MARCH 2016 

Thursday - March 31, 2016 - Today in History:

1854 - The U.S. government signed the Treaty of Kanagawa with Japan. The act opened the ports of Shimoda and Hakotade to American trade.
1862 - Skirmishing between Rebels and Union forces took place at Island 10 on the Mississippi River.
1870 - In Perth Amboy, NJ, Thomas Munday Peterson became the first black to vote in the U.S.
1917 - The U.S. purchased and took possession of the Virgin Islands from Denmark for $25 million.
1918 - For the first time in the U.S., Daylight Saving Time went into effect.
1940 - La Guardia airport in New York officially opened to the public.
1941 - Germany began a counter offensive in North Africa.
1949 - Winston Churchill declared that the A-bomb was the only thing that kept the U.S.S.R. from taking over Europe.
1967 - U.S. President Lyndon Johnson signed the Consular Treaty, the first bi-lateral pact with the Soviet Union since the Bolshevik Revolution.
1970 - The U.S. forces in Vietnam down a MIG-21, it was the first since September 1968.
1976 - The NJ Supreme Court ruled that Karen Anne Quinlan could be disconnected from a respirator. Quinlan remained comatose until 1985 when she died.
1991 - Iraqi forces recaptured the northern city of Kirkuk from Kurdish guerillas.
1999 - Three U.S. soldiers were captured by Yugoslav soldiers three miles from the Yugoslav border in Macedonia.
2004 - 4 American civilian contractors were killed in Fallujah, Iraq; frenzied crowds dragged their burned, mutilated bodies and strung 2 of them from a bridge.
2005 - Terri Schiavo died at a hospice in Pinellas Park, Fla., 13 days after her feeding tube was removed in a wrenching right-to-die dispute.

Turkish Officers Recruiting Fighters for Nusra Front in Syria - Russian Military
Sputnik News - The Turkish servicemen are recruiting militants for the Nusra Front (Jabhat al-Nusra), an extremist group outlawed in a number of countries worldwide including Russia, in Syria’s northern Aleppo province, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday citing local residents. Syria has been mired in civil war since 2011, with forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar Assad's government fighting numerous opposition factions and extremist groups. In an interview with Sputnik, published earlier in the day, Assad called Turkey one of the countries directly supporting terrorism.

The financial cost of war for Syria exceeds $200bn – Assad
RT - Syrian President Bashar Assad says the estimated economic loss to the country from the war is $200 billion. He said rebuilding contracts will primarily be given to Russia, China and Iran. "The economic damage and damage to infrastructure exceeds $200 billion. Economic issues can be resolved when the situation in Syria stabilizes. But the reconstruction of infrastructure requires a lot of time,” Assad said in an interview with RIA Novosti. Assad said that many Western countries that were against Syria will try to get profitable contracts for rebuilding work, but Damascus will lean to its proven allies - Russia, China and Iran. I suppose that a lot of countries that were against Syria, I mean first of all Western countries, will try to direct their companies to take part in this process. However, for us in Syria there is absolutely no doubt that we will ask friendly states first," Assad said.

United Nations seeks homes for another 300,000 refugees
CS Monitor - The United Nations asked nations to employ that flexibility at home, using a Wednesday meeting to request pledges for resettling 300,000 more refugees in three years, Stephanie Nebehay reported for Reuters.... Nations recognize the need but say filling it will require a difficult, large-scale shift… For its part, the US government has increased the number of interviewers at Middle East refugee processing centers so the promised 10,000 can enter the United States by September… Another high-sensitivity area is Europe, where strong commitments to accept record numbers of refugees in the fall of 2015 have softened in response to terrorist attacks, a spate of sexual harassment against German women on New Year's Eve, and the rise of anti-migrant parties in several countries. The European Union, with Germany in the lead, committed to accepting high numbers of refugees last year, but leaders will have to strike a delicate political balance if they do so again.

Kim Jong-un accepting American aid packages despite vow to 'destroy entire US territory'
The Telegraph - Exclusive: American NGO says it has stepped in to help North Korea despite its leader's nuclear threats as "unless something is done, patients will die". He has threatened to "burn Manhattan down to the ashes" and "destroy the entire US territory" with a nuclear strike. But North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is quietly accepting aid from an American NGO to tackle his country's spiraling tuberculosis crisis, the Telegraph has learned. The Eugene Bell Foundation, which combats drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), has delivered its first package to the secretive regime since it carried out its fourth nuclear test in January. And despite Mr Kim's all-consuming hatred for America, the Washington-based group said it had no trouble transporting the medicine.

Genocide: Christian Population in Iraq Drops by 80% in Just Over a Decade
Breitbart - The recent joint report, compiled by the Knights of Columbus and In Defense of Christians (IDC), tells a horrific story of a religious and ethnic purge in the Middle East that has produced the systematic eradication of Christians from the territory. Christianity’s roots in Iraq date back as far as the first century and yet now has fallen prey to Islamist militant groups committed to the extermination of Christians. The Chaldean Archbishop of Erbil, Bashar Warda, has testified that for many long centuries the Christians of Iraq have experienced hardships and persecutions “but what we have now experienced are the worst acts of genocide in our homeland. We are facing the extinction of Christianity as a religion in Iraq.”

Britain's steel industry is facing extinction amid row with EU
The Telegraph - Industry facing extinction as Britain is accused of blocking higher tariffs on cheap Chinese imports. Britain's steel industry is facing extinction amid a row between ministers and the EU over support for the country’s last remaining plants. Tata Steel, the firm that owns the remaining parts of the old British Steel, announced it was seeking a buyer for its entire UK business which it said was no longer viable. Sources suggested the company would allow only weeks rather than months for a rescue deal. Up to 15,000 workers in South Wales are at risk of losing their jobs amid claims that Britain faces the prospect of losing what some countries regard as a strategically important industry.

U.S. to deploy armored brigade combat teams to Europe
Reuters - The U.S. military said on Wednesday that it would deploy rotations of U.S.-based armored brigade combat teams to Europe, part of a wider effort to counter what the United States sees as Russian aggression on the continent. The teams will be on nine-month rotations starting in February 2017, and will conduct military exercises across Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, and Hungary, according to a statement from U.S. European Command. Their presence in Europe will be continuous and bring the total U.S. Army presence on the continent to three fully manned brigades, the military said. Each unit rotating in will bring equipment that is more modern and up-to-date and will ultimately replace the current training equipment in Europe. A typical U.S. Army armored brigade has about 4,500 soldiers.

AJAM’s David Shuster Exclusive: Hillary Clinton to be Interviewed by FBI Director Comey in Coming Days
Mediaite - Wednesday night, Shuster just reported on the 7:00 PM EST AJAM nightly newscast that the FBI has completed its examination of Democratic frontrunner Hillary Clinton‘s private email server after an investigation lasting nearly one year. The former Fox News and MSNBC reporter states investigators are nearing a verdict whether to seek criminal charges against the Former Secretary of State, Senator and First Lady. Per Shuster: While Hillary Clinton fights for the Democratic presidential nomination, law enforcement officials tell Al Jazeera America the Federal Investigation into her personal email system while she was Secretary of State has reached a critical stage. The FBI, led by Director James Comey, has now finished examining Clinton’s private emails and home server. And the sources add that Comey’s FBI team has been joined by the Justice Department prosecutors. Together, they are now examining the evidence, analyzing relevant laws, and attempting to arrange interviews with key figures in the investigation. Those interviews, according to attorneys, will include former State Department aides Philippe Reines, Former Clinton Chief of Staff Cheryl Mills, and Clinton herself. Soon after those interviews — in the next few days and weeks — officials expect Director Comey to make his recommendation to Attorney General Loretta Lynch about potential criminal charges.

Depressing Survey Results Show How Extremely Stupid America Has Become
Economic Collapse - Ten years ago, a major Hollywood film entitled “Idiocracy” was released, and it was an excellent metaphor for what would happen to America over the course of the next decade. In the movie, an “average American” wakes up 500 years in the future only to discover that he is the most intelligent person by far in the “dumbed down” society that he suddenly finds himself in. Sadly, I truly believe that if people of average intellect from the 1950s and 1960s were transported to 2016, they would likely be considered mental giants compared to the rest of us.... Hardly anyone takes time to read a book anymore, and yet the average American spends 302 minutes a day watching television. 75 percent of our young adults cannot find Israel on a map of the Middle East, but they sure know how to find smut on the Internet. It may be hard to believe, but there are more than 4 million adult websites on the Internet today, and they get more traffic than Netflix, Amazon and Twitter combined.

Texas Hospice Home Owner Accused of Accelerating Deaths for Profit
Breitbart - “You need to make this patient go bye-bye,” a Texas hospice home owner is accused of texting his employee. The CPA who does not have a medical license, is accused of telling medical personnel to administer up to four times the amount of morphine recommended in order to accelerate client deaths and maximize profits. The NBC affiliate in the Dallas/Fort Worth area reported that the Frisco, Texas, hospice owner allegedly directed nurses to overdose patients. The local affiliate also obtained emails and other electronic documents and search warrant affidavits in their investigation. Thirty-four-year-old Brad Harris, owner of Novus Health Care Services, Inc., allegedly instructed a nurse to administer overdoses to three patients. He is also alleged to have instructed another employee to administer four times the maximum dose. An FBI affidavit states that the first employee refused to obey Harris’ directive. The Novus executive is also accused of telling other health-care executives in a business lunch meeting that his goal was to “find patients who would die within 24 hours.”

Man Creates Smartphone-Shaped Gun for ‘Ideal Conceal’
Breitbart - The gun’s designer, Kirk Kjellberg, said the idea for the gun arose after someone made a scene over the fact that he was wearing a traditional gun in a restaurant. With the “Ideal Conceal,” no one knows he is carrying.... Kjellberg’s “Ideal Conceal” looks just like a smartphone. It holds two rounds, and the handle folds out of the phone if the gun needs to be used in a self-defense application. The gun is expected to go on sale nationally in October. Right now, “Ideal Conceal” prototypes are being provided to Homeland Security and law enforcement so they can train agents and officers to recognize it in x-rays and scanners where applicable.

Report: Man pleads ‘please don’t shoot me’ before death by Phoenix-area officer
KTAR News - The victim in a fatal shooting involving police plead for his life with the officers before one allegedly struck the final blow, according to a newly-released police report. The police report in the death of Daniel Shaver, released Tuesday, quoted the man as saying “please don’t shoot me,” sobbing and appearing panicked before being fatally shot in a Mesa hotel room on Jan. 18. Former Mesa Police Officer Philip Brailsford has been charged for the second-degree murder of Shaver and has since plead not guilty. Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery said prosecutors are considering offering Brailsford a plea deal in place of going to trial.... No weapons were recovered from Shaver’s body, but officers found two pellet rifles in the hotel room, which they later determined were related to his pest control job, police said.

‘Dash’ the ‘Terrorist’ Dog Sparks Bank’s Islamic State Alert
Breitbart - A service dog in California named “Dash” set off one bank’s terror alert when it confused the dog with the Islamic terrorist group Daesh, more commonly known as the Islamic State. Dash’s owner Bruce Francis set up an online payment to the person that walks his dog. The Times of Israel reported that Francis has multiple sclerosis, and Dash is his service dog. When Francis wrote “Dash” in the memo line for the dog walker payment, Chase Bank confused Dash with Daesh, the Arabic term that has been used for the Islamic terrorist group ISIS. As a result, the payment was cancelled. rancis only found out that the payment failed to go through when his dog walker alerted him that he had not received payment for dog walking services. Once Francis checked his account online he saw a notification about the payment that referred him to the OFAC (Office of Foreign Assets Control), part of the U.S. Treasury Department. OFAC returned a call from Francis informing him that the reason for the flag was that the bank confused Dash with Daesh. The bank had flagged the payment to the government agency.

Trump, Cruz, Kasich ALL Back Down From RNC ‘Pledge’ To Support Republican Candidate ‘Regardless Of Who It Is’
Breitbart - All three U.S. Republican candidates – Sen. Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, and Gov. John Kasich – have backed down from their “pledges” to support the party’s candidate at the general election, “regardless of who it is”. During CNN’s Town Hall event last night, host Anderson Cooper pressed the candidates on the pledge, which Donald Trump announced he signed in September 2015, with the other candidates pledging their support at the first Republican candidates’ debate. Last night, Mr. Trump told Mr. Cooper, when asked if he continued to pledge for whoever the Republican nominee is, “No, I don’t anymore”, while both Mr. Cruz and Mr. Kasich implied their non-committal.

Desperate Media Portrays Trump as Violent for Accidentally Knocking Phone Out of Journalist’s Hand
Infowars - The media attempted to equate a trivial accident to physical violence Tuesday after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump accidentally knocked a phone out of a reporter’s hand. Footage of the “incident,” captured during a press conference on the GOP frontrunner’s private jet, shows Trump apologizing to a reporter whose phone inadvertently crossed paths with his hand. “Whoops, sorry,” Trump tells the journalist. Despite its mundane nature, sites such as the Washington Examiner attempted to connect the encounter to recent news surrounding Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.

Lewandowski prosecutor outed as Hillary supporter
WND - The Florida prosecutor who brought battery charges against Donald Trump’s campaign manager, Corey Lewandowski, supports Hillary Clinton’s campaign for president. An article published by the Palm Beach Post on Nov. 17, 2015, has been circulating since Tuesday evening because it lists Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg as a member 150-member Florida Leadership Council, which was established by the Democratic Party to promote Hillary Clinton’s presidential candidacy. The article states that Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg and Tax Collector Anne Gannon “are also part of Clinton’s Florida team.” Mike Cernovich, writing Tuesday in the blog DangerAndPlay.com, cited the Palm Beach Post article in arguing the charges against Lewandowski were politically motivated. He contended “there was no assault,” because reporter Michelle Fields “was heading towards Trump and was brushed away due to security concerns.”

Does Someone Know Something About The Result Of The Wisconsin Primary?
Zero Hedge - With Wisconsin becoming make-or-break for the avoidance of a contested convention, it appears, based on PredictIt's odds, that someone suddenly knows something about the result and has bet heavily on Cruz to win... Trump's odds have collapsed in the last hour (on yuuge volume)... As "someone" is suddenly betting heavily on Cruz to win... Is this self-fulfilling - spend some dollars to give impression of Cruz success? Or is this "insider" trading? Or did the public just decide now was the time to go all-in on Cruz?

Bernie Sanders May Be Off DC Ballot After Democratic Party Filing
NBC News - Presidential candidate Bernie Sanders' name is not on the primary ballot in Washington, D.C., after the D.C. Democratic Party submitted registration paperwork a day late and a voter filed a challenge, News4 has learned. D.C. party officials called the problem a minor administrative dispute. The Sanders’ campaign, as well as Hillary Clinton's campaign, each submitted registration fees of $2,500 on time earlier this month in advance of the June 14 Democratic primary. But D.C. Democrats did not email the candidates' registration information to the D.C. Board of Elections until a day after the registration deadline of March 16, News4's Tom Sherwood was first to report on Twitter.

Minneapolis Fed commits to END “Too Big to Fail” Banks
Washington's Blog - Fed link; their call to end TBTF: Seven years after the biggest financial crisis since the Great Depression, the biggest banks are still too big to fail (TBTF). Without action, they continue to pose a serious, ongoing risk to our nation’s economy. It’s time to seriously consider bold and transformational solutions to address TBTF once and for all. The Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis is launching a major initiative to develop a plan to end TBTF and prevent similar economic devastation from hurting the American people.

Boeing plans to cut up to 8,000 airplane jobs: sources
Reuters - Boeing Co plans to cut up to 8,000 jobs [including managers and executives] this year at its commercial airplane division, according to two people familiar with the matter, a move that could slash $1 billion in costs and help it battle for sales against European rival Airbus. Boeing on Wednesday acknowledged plans to cut about 4,000 jobs in its commercial airplanes division by mid-year, and another 550 jobs in a unit that conducts flight and lab testing. Sources said the company's broad goal is to cut employment by 10 percent at its commercial airplane unit, which has about 80,000 employees.

Attention President Obama: One Third Of U.S. Households Can No Longer Afford Food, Rent And Transportation
Zero Hedge - While the Fed has long been focusing on the revenue part of the household income statement (which unfortunately has not been rising nearly fast enough to stimulate benign inflation in the form of nominal wages rising at the Fed's preferred clip of 3.5% or higher), one largely ignored aspect of said balance sheet has been the expense side: after all, for any money to be left over and saved, expenses have to surpass income. However, according to a striking new Pew study while household spending has returned to pre-recession levels (the average household spent $36,800 in 2014) incomes have not. Specifically, while the median income had fallen by 13% from 2004 levels over the next decade, expenditures had increased by nearly 14%. But nobody was more impacted than the one-third of households which the study defines as "low-income." Pew finds that while all households had less slack in their budgets in 2014 than in 2004, lower-income households went into the red by over $2,300.

Exxon climate change probe spurs Democratic AGs' crackdown on dissenters
Washington Times - A coalition of Democratic attorneys general in 16 states announced Tuesday an unprecedented campaign to pursue companies that challenge the catastrophic climate change narrative, raising concerns over free speech and the use of state authority to punish political foes… Two states — California and New York — already have launched probes into ExxonMobil, while attorneys general from Massachusetts and the Virgin Islands indicated Tuesday that they would follow suit. Virgin Islands Attorney General Claude Walker, an independent, is the only non-Democrat involved in the campaign, called AGs United for Clean Power… The campaign was spurred by articles last year alleging Exxon hid research conducted by its own scientists linking fossil fuel emissions and global warming. Exxon officials have denied the claims and countered that the investigation was conducted by journalism entities that receive funding from foundations known for their climate change activism.

Acupuncture Successfully Saves Animals From a Lifetime of Paralysis
Dr. Becker - Animal acupuncture has been used in the U.S. for around 40 years and its popularity continues to grow. Veterinary acupuncturists have been successfully saving animals from a lifetime of paralysis, and in many cases, from euthanasia as well. In the holistic veterinary community, and also increasingly in the traditional veterinary community, there is a growing body of documented cases of animals with full or partial paralysis recovering their ability to walk. Even dogs that have lost deep pain perception, which is considered an indicator of a poor outcome, have regained motor function. Many spinal cord-injured animal patients whose guardians wouldn't or couldn't consider surgery or euthanasia are up and moving around comfortably, so clearly, acupuncture is an invaluable tool for veterinarians.... There are many different acupuncture techniques, and each animal acupuncturist performs the treatment a little differently.... My advice is to find an acupuncturist you are comfortable with who has received formal training, and is licensed (this is extremely important).
* Related:  * Use this directory to locate a Certified Veterinary Acupuncturist near you
                   * PBS Spotlight on Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM)
 

Wednesday - March 30, 2016 - Today in History:

1822 - Florida became a U.S. territory.
1855 - About 5,000 "Border Ruffians" from western Missouri invaded the territory of Kansas and forced the election of a pro-slavery legislature. It was the first election in Kansas.
1867 - The U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million dollars.
1870 - The 15th amendment, guaranteeing the right to vote regardless of race, was passed by the U.S. Congress.
1870 - Texas was readmitted to the Union.
1903 - Revolutionary activity in the Dominican Republic brought U.S. troops to Santo Domingo to protect American interests.
1909 - In Oklahoma, Seminole Indians revolted against meager pay for government jobs.
1944 - The U.S. fleet attacked Palau, near the Philippines.
1946 - The Allies seized 1,000 Nazis attempting to revive the Nazi party in Frankfurt.
1950 - U.S. President Truman denounced Senator Joe McCarthy as a saboteur of U.S. foreign policy.
1972 - The Eastertide Offensive began when North Vietnamese troops crossed into the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the northern portion of South Vietnam.
1975 - As the North Vietnamese forces moved toward Saigon South Vietnamese soldiers mob rescue jets in desperation.
1981 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan was shot and wounded in Washington, DC, by John W. Hinckley Jr. Two police officers and Press Secretary James Brady were also wounded.
1982 - The space shuttle Columbia completed its third and its longest test flight after 8 days in space.
1984 - The U.S. ended its participation in the multinational peace force in Lebanon.
2002 - An unmanned U.S. spy plan crashed at sea in the Southern Philippines.
2002 - Suspected Islamic militants set off several grenades at a temple in Indian-controlled Kashmir. Four civilians, four policemen and two attackers were killed and 20 people were injured.
2009 - The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey confirmed that the new World Trade Center building would be officially known by its legal name of "One World Trade Center."
2009 - President Barack Obama asserted unprecedented government control over the auto industry, rejecting GM and Chrysler's restructuring plans and engineering the ouster of GM's chief executive, Rick Wagoner..

Saudi Ambassador FAIL: Attempt To Push “Elections” In Syria Falls Flat In Absence Of Elections In Saudi Arabia
Brandon Turbeville - If there was ever any question what hypocrisy looks like in the flesh, Abdallah al-Mouallimi, the Saudi Arabian Ambassador to the United Nations, put on a live display when he agreed to an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan. Hasan merely asked Mouallimi a simple question – why elections were being demanded for Syria when the same is not tolerated in Saudi Arabia. Mouallimi’s attempt to dodge the question were rebuffed by Hasan and what resulted was Mouallimi not only admitting his country’s lack of respect for the right of Saudi citizens to choose their own leaders but also that Saudi Arabia has ulterior motives for its attempt to destroy the secular Syrian government. The entire clip of the interview, being widely shared across the Internet, is a classic example of real journalistic questioning and the inability of world leaders to justify their imperialist actions against Syria. Below is the transcript of the clip...

EgyptAir hijacking: 'Bomb found on plane with 81 passengers held' at Larnaca airport
Mirror - Pilot was threatened by hijacker with explosives. A plane has been hijacked and has landed at Larnaca International Airport in Cyprus. 08:13 Update: The pilot of the plane was threatened by a passenger strapped with explosives, Egypt's Civil Aviation Ministry said. His name is Omar al-Gammal...EgyptAir tweeted: "Our flight MS181 is officially hijacked. we'll publish an official statement now."

Pakistan Arrests Thousands in Response to Easter Bombing
Sputnik News - Pakistani officials undertake a massive series of raids against suspected terrorists and Taliban sympathizers after Sunday’s deadly playground bombing. Following Sunday’s deadly bombing in the city of Lahore that left at least 73 people killed and 340 others seriously wounded, Pakistani officials have carried out massive raids. Pakistan’s counterterrorism units, intelligence agents and police have searched and interrogated over 5,000 individuals in the past 24 hours. Currently, 216 individuals have been arrested, pending further investigation. Pakistan’s police and security forces state that they have carried out over 160 raids since the attack.

Russia becomes world’s top gold buyer
RT - The Central Bank of Russia bought 356,000 ounces of gold in February becoming the largest buyer of the precious metal among the world's central banks, business daily Vedomosti reports, quoting the IMF data. Last week, Russian foreign reserves increased by another $5.8 billion to $386.9 billion. The international reserves consist of foreign exchange, special drawing rights (SDR) holdings, the reserve position in the IMF and monetary gold. In June 2015, the First Deputy Governor of the Central Bank Dmitry Tulin said the regulator intends to increase Russia's international reserves to $500 billion within three to five years.

Top German Journalist Admits Mainstream Media Is Completely Fake: “We All Lie For The CIA”
Zero Hedge - As Arjun Walia, of GlobalResearch.ca, notes, Dr. Ulfakatte went on public television stating that he was forced to publish the works of intelligence agents under his own name, also adding that noncompliance with these orders would result in him losing his job. He recently made an appearance on RT news to share these facts: "I’ve been a journalist for about 25 years, and I was educated to lie, to betray, and not to tell the truth to the public." But seeing right now within the last months how the German and American media tries to bring war to the people in Europe, to bring war to Russia — this is a point of no return and I’m going to stand up and say it is not right what I have done in the past, to manipulate people, to make propaganda against Russia, and it is not right what my colleagues do and have done in the past because they are bribed to betray the people, not only in Germany, all over Europe.

Pentagon Orders Hundreds Of Military Families To Evacuate Turkey
Zero Hedge - Moments ago the DOD announced that the Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of State, has authorized the ordered departure of all DoD dependents not assigned to Chief of Mission authority from Adana (to include Incirlik Air Base), Ismir, and Mugla, Turkey. This decision allows for the deliberate, safe return of family members from these areas due to continued security concerns in the region. It adds that while "this step does not signify a permanent decision to end accompanied tours at these facilities", the evacuation "is intended to mitigate the risk to DoD elements and personnel, including family members, while ensuring the combat effectiveness of U.S. forces and our mission support to operations in Turkey. The United States and Turkey are united in our common fight against ISIL, and Incirlik continues to play a key role in counter-ISIL operations."... This is all taking place one day after the Turkey Foreign Ministry, outraged by a satirical clip making fun of the Turkish President and his recent policies that was broadcast on German television, summoned the German Ambassador for official explanations. Following the broadcast of the satirical piece titled “Erdowie, Erdowo, Erdogan” on NDR show titled “Extra 3” on March 17, German Ambassador Martin Erdmann was summoned up several days later to officially explain “in length” the reasons for the broadcaster’s behavior, Der Speigel has learned.

Pentagon concedes Russia’s ‘constructive role’ in Syrian ceasefire, fight against ISIS
RT - Russia is playing a “constructive” role in the Syrian ceasefire, the Pentagon said, adding that it has seen “developments” on the ground. It encouraged Moscow to “continue to focus” on Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL), while also using leverage over Assad to stop the war. “It is clear that they have focused more of their military attention on ISIL, we think that’s a good thing,” Pentagon spokesperson Peter Cook said during a briefing in Washington DC. “They said initially that was their primary goal, was to go after ISIL in Syria and they are doing so now.” Cook added that the US sees “those developments” on the ground, but also hope that the ceasefire in Syria would “ultimately lead to a resolution of the Syrian Civil War.” In this regard, Cook stressed that peace in Syria depends on Bashar Assad and the changes that he as the President is required to make.

Too Many Wars for the US to Handle, Admits US General Dunford
Sputnik News - The US military’s command and control is not currently organized to handle future conflicts that cross geographical regions and integrate all domains of combat, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Joseph Dunford said in a speech on Tuesday. “A future conflict will be transregional, multi-domain and multifunctional… When we look at that from my perspective, our current planning and organizational construct, and most importantly, our command and control, is actually not suited for that character of war,” Dunford said at the Center for Strategic International Studies. Dunford explained that in the new era of warfare, conflicts will spread “quickly” across borders and domains, challenging the traditional structure of US command and control that is largely delineated along geographic and functions lines. “Information operations, cyber activities, space and counter-space, and ballistic missile technology have all made the character of war today much more dynamic and complex, in my assessment, than it has been in the past,” Dunford noted. The US military is comprised of nine unified combatant commands. Since the start of 2016, US policymakers have proposed reforming the Department of Defense, including restructuring the combatant commands, to make them more flexible to address transregional and multi-domain challenges.

Border Fence Down: Union Says Breach Brings Terrorist Concerns
Breitbart - The head of the National Border Patrol Council says a breach in the fence along a ten-mile area in remote areas of the Mexico-Arizona border should cause concern about terrorist threats. An email from a Border Patrol agent reported that the stretch along the Arizona-Mexico border had the fence cut in order to allow access into the United States from Mexico. Arizona Public Media reported that the president of the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) testified in a congressional hearing last week that cameras caught the images of two trucks crossing the area. Border patrol officials were not at the spot to catch them at the time of the illegal crossing. Brandon Judd, the president of the 16,500 member national union said, “The scariest part is that we don’t know what was in those vehicles.” The Arizona publication said he warned that illegal border crossings on the Mexico border from individuals from Pakistan is expected to increase more than three times in this year alone.

Head of US’ Top Privacy Watchdog Group Resigns
Sputnik News - The chairman of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board, an independent, bipartisan agency within the executive branch that determines the risks of counterterrorism programs to Americans’ constitutional rights, has suddenly resigned. David Medine became chairman of the agency in 2013, shortly before whistleblower Edward Snowden revealed the extent of the National Security Agency’s spying and brought privacy concerns into the spotlight. Medine was set to remain chairman of the five-member panel until January 2018, but will leave the position as of July 1, 2016. All members are chosen by the president and confirmed by the Senate.

Supreme Court: Non-Union Employees Must Now Pay Union Dues to Public-Employee Unions
The Gateway Pundit - Non-union employees must now pay union dues to public employee unions so they can campaign for Democrats. Business Insider reported: The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday split 4-4 on a conservative legal challenge to a vital source of funds for organized labor, affirming a lower-court ruling that allowed California to force non-union workers to pay fees to public-employee unions.... The 4-4 decision leaves in place an appeals court ruling in favor of the unions but sets no new precedent. The court’s action came in lawsuit brought by a group of non-union public school teachers from California who objected to paying fees to the California Teachers Association union. A California law requires non-union workers to pay fees to public-sector unions representing workers such as police, firefighters and teachers to fund collective bargaining efforts.

'Trumped' up charges? Trump campaign manager arrested, charged with battery of 'reporter' (Video)
CNBC News - Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump's campaign manager was arrested in Florida on Tuesday and charged with simple battery, police records show. The report from the Jupiter Police Department said Corey Lewandowski was charged for intentionally grabbing and bruising the arm of Michelle Fields, a former reporter [sic] for the conservative news outlet Breitbart, against her will at a Trump campaign event on March 8. "Mr. Lewandowski is absolutely innocent of this charge," Trump said in a statement. "He will enter a plea of not guilty and looks forward to his day in court. He is completely confident that he will be exonerated."
* Related: TRUMP Destroys LIAR, HOAXER Michelle Fields at Wisconsin Rally (Video)

Michelle Fields touched Trump twice - and was warned by agents to stop, Secret Service says
Daily Mail - 'Can I press charges?' Trump's fury as campaign manager is charged with battery of reporter who candidate says GRABBED him first and member of his Secret Service detail backs him up. Republican front-runner Donald Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski has been charged with simple battery for allegedly grabbing a reporter [sic], in a case that may hinge on a Secret Service claim that the journalist first made unwanted physical contact with the businessman-turned-politician. 'The news conference was over, was done, was finished and she was running up and grabbing and asking questions,' Trump said talking on his plane to reporters when he touched down in Wisconsin this afternoon...Speaking on condition of anonymity, a member of Trump's Secret Service detail told DailyMail.com on Tuesday that Fields touched Trump twice – and was warned by agents to stop – before Lewandowski pulled her away. 'She crossed in between agents and our protectee after being told not to,' said the agent, who was present that night in Jupiter.

Ted Cruz Blames Donald Trump and His “Abusive Culture” for Sham Charges Filed Against Lewandowski (Video)
The Gateway Pundit - This was a new low for Ted Cruz. “It’s a very sad development. And this is the consequence of the culture of the Trump campaign. The abusive culture. When you have a campaign that is built on personal insults, on attacks, and now physical violence. That has no place in a political campaign. It has no place in our democracy.”
* Related: * Ted Cruz Dodges Question About Whether He’s ‘Always Been Faithful’ To His Wife
                  * Heidi Cruz Goes Silent – Cancels Campaign Events, Drops Off Twitter

Susan Sarandon Criticizes Globalist Clinton, Says She May Vote for Her
Kurt Nimmo - Democrats will vote for Clinton if instructed to do so by Sanders. Bernie Sanders supporter Susan Sarandon went on MSNBC with Chris Hayes and explained why a vote for Hillary Clinton is a vote for the “status quo.” In addition to citing a litany of leftist causes, including fracking and the minimum wage, Sarandon criticized Hillary for sidling up to arch globalist and notorious war criminal Henry Kissinger. “I don’t like the fact she talks about Henry Kissinger as her go-to guy for the stuff that’s happened in Libya,” said Sarandon. “I don’t think it’s good.” Clinton and her husband are close to the Rockefeller counselor and confidante Kissinger—the couple winter with the former secretary of state and Nixon national security advisor at the beachfront villa of fashion designer Oscar de la Renta in the Dominican Republic. “I know Hillary as a person. And as a personal friend, I would say yes, she’d be a good president,” Kissinger said in 2014. “But she’d put me under a great conflict of interest if she were a candidate, because I tend to support the Republicans… Yes, I’d be comfortable with her as the president.”

VA Has Revoked Gun Rights for 260,000 Veterans Since December
Activist Post - Last December the VA started reporting thousands of veterans to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check system, which is responsible for determining whether or not a potential gun buyer is legally allowed to own a firearm. Specifically, they’ve been reporting veterans who have a fiduciary trustee to act on their behalf for legal or financial matters. All veterans with this arrangement are being automatically declared “mentally defective” according to Guns.com, and are having their second amendment rights revoked. Over the past 4 months alone the VA has reported over 260,000 veterans to the NICS, which now accounts for 99% of all “mentally defective” claims to the database. Of course, not all veterans with a fiduciary trustee are a danger to themselves or others, and unfortunately the VA hasn’t bothered to investigate any of these individuals to see if they should be reported. Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa has been questioning the VA on this matter, and hopes to put a stop to it. “The very agency created to serve them (veterans) is jeopardizing their Second Amendment rights through an erroneous reading of gun regulations. The VA’s careless approach to our veterans’ constitutional rights is disgraceful.”

Corporate Debt Defaults Explode To Catastrophic Levels Not Seen Since The Last Financial Crisis
Economic Collapse - If a new financial crisis had already begun, we would expect to see corporate debt defaults skyrocket, and that is precisely what is happening. As you will see below, corporate defaults are currently at the highest level that we have seen since 2009. A wave of bankruptcies is sweeping the energy industry, but it isn’t just the energy industry that is in trouble. In fact, the average credit rating for U.S. corporations is now lower than it was at any point during the last recession. This is yet another sign that we are in the early chapters of a major league economic crisis. Yesterday I talked about how 23.2 percent of all Americans in their prime working years do not have a job right now, but today I am going to focus on the employers. Big corporate giants all over America are in deep, deep financial trouble, and this is going to result in a tremendous wave of layoffs in the coming months.

Trend Forecaster’s Dire Warning: Massive Crash Will Wipe 12,000 Points Off Dow Jones By Late 2017
Mac Slavo - Trend forecaster and demographic researcher Harry Dent says we are in a massive bubble. And as he explains in his latest interview with Future Money Trends, central banks around the world continue to fuel this bubble with unlimited fiat money printing.... There will be… and I will stake my entire reputation on this… we are going to see the biggest global bubble burst in history in the next four years… There’s only one way out of this bubble and that is for it to burst… all this stuff is going to reset back to where it should be without all this endless debt, endless printed money, stimulus and zero interest rate policy. Their only solution to this debt and financial asset bubbles is to create more debt and more financial asset bubbles… how can that possibly be the solution? The Dow, I’m projecting, will hit 5,500 to 6,000 by late 2017… just in the next year and a half or so. That’ll be most of the damage… then it will rally and there’ll be some aftershocks into 2020… my four cycles point down into early 2020 and then they start one after the other to turn up… I think the worst will be over by 2020, but the worst of that will be by the end of 2017.

Chicago Debt Downgraded to Near ‘Junk Bonds’
Fitch Ratings downgraded the City of Chicago’s credit rating to just one step above “junk bonds” on March 28. Fitch stated that last week’s Illinois Supreme Court decision voiding a law aimed at boosting funding for two of the city’s pension funds was “among the worst of the possible outcomes for the city’s credit quality.” The agency’s credit analysts warned that the rating could be downgraded further in the absence of “a realistic plan that puts the pension funds on an affordable path toward solvency.” Chicago’s debt rating was slashed two-notches to BBB-minus, which is just one step above “junk.” The new rating affects $9.8 billion of the city’s general obligation bonds (GOs) and $486 million of sales tax revenue bonds. In what was considered a controversial decision last May, Moody’s Investor Services cut Chicago’s credit rating to junk by chopping it rating by two notches from Baa2 to Ba1.

Rail Traffic Volumes Tumble As Coal Stockpiles Soar At Record Rate
Zero Hedge - While we have touched on some of the primary catalysts for the ongoing decline in railroad traffic, chief among which the drop off in global trade and the plunge in oil transportation, a third - just as important factor - has been the situation involving US coal power plants, where as the EIA writes, "coal stockpiles at electric generating facilities totaled 197 million tons at the end of 2015, the highest level since June 2012 and the highest year-end inventories in at least 25 years."

SunEdison Plummets 40% On "Substantial Bankruptcy Risk" Warning
Zero Hedge - Just as we warned was likely, the once infamous hedge fund hotel US solar company SunEdison unit TerraForm Global said on Tuesday there was "substantial risk" that SunEdison would soon seek bankruptcy protection given liquidity difficulties, noting that "such an action would have a material adverse effect” on TerraForm Global. In 2016 alone, SUNE has collapsed from a hope-strewn $6 price to just 73c this morning.

Quebec's order of veterinarians bans pet cosmetic surgery
CBC News - Veterinarians in Quebec will no longer be able to crop the tails or ears of pets for cosmetic purposes beginning in 2017.... Ear-cropping and tail-docking are already prohibited in seven provinces either by law or regulatory bylaws. In Quebec, veterinarians will no longer be allowed to dock or cut the tails of dogs, cattle and horses for cosmetic reasons. The order also banned ear cropping for dogs and cats, stating that it goes against the principles of ensuring an animal's wellbeing. The news wasn't well received by some breeders, who say pet owners may turn to the black market or go somewhere else to have it done. Vital Berthelot, a breeder in Laval, says without cropped ears and docked tails, his miniature schnauzers won't be able to compete in places like the U.S., where the standard for the breed is still traditional. But the Quebec order of veterinarians says docking tails and cropping ears can cause infections and chronic pain. Tail docking is actually an amputation. You're cutting off multiple vertebrae with all of the nerves and tissue around it," said Dr. Karen Joy Goldenberg, a veterinarian at the Pierrefonds Animal Hospital.
 

Tuesday - March 29, 2016 - Today in History:

1638 - First permanent European settlement in Delaware was established.
1847 - U.S. troops under General Winfield Scott took possession of the Mexican stronghold at Vera Cruz.
1867 - The British Parliament passed the North America Act to create the Dominion of Canada.
1882 - The Knights of Columbus organization was granted a charter by the State of Connecticut.
1903 - A regular news service began between New York and London on Marconi's wireless.
1906 - In the U.S., 500,000 coal miners walked off the job seeking higher wages.
1943 - In the U.S. rationing of meat, butter and cheese began during World War II.
1951 - The Chinese reject MacArthur's offer for a truce in Korea.
1961 - The 23rd amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified. The amendment allowed residents of Washington, DC, to vote for president.
1962 - Cuba opened the trial of the Bay of Pigs invaders.
1971 - Lt. William Calley Jr., of the U.S. Army, was found guilty of the premeditated murder of at least 22 Vietnamese civilians. He was sentenced to life imprisonment. The trial was the result of the My Lai massacre in Vietnam on March 16, 1968.
1971 - A jury in Los Angeles recommended the death penalty for Charles Manson and three female followers for the 1969 Tate-La Bianca murders. The death sentences were later commuted to live in prison.
1973 - The last U.S. troops left South Vietnam.
1974 - Mariner 10, the U.S. space probe became the first spacecraft to reach the planet Mercury. It had been launched on November 3, 1973.
1979 - The Committee on Assassinations Report issued by U.S. House of Representatives stated the assassination of President John F. Kennedy was the result of a conspiracy.
1992 - Presidential front-runner Bill Clinton said "I didn't inhale and I didn't try it again" in reference to when he had experimented with marijuana.
1993 - The South Korean government agreed to pay financial support to women who had been forced to have sex with Japanese troops during World War II.
2004 - Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia and Slovenia became members of NATO.

Belgian prosecutors: 3 more held on terrorism charges
Washington Times - Belgian federal prosecutors on Monday said three more people have been ordered held on charges of participating in terrorist activities. Prosecutors did not immediately release details on the alleged terrorist acts or whether they were linked to last week’s suicide bombings at Brussels Airport and in the Brussels subway that killed at least 31 people and injured some 270 others. The three charged by an investigating magistrate — identified as Yassine A., Mohamed B. and Aboubaker O. by the federal prosecutors office — were among four people detained during 13 police raids Sunday in Brussels and the northern cities of Mechelen and Duffel. A fourth person detained was released without charge, the prosecutors’ statement said.
* Related: Belgian police free Faycal C., suspect in terror attacks, seek public's help

ISIS 'crucifies Catholic priest on Good Friday' after kidnapping him from old people's home where four nuns were shot dead
Daily Mail - The Indian Catholic priest kidnapped by ISIS-linked terrorists in Yemen earlier this month was crucified on Good Friday, it has been claimed. Father Thomas Uzhunnalil, 56, was taken by Islamist gunmen, reportedly linked to ISIS, who attacked an old people's home in Aden, southern Yemen, killing at least 15 people, on March 4. The terrorists reportedly carried out the heinous murder on Good Friday, after threatening to do so earlier in the week, according to the Archbishop of Vienna. It was reported last week that several religious groups had received threats that Father Thomas would be crucified on Good Friday, but this was denied by his church in hometown of Bangalore. However, the Archbishop of Vienna, Christoph Cardinal Schönborn, told a congregation gathered in St. Stephen's Cathedral in the Austrian capital that the priest had been crucified.

In Syria, U.S.-armed militias fight each other in contested territory
Chicago Tribune - In mid-February, a CIA-armed militia called Fursan al Haq, or Knights of Righteousness, was run out of the town of Marea, about 20 miles north of Aleppo, by Pentagon-backed Syrian Democratic Forces moving in from Kurdish-controlled areas to the east… Rebel fighters described similar clashes in the town of Azaz, a key transit point for fighters and supplies between Aleppo and the Turkish border, and March 3 in the Aleppo neighborhood of Sheikh Maqsud… The attacks come amid continued heavy fighting in Syria and illustrate the difficulty facing U.S. efforts to coordinate among dozens of armed groups that are trying to overthrow the government of President Bashar Assad, fight the Islamic State militant group and battle one another all at the same time… "Once they cross the border into Syria, you lose a substantial amount of control or ability to control their actions," said Jeffrey White, a former Defense Intelligence Agency official.

Japan's elderly turn to life of crime to ease cost of living
CNBC News - Japan's prison system is being driven to budgetary crisis by demographics, a welfare shortfall and a new, pernicious breed of villain: the recidivist retiree. And the silver-haired crooks, say academics, are desperate to be behind bars. Crime figures show that about 35 per cent of shoplifting offences are committed by people over 60. Within that age bracket, 40 per cent of repeat offenders have committed the same crime more than six times. There is good reason, concludes a report, to suspect that the shoplifting crime wave in particular represents an attempt by those convicted to end up in prison — an institution that offers free food, accommodation and healthcare… Even with a frugal diet and dirt-cheap accommodation, a single Japanese retiree with minimal savings has living costs more than 25 per cent higher than the meagre basic state pension of Y780,000 ($6,900) a year, according to a study on the economics of elderly crime… Even the theft of a Y200 sandwich can earn a two-year prison sentence, say academics, at an Y8.4m cost to the state.

MedStar paralyzed as hackers take aim at another US hospital
Associated Press - Modern medicine in the Washington area reverted to 1960s-era paper systems when one of the largest hospital chains was crippled by a virus that shuttered its computers for patients and medical staff. The FBI said it was investigating the paralyzing attack on MedStar Health Inc., which forced records systems offline, prevented patients from booking appointments, and left staff unable to check email messages or even look up phone numbers.

Carson: Obama Administration ‘Crazy’ Not to Acknowledge Christians Targeted in Pakistan (Video)
Paul Joseph Watson - Ben Carson told Fox News this morning that it was “craziness” for the Obama administration not to acknowledge that Christians were targeted by Islamist terrorists in yesterday’s horrifying attack on a park in Lahore, Pakistan. At least 300 people were injured and more than 70 killed yesterday after a suicide bomber belonging to the Taliban splinter group Jamaat-ul-Ahrar targeted Christians who had gathered to celebrate Easter at a funfair. A State Department press release in response to the attack failed to specify that the bombing was carried out by violent Islamists or that it targeted Christians. Appearing on Fox & Friends, former presidential candidate Carson said it was “craziness” for the Obama administration to “refuse to acknowledge it and allow it to continue to grow.” “I can’t really explain why our administration goes out of its way not to include the fact that Christians are being persecuted,” he added Carson responded to the fact that jihadists are exploiting the migrant crisis to infiltrate terrorists into the west by slamming the Obama administration’s policy of vowing to invite more refugees.

U.S. Capitol Shooting: Suspect Larry Dawson Captured, Officer Injured
The Daily Beast - Gunfire rattled Capitol Hill on Monday afternoon when a police officer shot a man, later identified by multiple outlets as Larry Russell Dawson of Antioch, Tenn., inside the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. At approximately 2:39 p.m. ET, the suspect entered the visitor center below the Capitol grounds. According to police, Dawson drew what appeared to be a weapon, during a routine screening, and pointed it at officers, who then fired at him. The Capitol’s sergeant-at-arms said the gunman has been caught and that a U.S. Capitol Police officer was "shot, but not seriously." The gunman was reportedly transferred to a hospital for surgery; his condition is unknown… The Capitol and adjacent office buildings were placed on lock down for about a half hour before an all-clear order was issued. There was reportedly some confusion as the day began with a scheduled lockdown drill. "THIS IS A DRILL," an early morning memo notified Capitol staffers. "EXERCISE EXERCISE."

147 FBI Agents Working on Hillary Clinton’s Email Investigation
Breitbart - The Washington Post reports that 147 different agents are working all sides of the probe, according to a lawmaker who spoke with FBI director James Comey about what is transpiring behind the scenes. The FBI recently kicked its investigation into high gear, as agents and prosecutors are setting up interviews with Clinton’s top aides, presumably including Huma Abedin and Cheryl Mills. The case hinges on whether Clinton violated a provision of the Espionage Act of 1913. The penalty? A fine, a prison term of up to ten years, or “both.”

Obama Administration Withholds Draft Whitewater Indictment of Hillary Clinton
Judicial Watch - Judicial Watch announced today that it is asking a federal court to order the National Archives and Records Administration to release draft criminal indictments of Hillary Clinton. In its motion for summary judgment, the National Archives claimed that “the drafts involve a significant [Clinton] privacy interest that is not outweighed by any public interest….” In its March 11 opposition brief, Judicial Watch counters that allegedly “making false statements and withholding evidence from federal investigators bears on Mrs. Clinton’s honesty, credibility, and trustworthiness … for the position she currently seeks,” rendering the National Archives claim “neither serious nor credible.”... The draft indictments relate to allegations that Clinton provided false information and withheld evidence from federal investigators to conceal her involvement with the defunct Madison Guaranty Savings & Loan, the collapse of which lead to multiple criminal convictions. Clinton provided legal representation to Madison Guaranty as an attorney at the Rose Law Firm in Little Rock, Arkansas. Clinton’s Rose Law Firm billing records, long sought by prosecutors, were found in the private quarters of the White House shortly after an important statute of limitations had expired.

Cities begin to challenge a bedrock of justice: They're paying criminals not to kill
The Washington Post - In Richmond [California], the city has hired ex-convicts to mentor dozens of its most violent offenders and allows them to take unconventional steps if it means preventing the next homicide. For example, the mentors have coaxed inebriated teenagers threatening violence into city cars, not for a ride to jail but home to sleep it off — sometimes with loaded firearms still in their waistbands. The mentors have funded trips to South Africa, London and Mexico City for rival gang members in the hope that shared experiences and time away from the city streets would ease tensions and forge new connections. And when the elaborate efforts at engagement fail, the mentors still pay those who pledge to improve, even when, like Holmes, they are caught with a gun, or worse — suspected of murder. The city-paid mentors operate at a distance from police. To maintain the trust of the young men they’re guiding, mentors do not inform police of what they know about crimes committed. At least twice, that may have allowed suspected killers in the stipend program to evade responsibility for homicides.

Parents Upset Elementary Students Taught Inappropriate Topics — Depression, divorce and transgender issues crossed the line
CBS News - A Collin County charter school says it’s considering making changes after parents complained... Every year the 10th graders at Imagine International Academy of North Texas in McKinney spends months working on a “personal project”. This year some chose projects about topics like the impact divorce has on elementary students, depression and being transgender. The high school students then presented their projects to the entire school; including to elementary students. The school’s administration officer Julia Brady said teachers reviewed all the projects ahead of time and deemed them all appropriate.

'Big Steal': RNC playing with rules to deny Trump nomination
WND - The Republican National Committee has confirmed that a 2012 rule mandating a candidate must win a majority of convention delegates in at least eight states or territories to win the presidential nomination does not apply to 2016’s field. “Rule 40(b),” which would have benefited Trump as the Republican front-runner, will be of no use to him in July. RNC Chairman Reince Priebus confirmed the Rule 40(b) reality during an interview with CNN on Sunday… What this means is that if the Republican Party has a contested convention in Cleveland, Ohio, in July, then delegates will be at liberty to vote for any candidate they choose on the second ballot. Trump currently has 678 delegates of the 1,237 needed to outright win the nomination, but Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is still competitive at 423. Ohio Gov. John Kasich trails far behind at 143 delegates. Trump is in a precarious position if he does not win 1,237 delegates because, as reported by Breitbart, it would be possible for party insiders to stack the Rules Committee with individuals whose “support” for the billionaire will disappear as soon as it is legally permissible.

Report: Dirty Cruz Camp Is Set on Stealing Trump Delegates in Missouri, Too
The Gateway Pundit - Last week the Ted Cruz camp moved in to steal delegates from Donald Trump in Louisiana, a state Donald Trump won by over 10,000 votes. Dallas Morning News reported: Trump beat Cruz in the Louisiana primary by less than 4 percentage points, and both candidates walked away with 18 delegates. But since the March 5 primary, Cruz’s campaign has worked to secure as many as 10 more delegates from the state, first reported by The Wall Street Journal. The extra delegates include five won by former candidate Sen. Marco Rubio and five unpledged delegates. Donald Trump threatened to sue after the Cruz camp announced they pilfered the delegates. Now there is talk that the Cruz camp is doing the same thing in Missouri. The Cruz team is planning on loading the Missouri state delegates with a Pro-Cruz team. That way they will vote for Trump in first round of voting at the RNC. In the second round they will all vote for Ted Cruz.

Roger Stone Drops Bombshell After Bombshell About Cruz Sex Scandal: If It's Not All True, "Sue Me Immediately"
RealClear Politics - Trump confidant Roger Stone spoke with Frank Morano on AM970 The Answer in New Jersey/New York on Sunday morning about allegations that he planted the story in this week's National Enquirer accusing Ted Cruz of multiple extra-marital affairs. "He’s a lawyer himself," he said, "so why won’t he sue? It won’t cost him anything. To be absolutely clear — Cruz won’t sue because the allegations are largely true."

Secret Service Denies 44,000 Signatories Right To Bear Arms At RNC Convention
Zero Hedge - The Hill reports that The Secret Service says people attending the Republican National Convention in Cleveland this July will not be allowed to carry guns. The statement comes in response to a petition that calls for allowing open carry of guns inside Quicken Loans Arena, the host venue. The petition has amassed more than 44,000 signatures as of Monday morning… The Secret Service cited federal law that allows the agency to prevent firearms from being carried into venues with protectees present, even in open-carry states. The agency cites Title 18 United States Code Sections 3056 and 1752… The petition argues that the rule is a violation of the public's Second Amendment right since Ohio is an open carry state… But Quicken Loans Arena uses its right as a private entity to ban firearms under Ohio state law, according to the website… Finally, we note that the origins of the petition are murky, and some websites have questioned whether it is satire or a hoax.

Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson Open to Joining Donald Trump on Campaign Trail: ‘It’d be the Ronald and the Donald’
Breitbart - Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson, who faces a challenger in his upcoming election, said he is open to joining GOP frontrunner Donald Trump on the campaign trail. Former Sen. Russ Feingold (D-WI) is challenging Johnson, and the Washington Examiner reports, “Feingold stands a good chance of winning back his old seat.” “Certainly, as I travel the state extensively, I hear a lot of support because what Donald Trump is saying resonates with an awful lot of people when it comes to the incompetence of Washington, D.C.,” Johnson stated. “From what I’ve heard, Trump is running very strong up in the Northwest [part of Wisconsin] … that should also help me a bit, too.”

