A study suggests that the cost of college in the United States has risen 112 percent above inflation over the past four years.
According to a report by the College Fix, the cost of a college degree in United States is rising far faster than it should. A study by a startup called Self has shown that the cost of college in the United States has increased dramatically over the past few years.
The report revealed that the cost of university tuition has increased 8.3 percent in the past five years alone. In that same time, the cost of textbooks has increased a whopping 36.3 percent. This increase amounts to an additional $2,835 each year over what students paid in 2015. This increase amounts to 112 percent above the rate of inflation during this time period.
"One of the biggest financial challenges younger generations will face in their lifetime is accepting and repaying a student loan. In the last 5 years alone, the cost of university tuition has risen 8.3%, which is below the 9.7% increase in room and board prices and far below the 36.3% increase in books and supplies seen in the same time frame. This means that, per year, university students are paying $29,133 on average across all states just to attend. "
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DelMarVa's Premier Source for News, Opinion, Analysis, and Human Interest Contact Publisher Joe Albero at alberobutzo@wmconnect.com or 410-430-5349
Wednesday, November 27, 2019
Philadelphia's voting machines challenged in federal court
A federal court was asked Tuesday to force Pennsylvania to rescind its certification of a voting machine newly purchased by Philadelphia and at least two other counties in the state ahead of 2020’s presidential election.
The filing casts doubt onto how 17% of Pennsylvania’s registered voters will cast ballots in the April 28 primary election, as well as next November, when the state is expected to be one of the nation’s premier presidential battlegrounds.
Court papers filed by former Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein and several supporters accuse Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration of violating their year-old agreement in Philadelphia’s federal court by certifying the ExpressVote XL touchscreen system made by Omaha, Nebraska-based Election Systems & Software.
The plaintiffs say certifying the system violates their agreement, in part because the machine does not meet the agreement’s requirements “that every Pennsylvania voter in 2020 uses a voter-verifiable paper ballot.”
For one, the ExpressVote XL counts votes by counting machine-printed bar codes on paper, a format that is neither readable nor verifiable by an individual voter, they wrote in court papers.
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New York files appeal to resurrect tax CUT for the wealthy
New York and three other high-tax states announced Tuesday that they will appeal a federal court ruling that struck down their creative attempts to frustrate the 2017 GOP tax overhaul.
The states — including Maryland, Connecticut and New Jersey — had sought to come up with workarounds that would let their wealthiest taxpayers continue to claim a deduction on federal forms for taxes paid to their states and localities. But the IRS said their workarounds were a sham, and a federal court sided with the tax agency.
New York, which says its taxpayers stand to owe $100 billion more to Uncle Sam “in the years ahead” because of the changes, said it won’t go down without a fight.
“New York is already the nation’s leader in sending more tax dollars to Washington than we get back every year, and we will not allow this administration to pick the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers to fund tax cuts for corporations and send even more money to red states,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
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Flashback: Andrew Cuomo complains about tax breaks for wealthy
Cuomo Blames Trump Tax Plan for Reduced New York Tax Collections
The states — including Maryland, Connecticut and New Jersey — had sought to come up with workarounds that would let their wealthiest taxpayers continue to claim a deduction on federal forms for taxes paid to their states and localities. But the IRS said their workarounds were a sham, and a federal court sided with the tax agency.
New York, which says its taxpayers stand to owe $100 billion more to Uncle Sam “in the years ahead” because of the changes, said it won’t go down without a fight.
“New York is already the nation’s leader in sending more tax dollars to Washington than we get back every year, and we will not allow this administration to pick the pockets of hardworking New Yorkers to fund tax cuts for corporations and send even more money to red states,” said Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
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Flashback: Andrew Cuomo complains about tax breaks for wealthy
Cuomo Blames Trump Tax Plan for Reduced New York Tax Collections
Georgia Clark, teacher who asked Trump to deport ‘illegal’ students, wins job back
A Texas teacher who lost her job after asking President Trump on Twitter to remove the “illegal students from Mexico” from her school has won an appeal to get her job back.
Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath ruled Monday that the series of offensive tweets sent in May by Georgia Clark — an English teacher at Carter-Riverside High School in Fort Worth — were protected by the First Amendment, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Clark, whose Twitter account has since been deleted, is now entitled to return to the classroom with back pay and employment benefits or district officials can fork over one year’s salary.
The teacher was fired in June after seeking assistance from Trump in a barrage of tweets that she said she thought were private messages to the commander-in-chief, Clark later told a district investigator.
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Texas Education Agency Commissioner Mike Morath ruled Monday that the series of offensive tweets sent in May by Georgia Clark — an English teacher at Carter-Riverside High School in Fort Worth — were protected by the First Amendment, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports.
Clark, whose Twitter account has since been deleted, is now entitled to return to the classroom with back pay and employment benefits or district officials can fork over one year’s salary.
The teacher was fired in June after seeking assistance from Trump in a barrage of tweets that she said she thought were private messages to the commander-in-chief, Clark later told a district investigator.
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Trump campaign slams Google rule changes, says shift will suppress turnout, stifle democracy
The Trump campaign on Tuesday slammed Google’s decision to restrict how political operations reach users during the campaign, arguing it will stifle democracy, suppress voter turnout and unfairly hamstring President Trump and Republicans who’ve built a massive digital operation.
The Republican National Committee and the campaign arms for House and Senate Republicans joined Mr. Trump’s team in chastising the search giant for tweaks that make it harder to “micro-target” people based on things like political affiliation or public voting records.
Instead, campaigns will be limited to targeting people based on age, gender and their general location, or users who tend to read about certain subjects.
The Trump campaign said the move smacked of lopsided punishment.
“There can be no denying that President Trump and his campaign have built the greatest digital operation in all of politics, and that Google’s decision will disproportionately impact both the Trump operation and all of the Republican candidates and organizations that derive strength from it,” the campaign and GOP groups said. “What’s more, given the growing and documented cases of anti-conservative bias in Silicon Valley, we are highly skeptical that such a ban would be applied equally to conservative and liberal organizations.”
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The Republican National Committee and the campaign arms for House and Senate Republicans joined Mr. Trump’s team in chastising the search giant for tweaks that make it harder to “micro-target” people based on things like political affiliation or public voting records.
Instead, campaigns will be limited to targeting people based on age, gender and their general location, or users who tend to read about certain subjects.
The Trump campaign said the move smacked of lopsided punishment.
“There can be no denying that President Trump and his campaign have built the greatest digital operation in all of politics, and that Google’s decision will disproportionately impact both the Trump operation and all of the Republican candidates and organizations that derive strength from it,” the campaign and GOP groups said. “What’s more, given the growing and documented cases of anti-conservative bias in Silicon Valley, we are highly skeptical that such a ban would be applied equally to conservative and liberal organizations.”
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Pompeo: Ending corruption in Ukraine is a 'clear policy'
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo insisted that rooting out corruption in Ukraine has been a hallmark of official U.S. policy in Europe as a congressional investigation into relations between the two countries hangs over the department.
"We had a very clear policy with respect to Ukraine, and we executed it successfully," Pompeo said Tuesday during a briefing with reporters. "There are still many challenges. Still have Russians in the Donbass. We still have the president in Ukraine working to make sure we move through the challenges the country has had with corruption for an awfully long time now."
This is an objective, Pompeo explained, that President Trump's State Department had been working on well before Democrats launched a formal investigation into what they allege to be a campaign of shadow diplomacy orchestrated by Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
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"We had a very clear policy with respect to Ukraine, and we executed it successfully," Pompeo said Tuesday during a briefing with reporters. "There are still many challenges. Still have Russians in the Donbass. We still have the president in Ukraine working to make sure we move through the challenges the country has had with corruption for an awfully long time now."
This is an objective, Pompeo explained, that President Trump's State Department had been working on well before Democrats launched a formal investigation into what they allege to be a campaign of shadow diplomacy orchestrated by Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
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‘They are PUBLIC GOODS’: AOC says she’s not just promising people ‘free stuff’
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez unloaded on those who qualify her policy propositions as “free stuff.”
Ocasio-Cortez, the 30-year-old socialist New York representative elected to Congress last year, expressed her frustration with critics who write off her policies, such as tuition-free college, "Medicare for all," and expanding public housing, as “handouts” or “free stuff” to rope in voters.
