As GOP Guts Food Safety Budgets, New Data Show Illnesses On The Rise

House Republicans have gone to great lengths to block implementation of a new food safety law, while also trying to cut the budgets of agencies that oversee food safety. But new data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shows just how foolhardy those moves are, as rates of foodborne illnesses are rising:

Predatory For-Profit Colleges Pay Executives Based On Corporate Profitability, Not Student Outcomes

According to preliminary findings of an investigation by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), the ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, many for-profit colleges pay their executives based almost exclusively on corporate profitability, without taking into account student outcomes. Cummings’ office received documents from 13 for-profit schools, which showed just where the schools place their priorities:

Sexual Assault Victims Charged Up To $1,200 In Wisconsin For Cost Of Their Rape Kits

For years, hospitals in northeastern Wisconsin have billed sexual assault victims as much as $1,200 for the cost of their examinations, according to a new investigation.

Student Loan Repayment Guide: Consolidation, Deferment, Forebearance Explained

Graduating college is an exciting experience. It's the start of the rest of your life. You get to walk away from classrooms and exams and hang a diploma on your wall.

Saudi Arabia Bans Smoking In Most Public Places

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia -- Saudi Arabia has banned smoking in government offices and most public places, including restaurants, coffee shops, supermarkets and shopping malls.

Bill Nye Addresses Climate Change, 'Disappointed' In The Media

When asked if he was disappointed by President Obama's relative silence on climate change recently, Bill Nye told CNN last week that if he is "disappointed," it's by the media. He said, "I think if the media asked him, asked both of these people who are running for president of the United States, about climate change, they'd have to respond."

Iraq Police Training: $200 Million Wasted On Police Development Program, Auditors Say

BAGHDAD -- U.S. auditors have concluded that more than $200 million was wasted on a program to train Iraqi police that Baghdad says is neither needed nor wanted.

Apple, Samsung Lawsuit Heads To Court For Showdown

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Two tech titans will square off in court Monday in a closely watched trial over control of the U.S. smartphone and computer tablet markets.

India Blackout Leaves 300 Million Without Power

NEW DELHI, July 30 (Reuters) - A massive grid failure in Delhi and much of northern India left more than 300 million people without electricity on Monday in one of the worst blackouts to hit the country in more than a decade.

Mitt Romney Comments At Fundraiser Outrage Palestinians

JERUSALEM — Mitt Romney told Jewish donors Monday that their culture is part of what has allowed them to be more economically successful than the Palestinians, outraging Palestinian leaders who suggested his comments were racist and out of touch with the realities of the Middle East. His campaign later said his remarks were mischaracterized.

STUDY: NBC More Likely To Cover Men’s Olympic Events, Show Women In Sports With Minimal Clothing

Writing in the Pacific Standard recently, Tom Jacobs pointed to two new studies that reveal a decidedly mixed picture of NBC’s prime-time Olympic coverage when it comes to gender equitability.

The 2012 Dream Team Shows Love For The First Lady Michelle Obama

Watch how the 2012 Dream Team shows love for The FLOTUSOA (First Lady Of The United State Of America)  I wonder what the State side spin machines will come up with on Monday or during the week?

Hand-Held Rocket Launchers Are Protected By Second Amendment Says: SCJ Scalia

This morning on Fox News Sunday, Justice Antonin Scalia reiterated just how extremely his Constitutional originalism can be applied. Referring to the recent shooting in Aurora, CO, host Chris Wallace asked the Supreme Court Justice about gun control, and whether the Second Amendment allows for any limitations to gun rights. Scalia admitted there could be, such as “frighting” (carrying a big ax just to scare people), but they would still have to be determined with an 18th-Century perspective in mind. According to his originalism, if a weapon can be hand-held, though, it probably still falls under the right o “bear arms”:

CONSERVATIVE COLUMNIST: EARLY VOTING IS ‘DEPLORABLE’

Conservative columnist George Will described early voting as “deplorable” during ABC’s This Week, arguing that the phenomena “complicates” campaigning for the presidential candidates. Democratic strategist Donna Brazile responded with, “I’m glad that we still have early voting, George, because that means there won’t be a lot of congestion on Election Day. We should have more accessibility.” Watch it:

U.S. Iran Attack Plans Shown To Israel: Report

JERUSALEM — An Israeli newspaper reported Sunday that the Obama administration's top security official has briefed Israel on U.S. plans for a possible attack on Iran, seeking to reassure it that Washington is prepared to act militarily should diplomacy and sanctions fail to pressure Tehran to abandon its nuclear enrichment program.

The Sunday July 29Th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

So, today Antonin Scalia is here to "SPEAK OUT" because everyone knows that he doesn't have any opportunity at all, ever, to talk about his opinions and feelings about everything publicly, in writing or in speech. So, he will probably talk about the recent health care ruling, whatever aspect of our political culture has put a burr in his side, and his ongoing efforts to prevent the Da Vinci Code from falling into the wrong hands.

AFRICAN AMERICAN COUPLE BANNED FROM MARRYING IN MISSISSIPPI CHURCH

A predominately white church in Mississippi barred an African American couple from marrying and threatened to vote out their pastor if he officiated the wedding on the premises. Charles and Te’Andrea Wilson had “booked the church and distributed invitations” for their July 21st wedding, only to discover that a small minority opposed their unionat the First Baptist Church of Crystal Springs. “This had never been done before here, so it was setting a new precedent, and there are those who reacted to that because of that,” said Dr. Stan Weatherford, the pastor, who performed the ceremony at a nearby church.

See The States With The Largest College Completion Rates

According to new U.S. Census Bureau data, the number of 25 to 34-year-olds who have college degrees around the nation has gradually increased from 2009 to 2011.

Idaho Billboard Compares Obama To Aurora Shooting Suspect James Holmes

An electronic billboard in Caldwell, Idaho that compares President Obama to James Holmes, the 24-year-old man accused of killing 12 people in an Aurora, Colo., movie theater on July 20, has sparked outrage in the community, reports The Idaho Statesman.

Military Terror Hospital: The Most Shocking Photos And Testimony From The Dawood Military Hospital Scandal ( Graphic Images, Not For The Weak!) Still Those Who Want War Most, Must See What Happens To Those Who Follow Orders.

If you look at only one story about the Afghan War this year, make it this one. An explosive Congressional investigation revealed horrific new details this week about a U.S. funded military hospital in Afghanistan that kept patients in “Auschwitz-like” conditions. Warning: Graphic images.

House Republican Bill Would Fast-Track Tax Cuts For The Wealthy And Corporations

House Republicans next week intend to vote on a plan that would both extend all of the Bush tax cuts — including those on income in excess of $250,000 — and fast-track “tax reform.” If the House GOP bill were adopted, tax reform legislation would “have special protections in the U.S. Senate, limiting the opportunities for lawmakers to use blocking tactics.”

Democrat Who Supported Repealing Health Reform Is Now Taking Credit For It

Rep. Larry Kissell (D-NC) voted againstthe Affordable Care Act in 2010 and was one of five Democrats to support repeal of the law earlier this year. But opposition to health care reform hasn’t stopped this two-term Congressman from taking credit for it.

The President Launches Educational Initiative For Black Americans

It’s funny how a close election can make you rethink your political stance.

For the first three and a half years of his administration, Black constituents (mainly the Congressional Black Caucus) have practically begged President Obama for special attention to address staggeringly poor numbers in Black student achievement, economic performance and youth violence rates.

After Stonewalling Obama’s Jobs Package, Republicans Complain About GDP Growth

New data released today shows that the U.S. economy grew by 1.5 percent last quarter, following a revised increase of 2 percent in the first quarter. Republicans, of course, leaped on the middling number, with Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) calling it “a troubling sign for the future of our economy.”

MARYLAND POLICE DISCOVER 25 FIREARMS IN HOUSE OF POSSIBLE AURORA COPYCAT

Just one week after the massacre in an Aurora, Colorado theater, Maryland police discovered 25 firearms and 40 boxes of ammunition in the apartment of a man who made threats against his coworkers. The man, Pitney Bowes employee Neil E. Trescott, was arrested wearing a shirt that read “Guns don’t kill people. I do.” He allegedly made the threat Wednesday after he was told he was being fired, saying “I am a joker. I’m going to load my guns and blow everybody up,” but later called back later to acknowledge the seriousness of his claim. He is currently undergoing medical evaluation.