6 US ships that aided in Operation Tomodachi still contaminated with radiation
Stars and Stripes - Sixteen U.S. ships that participated in relief efforts after Japan’s nuclear disaster five years ago remain contaminated with low levels of radiation from the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, top Navy officials told Stars and Stripes. In all, 25 ships took part in Operation Tomodachi… In the years since the crisis, the ships have undergone cleanup efforts, the Navy said, and 13 Navy and three Military Sealift Command vessels still have some signs of contamination, mostly to ventilation systems, main engines and generators. “The low levels of radioactivity that remain are in normally inaccessible areas that are controlled in accordance with stringent procedures,” the Navy said in an email to Stars and Stripes. “Work in these areas occurs mainly during major maintenance availabilities and requires workers to follow strict safety procedures.” All normally accessible spaces and equipment aboard the ships have been surveyed and decontaminated, Vice Adm. William Hilarides, commander of Naval Sea Systems Command, wrote to Stars and Stripes.

23 Percent Of Americans In Their Prime Working Years Are Unemployed
Economic Collapse - Did you know that when you take the number of working age Americans that are officially unemployed (8.2 million) and add that number to the number of working age Americans that are considered to be “not in the labor force” (94.3 million), that gives us a grand total of 102.5 million working age Americans that do not have a job right now? I have written about this before, but today I want to focus just on Americans that are in their prime working years. When you look at only Americans that are from age 25 to age 54, 23.2 percent of them are unemployed right now. The following analysis and chart come from the Weekly Standard…

California Audit Reveals Pension Debt Grew by 2,000%
Breitbart - Government accounting rules have forced a California audit that has revealed an increase in the “debt” it owes for pension liability by 2,000 percent this year. The state could nearly double the debt again next year when it is forced to account for unfunded retiree health benefits. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB) is instituting new rules, under statement No. 68 and 71. State and local governments are now required to present greater transparency in the calculation of their “net pension liability,”... Under the old rules, last year’s “CAFR” only reported a $3.2 billion pension debt for the state pension plans covering obligations for judges and the closed pension for legislators. But the report for June 30, 2015 now includes “debt” for the five California Public Employees’ System (CalPERS) plans of $39.4 billion, and $22 billion for the state’s one-third proportion of the California State Teacher’s Retirement System. The shock and awe of “hidden” debt will become even worse next year, when GASB requires California’s CAFR to acknowledge that the debt associated with “net OPEB obligation” of lifetime retirement healthcare is understated at $22.3 billion.

Smart Meter Fires: Burning meters, burning questions, shocking answers (video)
Take Back Your Power - This new video from Brian Thiesen is quite literally explosive information which every homeowner needs to know. So-called “smart” meters have caused thousands of fires and explosions — such as this fire on Wednesday in Ontario. But corrupt politics and money have swept the whole thing under the rug. Brian explains how and why this is all occurring, including reams of evidence and court documents. This is exactly what your utility does not want you to see. Previously-documented “smart” meter fires have caused fatalities. The most terrible thing is this: most people simply don’t know. And most still don’t know that “smart” meters are part of a global corporate agenda of unprecedented in-home surveillance, systemically increasing utility bills, facilitating hacking and remote shut-offs, and are causing widespread human functional impairment from pulsed microwave radiation hundreds to thousands of times stronger than a cellphone.

Millions at risk from man-made earthquakes
USA Today - 7 million people in the central and eastern U.S. live where damaging man-made earthquakes are likely to occur, according to a first-of-its-kind report released Monday by federal scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey. Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, New Mexico and Arkansas are the most at-risk states from man-made quakes, according to the report. The chance of damage from earthquakes in some of these states equals that of natural earthquakes in high-hazard areas of California.... Earthquakes can be triggered by human activities, with wastewater disposal from the fracking process being the primary cause for recent events in many areas, the U.S.G.S. report said.

Monday - March 28, 2016 - Today in History:

1797 - Nathaniel Briggs of New Hampshire patented a washing machine.
1834 - The U.S. Senate voted to censure President Andrew Jackson for the removal of federal deposits from the Bank of the United States.
1854 - Britain and France declared war on Russia during the Crimean War.
1885 - The Salvation Army was officially organized in the U.S.
1917 - During World War I the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps (WAAC) was founded.
1930 - The names of the Turkish cities of Constantinople and Angora were changed to Istanbul and Ankara, respectively.
1939 - The Spanish Civil War ended as Madrid fell to the forces of Francisco Franco.
1941 - Novelist and critic Virginia Woolf drowned herself near her home in England at age 59.
1963 - The Alfred Hitchcock film "The Birds" premiered in New York.
1968 - The U.S. lost its first F-111 aircraft in Vietnam when it vanished while on a combat mission. North Vietnam claimed that they had shot it down.
1969 - Dwight D. Eisenhower, the 34th president of the United States, died in Washington, D.C., at age 78.
1979 - A major accident occurred at Pennsylvania's Three Mile Island nuclear power plant. A nuclear power reactor overheated and suffered a partial meltdown.
1986 - More than 6,000 radio stations of all format varieties played "We are the World" simultaneously at 10:15 a.m. EST.
2001 - President George W. Bush publicly rejected the 1997 Kyoto Protocol on climate, a pact never ratified by the Senate.

“Suicide Bombers” Known to, Imprisoned by Security Agencies BEFORE Brussels Attack
Tony Cartaclucci - Germany’s largest press agency, Deutsche Presse-Agentur, reported in their article, “Reports: Brothers known to police were among Brussels suicide bombers,” that: Two Brussels brothers who were known to police are among the suicide bombers who carried out deadly terrorist attacks on the international airport and subway in the Belgian capital, local media reported Wednesday. And that: [Khalid El Bakraoui] had been sentenced in early 2011 to five years in prison for carjackings, after having been arrested in possession of Kalashnikov rifles, according to the Belga news agency. His brother, 30-year-old Brahim, had been sentenced in 2010 to nine years in prison for having shot at police with a Kalashnikov rifle during a hold-up, Belga said. The New York Times, in their article, “Brussels Attack Lapses Acknowledged by Belgian Officials,” would report regarding Brahim El Bakraoui’s arrest and deportation from Turkey that: The Belgian justice and interior ministers acknowledged that their departments should have acted on a Turkish alert about a convicted Belgian criminal briefly arrested in Turkey last year on suspicion of terrorist activity, who turned out to be one of the suicide bombers. And the Belgian prosecutor’s office said that person’s brother — another suicide bomber — had been wanted since December in connection with the Paris attacks.

Nails and nail varnish: Brussels bombers prepared a 'satanic' cocktail
Reuters - In a building undergoing renovation, there were no near neighbors to notice them taking in large quantities of strong-smelling household chemicals, as well as a suitcase of nails, to concoct an unstable white explosive powder known as TATP, or triacetone triperoxide, that they later used in their attacks… TATP is a highly volatile explosive… All the ingredients - acetone found in cleaning products, hydrogen peroxide found in wood bleach and sulphuric acid used to unblock kitchen pipes - were available at one Brussels hardware store this week for less than 40 euros ($45). Nails and bolts can be added to increase the bomb's impact and afterwards stuffed into bags and taped into suicide belts. It goes undetected by airport scanners, leaving authorities to rely on sniffer dogs. Though the bombs can have a strong smell -- the bombers' taxi driver said he smelled chemicals on the ride to the airport -- there were few such dogs in the Brussels' airport check-in area on Tuesday...

US Kills ISIS Second-In-Command For 3rd Time In 2 Years
Zero Hedge - A physics teacher by trade, Mosul-born al-Qaduli was ISIS before ISIS was ISIS. He served as a deputy to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi (Islamic State’s “godfather”) and was jailed by the US in Iraq in 2012... Al-Qaduli is no stranger to being dead. He died last April for instance, in a strike on a mosque in Iraq. “Al-Qaduli was one of several people killed in a strike that hit a mosque where Islamic State leaders were meeting,” WSJ reported at the time. He was also killed in September of 2014 [Video]… In any event, if al-Qaduli is indeed no more, it means that ISIS has lost two of its top brass in the space of just three weeks (al-Shishani being the other). And if US SpecOps did indeed kill him, it just goes to show that the CIA has indeed served a burn notice on the entire chain of command. After all, Russia and Hezbollah are pushing uncomfortably close to Deir ez-Zor and Raqqa and dead men, as they say, tell no tales.

King Of Jordan Blames Turkey For Terror In Europe, Says Israel "Looks Other Way" On Al-Qaeda
Zero Hedge - On Friday, we learn that Abdullah met with US lawmakers in secret during the week of January 11 and disclosed that British SAS forces as well as Jordanian soldiers had been on the ground fighting ISIS in Libya since at least the beginning of the year… But the revelation that British SpecOps were fighting in Libya wasn't the most interesting thing to emerge from the meeting which purportedly included John McCain, Bob Corker, the chairman of the Senate foreign relations committee, and House Speaker Paul Ryan… according to notes seen by The Guardian… The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, “believes in a radical Islamic solution to the problems in the region” and the “fact that terrorists are going to Europe is part of Turkish policy, and Turkey keeps getting a slap on the hand, but they get off the hook”. Intelligence agencies want to keep terrorist websites “open so they can use them to track extremists” and Google had told the Jordanian monarch “they have 500 people working on this”. Israel “looks the other way” at the al-Qaida affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra on its border with Syria because “they regard them as an opposition to Hezbollah”.

Islamic State Driven Out Of Syria's Ancient Palmyra City
Breitbart - The loss of Palmyra represents one of the biggest setbacks for the ultra-hardline Islamist group since it declared a caliphate in 2014 across large parts of Syria and Iraq. The army general command said that its forces took over the city with support from Russian and Syrian air strikes, opening up the huge expanse of desert leading east to the Islamic State strongholds of Raqqa and Deir al-Zor… Russia’s intervention in September turned the tide of Syria’s five-year conflict in Assad’s favor. Despite its declared withdrawal of most military forces two weeks ago, Russian jets and helicopters carried out dozens of strikes daily over Palmyra as the army pushed into the city.

'Targets were Christians': Taliban faction claims Pakistan park attack that killed over 60
RT - Taliban faction Jamaat-ul-Ahrar has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s suicide blast outside a public park in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore that killed at least 65 people and injured more than 280. Most of the injured are women and children. “The targets were Christians,” Ehsanullah Ehsan, a spokesman for the faction, said, threatening that more attacks in the region would follow… Salman Rafique, a health adviser for Punjab’s provincial government, put the death toll at over 60 people. “There are more than 280 injured people,” Rafique said. “Many are now being treated, and we fear that the death toll may climb considerably.”… The park was crowded because Christians are celebrating Easter holiday and many families were leaving the park when the blast occurred, according to senior police officer Haider Ashraf. He also said the death toll could still rise as many of the wounded were in critical condition.

Rare or Routine? Video Captures 'Cold-Blooded Execution' by Israeli Soldier [GRAPHIC VIDEO]
Common Dreams - The release of video footage showing the extrajudicial killing of a wounded Palestinian man on Thursday has led to the arrest of the Israeli Defense Force soldier who pulled the trigger, but rights groups say the documented incident only confirms their warnings regarding how the Israeli military routinely behaves in the Occupied Palestinian Territories when cameras are not rolling. The Palestinian man who was shot and killed, identified as Abed al-Fatah al-Sharif, was one of two Palestinians reported as being involved in the stabbing of an Israeli soldier, who was slightly wounded in an attack… In the video, released by the Israeli human rights groups B'Tselem, al-Sharif is seen wounded and unconscious in the middle of the street in the city of Hebron… After approximately two minutes, a soldier is seen stepping forward, aiming his weapon at a-Sharif and shooting Al-Sharif in the head from close range, killing him. "Although this occurs in the plain view of other soldiers and officers," B'Tselem noted, "they do not seem to take any notice."
* Related: IDF Officials Reject Claims Soldier In Hebron Feared Bomb

Blackwater's Founder Is Under Investigation for Money Laundering, Ties to Chinese Intel, and Brokering Mercenary
The Intercept - What began as an investigation into Prince’s attempts to sell defense services in Libya and other countries in Africa has widened to a probe of allegations that Prince received assistance from Chinese intelligence to set up an account for his Libya operations through the Bank of China… Prince, through his lawyer, Victoria Toensing, said he has not been informed of a federal investigation and had not offered any defense services in Libya… Multiple sources, including two people with business ties to Prince, told The Intercept that current government and intelligence personnel informed them of this surveillance. Those with business ties were cautioned to sever their dealings with Prince… In January 2014, Prince officially went into business with the Chinese government’s largest state-owned investment firm, the Citic Group, and founded Frontier Services Group, which is based in Hong Kong. Citic Group is the company’s single largest investor, and two of FSG’s board members are Chinese nationals.

German Railway Launches Gender Segregated Carriages In Wake Of Sex Attacks
Breitbart - The announcement from the central German Regiobahn line came earlier this week, with the network stating the new compartment on their Leipzig and Chemnitz would admit women and young children only. To ensure maximum peace for those choosing to travel in that compartment not only would it be sandwiched between the service’s two quiet coaches, but it would also be next to the on-board office of the “customer service representative. Traditionally known as a train guard or ticket inspector, the company said “the local proximity to the customer service representative is chosen deliberately”. Yet despite the recent mass sex-attacks in Germany, and the official advice to young women that the best thing to do is to keep groping migrant men “at arm’s length” to prevent rape, the railway denies the segregated trains has anything to do with sexual harassment.

TPP Under Fire in the U.S. As Other Signatories Advance Towards Ratification
Electronic Frontier Foundation - In the U.S., chances are close to nil that the TPP could get ratified anytime soon. The White House is still seeking congressional support for the massive 12-country deal but the political environment could not be any more unfavorable. Presidential candidates are pointing to trade agreements as the root cause of economic inequality. For the Obama administration, things look grim in Congress as well. More and more lawmakers are coming out against the TPP, while others who had long championed the deal are now holding back their support over their stance that some of the provisions do not go far enough to protect certain industries. The soonest the TPP's ratification vote may happen is during the “Lame Duck” period after November's election. But even as the United States stalls on the TPP, other countries are moving towards ratification. Below is a summary of how TPP is advancing outside the United States...

Obama DHS Secretary: Illegal Aliens Are “In Effect” US Citizens
Jim Hoft - The Washington Examiner reported: The nation’s top immigration officer said that the “11 million” undocumented aliens in the United States are “not going away,” are “in effect” citizens, and added that deporting the few the administration wants out is unpleasant. Jeh Johnson, secretary of Homeland Security, told Harvard University students this week that the administration is focused on its plan to integrate illegals into America, despite the policy being tied up in court. Johnson said that he plans to be in the front row of the Supreme Court April 18 when the case is discussed. But in the meantime, he is making the case that the illegals here, estimated at a much higher 15.7 million by the Center for Immigration Studies, have essentially become American. The proof: They go to school, have licenses to drive, and can even practice law in California.

Hawai`i May Become First State in US To Decriminalize All Drugs
Activist Post - Following Portugal’s model, Hawai`i could become the first state in the U.S. to decriminalize all drugs — including cocaine and even heroin. “[D]espite a longstanding policy that enforces illicit drug prohibition and imposes some of the world’s harshest penalties for drug possession and sales, illicit drug use in the United States has been increasing,” states a resolution that passed, amended by the Hawai`i House Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Now that it’s been approved, the study’s findings will be due later this year, “no later than 20 days prior” to the convening of the legislature’s 2017 session. According to testimony from the Legislative Reference Bureau Acting Director, Charlotte A. Carter-Yamauchi, the study will reference Portugal’s successful decriminalization with the caveat of recognizing Hawai`i’s obligation to follow federal law. But the state recognizes the numerous failures and pitfalls of the national war on drugs and its policies, beginning with passage of the Harrison Narcotics Act of 1914.... Policymakers in Hawai`i decided to turn to Portugal’s across-the-board decriminalization, which became law on July 1, 2001, for consideration, after the CATO Institute issued a report touting the policy’s success.

Idaho Governor Signs Permitless Carry into Law
Freedom Outpost - Idaho Governor Butch Otter signed into law the state's permitless carry law on Friday afternoon. Permitless carry has been in the making in Idaho for nearly five years. SB138 will take effect July 1, 2016. The bill passed out of the House State Affairs Committee by a vote of 13-4 and then was later passed by the full House by a vote of 54-15. Finally, it passed the Idaho Senate with a 27-8 vote. Though there were a plethora of amendments that were sought to be put into the bill, which would have watered down the bill, the people of Idaho were on their toes and fought against them. Seeing that there were veto proof majorities in the House and Senate, Governor Otter signed the bill into law.

Atlanta Radio Host: Source “Deep Inside” Cruz Camp Says Ted May Have Had Affairs
The Gateway Pundit - The National Enquirer published a story this week accusing Texas Senator Ted Cruz of multiple extramarital affairs. On Friday Ted Cruz blamed Donald Trump and his former consultant Roger Stone for the National Enquirer article on his alleged extramarital affairs. Ted Cruz Cruz told reporters in Wisconsin the story was “all lies.” Cruz then went on to blame the article on Donald Trump and his “henchmen.” Cruz argued Roger Stone has been forwarding the article today on the internet. He thinks Trump campaign is behind this story. Cruz also said the publisher of the National Enquirer is a friend of Donald Trump’s. But these rumors did not start with Donald Trump. And the rumors did not start with Roger Stone. The rumors were started by the Rubio Campaign and anti-Trump GOP elites. Now this- Atlanta radio host Bryan Crabtree says a source “deep inside” the Cruz campaign said Ted may have had affairs.

Ted Cruz May Get Free Pass on Sex Scandal
Kurt Nimmo - Establishment may overlook scandal to beat Donald Trump. It looks like the Ted Cruz campaign may be finished. It’s now more or less confirmed he cheated on his bankster wife and had sex with at least five different women. The New York Times, The Washington Post, Bloomberg News, Politico, and ABC News all knew about the allegations but refused to publish them. Breitbart also declined to run the story back in February. On Friday, The Daily Beast reported Cruz rival Marco Rubio may be responsible. Rubio has his own problems. GOP insiders reportedly confirmed he was a “very extroverted homosexual” in the 1990s. Then there is Hillary Clinton. So far she has escaped having to answer for the email scandal. The Justice Department has refused to act. Obama spokesman Josh Earnest said it’s no big deal. The FBI has enough evidence to move on a prosecution, but nothing is happening. “It will never get to an indictment,” former Inspector General Howard J. Krongard told the New York Post in February.

‘She is a Bush operative’: Trump Campaign Spokeswoman ‘spills beans’ on Heidi Cruz
Adan Salazar - Speaking on MSNBC Friday, Katrina Pierson weighed in on the heated back and forth spat between her boss and Sen. Ted Cruz over whether the candidates’ wives are fair game. Asking about a meme Trump retweeted in response to an ad sent out by a pro-Ted Cruz super PAC, Steve Kornacki asked Pierson what Trump meant when he threatened to “spill the beans” on Cruz’s wife. “Spilling the beans is quite simple when it comes to Heidi Cruz,” Pierson replied, proceeding to give a preview of what Trump may further have in store. “Her entire career has been spent working against everything Ted Cruz says that he stands for,” Pierson said. “She is a Bush operative; she worked for the architect of NAFTA, which has killed millions of jobs in this country; she was a member on the Council on Foreign Relations who — in Sen. Cruz’s own words, called a nest of snakes that seeks to undermine national sovereignty; and she’s been working for Goldman Sachs, the same global bank that Ted Cruz left off of his financial disclosure, and also has Chairman of the Board of the Federal Reserve, which is something that Senator Cruz promised to audit the Fed, and didn’t show up for the vote,” Pierson stated. The “spill beans” threat originally stemmed from a meme sent out by a pro-Ted Cruz super PAC showing Trump’s wife in the nude. The hotel mogul blamed Cruz for the ad, and added he would retaliate.

Liz Mair's Anti-Trump Super PAC Has Same Mailing Address as Carly Fiorina's Campaign
Breitbart - Consultant Liz Mair’s controversial anti-Donald Trump super PAC shares a mailing address with Carly Fiorina’s presidential campaign, which just re-launched as a nonprofit… Mair’s PAC Make America Awesome is under fire after it ran a sexist advertisement in Utah featuring Trump’s wife Melania, a model, posing nude… The PAC takes money in envelopes at a PO box in Alexandra, Virginia… That PO box also happens to be the mailing address for Carly for America, which was Fiorina’s presidential campaign and just re-launched as a nonprofit organization… Fiorina sent out an email on March 23 announcing that Carly for America is back, and will help to elect “conservative candidates.” Fiorina has endorsed Ted Cruz… Mair did not return requests for comment for this report.

Superdelegates Are Propping Up Hillary Clinton
Breitbart - On Saturday, Bernie Sanders swept Democrat caucuses in Washington, Alaska, and Hawaii. The scale of his victories in each state is a story in itself. He won 70 percent of the vote in Washington and Hawaii and a staggering 80 percent in Alaska. The victories underscore how close the race for the Democrat nomination actually is. Currently, Hillary Clinton has just over 1,700 delegates in her quest for the Democrat nomination, while Bernie Sanders has just over 1,000. He will likely pick up additional delegates after Saturday’s final results are tabulated, but, on the surface, he still looks to be trailing Clinton by a wide margin.

Clinton email probe enters new phase as FBI interviews loom
LA Times - Federal prosecutors investigating the possible mishandling of classified materials on Hillary Clinton’s private email server have begun the process of setting up formal interviews with some of her longtime and closest aides, according to two people familiar with the probe, an indication that the inquiry is moving into its final phases. Those interviews and the final review of the case, however, could still take many weeks, all but guaranteeing that the investigation will continue to dog Clinton’s presidential campaign through most, if not all, of the remaining presidential primaries. No dates have been set for questioning the advisors, but a federal prosecutor in recent weeks has called their lawyers to alert them that he would soon be doing so, the sources said. Prosecutors also are expected to seek an interview with Clinton herself, though the timing remains unclear.

Veteran Dad on Hunger Strike Arrested with No Charges - Kept Naked in Dirty Cell
Health Impact News - A Navy veteran father was arrested on Day 11 of a Hunger Strike at the Kansas Capitol building on Thursday, March 24th, on a warrant for charges that no one seems to know anything about. Raymond Schwab and his supporters believe that his arrest is about “retaliation” and “intimidation” because he has been publicly fighting to get his children back since they were legally kidnapped by Child Protective Services and abused while in state custody. After spending a night in jail that he says “was like being in hell,” Raymond was released Friday afternoon. The treatment that he describes after being arrested is shocking.... Health Impact News spoke with Raymond shortly after his release on Friday. He had not yet had a shower and was desperate to get clean after the deplorable conditions he faced in the jail. He reported that he was stripped naked and forced to remain in that condition in a filthy, cold room for the duration of his stay. There was “urine everywhere” and blood on the mattress.

U.S. GDP Rose 1.4% In Final Estimate Of Q4 Growth As Corporate Profits Plunged
Zero Hedge - … according to the BEA [Bureau of Economic Analysis ] in the final quarter of 2015 US GDP grew 1.4%, up from the 1.0% previously reported, and higher than the 1.0% consensus estimate matching the highest Q4 GDP forecast. The final Q4 GDP print was still well below the 2.0% annualized GDP growth reported in Q3… But while the "resilient consumer" once again carried the US economy in the fourth quarter, largely due to an estimated jump in spending on Transportation and Recreational services, which added an annualized $13 billion to the US economy vs the prior estimate, more disturbing was the drop in profits which we already knew courtesy of company reports and is known confirmed by the BEA whose GDP report also showed that corporate profits dropped in 2015 by the most in seven years… Pre-tax earnings declined 7.8 percent, the most since the first quarter of 2011, after a 1.6 percent decrease in the previous three months.

Healthcare Is About To Surpass Housing As The Biggest Source Of American "Growth"
Zero Hedge - Following yesterday's breakdown of 2015 GDP growth components, there was little surprise that the biggest source of "growth" for the US economy in the past year was healthcare, growing at an absolute dollar pace nearly double that the second highest category… It has long been known that of the real $16.5 trillion in US GDP, some 70% is due to personal consumption and spending (68.8% to be precise), and that the single biggest component of US consumer spending has for decades been housing… What was troubling is that over the past 5 years there has been virtually no growth when it comes to spending on housing. What was even more troubling is that the second highest spending category, Health Care at $1.9 trillion, has been soaring in recent years, more than offsetting the housing weakness, and as the chart below shows, the US economy is within 2-3 quarters of the moment when outlays on healthcare (and Obamacare) will surpass spending on Housing.

This Is What's Happening to People Who Live near Worst Gas Leak in US History
The Anti Media - On February 18, SoCalGas and the national media declared the “worst methane gas leak in U.S. history” permanently sealed, but just over a month later, hundreds of Porter Ranch residents who evacuated — and are now returning home — are suffering the same symptoms they suffered when the gas leak was active. They are experiencing nausea, dizziness, fatigue, headaches, nosebleeds, and many, including children, are also experiencing a new ailment: irritated skin rashes across their bodies. Neither SoCalGas, which owns the Aliso Canyon facility, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, nor any other government agency has provided a concrete explanation for these continued symptoms. In fact, one of Los Angeles County’s top medical officials recently told local physicians to refrain from performing tests to determine what is causing the symptoms. Late last week, preliminary lab tests from an independent UCLA study found evidence of benzene, a carcinogen, in at least two Porter Ranch homes.

Fluoride: An Unknown Cause Of Disease In Dogs
Dogs Naturally - If your dog drinks tap water, his health is at risk. A 2014 research study (Neurobehavioural Effects of Developmental Toxicity) published in one of the world’s most distinguished medical journals, The Lancet, finally classified fluoride as a dangerous neurotoxin...and that’s in the same category as arsenic, lead and mercury! The research showed that children exposed to fluoride in drinking water at levels of less than 4 milligrams per liter (which is lower than the level permitted by the US Environmental Protection Agency), found an average 7 point decrease in the IQs of these children. While 7 points may not seem like much, it’s enough to make the researchers worried that fluoride could be causing neurodevelopment disabilities such as ADHD, dyxlesia and other cognitive disorders, which affect millions of children.... If fluoride causes cognitive issues in children, it almost certainly does in dogs too. In fact, it’s likely dogs suffer even more ill effects from fluoride than people do, and they involve health issues far beyond neurological development issues.
 

Friday - March 25, 2016 - Today in History:

1774 - English Parliament passed the Boston Port Bill.
1776 - The Continental Congress authorized a medal for General George Washington.
1813 - The frigate USS Essex flew the first U.S. flag in battle in the Pacific.
1865 - During the American Civil War, Confederate forces captured Fort Stedman in Virginia.
1879 - Japan invaded the kingdom of Liuqiu (Ryukyu) Islands, formerly a vassal of China.
1905 - Rebel battle flags that were captured during the American Civil War were returned to the South.
1940 - The U.S. agreed to give Britain and France access to all American warplanes.
1953 - The USS Missouri fired on targets at Kojo, North Korea.
1954 - RCA manufactured its first color TV set and began mass production.
1965 - Martin Luther King Jr. led a group of 25,000 to the state capital in Montgomery, AL.
1981 - The U.S. Embassy in San Salvador was damaged when gunmen attacked using rocket propelled grenades and machine guns.
1983 - The U.S. Congress passed legislation to rescue the U.S. social security system from bankruptcy.
1985 - It was reported that a U.S. Army Major stationed in East Germany had been shot and killed by a Soviet Border Guard.
1986 - U.S. President Ronald Reagan ordered emergency aid for the Honduran army. U.S. helicopters took Honduran troops to the Nicaraguan border.
1991 - Iraqi President Saddam Hussein launched a major counter-offensive to recapture key towns from Kurds in northern Iraq.
1994 - United States troops completed their withdrawal from Somalia.
1996 - An 81-day standoff by the antigovernment Freemen began at a ranch near Jordan, MT.
1996 - The U.S. issued a newly redesigned $100 bill for circulation.
1998 - A cancer patient was the first known to die under Oregon's doctor-assisted suicide law.
2004 - The U.S. Senate voted (61-38) on the Unborn Victims of Violence Act (H.R. 1997) to make it a separate crime to harm a fetus during the commission of a violent federal crime.

 
The Guardian - What we know so far...

Mapping The Belgium Terrorist Attacks: The Full Recreation Of The Brussels Bomb Explosions
Zero Hedge - Now that over 48 hours have passed since two bomb explosions at Brussels' main airport and a downtown subway station killed at least 31 and injured hundreds more, there is enough information to piece together the complete chronology of these terrorist attacks. Here, courtesy of the NYT, are the full details. Two Belgian brothers, Ibrahim el-Bakraoui and Khalid el-Bakraoui, and an unidentified third man blew themselves up in the attacks. The blasts occurred four days after the capture of Salah Abdeslam, believed to be the sole surviving direct participant in the Paris attacks in November....

Police raid ongoing near Paris after new terror plot ‘foiled’ in France – minister
RT - French police have arrested a suspected militant linked to a terrorist cell that was planning a new attack on French soil, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve reported. Police are now carrying out more raids at locations in Argenteuil near Paris. The suspect was arrested on Thursday morning by the French counterterrorism service, DGSI, according to Cazeneuve. Security services managed to “foil a plot in France that was at an advanced stage,” the minister said. Following the arrest, the police conducted a night raid targeting an apartment building in Argenteuil, a northwestern Paris suburb, Cazeneuve added. Heavily armed police have cordoned-off General Delambre Boulevard in Argenteuil and evacuated the entire apartment block targeted in the raid, local media reported, citing witnesses. Traffic on nearby streets has also been affected.

Unlawful civilian deaths in Yemen': HRW urges US, UK, France to suspend arms sales to Saudi Arabia
RT - The US, France, and the UK risk complicity in unlawful civilian deaths in Yemen, according to HRW. The organization called on the countries to suspend all weapons sales to Saudi Arabia until it curtails its airstrikes and investigates alleged violations. “For the past year, governments that arm Saudi Arabia have rejected or downplayed compelling evidence that the coalition’s airstrikes have killed hundreds of civilians in Yemen,” Philippe Bolopion, the deputy global advocacy director for Human Rights Watch (HRW), said in a public release. “By continuing to sell weapons to a known violator that has done little to curtail its abuses, the US, UK, and France risk being complicit in unlawful civilian deaths,” he continued. HRW says it has documented 36 unlawful airstrikes by the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen, some of which may amount to war crimes. The strikes include attacks on schools, hospitals, and homes, with “no evidence they were being used for military purposes.” According to the organization, those strikes have led to the deaths of at least 550 civilians.

US Marines Enter Ground Combat in Iraq to Defend Oil Fields
Zero Hedge - Even as Pentagon officials have sought to emphasize their claims of ISIS being “on the run,” ever more US ground troops are being deployed into Iraq to try to cope with ISIS offensives, with the battle of Makhmur leading to the introduction of US Marines in front-line combat roles. Officials are trying to downplay the operation as “force protection” for Iraqi ground troops, who have been massing in the area in an effort to ultimately launch an attack on the ISIS-held city of Mosul, not far away. The explanation is unsatisfying for several reasons, but primarily because this “tactical assembly area” already includes thousands of Iraqi troops and Kurdish Peshmerga, and these are the same troops who are supposed to attack Mosul. Yet these troops are apparently unable to even hold Makhmur, let alone advance toward Mosul. The Makhmur District is also a key to holding oil fields around Kirkuk, and the ISIS offensive is seen by many analysts as part of an effort to ultimately regain control over those lucrative oil fields, and have been “outgunning” the thousands of Iraqi troops in the area.

Turkey has ‘serious questions’ to answer: Reactions to RT report on post-ISIS town in Syria
RT - The stream of accusations is growing against Ankara over illegal oil trade and support of Islamic State, with politicians and experts calling for Turkey to be held accountable for its actions after a new batch of evidence gathered by RT. Former UK ambassador to Syria, Peter Ford, has described as “very convincing” a report aired by RT which features piles of oil accounting papers left behind by Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) fighters. There was plenty of evidence even before these latest – very damning – revelations that Turkey was up to its neck in support for collaboration with Islamic State,” he said. According to Ford, the “obsession” of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with removing from power his Syrian counterpart, Bashar Assad, and preventing the strengthening of the Kurds in Syria saw Turkey become eager “to stop at nothing, including collaboration with Islamic State terrorists,” Ford stressed.

What Oil Production Freeze: Russia Just Revealed The Laughable Loophole In The OPEC "Agreement"
Zero Hedge - Russia will export more oil to Europe in April than it has in any month since 2013 - despite Moscow's plan to sign a global agreement on freezing production in a bid to lift the price of crude. Asked what would be covered by the agreement, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak told reporters: "The discussion is only about freezing production. And not exports." In other words, the global supply glut is about to get even worse thanks to the likes of Russia, which is about to unleash an additional 2.4 million tonnes of ooil exports onto a world which is already drowning in excess oil.

German nuclear plants are vulnerable to terrorist attacks – study
RT - Germany’s nuclear power plants are insufficiently protected against potential terror attacks, including 9/11-style ones, according to a newly-released study. A nuclear plant’s smokescreen designed to prevent any attacks on it from air provides only minimal protection for the facility, Deutsche Presse-Agentur (DPA) news agency reported, citing findings presented by Oda Becker, a physicist and independent expert on nuclear plants, at the German Federation for the Environment and Nature Conservation (BUND) congress in Berlin on Thursday. Such smokescreen “only slightly diminishes a chance of collision with a plane,” hijacked by terrorists. Additionally, only two out of eight currently operating nuclear plants in Germany are equipped with such systems, the report points out.

Chinese Buy One-Third of Vancouver Homes: National Bank Estimate
Bloomberg - Buyers from China comprised about one-third of purchases of Vancouver’s hot housing market in 2015, according to “back of the envelope calculations” by National Bank of Canada. Chinese investors spent about C$12.7 billion ($9.6 billion) on real estate in the western Canadian city in 2015, or 33 percent of its C$38.5 billion in total sales... Vancouver has long been a target for housing critics who say offshore buyers, many of whom purchase homes as investments and leave them empty, are pushing prices beyond levels locals can afford and creating ghost towns in neighborhoods.... The average price of a detached home in the city skyrocketed 30 percent to C$1.8 million in February from the prior year as sales jumped 37 percent, according the local real estate board. The price is much higher in certain neighborhoods, such as Vancouver West, where the average detached home will set a buyer back C$3 million.

ISIS Attacked Brussels? The US Created ISIS? Therefore?
Jon Rappoport - I want to acknowledge two researchers and reporters, whose work cuts deeply into the ISIS mirage: Tony Cartalucci and Brandon Turbeville. In a half-sane world, Cartalucci would be the international editor of the New York Times, if the Times were a real news outlet. f we accept the premise that ISIS attacked Brussels, then the next question is: what is ISIS? Who is behind it? Who supplies it? Who funds it? Who sustains it?

Judge Napolitano Asks ‘The $64,000 Question’ After Brussels Terror Attack
Fox News - Three terror suspects pushing baggage carts at Zaventem Airport is one of the lasting images of yesterday's terror attack in Brussels. Since the image was captured surveillance camera, were Belgian security personnel watching, and if so, why didn't they take action? Judge Andrew Napolitano asked on "Varney & Co." today. "It's the $64,000 question," Judge Napolitano said. "There are cameras all over that airport, just like there are at airports in the United States." Is the purpose of those cameras to assist the police after a crime is committed or to alert the police that a crime might be coming? Judge Napolitano asked. He pointed out, as Catherine Herridge did yesterday, that the image shows two of the suspects wearing one glove and tightly gripping the baggage carts. He noted that is often seen in suicide bombings, as gloves can be used to conceal a detonator switch that is attached or taped to an one's hand. The judge added that the third man on the right appears to be wearing a mask.

Obama dances while Brussels burns
Daily Mail - In Brussels police are still desperately hunting a dangerous terrorist after he fled a triple-suicide bombing in the city that left 34 dead, as officials search for news on U.S. citizens who went missing during the attack and medics tend to nine more Americans lying wounded in hospitals. Meanwhile in Buenos Aires President Barack Obama was dancing the night away with wife Michelle at a glitzy state dinner alongside Argentine President Mauricio Macri and his first lady Juliana Awada as part of a two-day state visit. Despite increasing calls from the likes of Donald Trump and Ted Cruz for the President to return home in the wake of the Brussels attack, Obama showed his determination to carry on regardless Wednesday night.

Thousands Pledge to Get Arrested in D.C. Protests Next Month
Breitbart - The leaders of Democracy Spring, a coalition of far-left groups plotting a mass civil disobedience movement to begin next month, told Breitbart News they have already confirmed 2,912 protesters who pledged specifically to risk arrest. Those protesters signed an option on the coalition’s website explicitly stating, “I pledge to be one among thousands who will risk arrest to save democracy in DC between April 11 – 16.”... Kai Newkirk, Democracy Spring’s campaign director, explained that his team called each of the 2,912 protesters pledging to risk arrest and spent about twenty minutes on the phone expounding on the movement’s goals as well as helping to coordinate travel and logistics. “People are coming from Montana, Seattle, and other states around the country,” Newkirk told Breitbart News in a phone interview. “They are driving, taking buses, flying, because there are so many people from across the political spectrum that are just tired of the status quo of a democracy that works for the super rich and not for the everyday American. They want to take this stand to say enough.”

Gabrielle Giffords shooter Jared Loughner files $25M lawsuit, claims to be victim of US govt MK-Ultra program
Blacklisted News - The man serving a life sentence in the January 2011 shooting in Tucson that killed six and injured many others, including then-Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, has filed a $25 million lawsuit against her. Jared Loughner seeks $25 million in punitive damages against Giffords for "causing me emotion and psychological distress," according to the March 18 filing. "My incarceration is illegal. I am actually innocent. I was Framed. I am a victim of project mk-ultra the govt. put a chip in my head to control my mind," Loughner claims. Jared Loughner Complaint by ABC15Data...

Mizzou Is Now Forcing Undergrads to Complete “Diversity Training” Class for Graduation
The Gateway Pundit - Illinois Review reported: The University of Missouri has announced that undergrads will have to complete three credit-hours of “diversity intensive” courses–which will focus on “understanding differing social groups” and “explore at least one form of social inequality, broadly defined”–in order to graduate. This isn’t a new idea; students demanded mandatory “multicultural” classes in 1990, but the idea was only approved this week (with 75% of a faculty vote). The school says that the requirements aren’t a response to last year’s unrest, but the press release strongly suggests that the chaos was a factor in their approval. Similarly, starting in this semester, all incoming students must participate in a “Diversity@Mizzou” workshop intended to help them understand and appreciate cultural and racial diversity. At the inaugural training session in January, for example, students were treated to several examples of cultural appropriation, such as dressing up as a geisha or taco for Halloween, and were also told that the pursuit of inclusivity should take precedence over freedom of speech.

Colorado School District to Begin Distribution of Satanic Materials to Children
Breitbart - After coming under fire from atheist groups for the distribution of free Bibles, the Delta County School District (DCSD) has approved the circulation of atheistic, secular and Satanic literature to middle and high school students. Several atheist organizations, including The Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF), Western Colorado Atheists and Freethinkers (WCAF) and the Satanic Temple, applied to distribute their literature as a challenge to the school district’s “open forum” policy that allows any group to distribute non-curricular literature to students, as long as it conforms to policy guidelines.

Colorado To Fine Cops $15,000 Every Time They Try To Stop You From Recording Them
Counter Current News - After generations of corruption, the crimes committed by police in the line of duty are finally being exposed, now that most people have the ability to record police encounters with their cellphones. This new development has obviously infuriated police, and cops across the US have made many attempts to prevent themselves from being recorded. However, most states now officially recognize a citizen’s right to film the police. In Colorado, lawmakers are considering a fine for police officers who attempt to stop people from filming, or who attempt to destroy or delete the recording after the fact. A $15,000 fine is being considered for officers who attempt to violate a person’s rights in this way. The bill is currently filed as HB 15-1290.

Poll: Trump jumps out to big lead in California primary
San Jose Mercury News - In the first independent survey since it became apparent that the Golden State will play a major role in deciding the Republican presidential nominee, the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that Trump has the support of 38 percent of likely voters, while Texas Sen. Ted Cruz is favored by 27 percent. Ohio Gov. John Kasich placed a distant third with 14 percent. On the Democratic side, Hillary Clinton, who appears well on her way to getting her party's nomination, led Bernie Sanders by 48 percent to 41 percent, according to the poll released Wednesday.

Club for Growth Plans Anti-Trump Ad in Wisconsin, ‘To Stop Trump, Vote for Cruz’
Breitbart - The Club for Growth, which has long opposed GOP frontrunner Donald Trump and recently endorsed Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX), is planning to run an anti-Trump television ad in Wisconsin ahead of the state’s primary on April 5. “Donald Trump is the worst candidate in the Republican field, and he can’t win in November,” said Club for Growth president David McIntosh. “It’s time for Republicans to rally around Ted Cruz, the one candidate who can lead the party to victory.”

Flashback: Trump Shares ‘Ridiculous’ Letter from Club for Growth Asking Him for $1 Million
Mediaite - Donald Trump‘s war with the conservative Club for Growth culminated yesterday in Trump releasing a letter they sent him asking for a million-dollar contribution. For a while now, Trump and the Club for Growth have been trading barbs on Twitter. When Trump claimed he got the contribution request from them, they shot back by saying this...

Washington Examiner: Ted Cruz Pushed to Dramatically Expand Muslim Migration in 2013
Breitbart - Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) introduced legislative proposals that would have radically expanded Muslim migration into the United States, when Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) was pushing to open America’s borders in 2013, the Washington Examiner’s Paul Bedard noted in a new expose. “Plans pushed by GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz under the immigration reform debate in 2013 that would have jumped the number of immigrants, including those from Muslim nations, were raised by the Trump campaign Tuesday,” Bedard wrote on Tuesday. “Under the Cruz plan, yearly legal immigration would have gone from 740,000 to 1,675,000. He said [subsequently] his idea was to actually help kill the bill not boost the numbers.”

George Soros’ Son Donates $1 Million To Planned Parenthood To Help Elect Hillary Clinton
Breitbart - Jonathan Allan Soros – the son of liberal billionaire philanthropist George Soros – has donated $1 million to Planned Parenthood Votes – a political advocacy arm of the nation’s largest abortion business, which has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. Soros – the CEO of JS Capital Management LLC – made his contribution on February 22, according to FEC filings. In February, 11 individuals donated a total of $2,723,297.17, with Soros providing the largest of the donations. LGBT activist Jon L. Stryker, heir of the Stryker medical technology company and founder and president of the Arcus Foundation, also donated $100,000 in February to Planned Parenthood Votes. The executive director of the Arcus Foundation is Kevin Jennings, a former Assistant Deputy Secretary of Education in the Obama administration and the founder of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN), which provides pro-LGBT agenda curricula to public schools in the United States under the umbrella of anti-bullying education.

Veterans Affairs Official Docked 15 Days’ Pay for Allowing Agency Scam by Two Employees
AllGov - The Department of Veterans Affairs is suspending the head of the Veterans Benefits Administration for allowing two lower-ranking officials to manipulate the agency's hiring system for their own gain. Deputy VA Secretary Sloan Gibson says acting VBA chief Danny Pummill will be suspended without pay for 15 days for his role in a relocation scam that has roiled the agency for months. Pummill failed to exercise proper oversight as Kimberly Graves and Diana Rubens forced lower-ranking managers to accept job transfers and then stepped into the vacant positions themselves, keeping their senior-level pay while reducing their responsibilities, Gibson said Tuesday. Pummill is one of VA's five highest-ranking officials and leads VBA's employees across 56 regional offices nationwide that provide compensation and pension benefits, life insurance, home loans and other services to millions of veterans.

Most aggressive’ in US: Utah creates white-collar crime registry to rein in fraud
RT - In an attempt to combat high levels of fraud, Utah has taken inspiration from the sex offender list, becoming the first state in the US to establish a white-collar felon registry for financial crimes. An early version of the list has been online since February, and it already contains more than 100 people who were convicted of crimes such as tax, credit card or insurance fraud... This makes the state “the most aggressive jurisdiction in the country when it comes to publicly shaming financial criminals.” The registry features individuals’ names, mugshots, any known aliases, physical descriptions and a list of the crimes they were convicted of. Utah is the first state to create such a registry, and it stands in contrast to the policy of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which does not publicize the identities of fraudsters. To be listed on the registry, individuals will need to be convicted of second-degree felony charges of securities fraud, theft by deception, unlawful dealing of property by a fiduciary, insurance fraud, mortgage fraud, communications fraud or money laundering... Their information will stay on the list for 10 years after one conviction, and another decade after a second. If someone is convicted three times, their data will remain on the list for their entire lifetime.

Oreo Maker Ignores Trump Criticism, Begins Layoffs In Chicago
USA Today - Snack giant Nabisco on Wednesday began the process of laying off hundreds of workers at its Chicago factory as it expands operations in Mexico, despite facing criticism for the move from White House hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump. Nabisco is expected to cut 277 workers this week — the first wave in a total of 600 layoffs — as the company that makes Oreos, Chips Ahoy and Nilla Wafers shifts work to a Mexico plant where it has invested $130 million in a new cookie and cracker production line.... After the layoffs are completed, the company will still have about 600 workers, about half of the current employee head count, at its bakery on Chicago’s Southwest Side. The company says it considered building the new factory lines in Chicago but opted not to because of the $46 million cost gap between operating in Chicago and Salinas, Mexico. The Chicago bakery will continue to be one of the company’s largest facilities in terms of number of employees, even after the layoffs, but will no longer make the famous cream-filled Oreo cookies once the new factory lines are up and running in Mexico.

Bankrupt Atlantic City To Pay Police Officers And Firefighters With IOUs
Associated Press - Atlantic City hurtled on Thursday toward a financial crisis that means IOUs for police officers, firefighters and sanitation workers while city and state officials trade blame for the seaside gambling resort’s increasingly dire predicament. Mayor Don Guardian held a news conference to detail plans for a shutdown of nonessential city services from April 8 to May 2, due, he said, to the state’s continuing inability to pass a financial rescue package that Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed twice already. “On April 8, we will run out of money; that’s a fact,” Guardian said.... Christie said the city’s problems are largely of its own making through years of overspending. The governor said he will sign two bills seen as crucial to the city’s future — a state takeover of Atlantic City’s finances, and a bill to allow casinos to make payments in lieu of property taxes — only if they are not amended first. Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto is refusing to approve the bills in his chamber without guarantees that public employee contracts will be honored after a state takeover — something to which Christie will not agree.

The Incredible Vanishing Starter Homes
EPJ - There are fewer affordable starter homes in 95 of the 100 largest U.S. markets now compared with 2012, according to the real estate research company Trulia.com. Trulia defines a starter as a home that is in the lower third of a market’s valuation and affordable to those making the median income in that market. What's going on? According to Ralph McLaughlin, chief economist with Trulia.com, investors bought many foreclosed homes that were likely starter homes during the recession and turned them into rentals, thus keeping them off the sales market. In 2016, the median starter home list price was $154,156, and a buyer would need to dedicate 37% of his income just to afford it, compared with 32% in 2012, Trulia said.

This Can Emotionally Scar Your Pet for Life - Avoid at All Costs
Dr. Becker - Declawing of cats continues to be a hotly debated topic in the U.S. and elsewhere. A surgery that many misinformed people continue to believe is simple, painless, and without long-term side effects, is meeting with widespread criticism from many corners. A growing number of veterinarians, animal advocates, and pet owners view declawing as an unnecessary and cruel mutilation that can destroy a cat’s quality of life.... According to many experts, changes in behavior after declawing are due to the pain the cat is enduring. Dr. Jean Hofve, holistic veterinarian and author of The Complete Guide to Holistic Cat Care: An Illustrated Handbook, says about a third of cats develop a behavior problem after being declawed. Post-declaw behaviors such as biting and urinating outside the litterbox are pain-related. In addition, the procedure changes cats’ ability to walk naturally. Kitties carry 60 percent of their body weight on their front feet. If the front paws are injured, even temporarily, it can create compensatory injuries to the wrists, elbows, shoulders, and spine.
 

Thursday - March 24, 2016 - Today in History:

1664 - A charter to colonize Rhode Island was granted to Roger Williams in London.
1837 - Canada gave blacks the right to vote.
1883 - The first telephone call between New York and Chicago took place.
1900 - Mayor Van Wyck of New York broke the ground for the New York subway tunnel that would link Manhattan and Brooklyn.
1920 - The first U.S. coast guard air station was established at Morehead City, NC.
1934 - U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt signed a bill granting future independence to the Philippines.
1938 - The U.S. asked that all powers help refugees fleeing from the Nazis.
1944 - In Rome, The Gestapo rounded up innocent Italians and shot them to death in response to a bomb attack that killed 32 German policemen. Over 300 civilians were executed.
1947 - The U.S. Congress proposed the limitation of the presidency to two terms.
1988 - Former national security aides Oliver L. North and John M. Poindexter and businessmen Richard V. Secord and Albert Hakim pled innocent to Iran-Contra charges.
1989 - The Exxon Valdez spilled 240,000 barrels (11 million gallons) of oil in Alaska's Prince William Sound after it ran aground.
1989 - The U.S. decided to send humanitarian aid to the Contras.
1995 - The U.S. House of Representatives passed a welfare reform package that made the most changes in social programs since the New Deal.
1998 - In Jonesboro, AR, two young boys open fire at students from woods near a school. Four students and a teacher were killed and 10 others were injured. The two boys were 11 and 13 years old cousins.
1998 - A former FBI agent said papers found in James Earl Ray's car supports a conspiracy theory in the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.
1999 - NATO launched air strikes against Yugoslavia (Serbia, Montenegro, Kosovo and Vojvodina). The attacks marked the first time in its 50-year history that NATO attacked a sovereign country. The bombings were in response to Serbia's refusal to sign a peace treaty with ethnic Albanians who were seeking independence for the province of Kosovo.
2014 - It was announced that the U.S. and its allies would exclude Russia from the G8 meeting and boycott a planned summit in Sochi in response to Russia's takeover of Crimea.

Brussels attacker deported from Turkey, Belgium notified of terror links - Erdogan
RT - “One of the attackers in Brussels is an individual we detained in Gaziantep in June 2015 and deported. We reported the deportation to the Belgian Embassy in Ankara on July 14, 2015, but he was later set free,” Erdogan said, as cited by Reuters. “Belgium ignored our warning that this person is a foreign fighter,” he added. The suspect was deported to the Netherlands at his own request and Dutch authorities were also notified of the matter, Erdogan added. The Turkish president’s office later identified the attacker as Ibrahim El Bakraoui, who is believed to be one of the suicide bombers that carried out the Brussels airport attack. Belgian Justice Minister, Koen Geens, confirmed that the suspect had been deported to the Netherlands, but claimed, at the time, he “wasn’t known to us as a terrorist, but only as a common criminal on parole,” VRT reported.

IS trains 400 fighters to attack Europe in wave of bloodshed
(AP) - The Islamic State group has trained at least 400 fighters to target Europe in deadly waves of attacks, deploying interlocking terror cells like the ones that struck Brussels and Paris with orders to choose the time, place and method for maximum chaos, officials have told The Associated Press. The network of agile and semiautonomous cells shows the reach of the extremist group in Europe even as it loses ground in Syria and Iraq. The officials, including European and Iraqi intelligence officials and a French lawmaker who follows the jihadi networks, described camps in Syria, Iraq and possibly the former Soviet bloc where attackers are trained to target the West. Before being killed in a police raid, the ringleader of the Nov. 13 Paris attacks claimed he had entered Europe in a multinational group of 90 fighters, who scattered "more or less everywhere."... Estimates range from 400 to 600 Islamic State fighters trained specifically for external attacks, according to the officials, including Goulet. Some 5,000 Europeans have gone to Syria.

Police Report: 90 More Suicide Bombers Ready to Explode in Europe
Breitbart - The mastermind of the November 2015 Paris attacks told an acquaintance that he was the commander of 90 “kamikazes-in-waiting” who infiltrated Europe to carry out terrorist attacks, according to information contained in a 55-page report compiled by French anti-terrorism officials. The report was leaked to the New York Times, which published the startling details on Saturday. The report is newly relevant in light of the Islamic State’s Tuesday terror attacks in Brussels that killed at least 31 people and wounded at least 270 others. The French report included details of a meeting between the Paris mastermind, Abdelhamid Abaaoud; his first cousin, 26-year-old Hasna Aitboulahcen; and a friend of Aitboulahcen’s.

Turkey’s Erdogan Warns Of Attacks In Brussels Four Days Before Event Took Place
Brandon Turbeville - In an instance of bizarre timing or, perhaps, foreknowledge, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan warned Europe only four days ago that it could see terrorist bombings and attacks in its cities in the near future if it does not cease support for and cooperation with Kurdish “militants.” Interestingly enough, Erdogan mentioned Brussels as a potential target by name. Only four days before the Brussels attacks, Erdogan spoke at a commencement ceremony for the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli in Canakkale, Turkey on March, 18 where he stated that “there is no reason why the bomb that exploded in Ankara cannot explode in Brussels, in any other European city.”

