In Some Deeply Red States, Figuring Out How To Enroll In Obamacare Is Like ‘Searching For A Unicorn’

In just under two months, Obamacare’s health insurance marketplaces will open for enrollment, and low-income Americans will be able to apply for subsidies to purchase the newly-created health care plans. As that deadline approaches, many states have been busy launching public awareness campaigns so their residents will know how to gain access to Obamacare coverage in the fall. But that’s not necessarily the case in deeply red states that remain stubbornly resistant to President Obama’s health reform law, where Americans may not have any idea what their options are in October.

Senators Seek To End Taxpayer Subsidy For Exorbitant CEO Pay

With executive compensation at record highs, two senators are trying to end a government subsidy of performance-driven executive pay schemes that cost taxpayers $5 billion per year. Sens. Jack Reed (D-RI) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) proposed a bill Friday that would limit the amount of performance-based pay that can be written off as a tax deduction and bring in $50 billion in tax revenue over a decade.

Read This Before You Believe The Obamacare Premium Spike Hysteria

While some states are reporting lower than expected health care premiums in the exchanges established by the Affordable Care Act, a growing number of Republican-controlled states — like South Carolina, Ohio, Indiana, Florida and Georgia — are garnering screaming headlines about huge premium spikes under the law.

Congressman Offers Crack Political Advice To Boehner: Attack Obamacare’s Tanning Tax As Racist

Obamacare’s 10% tax on tanning bed services is racist against white people because darker-skinned people don’t need to tan. At least, that’s what Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL) advised Speaker John Boehner to claim in order to turn people against the Affordable Care Act.

The Monsterization of Trayvon Martin

There was a small, crystalline window of time, as I sat waiting for the verdict in the George Zimmerman trial, when it felt as though we were perched between two worlds of possibility. As I watched the media blare, there was a breathless, swooping, nearly operatic transport to the moment; pundits recapitulated all the reasons to be afraid, very afraid. Anticipating acquittal, they eagerly imagined crescendos of erupting terror, riot and civil collapse. Florida was under lockdown. Magical legions of hydra-headed Trayvon Martin–shaped “thug wannabes” were assembling at the edges of the badlands.

Ted Nugent: Trayvon Martin Got What He Deserved

Ted Nugent, the 80’s rocker who has found a second career as right-wing flame thrower, appeared on a talk radio show in Maine on Saturday and said that Trayvon Martin, the unarmed 17 year old black Florida teen who was shot and killed last year, deserved his fate.

FX Plans To Roll Out FXNow, Its Own HBO Go-Like App, In November

Last summer, at the Television Critics Association press tour, John Landgraf, the president of FX, asked some questions about Netflix and the actual size of its viewership that have since proved prescient, given the Emmy recognition for House of Cards and the rave reviews for Orange Is The New Black. “I have enormous respect for Ted Sarandos and for Netflix, but I couldn’t tell you how many people watched Lilyhammer or any show on their air,” Landgraf said at the time. “I don’t know if it’s 10,000 people a week, a million people a week, or 10 million people a week. I literally don’t know, and since they have those data, why not ask them to give you the data?”

FDA Finally Issues Rules To Standardize ‘Gluten-Free’ Labeling

After nearly a decade of delays, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on Friday finally issued rules defining what “gluten-free” means for the purposes of food labeling. That means that within one year, consumers — especially those suffering from conditions that don’t allow them to eat gluten — can rest assured that any foods on grocery store shelves that claim to be gluten-free will meet a standardized, national definition.

Australian Activist Fight The Multi-Billion Dollar Natural Gas Industries Overabundance Down Under

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA — One year ago, I flew over West Texas in a small prop plane observing a landscape pockmarked with caliche drill pads and freshly plodded access roads. This July, I did the same thing halfway around the world and the view was remarkably similar. From the window of a chartered flight from Brisbane, Queensland, midway up Australia’s east coast, to a small town 160 miles inland, I saw large exposed pools of water used for extracting gas, sprawling industrial sites, a coal mine, and other signs of the rapid onset of fossil fuel development in a region known for its remoteness, pristine agricultural land, and natural beauty.

‘Frack Gag’ Bans Children From Talking About Fracking, Forever

When drilling company Range Resources offered the Hallowich family a $750,000 settlement to relocate from their fracking-polluted home in Washington County, Pennsylvania, it came with a common restriction. Chris and Stephanie Hallowich would be forbidden from ever speaking about fracking or the Marcellus Shale. But one element of the gag order was all new. The Hallowichs’ two young children, ages 7 and 10, would be subject to the same restrictions, banned from speaking about their family’s experience for the rest of their lives.

Detroit’s Fight Between Investors And Retirees: What You Need To Know About

Two weeks ago, Detroit filed for bankruptcy protections, saying it is unable to pay back the roughly $18 billion it owes. The bankruptcy faces legal challenges from creditors who say emergency manager Kevyn Orr did not negotiate with them in good faith, and intended to steer the city into bankruptcy court. Emails from the winter involving Orr and state officials seem to support that claim. But if Orr can beat the legal hurdles and have the bankruptcy filing approved by a judge, the city will no longer need the approval of its creditors to repay less than what they are owed.

Michael Ansara Dead: 'Star Trek' Actor Dies At 91

Michael Ansara, the actor who played the "Star Trek" Klingon commander Kang in the franchise's TV show, died on Wednesday, July 31. He was 91.

Ron Weekley Jr. Beat Brutality By Cops for Supposedly Riding His Skateboard Against Traffic In-front Of His Home!

Ronald Weekley Jr., 20, says he thought he was 'going to die' in the incident, caught on video, which is being investigated by LAPD's internal affairs unit.

Tuskegee Airman: John Edward Allen living in NM dead at age 84

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — John Edward Allen, a New Mexico veteran who served as a Tuskegee Airman during World War II and later earned honors for his Air Force service during the Vietnam War, died Tuesday after a long battle with cancer.

Even As Unemployment Drops, Those Who Find Jobs Can’t Get Enough Hours

On Friday, the monthly jobs report showed that 162,000 jobs were added in July, pushing the unemployment rate down to 7.4 percent. This is the lowest rate in the past five years, but a closer look reveals that those who are lucky enough to find a job may still be struggling to get by.

Many Of The Counties Most In Need Of "Obama cares" Are Represented By Republicans Who Want To Repeal It

On Friday, Republicans in the House will vote for the 40th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act, wasting another day and thousands of taxpayer dollars on a bill that has no chance of becoming law.

