B Media Network US News Editor's Home Page: March 2015

Tuesday, March 31, 2015

White House: Iran nuke talks could continue beyond deadline

Officials of Britain, Russia, China, France, Germany, European Union, the United States and Iran wait for the start of a meeting on Iran's nuclear program at the Beau Rivage Palace Hotel in Lausanne, Switzerland Mon... . Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif, left, Head of Iranian Atomic Energy Organization Ali Akbar Salehi, second left, Special Assistant to Iranian president Hossein Fereydoun, second right, and Iranian Deputy Foreig... .

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Senate letter to Iran -- we have been here before: James Robenalt

The letter to Iran from Republican senators unleashed a storm of howls and protests and many who signed the letter scrambled for cover. But we have been here before.

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IVN: a Even in Third Place, Libertarian Party Has Significant Impact in Elections

Agree or disagree with its positions, the Libertarian Party has a real impact on the American political environment. Each vote matters far beyond the simple math."

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Ted Cruz Makes Big Fundraising Push

This week has been an early test of whether [Ted Cruz] can bring in the contributions he'll need to stay afloat throughout the course of a campaign. Cruz is hoping to build on the $2 million he raised in the first three days after becoming the first official candidate for the White House.

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Saudi Arabia's Airstrikes in Yemen Are Fueling the Gulf's Fire

Crowds in Taiz, Yemen react to a Houthi rebel takeover in parts of the city earlier this month. Foreign states that go to war in Yemen usually come to regret it.

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Study: Millennials Still Question Morality of Gay Sex, Abortion

Hear that? It's the sighs of disappointment in Hollywood, mixed with the howls of rage on the sex-obsessed feminist left. It turns out, young adults aren't nearly as immoral as they were supposed to be by now.

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A 'Year of Eye-Catching Steps Forward' for Renewable Energy

Driven by solar and wind, world investments in renewable energy leapt in 2014. - Driven by solar and wind, world investments in renewable energy reversed a two-year dip last year, brushing aside the challenge from sharply lower oil prices and registering a 17 percent leap over the previous year to stand at 270 billion dollars.

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LePage calls opponents of his plan to hire investigators 'weak on drugs'

Gov. Paul LePage blasted lawmakers who oppose his plans to beef up the state's law enforcement capabilities in the War on Drugs on Tuesday in Augusta. Buy Photo Lori Fowle, D-Vassalboro, said Democrats support LePage's efforts to hire more drug enforcement agents, judges and prosecutors -- but only if the plan is paired with a corresponding increase in funding for substance abuse treatment on Tuesday in Augusta.

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'Still Struggling': Study of Gulf Species Contradicts BP's Slick Corporate Spin

Eleven workers were killed in an explosion on BP's leased Deepwater Horizon rig on April 20, 2010, and BP's blown-out Macondo well off the coast of Louisiana spewed more than 3 million barrels of oil into the ocean over 87 days. Despite BP's claims that the Gulf of Mexico is making a robust recovery in the wake of 2010's Deepwater Horizon disaster, an annual study of the ecosystem and its inhabitants shows that the effects of the catastrophic explosion and subsequent oil spill are still being felt-and in many cases, are not yet fully understood.

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New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has banned all non-essential, state-funded travel to Indiana after that state adopted a religious freedom law that critics say opens the door to discrimination against gays and lesbians. The Democratic governor announced the ban Tuesday, saying it shows the state stands by "our LBGT family members, friends and colleagues."

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'Disturbing' Reports of Civilian Deaths in Yemen, Warn International Aid Groups

The United Nations said Tuesday that Yemen stands on the verge of 'total collapse' as bombings continue to destroy essential infrastructure. International aid organizations as well as the United Nations are sounding the alarm over "disturbing" reports of civilian casualties in Yemen as a Saudi-led coalition continued its bombing campaign for a sixth day.

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U.S. Supreme Court hesitant to extend Spider-Man toy royalties

A Spider-Man toy that shoots out webs of foam was at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court hearing on Tuesday, with the justices appearing little inclined to overturn a half-century-old legal precedent to allow more royalty fees to go to its inventor. The nine justices heard more than an hour of oral arguments in the case pitting the inventor, Stephen Kimble, against Walt Disney Co's Marvel Entertainment.

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A Glimpse Into the GOP's Backward Bubble

Gov. Pence, fix 'religious freedom' law now - We are at a critical moment in Indiana's history. - And much is at stake. - Our image. Our reputation as a state that embraces people of diverse backgrounds and makes them feel welcome. And our efforts over many years to retool our economy

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Obama vetoes measure against swifter union elections

President Barack Obama on Tuesday vetoed a measure passed by the Republican-run Congress blocking the National Labor Relations Board from streamlining the process for union elections, saying government should not make it harder for workers to be heard in the workplace. The NLRB rule, set to take effect on April 14, would shorten the amount of time between when an election is called and when it is held by eliminating a 25-day waiting period.

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Naseer Chawki won his High Court fight after a hearing in London

An illegal immigrant convicted of "revolting" sex offences is to receive damages after a judge concluded he was illegally detained by Home Office officials for around seven months. Naseer Chawki, who claims to be 34 and from Iran, won a High Court fight with Home Secretary Theresa May following a hearing in London.

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Would bill expand - canned hunting' in Indiana?

Would bill expand 'canned hunting' in Indiana? Language quietly slipped into bill could open the door to more captive-deer hunting. Check out this story on IndyStar.com: http://indy.st/1CttJUX Critics fear that an amended bill that passed a Senate committee on Monday could open the door to more hunting of farm-raised deer similar to this Indiana buck.

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Gowdy sets May 1 deadline for Clinton interview on emails

Gowdy said Friday that the former secretary of state had wiped her private email server "clean" and permanently deleted all emails from it. Clinton, a likely Democratic presidential candidate, used a private email account and server during her tenure at State from 2009 to 2013.

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Gov. Martinez on Cruz: I don't know him, I don't follow him

The nation's only Latina governor says she knows next to nothing about GOP presidential candidate and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez told The Associated Press on Tuesday that she had no opinion on Cruz's recent announcement at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, that he would seek the Republican presidential nomination.

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FBI identifies man killed in NSA shooting

Earlier, a firefight erupted when two men dressed as women tried to ram a car into a gate, killing one... . In this image made from video and released by WJLA-TV, authorities investigate the scene of a accident near a gate to Fort Meade, Md., on Monday, March 30, 2015.

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Did Harvey Weinstein Grope This Model Or What? [PHOTOS]

A 22-year-old model has accused Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein of groping her over the weekend during an audition in his Manhattan office. Ambra Gutierrez, who uses the last name Battilana, who was one of two models that witnessed former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi's orgy parties, met Weinstein a few days prior during a social event at Radio City Music Hall.

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Store Owner Fatally Shoots Man Who Sliced His Neck With A Box Cutter [VIDEO]

A man armed with two box cutters sliced a Tennessee store owner on the neck during a robbery attempt Monday night but didn't get much further. Police say the owner of Discount Tobacco and Beer in La Vergne was taking out the trash at around 10:30 p.m. when a man approached him.

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Wasted Tara Reid Convinces Guy She Met on the Plane To Get Her Name Tattooed On Him [Video]

After the two get very drunk, she convinces him to go straight from the jetway to a tattoo parlor so he can get her and her friend's name tattooed on his right arm. Though it's surely very meaningful due to his million other tattoos, the guy said there is no way he would regret it.

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Hampton VA hospital faulted for suicidal patient's care

An inspector general's report says a Hampton VA Medical Center patient twice reported his attempted suicide but the staff never notified the hospital's suicide prevention coordinator. Media outlets report that the incident involving the man who had a history of depression occurred more than three years ago.

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How Republicans Keep Bailing Out Obama's Inept Foreign Policy

The Obama administration's nuclear negotiators are learning a tough lesson: you can't succeed in high-stakes international diplomacy with only carrots. So naturally, they're leaning on Republicans in Congress-the group the Obama White House has treated as the true enemy here-for the sticks.

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Driver slain at U.S. spy agency gate identified by FBI

The driver of a stolen car shot dead by National Security Agency guards when he and another man tried to run the spy agency's gates dressed as women was identified by the FBI on Tuesday. The driver was Ricky Shawatza Hall, 27, the FBI's Baltimore office said in a statement.

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At Amazon: The Digital Dime Store

Remember, you can buy and give digital gifts like music and books on the same day, even on Christmas day itself! Here are several links that feature the equivalent of the Amazon Digital Dime Store .

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Supreme Court weighs Spider-Man toy patent fight

The Supreme Court was snarled in a web of legal arguments Tuesday over whether an inventor could keep collecting royalties on a Spider-Man toy even after his patent expired. The dispute involves a popular Web Blaster toy that lets children shoot foam string from a glove, much like the web-shooting super hero.

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New a Daily Showa host Trevor Noah draws heat for tweets

A day after Trevor Noah was declared the new host of "The Daily Show," complete with the blessing of the exiting Jon Stewart, graphic tweets targeting women, Jews and Middle America are causing a social media backlash. By Tuesday, Trevor Noah was a trending topic on Twitter as he drew fire for jokes described as tasteless, hateful - and unfunny.

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Dickerson: Can Ted Cruz play well with others?

Ted Cruz defended his lack of executive experience this weekend saying that he is not a "community organizer." The Texas senator explained that unlike Barack Obama, who also ran for president after one term in the Senate, he had accomplished more before becoming a legislator.