Video: Brussels Politician Releases Video Endorsing Donald Trump – 11 Days Before Brussels ISIS Attacks
The Gateway Pundit - He published this video on Facebook on March 11, eleven days before the ISIS Brussels bombings on March 22, 2016. Mischaël warns America not to become Brussels. He says Brussels is now a third world city after years of the Islamist invasion of Europe. Modrikamen urges Donald Trump, “Make America Great Again! You are an example for many of us here in Europe.”

Islamic State Supporters Celebrate Brussels Attack: ‘Expect More Bombs, More Death!’
Breitbart - According to the UK Independent, Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) supporters celebrated the Brussels bombings online, even before the Islamic State formally took responsibility for the attacks... Heavy.com has more tweets from the ISIS militant who said, “We have come to you with slaughter,” including, “When Muslims are bombed they run towards the bombing. When kuffar are bombed, they run to another city” and “Metro is controlled by NATO. Western security is so pathetic. Without their planes they are nothing.” Arabic supporters of ISIS got a #BrusselsOnFire hashtag rolling on Twitter, as they used #ParisOnFire to celebrate after the Paris massacre. “The state will force you to reevaluate your ways a thousand times before you are emboldened to kill Muslims again, and know that Muslims now have a state to defend them,” said one Islamic State devotee on the hashtag, spotted by the New York Post.
* Related: ISIS Hands Out Candy To Celebrate Mass-Murder In Brussels

Possible Signs Of False Flag In Brussels Now Emerging
Brandon Turbeville - Yet another terrorist attack in Europe to be blamed on Islamic extremists and ISIS and yet another instance of the suspects in the attacks being previously known to security services and intelligence agencies in the years, months, weeks, and days leading up to the event. That is exactly what happened in Brussels, Belgium on March 22, 2016. Lending credence to those who suggest that the Brussels attacks were false flags (meaning directed, orchestrated, or allowed by Western intelligence agencies), it is being reported that, yet again, the perpetrators were known to police and security services prior to the attack suggesting a number of possibilities in the false flag vein such as 1.) That the security services knew an attack was being planned and allowed it to continue 2.) That the intelligence agencies organized the attack from the very beginning.

Pentagon’s Massive Drone Strikes Kill Over 200 People
Sputnik News - In its second set of mass-casualty drone strikes this month, the Pentagon has killed roughly 200 people in Yemen and Somalia. On Tuesday, Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook confirmed that the US military had bombed a "training camp" used by "more than 70 AQAP [al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula] terrorists." "We continue to assess the results of the operation, but our initial assessment is that dozens of AQAP fighters have been removed from the battlefield," the spokesman said in a statement. The Pentagon has not revealed the specific location of the camp and has not released details on possible civilian deaths. According to local Yemeni medics and officials, at least 50 were killed and another 30 wounded. This is the second mass-casualty airstrike conducted by the US military this month. On March 5, the Pentagon killed an estimated 150 people, targeting an al-Shabaab training camp in Somalia.

Palestinians Retaliate in Trade War with Israel, Ban Goods from Five Firms
Sputnik News - The move by the democratically elected Palestinian government comes after an escalating wave of violence and in direct response to a similar announcement by the Israeli government. On Tuesday, the Palestinian government announced a West Bank blockade of products from five Israeli companies, citing a similar decision by the Jewish state... A trade war with the Israeli government carries with it substantial economic risks for the Palestinian people. Presently, over 90% of Palestinian exports go to Israel because high transportation costs prohibit selling goods internationally. Further, Israel controls all borders to the West Bank, so any exports to the rest of the world must pass through Israel. If Tel Aviv institutes tariffs or additional restrictions on Palestinian goods the consequences could be catastrophic.

Russia's RD-180: Pentagon Opens Probe Into Allegations Against McCain, Musk
Sputnik News - Last week, ULA [United Launch Alliance] Engineering Vice President Brett Tobey resigned after it became public that he had accused McCain of teaming up with the SpaceX founder to ban the imported RD-180 engine that is used to power ULA’s Atlas V launch vehicles. ULA, a collaboration of Boeing and Lockheed Martin, and SpaceX are competing for Pentagon business following the certification of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket for military space launches. "At the request of the Secretary of Defense, the OIG DoD has opened an investigation regarding assertions made by United Launch Alliance’s (ULA) former Vice-President of Engineering relating to competition for national security space launch and whether contracts to ULA were awarded in accordance with DoD and Federal regulations," according to a March 22 DoD IG memo to the Air Force secretary… McCain has reportedly sought a ban on the RD-180 engine because of what he has called “Russian aggression” in the Middle East and Eastern Europe. Other lawmakers have pushed to allow the continued purchase of the Russian rocket until a domestic alternative becomes available.

Arizona AG Brnovich: There Has Been ‘Huge Spike’ In Money Transfers on Border to Middle East
Breitbart - Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) said that “We’ve seen a huge spike in money transfers coming from places like Nogales on the border, to Middle Eastern countries” during the Fox Business Network’s coverage of the Arizona primary on Tuesday. Brnovich stated [relevant remarks begin around 2:50] “Arizona is on the frontline, and we have seen consequences of what has happened when we’ve had an unsecured porous border. I mean, frankly, just 6 months ago there were 6 folks apprehended from Middle Eastern countries, from Pakistan and Afghanistan, at our border. I know when you talk to the ranchers down there, they’re concerned because they have found coins from Middle East. We’ve seen a huge spike in money transfers coming from places like Nogales on the border, to Middle Eastern countries. And so, folks are are worried about it, not only from an economic perspective, but from a national security perspective.”

Super Soft On Islamic Terror: Obama Says That ISIS ‘Is Not An Existential Threat To Us’
Economic Collapse - In the wake of the horrible bombings in Brussels, Barack Obama is insisting that there is no need to change our approach in the fight against ISIS. He believes that Islamic terror is not a fundamental threat to our way of life, and he wants all of us to be convinced that the way that he is handling ISIS right now is just fine. Well, in this article you are going to learn some very shocking things about Obama and ISIS that are likely to make you very angry. It turns out that our allies Saudi Arabia and Turkey have been arming, funding and aiding ISIS and other radical jihadist groups such as the al-Nusra Front (al-Qaeda in Syria), and Obama has known about it all along. The goal was to take down the Assad regime in Syria, and the American people were never supposed to find out the truth.

Officials say Guantanamo transfers have killed Americans
(AP) - Americans have been killed by prisoners released from the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, a senior Defense Department official told lawmakers Wednesday, triggering sharp criticism from Republicans opposed to shuttering the facility in the wake of deadly attacks by the Islamic State group in Brussels and Paris. Paul Lewis, the Pentagon's special envoy for Guantanamo detention closure, declined to provide the GOP-led House Foreign Affairs Committee with details. He would not say whether the incidents occurred before or after President Barack Obama took office in January 2009.

IRS rebuked for tea party targeting, ordered to release secret list
Washington Times - A federal appeals court spanked the IRS Tuesday, saying it has taken laws designed to protect taxpayers from the government and turned them on their head, using them to try to protect the tax agency from the very tea party groups it targeted. The judges ordered the IRS to quickly turn over the full list of groups it targeted so that a class-action lawsuit, filed by the NorCal Tea Party Patriots, can proceed. The judges also accused the Justice Department lawyers, who are representing the IRS in the case, of acting in bad faith — compounding the initial targeting — by fighting the disclosure… Tea party groups have been trying for years to get a full list of nonprofit groups that were targeted by the IRS, but the IRS had refused, saying that even the names of those who applied or were approved are considered secret taxpayer information. The IRS said section 6103 of the tax code prevented it from releasing that information. Judge Kethledge, however, said that turned the law on its head. “Section 6103 was enacted to protect taxpayers from the IRS, not the IRS from taxpayers,” he wrote.

‘Credible Fear’ Loophole Gives Illegal Aliens from Terrorist Hub Nations Asylum
Breitbart - The illegal aliens are taking a page from the playbook of Central American illegal aliens, particularly unaccompanied children and incomplete families, by claiming they have a “credible fear of prosecution,” according to a Fox News report by William La Jeunesse. Critics of the program claim these, what Customs and Border Protection officers call Special Interest Aliens (SIA), illegal aliens are taking advantage of a loophole in our immigration policies to avoid deportation after capture. By using the phrase “credible fear of persecution,” these SIAs can not only remain in the U.S., they are then entitled to work permits and are immediately released from custody. Before 2009, La Jeunesse reported, many of the people seeking asylum at our borders were held in custody until they could make their case in an immigration court. President Obama changed that policy to allow for an immediate release of anyone claiming that “credible fear of persecution.”

Ted Cruz Ignores Real Source of Radical Islam
Kurt Nimmo - "Special relationship" between US and Saudi Arabia responsible for Wahhabi terror. Presidential candidate Ted Cruz sidestepped his proposal to patrol Muslim neighborhoods Wednesday during and interview with “Good Morning America.” He said the United States should target radical Islam in general, although he did not provide specifics. On Tuesday after the attack in Brussels Cruz called for law enforcement to step up patrols of Muslim areas in the United States. “If you have a neighborhood where there’s a high level of gang activity, the way to prevent it is you increase the law enforcement presence there and you target the gang members to get them off the streets,” Cruz told CNN’s Anderson Cooper. “I’m talking about any area where there is a higher incidence of radical Islamic terrorism.”

Video: Roger Stone Predicted Jeb Bush Endorsement Of Ted Cruz
Infowars - Trump insider said this would happen a week ago. On March 17th, 2016 Roger Stone was a guest on the Alex Jones Show and he predicted that Jeb Bush would endorse Ted Cruz which has now come to pass.... Alex Jones talks with Trump insider Roger Stone about how he is helping Donald Trump to fight back against the dirty politics the Republican party uses to stay in complete control of who becomes the Republican nominee. Today National Review released an article praising Jeb Bush for endorsing Ted Cruz. "Hats off to Jeb Bush for endorsing Ted Cruz this morning. He’s done the right thing, when many other Republican elected officials and prominent former elected officials are sitting on the sidelines."

Insider: Cruz Campaign Encouraged Utah Voters to Break Law
Kit Daniels - Campaign reportedly sent e-mail that leaves out legal requirements. The Ted Cruz campaign reportedly encouraged absentee voters to slip in their ballots without proper documentation. A Utah voter received the following e-mail apparently from the Cruz campaign... If an absentee voter follows these instructions, he would risk violating Utah voting laws which state that absentee voters must submit an application form the Thursday before the primary. Voters cannot simply decide to vote “absentee” the day before the election and print off a ballot without having filed an application beforehand, which these instructions imply.

Utah Voter Reveals Fraud: “I Literally Had Over 50 Ballots In My Hand”
Kit Daniels - A GOP caucus in Utah reportedly handed out multiple ballots to voters – and never bothered to check the IDs or credentials of the voters. One of the voters described the caucus as a vote with “no apparent controls, no credential checks, no ID checks and ballots being handed around like napkins,” with at least 250 ballots passed out to only 120 voters. “I literally had over 50 ballots in my hand,” the voter wrote on the Godlike Productions forum. “We were told to mark our vote and place our ballot in a tin can.” “They then asked for a volunteer to hold the can and at this point, most people filed out the door.” And when he went to visit another precinct caucus, he was handed another ballot without being asked for ID. “As I left the building, I started overhearing results coming back from other precincts: Overwhelmingly numbers for Cruz, like 70-90% or more,” the voter added. “In one precinct Cruz got around 100, Trump had 2, Kasich 0.”... There were similar reports of voter fraud and outright lies in Iowa. For one thing, Marco Rubio was polling at a distant third, yet he managed to finish just one percent behind Trump, and the voting machines used were provided by Microsoft, a major Rubio supporter.
 * Related: Utah Caucus: First hand insider report - Incompetence, Manipulation, and Ballot Stuffing!
 * Related: Soros Board Member Chairs Firm Running Online Voting for Tuesday’s Utah Caucuses

Delegate Update: Trump Now Has 60% Needed to Win Nomination
The Gateway Pundit - You wouldn’t know this from the media but… Donald Trump is now 60% of the way to winning the GOP nomination for president of the United States. This does not include the delegates from Missouri which Trump won in a close race over Ted Cruz. Hillary Clinton is now 51% of the way to winning the Democratic nomination for president of the United States.

ANTI-TRUMP PROTESTERS Admit Answering Craigslist Ad and Getting Paid to Protest Trump
The Gateway Pundit - The Daily Caller reported: The Establishment on both the left and the right, who want to disenfranchise the millions of Republican voters who support Donald Trump, have blamed the staged riots near Trump rallies on Trump or on Bernie Sanders. That’s like blaming the Russians for the Reichstag Fire. Bernie has little to do with these manufactured protests. This is a Clinton operation, a faux protest. False flag operations have long been common in politics, but these riots are poisonous to the electorate, intentionally designed to turn violent and stifle free speech. This free speech-busting goon squad operation is directed by supporters of Hillary Clinton. It is paid for mostly by George Soros and MoveOn.org and pushed by David Brock at Media Matters for America. It’s also funded by reclusive billionaire Jonathan Lewis, who was identified by the Miami New Times as a “mystery man.” He inherited roughly a billion dollars from his father Peter Lewis (founder of Progressive Insurance Company). A march and demonstration against Trump at Trump Tower essentially fizzled Saturday when only 500 “protesters” of the promised 5000 showed up. Infiltrating the crowd, I learned most were from MoveOn or the Occupy movement. Soap was definitely in short supply in this crowd. Several admitted answering a Craig’s list ad paying $16.00 an hour for protesters.

Game Change: Trump to Work ‘Closely, Directly’ with National Border Patrol Council’ to Set U.S. Border Policy
Breitbart - Stephen Miller, the senior policy adviser for the Trump campaign, minced no words in stating that Border Patrol agents will have a “direct line” to the White House if Donald Trump becomes President of the United States. Miller stated, “I am here today to say that we are going to work closely, directly, and intimately with the National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) to develop a border policy for this nation.” He continued, “The NBPC will never again have a back seat in our nation’s border policy.”

Clinton: After Brussels Attack Government Needs to Take a “Harder Look” at Encryption
Kurt Nimmo - Presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told an audience at Stanford University in California on Wednesday the US government needs to a form a bipartisan commission to look at airport security and encryption. She said the Brussels attack that killed more than 30 people is the “latest brutal reminder” that more must be done to defeat Islamic State militants. So far it has not been determined if the suspected terrorists in Brussels used encrypted devices to plan or communicate during the attacks. “We do not know yet what role, if any, encrypted communications played in these attacks,” Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) said in a statement. “But we can be sure that terrorists will continue to use what they perceive to be the most secure means to plot their attacks,”

House passes measure to provide foreclosure relief for members of the military
The Suburban Times - Monday the U.S. House of Representatives passed S. 2393, the Foreclosure Relief and Extension for Servicemembers Act of 2015, to extend foreclosure protection for military homeowners from 90 days to a one year period until January 1, 2018. Rep. Stephen Fincher (TN-08), Rep. Steve Stivers (OH-15), and Heck filed a House companion to S. 2393 (H.R. 4252) on December 16, 2015, and applauded the passage before April 1, when servicemembers would have been first affected by the time crunch. “Readjusting to civilian life from active duty can be difficult for many of our vets,” Congressman Fincher said. “It is tremendously important to allow our veterans more time to readjust to life at home and get on their feet financially. It’s the least we can do for those who willingly risk their lives every day to protect the freedoms we hold dear.” “When our service members come home they shouldn’t have to fear losing their homes as they transition back to civilian life,” Congressman Stivers said.

Why Oil Prices Are About To Plunge Again: 31 Million Barrels In Floating Storage Are Coming On Shore
Zero Hedge - Based on the all-in cost of operating tanker storage (dirty VLCC tanker day rates, financing, transit and transfer loss, insurance and bunkers, Figure 5), the current storage cost is too high relative to the steepness of the Brent forward curve. This means that prices do not justify inventory build, but rather gradual inventory drawdown as existing storage trades are unwound. Comparing the current level of floating storage (157.3 million barrels) versus that in early February (126.6 million barrels), there may be an additional 31 million barrels of inventory to be drawn down between now and the next inventory trough over the next several months.

The New "Middle Class" – Making $250,000 A Year In Palo Alto Qualifies For Housing Subsidies
Zero Hedge - From CBS News: Palo Alto is seeking housing solutions for residents who are not among the region’s super-rich, but who also earn more than the threshhold to qualify for affordable housing programs. The city council has unanimously passed a housing plan that would essentially subsidize new housing for what qualifies as middle-class nowadays, families making from $150,000 to $250,000 a year. Sky-rocketing housing prices in Palo Alto have left some in limbo; with teachers, firefighters and other government workers not earning enough to afford cost of living. Randy Bean says while she still loves her Palo Alto neighborhood, she can’t help but notice the changes that are making it unrecognizable. Some of the small two-bedroom, one-bath homes on her block are worth between $1.5 and $2 million – as teardowns. That’s just what the dirt is worth. “Prices have just gone through the roof, making it unaffordable for middle-class people, your firefighters, your teachers, and, frankly, some of your doctors,” Palo Alto Vice Mayor Greg Scharff said.

Video: Instead Of Euthanizing Unwanted Cats, This Shelter Is Giving Them A New Purpose
ViralNova - Despite the work of tens of thousands of animal shelters and even more volunteers around the country, nearly 3 million companion animals are euthanized each year. More than half of them are cats. To combat this, SpokAnimal struck up a program with the goal of giving unwanted cats a second chance. So how do they do it? They match cats to farms, warehouses, and other properties where the furry felines can offer their rodent-killing services. Not only are they saving the cats from certain death, they're also giving them a new purpose in life.
 

Wednesday - March 23, 2016 - Today in History:

1775 - American revolutionary Patrick Henry declared, "give me liberty, or give me death!"
1806 - Explorers Lewis and Clark, reached the Pacific coast, and began their return journey to the east.
1840 - The first successful photo of the Moon was taken.
1889 - U.S. President Harrison opened Oklahoma for white colonization.
1903 - The Wright brothers obtained an airplane patent.
1903 - U.S. troops were sent to Honduras to protect the American consulate during revolutionary activity.
1909 - British Lt. Shackleton found the magnetic South Pole.
1920 - Britain denounced the U.S. because of their delay in joining the League of Nations.
1922 - The first airplane landed at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC.
1933 - The German Reichstag adopted the Enabling Act. The act effectively granted Adolf Hitler dictatorial legislative powers.
1934 - The U.S. Congress accepted the independence of the Philippines in 1945.
1942 - During World War II, the U.S. government began evacuating Japanese-Americans from West Coast homes to detention centers.
1951 - U.S. paratroopers descended from flying boxcars in a surprise attack in Korea.
1957 - The U.S. Army sold the last of its homing pigeons.
1965 - America's first two-person space flight (Gemini 3) took off from Cape Kennedy with astronauts Virgil I. Grissom and John W. Young aboard.
1967 - Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. called the Vietnam War the biggest obstacle to the civil rights movement.
1972 - The U.S. called a halt to the peace talks on Vietnam being held in Paris.
1983 - U.S. President Reagan first proposed development of technology to intercept enemy missiles. The proposal became known as the Strategic Defense Initiative and "Star Wars."
1983 - Dr. Barney Clark died after 112 days with a permanent artificial heart.
1990 - Former Exxon Valdez Captain Joseph Hazelwood was ordered to help clean up Prince William Sound and pay $50,000 in restitution for the 1989 oil spill.
1998 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that term limits for state lawmakers were constitutional.
1998 - Russian President Boris Yeltsin fired his Cabinet.
2003 - A U.S. Army maintenance convoy was ambushed in Iraq; 11 soldiers were killed and seven were captured, including Pfc. Jessica Lynch.
2008 - A roadside bomb killed four U.S. soldiers in Baghdad, pushing the overall American death toll in the five-year war to at least 4,000.
2010 - President Barack Obama signed a $938 billion health care overhaul.
2012 - The U.S. Army formally charged Staff Sgt. Robert Bales with 17 counts of premeditated murder in the deaths of 17 villagers, more than half of them children, during a shooting rampage in southern Afghanistan.

ISIS flag & bomb found during house raid in Brussels – prosecutors
RT - An Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) flag and a bomb were found at a house in a Brussels district during a search conducted by Belgian police in connection with Tuesday morning blasts, prosecutors said. The explosive device found at a house in the Schaerbeek municipality contained nails, Belgian prosecutors said. Some chemicals were also found during the search. Raids are being conducted all across the country in the wake of this morning’s terror attacks, Belgian federal prosecutor Frederic Van Leeuw announced at a press conference. The official added that a possible connection between the Brussels blasts and the Paris attacks is still being investigated. Three male suspects were captured by CCTV at Brussels Airport before the deadly blasts, the prosecutor said. An image showing the three men has been released.

Following Brussels Attack Globalist Think Tank Calls for Invading Syria
Kurt Nimmo - A former adviser to Hillary Clinton on Syria, Frederic C. Hof, now a Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, has called for invading Syria in the wake of the deadly attacks in Brussels. “For the better part of a year, one clear recommendation has been on the table: assemble an American-led, coalition-of-the-willing, professional ground component—one top-heavy in regional and European forces—to enter eastern Syria to close with and kill ISIS. Engaging the Syrian opposition at all levels, consistent with an executable civil-military stabilization plan, can produce an administrative structure for an ISIS-free eastern Syria. Killing ISIS in Syria can ease the migration crisis and hasten the demise of this murderous band in Iraq. And it can demonstrate to the credulously stupid that linking up with losers will be a one-way trip to self-destruction,” Hof writes.

What are the odds? Wounded missionary Mason Wells was in Boston bombings, Paris attacks, and Brussels terror explosions --Mormon Missionaries From Utah Among Belgian Bombing Survivors
NBC News - They had just dropped off a fellow missionary at the Brussels Airport on Tuesday when an explosion ripped through the building. In a sickening flash, three Mormon missionaries were badly hurt in the latest terror attack to hit Europe -- a deadly attack that killed at least 31 and injured more than 200. The three missionaries -- all from Utah -- were identified by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints as Elder Richard Norby, 66, of Lehi; Elder Joseph Empey, 20, of Santa Clara; and Elder Mason Wells, 19, of Sandy..."He had only been in Brussels for six weeks," Wells's weeping mother, Kymberley Wells, told NBC News...This was not Wells's first brush with terror. He was in Boston to watch his mother run the marathon in 2013 when two Chechen immigrant brothers set off shrapnel-filled bombs that killed three and wounded scores more, his family said. Wells was also in Paris this past November when the French capital was attacked by Belgium-based terrorists, the family said.

Flashback: Brussels Called “ISIS Capital of Europe,” Police Won’t Enter Jihadi Ghettos
Kit Daniels - Brussels, Belgium is considered the “jihadi capital of Europe” due to ISIS sleeper cells operating out of the city’s ghettos the police refuse to enter. These ghettos, which are in fact large areas of Brussels, are considered off-limits to Europeans and radical Muslims will likely comprise the majority of the population within 20 years. “I think we have to sensitize people, make them understand the advantages to having Islamic people and Islamic laws, and then it will be completely natural to have Islamic laws and we will become an Islamic state,” a Muslim politician from Brussels, Redouane Ahrouch, said to a reporter in 2012. “In Belgium, of course!”

7 Strange Questions About The Brussels Terror Attacks That The Mainstream Media Is Not Asking
Economic Collapse - The horrific terror attacks in Brussels, Belgium on March 22, 2016 are going to reverberate in our memories for years to come, and perhaps that was the intention. Terror attacks are designed to create fear and to get attention, and these attacks have definitely done both. On Tuesday morning, two huge explosions ripped through Zaventem Airport in Brussels as travelers were getting ready to board their morning flights.... Just a short while later, another huge explosion was reported at a metro station just yards away from the European Commission headquarters. At this point, CNN says that at least 30 people have died and about 230 people are wounded as a result of these bombings. But what was the real motive for these attacks? The following are 7 strange questions about the Brussels terror attacks that the mainstream media is not asking…

U.S. military apologizes for bombing hospital
Reuters - The new commander of U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan apologised on Tuesday for the American bombing of a hospital last year that killed 42 people and wounded 37 more. General John W. Nicholson met family members of victims and the staff of the now-closed Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital in Kunduz, which was captured by Taliban insurgents for several days last year, to express his condolences. "As commander, I wanted to come to Kunduz personally and stand before the families, and people of Kunduz, to deeply apologise for the events" that led to the bombing, Nicholson said. "I grieve with you for your loss and suffering; and humbly and respectfully ask for your forgiveness," added Nicholson. A U.S. investigation found that the Oct. 3 air strike was a "tragic and avoidable" incident, primarily caused by human error. The U.S. military has disciplined more than a dozen personnel, including officers following the strike. MSF, known as Doctors Without Borders in English, has in the past publicly cast doubt on the idea that the strike could have been a mistake.

It's Official: Canadian Bank Depositors Are Now At Risk Of Bail-Ins
Zero Hedge - "To protect Canadian taxpayers in the unlikely event of a large bank failure, the Government is proposing to implement a bail-in regime that would reinforce that bank shareholders and creditors are responsible for the bank’s risks—not taxpayers. This would allow authorities to convert eligible long-term debt of a failing systemically important bank into common shares to recapitalize the bank and allow it to remain open and operating."

A Glimpse Of Things To Come: Canadian Oil Company Liquidates Hours After Bank Demands Repayment
Zero Hedge - Slowly but surely Canadian oil and gas failures are starting to become a daily reality; failures such as that of Canadian junior oil and gas producer Terra Energy Corp which yesterday said it shut down production, ceased operations and announced the resignation of directors and officers on Monday, after its lender, Canadian Western Bank, demanded full repayment of its debt.

European Environment Committee Votes Against Glyphosate Renewal
Sustainable Pulse - The Committee on Environment, Food Safety & Public Health (ENVI) formally objected Tuesday to the re-authorization by the European Commission of the herbicide glyphosate. A majority of the ENVI members supported this objection (36 in favour, 6 against and 18 abstentions), which was voted for on Tuesday.... The non-binding resolution calls on the EU executive to table a new draft. MEPs want the European Commission and the European Food Safety Authority to “immediately disclose all the scientific evidence that has been a basis for the positive classification of glyphosate and the proposed re-authorisation, given the overriding public interest in disclosure”. The motion for a resolution will be put to a vote at the 11-14 April plenary session of the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Rudy Giuliani GOES OFF on Obama: He’s Sitting with a Dictator at Baseball Game While Innocent People are Killed! (Video)
The Gateway Pundit - It’s outrageous that the President of the United States is not in the Situation Room right now planning on how to destroy ISIS… This was an attack on one of our allies. We belong to NATO. And an attack on a NATO ally, in case the president ever read the treaty, is an attack on the United States of America. He has an obligation to defend that country. It’s just like an attack on us. I don’t know if he’s ever read the treaty. The president’s knowledge of history is quite questionable. And, what’s he doing? He’s sitting with a dictator watching a baseball game while innocent people are being killed in a war!… So far his strategy hasn’t been working, right? …The man has no conception of the NATO Treaty and what it entails… …I know what they think of him in Europe. They don’t think we have a president. In Poland they don’t think we have a president!… Go tell those people who are dead in Brussels just how well Obama’s policies are working.

Obama appeals for political freedom in Cuba
Reuters - U.S. President Barack Obama delivered an impassioned appeal for political liberties in Cuba, including freedom of expression and religion, as he spoke directly to the Cuban people in a historic speech broadcast throughout the Communist-ruled island. Taking the stage at Havana’s Grand Theater with President Raul Castro in attendance, Obama said he was in Cuba to extend a hand of friendship and "bury the last remnant" of the Cold War in the Americas. But he also pressed hard for economic and political reforms and greater openness in a one-party state where the government stifles dissent, Internet access is low and the media is in state hands.... "I believe citizens should be free to speak their minds without fear," Obama told the audience on the final day of his visit. “Voters should be able to choose their governments in free and democratic elections.”

Clinton Emails Reveal Plan To Destroy Syria, Target Iran, Threaten Assad’s Family
Brandon Turbeville - The Hillary Clinton emails have recently been released by virtue of Clinton’s use of a private email server, WikiLeaks, and the Freedom of Information Act and they stand as potentially one of the most damning sets of emails ever exposed to the light of day. With 30,322 emails having been written by Clinton and the fact that Clinton herself has been so heavily involved in untold amounts of treachery during her tenure as Secretary of State alone, the emails are a veritable treasure trove of both incriminating information for Clinton and vindicating information for those who have been critical of her in the past. One email alone regarding the Syrian crisis demonstrates the veracity of what many who have been labeled “conspiracy theorists” have claimed for years – namely, that the United States has organized, directed, and supported the destabilization of Syria for its own geopolitical goals as well as those of Israel.[1] It also confirms the methodology and geopolitical goals behind the destabilization as well as cynical and brazen attempts by the Clinton State Department and Obama White House to go so far as to put Assad’s family in danger in order to intimidate him into abandoning his post.
* Related: Wikileaks Drops Hillary Email Bomb That Could End Her Campaign - FB Censored It

Time to Clear out Washington, DC’s IRS Giveaways to Undocumenteds
Activist Post - Every voter in the USA needs to get on board the movement to stop a gravy train of handouts to illegals or undocumented workers, especially those who have children not living in the USA, but in Mexico where the “tax refunds” go. A whistleblower tax consultant in Indiana contacted WTHR-TV 13 Indianapolis and documented that $4 billion per year is the cost of illegal tax refund fraudulent giveaways. “There’s huge fraud taking place.” Thousands of fraudulent tax returns are filed and once the money goes out the door, there’s very little chance of recouping it, if the IRS is so inclined. Could any U.S. citizen get away with filing phony documents with the IRS? Two million undocumented workers now are getting tax refunds because of a loophole being exploited by people who don’t have Social Security numbers and claim as many as twenty dependent children! The IRS knows what’s going on and has done nothing to stop it! Why? The IRS isn’t some sort of benevolent charity, is it? Since when?

Ted Cruz Blames Donald Trump for Brussels (Video)
Kurt Nimmo - Appearing on Fox News after the attack in Brussels, presidential candidate Ted Cruz blamed Trump’s stand on NATO for the tragic terror event. “It is striking,” Cruz said, “on the day after Donald Trump called for America weakening NATO, withdrawing from NATO we see Brussels, where NATO is headquartered, the subject of a radical Islamic terrorist attack." The Texas Senator said abandoning NATO will “hand Putin a major victory” and also “hand ISIS a major victory.”... On Monday Trump spelled out his foreign policy objectives. He questioned the need for NATO and said America should pursue a non-interventionist foreign policy.... “I do think it’s a different world today, and I don’t think we should be nation-building anymore,” Trump said. “I think it’s proven not to work, and we have a different country than we did then. We have $19 trillion in debt. We’re sitting, probably, on a bubble. And it’s a bubble that if it breaks, it’s going to be very nasty. I just think we have to rebuild our country.” The United States by far pays the largest chunk of NATO’s budget. In 2014 the expense was estimated to be $582.4 billion, while Germany anted up $44.30 billion for its own security and France $40.90 billion.

Trump: Islamic Terrorists Have Turned “Magical Places” Into “Cities Of Fear”, “Armed Camps”
Steve Watson - Speaking with Fox & Friends, Trump described how Brussels, the latest city to be attacked, has gone from one of the best places in the world to a hub for violent extremists. “Brussels was an absolutely crime-free city, one of the most beautiful cities in the world,” Trump said, adding “It was a magical place” but is now an “armed camp.” “You want to lead your life, you don’t want to be living in an armed camp for your whole life. And there is a certain group of people that is making living a normal life impossible.” Trump said. “Paris is almost as bad,” he continued. “Paris is no longer the beautiful city of light. They’re cities in fear.” “This is a story that seems to be more and more happening. You see what’s happening in London and other cities. It’s not pretty to watch. Many cities will be this way with what’s taking place.” It’s a warning that Trump issued months ago, specifically saying that Brussels had become the jihadist capital of Europe. At the time Trump was called a racist and criticized for ‘insulting’ the Belgian capital.

Bush-Appointed Judge Asks Obama Justice Dept. to Act on Disclosure of Trump Associate’s Mafia Ties
A federal judge has asked the Obama administration to shield from public disclosure court records related to the once-secret criminal history of a former Donald Trump business partner. In an unusual order prompted by an unsealing request from The Associated Press, U.S. District Judge Brian M. Cogan said that unless the Justice Department acts before April 18, he will decide whether to make the court files public under the assumption that federal prosecutors don't care. The case involves Felix Sater, a Trump business associate who pleaded guilty in a major Mafia-linked stock fraud scheme in the late 1990s and cooperated with the government. The AP reported in December that, even after learning about Sater's background, Trump tapped Sater for a business development role in 2010 that included the title of senior adviser to Trump, and had an office in the Trump Organization's headquarters.

TRUMP SOARS in Latest Poll – CRUZ MOST UNPOPULAR – #NeverTrump Crowd Hurt the Most
The Gateway Pundit - A new New York Times-CBS poll was released on Monday.
The results show candidate Donald Trump has gained an additional 11 points in the past 30 days and now leads with 46% support nationally. All that Trump bashing by GOP elites has only helped the GOP front-runner. The #Never Trump crowd is hurt the most. Via Conservative Treehouse...

Donald Trump Hires 9-11 Survivor and Iraq, Afghanistan Veteran During Press Conference
Breitbart - GOP frontrunner Donald Trump offered an African-American female reporter, a 9-11 survivor and Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, a job during his press conference at the Old Post Office, which is being renovated into Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C., causing the young woman to shed tears.

Why Are Pet Foods Making People Sick?
Dogs Naturally - In an August 2015 interview [a former food chemistry laboratory employee] explained why she won’t feed any pet products containing natural flavors to her dog: Most people believe natural flavors refer to healthful extracts of real foods. Not necessarily. Many are harmful chemical derivatives. Many endanger the employees who manufacture them! Some damage the individuals who consume them. Natural flavors can be so dangerous that the facility must provide additional ventilation, training in proper handling, provision of special equipment to protect workers from carcinogens, and employee access to MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheets). Unfortunately, these guidelines are often not followed and human health has been compromised. The result for me is autoimmune disease with fatigue, a compromised respiratory system and shortness of breath.... The goal of adding a flavorant is to mimic or enhance a natural taste and aroma. There are hundreds of natural flavors. Not all natural flavors are bad, but two of the most notorious natural flavors are monosodium glutamate (MSG) and diacetyl. If we’re avoiding these products ourselves, shouldn’t our dogs too?

Our Best Home Remedies For Fleas
Dogs Naturally - Once fleas are in your house and on your dog, you’ve got a lot of crappy work ahead of you … flea baths for your dog, washing every bit of fabric in your house, vacuuming everything under your roof. And you’ll probably have to do this more than once. Wouldn’t life be easier if those fleas never appeared on your dog in the first place? It’s a whole lot easier to prevent fleas from infesting your dog and your home than it is to get rid of them once they’ve taken over. But I’ve got some good news. I’m going to give you my best home remedies for fleas. But first, let’s start with the outdoors and try to keep the fleas out of your home and off of your dog so you’ll never have to use my remedies....

Video: Bryan Lewis 'I Think My Dogs A Democrat'
Song by Bryan Lewis.
 

Tuesday - March 22, 2016 - Today in History:

1630 - The first legislation to prohibit gambling was enacted. It was in Boston, MA.
1765 - The Stamp Act was passed. It was the first direct British tax on the American colonists. It was repealed on March 17, 1766.
1790 - Thomas Jefferson became the first U.S. Secretary of State.
1794 - The U.S. Congress banned U.S. vessels from supplying slaves to other countries.
1871 - William Holden of North Carolina became the first governor to be removed by impeachment.
1903 - Niagara Falls ran out of water due to a drought.
1933 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed a bill legalizing the sale and possession of beer and wine containing up to 3.2% alcohol.
1935 - In New York, blood tests were authorized as evidence in court cases.
1946 - The first U.S. built rocket to leave the earth's atmosphere reached a height of 50-miles.
1954 - The first shopping mall opened in Southfield, Michigan.
1954 - The London gold market reopened for the first time since 1939.
1965 - U.S. confirmed that its troops used chemical warfare against the Vietcong.
1972 - The U.S. Senate passed the Equal Rights Amendment. It was not ratified by the states.
1974 - The Viet Cong proposed a new truce with the U.S. and South Vietnam. The truce included general elections.
1980 - People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) was founded by Ingrid Newkirk and Alex Pacheco.
1987 - A barge loaded with 32,000 tons of refuse left Islip, NY, to find a place to unload. After being refused by several states and three countries space was found back in Islip.
1988 - The Congress overrode U.S. President Reagan's veto of a sweeping civil rights bill.
1989 - Oliver North began two days of testimony at his Iran-Contra trial in Washington, DC.
1990 - A jury in Anchorage, Alaska, found Captain Hazelwood not guilty in the Valdez oil spill.
1997 - Tara Lipinski, at 14 years and 10 months, became the youngest women's world figure skating champion.
2010 - Google announced it would stop censoring search results on its site in China by shifting it from the mainland to Hong Kong.

Brussels airport and Metro hit by deadly terror attacks
The Local - At least 21 people have been killed and dozens injured in two suicide bombings at Brussels international airport on Tuesday morning and in a separate blast on the city's Metro system.
 *** Related: Live coverage on the Brussels airport blasts

Moscow may unilaterally use force on Syrian ceasefire violators from March 22 - General Staff
RT - “If there is no reaction from the US to our proposals [on the control of ceasefire], starting from March 22 Russia will unilaterally apply rules provisioned in the [cessation of hostilities] deal,” the chief of the Russian General Staff’s main operations department, Sergey Rudskoy, said on Monday. Russia’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it has had contacts with US representatives concerning the issue, but said that they have not resulted in any resolution as to how ceasefire violations are to be restrained. Delaying an agreement on a joint position on the matter is “counter-productive,” Moscow diplomats said in their comments, adding that “thus a wrong signal is being sent to those opposition members who have not dissociated themselves from well-known terror groups and do not observe the ceasefire.”… Meanwhile, a US defense official told RT that “any unilateral Russian action to respond to ceasefire violations is unacceptable and runs counter to the spirit of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.”

Dutch Authorities May Close Five More Prisons Due to Lack of Criminals
Sputnik News - The Dutch government considers closing five additional prisons over the next few years over the falling crime rate in the country, local media reported Monday, citing Justice Minister Ard van der Steur. The announcement follows the closure of 19 penal facilities in the Netherlands due to lack of domestic criminals. By closing the prisons, the country’s authorities are aiming to reduce the cost of hundreds of empty prison cells, van der Steur told the parliamentarians earlier in the day… The crime rate in the Netherlands has decreased by an average of 0.9 percent in recent years that means that 3,000 prison cells and 300 detention centers for young people will meet the state’s requirements in the next five years, according to the newspaper.

Germany wants its gold back
RT - [Bundesbank President Jens] Weidmann says 366 tons of gold worth €11.5 billion have been delivered to Frankfurt so far. "There are now about 1,400 tons or 41.5 percent of our gold reserves here," the banker said. In October last year Germany’s gold reserves stood to around 3,384 tonnes, worth about €120 billion, which is the second largest in the world after the US… When trying to move gold from New York in 2014, the Bundesbank met obstacles from US authorities when officials tried to inspect the German gold kept in US vaults. “I’m no conspiracy theorist, but the Bundesbank should be able to audit the gold once a year like it does with reserves in Frankfurt,” Hans Olaf Henkel, a German member of the European Parliament, told RT. Some even doubted the German gold is still physically there. “We are still missing … published lists of gold bar number, even though the US Federal reserve publishes this list for their own gold,” said Peter Boehringer, founder of the Repatriate our Gold Campaign.

Helicopter Money: Global Central Banks Consider Distributing Money Directly To The People
Economic Collapse - Should central banks create money out of thin air and give it directly to governments and average citizens? If you can believe it, this is now under serious consideration. Since 2008, global central banks have cut interest rates 637 times, they have injected 12.3 trillion dollars into the global financial system through various quantitative easing programs, and we have seen an explosion of government debt unlike anything we have ever witnessed before. But despite these unprecedented measures, the global economy is still deeply struggling. This is particularly true in Japan, in South America, and in Europe. In fact, there are 16 countries in Europe that are experiencing deflation right now. In a desperate attempt to spur economic activity, central banks in Europe and in Japan are playing around with negative interest rates, and so far they seem to only have had a limited effect. So as they rapidly run out of ammunition, global central bankers are now openly discussing something that might sound kind of crazy. According to the Telegraph, central banks are becoming increasingly open to employing a tactic known as “helicopter money”…

Internet blackout in Congo as government fears post-election unrest
Euractiv - The Congolese government imposed a 48-hour communications block of the internet and telephone networks as the country’s voters went to the polls for presidential elections. Interior Minister Raymond Mboulou ordered the two-day blackout from 1am on Sunday (20 March). He instructed telecoms firms to block all telephone, Internet and SMS services for “reasons of security and national safety”. French radio station RFI, which has aired increasingly critical coverage of incumbent President Denis Sassou Nguesso in recent months, also had its airwaves temporarily cut. The silence on the airwaves and internet chatrooms was matched by quiet in the near-deserted streets of capital city Brazzaville. The government hopes that the communications lockdown will prevent opposition groups from using social media sites, such as WhatsApp and Facebook to organize post-election demonstrations.

Meals to die for? Soldiers share photos of mold & maggots in army issued food
RT - British soldiers have taken to social media to share shocking photos of meals allegedly prepared for them by Ministry of Defence (MoD) contractor Sodexo as they petition the government for better quality food. Military personnel across the UK have posted pictures of revolting meals allegedly served in army mess halls. The nauseating photographs show maggot-infested tomatoes, raw chicken, and moldy eggs covered in green spots.

China Shandong illegal vaccine scandal sparks anger
BBC News - The vaccines were not adequately refrigerated nor transported in approved conditions Chinese citizens have reacted with anger and alarm at news of a massive illegal vaccine operation uncovered in Shandong province. The illegal vaccine ring involved hundreds of people, and affected 24 provinces and cities, local media said. On Monday, news that a boy had died after a vaccination sparked more anger, though officials said there was no link to the Shandong scandal. China has seen several health and safety scandals in recent years.... Authorities appeared to respond to the public anger and calls for more information by promising on Monday to punish those responsible. They also released details on the affected vaccines, which included those for polio, rabies, mumps, encephalitis, hepatitis B and meningococcal diseases.

Video: Obama Welcomes Castro's Criticism of America: 'I Personally Would Not Disagree'
Weekly Standard - President Obama said that he "personally would not disagree" with some of Cuban President Raul Castro's criticisms of America... "President Castro, I think, has pointed out that in his view making sure that everybody is getting a decent education or health care, has basic security and old age, that those things are human rights as well. I personally would not disagree with him," Obama said. "But it doesn't detract from some of these other concerns. And the goal of the human rights dialogue is not for the United States to dictate to Cuba how they should govern themselves, but to make sure that we are having a frank and candid conversation around this issue. And hopefully that we can learn from each other." Obama made the comment at a joint press conference with the Cuban Communist dictator.

Cuba: Operation Northwoods, The Forgotten Insanity
Who What Why - As we watch President Obama being warmly welcomed in Cuba, we think back to the secret, shameful things done in the past by the US to undermine Castro, not counting the various assassination attempts. This report lays bare one of the more hair-raising schemes. On March 13, 1962, the Joint Chiefs of Staff proposed to President John F. Kennedy that the United States attack itself — and blame Cuba. This is what is known as a “false flag” event. This proposal came at the request of the CIA’s Edward Lansdale who was in charge of the anti-Castro project. Kennedy dismissed it as lunacy, certain to lead to war. This set him on a fatal collision course with the most powerful people in the country. This little-known proposal, code-named Operation Northwoods, is highly relevant today. It provides a crucial backdrop to the murderous mindset of those whom Castro — and Kennedy — had angered. Moreover, we would be foolish to assume that the basic nature of institutions has changed. The temptation to engineer so-called false flag events may simply be too great to resist.

Google Worked with Clinton to Overthrow Syria
Kurt Nimmo - Google Idea‘s Jared Cohen emailed Clinton’s deputy chief of staff Jake Sullivan and offered help when Clinton was secretary of state, according the Hillary Clinton Email Archive posted on the WikiLeaks website. “Please keep close hold, but my team is planning to launch a tool … that will publicly track and map the defections in Syria and which parts of the government they are coming from,” Jared Cohen wrote in a July 2012 email to several top Clinton officials. “Our logic behind this is that while many people are tracking the atrocities, nobody is visually representing and mapping the defections, which we believe are important in encouraging more to defect and giving confidence to the opposition,” Cohen said. “Given how hard it is to get information into Syria right now, we are partnering with Al-Jazeera who will take primary ownership over the tool we have built, track the data, verify it, and broadcast it back into Syria,” he said.... In addition to Google, Facebook and Twitter were also involved in the effort to undermine governments in the region.

Flint Police: Break-In At City Hall Was An 'Inside Job'
The Daily Caller - Burglars broke into a city hall office full of documents related to Flint’s water system just before federal investigations into the water crisis began. A TV was the only thing taken, according to public officials… “It was definitely an inside job,” police chief Tim Johnson told the Flint Journal Monday. “The power cord (to the TV) wasn’t even taken. The average drug user knows that you’d need the power cord to be able to pawn it.” Johnson speculated further: “It was somebody that had knowledge of those documents that really wanted to keep them out of the right hands, out of the hands of someone who was going to tell the real story of what’s going on with Flint water.” Flint Mayor Karen Weaver was more circumspect on the matter, though admitted the break-in is suspicious, telling reporters: “Well, sure, (it’s suspicious) when they go into a room where all the water files were and they take a TV, but not the cord to make it work, yes.” She went on to say the burglars broke in, took a TV, and tossed documents and papers across the room. The mess made it difficult to determine whether any sensitive documents were taken, Weaver added. “We don’t know if papers or files were taken because papers were all over the floor,” Weaver told the Flint Journal. “Maybe papers were taken, maybe they weren’t. We just don’t know.”

Owners, Staff at Utah Restaurant Open Carry to Support 2nd Amendment
Breitbart - Tony and Monika Siebers own Ogden, Utah’s Sea Bears Fish House, a Scottish-themed restaurant where the staff wear kilts and openly carry handguns. Monika says they evolved to carrying openly while they were going through the process of acquiring concealed carry licenses. She said she started carrying her pistol in plain sight and customer responses convinced her and her husband that carrying that way gave them an opportunity to talk to customers about the importance of the Second Amendment. According to KSL, customers invite such discussions by asking Monika why she carries or why she views carrying as “so important.” She answers those questions by focusing on the importance of being free people in a free country. Monika said, “I think part of what we love about what we do and the country we live in is that we have the freedom to choose what we want to do.” Tony said, “When law-abiding citizens carry, it protects all of us.”

Watch: Entire Donald Trump AIPAC Speech
Breitbart - Monday in Washington, D.C., Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump American Israel Public Affairs Committee policy conference. Transcript as follows...
* Related: Trump’s Five Most Important Declarations At AIPAC Speech

AIPAC: Grading the 2016 Candidates
Breitbart - Each of the remaining presidential candidates delivered an address to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC) Policy Conference on Monday. And each, in their own way, did well. Donald Trump benefited most of all, as he was expected to face protests, and faced doubts about his ability to deliver a detailed policy speech. He gave a stirring, comprehensive address that won standing ovations. Here are his, and his rivals’, overall grades at AIPAC.

Mexico Attempting to Subvert US Presidential Election
Kurt Nimmo - The Mexican government is directly involved in an attempt to subvert the presidential election in the United States. On Sunday Bloomberg Business reported that while Mexico officially claims to respect the sovereignty of the United States, behind the scenes its diplomats are working to legalize thousands of illegal immigrants in order to shift the election away from Donald Trump. “This is a historic moment where the Mexican consulate will open its doors to carry out these types of events in favor of the Mexican community,” Adrian Sosa, a spokesman for the Mexican consulate in Chicago, told Bloomberg. The consulate has sponsored “citizenship clinics” around the United States. Sosa said the Mexican government hosts the clinics and activists assist illegal immigrants in becoming US citizens.

You Can't Live Here If You Are Voting for Donald Trump - Landlord
CBS News - A landlord in Grand Junction is not breaking the law by refusing to lease an apartment to anyone who supports Donald Trump for president. According to The Daily Sentinel in Grand Junction, Mark Holmes is renting out a two-bedroom apartment on Main Street, but he refuses to rent to anyone who supports Trump...Some thought Holmes was violating federal housing rules by discriminating against political affiliations, but that's not the case, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. “That has nothing to do with the Fair Housing Act,” HUD spokesman Jerry Brown told The Daily Sentinel. “But that seems to be a first, and it’s original.” “He’s preaching hate and he’s preaching … a lot of venom, spit and vinegar. And I live in the top part of the house,” Holmes said. “I don’t want anybody that even thinks that Donald Trump can be a good president to live in my home.” Holmes said he’s already got several applicants.

Romney Records Robocalls For Cruz
The Daily Caller - Mitt Romney has recorded robocalls for Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz ahead of Arizona’s primary and Utah’s caucuses on Tuesday, The Daily Caller has learned. The Cruz campaign says the robocalls were dropped in Arizona today and will go out in Utah tomorrow… Announcing his support for Cruz in the Utah caucuses on Friday, Romney suggested he’s actually less interested in Cruz being the nominee and more interested in seeing some Republican other than Trump getting the nomination at an open convention. Romney and Cruz, in the past, have spoken critically of each other.

Take this test and see what candidate you side with
ISideWith.com - Answer the following questions to see how your beliefs match each political party.

Beltway Conservative Budget Plans Are Big Spending and Anti-Liberty
Ron Paul - According to a recent poll, 73 percent of all Americans oppose increases in federal spending. Since this anti-government spending sentiment is a major reason Republicans control the House and Senate, one would expect the Republican Congress to hold the line on, or even cut, government spending. Yet, despite the Republican leadership’s rhetoric about "fiscal responsibility," this year’s House Republican budget spends $104 billion more than the GOP’s 2013 budget. Some conservatives, most notably the Heritage Foundation, have criticized the GOP budget. Heritage and the conservative House Republican Study Committee (RSC) have both prepared conservative alternatives to the official Republican budgets. Unfortunately, neither Heritage nor the RSC budgets meaningfully reduce federal spending.

Atlantic City Goes Bankrupt, Will Shut Down For 3 Weeks
Washington Times - The mayor of Atlantic City, New Jersey, says the resort town’s dismal finances will force a weeks long shutdown of nonessential government services next month if the city doesn’t get state aid. Republican Don Guardian said Monday the shutdown would start April 8 and likely last until at least May 2, when quarterly tax revenue is set to arrive. Police, fire and sanitation workers would continue to perform their jobs without pay but would be paid when the tax money comes in. Guardian says the city could be in a similar situation in a couple of months. The city’s tax base has contracted since four of its 12 casinos closed.

Does Banks’ Withdrawal from Coal Financing Mean Industry’s End is near?
AllGov - Morgan’s bank, now JPMorgan Chase, announced two weeks ago that it would no longer finance new coal-fired power plants in the United States or other wealthy nations. The retreat follows similar announcements by Bank of America, Citigroup and Morgan Stanley that they are, in one way or another, backing away from coal.... Some banks say they are trying to do their part to curtail climate change by moving away from coal projects and financing ventures that produce less carbon. But bankers also say there is a more basic reason for the shift: Lending to coal companies is too risky and could ultimately prove unprofitable.... And it is not just big banks. Even many more daring investors like hedge funds and private equity firms, which are usually eager to pounce on industries in distress, are shying away from coal because of deep uncertainty about its future.... Despite the challenges, the coal industry still powers roughly a third of the nation’s electricity. Industry officials say the business will eventually bounce back, once supplies burn off and demand for coal rebounds in places like China.

Still vaccinating your pet every year?
NBC News - That may not be necessary and could even cause harm. Vaccinations have saved many pets' lives over the years, but they aren't without risk. Now, with new research showing that immunity may last longer than once thought, veterinary experts say it's safer to decrease the frequency of most shots that typically have been given every year. Side effects from vaccinations range from mild itching and swelling to anaphylactic shock leading to death. Cats may develop vaccine sarcomas, which are cancers that develop at the site of the injection. And dogs may develop certain autoimmune diseases.