Over Half Of HIV Patients Will Be 50 Or Older By 2020

WASHINGTON — AIDS is graying. By the end of the decade, the government estimates, more than half of Americans living with HIV will be over 50. Even in developing countries, more people with the AIDS virus are surviving to middle age and beyond.

How Much Money Would It Take To Become The Actual "BATMAN?"

If you think you have what it takes to be the next Batman -- you've practiced your all-caps "Swear to me!" voice; it's pretty good -- well, think again. There's more to being Gotham's hero than a deep delivery. It requires deep pockets, too.

3 Top Myths Conservatives Use To Oppose Increasing The Minimum Wage

House Democrats have introduced a bill in the House — bound to go nowhere due to the Republican majority — that would increase the minimum wage to $10. This would give the wage the purchasing power that it had in the 1960s.

AIDS experts: Focus on pregnancy not enough

WASHINGTON – The AIDS epidemic increasingly is a female one, and women are making the case at the world's largest AIDS meeting that curbing it will require focusing on poverty and violence, not just pregnancy and pills.

IED Blasts Spike In Afghanistan War As The Wounded Flow Home

WASHINGTON -- Roadside bombs in Afghanistan are taking a growing toll on American troops this summer as blasts from improvised explosive devices tear off arms and legs of soldiers and Marines, including one who survived the traumatic amputation of both arms and both legs.

Google Talk Down: Gchat Affected By Outage On July 26

Google Talk went down on Thursday morning, taking Gchat with it.

The Google Apps Status Dashboardconfirmed a service outage for Google Talk after 8 a.m ET. Diagnostic siteDownRightNow also registered "possible service trouble" around the same time.

Rescued: Planned Parenthoods GetsTitle X Grants From The Obama Administration

Ten Republican-controlled state legislatures have voted to defund Planned Parenthood since the 2010 midterm elections, but the clinics affected by the cuts will not have to shut their doors any time soon. The Obama administration so far has awarded hefty new federal family planning grants to Planned Parenthood clinics in three states that have cut the providers' funding: New Jersey, Tennessee and North Carolina.

Business Owners Disapprove Of Obama's Job Performance: Poll

Count this as a potential win for Mitt Romney's message about business owners: 59 percent of them disapprove of President Barack Obama's job performance,according to a Gallup poll released on Thursday.

GRAPHIC: WHAT AMERICANS’ ANNUAL HEALTH CARE SPENDING COULD BUY

Health care costs are growing rapidly in the U.S., and national health spending is estimated to increase from 18 percent of the economy to about 25 percent by 2037. And while the price for medical services outpaces inflation, federal health spending is projected to grow from 25 percent of federal spending to about 40 percent by 2037. As health care grows faster than the rest of the economy, the Center for American Progress tallies what could be purchased with the $2.8 trillion Americans spend annually on health care:

The 2 Top Oil Companies Earn $160,000 Per Minute, Paid Low Tax Rate

The top two corporations on the Fortune 500 Global ranking, Royal Dutch Shell and ExxonMobil, announced their 2012 second-quarter earnings today, bringing the total profits for three Big Oil companies to $44 billion for 2012 or $250,000 every day this year. Exxon profited by $16 billion this quarter, bringing its earnings for 2012 to $25 billion.

Obama: Gun Control ‘Should Be Common Sense’

In his most extensive comments on gun control since the tragic Aurora theater shooting, President Obama called for tighter gun control measures in a speech at the Urban League in New Orleans on Wednesday night.

Hospitals Limit Medical Bills For Aurora Theater Shooting Victims

Days before the birth of their first child, Caleb and Kate Medley went to a midnight showing of The Dark Knight Rises in Aurora, Colorado, that turned into the horrible massacre. Katie made it out without any serious injury, but Caleb wasn’t so lucky. He took a bullet to the eye and is in a medically induced coma, expected to take years to recover. Neither have insurance.

REPORT: NYPD Used Force On Occupy Protests ‘Without Apparent Need Or Justification’ 130 Times

A new report documents the tens of dozens of incidents of alleged police force against Occupy Wall Street protesters between September 2011 and July 2012. The report, conducted by law school clinics, investigates the New York Police Department’s response to the largely peaceful Occupy protests that took place in New York City.

Heavily Edited Romney Video Targets Black Voters, Shows NAACP Audience Applauding

Mitt Romney’s speech at the NAACP was defined in the media by the resounding chorus of boos he elicited from the crowd. Campaign staffers had a different interpretation, insisting that he received “thunderous applause over and over again.”

STUDY: NEARLY TWO-IN-FIVE AMERICAN HOUSEHOLDS LIVE PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK

The number of American households living paycheck to paycheck has risen to 38 percent, according to a study by the Consumer Federation of America and the Consumer Planner Board of Standards. Fifteen years ago, the number was 31 percent. The report also found that more than half of Americans are behind on their retirement savings, up from 38 percent in 1997. Both problems have been exacerbated by stagnant wages and an increase in low-wage jobs; as ThinkProgress noted this week, one in four private sector workers make less than $10 an hour.

Middle-Class Tax Cuts Preserved For A Year In Bill Passed By Senate

WASHINGTON -- Senators blinked in the political standoff over how much of the Bush-era tax cuts to extend for another year and voted Wednesday to keep current rates for people with incomes of less than $250,000.

Education Budget Cuts From Sequestration Could Be Devastating, Duncan Says

Schools, HIV testing, childcare and unemployment programs are all "under threat" as across-the-board cuts, known as sequestration, are scheduled to strike in January 2013, according to a new U.S. Senate report released Wednesday.

Ice-T: Rush Limbaugh Is 'A Racist Piece Of Sh--'

Rush Limbaugh praised Ice-T on Tuesday for knowing the word “tyranny” — and the rapper and reality show star slammed the radio host as “a racist piece of sh--” for the comment.

General Motors Donates To Politicians Who Voted Against Auto Industry Bailout

Members of Congress who voted against the auto bailout are getting campaign money from an unlikely source -- General Motors, the biggest recipient of auto bailout money.

Calif. police shootings spark 4th night of protest

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) – Riot police fired bean bag rounds and pepper balls into a crowd of protestors late Tuesday outside City Hall as councilmembers inside voted unanimously to ask the U.S. attorney's office to investigate recent officer-involved shootings, including one of an unarmed man.

Christian Bale In Aurora: Actor Visiting Victims Of Shooting At 'Dark Knight Rises' Showing

Victims of Friday's shooting at a midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises"received a visit from Batman himself on Tuesday, as Christian Bale reportedly stopped by Aurora, Colo.

Sherman Hemsley Dead: 'The Jeffersons' Actor Dies At 74

Sherman Hemsley, known for his starring role on "The Jeffersons," has died at age 74.

Although the cause of Hemsley's death is unclear, TMZ reports that the actor passed away at his El Paso, Texas, home.

Supreme Court Health Care Decision Leaves 3 Million More Uninsured: Congressional Budget Office

Health care reform will extend health insurance benefits to 3 million fewer people by 2022 as a result of the Supreme Court's decision in June that states could choose not to expand Medicaid for the poor, according to an analysis published by the Congressional Budget Office Tuesday.

NRA Members Agree: More Gun Regulation Makes Sense

It seems obvious to many that advocating for regulating the sale, ownership, and use of guns is a political loser. Indeed, there is a wealth of polling data suggesting Americans oppose “gun control” and favor “gun rights.” However, new research obtained by ThinkProgress indicates that this opposition exists only in the abstract. According to a poll conducted in May by Republican pollster Frank Luntz for the group Mayors against Illegal Guns, gun-owning Americans, including National Rifle Association (NRA) members, overwhelmingly support a raft of common-sense measures typically described as “gun control:”

What Five Oil Companies Did With Their $375 Million In Daily Profits

The Big Five oil companies – BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil and Shell – are slated to announce their 2012 second-quarter profits later this week.

Olympic Sexism: Men Fly First Class, Women In Coach

Despite the remarkable feats of the female athletes that are participating in the 2012 Olympics, when it comes to women and athletics there is still a lot of sexism involved.