“It’s not that we deserve it because it’s a handout. People like to say, ‘Oh, this is about free stuff.’ This is not about free stuff,” Ocasio-Cortes said at a Bronx town hall over the weekend.
The freshman Democrat claimed those in her party who believe in free-market orientated policies try to paint her policies in a negative light.
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Ocasio-Cortez, the 30-year-old socialist New York representative elected to Congress last year, expressed her frustration with critics who write off her policies, such as tuition-free college, "Medicare for all," and expanding public housing, as “handouts” or “free stuff” to rope in voters.
“It’s not that we deserve it because it’s a handout. People like to say, ‘Oh, this is about free stuff.’ This is not about free stuff,” Ocasio-Cortes said at a Bronx town hall over the weekend.
The freshman Democrat claimed those in her party who believe in free-market orientated policies try to paint her policies in a negative light.
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Bill Cosby shows no remorse in first interview from prison: 'It's all a set up'
Bill Cosby is speaking out from prison.
Over a year after he was first incarcerated for the sexual assault of Andrea Constand, the disgraced actor and comedian — who is serving three to 10 years — has given his first interview. In it, the 82-year-old maintained his innocence from his Pennsylvania correctional institution, Phoenix, which is located outside Philadelphia, and, because of that, he expects to serve the entire sentence. Cosby also called his trial a “set up” and the jurors “imposters.”
“I have eight years and nine months left,” Cosby told National Newspaper Publishers Association's BlackPressUSA.com, clearly not believing he will leave prison on the early side of his sentence. “When I come up for parole, they’re not going to hear me say that I have remorse. I was there. I don’t care what group of people come along and talk about this when they weren’t there. They don’t know.”
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Over a year after he was first incarcerated for the sexual assault of Andrea Constand, the disgraced actor and comedian — who is serving three to 10 years — has given his first interview. In it, the 82-year-old maintained his innocence from his Pennsylvania correctional institution, Phoenix, which is located outside Philadelphia, and, because of that, he expects to serve the entire sentence. Cosby also called his trial a “set up” and the jurors “imposters.”
“I have eight years and nine months left,” Cosby told National Newspaper Publishers Association's BlackPressUSA.com, clearly not believing he will leave prison on the early side of his sentence. “When I come up for parole, they’re not going to hear me say that I have remorse. I was there. I don’t care what group of people come along and talk about this when they weren’t there. They don’t know.”
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Social conservatives urge Chick-fil-A to reverse course
Influential social-conservatives have banded together to urge Chick-fil-A to do an about-face on its decision to stop donating to The Salvation Army.
Brent Bozell (Founder and President Media Research Center), Kay Coles James (President, The Heritage Foundation), Lt. Col. Allen B. West (US Army, Retired, Member, 112 US Congress), and an extensive list of other famous conservative faces have signed a letter asking the fast-food giant to resume its support for the famous charity, in addition to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Chick-fil-A relented to years of pressure by LGBTQ activist groups earlier this month.
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Brent Bozell (Founder and President Media Research Center), Kay Coles James (President, The Heritage Foundation), Lt. Col. Allen B. West (US Army, Retired, Member, 112 US Congress), and an extensive list of other famous conservative faces have signed a letter asking the fast-food giant to resume its support for the famous charity, in addition to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Chick-fil-A relented to years of pressure by LGBTQ activist groups earlier this month.
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Crime surges in Oklahoma as Republicans continue to open prison doors
Who needs George Soros when you have Republicans in Oklahoma enacting his number one agenda item – de-incarceration?
n case you think the stupidity of downgrading crimes and increasing prison release, and the inevitable crime wave that follows is limited to San Francisco, think again. Oklahoma is a state where no Democrat presidential candidate has carried a single county since 2000, but when it comes to crime, Oklahoma Republicans might as well be San Francisco Democrats.
By now, most Americans are familiar with California’s Prop 47 and how the downgrading of drug and theft crimes led to a rise in drugs and theft, and has saddled San Francisco with a culture of homelessness and shoplifting.
“Sure glad we live in a nice red area, far away from San Francisco values” is what many Americans living in the heartland think upon seeing the endless negative headlines on San Francisco. The problem is that, thanks to a perfidious Republican Party, those San Francisco values have permeated every state in the union, particularly Oklahoma.
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n case you think the stupidity of downgrading crimes and increasing prison release, and the inevitable crime wave that follows is limited to San Francisco, think again. Oklahoma is a state where no Democrat presidential candidate has carried a single county since 2000, but when it comes to crime, Oklahoma Republicans might as well be San Francisco Democrats.
By now, most Americans are familiar with California’s Prop 47 and how the downgrading of drug and theft crimes led to a rise in drugs and theft, and has saddled San Francisco with a culture of homelessness and shoplifting.
“Sure glad we live in a nice red area, far away from San Francisco values” is what many Americans living in the heartland think upon seeing the endless negative headlines on San Francisco. The problem is that, thanks to a perfidious Republican Party, those San Francisco values have permeated every state in the union, particularly Oklahoma.
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Caribbean Joe's Will Open At 4 PM Thanksgiving Day
'Already received subpoenas': Trump mocks impeachment while pardoning turkeys
President Trump cracked a joke about the impeachment effort against him during the annual White House pardoning of a Thanksgiving turkey.
Appearing outside the White House on Tuesday alongside two turkeys named Bread and Butter, Trump joked that the fowls had been subpoenaed by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff to appear as witnesses.
“Thankfully, Bread and Butter have been specially raised by the Jacksons to remain calm under any condition, which will be very important, because they’ve already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff’s basement on Thursday,” Trump joked. “It’s true. Hundreds of people have."
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Appearing outside the White House on Tuesday alongside two turkeys named Bread and Butter, Trump joked that the fowls had been subpoenaed by House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff to appear as witnesses.
“Thankfully, Bread and Butter have been specially raised by the Jacksons to remain calm under any condition, which will be very important, because they’ve already received subpoenas to appear in Adam Schiff’s basement on Thursday,” Trump joked. “It’s true. Hundreds of people have."
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Twitter bans gay journalist Andy Ngo for stating objective facts that transgender activists don’t like
Twitter now considers objective, verifiable facts ban-worthy hate speech. At least, the pesky facts that woke liberal activists don’t like.
Apparently, dissident gay journalist Andy Ngo, editor-at-large at the Post Millennial, ought to have known that our Twitter overlords wouldn’t permit him to cite facts disputing the transgender oppression narrative. Ngo made the mistake of daring to question Chelsea Clinton and the left-wing activist organization Human Rights Campaign for peddling the pervasive myth that transgender people are the subjects of mass hate crimes and identity-targeted murder.
Of course, while all of these deaths are tragic, most of these people were not targeted or murdered on the basis of their identity. Rather, they just happened to be transgender and they were murdered. So Ngo questioned this dubious narrative, as to both murder rates and the fact that many are carried out not by evil cisgender white males but by black men.
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Apparently, dissident gay journalist Andy Ngo, editor-at-large at the Post Millennial, ought to have known that our Twitter overlords wouldn’t permit him to cite facts disputing the transgender oppression narrative. Ngo made the mistake of daring to question Chelsea Clinton and the left-wing activist organization Human Rights Campaign for peddling the pervasive myth that transgender people are the subjects of mass hate crimes and identity-targeted murder.
Of course, while all of these deaths are tragic, most of these people were not targeted or murdered on the basis of their identity. Rather, they just happened to be transgender and they were murdered. So Ngo questioned this dubious narrative, as to both murder rates and the fact that many are carried out not by evil cisgender white males but by black men.
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Trump to donate third-quarter salary to fight opioid crisis
President Trump is donating his third-quarter salary — $100,000 — to help combat the nation’s opioid epidemic.
The White House on Tuesday said the president has given the money to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, which oversees the public health offices and programs to fight the opioid crisis.
The president has declared the opioid crisis a national health emergency and unveiled his “Stop Opioid Abuse” initiative in March 2018.
In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
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The White House on Tuesday said the president has given the money to the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Health, which oversees the public health offices and programs to fight the opioid crisis.
The president has declared the opioid crisis a national health emergency and unveiled his “Stop Opioid Abuse” initiative in March 2018.
In 2017, more than 70,000 Americans died from opioid overdoses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said.