Illinois Becomes 20th State With Medical Marijuana Law

Gov. Pat Quinn (D) signed Illinois’ medical marijuana bill into law Wednesday, making the Land of Lincoln the 20th state to allow marijuana for limited medical purposes, in addition to the District of Columbia. Once the law goes into effect January 1, it will permit marijuana use with a doctor’s prescription for more than 30 specified ailments; require users, growers, and dispensaries to undergo fingerprinting and criminal background checks; and limit the number of growers and dispensaries. It also limits the amount of marijuana per person to the equivalent of two small sandwich bags over the course of two weeks.

Slashing Racist Crack Sentences Has Already Saved 16K Prison Years And Half A Billion Dollars

In 2010, Congress mitigated a blight on the U.S. justice system by reducing a racist drug sentencing disparity. Before the passage of the Fair Sentencing Act, crack offenses, which disproportionately ensnare African Americans, carried mandatory minimum sentences that were 100 times those for powder cocaine sentences, which are more often doled out to whites. In the compromise measure, Congress reduced that disparity to 18 to 1. While the law initially applied only to future sentences, the U.S. Sentencing Commission opted a year later to apply the new law to sentences retroactively.

36 Senators Introduce Bill Prohibiting Virtually Any New Law Helping Workers

More than three-quarters of the Senate Republican caucus signed onto legislation introduced Wednesday by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK) and Rand Paul (R-KY) that could render it virtually impossible for Congress to enact any legislation intended to improve working conditions or otherwise regulate the workplace. Had their bill been in effect during the Twentieth Century, for example, there would likely be no nationwide minimum wage, no national ban on workplace discrimination, no national labor law and no overtime in most industries.

Galaxy S3 and Note 2 owners will have to wait for Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update but the Galaxy S2 Plus Getting it Now In Germany

It’s the non-Nexus lifestyle. Waiting and praying for an update with no timeline of just when that update might arrive. Samsung has been one of the best in regards to Android updates and it has continued its great track record by providing the Android 4.2.2 Jelly Bean update for the Galaxy S2 Plus, at least in Germany.

You Can Thank The Koch Brothers For The Big, Dirty Cloud Floating Over Detroit

On Tuesday, Detroit Bulk Storage confirmed that a large black cloud spotted over the Detroit River last weekend and caught on camera by residents across the border in Windsor, was indeed from the petroleum coke piles they have been storing illegally on behalf of Koch Carbon.

Rev. Jesse Jackson defends ‘apartheid’ comments about Fla.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Despite calls to apologize by Florida’s governor, the Rev. Jesse Jackson is standing by his comments that the state’s struggle with the Trayvon Martin case can be compared to the civil rights clashes during the 60s in Selma, Ala.

Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History wants Trayvon Martin’s hoodie

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History wants the hooded sweatshirt Trayvon Martin was wearing when he was shot and killed.

What's Big Oil Doing With Their Billions In Q2 Profits?

Three of the five Big Oil companies released their second quarter profits today, raking in a combined $11.4 billion this quarter for a total of $31 billion this year. While profits declined for each company, Exxon Mobil still brought in $6.9 billion despite a drop in oil and gas production. Shell had to spend $2 billion to write down their North American shale assets – which contained less natural gas than anticipated – but still announced $2.4 billion in profits. Finally, ConocoPhillips, the largest independent U.S. producer, increased their production and brought in $2.1 billion for the second quarter of 2013.

Brain-Eating Parasites Thrive As Global Warming Heats Up U.S. Lakes

Toxoplasmosis is a parasitic disease caused by the protozoan Toxoplasma gondii. The parasite can infect most warm-blooded animals (including humans), but the primary host is the cat family. Animals are infected by eating contaminated meat/water, by ingestion of cat feces, or by transmission from mother to fetus. Although cats are usually blamed for spreading this brain parasite, contact with raw meat is a more significant cause of human infections in many countries.

Senate Confirms Top Gun Cop For The First Time In American History

By the narrowest of margins — and after a lengthy vote held open due to one senator’s absence — the Senate voted Wednesday evening to break a Republican filibuster of B. Todd Jones to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives — Sens. Kelly Ayotte (R-NH), Susan Collins (R-ME), Lindsay Graham (R-SC), Mark Kirk (R-IL), John McCain (R-AZ) and Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) crossed over to vote with all 54 Democrats to break the filibuser. Shortly after this vote, Jones was confirmed 53-42 — the first time in American history that an ATF Director has been confirmed.

Obama Orders Review Of Chemical Plant Safety Regulations

President Obama announced an executive order on Thursday tasking federal agencies with reviewing safety rules at chemical facilities and identifying new ways to store and secure ammonium nitrate, the chemical that caused a fertilizer plant explosion in West, TX in April that left 15 dead. The agencies are also ordered to determine whether other chemicals should fall under the purview of federal regulatory programs.

With Current Student Debt Means A $4 Trillion Loss Of Wealth In The Future

A student who takes out $53,000 in debt, the average amount for those attending a four-year public university, will experience a a lifetime loss of wealth totaling $208,000, according to a new report from the think tank Demos. It dives into the long-term costs of rising student debt and finds that for those who carry the $1 trillion in total student debt, their lifetime wealth loss will equal $4 trillion. Students from low-income families and minorities are affected the most because they proportionally take on more debt.

Florida Sheriff: Officers Who Shot Unarmed Black Man In His Driveway Followed ‘Standard Protocols’

According to Florida Escambia County Sheriff David Morgan in a CNN interview Thursday, the police officers who fired 15 shots at 60-year-old Roy Middleton in the driveway of his and his mother’s home acted entirely within their limits in response to a 911 call for a suspected car theft. For his late-night excursion to grab cigarettes out of his mother’s car, Middleton is now recovering from a bullet wound in his leg, along with bullets piercing his mother’s car and the side of the house.

The Devastating Spending Cuts That Were Too Much For House Republicans To Swallow

On Wednesday, the House was supposed to vote on a bill that would have set specific funding levels for transportation and housing related programs. Normally the amount such a bill could spend on programs would have been set by a budget, but because Republicans have repeatedly refused to hash out the differences between budgets proposed by the House and Senate, there is no such guiding document. House lawmakers had been instructed instead to use spending limits set by the Republican budget they passed in March, written by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI), that included severe spending reductions.