Stuxnet thwarted by control code update

German engineering giant Siemens has issued a fix for the software loopholes used by the notorious Stuxnet worm.

Gary McKinnon extradition decision due in October

The home secretary will decide whether to order computer hacker Gary McKinnon's extradition to the US by mid-October, the High Court has heard.

Canada crime rate drops 6% to lowest level since 1972

The rate of police-reported crime in Canada dropped 6% in 2011, Statistics Canada said, and is now at its lowest level since 1972.

5 Things Congress Could Do In Response To The Aurora Theater Shootings

In the fallout to the Dark Knight Rises shootings in Aurora, Colorado, the debate over gun control has been sharply divided. President Obama and Mitt Romney have refused to take a stance on, or even really address, gun regulation efforts.

Greenland Ice Melt, Measured By NASA Satellites, Reaches Unprecedented Level

Unprecedented melting of Greenland's ice sheet this month has stunned NASA scientists and has highlighted broader concerns that the region is losing a remarkable amount of ice overall.

Children Win White House Visit In Michelle Obama Contest

WASHINGTON– Michelle Obama is rewarding 54 children with a visit to the White House for creating winning recipes as part of a healthy lunch contest.

Two Years After Financial Reform, Republicans Rake In Wall Street Fundraising Dollars

It’s been two years since the passage of Dodd-Frank, and the finance industry is still doing its best to completely gut the reforms meant to prevent another financial crisis. Republicans have spent the last two years trying to water downDodd-Frank, and data suggests they have been solidly rewarded for their efforts.

Uninsured Aurora Victim Could Face $2 Million In Medical Bills

Caleb Medley was shot in the eye in the Aurora movie theater shooting and remains in the intensive care unit in an induced coma. Medley sustained the terrible injuries only days before his wife Katie was due to give birth to a baby boy they plan to name Hugo. She now joins him in the same hospital — just one floor away — where she was set to be induced.

STUDY: One In Four Private Sector Workers Earn Less Than $10 An Hour

The last increase in the federal minimum wage was passed into law four years ago today, but the current minimum wage falls far short of meeting the needs of the average worker. To match the buying power of the 1968 minimum wage, for instance, today’s would need to be increased to $10.55 an hour.

Best Buy's Pay Consultant Quits In Protest Of Big Executive Bonuses

Best Buy deserted its efforts to tie pay to performance after just two years. So the guy who came up with the idea quit.

Jon Kyl Berates Obama For Focus On Middle Class

WASHINGTON -- President Barack Obama should stop talking about the middle class because it turns people against rich Americans, who should be embraced as the Michael Jordans of the U.S. economy, Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said Monday.

Gulf Oil Spill: BP Focused On Too Many Details, Not Big Picture, Safety Panel Concludes

WASHINGTON (AP) — BP focused too much on the little details of personal worker safety instead of the big systemic hazards that led to the 2010 Gulf of Mexico oil spill and wasn't as strict on overall safety when drilling rigs involved other companies that they hired, a government safety panel concludes.

Sally Ride, First American Woman In Space, Revealed To Have Female Partner Of 27 Years

Sally Ride's death after a seventeen-month battle with pancreatic cancer has brought to light a less-reported fact about the first American woman in space: her long-time relationship with female partner Tam O'Shaughnessy.

John Atta Mills Dead: Ghana President Reportedly Dies

ACCRA, July 24 (Reuters) - Ghana's President John Atta Mills has died unexpectedly, a presidential statement said, and an aide said his death occurred on Tuesday after he took ill on Monday night.

Pennsylvania Voter ID Law Trial Set To Begin As State Concedes It Has No Proof Of In-Person Voter Fraud

Defendants in a case against one of the nation's strictest voter ID laws in Pennsylvania made a major concession to plaintiffs this week, just days ahead of the start of the trial over the measure.

Republican Jobs Bills Won't Actually Create Jobs, Say Economists

WASHINGTON -- House Republicans routinely beat the drum about the hard work they have done in passing "more than 30 jobs bills" that are now before the Democrat-controlled Senate, going nowhere, as the economy gasps for air.

Holmes had $26,000 grant for studies

AURORA, Colo. – University of Colorado officials disclosed Monday that massshooting suspect James Holmes was being paid $26,000 a year for his studies — money that could have financed the cache of firearms, ammunition and explosive devices found in his apartment.

REPORT: DEBT LIMIT FIGHT COST GOVERNMENT $1.3 BILLION IN 2011

Republican opposition to raising the debt ceiling increased the government’s borrowing costs by $1.3 billion in fiscal year 2011, and costs will continue to rise in the future, a report from the Government Accountability Office found. The U.S. Treasury was forced to take varying actions to avoid hitting the debt limit before Congress raised it in August, forcing borrowing costs higher on multiple Treasury securities, the report found. And because many of those securities “will remain outstanding for years to come,” the borrowing costs will continue to rise in the near future. The debt limit fight also caused the first-ever downgrade of America’s credit rating, which Standard & Poor’s blamed on Republican unwillingness to raise taxes as part of a debt reduction deal.

Muslim Brotherhood Leader: We ‘Can’t Even Penetrate The Egyptian Government’

Rep. Michele Bachmann’s (R-MN) baseless allegations that the Muslim Brotherhood has infiltrated the U.S. government — particularly via a top aid to Secretary of State Hilary Clinton — have been met with near-universal condemnation inside the United States. But no one has thought to ask the Muslim Brotherhood whether she’s telling the truth – until now, when GlobalPost reporter Erin Cunningham managed to solicit a public response. While some Egyptians have unfortunately been persuaded by Bachmann’s nonsense, the Muslim Brothers themselves are not among them. They issued a somewhat amusing blanket denial:

Corporation Pushes Six-Year Pay Freeze On Workers While Making Record Profits, Paying CEO $17 Million

Back in June, ThinkProgress noted that the manufacturing giant Caterpillar was seeking major concessions during contract negotiations with striking workers, even as it was making billions in profits and giving its CEO a 60 percent pay boost. The New York Times’ Steven Greenhouse added more details today, noting that the company wants to implement a six-year pay freeze and a pension freeze, at a time when it is making record profits:

Chemistry Lessons: Living With Rachel Carson's Legacy

As you read this, a menagerie of chemical pollutants is coursing through your body. What you do and how you live doesn't matter. You have inhaled them, you've eaten them, you've absorbed them through your skin. You're doing it right now.

'No Show, No Pay Act' Is Latest Longshot Bill To Cut Congressional Pay

WASHINGTON -- A bill to dock pay for members of Congress who miss votes is the latest token effort to cut congressional salaries.

Alleged Aurora Shooter, Makes First Court Appearance

The man accused of killing 12 moviegoers and wounding 58 more in Aurora, Colo., last week made his first appearance in court Monday morning.

James Holmes, Aurora Shooting Suspect, Used Internet For Arsenal

DENVER — In a world where Amazon can track your next book purchase and you must register to buy allergy medicine, James Holmes spent months stockpiling thousands of bullets and head-to-toe ballistic gear without raising any red flags with authorities.

Austerity's Big Winners Prove To Be Wall Street And The Wealthy

This article is part of a Huffington Postseries on the global impact of austerity -- "A Thousand Cuts" -- from affordable housing funds lost in San Francisco to increasing class sizes in New York, food inspector cuts in Canada, disability benefits taken away in the United Kingdom, decimation of France's solar industry, and more. Click here for information on how you can help people affected by these measures.

Former State Senator Claims Colorado Shooting Victims Lacked Courage To Stop Gunman (WTF)

Though the alleged gunman at the theater shooting last Friday was armed to the teeth, able to fire off 60 rounds in a minute, and dressed fully in bulletproof gear, former Arizona State Senator Russell Pearce thinks one of the people in the theater should have been able to take him down.