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Hunter Biden suspected of smoking crack in DC strip club’s VIP room
Hunter Biden was suspected of smoking crack inside a strip club where he dropped “thousands of dollars” during multiple visits — at the same time he held a seat on the board of a controversial Ukrainian natural-gas company, The Post has learned.
The incident, which took place at Archibald’s Gentlemen’s Club in Washington, DC, late last year, represents the most recent alleged drug use by Biden, 49, who has acknowledged six stints in rehab for alcoholism and addiction that included a crack binge in 2016.
Workers at Archibald’s, located about three blocks north of the White House, said Biden was a regular there, with two bartenders and a security worker all instantly recognizing his photo and one worker identifying him by name.
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The incident, which took place at Archibald’s Gentlemen’s Club in Washington, DC, late last year, represents the most recent alleged drug use by Biden, 49, who has acknowledged six stints in rehab for alcoholism and addiction that included a crack binge in 2016.
Workers at Archibald’s, located about three blocks north of the White House, said Biden was a regular there, with two bartenders and a security worker all instantly recognizing his photo and one worker identifying him by name.
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Melania Trump DEFENDS Baltimore students who booed her
Melania Trump on Tuesday defended the rights of teenagers who booed her when she addressed them in Baltimore, a city her husband, President Donald Trump, has disparaged as “rat and rodent infested.”
She traveled there to urge hundreds of middle and high school students to avoid misusing drugs, saying that would make it harder for them to achieve their life’s goals. But her remarks drew a mix of boos and cheers, and the audience remained noisy throughout her five-minute address.
It is highly unusual for a first lady to be booed at a public appearance. Mrs. Trump released a statement hours after she had returned to the White House, defending the principle of freedom of expression while reaffirming her commitment to the issue that drew her to Baltimore.
“We live in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the fact is we have a serious crisis in our country and I remain committed to educating children on the dangers and deadly consequences of drug abuse,” Mrs. Trump said.
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She traveled there to urge hundreds of middle and high school students to avoid misusing drugs, saying that would make it harder for them to achieve their life’s goals. But her remarks drew a mix of boos and cheers, and the audience remained noisy throughout her five-minute address.
It is highly unusual for a first lady to be booed at a public appearance. Mrs. Trump released a statement hours after she had returned to the White House, defending the principle of freedom of expression while reaffirming her commitment to the issue that drew her to Baltimore.
“We live in a democracy and everyone is entitled to their opinion, but the fact is we have a serious crisis in our country and I remain committed to educating children on the dangers and deadly consequences of drug abuse,” Mrs. Trump said.
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Putin foe says Fusion GPS was agent for Russia while helping Clinton in 2016
The company that conducted anti-Trump research for Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign also worked for the Russian government, producing material that was used by Moscow to pressure the United States, according to a longtime foe of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Businessman Bill Browder alleged Fusion GPS acted as an agent for Russian interests in 2016, when the country was trying to combat the Magnitsky Act and its sanctions on Russian officials.
Browder, 55, championed the Magnitsky Act, which was named for his tax lawyer, corruption whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky. Magnitsky died in a Russian prison in 2009 after his investigation for Browder's business uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars of Russian tax fraud implicating Russian officials.
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Businessman Bill Browder alleged Fusion GPS acted as an agent for Russian interests in 2016, when the country was trying to combat the Magnitsky Act and its sanctions on Russian officials.
Browder, 55, championed the Magnitsky Act, which was named for his tax lawyer, corruption whistleblower Sergei Magnitsky. Magnitsky died in a Russian prison in 2009 after his investigation for Browder's business uncovered hundreds of millions of dollars of Russian tax fraud implicating Russian officials.
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United States Files Brief Explaining That Maryland Improperly Excluded Christian School From Scholarship Program
The Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education today filed a Statement of Interest in federal court in Maryland, explaining that the Maryland State Department of Education discriminated against Bethel Christian Academy when it excluded the school from its BOOST Scholarship program due to the school’s beliefs regarding marriage and gender set forth in its Parent-Student Handbook. The United States’ brief explains that the school is likely to succeed on its claims under the First Amendment’s Free Speech and Free Exercise Clauses, and thus may be entitled to a preliminary injunction from the United States District Court for the District of Maryland.
“The First and Fourteenth Amendments to the United States Constitution protect religious schools from coercive government actions that force them to choose between abandoning or betraying their faith and participating in public programs,” said Eric Dreiband, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to fight for the rights of religious people and organizations, whether or not their beliefs are popular with government officials.”
“Americans do not give up their religious liberty protections simply because they may participate in a government program or interact with a state government,” said Robert S. Eitel, Senior Counselor to the Secretary of Education. “The U.S. Department of Education cannot sit on its hands as the First Amendment rights of Bethel Christian Academy are violated. We are pleased to work with the Justice Department in this important matter.”
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NFL celebrates Michael Vick as Pro Bowl captain in continued whitewashing of his dogfighting past
The NFL announced on Monday that Michael Vick will be among the four legends captains for the 2020 Pro Bowl.
Former Washington cornerback Darrell Green, Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith and Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis are the others.
Aside from Green, Smith and Davis all being inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one of these captains is not like the others.
They didn’t organize a dogfighting ring that saw dogs tortured, electrocuted, drowned, hanged, shot and beaten to death, according to Department of Agriculture officials who investigated Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels in 2007.
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Former Washington cornerback Darrell Green, Buffalo Bills defensive end Bruce Smith and Denver Broncos running back Terrell Davis are the others.
Aside from Green, Smith and Davis all being inducted to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, one of these captains is not like the others.
They didn’t organize a dogfighting ring that saw dogs tortured, electrocuted, drowned, hanged, shot and beaten to death, according to Department of Agriculture officials who investigated Vick’s Bad Newz Kennels in 2007.
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Warren's Phony Bio, Continued
“The 2020 Democratic candidate last week appeared to deny that she sent either of her two children to a private school,” writes the Washington Examiner’s Becket Adams. “The problem is that Warren did indeed send her son, Alex, to a private school in Texas starting at about 5th grade.”
Warren, like most Democrats, opposes school choice because she’s backed by teachers’ unions. But Warren also wants blacks to vote for her, and school choice is popular among the black community because it is their kids who suffer most in failing urban schools.
A black school-choice proponent confronted Warren, saying, “We are going to have the same choice that you had for your kids, because I read that your children went to private schools.”
Warren replied simply, “My children went to public schools.”
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VIDEO: Kamala Harris Tries to 'Cook' Her Way to the Top with Mindy Kaling
Harris, in need of boosting her appeal nationally, teamed up with Kaling, meeting the actress in her home to cook dosa and potato curry and bond over their shared heritage.
“I love that you’re coming through the kitchen already, like you live here,” Kaling said, embracing Harris.
The video showed Harris putting her culinary skills on display and Kaling marveling over them.
“That’s a fine chop,” Kaling said, clearly impressed by the presidential hopeful’s ability to finely chop an onion.
(This is such an exciting video.. )
Martin O’Malley is still in Denial
In an interview with Newsy, Martin O’Malley shows that he is still living in denial when it comes to his effectiveness and his legacy.
At about 2:00, O’Malley says this about Larry Hogan.
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At about 2:00, O’Malley says this about Larry Hogan.
“In the case of our own current governor, he is the beneficiary of a lot of tough decisions that were made before he came into office, all of which he opposed, that has him able to serve without having to make tough choices. And he also, like Charlie Baker in Massachusetts, has the advantage of being a Republican who is not Donald Trump.”Those tough choices, of course, were 40+ consecutive tax increases on middle and working-class Marylanders that bloated state government and wrecked the state economy.
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House Democrat backs down from impeachment: 'I don't see the value of kicking him out of office'
Democratic Rep. Brenda Lawrence of Michigan now favors censuring President Trump after backing impeachment proceedings over allegations that he withheld military aid from Ukraine for his personal benefit.
Lawrence appeared on the Michigan radio show No BS News Hour with host Charlie LeDuff on Sunday to discuss the impeachment process in the House. Lawrence told LeDuff, to his surprise, that she does not support removing the president from office and that she would ask her caucus to censure him instead.
"We are so close to an election. I will tell you, sitting here knowing how divided this country is, I don't see the value of taking him out of office," Lawrence said. "I do see the value of putting down a marker saying his behavior is not acceptable."
