Warehouse Workers Move To Name Walmart In Wage-Theft Lawsuit

LOS ANGELES -- Warehouse workers in Southern California have filed a petition in court to name Walmart as a defendant in a federal wage-theft lawsuit, marking a significant turn in low-wage supply chain workers' fight with the world's largest retailer.

Six People Who Deserve Emmy Nominations Who Probably Won’t Get Them

It’s the top-ten list time of year, and as I’m catching up on some shows and sifting through my list of favorites, I’ve been struck by how many fantastic performances we’ve seen in television this year. While some are obvious continuations of dominant streaks, like Bryan Cranston and Aaron Paul’s turns onBreaking Bad, or Tina Fey’s embrace of happiness on 30 Rock, there are some truly astonishing turns going down on shows that almost no one is watching, or in shows that are so crowded with flashy performances that these are in danger of being overlooked. Here are five of the actors whose work hit me hardest this year:

5 Overreactions To Obama’s Fiscal Cliff Proposal

Yesterday, the Obama administration unveiled its proposal to avert the looming fiscal showdown. The plan included $1.6 trillion in increased taxes on the rich over the next decade, $400 billion in savings to be found in Medicare and other social programs, $50 billion in stimulus spending to begin next year, and an end to current debt ceiling rules.

Republicans Vote To Limit Legal Immigration In First Post-Election Reform Push

In their first effort to tackle immigration reform since President Obama’s re-election, House Republicans on Friday advanced a bill that would add visas for highly skilled workers while reducing legal immigration overall. The measure, which passed by a vote of 245-139, had failed just two months ago, before Republicans lost Hispanic support in record numbers.

More Than 100 Rifles Stolen From Train Car

Federal agents are hunting for more than 100 rifles stolen from a boxcar parked in an Atlanta train yard. The US Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives said today the weapons were taken from a CSX rail yard in the city about two weeks ago. The weapons include assault rifles that an ATF spokesperson described as "AK-style." A CSX rep says the company is cooperating with law enforcement to recover the weapons and investigate the theft, which occurred on or around Nov. 12.

US Birth Rate Lowest Ever

The US birthrate last year was the lowest since records began in 1920, dropping to 63.2 per 1,000 women, Pew data shows. Between 2007 and 2010, the rate fell 8% among all women aged 15 to 44. It fell 14% among foreign-born women, compared to 6% among women born in the US. And among Mexican immigrant women, it dropped 23%. The recession appears to have played a major role: Foreign-born women were deeply affected by the downturn, and Hispanic women born in the US and abroad have seen household wealth drop more than any other group since 2007.

Polar Ice Sheets Melting Faster

The most expansive study yet is helping to clarify long-held uncertainties about polar ice. The melting of polar ice sheets has sped up since 1992, raising sea levels 11.1mm—a fifth of their total rise since then. And while the melting ice sheets accounted for 10% of the sea level rise in the 1990s, the process now accounts for closer to 30%. Greenland has lost more permanent ice to melting than has Antarctica, the Wall Street Journal notes, thanks to warmer air and ocean currents.

Manning Finally Testifies: I Felt Stuck in 'Animal Cage'

Bradley Manning acknowledges that heacted weirdly in detention—but that was thanks to "sheer out-of-my-mind boredom," he said yesterday in a pretrial hearing. The soldier accused of passing volumes of classified material to WikiLeaks gave his first testimony yesterday after being held for more than 900 days. As he spoke, he smiled, twisted his swivel chair, and occasionally interrupted his lawyer, the Los Angeles Times reports. His lawyers are hoping for a dismissal of charges on the grounds that he was confined under illegal conditions.

Joe Jackson Father Of MJ Has Stroke

Jackson family patriarch Joe Jackson has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, reports celebrity website X17 Online. Michael Jackson's controversial dad, 83, is at a Las Vegas hospital, though his spokeswoman says he's doing fine and could be home tomorrow, reports AP. “The good thing is that he was taken immediately to the hospital as he was with a couple of people at the time," a family friend tells Fox News. Estranged wife Katherine was reportedly on her way to visit.

AT&T Dubbed Worst Phone Carrier Of 2012 By Consumer Reports

AT&T has done it again.

For the third year in a row, the telecommunications company was named the worst major cell phone service provider in Consumer Reports' annual ranking, released on Nov. 29. AT&T "received 'middling to low marks' in voice and text service quality," giving it the lowest overall score among carriers, according to Gizmodo.

Mortgage Interest Deduction: Not A Tax Break For The Middle Class

As Washington searches for ways to drum up tax revenues in a bid to avert the fiscal cliff, the interest deduction some homeowners claim on their mortgages may be on the chopping block.

Why Susan Collins’ Opposition To Susan Rice Is Hypocritical

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said on Wednesday that she would have a hard time supporting U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice as the next Secretary of State because she is concerned about Rice’s credibility in the aftermath of presenting what turned out to be an inaccurate portrayal of the Sept. 11 Benghazi terror attacks. Yet, Collins was not at all concerned about President Bush’s decision to nominate Condoleezza Rice as the nation’s top diplomat, despite her role in presenting false information that provided the justification for the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Why New York City’s Fast Food Workers Are Right To Strike For Higher Wages

Fast food workers in New York City are launching a strike today, ahead of the largest unionization drive to ever hit the industry. The walkouts began at 6:30 this morning at a McDonald’s, as workers “protest what they said were low wages and retaliation against several workers who have backed the unionization campaign.”

Boehner Refuses To Give Specifics About The Entitlement Cuts He’s Demanding

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) called on President Obama and Democrats to specify entitlement cuts that could balance their desires for tax increases in a hypothetical deal to avert the so-called “fiscal cliff,” even though only Republicans have demanded spending cuts to programs like Medicare and Social Security. Despite their support for putting entitlement programs on the chopping block, GOP lawmakers have refused to specify how, or by how much, they would cut the programs.

New Yorkers Still Face ‘Significant Risk Of Serious Illness And Death’ In Wake Of Hurricane Sandy Damage

Superstorm Sandy tore through the East Coast at the end of October, leaving significant damage and serious public threats in its wake — and now, a month and a presidential election later, some Americans still aren’t completely out of danger even though the news cycle has largely moved on.

Why Powerball Is A Terrible Way For States To Raise Money

Two winning tickets for this week’s $587.5 million Powerball lottery were sold, one each in Missouri and Arizona. Of course, state governments will be receiving a share of the pot via the taxes imposed on lottery winnings.

Lake Vida Bacteria: Antarctic Lake Untouched For 2,800 Years May Aid Search For Alien Life

A salty lake in East Antarctica, buried under ice for 2,800 years, teems with ancient microbes, according to a report in the journal "Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences." The discovery of the germs is fueling speculation that life may exist such as Mars, Jupiter's moon Europa, and Saturn's moon Enceladus, according to New Scientist.

What Can Kill Your Sperm: 11 Things You May Not Know

If you're a man trying to impregnate someone, you may know it's best to stop smoking, get your laptop up off your balls and give your sperm plenty of chances to get to their target.

Twinkie-Maker To Seek Approval For $1.8 Million In Bonuses During Liquidation

NEW YORK — Hostess Brands Inc. is asking for a judge's approval to give its top executives bonuses totaling up to $1.8 million as part of its wind-down plans.

SAT, ACT No Longer Required For Admission To 800 U.S. Colleges And Universities

A growing number of colleges are stepping away from the standardized exams traditionally required of admissions applicants. More than 800 colleges and universities across the country no longer mandate score submissions from SAT or ACT college admissions exams, according to the latest survey by the National Center for Fair & Open Testing, otherwise known as FairTest and a longtime critic of the SAT.

Since Election Day, Big Oil Lobby Dropped $3 Million On Ads To Protect Its Tax Loopholes

On election night, polluter-backed candidates lost in some of the most expensive races targeted by polluters, despite outside ad spending that tallied to $270 million.

