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Articles Posted by OKRA2012

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  • Meet The New Man At The Center Of The Ricin Case

    04/23/2013 10:11:34 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 27 replies
    TPM ^ | 4/23/13 | HUNTER WALKER
    As the case against Paul Kevin Curtis for allegedly mailing ricin was unraveling Tuesday afternoon, FBI agents were already searching the house of another man in connection with the ongoing investigation. Their focus has shifted to Everett Dutschke — a failed political candidate, taekwondo teacher, and bluesman who’s currently facing child molestation charges. While the feds has been publicly silent about Dutschke and the search of his home, Curtis’ lawyers have been very loudly and publicly pointing the finger at Dutschke, claiming he framed Curtis because of a feud that began with music and martial arts.
  • 2nd child of Pa. couple dies after only praying

    04/23/2013 10:36:56 AM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 164 replies
    AP Yahoo ^ | 4/23/13 | MICHAEL RUBINKAM and MARYCLAIRE DALE
    PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A couple serving probation for the 2009 death of their toddler after they turned to prayer instead of a doctor could face new charges now that another son has died. Herbert and Catherine Schaible belong to a fundamentalist Christian church that believes in faith healing. They lost their 8-month-old son, Brandon, last week after he suffered from diarrhea and breathing problems for at least a week, and stopped eating. Four years ago, another son died from bacterial pneumonia.
  • Texas Fertilizer Plant Failed To Disclose Massive Amount Of Ammonium Nitrate

    04/21/2013 11:22:36 AM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 166 replies
    TPM ^ | 4/20/13 | IGOR BOBIC
    The West, Texas fertilizer plant where a powerful explosion killed at least 14 and injured dozens on Wednesday failed to disclose a massive ammount of ammonium nitrate ordinarily regulated by federal officials, according to Reuters. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security requires fertilizer plants and depots to disclose amounts of ammonium nitrate, which can be used to make a bomb, above 400 lbs. The West, Texas plant, West Fertilizer, reportedly held 270 tons of the substance, 1,350 times that limit.
  • N.Y. Post under fire for misidentifying Boston bombing 'suspects'

    04/18/2013 8:47:15 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 9 replies
    The Week-Yahoo ^ | 4/18/13 | Jon Terbush
    A misleading front page caps a week of erroneous reports from the Post On Thursday, the front page of the New York Post featured two men in a crowd with the headline, "Bag Men: Feds seek these two pictured at Boston Marathon." Only one problem: Both men are innocent. It's the latest in a series of questionable calls the Post has made in its Marathon coverage, though many say this one is the most egregious case yet.
  • The Boston Bombing Witch Hunt Bags Another Innocent Kid

    04/18/2013 10:32:46 AM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 75 replies
    Dead Spin ^ | 4/18/13 | BARRY PETCHESKY
    On Monday, the New York Post doggedly stuck to its claim that 12 were killed in the Boston Marathon bombings. On Tuesday, CNN (among others) reported that a suspect had been arrested, before walking that all the way back. Today, the Post wrests back the..... (A couple bad words in article)
  • Deal approved in Muslims' suit against McDonald's

    04/17/2013 12:27:50 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 35 replies
    Yahoo ^ | 4/17/13 | JEFF KAROUB
    DETROIT (AP) — A judge on Wednesday finalized a $700,000 settlement between McDonald's Corp. and members of Michigan's Muslim community over claims a suburban Detroit restaurant falsely advertised its food as prepared according to Islamic law.
  • Role reversal: GOP blasts Obama plan to sell TVA

    04/16/2013 9:26:29 AM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 39 replies
    Boston.com ^ | 4/16/13 | MATTHEW DALY
    WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s a political role reversal: Republicans are blasting a plan by President Barack Obama to consider selling the Tennessee Valley Authority, a New Deal-era agency long targeted by conservatives as an example of government overreach. Obama’s budget proposal calls for a strategic review of the TVA, the nation’s largest public utility with 9 million customers in seven states from Virginia to Mississippi. Obama says selling the U.S.-owned power company could reduce the federal deficit by at least $25 billio
  • Police Chief Recovering After Eating Entire Cake Laced With Pot

    04/12/2013 9:32:56 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 80 replies
    10tv.com ^ | 4/12/13 | Josh Poland
    LAURELVILLE, Ohio - The Hocking County Sheriff's office is trying to get to the bottom of who is responsible for drugging Laurelville Police Chief Mike Berkemeier. Berkemeier says the problem began Easter Sunday when he ate some cake sitting on his kitchen counter. ”I got up in the morning and ate it -- the entire thing,” he said.
  • In Kaufman County, federal officials search the homes of former justice of the peace and his in-laws

    04/12/2013 7:58:23 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 14 replies
    Dallas News ^ | 4/13/13 | Jennifer Emily
    Authorities searched the home of a former justice of the peace Friday in Kaufman as they continue to investigate the slayings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife and a top prosecutor. Eric Williams, a former justice of the peace in Kaufman County who was convicted of stealing county equipment last year, has not been named as a suspect. His attorney could not be reached for comment Friday but has said Williams is cooperating with investigators.
  • Texas congressman’s campaign bumper sticker: ‘If babies had guns they wouldn’t be aborted’