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Lawrence appeared on the Michigan radio show No BS News Hour with host Charlie LeDuff on Sunday to discuss the impeachment process in the House. Lawrence told LeDuff, to his surprise, that she does not support removing the president from office and that she would ask her caucus to censure him instead.
"We are so close to an election. I will tell you, sitting here knowing how divided this country is, I don't see the value of taking him out of office," Lawrence said. "I do see the value of putting down a marker saying his behavior is not acceptable."
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Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Baltimore Police Commissioner Michael Harrison Announces ‘Milestone’ Reforms
BALTIMORE (WJZ) — Baltimore City’s Police Commissioner Michael Harrison announced new policies covering officers’ use of force. They went into effect on Sunday.
They are the first regulations that meet the approval of the Department of Justice as part of Baltimore’s consent decree with the federal government.
“These new policies will go a long way to helping us rebuild trust with the community,“ Commissioner Harrison said. “For that reason, their importance cannot be overstated.“
Harrison said the policies focus on de-escalation techniques.
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They are the first regulations that meet the approval of the Department of Justice as part of Baltimore’s consent decree with the federal government.
“These new policies will go a long way to helping us rebuild trust with the community,“ Commissioner Harrison said. “For that reason, their importance cannot be overstated.“
Harrison said the policies focus on de-escalation techniques.
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Girl Scouts' PSA advises parents not to force kids to give hugs
JOHNSTOWN, Penn. (WJAC) - As the holidays approach and family gatherings become more frequent, the Girl Scouts are reminding parents to not force their kids to give out hugs.
In a public service announcement, the organization says telling a child they owe someone a hug can lead to them questioning if they owe another person physical affection later in life.
The Girl Scouts say urging your daughter to hug someone after they’ve done something nice for her, can paint the wrong picture when it comes to consent and physical affection.
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JonBenét Ramsey photographer jailed on child porn charges in Oregon
EUGENE, Ore. (KVAL) -- The photographer who sold a portfolio of images from a photo shoot with 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenét Ramsey after her 1996 death is behind bars in Oregon, facing more than a dozen counts of encouraging child sex abuse.
Police arrested Randall D. Simons, 67, in July on accusations he was "regularly accessing images of child pornography on the public wireless network of a local restaurant," police in Oakridge, Ore., said.
The incidents happened between August 2018 and June 2019, according to court filings in the case.
Simons has remained behind bars since his arrest.
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Police arrested Randall D. Simons, 67, in July on accusations he was "regularly accessing images of child pornography on the public wireless network of a local restaurant," police in Oakridge, Ore., said.
The incidents happened between August 2018 and June 2019, according to court filings in the case.
Simons has remained behind bars since his arrest.
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Driver killed after trash truck plunges 80 feet at Conowingo Dam
CONOWINGO, Md. (WBFF) - A New York man was killed after the trash truck he was driving fell off the Conowingo Dam in Cecil County overnight.
Luis Garcia, 53, of Ridgewood, N.Y., crashed at about 1:30 a.m., according to a Maryland State Police news release.
Police believe Garcia's dump trailer failed to negotiate a bend in the road, and crashed. The trailer struck the jersey wall, overturned and fell about 80 feet to the bottom of the dam.
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Grandfather charged in girl's cruise ship death says he's colorblind, calls outcome of case "inconsequential"
Salvatore "Sam" Anello, the Indiana man accused of negligent homicide in the death of his granddaughter Chloe Wiegand, said what happens in the criminal investigation is not important because "the worst thing" has already happened. In an exclusive interview with CBS News, Anello spoke for the first time about the moment 18-month-old Wiegand fell from his grasp out of a cruise ship window in Puerto Rico.
"Chloe being gone is the worst thing ever. So I'm like, whatever," Anello said. "There's nothing worse that they could do to me than what's already happened."
Wiegand fell 150 feet from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico in July. Anello was holding the girl up against what he thought was a bank of closed windows, when she slipped from his grasp. Despite the family's wishes not to pursue charges, Puerto Rican prosecutors have charged him with negligent homicide.
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"Chloe being gone is the worst thing ever. So I'm like, whatever," Anello said. "There's nothing worse that they could do to me than what's already happened."
Wiegand fell 150 feet from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship docked in Puerto Rico in July. Anello was holding the girl up against what he thought was a bank of closed windows, when she slipped from his grasp. Despite the family's wishes not to pursue charges, Puerto Rican prosecutors have charged him with negligent homicide.
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Second Adam Schiff Staffer Linked to Burisma-Backed Think Tank
Yet another staffer for Rep. Adam Schiff served as a fellow for the Atlantic Council, a think tank that is funded by and works in partnership with Burisma, the natural gas company at the center of allegations regarding Joe Biden and his son, Hunter Biden.
Sean Misko has been described as “close friends” with Eric Ciaramella, whom Real Clear Investigations suggests is the likely so-called whistleblower. Misko reportedly joined Schiff’s staff at the House Intelligence Committee in August – the same month the so-called whistleblower’s complaint was filed after first reportedly interfacing with a staffer for Schiff’s office.
Misko in 2015 was a yearlong “Millennium Fellow” at the Burisma-funded Atlantic Council, which has been under the microscope for its ties to other individuals associated with the Trump impeachment inquiry.
Misko’s former position marks the second Schiff staffer who worked or currently works with the Atlantic Council.
Thomas Eager, a staffer on Schiff’s House Intelligence Committee, is currently a fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Congressional Fellowship, a bipartisan program that says it “educates congressional staff on current events in the Eurasia region.”
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Sean Misko has been described as “close friends” with Eric Ciaramella, whom Real Clear Investigations suggests is the likely so-called whistleblower. Misko reportedly joined Schiff’s staff at the House Intelligence Committee in August – the same month the so-called whistleblower’s complaint was filed after first reportedly interfacing with a staffer for Schiff’s office.
Misko in 2015 was a yearlong “Millennium Fellow” at the Burisma-funded Atlantic Council, which has been under the microscope for its ties to other individuals associated with the Trump impeachment inquiry.
Misko’s former position marks the second Schiff staffer who worked or currently works with the Atlantic Council.
Thomas Eager, a staffer on Schiff’s House Intelligence Committee, is currently a fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Eurasia Congressional Fellowship, a bipartisan program that says it “educates congressional staff on current events in the Eurasia region.”
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Swing District New Jersey Voters Back Trump on Impeachment, Immigration, Trade
Swing district New Jersey voters back President Trump on impeachment, immigration, and trade, which could spell danger for Reps. Jeff Van Drew (D-NJ) and Andy Kim (D-NJ), according to a report released Sunday.
House Majority Forward, a Democrat group associated with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), released a report on white college-educated and non-educated voters in New Jersey’s Second and Third Congressional Districts and found strong support for Trump going into to next year’s presidential election.
Voters in the focus group found that Trump is a businessman, unlike “mostly useless” politicians. They also thoughts that Trump is working to reverse America’s decline and bring back companies to the United States.
“I watched regulation send out entire industries to other countries,” one New Jersey voter said.
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House Majority Forward, a Democrat group associated with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), released a report on white college-educated and non-educated voters in New Jersey’s Second and Third Congressional Districts and found strong support for Trump going into to next year’s presidential election.
Voters in the focus group found that Trump is a businessman, unlike “mostly useless” politicians. They also thoughts that Trump is working to reverse America’s decline and bring back companies to the United States.
“I watched regulation send out entire industries to other countries,” one New Jersey voter said.
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Eastern Shore Felon Sentenced to Five Years in Federal Prison for Illegal Possession of Stolen Firearms
Admitted Burglarizing at Least Two Gun Dealers
Baltimore, Maryland – U.S. District Judge Deborah K. Chasnaow today sentenced Ricky Sanabria, Jr., age 27, of Salisbury, Maryland, to five years in federal prison, followed by three years of supervised release, for possession of stolen firearms.
The sentence was announced by United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Robert K. Hur; Special Agent in Charge Rob Cekada of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) Baltimore Field Division; Wicomico County Sheriff Michael A. Lewis; Dorchester County Sheriff James W. Phillips, Jr.; and Salisbury Police Chief Barbara Duncan.