Black Friday Gun Sales Hit Record High

Gun sales reached an all-time high on a record Black Friday shopping day, fresh off an election where conservatives claimed Obama harbors a secret plot to take away guns.

Mississippi’s Only Abortion Clinic Could Be Forced To Close In January

Jackson Women’s Health Organization — the only abortion clinic in the entire state of Mississippi — has been fighting to remain open after Republican legislators, aiming to force the clinic to close, passed a restrictive regulation requiring its doctors to secure hospital admitting privileges. A Bush-appointed federal judge temporarily blocked the measure in July to give the clinic’s doctors more time to apply for privileges at area hospitals, but that order expires in early January. And so far, all seven hospitals in the area have denied privileges to the doctors.

Extending Unemployment Insurance Would Create 300,000 Jobs Next Year

While Washington obsesses over the so-called “fiscal cliff” — the set of tax increases and spending cuts scheduled to take place at the end of the year — America’s unemployed are facing a cliff of a different kind. In January, the expanded federal unemployment insurance program will expire, cutting off benefits for millions of Americans.

Meet The Radical Republicans Chairing Important House Committees

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) has announced the new House committee leaders: a full slate of white men. While many of these Congressmen are holding on positions they’ve already got, there are a few new faces sitting in the Chairperson’s seat. What follows is ThinkProgress’ guide to the views of five of the new committee chairs on the issues they’ll be in charge of, which range from climate change to immigration to financial regulation:

Supreme Court Inaction Boosts Right To Record Police Officers

On Monday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review a decision by the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals blocking the enforcement of an Illinois eavesdropping law. The broadly written law -- the most stringent in the country -- makes it a felony to make an audio recording of someone without their permission, punishable by four to 15 years in prison.

American Drones Ignite New Arms Race From Gaza To Iran To China

WASHINGTON -- The drone wars are here.

While President Obama ponders new legal and moral guidelines to govern America's growing use of armed robot aircraft, the world outside the White House is engaged in a revolutionary frenzy of building, arming and flying killer drones.

Obama On Filibuster Reform: White House Embraces Harry Reid's Rule Changes

WASHINGTON -- Jumping squarely into the white-hot debate currently being waged in the Senate, the White House on Wednesday said it supports Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's efforts to change the rules of the upper chamber.

House GOP Committee Chairs Will All Be White Men In Next Congress

WASHINGTON -- House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) announced who will chair all of the major House committees in the next Congress. And it turns out they all have something in common besides party affiliation: they're all white men.

GOP Congressman: House Republicans Should Join Hands With Obama On Tax Bill

A Republican Congressman is urging the GOP to support legislation extending President Bush’s tax cuts for 98 percent of Americans that will expire if Congress does not act before the end of the year, Politico reports. Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK) told colleagues on Tuesday that by agreeing to President Obama’s approach and providing tax relief for the majority of Americans, the party could honor Grover Norquist’s no-tax pledge and still push for extending the tax breaks for the richest 2 percent of income earners:

GOP Senator: If Immigrants Want A Path To Citizenship, They Can Just Marry Americans

Lawmakers from both parties have expressed new interest in comprehensive immigration reform, including a path to citizenship for the 11 million undocumented immigrants, after Latino voters overwhelmingly supported President Obama in the presidential election. But the bill introduced on Tuesday by retiring Republican Sens. Jon Kyl (AZ) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (TX), dubbed the ACHIEVE Act, is nothing more than a watered-down version of the bipartisan DREAM Act without a clear path to citizenship for those who would qualify under the measure.

CEOs Looking To ‘Fix The Debt’ By Cutting Social Security Sit On Huge Retirement Accounts

Several CEOs — under the guise of a campaign known as “Fix the Debt” — have recently called for cuts to Social Security and other entitlements. Goldman Sachs CEO Lloyd Blankfein, for instance, said that “there will be things that, you know, the retirement age has to be changed, maybe some of the benefits have to be affected, maybe some of the inflation adjustments have to be revised.” “The solutions [to the fiscal cliff] are – it’s the retirement age; means testing Social Security and Medicare,” said Aetna CEO Mark Berolino. “We just need to get leadership.”

Hackers' New Target: Hotel Room Locks

Forbes has a story sure to make travelers' paranoid: It seems that burglars have begun taking advantage of a bug in the keycard locks used on hotel room doors. Several burglaries using the technique took place at the Houston Hyatt in September, and more are suspected at other Texas hotels, writes Andy Greenberg. Security experts expect more to follow given that the model of lock in question, made by Onity, is used in about 4 million hotel rooms worldwide.

The Top 4 Whoppers Norquist Tells To Keep Republicans From Defecting

Grover Norquist has launched a wide-ranging media campaign to combat the perception that Republicans are abandoning his pledge to never raise taxes as they work on a plan to avert the fiscal cliff.

White Man Shoots And Kills Black Student In Florida After Argument Over Loud Music (Sign Of Some Whites New Racist Boldness? Nine Times, Why?) Also: They Say Successful Business Man In News Ads, Instantly To Me Not Valuing This Young Man's Life!

Less than nine months after Trayvon Martin was shot and killed in central Florida, another black teenage student was killed under suspicious circumstances.

Jimi Hendrix 70th Birthday Today!

Although rock and roll guitar legend Jimi Hendrix gained much of his widespread notoriety in a short burst of mainstream success before his tragic passing, his impact on music — and especially the electric guitar — cannot be overlooked. Although the spread of his work happened posthumously, Hendrix is considered by many publications, experts, and a legion of fans as the best guitarist of all time. Hendrix released four records while he was alive, including a live album in 1970. The recordings are still lauded for their innovation and technique today.

The GOP's ‘Blackface’ Problem?

The Republicans are talking a good game about the need to diversify their Party with the Black and Brown faces who overwhelming supported President Barack Obama in November. But, if past GOP attempts at diversity are any indicator, their attempts will be perceived as nothing more than something I call “diversity in Blackface.”

New GOP Attack On Susan Rice: She Should Have Manipulated The Intelligence Or Stayed Silent On Benghazi

Emerging from talks with U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, Senate Republicans have a new line of attack on Libya: if it was unclear what happened in Benghazi, why say anything at all in the aftermath?

Elmo Sex Scandal: Kevin Clash Faces Third Underage Sex Allegation

Today's sex allegation is brought to you by the number three.

Puppeteer Kevin Clash, who resigned amid controversy as Sesame Street's voice of Elmo, faces yet another allegation of underage sex.

United Nations Calls For Global Ban On Female Genital Mutilation

UNITED NATIONS -- Campaigners against female circumcision scored a major victory Monday with the approval by a key U.N. committee of a resolution calling for a global ban on female genital mutilation.

Paul Krugman: Republicans Seem Ready To Throw Upper Middle Class 'Overboard'

Paul Krugman says that the Republican Party may throw the modestly rich "overboard" to protect the fortunes of multi-millionaires.

Tom Ricks Denies Fox News Claims He Apologized For Testy Interview

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author Tom Ricks clashed once again with Fox News (see update below).

Idaho Lawmaker Wants States To Prevent Obama’s Re-Election

One Idaho state lawmaker is still in denial over election results and would like to see states challenge the legitimacy of Obama’s reelection. Last week, Idaho State Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll (R) amplified a debunked theory circulating Tea Party blogs, that claims Romney still has a chance to win if enough states refuse to participate in the Electoral College.

France Will Vote for Palestinian Statehood at UN

Momentum is building behind Palestine's latest push for UN statehood. France will vote in favor of a resolution recognizing Palestine as a nonmember observer state this week, the country's foreign minister told parliament today, in a move the AP sees as timed to convince other European states to do the same. "But, but, but, but, but—but at the same time, madame and monsieur lawmakers, we must show in this case a lot of lucidity," the foreign minister warned, because the vote comes "at a very delicate moment."

