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It seems inevitable at this point, doesn’t it? – As the Democrats lurch off to the far, far, far left of the political spectrum once again, we should take a moment to review some history of the Iowa Caucuses where that political Party is concerned. Unlike in the Republican Party, where there has historically been little correlation between the Iowa winner as an indicator of who would become the ultimate nominee, this odd contest in this smallish state whose population is in no way indicative of the overall population of the United States tends to show us where the heart...

.Lo got political during her Super Bowl half time show which featured Latino children in cages who then broke into a rendition of 'Born in the USA' in what appeared to be a swipe at Donald Trump's immigration policies. Both Shakira and J.Lo put their Latina heritage front and center of the show, with the former - who was born in Colombia - taking to the stage shouting 'hola Miami!' before bringing out rapper Bad Bunny who sung in Spanish. But it was J.Lo who made the bigger statement during the latter part of her performance, when the lights rose...

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A $250 million settlement in a bond price-fixing lawsuit in which 12 banks agreed to stricter antitrust oversight will revive compliance, according to a legal expert. Pennsylvania Treasurer Joe Torsella first filed the lawsuit in March against 16 of the nation’s largest banks, for colluding to fix prices of Fannie Mae ( FNMA Loading... Loading... ) and Freddie Mac ( FMCC Loading... Loading... ) bonds — government-sponsored entity instruments — between 2009 and 2016. The settlement Torsella announced Tuesday brings total recovery to $386.5 million. Torsella, who has since been designated as class representative, said four of the defendant banks...

WASHINGTON — Even as they are set to acquit President Trump in his impeachment trial this week, Senate Republicans appear to be increasingly breaking with his defense that he did nothing wrong. © Erin Schaff/The New York Times “I think he shouldn’t have done it — I think it was wrong,” said Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, center right. “Inappropriate, was the way I’d say it. Improper, crossing the line.” On Sunday, Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, who was a key vote against calling witnesses in the Senate trial, expanded upon his criticism that Mr. Trump was “crossing the line”...

What do fans around the NFL think of Bill Belichick? Well, they view him as a villain. The NFL honored the top 100 people in the league’s history as part of the 100th anniversary of the league. They did so during the pregame ceremony ahead of Super Bowl LIV between the San Francisco 49ers and Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. When Belichick was introduced, the New England Patriots flashed his Super Bowl rings and was booed:

On our podcast Today in Focus, Chris McGreal reports back from his recent reporting trips to Iowa and discusses today’s caucuses. Democratic race begins in Iowa Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of US politics on the day the Democratic primary race finally gets real. Tonight the midwestern state of Iowa will be the first to vote in the primary race, as Democratic voters begin the process of choosing a candidate to take on Donald Trump in November’s general election.

So this is the week to write the final chapter of Impeachment 2020. How fitting that two stories that really matter have arisen to drown this sorry little spectacle in the obscurity it so richly deserves. The Iowa caucuses are a real story. There will be some candidate fates that receive a boost, while others will be dealt a blow. It’s kind of crazy that our roughly 30th-biggest state wields so much power, followed by New Hampshire at roughly 40th. But that’s what we do, and the next few days will be a big deal at the ballot boxes. Whatever...

In the fourth quarter of Super Bowl LIV, in a game descending into agony, Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes asked his team to believe. It took some nerve to make that request because Mahomes, perhaps the most mesmerizing young quarterback the NFL has ever seen, seemed lost at that point. He was confused, frustrated, impatient. He was awful, and Mahomes doesn't do awful. Tyreek Hill sighed and slumped his shoulders. Mahomes had just thrown a pass behind Hill, and San Francisco 49ers safety Tarvarius Moore intercepted it. It was Mahomes's second pick of the night, his first multi-interception game...

February 3, 2020 Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Reading 1 2 Sm 15:13-14, 30; 16:5-13 An informant came to David with the report, “The children of Israel have transferred their loyalty to Absalom.” At this, David said to all his servants who were with him in Jerusalem: “Up! Let us take flight, or none of us will escape from Absalom. Leave quickly, lest he hurry and overtake us, then visit disaster upon us and put the city to the sword.”As David went up the Mount of Olives, he wept without ceasing. His head was covered, and...