Congressman Scolds Catholic Nun For Asking Government To Help The Poor

Whether you’re a working mother who relies on welfare, a child who gets nutrition from food stamps, or a Catholic nun, some Republican lawmakers apparently have the same refrain for those seeking government assistance: You’re on your own.

Clarence Thomas’ wife sparks effort to impose tougher Supreme Court ethics

Democrats in the House and Senate plan to re-introduce legislation that would hold Supreme Court justices to the same judicial standards as federal judges.

Almost Nothing in Common: A Johnny Manziel and Trayvon Martin Comparison Piece

A man holds up a package of “Skittles” candy in front of a photograph of slain 17-year-old Trayvon Martin on the steps of City Hall in New York, March 28, 2012. (REUTERS/Mike Segar)

“He ate Skittles, drank beer and won the Heisman.”—Paul Manziel, father of Johnny Manziel

House Approves Student Loan Interest Rate Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan bill that would reduce the costs of borrowing for millions of students passed the House on Wednesday and was heading to President Barack Obama for his signature.

'Georgie' Zimmerman Pulled Over For Speeding, Asked Cop: "Do you know who I am?"

Less than a month after being acquitted of second-degree murder charges related to his killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin, George Zimmerman was reportedly caught speeding Wednesday, with a gun in the glove compartment of his vehicle. The incident took place in the town of Forney, Tex., TMZ reports.

Higher Education Is ‘Separate And Unequal’ For Minority Students

A new report from the Center for Education and the Workforce at Georgetown has harsh conclusions for the higher education system: Minority students are at a continued disadvantage in attending selective colleges.

Health Officials Get Closer To Identifying The Source Of Mystery Stomach Bug Outbreak

On Tuesday, state health officials in Iowa and Nebraska made big strides in identifying the source of a mysterious outbreak of food-borne cyclospora, a rare parasite that has left over 350 people in 15 states suffering from flu-like symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and diarrhea. Officials in those states say the culprit is prepackaged mixed salad — but the Centers for Disease Control are still unsure if the same product is to blame for outbreaks in the 13 other states.

Chris Hayes Flips The Script: Satirical Tirade Against White Culture

MSNBC host Chris Hayes mocked Bill O’Reilly on Tuesday, parodying the Fox News host’s claim “black culture” was fundamentally violent.

Court Clerk Fired For Helping Secure DNA Test That Proved A Man’s Innocence

A 70-year-old woman employed by the same court for more than 34 years was fired just nine months before her scheduled retirement, for helping an inmate obtain a DNA test that led to his exoneration.

Five Million Could Be Kicked Off Food Stamps Under Republican Cuts

Food stamp cuts proposed by Republicans could boot over 5 million people off of the program and create health problems that would cost the country more than the cuts save, according to a new analysis by the Health Impact Project.

Race Bating At It's Best: Rush Limbaugh Says Detroit Went Bankrupt Because Blacks Drove Out Whites

Economists are attributing Detroit’s recent bankruptcy filing to problems facing the entire Rust Belt region: a shrinking tax base, high health and pension costs, sprawl, and general dysfunction. But on Tuesday, Rush Limbaugh added another cause to the long list of factors that have contributed to the city’s downfall: black people.

Samsung's Galaxy Beats The iPhone In 'Smartphone Satisfaction:' Study

In another sign Apple is losing its luster, the iPhone just fell off its top spot as most satisfying smartphone in the United States.

Tiny Plastic Beads Are Latest Pollution Threat To The Great Lakes

July 30 (Reuters) - Tiny plastic beads from beauty products are showing up in North America's Great Lakes, and an environmental group is calling upon companies to stop using the plastic particles.

Obama Calls Out Republicans For Wasting Time On Keystone: ‘That’s Not A Jobs Plan’

In a speech on Tuesday focused on repairing the American economy, President Obama called out Republicans in Congress for flouting serious job-creation efforts in favor of trying to repeal environmental regulations and push for the creation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline.

Can A Cop Search Your Cell Phone? It Depends On Who You Ask

The U.S. Supreme Court held 40 years ago that police who arrest someone have the authority to search items on “their person.” But that was before most people started carrying cell phones, let alone smartphones, which often contain as much information about a person as one might find from searching their home.

How The Social Safety Net Failed The 105 Child Prostitutes Rescued By The FBI

In a three-day crackdown on child prostitution, the FBI recovered 105 children and arrested 150 people involved in sex trafficking across 57 cities. Most of the exploited children are between 13 and 16 years old, and some started as young as 9 or 11. In a press conference Monday, FBI Acting Executive Assistant Director Kevin Perkins explained that prostitution rings target children who come from dire poverty.

Condoms May Boost Beneficial Bacteria In The Vagina

In addition to preventing unwanted pregnancies and the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, condoms may help good bacteria in the vagina flourish, a new study from China shows.

Child Sex Trafficking Rescue: FBI Saves 105 Victims in 'Operation Cross Country'

The FBI has rescued 105 child sex-trafficking victims, FBI Assistant Director Ronald Hosko announced Monday.

Florida Cops Shoot Unarmed Black Man In His Mother’s Driveway

This weekend, deputies from Escambia County, Florida shot an unarmed man who went to grab cigarettes from the car parked in the driveway of his mother’s home. A neighbor called police at 2 a.m. because he suspected 60-year-old Roy Middleton was stealing the car. Things quickly escalated when two deputies arrived and ordered Middleton to “get your hands where I can see them,” the Pensacola News Journal reports:

Obama says income inequality could worsen racial tensions

In an interview with the New York Times, President Obama warned that racial tensions in America might “get worse” if the divide in income between the wealthiest Americans and the rest of the country comes to grow.

Billionaire Gets New Sports Arena in Bankrupt Detroit

The headline juxtaposition boggles the mind. You have, “Detroit Files Largest Municipal Bankruptcy in History” on one day. Then you have “Detroit Plans to Pay For New Red Wings Hockey Arena Despite Bankruptcy ” on the next.

Fast Food Walkouts Begin in Seven Cities Today

Starting today, workers in seven cities will begin the largest fast food worker mobilization in U.S. history. Staff at chains including McDonald's, Burger King, KFC, and Wendy's will reportedly walk out in New York, Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, St. Louis, Kansas City and Flint, Michigan.

Tar Sands Oil Has Been Leaking Into Alberta For 10 Weeks And No One Knows How To Stop It

A Canadian oil company still hasn’t been able to stop a series leaks from underground wells at a tar sands operation in Cold Lake, Alberta. The first leak was reported on May 20, with three others following in the weeks after — making it at least 10 weeks that oil has been flowing unabated.