According to his guilty plea, on June 10, 2017, Sanabria burglarized a firearms store in Federalsburg, Maryland. Surveillance video shows that Sanabria entered the store by cutting a hole into an exterior wall. He wore a hoodie and gloves, with a mask that partially covered his face. Sanabria stole 27 weapons from the Federalsburg firearms store, and left the scene. Sanabria stole at least 30 weapons total.
Sanabria was not apprehended until July 16, 2017, when Nebraska state troopers arrested Sanabria for speeding on a highway in Lincoln County, Nebraska. Sanabria initially evaded the troopers and abandoned his car, but the troopers found Sanabria in a park nearby and arrested him. They found one of the firearms stolen from the store in Federalsburg—a .40-caliber Glock handgun—directly in front of the driver seat under the floorboard of Sanabria’s car. Sanabria subsequently waived his rights, and admitted that he was driving the car. On recorded jail calls, Sanabria acknowledged that the firearm was his, and that he put the firearm in the car.
Two days later, Maryland investigators executed search warrants at two houses associated with Sanabria. At his home in Salisbury, Maryland, investigators found a 20-gauge shotgun, which was stolen during a separate burglary in August 2016. At his parents’ home in Hebron, Maryland, investigators found an antique weapon—a Colt black powder gun—that Sanabria stole from the Federalsburg gun store during the June 2017 burglary. Sanabria possessed both the shotgun and the antique weapon.
In addition, Sanabria’s DNA sample matched the DNA profile of blood left at the scene of another burglary of a firearms dealer in November 2016. During that burglary, Sanabria stole two firearms—a 9 mm Glock pistol and a .22-caliber Ruger pistol. Although investigators have only found one of those firearms, Sanabria possessed both firearms on the day they were stolen.
This case is part of Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN), a program bringing together all levels of law enforcement and the communities they serve to reduce violent crime and make our neighborhoods safer for everyone. Project Safe Neighborhoods (PSN) is the centerpiece of the Department of Justice’s violent crime reduction efforts. PSN is an evidence-based program proven to be effective at reducing violent crime. Through PSN, a broad spectrum of stakeholders work together to identify the most pressing violent crime problems in the community and develop comprehensive solutions to address them. As part of this strategy, PSN focuses enforcement efforts on the most violent offenders and partners with locally based prevention and reentry programs for lasting reductions in crime.
United States Attorney Robert K. Hur commended the ATF, the Wicomico and Dorchester County Sheriffs’ Offices, and the Salisbury Police Department for their work in the investigation, and thanked the Nebraska State Police for its assistance. Mr. Hur thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Brandon Moore, who prosecuted the case.
ICE rages against sanctuaries, claims 90% of arrests face criminal charges
Facing a widening national sanctuary movement for criminal illegal immigrants, Immigration and Customs Enforcement is aggressively pushing back, claiming that soft-hearted political and community leaders are releasing murderers and rapists.
After a county bordering Washington, D.C., joined over 300 sanctuary governments late last week, ICE has released the photos of 66 mostly Hispanic wanted illegal immigrants held by those jurisdictions to drive home its point that those set free are hardened criminals.
It also knocked down claims that it is targeting illegal immigrants facing no criminal charges, noting that 90% of those arrested are convicts or wanted for alleged criminal acts.
“Nationally, approximately 90% of all people arrested by ICE during fiscal year 2019 either had a criminal conviction, a pending criminal charge, had illegally re-entered the United States after being previously removed (a federal felony), or were an immigration fugitive subject to a final order of removal,” said ICE in its campaign against “non-cooperative jurisdictions.”
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After a county bordering Washington, D.C., joined over 300 sanctuary governments late last week, ICE has released the photos of 66 mostly Hispanic wanted illegal immigrants held by those jurisdictions to drive home its point that those set free are hardened criminals.
It also knocked down claims that it is targeting illegal immigrants facing no criminal charges, noting that 90% of those arrested are convicts or wanted for alleged criminal acts.
“Nationally, approximately 90% of all people arrested by ICE during fiscal year 2019 either had a criminal conviction, a pending criminal charge, had illegally re-entered the United States after being previously removed (a federal felony), or were an immigration fugitive subject to a final order of removal,” said ICE in its campaign against “non-cooperative jurisdictions.”
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ASSATEAGUE ISLAND ENTRANCE WILL COST MORE IN 2020
Visiting Assateague Island National Seashore is going to cost most in 2020, as the National Park Service (NPS) increases park entrance fees.
Beginning January 1, it will be $25 per car instead of $20 per car for a seven-day pass, or $15 per person when entering in a commercial vehicle. An annual pass will go from $40 to $45.
NPS says the $5 increase is happening “to align with standardized rates being implemented nationwide for similar national park areas,” and the additional funds will go towards infrastructure and maintenance to “enhance the visitor experience.” It’s the second rate increase since 2015.
Feee increases will take effect at all of the national parks that currently charge entrance fees. (112 national parks charge a fee; the other 307 will remain free to enter.)
Assateague Island National Seashore breaks down the fee change in the table below:
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Beginning January 1, it will be $25 per car instead of $20 per car for a seven-day pass, or $15 per person when entering in a commercial vehicle. An annual pass will go from $40 to $45.
NPS says the $5 increase is happening “to align with standardized rates being implemented nationwide for similar national park areas,” and the additional funds will go towards infrastructure and maintenance to “enhance the visitor experience.” It’s the second rate increase since 2015.
Feee increases will take effect at all of the national parks that currently charge entrance fees. (112 national parks charge a fee; the other 307 will remain free to enter.)
Assateague Island National Seashore breaks down the fee change in the table below:
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Obama’s Deadly School Discipline Policy
There are many news stories squandered by CNN, The New York Times, Washington Post, MSNBC, and even FOX News. Many of these stories are easy to find. However, the narrative-driven media are too busy trying to topple the Trump administration and undo the 2016 election. So while all the invented drama of the impeachment hearings are clogging up the 24-hour news cycles, a comprehensive study on school shootings published by the U.S. Secret Service never sees the light of day.
Why? Because the study discovered some inconvenient truths for gun control advocates, specifically how to reduce and prevent school shootings. What is not surprising is that the study found that most students who committed these deadly shootings had a history of disciplinary trouble--their behavior disturbed others but was never reported. It also determined school shootings “are not sudden, impulsive acts where a student gets disgruntled,” and “the majority of these incidents are preventable.” In other words, the system was blinking red, and little was done about it. The report’s conclusion says that schools may need to think differently about school discipline and intervention.
Why does this matter? Remember in 2011, when Barack Obama and his Department of Education were on a socially engineered crusade to artificially manufacture public school safety through race politics? Recall they launched their Supportive School Discipline Initiative that was championed as a national model for discipline reform. Yet, this misguided intervention into local school policy is why the Department of Education should be shut down. Through forced compliance to receive federal funding, this junk science kept many miscreants in the school instead of finding an alternative placement somewhere else and an effective tracking system. States also followed by revising their laws to reduce suspensions and expulsions.
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Why? Because the study discovered some inconvenient truths for gun control advocates, specifically how to reduce and prevent school shootings. What is not surprising is that the study found that most students who committed these deadly shootings had a history of disciplinary trouble--their behavior disturbed others but was never reported. It also determined school shootings “are not sudden, impulsive acts where a student gets disgruntled,” and “the majority of these incidents are preventable.” In other words, the system was blinking red, and little was done about it. The report’s conclusion says that schools may need to think differently about school discipline and intervention.
Why does this matter? Remember in 2011, when Barack Obama and his Department of Education were on a socially engineered crusade to artificially manufacture public school safety through race politics? Recall they launched their Supportive School Discipline Initiative that was championed as a national model for discipline reform. Yet, this misguided intervention into local school policy is why the Department of Education should be shut down. Through forced compliance to receive federal funding, this junk science kept many miscreants in the school instead of finding an alternative placement somewhere else and an effective tracking system. States also followed by revising their laws to reduce suspensions and expulsions.
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South Florida Resident Arrested for Soliciting Another to Commit a Violent Crime Against College Deans
John C. Demers, Assistant Attorney General for National Security; Ariana Fajardo Orshan, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Florida; and George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Miami Field Office made the announcement.