Mississippi County Jails Kids For School Dress Code Violations, Tardiness, DOJ Alleges

In Meridian, Miss., it is school officials – not police – who determine who should be arrested. Schools seeking to discipline students call the police, and police policy is to arrest all children referred to the agency, according to a Department of Justice lawsuit. The result is a perverse system that funnels children as young as ten who merely misbehave in class into juvenile detention centers without basic constitutional procedures. The lawsuit, which follows unsuccessful attempts to negotiate with the county, challenges the constitutionality of punishing children “so arbitrarily and severely as to shock the conscience” and alleging that the city’s police department acts as a de facto “taxi service” in shuttling students from school to juvenile detention centers. Colorlines explains:

Arafat's Remains Exhumed

Yasser Arafat was exhumed from his West Bank grave today so experts can seek clues to his death, the AP reports. The Palestinian leader died in Paris 2004 and France opened a murder investigation earlier this year amid reports that highly radioactive polonium was found on his personal effects. French, Swiss and Russian experts will test samples from Arafat's bones, though since polonium decomposes rapidly, his death may remain a mystery.

Fox Host: People Who Died In Walmart Factory Fire Were Thankful For Their Jobs

The 129 Bangladeshis who died in a fire caused by poor fire safety conditions in their garment factory should be thankful for their jobs, according to Fox Business host Charles Payne. Speaking with Neil Cavuto on Fox News this Monday, Payne excused this Sunday’s fire as a rare event and labelled all critics of the unsafe conditions that contributed to the tragedy as anti-Capitalist:

Lawrence Guyot Dead: Civil Rights Leader Dies At 73

WASHINGTON -- Lawrence Guyot, a civil rights leader who survived jailhouse beatings in the Deep South in the 1960s and went on to encourage generations to get involved, has died. He was 73.

'Fixed' News Abruptly Ends Interview After Guest Calls Out The Network For Hyping Benghazi Scandal (Fox News Eeks Bye Again, Just Barely Dodging Reality! MUST SEE)

Tom Ricks, author and Pulitzer prize winner who has reported for the Washington Post, lambasted Fox News’s coverage of the Benghazi attacks in an interview with the conservative network on Monday. Ricks, who has written extensively on the American military, called the Fox an “operating as a wing of Republican Party” that “hyped” the Benghazi attack as a faux-scandal.

CEO Council Demands Cuts To Poor, Elderly While Reaping Billions In Government Contracts, Tax Breaks

WASHINGTON -- The corporate CEOs who have made a high-profile foray into deficit negotiations have themselves been substantially responsible for the size of the deficit they now want closed.

Jimmy Carter Returns To Haiti With Habitat For Humanity To Build 100 Homes

LEOGANE, Haiti -- Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter is in Haiti, helping to build homes in a town hit hard by the devastating January 2010.

Florida Republicans Admit Voter Suppression Was The Goal Of New Election Laws

Floridians endured election chaos and marathon voting lines this year, largely thanks toreduced early voting hours, voter purges, and voter registration restrictions pushed by Republican legislators. In an exclusive report by the Palm Beach Post, several prominent Florida Republicans are now admitting that these election law changes were geared toward suppressing minority and Democratic votes.

Fox News Op-Ed: Men Are Less Interested In Marriage Because ‘Women Aren’t Women Anymore’

In an editorial posted to FoxNews.com, self-described author and “social critic” Suzanne Venker makes some bold claims regarding the state of marriage in contemporary society. In a piece titled “The war on men,” Venker argues that women’s emerging roles as breadwinners and their continuing strides towards gender equality have caused them to become irritable and unappealing to so-called “marriageable men.”

Media Buys Into GOP Spin: Labels Romney-Like Proposal On Revenue Increases A ‘Big Concession’

Since voters rejected Mitt Romney’s $5 trillion tax plan and President Obama won re-election earlier this month, Republicans have expressed interest in raising revenue to avert the coming fiscal cliff. House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) immediately signaled that they are open to raising revenue and prominent Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA) and Bob Corker (R-TN) publicly broke with a conservative no-tax pledge, arguing that they would be willing to close loopholes and deductions so long as Democrats embrace spending cuts in Medicare and Social Security and support “structural reforms” in entitlement programs.

Stephen Hawking Wins: Katt Williams Sued For ‘Non-Performance’ After Oakland Meltdown (Hey Katt Maybe There Is A God, Then That Would Indeed Imply That You Are Funny, NOT!)

Comedian Katt Williams is being sued for ‘non-performance’ after he cut short an Oakland concert before going on an extended rant that began with a a rambling free-style and ended with him telling a disgruntled ticket-payer and his “bi**h” to “meet him in the back.”

Black Friday 2012, In Cased You Missed It!

With retailers starting Black Friday a day earlier this year, does this mean people would act any different? Nope! In some ways it shows only the greed of corporations and the blind eye of the consumer will have for the love of a sale. As Walmart workers now, think it's time to fight for better wages after letting the company  define it's workers as quick change objects with no loss of profit, suddenly scenes like this kind of let you know who has won. And by no means was it the retailer worker.

Tax Rates For America’s Wealthiest Fell In 2010

With debate in Washington focused on the taxes paid by the wealthiest Americans, new data from the Internal Revenue Service shows that the effective tax rates for America’s top earners fell even lower in 2010.

Melissa Harris-Perry Criticizes Obama On Clemency By Way Of Turkey Pardon

Melissa Harris-Perry criticized Obama on her Saturday MSNBC show by discussing his pardon of Cobbler the turkey for Thanksgiving.

LIPA Customers Left Without Power For Weeks Sent Normal Electric Bills Despite Blackouts

Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) customers in some of Hurricane Sandy's hardest hit areas were frustrated to receive normal electric bills this cycle--despite suffering through weeks without power.

Bangladesh Factory Fire: Conflagration Kills More Than 100

DHAKA, Nov 25 (Reuters) - A fire swept through a garment factory on the outskirts of Bangladesh's capital killing more than 100 people, the fire brigade said on Sunday, in the country's worst ever factory blaze.

Fiscal Cliff Talks Could Sideline Immigration Reform

WASHINGTON, Nov 25 (Reuters) - President Barack Obama's re-election this month gave supporters of comprehensive immigration reform an immediate dose of optimism.

Mohamed Morsi, Egyptian President, Faces Judicial Revolt Over Decree

CAIRO, Nov 24 (Reuters) - Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi faced a rebellion from judges who accused him on Saturday of expanding his powers at their expense, deepening a crisis that has triggered violence in the street and exposed the country's deep divisions.

3 Seriously Injured in State Dept. Fire

Authorities say three maintenance workers were seriously injured after a fire broke out at the State Department's headquarters in Washington. The fire broke out at around 11am yesterday in the duct-work on the 7th floor during routine maintenance to a mechanical area of the building. Workers were able to put out the fire before firefighters arrived, but three people suffered burns; one person's injuries are life-threatening. The building was briefly evacuated and then reopened.

DC Milestone: On Track for Fewer Than 100 Murders

The crack epidemic that began in the 1980s ushered in a wave of bloodletting in the nation's capital and a death toll that ticked upward daily. Dead bodies, sometimes several a night, had homicide detectives hustling between crime scenes and earned Washington unwelcome monikers such as the nation's "murder capital." At the time, some feared the murder rate might ascend to more frightening heights. But after approaching nearly 500 slayings a year in the early 1990s, the annual rate has gradually declined to the point that the city is now on the verge of a once-unthinkable milestone. The number of 2012 killings in the District of Columbia stands at 78 and is on pace to finish lower than 100 for the first time since 1963, police records show.