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Kentucky argues gay marriage ban not biased

Gov. Steve Beshear's administration is arguing in a brief filed with the U.S. Supreme Court that Kentucky's ban on gay marriage isn't discriminatory because it bars both gay and straight people from same-sex unions. The brief argues that because Kentucky's law bars everyone from same-sex marriage, it isn't discriminatory and should be upheld.

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U.S. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs now hearing from local representatives

A field hearing by the United States Senate Committee on Indian affairs just concluded hearing from a panel of Federal officials, and are now hearing testimony from local officials on the impacts of drugs on the Wind River Indian Reservation. The Committee called the field hearing to examine the harmful effects of dangerous drugs in Native communities and how local leaders and agencies are working to effectively address this challenge.

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Has economic growth stalled?

Less than three weeks after the Dow and the S&P 500 notched new highs and the Nasdaq passed 5,000, all three indexes were down after a series of reports showed that economic growth had all but stalled. There are plenty of culprits, lousy winter weather, a stronger dollar, cheaper oil, the West Coast port slowdown, but it was hard to shrug off the numbers.

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GOP pollster: Candidates seen as antigay will never win voters under 30

At a Monitor breakfast Tuesday, GOP pollster Whit Ayers praised Indiana's political system for adapting "remarkably quickly" to the "value conflict" that has erupted over its new religious freedom law, which opponents say discriminates against the gay community. The state's top legislators say they will adjust the law so that discrimination is no longer an issue.

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Blacks still divided, many undecided in key Chicago mayoral race

With less than a week before the election, many Black voters have yet to decide whether they will support a second term for Rahm Emanuel, or make his challenger Cook County Board Commissioner Jesus "Chuy" Garcia the first Latino mayor in the city's history. In the nation's third most populous city, Latinos represent nearly a third of the population, yet despite Garcia's overwhelmingly large level of support amongst Latinos, recent polls suggest he still has an uphill climb to become the city's first Latino mayor.

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Defense gets ready to rest case in marathon bombing trial

Lawyers for the Boston Marathon bomber prepared to rest their case Tuesday after an FBI fingerprint examiner testified that Dzhokhar Tsarnaev's fingerprints weren't found on any of the marathon bomb components, but his older brother's were. FILE - In this March 5, 2015 file courtroom sketch, Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, center, is depicted between defense attorneys Miriam Conrad, left, and Judy Clarke, right, during his federal death penalty trial in Boston.

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Indiana Gov. Mike Pence Continues to Deny Intent of Anti-Gay #RFRA in Clueless Presser: VIDEO

Indiana Governor Mike Pence continued to mislead the public about the intent of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and draw false comparisons to previous legislation, blaming the media for mischaracterizing the content of the bill. Pence also emphasized that he felt what needed to be changed in an upcoming "fix" to the law's language was the "perception problem", continuing to deny that the law allows discrimination against gays and lesbians.

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Malloy Calls Indiana's Governor A 'Bigot' In MSNBC Appearance

A day after signing an executive order banning state-funded travel to Indiana , Connecticut Gov. Dannel Malloy took to the airwaves Tuesday morning to explain his decision, further blasting the "bigotry" shown by that state and its governor. Malloy signed the travel ban after Indiana enacted the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which allows businesses to deny services to individuals or groups if it is a burden on strongly held religious beliefs.

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New York Jets won't return to Cortland for training camp this year

After several years of conducting training camps on the campus of SUNY Cortland, the New York Jets are leaving Central New York this year. They say they're holding this summer's training camp in New Jersey.

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Theater summer camps on horizon for local youth: Lacombe Town Talk

The Village Church Lutheran, located at 29180 Highway 190 in Lacombe, will hold two theater summer camps. The first takes place June 8 through 13 and the second camp will happen July 13 through 18. The time for both camps will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and the one-time only performance will take place on July 18 from 3 to 5 p.m. The theater camp is for all youth ages 7 to 16, and the cost is $60 for each youth, and $35 for an additional sibling.

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Social Media Fixates on Gov. Mike Pence's Heavy Nose-Breathing

This CNBC reporter accurately summed up the social media reaction to Gov. Mike Pence 's press conference on his state's controversial "religious freedom" legislation: Indeed, the governor took long, deep breaths between lines of his prepared remarks - either for added gravitas or because it's his method for keeping calm or something. Ok. That mic appears adequately far away from Pence's face.

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Pence Fumbles When Asked if Businesses Should Be 'Compelled' to Serve LGBT Couples

The last question at Gov Mike Pence 's press conference, in which he promised a "legislative fix" to a controversial religious freedom law, was aimed not at the law itself, but the motivations behind the governor's actions. The question from a reporter: "Do you personally believe that Christian businesses that have deeply held beliefs about marriage should be compelled to provide services, whether it's photography, flowers, baking, across the board - to gay and lesbian couples?" "I understand what you're doing with the law - you personally," the reporter continued when Pence gave a similar talking point about the law's intent.

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Obama Warned Us - Wall Street

WATCH: The President highlights the progress made since he signed Wall Street reform into law five years ago. http://ofa.bo/g4Kc "It made Elizabeth Warren shut up about being an Indian for a little while. That's absolutely worth a few billion."

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Gov. Mike Pence: Change RFRA law to make it clear discrimination won't be allowed

Gov. Mike Pence: Change RFRA law to make it clear discrimination won't be allowed News conference will be in the state library Check out this story on jconline.com: http://indy.st/1bMMCcF In his latest effort to clarify the Indiana's controversial new "religious freedom" law, embattled Gov. Mike Pence called on lawmakers Tuesday to pass legislation clarifying that it does not allow business owners to discriminate in providing services.

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Harry Reid Doesn't Regret Accusing Romney of Tax Evasion: He...

Sen. Harry Reid , who announced last week that he will retire after his current term expires in early 2017, said he does not regret taking to the Senate floor in 2012 to accuse then-GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney of not paying his taxes . "No, I don't regret that at all," he told CNN's Dana Bash .

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Benghazi Committee Formally Calls Upon Hillary Clinton to Testify on Emails

In a letter to Hillary Clinton 's attorney, the House Select Committee on Benghazi formally requested that the former Secretary of State testify in front of the committee about her exclusive use of a personal email address. The letter, addressed to Clinton lawyer David E. Kendall , asks that Clinton agree to do a private transcribed interview before May 1st.

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Cabinet minister: Nigerian president concedes to Buhari

The warnings are strong and security is always tight, but most drivers are versed in the daily routine as thousands of employees and contractors stream through the closely guarded entrance to the National Security... Two cross-dressing men who were fired upon by National Security Agency police when they disobeyed orders at a heavily guarded gate had just stolen a car from a man who had picked them up to "party" at a motel, police said... Lawyers for Boston Marathon bomber Dzkhokar Tsarnaev are trying to show that his older brother was the driving force behind the 2013 terror attack.

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USDA extends ARC, PLC deadlines

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has provided farm owners and producers one additional week, until April 7, to choose between Agriculture Risk Coverage and Price Loss Coverage, the safety-net programs established by the 2014 Farm Bill. "This is an important decision for producers because these programs help farmers and ranchers protect their operations from unexpected changes in the marketplace," said Vilsack.

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Gowdy sets May 1 deadline for Clinton interview on emails

The chairman of a House committee investigating the 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, said Tuesday he wants to interview Hillary Rodham Clinton by May 1. Rep. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., said a recorded interview would help the committee better understand decisions Clinton made "relevant to the creation, maintenance, retention, and ultimately deletion of public records" - namely her emails. Gowdy said Friday that the former secretary of state had wiped her private email server "clean" and permanently deleted all emails from it.

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Naseer Chawki won his High Court fight after a hearing in London

Harry Reid doesn't regret accusing Mitt Romney of not paying taxes

Retiring Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid sat down with CNN's Dana Bash for a candid interview, where his body language, expressions, and willingness to address critics fit the expectations of just about anyone readying for retirement. Reid reveals he initially wanted to retire before his last election, but was antagonized by the naysayers and decided to run, "one newspaper here in Nevada kept beating up on me" and so naturally He says his current decision to retire at age 75 is to be remembered for his first 34 years in the Senate, not his last six.

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Monday, March 30, 2015

Top GOP legislators pan Pence over defense of religious law

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence is getting some blame from fellow Republicans on how the state's new religious objections law is being perceived around the country. House Speaker Brian Bosma said Monday that Pence raised the specter of the law permitting discrimination against gays and lesbians by not directly answering questions on the subject during a Sunday national television interview.

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Bergdahl's Troubled Platoon

Front page above the fold in Sunday's New York Times was a story that headlined Pfc Bowe Bergdahl's platoon as "known for its troubles," and in the very first sentence the platoon was labeled as "raggedy." The reason given for this reputation for raggedness: The platoon members "were known to wear bandannas and cutoff T-shirts."

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Man Steals Hundreds Of Dollars From Disabled Girl Scout

In a horrific attack on all that is good in humanity, girl scouts fell prey to multiple thieves this weekend who passed up the thin mints for the little girls' cash. First, a man stole hundreds of dollars from a disabled girl scout outside a Kmart in Lansing, MI, MLive reports .

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Will Senate Democrats really help kill an Obama nuclear deal with Iran?

The negotiations over the future of Iran's nuclear program are coming down to the wire, with last-minute snags developing around the question of whether Iran will agree to allow its atomic fuel to be shipped out of the country. Other unresolved issues include the pace at which sanctions would be lifted, how many centrifuges Iran could continue operating, what research and development would be allowed on more advanced centrifuges, and what monitoring would look like.