Can Half Dose Vaccines Reduce The Risk Of Vaccine Reactions In Small Dogs?
Dogs Naturally - There’s a lot of controversy surrounding vaccination these days — and rightly so. That’s because vaccines differ from every other pharmaceutical product your vet prescribes in one important way … no matter what size your dog is, the dose he gets is exactly the same as every other dog. A 150 pound Great Dane gets the same dose as a five pound Yorkshire Terrier. Well, there are some experts who defend the “one size fits all” standard for vaccines. They say that the amount of antigen needed to stimulate an immune response is the same for any size animal, so it shouldn’t matter if the dose is the same. But they’re completely ignoring the fact that there are other toxic ingredients in vaccines (such as mercury, aluminum, MSG and formaldehyde) that can cause health issues in any size dog, let alone a tiny one. It’s no wonder that small breed dogs get sick after vaccination at an alarmingly high rate. So it’s not OK! Vaccines can cause life-threatening or incurable chronic disease, and this practice of giving small dogs full vaccine doses is putting their lives and health at serious risk.
 

Monday - March 21, 2016 - Today in History:

1788 - Almost the entire city of New Orleans, LA, was destroyed by fire. 856 buildings were destroyed.
1790 - Thomas Jefferson reported to U.S. President George Washington as the new secretary of state.
1851 - Yosemite Valley was discovered in California.
1906 - Ohio passed a law that prohibited hazing by fraternities after two fatalities.
1907 - The U.S. Marines landed in Honduras to protect American interests in the war with Nicaragua.
1910 - The U.S. Senate granted ex-President Teddy Roosevelt a yearly pension of $10,000.
1925 - The state of Tennessee enacted the Butler Act. It was a law that made it a crime for a teacher in any state-supported public school to teach any theory that was in contradiction to the Bible's account of man's creation.
1928 - U.S. President Calvin Coolidge gave the Congressional Medal of Honor to Charles Lindbergh for his first trans-Atlantic flight.
1945 - During World War II, Allied bombers began four days of raids over Germany.
1965 - More than 3,000 civil rights demonstrators led by the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. began a march from Selma to Montgomery, AL.
1966 - In New York, demolition work began to clear thirteen square blocks for the construction of the original World Trade Center.
1971 - Two U.S. platoons in Vietnam refused their orders to advance.
1984 - A Soviet submarine crashed into the USS Kitty Hawk off the coast of Japan.
1991 - 27 people were lost at sea when two U.S. Navy anti-submarine planes collided.
1991 - The U.N. Security Council lifted the food embargo against Iraq.
1995 - Tokyo police raided the headquarters of Aum Shinrikyo in search of evidence to link the cult to the Sarin gas released on five Tokyo subway trains.
2000 - The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that the FDA had overstepped its authority when it attempted to restrict the marketing of cigarettes to youngsters.
2002 - In Pakistan, Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh was charged with murder for his role in the kidnapping of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pear. Three other Islamic militants that were in custody were also charged along with seven more accomplices that were still at large.
2003 - It was reported that the Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 235.27 (2.8%) at 8,521.97. It was the strongest weekly gain in more than 20 years.

Istanbul hit by suicide attack
The Guardian - At least five people, including a suicide bomber, have been killed and another 36 wounded in a bomb attack on Istanbul’s main shopping street… The explosion happened close to the local district governor’s office on Istiklal Street, a pedestrian boulevard lined with international stores and restaurants… Turkey has been on high alert after suffering a string of deadly terrorist attacks on its soil. More than 200 people have died in five major bombings since July of last year. Last Sunday suicide bombers killed 37 people at a bus stop in the Turkish capital, Ankara. The militant Kurdistan freedom falcons (Tak) claimed responsibility for the attack. The group, an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan workers’ party (PKK), said that the bombing was retaliation for ongoing security operations in the predominantly Kurdish south-east and threatened that attacks would continue.

Key Palestinian witness in triple-murder trial survives house fire
Deutsche Welle - "The window was broken from the outside and flammable materials were found in the rubble," Malek Ali, fire chief for the nearby city of Nablus, told the AFP news agency. The fire engulfed the bedroom of a family home late at night, with Dawabsheh and his wife in it… Dawabsheh is a key witness of a widely publicized arson attack from July last year, when alleged Jewish extremists killed a Palestinian toddler and both of his parents in Duma… UN humanitarian coordinator Robert Piper also "strongly condemned" the incident, which he said was carried out by "suspected Jewish extremists." At the same time, Israel's Shin Bet internal security agency said preliminary information was not pointing to a "nationalistically motivated incident." "The findings collected so far at the scene are not characteristic of deliberate Jewish arson attacks," a Shin Bet statement said.

Germany learns how to send back migrants: Pay them
The Washington Post - With deportations on such a scale seen as problematic at best, the country has come up with a solution: Pay - some say bribe - them… By the time his offer came, Lauand Sadek was already regretting his arduous trek from Iraq to Germany… He made the choice after the German government offered him a plane ticket and up to 6,000 euros (roughly $6,540) to invest in a small business — a little grocery store in Irbil. “I would have stayed in Germany longer, but their offer helped me understand,” he said. “It was time to go.” The offer suggests the philosophy being embraced on this side of the Atlantic, where mass deportations are considered not only a last resort, but also a less effective tool than persuading migrants to choose to leave.

Violent Arrests of Dissidents Precede Obama Landing in Cuba
Breitbart - Hours before President Barack Obama landed in Havana to meet with high-ranking members of the island’s repressive communist regime, more than 50 pro-democracy dissidents were beaten and arrested, shoved into buses to be shipped into the nation’s jails to prevent them from disturbing official activities. At least 50 of those arrested are members of the Ladies in White, a mostly-Catholic dissident group comprised of the wives, daughters, mothers, and sisters of prisoners of conscience. The Ladies in White members joined a larger group of anti-communist dissidents in Havana following their weekly attendance at Mass. The Cuban dissident community has loudly opposed President Obama’s visit, arguing that his presence on the island would embolden the Cuban government to act more violently against pro-democracy activists. “These sorts of visits bring a lot of collateral damage,” dissident Marta Beatriz Roque said in February.

Remembering Obama’s “Shock and Awe” Bombing Of Libya And How The “Antiwar” Movement Blew It
Philip C. Restino - March 19th marked the 5th anniversary of the first African-American President unilaterally, and without provocation, ordering the U.S. “Shock and Awe” bombing the crap out of his African brothers and sisters in the sovereign North African nation of Libya. Not only that, he did so without even bothering to go to Congress and at least lie to them like his predecessor President George W. Bush did with his own “Shock and Awe” bombing of Iraq 8 years earlier. Just a few days after the bombing of Libya I spoke about it with Joyce Riley, host of the popular nationally syndicated radio show The Power Hour.

Saudi Arabia Opens AIPAC Style PR Firm In DC To Strengthen Ties With US
MintPress News - Saudi Arabia is getting its own nonprofit press shop in Washington, D.C., with the creation of the Saudi American Public Relation Affairs Committee (Saprac)… The group appears to be loosely following the model of the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (Aipac)… Saudi Arabia and the United States enjoy close economic links by virtue of American dependence on Saudi oil… But ties have frayed lately, partially due to increased domestic oil production in the United States. Saudi Arabia also disapproves of Washington’s attempts to normalize relations with Iran, while President Barack Obama has expressed frustration with the House of Saud’s human rights record and foreign policy… Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton has a similarly complicated relationship with Saudi Arabia… But her State Department also signed off on weapons deals with Saudi Arabia, and the Clinton Foundation has received tens of millions of dollars in donations from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and other allied states in the region. In October, the Saudi government signed a contract to be represented by the Podesta Group, a lobbying firm run by Clinton campaign fundraiser Tony Podesta.

US sends in Marines to join ground fight against Isis in Iraq
The Independent - A detachment of US Marines has been dispatched to Iraq to join the ground fight against Isis. The Marines sent are from the 26th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), an air-ground fighting force of 2,200 soldiers. However, it is not clear how many of these soldiers will actually be deployed to Iraq. There are around 3,600 US army personnel already stationed in Iraq… The news comes one day after an American Marine was killed in a rocket attack… Though the role of the Marines is yet to be revealed, the latest deployment is a significant step towards the use of conventional warfare tactics… Speaking in January, US Defense Secretary Ash Carter said: "We're looking for opportunities to do more, and there will be boots on the ground. I want to be clear about that."

Military Admits Trillion Dollar F-35 Program is a Failure
Activist Post - Now officials with the Pentagon are admitting that this massive boondoggle is a total bust. One official admitted that to replace the Air Force’s entire fleet, which was the original intention of the F-35 program, they would have eliminate a fifth of their squadrons to afford it. Two generals said that the whole idea of an all-purpose aircraft was flawed from the start, and the Pentagon is already planning a 6th generation fighter jet to replace the F-35. To maintain any semblance of air superiority, the military will be forced to maintain their older weapon systems alongside the F-35 until a replacement is made, which is the ultimate proof that the concept of an all-purpose fighter jet is a complete failure… In addition to this, over 1,300 suppliers employing 133,000 people in 45 states, are responsible for building the F-35. This means that most members of Congress will be unwilling to vote down the project, for fear of killing jobs in their districts.

Obama Administration Sets Record for Failure to Provide Documents for FOIA Requests
AllGov - The Obama administration set a record for the number of times its federal employees told disappointed citizens, journalists and others that despite searching they couldn't find a single page requested under the Freedom of Information Act, according to a new Associated Press analysis of government data. In more than one in six cases, or 129,825 times, government searchers said they came up empty-handed last year. Such cases contributed to an alarming measurement: People who asked for records under the law received censored files or nothing in 77 percent of requests, also a record… In some high-profile instances, usually after news organizations filed expensive federal lawsuits, the Obama administration found tens of thousands of pages after it previously said it couldn't find any. The website Gawker sued the State Department last year after it said it couldn't find any emails that Philippe Reines, an aide to Hillary Clinton and former deputy assistant secretary of state, had sent to journalists. After the lawsuit, the agency said it found 90,000 documents about correspondence between Reines and reporters.

NSA refused Clinton a secure BlackBerry like Obama, so she used her own
Ars Technica - Judicial Watch, the conservative political action group that has largely driven the investigation into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's e-mails, has obtained documents through a Freedom of Information Act request indicating that Clinton tried and failed to get the National Security Agency to give her the same secure BlackBerry that President Obama used… the problem being that the new secretary of state was a certifiable BlackBerry addict but wasn't much of a computer user. The NSA refused to give Clinton a device similar to the one used by Obama… Clinton's staff was told that "use [of the BlackBerry] expanded to an unmanageable number of users from a security perspective, so those waivers were phased out and BlackBerry use was not allowed in her Suite," an e-mail from the NSA's senior liaison to the State Department noted… Given the NSA's refusal to give Clinton what she wanted, the secretary apparently decided to continue to use her personal e-mail server for State Department business, while her staff was fully aware of the security risks associated with using her BlackBerry.

Feudalism - Then & Now
Zero Hedge - The American public has two clear choices: Fight back, or accept serfdom.... As Gaius Publicis recently expressed... If you think of the country as in decline, as most people do, and you think the cause is the predatory behavior of the big-money elites, as most people do, then you must know you have only two choices — acceptance and resistance. Why do neo-liberal Democrats, like the Clinton campaign, not want you to have big ideas, like single-payer health care? Because having big ideas is resistance to the bipartisan consensus that runs the country, and they want to stave off that resistance. But that’s a negative goal, and there’s more. They not only have to stave off your resistance. They have to manage your acceptance of their managed decline in the nation’s wealth and good fortune. Again: The goal of the neo-liberal consensus is to manage the decline, and manage your acceptance of it.

General Mills Announces GMO Labeling for US Products
Sustainable Pulse - General Mills, the Minneapolis based food giant, has announced Friday that consumers all over the U.S. will soon begin seeing GMO labeling legislated by the state of Vermont on many General Mills products. eff Harmening, the Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, for U.S. Retail at General Mills stated in a blog post, after the blocking of the new Dark Act in the U.S. Senate, that; “As the discussions continue in Washington, one thing is very clear: Vermont state law requires us to start labeling certain grocery store food packages that contain GMO ingredients or face significant fines. “We can’t label our products for only one state without significantly driving up costs for our consumers and we simply will not do that. “The result: consumers all over the U.S. will soon begin seeing words legislated by the state of Vermont on the labels of many of their favorite General Mills products.” General Mills also added a section to their website Friday that gives consumers the chance to see which of their products contain genetically modified organisms (GMOs). General Mills is the second giant U.S. food company to have announced voluntary GMO labeling, following the lead of Campbell’s. Both of these companies are or were from the Grocery Manufacturers Association’s (GMA) coalition of Big Food that has been fighting against GMO labeling in the U.S. for the past few years.

Try this quiz! Who should you vote for?
Isidewith.com - Answer the following questions to see how your beliefs match each political party.

Ron Paul says GOP deserves convention rule controversy
CNN - The GOP's "Rule 40(b)" requires candidates win the "support of a majority of the delegates from each of eight or more states" in order to have their named placed on the nominating ballot. The raised threshold -- it had previously been a plurality from five states -- helped to prevent Paul's supporters from upstaging or distracting from the presumptive nominee, Mitt Romney, on national television. "They did not want my name to come up and so they changed the rules because we had the votes," Paul told CNN … But this time around, the requirement threatens to undermine a late effort to derail the billionaire front-runner. "I think it's a bit of an irony and they deserve the problem," Paul said… The issue could come to the fore if Trump fails to win the 1,237 delegates required to clinch the nomination before the July convention in Cleveland. But with Ted Cruz and John Kasich at risk of not meeting the eight-state majority minimum, the first fight of the 2016 convention could turn on a decision whether to scale back or remove the rule.

Soros Board Member Chairs Firm Running Online Voting for Tuesday’s Utah Caucuses
Breitbart - Smartmatic Group, an electronic voting firm whose worldwide headquarters is located in the United Kingdom, will be running the online balloting process in the Utah Republican Open Caucuses on Tuesday. The chairman of Smartmatic’s board, Lord Mark Malloch-Brown, currently serves on the board of George Soros’s Open Society Foundation and has close ties to the billionaire. The Wall Street Journal dubbed the Republican party’s online adventure on Tuesday as “one of the biggest online votes conducted so far in the U.S.” and the “largest experiment with online presidential voting since 2004, when Michigan allowed Democrats to vote in a party caucus via the Internet.” The Journal further reported: Utah residents will have the option of casting ballots in the Republican presidential contest using computers, tablets, and smartphones next week.… Online “polls” will be open between 7:00 a.m. and 11 p.m. on March 22. Voters will get a receipt that will verify that their vote was recorded correctly. The state party declined to release the number of online voter registrations that it has received.… “We expect all the jurisdictions across the U.S. to take notice and to look at this experience as something to study and, hopefully, follow,” said Antonio Mugica, founder and chief executive of Smartmatic Group, an election-equipment vendor that is running the Utah election.

Trump Protesters Block Streets In Fountain Hills
Steve Watson - Trump protesters were blocking vehicles leading into Fountain Hills in advance of Donald Trump’s campaign stop Saturday morning. Three protesters were arrested, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio said. “We had a little problem,” Arpaio told the crowd gathered in Fountain Hills. “Demonstrators were trying to disrupt.Three of them are in jail. If they think they’re going to intimidate you the next president of the U.S., it’s not going to happen.” For hours, the protesters – about two dozen in total – parked their cars in the middle of the road, unfurling banners reading “Dump Trump” and “Must Stop Trump,” and chanting “Trump is hate.” Traffic was backed up for miles, with drivers honking in fury.

LEAD ORGANIZER Who Shut Down Hwy to TRUMP RALLY Is “Soros Fellow” from New Orleans
The Gateway Pundit - Yesterday Far left open border activists SHUT DOWN THE HIGHWAY leading to the Trump rally in Fountain Hills, Arizona for two hours. The protesters parked their trucks across the highway to block traffic. The lead protester who chained her neck to a pickup truck was Jacinta Gonzalez from New Orleans.,,, Jacinta Gonzalez is a trained community organizer and Soros Fellow. Jacinta shut down traffic for two hours in Arizona. It’s not clear if she is an American citizen.

Trump Protesters Dog Campaign From City to City in Arizona
Steve Watson - A protester at a Donald Trump campaign rally was kicked and punched by a supporter of the Republican presidential front-runner on Saturday, as activists continued to shadow the real-estate billionaire a week after he was forced to postpone a rally in Chicago. The incident occurred at a rally in Tucson, Arizona, at which more than 100 protesters were positioned so close to the entrance that it was difficult for supporters to enter the venue. Inside the rally, a female protester wore a white sheet over her head in imitation of a Ku Klux Klan hood. She was accompanied by a male demonstrator who held a sign with a Confederate flag imprinted on Trump’s face. As local police attempted to remove the pair, an African-American Trump supporter enraged at the appearance of the woman in the sheet kicked the man with the sign three times and punched him once. Trump called the protester with the hood “really disgusting,” adding that “they’re taking away our First Amendment rights.” Authorities inside the rally also removed about a dozen protesters from the “Black Lives Matter” movement.

Black Lives Matter issues MAJOR THREAT to white people over presidential election
Kurt Nimmo - What’s the more appropriate phrase: black lives matter, or all lives matter?
Obviously all lives matter, but Black Lives Matter (BLM) maintains its slogan is designed to draw attention to the fact that people don’t think their lives matter – but isn’t saying other lives don’t matter; just that theirs matter a little bit more. Actions speak louder than words, and the violent rhetoric BLM spews makes it hard to believe such a defense. Whether it be advocating for the murder of police, or racial segregation, BLM seems intent on reversing the Civil Rights movement, not launching a new one. We saw BLM protesters (among many other leftist groups) shut down a Trump rally in Chicago last week, with violence then breaking out. Protesters shattered the windows of cars with Trump stickers, and assaulted police.
If Trump wins the election, BLM has more violence planned. As the DC Gazette reports...

Hundreds Rally At Anti-Trump Protest In Manhattan
(CBSNewYork/AP) - Several hundred demonstrators gathered in Manhattan on Saturday to protest Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump, marching from one skyscraper that bears his name to another. The protesters, that included immigrants’ rights activists, students and socialists, gathered in Columbus Circle near the Trump International Hotel and Tower. They then marched across Central Park South to Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue where Trump lives before returning to Columbus Circle for a rally. “I think Donald Trump is speaking a message of fascism and racism, and I don’t think that’s good for America,” said Laura Merrill, a tour guide who supports Democratic Vermont U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders for president.... The protest was organized by political group Cosmopolitan Antifascists.

Anti-Trump Protester April Foster Charged with Hitting Police Horse in Kansas City
Breitbart - Kansas City police arrested a woman accused of slapping a police horse outside a Donald Trump rally last weekend shortly before officers released pepper spray on a crowd of protesters… The horse, named Dan, was hit while officers on horseback attempted to control protesters and keep them out of the street outside a Trump rally March 12 in downtown Kansas City at 13th and Main streets. According to a police report, the woman had first screamed in the horse’s face to scare him. When that did not work, the report said, the woman hit the horse with her open hand.

Trump fights summer trial in Trump University lawsuit
Politico - Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump is fighting efforts to hold a trial in a federal class-action lawsuit over his Trump University real-estate program either just before or after the Republican National Convention in July. Such a trial has the potential to pull Trump off the campaign trail in order to serve as a witness. And in a filing late Friday night in federal court in San Diego, lawyers for Trump said plaintiffs' lawyers are intentionally trying to schedule the trial to interfere with his presidential campaign. "Plaintiffs’ request to set a trial date in June or August of this year ... is a transparent attempt to prejudice defendants’ ability to defend this case at trial while Mr. Trump is running for President," renowned trial attorney Dan Petrocelli wrote. "It also conflicts with plaintiffs’ acknowledgment to this Court that it would be 'foolish' to think a fair jury could be selected in the middle of the current presidential campaign."

Pentagon erroneously withheld $78 million from injured veterans over 25 years
Stars and Stripes - The Pentagon has been deducting money erroneously from combat-wounded veterans’ severance pay for 25 years, an error officials knew about for years and that might have affected upwards of 13,000 troops, according to lawmakers and a veterans advocacy group. Federal law prohibits taxation of the lump sum disability severance paid to troops who separate from service after combat-related injuries. But the pay system used by the Department of Defense has been automatically deducting taxes from those payments since 1991… The Pentagon has known about the problem for more than three years, according to an internal Department of Defense memo dated Dec. 28, 2012 obtained by Stars and Stripes. The error often cost individual troops thousands of dollars.

This Simply Does Not Compute: If Caterpillar Data Is Right, The Industrial Depression Has Never Been Worse
Zero Hedge - On one hand, CAT stock has soared by over 30% from its 2016 lows.... despite warning just yesterday that the pain will continue after the company guided even lower to already depressed expectations. But what makes no sense at all is that according to the just released CAT retail sales data, the industrial recession since downgraded to a depression, just fell out of the bottom, when the heavy industrial equipment company reported that February world sales crashed by 21%, after falling "only" 15% in January, led by double digit drops in every single market… And what is more confusing is that CAT has not only not had a positive monthly increase in retail sales in a record 39 months, or more than double the length of the Financial Crisis' 19 months and the longest in history, but the February drop was the biggest one month decline in 5 years!

Why Investing In Silver Is Vastly Superior To Investing In Gold Right Now
Economic Collapse - When panic and fear dominate financial markets, gold and silver both tend to rapidly rise in price. We witnessed this during the last financial crisis, and it is starting to happen again. Because I am the publisher of a website called The Economic Collapse Blog, I am often asked about gold and silver when I do interviews. In fact, just a few days ago I was sitting right next to Jim Rickards during the taping of a television show when this topic came up. Jim expressed his belief that investing in gold is superior to investing in silver, but I had the exact opposite viewpoint. In this article, I would like to elaborate on why I believe that silver represents a historic investment opportunity right now.

Pet cat steals 60 pairs of underwear in New Zealand
The Independent - Six-year-old Brigit’s unlikely obsession has meant she has gathered at least 60 pieces of underwear in two months and taken them back to her home in Hamilton East. Her owner Sarah Nathan said these are just the items she kept and there could be more stashed elsewhere. Ms Nathan has posted leaflets around the local area apologising for her cat’s kleptomania and offering to return the 11 pairs of underwear and 50 socks to anyone who may be missing them.
 

Friday - March 18, 2016 - Today in History:

1692 - William Penn was deprived of his governing powers.
1766 - Britain repealed the Stamp Act.
1818 - The U.S. Congress approved the first pensions for government service.
1865 - The Congress of the Confederate States of America adjourned for the last time.
1874 - Hawaii signed a treaty giving exclusive trading rights with the islands to the U.S.
1881 - Barnum and Bailey's Greatest Show on Earth opened in Madison Square Gardens.
1911 - Theodore Roosevelt opened the Roosevelt Dam in Arizona. It was the largest dam in the U.S. at the time.
1917 - The Germans sank the U.S. ships, City of Memphis, Vigilante and the Illinois, without any warning.
1938 - Mexico took control of all foreign-owned oil properties on its soil.
1940 - Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini held a meeting at the Brenner Pass. The Italian dictator agreed to join in Germany's war against France and Britain during the meeting.
1942 - The third military draft began in the U.S. because of World War II.
1945 - 1,250 U.S. bombers attacked Berlin.
1949 - The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was ratified.
1959 - U.S. President Eisenhower signed the Hawaii statehood bill.
1963 - The U.S. Supreme Court handed down the Miranda decision concerning legal council for defendants.
1968 - The U.S. Congress repealed the requirement for a gold reserve.
1969 - U.S. President Nixon authorizes Operation Menue. It was the ‘secret’ bombing of Cambodia.
1971 - U.S. helicopters airlifted 1,000 South Vietnamese soldiers out of Laos.
1977 - Vietnam turned over an MIA to a U.S. delegation.
1981 - The U.S. disclosed that there were biological weapons tested in Texas in 1966.
1987 - The U.S. performed nuclear tests at a Nevada test site.
1992 - Leona Hemsly was sentenced to 4 years in prison for tax evasion.
2005 - Doctors in Florida, acting on orders of a state judge, removed Terri Schiavo's feeding tube. (The brain-damaged woman died 13 days later.)
2008 - Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama confronted America's racial divide with a speech in Philadelphia. It was prompted by incendiary racial remarks made by Obama's African-American pastor, the Rev. Jeremiah Wright.
2010 - President Barack Obama signed into law a $38 billion jobs bill containing a modest mix of tax breaks and spending designed to encourage the private sector to start hiring again.
2011 - President Barack Obama demanded that Moammar Gadhafi halt all military attacks on civilians and said that if the Libyan leader did not stand down, the United States would join other nations in launching military action against him.

Russia can make powerful Syria military comeback in hours: Putin
Reuters - President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia could scale up its military presence in Syria again within hours and would still bomb terrorist groups there despite a partial draw-down of forces ordered after military successes. Speaking in one of the Kremlin's grandest halls three days after he ordered Russian forces to partially withdraw from Syria, the Russian leader said the smaller strike force he had left behind was big enough to help forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad keep advancing.

Sweden Adopts Cold War Military Strategy, Ramps Up Against Russian ‘Threat’
Sputnik News - Sweden’s defense command announced Thursday that the country is amending the Military Strategy Doctrine (MSD), under which the Swedish Armed Forces (SAF) deal with threats against the country’s sovereignty. The change calls for a more aggressive posture and a transition from the country’s post-Cold War-era strategy of containment. Swedish leaders cite fears of growing Russian aggression. The revised MSD calls for expanding the Swedish military force and establishing a framework to enable deployment of advanced weapons systems as part of a “sustained” and coordinated high-impact strike against attacks. The strategy also contemplates Swedish collaboration with multinational Nordic, European Union, and NATO forces against a potential Russian attack against NATO interests.

North Korea fires ballistic missile into sea off South Korean coast
The Guardian - Aggressive move comes after fresh US sanctions on Pyongyang and outcry over sentencing of American student to 15 years’ hard labour. North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Friday that flew about 800km (500 miles) off its east coast into the sea, South Korea’s military said, days after fresh US sanctions were imposed on the isolated state…. The United States called on North Korea to refrain from actions that raise tensions in the region after news broke of the missile launch. The state department said it was closely monitoring the situation and urged North Korea to focus on taking concrete steps toward fulfilling its international commitments and obligations. The launch comes amid heightened tension on the Korean peninsula with the North remaining defiant in the face of the UN security council sanctions imposed earlier in the month in response to a nuclear test conducted in January.
* Related: Student Sentenced to 15 Years Hard Labor in North Korea Claims US Set Him Up

Volunteering for infection in hunt for dengue, Zika vaccines
CNS News - Forget mosquito bites. Volunteers let researchers inject them with the dengue virus in the name of science — and an experimental vaccine protected them. Next up, scientists plan to use this same strategy against dengue's cousin, the Zika virus…. "What we're trying to do is accelerate vaccine research," said senior author Dr. Anna Durbin of Johns Hopkins University's school of public health. It may be the best way "to know if you have a stinker before you try to test it in thousands or tens of thousands of people."

Women with Zika in Tahiti had 1 percent birth defects risk
CNS News - Women who got pregnant during a Zika outbreak in Tahiti two years ago had about a 1 percent chance of having a baby with an abnormally small head, according to a new study published Tuesday. It's a surprisingly low risk that experts say might not match the threat of the epidemic now spreading explosively in the Americas.

Modern Warfare Just Changed Forever — Laser Weapons are Ready for Use — TODAY
Activist Post - Directed energy weapons (DEWs) are systems that emit energy without the means of a projectile, and can use visible light, infra-red or microwave radiation, with lethal effects. The weapons are said to be particularly useful for targeting large numbers of targets with high precision, and some estimates put the cost of each shot of directed energy at just $1. “The technologies now exist,” said Paul Shattuck, company director for Directed Energy Systems. “They can be packaged into a size, weight, power and thermal which can be fit onto relevant tactical platforms, whether it’s a ship, whether it’s a ground vehicle or whether it’s an airborne platform.” “So everything exists today,” he said, “it’s just a question of the desire and when is that going to occur.” Lockheed Martin has already shown the deadly accuracy of these weapons in tests. In milliseconds, one of their 30 KW laser weapons will melt a hole through solid steel. When Defense News asked Lockheed Martin if they came to them tomorrow and asked for a laser weapon in the 30 KW range, the company said yes.

The Emails Hillary Clinton's Top Adviser Sent to Hillary About Qaddafi’s Gold Holdings
EPJ - Ellen Brown reports: Of the 3,000 emails released from Hillary Clinton’s private email server in late December 2015, nearly a third were from her close confidante Sidney Blumenthal, the Clinton aide who gained notoriety when he testified against Monica Lewinsky. One of these emails, dated April 2, 2011, reads in part: Qaddafi’s government holds 143 tons of gold, and a similar amount in silver . . . . This gold was accumulated prior to the current rebellion and was intended to be used to establish a pan-African currency based on the Libyan golden Dinar. This plan was designed to provide the Francophone African Countries with an alternative to the French franc (CFA). In a “source comment,” the original declassified email adds: According to knowledgeable individuals this quantity of gold and silver is valued at more than $7 billion. French intelligence officers discovered this plan shortly after the current rebellion began, and this was one of the factors that influenced President Nicolas Sarkozy’s decision to commit France to the attack on Libya. According to these individuals Sarkozy’s plans are driven by the following issues…

Including the Ocean Floor, the Feds Own Much More Land than You Think
Mises Institute - Government control of the natural resources gives the government tremendous control of the whole economy, distorts prices, and diminishes the efficacy of our economic calculation. Is US land ownership heavily socialized? Let’s begin answering this question by considering the states with the largest percentages of government-owned lands… Nevada has the largest percentage, 84.9 percent, of federally owned lands, but 30 percent of Alaska is state owned, so Alaska has the largest percentage of government-owned lands. As you can see, due to the Louisiana Purchase and other factors, much of the federal land ownership is in the Western states. I included New York on the list because New York has the highest percentage of state-owned land. Admittedly there is some false precision in these numbers as the states and the federal government have some difficulty in accurately providing statistics on their land ownership. Next, consider the largest federal agencies ranked by land ownership….

Back from the Dead: After Grassroots Pressure, Tennessee Committee Re-votes and Passes Bill to Block International Gun Control
Tenth Amendment Center - After voting to kill a bill last month that would have taken a first step toward withdrawing state resources and personnel from enforcing gun control based on international law or treaties, a House subcommittee reconsidered the bill and passed it by a 3-2 vote yesterday. Rep. John Windle and Rep. Mark Pody introduced House Bill 2389 (HB2389). The legislation would prohibit law enforcement officers from enforcing provisions of international law and treaties that limit gun rights as specified in Article I, Section 26 of the Tennessee State Constitution. It read, in part: “On or after July 1, 2016 no personnel or property of this state, or any political subdivision of this state, shall be allocated to the implementation, regulation, or enforcement of any international law or treaty regulating the ownership, use, or possession of firearms, ammunition, or firearm accessories, if the use of personnel or property would result in the violation of another Tennessee statute, Tennessee common law, or the Constitution of Tennessee.”

Pennsylvania Bill Would Set the Stage to Reject and Block NDAA Indefinite Detention
Tenth Amendment Center - A bill recently introduced in the Pennsylvania Senate would take a step toward nullifying indefinite detention under the National Defense Authorization Act of 2012 (NDAA) or any other federal act. Sen. Mike Folmer (R-Lebanon) introduced Senate Bill 1150 (SB1150) earlier this month. The legislation would prohibit the Commonwealth, its political subdivisions, and their employees acting in an official capacity, along with members of the Pennsylvania National Guard while serving under official state duty, from assisting the armed forces of the United States in the investigation, arrest, prosecution or indefinite detention without charge or trial of any person within the United States under the NDAA, the Authorization of Use of Military Force passed after 9/11, or any other federal law purporting to authorize the same. If passed into law, Pennsylvania would become the fifth state to take steps to nullify indefinite detention, joining Alaska, California, Michigan and Virginia.Those states have passed similar legislation in the last three years. A bill even more expansive in scope is currently making its way through the Arizona legislative process.

Unbound Republican Delegate: Voters Don’t Decide Candidate, Establishment Does (Video)
Kurt Nimmo - On Monday Infowars reported on remarks made by Curly Haugland of the Republican National Committee. He said delegates may “vote according to their personal choice in all matters to come before the Republican National Convention, including the vote to nominate the Republican Candidate for President” and disregard voters. On Wednesday Haugland expanded on his remarks. He told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” voters are irrelevant when it comes to selecting a candidate for the presidential nomination. “The media has created the perception that the voters choose the nomination. That’s the conflict here,” the North Dakota Republican said. Haugland also questioned why primaries are held.

Poll: Donald Trump Hits 65 Percent in New York, More than 50 Percent Ahead of Ted Cruz
Breitbart - A new poll out on Thursday obliterates the latest mainstream media narrative confronting billionaire Donald Trump: That he can’t get majorities, but can only get pluralities, in election results. The poll of New York state, conducted by Boston’s Emerson College, has Trump dominating his only two remaining competitors in the Empire State with 65 percent of Republicans there backing him. Only 12 percent back Sen. Ted Cruz, Trump’s closest competitor, and just one percent support Ohio Gov. John Kasich…. In a video accompanying the polling release, Emerson College Polling Society adviser Spencer Kimball called Trump’s towering over Cruz and Kasich a “commanding lead.”

“Anti-Establishment” Ted Cruz Defends GMOs - Calls Health-Conscious Americans Who Support GMO Labeling "Anti-Science Zealots"
Freedom Outpost - Sen. Ted Cruz said Saturday that the nation should push back against the “hysteria” over food made with genetically modified organisms, saying these innovations in science should be celebrated for the positive impact they’ve had both at home and abroad. Speaking the Iowa Agricultural Summit, Mr. Cruz said he is sick of politicians “blowing smoke” in Washington and vowed that Iowans have no bigger ally then him when it comes to pushing back against the federal government. Mr. Cruz said GMOs helped to provide food for people across the globe and strengthen farms across the nation. He said that people who oppose GMOs and want to buy organic food can do that.“People who decide that is what they want, they can pay for it already, but we shouldn’t let anti-science zealotry shutdown the ability to produce low-cost quality food for billions across the globe,” Mr. Cruz said.

Video: Hacker Group "Anonymous" Releases Trump's Social Security, Phone Numbers
Zero Hedge - Earlier this month, infamous hacker collective Anonymous declared "war" on Donald Trump who they accuse of being a fascist and seeking to institute a dictatorship in America. We're not sure how many people took them seriously and we're almost positive Trump himself got a good, hearty laugh at the threat (after all, the group also declared "war" on Bakr al-Baghdadi) but on Thursday, the group claims it has released Trump's phone number and social security number…. "Do with it as you will," the group's trademark mask says, "but just be aware that you are responsible for your own actions."
* Related: Alleged private data on GOP frontrunner already released four months prior

Silver Soars Post-Fed As Gold Ratio Tumbles Most In 5 Months
Zero Hedge - Two weeks ago we hinted at the flashing red warning coming from 'a 4,000 year old' financial indicator. The Gold/Silver ratio had reached extremely high levels, which at the time we explained... This isn’t normal. In modern history, the gold/silver ratio has only been this high three other times, all periods of extreme turmoil—the 2008 crisis, Gulf War, and World War II. This suggests that something is seriously wrong. Or at least that people perceive something is seriously wrong.

Chipotle using freebies to fight eeriness of empty stores
CNS News - Chipotle is still giving away free burritos to convince people its food is safe and combat the eeriness of empty stores. The Denver-based chain made its first big push with freebies on Feb. 8 when it closed stores nationwide for a few hours so employees could participate in a food safety meeting after an E. Coli outbreak and other incidents sent sales plunging.

House Oversight chairman urges EPA chief to resign
The Detroit News - During a contentious Thursday hearing, House Oversight Committee Chairman Jason Chaffetz and other lawmakers told the head of the Environmental Protection Agency she should resign because her agency mishandled the lead contamination of Flint’s water. The Utah Republican noted the federal agency has fired no one over the scandal compared with Michigan’s Snyder administration, where two environmental officials resigned and one career civil servant was terminated. “You failed,” Chaffetz said while questioning EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “You had the opportunity. You had the presence. You had the authority. You had the backing of the federal government. And you did not act when you had the chance. If you were going to do the courageous thing, then you, too, should step down.”

Thursday - March 17, 2016 - Today in History: - St. Patrick's Day!!!

1756 - St. Patrick's Day was celebrated in New York City for the first time. The event took place at the Crown and Thistle Tavern.
1766 - Britain repealed the Stamp Act that had caused resentment in the North American colonies.
1776 - British forces evacuated Boston to Nova Scotia during the Revolutionary War.
1870 - Wellesley College was incorporated by the Massachusetts legislature under its first name, Wellesley Female Seminary.
1909 - In France, the communications industry was paralyzed by strikes.
1910 - The Camp Fire Girls organization was founded by Luther and Charlotte Gulick. It was formally presented to the public exactly 2 years later.
1914 - Russia increased the number of active duty military from 460,000 to 1,700,000.
1930 - Al Capone was released from jail.
1930 - In New York, construction began on the Empire State Building. Excavation at the site began on January 22.
1942 - Douglas MacArthur became the Supreme Commander of the Allied forces in the Southwestern Pacific.
1944 - During World War II, the U.S. bombed Vienna.
1950 - Scientists at the University of California at Berkeley announced that they had created a new radioactive element. They named it "californium". It is also known as element 98.
1958 - The Vanguard 1 satellite was launched by the U.S.
1961 - The U.S. increased military aid and technicians to Laos.
1962 - Moscow asked the U.S. to pull out of South Vietnam.
1966 - A U.S. submarine found a missing H-bomb in the Mediterranean off of Spain.
1970 - The U.S. Army charged 14 officers with suppression of facts in the My Lai massacre case.
1972 - U.S. President Nixon asked Congress to halt busing in order to achieve desegregation.
1973 - Twenty were killed in Cambodia when a bomb went off that was meant for the Cambodian President Lon Nol.
1973 - The first American prisoners of war (POWs) were released from the "Hanoi Hilton" in Hanoi, North Vietnam.
1992 - White South Africans approved constitutional reforms to give legal equality to blacks.
1999 - A panel of medical experts concluded that marijuana had medical benefits for people suffering from cancer and AIDS.
2004 - NASA's Messenger became the first spacecraft to enter into orbit around Mercury. The probe took more than 270,000 pictures before it crashed into the surface of Mercury on April 30, 2015.
2011 - The U.N. Security Council voted to authorize military action to protect civilians and impose a no-fly zone over Libya.

Kurds Declare Autonomous “Federal” System In Syria
Brandon Turbeville - Kurds in Northern Syria are expected to declare a federal system in Syria, with the areas they have seized in the northern part of the country acting as an autonomous zone. The announcement is expected to come in a matter of hours according to media sources on the ground in the Kurdish-controlled areas. According to these reports, a conference to declare the federation of three Kurdish entities in Syria will take place in Rmelan. Kurdish journalist, Barzan Iso, confirmed the rumors to RT when he reported that “Now the conference has just started in Rmelan, about 200 representatives of Rojava have joined [the event]. They represent different ethnicities and nationalities. There are Kurds, Arabs, Assyrians, Syriacs, Turkomans, Armenians, Circassians and Chechen. Also we have representatives from the Syrian democratic forces, YPG, women defense units. This conference is supposed to announce a federation as a political project for Rojava region in northern Syria.”

What The Russian “Withdrawal” From Syria Means And What It Doesn’t
Brandon Turbeville -Those who are both pro-Assad and anti-Assad have all shared their opinions, with many even on the pro-Assad/pro-Russian side opposing the Russian scale down of military involvement out of fear that the Russians are abandoning Assad. At the crux of this opposition to the Russia move, of course, is the fundamental misunderstanding of what the “withdrawal” actually is.

Panic Reaches New Heights: 'Russia, China Planning Space Attacks on US'
Sputnik News - In a new campaign of budget-bolstering and fear-mongering, the Pentagon has warned of impending attacks on US satellites by Russia and China. "Adversaries are developing kinetic, directed-energy, and cyber tools to deny, degrade and destroy our space capabilities," Air Force Gen. John Hyten, head of the Air Force Space Command, told the US House Armed Service strategic forces subcommittee on Tuesday…. Hyten has campaigned for a new Air Force project group, whose sole purpose would be to protect US space assets against foreign "aggression." On Tuesday, he warned that US Global Positioning System satellites are vulnerable to attack.

Referendum Poll: UK Predicted to Be First Country to Leave EU
Activist Post - The date is set. On June 23, the citizens of the UK will vote to decide whether or not their country will remain in the European Union. Over the years there have been growing concerns over the country’s membership with the EU, due to burdensome regulations and membership fees that cost billions and provide little in return. On top of that, the recent migrant crisis has convinced many UK citizens that it is time to take back control of their borders.

Israel to Raise Height of Egypt Border Fence to Block Migrants
Breitbart - Israel is set to raise the height of its fence along the Egyptian border in an effort to keep out migrants, defense officials said Tuesday. The army said that a series of additional prevention methods will be put in place to reduce the number of illegal border crossings. The current fence, which was built between 2010-2014, has been largely successful in preventing migrant incursions, the IDF said. In 2014, only 14 people made it across the border, compared with 12,000 in 2010. However, in 2015, some 200 migrants made it over the fence, often with the use of ladders.

Japanese Exports To US Plunge Most Since 2011 As Weak Yen Tailwind Evaporates
Zero Hedge - Japan just posted its largest trade surplus in 5 years (+JPY243bn) as exports dropped 4% YoY (worse than expected) but imports fell 14.2% (better than expected). However, the biggest standout was the ongoing deterioration in Japanese exports to the US which dropped by the most since 2011 as the 'advantages' of a devalued currency appear to have hit their limit.

Ireland to Prosecute Top Banker Who Destroyed Their Economy — Guess Where He Was Hiding
Activist Post - A former head of a major Irish bank has been extradited from the U.S. and brought before Dublin District Court to face several charges stemming from the bank’s role in the 2008 financial crisis. David Drumm, former chief executive of Irish Anglo Bank from 2005 until 2008, had been arrested in Boston in October 2015, and originally attempted to fight extradition — but he recently withdrew the objection and was returned to Ireland early on Monday. Drumm faces 33 charges in Ireland, which echoes Iceland’s unprecedented move to hold its bankers criminally accountable for their role in that country’s economic meltdown. Though Drumm predictably denied wrongdoing, his charges include “fraud, forgery, misleading management reporting, unlawful lending, falsifying documents, and false accounting, linked to financial transactions prior to the collapse of Anglo,” according to the Irish Times.

Obama Selects 2nd Amendment Foe for Supreme Court
Kurt Nimmo - Judge Merrick Garland, Obama’s pick to replace the late Antonin Scalia, “has a very liberal view of gun rights,” according to Judicial Crisis Network (JNC), a judicial group run by a former law clerk for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Garland is the chief judge of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit. He was nominated by Bill Clinton. Garland’s nomination languished in the Republican controlled Senate until after the 1996 election. As deputy assistant attorney general in the Criminal Division of the Clinton Justice Department, Garland supervised the prosecutions of Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols in the Oklahoma City bombing case. He was responsible for major decisions in the case, including seeking the death penalty for McVeigh. According to JNC chief counsel Carrie Severino, Garland’s judicial record “leads to the conclusion that he would vote to reverse one of Justice Scalia’s most important opinions, D.C. vs. Heller, which affirmed that the Second Amendment confers an individual right to keep and bear arms.”

How Bombing Case Helped Shape Career of a Potential Justice
NY Times - Days after a huge bomb killed 168 people in Oklahoma City in April 1995, Merrick B. Garland was on the ground even as bodies were still being recovered, examining the crime scene and preparing for an eventual prosecution. Now a federal appeals court judge and a potential Supreme Court nominee, Judge Garland was then the highest-ranking Justice Department official dispatched to Oklahoma City in the aftermath of the bombing. He spent the ensuing weeks helping to start the case, and later supervised the prosecutors from department headquarters. For Judge Garland, the Oklahoma City bombing was the centerpiece of a constellation of federal criminal cases in which he played a role before President Bill Clinton appointed him to the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit in 1997.

Bombshell! Larry Silverstein designed NEW WTC-7 in April of 2000
Veterans Today - Latest example: In the above video, Silverstein says of the new WTC-7, which replaced the one he famously confessed to demolishing on 9/11/01: We got the designs. And the first design meeting was in April of 2000. And construction began shortly thereafter, in 2002.

Former Fed Employee Avoids Jail, Gets $2,000 Fine For Stealing Fed Secrets On Behalf Of Goldman Sachs
Zero Hedge - One of the biggest scandals at the end of 2014 was the dramatic confirmation courtesy of 48 hours of declassified tapes by former NY Fed staffer Carmen Segarra that not only Goldman Sachs controls the New York Fed (headed by former Goldman managing director Bill Dudley), but that disturbingly one of Goldman Sachs' then-employees, former NY Fed regulator, then 29-year old Rohit Bansal was routinely being provided with confidential NY Fed documents…. As Reuters reports, Jason Gross was the latest former banker to make a mockery of the US judicial system when he was spared prison on Wednesday, "disappointing prosecutors who said his leaking of confidential documents to a friend at Goldman Sachs Group justified time behind bars." Instead Gross, 37, was fined $2,000 by U.S. Magistrate Judge Gabriel Gorenstein in Manhattan and sentenced to a year of probation with 200 hours of community service after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor charge of theft of government property.

Thunderstorm Spiral': Pentagon Trains for Underground War/Disaster In Densely-Populated MegaCities
Mac Slavo - According to the Daily Mail: The Pentagon is calling for help from technological innovators to take on the future of warfare. In the program titled ‘Thunderstorm Spiral,’ the US government solicits demonstrations to tackle the challenges of megacities and underground environments, which will become increasingly prevalent as populations continue to grow. […] A megacity is defined as a city with more than 10 million residents. To put this in perspective, there are currently over 8 million people living in New York City. As these numbers continue to grow within defined areas, infrastructure will have to adapt, pushing megacities toward the development of subterranean – or underground – environments. In 2014, there were 23 megacities with ‘vast subterranean structures'; in 2025, it’s expected this number will reach 37.

DARK Act defeated in U.S. Senate as lawmakers receive tidal wave of calls from angry food consumers who are tired of being LIED to about GMO in their food
(NaturalNews) The DARK Act was defeated in the U.S. Senate today, achieving a massive victory for consumers and also for the Environmental Working Group, which helped organize large-scale opposition to the bill. The DARK Act would have outlawed state-level GMO labeling laws nationwide, condemning American food consumers to remaining completely in the dark over the genetically engineered content of their food. I spoke to industry insiders this morning who confirmed that the offices of many U.S. Senators were hit hard with a "tidal wave of calls" from concerned Americans. Even many Republican senators are starting to come around on this issue, and GMO labeling continues to gain steam across the country as food consumers increase their demand for honest food labels and overall food transparency.

Make Food Rescue Donations from Large Food Establishments Mandatory/Support the Mitro Mandatory Food Rescue Donation Act
Change.org - Over 1/3 of all food produced is thrown away by food establishments each day for reason of being simply not fresh, not bad but not up to impeccable standards for sale. This is perfectly edible food that could be used to ease all hungry suffering in the United States. The current method of voluntary donations to food relief organizations is not working. This donation must be made mandatory not voluntary. The simple math is, 1 in 7 persons in the U.S. are food insecure and we are throwing away enough food to feed 1 out of 3 people. Even allowing for problems in distribution, by using this food we have not only ended all hunger but we have saved the environment from an enormous burden on it's landfills, which is by best estimate, over 96.4 billion pounds of edible food yearly.
* Related: Major Supermarket to Eradicate Food Waste by 2017, Give Unsold Food to Charity

Fox News Debate Is Canceled as Trump, Then Kasich, Withdraw
WSJ - Fox executive says, 'There needs to be more than one participant'. Plans to hold a 13th Republican presidential debate next week unraveled Wednesday after two of the three candidates still in the race signaled they wouldn’t participate, leading Fox News to announce the event’s cancellation. Donald Trump, the overwhelming leader in the delegate race, said Wednesday he would skip Monday’s scheduled debate in Utah in order to address a conference of a prominent pro-Israel advocacy group. Later on Wednesday morning, a senior aide to Ohio Gov. John Kasich, whose campaign took on new energy the night before with a primary victory in his home state, said the candidate would bow out of the debate if Mr. Trump didn’t attend.

Roger Stone: Trump Will ‘Sweep’ Next State Races, ‘Close to Impossible’ for Cruz to Stop Him
Breitbart - Political operative Roger Stone told Breitbart News Daily host Stephen K. Bannon Wednesday morning that he expects Donald Trump to sweep upcoming primary contests after big wins in Florida, Missouri and other states, and stopping him may be almost impossible. “By my calculation, Trump now needs about 500 delegates, or only 50 percent of those remaining to secure the nomination,” Stone said. “And this calendar is moving into some of Trump’s strongest states: Arizona, New York, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia, New Jersey. I expect a Trump sweep of those. They account for about 366 delegates of the 946 left to be selected, so Trump needs about 150 votes of the 580 proportional delegates left to put him over the top. He is very very close to be able to pull this off.” Stone warned, however, that trouble for Trump could come with “some of the machinations of the Republican National Committee, the unbinding of delegates on the first ballot, monkey business about whether California is winner take all.”
* Related: Winner-Take-All Arizona Primary and Majority-Take-All Utah Caucus May Determine Trump’s First Ballot Nomination Chances

Plan B: John Boehner Endorses Paul Ryan for President
Breitbart - Former Speaker of the House John Boehner has endorsed current Speaker Rep. Paul Ryan for president, in the event that no Republican candidate achieves a majority on the first ballot at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland in July…. Late Tuesday evening, as results from primary contests confirmed Donald Trump’s victories in four out of five states, CNBC reported that Ryan had not ruled out accepting such a nomination.
* Related:
   * John Boehner Withdraws 2016 Support for Paul Ryan, Backs John Kasich Until First Vote
   * Speaker Paul Ryan Suggests He May Reach for the Nomination in a Contested Convention

Marijuana Industry Will Add $44 Billion to Nation’s Economy by 2020
Activist Post - According to data recently released by Marijuana Business Daily, the U.S. cannabis industry will add $44 billion to the nation’s economy by 2020 — but only if the current legalization trend continues. The figures, Yahoo! Finance reports, aren’t tied only to marijuana sales. The estimates also include the amount of money circulating as a direct result of the marijuana transactions. Yahoo! Finance explains how sales fared in states with legal marijuana: As for actual sales of marijuana, that figure is estimated at $3.5 billion to $4.3 billion for this year in just states that have legalized medical and recreational use. That’s up from $3 billion to $3.4 billion last year, and in 2014 it was $2 billion to $2.4 billion.

Hardee’s CEO Says He’s Investing In Robots Because He Can’t Afford To Pay Workers
Business Insider - The CEO of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s has visited the fully automated restaurant Eatsa — and it’s given him some ideas on how to deal with rising minimum wages. “I want to try it,” CEO Andy Puzder told Business Insider of his automated restaurant plans. “We could have a restaurant that’s focused on all-natural products and is much like an Eatsa, where you order on a kiosk, you pay with a credit or debit card, your order pops up, and you never see a person.”… “With government driving up the cost of labor, it’s driving down the number of jobs,” he says. “You’re going to see automation not just in airports and grocery stores, but in restaurants.” Puzder has been an outspoken advocate against raising the minimum wage, writing two op-eds for The Wall Street Journal on how a higher minimum wage would lead to reduced employment opportunities.

‘Mind-boggling’: 17,000 New Jersey children to be tested for lead poisoning
RT - Some 17,000 children in Newark, New Jersey will be tested for lead exposure, after health officials found high levels of the toxic metal in nearly half of city schools. Critics say the possible problem would not compare to the crisis in Flint, Michigan. Newark Department of Health Director, Dr. Hanaa Hamdi, told members of the City Council on Tuesday that tests would begin with approximately 2,000 toddlers who attend early childhood centers located within the 30 school buildings in which elevated lead levels were found. Once those tests are completed, health officials will set up a number of sites outside of schools to test the remaining students. Even at low levels, lead has been shown to affect intelligence, attention spans, and academic achievement, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC does not consider any level of lead in blood safe for children. The plan has been heavily criticized, however. Central Ward Councilwoman Gayle Chaneyfield Jenkins said children in early childhood centers are more likely to drink pre-packaged water rather than the tap water from fountains.