Toyota to Regain Title of No. 1 Automaker

GM replaced Toyota last year as the world's No. 1 automaker, thanks in part to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, along with a spate of embarrassing recalls for the Japanese company. It will be a short-lived reign. Toyota is on track to sell 9.7 million vehicles and easily reclaim the top spot in what the Los Angeles Timescalls a "remarkable turnaround."

NBC News Blocked Chelsea Clinton Marriage Equality Ad

NBC News stopped Chelsea Clinton from appearing in an ad supporting same-sex marriage during the 2012 campaign, BuzzFeed reported on Thursday.

ARE CHRISTIAN'S 'BUTS' TOO BIG?

Some call it Christian copouts and some label it as just plain ol' excuses and even stupidity at times. Whatever it's called, superstition seems to be the order of the day when it comes to the believer. See how our buts may be too big for our own good.

Walmart Workers Protest For Better Wages And Benefits On Black Friday (Updated)

Workers at Walmart stores across the country are walking off their jobs to protest the national retailer’s low wages and poor working conditions in an effort to raise public awareness about how the company treats its employees on the busiest shopping day of the year. The strikes, which began earlier this month, are the first in the 50 year history of the company and come just as Walmart reported a 9 percent increase in third-quarter net income, earning $3.63 billion.

1.3 Million Women Received Unnecessary And Invasive Cancer Treatment, Study Finds

Routine mammograms have caused more than a million U.S. women to receive “unnecessary and invasive cancer treatments over the last 30 years,” a new study finds, detecting tumors that are harmless. The results come after the government’s Preventive Task Force issued recommendations in 2009 advising primary care physicians against recommending mammograms to women under 40 years of age. Those guidelines stirred political outcry on both sides of the aisle and slowed down work on President Obama’s health care law.

Now Post Office Tests Same-Day Delivery

First Amazon, then Walmart ... now the post office is trying out same-day delivery. The struggling USPS thinks it may be able to cash in on all those Internet shoppers desperate to get their holiday gifts delivered just as quickly as if they had gone to a store. It will begin offering the expedited shipping service Dec. 12 in San Francisco, and the price will be similar to that of the competition, the AP reports.

Saudi Women Are Electronically Tracked To Prevent Them From Driving

It's the only country in the world where women can't drive—and now, if they leave it, their male guardians are electronically notified. When Saudi Arabian women cross the border, said guardians get a text message. The texts arrive even when couples are traveling together, AFP reports. Women can't leave the country unless their guardians sign them out at an airport or the border.

Unemployment Insurance Kept 2.3 Million Americans Out Of Poverty Last Year

America’s unemployment insurance program is not as robust as those in many industrialized nations, but the program that is speeding toward massive reductions if Congress doesn't extend it before the end of the year still kept more than 2 million Americans out of poverty in 2011. According to the National Employment Law Project, which is calling on Congress to re-authorize the federal unemployment compensation program before the end of the year, unemployment insurance kept 2.3 million out of poverty, cutting the number of Americans who were entered the ranks of poverty last year in half:

2 Dead in 150-Car Pileup

Dense fog may have contributed to a horrific Thanksgiving morning pileup in Texas: At least 150 cars were involved, and two fatalities have been confirmed so far, Reuters reports reports. As many as 120 people were injured; KFDM reports that at least eight of them were in critical condition. Emergency workers were searching for more people who may be trapped inside their vehicles."We have 18-wheelers on top of cars, we have cars on top of cars. It's just catastrophic," says a sheriff's spokesman.

Cop Resigns After Saying He'd Volunteer to Kill Obama

Another entry in the "things you shouldn't doif you want to keep your job" file: A 26-year veteran of the Jacksonville, Florida, police force resigned last week after telling co-workers that he'd volunteer to kill Barack Obama. The Florida Times-Union reports that Sam Koivisto made the comment—"If an order was given to kill Obama or something, then I wouldn't mind being the guy"—in the department's auto theft office after the election.

Hostess Starts Firing People

Yesterday a judge gave Hostess the OK to start winding down its operations, and the Twinkies maker isn't wasting any time. Bloomberg reports that the company has begun firing employees, with the CEO saying Hostess intended to fire 15,000 workers yesterday so their unemployment benefits could kick in. Another 3,200 will hang on to their jobs in the short-term, in order to scrub the plants and, less delightful-sounding, mothball equipment. Reuters reports that they'll likely be out of a job within four months, as Hostess says that it expects to need only 200 employees by the end of March.

10 People Who Led Us To The Fiscal Cliff 2012

WASHINGTON (MarketWatch) — With our political leaders locked in a fiscal struggle that threatens to throw the economy off a so-called cliff and into recession, you might be wondering how we got to this place.

Thanksgiving Dinner Cost A LOT More Money 100 Years Ago

The average American family will spend $49.48 for their Thanksgiving meal this year, according to CNBC. How does that compare to 100 years ago?

Sherman Hemsley Finally Laid To Rest

EL PASO, Texas (AP) — Friends and family remembered actor Sherman Hemsley at his funeral Wednesday in Texas by showing video clips of him as George Jefferson, the TV role that was his best known.

ThankProgress: 10 Things Progressives Can Be Thankful For

Following a long presidential campaign full of policy battles and disagreements, progressives have a lot to be thankful for this holiday season. Here are 10 things we can all celebrate:

A Thanksgiving Reminder That America Alone Doesn’t Guarantee Time Off For Vacations Or Holidays

Today, many workers at the nation’s largest retail stores, including Walmart and Target, will have to go to work instead of spending the entirety of the Thanksgiving holiday with their families. Many retailers have decided that Black Friday, the biggest retail day of the year, now needs to start on Thursday, despite workers complaints.

Farmers Told To Buy Insurance If They Don’t Want To Get Sued By Corporations

Every year for the past 13 years, biotechnology giant Monsanto Company has sued about 11 farmers per year for patent infringement of their genetically modified corn and soybean seeds. Many of these farmers have had to pay a settlement to the corporation even when their fields were accidentally contaminated with GM seeds from a neighboring farm. Monsanto simply outspends the defendants, dedicating $10 million a year and 75 staffers for the sole purpose of investigating and prosecuting farmers. Farmers who have sued Monsanto back have been soundly defeated.

REP. JESSE JACKSON JR. WILL RESIGN

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) will resign his seat in Congress, the Chicago Sun-Times reports. Over the last several months, Jackson has been staying at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota while coping with mental health problems. His reported maladies include “bipolar depression and gastrointestinal issues,” but the Congressman has been relatively private about his illnesses. His hospitalization coincided with an ongoing investigation into what was suspected to be inappropriate use of campaign funds. Jackson was also under an ethics investigation by Congress. In September, Jackson sold his home in Washington to help pay his medical bills. Despite being absent from the public eye, the nine-term Congressman handily won re-election to his tenth term this month.

Obama’s Only Presidential Pardon This Year Went To The Turkey

As is annual tradition, President Obama used his constitutionally granted pardon power the day before Thanksgiving to save one lucky turkey. But thus far, the turkey is the only recipient of a presidential pardon in 2012. Although the Constitution confers on the president the power to “grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States,” a recent ProPublica report found that he had exercised that power more rarely than any president in modern history.

US Abortions Fall 5%, Biggest Drop in a Decade

US abortions fell 5% during the recession and its aftermath in the biggest one-year decrease in at least a decade, perhaps because women are more careful to use birth control when times are tough, researchers say. The decline, detailed today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, came in 2009, the most recent year for which statistics are available. Both the number of abortions and the abortion rate dropped by the same percentage.

ISRAEL, HAMAS REPORTEDLY AGREE TO CEASEFIRE

Reuters is reporting that Hamas and Israel, apparently unilaterally, have agreed to a ceasefire.Reports of an agreement yesterday fell through as violence continued throughout the evening and into today when a bomb exploded on a bus in Tel Aviv. “Israel as agreed to a truce but will not life the blockade” of Gaza, Reuters says on Twitter. The deal, which comes after Secretary of State Hillary Clinton arrived in the region yesterday to meet with Israeli and Egyptian leaders, is expected to be announced this afternoon.