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No More Automatic Teller?:

Big Wall Street banks are so upset with U.S. Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren's call for them to be broken up that some have discussed withholding campaign donations to Senate Democrats in symbolic protest, sources familiar with the discussions said. Representatives from Citigroup, JPMorgan, Goldman Sachs and Bank of America, have met to discuss ways to urge Democrats, including Warren and Ohio Senator Sherrod Brown, to soften their party's tone toward Wall Street, sources familiar with the discussions said this week.

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Tax What You Don't Want, not What You do:

U.S. lawmakers on both sides of the aisle increasingly are finding appeal in an ambitious concept for overhauling the nation's income-tax system: a tax based on consumption, a tool long used around the world. The tax-writing Senate Finance Committee is giving new consideration to the consumption-tax idea with the hope that its promised boost to economic growth would ease the way to a revamp.

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Silk Road investigators charged with stealing bitcoin

Two former U.S. government agents face charges related to stealing hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bitcoin while assisting with an investigation of the Silk Road underground online marketplace, with one accused of using a fake online persona to extort money from operators of the site. Facing charges of wire fraud and money laundering are Carl Force, 46, of Baltimore, a former special agent with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and Shaun Bridges, 32, of Laurel, Maryland, a former special agent with the U.S. Secret Service.

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The U.S. and Cuba will talk about human rights

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033015-Baird_Barrick_Gold_20150328-37218543-Baird_Barrick_Gold_20150328-W.jpg

Foreign Minister John Baird speaks in the House of Commons in Ottawa on Feb. 3, 2015. Former foreign affairs minister John Baird has become a special international adviser to Barrick Gold Corp. As foreign minister, John Baird was personally lobbied by representatives for Barrick Gold Corp. less than two years before he announced he was joining the global mining company's advisory board on international affairs.

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Doctor friend of Robert Menendez expected to be charged soon, AP source says

WASHINGTON - Federal prosecutors are moving toward charging a Florida eye doctor over his dealings with Sen. Robert Menendez, according to a person familiar with a Justice Department investigation into their relationship. The person said prosecutors are expected to bring charges against Dr. Salomon Melgen, whose medical offices were raided two years ago by federal authorities.

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Request For More Time In Nagin Appeal Granted

Federal public defenders have been granted more time to work on the appeal for former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who is serving a 10-year sentence for corruption. Briefs in Nagin's appeal had been due Monday, but the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals pushed back the deadline to April 9. The Federal Public Defender's office sought a delay.

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Former NH gov.: Obama is 'inciting' birthers with Kenya trip

President Obama is "inciting" the passions of so-called birthers, who believe he was born in Kenya not the United States, by planning a trip to the African country, former New Hampshire Gov. John Sununu said Monday . "I think his trip back to Kenya is going to create a lot of chatter and commentary amongst some of the hard right who still don't see him as having been born in the U.S.," he said during an appearance on Fox News' "America's Newsroom."

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House panel passes needle exchange bill over HIV outbreak

A legislative panel has approved a measure that would allow high-risk counties to create needle exchange programs following an HIV outbreak in southern Indiana. Health officials say 81 people who either live in Scott County or have ties to it have tested positive for HIV.

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Ex-Feds Accused Of Pocketing Bitcoins During Investigation

Two former federal agents have been charged with wire fraud, money laundering and related offenses for stealing bitcoins, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement . Carl Force, a former special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration, and Shaun Bridges, a former Secret Service special agent, were both part of a Baltimore task force investigating Silk Road , the online marketplace often labeled the eBay of the drug trade.

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Prosecutors: Co-pilot treated for suicidal tendencies-Image1

The co-pilot of Germanwings Flight 9525 that crashed into the French Alps last week had received treatment for suicidal tendencies several years ago, prosecutors said Monday. Duesseldorf prosecutors say co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, 27, had received psychotherapy "with a note about suicidal tendencies" for several years before becoming a pilot.

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Committee on Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) report on U.S. Senator Robert Menendez

Three-term U.S. Senator from New Jersey Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee Reportedly under federal investigation for using his position to benefit the business interests of a close friend and campaign donor Under investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee for failing to disclose private flights to the Dominican Republic as gifts One of two members from New Jersey named in CREW's Most Corrupt report

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Obama urges Senate to follow Sen. Kennedy's example

Obama is speaking at the formal dedication of an institute named for Kennedy in Boston. Obama says Kennedy understood the only point of running for office was to get something done.

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Amid Criticism, Indiana's Republicans To Revisit Religious Freedom Law

Indiana Senate President Pro Tem David Long and House Speaker Brian C. Bosma, both Republicans, discuss their plans for clarifying the Indiana Religious Freedom Restoration Act during a news conference today at the Statehouse in Indianapolis. Republican leaders in Indiana say they will work to ensure the state's controversial Religious Freedom Restoration Act does not allow discrimination against gays and lesbians.

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Now you can see who visited the White House with Jay Z.

Jay Z has been to the White House four times, according to official records. In May 2009, he visited as part of a large group of people, including Robert Gibbs, Grant Hill, Richard Trumka and Emmitt Smith.

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University heads: Religious objections law damaging Indiana

The presidents of DePauw, Indiana and Valparaiso universities have joined their counterpart at Butler in criticizing Indiana's religious objections law and saying it has damaged the state of Indiana, its institutions and its citizens. IU President Michael McRobbie says the passage of the law "has brought significant negative attention to the state of Indiana throughout the nation and indeed the world, because the law is widely viewed as signaling an unwelcoming and discriminatory atmosphere in our state."

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High Court Sends Back Ruling on Virginia Redistricting

Our opinions are unbiased and unfiltered, and we never hold back. But the most important voice in D.C. sports is yoursa that's why our phone [] All News 99.1 WNEW 99.1 WNEW is the premiere destination for breaking news, traffic and weather information, serving the Greater Washington and Baltimore areas - and everywhere in between.

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No Consensus on Application of 'Comcast v. Behrend'

It has been two years this month since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in Comcast v. Behrend , 133 S. Ct. 1426 (2013), reversing the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit's class certification of antitrust claims brought by more than 2 million cable subscribers.

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Federal agents charged with stealing digital currency

Two former federal agents were charged with fraud in the theft of digital currency during an investigation into an online black market known as Silk Road that let users buy and sell drugs and other illegal items, authorities said Monday. Former U.S. Secret Service special agent Shaun W. Bridges, 32, of Laurel, Maryland, appeared in federal court in San Francisco but didn't enter a plea.

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Obama: Politicians should carry themselves 'more like Ted Kennedy'

President Barack Obama prepares to give Victoria Reggie Kennedy a kiss as he arrives to speak at the dedication of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, Monday, March 30, 2015, in Boston. The $79 million Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate dedication is a politically star-studded event attended by President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and past and present senators of both parties.

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Mayor Ballard speaks about RFRA

Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard will speak Monday afternoon about the controversial Religious Freedom Reformation Act signed into law last week by Indiana Gov. Mike Pence. Although Ballard released a statement about RFRA last week , he's yet to publicly speak about the law.

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Obama: Politicians should carry themselves more like Kennedy

President Barack Obama said Monday that American politicians in an era of partisanship should try to carry themselves more like Edward M. Kennedy, as politicians from both parties lauded the late senator's collegial spirit at the dedication of an institute that bears his name. The $79 million institute, built next to the John F. Kennedy presidential library on Boston's Columbia Point, envisioned by Kennedy before he was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2008.

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Employment protection for moms-to-be

Nebraska mothers-to-be will have better employment protection under a bill headed to a final vote in the Legislature. Senators advanced a measure Monday that would require employers to acknowledge physical limitations of pregnancy and make accommodations for employees.

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Why governors should not cozy up to lobbyists

So just weeks after being e-mailed Gov. Sam Brownback's budget draft, lobbyist and former chief of staff David Kensinger started working against part of the proposal - a tobacco tax increase. Kensinger wouldn't tell The Eagle's Bryan Lowry whether his early knowledge of the tax proposal played a role in his ability to secure the lobbying contract with Reynolds American.

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Born This Way

Why do we choke up when we see a stranger empathize with a gay couple denied service in a restaurant? Being kicked out of a Mexican eatery in Mississippi seems like such a first world problem. There are folks all over the world who are being murdered for their sexual orientation and the color of their skin and their religious beliefs.

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Lindsey Graham adds another NH stop

An attorney who represented a man who lives at a Bedford home where three bodies were found Saturday says he received a call from him that day reporting his two children were dead and his wife had... Mary Ann Sewall, co-owner of the Breakfast Hill Golf Club in Greenland, is itching to play golf, and she's not alone.

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News Guide: The gaps as Iran talks hit crunch time

Negotiations over Iran's nucl... . Representatives of world powers meet to pin down a nuclear deal with Iran, on Monday March 30, 2015, in Lausanne, Switzerland.

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Obama salutes 'hero' Boston police officer shot in face

President Barack Obama has praised a Boston police officer who was shot point-blank in the face by a suspect, calling the downed officer a "hero." Obama began his speech at the dedication of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate by saluting Officer John Moynihan.

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The 2016 Republican Strategy

The Republicans in the 114th Congress have learned the lessons of 1948. Their recent moves - the Netanyahu invitation and the Iranian letter - are a way to position the Democratic Party as soft on Islam.