According to court documents, the FBI initiated an investigation of Rashid in approximately April 2018 after reviewing his public Facebook posts, which advocated for the violent overthrow of democracy and the establishment of Islamic law. In May 2019, and without provocation, Rashid solicited a confidential human source to contact members of ISIS and instruct those ISIS members to conduct a terrorist attack on Rashid’s behalf. Throughout the summer and fall of 2019, Rashid continued to instruct the confidential source regarding Rashid’s requested attack, indicating an attack on a religious building or nightclub would be suitable. Based on Rashid’s request, the FBI introduced an additional confidential human source, who held him/herself out to be a member of ISIS willing to conduct an attack.
Ultimately, on or about November 8-9, 2019, Rashid chose two individuals to target - a dean at Miami-Dade College and a dean at Broward College, two colleges from which Rashid had been suspended or expelled – and asked that explosive devices placed by the confidential human source to carry out the attack against the two individuals be as big as possible. Rashid provided information about the locations to place the devices and his assessment of security that might be present at the colleges.
Asylum-Seekers in Arizona Being Bused to Texas, Then Mexico
U.S. immigration authorities have reportedly started busing asylum-seekers who cross the border in Arizona to Texas, where they're sent to Mexico to await court hearings.
The government said its highly criticized program known as Remain in Mexico was now in effect all along the border, the Associated Press reported.
U.S. officials say the program has helped drastically reduce the number of migrants arriving at the border.
The program “works and is a game-changer in addressing the ongoing border crisis,” Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said in a tweet Friday.
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The government said its highly criticized program known as Remain in Mexico was now in effect all along the border, the Associated Press reported.
U.S. officials say the program has helped drastically reduce the number of migrants arriving at the border.
The program “works and is a game-changer in addressing the ongoing border crisis,” Acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf said in a tweet Friday.
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AUTO LOAN DELINQUENCIES SURGE
How much more can the auto loan bubble blow up before it pops?
Total auto loans and leases outstanding for new and used vehicles increased by another 4.3% year-on-year in the third quarter, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve. This was a factor in pushing total American consumer debt to a new record of $4.15 trillion in September.
Meanwhile, auto loan delinquencies are surging.
Vehicle loans and leases outstanding have soared to a record of $1.19 trillion. Since Q3 2009, auto loan balances have grown by 62%. That compares to a 19% increase in CPI with a population growth of 8%. In other words, the overall burden of auto loans has increased in real terms.
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Total auto loans and leases outstanding for new and used vehicles increased by another 4.3% year-on-year in the third quarter, according to the latest data from the Federal Reserve. This was a factor in pushing total American consumer debt to a new record of $4.15 trillion in September.
Meanwhile, auto loan delinquencies are surging.
Vehicle loans and leases outstanding have soared to a record of $1.19 trillion. Since Q3 2009, auto loan balances have grown by 62%. That compares to a 19% increase in CPI with a population growth of 8%. In other words, the overall burden of auto loans has increased in real terms.
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Ron Paul Exposes The Real Bombshell Of The Impeachment Hearings
The most shocking thing about the House impeachment hearings to this point is not a “smoking gun” witness providing irrefutable evidence of quid pro quo. It’s not that President Trump may or may not have asked the Ukrainians to look into business deals between then-Vice President Biden’s son and a Ukrainian oligarch.
The most shocking thing to come out of the hearings thus far is confirmation that no matter who is elected President of the United States, the permanent government will not allow a change in our aggressive interventionist foreign policy, particularly when it comes to Russia.
Even more shocking is that neither Republicans nor Democrats are bothered in the slightest!
Take Lt. Colonel Vindman, who earned high praise in the mainstream media. He did not come forth with first-hand evidence that President Trump had committed any “high crimes” or “misdemeanors.” He brought a complaint against the President because he was worried that Trump was shifting US policy away from providing offensive weapons to the Ukrainian government!
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The most shocking thing to come out of the hearings thus far is confirmation that no matter who is elected President of the United States, the permanent government will not allow a change in our aggressive interventionist foreign policy, particularly when it comes to Russia.
Even more shocking is that neither Republicans nor Democrats are bothered in the slightest!
Take Lt. Colonel Vindman, who earned high praise in the mainstream media. He did not come forth with first-hand evidence that President Trump had committed any “high crimes” or “misdemeanors.” He brought a complaint against the President because he was worried that Trump was shifting US policy away from providing offensive weapons to the Ukrainian government!
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‘Completely bananas’: Eddie Gallagher offered to give up SEAL Trident pin but was told he could keep it
Navy SEAL Eddie Gallagher, 40, was prepared to surrender his Trident pin "for the good of the SEALs, the president, and the country" but was later informed that he would be allowed to keep it.
Minutes before the Pentagon announced Defense Secretary Mark Esper's decision to force the resignation of Navy Secretary Richard Spencer on Sunday, Gallagher told his attorney Timothy Parlatore he was willing to give up the pin, effectively expelling him from the elite SEAL unit. Soon after Gallagher told Parlatore to write a letter declaring he would give up the pin, he received word that Esper was going to let the SEAL keep it.
“This isn’t a twist any of us saw coming,” Parlatore told Navy Times Monday. "From the beginning, my primary responsibility was to save Eddie Gallagher’s life, then to save his reputation, but Eddie Gallagher loves the Navy and he loves the SEAL teams. He’s been falsely accused of attacking the institution, but it’s an institution we both love and want to improve."
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Minutes before the Pentagon announced Defense Secretary Mark Esper's decision to force the resignation of Navy Secretary Richard Spencer on Sunday, Gallagher told his attorney Timothy Parlatore he was willing to give up the pin, effectively expelling him from the elite SEAL unit. Soon after Gallagher told Parlatore to write a letter declaring he would give up the pin, he received word that Esper was going to let the SEAL keep it.
“This isn’t a twist any of us saw coming,” Parlatore told Navy Times Monday. "From the beginning, my primary responsibility was to save Eddie Gallagher’s life, then to save his reputation, but Eddie Gallagher loves the Navy and he loves the SEAL teams. He’s been falsely accused of attacking the institution, but it’s an institution we both love and want to improve."
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Judicial Watch Sues for Documents on Census Plan to Hire Foreign Nationals
Judicial Watch announced today that it filed a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Commerce for U.S. Census Bureau records concerning the agency’s hiring of non-U.S. citizens to help conduct the 2020 Census.
The lawsuit was filed after the Census Bureau delayed responding to a September 12, 2019, FOIA request for more than two months.
The request was prompted by a report entitled “Census Bureau Seeks to Hire Non-U.S. Citizens Ahead of 2020,” published on August 6, 2019 by U.S. News & World Report. Federal law generally prohibits the government from hiring of non-citizens, but according to the report, Census Bureau officials believe the law afford them “flexibilities”:
“There are [citizenship] flexibilities within the Appropriation Act that would permit, for example, based on language requirements, some exemptions,” says Tim Olson, associate director for field operations at the Census Bureau. “We are actively working through those flexibilities to see if they can be used in 2020. We are not there yet.”
Asked whether the bureau planned to employ people living in the country illegally [emphasis added], a spokesman said, “There is nowhere in our legal flexibilities that refers to people we could possibly hire as ‘’illegal.’” When pressed as to whether it’s an option under the current law, the spokesman repeatedly demurred, saying that the term “non-citizen” encompasses “anyone who is not a U.S. citizen.”
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The lawsuit was filed after the Census Bureau delayed responding to a September 12, 2019, FOIA request for more than two months.
The request was prompted by a report entitled “Census Bureau Seeks to Hire Non-U.S. Citizens Ahead of 2020,” published on August 6, 2019 by U.S. News & World Report. Federal law generally prohibits the government from hiring of non-citizens, but according to the report, Census Bureau officials believe the law afford them “flexibilities”:
“There are [citizenship] flexibilities within the Appropriation Act that would permit, for example, based on language requirements, some exemptions,” says Tim Olson, associate director for field operations at the Census Bureau. “We are actively working through those flexibilities to see if they can be used in 2020. We are not there yet.”
Asked whether the bureau planned to employ people living in the country illegally [emphasis added], a spokesman said, “There is nowhere in our legal flexibilities that refers to people we could possibly hire as ‘’illegal.’” When pressed as to whether it’s an option under the current law, the spokesman repeatedly demurred, saying that the term “non-citizen” encompasses “anyone who is not a U.S. citizen.”