Vermont Town Finds Its Water Contaminated with Corporate Cancer-Causing Chemicals
AllGov - Several wells near the ChemFab plant have tested positive for an industrial chemical that has been linked to cancer, thyroid disease and complications during pregnancy, making North Bennington the latest in a growing list of northeastern communities unsettled by a contaminated-water scare…. The State of Vermont is now sampling 185 private wells in North Bennington, all of which fall within a 1.5-mile radius of the ChemFab plant, which closed in 2002. Bottled water has been distributed…. An analysis earlier this month by the Environmental Working Group, a nonprofit organization that has urged the EPA to lower the level at which it says water with PFOA is safe to drink, found that the chemical had been detected in 103 water systems, serving nearly 7 million people in 27 states. (That does not include smaller water systems like those of Hoosick Falls or Petersburgh, which were not covered under the agency’s testing program.) Carbon-filtration systems, an imperfect and temporary fix, have been installed on some wells.

Wednesday - March 16, 2016 - Today in History:

1802 - The U.S. Congress established the West Point Military Academy in New York.
1836 - The Republic of Texas approved a constitution.
1882 - The U.S. Senate approved a treaty allowing the United States to join the Red Cross.
1913 - The 15,000-ton battleship Pennsylvania was launched at Newport News, VA.
1915 - The Federal Trade Commission began operation.
1928 - The U.S. planned to send 1,000 more Marines to Nicaragua.
1935 - Adolf Hitler ordered a German rearmament and violated the Versailles Treaty.
1939 - Germany occupied the rest of Czechoslovakia.
1945 - Iwo Jima was declared secure by the Allies. However, small pockets of Japanese resistance still existed.
1964 - U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson submitted a $1 billion war on poverty program to Congress.
1968 - U.S. troops in Vietnam destroyed a village consisting mostly of women and children. The event is known as the My-Lai massacre.
1984 - William Buckley, the CIA station chief in Beirut, was kidnapped by gunmen. He died while in captivity.
1985 - Terry Anderson, an Associated Press newsman, was taken hostage in Beirut. He was released in December 4, 1991.
1988 - Indictments were issued for Lt. Colonel Oliver North, Vice Admiral John Poindexter of the National Security Council, and two others for their involvement in the Iran-Contra affair.
1994 - Tonya Harding pled guilty in Portland, OR, to conspiracy to hinder prosecution for covering up the attack on her skating rival Nancy Kerrigan. She was fined $100,000. She was also banned from amateur figure skating.
1994 - Russia agreed to phase out production of weapons-grade plutonium.
1995 - NASA astronaut Norman Thagard became the first American to visit the Russian space station Mir.
2003 - Vice President Dick Cheney predicted on NBC's "Meet the Press" that American troops would be "greeted as liberators" by the Iraqi people.
2003 - Rachel Corrie, a 23-year-old American, was killed when she was run over by a bulldozer while trying to block Israeli troops from demolishing a Palestinian home in Gaza.
2005 - A judge in Redwood City, Calif., sent Scott Peterson to death row for the slaying of his pregnant wife, Laci.
2008 - Protests spread from Tibet into three neighboring provinces; the Dalai Lama decried what he called the "cultural genocide" taking place in his homeland.

Russia to Play Key Role in Future Syria Peace Process After Pullout says EU Parliamentarian
Sputnik News - Russia will continue playing a crucial role in the Syrian reconciliation process after the withdrawal of its Aerospace Forces from the Arab republic, a member of the European Parliament told Sputnik Tuesday. Moscow has consistently backed the promotion of intra-Syrian peace dialogue and along with Washington contributed to reaching a ceasefire deal between the government and opposition on February 22.

9,000 sorties, 400 localities freed: What Russia has achieved during its 5-month Syria operation
RT - As Russia’s Vladimir Putin announced the start of the withdrawal of Russian forces from Syria, Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu has reported the anti-terror operation’s achievements to the Commander-in-Chief. "Backed by our aviation, Syrian forces have freed 400 populated areas and over 10,000 square kilometers [3,860 square miles] of territories," Shoigu said during a Kremlin meeting with Russia's President Vladimir Putin on Monday. Terrorists have been forced out from Latakia and Aleppo, and Palmyra has been "blocked," the military official reported to Putin, saying that military actions to free the UNESCO heritage site from militants continue. Hama and Homs Provinces in central Syria have been largely mopped up, and Kuweires airbase that had been besieged by terrorists for over three years was retaken.

Saudi-led air strikes kill at least 41 civilians in Yemen: health official
Reuters - Saudi Arabia-led coalition warplanes bombed a market in northern Yemen, killing at least 41 people, and wounding dozens more amid what was previously an attempt to reduce hostilities and implement a "Syria-style" ceasefire. Forces from the Saudi-led coalition struck a market in northern Yemen's Haja province, killing 41 civilians and wounding 75, health officials told Reuters…. The casualties included children, and a health official told AFP that "the toll could rise." US-based Human Rights Watch has accused the Saudi-led bombings to use US-supplied cluster bombs, and the United Nations found that 119 bombings violated humanitarian law.

China Freight Index Collapses To Fresh Record Low
Zero Hedge - The Baltic Dry Index has risen for the last few weeks, buoyed by hopes (a la Iron Ore) of a National People's Congress stimulus surge from China. While the scale of the 'bounce' is negligible in real terms compared to the total collapse, it has caused such momentum-muppets as Jim Cramer to proclaim China 'fixed' and investible. So we have one quick question - if everything is awesome, why did the China Containerized Freight Index just crash to new record lows?

16 US Ships That Aided Japan Still Contaminated With Radiation
Military.com - Sixteen U.S. ships that participated in relief efforts after Japan's nuclear disaster five years ago remain contaminated with low levels of radiation from the crippled Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant, top Navy officials told Stars and Stripes. In all, 25 ships took part in Operation Tomadachi, the name given for the U.S. humanitarian aid operations after the magnitude-9.0 earthquake and subsequent tsunami on March 11, 2011. The tsunami, whose waves reached runup heights of 130 feet, crippled the Fukushima plant, causing a nuclear meltdown.

Cleveland prosecutor who cleared cops in Tamir Rice’s death defeated in Dem primary
RawStory.com - Cuyahoga County District Attorney Tim McGinty lost his bid for re-election on Tuesday night, less than three months after Cleveland activists began calling for him to be voted out for his handling of the case of 12-year-old Tamir Rice’s shooting death at the hands of police.
CleveScene reported that McGinty conceded the Democratic primary race to opponent Mike O’Malley around midnight local time.

BOOM! Attorney who bungled Laquan McDonald case loses re-election bid
RawStory.com - After criticism for alleged mishandling the shooting death of Laquan McDonald Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez went down in her election Tuesday night. McDonald was the 17-year-old Chicago boy who was shot 16 times as he walked away from officers with a 3-inch knife. The video footage of his death was withheld while Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel ran for reelection. Alvarez too was seen responsible after waiting 13 months before filing charges against Officer Jason Van Dyke who shot McDonald.
Alvarez’s opponent Kim Foxx had nearly 58 percent of the vote to Alvarez’s 29 percent before Alvarez conceded the race at 9 p.m. CDT

Judicial Watch Submits Proposed Witness List, Discovery Plan to Federal Court in Clinton Email Matter
Judicial Watch - Judicial Watch today filed a plan for “narrowly tailored discovery” into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s email matter with a federal court. Judicial Watch’s discovery plan seeks the testimony of eight current and former State Department officials, including top State Department official Patrick Kennedy, former State IT employee Bryan Pagliano, and Clinton’s two top aides at the State Department: Cheryl Mills and Huma Abedin. Judicial Watch’s plan says that “based on information learned during discovery, the deposition of Mrs. Clinton may be necessary” but would only occur with permission by the Court.

Hillary: US ‘Didn’t Lose a Single Person’ in Libya (Video)
Jakari Jackson - During a town hall meeting in Illinois on Monday, Democrat Hillary Clinton said the United States “didn’t lose a single person” in Libya. The remark was made in defense of the NATO invasion in 2011 following the adoption of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973.

Bullet casings disappear from LaVoy Finicum shooting scene, sources say
Oregon Live - Two bullet casings that might have proven an FBI agent shot at Robert "LaVoy" Finicum apparently disappeared from the scene shortly after the Jan. 26 highway confrontation turned deadly, according to law enforcement sources and newly released police reports. Five FBI agents assigned to the traffic stop told investigators that none of them fired at Finicum's Dodge pickup after it crashed at their roadblock. Oregon investigators, however, concluded that one agent fired twice at the truck, hitting it once in the roof and missing on the second shot. A state trooper later described to investigators seeing two rifle casings in the area where the agents were posted. Detectives tasked with collecting evidence didn't find the casings, police reports indicate.

Court: Texas Can Sue Feds Over BLM Land Grab
Adan Salazar & Mikael Thalen - A US District Court Monday cleared the way for the State of Texas to join landowners in a lawsuit against the federal Bureau of Land Management. Governor Greg Abbott announced the “good news” yesterday, tweeting the state would be allowed to intervene in a complaint filed by nine private landowners, a county sheriff and three Texas counties challenging the federal agency’s “unconstitutional and arbitrary seizure of thousands of acres of private property along the Red River.” The lawsuit, which Governor Abbott had previously thrown his support behind, contends the BLM is encroaching on private land in violation of citizens’ Fourth and Fifth Amendment rights, as well as “infringing upon the sovereignty of local county governments.” In a press release entitled, “Texans’ Property Rights Must Be Preserved,” State Attorney General Ken Paxton explained the BLM is “inaccurately and arbitrarily” attempting to assert ownership of some 90,000 acres along the Red River.

What Could Go Wrong? DARPA Will Pay You (Yes, You!) to Build a Homemade Bomb
Sputnik News - In an effort to defend against improvised explosive attacks, the Pentagon’s research arm DARPA is looking to pay crafty hobbyists capable of turning household items into bombs. Take a cursory look at the warning labels on the products beneath your kitchen sink and it will come as no surprise that danger-seeking chemists, engineers and ordinary citizens can turn common everyday objects into deadly weapons. In an effort to stay one step ahead of possible improvised attacks, the Pentagon’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) will pay people who can develop deadly devices from consumer electronics, household chemicals, or other "commercially available technology."… The announcement sets very few parameters for participants, only stressing that builders are not allowed to do anything illegal. "Proposers are free to reconfigure, repurpose, program, reprogram, modify, combine, or recombine commercially available technology in any way within the bounds of local, state, and federal laws and regulations," the announcement reads.

‘Crime of epic proportions’: Congress grills ex-EPA, Flint emergency manager over water crisis
RT - The US House Oversight and Government Reform Committee conducted its second hearing on the Flint water crisis Tuesday morning, questioning former EPA Region 5 Administrator Susan Hedman on why she didn’t direct the agency to do more to help a city that fell within her jurisdiction. Hedman said the EPA knew Michigan was not properly treating water with corrosion controls back in April 2015, but did not publicly say anything despite the fact that treatment was not applied until December.

Let them drink arsenic: Texas keeps insisting tainted water is safe - report
RT - Drinking water systems in 34 Texas communities have tested positive for excessive levels of the carcinogen arsenic for more than a decade, yet the state continues to claim there is no emergency or need for an alternative, a new report says. Arsenic concentrations in several Texas water systems have exceeded standards set under the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, which calls for arsenic in drinking water to be no more than 10 parts per billion (ppb). High arsenic levels affecting these 34 communities across the state, affecting some 51,000 people, have not been seriously addressed in at least the last decade, according to a new report ‒ "Don't Drink the Water". In addition, 31 other communities, serving approximately 30,000 people, have been in violation of the federal arsenic standard for at least two years, according to data from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Texas Cop Caught on Video Pepper Spraying Innocent Motorists as they Drove By
The Free Thought Project - On Monday, Fort Worth police have confirmed that one of their officers is under investigation after a video was uploaded to Facebook showing him pepper spraying innocent people as they drove by on motorcycles. The video, uploaded by Facebook user Chase Stone, captured the dangerous and downright insane actions by this public servant…. The video was brought to the attention of the Fort Worth police department on Monday and they have passed it along to internal affairs. The FWPD say they do not know who the officer is, however, you can see in the video that the patrol unit number on the vehicle appears to be ‘185’.

Trump Wins Big, Takes Florida, Illinois, N. Carolina, Missouri
Infowars - GOP presidential frontrunner Donald Trump defeated his opponents in four out of five states where election primaries were held Tuesday. Earlier in the day the businessman won Florida, causing Florida-native Sen. Marco Rubio to officially suspend his campaign. In his concession speech, Rubio appeared to take a parting jab at Trump. “Do not give in to the fear,” Rubio said, according to the Associated Press. “Do not give in to the frustration.” Trump continued his march to victory in North Carolina and Illinois, but lost the winner-take-all state of Ohio to the state’s governor John Kasich, handing him 66 delegates and the momentum to stay in the race. During a press conference at the billionaire’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, FL, following wins in three states, Trump called for Republican party unity and said he’d already had a “tremendous” phone call with House Speaker Paul Ryan, as well as a “great conversation” with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell…. Late into the night, it was a close race in Missouri between Trump and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, but in a down to the wire, neck and neck finish the hotel mogul was able to clinch the victory, KSPR reports. Kansas City Fox affiliate WDAF also called the race in Trump’s favor, although noted there could potentially be a recount…. In the Democrat race, Hillary Clinton defeated Bernie Sanders in the key states of Ohio and Florida, and also scored victories in North Carolina and Illinois.
Related: 2016 Presidential Primaries Results 2016 Delegate Tracker

Anonymous declares ‘total war’ on Trump, plans April attack (VIDEO)
RT - Hacking collective Anonymous has vowed “total war” against Donald Trump, making a “call to arms” by summoning fellow hacktivists to unite with them in an attack against all of his websites on April Fool’s Day…. “Dear Donald Trump, we have been watching you for a long time and what we see is deeply disturbing,” a masked figure declares in customary Anonymous fashion. “You have shocked the entire planet with your appalling actions and ideals,” he continues. The focus is then turned to hacktivists and citizens: “This is a call to arms...we need you to shut down his websites, research and expose what he doesn’t want the public to know. We need you to dismantle his campaign and sabotage his brand.” The clip ends with a message for Trump “This is not a warning, this is a declaration of total war. Donald Trump – it is too late to expect us.”

We Are Being Killed On Trade – Rapidly Declining Exports Signal A Death Blow For The U.S. Economy
Economic Collapse - Exports fell precipitously during the last two recessions, and now it is happening again. So how in the world can anyone make the claim that the U.S. economy is in good shape? Since peaking in late 2014, U.S. exports have been steadily declining, and this is something that we never see outside of a major recession. On the chart that I have shared below, the shaded gray bars represent the last two recessions, and you can see that exports of goods and services plunged dramatically in both instances…

57 Reasons Honeybees are in Decline
Natural Blaze - Scientists with the National Veterinary Research Institute in Poland, who were analyzing the presence of various pesticides in fruit, vegetables, and cereals, realized the method could be employed for testing bees. In those contaminated insects, they discovered the presence of 57 different pesticides. “Even at very low levels, pesticides can weaken bees’ defense systems, allowing parasites or viruses to kill the colony,” explained study lead author, Tomasz Kiljanek, as Inhabitant reported. “Our results will help expand our knowledge about the influence of pesticides on honeybee health, and will provide important information for other researchers to better assess the risk connected with the mix of current used pesticides. ”Though neonicotinoids are the frequent target in the decline of pollinators, it turns out they might not be the only pesticide worthy of blame.

Apple says U.S. 'Founders would be appalled' by DOJ order
USA Today - Apple Inc. charged Tuesday that a court order forcing the tech giant to assist the federal government in unlocking the iPhone of San Bernardino terrorist Syed Farook was based on non-existent authority asserted by the Justice Department. "According to the government, short of kidnapping or breaking an express law, the courts can order private parties to do virtually anything the Justice Department and FBI can dream up,'' Apple lawyers argued in new court documents. "The Founders would be appalled.'' The company rejected the government's previous contention, characterizing the court order as "modest'' and relating to a "single iPhone.'' "Instead, this case hinges on a contentious policy issue about how society should weigh what law enforcement officials want against the widespread repercussions and serious risk their demands would create,'' Apple lawyers argued.

Nano-sized particles cure final-stage breast cancer in mice – breakthrough study
RT - Nanotechnology has helped scientists cure mice which have breast cancer in its terminal stage. The study could be a turning point in treating the disease with clinical trials on human patients expected to be conducted as early as next year…. The new treatment for breast cancer, which used the so-called “nanoparticle generator” proved to be effective in mice and, therefore, has colossal potential to be transformed in order to treat the disease in humans, scientists said. The generator successfully interferes with the tumor cell’s ability to develop drug resistance…. During their research Ferrari and his colleagues used a chemotherapy drug called doxorubicin but hid it inside microscopic silicon discs. This way the cancer cells lost their ability to resist the treatment. When the disc was inside a tumor cell, it broke down and the anti-cancer doxorubicin was released.

Mesmerizing Migration: Watch 118 Bird Species Migrate Across a Map of the Western Hemisphere
allaboutbirds.org - For the first time, scientists at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology have documented migratory movements of bird populations spanning the entire year for 118 species throughout the Western Hemisphere. The study finds broad similarity in the routes used by specific groups of species—vividly demonstrated by animated maps showing patterns of movement across the annual cycle.

Tuesday - March 15, 2016 - Today in History:

1781 - During the American Revolution, the Battle of Guilford Courthouse took place in North Carolina. British General Cornwallis' 1,900 soldiers defeated an American force of 4,400.
1820 - Maine was admitted as the 23rd state of the Union.
1862 - General John Hunt Morgan began four days of raids near the city of Gallatin, TN.
1864 - Red River Campaign began as the Union forces reach Alexandria, LA.
1875 - The Roman Catholic Archbishop of New York, John McCloskey, was named the first American cardinal.
1892 - Jesse W. Reno patented the Reno Inclined Elevator. It was the first escalator.
1901 - German Chancellor von Bulow declared that an agreement between Russia and China over Manchuria would violate the Anglo-German accord of October 1900.
1913 - U.S. President Woodrow Wilson held the first open presidential news conference.
1916 - President Woodrow Wilson sent 12,000 troops, under General Pershing, over the border of Mexico to pursue bandit Pancho Villa. The mission failed.
1937 - In Chicago, IL, the first blood bank to preserve blood for transfusion by refrigeration was established at the Cook County Hospital.
1938 - Oil was discovered in Saudi Arabia.
1949 - Clothes rationing in Great Britain ended nearly four years after the end of World War II.
1951 - General de Lattre demanded that Paris send him more troops for the fight in Vietnam.
1951 - The Persian parliament voted to nationalize the oil industry.
1954 - CBS television debuted its "Morning Show."
1955 - The U.S. Air Force unveiled a self-guided missile.
1968 - The U.S. mint halted the practice of buying and selling gold.
1989 - The U.S. Department of Veteran's Affairs became the 14th Department in the President's Cabinet.
1990 - Mikhail Gorbachev was elected the first executive president of the Soviet Union.
1991 - Four Los Angeles police officers were indicted in the beating of Rodney King on March 3, 1991. (California)
1998 - CBS' "60 Minutes" aired an interview with former White House employee Kathleen Willey. Wiley said U.S. President Clinton made unwelcome sexual advances toward her in the Oval Office in 1993.
2002 - In Texas, Andrea Yates received a life sentence for drowning her five children on June 20, 2001.
2002 - U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell told the Associated Press that the U.S. would stand by a 24-year pledge not to use nuclear arms against states that don't have them.

Syria conflict: Russia's Putin orders 'main part' of forces out
BBC - In a surprise move, Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered his military to start withdrawing the "main part" of its forces in Syria from Tuesday. He said the Russian intervention had largely achieved its objectives. The comments come amid fresh peace talks in Geneva aimed at resolving the five-year Syrian conflict. Russia is a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose office said in a statement he had agreed to the move. The pullout was "in accordance with the situation on the ground", the statement said.... "I consider the mission set for the defence ministry and the armed forces on the whole has been accomplished," Mr Putin said in a meeting at the Kremlin. "I am therefore ordering the defence ministry to begin the withdrawal of the main part of our military force from the Syrian Arab Republic from tomorrow."

Al-Qaida Seizes Weapons, Bases From U.S.-Backed Syrian Rebels
US News - Al-Qaida militants swept through a rebel-held town in northern Syria in a display of dominance Sunday, arresting U.S.-backed fighters and looting weapons stores belonging to the Free Syrian Army… The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a Britain-based monitoring group, said Nusra seized anti-tank missiles, armored vehicles, a tank, and other arms from the division, which has received weapons, training, and money from the U.S. government. It said Nusra and Jund al-Aqsa detained 40 fighters from the division… The Nusra Front arrested U.S.-supplied fighters belonging to FSA's 30th division last summer and seized their weapons in a major embarrassment to the U.S. government's train-and-equip program which was meant to support carefully vetted "moderate" rebels.

Turkish warplanes strike Iraq after Ankara bombing blamed on Kurdish militants
Reuters - Turkish warplanes struck Kurdish militant camps in northern Iraq on Monday, a day after 37 people were killed in an Ankara car bombing that security officials said involved two fighters - one female - from the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK). Sunday's attack, tearing through a crowded transport hub a few hundred meters from the Justice and Interior Ministries, was the second such strike at the administrative heart of the Turkish capital in under a month. No one has claimed responsibility for the latest attack. However, security officials told Reuters a female member of the outlawed PKK, which has fought a three-decade insurgency for Kurdish autonomy in Turkey's southeast, was one of the suspected perpetrators. A police source said her severed hand had been found 300 meters from the blast site.

3 million people take to streets in Brazil's biggest ever anti-govt protest
RT - Some 3 million people have taken to the streets of Brazilian cities to demonstrate their disapproval of the country’s president, Dilma Rousseff, local media reported. About 1.4 million people participated in the demonstration in Sao Paulo, and another million in Rio de Janeiro, according to Globo media outlet, citing the event’s organizers and the country’s security forces. Protests took place in at least 17 regions across Brazil, Folha de Sao Paulo newspaper reported… Protesters blame the country’s president for Brazil’s economic downturn over the past few years, as well as alleged corruption… The Brazilian opposition has called for an investigation into some of Rousseff’s dealings, accusing her of tax violations and allegedly misusing state funds to finance her re-election last year, with the ultimate goal of impeaching her. Tensions have also been running high since Sao Paulo state prosecutors asked a judge to order the arrest of Rousseff’s predecessor, Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, on money-laundering charges a few days ago.

'Unprecedented' UN global data gathering to add huge amounts of information for governments to collect
Fox News - Six months after giving birth to a cluster of nebulous Sustainable Development Goals… the United Nations is working on a drastic renovation of global data gathering to measure progress against its sweeping international agenda. The result that emerged late last week from the U.N. Statistical Commission… is a document as sprawling, undefined and ambitious as the Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, themselves -- which lay out 17 goals and 169 sometimes overlapping targets to transform global society… In all, the draft framework outlines 230 statistical indicators to measure progress toward the SDGs… Among other things, the SDG indicator quest included a “really strong push,” in [National Statistician of Britain, John] Pullinger’s phrase, for “disaggregation,” which has been defined by the U.N. as a breakdown of statistics by “income, sex, age, race, ethnicity, migratory status, disability and geographical location, or other characteristics.”

20 Million Migrants Waiting To Come, President of Macedonia Slams Merkel
Breitbart - The President of Macedonia has laid into the German Chancellor for exposing all of Europe to jihadi terror and a migrant influx — which could potentially reach 20 million — due to her open invitation to so-called ‘refugees’. “The refugee flow won’t end, because everyone knows everything via Twitter and Facebook”, explained President Gjorge Ivanov. Whilst conceding that Angela Merkel “has shown courage” in a “humanitarian” respect, he added: “But no one has the courage to say what still lies ahead. Between Sudan and Egypt alone, 20 million migrants are waiting to come to Europe”. Speaking to Bild, Mr. Ivanov also said the European Union (EU) had “completely lost sight” of security issues as migrant pour from Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and other countries with large numbers of Islamist extremists. “If we had relied on Brussels rather than react ourselves, we would have been flooded with jihadists,” he said, explaining authorities in Macedonia have confiscated some 9,000 forged or stolen passports. Despite this, EU countries including Germany had declined to share information on jihadist militants or biometric identification technology, he said, adding: “In the refugee crisis, we are now paying for the EU’s mistakes, we have already spent 25 million euros ($28 million) of our taxpayers’ money and had to declare a national crisis.”

Chinese coal miners strike over wages, layoffs
Yahoo News - Thousands of miners in China's coal-rich north have gone on strike over months of unpaid wages and fears that government calls to restructure their state-owned employer will lead to mass layoffs… China's state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are plagued by overcapacity and many are unviable, but the government has been loathe to kill off such "zombie" companies, fearing unemployment could lead to instability… The miners' anger spilled into street action after Heilongjiang's governor Lu Hao said that the company owed employees no back pay… At the weekend the provincial government admitted that workers' compensation was in "arrears" following "many years of accumulated problems"… The country saw at least 1,050 strikes and protests by workers, with around 90 percent of them related to unpaid wages, in the 10 weeks to the start of the Lunar New Year in February, according to China Labour Bulletin, an overseas campaign group.

VW institutional investors file $3.61 billion suit in Germany
Reuters - Almost 300 institutional investors in Volkswagen have filed a multi-billion euro suit against the carmaker for what they see as breaches of its capital markets duty in the emissions scandal, the law firm representing them said. The lawsuit, for damages of 3.256 billion euro ($3.61 billion), was filed at a regional court in Braunschweig in VW's home state of Lower Saxony on Monday and is being brought by 278 investors from all over the world, including German insurers and U.S. pension fund Calpers. Law firm TISAB said the lawsuit was over whether VW neglected its duty to the capital markets regarding the timeframe between June 2008 and Sept. 18, 2015.

Hellfire missiles were 'dummy' rounds headed for Portland, Maine — not Oregon
Oregon Live - Those mysterious Hellfire missiles that turned up in a Serbian airport, bound for Portland? The U.S. State Department says they were "dummy" rounds used for training… "The actual Portland that everyone was talking about was Portland, Maine," a State Department spokesman said Monday. Authorities in Belgrade created a sensation Saturday by reporting a sniffer dog had discovered two missiles on an Air Serbia flight from Beirut. Initial reports indicated the missiles were en route to an address in Portland, Oregon… The missiles had gone to Lebanon in advance of a plan to send about 1,000 actual Hellfires there, according to the State Department spokesman, who asked that he not be identified by name, in keeping with State Department protocol. They were sent by a third-party contractor, he said, so Lebanese aircraft could be fitted to carry the real Hellfires.

ICE: 124 illegals freed from jail later charged in 138 murder cases...
Washington Examiner - U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has revealed that 124 illegal immigrant criminals released from jail by the Obama administration since 2010 have been subsequently charged with murder. A Center for Immigration Studies report on the data from ICE to the Senate Judiciary Committee added that the committee is not releasing the names of the murder suspects. "The criminal aliens released by ICE in these years — who had already been convicted of thousands of crimes — are responsible for a significant crime spree in American communities, including 124 new homicides. Inexplicably, ICE is choosing to release some criminal aliens multiple times," said the report written by CIS's respected director of policy studies, Jessica M. Vaughan. She added that 75 percent were released due to court orders or because their countries wouldn't take them back. What's more, her report said that in 2014, ICE released 30,558 criminal aliens who had been convicted of 92,347 crimes. Only 3 percent have been deported.

A Drone Protestor Heads to Jail
Bill Moyers - Fifty-nine-year-old Mary Anne Grady Flores will serve six months for photographing a protest of an airfield in upstate New York where drone pilots are trained and from where missions are carried out.... And what exactly did Grady Flores do to warrant spending the next six months in jail? She photographed a peaceful protest outside Hancock Field Air National Guard Base near Syracuse, New York. The base is where the US trains pilots to launch drone strikes in the Middle East, particularly in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Yemen. It wasn’t a crime for her to be taking pictures of the demonstration, but when she briefly and unintentionally — yes, unintentionally — stepped onto a road that belongs to the base, she violated what authorities called “an order of protection,” which had been issued in 2012 to forbid protesters from approaching the home or workplace of Col. Earl Evans, a commander of the 174th Attack Wing of the Air National Guard. She had never met Evans, never threatened him, never showed any intention of harming him.

CBO suggests taxing drivers by the mile
Washington Examiner - An economist at the Congressional Budget Office suggested on Monday that the federal government could start charging people based on how far they drive in order to generate more government revenues to spend on highway projects… [CBO's deputy assistant director for microeconomic studies, Chad] Shirley didn't propose less federal spending, and instead offered three suggestions… The first is simply, "charging drivers" more the more they drive on roads… CBO's presentation also said the government could get more money from drivers by charging them more when traffic is bad… A third option, Shirley said, would be "allowing tolling on additional existing interstates." Shirley cast all three ideas not as higher taxes or fees, but as an attempt to "make federal highway spending more productive for the economy."

Poll: Trump ties Kasich in Ohio, doubles Rubio in Florida
Politico - Donald Trump and John Kasich are tied in Ohio, but the New York billionaire maintains a massive lead over home-state Sen. Marco Rubio in Florida heading into Tuesday’s primaries, according to a Quinnipiac poll published Monday. Trump and Kasich lead the field in Ohio with 38 percent support each among likely Republican voters, followed by Ted Cruz at 16 percent and Rubio at 3 percent with 4 percent undecided. The Republican front-runner and Ohio governor split support among white born-again evangelicals. But Republicans who identify as very or somewhat conservative favor Trump, while more moderate and liberal Republicans prefer Kasich. Kasich holds a narrow lead over Trump in a RealClearPolitics average of state polls. A loss in his home state, which awards all of its 66 delegates to the winner, would bolster Trump’s path to the nomination and likely end his own presidential campaign. In an effort to stop Trump from winning the 1,237 delegates to secure the Republican nomination outright, Rubio’s campaign has encouraged its Ohio supporters to vote for Kasich, acknowledging his campaign is best positioned to beat Trump there. Kasich’s campaign, however, didn’t return the favor.

John Kasich Loves Nafta, Tpp, Common Core, Amnesty And Clinton's Gun Ban
News With Views - On November 17, 1993, Kasich voted to approve the North American Free Trade Agreement, casting a "yea" vote for the North American Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act. In doing so, the exodus of America jobs started going south.... Within 10 years, over a million American jobs were lost. American industry has been decimated.... [Also] John Kasich came out in support of the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) trade agreement during the fourth GOP primary debate hosted by Fox Business, saying the deal is “critical.” So far, Ohio has lost 112,500 jobs to TPP.... In 1994, when he was a US Congressman John Kasich voted for the Clinton Gun and Magazine ban. Nothing more needs to be said. Kasich not only lacks a solid understanding of world affairs and world history, but he is also anti-gun.

Clinton False Flag in Chicago Right Out of Alinsky Playbook (Video)
Kurt Nimmo - On Sunday former presidential candidate Ben Carson told Fox News the disruption at Donald Trump’s Chicago rally last week is a tactic right out of Saul Alinsky’s playbook. “If you read some of the left-leaning writings of people like Saul Alinsky, you understand exactly what they’re doing. This is part of the plan,” Carson said. Alinsky’s infamous “Rules for Radicals” does not explicitly encourage violence. However, according Alinsky protégé Nicholas von Hoffman, in private “he would say that violence has its uses.” Clinton was a follower of Saul Alinsky and met the Chicago community organizer several times in 1968 while writing a Wellesley college thesis (“An Analysis of the Alinsky Model”). “Clinton’s relationship with Alinsky, and her support for his philosophy, continued for several years after she entered Yale law school in 1969,” writes Alana Goodman for The Washington Free Beacon. Alinsky was fond of the young law student Clinton. “Since I know [Alinsky’s] feelings about you I took the liberty of opening your letter because I didn’t want something urgent to wait for two weeks,” replied Georgia Harper, Alinsky’s secretary, in response to a letter (see below) Clinton sent inquiring about his book, “Rules for Radicals.”... On Saturday political insider Roger Stone told Alex Jones the disruption and violence at the Trump rally was a false flag staged by Hillary Clinton to discredit rival Bernie Sanders.

Petition Calls for the Arrest and Prosecution of Trump
Infowars - Entitled “Arrest and prosecute Donald J. Trump for incitement to violence. Legal precedent: Brandenburg v. Ohio.,” the petition at the time of publishing has gained more than 35,000 signatures. Created by a person identifying as “P.M.” of Los Angeles, the petition argues that it is the government’s duty to charge the billionaire for allegedly inciting violence. "Donald J. Trump has been inciting violent acts amongst his supporters. He should be arrested and prosecuted for this,” the petition states. “Legal precedent: Brandenburg v. Ohio. To wit, the Court held that government cannot punish inflammatory speech. UNLESS that speech is directed to inciting, and is likely to incite, imminent lawless action.”... While supporters of the petition claim to be against such provocations, it is unlikely they will demand legal action against anti-Trump protesters who attacked police and unloaded firearms in Chicago last week. Police in North Carolina are also debating whether to press charges against Trump following an incident in which one of his supporters sucker punched a protester at a campaign rally.

CNN Gives Airtime To Guy Who Admitted He Wanted To MURDER Trump (Video)
Steve Watson - Appearing on CNN, Dimassimo, an admitted Bernie Sanders supporter, said he rushed the stage because “Donald Trump is a bully.”He was then given a platform on national TV to spew vitriol at Trump:... DiMassimo, a Wright State University student, was arrested and charged with disorderly conduct and inducing panic. He is scheduled in court this Wednesday, March 16th. Trump has received a deluge of death threats in recent months. His close friend Roger Stone recently revealed that Trump wears a bullet proof vest at all public appearances.

12 Obamacare Insurance CO-OPs Fold After Getting $1.2 Bil from Govt.
Judicial Watch - More than half of the government-funded nonprofit health insurers created by Obamacare have failed, sticking taxpayers with a $1.2 billion tab and leaving hundreds of thousands of people in more than a dozen states scrambling for medical coverage, a new federal audit reveals. The nonprofit insurers are known as Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan Program (CO-OP) and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has pumped $2.4 billion into them under the president’s hostile takeover of the nation’s healthcare system. Congress initially allocated $6 billion for the Obamacare CO-OP program, with the goal of establishing CO-OPs in all 50 states as well as the District of Columbia. Thankfully, subsequent legislation slashed funding for the ill-fated experiment. In all, HHS has funded 23 of these dubious enterprises and 12 have already gone under after losing an astounding $1.2 billion that’s unlikely to ever be recovered. As a result 740,000 people in 14 states must search for new medical coverage they thought they had under the disastrous Obamacare plan.

Pfizer, Subsidiary of Monsanto, Tries to Dodge $35 Billion Tax Bill
Natural Society - After price-gouging sick Americans for its pharmaceutical drugs, Pfizer plans to slip under the IRS’s radar and dodge an estimated $35 billion tax bill by merging with a foreign company (a $160 billion buyout). Pfizer is the subsidiary of Monsanto – another company known for pulling circus acts in court and Congress in order to fleece tax payers. Pfizer’s shareholders are expected to vote on a merger with competitor, Allergan, based in Ireland, which would avert the company’s tax bill significantly.... The company has stashed its cash offshore even after the Treasury Department sent the company a 2014 notice to pay up. Here’s the kicker though, Pfizer wants to stay in New York, but claim it is based in another country. That means the company would enjoy all that America provides them – including legal protections for its lucrative drug patents, as well as $1 billion a year in government purchases from Medicare and Medicaid, but not pay the taxes the rest of us have to.

Layoff Warning Notices Sent To 45,700 State Of Connecticut Workers
ctpost - Five weeks after warning thousands of state employees could be laid off during the current Connecticut fiscal crisis, Gov. Dannel P. Malloythis week finally put the wheels in motion, giving formal notice to the 45,700 unionized state workers in 32 bargaining units. Malloy has ordered department heads to report back to him, by next week, with cost-cutting ideas to tackle the current deficit in the state budget that is estimated as high as $266 million. Malloy offered his commissioners some suggestions, including $6 million in labor costs through layoffs, which must occur by the second week in June to realize the savings by the end of the fiscal year on June 30. But Republicans on Friday offered their own proposal: a two-day unpaid furlough program that would save $8 million and retain the generally high-paying full-time state jobs and benefits. A Malloy spokesman called the Republican idea “a false choice.”

Do You Feed Your Kitty This Favorite Food? 2 Reasons to Stop It Today
Dr. Becker - The sudden appearance and rapid increase in cases of hyperthyroidism in cats has generated quite a bit of research into potential causes, one of which appears to be exposure to flame retardant chemicals (polybrominated diphenyl ethers, or PBDEs). PBDEs are recognized endocrine and thyroid disruptors.... A newly-released study seems to shed even more light on the connection between flame retardant compounds and feline hyperthyroidism, suggesting that fish-flavored cat food could be a culprit. A team of Japanese scientists evaluated cat food and feline blood samples and discovered that the type of polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and PBDE byproducts found in both the food and blood samples are derived from marine organisms... The risk of hyperthyroidism isn’t the only reason for concern when feeding fish to cats. Fish fed in high amounts can also lead to thiamine deficiency, which can cause loss of appetite, seizures, and even death. Long-term ingestion of fish in cat food can also deplete vitamin E resources. Vitamin E deficiency can cause a painful condition called steatitis, which is yellow fat disease. If left untreated, steatitis can be life threatening. Seafood is a very rich source of iodine, but cats aren't designed to process a lot of iodine.
 

Monday - March 14, 2016 - Today in History:

1743 - First American town meeting was held at Boston's Faneuil Hall.
1794 - Eli Whitney received a patent for his cotton gin.
1891 - The submarine Monarch laid telephone cable along the bottom of the English Channel to prepare for the 1st telephone links across the Channel.
1900 - U.S. currency went on the gold standard with the ratification of the Gold Standard Act.
1903 - The U.S. Senate ratified the Hay-Herran Treaty that guaranteed the U.S. the right to build a canal at Panama. The Columbian Senate rejected the treaty. A deal was signed on November 6, 1903 with the newly independent Panama.
1905 - French bankers refused to lend money to Russia until after their war.
1923 - President Harding became the first U.S. President to file an income tax report.
1943 - U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt became the first U.S. President to fly in an airplane while in office.
1945 - In Germany, a 22,000 pound "Grand Slam" bomb was dropped by the Royal Air Force Dumbuster Squad on the Beilefeld railway viaduct. It was the heaviest bomb used during World War II.
1947 - The U.S. signed a 99-year lease on naval bases in the Philippines.
1947 - Moscow announced that 890,532 German POWs were held in the U.S.S.R.
1951 - U.N. forces recaptured Seoul for the second time during the Korean War.
1958 - The U.S. government suspended arms shipments to the Batista government of Cuba.
1964 - A Dallas jury found Jack Ruby guilty of the murder of Lee Harvey Oswald.
1967 - John F. Kennedy's body was moved from a temporary grave to a permanent one.
1989 - Imported assault guns were banned in the U.S. under President George H.W. Bush.
1991 - The "Birmingham Six," imprisoned for 16 years for their alleged part in an IRA pub bombing, were set free after a court agreed that the police fabricated evidence.
1996 - U.S. President Bill Clinton committed $100 million for an anti-terrorism pact with Israel to track down and root out Islamic militants.
2002 - A Scottish appeals court upheld the conviction of a Libyan intelligence agent for the 1988 bombing of Pan Am Flight 103. A five-judge court ruled unanimously that Abdel Basset Ali al-Megrahi was guilty of bringing down the plane over Lockerbie, Scotland.
2005 - A judge in San Francisco ruled that California's ban on gay marriage was unconstitutional.

'At least 16 dead' after gunmen open fire in Ivory Coast resort
The Guardian - Gunmen have killed at least 16 people, including four Europeans, after they opened fire near several hotels in the Ivory Coast... The government said security forces had killed the six assailants who launched attacks on three hotels in the popular seaside town of Grand-Bassam… Among the 16 dead were two soldiers, said the president, Alassane Ouattara. Local media reported gunmen had entered the L’Etoile du Sud (the Southern Star) hotel, seizing guests and staff on Sunday. A French foreign ministry spokesperson said one French national had been killed. A jihad monitoring group said al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb had claimed the attack… Attacks in recent months on luxury hotels in the capitals of neighbouring Mali and Burkina Faso have killed dozens of people, leaving west African countries scrambling to boost security in the face of a growing jihadi threat.

Norwegian mass murderer Breivik sues over prison conditions
Yahoo News - Norwegian mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik returns to court on Tuesday to accuse the Norwegian state of violating his human rights by holding him in isolation. The right-wing extremist is serving 21 years for the murder of 77 people in a bombing and shooting assault in July 2011… His mail is censored by prison officials to prevent him from establishing an "extremist network", according to authorities, and his visits, which are rare, are almost exclusively with professionals behind a glass partition… He has access to three cells -- one for living, one for studying, and a third for physical exercise -- as well as a television, a computer without Internet access and a game console. He is able to prepare his own food and do his own laundry… In a letter sent to AFP in early 2014, he threatened to go on a hunger strike if his 12 demands were not met. One of them was to be given a Playstation 3 to replace the Playstation 2 put at his disposal.

MH370: 2nd possible piece of debris found in Mozambique
CNN - A South African teen may have discovered a piece of the missing MH370 plane while strolling at a beach in Mozambique. Liam Lotter said he found the piece during a family vacation in the east African nation in December… Investigators will examine it to establish whether it's from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370, said Dan O'Malley of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau… It's between 3 to 4 feet long and made from stainless steel, Lotter said. The debris also has holes from, he presumes, bolts that once attached it to the rest of the plane. "You can actually see the serial number and code," he said. "It's quite light."… Meanwhile, aviation experts will examine the other plane debris found by a U.S. tourist last week, also along the Mozambique coast. That piece is from the horizontal part of an airliner's tail. Officials have not said yet whether that plane part matches up with MH370.

Merkel Drubbed At The Ballot Box As Surging Nationalists Declare: 'People Voted AGAINST Her Migrant Policy'
Breitbart - German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s party suffered a major setback in key state polls Sunday over her liberal refugee policy, while the right-wing populist AfD recorded a surge as it scooped up support from angry voters. Merkel’s Christian Democratic Union (CDU) lost in two of three states in regional elections, and scored a historic low in its stronghold Baden-Wuerttemberg where it came in second place after the Greens, according to projections based on early results published by public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. The populist Alternative for Germany (AfD), which had sparked outrage by suggesting police may have to shoot at migrants to stop them entering the country, recorded double-digit support in the first elections they have stood for in all three regions. The elections are the biggest since Germany registered a record influx of refugees, and are largely regarded as a referendum on Merkel’s decision to open the country’s doors to people fleeing war.

Pharmaceutical Giants Caught Supplying Cartels With Tons of Bulk Ingredients to Produce Meth
The Free Thought Project - The companies are accused of providing the Mexican drug kingpin Ezio Figueroa Vazquez with several tons of ephedrine, knowing that it would be used in the production of methamphetamine. Prosecutors have said that there are seven executives who were charged with crimes, but they have not named these executives or the companies that they represent. However, Reuters uncovered that Sterop and Andacon are two of the three companies involved in the charges. The companies claim that they had no clue who was buying the drugs, but prosecutors say that they have evidence proving that the executives had full knowledge of what they were involved in. The evidence reportedly includes email and phone surveillance… Prosecutors spokesman Eric Van Der Sypt said that Ezio Figueroa Vazquez received large shipments of ephedrine from these companies between 2006 and 2011, which cost an estimated 360 million euros.

The Next Fukushima? Active Fault Line Discovered Directly Below Japanese Nuclear Power Plant
Zero Hedge - According to the Shimbun, the No. 1 reactor at the Shika plant may have to be decommissioned under the new nuclear regulatory standards, which ban the construction of important facilities above an active fault. The fault in question lies directly under the No. 1 reactor building. Eight faults run under the premises of the Shika power station. Of these, three faults called S-1, S-2 and S-6 have been subject to close scrutiny. The S-1 fault lies directly under the No. 1 reactor building, a facility designated as an important facility under the new regulatory criteria. Although stratum slippage at the S-2 and S-6 faults does not reach the surface, these faults run immediately under the Nos. 1 and 2 reactor turbine buildings. This means the No. 2 reactor cannot be reactivated unless measures are taken to reinforce its safety, such as increasing the reactor’s earthquake-resistance level and changing the layout of its piping.

Bomb-sniffing dog discovers 2 Hellfire missiles bound for Portland
Oregon Live - Serbia's authorities are investigating reports that a cargo package bound for Portland contained two missiles with explosive warheads on a passenger flight from Lebanon. N1 television said the package with two guided armor-piercing missiles was discovered Saturday by a sniffer dog after an Air Serbia flight from Beirut landed at a Belgrade airport. Serbian media say documents listed the final destination for the AGM-114 Hellfire missiles as Portland. The American-made projectiles can be fired from air, sea or ground platforms against multiple targets. The Serbian state news agency Tanjug reported that the missiles had been packed in wooden coffins and unloaded at the Belgrade Nikola Tesla Airport, where they were inspected by bomb-sniffing dogs.

Oregon standoff: Ammon Bundy comes to aid of embattled Grant County sheriff
Oregon Live - Ammon E. Bundy, the jailed leader of the national wildlife refuge takeover in eastern Oregon, is urging people to rally behind Grant County Sheriff Glenn Palmer as he faces state investigation. Bundy said in a recorded statement posted Sunday to Facebook that Palmer was the only sheriff in Oregon who did not "get caught up in the deception" that occupiers put people at risk in Harney County. The Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards and Training, which certifies police officers, has asked the state Justice Department to investigate nine complaints against Palmer. Among those filing complaints were the John Day police chief and the manager of the local dispatch center, who claim Palmer's apparent alliance with militants put the community in danger. "I encourage all people who love freedom to stand with Sheriff Palmer," Bundy said.

NSA data will soon routinely be used for domestic policing
The Washington Post - Now the New York Times reports that National Security Agency data will be shared with other intelligence agencies like the FBI without first applying any screens for privacy… In short, domestic law enforcement officials now have access to huge troves of American communications, obtained without warrants, that they can use to put people in cages. FBI agents don’t need to have any “national security” related reason to plug your name, email address, phone number, or other “selector” into the NSA’s gargantuan data trove. They can simply poke around in your private information in the course of totally routine investigations. And if they find something that suggests, say, involvement in illegal drug activity, they can send that information to local or state police. That means information the NSA collects for purposes of so-called “national security” will be used by police to lock up ordinary Americans for routine crimes.

GMA Found Guilty of $11 Million Cover Up in GMO Labeling Fight
Sustainable Pulse - In a decision made public late Friday, a Thurston County Superior Court judge ruled the Grocery Manufacturer’s Association violated Washington campaign finance disclosure laws by shielding the identities of major corporate donors funding efforts to defeat a food labeling initiative in Washington. “This landmark case has been a long fight for accountability,” Attorney General Bob Ferguson said. “This ruling sends an unequivocal message: Big money donors cannot evade Washington law and hide from public scrutiny. My office will hold you accountable.” The case, State v. Grocery Manufacturers Association, concerns GMA’s financing of a 2013 campaign against Initiative 522, which sought to require labeling of genetically engineered products. GMA, a Washington, D.C.-based trade association, was the largest single donor to the “No on 522” political committee.

GMO Labeling: Last Chance to Know What’s in Your Food? Action Alert!
Alliance for Natural Health - Last week the Senate Agriculture Committee approved the voluntary GMO labeling legislation introduced by Sen. Pat Roberts (R-KS)—which means we are very close to voluntary labeling becoming the law of the land. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D-IN), who voted in favor of the bill, proposed an amendment that would create a voluntary labeling program for three years. At the end of that time, if sufficient information was not being provided to consumers, a mandatory labeling program would kick in. Unfortunately, he later withdrew the amendment. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) has proposed a competing piece of legislation, the Biotechnology Food Labeling and Uniformity Act, that would create a mandatory labeling standard that gives food companies four options to label their food.... The bill, like other legislation, would preempt state labeling bills.

Donald Trump calls off Chicago rally amid protests and violence
The Guardian - A Donald Trump rally in Chicago had to be called off on Friday evening amid scenes of violence and chaos unparalleled in the recent history of American political campaigning. The scrapping of the Republican frontrunner’s appearance due to what his campaign cited as “safety concerns” led to uproar and fights inside the University of Illinois Chicago Pavilion and in the streets outside.... The rally had been due to take place at a university that is one of the most diverse in the country, at a venue situated in the heart of Chicago, a Democratic stronghold where there are few registered Republicans.
* Related: * CNN’s Tapper, Trump Battle Over Rally Protests: ‘Report it Right’
                  * Trump Vows To Press Charges Against Protesters

Soros Funded MoveOn.org Takes Credit for Violence in Chicago (Video)
Kurt Nimmo - Ilya Sheyman, a failed Illinois contender for Congress and the executive director of MoveOn.org Political Action, has taken credit for the violence at a cancelled Trump event last night in Chicago. He promised similar violence and disruption will occur at future Trump political events leading up to the election.
* Related: Flashback: Billionaire George Soros spent $33MILLION bankrolling Ferguson demonstrators

Full Speech: Donald Trump EXPLOSIVE Rally in Dayton, OH (3-12-16)
Donald Trump draws massive crowds again. He talks about the Chicago rally protests, the 1st Amendment, NAFTA... A protester attempts to attack Donald Trump on stage (begins at the 1:51 minute mark). Video: Secret Service stopped protester as he crashed the barricade
* Related: Protester Who Stormed Stage at Trump Dayton Rally threatened murder

Dr. Ben Carson Endorses Donald Trump
Breitbart - GOP presidential candidate Dr. Ben Carson endorsed GOP frontrunner Donald Trump on Friday morning in Palm Beach, Florida during a press conference. “Everybody loves him and truly, truly admires what he’s done,” Trump said of Carson as he introduced him at the press conference. “I just want to tell you having his support really adds total credence to what I’m trying to do and what we’re all trying to do.” “It’s not about the Republican Party or the Democratic Party, it’s about the people of America,” Carson said. “I want the voice of the people to be heard.” Carson also said it is important to let the political process play out how it should by the will of the voters. “I’ve come to know Donald Trump over the last few years. He is actually a very intelligent man who cares deeply about America,” Carson added, explaining there are two different Donald Trumps, one that is cerebral and one that is seen on stage. “We buried the hatchet,” Carson said, addressing political swipes back and forth against each other on the campaign trail. “That was political stuff.” Trump said Carson will be involved in the educational system in America and healthcare, “where he’s an expert.”
* Related: WATCH: Donald Trump & Ben Carson FULL Press Conference (3-11-16)

46,000 PA Democrats Become Republicans Due To Trump
CBS News - Nearly 46,000 Pennsylvania Democrats have switched to Republicans since the beginning of the year. According to Penn Live, some experts attribute the mass exodus to Donald Trump. There’s even a title for the movement. It’s called “Ditch and Switch” and calls for lifelong Democrats to abandon the party, register Republican, and help ensure Trump’s place in the general election.... The numbers are similar in other states as well. The paper says in Massachusetts, as many as 20,000 Democrats have gone from blue-to-red this year with Trump cited as a primary reason. And in Ohio, as many as 1,000 blue collar workers have promised to switch parties and vote for Trump.

John Kasich could be thrown off Pennsylvania's GOP ballot
Washington Examiner - An attorney representing Republican presidential hopeful John Kasich told a courtroom Wednesday that the Ohio governor's campaign did not submit enough valid signatures to meet Pennsylvania's ballot requirements. But that doesn't mean Kasich should be removed from the April 26 ballot, his attorney said. Kasich's attorney Lawrence Otter reportedly admitted that of the 2,184 signatures the governor's campaign submitted to appear on the state's ballot, 192 were not valid. Pennsylvania election laws require Republican and Democratic presidential candidates to submit 2,000 or more valid signatures to make it onto the ballot.... Kasich himself has vowed to exit the 2016 race if he does not win Ohio, but if he does, and then fails to make it onto the ballot for Pennsylvania's Republican primary, his momentum could end just as quickly as it came. Pennsylvania is set to vote along with four other states on April 26 and has a prize of 71 delegates.