FOX NEWS COMMENTATOR: DEMOCRATS ARE ‘BEING FOOLISH,’ SHOULD PROPOSE GUN CONTROL LAWS

Conservative commentator Bill Kristol today on Fox News Sunday said that Democrats are “being foolish” by not proposing sensible gun regulations. “People have a right to handguns and hunting rifles,” Kristol said, “I don’t think they have a right to semi-automatic, quazi-machine guns that can shoot hundred bullets at a time. And I actually think the Democrats are being foolish as they are being cowardly. I think there is support for some moderate forms of gun control if they separate clearly from a desire to take away everyone’s handguns or hunting rifles. …President Obama on this one is just unwilling to take a strong stance.” Watch it:

ECONOMISTS: U.S. POVERTY ON TRACK TO HIT HIGHEST LEVEL SINCE 1960S

According to economists and other experts surveyed by the Associated Press, the U.S. poverty rate is on track to hit its highest level since the 1960s. The consensus among those surveyed is that “the official poverty rate will rise from 15.1 percent in 2010, climbing as high as 15.7 percent.” Just a 0.1 percent increase would put the poverty rate at its highest since 1965.

TOP CLINTON AIDE THREATENED AFTER BACHMANN ALLEGATIONS

The New York Post reports Sunday that Huma Abedin, a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, was placed under security by authorities after an “unspecified threat.” The source of the threat is not clear — he was “described as a Muslim man” — but the Post linked the incident to widely-repudiated allegations made by Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) tying Abedin to the Muslim Brotherhood and suggesting her nefarious influence on the U.S. government. New York police and the State Department reportedly questioned the man, who was not charged,according to the Post. (HT: Laura Rozen)

James Holmes Update: Bomb Squads Disarm Booby-Trapped Apartment

AURORA, Colo. — Authorities on Saturday began disarming trip wires and explosive devices “set up to kill” inside the apartment of the suspect in the deadly Colorado movie theater shooting, hoping to find clues to his motive without destroying key evidence in a blast.

Aurora cinema shooting: Obama to pay tribute to victims

US President Barack Obama is heading for Colorado to honour victims of Friday's gun attack at a Batman film screening that left 12 people dead.

Vast aquifer found in Namibia could last for centuries

A newly discovered water source in Namibia could have a major impact on development in the driest country in sub-Saharan Africa.

Fighting human trafficking on US soil

The debate over human trafficking has come to the US, and to the corridors of the US Congress, where the Senate foreign relations committee heard about crimes committed at home.

Rwanda military aid cut by US over DR Congo M23 rebels

The US has cut military aid to Rwanda following accusations it is backing rebels in neighbouring Democratic Republic of Congo.

The Sunday July 22nd 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Today we will have one of those discussions about gun control that will go nowhere and solve nothing with Dianne "Leave Mitt Romney Alone!" Feinstein and Bailout Baby Ron Johnson, who is a real self-made man if by "self" we mean his "daddy-in-law." And then a panel discussion, as per usual.

'Dark Knight Rises' Box Office: Film Reportedly Earns $160 Million (This May Be The First Movie To Gross A Billion Dollars, The Fastest Ever)

LOS ANGELES — "The Dark Knight Rises" was on track to earn $160 million, which would be a record for 2-D films, over the weekend following a mass shooting at a Colorado screening of the Batman film.

Katherine Jackson, Mother Of Michael And Janet Jackson, Reported Missing

Katherine Jackson, the mother of the pop superstars Michael and Janet Jackson, was reported missing to authorities on Saturday night, according to reports.

The Drug War: How It Has Now Spread To Africa. Here's Why.

The New York Times is reporting that the Drug Enforcement Administration is ratcheting up its global war by focusing energy on Western African. "In a significant expansion of the war on drugs, the United States has begun training an elite unit of counternarcotics police in Ghana and planning similar units in Nigeria and Kenya as part of an effort to combat the Latin American cartels that are increasingly using Africa to smuggle cocaine into Europe," the Times writes. "The aggressive response by the United States is also a sign of how greater attention and resources have turned to efforts to fight drugs as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have wound down."

Super-Rich Hold Up To $32 Trillion In Offshore Havens: Report

LONDON, July 22 (Reuters) - Rich individuals and their families have as much as $32 trillion of hidden financial assets in offshore tax havens, representing up to $280 billion in lost income tax revenues, according to research published on Sunday.

Audio Of The First Hour Of Police, Fire Response To Aurora Theater Rampage Released

About 25 minutes into the latest Batman film, "The Dark Knight Rises," suspected shooter James Eagen Holmes, 24, entered theater number 9 at the Century 16 in Aurora.

Lawmaker Says Her Colleagues ‘Don’t Have The Spine’ For Gun Control Legislation

Rep. Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY) is deeply, personally familiar with the effects of gun violence: Her husband was killed and her son gravely and permanently injured by a gunman who rampaged through their train car seventeen years ago. Since then, McCarthy has been a staunch advocate for stronger regulations on firearms.

Colorado Gov. Refuses To Call For Stronger Gun Laws In Wake Of Theater Shooting

During an appearance on ABC’s This Week, Gov. John Hickenlooper (D-CO) refused to call for stronger gun control laws in the wake of the tragic movie theater shooting in his state. After saying that a reexamination of Colorado’s gun control laws is “going to happen,” Hickenlooper told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos that even if there were stronger restrictions, the alleged shooter would “have found something else” to commit the murders:

Evangelical Leaders Blame Liberals, Media For Aurora Shootings, Say Only Christian Victims Will Go To Heaven

On the conservative Christian radio show AFA Today, evangelical spokesperson Jerry Newcombe blamed the tragedy of the Aurora shooting on the nation’s loss of fear of God and hell. Discussing the victims, Newcombe argued that the non-Christians were going to Hell:

NEW JERSEY SENATOR TO REINTRODUCE GUN CONTROL MEASURE

Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) plans to “reintroduce legislation that would curtail the ability of a shooter to fire at length without reloading” following the shooting in Colorado on Friday, the Huffington Post’s Sam Stein reports. “If reports are correct and a high-capacity gun magazine was used to commit these awful murders, Senator Lautenberg will absolutely renew his effort to limit the availability of this dangerous firearm attachment,” Lautenberg’s communications director Caley Gray said.

Former Bank Of America, Cantor Fitzgerald Employees Sue Over Alleged Racial Discrimination

NEW YORK, July 20 (Reuters) - Two separate lawsuits alleging racial discrimination were filed in federal court in New York on Friday, against Bank of America and investment bank Cantor Fitzgerald.

Kaitlyn Leeb's Three Breasts Give Her The Weirdest Cleavage We've Ever Seen

In our awe over the wild costumes at Comic Con 2012, we skipped over perhaps the wildest one of all: Kaitlyn Leeb's sexy red costume and her daring cleav -- wait a second. Does she have... three breasts?

Why are YOU Paying to Ship Jobs Overseas?

GOP Doubles Down in Favor of Outsourcing, Against American Workers

Did you know that you’re actually paying to ship American jobs overseas? It’s shocking but true. Thanks to a broken tax code that’s rigged in favor of the privileged few, companies actually get a tax break when they ship operations — and American jobs — to other countries. They get a deduction and the rest of us foot the bill.

Bloomberg Slams Tea Party Congressman For Gun Comments

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg iscondemning Tea Party Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-TX) for suggesting on Friday that the Colorado theater massacre could have been prevented if moviegoers had been armed.

Virginia Drug Possession Case Highlights Flawed Drug War Policies

In a local case exemplifying changing attitudes on the War on Drugs, a jury found a farmer in Albemarle County not guilty of marijuana possession on Wednesday evening.

54-year-old Philip Cobbs was summoned to court to answer for two marijuana plants spotted on his 37-acre farm by a helicopter. About 10 law enforcement officials came to his farm to confiscate the illegal plants, armed with semi-automatic guns. Cobbs claimed that he was not aware of the marijuana plants on his property, which can sometimes grow in the wild.

GOP Open-Sources Party Platform, Republican Voters Respond With Progressive Suggestions

If voters have their input, ending wars and stopping subsidies might make it into the Republican party platform.

The GOP launched a website yesterday that invites Republicans to make suggestions for what should be included in the GOP Party Platform, and in the first 24 hours respondents offered up an array of progressive issue positions for their leaders. The open-source system invites people to write up anything they think should be included, then allows others to “second” the idea. The ones with the most “seconds” will then be voted on.

10 Things Climate Change Is Making Worse Right Now

The onslaught of extreme weather and record temperatures this year have had an impact on people globally, directly through drought and temperature, and more indirectly impacting food prices and public transportation.