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Millennials In Panic As Outraged Boomers Threaten To Withhold Participation Trophies
U.S.—The nation’s millennials are in a panic as baby boomers, feeling insulted by such things as the “OK Boomer” meme, have now threatened to withhold participation trophies.
“How am I supposed to know I’m special if I don’t have a trophy?!” exclaimed Brendan Stephens as he stress-ate avocado toast. Stephens currently lives at home with his boomer parents as he’s busy “discovering himself.” “I can’t be left on my own like this. I need constant support to achieve anything,” Stephens continued. “I mean, I’m thirty-seven; I'm not old."
“They’re just mad that we’ve correctly pointed out that they’ve destroyed everything,” said millennial Kaylee Forman, a social media consultant. “Especially the environment, which I’m very, very concerned about. Just look.” Forman scrunched her face so that she looked very concerned. “But they can’t stop giving us symbols of how special we are, because if I don’t get that reassurance every day, I’ll start to wonder if I’m not special! What if I’m not special?! What if I’m not?!”
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“How am I supposed to know I’m special if I don’t have a trophy?!” exclaimed Brendan Stephens as he stress-ate avocado toast. Stephens currently lives at home with his boomer parents as he’s busy “discovering himself.” “I can’t be left on my own like this. I need constant support to achieve anything,” Stephens continued. “I mean, I’m thirty-seven; I'm not old."
“They’re just mad that we’ve correctly pointed out that they’ve destroyed everything,” said millennial Kaylee Forman, a social media consultant. “Especially the environment, which I’m very, very concerned about. Just look.” Forman scrunched her face so that she looked very concerned. “But they can’t stop giving us symbols of how special we are, because if I don’t get that reassurance every day, I’ll start to wonder if I’m not special! What if I’m not special?! What if I’m not?!”
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CNN host fires back at Nunes after he threatened to sue the network
CNN host John King unloaded on Rep. Devin Nunes after watching him dodge a question about his association with a former Ukrainian prosecutor by accusing the network of "criminal activity."
King explained Monday that Nunes has threatened to sue several media outlets, including CNN, over reports that Rudy Giuliani’s now-arrested associate Lev Parnas is willing to tell Congress that the California Republican had traveled to Vienna to get dirt from a Ukrainian official about Joe Biden on the taxpayer’s dime. Nunes denied any wrongdoing but has made it clear he’s outraged by the reports.
King then aired a clip of Nunes from Sunday Morning Futures in which he refused to answer any questions about his relationship with Parnas.
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King explained Monday that Nunes has threatened to sue several media outlets, including CNN, over reports that Rudy Giuliani’s now-arrested associate Lev Parnas is willing to tell Congress that the California Republican had traveled to Vienna to get dirt from a Ukrainian official about Joe Biden on the taxpayer’s dime. Nunes denied any wrongdoing but has made it clear he’s outraged by the reports.
King then aired a clip of Nunes from Sunday Morning Futures in which he refused to answer any questions about his relationship with Parnas.
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The Myth Of An Epidemic Of Racist Police Shootings Is Wrong, And Dangerous
A dangerous myth has been propagated by the media: that there is an epidemic of racially biased shootings of black people (primarily black men) in America, by the police.
The false narrative claims that individual police officers, motivated by overt racism or implicit racial bias, are rampantly targeting black Americans. Some go further to allege these shootings are proof of “systemic racism” within American law enforcement. Nonstop broadcast of the anti-police message by radical activists, Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes, politicians, academics, and most mainstream media outlets have made this myth pervasive. The myth, and the powerful voices who perpetuate it, are rarely challenged — even by law enforcement leaders. The result has been fear, distrust, hatred of the police, and a breakdown of the rule of law.
However, this destructive delusion has been completely demolished by a recent study that demonstrates there is no epidemic of racially biased police shootings of black people, that black citizens are not more likely to be shot by white officers, and that the shooting of unarmed people of any race is extraordinarily rare. In fact, an individual American citizen is substantially more likely to be struck by lightning than he is to be shot by the police while unarmed.
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The false narrative claims that individual police officers, motivated by overt racism or implicit racial bias, are rampantly targeting black Americans. Some go further to allege these shootings are proof of “systemic racism” within American law enforcement. Nonstop broadcast of the anti-police message by radical activists, Hollywood celebrities, professional athletes, politicians, academics, and most mainstream media outlets have made this myth pervasive. The myth, and the powerful voices who perpetuate it, are rarely challenged — even by law enforcement leaders. The result has been fear, distrust, hatred of the police, and a breakdown of the rule of law.
However, this destructive delusion has been completely demolished by a recent study that demonstrates there is no epidemic of racially biased police shootings of black people, that black citizens are not more likely to be shot by white officers, and that the shooting of unarmed people of any race is extraordinarily rare. In fact, an individual American citizen is substantially more likely to be struck by lightning than he is to be shot by the police while unarmed.
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Graham won’t be ‘intimidated into doing nothing’ as Biden calls for him to drop investigation of Hunter
Lindsey Graham defended his decision to open an investigation into Hunter Biden amid calls from his longtime friend Joe Biden to drop it.
Graham, 64, announced that he intends to call Hunter Biden to testify about his high paying position on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian natural gas firm. The South Carolina senator was blasted by the elder Biden, 77, who said he was “embarrassed” on Graham’s behalf when he heard about the promised investigation.
While talking to reporters in South Carolina, Graham stood by his investigation and pushed back on Biden’s criticism.
“My conscious is clear, I love Joe Biden as a person, he is a really decent man. He's had a lot of tragedy in his life, but I have a conscious very clear right now, and I have a duty,” Graham said. “If the House is going to shut it down, the Senate is going to pick it up.”
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Graham, 64, announced that he intends to call Hunter Biden to testify about his high paying position on the board of Burisma Holdings, a Ukrainian natural gas firm. The South Carolina senator was blasted by the elder Biden, 77, who said he was “embarrassed” on Graham’s behalf when he heard about the promised investigation.
While talking to reporters in South Carolina, Graham stood by his investigation and pushed back on Biden’s criticism.
“My conscious is clear, I love Joe Biden as a person, he is a really decent man. He's had a lot of tragedy in his life, but I have a conscious very clear right now, and I have a duty,” Graham said. “If the House is going to shut it down, the Senate is going to pick it up.”
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Twitter users smear Conan the hero dog to own Trump
If Americans can unite around anything, you'd think it would be a heroic dog.
But apparently, it can't be Conan.
The internet’s favorite Belgian Malinois dog, and the very good boy who was injured while assisting the military's mission to take out ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi last month, was honored Monday at the White House. President Trump appeared at a press conference to commend the military K-9 for his service in the Baghdadi raid, announcing, “The dog is incredible.”
We should all agree. Conan provided the bipartisan service of protecting our national security, so we should be able to celebrate this good dog without descending into political attacks.
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But apparently, it can't be Conan.
The internet’s favorite Belgian Malinois dog, and the very good boy who was injured while assisting the military's mission to take out ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi last month, was honored Monday at the White House. President Trump appeared at a press conference to commend the military K-9 for his service in the Baghdadi raid, announcing, “The dog is incredible.”
We should all agree. Conan provided the bipartisan service of protecting our national security, so we should be able to celebrate this good dog without descending into political attacks.
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Polling Tailspin: After Public Hearings, Support for Impeachment Falls, and Democrats Fret
A few caveats before we get to the unmistakable polling trend against impeachment: First, many of the data points highlighted below were gathered before last week's testimony, so public sentiment could shift back in a pro-impeachment direction once the impact of testimony from the last few witnesses -- Amb. Gordon Sondland in particular -- gets baked into the numbers. Second, although the public hearings are likely over, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff is holding out the possibility for more. It's conceivable that various revelations could still emerge that might color voters' views of this question, perhaps during a potential Senate trial. But I suspect that Democrats have likely taken the cleanest, hardest shot they've got. If anything, the upcoming drip, drip, drip of information could benefit Trump, including the Horowitz report and any Burisma/Biden-related theater Senate Republicans may choreograph.