Ahead of Illinois Primary, Sanders Thanks Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel... for Not Endorsing Him
Common Dreams - Ahead of the Illinois Democratic primary that is now just days away, Bernie Sanders has taken a quick moment to thank the mayor of that state's largest city for not endorsing his presidential campaign. Under fire from large swaths of Chicago's residents for his regressive handling of city affairs—including unrelenting attacks against the city's public schools and its teachers as well how he's handled cases of police violence—Mayor Rahm Emanuel was offered gratitude by Sanders for endorsing his rival Hillary Clinton's campaign and not his own.

Obama Mocks Cruz at State Dinner: “Where Else Could a Boy Born in Calgary Run for President of the United States”
Gateway Pundit - Barack Obama poked fun of Ted Cruz tonight saying, “Where else could a boy born in Calgary run for president of the United States?” The Weekly Standard reported: Pool was escorted into the East Room at 8:32, where POTUS had already begun delivering his toast. POTUS spoke for about 7 minutes[.] The toast was filed with jokes. Among them: “If things get out of hand, remember the prime minister used to work as a bouncer.” Referencing singer Justin Bieber, POTUS said Trudeau in America may well be “the most popular Canadian named Justin.” POTUS also talked about shared values of equality and opportunity, saying that’s having an effect on the 2016 presidential election. “Where else could a boy born in Calgary run for president of the United States?“

Oregon Governor Signs Law That Will Wipe Out Coal-Generated Energy in Phases Through 2030
CNS News - With the stroke of Gov. Kate Brown's signature Friday, Oregon became the first state to eradicate coal from its power supply through legislation and now boasts some of the most stringent demands for renewable energy among its state peers. The new law will wipe out coal-generated energy in phases through 2030 and requires utilities to provide half of customers' power with renewable sources by 2040, doubling the state's previous standard.

Friday - March 11, 2016 - Today in History:

1862 - During the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln removed Gen. George B. McClellan as general-in-chief of the Union armies.
1888 - A blizzard struck the northeastern United States, resulting in some 400 deaths.
1930 - U.S. President Howard Taft became the first U.S. president to be buried in the National Cemetery in Arlington, VA.
1941 - President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed into law the Lend-Lease Bill, providing war supplies to countries fighting the Axis.
1969 - Levi-Strauss started selling bell-bottomed jeans.
1985 - Mikhail S. Gorbachev was chosen to succeed the late Soviet President Konstantin Chernenko.
1988 - A cease-fire was declared in the war between Iran and Iraq.
1990 - The Lithuanian parliament voted to break away from the Soviet Union and restore its independence.
1993 - Janet Reno was unanimously confirmed by the Senate to be the nation's first female attorney general.
1993 - North Korea withdrew from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
2002 - Two columns of light soared skyward from ground zero in New York as a temporary memorial to the victims six months after the Sept. 11 attacks.
2004 - Ten bombs exploded in quick succession across the commuter rail network in Madrid, Spain, killing 191 people and wounding more than 2,000 in an attack linked to al-Qaida-inspired militants.
2012 - Sixteen Afghan villagers – mostly women and children – were shot dead as they slept, allegedly by U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Bales.

Intelligence agents study cache of leaked Isis document
The Guardian - British, US and German intelligence agencies are looking for potential leads in thousands of documents purporting to list Islamic State volunteers, while admitting that much of the information has been overtaken by events and that many of those named are dead. Many of the 14 Britons whose details appear in the documents, copies of which were provided to the Guardian by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung, had already been identified publicly as fighting for Isis and most appear to have been killed.... Some analysts on Thursday cast doubt on the authenticity of the documents, pointing out mistakes and uncharacteristic language, although both British and German intelligence agencies indicated they had no reason to believe they were fake. The Guardian managed to confirm that one of the mobile numbers contained in the documents, belonged to a relation of one of the British fighters, lending credibility to claims that the hoard is genuine. The number, which was listed on Portsmouth jihadi Asad Uzzaman’s form, was answered by a young women who confirmed his date of birth and that he was a family member.

Who Is To Blame For The Rape Epidemic That Is Sweeping Across Europe?
Economic Collapse - Millions of women in Europe are now deathly afraid to walk outside their own homes at night, and with each passing day more news reports of absolutely horrific rapes and sexual assaults come pouring in from all over the continent. So who is to blame for this epidemic of rape? I think that the answer might surprise you, because a very famous politician in the United States is at least partially responsible. But first, let’s examine why women all over Europe are living in such fear right now. I have written previously about this rape epidemic, but since that time it has gotten even worse. At this point, this plague is even affecting small towns in the far northern portions of the continent. For example, just consider what is happening in a small town in northern Sweden known as Ostersund...

China’s record investment in Europe and US
RT - Chinese investment in Europe and the US has reached a record high of $38 billion last year, reports the Financial Times, citing a report from law firm Baker & McKenzie and consultants Rhodium Group. State-owned and private businesses invested an unprecedented $23 billion in Europe (including Norway and Switzerland as well as the EU). The US saw $15 billion in investments from China. Of all the EU countries Italy attracted the most Chinese investment, mainly due to the $7.9 billion deal between Pirelli and ChemChina. New York, California and Texas received the most investment in the US. This year Chinese investment in western economies could break the record again. Chinese groups have already announced $70 billion in potential deals.... China is expected to become the world’s biggest overseas investor by 2020, according to research by Rhodium Group and Germany’s Mercator Institute for China Studies. The research issued last June showed Beijing’s global offshore assets will likely triple from $6.4 trillion to more than $20 trillion over the next five years.

Two U.S. soldiers in South America contracted, recovered from Zika: commander
(Reuters) - Two U.S. soldiers serving in South America contracted Zika but have fully recovered and returned to duty, while a third, pregnant service member left the region early for fear of contracting the virus, a top U.S. commander said on Thursday.... Two U.S. service members stationed in Brazil and Colombia, both men, were confirmed to have contracted Zika, said Navy Admiral Kurt Tidd, commander of U.S. Southern Command.

Iran ordered to pay $10.5 billion for 9/11 by US judge
RT - A US judge ordered Iran to pay over $10 billion in damages to families of victims who died on September 11, 2001 – even though there is no evidence of Tehran’s direct connection to the attack. The same judge earlier cleared Saudi Arabia from culpability. The default judgement was issued by US District Judge George Daniels in New York on Wednesday. Under the ruling, Tehran was ordered to pay $7.5 billion to 9/11 victims’ families, including $2 million to each victim’s estate for pain and suffering, and another $6.88 million in punitive damages. Insurers who paid for property damage and claimed their businesses were interrupted were awarded an additional $3 billion in the ruling. The ruling is noteworthy particularly since none of the 19 hijackers on September 11 were Iranian citizens. Fifteen were citizens of Saudi Arabia, while two were from the United Arab Emirates, and one each from Egypt and Lebanon.

Former Putin Aide, Found in Washington, Died From Blows to Head
NY Times - Mikhail Y. Lesin once occupied the upper stratosphere of Vladimir V. Putin’s Russia, an advertising executive turned cabinet minister who helped carry out the state takeover of the country’s independent media and later created the Kremlin’s global English-language television network. Until late 2014 he ran the media wing of the state’s energy giant, Gazprom, before stepping down or, more likely, being forced out. He ended up in the United States, where he and his family owned properties in Los Angeles said to be worth far more than the salary of former government minister. And then, in November, he was found in a hotel here in Washington, the victim, the Russian state media he had helped build said, of a heart attack. On Thursday, more than four months later, one of the questions surrounding Mr. Lesin’s death was answered: The office of the chief medical examiner in Washington announced that he had not died of a heart attack, but rather of blunt force injuries to his head. But the mystery surrounding his rise and fall only deepened.

Missing Clinton E-Mail Claims Saudis Financed Benghazi Attacks
William Reynolds - Something that has gone unnoticed in all the talk about the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s e-mails is the content of the original leak that started the entire investigation to begin with. In March of 2013, a Romanian hacker calling himself Guccifer hacked into the AOL account of Sidney Blumenthal and leaked to Russia Today four e-mails containing intelligence on Libya that Blumenthal sent to Hillary Clinton.

FBI Instructs High Schools to Inform On 'Anti-government' Students
Kurt Nimmo - A new FBI initiative based on Britain’s “anti-terror” mass surveillance program instructs high schools across America to inform on students who express “anti-government” and “anarchist” political beliefs. “High school students are ideal targets for recruitment by violent extremists seeking support for their radical ideologies, foreign fighter networks, or conducting acts of targeted violence within our borders. High schools must remain vigilant in educating their students about catalysts that drive violent extremism and the potential consequences of embracing extremist belief,” states an unclassified document released in January by the FBI’s Office of Partner Engagement, the agency’s primary liaison for the law enforcement community. The document claims public school educators “are in a unique position to affect change, impart affirmative messaging, or facilitate intervention activities,” including informing on students. It calls for “observing and assessing concerning behaviors and communications” of students “embracing extremist ideologies.” In addition to “designated foreign terrorist organizations,” the FBI program targets “domestic violent extremism movements,” including anti-government groups.

West Virginia lawmakers OK drug testing welfare recipients
CNS News - A proposal to drug test some welfare applicants in West Virginia could soon head to the governor's desk, and if it becomes law, the state would be among at least 13 others that have drug tests for people who need public assistance. The Republican-led House of Delegates voted 91-8 on Wednesday in favor of the three-year statewide drug-testing pilot program for Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Program applicants.... Groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union of West Virginia contend that the tests would be an unconstitutional search and seizure without a warrant. The West Virginia measure seeks federal approval to test applicants with a "reasonable suspicion" of drug use. Tests would cost the state $56 a piece, an expected price tag of $50,200 in the first year and $22,200 in following years. Some lawmakers said it could cost more... Opponents questioned why the poor were being targeted, saying other state-aid recipients are just as likely to be on drugs. Democrats were unsuccessful in pushing amendments that would have applied the drug testing to state lawmakers and people in charge of private projects reliant upon state money.

Trump-centric fight night canceled at Republican debate as candidates stage love-in and even the party chairman says the GOP will 'support the nominee, whoever that is'
Daily Mail - Thursday night's Republican presidential primary debate began without any fireworks – a first for the series of GOP matchups – as the four remaining candidates steered clear of attacking each other and even the Republican Party's chairman counseled unity and calm. 'So far I cannot believe how civil it's been up here!' Trump marveled during a calm, cool and collected exchange about illegal immigration. For nearly an hour, no one spoke in the second person. No one turned to address another candidate. Every statement was delivered facing the audience. Trump said after the debate via telephone that it was a conscious choice: 'I think it was time to have that kind of debate. I thought it was necessary. It was a good thing.'

Full CNN GOP Republican Presidential Debate In Miami, Florida
CNN GOP Presidential Debate March 10 2016 Miami Florida - Donald Trump , Ted Cruz , John Kasich, Marco Rubio.

**DRUDGE POLL** Who Won The 12Th Republican Debate '16?

Mass Exodus: Thousands of Lifelong Democrats Jump to Trump
Kit Daniels - Over 46,000 Pennsylvania Democrats have switched parties to vote for Donald Trump, joining thousands of other lifelong Democrats in blue states doing the exact same thing. In Massachusetts alone, at least 20,000 Democrats have defected to support Trump and another 1,000 blue-collar Ohio Democrats are also jumping ship to Trump, and no Republican president has ever won the White House without Ohio.... The last time a similar movement erupted was likely during the 1980 presidential race when switchover Democrats helped propel Ronald Reagan into the oval office. “The labor unions, who usually support the Democrats, a lot of our members, and a lot of their families, are supporting Trump,” said Keith Strobelt with the United Steelworkers local union in Canton, Ohio. “It could be that several hundred of our members will back Trump.”

Report: Dr. Ben Carson Will Endorse Donald Trump Friday
Gateway Pundit - Conservative favorite Ben Carson, who last week suspended his campaign for the Republican presidential nomination, plans to endorse Donald Trump on Friday morning, according to two people familiar with his thinking. The endorsement, perhaps the most high-profile nod for Trump since New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie backed him, was finalized Thursday morning when Carson met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, the luxury club owned by the Republican front-runner, the people said. The sources requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. Friday’s announcement will also take place at the club in Palm Beach, Fla., where the onetime rivals will appear alongside one another at a news conference.

Roger Stone: Ted Cruz, A Bush By Another Name
Roger Stone - Neil Bush, the son of President George H. W. Bush, who defrauded U.S. taxpayers out of $1.5 billion dollars in the savings and loan scam, and later peddled influence for the Chinese government, (who plied him with Chinese prostitutes) has formally endorsed Senator Ted Cruz for president. You can’t make this stuff up. This endorsement says much. Since the other, more politically involved Bush men have a distinct dislike for Mr. Cruz, I suppose Neil Bush is better than no Bush. Let’s look at the wonderful memories that Neil Bush has left us with. First there is that little banking charade he steered us into back in 1985....

Ted Cruz Insults Trump Voters: They’re “Low Information Voters” and “Not That Engaged” (Video)
Gateway Pundit - Ted Cruz insulted Donald Trump supporters yesterday in an interview on the Christian Broadcasting Network.... "Donald gave a press conference where he said, to quote him, ‘I love the poorly educated.’ Listen, part of it is I think Donald is taking advantage of his voters because I understand what they’re angry about, but Donald if you’re angry at the corruption of Washington, you don’t solve it by supporting someone who has been enmeshed in the Washington corruption for forty years.”... “Listen, Donald does well with voters who have relatively low information, who are not that engaged and who are angry and they see him as an angry voice. Where we are beating him is when voters’ get more engaged and they get more informed. When they inform themselves, they realize his record. He’s what they’re angry at. He is the corruption, and if you want someone to stand up to Washington, the only one who has been doing so in this race is me.”

Clinton, Sanders Promise Not to Deport Illegals Who Don't Have 'Criminal Record'
CNS News - Using the exact same words, both Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders said they "will not deport children" -- or most other illegal immigrants -- from the USA. In fact, both candidates said they are willing to go further than President Obama has gone to keep more illegal aliens in the country.... Clinton said she's committed to "defending" DAPA and DACA, President Obama's temporary amnesty for millions of children and parents who are in this country illegally. "I'm committed to going even further to get more people deferred action, to go as far as I can under the law," Clinton said.... Sanders also defended his stance of immigration: "And what I believe right now is not only that we need comprehensive immigration reform, if the Congress does not do its job, as president of the United States I will use the executive powers of that office to do what has to be done, to do what President Obama did, and expand on that."

US Veterans Charity Fires Top 2 Executives Over Spending Issues - Reports
Sputnik News - US charity Wounded Warrior Project has dismissed its top executives after a report emerged about their spending irregularities, according to local media. The charity’s Chief Executive Officer Steven Nardizzi and Chief Operating Officer Al Giordano were fired after employees criticized the way they spent $800 million in donations gathered in the past four years, CBS News reported. The executives have reportedly spent the money intended for veterans programs on staff retreats and other activities.

Gulf War Syndrome: Killing Our Own (Part 1)
Green Med Info - The latest official statistics compiled by the VA show that 25%-30%, or as many as 250,000 Gulf War veterans have suffered from this life-threatening spectrum of illnesses. (1) The number of deaths attributable to Gulf War syndrome remains elusive, however, the US government has failed to address this critical matter.... Despite years of mounting evidence, it was not until 2008 that Gulf War syndrome was officially recognized as a distinct illness after a US Congress-appointed committee released an analysis of over 100 studies related to Gulf War illnesses. The committee concluded that there was a clear link to specific chemical exposures. The chemicals identified included pesticides, pyridostigmine bromide, and the nerve gas sarin that troops may have been exposed to during the demolition of a weapons depot. The committee's chief scientist, Dr. Beatrice Golomb, singled out the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitor drugs such as pyridostigmine bromide as having a particularly strong connection to the development of veterans’ ill health. ...also revealed that some people appear to be particularly at risk from such chemicals due to genetic variations that impair enzyme function. When exposed, these people run a much higher risk for developing symptoms and disease.
* Related: The Gulf War Syndrome Research Database

Trend Forecaster Gerald Celente Warns: Prepare For The Panic Of 2016: “History Will Remember This”
Mac Slavo - Earlier this week hedge fund manager Marin Katusa explained that up until the recent stock market hit all the easy money flowing into the energy sector was being exuberantly spent on hookers, blow and fancy toys. Now, as oil prices hover under $40 per barrel, Katusa said more pain is likely coming and oil, along with other asset classes, are going to go “lower for longer.” In a recent interview with Future Money Trends, trend forecaster Gerald Celente echos Katusa’s concerns. Having accurately predicted the Crash of 2008 nine months ahead of the bottom falling out on a global scale, Celente says another panic is coming this year. But if you thought 2008 was bad, says Celente, this crash will be so severe it’ll be one for the history books: …51% of the people in the United States that are employed are earning under $30,000 a year… Less than half the population is considered middle-class in America… the gap between the rich and the poor is as bad as it was at the worst times of the Gilded Age going back over a hundred years. So, what happens when the Panic of 2016 happens? The Panic of ’08 helped wipe out the middle class… this is going to eliminate it to a large degree, because they’re deep in debt…

US Credit Card Debt Balloons to $917B
CNBC News - Last year, credit card debt in the U.S. surged by approximately $71 billion to $917.7 billion, according to a new study from CardHub.com. The research also found that most of the debt accrued in 2015 came in the fourth quarter, when Americans tacked on more than $52 billion. "With 7 of the past 10 quarters reflecting year-over-year regression in consumer performance, evidence is mounting to support the notion that credit card users are reverting to pre-downturn bad habits," CardHub CEO Odysseas Papadimitriou said in a statement. Fourth-quarter credit card debt also grew at its largest pace since the Great Recession, CardHub also said.

Detroit judge caught sending poor people to jail if they couldn’t immediately pay fines
Macomb Daily - A Macomb County district judge accused of sending poor people to jail if they couldn’t immediately pay fines has agreed to end so-called pay-or-stay sentences after a challenge from the American Civil Liberties Union. An attorney for Eastpointe Judge Carl Gerds III signed the agreement, which was approved Tuesday by a Macomb County judge. The ACLU of Michigan says there’s no dispute that sending someone to jail without checking his or her ability to pay is unconstitutional. Nonetheless, it still has occurred in courts around the state. The Michigan Supreme Court is considering a rule to strengthen the ban.... “Since we filed the lawsuit, Judge Gerds has said that he has abandoned the prior practice and now does ability-to-pay determinations,” said Michael Steinberg, legal director for the ACLU in Michigan. “We want to recognize that he has changed and we’d like to encourage other judges to follow in his footsteps.” The ACLU represented Eastpointe resident Donna Anderson, who feared going to jail because she couldn’t afford to immediately pay $445 for failing to have her dogs licensed.

AG Lynch: DOJ Has Discussed Whether to Pursue Civil Action Against Climate Change Deniers
CNS News - Attorney General Loretta Lynch acknowledged Wednesday that there have been discussions within the Department of Justice about possibly pursuing civil action against so-called climate change deniers. “This matter has been discussed. We have received information about it and have referred it to the FBI to consider whether or not it meets the criteria for which we could take action on,” Lynch said at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Justice Department operations. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.) raised the issue, drawing a comparison between possible civil action against climate change deniers and civil action that the Clinton administration pursued against the tobacco industry for claiming that the science behind the dangers of tobacco was unsettled.

Drought-Stricken L.A. Admits to Using Weather Modification “To Produce More Rain”
Mac Slavo - Via Daily Mail: El Niño has brought some much needed rain to California in recent months, but a Los Angeles storm earlier this week may owe some credit to unnatural modifications. For the first time since 2002, the Department of Public Works has turned to cloud seeding, using generators to shoot silver iodide into the clouds to produce more rain. The county estimates that this produces roughly 15 percent more rainfall… Cloud seeding is a weather modification process that aims to increase the amount of rain in a particular area. According to the L.A. Times, this method has been used in the county to boost the amount of rain produced by clouds since the 1950s, taking a hiatus during heavy rains or periods of potential flooding from wildfire devastation.

This is What Happens to Your Stress and Bone Health When Your Cat Purrs
Healthy Holistic Living - Did you know that owning a cat comes with its own health benefits? According to Centers for Disease Control Prevention, feline companions can provide their owners with more than just emotional support. Your cat might actually be contributing to your physical health. The secret of healing lies in your feline’s purr. When a cat purrs, it creates vibrations that range between 20 to 140 Hz. These vibrations are considered therapeutic for many illnesses. But owning a cat doesn’t only improve your health, it also improves your quality of life. Dr. Bradley Smith believes that cats improve quality of life by promoting their owners sense of empathy, exercise levels, and nurturing abilities.... Owning a cat works wonders to control stress induced peaks in blood pressure. Actually, owning a cat does a lot for your health so check out what else can your cat do for your health....
 

Thursday - March 10, 2016 - Today in History:

1656 - In the American colony of Virginia, suffrage was extended to all free men regardless of their religion.
1785 - Thomas Jefferson was appointed minister to France. He succeeded Benjamin Franklin.
1804 - The formal ceremonies transferring the Louisiana Purchase from France to the U.S. took place in St. Louis.
1848 - The U.S. Senate ratified the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which ended the war with Mexico.
1864 - Ulysses S. Grant became commander of the Union armies in the U.S. Civil War.
1876 - Alexander Graham Bell made the 1st successful call with the telephone...the words "Mr. Watson, come here, I want to see you."
1880 - The Salvation Army arrived in the U.S. from England.
1903 - In New York's harbor, the disease-stricken ship Karmania was quarantined with six dead from cholera.
1945 - American B-29 bombers attacked Tokyo, Japan, 100,000 were killed.
1949 - Nazi wartime broadcaster Mildred E. Gillars, also known as "Axis Sally," was convicted in Washington, DC. Gillars was convicted of treason and served 12 years in prison.
1953 - North Korean gunners at Wonsan fired upon the USS Missouri. The ship responded by firing 998 rounds at the enemy position.
1966 - The North Vietnamese captured a Green Beret camp at Ashau Valley.
1966 - France withdrew from NATO's military command to protest U.S. dominance of the alliance and asked NATO to move its headquarters from Paris.
1969 - James Earl Ray pled guilty in Memphis, TN, to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Ray later repudiated the guilty plea and maintained his innocence until his death in April of 1998.
1971 - The U.S. Senate approved an amendment to lower the voting age to 18.
1975 - The North Vietnamese Army attacked the South Vietnamese town of Ban Me Thout.
1980 - Iran's leader, Ayatollah Khomeini, lent his support to the militants holding American hostages in Tehran.
1982 - The U.S. banned Libyan oil imports due to their continued support of terrorism.
1994 - White House officials began testifying before a federal grand jury about the Whitewater controversy.
1998 - U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf began receiving the first vaccinations against anthrax.
2002 - The Associated Press reported that the Pentagon informed the U.S. Congress in January that it was making contingency plans for the possible use of nuclear weapons against countries that threaten the U.S. with weapons of mass destruction, including Iraq and North Korea.
2003 - North Korea test-fired a short-range missile. The event was one of several in a patter of unusual military maneuvers.
2004 - Teenage sniper Lee Boyd Malvo was sentenced in Chesapeake, Va., to life in prison.
2008 - New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer apologized after allegations surfaced that he had paid thousands of dollars for a high-end call girl, a scandal which eventually led to his resignation.

Isis documents leak: Britons among 22,000 recruits with personal details revealed through terrorist group's 'registration form'
The Independent - Details of more than a dozen British Isis members are among 22,000 recruits reportedly revealed in a cache of leaked documents from the terrorist group’s stringent “entrance interviews”. Zaman Al Wasl, a pro-opposition Syrian news website, published a selection of the forms online showing a 23-question survey detailing extremists’ names, birth dates, nationalities, hometowns, nationalities and even blood types. But a total of 22,000 names, addresses, telephone number and family contacts feature in a similar cache of documents, seen by Sky News… The authenticity of the forms could not immediately be verified but the Home Office said it was “aware” of the report, while the leak also matched descriptions of material being investigated by security services in Germany… “Any jihadist who crosses the Islamic State's borders for the first time is made to acknowledge to the Borders Administration everything about himself, even what he wants to be in Isis - a fighter or a suicide bomber,” Zaman Al Wasl reported.

Asia pivot: Aussies may host US long-range bombers, incl. nuclear-capable B-1
RT - "We're in the process of talking about rotational forces, bombers and tankers out of Australia and it gives us the opportunity to train with Australia," Commander of US Pacific Air Forces, General Lori Robinson, told journalists in Canberra as cited by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation… The bombers would be hosted on rotational basis at air bases in Tindal and Darwin in northern Australia, according to US officials. In addition to hosting B-1 bombers the US may expand B-52 bomber missions from Australia, which it already flies, said Lt. Col. Damien Pickart, a spokesman for the US Air Force in the Pacific… The US seeks stronger military presence in the Pacific amid a growing confrontation with Australia’s biggest trade partner, China, over control for crucial trade routes in the South China Sea. China and several other regional governments contest sovereignty over a group of islands in the sea. While America has no territorial claims of its own, it insists that the area in question should be considered international space with no nation able to restrict access to it.

Sharia Sunset: The Islamization of Europe Continues Unabated
New American - “The most effective way to destroy people is to deny and obliterate their own understanding of their history,” George Orwell once noted. This brings us to the United Kingdom, where a Monday Express headline reads, “Schools teach Islamic history… but ignore 1066 and all that.” The issue is the new national curriculum, through which “teachers are being told pupils need not study British kings and queens, but must learn about early Islamic civilisation, Mayan culture or of Benin in west Africa,” the paper explains. It reports that the curriculum makes the “teaching of landmark events and personalities in British history ‘non-statutory.’”... There’s now something called World Hijab Day, every February 1, on which girls of all faiths are urged to don the Muslim veil. The idea is to increase “understanding” and “tolerance”; of course, Muslims aren’t encouraged to reciprocate and wear a cross or yarmulke.

Are You Kidding Me? Chinese Exports Plunge 25.4 Percent Compared To Last Year
Economic Collapse - We just got more evidence that global trade is absolutely imploding. Chinese exports dropped 25.4 percent during the month of February compared to a year ago, and Chinese imports fell 13.8 percent compared to a year ago. For Chinese exports, that was the worst decline that we have seen since 2009, and Chinese imports have now fallen for 16 months in a row on a year over year basis. The last time we saw numbers like this, we were in the depths of the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of the 1930s. China accounts for more global trade than any other nation (including the United States), and so this is a major red flag.

China Is Now In Control Of Global Silver Prices
OilPrice.com - China has been an unofficial price-setter for most metals over the past decade. And this week, the country became an official participant in setting prices for one of the world’s most important precious metals markets. That’s the London Bullion Market silver price. Where one of China’s largest banks just became a member of an elite group of players that controls fluctuations in this key metal. CME Group, which runs the process for price setting of silver in London, said Sunday that China Construction Bank will officially join as a member of the silver price process. Putting it alongside existing participants HSBC, JPMorgan Chase, The Bank of Nova Scotia, Toronto Dominion Bank, and UBS. These groups will now participate in price bids that go into setting the official London silver price. The first time that China will have direct influence on this process.

France votes to penalize companies for refusing to decrypt devices, messages
Ars Technica - But UN official warns: "Without encryption tools, lives may be endangered." French parliamentarians have adopted an amendment to a penal reform bill that would punish companies like Apple that refuse to provide decrypted versions of messages their products have encrypted. The Guardian reports: "The controversial amendment, drafted by the rightwing opposition, stipulates that a private company which refuses to hand over encrypted data to an investigating authority would face up to five years in jail and a €350,000 (£270,000) fine." This is only the bill's first reading, and the final fate of the amendment is uncertain. Earlier this year, the French government rejected crypto backdoors as "the wrong solution." "Given the government’s reluctance to take on the big phone companies in this way, it remains to be seen whether the thrust of the amendment can survive the lengthy parliamentary process that remains before the bill becomes law," The Guardian writes.

Japanese court orders shutdown of nuclear reactors over 'insufficient upgrades'
RT - A Japanese court has issued an unprecedented order to stop the operation of a nuclear reactor near Kyoto. It also ordered a second reactor to stay offline, stating that neither had been sufficiently upgraded since the 2011 Fukushima disaster. The order from Otsu District Court requires Kansai Electric Power Co. to shut down the No. 3 reactor and keep the No. 4 unit offline at the Takahama plant in Fukui prefecture, western Japan. According to the court, the emergency response plans and equipment designs at the two reactors were not properly upgraded after the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, AP reported… The two reactors restarted this year after a high court in December reversed an earlier injunction by another court. Reactor No. 3, which uses a riskier plutonium-based MOX fuel, resumed operation in late January, while reactor No. 4 had to be shut down late last month after operating for just three days, due to a series of technical problems… Meanwhile, the government of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is aiming to restart as many reactors as possible, believing that nuclear energy should remain a key power source for Japan.

Mexico GMO Maize Ban Given New Life after Appeal Ruling
Sustainable Pulse - On Tuesday a Mexican Federal Appeal Court court headed by Judge Benjamín Soto Sánchez notified Mexico’s Secretary of Agriculture (SAGARPA) that they are not allowed to grant release or cultivation permissions for GM Maize in the country. August 2015 Mexico’s XII District Court overturned a 2013 ruling that prevented biotech companies, including Monsanto and Syngenta, planting genetically modified (GM) maize in Mexico. However, Tuesday’s appeal against the August ruling was successful and the ban on GM Maize in Mexico will now continue at least until the end of the full trial. Judge Sanchez’s ruling supported the original unprecedented ban on GM Maize that was granted in October 2013 by the Twelfth Federal District Court for Civil Matters of Mexico City. Judge Jaime Eduardo Verdugo J. cited “the risk of imminent harm to the environment” as the basis for the decision. The Judge’s ruling also ruled that multinationals like Monsanto and Pioneer were banned from the release of transgenic maize in the Mexican countryside as long as the collective action lawsuits initiated by citizens, farmers, scientists, and civil society organizations are working their way through the judicial system.

F-35: Trillion Dollar Warplane’s Radar Doesn’t Work
Shadowproof - The financial sink hole known as the F-35 continues to fail the most basic flight and sensor tests. The warplane, estimated to have a total cost around $1.5 trillion, has already come up short in simulated dogfights with the F-16... The F-35 also has a limited fuel supply which means it will not be able to stay in an area to protect ground troops.... Also, there are concerns as to whether the F-35 can even be traditionally fueled because the plane has a problem with accepting hotter fuel. The air force’s current solution is to repaint fuel trucks to accept less sunlight in hopes of keeping the temperature down. Seriously. Now, The Guardian is reporting the plane’s radar does not operate effectively and often requires the pilots to “turn it off and on again.” Might that be important for a fighter jet?

Pentagon Admits It Uses Military Drones to Spy on Americans
Kurt Nimmo - A delayed report issued by a Pentagon inspector general admits the military has used Predator and Reaper drones to surveil the American people. According to the report made public under a Freedom of Information Act request, the unmanned military aircraft have been deployed “on non-military missions [that] have occurred fewer than 20 times between 2006 and 2015 and always in compliance with existing law.” The Pentagon did not release further information on the spy missions.... The FBI and Pentagon claim they only use drones in “particularized cases” is doubtful considering the history of the FBI and its COINTELPRO spying and subversion operation and recent revelations the Pentagon has spied on domestic political groups. A 400-page Defense Department document obtained by NBC News in 2004 revealed the Penatgon’s increased domestic spying activity on antiwar groups following the 9/11 attacks.... Despite the fact the Posse Comitatus Act prohibits the military from operating on American soil, the Pentagon has busied itself with establishing drone bases within the United States. Public Intelligence, a non-profit advocating free access to government information, released a map of military UAV activities inside the United States in 2012.... A list produced by the Federal Aviation Administration in response to an Electronic Freedom Foundation Freedom of Information Act lawsuit also shows numerous drone bases within the continental United States.

Navy Secretly Conducting Electromagnetic Warfare Training on Washington Roads
Truthout - Without public notification of any kind, the US Navy has secretly been conducting electromagnetic warfare testing and training on public roads in western Washington State for more than five years. n email thread between the Navy and the US Forest Service between 2010 and 2012, recently obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request filed by Oregon-based author and activist Carol Van Strum in November 2014, revealed that the Navy has likely been driving mobile electromagnetic warfare emitters and conducting electromagnetic warfare training in the Olympic National Forest and on public roads on Washington's Olympic Peninsula since 2010 [...] the Navy itself has produced a medical study showing that exposure to electromagnetic radiation causes a myriad of human health problems, including corneal damage, tubular degeneration of testicles, brain heating, sterility, altered penile function, death, cranial nerve disorders, seizures, convulsions, depression, insomnia, chest pain, and even sparking between dental fillings. Other reports by the US Air Force, NASA, medical doctors and scientific publications confirm these and other deleterious health effects that would result from the Navy's electromagnetic weaponry arsenal, in addition to large-scale negative impacts on birds, aquatic life and other biota.

9-11 the day the laws of physics and nature were suspended
Government Rag - September eleventh, two thousand & one, was a very strange day. Of course we are told, enemies, hostile to Americans, people hating our Freedoms, attacked various locations near the heart and control centers of American power, New York City and Washington, DC.

9 Easy Ways To Get Your Name on a Government Watch List
Waking Times - You might think that government watch lists are reserved for violent radical extremists. You might be wrong. There is a very serious war taking place, a “war on terror“. Which should sound ludicrous to any rational, thinking human being. How can we wage a war on terror? Terror is a consequence of war itself. You can’t fight a war on something that war produces? Talk about a vicious cycle. And terror doesn’t only exist overseas. There are apparently very dangerous people here on domestic soil, too. Dangerous people that don’t follow the herd. Who don’t walk in orderly lines. Scary people that oppose corrupt systems.

‘Kick in the teeth’: Michigan taxpayers might pay $2.7mn in Flint legal fees
RT - Michigan taxpayers may pay up to $2.7 million in outside legal fees associated with the Flint water crisis if Governor Rick Snyder and Attorney General Bill Schuette receive all the money they’re seeking from state lawmakers. Snyder’s office requested $1.2 million for legal fees, according to an agenda summary submitted to the State Administrative Board’s Finance and Claims Committee. That’s up significantly from the roughly $500,000 that was previously estimated, and the money would go to two separate legal firms assisting the government with the situation in Flint. Schuette is seeking another $1.5 million for work done by Flood Law LLC “for a one-year, six-month Flint Water Investigation conflict.” This is a dramatic increase from the $249,000 previously allocated. The decision to employ Flood Law was also controversial because attorney Todd Flood had donated money to political parties in the past, including some $3,000 to Snyder’s last two campaigns. The contracts will be fully considered by lawmakers on March 15.

Missouri Senate Republicans pass anti-gay religious amendment
Reuters - A 39-hour Democratic filibuster in the Missouri Senate ended on Wednesday when Republicans forced a vote and approved a proposal to prohibit sanctions against groups and wedding vendors that discriminate against same-sex couples for religious reasons. The resolution to amend the state's constitution passed 23-9 after the majority Republican caucus used a parliamentary maneuver to end the filibuster, which began at 4:00 p.m. CST on Monday, said Lauren Hieger, communications director for the Missouri Senate Majority Caucus. The amendment must be voted on again in the Senate next week before passing to the lower house, where Republicans have a majority, and then to the state's voters, Hieger said.

Spring Break in a Police State — Cop Drones Spy on Partying Kids to Bust them for Victimless Crime
Activist Post - As 25,000 college students expect to attend the spring break festivities, the South Padre Island Police Department recently announced that they will be using drones to monitor partiers during spring break this year. “It’s going to give us a bird’s eye view when we need it,” city spokesperson Gary Ainsworth told the Valley Morning Star. “It’s a 4K camera, so it’s crystal clear,” he added. Police Chief Randy Smith insisted that the drones will be used for mostly rescue missions. “We can use it for beach patrol. We’re looking at deploying some that have a safety feature that releases a life jacket over a subject that is in distress,” Smith said. However, it is obvious that the police will be more interested in scanning the crowd for drug users, underage drinkers, and nonviolent people who are just trying to have a good time.

Denver PD Caught Stealing People’s Assets, Using Them to Pay for Massive Propaganda Campaign
Blacklisted News - A couple of years ago, the Denver Police Department (DPD) was under fire for a spate of excessive force complaints. They wanted to change their image, so they began a massive public relations campaign, ramping up spending from $599 in 2011 to $136,783 in 2013. The “media affairs unit” is made up of very well-paid employees who push their message in social media such as Facebook and Twitter. Last year the DPD spent $450,000 on six employees in the media team, which is far more than six cops on the beat would make.

Woman who acted as human shield between armed cop and her dog Buddy is acquitted of obstructing justice
Daily Mail - arrested on May 9 last year after she stopped West Virginia state trooper Seth Cook from shooting her dog Buddy, who was chained to a wall at their home in Parkersburg. During a jury trial which was concluded on February 29, Cook said he had been trained to shoot dogs, whether or not they are chained. Cook had been called to the property to solve a dispute between Hupp's husband's stepfather and a neighbor. When Cook stepped on to the family's front yard, Buddy started yapping and ran towards him. Turning his attention to the canine, Cook pulled out a handgun and pointed it at Buddy. Horrified, Hupp's husband Ryan started filming the incident as Hupp ran to stand in the way. The video shows mother-of-two Hupp tentatively step in front of the gun with her head bowed. Cook then drops his weapon, grabs Hupps arms and hurls her to the ground. As her relatives scream, he picks her up and slams her onto his cop car, handcuffing her wrists.

Is this the Most Powerful Donald Trump Video Ever?
Infowars - A web group has produced an inspiring video depicting Donald Trump as a unifying figure, a stark contrast to media attacks painting the Republican frontrunner as a racist. Uploaded by the End the Fed Facebook group, the video entitled “The greatest video of Trump you will ever see,” claims it contains “facts you won’t see on the mainstream media.” The video was so well produced that the hotel mogul’s Facebook page shared it on Tuesday, ahead of several primary elections. “Wow- thank you!” Trump stated in response to the video. Within two days, the pro-Trump montage has garnered over 3.7 million views, over 120 thousand shares and more than 100 thousand likes.

Flashback: Trump Strikes Out Would-be Mugger
Philly.com - Call it The Donald to The Rescue. When he saw "a big guy with a big bat" bashing another fellow, Donald Trump did what any self-respecting billionaire would do: He ordered his driver to pull over. "I'm not looking to play this thing up," Trump said yesterday. "I'm surprised you found out about it." Witnesses said Trump, with Marla Maples tugging at his arm to try to stop him, leaped from his black stretch limousine Monday evening during the Manhattan assault. "Someone in the car looked over and said, 'Gee, look at that, it's a mugging,' " Trump said. "I said to my driver to stop the car because it was brutal-looking." Trump was at first reluctant to discuss his daredevil deed, but then he warmed to the task. "The guy with the bat looked at me, and I said, "Look, you've gotta stop this. Put down the bat,"' Trump said. "I guess he recognized me because he said, 'Mr. Trump, I didn't do anything wrong.' I said, 'How could you not do anything wrong when you're whacking a guy with a bat?' Then he ran away."... Trump said the bat-man delivered at least "five or six good whacks" before he interceded. Trump said he left the site only after he saw a man who appeared to be a doctor treating the victim and heard that an ambulance was on its way.

‘I want to vote so Donald Trump won’t win’: Illegals Applying for Citizenship to Vote Against Trump
Adan Salazar - Obama administration, Soros-linked NGOs behind push to naturalize illegals before November. Illegal aliens, encouraged by the Obama administration, are registering for citizenship ahead of November’s presidential election in record numbers, with many vowing to vote against Republican frontrunner Donald Trump. “I want to vote so Donald Trump won’t win,” Hortensia Villegas, a legal Mexican immigrant, told The New York Times earlier this week after attending a naturalization workshop in Colorado. “He doesn’t like us,” she said, compelled to register after a decade of living in the country illegally.... The Times notes the Obama administration and various labor unions, in addition to non-governmental organizations such as the George Soros-linked National Partnership for New Americans, have been behind efforts motivating immigrants to seek naturalization, providing outreach programs across the country in hopes to register more than 1 million out of 8.8 million illegal immigrants before November.

Lynch indicates DOJ not required to charge Clinton
Washington Examiner - Lynch was asked in a hearing by Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, what her department would do if the FBI were to recommend that step. "If the FBI were to make a referral to the Department of Justice to pursue a case by way of indictment and to convene a grand jury for that purpose, the Department of Justice is not required by law to do so, are they — are you?" Cornyn asked. Lynch didn't answer directly, but seemed to indicate the department has some wiggle room, and can consult with officials before deciding what to do. "It would not be an operation of law, it would be an operation of procedures," Lynch said in reply. She added that the decision to pursue a criminal case would be "done in conjunction with the agents" involved in the investigation. "It's not something that we would want to cut them out of the process."

IRS shuts down identity security tool for taxpayers due to security problems
Ars Technica - The Internal Revenue Service has temporarily suspended use of its Identity Protection PIN tool "as part of its ongoing security review," according to a notice issued by the IRS. The IP PIN is supposed to act as an extra layer of security for taxpayers who are at higher risk of becoming the victims of fraud because of personal information leaked in commercial data breaches. Last year, the IRS shut down an electronic tool for obtaining tax data after a massive fraud operation using stolen Social Security numbers and other data from commercial data breaches managed to extract filing data for hundreds of thousands of taxpayers. This year, the IRS is facing a new wave of fraud, as criminals engage in a phishing campaign to obtain employees' W-2 form data.

New Oklahoma rule aims to reduce earthquakes
Ars Technica - Oklahoma has started trying to rein this in, acting before there are more potentially damaging earthquakes like the magnitude 5.6 quake in 2011 and a magnitude 5.1 event earlier this year. The effort includes a pair of new rules, enacted in the last few months, to cut back on the amount of wastewater being injected into these disposal wells. As The New York Times reported, a new rule announced Monday basically caps injections in a portion of the state including Oklahoma City to 60 percent of the volume from 2014, when over 1 million barrels of wastewater were being handled per day in this area. Last month, a similar cap was placed on injections in the northwestern part of the state. With a better understanding of the geologic conditions around wells, injection rates can be managed in a way that significantly reduces the seismic side effects. Most of the wastewater being injected in Oklahoma is coming out of oil and gas wells in the area, so limiting injection likely means reduced oil and gas production—at a time when low prices are squeezing the industry.

Wednesday - March 9, 2016 - Today in History:

1788 - Connecticut became the 5th state to join the United States.
1793 - Jean Pierre Blanchard made the first balloon flight in North America. The event was witnessed by U.S. President George Washington.
1860 - The first Japanese ambassador to the U.S. was appointed.
1862 - During the U.S. Civil War, the ironclads Monitor and Virginia fought to a draw in a five-hour battle at Hampton Roads, Virginia.
1863 - General Ulysses Grant was appointed commander-in-chief of the Union forces.
1905 - In Manchuria, Japanese troops surrounded 200,000 Russian troops that were retreating from Mudken.
1916 - Mexican raiders led by Pancho Villa attacked Columbus, New Mexico. 17 people were killed by the 1,500 horsemen.
1933 - The U.S. Congress began its 100 days of enacting New Deal legislation.
1936 - The German press warned that all Jews who vote in the upcoming elections would be arrested.
1945 - During World War II, U.S. B-29 bombers launched incendiary bomb attacks against Japan.
1957 - Egyptian leader Nasser barred U.N. plans to share the tolls for the use of the Suez Canal.
1959 - Mattel introduced Barbie at the annual Toy Fair in New York.
1964 - Production began on the first Ford Mustang.
1965 - The first U.S. combat troops arrived in South Vietnam.
1967 - Svetlana Alliluyeva, Josef Stalin's daughter defected to the United States.
1975 - Work began on the Alaskan oil pipeline.
1975 - Iraq launched an offensive against the rebel Kurds.
1977 - About a dozen armed Hanafi Muslims invaded three buildings in Washington, DC. They killed one person and took more than 130 hostages. The siege ended two days later.
1989 - The U.S. Senate rejected John Tower as a choice for a cabinet member. It was the first rejection in 30 years.
1989 - In the U.S., a strike forced Eastern Airlines into bankruptcy.
1989 - In the U.S., President George H.W. Bush urged for a mandatory death penalty in drug-related killings.
1993 - Rodney King testified at the federal trial of four Los Angeles police officers accused of violating his civil rights. (California)
1995 - The Canadian Navy arrested a Spanish trawler for illegally fishing off of Newfoundland.
2000 - In Norway, the coalition government of Kjell Magne Bondevik resigned as a result of an environmental dispute.

Syrian Kurds say jihadists used phosphorus in chemical attack in Aleppo
RT - Armed Islamist opposition fighters have used yellow phosphorous in a chemical attack on the Sheikh Maqsood neighborhood in the Syrian city of Aleppo on Tuesday, Kurdish militia group YPG said. “We hereby inform you that on March 8, 2016 at 15:00, shelling [was carried out] with rockets that carry chemical material, which we believe to be yellow phosphorous chemical weapon, on Sheikh Maqsud neighborhood by the Syrian armed opposition factions and battalions,” Redur Xelilm, YPG’s spokesman, said in a statement. According to Xelilm, the shelling was continuing while he was writing his report to the coordination team of the ceasefire in Syria. The Kurds believe that a coalition of armed opposition groups, which includes Ahrar ash-Sham, al-Jabha al-Shameea, Brigade of Sultan Myrad, Sultan Faith Battalions, Fa Istaqim Kama Omirt Batallions, Nour ad-Deen Zinki Battalions, 13th Brigade, al-Fau al-Oal (the first regiment), 166th Battalion, and Abu Omara Battalions, was responsible for the chemical attack.

Terrorist Stabbing Spree 1/2 Mile from Biden Speech in Israel… U.S. Tourist Killed
Breitbart - An American tourist was killed and at least ten others wounded, four seriously, in terrorist stabbing attacks perpetrated by the same individual at two locations in Jaffa, the port city located just south of Tel Aviv. The attacks took place as U.S. President Joe Biden was in Jaffa, speaking at the Peres Center for Peace, Breitbart Jerusalem has confirmed. Sources in the Israeli security establishment told Breitbart Jerusalem that immediately after the attack, massive police reinforcements were called in to help secure the ongoing event at the Peres Peace Center, which was already tightly secured. The sources said there is no immediate information to indicate that the stabber timed his attack to coincide with Biden’s visit to Jaffa.

N. Korea boasts new nuke warhead small enough to mount on ballistic missile
RT - North Korea has allegedly developed a miniature warhead that can be fitted into a ballistic missile. The claim, made by the country’s leader Kim Jong-un at a meeting with nuclear researchers, follows threats of a “preventive nuclear strike” on the US. “The nuclear warheads have been standardized to be fit for ballistic missiles by miniaturizing them,” Kim said on Wednesday, as quoted by KCNA, North Korea’s official state news agency. He also praised the scientists, calling them the party’s “nuclear combatants.” Kim noted that the primary function of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal is to “deter a nuclear war,” adding that the most effective way to prevent such a conflict is to “bolster up the nuclear force both in quality and quantity.”

Sweden to go cashless in 5 years
Hang The Bankers - Sweden could very well be the first country to one day go totally cash-free. In fact, the Scandanavian country is well on its way, according to a new report from the New York Times. The country already has many banks that no longer dispense or take cash. But there may be issues brewing with the move to all digital transactions and a lack of physical currency. According to the newspaper: Not everyone is cheering. Sweden’s embrace of electronic payments has alarmed consumer organizations and critics who warn of a rising threat to privacy and increased vulnerability to sophisticated Internet crimes. Last year, the number of electronic fraud cases surged to 140,000, more than double the amount a decade ago, according to Sweden’s Ministry of Justice.... The report continued that physical bills and coins amount to just 2% of the country’s economy. The U.S., meanwhile, is at 7.7%.

The Collapse Of Italy’s Banks Threatens To Plunge The European Financial System Into Chaos
Economic Collapse - The Italian banking system is a “leaning tower” that truly could completely collapse at literally any moment. And as Italy’s banks begin to go down like dominoes, it is going to set off financial panic all over Europe unlike anything we have ever seen before. I wrote about the troubles in Italy back in January, but since that time the crisis has escalated. At this point, Italian banking stocks have declined a whopping 28 percent since the beginning of 2016, and when you look at some of the biggest Italian banks the numbers become even more frightening. On Monday, shares of Monte dei Paschi were down 4.7 percent, and they have now plummeted 56 percent since the start of the year. Shares of Carige were down 8 percent, and they have now plunged a total of 58 percent since the start of the year. This is what a financial crisis looks like, and just like we are seeing in South America, the problems in Italy appear to be significantly accelerating.

Which Countries Have The Highest Default Risk: A Global CDS Heatmap
Zero Hedge - Sweden beats USA and Germany as the least likely to default on its bonds but at the other end of the global sovereign risk spectrum lie two socialist utopias - Venezuela (CDS just shy of 6000bps) and Greece (CDS around 1800bps) are the nations most likely to default.... Below, in order of declining default risk, are the ten most likely to follow Venezuela and Greece into the great default unknown...

10 Food Favorites Invented by the U.S. Military
Under The Radar - Anastacia Marx de Salcedo’s new book Combat-Ready Kitchen: How the U.S. Military Shapes the Way You Eat explores how many of the processed foods we buy at the supermarket are prepared using technology and techniques invented by the military to preserve and transport food for troops in battle. To celebrate its release, the author gives us a glimpse into the book’s subject with a list that highlights just a few ways military research affects our daily diet.

Urgent!!!!! "Smart" meter opt out bill hearing March 9 Missouri House of Representatives
The opt out bill has been revised and is now HB 2559. If it becomes law, any Missouri resident may have their "smart" meter removed and replaced with a safe, secure analog meter. I hope you can mention this on your show Wednesday morning.

Seriously?! Pentagon Wants to Give ‘Train and Equip’ Program in Syria Another Try
Sputnik News - They say “You cannot step in the same river twice” but that doesn’t apply to the US military, now requesting the Obama administration restart a halted project on training Syrian rebels, as they believe that with the different approach the program will succeed. US Army General Lloyd Austin, commander of US Central Command (Centcom) asked the Senate Armed Services Committee Tuesday for permission to relaunch the $500-million program to train and equip "moderate rebels" to fight Daesh in Syria and Iraq, The Hill has reported. Washington's previous plan to train and arm so-called moderate Syrian rebels to fight Daesh was an utter failure and an ongoing source of embarrassment for the Obama administration, as last October the program was suspended due to the Pentagon's inability to field enough qualified candidates. According to Austin, the new program will be based on hiring less people so that they can be encouraged to perform with better quality in a shorter period of time.

Full coverage of the LaVoy Finicum shooting investigation
Oregonian - On Tuesday, officials announced the results of their investigation.... An FBI agent is suspected of lying about firing twice at Finicum and may have gotten help from four other FBI agents in covering up later, authorities revealed Tuesday. The bullets didn't hit Finicum and didn't contribute to his death, but now all five unnamed agents, part of an elite national unit, are under criminal investigation by the U.S. Justice Department. Inspector General Michael Horowitz is leading the independent inquiry. LaVoy Finicum was shot 3 times in back as he reached for gun, investigators say: A lengthy video shot inside Finicum's truck adds sound to the events as they unfolded [Video: Warning graphic content]. Accounts from the state troopers and FBI agents who tried to arrest Finicum and police photographs also round out the picture. A bullet hole in LaVoy Finicum's truck leads to elite FBI team:The OSP investigation accounted for three shots fired by an OSP officer. The investigation found a fourth round, and police concluded it was fired by an FBI agent who subsequently twice denied ever firing his gun. As the investigation proceeded, detectives determined he also fired a second time, but didn't hit anything at the scene.

Freddie Gray case: Maryland high court says Officer Porter must testify against all 5 co-defendants
Baltimore Sun - Maryland's highest court ruled Tuesday that Officer William Porter must testify against all five fellow officers charged in the death of Freddie Gray, and sent the cases back to the lower court for trial. The Court of Appeals turned back Porter's request that he not be compelled to testify against Officer Caesar Goodson and Sgt. Alicia White. They also reversed Circuit Court Judge Barry Williams's order denying prosecutors' request to call Porter to testify against three other officers, Edward Nero, Garrett Miller and Lt. Brian Rice. It was a huge victory for the state, which argued that Porter's Fifth Amendment rights would not be violated by granting him immunity.

Marathon filibuster: Missouri Democrats try to block anti-gay, religious freedom bill
Rt - Passing the 24 hour mark, Missouri Senate Democrats continue to filibuster in hopes of halting the advance of a constitutional amendment that would allow businesses and individuals in the state to refuse goods or services for same-sex marriages based on religious beliefs. The filibuster of Senate Joint Resolution 39 began at 4:00 p.m. local time on Monday. The eight-member Democratic Caucus has maintained the filibuster since then, currently going on for over 24 hours. Some senators said they plan to go at least 24 hours in their effort, as the minority party in the Missouri Senate, to block the resolution backed by the Republican majority.... Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard said he would let the filibuster go on for 24 hours. "Maybe even longer. Whatever it takes," he said, according to statehouse reporter Crystal Thomas.