Public Support For Background Checks Remains Strong, 100 Days After Senate Failed To Pass Measure

On April 17, the Senate failed to pass an amendment to institute comprehensive background checks for all gun sales, including at gun shows and on the Internet, despite overwhelming public support for the measure. A little more than 100 days later, universal background checks retains popular across the country.

Don Lemon Brings In Larry Elder To 'Back Him Up' While Michael Skolnik Calls Lemon A Conservative Preacher Who O'Reilly Should Welcome

Don Lemon’s unusual point of agreement with Bill O’Reilly on race Saturday afternoon immediately led to some strange bedfellows, with Lemon finding himself in a corner with conservative radio host Larry Elder, and getting excoriated by Michael Skolnik, editor-in-chief of Global Grind.

The Sunday July 28Th, 2013 Talking Heads

FOX (FIXED) NEWS SUNDAY

"The president tries to change the subject to the economy," says Chris Wallace, indicating that his show and probably the others will try to change the subject to the economy, which they understand as something that shapes the electoral futures of affluent politicians, as opposed to a system that knits up all human Americans into its unraveling skein.

80 Percent Of U.S. Adults Face Near-Poverty, Unemployment: Survey

WASHINGTON -- Four out of 5 U.S. adults struggle with joblessness, near-poverty or reliance on welfare for at least parts of their lives, a sign of deteriorating economic security and an elusive American dream.

'I Don't Know That Much About This Bill' Yet I'll Sign It Anyway: NC Gov. Pat McCrory (R), Blindly Puts Out More Voter Suppression Laws

North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory (R) said Friday he would sign a bill passed by the North Carolina legislature that would become the most suppressive voting law in the nation. But when asked to speak about a provision in the bill that would prohibit 17-year-olds from registering in advance of their 18th birthday, McCrory admitted he “did not know enough” and had not read that portion of the bill.

Treasury Secretary Says There Will Be No Bailout For Detroit

On CNN’s State of the Union show on Sunday, Treasury Secretary Jack Lew was firm in saying that there will be no federal bailout for the city of Detroit, which is going through the largest city bankruptcy in America’s history.

Don Lemon Sides With Bill O’Reilly?: ‘He Doesn’t Go Far Enough’ In Criticizing Black Culture

Bill O’Reilly’s remarks on race last week drew heavy criticism from Chris Hayes, Bill Maher, Al Sharpton, Larry Wilmore, and more, but one unlikely person is agreeing with him: CNN host Don Lemon.

Bananas Thrown At Black Italian Minister, Cecile Kyenge, During Speech

ROME, July 27 (Reuters) - Italy's first black minister, a target of racist slurs since her appointment in April, has condemned a spectator who threw bananas towards her while she was making a speech at a party rally.

iPhone 5S Release Date September 6? iPhone And iPad Will Now Have Bigger Screens?

Sept. 6 iPhone 5S Release Date

The iPhone 5S may be just over a month away. Cult of Mac relayed a report from the German blog iFun that says the next iPhone will be "coming to market" on Sept. 6. iFun cites a very credible source "to be taken seriously," according to a HuffPost translation.

Slavery Reparations Sought By Caribbean Nations For 'Lingering Legacy Of Atlantic Slave Trade'

MIAMI — Leaders of more than a dozen Caribbean countries are launching a united effort to seek compensation from three European nations for what they say is the lingering legacy of the Atlantic slave trade.

Dream Deferred: Black Students Left Behind

NEW YORK -- When Dwight Davis, a black educator from Washington, D.C., thinks about his good teachers, he spouts their names in rapid succession. But when he reflects on the bad ones, their identities fade into a nightmarish blur. It's their actions that haunt him.

Sequestration Delays The Implementation Of Important Regulations

President Obama’s regulatory chief warned that sequestration and furloughs are delaying his agency’s ability to review proposed regulations.

Growing Number Of States Are Reporting Lower Than Expected Health Care Premiums

Health premiums in Maryland’s exchanges will be “among the lowest of the 12 states that have available proposed or approved rates for comparison,” the state’s exchange — Maryland Health Connection — announced Friday. The news comes just as New York,Oregon, Montana, California, and Louisiana are also reporting lower than expected premiums.

Steve King: In Private, Republicans Actually Agree With My ‘Cantaloupe-Sized Calves’ Comments

A growing number of Republicans are publicly distancing themselves from Rep. Steve King’s (R-IA) claim that many undocumented youths are drug mules with cantaloupe-sized calves, but the conservative congressman claims that GOP lawmakers are backing him in private.

How One Zimmerman Juror Went From Second-Degree Murder To Acquittal

In interviews aired Thursday night and Friday morning, a juror who identified herself as “Maddy” from the six-person panel that acquitted George Zimmerman said she changed her vote from second-degree murder to acquittal after reconsidering the law as described to her in the jury instructions.

How Lax Regulations Are Turning China Into A Food Safety Nightmare

It’s been a pretty terrible week for food safety in China.

On Monday, Xinhua reported that a factory in the city of Kunming was using pond water to make rice vermicelli — specifically, pond water used for washing feet. That same day, the official state broadcasting group CCTV released the results of an investigation uncovering that ice served at a Beijing KFC location had 13 times more bacteria than toilet water. And on Friday, the New York Times reported on a new trend in China: buying and smuggling baby formula from overseas to avoid potentially tainted Chinese milk, pointing to a increasing distrust of domestic products.

Halliburton Will Earn What It Takes To Pay Off Gulf Oil Spill Fine In Just 23 Seconds

In little more than the time it takes to read this sentence, Halliburton Energy Services will have generated revenue equivalent to the fine it agreed to pay for destroying evidence related to one of the deadliest oil spills in U.S. history.

Canceling Sequestration Could Add Up To 1.6 Million Jobs

Fully canceling sequestration at the beginning of August would likely add 900,000 jobs to the economy but could add up to as many as 1.6 million, according to a new analysis from the Congressional Budget Office. It would also likely increase GDP growth by 0.7 percent but could boost that rate by as much as 1.2 percent.

Private Student Debt Lenders Pressed To Make Repayment Easier

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the Federal Reserve, and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency asked private student lenders to lower payments for those who are unemployed or having a difficult time repaying their loans on Thursday. They also suggested other methods of reducing the pressure on students such as postponing payments or lowering interest rates.