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Senators advance measure to protect pregnant employees

This land is our land? Not if Republicans have their way

One of the 43 amendments passed by Senate Republicans in Thursday's vote-a-rama was a sop to extremist state legislatures in the west who have been pushing states' rights bills that would allow the states to sell off the federal public lands within their borders. That's right, congressional Republicans-federal representatives-want to allow states to seize and sell off the nation's heritage.

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AP source: US moving toward charging doctor in Menendez case

This July 20, 2009 photo shows Dr. Salomon Melgen at his office in West Palm Beach, Fla. Federal prosecutors are moving toward charging a Florida eye doctor over his dealings with New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, according to a person familiar with a Justice Department investigation into their relationship.

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Prosecution rests its case against Boston Marathon bomber

Prosecutors rested their case against Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev on Monday after jurors in his federal death penalty trial saw gruesome autopsy photos and heard a medical examiner describe the devastating injuries suffered by the three people who died in the 2013 terror attack. Tsarnaev's lawyer told the jury during opening statements that Tsarnaev participated in the twin bombings but that his older brother, Tamerlan, was the driving force behind the attack.

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Repairs to Harlan County Dam's Corroded Gates to Begin Soon

Repairs will begin soon on the hard-to-move gates at the Harlan County Dam in south-central Nebraska. The initial $12.3 million project will deal with corrosion on six of the dam's gates, and the rest of the gates will be repaired over the following two years.

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Government Economist Who Called Christians 'Nazis': I Was Hacked

What to do if you're a government economist who was publicly embarrassed after tweeting that Christians who support Religious Freedom Restoration Acts are Nazis? Why, pull out the Weiner defense and claim you were hacked! U.S. Department of Labor economist Elizabeth Ashack drew widespread condemnation for a tweet saying that "people in the red states vote for nazis [sic] to govern, and then call themselves Christian, it will not end well for them."

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Clinton Advisor Accused Of Illegally Lobbying For Putin Ally

Former aide to President Bill Clinton Sidney Blumenthal may have lobbied then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on behalf of a Georgian billionaire with close ties to Russian autocrat Vladimir Putin throughout her tenure. Gawker's Sam Biddle found the damaging evidence while reviewing the Blumenthal emails exposed by the Romanian hacker Guccifer.

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Conn. Governor To Ban Travel To Indiana Over Religious Freedom Law His State Has Too

Connecticut Gov. Dannell Malloy will issue an executive order on Monday calling for a ban on state-funded travel to Indiana because of its new law, which he believes is intended to discriminate against gays. When new laws turn back the clock on progress, we can't sit idly by.

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Halperin: Martin O'Malley Could Do 'Serious Damage' To Hillary In Iowa [AUDIO]

In an interview with conservative radio host Laura Ingraham, Bloomberg Politics host Mark Halperin said that former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley could do "serious damage" to Hillary Clinton in Iowa next year. Halperin did say this with reservations, though, adding that he is "skeptical" that O'Malley is the one to enter the race with the mindset to defeat Clinton.

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Federal agent charged with Silk Road fraud appears in court

Two former federal agents have been charged with stealing digital currency during their investigation into an online black market that allowed users to buy and sell drugs and other illegal items. Carl M. Force of Baltimore was a special agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration and Shaun W. Bridges of Laurel, Maryland, was a special agent with the U.S. Secret Service on a task force that investigated the Silk Road marketplace.

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Emily Ratajkowski Spent Her Weekend Topless And Poolside With Gal Pals [PHOTOS]

"I've gone in for roles and producers tell me I'm too pretty to play a role. That's so crazy and frustrating.

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Longest US Army Troop Movement In Europe Since Patton Sends Message To Putin

Operation Dragoon Ride, the longest U.S. Army movement in Europe since Gen. George S. Patton, is set to conclude later this week.

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Connecticut man facing NH fines for allegedly violating Do Not Call registry

Legislation Opposes Federal Excise Tax Increase on New HD Trucks

Reps. Reid Ribble and Tim Walz have reintroduced legislation that reaffirms Congressional opposition to any increase of the excise tax on new heavy-duty trucks. Reps.

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Assrocket

was a problem not just because their wild-ass accusations about the Schiavo-Martinez memo were completely wrong, not just because media asses like Howie Kurtz took them seriously, but because they harm the reputation of the entire blogosphere. At a time when we are fighting for credibility, Assrocket's spectacular flameout knocked everyone down a peg.

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Latest on Boston bombing trial: Defense calls 1st witness

The defense in the death penalty trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev has called its first witness. The first person to testify for the defense Monday is Michelle Gamble , a field photographer for the FBI.

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Indiana Republicans promise to clarify religious freedom law

Republican legislators in Indiana said Monday that they would work to clarify a religious freedom law that opponents say would allow businesses to discriminate against gay customers. The GOP lawmakers insisted that their intent was not for the law to be used to discriminate against gay people and suggested language could be added to the measure to clarify its intentions.

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Sunday, March 29, 2015

Kennedy Family: Institute Honors 'Lion of Senate'

Late Sen. Ted Kennedy's widow, Victoria, and son, Patrick, co-founders of the educational center bearing his name in Boston, said Sunday the new facility is a fitting legacy for the man often called the "lion of the Senate." The Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate , will be dedicated Monday in Boston, with guest speakers to include President Barack Obama, Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John Kerry, Sen. John McCain, and Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker.

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Thousands of opponents of Indiana's new religious freedom

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence defended his state's new religious freedom law Sunday while refusing to say if it would allow discrimination against gays and lesbians. Pence: 'Not going to change' religious freedom law Indiana Gov. Mike Pence defended his state's new religious freedom law Sunday while refusing to say if it would allow discrimination against gays and lesbians.

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Fiorina likely GOP presidential candidate, attacks Clinton

Former technology executive Carly Fiorina says she is more than 90 percent likely to seek the Republican presidential nomination. And she is questioning the confidence people can have in likely Democratic contender Hillary Rodham Clinton.

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Uzbekistan's election sees turnout at 91 percent

Emergency workers are painstakingly looking for signs of two missing people in the rubble of three New York City apartment buildings leveled in an apparent gas explosion, though authorities acknowledge the chances... Some debris from an explosion and fire in Manhattan's East Village was being taken to a secure site where it will be examined again for any human remains, an official with knowledge of the operation told The Associated... A light rail train slammed into a car at a crossing in front of the University of Southern California, seriously injuring the driver and the train's operator.

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More restrictive spring break pondered after party shooting

Ex-Brownback aide lobbying against tobacco tax increase

Gov. Sam Brownback's former chief of staff is lobbying against a proposed tax increase on tobacco, one of the governor's primary proposals to balance the state's budget. Kansas secretary of state's records show David Kensinger registered as a lobbyist for Reynolds American on Feb. 6. That is six weeks after Kensinger was asked by Budget Director Shawn Sullivan to give feedback on a proposed state budget.

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Colorado attorney general worried over legal pot lawsuit

Colorado's attorney general says the Nebraska and Oklahoma lawsuit that asks the U.S. Supreme court to curtail Colorado's new recreational marijuana law could have dire consequences for all three states. Attorney General Cynthia Coffman says if the U.S. Supreme Court sides with the two states that border Colorado, the decision would take away the regulatory system that Colorado has built, while leaving the vote to legalize marijuana intact.

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Pine Ridge man wants to begin growing industrial hemp again

Alex White Plume and his family planted hemp on his Pine Ridge farm from 2000 to 2002, but never harvested a crop. Federal agents conducted raids and cut down the plants.

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Living history: Reva Beck Bosone worked to get a good deal for all Utahns

Utah's Reva Beck Bosone came from a long family line of Republicans, but bolted from the GOP in 1932. "Perhaps life would have been easier for me had I become a Republican," she said in "Her Honor, the Judge," written by Beverly Beck Clopton.

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Thousands of opponents of Indiana's new religious freedom

The Rationality of Continued Austerity in Greece

The NYT ran an a piece by Hugo Dixon that boldly proclaimed that if Alex Tsipras, the prime minister of Greece is rational, he will get tough with his left-wing supporters and impose more austerity measures. This is an interesting notion of rationality.

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Bombs Continue to Fall On Yemen As Arab States Announce New Military Force

The attack on Yemen will continue until Shiite Houthi rebels in that country "withdraw and surrender their weapons," a coalition of Arab leaders announced Sunday at the conclusion of the Arab League Summit, held in the Egyptian resort city of Sharm el-Sheikh this weekend. Leaders of the 14 member states-which include the Gulf States, Sudan, Yemen, Iraq, Algeria, Palestine and Somalia-also agreed to the formation of a joint military task force.

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Tragedy in the Alps vs. Sleep Apnea

ORD TRACON was pretty busy last night, so we had to wait to check in for a couple of minutes. Just ahead of us, we heard TRACON issue an... Not long ago, an airline began to receive notices that crews flying the RNAV RWY 36 approach into Birmingham, Alabama were... A pilot can learn a great deal by stripping his or her flying down to its fundamental roots.

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O'Malley Criticizes Clinton as 2016 Candidate

Former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley, making his strongest case to date on why he would be a viable alternative to fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton for the 2016 nomination, said the nation needs "new leadership" and that the U.S. presidency shouldn't be the birthright of a small number of well-connected families. Edging closer to announcing his presidential bid, Mr. O'Malley sharpened his critique of Mrs. Clinton on Sunday while presenting himself as an accomplished executive who would bring the "new perspective" he said voters demand.