Camarota: USA Needs National Debate About Legal, Mass Immigration
Breitbart - The United States should be having a national debate about its legal and expansive immigration system, which contributes to the majority of growth in the nation’s immigrant population, according Steven Camarota, the director of research at the Center for Immigration Studies. “This is what we need a national debate about,” Camarota said Tuesday morning on Sirius XM’s Breitbart News Daily with Stephen K. Bannon. “Quite frankly all we ever talk about is illegal immigration, but as we make the point everyone agrees only about a quarter of these individuals are illegal immigrants and their children.” Monday, Camarota and CIS released an analysis of Census data revealing that there are 61 million legal and illegal immigrants and their young children in the U.S. or nearly 1 in 5 U.S. residents. In the 1970s just 1 in 15 U.S. residents were immigrants and their young children.

Obama Admin Handcuffed Border Patrol, Says Babeu
Breitbart - The National Border Patrol Council (NBPC) and Pinal County Sheriff joined forces to denounce the Obama Administration and accused the White House of handcuffing the efforts of law enforcement in regards to the enforcement of immigration law.... Sheriff Babeu and the NBPC held a press conference in southern Arizona to make the charges against the White House and officials with the Department of Homeland Security on Tuesday morning. The NBPC is the official union for Border Patrol agents and has been instrumental in getting out the truth about the administration’s policies. National Border Patrol Labor Council President Brandon Judd told reporters, “We are either going to be a specialized law enforcement agency dedicated to enforcing our nation’s immigration laws or a political arm of the administration.” He reinforced the evidence that the Obama Administration has been bypassing Congress by taking illegal executive actions and forcing Border Patrol agents to not do their job of enforcing the law along the border. 3News in Phoenix reported that Judd said “the president is bypassing Congress by legislating through policy. These policies in essence are granting amnesty to thousands, if not millions, of persons who enter the country illegally.”

DHS employees use their own judgment to put Americans on Do-Not-Fly list
MassPrivateI - DHS's 2015 Data Mining report, reveals that TSA, CBP, Coast Guard or all DHS employees are using their own judgment to determine who's put on a government watchlist! "While each program described below engages to some extent in data mining, no decisions about individuals are made based solely on data mining results. In all cases, DHS employees analyze the results of data mining, and then apply their own judgment and expertise to bear in making determinations about individuals initially identified through data mining activities."... U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses an 'Automated Targeting System' (ATS) to assign a threat assessment to every American. ATS-UPAX vets the visa application and provides a response to the DoS’s Consular Consolidated Database (CCD) indicating whether DHS has identified derogatory information about the individual. CBP uses biographical information on identified and possible overstays in ADIS to be run in ATS-UPAX against risk-based rules based on information derived from past investigations and intelligence. CBP also uses risk-based targeting rules and assessments, in other words EVERYONE is being given a threat assessment.

President Obama SNUBS Nancy Reagan's funeral so he can speak at hipster festival South By Southwest
The Guardian - A White House official confirmed this afternoon that President Barack Obama will not be in attendance at former First Lady Nancy Reagan's funeral on Friday, instead opting to speak at a popular film and music festival in Texas. Obama will be represented at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library by his wife, Michelle. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said she will be attending the service in Simi Valley, California, as well. In late February, Obama drew widespread criticism after skipping the funeral for conservative Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia.

Trump Wins Michigan and Mississippi; Cruz Leads in Idaho
CNS News - Donald Trump has won the Republican presidential primaries in Mississippi and Michigan and Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas is leading in the primary in Idaho. With 95 percent of the vote counted in Mississippi, Trump had 47.4 percent of the vote, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas had 36.5 percent, Gov. John Kasich had 8.6 percent and Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida had 5.0 percent. With 82 percent of the vote counted in Michigan, Trump had 36.8 percent of the vote, Cruz had 24.7 percent, Kasich had 24.4 percent and Rubio had 9.3 percent. With 44 percent of the vote counted in Idaho, Cruz had 41.6 percent, Trump had 28.9 percent, Rubio had 18.4 percent and Kasich had 7.2 percent.
* Related: 2016 Presidential Primary Results

Sanders Wins Michigan; Clinton Wins Mississippi
CNS News - Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont defeated former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in the Michigan Democratic presidential primary on Tuesday, and Clinton defeated Snaders in the Mississippi primary. With 97 percent of the vote counted in Michigan, Sanders had 50.1 percent to Clinton’s 48.0 percent. Clinton, meanwhile, won Mississippi in a landslide. With 95 percent of the vote counted, she had 82.9 percent and Sanders had 16.2 percent.

Bush Implicated in Savings & Loan Crisis Joins Cruz National Finance Team
Kurt Nimmo - Neil Bush, the brother of Jeb and George W. Bush, has joined the Ted Cruz national finance team. The move opens the door for the Bush dynasty to support the Texas senator in his bid for the White House. The Dallas Morning News characterizes Neil Bush as a possible outlier within the family and reports it remains to be seen if the dynasty will shift its weigh behind the Cruz campaign after the failure of Jeb Bush to gain support for the nomination.... Bush was a member of the board of directors of Denver-based Silverado during the savings and loan crisis of the 1980s. According to an investigation conducted by the US Office of Thrift Supervision, Neil Bush illegally engaged in “breaches of his fiduciary duties involving multiple conflicts of interest” that led to the downfall of the institution. The savings and loan crisis ultimately cost the American taxpayers over a trillion dollars. Neil avoided going to prison for his role in the scandal. The boss of Silverado S&L, however, was not so lucky.

Trump: BLM ‘damaging economy,’ ‘impediment to growth’
Infowars - Published with little fanfare in the Reno Gazette-Journal ahead of last month’s Nevada caucus, the billionaire real estate mogul wrote the BLM’s reluctance to release land, in combination with the failure to enforce immigration laws, is “damaging the economy, lowering the standard of living and inhibiting natural economic growth.” “The BLM controls over 85 percent of the land in Nevada. In the rural areas, those who for decades have had access to public lands for ranching, mining, logging and energy development are forced to deal with arbitrary and capricious rules that are influenced by special interests that profit from the D.C. rule-making and who fill the campaign coffers of Washington politicians,” Trump wrote. “Honest, hardworking citizens who seek freedom and economic independence must beg for deference from a federal government that is more intent on power and control than it is in serving the citizens of the nation.” “In and around Clark County, the situation is even worse,” Trump said, referring to the swath of land which, in 2014, was the site of the famous Bundy Ranch standoff in Bunkerville, Nevada....

CAUGHT ON VIDEO=> Ted Cruz DIRTY TRICKS EMAIL in Hawaii
Gateway Pundit - In February Dr. Ben Carson accused the Cruz camp of foul play in the Iowa Caucuses. The Cruz camp told voters on caucus night that Carson was dropping out and to vote for Ted Cruz. The Cruz camp sent their dishonest statements out to 1,500 precincts before the voting started at the Iowa caucuses. The Carson camp later accused the Cruz camp of dirty tricks saying, “There was never a more tainted victory!” Now this—Today the Cruz camp is at it again — This time in Hawaii! Dirty Ted Cruz is sending out emails in Hawaii telling voters Rubio is dropping out and not to waste your vote!

Only 300 People Show Up for Marco Rubio Rally in Tampa – They Were Expecting 5,000
Gateway Pundit - On Monday the Marco Rubio campaign held a rally at the Tampa Convention Center.... Marco Rubio is in a bind. He’s down in the polls in his home state against Donald Trump, and if he doesn’t win Florida, he could be finished.

Poll: Romney Condemnation Huge Boost to Trump
Kit Daniels - Nearly 1/3 of GOP voters said they were now more likely to support Donald Trump after he was condemned by Mitt Romney, according to a new poll. Thirty-one percent of GOP voters said Romney speaking out against Trump last week propelled them to support the GOP frontrunner, which is the complete opposite of what Romney intended. The Morning Consult poll also found that 30% of those who voted for Romney in 2012 were also , 20% were less likely and 48% said the Romney speech denouncing Trump didn’t affect their decision either way. Even more damning, only 5% of Trump supporters said there were less likely to back the GOP frontrunner based on what Romney said. In other words, Romney’s condemnation of Trump was effectively an endorsement.

Urgent!!!!! "Smart" meter opt out bill hearing March 9 Missouri House of Representatives
The opt out bill has been revised and is now HB 2559. If it becomes law, any Missouri resident may have their "smart" meter removed and replaced with a safe, secure analog meter. I hope you can mention this on your show Wednesday morning.

Miami’s oceanfront nuclear power plant is leaking
Fusion - What is arguably America’s least-well-placed nuclear power plant is leaking radiation into the sea. The University of Miami has found that the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant, located just south of Miami, has caused levels of tritium, a radioactive isotope, in Biscayne Bay to spike to 200-times higher than normal levels. “This is one of several things we were very worried about,” South Miami Mayor Philip Stoddard, who is also a biological sciences professor at Florida International University, told the Miami New Times. “You would have to work hard to find a worse place to put a nuclear plant, right between two national parks and subject to hurricanes and storm surge.”... The new study blames the leaks on the reactor’s cooling canals, which were recently found to have caused a massive underground saltwater plume to migrate west, threatening a wellfield that supplies drinking water to the Florida Keys.

NSA Chief Warns: Start Preparing For Blackouts, Downed Grid
Off the Grid News - The possibility of a cyberattack on critical infrastructure such as America’s electric power worries National Security Agency (NSA) Director Admiral Michael Rogers, who told a cyber security conference that it’s a “matter of when, not if” hackers successfully attack America’s power grid. The US eventually will suffer a cyber assault like the one that knocked out power in the Ukraine, Rogers told an audience at the RSA Conference in San Francisco in early March. During that attack hackers used the Black Energy cyber weapon to literally turn the lights out on more than 200,000 people across the region. “Seven weeks ago it was the Ukraine,” Rogers said. “That isn’t the last we are going to see of this. That worries me.”

Is Your Food on Crack? Salmon Test Positive for 81 Different Drugs, Prozac, Birth Control, Cocaine
Natural Blaze - When stories like the lead poisoning in Flint, Michigan make national news, people sit up and take notice. What people don’t realize is just how contaminated our water is all the time, every day, every where. I’m not talking about heavy metals like lead, although unless regular testing is done the nation over or you test your own water with a home kit (cheap, definitely worth it if you are curious to know what’s in your water), how do you know what’s coming out of your faucet is lead-free anyway? In this instance, however, I’m talking about Big Pharma. Salmon caught in the Puget Sound were recently found to be contaminated with a toxic cocktail of 81 drugs and chemicals. Tissues of the juvenile chinook were tested and researchers were blown away by what they found. Drugs these fish were on included...

Tuesday - March 8, 2016 - Today in History:

1702 - England's Queen Anne took the throne upon the death of King William III.
1782 - The Gnadenhutten massacre took place. About 90 Indians were killed by militiamen in Ohio in retaliation for raids carried out by other Indians.
1853 - The first bronze statue of Andrew Jackson is unveiled in Washington, DC.
1880 - U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes declared that the United States would have jurisdiction over any canal built across the isthmus of Panama.
1917 - Russia's "February Revolution" began with rioting and strikes in St. Petersburg. The revolution was called the "February Revolution" due to Russia's use of the Old Style calendar.
1933 - Self-liquidating scrip money was issued for the first time at Franklin, IN.
1942 - During World War II, Japanese forces captured Rangoon, Burma.
1943 - Japanese forces attacked American troops on Hill 700 in Bougainville. The battle lasted five days.
1945 - Phyllis Daley received a commission in the U.S. Navy Nurse Corps. She later became the 1st African-American nurse to serve duty in World War II.
1946 - The French naval fleet arrived at Haiphong, Vietnam.
1953 - A census bureau report indicated that 239,000 farmers had quit farming over the last 2 years.
1954 - France and Vietnam opened talks in Paris on a treaty to form the state of Indochina.
1965 - The U.S. landed about 3,500 Marines in South Vietnam. They were the first U.S. combat troops to land in Vietnam.
1966 - Australia announced that it would triple the number of troops in Vietnam.
1982 - The U.S. accused the Soviets of killing 3,000 Afghans with poison gas.
1988 - In Fort Campbell, KY, 17 U.S. soldiers were killed when two Army helicopters collided in midair.
1999 - The U.S. Supreme Court upheld the conviction of Timothy McVeigh for the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City in 1995.
1999 - The White House, under President Bill Clinton, directed the firing of nuclear scientist Wen Ho Lee from his job at the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The firing was a result of alleged security violations.
2001 - The U.S. House of Representatives voted for an across-the-board tax cut of nearly $1 trillion over the next decade.
2008 - President George W. Bush vetoed a bill that would have banned the CIA from using simulated drowning and other coercive interrogation methods on suspected terrorists.

ISIS Syrian capital Raqqa hit by uprising, defections says reports
RT - Several local sources say the clashes in Raqqa have been escalating for several days and resulted in numerous defections from the ranks of Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL, also known as Daesh, an Arabic pejorative term)… Reports of desertion have been confirmed by Alalam news and Hamrin news… After heavy clashes with IS fighters on Sunday, its former members helped the locals secure at least five neighborhoods in the city, where the black IS flag has been replace[d] with the national flags of Syria… Sources on the ground for Alalam news explained that many fighters are trying to escape Islamic State clutches as the Syrian Army and Kurdish fighters have made a number of advances around the city, and against IS positions across the country… Currently the Syrian Army and the Kurdish militias are carrying out offensives to liberate the city from the terrorist group.
* Related: Report: Islamic State Gunmen Stage Mutiny, Kill Local Commander In De Facto Capital

In drills, U.S., South Korea practice striking North's nuclear plants, leaders
The Washington Post - The United States and South Korea kicked off major military exercises on Monday, including rehearsals of surgical strikes on North Korea’s main nuclear and missile facilities and “decapitation raids” by special forces targeting the North’s leadership. The drills always elicit an angry response from Pyongyang, but Monday’s statement was particularly ferocious, accusing the United States and South Korea of planning a “beheading operation” aimed at removing Kim Jong Un’s regime… The exercises come at a particularly tense time, with the international community — especially the United States and South Korea — looking to punish Pyongyang for its recent nuclear test and missile launch… About 17,000 American forces and 300,000 South Korean personnel — a one-third increase from last spring’s drills — will take part in 11 days of computer-simulated training and eight weeks of field exercises, which will involve ground, air, naval and special operations services.
* Related: North Korea again threatens nuclear strikes on US and South Korea

New US mercenaries posted in Yemen
PressTV - Under a USD-3-billion contract between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and DynCorp, mercenaries from the company are to be deployed to Yemen, where UAE forces are fighting against the Yemeni army and Popular Committees on Saudi orders, Khabar News Agency quoted an official with Yemeni Defense Ministry as saying. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the first group of the mercenaries recently arrived in the port city of Aden to replace those of Blackwater, a notorious American group now renamed Academi… DynCorp is a rival of Blackwater, which hires mercenaries and sends them to fight in foreign countries on paid missions. Blackwater had decided to withdraw from Bab-el-Mandeb region after the Yemeni forces inflicted heavy losses on them. The UAE was forced to bring in the new mercenaries from DynCorp for the same reason.

'I'm waiting for my children': MH370 families believe loved ones are still alive
The Guardian - So far only one fragment of the missing Boeing 777 has been found, on the French island of Réunion, while two other suspected pieces of debris are still being examined. But in China, home to 153 of the passengers, many families still reject the idea that the aircraft went down in the sea at all. “I don’t believe the plane crashed,” said Gao, whose 32-year-old daughter, Zhang Xiaolei, had been returning from holiday. “There is no evidence to prove the plane is in the Indian Ocean. “Over the past two years, they have found no evidence to prove the plane crashed or that the passengers were all dead despite so many rounds of searching,” Gao added. “If they cannot provide the evidence, I cannot believe them.” … Even those now taking legal action continue to view claims that flight MH370 crashed into the Indian Ocean – or that their loved ones are dead – with disbelief and contempt.

Navy SEALs Tell Congressman There Is a Combat Rifle Shortage
ABC News - After SEALs return from a deployment, their rifles are given to other commandos who are shipping out, said Hunter, a former Marine who served three combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. This weapons carousel undercuts the "train like you fight" ethos of the U.S. special operations forces, they said… Sharing rifles may seem inconsequential. It's not. The weapons, which are outfitted with telescopic targeting sights and laser pointers, are fine-tuned to individual specifications and become intensely personal pieces of gear… The problem isn't a lack of money, according to Hunter. Congress has frequently boosted the budgets of special operations forces in the years since the 9/11 attacks, he said. Rifles also are among the least expensive items the military buys, leading Hunter to question the priorities of Naval Special Warfare Command, the Coronado, California, organization that oversees the SEALs. "There is so much wasteful spending," he said. "Money is not reaching the people it needs to reach."

Record 61 million immigrants in U.S., 15.7 million illegally
Washington Examiner - There are a record 61 million immigrants and their American-born children in the United States, including an estimated 15.7 million illegally here, according to a new analysis of 2015 U.S. Census data. The estimated number of undocumented immigrants is one of the highest ever. The analysis by the Center for Immigration Studies found that 45.3 million, or three-fourths of the 61 million, are legal immigrants and their children. The report out Monday notes that the so-called “Gang of Eight” immigration bill supported by GOP presidential candidate Sen. Marco Rubio would have doubled that number of legal immigrants.

Missouri Considering Concealed Carry On Public Transit
Patriot Rising - Missouri lawmakers are considering a proposal which would eliminate charges against law abiding concealed carriers riding on public transportation. The proposed measure would not affect Amtrak riders, who are covered underneath Federal regulations, but would apply to those who work and ride on buses and shuttles. At present, it is a felony in the state of Missouri to carry a firearm onto a public transit vehicle. As Mid-Missouri Public Radio KBIA reports, Republican Sen. Bob Onder told a Senate panel that this new measure is all about public safety. He cited that public transit can get quite violent and nasty. Giving those who ride public transit a chance to defend themselves is a matter of self defense. Missouri’s major cities, St. Louis, Springfield and Kansas City, have all opposed this recent measure saying that they would rather be given the authority to decide whether it should be legal or not.

Wyoming’s New Asset Forfeiture Law Could Set A Game-Changing Precedent
Truth in Media - In 2015, Wyoming’s legislature passed a civil asset forfeiture reform bill that was a dream come true for reform advocates. It was so strong, in fact, that Gov. Matt Mead vetoed the bill. He said while there were problems with the practice, those abuses were not a significant problem in Wyoming. But the legislature has now passed a bill that met Mead’s muster. Under the law, police would still be able to forfeit property without a criminal conviction, but they must have a judge review the case within 30 days to determine if the officers had probable cause to seize the property. If the judge rules that police did not have probable cause, the property must be returned. The distinction is important because, as it is, judges rarely review seizures.

Florida Passes Bill Legalizing Medical Marijuana for Terminal Patients, Defying Federal Ban
Tenth Amendment Center - A bill expanding the state’s “Right to Try” law by legalizing the limited use of medical marijuana passed the state Senate today and will go on to the governor’s desk. If signed into law, the legislation will further nullify in effect federal prohibition of cannabis. Rep. Matt Goetz (R-Fort Walton Beach) sponsored House Bill 307 (HB307). Sen. Rob Bradley (R-Fleming) sponsored a companion bill in the Senate (SB460). The legislation allows doctors treating terminally ill patients that qualify under Florida’s new “Right to Try” law to prescribe medical marijuana. The legislation was also amended to revise existing regulations relating to the state’s low-THC cannabis industry covered by the 2014 Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act. The law allows physicians to prescribe low-THC cannabis to treat patients suffering from cancer or other conditions that produce seizures or severe and persistent muscle spasms if no other satisfactory alternative treatment options exist. The five dispensing organizations authorized to produce and distribute low-THC cannabis under current law would also be able to do the same for medical marijuana under HB307.

Seeing Trump as vulnerable, GOP elites now eye a contested convention
Washington Post - The presentation is an 11th-hour rebuttal to the fatalism permeating the Republican establishment: Slide by slide, state by state, it calculates how Donald Trump could be denied the nomination. Marco Rubio wins Florida. John Kasich wins Ohio. Ted Cruz notches victories in the Midwest and Mountain West. And the results in California and other states are jumbled enough to leave Trump three dozen delegates short of the 1,237 required — forcing a contested convention in Cleveland in July. The slide show, shared with The Washington Post by two operatives advising one of a handful of anti-Trump super PACs, encapsulates the newly emboldened view of many GOP leaders and donors. They see a clearer path to stopping Trump following his two losses and two narrower-than-expected wins on Saturday.

Cleveland seeking to buy riot gear for Republican National Convention
Andrew J. Tobias - Cleveland is seeking to buy 2,000 sets of riot gear, including riot-control suits and collapsible batons, as part of the city's latest move to spend a $50 million federal security grant for July's Republican National Convention. The city this week posted to its contracting website a notice seeking bidders to provide the gear. City documents refer to the "Elite Defender" riot-control suit manufactured by HWI Gear and a 26-inch baton manufactured by Monadnock, plus 2,000 bags to carry them. The city also wants to buy 310 sets of riot-control gear — long-sleeve jackets, gloves and shin guards — that would be suitable for use by police riding bicycles. The city last week began ramping up its public process to spend the RNC security money, approved by Congress last December. The city previously has sought to buy 300 bicycles, 15 motorcycles, 25 sets of tactical armor and two horse trailers. The city also has sought to rent about three miles of interlocking steel barriers, each 3.5 feet high, and buy another 3,250 feet of interlocking barriers that each would be 6.5 feet tall for the RNC, according to bid documents.

Brother of Slain Civil Rights Leader Medgar Evers Has Endorsed Donald Trump
Breitbart - Civil rights leader Charles Evers, the brother of slain civil rights martyr Medgar Evers, has announced his support for Republican presidential frontrunner Donald Trump. “I believe in him first of all because he’s a businessman. I think jobs are badly needed in Mississippi,” Evers said. In response to allegations that Trump is a racist and that he had actively removed black students from one of his recent rallies, Evers said, “I haven’t seen any proof of him being a racist.” “All of us have some racism in us. Even me,” he added. Evers counts Donald Trump’s strict statements on illegal immigration among the key reasons for his endorsement.

Bloomberg will not run: The Risk I Will Not Take - By Michael R. Bloomberg
Bloomberg - “...when I look at the data, it’s clear to me that if I entered the race, I could not win. I believe I could win a number of diverse states -- but not enough to win the 270 Electoral College votes necessary to win the presidency. In a three-way race, it’s unlikely any candidate would win a majority of electoral votes, and then the power to choose the president would be taken out of the hands of the American people and thrown to Congress”… “As the race stands now, with Republicans in charge of both Houses, there is a good chance that my candidacy could lead to the election of Donald Trump or Senator Ted Cruz. That is not a risk I can take in good conscience.”

WATCH: Computer Programmer Testifies Under Oath He Coded Computers to Rig Elections
Activist Post - This year is one of the worst years ever for voter fraud, as it’s been captured on video — multiple times. Last Month, Hillary Clinton declared herself the winner of the Democratic Party in the much-anticipated Iowa caucuses. Immediately after the ‘victory,’ Clinton went on CNN to bask in her counterfeit fame. “I am so thrilled,” Clinton told Wolf Blitzer in an interview Tuesday afternoon. “My luck was not that good last time around, and it was wonderful to win the caucus, to have that experience.” However, fraud was so rampant that a C-SPAN video caught it. Clinton’s ‘victory’ would have nothing to do with ‘luck,’ and her premature declaration of the “razor thin” tie, was no mistake. When campaign minions aren’t fudging the physical vote count, computers, tasked with tallying the vote, are susceptible to hacking.

Ohio lost 112,500 jobs due to trade with TPP countries
Government Slaves - Ohio lost 112,500 jobs in 2015 resulting from the United States’ trade deficit with countries that are part of the Trans-Pacific Partnership agreement, according to an analysis by the Economic Policy Institute. That places Ohio sixth, in terms of the percentage of jobs lost to trade with TPP countries, among the 50 states and the District of Columbia ranked in the report released Thursday by the liberal Washington, D.C.-based think tank. The lost jobs represent nearly 2.2 percent of employment in Ohio, according to the analysis. The total number of lost jobs includes those directly and indirectly impacted by the trade deficit with TPP countries. It also includes the number of jobs EPI says would have been created through the multiplier or “respending” effect had trade with those countries been more balanced.

Internal Revenue Service Hiring Private Debt Collectors For Outstanding Taxes
Fox Business - A proposal to allow the IRS to use private debt collection services to handle the collection of unpaid taxes was among the many unrelated items placed in the recent transportation-funding bill.... Senator Charles “Chuck” Grassley (R, Iowa) is one of the main supporters of this effort, claiming that these companies can help bring in some of the billions in overdue taxes owed by Americans. At $380 billion (as of mid-2015), it’s a substantial amount.... How can you be sure that any private collection service really does have a connection with the IRS? First, check the IRS website to verify that the collection program has even started. The legislation requires the IRS to acquire signed contracts with the private debt collection services by early March, so anyone attempting to pass himself or herself off as a private tax collector for the IRS before then is clearly scamming. The IRS never initiates contact over the phone without any prior written contact, and private debt collectors are not supposed to be calling anyone before IRS contact. (Surely, the IRS will construct these new rules to maintain that philosophy.) Be skeptical of first contact by a third-party collector. Third party requests for sensitive personal information are sure signs of a scam.

Average Wall Street Bonus Drops 9%; Lowest Since 2012
Zero Hedge - … New York state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli released his annual Wall Street compensation report in which we revealed that average Wall Street bonuses for 2015 will drop by a quite substantial 9% to "only" $146,200, the second consecutive year of declines, and the lowest since 2012 when average bonuses were $142,860… don't cry for Wall Street: like every other utility, increasingly more of the comp is paid in the form of base pay and less in the bonus: according to DiNapoli the average salary (including bonuses) for securities industry employees in New York City rose 14% in 2014 to $404,800, setting a new record (data are not yet available for 2015). This was nearly six times higher than salaries in the rest of the City’s private sector ($72,300).

Diagnosing Itchy, Uncomfortable Skin - What's Going on With Your Pet?
Dr. Becker - To successfully treat feline dermatitis and prevent recurrence, it’s imperative to identify and resolve the underlying cause(s) of your pet’s itchy, irritated, and inflamed skin. I realize there are a mind-boggling number of potential triggers for the condition, but I can’t stress enough the importance of finding and treating (or avoiding) the source.... Topical remedies I've used with good success for encouraging wound healing include...

Cannabis Treats For Dogs Can Help Overcome Seizures, Pain, And Even Cancer
Natural Blaze - Household pets are now developing afflictions of the modern age, just like humans. It makes sense, then, that if they an endocannabinoid system, their human caretakers use cannabis oil to alleviate pain and help them heal. Julianna Carella, the owner and founder of Treatibles, explains that dogs benefit just as much from ingesting CBD as humans. She told Reason: Most of the pet owners that are using the product are using it for separation anxiety, things like hip dysplasia and arthritis, mobility pain, aging — a lot of aging dogs are using the product — and then we have some dogs that have epilepsy that use the product with great success, some dogs with cancer … so it’s a pretty wide range of conditions that can be addressed with CBD really successfully. According to the company’s website, Treatibles sells superfood wellness treats that have been infused with a proprietary blend of CBD and other non-psychoactive cannabinoids derived from hemp grown for medicinal purposes. n other words, the snacks won’t get your dog high, but they will help your pup cope with separation anxiety and live a more comfortable life.
 

Monday - March 7, 2016 - Today in History:

1774 - The British closed the port of Boston to all commerce.
1799 - In Palestine, Napoleon captured Jaffa and his men massacred more than 2,000 Albanian prisoners.
1850 - U.S. Senator Daniel Webster endorsed the Compromise of 1850 as a method of preserving the Union.
1854 - Charles Miller received a patent for the sewing machine.
1876 - Alexander Graham Bell received a patent (U.S. Patent No. 174,465) for his telephone.
1901 - It was announced that blacks had been found enslaved in parts of South Carolina.
1911 - In the wake of the Mexican Revolution, the U.S. sent 20,000 troops to the border of Mexico.
1918 - Finland signed an alliance treaty with Germany.
1933 - CBS radio debuted "Marie The Little French Princess." It was the first daytime radio serial.
1933 - The board game Monopoly was invented.
1936 - Hitler sent German troops into the Rhineland in violation of the Locarno Pact and the Treaty of Versailles.
1942 - Japanese troops landed on New Guinea.
1945 - During World War II, U.S. forces crossed the Rhine River at Remagen, Germany.
1965 - State troopers and a sheriff's posse broke up a march by civil rights demonstrators in Selma, AL.
1968 - The Battle of Saigon came to an end.
1971 - A thousand U.S. planes bombed Cambodia and Laos.
1975 - The U.S. Senate revised the filibuster rule. The new rule allowed 60 senators to limit debate instead of the previous two-thirds.
1985 - The first AIDS antibody test, an ELISA-type test, was released.
1994 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that parodies that poke fun at an original work can be considered "fair use" that does not require permission from the copyright holder.
2002 - A federal judge awarded Anna Nicole Smith more than $88 million in damages. The ruling was the latest in a legal battle over the estate of Smith's late husband, J. Howard Marshall II.
2003 - Scientists at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center announced that they had transferred 6.7 gigabytes of uncompressed data from Sunnyvale, CA, to Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 58 seconds. The data was sent via fiber-optic cables and traveled 6,800 miles.
2009 - NASA's Kepler Mission, a space photometer for searching for extrasolar planets in the Milky Way galaxy, was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida.

F16s and 400 troops: Danish govt wants to expand its military mission in Iraq, Syria
RT - Denmark wants to deploy F16 fighter jets, C130J transport aircraft and 400 troops in Iraq and Syria to fight Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL [but still I-CIA-SIS]), Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has announced. The parliamentary vote has been set for April. The Danish parliament is going to vote on the government's proposals in two separate readings on April 1 and April 19, according to Reuters. The main Danish parties have already expressed their support for expanding the military mission at a cross-party committee meeting which also included defense and the foreign ministers.

Francois Hollande 'quietly' awards France's highest honour to visiting Saudi Crown Prince
The Independent - France has been accused of devaluing its highest national honour after the Legion of Honour was quietly awarded to the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia on a visit to Paris. The French government was among the most vocal outside the Middle East in its condemnation of Saudi mass executions earlier this year, calling the kingdom’s killing of 47 people “deeply deplorable”. Yet almost two months to the day after that statement was issued, President François Hollande awarded his nation’s most prestigious award to the heir to the Saudi throne, Prince Mohammed bin Naif… Officials sought to play it down, telling Le Monde it was “common protocol” to issue visiting dignitaries with the honour. But while in France the decoration was done, as media outlets put it, “with discretion”, the government-owned Saudi news agency SPA hailed the honour as recognition for the prince’s “great efforts in the region and world for combating extremism and terrorism”.

450 Highly Dangerous Islamists Walking Free In Germany — Not Enough Security Forces To Monitor
Breitbart - Hundreds of Islamists considered capable of committing “significant offences” are walking free in Germany without surveillance because of a lack of resources, making observation impossible. The radical Islamist “scene” in Germany, which has been described as “rapidly growing” now encompasses some 447 individuals considered highly dangerous, in addition to 1,100 other potential terrorists, over 7,000 radical Salafist Muslims, and hundreds of other individuals who have returned from Syria with combat experience. The number of so called highly dangerous men is up from just 120 a couple of years ago, has nearly doubled in the past twelve months, and is highly concentrated in certain parts of Germany, reports Die Welt.

German Banks Told To Start Hoarding Cash
Zero Hedge - German newspaper Der Spiegel reported yesterday [Thursday] that the Bavarian Banking Association has recommended that its member banks start stockpiling physical cash. Europe, of course, has been battling with negative interest rates for quite some time. What this means is that commercial banks are being charged interest for holding wholesale deposits at the European Central Bank… On one hand, banks stand to lose a ton of money in negative interest. On the other hand, they put their customers’ deposits at risk if they don’t hold extra reserves… Their new recommendation is for all member banks to ditch the ECB and instead start keeping their excess reserves in physical cash, stored in their own bank vaults. This is officially an all-out revolution of the financial system where banks are now actively rebelling against the central bank… There’s just one teensy tiny problem: there simply is not enough physical cash in the entire financial system to support even a tiny fraction of the demand.

Fukushima: Tokyo was on the brink of nuclear catastrophe, admits former prime minister
Telegraph - Japan's prime minister at the time of the 2011 earthquake and tsunami has revealed that the country came within a “paper-thin margin” of a nuclear disaster requiring the evacuation of 50 million people… He said he considered evacuating the capital, Tokyo, along with all other areas within 160 miles of the plant, and declaring martial law. “The future existence of Japan as a whole was at stake,” he said. “Something on that scale, an evacuation of 50 million, it would have been like a losing a huge war.” Mr Kan admitted he was frightened and said he got “no clear information” out of Tepco, the plant’s operator. He was “very shocked” by the performance of Nobuaki Terasaka, his own government’s key nuclear safety adviser. “We questioned him and he was unable to give clear responses,” he said. “We asked him – do you know anything about nuclear issues? And he said no, I majored in economics.” Mr Terasaka, the director of the Nuclear and Industrial Safety Agency, was later sacked.

EU Countries Launch Shock Rebellion against Glyphosate Herbicides
Sustainable Pulse - The Netherlands and Sweden have joined France on Saturday in coming out strongly against the re-licensing of glyphosate-based herbicides in Europe. The remarkable rebellion against the World’s most used herbicide is likely to delay the expected March 8 EU vote by member countries on the re-licensing of the chemical. Public pressure against glyphosate in countries across Europe has been intense, with nearly 1.5 million people petitioning the EU’s health commissioner, Vytenis Andriukaitis, for a ban on the substance, the Guardian reported.

Monsanto threatens to quit Indian GM-cotton market if govt cuts its royalties
RT - Last year the Indian government issued an order to control cotton seed prices effective from the 2016-17 crop year. In a ruling, the antitrust regulator, Competition Commission of India, accused the GMO giant of potentially abusing its dominant position on the market… Mahyco Monsanto Biotech (MMB), a joint venture with India’s Mahyco, licenses its products to a number of local seed companies in exchange for royalties. The company also sells seeds directly though the local licensees. All in all the US subsidiary control some 90 percent of the market, as the agricultural biotechnology corporation serves over seven million cotton farmers in India… MMB argues that the government committee has no authority to determine the trade fee between Monsanto and local companies. [Monsanto India Region CEO Shilpa] Divekar threatened that the move to control private contracts will result in pulling out new technologies in India as the government regulations threatens the profitability of investments made in research activities.

Feds Arrest Bundy Supporters in Six States
Infowars - A federal indictment names the elder Bundy as the leader and beneficiary of the “conspiracy” to prevent the government from seizing cattle near the Bundy ranch in Nevada in April 2014. Bureau of Land Management officials backed down after public backlash. The arrest of 12 people in six states followed a grand jury indictment in Nevada’s US District Court on Wednesday. The indictment charges the Bundy supporters with conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States, conspiracy to impede or injure a federal officer, weapon use and possession, assault on a federal officer, threatening a federal law enforcement officer, obstruction of justice, extortion to interfere with commerce and interstate travel in aid of extortion.... The corporate media is reporting that one of the arrested men, Jerry DeLemus, is connected to the Trump campaign. DeLemus is the co-chair of Veterans for Trump in New Hampshire. The organization is not formally part of the Trump campaign. The arrested Bundy supporters will likely face stiff penalties and long prison terms.

Release of Clinton Documents Delayed After State Department Discovers 'Thousands' of Unsearched Records
Washington Free Beacon - The State Department’s recent discovery of thousands of unsearched records from Hillary Clinton’s tenure has delayed several public records lawsuits and could keep many of the documents out of the public sphere until next fall… On Jan. 14, the State Department disclosed in a Judicial Watch case that officials had recently found shared and individual electronic files in the executive secretary’s office that were not previously searched in response to the lawsuit... Although the court had ordered the State Department to turn over all relevant records by last October, attorneys said they would need until this spring to process the new documents. State filed a nearly identical status report in the Citizens United lawsuit on Feb. 29, the same day as its court-ordered deadline to turn over all requested documents… The State Department noted that it has been taking steps to improve records management and hired a transparency coordinator last fall. Sources also pointed to another recent personnel change at the State Department—the departure of attorney Catherine Duval, who had been involved in processing Clinton’s emails for release last year. Duval was previously in charge of document production at the IRS when many of the agency’s emails were destroyed.

Legalizing Weed Has Done What 1 Trillion Dollars and a 40 Year War Couldn't
The AntiMedia - A newly-released statistical report from the U.S. Border Patrol shows a sharp drop-off in cannabis captured at the border between the United States and Mexico. The reduction in weed trafficking coincides with dozens of states embracing cannabis use for both medical and recreational purposes. In fact, as the Washington Post reports, cannabis confiscations at the southern border have stumbled to the lowest point in over a decade — to only 1.5 million pounds. That’s down from a peak of four million pounds in 2009… And the new competition from legal states has taken a big bite out of the entire illicit Mexican marijuana food chain. “Two or three years ago, a kilogram [2.2 pounds] of marijuana was worth $60 to $90,” a cannabis farmer in Mexico said in an interview with NPR. “But now they’re paying us $30 to $40 a kilo. It’s a big difference. If the U.S. continues to legalize pot, they’ll run us into the ground.”… This is good news for Mexico. A decreasing flow of cannabis trafficking throughout the country will likely lead to less cartel violence as revenues used to buy weapons dry up.

Nancy Reagan Dead at 94
Breitbart - Nancy Reagan has died at the age of 94.... Mrs. Ronald Reagan, as she wished to be known even when her husband died, was the 40th president’s closest confidant and a played a major role in his career and presidency.... The New York Times wrote, “Mrs. Reagan was a fierce guardian of her husband’s image, sometimes at the expense of her own, and during Mr. Reagan’s improbable climb from a Hollywood acting career to the governorship of California and ultimately the White House, she was a trusted adviser.”

West Virginia Senate votes to override Governor's veto on conceal carry bill
WSAZ - The W.Va. Senate has voted to override Governor Tomblin's veto on the conceal carry bill. In a 23-11 vote Saturday morning, the Senate voted to override the veto. This comes just a day after the house voted to override the bill. The bill now becomes law in 90 days. The bill will do away with the state’s current permit and training program to carry a concealed weapon in West Virginia for anyone ages 21 and older. Permits will be required for those between 18-21.

Outrageous! Public School Students Taught To ‘Pledge Allegiance To An International Flag’
Hannity.com - Kindergarten students from PS75, a public school in New York City, recently took part in a class project in which the children were made to create an American flag with the flags of other 22 other nations superimposed over the stripes. Below the flag read the words “We pledge allegiance to an International Flag.”The flag is being auctioned off as a way to raise funds for the Parent Teacher Association.... This is the type of globalist indoctrination we have come to expect from the public school system, but telling impressionably young American children that their loyalty should lie with some nebulous idea of a global community rather than their own nation is a new low. UPDATE: The auction site on which the flag was featured has taken down all images of the item as well as any description of it.

VIDEO: Judge Jeanine: Mitt Romney awoke a sleeping giant
Fox news - Fox News Channel's Jeanine Pirro launches a tirade against former Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney for demanding a brokered convention to block Trump. The "establishment is panicked" and Mitt Romney just confirmed it, Pirro said on her weekend FNC show Justice.

Trump Wins Louisiana and Kentucky
Gateway Pundit - Donald Trump won the Louisiana Republican primary last night. D. Trump 46.8% 18,514, D. Trump 46.8% 18,514, M. Rubio 17.9% 7,086. Donald Trump also wins Kentucky – a closed primary.

Cruz Wins Kansas, But Not All The Delegates
Kit Daniels - Ted Cruz won the Kansas caucus in a victory which ultimately may not shift the race much because the delegates are split between the candidates. With 80% of precincts reporting, Cruz won 17 delegates compared to Donald Trump’s six, and Marco Rubio came in a distant third with zero delegates awarded. Kansas held a closed caucus in which only registered Republicans can vote, which was a disadvantage to Trump who relies on broad support from independents, moderates, crossover Democrats and even libertarian-leaning conservatives.

Donald Trump reverses position on torture, killing terrorists’ families
CNN - Republican front-runner Donald Trump moved to staunch scathing criticism of his national security views on Friday, executing an abrupt about-face by declaring that he would not order the U.S. military to violate international laws to fight terrorism.... But in a statement Friday, Trump said that he understands “that the United States is bound by laws and treaties” and that he would “not order our military or other officials to violate those laws and will seek their advice on such matters.”

Rank and File Republicans Tell Party Elites: We’re Sticking With Donald Trump
NY Times - From Michigan to Louisiana to California on Friday, rank-and-file Republicans expressed mystification, dismissal and contempt regarding the instructions that their party’s most high-profile leaders were urgently handing down to them: Reject and defeat Donald J. Trump. Their angry reactions, in the 24 hours since Mitt Romney and John McCain urged millions of voters to cooperate in a grand strategy to undermine Mr. Trump’s candidacy, have captured the seemingly inexorable force of a movement that still puzzles the Republican elite and now threatens to unravel the party they hold dear. In interviews, even lifelong Republicans who cast a ballot for Mr. Romney four years ago rebelled against his message and plan. “I personally am disgusted by it — I think it’s disgraceful,” said Lola Butler, 71, a retiree from Mandeville, La., who voted for Mr. Romney in 2012. “You’re telling me who to vote for and who not to vote for? Please.”

Ben Carson announces campaign is over
Politico - Ben Carson is suspending his bid for the presidency, the retired neurosurgeon announced Friday, speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference in National Harbor, Maryland. "Even though I might be leaving the campaign trail, you know there’s a lot of people who love me, they just won’t vote for me. But I will still continue to be heavily involved in trying to save our nation," he said.
* Related: Dr. Ben Carson's speech a CPAC 2016

Gingrich: Trump right to skip CPAC
The Hill - Former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) on Friday praised Donald Trump for his last-minute decision to skip the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC). The real estate mogul's campaign issued a statement shortly after saying he would instead be campaigning in Kansas and Florida. “Because of this, he will not be able to speak at CPAC as he has done for many consecutive years,” the statement read. “Mr. Trump would like to thank Matt Schlapp and all of the executives at CPAC and looks forward to returning to next year, hopefully as President of the United States.” Trump has been heavily criticized by many Republicans, and some speakers at the gathering took the opportunity take shots at the front-runner.
* Related: Gingrich: Establishment Scared of Trump Because He “Didn’t Belong to the Secret Society”

Glenn Beck at CPAC: Compares Trump to Film Villain, Claims Industrial Revolution Started in America Because of Constitution
Breitbart - Glenn Beck delivered a fiery closing keynote speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), comparing GOP frontrunner Donald Trump to the “Arthur Slugworth” character from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and claiming that the Industrial Revolution “was born” in the United States due to the Constitution.

CPAC: Cruz Wins Straw Poll
Breitbart - CPAC 2016 was held March 3–5 at National Harbor, Maryland, on the southern tip of the nation’s capital. Participants cast votes in a straw poll, the results of which are announced at the conclusion of the three-day conference. Cruz was the first choice for president of 40% of attendees, besting all his competitors by double digits. In what may be a bigger surprise to many, however, Sen. Marco Rubio garnered 30%, but Donald Trump took only 15%.

El Conquistador! Marco Rubio Wins Landslide in Puerto Rico Primary
Breitbart - Sen. Marco Rubio has won the Puerto Rico Republican Primary, and it appears he is going to secure all of the 23 delegates from the U.S. territory.... While campaigning in Puerto Rico, he gave speeches entirely in Spanish, according to reports. Additionally, Rubio answered reporters’ questions in both English and Spanish.

Romney: I’m Not Running
Steve Watson - Former GOP Presidential nominee Mitt Romney dispelled rumours that he is injecting himself into the Presidential race Friday, declaring that he is not going to run under any circumstances. Theories have been circulating that the establishment within the GOP, desperate to derail Donald Trump, had persuaded Romney to enter the race at he last hurdle. Some corners of the internet even claimed that Romney and Paul Ryan filed papers on January 30th to run a subsequent presidential campaign.
Related:
 * Mitt Romney Says He Won’t Rule Out Accepting Nomination at Contested Convention
 * RNC Rules State GOP Nominee Must Have Won 8 States to Be Considered Candidate at Convention

Bernie Sanders Campaign Now Being Investigated FOR ILLEGAL CONTRIBUTIONS
Gateway Pundit - The Washington Free Beacon reported: Feds Flag Thousands of Illegal Bernie Sanders Contributions Thousands of contributions to Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders’ campaign in January violated federal campaign finance laws, election regulators said on Thursday. The Federal Election Commission sent a letter to the Democratic presidential candidate’s campaign committee on Thursday with a 90-page spreadsheet listing 3,457 “excessive, prohibited, and impermissible contributions.” The campaign’s January financial disclosure filing listed contributions from foreign nationals and unregistered political committees, the FEC said. Other contributions came from donors who exceeded the $2,700 per-election limit. “Although the Commission may take further legal action concerning the acceptance of [excessive or prohibited] contributions, your prompt action to refund the prohibited amount will be taken into consideration,” the FEC told the campaign.

Wounded Warrior Project rocked by fundraising scandal
New York Post - Fred and Dianne Kane, the parents of two Iraq War veterans, have donated $325,000 to the Wounded Warrior Project since 2009 through their personal charity, Tee-off for a Cause… But after recent tax forms reflected questionable spending by the veterans’ charity on staff expenditures, including $26 million on conferences and meetings at luxury hotels, Fred Kane called for CEO Steven Nardizzi to be fired… In January, Charity Navigator, a group that oversees nonprofit organizations, placed Wounded Warrior Project on its watch list, Fox News reported, citing a separate CBS report… Army Staff Sgt. Erick Millette, who returned from Iraq in 2006 with a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, told CBS News at the time that he admired the charity’s work and took a job with the group in 2014 but quit after two years. “Their mission is to honor and empower wounded warriors, but what the public doesn’t see is how they spend their money,” he said… Also in the previous interview, two former employees — who were so fearful of retaliation, they asked that CBS News not show their faces on camera — said spending has skyrocketed since Nardizzi took over as CEO in 2009, pointing to the 2014 annual meeting at a luxury resort in Colorado Springs.

How Fiduciary Rule May Censor Financial Broadcasters Like Dave Ramsey
Forbes - Popular financial radio show host Dave Ramsey caused a firestorm on Twitter last week when he weighed in against the “fiduciary rule”—the controversial pending Department of Labor regulation that would impose new restrictions on a vast swath of financial professionals who handle IRAs and 401(k) accounts… The main focus of the Labor Department rule has been its likely effects on brokers and their customers. The rule creates a presumption against brokers taking third-party commissions from mutual funds they sell to savers… “Under the proposed regulation, investment advice from a radio host to a caller regarding the caller’s own investment issues would appear to be fiduciary advice if the advice addresses specific investments,” [Kent] Mason said in an email. It doesn’t matter that Ramsey and other hosts aren’t compensated by listeners, he adds, as the DOL rule explicitly covers those who give investment advice and receive compensation “from any source.”… Such limits on financial discussion may seem to violate the First Amendment on its face. But a lawsuit against such restrictions would not be a slam dunk, as this is largely uncharted legal territory… In any event, even if this aspect of the rule were eventually ruled unconstitutional, it may take years before such cases wind their way through the courts, and the free flow of financial discussion would be chilled until such a ruling occurs.
* Related: Definition of the Term “Fiduciary”; Conflict of Interest Rule-Retirement Investment Advice

BlackRock Suspends ETF Issuance Due To "Surging Demand For Gold"
Zero Hedge - BlackRock's Gold ETF [Exchange-Traded Fund] (IAU) has seen fund inflows every day in 2016 (no outflows at all) and with the stock trading above its NAV for most of the year, the world's largest asset manager has made a significant decision: It has suspended issuance of Gold Trust shares due to "surging demand for gold."… It appears the huge demand for physical gold (and lack of supply) is finally catching up with the manipulation of paper prices. If this is anything other than a brief technical suspension, it could well unleash panic-buying as we already pointed out - there is no physical gold!... Considering there are now less than 74,000 ounces of Registered gold at the Comex, or just over 2 tonnes, we may be about to find out how right, or wrong, the skeptics are, because at this rate the combined Registered vault gold could be depleted as soon as the next delivery request is satisfied. Or isn't.

The Chart That No Minimum-Wage-Supporting Socialist Wants You To See
Zero Hedge - A new report from JP Morgan Chase & Co. finds that the summer employment rate for teenagers is nearing a record low at 34 percent. The report surveyed 15 US cities and found that despite an increase in summer positions available over a two year period, only 38 percent of teens and young adults found summer jobs. This would be worrying by itself given the importance of work experience in entry-level career development, but it is also part of a long-term trend. Since 1995 the rate of seasonal teenage employment has declined by over a third from around 55 percent to 34 percent in 2015… Most of the 15 cities studied in this report have minimum wage rates above the federal level, with cities such as Seattle having a rate more than double that… Seattle has experienced the largest 3 month job loss in its history last year, following the introduction of a $15 minimum wage.

Mass Layoffs Hit Staples As Shutdown Begins
Government Slaves - During a conference call with analysts Friday, office supplies major Staples has unveiled that it has sacked out more than 1,000 employees between November and January… The company’s spokesman said that the company has not tracked where the layoffs have taken place. But as per current and former employees, hundreds of jobs at the Framingham headquarters have been made redundant… Staples has also closed 73 stores in 2015 and plans to close 50 in 2016, leading to a total of 300 since 2014, said Staples Chief Financial Officer Christine Komola. The company has also reported its fifth consecutive year of declining revenue.

‘Unusual event’: Oconee nuclear reactor shut down after transformer explosion & fire
RT - One of the reactors at the Oconee Nuclear Station has been shut down after a series of explosions and a fire damaged a transformed on site. The operator declared the incident “unusual” but emphasized there was no threat of radiation release. Emergency crews deployed at the scene have managed to contain the fire, and will remain at the scene to assist crews. Oconee Nuclear Station is a nuclear power plant located on Lake Keowee near Seneca, South Carolina. “Unit #1 was shut down as a precaution,” Oconee County Emergency Management said in a statement. “There is NO POTENTIAL FOR RELEASE.” The plant operator Duke Energy said that while “Unit 1 has been safely shutdown” the remaining “Units 2 and 3 continue to operate safely.”

Mushroom Beehives Could Be The Solution To Colony Collapse
Natural Blaze - Since the 1980s, bee populations have diminished dramatically. At least 61 culprits – from viruses to pesticides – have been blamed, but scientists are still groping for answers. One culprit in particular – the mite – is thought to be a major contributor to colony collapse.... Thankfully, a solution to the catastrophe may already exist. It just took a mushroom expert and a scientist to discover it. Remember Paul Stamets, the guy who holds the patent that could destroy Monsanto? After partnering with an entomologist, he discovered that a certain type of mushroom can protect bees from viruses, pesticides, AND mites!... One mushroom specifically, the Metarhizium anisopliae [...] by dropping chunks of cardboard dusted with finely ground powder from the mushroom into standard bee boxes. In order to keep the hive orderly, the bees rip out the clutter and, in effect, dust themselves in the potentially mite-killing compounds.

3 Dangerous Ingredient Groups In Your Dog’s Shampoo
Dogs Naturally - In part 1 of this article, I explained how manufacturers use the word “natural” as a marketing gimmick. As a dog owner, you can see beyond the marketing ploys by learning how to read labels. Then you can tell the difference between a true, natural, safe and non-toxic dog shampoo and one that’s a fake.... Armed with this information, you should be able to find a safe shampoo for your dog. You might want to take your magnifying glass when you go shopping as the small print really is very small!
 