Willie Louis, witness to Emmett Till lynching, dies in Illinois at 76

CHICAGO (AP) — Hearing the screams of 14-year-old lynching victim Emmett Till from inside a Mississippi barn left a teenage farm worker with an unbearable choice. He could tell a courtroom and risk paying for it with his life or keep quiet and let those screams eat away at his conscience.

How Chromecast Stacks Up Against Roku and Apple TV

Since its release on Wednesday, nearly everything written about Chromecast, Google's $35 stick that streams video and music to your TV, has mentioned Apple TV and Roku, popular set-top boxes that also play Internet content on your TV.

Obama Promises, Including Whistleblower Protections, Disappear From Website

Amid the Obama administration's crackdown against whistleblowers, Change.gov, the 2008 website of the Obama transition team laying out the candidate's promises, has disappeared from the internet.

Now We Know What The B's In Front Of Those Numbers Mean: Juror B29′s revelations ‘devastating’

The mother of Trayvon Martin reacted Thursday to an interview a juror in the George Zimmerman trial gave to ABC News, in which she admitted that she ultimately, she didn’t hold out for a conviction.

Very Few Employers Have Actually Cut Workers’ Hours Because Of Obamacare

With implementation of the Affordable Care Act inching closer by the day, there’s been a slow but steady stream of employers claiming that the law is forcing them to cut back workers’ hours and rely more heavily on part-time employees. But for all the talk, very few companies have actually cut hours because of Obamacare, according to a new analysis by the Center for Economic and Policy Research (CEPR).

Moore’s Ford Bridge Took Place On This Day In 1946

The lynching of two married African-American couples, known in some circles as the “Lynching At Moore’s Ford Bridge,” took place in Northern Georgia on this day in 1946. An angry mob of White men attacked the couples, with one of the wives seven months pregnant and a man in the group an Army veteran of World War II.

Justice Department Will Ask Court To Reinstate Voting Rights Act In Texas

Attorney General Eric Holder announced on Thursday the first step the Justice Department will take to restore the voting rights gutted by a Supreme Court decision neutering a key prong of the Voting Rights Act. In remarks prepared for the National Urban League’s annual conference, Holder announced that the Justice Department “will ask a federal court in Texas to subject the State of Texas to a preclearance regime similar to the one required by Section 5 of the Voting Rights Act” — effectively restoring the safeguards against voter suppression in Texas that were stripped by the five Republican justices’ decision in Shelby County v. Holder.

McDonalds CEO Claims Company Has ‘Always Been An Above-Minimum Wage Employer’

McDonalds’ CEO Don Thompson believes that his company has “always been an above-minimum wage employer,” he told Bloomberg TV on Wednesday, despite evidence to the contrary.

Five Real Issues Facing The People Of New York City That Don’t Involve Anthony Weiner’s Sex Life

Ever since reports emerged linking former Congressman and New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner (D) to another sex scandal, news media have opted to heavily recycle stories about Weiner’s sex life. One story printed in the Washington Post read, “The reporters — and most of New York, really — wanted to talk only about Anthony Weiner.”

One Of Chris Hayes's Best Re-butts Ever: Slams Bill O'Reilly For 'Super Racist Rant'

Chris Hayes tore into Bill O'Reilly on Tuesday, hitting the Fox News host over what he called a "super racist rant."

American Women Pay More To Give Birth Than Even British Royalty, But They Receive Worse Care

On Tuesday, Elizabeth Rosenthal of the New York Times tweeted out, “British royal born in fanciest ward :$15000. Average US birth: billed $30,000; paid $18,000. What’s wrong here?” Rosenthal has her numbers right — and to answer her question, what’s wrong is that the U.S. system of medical care charges patients on a fee-for-service basis without giving consumers transparent pricing information. Worse yet, Americans don’t even receive particularly high-quality maternal care in exchange for their outsized medical bills.

Cable News Ignores Virginia Governor’s Scandal To Cover Ex-Congressman’s Genitals

Tuesday, Gov. Bob McDonnell (R-VA) apologized for bringing embarrassment to his state by accepting tens of thousands of dollars worth of gifts and about $120,000 in loans from a controversial tobacco executive. But though his actions are the subject of a federal grand jury and a state investigation, cable news largely ignored this story — opting instead to focus on the sex life of former Congressman and New York City mayoral candidate Anthony Weiner (D).

Bill O’Reilly Blames Civil Rights Leaders And ‘Black Culture’ For Crime

Since the George Zimmerman verdict sparked national protests and pushed President Obama to address the racial disparities prevent in American culture and justice system, conservatives have begun pointing to the high rates of crime within the African American community, suggesting that the law enforcement is justified in profiling black youth.

E.W. Jackson Jr.: African Americans Should Tone Down Sexuality To Prevent Attacks

Bishop E.W. Jackson Jr., the Republican nominee for Virginia Lt. Governor, suggested in a radio interview Tuesday that African Americans’ sexuality is to blame for urban violence.

Set In Stone: Federal Minimum Wage Goes 4 Years Without Budging

WASHINGTON -- Workers toiling in low-wage jobs marked a dispiriting anniversary on Wednesday: It's now been four years since the last time the federal minimum wage was raised.

Black Congressmen Discuss Their Daily Struggle With Discrimination In America

WASHINGTON -- Addressing the Trayvon Martin killing last week, President Barack Obama revealed a fact that apparently startled many Americans: Deep, pervasive and painful discrimination continues in this country. His own encounters stopped, he said, only when he became a senator.

Avelda King, who helped Glen Beck try to rewrite "The Dream" rejects photo of fallen civil rights leader in Hoodie

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s niece recently spoke out about the image of him wearing a hoodie, referencing Trayvon Martin, and according to an interview on the Andrea Tantaros Radio Show, she is not happy with the image.

National Review Tells Young Whites To Avoid Blacks, Again

A top conservative publication published a column on Wednesday advising young white children to stay away from black people, despite firing a columnist roughly a year ago for writing a very similar piece in a different publication.

West And Smiley Have Both Become Non Issues Today

Give Professor Cornel West this much: in the pantheon of presidential insults, “global George Zimmerman” really is quite a gem.

Zimmerman Drones

Before "Georgie" gets his show offer for his new gig on "Fixed New" or before he gets his award for pulling people from a burning car (Thought his lawyers said he did not have the strength to get a 17 year ole boy off of him?). He tries his hand at Infomercials.