    04/12/2013 12:57:22 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 29 replies
    Daily News ^ | 4/12/13 | Kristen Lee
    A Texas congressman has combined two hot button topics into one inflammatory campaign bumper sticker. “If babies had guns they wouldn’t be aborted,” reads the bumper sticker for Republican Rep. Steve Stockman’s re-election campaign. “Vote Pro Life!”
  • Facebook's Zuckerberg launches political group

    04/11/2013 9:28:25 AM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 10 replies
    AP ^ | 4/11/13 | BARBARA ORTUTAY
    NEW YORK (AP) — Teaming up with other Silicon Valley leaders, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has formally launched a political group aimed at revamping immigration policy, boosting education and encouraging investment in scientific research.
  • A prominent GOP supporter of assault weapons ban, background checks? It’s George W. Bush

    04/09/2013 10:37:39 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 50 replies
    There’s a Texas Republican who vocally stated that he supported background checks to keep guns away from those who shouldn’t have them. And an assault weapons ban. Don’t believe it? Former President George W. Bush said he supported background checks during the 2000 and 2004 presidential debates. Check out the video proof posted by Buzzfeed. “I believe law abiding citizens ought to be able to own a gun,” he said during a 2004 presidential debate against Democratic challenger John Kerry. “I believe in background checks, at gun shows, or anywhere to make sure guns don’t get in the hands of...
  • Tim Johnson Endorses Gay Marriage

    04/08/2013 12:18:20 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 14 replies
    Time ^ | 4/8/13 | Alex Rogers
    Sen. Tim Johnson (S.D.) leaves the Final Four. There are now only three Senate Democrats who oppose gay marriage—Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Mark Pryor (Ark.), and Mary Landrieu (La.).
  • Warning: Smoking Is Hazardous to Your Employment

    04/08/2013 11:41:44 AM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 67 replies
    Yahoo ^ | 4/8/13 | Leslie Kwoh
    Companies aren't just singling out overweight employees. Staffers who smoke are under fire too. In small but growing numbers, employers in recent years have been refusing to hire smokers, arguing that coaxing tobacco users to quit with free cessation programs or cash incentives hasn't worked. Some medical experts back the bans, saying the end result of reducing smoking is worth it. But other health-care experts say the policy crosses an ethical line by singling out poorer and less educated groups who, federal data shows, smoke more often.
  • Florida Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson becomes latest lawmaker to endorse same-sex marriage

    04/04/2013 4:12:52 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 20 replies
    NY Daily News ^ | 4/4/13 | ADAM EDELMAN
    Florida Democrat Sen. Bill Nelson on Thursday became the latest lawmaker to flip on the issue of gay marriage. “(T)o discriminate against one class and not another is wrong for me. If we are endowed by our Creator with rights, then why shouldn't those be attainable by Gays and Lesbians?” Nelson said in a statement to the Tampa Bay Times editorial board.
  • Obama to Return 5 Percent of Salary

    04/03/2013 12:41:02 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 83 replies
    ABC ^ | 4/3/13 | Arlette Saenz
    President Obama will return 5 percent of his salary to the Treasury Department, a senior White House official tells ABC News, a sign of solidarity with the federal workers who face furloughs due to the sequester cuts. “The president has decided that to share in the sacrifice being made by public servants across the federal government that are affected by the sequester, he will contribute a portion of his salary back to the Treasury,” a White House aide said.
  • Fort Bend County is nation's most ethnically diverse, leading Houston region's 'most diverse' status

    04/02/2013 1:57:06 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 18 replies
    Houston Chronicle ^ | 4/2/13 | Carol Christian
    Fort Bend County is the most ethnically diverse county in the United States. And according to the 2010 federal census, it comes closer than any other U.S. county to having an equal distribution of the nation's four major ethnic groups. In 2010, Fort Bend County was 19 percent Asian, 24 percent Latino, 21 percent African-American and 36 percent Anglo.
  • The Michele Bachmann sideshow is hurting the GOP

    04/01/2013 9:58:54 AM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 42 replies
    Yahoo ^ | 4/1/13 | Joe Gandelman
    The Minnesota lawmaker alienates independents, moderates, and young voters — and she's not going anywhere Attention GOP: Your rebranding attempts are being undercut by a segment of your party getting big headlines and lots of air time — a segment symbolized by the Minnesota quote-machine, Rep. Michele Bachmann. Due to a series of gaffes, she is again on the receiving end of criticism, including from Fox News powerhouse Bill O'Reilly. The Congresswoman is also, as reported by The Daily Beast's John Avlon, "embroiled in a litany of legal proceedings related to her rolling disaster of a presidential campaign — including...
  • Pope's foot-wash a final straw for traditionalists

    03/29/2013 8:31:16 PM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 114 replies
    Yahoo ^ | 3/29/13 | NICOLE WINFIELD
    VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has won over many hearts and minds with his simple style and focus on serving the world's poorest, but he has devastated traditionalist Catholics who adored his predecessor, Benedict XVI, for restoring much of the traditional pomp to the papacy.
  • Republican Senator 'Evolving' on Gay Marriage Issue

    03/28/2013 11:27:10 AM PDT · by OKRA2012 · 45 replies
    Yahoo ^ | 3/28/13 | Shushannah Walshe
    Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, is "evolving" on the issue of gay marriage, but she has stopped short of joining the other senator from Alaska, Mark Begich, D-Alaska, in endorsing it.