Motive sought in deadly shooting rampage at Colorado theater

AURORA, Colo. – A gunman wearing a gas mask, helmet and full body armor opened fire early Friday in a crowded suburban Denver theater at the opening of the Batman movieThe Dark Knight Rises, killing 12 people and injuring 58 others.

Expired Assault Weapons Ban Would Have Covered Rifle Used In Colorado Shooting

One of the principal weapons used by James Eagan Holmes in the horrific Dark Knight Rises shooting would have been subject to a series of sharp restrictions under the now-expired federal Assault Weapons ban. The AR-15 rife carried by Holmes, a civilian semi-automatic version of the military M-16, would have been defined as a “semiautomatic assault weapon” under the Violent Crime Control and Law Enforcement Act of 1994. If the law was still in force, semiautomatic assault weapons would have been outright banned:

Corporation That Paid Nothing In Taxes For Four Years Tells Congress It Pays Too Much In Taxes

Over a four years period from 2008 to 2011, Corning Inc. was one of 26 companies that managed to avoid paying any American income taxes, even though it earned nearly $3 billion during that time. In fact, according to Citizens For Tax Justice, the company received a $4 million refundfrom 2008 to 2010. That didn’t stop Susan Ford, a senior executive at the company, from telling the House Ways and Means Committee this week that America’s high corporate tax rate was putting her company at a disadvantage:

AURORA THEATER SHOOTING IS DEADLIEST IN U.S. SINCE VIRGINIA TECH

Last night’s tragic shooting at the midnight premiere of “The Dark Knight Rises” in Aurora, Colorado was the largest mass shooting in the U.S. since the massacre at Virginia Tech in 2007, which killed 32 people and wounded 15 others. 12 people were killed and at least 38 injured Thursday night at the Aurora movie theater. There are about20 mass shootings every year in the U.S. The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence lists hundreds of mass shootings since 2005. The Aurora shooting suspect, 24-year-old James Holmes, has been arrested.

MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY AMONG THE VICTIMS IN COLORADO SHOOTING

The Pentagon has announced that members of the military were among those shot overnight at the mass killing in a theater in Aurora, Colorado. In a press briefing, a Pentagon spokesperson provided little information, but confirmed that military members were either shot or killed.

Indiana GOP Removes Punching Bag With Likeness Of President Obama But Remains Unapologetic

The Delaware County, Indiana Republican Party is reconsidering its decision to display a punching bag with the likeness of President Obama with a black eye at the Delaware County State Fair.

The Best-Tasting Juice Cleanses: Our Taste Test Results

Someone has bottled Gwyneth Paltrow's magical glow, and now we're all drinking the Kool-Aid. And yes, we're literallydrinking it.

Juice cleanses have become so ubiquitous that, despite their exorbitant price tag, consumption has extended beyond celebrities to us regular folk. Though the health benefits of a detox cleanse have been debated, everybody's trying it anyway. Sure, there's the promise of feeling better, looking brighter and younger, and functioning like a well-oiled machine, but let's be real. You're really doing a cleanse because you want to drop a few pounds.

Altruism, Brain Region Called Temporoparietal Junction Linked In University Of Zurich Study: "The Jerk Region Of The Brain."

Some people are generous--others, not so much. Why is that?

A new study from Switzerland suggests that the answer to that question may be a matter of neuroanatomy, with the brains of altruistic types having more "gray matter" in a region of the brain known as the temporoparietal junction.

Mitt Romney Makes Statement On Aurora, Colorado Shootings

BOW, N.H. -- Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney says Friday is a time to grieve and remember the lives lost in the Colorado shootings.

Obama Makes Statement On Aurora Shooting

President Barack Obama spoke on the Aurora, Colo., mass shootings on Friday in Fort Myers, Fla., where he had expected to hold a campaign event but instead discussed the tragedy.

Colorado shootings suspect: Who is James Holmes?

James Holmes, the suspect in the Colorado shooting rampage, is described as a medical student from San Diego who dropped out of a doctoral program at the University of Colorado medical school last month.

12 dead in 'Dark Knight' Colorado theater shooting (Could A Right Wingers Words Be Behind This?)

AURORA, Colo. – A gunman wearing a gas mask and body armor opened fire early Friday in a crowded suburban Denver theater at the opening of the Batman movie The Dark Knight Rises, killing 12 people and injuring at least 50.

‘The Dark Knight Rises’ Read How Christopher Nolan’s New Batman Movie Directly Relates To The Haves and Have Nots

This consideration of Christopher Nolan’s Batman trilogy contains mild spoilers for The Dark Knight Rises.

Bachmann Stands By Widely Condemned Islamophobic Attack, Finds Ally In Glenn Beck

Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) is doubling down on her Islamaphobic attacks against a top aide to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, even as a growing number of Republicans are repudiating Bachmann’s charges as “nothing less than an unwarranted and unfounded attackon an honorable citizen.”

See What Products That You Buy, Help To Bankroll Right-Wing Attack Ads

Have you eaten at White Castle recently? Or caught a movie at Regal Cinemas?

If so, you may be unwittingly helping finance right-wing attack ads.

Special Interests Spent $173.5 Million On The 2008 Farm Bill

As Congress moves toward passing a 2012 Farm Bill that would, among other things, deprive millions of Americans of food stamps, gut food safety protections, and prematurely forcegenetically engineered crops onto the market, a new report follows the money poured into the last Farm Bill.

Half Of American Households Hold 1 Percent Of Wealth

WASHINGTON -- The share of the nation's wealth held by the less affluent half of American households dropped precipitously after the financial crisis, to 1.1 percent, according to new calculations by Congress's nonpartisan research service.

U.S. Drought Means Wilting Crops, Higher Food Prices; Officials Pray For Rain

WASHINGTON/CHICAGO, July 18 (Reuters) - Oppressive heat and a worsening drought in the U.S. Midwest pushed grain prices near or past records on Wednesday as crops wilted, cities baked and concerns grew about food and fuel price inflation in the world's top food exporter.

Abusing The 'Gift' Of Tissue Donation

Mandi Eisenbeis stood over her dad. It was a Thursday in May 2011 when she said her private good-byes at a funeral parlor in Lodi, Calif. George "Randy" Eisenbeis had died young, felled at age 57 by a methamphetamine overdose.

Obama Approval Rating Dragged Down By Economy, New Poll Shows

The presidential race is a dead heat, according to the newly released CBS/NYT poll. And for all the attention being paid to the attacks on Mitt Romney's record at Bain Capital and, more subtly, his wealth, the economy still appears to be the overriding factor.

Global Trade Arms Shows

Watch how these guys shake hands, give high fives, and praise each other then think of ways to use there purchases to kill each other.  One job that will never get outsourced here in the states is the making of weapons.  Look at what Northrop Grumman and Lockheed have going in huge tents in the middle of the dessert, in Jordan.

George Zimmerman Says He Wouldn’t Do Anything Differently: ‘It Was God’s Plan’ For Me To Kill Trayvon Martin

Tonight, George Zimmerman — who is currently facing second degree murder charges for killing Trayvon Martin — participated in a highly unusual interview on Fox News with Sean Hannity.

Weight loss drug Qsymia approved for use in US

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved a new weight-loss drug from the pharmaceutical company Vivus.

New Welfare Restrictions Target Booze, Tattoos

BOSTON — Taking aim at what they call an abuse of the taxpayers’ money, a growing number of states are blocking welfare recipients from spending their benefits on booze, cigarettes, lottery tickets, casino gambling, tattoos, and strippers.

Mom Allegedly Whips Son To Death Because He Wet Himself Inside Car (Another Black Woman Snaps) This Is Why I Don't Like To Post Stuff Like This. -RIP to the young man-

Vastie Coleman (pictured) allegedly confessed to whipping her 4-year-old son, Kyron Barnes, to death on Sunday night in Houston because he wet himself, KHOU-TV reports.

Ms. Melodie Of ‘Boogie Down Productions’ Dead

Ms. Melodie (born Ramona Parker) of the 1980′s rap group “Boogie Down Productions,” is dead, The Urban Daily reports.