In other words, the waters could very realistically get further muddied in such a way that turns more voters against the proposition of impeaching and removing an American President from office for the first time in our nation's history. We've known that battleground state voters have been highly skeptical of this prospect from the get-go, a reality that was further confirmed by a Wisconsin poll released late last week. But it very much looks like after an initial spike in support for this process as the Ukraine matter took shape, as that process has unfolded, impeachment fever has receded:
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In other words, the waters could very realistically get further muddied in such a way that turns more voters against the proposition of impeaching and removing an American President from office for the first time in our nation's history. We've known that battleground state voters have been highly skeptical of this prospect from the get-go, a reality that was further confirmed by a Wisconsin poll released late last week. But it very much looks like after an initial spike in support for this process as the Ukraine matter took shape, as that process has unfolded, impeachment fever has receded:
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A Viewer Writes.........Wicomico County Schools
Below you will find several emails sent and received by parents of a child that attends a Wicomico County School. This post is extremely long and shows the extent parents go for their children, yet are getting no where with the school system. We chose to remove the names of the student and parents.
On Fri, Nov 8, 2019, 8:17 AM ***Father** wrote:
I am writing to follow up on **Mother** emails in regards to **Student** safety.
She has written several emails to everyone included in this email with zero response from anyone.
Her emails where sent on 10/9/19, 10/11/19, 10/22/19, 10/24/19, 10/28/19 and 11/4/19.
She also spoke to Ms. Curtis on 11/4/19, she said she was the attendance officer at Westside Intermediate School. Ms. Curtis was going to follow up with Mr. Nunzio. She also said she agreed that keeping **Student** home was the correct thing to do until we have a resolution to the issues.
I personally am shocked but not surprised at this lack of communication from the school district.
**Student** has been bullied and hit by this same student multiple times this year and when reported the first time only one email saying it would be looked into.
**Student** now has missed school again over the lack of safety and the school district has ignored continued pleas for help.
I also spoke to Deputy Bowers and he said he would ask Mr. Nunzio and Mr. Hughes follow up and still nothing.
**Student** will be not returning to school until you can assure his safety. The afternoon driver has bullied **Student** for 2 years and again with repeated attempts on our part to have the situation corrected he continues to bully **Student**.
It would only be polite for a call and at this point I believe it should be from the top. Dr. Hanlin I would appreciate a phone call. It has been a month of one sided communication.
---------------------
Sent: Friday, November 8, 2019 10:30 AM
To: Donna C. Hanlin <DHANLIN@WCBOE.ORG>; David Owens <dowens@wcboe.org>; Kimberly Miles <kmiles@wcboe.org>; Chris Nunzio <cnunzio@wcboe.org>; Desmond Hughes <dhughes@wcboe.org>; Michael Bowers <mbowers@wicomicocounty.org>
Subject: Re: **Student's name**
I appreciate the call from Mr. Nunzio today but he said since the assaults and bullying happened on the bus it is Mr. Hughes who is responsible to address them.
However Mr. Hughes out of office reply states he is out intil the 18th.
So again why has no one responded until now? If Mr. Hughes is supposed to address then why no response from him except a brief email after the first assault? Nothing since. Who is his supervisor? Ms. Fields? Nothing from her either. Who is her supervisor? Dr. Hanlin? Nothing from her either. So who is Dr. Hanlin's supervisor?
Dr. Hanlin you sent out a robo call a few weeks ago in regards to Salisbury Middle school and the lack of communication with parents. You claimed it was not true and that the school district has great communication with parents. Well that is not my experience over the last 2 years. We have had to send multiple emails and include the school boards for the state and federal government to get responses. I would think that when safety is in question over communication from the school would be the goal. As the head of the district you are the one ultimately responsible for your people and their actions or lack of actions, I would say you are failing your students in this area.
**Signed Father**
On Fri, Nov 8, 2019, 8:17 AM ***Father** wrote:
I am writing to follow up on **Mother** emails in regards to **Student** safety.
She has written several emails to everyone included in this email with zero response from anyone.
Her emails where sent on 10/9/19, 10/11/19, 10/22/19, 10/24/19, 10/28/19 and 11/4/19.
She also spoke to Ms. Curtis on 11/4/19, she said she was the attendance officer at Westside Intermediate School. Ms. Curtis was going to follow up with Mr. Nunzio. She also said she agreed that keeping **Student** home was the correct thing to do until we have a resolution to the issues.
I personally am shocked but not surprised at this lack of communication from the school district.
**Student** has been bullied and hit by this same student multiple times this year and when reported the first time only one email saying it would be looked into.
**Student** now has missed school again over the lack of safety and the school district has ignored continued pleas for help.
I also spoke to Deputy Bowers and he said he would ask Mr. Nunzio and Mr. Hughes follow up and still nothing.
**Student** will be not returning to school until you can assure his safety. The afternoon driver has bullied **Student** for 2 years and again with repeated attempts on our part to have the situation corrected he continues to bully **Student**.
It would only be polite for a call and at this point I believe it should be from the top. Dr. Hanlin I would appreciate a phone call. It has been a month of one sided communication.
---------------------
Sent: Friday, November 8, 2019 10:30 AM
To: Donna C. Hanlin <DHANLIN@WCBOE.ORG>; David Owens <dowens@wcboe.org>; Kimberly Miles <kmiles@wcboe.org>; Chris Nunzio <cnunzio@wcboe.org>; Desmond Hughes <dhughes@wcboe.org>; Michael Bowers <mbowers@wicomicocounty.org>
Subject: Re: **Student's name**
I appreciate the call from Mr. Nunzio today but he said since the assaults and bullying happened on the bus it is Mr. Hughes who is responsible to address them.
However Mr. Hughes out of office reply states he is out intil the 18th.
So again why has no one responded until now? If Mr. Hughes is supposed to address then why no response from him except a brief email after the first assault? Nothing since. Who is his supervisor? Ms. Fields? Nothing from her either. Who is her supervisor? Dr. Hanlin? Nothing from her either. So who is Dr. Hanlin's supervisor?
Dr. Hanlin you sent out a robo call a few weeks ago in regards to Salisbury Middle school and the lack of communication with parents. You claimed it was not true and that the school district has great communication with parents. Well that is not my experience over the last 2 years. We have had to send multiple emails and include the school boards for the state and federal government to get responses. I would think that when safety is in question over communication from the school would be the goal. As the head of the district you are the one ultimately responsible for your people and their actions or lack of actions, I would say you are failing your students in this area.
**Signed Father**
Teachers Strive to Ensure Students ‘Unlearn’ Thanksgiving ‘Myth’
Teachers across America are striving to have their students “unlearn” what progressive activists say is nothing more than a “feel-good” Thanksgiving “myth.”
“Thanksgiving became a national holiday during the administration of President Abraham Lincoln, and the myth of familial relations between colonial settlers and Native Americans has persisted in American culture ever since,” says Education Week:
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“Thanksgiving became a national holiday during the administration of President Abraham Lincoln, and the myth of familial relations between colonial settlers and Native Americans has persisted in American culture ever since,” says Education Week:
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Someone Has A New Set Of Wheels...
President Trump signs animal cruelty bill into law, making it a federal felony
Animal cruelty has officially become a federal felony after President Donald Trump signed the bill into law on Monday afternoon.
The bipartisan bill, Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, criminalizes certain acts of animal cruelty. The bill was passed in the Senate by unanimous decision on Nov. 5 after being approved in the House in late October.
"Passing this legislation is a major victory in the effort to stop animal cruelty and make our communities safer," Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said earlier this month when the bill, which Toomey sponsored along with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., passed in the Senate. "Evidence shows that the deranged individuals who harm animals often move on to committing acts of violence against people. It is appropriate that the federal government have strong animal cruelty laws and penalties."
The bill, introduced in the House by Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is an expansion on the 2010 Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, which made the creation and distribution of "animal crushing" videos illegal.
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The bipartisan bill, Preventing Animal Cruelty and Torture (PACT) Act, criminalizes certain acts of animal cruelty. The bill was passed in the Senate by unanimous decision on Nov. 5 after being approved in the House in late October.
"Passing this legislation is a major victory in the effort to stop animal cruelty and make our communities safer," Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., said earlier this month when the bill, which Toomey sponsored along with Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., passed in the Senate. "Evidence shows that the deranged individuals who harm animals often move on to committing acts of violence against people. It is appropriate that the federal government have strong animal cruelty laws and penalties."
The bill, introduced in the House by Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., and Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., is an expansion on the 2010 Animal Crush Video Prohibition Act, which made the creation and distribution of "animal crushing" videos illegal.
More
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