Latino Homebuyers Face Hostility, Higher Fees, And Fewer Options

Though formal “redlining” based on race was banned decades ago, a new report finds that Latinos still face rampant discrimination in the housing market. The report, released Monday from the National Council de la Raza (NCLR), found that Latinos looking to buy or rent homes were more often met with hostility, quoted higher fees, and offered fewer options than white prospective buyers.

The Rich Feel Poor If They Have Less Than $5 Million

Rich investors say that it takes at least $5 million to feel wealthy, according to a new investor sentiment report from UBS. Meanwhile, two-thirds of millionaires don’t consider themselves to be wealthy.

Miss Bumbum Excluded Black Women From The Competition This Year, Seriously Have You Seen What Thick Butt Black Brazilians look like!

Well, this certainly isn’t a surprise, but then, maybe it is. If you’ve followed any of the posts on BW of Brazil, you know that the exclusion of Afro-Brazilians is nothing new; in reality, in Brazil, it’s the standard! But this annual contest to find the woman with the best butt in Brazil has to take the cake. It’s one thing that Brazil’s women’s magazines, television programs, beauty contests, modeling runways and even men’s adult magazines are dominated by people who look as if they came straight from Europe, but how is it that a contest that awards the woman with the best “asset”, an “asset” that women of African descent have always been made the subject of disgust, objectification, eroticism and exoticism, excludes any women of visible African ancestry?!?** Not even a light-skinned “mulata“?

John Lewis Releases Graphic Novel Called, "March" At Comic Con

Democratic Rep. John Lewis drew a large crowd in one of his more unusual appearances.

The congressman — who, according to his site, is often called “one of the most courageous persons the Civil Rights Movement ever produced” — attended this year’s Comic-Con in San Diego as many awaited the arrival of the real-life hero.

DeAndre Martin Alleges Racist Harassment At Convergys, Shares Photos

A Missouri man is leveling allegations against an Ohio-based customer service company, claiming he's dealing with persistent and explicit acts of racism in the workplace. And now, he's coming forward with the photos to help his case.

Female genital mutilation in Africa declining In regions

A comprehensive new assessment of the ancient practice of female genital cutting by the United Nations Children’s Fund has found that it is gradually declining in many countries, even some where it remains deeply entrenched.

Cornel West Calls the President a ‘global George Zimmerman’

Dr. Cornel West, author, activist and Professor at Union Theological Seminary, is not shy about expressing his disapproval of President Barack Obama.

It’s Not Just The Royals: In The US, Your Parents’ Wealth Determines Your Own

Americans may be mocking the royal baby fever gripping the United Kingdom after Kate Middleton gave birth to a son on Monday, but our social structures may be just as fossilized as in the monarchy. American children have very little chance of climbing out of the social class they’re born into, a new study described in the New York Times suggests.

Conservative Paper Invokes Lynching In Anti-Sharpton Editorial Cartoon

Investors’ Business Daily, a business newspaper widely viewed as having a conservative editorial page, decided to dip its toes into racial politics over the weekend with a political cartoon about the case of Trayvon Martin. But instead of presenting a valid criticism of the negative reactions to George Zimmerman’s not guilty verdict, the publication invoked lynchings — one of the great tragedies committed against Black Americans — to try to make its point.

D.C. Sets Record With 138 Hours Above 80°F During Brutal Nationwide Heat Wave

The heat dome that enveloped Washington, D.C. for much of the last week, so miserable it even prompted Metro to temporarily lift its ban on passengers drinking water aboard its trains, also broke a long-standing heat record.

Tampa Passes New Law To Toss Homeless People In Jail For Sleeping In Public

If homeless people in Tampa want to avoid jail, they’d better find a place to store their things and a bed to sleep in.

By His Own Measure, John Boehner’s Congress Is Still The Most Counterproductive In History

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) raised eyebrows on Sunday when he responded to criticism that he is running the least productive Congress in history by suggesting that House Republicans should be “judged on how many laws we repeal,” rather than pass.

Rush Limbaugh: White People Shouldn’t Feel Guilty About Slavery

If there’s any race that shouldn’t feel guilty about slavery, it’s Caucasians, conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh said on Monday, responding to the growing outrage over the George Zimmerman verdict. On Saturday, 100 cities held rallies organized by the National Action Network for Trayvon Martin, where large crowds demanded a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of the unarmed teen. The protests came just one day after President Obama directly addressed why the verdict has opened up such deep wounds in the African American community.

‘Letter to Zimmerman’ goes viral

A Facebook post directed at George Zimmerman, and pointing to some of the ironies of his current situation, has gone viral, with some, including the Washington Post’s Jonathan Capehart, calling it one of the most powerful commentaries on the trial thus far.

100 Cities Rally For Trayvon Martin

On Saturday, 100 cities held rallies organized by the National Action Network for Trayvon Martin, where large crowds demanded a federal civil rights investigation into the fatal shooting of the unarmed teen. “Trayvon could have been anyone’s child,” Trayvon’s father, Tracy Martin, said at a rally in Miami. “That’s the message that’s being sent to the world.” Celebrities, lawmakers, and religious leaders also joined the rallies on Saturday, which follow a series of largely peaceful protests since George Zimmerman’s verdict.

Top 12 Conservative Freakouts After Obama’s Race Speech

Conservatives didn’t even wait for President Obama to finish his deeply personal remarks on Trayvon Martin’s killing and the role of race in America to go ballistic, accusing the president of being a “Racist in Chief” who is “trying to tear our country apart.”

Judge Rules Detroit’s Bankruptcy Illegal, Leaving Process In Limbo

Detroit’s bankruptcy filing is unconstitutional and must be rescinded, Judge Rosemarie Aquilina ruled on Friday. Thursday’s filing was supposed to set into motion proceedings that would allow the city’s unelected emergency manager Kevyn Orr to break pension contracts with 30,000 city workers and retirees, but Aquilina ruled Friday afternoon it violates the Michigan Constitution.

4 Charts That Prove Obama’s Right About Being Black In America

On Friday, President Obama gave a personal, emotional speech about the killing on Trayvon Martin, in which he spoke extensively on the broader issue of race in the United States.

Two (IN PLAIN SIGHT RACIST) Show Up To Trayvon Rally Wearing ‘N-Word’ T-Shirts, Clearly In An Attempt To Insight Violence

You can always count on someone to be a complete ass when a tense racial situation arises. Since the verdict came down in the murder trial of George Zimmerman, there have been a several sad examples of this phenomenon. Today’s comes from a rally for Trayvon Martin in Wichita, Kansas, where two gigantic assholes thought it would be funny to show up wearing shirts featuring racist epithets.