Texas executes its 1st inmate using single drug

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — A Texas man convicted of carjacking and fatally shooting a stockbroker was put to death Wednesday, becoming the first prisoner in America's most active capital punishment state to be executed under a procedure using one lethal drug instead of three.

Windows 8 Release Date Set For October 26: Microsoft

It's official: After months of speculation, Microsoft has set an official release date for Windows 8, its first update to the Windows operating system in almost three years.

Italian Archaeologists Believe They Found Skeleton Of The Real Mona Lisa

Much attention has been paid to Mona Lisa's smile throughout the years, but this week her skeleton is winding up in the spotlight. Italian archaeologists announced Tuesday they found the skeleton of Lisa Gherardini, believed to be the model for Leonardo's masterpiece, which currently hangs in The Louvre in Paris. Found near the convent of Sant'Orsola in Florence, the bones will be sent to the Department for the Conservation of Cultural Property for an examination.

Student Loan Debt Sours Public Opinion On College Degrees' Worth, Consumers Prioritize Retirement Savings Instead: Survey

Fewer Americans believe going to college is worth the ball and chain of student loan debt.

In 2008, 81 percent of adults thought college was a good investment. That number dropped to 57 percent, according to a national survey of 3,000 Americans commissioned by Country Financial and compiled by Rasmussen Reports.

Democrats Call For Law Requiring Presidential Candidates To Release Financial Records

While Mitt Romney continues to ignore calls to release his tax returns, Democrats in both the House and Senate are trying to make sure future presidential candidates cannot duck their financial past.

Republican Congressman Gloats About Bill To Enable Animal Torture

Representative Steve King (R-IA), who is the sponsor of an amendment to the House Farm Bill that is both astonishingly hypocritical and devastating to food safety laws that protect millions of Americans from illness, recently gave an interview to the Daily Caller to brag about what he had accomplished. The King Amendment would essentially prevent states from developing strong independent health, safety, and cruelty standards, even if local voters want them.

Former Bachmann Campaign Chief: ‘I Am Fully Aware That She Sometimes Has Difficulty With Her Facts’

Ed Rollins, a longtime GOP strategist and the former campaign manager for Michele Bachmann’s 2012 presidential campaign, penned an op-ed for Fox News’ website today slamming the Minnesota congresswoman for her recent remarks about the Muslim Brotherhood and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Chief of Staff Huma Abedin.

The Stimulus Successfully Saved Teaching Jobs

To hear conservatives tell it, the 2009 Recovery Act (known as the stimulus) was a failure. However, that is not the view of independent analysts, who credit the stimulus with saving or creating millions of jobs.

2 Bodies In Detroit River Found Missing Heads, Hands And Feet; Body Parts Also Discovered

DETROIT-- A group of early risers made the harrowing discovery Tuesday morning of a body missing hands, head and feet. And it wasn't long before officials found a second torso and several body parts near the scene.

Rush Limbaugh Suggests 'Dark Knight Rises' Villain 'Bane' A Deliberate Romney Reference

Just a day after opining that President Barack Obama "hates" America, Rush Limbaugh found a new target in the eagerly anticipated "Dark Knight Rises,"which he suggested during his program on Tuesday was part of a liberal media conspiracy:

Drone Wars: Civil Liberties Groups Sue CIA, Pentagon Over Targeted Killings

WASHINGTON -- Two leading U.S. civil liberties organizations have filed a lawsuit against David Petraeus, Leon Panetta and other senior CIA and military officials over a series of drone strikes in Yemen that killed three American citizens.

CFPB Announces Enforcement Action Against Capital One

WASHINGTON -- The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced its first enforcement action Wednesday morning, targeting Capital One for deceptive marketing tactics.

Master Teacher Corps: Barack Obama Proposes $1 Billion Effort To Boost Students' Achievement In Math, Science

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Obama administration unveiled plans Wednesday to create an elite corps of master teachers, a $1 billion effort to boost U.S. students' achievement in science, technology, engineering and math.

Black Women Laughs As White 'Rapper' MGK Calls Another Black Women, "Dirty N*****r B****TH

Just saw this and was like wow, this how black women put themselves out there.  The line this lady used when interviewing this clown was classic and I will never forget it, "I 'm Chocolate." If the camera was not there this broad would have been down!  This was the most funniest and yet realest showing of how dudes like this act black, but ain't black, but can get black women.

Physical inactivity can contribute to premature deaths

Physical inactivity kills. It is causing about one in 10 premature deaths around the world annually, says an analysis out today.

15 Prominent Republicans Who Want Romney To Release More Tax Returns Right Now

Mitt Romney continues to resist pressure to turn over more tax returns. In aninterview today he said he is “simply not enthusiastic about giving them hundreds or thousands of more pages to pick through, distort, and lie about.”

National Review Writer Stands By Racial Slur

One might expect National Review Online (NRO), the conservative commentary outlet, to be particularly sensitive to any racist language given two recent dust ups — one writer was recently fired for penning a screed against black people, and another was let go after NRO discovered he was part of a white nationalist group.

Romney Says He Sympathizes With Struggling Middle Class Workers, But His Policies Would Make Them Worse Off

Mitt Romney, who has long battled perceptions that his immense wealth renders him out of touch with voters, tried to prove his sympathies with the middle class at a fundraiser in Jackson, Mississippi last night. To an audience that paid $2,500, $10,000 or $50,000 a ticket, Romney pointed out the waitstaff in the room, saying “they’re not having a good year” due to the country’s slow economic recovery:

Britain’s Largest Black Newspaper Denied Credentials To Cover London Olympics

The organization in charge of issuing media credentials at the 2012 London Olympics, which begin in 10 days, has denied the request filed by Great Britain’s oldest black newspaper, sparking outrage across the country.The Voice, which is celebrating its 30-year anniversary this year, published an article last week notifying readers that the British Olympic Association, which is in charge of credentialing, had denied its request to cover the Games.

One Of SkyNets HK's (Hunter Killers) Come To Life: Laser-Powered Drone Aircraft Could Fly Forever, 'Stalker' Test Suggests

A silent drone flown by U.S. Special Forces could stay in the air forever, in theory, if power were being beamed to it from a laser on the ground. That exciting possibility came up during an indoor flight test showing how a laser could power a Stalker drone for 48 hours.

Nine Real America's Thoughts On Religion

By David Niose

When the Religious Right first rose to prominence in the 1980s, its main opposition came from those who were quick to argue that social conservatives had no monopoly on religion, that liberals and moderates could be religious too. While of course true, this approach proved largely ineffective, as the influence of religious fundamentalists has only seemed to grow with each election cycle.

Do Many People Know That Most Plastic Surgery Is Made Possible With The Use Of Human Corpses?

On Feb. 24, Ukrainian authorities made an alarming discovery: bones and other human tissues crammed into coolers in a grimy white minibus.

Investigators grew even more intrigued when they found, amid the body parts, envelopes stuffed with cash and autopsy results written in English.

John Sununu: 'I Wish This President Would Learn How To Be An American'

WASHINGTON -- In the span of one morning, top Mitt Romney surrogate John Sununu referred to President Obama as dumb and stupid, called the Chicago political culture from which he came "corrupt," brought up Obama's admitted use of marijuana as a kid in Hawaii, resurfaced the name of Tony Rezko -- the jailed financier with ties to Obama -- and then questioned the president's Americanness.

Financial Woes Threaten Usher Stepson's Care

(NEWSER) – A heartbreaking update to the tragic accident that left Usher's former stepson, Kyle Glover, brain dead: His mom, Tameka Raymond, may have to take him off life support as soon as next month because his insurance is running out. Tameka can't afford the medical bills on her own, sources tell TMZ, and Usher has been supporting his ex-wife emotionally but hasn't offered any financial assistance. Last week, Usher made a move to settle his long-running, contentious custody battle with Tameka; click for more on what he's reportedly willing to offer her.

Dark Knight Rises Is a Dark, Epic Blockbuster

(NEWSER) – The Dark Knight Rises reviews are in, and no, we won't give anything away—except the glowing accolades from reviewers. TDKR is predictably dark, brooding, and intense, but elevates the world of capes and gadgets to great storytelling:

Not so fast, Kobe: Obama sides with 1992 Dream Team

WASHINGTON (AP) – Add President Obama to the list of people who disagree with Kobe Bryant's boast that this year's U.S. Olympic basketball team could beat the Dream Team of 1992.