Israel-Gaza Conflict

GAZA/JERUSALEM, Nov 21 (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday pursued a Gaza truce, with Israel and Hamas still at odds over key terms, as Israeli air strikes shook the enclave and a bomb exploded on a Tel Aviv bus.

New Medical Guidelines Say Birth Control Should Be Available Over The Counter

Women shouldn’t have to go to a doctor for a birth control pill perscription, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists announced on Tuesday. Instead, it believes that oral contraceptive should be available to women over the counter

How The Worst Drought In Half A Century Is Causing Millions To Go Hungry

More than 17 million of America’s food insecure households could go hungry this Thanksgiving, and they might have a harder time finding a warm meal, as food banks that distribute to food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters rely on ever thinning supplies.

Former Boxer 'Macho' Camacho Seriously Wounded In Shooting (UPDATED: Hector 'Macho' Camacho Dead)

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Former world boxing champion Hector "Macho" Camacho was shot in the face as he sat in a car outside the Puerto Rican capital Tuesday, and doctors said he was in serious condition but expected to survive.

McCain Backs Away From Benghazi Conspiracies

Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) today issued a statement essentially conceding that he was wrong in accusing the White House of changing U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice’s talking points on Benghazi for political purposes.

After Cutting Tax Credit For Children, Michigan Republicans Consider One For Fetuses

State legislators in Michigan held a hearing on Tuesday to consider House Bills 5684 and 5685, which would allow taxpayers to receive tax relief for unborn fetuses past 12 weeks’ gestation. The proposed legislation is an odd push for Michigan Republicans, partly because Progress Michigan notes the state slashed tax credits for children last year — meaning that although parents living in Michigan do not qualify for additional tax breaks to offset the cost of caring for their own children, they could soon be able to claim a tax credit for an unborn fetus.

America’s Unemployment Insurance Is Less Generous Than Other Industrialized Countries

Critics of the United States’ unemployment insurance program often claim that the program is too generous, and that it fosters a culture of laziness that inspires workers to stay home on the couch collecting benefits instead of searching for jobs.

Extremely Rich Wall Street CEO Wants Americans To Work Longer

Lloyd Blankfein — evidently taking a break from doing “god’s work” as the CEO of Wall Street behemoth Goldman Sachs — told CBS News’ Scott Pelley that he believes the retirement age needs to be raised because “in general, entitlements have to be slowed down and contained“:

CNN Confronts Walmart Spokesperson Over Retailer’s Low Wages, Poor Working Conditions

As Walmart workers across the country coordinate a Black Friday walkout in an effort to build awareness about the national retailer’s low wages and poor working conditions, the company is on a media offensive to downplay their associates’ concerns and reassure shoppers.

Rich People Complain That Fiscal Cliff Deal Could Force Them To Pay Slightly Higher Taxes

For more than a decade, America’s top income bracket has enjoyed a period of exceptionally low tax rates thanks largely to caps on investment income and tax cuts put in place by former president George W. Bush. These super-rich Americans have fared well under President Obama, too; corporate profits are skyrocketing and the total number of millionaires in the US has exploded during his term.

O’Reilly: Black Voters Don’t Believe In ‘Self Reliance’ Or ‘American Exceptionalism’

Since the night of the election, Bill O’Reilly has been looking for a scapegoat on whom he can blame Mitt Romney’s loss. He seems to have found one in African American, Latino, and female voters.

Top African American Lawmaker Says GOP Attacks On Susan Rice Use Racial ‘Code Words’

Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) this morning defended U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Susan Rice, calling out Republican use of “code words” in attacking Rice’s professional capabilities.

Why Walmart Workers Are Striking On Black Friday

Walmart workers across the country have been striking during the last week, in a buildup to a coordinated walkout on Black Friday — the day after Thanksgiving, which is one of the biggest retail days of the year. According to the group Making Change at Walmart, “a thousand store protests are planned in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Minnesota, and Washington, D.C.” Here’s what you need to know about the situation:

Hostess To Pay $1.75 Million In Executive Bonuses After Blaming Unions For Bankruptcy

Hostess Brands, the maker of sweet snacks like Twinkies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection last week, will ask a bankruptcy judge today to approve a plan that will allow it to pay $1.75 million in bonuses to 19 of its executives. Hostess’ decision to file for bankruptcy came amid disputes with its union workers, who threatened a strike that Hostess said imperiled the company’s finances. The unions are now protesting Hostess’ request for the bonuses, though they are unlikely to prevail, CNN Money reports:

Massachusetts Will Offer In-State Tuition To DREAMers With Work Permits

The state of Massachusetts will soon allow undocumented immigrants protected under the President’s deferred action program to pay in-state tuition at public universities.

Why Big U.S. Retailers Can Afford To Increase Wages

By 2020, more than one-quarter of U.S. workers will be working low-wage jobs, not making enough money to keep a family of four out of poverty. The corporations that employ the most low-wage workers, meanwhile, “have largely recovered from the recession and most are in strong financial positions.” 92 percent of them were profitable last year, while three-quarters are making more in revenues than they were before the recession.

Treasury Secretary Calls For Abolishing The Debt Ceiling

Early next year, the U.S. is on pace to once again hit its debt ceiling, the statutory borrowing limit imposed by Congress. When the U.S. neared its debt limit in 2011, House Republicans took it hostage, demanding spending cuts and forcing the first credit downgrade in U.S. history due to their intransigence on taxes.

Global Warming Will Devastate The Poorest Countries, World Bank Study Finds

By 2100, the world could heat up by 4 degrees Celsius, or 7.2 Fahrenheit. That could have a disastrous effect worldwide. But, according to a new report from the World Bank, such warming would be particularly damaging to the poorest, least prepared countries.

Members of Congress Implore Feds To Back Down On Marijuana Prosecution

In light of the marijuana legalization measures passed in Washington and Colorado, 18 members of Congress are asking the Department of Justice and the Drug Enforcement Administration not to take enforcement action against any individual complying with state law, while two others introduced a bipartisan bill Friday to formally exempt states with marijuana laws from the federal counterpart.

The Sunday November 17th 2012 Talking Heads

FOX NEWS SUNDAY

Today, Fox will be rapping with Saxby Chambliss and Joe Lieberman about how bad they want to stuff Susan Rice into a sack of wet leaves and dead chipmunks, because of Benghazi. Also Scott Walker and Bobby Jindal will participate in Fox News Sunday's long-running "rehabilitate the Republican Party movement," probably by talking about how Romney was terrible and he is a big ruiner and now that he's gone everything will be okay.

Republicans Abandon Romney in Droves After ‘Gifts’ Comments

Mitt Romney’s comments to donors about the “gifts” that President Barack Obama gave to constituents to win the election continue to cause members of his party to run away from the former candidate. Despite their insistence during the election that Romney’s position on entitlement in America was accurate, the new consensus among the GOP politicians, if not their pundits, is that Romney’s statements could not be more wrong.

Obama, McKayla Maroney Are Not Impressed

The 2012 U.S. Olympic gymnastics team stopped by the White House Thursday to visit with President Barack Obama.

Many Rural AT&T Customers Still Lack High-Speed Internet Despite Merger Promise

HAZLEHURST, Miss. -- Cedric Wiggins thought high-speed Internet would have long since arrived in this corner of rural Mississippi.

He figured this based on promises AT&T made publicly to win regulatory approval for its 2006 purchase of his local telephone company, BellSouth.

Law Professor Explains Why Conservative Argument About Affirmative Action Is Wrong In 120 Seconds

WASHINGTON, DC — A remarkable scene occurred Friday at a conservative judicial conference when a panelist got up and explained to the lily-white audience why affirmative action is still important, dispelling the notion that minorities who attend elite schools should have their qualifications questioned.