Former Gov. Christie Todd Whitman this weekend assailed her fellow Republicans in the Senate for blocking a call for more witnesses in the impeachment trial of President Donald Trump. Whitman, a moderate Republican who served as governor of the Garden State from 1994 until 2001, said on Twitter it was “mind boggling” that the Senate would vote, nearly along party lines, to disallow witnesses from testifying in the proceedings. Trump was impeached by the House last month on charges that he abused power and obstructed Congress as he tried to pressure Ukraine to investigate Democratic rival Joe Biden, using military...

Kyle Shanahan will now have another Super Bowl collapse to answer questions about. After being peppered all week by reporters seeking to rehash that blown 28-3 lead to New England three years ago when Shanahan was offensive coordinator in Atlanta, Shanahan's first trip to the Super Bowl as a head coach ended in another late-game meltdown. The 49ers became the third team in Super Bowl history to give up a 10-point lead in the second half when they blew a 20-10 advantage and lost 31-20 to the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night.

Now that the Democrats’ dream of stealing the 2016 election through the power of MSNBCNN-fueled outrage, and through plots by fussy lib bureaucrats, lies in ruins, some people might argue that we should be gracious in our total victory and not mock the stinging pain that accompanied this latest agonizing failure. Some people are sissies. Hoist a stein overflowing with the tears of these losers and chug chug chug away.Then tap another keg. This party is finally getting started, and it’s going to rage on until January 2025. Maybe even longer, if you listen to the Bozos, Pennywises, and Krustys they...

Democrats in the State House are pushing House Bill 2184, a measure that would mandate “comprehensive sexual health education” by the year 2022. In the proposal, first graders would begin to learn about gender roles. Teachers are instructed to read My Princess Boy prior to the lesson [...] Sixth graders would learn “language … that seems less familiar – using the pronoun ‘they’ instead of ‘her’ or him,’ using gender neutral names in scenarios and role-plays and referring to ‘someone with a vulva’ vs. a girl or woman.” “This is intended to make the curriculum inclusive of all genders and...

A Gilbert HOA is accused of trying to restrict its residents' first amendment rights on Facebook by threatening fines and penalties if residents post comments that frame the board in a negative light. "Considering you're talking of a fine up to $250 a day and revoking your privileges at our clubhouse here, suing us with our own money, that's pretty unfair," said resident Mark Skarupa. It all began last year during board elections in the Val Vista Lakes Community off Baseline and Val Vista roads. People in the community were talking on a private Facebook page called “Residents at VVL”...

Not that anyone would notice today, but ours is a government of defined powers. The prerogatives reside with We The People who compacted to delegate certain authority and no more. Big diff between the American and Brit system, at least on paper. Imagine the 1st Amendment didn’t exist. In its absence would Congress or Scotus have the authority to establish a religion, or restrict the civil freedoms of religious worship, speech, press, assembly or petition? Without the 1st Amendment, could Scotus have inverted its intent and walled off religiosity from the public square? No. This was the essence of the...

Footage of government officials in Wuhan appearing to take face masks intended for health workers battling the highly infectious coronavirus has fuelled a growing wave of anger over how Chinese authorities have handled the outbreak. Images of medical staff making protective equipment out of rubbish bags, sleeping in hospitals, and crying in frustration and exhaustion have dominated Chinese social media over the last two weeks, inspiring an outpouring of sympathy and donations of supplies. (Please see full article at the link)

All the items left outside the Staples Center in a tribute to Lakers great Kobe Bryant will be collected and given to his family. In a statement Lee Zeidman from the Lakers said, "The Lakers asked L.A. LIVE and STAPLES Center to collect, catalog and store all of the donated items until further directions are provided by the Bryant Family." Bryant and eight others, including his 13-year-old daughter Gianna, were killed in a helicopter crash in Calabasas last weekend. Since his death, fans have gathered outside Staples Center to pay tribute to the late basketball legend. Fans left flowers, pictures,...

He's having serious heart surgery tomorrow, good docs, and he's otherwise in good shape, but any prayers for him and the med teams are appreciated.

A threat made Friday that mentioned U.S. Sen. Susan Collins forced several schools from Machias to Bangor and Aroostook County into a “soft lockdown.” School remained in session, but no one could enter or leave the buildings without authorization. A business in Orono received the threat Friday morning through a “vague, email message,” according to Orono High School Principal Reg Ruhlin. Scott Porter, the superintendent of Machias schools, said the threat specified Collins and listed high schools in Bangor, Brewer, East Millinocket, Caribou, Houlton, Madawaska, Jonesport, Machias and Harrington. School districts did not see the actual message, according to Brewer...