Where the pallbearers are black (The Grio)

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Elegant in tuxedos and white gloves, the six black pallbearers silently and gracefully remove the mahogany coffin bearing a Lima tire magnate from his mansion. They slide it into the Cadillac hearse that will parade Jorge Reyna’s body through the Chorrillos district where he was once mayor.

Fortress White America

Republicans long ago embraced a whites-only political strategy—and continue to reap their rewards in Southern states.

This 1 Chart Reveals The True Economic Power Of The U.S. Slave System

Two Weeks After Slashing Taxes For The Rich, Ohio Governor Wants More

Gov. John Kasich (R) wants to get the top income tax rate in Ohio down below 5 percent, Cincinnati.com reported Thursday. The speech came 18 days after Kasich signed a budget that gives top earners in the Buckeye State a $6,000 per-person tax cut while raising the burden faced by the poorest 20 percent of the state.

Ohio Prisons Shut Off Electricity In Exchange For Payments

Prisons in Ohio are restricting electricity use this week as temperatures skyrocket, due to a monetary agreement between the state and a top power company.

Employing Better Sex Ed, California’s Teen Birth Rate Has Plummeted By 60 Percent

California’s teen birth rate has plummeted to the lowest level that it’s been in the past 20 years, according to new data from the state’s health department. The state’s rate now stands at 28 births for every 1,000 teenage girls — a 60 percent drop since 1991, when the rate peaked at 70.9 births for every 1,000 girls.

2 Ways North Carolina Republicans Plan To Keep College Students From Voting

Two months after the Republican-led North Carolina House approved a voter ID bill, a common tactic used to reduce turnout among low-income, student and minority voters, Republicans in the state senate, however, apparently believe this bill does not go far enough in making it difficult for college students, who tend to vote for Democrats, to cast a ballot. According to the Charlotte Observer, senate Republicans plan to eliminate half of the forms of ID a person can show in order to cast a ballot under the house bill — including “cards from UNC system colleges [and] state community colleges.”

Barrack Obama Says: ‘Trayvon Could Have Been Me 35 Years Ago’

President Obama just completed an unannounced appearance during the White House’s daily press briefing, where he spoke at length about Trayvon Martin and lessons to be garnered from this tragic shooting. In a direct reference to his own race, the president said that “Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago,” before launching into an explanation of the wounds this incident has opened in the African American community. “There are very few African American men in this country who haven’t had the experience of being followed when shopping in a store — and that includes me.”

Moto X, New Smartphone From Google's Motorola, May Be Unveiled 'In The Coming Weeks'

The wait for the Moto X may soon be over.

In an earnings call on Thursday, Patrick Pichette, Google's senior vice president and chief financial officer, dropped a hint that the highly anticipated smartphone from Google-owned Motorola is weeks away.

Live In The South? Your Life Expectancy Is Shorter, Sicker Than The Rest Of The U.S.

ATLANTA -- If you're 65 and living in Hawaii, here's some good news: Odds are you'll live another 21 years. And for all but five of those years, you'll likely be in pretty good health.

Confederate Flag-Loving Black Man Takes Racist Patriotism To Capital Hill

A Capitol Hill staffer forwards this intern's widely circulated email to HuffPost Hill, noting that she feels "morally obligated to share." Thank you.

Obama Administration: Premiums Under Obamacare Will Be Even Lower Than Originally Predicted

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is set to release a report on Thursday morning that analyzes the 2014 premiums in the Obamacare insurance marketplaces in 11 different states, including Virginia, Colorado, Ohio, and Oregon. Officials said that the data will show that the weighted average of the least expensive mid-level health plans in those states’ marketplaces are 18 percent lower than what the CBO thought they would be when the law first passed.

Low-Wage Government Contractors Hold Third Strike To Demand Living Wage

Service workers at Washington D.C.’s Union Station are walking off the job Thursday morning to protest the federal government’s failure to ensure the companies it contracts with pay a livable wage. The strike is the third in eight weeks for low-wage federally-contracted workers in the nation’s capital, as part of a campaign called Good Jobs Nation that is pressuring the government to stop paying poverty wages through its private-sector partners. Previous strikes at other government buildings have sparked investigations into wage theft and other abuses.

Most Media Coverage Ignores Premium Drop, Focuses On GOP Effort To Undermine Obamacare

Early on Wednesday, as House Republicans prepared to vote for a delay of the Affordable Care Act’s employer and individual mandates, New York state officials announced that health care premiums in the new exchange will plummet by at least 50 percent as a result of the law.

One In Four Young Black Men Recall Recent Unfair Police Treatment, Gallup Finds

Almost one in four young black males have experienced recent unfair treatment by the police, according to a newly released Gallup Survey. Among black males between ages 18 and 35, 24 percent said they recalled an instance within the last 30 days in which they were treated unfairly during dealings with the police. For all African Americans, that number was 17 percent. Here’s Gallup’s breakdown by category:

Detroit Becomes Largest City To Declare Bankruptcy

On Thursday afternoon, Detroit filed for bankruptcy protections that will make it easier for the Michigan city to walk away from over $18 billion in unpayable debts. The long-awaited move is the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history, trumping filings from Stockton, CA, and Jefferson County, AL, in recent years.

Larry Elder Deflects and Distorts Just To berate Rachel Jeantel for having a speech impediment (It's something to hear another 'Black Man' talk like this)

Conservative radio host Larry Elder lashed out at Rachel Jeantel Wednesday night on CNN because she suffers from a speech impediment.

Schools Across The Country Are Considering Education Bills Crafted By Corporate Frontgroup

School privatization laws crafted by corporate interests have been introduced in nearly every state in the first half of 2013, according to the Center for Media and Democracy. 43 states and the District of Columbia are considering school legislation developed by the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), the umbrella organization that pushes state laws catered to business interests on a myriad of topics.

Student Loan Profits 'Morally Wrong' : Elizabeth Warren

The Obama administration and Congress are not helping students, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) charged Wednesday, reaping record profits off the federal student loan program that a regulator said has finally surpassed $1 trillion in overall debt.

House Votes To Delay "Obama Care's" Individual Mandate

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans pressed ahead Wednesday on delaying key components of President Barack Obama's signature health care law, emboldened by the administration's concession that requiring companies to provide coverage for their workers next year may be too complicated.