Republicans Lost Because Voters Rejected Their Economic Vision

We’re now well into the political aftermath of the 2012 election, and the pattern of destruction is telling. In demographic after demographic, Obama defeated Romney by remarkable margins: 55 percent among women, 60 percent among voters under 30, 71 percent among Hispanic voters, and a stratospheric 93 percent among African-Americans. Rather than a fluke, the Obama coalition of 2008 looks like it’s here to stay, and the recriminations and soul-searching amongst conservatives and Republicans are in full swing.

Ten Crazy GOP Meltdowns After Obama’s Re-Election

Even though Barack Obama decisively won re-election last week, there have been a few, let’s just say, “disgruntled” voters that have done some pretty outlandish things to protest our President’s second term in office. Here, NewsOne spotlights 10 Republican meltdowns that had us scratching shaking our heads.

Women in Petraeus Scandal Had White House Visits

The two women at the center of the David Petraeus scandal—the biographer with whom he had an extramarital affair and the socialite who received worrisome emails that led investigators to uncover the illicit relationship—visited the White House on separate and apparently unrelated occasions. Neither woman met with President Obama during their visits.

So, President Obama Has Been Using Cold War Era Mind Control On People?....(GOP = Crazy)

President Obama is using a Cold War-era mind-control technique known as “Delphi” to coerce Americans into accepting his plan for a United Nations-run communist dictatorship in which suburbanites will be forcibly relocated to cities. That’s according to a four-hour briefing delivered to Republican state senators at the Georgia state Capitol last month.

Nation’s Largest Turkey Producer Faces Allegations Of Extreme Animal Cruelty

A new undercover video of horrific animal abuse at five Butterball turkey plants in North Carolina revives longstanding concerns about animal cruelty at America’s largest Thanksgiving turkey producer. The video, shot by the animal advocacy group Mercy for Animals, depicts Butterball employees kicking the turkeys around, breaking their bones and leaving them to suffer, and casually chatting about the spread of terrible illness among their flock (warning for graphic content):

Republican Poll Worker Complains About High Turnout Among ‘People Of Color’

On Thursday, the head of the Maine Republican Party found himself on the wrong side of controversy after he questioned the legitimacy of “dozens” of black people voting at the polls on Election Day. “Nobody in town knows anyone who’s black,” Charlie Webster — who has since apologized for his comments — declared.

Hostess Blames Union For Bankruptcy After Tripling CEO’s Pay

Today, Hostess Brands inc. — the company famed for its sickly sweet desert snacks like Twinkies and Sno Balls — announced they’d be shuttering after more than eighty years of production.

NYPD Stop-And-Frisks Drop, But 87 Percent Stopped Were Black Or Latino

In the first nine months of 2012, the NYPD stopped almost 400,000 New Yorkers in its aggressive stop-and-frisk program, or 1,400 every day. According to the New York Civil Liberties Union, this number actually represents a 30 percent drop compared to 2011, though police continue to disproportionately target minorities with equally poor results:

Arizona Gun Store Refuses To Sell Guns To Anyone Who Voted For Obama

The owner of the Southwest Shooting Authority in Pinetop, Arizona is testing out a new business strategy: banning anyone who voted for President Obama from the store.

Walmart Workers Walk Out, Plan Black Friday Protest

Workers at a number of Walmart stores walked out yesterday, in the first salvo of a larger series of strikes planned in response to the retailing giant's plan to begin its Black Friday festivities on Thanksgiving. At least 30 workers at six Seattle-area stores went on strike yesterday, the Guardian reports. That may not sound like much, but organizers expect 1,000 separate protests to occur on Black Friday, they tell CNN Money.

Papa John's Obamacare Price Hike Cheered By Ian's Pizza In Wisconsin

Papa John's CEO John Schnatter’s recent statement that the Affordable Care Act will force the pizza chain to raise prices came as good news to Nick Martin.

Democratic Solution To The Filibuster: Make Them Talk

WASHINGTON -- The next time a minority of senators find something the majority supports to be objectionable, they may be required to take the Senate floor and explain just why they object. And when they're done with that, they'll have to keep talking, and talking, and talking.

Virginia GOP Official: Obama Will Go To Hell

Virginia Republican party official Bob FitzSimmonds is by no means a fortune teller, but he feels confident guessing that President Obama is going to hell.

Twinkies: Hostess Is Closing

Sorry, Twinkies fans: Hostess really is shutting its doors. The company threatened to do so yesterday if striking workers did not return by the end of the day. Apparently they didn't, because CNN reports that the Twinkies maker is now asking a federal bankruptcy court for permission to go out of business. That will mean 18,500 employees will lose their jobs, but CNN notes that Ding Dongs and other popular items could still survive under another brand, as Hostess will be selling its assets at auction.

Income Inequality Has Risen In Nearly Every State Over The Last Three Decades

Income inequality has grown in nearly every state in the country over the last three decades and continues to climb across the nation, according to new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities and the Economic Policy Institute.

Afghanistan Vets' Silent Killer: Fungus in Soil

Doctors are struggling to deal with a fungal infection that's complicating the recovery of some of the most severely wounded US veterans. The fungus is thought to exist in the Afghan soil and to infect troops when they're wounded by IEDs, USA Today explains. Often, such explosions result in amputations, but because the fungus is undetectable at first, doctors tend to stop short of removing infected—but seemingly healthy—bits of flesh and bone.

FBI's Newest Most Wanted Terrorist Is From ... Alabama

The latest addition to the FBI's most wanted terrorist list hits close to home. Alabama native Omar Shafik Hammami, 28, was indicted in 2007 for allegedly providing material support to terrorists and labeled a terrorist a year later, reports the LA Times. He was seen rapping in a recruitment video for al-Qaeda-affiliated group al-Shabab, which earned him the nickname "rapping Jihadist." Hammami traveled to Somalia in 2006, where he joined the group and quickly rose up its ranks. It's believed he's still there. Hammami joins four other US-born men who are on the FBI list.

In this Wednesday, May 11, 2011 file photo, American-born Islamist militant Omar Hammami, 27, also known as Abu Mansur al-Amriki, speaks during a news conference held by the militant group al-Shabab. (AP Photo/Farah Abdi Warsameh, File)

Maine GOP Head Suspects Voter Fraud Because ‘Dozens, Dozens Of Black People’ Voted

The head of the Republican Party in Maine thinks there might have been voter fraud in his state because “nobody in town knows anyone who’s black,” but black voters came in to vote on election day.

Raghav Tripathi, Oregon Teen, Becomes Siemens Finalist For Non-Addictive Painkiller Research

When 17-year-old Raghav Tripathi's mother injured herself in a skiing accident, she refused to take medication while she was being treated for fear that she would become dependent on the drugs. Motivated by his mother's plight, the Oregon teen took matters into his own hands and began researching non-addictive alternatives to traditional painkillers, KATU News reports.

America's Poorest Neighborhoods Lost 91 Percent Of Their Wealth During The Great Recession: Report

Families living in poor neighborhoods lost almost everything during the Great Recession, potentially making it more difficult for them to gain a better life in the future, according to a recent report.

Energy Drink Deaths: 5-Hour Energy Reported As Possible Factor In 13 Deaths, FDA Reports

Nov 14 (Reuters) - The U.S. Food and Drug Administration confirmed on Wednesday the receipt of reports that another caffeine drink, 5-hour Energy, may have been involved in a number of deaths - in this case 13 over the past four years.

UFO Interest In The U.K. Is Dead, Or Soon Might Be, Says Leading British Paranormal Organization

The question of whether little green men are visiting Earth may be an idea whose time has come and gone, according to a leading British educational and research organization.