Generation X unconcerned about climate change

Amid a summer of record-setting heat, most of Generation X 's young adults are uninformed and unconcerned about climate change, says a survey today.

Olympic Weightlifter Sarah Robles Gets A Sponsor

On July 9, ThinkProgress launched a petition to get Olympic-bound weightlifter Sarah Robles a sponsorship. One week later, Solve Media, an Internet advertising company, has risen to the challenge, announcing their new partnership with Robles today.

SENATE REPUBLICANS FILIBUSTER DISCLOSE ACT

Two years after filibustering the DISCLOSE Act of 2010 to death and blocking any disclosure for who is funding the the independent expenditures enabled by the Supreme Court’s 5-4 Citizens United ruling, Republicans have again blocked transparency. While the 2010 version included other campaign finance reforms, the DISCLOSE Act of 2012 was pared down to only require disclosure of the funders of $10,000-and-larger independent political expenditures. But Republicans, led by former disclosure advocate Sen. Mitch McConnell (KY) still blocked the measure, incredibly calling it “nothing less than an effort by the government itself to expose its critics to harassment and intimidation.” The Senate vote failed on a party-lines 51-44, falling 9 votes short of the needed 60, though Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) voted “no” for procedural reasons.

Worst US drought since 1956 hits residents and crops

The US is currently suffering its widest drought since 1956, according to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Western Australia Shark Attack: Great White Bites Surfer Benjamin Charles Linden In Half

Beaches off the popular family retreat Wedge Island in Western Australia were closed this weekend after a surfer was reportedly bitten in half by a great white shark.

Zikomo Peurifoy Tasered Three Times After Allegedly Jaywalking

Florida police allegedly Tasered a man several times after he was caught jaywalking.

Zikomo Peurifoy was stopped by Casselberry, Fla., Police for allegedly ignoring crosswalk signals, according to WFTB. Peurifoy was Tasered three times during the encounter.

GOP Rep. Walsh Says Welfare Is ‘Destructive For Poor People’

Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL), who found himself in hot water this month for saying a double-amputee veteran is not a “true hero,” has a message for poor people: government assistance is actually hurting you.

Florida Lieutenant Governor: ‘Black Women Who Look Like Me’ Don’t Have Lesbian Relationships

Florida Lieutenant Governor Jennifer Carroll (R) — a former Florida state representative and a Romney surrogate — has been accused of having a sexual relationship with one of her female aides. Carroll denies that the affair ever happened, but herresponse to the controversy relies on a line of reasoning that simply wouldn’t hold if she were accused of having a relationship with a male aide:

Conservatives Selectively Edit Obama’s Speech To Claim He Hates Small Businesses

Attempting to change the subject from the latest scandal over Romney’s tenure at Bain Capital, conservatives have seized on new fodder for the narrative that Obama is secretly out to destroy small businesses. Fox and Friends on Monday morning aired a clip from an Obama campaign speech in Roanoke, Virginia, in which he says, “If you’ve got a business, you didn’t build that. Somebody else did that.”

REPORT: Biggest Donor To Romney And GOP Did Business With Chinese Mob

Things are getting awkward for Sheldon Adelson, the casino magnate who pledged to spend a “limitless” amount of money to get Mitt Romney elected. Adelson’s latest woes stem from business practices surrounding his lucrative casino in Macau, the only Chinese city with legalized gambling.

George Zimmerman Family Friend Says He Molested Her For More Than A Decade

A woman with close ties to George Zimmerman and his family told investigators that members of Zimmerman’s family were boastfully proud racists and that for more than a decade Zimmerman sexually molested her.

HIV-prevention drug Truvada approved by US

US health regulators have for the first time approved a drug to prevent HIV infection.

Truvada can be used by those at high risk of infection and anyone who may engage in sexual activity with HIV-infected partners, said the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

STUDY: AFRICAN AMERICANS, LATINOS PAY 3 PERCENT MORE THAN WHITES FOR HOMES

African Americans and Latinos pay 3 percent more than white homebuyers for their homes, according to a study of from the National Bureau of Economic Research that looked at two million home sales in four cities. The higher prices were not tied to income, wealth, or credit rating, suggesting discrimination may be a factor, the study said. Black and Latino buyers are also likely to spend less time looking for houses because of the “expectation of discrimination,” another factor in higher prices. As ThinkProgress has previously noted, blacks and Latinos were twice as likely to have been affected by the housing crisis after banks and mortgage servicers were found to use discriminatory practices in issuing loans.

How The House Farm Bill Guts Important Food Safety Protections

ThinkProgress has already documented the hypocrisy in Rep. Steve King’s (R-IA) attempt to overturn California’s prohibitions on foie gras and inhumanely produced eggs, while insisting that the state can ban birth control. But King’s amendment to the latest farm bill — introduced very shortly before its near-literal midnight passage — doesn’t only affect California. It threatens to destroy state regulations on food safety altogether, according to an analysis by the nonpartisan Environmental Working Group’s legal expert Heather White:

Japan Floods Kill At Least 26, Thousands Remain Cut Off

TOKYO -- Thousands of people in southern Japan remained cut off Sunday by floods and mudslides triggered by torrential rains that have killed at least 26 people, local authorities said.

Ford Escape Recall: Company Recalling More Than 10,000 Redesigned 2013 Escape SUVs

DETROIT -- Ford Motor Co. is recalling more than 10,000 redesigned 2013 Escape SUVs to fix carpet padding that could get in the way of braking.

Blackberry maker RIM told to pay $147m in patent case

Blackberry maker Research in Motion (RIM) has been ordered to pay $147m in damages after losing a patents case.

A jury in San Francisco upheld claims by Mformation Technologies Inc that RIM infringed patents it took out in 1999.

The Sunday July 15Th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Our summer of guest hosts continues with Brit Hume stepping in to glower at viewers in the place of Chris Wallace. He welcomes two governors, both Republican, to yell about how awful the Affordable Care Act -- Terry Branstad of Iowa and shiny-domed cartoon grifter Rick Scott of Florida. The Sunshine State is enjoying a renaissance under Scott, if by "renaissance" you are referring to "a period of time when people caught tuberculosis en masse."

Would you qualify for refinancing?

This is a program the White-House Has Recently implemented. Do you think you would benifit for this? Why not see for yourself. Also share this with those who you think might need it.

Letter Reveal life Of An Ex-Slave: Jordan Anderson

NEW YORK (AP) — The photograph, scratched and undated, is captioned “Brother Jordan Anderson.” He is a middle-aged black man with a long beard and a righteous stare, as if he were a preacher locking eyes with a sinner, or a judge about to dispatch a thief to the gallows.

Wikipedia: Meet the men and women who write the articles

Now in its 11th year, Wikipedia is one of the most popular sites on the internet and has revolutionised the way humans across the world access information.

Bill Nye Talks About Climate Change And Wildfires, Defends Himself After CNN Reporter Calls Him 'Kooky' (How Is It That People Can Publicly Discredit Actual Scientist) I Am Glad CNN Is Tanking In Rankings!

It seems Bill Nye won't ever be able to escape his playful, comedic past.

In a interview with CNN, the "Science Guy" suggested climate change was to blame for the recent wildfires. But one reporter questioned his credibility on the topic with a few harsh words: "You're the kooky guy that doesn't know what he's talking about."

Martin O'Malley, Democratic Governors Chair, Ties Health Care Reform To Job Creation

WILLIAMSBURG, Va. -- The head of the Democratic Governors Association, Martin O'Malley, said that while tackling economic issues is at the top of the list for Democratic gubernatorial candidates around the country, implementing the Affordable Care Act is also high on the list because it connects to job creation.

Visa and Mastercard make $7.25bn fees dispute settlement

Credit card companies Visa and Mastercard and major US banks have agreed to a $7.25bn (£4.65bn) settlement to retailers over card fees.

This is one of the Best shows on Television, The Walking Dead Season 3 Preview

This could be one of the Best shows ever made! For those who have lost interest in Trueblood, then this is the show for you.  For those who are fans let others know what you think!