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Pope Francis Prays for Germanwings Victims During Palm Sunday Mass

A body was found Sunday at the site of a New York City building explosion and collapse as searchers continued looking for two missing people, the New York City P... -- A new round of airstrikes was conducted in Iraq and Syria by U.S. and coalition forces on Saturday.According to U.S. Central Command, there were 14 airstrikes in... The Custer County 4-H Public Speaking Contest will be held Monday, April 6 at the 4-H Building in Broken Bow, beginning at 6:30 p.m., according to Colleen Peterson, 4-H Aide a... Because of team defections the Binfield Relays at Scottsbluff turned into two duals between the Bearcats and Gering Saturday.

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Lawmakers await word on Tesla special session

Some of the biggest feuds in recent Nevada history are spilling into Carson City during Week 9 of the legislative session. Rancher Cliven Bundy will bring his beef with the federal government to the Legislature, and lawmakers will get in the middle of a battle between the powerful taxi industry and the new kid on the block - ride hailing app Uber.

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Five Quotes From Sunday's Talk Shows

The 2016 presidential campaign, Israeli politics and a controversial religious exemption law in Indiana were the highlights of the Sunday talk shows. Here are 5 notable quotes from the airwaves: 1) "My goal every day is to try to keep 218 frogs in a wheelbarrow long enough to get something passed."

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Meet the Press Panel Laughs at Defense of Hillary's E-mail Shenanigans

Neera Tanden, who's president of the Center for American Progress, a think tank closely associated with the Clintons, did her best on Meet the Press today to defend Hillary Clinton's scandalous handling of her e-mails, but her co-panelists, and even host Chuck Todd, weren't having it. Tanden whipped out Clinton defenders' favorite weapons: trying to tie concern over Clinton's practices to Republican overreach on Benghazi and making some reference to "the scandal machine," as if the e-mail issue were a ginned-up controversy rather than genuine bipartisan outrage over America's top diplomat keeping official records however she likes.

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George Stephanopoulos Badgers Indiana Gov. Over Religious Freedom Bill

On Sunday, This Week moderator George Stephanopoulos interviewed Indiana Governor Mike Pence and repeatedly pressed him for defending his state's religious freedom bill, and touted the argument that it was an anti-gay law. Throughout the combative interview, the liberal ABC anchor asked Governor Pence to clarify the intent of Indiana's version of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act and repeatedly wondered "if a florist in Indiana refuses to serve a gay couple at their wedding, is that legal now in Indiana?" Stephanopoulos' questioning of Pence comes on the heels of the "big three" networks devoting more than 14 minutes to the Indiana law in a span of 24-hours.

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Fiorina likely GOP presidential candidate, attacks Clinton

March 29: Sullenberger, Burr, Schiff and Huckabee

The latest on Germanwings flight 9525, the politics of an Iran nuclear deal, Ted Kennedy, with aviation expert Sully Sullenberger, Saudi ambassador Adel al-Jubeir, Sen. Richard Burr, R-North Carolina, Rep. Adam Schiff, D-California, and others.

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Forest Service eyes development of improved fire shelter

The U.S. Forest Service says it's picking up the pace on developing a new fire shelter following the deaths of 19 firefighters in Arizona where officials say flames and heat went beyond the current shelter's protective capabilities. National Director of Fire and Aviation Management Tom Harbour says that's one aspect of a plan to help firefighters who are facing increasingly ferocious wildfires complicated by home building in wildland areas.

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Martin O'Malley Awkwardly Struggles to Name Biggest Threat U.S. Faces

When asked by George Stephanopoulos on Sunday morning to name the biggest national security threat the U.S. currently faces, former Maryland Gov. and likely Democratic presidential candidate Martin O'Malley awkwardly struggled to name one. O'Malley first said the biggest responsibility for any president is to ensure the safety of all Americans, and that there is clearly more than on threat at any given time - an obvious dodge of Stephanopoulos' question.

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LA light rail running after hitting car; driver gravely hurt

A light rail train slammed into a car at a crossing in front of the University of Southern California, seriously injuring the driver and the train's operator.

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Indiana: The US state that has just signed a new law allowing people...

The new state law could allow business owners to refuse their services to LGBT people if they feel it 'substantially burdens' their ability to follow their religious beliefs Loveday Morris is an award-winning freelance journalist currently based in Beirut and covering the unfolding crisis in Syria. She regularly contributes to the Independent Note: We do not store your email address but your IP address will be logged to prevent abuse of this feature.

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League urges 'inclusion' as Indiana law sparks gay rights concern

The NBA reaffirmed the league's commitment to diversity Saturday, after Indiana passed a law that activists fear allows discrimination against homosexuals in the state. "The game of basketball is grounded in long established principles of inclusion and mutual respect," the league said in a statement issued jointly with the Indiana Pacers and their WNBA sister club the Indiana Fever.

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Hundreds of people gathered outside the Indiana Statehouse on...

Indiana's governor defended the new state law that's garnered widespread criticism over concerns it could foster discrimination against gays and said Sunday it wasn't a mistake to have enacted it. Gov. Mike Pence appeared on ABC TV's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" to discuss the measure he signed last week prohibiting state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs.

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Police ramp up rail-crossing citations after recent crashes

A series of crashes involving trains and passenger vehicles - including deadly collisions in New York and California last month - have prompted police to ramp up ticket enforcement at railroad crossings. The Federal Railroad Administration has called for police departments nationwide to add patrols and issue more citations as the first step in a safety campaign, and drivers in the New York suburbs are already seeing the results.

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Robert Reich: A few hundred Westerners joining ISIS 'not a big deal'

Former Labor Sec. Robert Reich has joined President Barack Obama in castigating the media for overhyping the threat of terrorism and the national security challenge posed by ISIS. Just a few weeks back, the president told Vox's Matt Yglesias that he " absolutely " agreed with the premise that "climate change and epidemic diseases" were lamentably overlooked subjects in routine mainstream press reports, and that the media's coverage of terrorist violence "overstates the level of alarm people should have" about the issue.

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Former Maryland governor US needs new perspectives

Our eNewspaper network was founded in 2002 to provide stand-alone digital news sites tailored for the most searched-for locations for news. With a traditional newspaper format, more than 100 sites were established each with a newspaper-type name to cover the highest-ranked regions, countries, cities and states.

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Two-state resolution of Israeli-Palestinian conflict would solidify volatile Middle East |...

By Yael S. Aronoff and Saliba Sarsar The election results in Israel seem, at first glance, to dash hopes of restarting the peace process. But the coalition government has yet to be assembled, and it is unclear what the actual policy positions of that new government will be.

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NBC News' boss faces challenge fixing MSNBC

As he returns to run the NBC News Group, Andy Lack faces one of the same puzzles he tried to solve a decade and a half ago: how to make MSNBC work. While he was gone, MSNBC changed from traditional news to a political network with a liberal lens.

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LA light rail train hits car, partially derails; 21 hurt

A light rail train slammed into a car at a crossing in front of the University of Southern California, seriously injuring the driver and the train's operator. Nineteen passengers on the train suffered lesser... Trains were again running by the University of Southern California early Sunday, a day after a light rail train slammed into a car injuring 21 people, including the train operator and the driver, who was in critical... Indiana Gov. Mike Pence said he would support legislation to "clarify the intent" of a new state law that has attracted widespread criticism over concerns it could allow discrimination against gay people.

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Indiana governor defends religious freedom law

Indiana Governor Mike Pence on Sunday defended a new state law that opponents worry may support discrimination against gay people, saying he had no plans to add extra protections but would consider new suggestions from state legislators. Pence, speaking on ABC's "This Week," sought to counter criticism from protesters who have spilled onto the streets of Indianapolis and others, including some corporations, after signing the Religious Freedom Restoration Act on Thursday.

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Official: Debris from NYC blast going to secure location

Nineteen people were injured, four critically, after the powerful b... . A man distributes pastries to weary firefighters at the site of an explosion and fire in the East Village neighborhood of New York, Friday, March 27, 2015.

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More restrictive spring break pondered after party shooting

Oh Dear: The Liberal Hysteria Over Indiana's Religious Freedom Bill Has Begun

Earlier this week, Indiana Gov. Mike Pence signed into law a religious freedom bill that some think is discriminatory, and could lead to businesses being allowed to refuse service to gay and lesbian customers. The governor soon found himself under siege by nearly 3,000 angry protestors, according to The Hill.

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Thousands of opponents of Indiana's new religious freedom

Preliminary floodplain study for Glen Haven is complete

The earth and roads were washed away by the flood in this Glen Haven neighborhood, seen here in October 2013.

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Indiana governor: New law 'not about discrimination'

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence defended the new state law that's garnered widespread criticism over concerns it could foster discrimination and said Sunday it wasn't a mistake to have enacted it. Pence appeared on ABC's "This Week with George Stephanopoulos" to discuss the measure he signed last week prohibiting state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs.

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How to Park Like a Delegate to Congress

Roll Call's Heard on the Hill: Abandon all hope, ye who happen to park anywhere near geometrically challenged-motorist Eleanor Holmes Norton. A HOH tipster watched in horror Wednesday as the D.C. delegate, 77, awkwardly forced her way into a wide-open spot in the carefully controlled corridor of New Jersey Avenue Southeast sandwiched between the Longworth and Cannon House Office buildings.