Fine For Deepwater Horizon Disaster May Be Largest Criminal Penalty In U.S. History

HOUSTON/WASHINGTON, Nov 14 (Reuters) - BP Plc is expected to pay a record criminal penalty and plead guilty to criminal misconduct in the 2010 Deepwater Horizon disaster through a plea agreement it has reached with the U.S. Department of Justice that may be announced as soon as Thursday, according to sources familiar with discussions.

Arrogance of being President while being Black (One White Person Honest Opinion)

This is an excellent article written by a someone who is realistic (and happens to be White. The very last paragraph says it all. AUTHOR UNKNOWN but it is all over the web.

The Arrogance of being President while being Black

How The Tragic Death Of A Woman Denied An Abortion In Ireland Could Become The Norm In America

Savita Halappanavar, a 31-year-old Indian woman living in Ireland, went to the hospital when she first began to miscarry — but thanks to Ireland’s stringent abortion ban, medical professionals denied her repeated requests to quickly terminate the pregnancy because they could still detect a fetal heartbeat. The Irish hospital required her to extend her miscarriage over three days until the fetus’ heartbeat officially stopped, and by that time, Halappanavar had developed serious blood poisoning. She passed away just a few days later.

Failure To Extend Unemployment Insurance By End Of 2012 Would Cost U.S. 400,000 Jobs

Failure to extend the federal emergency unemployment insurance program that will expire at the end of the year absent Congressional action would cost the United States economy roughly 400,000 jobs, an Economic Policy Institute study says.

Ohio House Committee Votes To Defund Planned Parenthood

After a lengthy and heated hearing, an Ohio bill meant to defund Planned Parenthood cleared a House committee on Wednesday by an 11-9 vote along party lines. House Bill 298, ostensibly about re-prioritizing federal family planning money, seeks to strip $1.7 million from Planned Parenthood clinics in the state. According to Planned Parenthood Ohio CEO Stephanie Knight, nearly 100,000 Ohio women depend on the organization for health care — overwhelmingly for preventative care including cancer screenings and birth control.

Romney Says Obama Only Won Because He Gave ‘Big Gifts’ To Blacks And Latinos (He's Gone Percental Again, 47% That Is!)

Mitt Romney is attributing his loss in the 2012 election to the “gifts” President Obama gave to minority voters, the Los Angeles Times is reporting. Speaking to donors on Wednesday, the former Massachusetts governor praised his own campaign, but speculated that Obama won because he was “very generous” to his base:

EXCLUSIVE: Karl Rove’s Crossroads GPS Never Filed Legally Required Registration

When Karl Rove’s Crossroads Grassroots Policy Strategies (GPS) formed in 2010, it established its official address in Warrenton, VA, and registered with the Internal Revenue Service a tax-exempt 501(c)(4) “social welfare organization.” It apparently did not, however,register as a charitable organization with the Commonwealth of Virginia, as appears was legally required.

James Holmes Has Made Multiple Suicide Attempts

Dark Knight shooting suspect James Holmes has attempted suicide multiple times recently, sources tell CBS4 Denver, and that's why a hearing originally scheduled for today has been postponed until next month. Defense attorneys asked for the postponement yesterday, citing a vague ailment plaguing Holmes, but did not discuss any suicide attempts. "It's not as simple as a migraine," said a public defender when asked about Holmes' unspecified condition.

Papa John's Allegedly Sent 500,000 Illegal Text Messages To Customers

NEW YORK (AP) — Shares of Papa John's declined on Tuesday following news of class-action certification for a lawsuit that claims the pizza chain had unsolicited text messages sent to cell phones.

Mitchell Kenneth Kusick Arrested: Colorado Man Allegedly Wanted To Shoot Children And Be The 'Guy Who Killed Obama'

Comment:  Folks these stories are getting too numerous to keep up with. First the Cold Stone Creamy lady, then the guy in Florida who killed himself cause the President won, and now this fool and not to mention others!  Racism has to be a disease, I say this cause you now even see a lot of Black people saying and doing things that only true racist would do.

DENVER -- A suburban Denver man has been arrested after telling his therapist he wanted to shoot children, kill people on Halloween and kill President Barack Obama, federal court records show.

U.N.: Contraception Access A Human Right

GENEVA (AP) — The United Nations says access to contraception is a universal human right that could dramatically improve the lives of women and children in poor countries.

Toyota Recall: Japanese Automaker To Recall 2.77 Million Cars Over Steering Glitch

TOKYO, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Toyota Motor Corp will recall about 2.77 million vehicles worldwide, including the Prius hybrid car, due to problems with the steering mechanism and the hybrid system water pump.

Nancy Pelosi Announcement: House Democrat Retaining Role As Party Leader

WASHINGTON -- House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Wednesday to her caucus that she's staying on as the top Democrat in the House, ending weeks of intense speculation about whether she might bow out, a Democratic source confirmed to The Huffington Post.

Russia's Tough Treason Law Now in Effect

An ever-benevolent Vladimir Putin listened to fears surrounding a vaguely worded treason bill on Monday, ultimately promising to proceed with caution and "return to this again, to look more attentively." The next day, he just signed it, reports Reuters. The ruling expands the definition of treason to include giving financial or consultative support to foreign countries or groups, reports the AP. Rights activists fear the law, which carries a possible 20-year prison sentence, could brand even mild dissenters as traitors. Another tough aspect of it: an 8-year prison sentence for accessing state secrets—even if they're not passed to foreign hands.

Man Commits Suicide Over Obama Victory

A troubled Florida man appears to have chosen death over another four years of President Obama, police say. Officers who had been requested to conduct a welfare check found the body of Henry Hamilton, 64, next to two empty bottles of anxiety and schizophrenia medication in the Key West home he shared with his male partner, the Miami Herald reports. Hamilton, owner of a tanning salon, was stressed about his business and was "very upset about the election results," his partner told police. The word "F*** Obama!" were found scrawled on Hamilton's will.

Five Ways The Religious Right Imploded In 2012

When election returns began pouring in on Tuesday, progressives were quick to declare the election a resounding victory for President Obama, Democratic candidates, and progressive ideals such as marriage equality and the DREAM Act. A deeper look at Tuesday’s results reveals that the 2012 election season was also a resounding defeat for the political engine that has long catapulted the GOP to power: The Religious Right.

Two Million Americans Could Lose Unemployment Insurance In December If Congress Fails To Extend Program

The expanded federal unemployment insurance program that provides benefits to millions of long-term unemployed Americans is set to expire at the end of December. If Congress fails to extend it, roughly two million Americans could lose their monthly unemployment checks.

Nearly 400,000 People Call On Macy’s To Dump Donald Trump

A grassroots campaign for Macy’s to end their association with Donald Trump has caught fire. Nearly 400,000 people have added their name to a petition on Signon.org for Macy’s, which exclusively sells Trump’s clothing line and fragrance, to dump the controversial businessman.

Paul Ryan: I Didn’t Lose Because Of The Issues, I Lost Because Of The ‘Urban’ Vote

In his first interview since losing the election, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) wouldn’t admit that voters rejected his economic vision and instead chalked up President Obama’s victory to a large turnout of the “urban vote.” “I don’t think we lost it on those budget issues, especially on Medicare, we clearly didn’t lose it on those issues,” Ryan to local station WISC-TV. “I think the surprise was some of the turnout, some of the turnout especially in urban areas, which gave President Obama the big margin to win this race.”

INFOGRAPHIC: The 113th Congress Will Be The Most Diverse In History

Though Congress remains whiter, older, and more male than the nation as a whole, the incoming class will be the most diverse in history.

Elmo Puppeteer Hit With Underage Sex Allegations (Updated)

Kevin Clash, the man who's lent Elmo his voice since 1984, has taken a leave of absence fromSesame Street amid accusations from a 23-year-old man who says Clash had sex with him when he was 16 and Clash was 45. Clash admits he had a relationship with his accuser, but only after he was of age, TMZ reports. "It was between two consenting adults, and I am deeply saddened that he is trying to make it into something it was not," Clash says.