Summer Temperatures Surge In Much Of U.S.

NEW YORK -- From Minnesota to Massachusetts temperatures surged to potentially dangerous levels Wednesday as the largest heat wave of the summer stretched out and stagnated, with relief in many parts of the country still days away.

With Gun Violence On The Rise, Hospitals Train Their Staff On How To Survive Shootings

Over the past several years, mass shootings have intensified instead of abating. Mass shootings are typically defined as random gun-related incidents that take place in a public place. But there’s another space that’s emerging as a battleground for these types of tragedies: hospitals.

Thanks To "Obama Care's", New Yorkers’ Health Insurance Premiums Will Plunge 50 Percent

Health care premiums on the individual market will tumble by at least 50 percent as a result of the Affordable Care Act, the New York Times reported on Wednesday. The state joins Oregon, Montana, California, and Louisiana in reporting lower than expected rates in the law’s new health care marketplaces.

Rush Limbaugh: 'I Can Now' Say 'Nigga' Audio

Rush Limbaugh crowed on Tuesday that, after hearing an interview with Trayvon Martin's friend Rachel Jeantel, he was now allowed to use the word "n---a." He then used the word.

Twitter User Who Helped Stop Juror B37 From Profiting From A Book Deal Speaks Out (Newsone)

The woman behind the Twitter and Change.org campaigns that put Juror B37‘s book deal to a screeching halt is New York-bred Genie Lauren.

Even Stevie Wonder Can See That Stand Your Ground Has Problems With It!

At a concert in Quebec on Sunday, following the verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman for the shooting death of Trayvon Martin, musician Stevie Wonder made a pledge to his audience: that he won’t perform in states or countries that have Stand Your Ground laws or their equivalents on the books.

Miami Considers Jailing Homeless People For Eating, Sleeping In Public

Being poor could soon be a crime in the city of Miami.

As though life weren’t already difficult enough for people who can’t afford regular housing, they could soon find themselves thrown in jail and their possessions confiscated if they’re caught engaging in certain everyday activities in public.

North Carolina Lawmakers Ram Through Plan That Would Increase Taxes On Poor People

North Carolina lawmakers rammed through massive tax reforms on Tuesday that would disproportionately benefit higher-income earners, bringing the measure to a vote in the House after approximately 25 minutes of debate. The legislative compromise, which was formally unveiled on Monday, represents some of the biggest most regressive changes to North Carolina’s tax code in eight decades. The Senate will take up the measure on Tuesday afternoon, both chambers will hold final votes Wednesday, and Gov. Pat McCrory (R) is expected to sign it by the end of the week.

7 Mind Blowing Moments From Zimmerman Juror B37′s First Interview

On Monday night, one of the jurors in the George Zimmerman trial offered shocking insight into how the group of six women reached its decision to acquit the defendant of all charges in the murder of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

25 Years After Exxon Valdez Oil Spill, Company Still Hasn’t Paid For Long-Term Environmental Damages

The long-term plan for rehabilitating damaged resources has yet to be implemented a full quarter century after the Exxon Valdez oil tanker ran aground in Prince William Sound, Alaska, spewing more than 11 million gallons of crude oil into the surrounding ecosystem.

The 6 Decisions That Could Have Saved Trayvon Martin's Life (Rather What Zimmerman Should Have Done As An Adult!)

It's impossible to know whether it was Trayvon Martin or George Zimmerman who threw the first punch in the confrontation that ended Martin’s life. The jury apparently relied on that ambiguity to acquit Zimmerman of murdering Martin, because he said he killed the 17-year-old in self defense. But despite the confusion, there are plenty of facts that both sides can agree on. While Zimmerman may have been found not guilty, that doesn't mean he wasn't responsible. Trayvon Martin would be alive today, but for at least six decisions made or not made by Zimmerman and the state of Florida.

16 Moving Images From Trayvon Martin Rallies Across The Country

Thousands of Americans across the country protested the George Zimmerman verdict on Sunday, “chanting, praying and even fighting tears” after the jury acquitted the neighborhood watchman of all criminal charges for killing 17-year-old Trayvon Martin.

Three Self-Defense Cases That Went The Other Way

George Zimmerman was acquitted in the murder of Trayvon Martin over the weekend, successfully using a claim of self-defense to convince six jurors that he was right to shoot and kill the 17-year-old Martin. The case centered around the question of whether Martin was physically aggressive toward Zimmerman in any way — the defense claimed that the teenager bashed Zimmerman’s head into the concrete — or if Martin was simply a victim. Ultimately, the jury decided, the prosecutors could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Martin didn’t engage Zimmerman in a fight, prompting him to use deadly force in self-defense.

Hostess Twinkies Return To Shelves While Unionized Jobs Disappear

Twinkies, one of the best known snacks made by Hostess Brands, are back on shelves on Monday after the company filed for bankruptcy late last year. Yet jobs at the company aren’t coming back with the dessert. While 18,500 people worked for the company before it filed, only about 20 to 25 percent of those jobs will return when all of the brands are brought back, according to an industry analyst.

What Athletes’ Response To The Zimmerman Verdict Says About Race And Class In America

Athletes were quick to react when a jury acquitted George Zimmerman on all charges in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin Saturday night, with many questioning both the ruling and the American justice system.

University Of Michigan May Soon Offer In-State Tuition To Undocumented Students

A day after the Detroit Free Press highlighted undocumented Michigan students’ struggles with tuition costs, the University of Michigan proposed “significant revisions” Monday to allow undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition.

McDonalds Tells Workers To Budget By Getting A Second Job And Turning Off Their Heat

McDonalds has partnered with Visa to launch a website to help its low-wage workers making an average $8.25 an hour to budget. But while the site is clearly meant to illustrate that McDonalds workers should be able to live on their meager wages, it actually underscores exactly how hard it is for a low-paid fast food worker to get by.

Why Stand Your Ground Is Central To George Zimmerman’s Case After All

The Stand Your Ground law that gained notoriety in the wake of Trayvon Martin’s shooting became central to the case again last week, when written instructions advised the jury that found shooter George Zimmerman not guilty to take the law’s central provision into account.

Bangladesh Government Allows Workers To Form Unions

Bangladesh’s government approved a labor law on Monday that would make it easier for workers to form unions. The legislation also included provisions that create a fund to improve workers’ living standards and require companies to deposit 5 percent of profits into employee welfare funds.