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Donnelly urges Indiana residents to work to reverse new law

Sen. Joe Donnelly is urging Indiana residents to work together to reverse a new state law that critics say could allow discrimination against gay people. The Indiana Democrat says in a 47-second statement posted on Facebook that he's heard from a lot of people who say they are disappointed in the bill Gov. Mike Pence signed last week, saying he is disappointed too.

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Florida Republicans pushing Bush-Rubio ticket

A Florida "dream ticket," two nuggets about leadership questions in Congress and coming tests for Sen. Ted Cruz and Ohio Gov. John Kasich filled our final March trip around the "Inside Politics" table. If you follow politics, you have heard this one: Liberals say Elizabeth Warren has to run for president because Hillary Clinton is too cozy with Wall Street.

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Pence: Indiana 'not going to change' law

Indiana Gov. Mike Pence says concerns that his state's new "religious freedom" law will allow businesses to turn away LGBT customers is the result of a "tremendous amount of misinformation and misunderstanding." But he refused Sunday to answer at least six yes-or-no questions about whether the measure legalizes discrimination against gays and lesbians.

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A look at where bills stand in the Missouri Legislature

The Missouri Legislature is to return to work Monday from its weeklong spring break, which marks the traditional midway point of its annual session. Here's a look at where some issues stand: The House passed a bill requiring annual inspections of abortion clinics.

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Why the backlash against Indiana and not other states with similar laws? Timing.

Gov. Mike Pence can't seem to figure out why his state has been the focus of condemnation and boycotts after having passed a version of "religious freedom" legislation that already exists in 19 other states . Pointing out those states, Pence told a reporter We can.

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Jeb Bush Leads 2016 GOP Presidential Hopefuls In A New CBS Poll

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush leads the 2016 Republican presidential leads a long list of hopefuls and it will no doubt be a very competitive battle for the nomination. Meanwhile, Democratic front runner Hillary Clinton holds an unsurprising lead for the Democrats, even though most voters would like to see her face strong competition, according to a CBS poll released Sunday.

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Josh Earnest Slams John Boehner's Criticism Of Obama's Foreign Policy

House Speaker John Boehner has criticized President Barack Obama's foreign policy. White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest on Sunday blasted House Speaker John Boehner for criticizing the president's foreign policy without saying what he would do differently.

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Court ruling opens door for federal execution of killer

A federal appeals court has affirmed the mental competency of a man sentenced to die for kidnapping, torturing and murdering an Idaho boy in 2005. Joseph Edward Duncan III was convicted of killing several members of a Coeur d'Alene family before snatching their two young children.

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Bid To Redistribute NC Sales Tax Money Praised, Panned

A legislative proposal for the state to take away the local portion of sales taxes highlighted two undercurrents in Raleigh - the increased clout of rural Republicans and their conflicts with Gov. Pat McCrory, a fellow Republican who was formerly Charlotte's mayor. The state Senate is proposing to strip away some of the revenues of vacation destinations like Dare County and richer locales like Charlotte.

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Saturday, March 28, 2015

RNC On Hillary Cover-Up: 'Even Nixon Didn't Erase The Tapes'

Unless Hillary Clinton "went to extreme lengths" to wipe her private server clean, her email records should be recoverable, Republican National Committee chairman Reince Priebus said Saturday. But if the former secretary of state did take extraordinary measures to ensure her official emails were scrubbed off the server, that would make her worse than Richard Nixon in at least one regard.

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'Llama drama' owners say US draws line against appearances

" The llamas that became a social media sensation running around a Phoenix-area retirement enclave last month are saying goodbye to the spotlight with one last event Saturday. Kahkneeta and Laney, whose televised dash mesmerized the Internet and Sun City residents, will likely be making their final public appearance at a Phoenix race track, according to owners Bub Bullis and Karen Freund.

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Angie's List halts expansion of Indianapolis headquarters over new state law that targets gays

The decision by Angie's List Inc comes amid criticism of the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was passed overwhelmingly by both champers of the Republican led-state legislature and signed into law on Thursday by Indiana Governor Mike Pence. Supporters say the legislation will keep the government from forcing business owners to act against strongly held religious beliefs.

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Senator Marco Rubio could announce White House bid April 13: report

U.S. Senator Marco Rubio is likely to make an announcement on his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination on April 13 in Miami, according to a local news report. The Cuban-American from Florida has reserved the Freedom Tower in downtown Miami for an undisclosed event, the Tampa Bay Times reported on Friday night.

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Thousands Rally Against Cuomo's Billionaire-Backed Education Scheme

The crowd outside New York Governor Andrew Cuomo's Manhattan office as parents, teachers, and students rallied for public education. Thousands of parents, teachers, and students from across the state flooded the streets of Manhattan on Saturday to call out Governor Andrew Cuomo for selling out the public school system.

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Louisiana Democrats pick John Bel Edwards as their sole nominee for governor

The Louisiana Democrats have selected Rep. John Bel Edwards, D-Amite, as their sole nominee for the 2015 governor's race. means the political party can start devoting staff and financial resources toward Edwards' campaign.

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Marco Rubio Could Announce White House Bid April 13: Report

In this Dec. 17, 2014 file photo, Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., talks during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington. Rubio says a comprehensive immigration bill like the one he wrote and championed _ and then watched implode _ cannot win support in Congress.

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Angie's List Halts Expansion Over Indiana Law Seen Targeting Gays

The company behind the Angie's List business-rating website on Saturday put on hold a planned expansion of its Indianapolis headquarters over a new Indiana law that opponents say could allow companies to deny services to gay people. The decision by Angie's List Inc comes amid criticism of the so-called Religious Freedom Restoration Act, which was passed overwhelmingly by both champers of the Republican led-state legislature and signed into law on Thursday by Indiana Governor Mike Pence.

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Indiana attempts to curb religious objections law uproar

Indiana officials and business leaders are trying to curb Friday's fallout over the state's new religious objections law. Supporters of the measure say the outcry - and claims that the measure will allow legalized discrimination against gay people - are exaggerated.

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'Llama Drama' Owners Say USDA Draws Line Against Appearances

The llamas that became a social media sensation running around a Phoenix-area retirement enclave last month are saying goodbye to the spotlight with one last event Saturday. Kahkneeta and Laney, whose televised dash mesmerized the Internet and Sun City residents, will likely be making their final public appearance at a Phoenix race track, according to owners Bub Bullis and Karen Freund.

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Ted Cruz hits New Hampshire with outsider message

The first major candidate of the 2016 presidential race is making his first official campaign visit to the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state. Sen. Ted Cruz is making his first sweep through New Hampshire, carrying a message of creating jobs and rolling back much of the Obama era.

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Confederate Flag - A Symbol of Terrorism and Free Speech

The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments to decide if this symbol of the Confederacy should be allowed on official Texas license plates. Texas rejected the request of the Sons of Confederate Veterans to have an official license plate bearing the Confederate flag.

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Negotiators closing in on Iran deal

Negotiators are closing in on a two- or three-page plan as the basis of a deal over Iran's nuclear programs, officials told Reuters Saturday. "The sides are very, very close to the final step and it could be signed or agreed and announced verbally," a senior Iranian official told Reuters.

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Rally slated over Indiana law some say allows discrimination

Organizers expect a large turnout Saturday afternoon at a rally against Indiana's newest law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gay people. The law's supporters, however, say discrimination claims are overblown and insist it will keep the government from compelling people to provide services they find objectionable on religious grounds.

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An Angry Worker Leaked the TSA's List of Threat-Spotting Tips,...

The TSA has kept its Screening of Passengers by Observation Techniques, or SPOT, checklist hidden for some time, but on Friday the Intercept published the 92-point checklist after a frustrated TSA source leaked it. The list reveals how TSA agents are taught to use a scoring system to rank passengers according to potential threat levels - and the behaviors that could be considered suspicious are very broad.

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NBA Celebrity Wants the Final Four Yanked From Indianapolis for a...

NBA icon Charles Barkley doesn't think Indianapolis should be allowed to host the men's Final Four basketball games next week. "Discrimination in any form is unacceptable to me," Barkley told USA Today .

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"Normalization" update: Venezuelan Castro puppet seeks to ...

Ay, Raulito, espera a que yo le haga cosquillas a Obamita! Normalize this: While the current occupant of the White House tries to heat up his romance with the Castro regime, Castro puppet Nicolas Maduro is preparing a colossal bofetada for him Yes, spoilsport Maduro wants to complain as loudly and as visibly as possible about "U.S. aggression" at the upcoming Summit of the Americas. But....but....but....how is this possible, after that "historic" reversal of U.S. /Cuba relations announced on December 17? The current occupant of the White House has been planning on being cheered and praised at this summit by all the leaders of Latrine America.

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Sure, we can 'talk' about human rights in Cuba

NY budget leaves lawmakers with a long to-do list

In this March 4, 2015 file photo, supporters of charter schools rally outside the state Capitol on in Albany, N.Y. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had wanted lawmakers to raise the number of authorized charter schools from 460 to 560, but the measure ran into opposition from teachers' unions and many Democrats in the Assembly. The measure ended up being dropped from the budget.

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Angie's List put expansion on hold, citing new Indiana law

The founder of Angie's List says the consumer review service is suspending its plans for a $40 million expansion in Indianapolis because of Indiana's new religious objections law. Founder and CEO Bill Oesterle said in a statement Saturday the expansion that called for adding 1,000 jobs over five years is now on hold "until we fully understand the implications of the freedom restoration act on our employees."