Paul Krugman: Democrats Could Fail If They Betray Their Base

Paul Krugman warns that the ascent of the Democratic Party could be short-lived if they betray their base.

"The Democrats now look like the natural party of government," the Nobel Prize-winning economist wrote in a New York Times blog post on Sunday. "We're a diverse nation, ethnically and otherwise, in which a lot of liberal ideas have become perfectly mainstream."

Woman Fired for Anti-Obama Post: 'I'm Not Racist'

A California woman insists she's not racist despite a Facebook post about President Obama that included a racial slur and a musing that "maybe he will get assassinated this term..!!" Denise Helms' post triggered a Secret Service investigation and prompted her employer, Cold Stone Creamery, to fire her after a barrage of angry phone calls and Facebook messages, the LA Timesreports. But she fired back on Facebook: "I'm not racist and I'm not crazy. just simply stating my opinion.!!!"

Unhappy Voters in 20 States: Let's Secede From Union

Forget moving to Canada: Some disappointed American voters would like to stay in the USA ... so long as their state secedes from the Union. The blog Red Alert Politics takes a look at petitions posted to the White House's petitions page by residents demanding just that. Newser's count puts the number of states with such a petition attached to their name at 20. They range from Colorado to Florida to New York, and a few thousand residents in each would, pretty please, like the Obama administration to "Peacefully grant the State of X to withdraw from the United States of America and create its own NEW government."

Mitt Romney Drowns Post-Election Sorrows In Milk

In the first post-election episode of the season, "Saturday Night Live" bid farewell to Mitt Romney in a cold open sketch that imagined what he must have done after conceding to President Obama (hint: it involves a LOT of milk).

Congressional Republicans’ ‘Compromise’: Everyone Should Accept Romney Tax Plan

Seemingly ignoring that over than 3 million more Americans voted for President Obama than Mitt Romney on Tuesday, Congressional Republicans are moving quickly to embrace Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) call to adopt a tax “compromise” that is virtually identical to the tax proposal that Romney made the centerpiece of his failed campaign.

Romney Cancels Campaign Credit Cards After Concession Speech, Leaves Staff Stranded

Well, GOP presidential loser, Mitt Romney (Pretty Mitty is what they call him), may not have been given the opportunity to fire Jim Lehrer and Big Bird, but he did manage to show his expertise — in a way that only Mittens can — in debt reduction.

Cornel West: Obama Is A ‘Rockefeller Republican In ‘Blackface;’ Sharpton, Harris-Perry, Dyson Are Up For Sale

In an interview with Amy Goodman of “Democracy Now,” our dear brother, Dr. Cornel West, said that while he’s happy that Mitt Romney didn’t win the presidential election, our foreign policy is still imperialistic, politicians should be ashamed of spending billions on campaigns while people are living in poverty, and that President Barack Obama is nothing but a “Rockefeller Republican in blackface.”

Karl Rove under fire

The face of the historic $1 billion plan to unseat President Barack Obama and turn the Senate Republican, Rove now finds himself the leading scapegoat for its failure. And he’s scrambling to protect his status as a top GOP money man by convincing disappointed donors to his Crossroads groups that he did the best he could with their $300 million.

Read More....

Delcambre Elementary School Teacher Under Fire For Alleged Negative Comments About Obama, Calling Reelection 'America's Funeral'

Parents at Lousiana's Delcambre Elementary School are furious after their children say a fourth grade teacher made derogatory comments about President Barack Obama.

Fall in Line: Boehner Tells House G.O.P.

WASHINGTON — On a conference call with House Republicans a day after the party’s electoral battering last week, Speaker John A. Boehner dished out some bitter medicine, and for the first time in the 112th Congress, most members took their dose.

After Passage Of Legalization Initiative, 220 Marijuana Cases Dismissed In Washington State

Following the successful passage of a state referendum legalizing small amounts of marijuana for recreational use, two county prosecutors in Washington state have dismissed hundreds of misdemeanor marijuana cases. Although, the effective date of the referendum is not until December 6, the prosecutors used their discretion to apply the new rule retroactively.

Hostage Situation (T.A.K.E.N......Again, 'sigh')

Republicans Still Holding the Middle Class Hostage

Despite an election that delivered a mandate to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans in order to reduce the deficit and invest in the middle class, Republicans are standing pat in their support for the wealthy over the middle class. Today Speaker Boehner (R-OH) once again ruled out tax increases for the wealthy, as did Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).

Fox News Claims Obama’s Win Triggered ‘Massive Layoffs Across America’

According to Fox News’ Fox Nation website, the re-election of President Obama has triggered a wave of layoffs across the country. Fox Nation is featuring the claim prominently on its website (screenshot above). The evidence? One Utah company owned by a prominent Romney supporter has decided to lay off workers in the wake of election day:

Occupy Wall Street Launches ‘Rolling Jubilee’ To Buy Up And Forgive Debt

Members of Occupy Wall Street — various branches of which have recently been saving families from foreclosure and aiding victims of Hurricane Sandy — have launched a new initiative. Coined the “Rolling Jubilee,” Occupiers are raising money to buy distressed debt from financial firms.

USPS Worker Ignores Body on Porch, Delivers Mail

Neither snow nor rain ... nor a lifeless body? A family in Denver is outraged after they say their mailman walked past a body to deliver the mail without stopping to help, reports ABC 7 News. Dale Porch was returning from a late-night shift last week when he collapsed on the stairs leading to his home. At some point, the family says, the mailman made a delivery, so he must have walked right past the body.

CIA's Petraeus Resigns Over Extramarital Affair

Wow. We knew President Obama would be replacing plenty of key people, but not like this: CIA chief David Petraeus is resigning over an extramarital affair, reports NBC News. Details are still scarce, but Petraeus has submitted his letter of resignation, which begins:

Sandy Victim Powers Home ... With Prius

Hey, turns out that Prius is good for more than just saving on gas: Bob Sakala, a New Jersey resident who lost electricity during Hurricane Sandy, managed to power some of the lights in his home as well as his TV, laptop, and modem using only some heavy-duty extension cords and a 300-watt inverter plugged into his Prius, reports NBC 4 New York. He says he read about using the car as a power source years ago, and decided to give it a whirl; an entire week of power cost him just three-fourths of a tank of gas. "The neighbors kept saying, 'Does Bob have a generator?' No, it's the Prius. It's a spaceship," says Sakala. Let's hope he can still get gas for a while.

Top Republicans Suddenly Back Immigration Reform After Latinos Overwhelmingly Back Obama (This Is What's Being Said From Most Of Them Now, As One Spin Master Echoed On Cspan This Morning Also)

When Democrats tried to get the DREAM Act and a path to citizenship for young undocumented immigrants through Congress in 2010, Republicans blocked the immigration reform measure in the Senate. But after a campaign in which GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney staked out harsh anti-immigration positions, and with President Obama winning 75 percent of Latino voters, several key leaders in the Republican party are coming out in favor of immigration reform:

MRSA Found In Wastewater Treatment Plants

Drug-resistant bacteria has made its way to wastewater treatment facilities, according to a new study from the University of Maryland.

Galaxy S3 Sales Make It World's Number One Smartphone In Q3 2012

Samsung Electronics' Galaxy S3 became the world's best-selling smartphone model last quarter, pushing aside Apple Inc's iPhone, which has dominated the chart for more than two years, research firm Strategy Analytics said on Thursday.

Hampden-Sydney College Responds To Obama Reelection With Racial Unrest

RICHMOND, Va. -- Officials say about 40 students at a small all-men's college in Virginia shouted racial slurs, threw bottles and set off fireworks outside the Minority Student Union within hours after President Barack Obama's re-election.