivors. “The plane was totally destroyed and all the bodies were burned and difficult to identify,” National Search and Rescue Agency chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo told the Associated Press.
Russians blame fighting on Ukraine
Russia’s foreign minister said Monday that a surge in fighting near Ukraine’s southeastern port city of Mariupol is a likely harbinger of a Ukrainian military offensive eastward into rebel-held territory.
Report: All sides killing innocents
In its latest report on the fighting, Amnesty International accused both the Saudi-led coalition carrying out airstrikes in Yemen and the forces on the ground, supporting or opposing the Shiite rebels known as Houthis. The London-based rights group said the violence has been particularly deadly in the southern cites of Taiz and Aden, with dozens of children among those killed.

McConnell: Blocking Iran deal will be difficult
President Barack Obama has “a great likelihood of success” in his showdown with congressional Republicans on the Iran nuclear deal, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell grudgingly acknowledged on Monday.

Deadly blast hits Thailand capital
Investigations were underway today after a deadly bombing in Bangkok killed at least 22 and injured 123 people, many of them tourists.

City of Spokane creates incentive program for new development
With the creation of a new program aimed at encouraging development, the city of Spokane is hoping to get involved in “jump-starting private investment” within its borders. Spokane Mayor David Condon, who announced the program at the new Bennidito’s Brewpub on East Sprague Avenue, said the new economic incentive program is a way to build transparency and fairness into the city’s ability to provide funding, waive fees and contribute other incentives for projects big and small. The program was approved by the City Council last week.

Washington releases student scores from new Smarter Balanced tests
The raw numbers may look worse, but state school officials said the results should be seen as better from standardized tests that students in many grades of Washington public schools took last year.

Strategy to reseed burned land takes shape
Even as fires ravage landscapes across the West, restoration crews already are on the ground amid the smoke, starting work on plans to reseed and rehabilitate the burned wildlands.

In brief: Worker killed by chlorine leak identified
The Pacific Steel and Recycling worker who died after being exposed to chlorine gas on Wednesday was identified Monday as Edward K. Dumaw, 44.
Motorcyclist hospitalized after I-90 crash
Medics took a motorcyclist to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center following a rush-hour crash on Interstate 90. Samuel Williams, a 58-year-old rider from Stevensville, Montana, crashed his 2013 Harley-Davidson FLTRX into two cars during a traffic slowdown Monday in the eastbound lanes near the Freya exit, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Officers help deliver baby after traffic stop
Seattle police officers wound up helping with the birth of a baby after a routine traffic stop – and it was all recorded on a patrol car’s dashboard camera. The department said Officer Anthony Reynolds pulled over the car after he saw it speeding and running red lights in South Seattle at about 3:45 a.m. Sunday. The driver opened his door and shouted that his wife was in labor.
Charges filed against suspect in rampage
Pierce County prosecutors have filed charges of first-degree murder and 16 other counts against a man suspected of killing a 71-year-old and terrorizing dozens of people in Puyallup last week. The News Tribune reports that 34-year-old Nathen Terault entered not-guilty pleas Monday in Superior Court. He was ordered held on $5 million bail.

Despite fines, legislators plan to take time to answer McCleary ruling
Getting the Legislature to return for yet another special session may take more than a daily $100,000 fine. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee and legislative leaders met Monday in SeaTac to discuss how lawmakers should respond to court sanctions issued last week in the ongoing McCleary education funding case. But following the hourlong meeting, Inslee said he wouldn’t immediately call a special session of the Legislature to address the state Supreme Court’s latest order, even as the state gets fined by the day. And some lawmakers seemed to think that calling the Legislature back to Olympia before its scheduled return in January may not be needed at all.

Amazon CEO says he won’t tolerate a ‘callous’ workplace
Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos rebutted a New York Times depiction of his company’s workplace as overly harsh and demanding, writing in a memo on Sunday: “The article doesn’t describe the Amazon I know.”

In brief: U.S. homebuilder sentiment improves in August
U.S. homebuilders grew slightly more optimistic about the housing market in August, putting their confidence at levels last seen a decade ago during the debt-fueled housing boom.
Citigroup affiliates settle SEC case
Two Citigroup Inc. affiliates have agreed to pay $179.5 million to resolve federal regulators’ charges of misleading investors in hedge funds that later collapsed.
FDA: Scope maker knew about problems
Federal regulators have uncovered new violations by the manufacturer of medical scopes recently linked to outbreaks of deadly “superbug” bacteria at U.S. hospitals.
Starbucks, Panera tweak latte formulas
The pumpkin spice latte battle is heating up just in time for fall. Starbucks and Panera are hyping reformulated versions of the popular drinks in a fight to win over fans of the beverage in coming weeks.
Petco files for another IPO
Petco plans to go public again almost nine years after two private equity firms bought the pet store operator.
N.Y. manufacturing down sharply
Manufacturing activity in New York state contracted in August at the fastest pace since the Great Recession, pulled down by sharp declines in new orders and shipments.
U.S. Steel idling Alabama mill
U.S. Steel Corp. said Monday it will close its Fairfield Works mill, one of the largest remaining pieces from Birmingham’s years as a Southern steel-making giant.

Feds allow Shell to drill for oil in Arctic Ocean off Alaska
The federal government on Monday gave Royal Dutch Shell the final permit it needs to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean off Alaska’s northwest coast for the first time in more than two decades.

Foreign companies halt operations near Tianjin blast
Foreign companies have suspended operations around the Tianjin port as officials scramble to contain the toxic fallout of last week’s deadly chemical explosions, which dealt a blow to northern China’s emerging economic hub.

Editorial: Slowly, state improving funding for our schools

Robert J. Samuelson: Currency devaluation uneasy course for China

Dr. Zorba Paster: Choice of PSA tests a personal one

Soaring dental costs in the U.S. are driving many seniors to Mexico for care

Ask Dr. K: Shoulder pain treated with ice, medication

First lady’s healthy kids director knows impact of good eating

Peoples Pharmacy: Paths to whiter teeth appear to be safe, effective
blood-pressure medicine
prednisone side effects

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from Tea Party
[Information from these sites may not be reliable.]

Glenn Beck Puzzled Why Conservatives Are Even Thinking of Backing Trump
Conservative talk radio host Glenn Beck said on his show Monday he is “at an impasse” with other conservatives who support the presidential candidacy of billionaire businessman Donald Trump. Trump is leading the GOP polls among a 17-candidate field, and supporters say he is tapping in to the public’s anger at government. But Beck is among those who question Trump’s change in position on various issues, including abortion and a wealth tax. He once supported both.

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from Think Progress
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]
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from The Washington Times (DC)

Carson says EPA will run better under his presidency
The EPA’s massive toxic spill triggered fallout Tuesday from Republicans as presidential hopeful Ben Carson visited the site, and a key congressman disclosed that at least two House committees are planning to investigate the incident.

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from The Wenatchee World

After losing house, teacher grateful for community support
Having his house burn to the ground couldn’t have come at a more inconvenient time for Rod Cool. The Chelan High School agriculture teacher and FFA adviser is in the final days of helping his students prepare for the upcoming fair season  — the NCW District Fair next week and the Chelan County Fair the week after. In between, school starts back up after summer vacation. And he was supposed to be driving his daughter to college in Idaho on Tuesday. Not one to dwell on his own misfortune, Cool is channeling his energy into helping his students and a number of farm animals impacted by the wildfires that rampaged around Chelan last Friday and still threaten homes in some areas near the community.

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