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Sen. Michael Bennet 5th most vulnerable Democrat up for re-election in 2016

The Fix at The Washington Post speculates that Sen. Michael Bennet is the fifth most vulnerable Democrat up for re-election in 2016. It says that Rep. Mike Coffman , who just won a tough re-election battle, is the most widely talked about possible opponent for Bennet.

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Marco Rubio Plans to Announce Presidential Campaign April 13, Sources Confirm

Senator Marco Rubio plans to announce his campaign for president on April 13 in Miami, two Republican sources confirmed to Bloomberg Politics on Saturday. That could make Rubio the third Republican senator to enter his party's presidential nomination contest, which is shaping up to be one of the most wide-open races of recent election cycles.

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Hundreds rally against Indiana law, say it's discriminatory

Hundreds of people are gathered outside of Indiana Statehouse to rally against the state's new law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gay people. Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill Thursday prohibiting state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs.

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GOP passes bipartisan Medicare reform, still wants to repeal Obamacare

After pushing through a "doc fix" for Medicare, Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, calls for a repeal of the Affordable Care Act.

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After bipartisan Medicare reform, GOP refocuses on repealing Obamacare

The Republican Party isn't giving up on reversing President Obama's Affordable Care Act , even after Congress' recent bipartisan efforts put in place a key Medicare provision that legislators have long fought over. "We need to repeal the president's flawed health care law," Rep. Phil Roe, R-Tennessee, said in the GOP's weekly video address .

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$5 million for MP cafeteria in House Democrats' budget

The state would provide $5 million to build a new cafeteria at Marysville Pilchuck High School under a plan released Friday by House Democrats. The money is in the capital budget proposed by majority Democrats and is intended to shoulder much of the financial weight of replacing the site where a deadly shooting occurred in October.

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Organizers of a major gamers' convention and a large church... . A window sign on a downtown Indianapolis florist, Wednesday, March 25, 2015, shows it's objection to the Religious Freedom bill passed by the Indiana legislature.

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Clinton wipes server after handing over e-mails

Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton decided to "wipe her server clean" and permanently delete all e-mails from the personal server, according to the head of a House committee investigating the terrorists attacks in Benghazi, Libya. Clinton wipes server after handing over e-mails Former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton decided to "wipe her server clean" and permanently delete all e-mails from the personal server, according to the head of a House committee investigating the terrorists attacks in Benghazi, Libya.

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Bill Clinton's 'flaws' the subject of off-Broadway musical

"Clinton the Musical," the brainchild of two Australian brothers, makes its off-Broadway debut in April with a hysterical premise and a gentle look back at the '90s. The play celebrates the first baby-boomer president - the one who preferred briefs to boxers, played a sax on national TV, presided over an economic boom and got himself impeached.

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'Llama drama' owners say USDA draws line against appearances

In this image taken from video and provided by abc15.com on Feb. 26, 2015, men lasso one of two quick-footed llamas after they dashed in and out of traffic before they were captured in Sun City, Ariz. The llamas that became a social media sensation running around the Phoenix suburb last month are saying goodbye to the spotlight.

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New Yorker' Dodges Questions, Dismisses Lena Dunham's - Jew or Dog' Controversy

Despite blowback from the Anti-Defamation League and others , The New Yorker is dismissing claims that a satiric piece written by Lena Dunham is meant to be offensive to Jews or anyone else. In the piece, Dunham, whose mother is Jewish, asks readers if "the following statements refer to my dog or my Jewish boyfriend?" Of the 35 statements, some unquestionably promote well-worn Jewish stereotypes.

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LePage budget helps wealthy, corporations at expense of middle class

Budgets are more than just numbers. They are moral documents and statements of priorities.

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British Student's Message for White Males: 'It Is Time for You to Bow Down'

'White men should never hold elected positions in British universities again' University is supposed to be amazing, a transformative experience which is informed by student unions across the country. Yet people don't give a toss about their student unions, no one cares about the NUS [National Union of Students], and activism is dying at all but a few hardcore universities.

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Senate GOP asking new questions about emails for Clinton and Abedin,...

Fox News reports: Senate Republicans are renewing efforts to learn why Huma Abedin, a top assistant to then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was allowed to keep working at the agency under a special, part-time status while also being employed at a politically-connected consulting firm. The new requests are being made by Iowa GOP Sen. Chuck Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, following revelations that both women used a private Internet server and email accounts for State Department correspondence.

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Minnesota finds third bird flu infection in commercial poultry

The U.S. Department of Agriculture on Saturday confirmed the third infection of a virulent strain of avian flu in a commercial poultry flock in Minnesota, the nation's top turkey-producing state. A case of H5N2 flu was found in a flock of 39,000 turkeys in Stearns County, which is northwest of Minneapolis, according to a notice from USDA.

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Hundreds rally against Indiana law, say it's discriminatory

By RICK CALLAHAN Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS - Hundreds of people are gathered outside of Indiana Statehouse to rally against the state's new law that opponents say could sanction discrimination against gay people. Republican Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill Thursday prohibiting state laws that "substantially burden" a person's ability to follow his or her religious beliefs.

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View from the left-time for the Human Rights Campaign to step up

HRC president Chad Griffin behind David Boies, whom he helped recruit to launch a high-profile legal challenge to Proposition 8. This week Indiana became the second state to enact a rabidly anti-LGBT law -Arkansas beat them to it last month and is now trying for a repeat -and one has to wonder, "Where the heck is the Human Rights Campaign?" And maybe more specifically, "Where's its president, Chad Griffin?" If you don't know who Griffin is, you may recall when the powerhouse duo of Ted Olson and David Boies teamed up to file a challenge to Proposition 8, California's voter-approved ban on same-sex marriage. The legal odd couple-one a conservative hero, the other a liberal icon-made headlines everywhere they went.

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White House reacts to Reid's endorsement of Schumer as his replacement

The White House reacts to news that Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid will retire, saying Obama does not plan to endorse either candidate in what may be a contested race for the Senate leadership. Rough Cut .

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Records: Georgia, Alabama governors meet on water dispute

That meeting came as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares to hear a challenge from Florida seeking to limit Georgia's withdrawals from the Chattahoochee River. Alabama officials have similar concerns.

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Chechen Speaker Threatens to Arm Mexico if US Sends Weapons to Ukraine

"We will perceive arms shipments to Ukraine as a signal to respond in kind," he stated on the parliament website . He expressed hope that the weapons will ignite American and Mexico disputes over "territories annexed by the United States in the American states of California, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Colorado, and part of Wyoming."

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Del. Holmes-Norton responds to proposed bill to strip D.C. of gun control laws

Two lawmakers are proposing legislation that could drive a second amendment showdown in the District: They're asking Congress to approve repealing D.C.'s gun laws. That's how she characterizes the legislation proposed by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio to repeal D.C.'s strict gun control laws.

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For African migrants, trek to Europe brings risk, heartbreak

This is the moment when Sandrine Koffi's dream of a new life in Europe ended - and her nightmare of an infant lost in the Macedonian night began. As club-wielding police closed in, the 31-year-old from Ivory Coast couldn't keep up with her fellow migrants.

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Angie's List halts expansion over Indiana law seen targeting gays

Minnesota finds 3rd bird flu infection in commercial poultry

Donkey leads visitors to Easter Treasure Hunt in Madison

The world's cutest donkey, Wilbur, stands with a Roman soldier at the side of Capshaw Road just a little east of Wall-Triana Highway in Madison, Ala., marking the spot where families can find a unique Easter experience for all ages. The free indoor Easter Treasure Hunt continues today, Saturday, March 28, 2015, from 3 to 5 p.m. Visitors are invited to move among seven stations asking, "Is this Easter?" At each of the stations, a part of the story of Holy Week is told in gentle, kid-friendly terms that convey some of the events of those days in ways that children can understand.

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Fore! Obama in Florida for Weekend Golf Getaway

President Barack Obama kicked off the spring season on Saturday with a weekend golf getaway in Florida at the resort where he once caused a stir by playing with Tiger Woods. During his stay at the Floridian National Golf Club, less than 50 miles up the coast from Palm Beach, Obama planned to be out of public view, with no official events scheduled.

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Obama Calls Saudi King Over Yemen Developments

Seven people were injured after a shooting at an apartment in Panama City Beach, Florida early Saturday morning, officials said. One person was ho... -- Harrowing surveillance video shows police tasering a knife-wielding man as he tried to rob a British supermarket.

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U.S. Senator Rubio could announce White House bid April 13: report

World's huddled masses use 4 key land, sea routes to Europe

In this Nov. 27, 2014 file photo a Greek coast guard officer, wearing a mask for fear of infectious disease, stands next to a small group of immigrants, on a launch carrying them to shore from a crippled smuggling ship holding more than 700 people, at the coastal Cretan port of Ierapetra, Greece. The ship, whose passengers are mostly Syrians, including children, women and elderly men, suffered engine failure 70 nautical miles off Ierapetra on Tuesday.

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Friday, March 27, 2015

Harry Reid endorses Chuck Schumer to be the next Senate Democratic leader

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid , who announced Friday he is not running for re-election in 2016, has endorsed Sen. Charles E. Schumer of New York to replace him as Democratic leader and declared Friday that Mr. Schumer will indeed replace him in a little less than two years. Speaking on KNPR radio Friday, Mr. Reid described Mr. Schumer as a "brilliant man" and said that "he's been a tremendous asset to me."