War On Women: The Impact Of Republican Governors Rejecting Medicaid Expansion

Medicaid expansion is just the latest battlefield in the Republicans’ ongoing war against women. Republican governors turning down health care funds are making a political statement, but in the process are hurting, not helping, the women their states.

Aetna Shareholders ‘Dismayed’ Over Insurer’s Donations To Anti-Obamacare Campaigns

A group of Aetna shareholders ischallenging the health insurer for donating to the American Action Network and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce — two organizations dedicated to undermining Obamacare.

FLORIDA SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS STATE’S CONTROVERSIAL DRUG POSSESSION LAW

On Thursday, the Florida Supreme Court upheld Florida’s tough drug possession law, ruling that it is constitutional. The law moves the burden of proof from the state to the defendant, so that defendants charged with drug crimes in Florida will now have to prove that they did not know they were carrying an illegal substance. In 48 other states the burden of proof remains on the state. In her ruling last year, U.S. District Judge Mary Scriven disagreed with Florida’s Supreme Court, calling the law “draconian and unreasonable,” and ruling that the law is a significant departure from the notion that defendants are innocent until proven guilty. Because federal district court rulings are not binding on state supreme courts, the final decision on the law’s constitutionality will be left to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Oakland Marijuana Crackdown: City Officials Slam U.S. Government

OAKLAND, Calif., July 12 (Reuters) - Officials in the city of Oakland rebuked federal prosecutors on Thursday for seeking to shut down a medical marijuana dispensary that bills itself as the world's largest in the latest clash over a federal cannabis crackdown in Western U.S. states.

Iraq-Iran Ties Grow Stronger As Iraq Rises From The Ashes

WASHINGTON -- In the run-up to the war in Iraq, neoconservative hawks in and out of the Bush administration promised that the U.S. invasion would quickly transform that country into a strong ally, a model Arab democracy and a major oil producer that would lower world prices, even while paying for its own reconstruction.

Getting Your Pole Vault On, In The Olympic Village: Sex At The Olympic Games

AMERICAN TARGET SHOOTER Josh Lakatos faced a conundrum. Halfway through the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney, he and his rifle-toting teammates were finished with their events, and the U.S. Olympic Committee and team officials had ordered them to turn in the keys to their three-story house and head back to the States. But Lakatos didn't want to leave. He knew from his experience four years earlier in Atlanta, where he'd won silver, that the Olympic Village was just about to erupt into a raucous party, and there was no way he was going to miss it. So he asked the maid at the emptied-out dwelling if she'd kindly look the other way as he jimmied the lock. "I don't care what you do," she replied.

Alabama Judge Rebukes Private Correctional Company For Running ‘Debtors Prison’

In 2010, four residents of Harpersville, Alabama filed suitagainst several local officials and private prison company Judicial Corrections Services, alleging that they were illegally imprisoned in the Shelby County jail.

Romney Interview Directly Contradicts His Previous Statements About Bain Tenure

Mitt Romney told CBS News‘s Jan Crawford Friday evening that he did not attend Bain Capital meetings after he left the company in February of 1999 to run the Winter Olympics. But this answer appears to contradict sworn testimony he delivered in 2002 “as part of a hearing to determine whether he had sufficient residency status in Massachusetts to run for governor”:

Indian Government Spends $1.3 Million To Stop Auction Of Gandhi Letters That May Show He Was Gay

Last year, Pulitzer-Prize-winning author Joseph Lelyveld released his book, "Great Soul: Mahatma Gandhi and His Struggle With India," causing controversy with parts some say included implications that Gandhi had a homosexual relationshipwith architect Hermann Kallenbach.

14 reasons why this is the worst Congress ever

This week, the House of Representatives voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act. On its own, such a vote would be unremarkable. Republicans control the House, they oppose President Obama’s health reform law, and so they voted to get rid of it.

Wet Seal Looked For Workers With 'Blond Hair And Blue Eyes,' Ex-Employees Claim

July 12 (Reuters) - Wet Seal Inc has been sued by three former employees who accused it of discriminating against black store managers because they did not fit the image the U.S. retailer, which sells clothes for young women, wanted to convey.

Hama Massacre: More Than 200 Killed In Tramseh, Mostly Civilians, Opposition Says

AMMAN/BEIRUT, July 13 (Reuters) - More than 200 Syrians, mostly civilians, were massacred in a village in the rebellious Hama region when it was bombarded by helicopter gunships and tanks and then stormed by militiamen who carried out execution-style killings, opposition activists said.

Felon Voting Laws Disenfranchise 5.85 Million Americans With Criminal Records: The Sentencing Project

A record number of Americans with criminal records cannot vote in what is expected to be a tight presidential election, a new study says.

Wells Fargo To Pay Millions To Settle Accusations Of Racial Discrimination

WASHINGTON — Wells Fargo Bank will pay at least $175 million to settle accusations that it discriminated against African-American and Hispanic borrowers in violation of fair-lending laws, the Justice Department announced Thursday.

Chris Rock On Obama: 'Being The First Black ANYTHING Sucks'

Comedian and actor Chris Rock has a candid interview in the August issue of Details, where he talks about everything from the job Obama is doing to the Trayvon Martin case to Chris Farley's death.

Michelle Obama Threat: D.C. Police Officer Allegedly Said He'd Shoot First Lady, Report Says

WASHINGTON -- A District of Columbia police officer has been taken off a motorcycle escort for White House officials after he allegedly said he'd shoot first lady Michelle Obama and "then used his phone to retrieve a picture of the firearm he said he would use," according to The Washington Post.

GOP Rep. On Sexual Assault At Airforce Base: There’s ‘No Evidence Of A Widespread Problem’

Vice-chair of the House Armed Services Commitee Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX) believes that there is “no evidence” of a serious sexual assault problem at Lackland Airforce Base even though one quarter of the instructors there have been charged or are being investigated for sexual misconduct and there are at least 31 alleged victims of sexual assault.

Nat King Cole's widow, Maria, dies at 89

Maria Cole, widow of Nat King Cole and mother to singer Natalie Cole, has died in Florida aged 89.

A family spokesperson said she died at a Boca Raton hospice after suffering from cancer.

Happy 75th Birthday, Bill Cosby!

Comedian, actor, author, activist, and educatorWilliam Henry “Bill” Cosby Jr. (pictured) and his amazing list of achievements place him as one of America’s most-treasured living icons.

Russia Drug Abuse Top Problem, According To Poll

REUTOV, Russia — Nikolai Leonov was walking through this Moscow suburb with his 2-year-old daughter when the toddler bent down and picked up a bloodied syringe from the grass. "I snatched it away from her a second before she could hurt herself," Leonov said, still shaken days later.

"Dyn-o-Mite": Jimmie Walker of 'Good Times' Thinks Obama Is Not 'A Good Guy For The Job' (I Think JJ Has Picked Up A Few Bad Habits From Alderman Davis!)

Stop the presses: Jimmie Walker, the actor best known for his role as Jimmy Evans on "Good Times," is not a fan of President Barack Obama.

Toni Medrano, Dubbed 'Vodka Mom' By Nancy Grace, Committed Suicide, Police Say

Nancy Grace is in the spotlight again following the suicide of a 29-year-old Minnesota mother of four who was recently featured on her television show.

Yahoo Hacked: Company Reports 400,000 Usernames, Passwords Leaked

BOSTON, July 12 (Reuters) - Yahoo Inc reported the theft of 400,000 user names and passwords to access its own site as well as those of other companies, saying that hackers had taken advantage of a security vulnerability in its computer systems.

U.S. Olympic Team’s Official Uniforms "Made In China!" Who Is Still Surprised At Stuff Like This Anymore?

When the United States Olympic Team enters the Games’ opening ceremony at Olympic Stadium in London, it will be outfitted in official uniforms designed by Ralph Lauren. And though the 530 men and women who make up the team are the best athletes the country has to offer, the same cannot be said for the uniforms they’ll be wearing.

House Committee Votes To Take Food Stamps Away From Millions Of Low-Income Americans

Today, the House Agriculture Committee approved the final version of the 2012 farm bill, complete with its draconian cuts for families struggling to put food on the table. The proposed bill cuts $35 billion from the federal food and nutrition budget, about $16.5 billion of which come from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — more commonly known as SNAP or food stamps.