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Pick again, social conservatives

The New York Times reported this week that a conclave of evangelical conservatives has gotten together in search of a not-Jeb Bush candidate. This happens like clockwork every four years but inevitably ends in disagreement about the not-the-moderate candidate.

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Reid Exit Turns Nevada Race Into Wild Card

Democrats were prepared to lean on Reid's famed fundraising and tactical skills to overcome his unpopularity. The GOP was prepping an anti-Reid strategy.

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Norfolk Southern Launches $53-Million Energy Innovation Project at Juniata Locomotive Shop

Norfolk Southern today launched a $53-million energy conversion project at its Juniata Locomotive Shop that will substantially reduce carbon emissions and water usage at the 70-acre facility. Norfolk Southern will replace the shop's coal boilers with natural gas heaters and install a 1.2-megawatt capacity combined heat and power generator that will produce enough electricity to sustain the entire 16-building complex.

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Ethics Committee Launches Investigation of Ed Whitfield

The House Ethics Committee has launched a full-fledged investigation into whether Rep. Ed Whitfield violated the chamber's rules by allegedly letting his wife use the power of her husband's office to aid her work as a lobbyist for the Humane Society Legislative Fund. The Office of Congressional Ethics-an independent, nonpartisan entity-did an initial probe of the matter and formally referred it last June to the House Ethics Committee for further review.

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Hillary Clinton 'Super Volunteers' Warn Reporters Not To Use These Sexist Words In Their Coverage

MARCH 23: Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaks at the Center for American Progress March 23, 2015 in Washington, DC. Clinton joined a panel in discussing challenges facing urban centers in the United States.

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Mayor Emanuel, Congressman Rush And CTA President Claypool Announce Expanded Second Chance Program

Mayor Rahm Emanuel, Congressman Bobby Rush and CTA President Forrest Claypool today announced that CTA will expand its successful Second Chance program, which provides valuable job skills and career opportunities to Chicago residents who often face challenges re-entering the workforce. Beginning next month, the Second Chance Program, offered to ex-offenders and victims of abuse and others, will offer diesel mechanic training to program participants - teaching a career skill that will see significant demand here in Chicago and across the country over the next decade.

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Germanwings crash: Co-pilot may have hidden illness, prosecutors say

Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz appears to have hidden evidence of an illness from his employers, including having been excused by a doctor from work on Tuesday, the day authorities say he crashed a passenger plane into a mountain, prosecutors said. The evidence came from searches of Lubitz's homes in two German cities as authorities sought an explanation of why he locked himself into the cockpit and crashed the Airbus A320 into the French Alps, killing all 150 people on board.

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No great loss to 2A advocates as Harry hits the roada except

This morning's announcement by 75-year-old Nevada Sen. Harry Reid that he will not seek re-election in 2016 will be no great loss to Second Amendment advocates, except for one very ominous concern as described by Bloomberg News' Richard Rubin: anti-gun Sen. Charles Schumer as Reid's replacement for party leadership in the Senate. UPDATE: The Los Angeles Times is now reporting that Reid has endorsed Schumer to take over as the Senate Democratic leader.

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Harry Reid is leaving the Senate and there was much rejoicing

The New York Times reported on Friday that Sen. Harry Reid , D- Nevada , the Senate minority leader, has announced that his current term in the Senate will be his last one. He claimed that neither his recent eye and facial injuries nor the fact that the Democrats are in the minority in the Senate were factors in announcing his retirement.

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Ethics panel steps up inquiry of Kentucky Rep. Whitfield

In this Oct. 29, 2014 file photo, Rep. Ed Whitfield, R-Ky. is seen in Paducah, Ky.

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Gov. Walker in Texas, out of sight during immigration flap

Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker left a tour of the U.S.-Mexico border without addressing questions being raised about his stance on immigration . The likely Republican presidential contender remained invisible to reporters on Friday during a visit that could have given him a chance to spotlight illegal immigration and border security.

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Why Is 'Boycott Indiana' Trending? The New Anti-LGBT Law That Might Shock You

Remember all those headlines about Hobby Lobby last summer? When President Obama introduced his health care law , it prompted a lawsuit from the nationwide craft chain. Because of their religious beliefs, Hobby Lobby's owners wanted to guarantee they weren't required to cover birth control through its employees' health insurance plans.

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a Dona t aska what Ia ll remember most about Harry Reid

For his friends, frenemies and nemeses alike, Senate Minority Leader Harry's decision to not seek reelection is a rueful moment. They're all going to miss what President Obama told NPR was the senior Senator from Nevada's "curmudgeonly charm."

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Rep. Gutierrez Creates Toolkit to Help Illegal Immigrants Avoid Deportation

Rep. Luis Gutierrez has created a "family defender toolkit" to help the potential beneficiaries of President Obama's executive amnesty avoid deportation while the program is on hold. In an infomercial-style video released earlier this week, Gutierrez explains his toolkit's key feature: a card designed to help illegal immigrants escape deportation.

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Saturday's Letters: Ann Coulter's illogical "logic"

Letters of about 200 words are preferred. Longer letters will be edited for space.

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Obtaining justice for victims of sexual violence

Over the past four years, the General Assembly and Ohio's Attorney General have worked together with law enforcement to seek justice for victims of sexual assaults. A major part of this effort has been to ensure that rape kits, which may contain DNA evidence leading law enforcement to suspects, get tested by the state crime lab.

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Kerry orders probe of U.S. State Dept. examine email procedures

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has asked the department's inspector general to look into procedures for handling emails by State Department employees, the department said on Friday. State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke said the move was not specifically to investigate the handling of emails by Hillary Clinton when she was secretary of state.

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Two mayoral candidates, two Chicagos

I can say without much hyperbole that there's no colleague I esteem more than Michael Miner, the Reader 's media critic/supplier of whimsical musings/bestower of the Golden BAT award . That didn't stop me from sharing the feelings of many commenters on a post of his a few weeks back, " Why aren't progressives ecstatic about the race for mayor? " It recounts a dinner-table discussion among various professionals, some of whom rub elbows with the mayor, all of whom are characterized as progressives.

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Gov. Walker in Texas, out of sight during immigration flap

The likely Republican presidential contender remained invisible to reporters on Friday during a visit that could have given him a chance to spotlight illegal immigration and border security. Instead, the two-term governor arrived in Texas after reports that he expressed support for giving immigrants a pathway to citizenship during a recent closed-door meeting.

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Are the early primary states a big deal anymore?

By hosting the nation's first presidential primaries and caucuses, the states have heaped political and financial rewards for decades on successful candidates and hastened the end for underachievers. Yet their clout may be declining in 2016.

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Senate's Harry Reid announces he won't seek re-election

Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, the wily Nevadan who dominated the Senate for a decade from the minority to the majority and back again, announced Friday he will retire after five terms. Reid, 75, who shepherded key Obama administration initiatives including the president's health care law, lost his role as majority leader - the Senate's top job - when November's elections swept the Republicans into control.

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Pope Francis pays a surprise visit to a homeless groupa s tour of the Vatican [photos]

A photo released by Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano shows a group of homeless people during a special visit to the Vatican Museum on Thursday. Pope Francis surprised a group of about 150 homeless visitors to the Vatican on Thursday, speaking to those who were taking a private tour of the Sistine Chapel.

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The best late-night jokes about Ted Cruz

Sen. Ted Cruz became the first major candidate to announce a 2016 White House bid -- and late-night comedians like Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon and David Letterman couldn't resist taking a few jabs. Ted Cruz announced he's running president on Monday, and late-night comics had their fun with it.

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Ethics panel steps up inquiry of Kentucky Rep. Whitfield

The House Ethics Committee said Friday it is forming an investigative panel to determine whether Republican Rep. Ed Whitfield violated congressional rules by allowing his wife to lobby staff members on issues related to her work. The committee will examine allegations Whitfield improperly used his official position to benefit himself, his wife or her employer, The Humane Society of the United States.

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France says will propose UN Security Council draft on Israel

France's foreign minister said Friday his country will propose a U.N. Security Council resolution in the coming weeks that could present a framework for negotiations toward resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Laurent Fabius said "there is no other solution" but said he doesn't know what the United States, Israel's top ally, will agree to.

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Editorial: Budget plan defense hike is misguided

Congressional Republicans are expected to begin debate soon on proposed budgets they've released in recent days in the House and Senate. Since this is the first time during President Obama's tenure the GOP controls both chambers, its budget plans carry more meaning than before.

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Bill Would Order Dodd-Frank, CFPB Be Part of Reg Review

Sen. Mike Crapo, R-Idaho, unveiled legislation Friday that would require the banking agencies to review Dodd-Frank Act rules as part of a mandated process to assess the relevance of financial rules. Regulators have moved into the second phase of their pending review - required every 10 years under the 1996 Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act - to identify "outdated, unnecessary or unduly burdensome" rules.

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Jeff Jacoby: Obama's hypocrisy with Netanyahu

Bibi Netanyahu nearly a week to apologize properly for his inflammatory comment on Israel's election day warning that Arab voters were "heading to the polls in droves." On Monday, speaking at his Jerusalem residence to a group of Israeli Arab community leaders, the newly reelected prime minister expressed his regret: "I know the things I said a few days ago wounded Israel's Arab citizens.

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Retiring Reid wins praise from surprise caller _ Obama

There was a surprise caller waiting to talk on live radio to Harry Reid, shortly after the Senate minority leader announced he would not run for re-election next year. The voice said, "This is Barack."

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