Friday - March 4, 2016 - Today in History:

1766 - The British Parliament repealed the Stamp Act, which had caused bitter and violent opposition in the U.S. colonies.
1778 - The Continental Congress voted to ratify the Treaty of Amity and Commerce and the Treaty of Alliance. The two treaties were the first entered into by the U.S. government.
1789 - The first Congress of the United States met in New York and declared that the U.S. Constitution was in effect.
1791 - Vermont was admitted as the 14th U.S. state. It was the first addition to the original 13 American colonies.
1794 - The 11th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was passed by the U.S. Congress. The Amendment limited the jurisdiction of the federal courts to automatically hear cases brought against a state by the citizens of another state. Later interpretations expanded this to include citizens of the state being sued, as well.
1813 - The Russians fighting against Napoleon reached Berlin. The French garrison evacuated the city without a fight.
1826 - The first railroad in the U.S. was chartered. It was the Granite Railway in Quincy, MA.
1837 - The state of Illinois granted a city charter to Chicago.
1861 - The Confederate States of America adopted the "Stars and Bars" flag.
1904 - In Korea, Russian troops retreated toward the Manchurian border as 100,000 Japanese troops advanced.
1925 - Calvin Coolidge took the oath of office in Washington, DC. The presidential inauguration was broadcast on radio for the first time.
1933 - U.S. President Franklin Roosevelt gave his inauguration speech in which he said "We have nothing to fear, but fear itself."
1933 - Labor Secretary Frances Perkins became the first woman to serve in a Presidential administrative cabinet.
1954 - In Boston, Peter Bent Brigham Hospital reported the first successful kidney transplant.
1974 - "People" magazine was available for the first time.
1991 - Sheik Saad al-Jaber al-Sabah, the prime minister of Kuwait, returned to his country for the first time since Iraq's invasion.
1997 - U.S. President Clinton barred federal spending on human cloning.
1998 - Microsoft repaired software that apparently allowed hackers to shut down computers in government and university offices nationwide.
1998 - The U.S. Supreme Court said that federal law banned on-the-job sexual harassment even when both parties are the same sex.
1999 - Monica Lewinsky's book about her affair with U.S. President Clinton went on sale in the U.S.
2002 - Canada banned human embryo cloning but permitted government-funded scientists to use embryos left over from fertility treatment or abortions.
2012 - Vladimir Putin won re-election in Russia's presidential election.

Attempts to unite Europe without Russia ended in tragedies – Lavrov
RT - Western attempts to exclude Russia from shaping European and global affairs have led to countless historical tragedies over the centuries, according to Moscow's foreign minister, who added lasting stability can only be reached through cooperation. In an article for the Russia in Global Affairs magazine, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov outlines the historical importance of Russian foreign policy over the course of the last 1,000 years, arguing that Russian policy has always been based on preserving the fragile balance of peace and stability in international relations. Any attempts to isolate Moscow as a major world power have led to historical defeats and countless deaths, he says. “During at least the past two centuries any attempts to unite Europe without Russia and against it have inevitably led to grim tragedies, the consequences of which were always overcome with the decisive participation of our country,” Lavrov wrote.

Pyongyang Orders Nuclear Weapons to be Placed on Alert
Sputnik News - North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has reportedly ordered all of Pyongyang's nuclear weapons to be placed on full alert, citing the need to be ready "at any time."The announcement came as Kim Jong-un attended a test-firing of a new multiple rocket launcher, urging the military to "promptly" deploy the weapons system that can hit major military targets in South Korea. According to the Korean Central News Agency, North Korea will also revise its military posture to address threats on a "pre-emptive basis." The move comes just one day after the United Nations placed harsh new sanctions on North Korea over its nuclear tests earlier this year. The harshest in 20 years, the penalties also address Pyongyang's recent satellite launch, which the UN deemed a veiled attempt to demonstrate the DPRK's long-range ballistic missile capabilities.

Ukraine Bans Criticism Of The Government
Zero Hedge - Two years ago, Victoria Nuland's new puppet state, Ukraine, celebrated its freedom from the clutches of its recently deposed president Yanukovich, a coup which U.S. foreign policy experts said would end crony capitalism, government corruption and unleash democracy and prosperity. Two years later, the county is caught in a historic depression, its financial system only exists thanks to the generosity of the IMF, the government is on the verge of daily collapse, radical nationalists run rampant while corruption has never been greater. Which is perhaps why consummating its transition into a complete banana republic, on Tuesday Ukraine banned government officials from publicly criticizing the work of state institutions and their colleagues, after what Reuters reported was "damaging disclosures last month that highlighted slow progress in fighting corruption." What it means is that criticism of any government entity in which mass corruption takes place by a fellow public worker is now a crime.

Credit Suisse: Next recession will cause the eurozone to collapse
The Telegraph - A recession in Europe could lead to the collapse of the eurozone, as the single currency would buckle under the political turmoil unleashed by a fresh downturn, a leading investment bank has warned. In a research note titled “Close to the edge”, economists at Swiss bank Credit Suisse warned the fate of monetary union hangs in the balance if Europe’s policymakers are unable to ward off another global slump and quell anti-euro populism. “The viability of the euro is contingent on the current recovery,” said Peter Foley at Credit Suisse.... Although the bloc’s nascent recovery was likely to persist in the coming months, Credit Suisse said there were worrying signs of deterioration emanating from Europe’s economies. These include heightened credit stress in the banking sector and market volatility.

It's Official: Canada Has Sold All Of Its Gold Reserves
Zero Hedge - As of this moment it's official - Canada has fully "broken away with tradition" and has exactly zero gold left: The Government of Canada sold it last 21,851 ounces of gold coins for settlement in February. On February 29, gold holdings stood at 77 ounces. The valuation is based on the February 29, 2016, London p.m. fix of US$1,234.90 per ounce.

Video: Putin Wants Gold Back Currency – Claims Russia Will Never Become A NWO Cashless Society
Brave Vladimir Putin is pushing for a gold-backed currency, ditching fractional reserve banking, and delivering a defiant rebuke to the Western world’s move towards a digital-only cashless society, according to a report circulating in the Kremlin on Friday. President Putin swears he will NEVER stop the circulation of cold hard cash because he considers digital-only cashless currency to be a New World Order tactic to gain control over the public. President Putin has stated his desire to destroy the Illuminati in 2016, and according to Kremlin insiders he believes disrupting the global banking cartel’s plan to ban cash is a key campaign in his war against the New World Order. The Rothschild controlled global banking lobby want a digital cashless system because this will give them even more control over us. They want to monitor and control every single transaction, while destroying real world currencies so they can issue money that doesn’t exist, creating impossible financial burdens for the masses, all the while accumulating extraordinary real wealth and power for themselves....

European NGOs File Legal Complaint over Glyphosate Re-Approval
Sustainable Pulse - Six environmental NGOs (Global 2000, PAN Europe, PAN UK, Generations Futures, Nature et Progrès Belgique and Wemove.EU) from five European countries filed Wednesday a formal legal complaint against those responsible for the assessment of glyphosate in Europe, for denying the cancer-causing effects of glyphosate and getting its European market license renewed. n March 2015, glyphosate was classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as a probable human carcinogen. But in Europe, the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) – acting as a Rapporteur for the European Commission – and the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA), approved the industry’s application and proposed to classify glyphosate as “non-carcinogenic”. The 2009 EU pesticides law (1107/2009) forbids active substances which can cause cancer from being used as pesticides but now the green light has been given for glyphosate’s re-approval in Europe. On 7 March the Standing Committee on Plant Animal Food and Feed will re-evaluate the authorization of glyphosate for another 15 years and it seems that Member States are likely to vote in favor.

Israel Bribed GOP Senator With $1M To Shut Down Iran Nuclear Deal
Activist Post - In a shady maneuver, [Republican Tom Cotton] accepted nearly $1M from the Emergency Committee for Israel and agreed to be the face of the opposition against the Iran Nuclear Deal.... This information came from the Wall Street Journal report that discussed the surprising find while wiretapping Israelis. Benjamin Netanyahu, Prime Minister of Israel, and his top aides were recorded when meeting with members of Congress and Jewish-American groups and reportedly leaked information about the nuclear deal to convince those present to oppose the deal. The meeting included Israeli leaders asking the members of Congress, “How can we get your vote? What’s it going to take?” The Emergency Committee for Israel donated the $1M to Cotton’s campaign, knowing he was an Israel sympathizer. Shortly after taking office in March 2015, Cotton penned an open letter to Iran, signed by 47 other Republican lawmakers, warning them that even if a deal were agreed on, a Republican president would not uphold the deal. This was meant to encourage Iran to back out of the deal, but instead it backfired on Cotton and the signees as some contemplated prosecuting them under the Logan Act.

FBI investigating if Clinton aides shared passwords to access classified info
Fox News - The FBI is investigating whether computer passwords were shared among Hillary Clinton's close aides to determine how sensitive intelligence "jumped the gap" between the classified systems and Clinton's unsecured personal server, according to an intelligence source familiar with the probe. The source emphasized to Fox News that “if [Clinton] was allowing other people to use her passwords, that is a big problem.” The Foreign Service Officers Manual prohibits the sharing of passwords. Such passwords are required to access each State Department network. This includes the network for highly classified intelligence -- known as SCI or Sensitive Compartmented Information -- and the unclassified system, known as SBU or Sensitive But Unclassified, according to former State Department employees. Fox News was told there are several potential scenarios for how classified information got onto Clinton’s server... Most of these scenarios would require a password. And all of these practices would be strictly prohibited under non-disclosure agreements signed by Clinton and others, and federal law.

GOP Sens: Illegal Immigrants Granted Exec. Amnesty Use Loophole to Get on Path to Citizenship
Breitbart - While President Obama assured that illegal immigrants granted executive amnesty would not be put on a path to citizenship, a loophole expanded by the administration has allowed just that, and two Republican lawmakers are demanding answers. Obama’s 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program grants pseudo legal status and work permits to certain illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. DACA recipients are technically ineligible for permanent residency and citizenship. Due to an administrative loophole, however, DACA recipients have been able to obtain a benefit called “advance parole,” which allows a recipient to seek and obtain permanent residency and eventual citizenship. “The grant of advance parole to DACA recipients does indeed open the door to undocumented immigrants to gain U.S. citizenship,” Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Senator Sen. Mike Lee wrote in a letter to Department of Homeland Security Sec. Jeh Johnson Wednesday.

Dow Chemical to Pay $835 Million Due to Lost Connection in Supreme Court
Natural Society - Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Antonin Scalia has recently passed away, making it a little harder for guilty corporations to get away with slimy tactics. Now that the defender of Big Corporations who steal and lie their way through court is gone, what will companies like Dow Chemical do? Notorious for his defense of companies like Dow, Antonin Scalia’s death leaves a legacy of corporate chicanery in question. To highlight this turn of event, Dow Chemical has changed its mind about appealing a big case. The company decided to settle an antitrust case for millions of dollars rather than trying to overturn a jury award. Dow planned to challenge a $1.06 billion award to purchasers of compounds for urethanes, toxic and carcinogenic chemicals that are used to make foam upholstery. A jury decided that Dow conspired with four other companies to fix prices on the toxic chemicals. Dow planned to take the decision to its buddy, Scalia, who sat on the Supreme Court and who had a history of protecting corporate interests, no matter how sinister their behavior. But Dow decided to go a different route. I wonder why.

***Horse Race LiveWire*** GOP Candidates Debate in Michigan
Breitbart - Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, Sen. Marco Rubio and John Kasich will participate in Fox News’s debate in Detroit Michigan. Fox’s Megyn Kelly will be one of the moderators in her second showdown with Trump. Breitbart News will be providing live updates throughout the evening.
* Related: Watch The Replay Of The Fox News Debate

DRUDGE POLL: Who Won The 11th Republican Debate

FOX 5 wants to know: Who do you think won the debate?

Trump Ally: Fox Judge And 9/11 Truther Andrew Napolitano Is "Probably Trump's Number One Pick For" Supreme Court
Media Matters - Donald Trump ally Roger Stone said that Fox News senior judicial analyst Andrew Napolitano is "probably Trump's number one pick for the U.S. Supreme Court." Napolitano believes in 9/11 conspiracy theories, is a "contrarian" on President Abraham Lincoln's legacy, and doesn't believe "the right to vote" is a "fundamental right."... On Genesis Communication Network's The Power Hour, host Joyce Riley told Stone, "I ask a lot of the people that I respect, 'Who would you like to see Trump have as a vice president?' And the overwhelming majority was Judge Napolitano from Fox News." Stone responded, "That would be a superb choice. On the other hand, I frankly think that he's probably Trump's number one pick for the U.S. Supreme Court, where he would probably go down as one of our greatest justices." He added, "I can't think of anybody who'd be a more fitting replacement for the late Judge Anton 'Nino' Scalia than Judge Napolitano ... I think that's exactly the right spot for him."

VIDEO Uncovered Trump Interview From Over 25 Years Ago Will Shock A Lot of People
Donald Trump on the Oprah Winfrey show..... 25 years ago.

Shock Poll (by CAIR!): Donald Trump Earns More Muslim Support Than Rest of GOP Field Combined
Breitbart - The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)–an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation terror financing trial, and a designated terror organization in the United Arab Emirates–conducted a poll of 2000 Muslim voters throughout six Super Tuesday states. The results, released Wednesday, were surprising. While Democrats Hillary Clinton and Sen. Bernie Sanders earned 46% and 25% support, respectively, Donald Trump has the support of 11% of Muslims, more than the rest of the GOP field combined.

Mitt Romney’s Facebook Page: “Currently Running For President”
Paul Joseph Watson - On the day that the former Governor of Massachusetts slammed Donald Trump as a “phony,” eyebrows were raised after it was discovered that Mitt Romney’s Facebook page stated that he is “currently running for President of the United States of America”. “So… this is the current “About” section of Mitt Romney’s Facebook page,” tweeted NBC Nightly News editor Bradd Jaffy, alongside a screenshot of Romney’s official Facebook profile page.... he bio states that Romney is “currently running for President of the United States, Republican.” That sparked interest because there is speculation Romney has re-inserted himself into campaign politics over the last couple of weeks because the GOP establishment is preparing to run him against Trump if Marco Rubio fails to win in Florida. “I think that there is a relatively strong chance that the establishment tries to find an opening for Mitt Romney to run,” political consultant John Yob told CBS News.... Even though Romney would stand a slim chance of beating Trump’s delegate count, he could emerge victorious in a brokered convention or even run third party to siphon votes away from The Donald.
* Related:  * Poll: Who does Mitt Romney's criticism of Donald Trump help?
                   * Romney does Trump a big favor by attacking him

Who Said It: "Donald Trump Has Shown An Extraordinary Ability To Understand Our Economy, To Create Jobs"
Zero Hedge - Moments ago Mitt Romney concluded a fiery speech in which he blasted Donald Trump, accusing him of being a "con man" and asking republicans to choose "anyone else" but Trump. Among the points he brought up was that Trump's domestic polices would sink America into a recession, that his foreign policies would make the world less safe, and criticized Trump's personal qualities, calling him "a bully" and "a misogynist." However, what we found particularly ironic is that Mitt Romney, who previously had led Private Equity firm Bain Capital, mocked Trump's business acumen by pointing out his track record of having various bankruptcies under his belt which "have crushed small businesses and the men and women who worked for them." This is precisely what he said: "But wait, you say, isn’t he a huge business success that knows what he’s talking about? No he isn’t. His bankruptcies have crushed small businesses and the men and women who worked for them." We found this amusing coming from the man who made profits for himself and his investor for 15 years by saddling companies with massive debt loads to generate outsized returns on equity with a 3-5 year investment horizon. Here is how Romney himself fared as a businessman, based on a WSJ report from 2012... And speaking of ironic, we can't help but be amused by what Romney said in February 2012 when Trump endorsed Romney's presidential campaign...
* Related: Watch as Trump destroys Romney and this video DESTROYS Mitt Romney’s claims against Trump

Romney Girl — Life is taxless, it's fantastic!
The Agenda Project - Should the President of the United States have a Swiss bank account? We say no. Mitt Romney says yes. In the heat of the 2012 presidential race, the Agenda Project Action Fund released Romney Girl, a sexy music video featuring a tax-dodging Swiss Vixen named Ms. Heidi Svenda Bernasconi crooning Life is Taxless, It’s Fantastic. On August 21st, Switzerland's Federal Department for Foreign Affairs (DFAE) publicly denounced Romney Girl's video, arguing that it gives "the impression that having a bank account in Switzerland is dubious in itself.” The DFAE official also expressed concern that according to the video the only "aim" of having a Swiss Bank account is "to hide money from the tax authorities."

Lawsuit challenging Cruz’s eligibility to be president thrown out
Washington Post - A lawsuit challenging Sen. Ted Cruz's eligibility to run for president has been thrown out, according to media reports. An Illinois voter filed a lawsuit challenging the ability of Cruz, who was born in Canada, to run for president. Judge Maureen Ward Kirby of the Cook County Circuit Court threw out the challenge on Tuesday, according to USA Today. The suit claimed that Cruz did not meet the threshold of being a "natural born citizen," as required by the Constitution to serve as president.

Report: Cruz Next to Exit Race
Kit Daniels - Ted Cruz, who suffered a pyrrhic victory in Texas, is losing cash fast and could be forced out of the presidential race. Cruz won Texas with a margin of victory well below historical averages for Texan home state candidates and was dependent on evangelical voters in the Deep South to win delegates, but plurality of those voters chose Donald Trump instead on Super Tuesday. So far, the Texas senator has only won 61% of the delegates he needs to stay on track for the nomination, far below Trump who is exceeding his target. And unfortunately for Cruz, the next five primaries on March 15 hold far less potential for victories than the previous Southern states Cruz was counting on that Trump won.... Apparently Cruz offered to drop out of the race in exchange for a Supreme Court appointment, and moreover the establishment has already cut most of their ties with Cruz: last week when the Koch Bros. met with donors to try and stop Trump, they recruited Rubio and even failed presidential candidate Mitt Romney – but not Cruz.

Pro-LGBT Agenda Billionaire to Lead Marco Rubio Finance Team
Breitbart - In a move that will inevitably cause deep concern among social conservative voters, it is reported that billionaire Paul Singer will be named finance chairman of the Sen. Marco Rubio campaign.... Singer was the leader of a group of super-wealthy men dedicated to overturning the traditional marriage laws around the country prior to the imposition of gay marriage by the Supreme Court. Brian Brown of the National Organization of Marriage says pro-marriage forces were set to win in New York state, for instance, until Singer and his colleagues’ report intervened with GOP lawmakers who had committed to protect traditional marriage. Singer has also committed himself to overturning the platform of the GOP to be more pro-homosexual and to eliminate the plank that supports man-woman marriage. Internationally, Singer funded a campaign run by the anti-Christian Human Rights Campaign that attacked American Christian leaders for getting involved in marriage fights overseas. The report issued by HRC and funded by Singer paints people like Brian Brown of NOM and Ben Bull of Alliance Defending Freedom, two widely respected conservative leaders, as little more than criminals, complete with mug shots.

Army vet fired from job at CVS after confronting two robbery suspects in store
FOX 5 - An Army veteran found himself without a job doing something he said was instinctual. Joe Morici tried to stop two shoplifters from running from the Maryland CVS store he managed, but he was fired for doing just that. Morici spent seven years in the Army, including a tour of duty in Afghanistan. After being fired from his management job at a CVS store in Beltsville, Md., he tells FOX 5 he's not sure what he will do next. "My main concern just everyone's safety in the building," Morici said. "I reacted out of instinct." Morici says he immediately ran downstairs and told the cashiers to call 911 because the store was being robbed. Then, he confronted the two men, who were trying to leave the store after stealing prescription drugs. He says one of them was carrying a screwdriver. As he passed them in an aisle, Morici says one of the men tried to hit him with it, but he blocked it. After meeting the two suspects at the front door, which didn't open, a struggle ensued, and Morici says he disarmed of the screwdriver. The two suspects ended up getting away, and Morici's boss arrived a short time later. He had bad news. Morici says his boss told him his employment was being terminated as a result of his actions.

Nabisco Workers Uprise Over Layoffs As Jobs Move To Mexico
WGN News - Nabisco workers on Chicago’s Southwest side protest on Wednesday over hundreds of impending layoffs. Mondelez International plans to layoff 600 employees, and move those jobs to Mexico. 200 Nabisco workers say they have already received pink slips. For more than a century, Nabisco has produced several popular products, like Oreos. Negotiations between the union that represents Nabisco workers and Mondelez broke down earlier this week, and the contract has expired.

IBM Refuses To Release Layoff Numbers, Employees Described As “Massive”
Business Insider - IBM handed out another batch of pink slips to workers on Wednesday, in a round of layoffs that some employees described as “massive.” The exact size of the layoffs could not be determined, but the job cuts are part of ongoing changes to the tech company’s workforce. IBM won’t comment on or disclose how many people it cuts except to confirm that it is continuously shedding some workers while hiring others, and to report the financial impact, both in costs and savings. Last year, IBM hired and fired in almost equal numbers. It added 70,000 people, CEO Ginni Rometty said (including a womanwho had launched a social media campaign for IBM to hire her as the “world’s oldest intern.”) But, according to research done by Business Insider, it chopped slightly more than 70,000 people, too. IBM ended 2015 with a worldwide headcount of 377,757, it reported. So that’s a workforce churn of 18%.

If Your Pet Stops Doing This, Get Help Fast! It's a True Emergency
Dr. Becker - Feline lower urinary tract disease (FLUTD) is unfortunately a quite common problem in cats. FLUTD is used to describe a group of conditions affecting the bladder or urethra.... FLUTD is seen equally in male and female cats typically between the ages of 2 and 6, and about half the cats that experience one episode of FLUTD will have a recurrence. In about two-thirds of kitties with FLUTD, it takes the form of feline idiopathic cystitis (bladder inflammation).... The primary symptom of FLUTD is urinating outside the litterbox. That’s why I always recommend a veterinary appointment when a cat’s litterbox habits suddenly change.... If your pet isn’t passing urine (a situation more commonly seen in males than females but can happen to either sex), this is a life-threatening medical emergency and you should seek immediate care. Once a cat’s urethra is completely blocked, the kidneys can no longer do their job. This can lead to uremia, a ruptured bladder, organ failure, and death within just a day or two.

Here's Where Your Vet Checks Your Pet for Signs of Disease
Dr. Becker - When you take your dog or cat for a wellness exam, do you have any idea what your veterinarian is looking for as he or she pokes, pushes, prods and palpates your pet? My educated guess is, probably not! While some vets are quite forthcoming and explain what they’re doing and why each step of the way, others are considerably less communicative. Of course, some clients aren’t especially interested in the details of their pet’s physical exam. But if you’re curious about what your vet is doing and learning about your pet during an exam, I encourage you to ask questions. If an answer you receive is confusing, ask for clarification.... The following chart provided by dvm360 with my additions, may help you better prepare for your next veterinary wellness visit with your dog or cat....

Popular Vet Recommended Supplement Contains Questionable Ingredient
Susan Thixton - Purina’s FortiFlora – a dog and cat probiotic sold by many veterinarians – contains the questionable ingredient Animal Digest. Purina explains that Animal Digest is a “source of high-quality protein”, but FDA linked the ingredient to “euthanized animals”. FortiFlora – a Purina Pet Food veterinary product – is sold and recommended by many veterinarians. The Purina website states FortiFlora “is a probiotic supplement for dogs, proven to promote intestinal and immune health and balance.” The first ingredient of FortiFlora is “animal digest”. The same product – FortiFlora for cats contains the same first ingredient, animal digest. A pet food ingredient fact: The legal definition of Animal Digest does not require the ingredient to be sourced from a slaughtered animal. Without this requirement in the legal definition of the pet food/treat/supplement ingredient, Animal Digest can be sourced from animals that have died in the field or a euthanized animal. Without this requirement, Animal Digest can be considered an illegal/adulterated ingredient per federal law and state law (in 14 states). Purina states this ingredient is made from animal protein “supplied by USDA-inspected facilities”, but Purina does not state the ‘animal protein’ itself is USDA-inspected.
 

Thursday - March 3, 2016 - Today in History:

1791 - The U.S. Congress passed a resolution that created the U.S. Mint.
1803 - The first impeachment trial of a U.S. Judge, John Pickering, began.
1812 - The U.S. Congress passed the first foreign aid bill.
1817 - The first commercial steamboat route from Louisville to New Orleans was opened.
1845 - Florida became the 27th U.S. state.
1845 - The U.S. Congress passed legislation overriding a U.S. President’s veto. It was the first time the Congress had achieved this.
1845 - An Act of Congress established uniform postal rates throughout the nation. The act went into effect on July 1, 1845.
1849 - The U.S. Department of the Interior was established.
1849 - The Gold Coinage Act was passed by the U.S. Congress. It allowed the minting of gold coins.
1849 - The U.S. Congress created the territory of Minnesota.
1851 - The U.S. Congress authorized the 3-cent piece. It was the smallest U.S. silver coin.
1857 - Britain and France declared war on China.
1863 - Free city delivery of mail was authorized by the U.S. Postal Service.
1875 - The U.S. Congress authorized the 20-cent piece. It was only used for 3 years.
1885 - The American Telephone and Telegraph (AT&T) was incorporated in New York as a subsidiary of the American Bell Telephone Company.
1909 - Aviators Herring, Curtiss and Bishop announced that airplanes would be made commercially in the U.S.
1910 - J.D. Rockefeller Jr. announced his withdrawal from business to administer his father's fortune for an "uplift in humanity". He also appealed to the U.S. Congress for the creation of the Rockefeller Foundation.
1931 - The "Star Spangled Banner," written by Francis Scott Key, was adopted as the American national anthem. The song was originally a poem known as "Defense of Fort McHenry."
1969 - Sirhan Sirhan testified in a Los Angeles court that he killed Robert Kennedy.
1987 - The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a package of $30 million in non-lethal aid for the Nicaraguan Contras.
1991 - Rodney King was severely beaten by Los Angeles police officers. The scene was captured on amateur video. (California)
1995 - A U.N. peacekeeping mission in Somalia ended. Several gunmen were killed by U.S. Marines in Mogadishu while overseeing the pull out of peacekeepers.
2002 - Voters in Switzerland approved joining the United Nations, abandoning almost 200 years of formal neutrality.

More local ceasefires, 31 violations in 3 days in Syria - Russian Foreign Ministry
RT - There have been 31 violations of the Syrian ceasefire over the past three days, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. She added that during the same period the number of ceasefire agreements between local groups increased to 38. Zakharova told reporters on Wednesday the figures were provided by the US. However, she did not specify who had broken the ceasefire. She urged the US to “adhere to their commitments,” and added: “Now is the time to very carefully and responsibly approach the implementation of the Russia-US agreements on the cessation of hostilities in Syria.”... In general, the US has taken a rather skeptical stance towards the truce’s prospects for success. Nevertheless, President Barack Obama has said his administration will do everything in its power to make it work. Last Wednesday, Secretary of State John Kerry told a Senate committee that Washington has been discussing “Plan B” options, in case the truce agreement in Syria fails. Russia said it has not discussed any “Plan B” options and finds it surprising that America has.

White House: ISIS extermination of Christians can’t be called genocide yet
RT -The Obama administration says Islamic State’s persecution of Christian minorities in Iraq and Syria is not genocide. The point where it is accurate to term it as such “has not been reached,” White House spokesman Josh Earnest said at a press briefing. Asked whether Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) is practicing genocide in its extermination of Christians in Syria and Iraq, Earnest said: “My understanding is the use of that word involves a very specific legal determination that has at this point not been reached. “We have long expressed our concerns with the tendency of – well, not a tendency – a tactic employed by ISIL to slaughter religious minorities in Iraq and in Syria,” he added.... The 1948 UN Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide, says genocide is “acts committed with intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial or religious group,” including by means of “killing members of the group.” In March 2015, a report from the United Nations Committee on Human Rights stated: “The acts of violence [by IS in Iraq and Syria] perpetrated against civilians because of their affiliation or perceived affiliation to an ethnic or religious group … may constitute genocide.”

Great Depression Redux: First Currency War, Now US Unleashes Trade War With China
Zero Hedge - Given the vicious downward spiral of competitive devaluation that is washing around the world's economic bathtub, it appears - just as we saw during The Great Depression - that currency wars have given way to mal-investment-fueled protectionism as US launches the first missile in the trade wars with a massive 266% tariff on imports of cold-rolled steel. “There’ll be a short-term benefit,“ said John Packard of Steel Market Update. ”However, in the long run, the U.S. mills are always going to want more tariffs, and it’s questionable how much more [protection] they can get.",,, The flood is compounding a worldwide surplus of commodities that’s driven returns from raw materials to the lowest since 1999, threatening producers from India to Pennsylvania and aggravating trade disputes. While companies such as India’s JSW Steel Ltd. decry cheap exports as unfair, China says the overcapacity is a global problem.

Plunging Manufacturing Numbers Mean That It Is Time To Hit The Panic Button For The Global Economy
Economic Collapse - We just learned that manufacturing in China has now been contracting for seven months in a row, and as you will see below, U.S. manufacturing is facing “its toughest period since the global financial crisis”. Yes, global stocks have bounced back a bit after experiencing dramatic declines during January and the first part of February, and this is something that investors are very happy about. But that does not mean that the crisis is over. All bear markets have their ups and downs, and this one will not be any different. Meanwhile, the cold, hard economic numbers that keep coming in are absolutely screaming that a new global recession is here.

Justice Dept. grants immunity to staffer who set up Clinton email server
Washington Post - The Justice Department has granted immunity to the former State Department staffer who worked on Hillary Rodham Clinton’s private email server, a sign the FBI investigation into possible criminal wrongdoing is progressing. A senior U.S. law enforcement official said the FBI had secured the cooperation of Bryan Pagliano who worked on Clinton’s 2008 presidential campaign before setting up the server in her New York home in 2009. As the FBI looks to wrap up its investigation in the coming months, agents will likely want to interview Clinton and her senior aides about the decision to use a private server, how it was set up, and whether any of the participants knew they were sending classified information in emails, current and former officials said.... So far, there is no indication that prosecutors have convened a grand jury in the email investigation to subpoena testimony or documents, which would require the participation of a U.S. attorney’s office.

“Former Google CEO Schmidt to Head New Pentagon Innovation Board”
Reuters - Eric Schmidt, the former chief executive officer of Google, has agreed to head a new Pentagon advisory board aimed at bringing Silicon Valley innovation and best practices to the U.S. military, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said on Wednesday. Carter is due to discuss the new Defense Innovation Advisory Board with Schmidt during the annual RSA cybersecurity conference in San Francisco. Schmidt is now the executive chairman of Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O), the parent company of Google.

'Act of desperation’: Mexican drug lord El Chapo asks for extradition to US
RT - Mexican drug lord Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman wants to be extradited to the US as soon as possible, describing the conditions at his prison as “almost torture.” El Chapo (“Shorty”) has reportedly complained that he can’t stand to remain in the Mexican maximum-security prison because guards there will not let him sleep, waking him every couple of hours. "He has reached the limit," Guzman’s attorney, Jose Refugio Rodriguez, told Mexico’s Radio Formula. "It is an act of desperation." Rodriguez said the drug lord asked him to try to broker an extradition deal with the United States in exchange for better prison conditions in a medium-security facility and a lighter sentence. The lawyer said he saw Guzman on Tuesday when the drug lord “pleaded with me to look for the quickest way possible of processing extradition because he can no longer stand the situation he’s experiencing,” Rodriguez told the newspaper Reforma. It is a major change of mind for the Sinaloa Cartel kingpin, as he previously instructed his lawyers to file motions preventing him from being turned over to the US.

Details Reveal Humiliating US Navy Blunder in Iranian Waters
Sputnik News - When ten US sailors drifted into Iranian waters in January, sparking an international incident, questions were immediately raised about how this could happen, given the accuracy of modern navigation. An internal Navy investigation offers some insights.... As part of an ongoing internal investigation, the US Navy has found that an embarrassing combination of mechanical issues, communication failures, and a lack of proper navigational training contributed to the mishap. Speaking to Foreign Policy magazine on condition of anonymity, officials familiar with the investigation describe how the captured sailors were in a rush, operating under a 24-hour deadline to reach Bahrain by sea from Kuwait. One of the two boats used for the journey was ill-prepared, and had to be retrofitted with parts gutted from a third vessel. Investigators claim crewmembers were attempting to fix the struggling boat’s engine when they were captured.

Supreme Court Appears Sharply Divided as It Hears Texas Abortion Case
NY Times - The Supreme Court appeared splintered on Wednesday during arguments in a major abortion case that could affect the lives of millions of American women. The court’s four liberal justices were adamant that restrictions imposed by a Texas law on the state’s abortion providers served no medical purpose and could not pass constitutional muster. But two of the more conservative justices said there was little evidence that abortion clinics in Texas had closed or would close because of the law. Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who almost certainly holds the crucial vote, said it would help to know how many abortions could be performed in clinics if the law were allowed to become fully effective, and mused that it might be useful to return the case to the lower courts to develop more evidence.

Report: Illegals Rushing to Get into U.S. Before Trump Wall
According to Reuters, between October and February Customs and Border Patrol apprehended 150,304 people attempting to illegally enter the U.S. via the southern border, about 24 percent more than the same timeframe last year. Additionally, the number of unaccompanied minors detained illegally entering the U.S. from October to January — 20,455 — is up by over 100 percent compared to those same months last year. Interviews with migrants, people smugglers and officials show many migrants are trying to cross now instead of facing tighter policing and new policies to halt illegal immigration if Trump or another Republican wins the Nov. 8 election.

Police SWAT Teams and Military Set To Use LASER Weapons by 2023
Counter Current News - Police Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) teams, along with some military teams in the U.S. Army are scheduled to take to the streets and battlefield with laser weapons, according to a spokesperson for the military. Army for Research and Technology deputy assistant secretary Mary J. Miller said to a House of Representatives subcommittee, that there are currently tests “to determine the full capabilities” of this type of laser weaponry. He was optimistic that military and special police units could have these weapons deployed as soon as 2023.

Over 65K Sign Petition to ‘Arrest & prosecute Bill Clinton’ for Violating Election Laws
Adan Salazar, Mikael Thalen - An online petition to arrest former President Bill Clinton for allegedly violating election laws has received more than 65 thousand signatures in less than 24 hours. The Change.org petition, started by a Chicago-based Bernie Sanders supporter Wednesday, charges the ex-Commander in Chief with electioneering within 150 feet of a Massachusetts polling station, a “3rd degree Voter Violation Felony.” “This is a call for the immediate arrest of President Bill Clinton for clear, knowing and egregious violation of the campaign laws to swing an election in a significant way,” the petition states. Despite being “told to refrain from this activity,” the petition’s author argues, photos and video show Clinton campaigning for his wife just outside the polling station. According to Massachusetts election law, “[N]o person shall solicit votes for or against, or otherwise promote or oppose, any person or political party or position on a ballot question, to be voted on at the current election… within 150 feet of a polling place.”

Republican Establishment Plans to Support Hillary
Kurt Nimmo - According to Rep. Steve King, an Iowa Republican, the Republican establishment may give tacit support to Hillary Clinton if Donald Trump wins the nomination. King said Clinton is somebody “they can do business with” if Cruz or Trump come out on top. “We’re going to have something like 70 percent of the vote that comes in here today, and they’re going to be anti-Establishment votes,” King told Breitbart News Daily. He characterized the 2016 primary as a “revolt against the Establishment in the Republican Party.” King said he believes Republicans will support Clinton “because I’m watching them throw a tantrum right now in Iowa, and they have put, I will say, millions of dollars on the table to recruit a primary opponent against me, because they are sore losers in the Iowa caucus,” King explained. “When Cruz won the Iowa caucus, they decided, we’re going to teach Steve King a lesson.”

Ben Carson to Skip FOX News GOP Debate – Campaign Manager Gives Props to Trump
Gateway Pundit - His campaign manager Armstrong Williams told reporters, “It’s just the reality that there’s only one candidate in this 2016 election on the GOP side, and his name is Trump.” CNBC reported: Carson said in a statement on Wednesday that he decided not to attend the Fox News GOP Presidential Debate after the results of Super Tuesday. “I do not see a political path forward in light of last evening’s Super Tuesday primary results,” Carson said in a statement. He also promised that he would continue his “grassroots movement.” While Carson has not formally suspended his campaign, he said in his statement that he will discuss the future of his movement during his speech on Friday at the Conservative Political Action Conference.

Ted Cruz Scores Weakest Home State Primary Win in GOP Party History
Gateway Pundit - ...the Texas U.S. Senator’s victory in his home state – and the most delegate rich state on the primary calendar thus far – was crucial for the Cruz campaign, and avoided an embarrassment that might have pressured him to withdraw after Super Tuesday. While Cruz escaped that unenviable situation, his victory in Texas is decidedly shy of impressive. In fact, by one measure, it is the least impressive home state primary victory in party history. A Smart Politics analysis finds that Ted Cruz’s 43.8 percent showing in Texas marks the lowest support ever recorded by a Republican presidential candidate in a home state victory out of the more than five-dozen campaigns to win their home state since 1912.

Sports Authority files for bankruptcy, to close 140 stores
NOLA - Sports Authority Inc. filed for bankruptcy Wednesday after failing to exploit the fitness boom that’s been a rare bright spot in retail. The company, whose name adorns the stadium that’s home to the Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, has fallen far since a $1.3 billion buyout in 2006 piled it with debt. The company said in a statement following the bankruptcy filing in Delaware that it will close as many as 140 of its 463 locations.... The company listed liabilities of as much as $10 billion in the bankruptcy filing in Wilmington, Delaware.

Wednesday - March 2, 2016 - Today in History:

1807 - The U.S. Congress passed an act to "prohibit the importation of slaves into any port or place within the jurisdiction of the United States... from any foreign kingdom, place, or country."
1836 - Texas declared its independence from Mexico and an ad interim government was formed.
1861 - The U.S. Congress created the Territory of Nevada.
1866 - Excelsior Needle Company began making sewing machine needles.
1877 - In the U.S., Rutherford B. Hayes was declared the winner of the 1876 presidential election by the U.S. Congress. Samuel J. Tilden, however, had won the popular vote on November 7, 1876.
1897 - U.S. President Cleveland vetoed legislation that would have required a literacy test for immigrants entering the country.
1899 - Mount Rainier National Park in Washington was established by the U.S. Congress.
1899 - U.S. President McKinley signed a measure that created the rank of Admiral for the U.S. Navy. The first admiral was George Dewey.
1900 - The U.S. Congress voted to give $2 million in aid to Puerto Rico.
1901 - The U.S. Congress passed the Platt amendment, which limited Cuban autonomy as a condition for withdrawal of U.S. troops.
1903 - The Martha Washington Hotel opened for business in New York City. The hotel had 416 rooms and was the first hotel exclusively for women.
1917 - Citizens of Puerto Rico were granted U.S. citizenship with the enactment of the Jones Act.
1929 - The U.S. Court of Customs & Patent Appeals was created by the U.S. Congress.
1933 - The motion picture King Kong had its world premiere in New York.
1939 - The Massachusetts legislature voted to ratify the Bill of Rights to the Constitution. These 1st 10 amendments had gone into effect 147 years before.
1946 - Ho Chi Minh was elected President of Vietnam.
1969 - In Toulouse, France, the supersonic transport Concorde made its first test flight.
1983 - The U.S.S.R. performed an underground nuclear test.
1985 - The U.S. government approved a screening test for AIDS that detected antibodies to the virus that allowed possibly contaminated blood to be kept out of the blood supply.
1998 - The U.N. Security Council endorsed U.N. chief Kofi Annan's deal to open Iraq's presidential palaces to arms inspectors.
1998 - Images from the American spacecraft Galileo indicated that the Jupiter moon Europa has a liquid ocean and a source of interior heat.
2003 - Over the Sea of Japan, there was a confrontation between four armed North Korean fighter jets and a U.S. RC-135S Cobra Ball. No shots were fired in the encounter in international airspace about 150 miles off North Korea's coast. The U.S. Air Force announced that it would resume reconnaissance flights on March 12.
2004 - NASA announced that the Mars rover Opportunity had discovered evidence that water had existed on Mars in the past.
2011 - Steve Jobs unveiled Apple's iPad 2.

VIDEO: Libya & Gaddafi - The Truth you are not supposed to know
YouTube - "What the West has done through NATO is beyond tragic, and all the people who have bought the latest round of lies and manipulation will look to Libya as they now look to Iraq, and they will see another disaster that most can never imagine."

'We will participate': Saudi military admits US coalition mulling ground invasion in Syria
RT - In an interview with Reuters, an aide to Saudi Arabia's defense minister, Brigadier General Ahmed Asseri, confirmed that defense ministers from the anti-Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS/ISIL) coalition debated placing ground troops on the ground in Syria during a ministerial meeting in Brussels last month. “It was discussed two weeks ago in Brussels,” Asseri said, clarifying that the discussions took place on the “political” level only without going into details of a potential “military mission.”… Saudi Arabia’s push for ground incursion into Syria comes at a time when Moscow warned that Turkey is strengthening its military positions on the border with Syria at a time when US and Russia are doing their best to cement a fragile ceasefire in the country.

Russian warplanes sit idle on Syria base during cease-fire
Washington Times - Dozens of Russian warplanes sat idle Tuesday on the tarmac at this Russian air base in Syria on the fourth day of a cease-fire brokered by Moscow and Washington… During the five-month Russian air blitz that began on Sept.30, each jet flew several combat sorties on an average day, amounting to an impressive total of more than 6,000 missions. The Russian Defense Ministry said late Monday that the cease-fire was largely holding despite sporadic violations. Lt. Gen. Sergei Kuralenko, who heads the cease-fire coordination center at the Russian base in Syria, expressed satisfaction with what he described as a good level of coordination with his U.S. counterparts in Amman, Jordan… The deal raises Russia’s global clout, allows Putin to appear as a peacemaker and marks the first time Russia has engaged the U.S. in a military-to-military dialogue since the start of the Ukrainian crisis two years ago… The Syrian army’s successes around Aleppo and in other areas have strengthened Assad’s hand ahead of planned peace talks in Geneva, tentatively set for next week.

WW3: Fighters From Turkey Are Pouring Into Syria And Attacking Targets Despite The Ceasefire
Economic Collapse - The ceasefire in Syria is a joke. Turkish military units continue to mass along the border, and militants are pouring across the border to attack targets in northern Syria. The Prime Minister of Turkey is now openly admitting that his government is supporting the militants that are trying to overthrow the Syrian government, and the Turkish government has also made it abundantly clear that they have no plans to stop shelling the Kurds on the other side of the border. So despite the “ceasefire”, the truth is that the threat of World War 3 breaking out in the Middle East is greater than ever.

Leaked Report Reveals Austria Expects To Become ‘Huge Asylum Waiting Zone’ With Half A Million Migrants This Year
Breitbart - An explosive leaked document from the Austria intelligence agency has revealed they expect a “repeat” of the 2015, resulting in Austria becoming a “huge asylum waiting zone” with up to half a million migrants stuck in transit. Austria took in 68,000 refugees last year. However, according to documents from the country’s Military Intelligence Office (HNaA), seen by Kronen Zeitung, up to 500,000 migrants could end up in Austria by the summer of 2016. This would mean that around one in 17 people in the nation of just 8.5 million would be a recently arrived migrant. The build up, the document explains, would be due to an ever-increasing number of arrivals and changes in border policies along the Balkans route.

French Parliament Writes an Important Law for France’s Food System
Natural Society - France’s National Assembly (upper chamber of Parliament) wants to make local food an imperative with a law that requires 40% of all food served in ‘collective restaurants’ to be sourced locally. This means that France’s school cafeterias, senior living communities, prisons, and other state institutions, as well as local pubs and restaurants, will rely on their local growers instead of on the often GMO-contaminated imports from the U.S., India, Canada, Mexico, and others. The proposal will need to be approved by the lower chamber (Senate) before it becomes law. Besides being locally sourced, the food must be organically grown, in season, and certified ecologically sustainable. No more herbicide-laden salad greens or GMO potatoes.... The law aims to stimulate the local food economies, restructure the food system, and shorten the food supply chain to a minimum, with fewer intermediaries between the food supplied and the customer who eats it. This would reduce waste in food packaging and transportation.

Medical Marijuana Legalized on Entire Continent of Australia
Natural Society - Lawmakers in Australia have just legalized medical marijuana for the entire country, with a vote made by the Australian Parliament last Wednesday. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that Senate lawmakers have officially put their seal of approval on amendments to the Narcotic Drugs Act, which, in turn, will engender the creation of an authority to oversee the licensing of cannabis farms and the nationwide distribution of medical marijuana products. People will be allowed to grow their own medicinal marijuana from Perth to Melbourne to Queensland near the Great Barrier Reef.

Leaked Report: Petrochemical Pollution Causes Microcephaly … Not Zika
Jon Rappoport - As I’ve demonstrated in numerous articles, the purported cause of microcephaly, the Zika virus, is completely discredited. There is no science to back it up. In fact, the findings of Brazilian researchers constitute evidence that Zika has nothing to do with microcephaly. Now we have this: Jerusalem Post (2/2/16), “All eyes on Haifa after damning study results leaked”: …preliminary results of a University of Haifa study indicating that exposure of pregnant women in the Haifa area to pollution from the petrochemical industry [including an ammonia factory] caused their babies to be born with heads 20 to 30 percent smaller than average. The five-year study is only a quarter of the way done. The preliminary results were leaked, causing an uproar among residents in the city of Haifa, where cancer rates are five times the national average in some neighborhoods.

Oklahoma Bill That Would End Warrantless Drone Spying; Hinder some Federal Surveillance Passes Committee
Tenth Amendment Center - An Oklahoma bill that would significantly limit drone surveillance in the state, and also serve to thwart one aspect of the federal surveillance state, passed out of an important committee last week. Rep. Paul Wesselhoft introduced House Bill 2337 (HB2337), titled the Oklahoma Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Act. The bill requires law enforcement to obtain a warrant before conducting drone surveillance in most cases. It also includes an outright prohibition on the use of weaponized drones.

At least 2,079 Clinton emails contain classified material
McClatchy DC - At least 2,079 emails that Hillary Clinton sent or received contained classified material, according to the State Department’s final update from its review of more than 30,000 emails… According to the Republican National Committee, 2,063 emails were found to contain classified information on “foreign relations or foreign activities of the United States, including confidential sources;” 1,478 were found to contain classified “foreign government information” and 28 emails were found to contain classified information on “intelligence activities (including covert action), intelligence sources or methods, or cryptology;” and 4 emails were found to contain classified information on “vulnerabilities or capabilities of systems, installations, infrastructures, projects, plans, or protection services relating to the national security.” Three weeks ago, the State Department designated 22 of previously reviewed emails “top secret” – the first time it has deemed any of Clinton’s emails to be classified at a level that can cause “exceptionally grave” damage to national security if disclosed. The 22 emails will not be released to the public.

DHS uses "CAPTAIN CHAOS" and CodeRED to keep America scared
MassPrivateI - DHS's never ending war to keep Americans in fear shows no signs of waning, as hundreds of thousands of people sign up to receive emergency alerts on their smartphones.. DHS's fear-mongering "CAPTAIN CHAOS" is so ridiculous words escape me. Watch DHS use a man in a cape to encourage people to give them their info.... "Emergencies can take many different shapes. The good news is that a little preparation can go a long way in making sure that you and your family are OK." New Hampshire's government website says "remember that when disaster strikes, your family will depend on you, YOU will be the superhero." FEMA/DHS have even nicknamed their fear program America's PrepareAthon" where they encourage everyone to send their personal information to Big Brother using DHS's very own "Make A Plan" document. If you have any doubts about who's really behind this then, check out the bottom of the "Make A Plan" website, where DHS proudly proclaims it's the official website of the Department of Homeland Security.",,, The National Weather Service, DHS and a private company have even color coded weather announcements! They're calling them.. Wait for it... The CodeRED system!

2016 Presidential Primaries Results

Trump: We Are Going To Be A Unified, Much Bigger Party And We're Going To Win In November (Video)
RealClear Politics - Donald Trump holds a press conference instead of a victory speech following Super Tuesday several wins in the Republican presidential primary race. Trump said the party has become more inclusive, dynamic and diverse since his entrance into the race. The Republican frontrunner said he will unify the party and lead it to victory in November

Trump drives Republican turnout to record, Democrats lack enthusiasm
Washington Times - Republicans continued to shatter turnout records in their presidential primaries and caucuses Tuesday, while Democrats lagged behind in what analysts said was a clear indication of an enthusiasm gap heading into the general election. Virginia easily broke its GOP record of 664,000 votes from 2000, and was nearing the 1 million mark. That would be four times the turnout in 2012’s Republican primary. But Democrats in the state were unlikely to touch their record set in 2008’s contentious primary.

Virginia Voter Receives Ballot Already Marked for Rubio
Mikael Thalen - A Virginia man attempting to vote in the presidential primary Tuesday says he received a ballot already marked for Republican candidate Marco Rubio… Another voter was concerned when he said he was handed a ballot that was already filled out. When questioned by reporters, General registrar for the City of Richmond Kirk Showalter argued that “there was no reason for voters to be alarmed.” Showalter instead blamed a female voter who allegedly filled out two ballots at once, handed one in, and returned the other without telling polling staff that it had been inadvertently marked… While reported incidents in Virginia appear to be minor according to local officials, other voters across the country have experienced similar issues with ballots favoring Marco Rubio. More than a dozen Donald Trump supporters in Texas reported to Austin-based radio station KLBJ Tuesday that their ballots had been changed to show a vote for Marco Rubio.
* Related: Report: Trump Supporters in Texas See Votes Switched to Rubio

Ben Carson Calls For Meeting Of GOP Hopefuls To Restore ‘Civility’
Breitbart - Dr. Ben Carson, still running for the Republican nomination for President even though his campaign admits he has no “well-defined” path, has called for fellow GOP candidates to meet before the upcoming debate March 3 in Detroit, Michigan. “The American People deserve so much more from the candidates who are seeking the most powerful position in the free world, and I share their concern that this race has taken a turn for the worse, to the point of embarrassment on the world stage,” Carson said in a statement released to the press. “A house divided cannot stand, and it is imperative the Republican Party exhibit unity by the candidates coming together with a pledge to talk about the many serious problems facing our country, instead of personally attacking each other,” he added.... “If we are to defeat our democratic opponent in the general election this November, we must reach an agreement together each other that we will not succumb to the media’s desire for a fight on the stage in Detroit,” Carson added in his statement. “America’s children and grandchildren are depending on us to fight for them and future generations, not fight each other,” Carson concluded.
* Related: Dr. Ben Carson: GOP Elites and Pundits Have Offered Me Cash, Political Support to Quit Race

Media Savages Trump Over Duke, Ignores Hillary Praising Former KKK Member Robert Byrd
Paul Joseph Watson - While the media has attempted to smear Donald Trump after he was endorsed by former Ku Klux Klan member David Duke, Hillary Clinton has escaped scrutiny despite the fact that she once praised ex-KKK member Robert Byrd as her “friend and mentor”. The press has attempted to keep Trump on the ropes over the past few days, demanding over and over again that he “disavow” any connection with Duke, despite Trump claiming he had not even heard about the endorsement. This distraction was invoked over and over again to bolster the narrative that Trump is appealing to racist voters.

Food Stamp Users Near Record High Despite Low Unemployment Rate
MRCTV - Despite the unemployment rate being at an eight-year low (4.9 percent as of January 2016), the number of people on food stamps remains near an all-time high which was 47,636,000 in 2013. Why the disparity in the numbers? Well, the unemployment rate does not take into account people who are not in, or have dropped out of, the workforce altogether. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported in January of this year that approximately 94 million Americans are not participating in the workforce. But the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) has been hovering around 46 million participants since 2011. The current figure, as of February 2016, stands at 45.8 million Americans receiving food stamps. Bloomberg Business reported that the last time the unemployment rate was at five percent in April 2008, only 28 million Americans were on food stamps.

US environmental agency tells Germany′s Bayer to stop producing insecticide
Deutsche Welle - "Required studies showed flubendiamide breaks down into a more highly toxic material that is harmful to species that are an important part of aquatic food chains, especially for fish, and is persistent in the environment," the EPA said in a statement. The EPA ordered Germany's Bayer CropScience and Nichino America, a subsidiary of Japanese chemical maker Nihon Nohyaku Co., to halt production of the chemical after the two companies refused to voluntarily stop production in January. Flubendiamide is the main ingredient in Bayer's Belt pesticide, used on more than 170 crops, including soybeans, corn, cotton, tobacco, pistachios, peanuts, sorghum, peppers, legumes, tomatoes and peppers. The German chemical giant Bayer maintains flubendiamide is safe and has sought a review of the EPA's decision.

Monsanto is About to Get Away With Poisoning Communities With PCBs
MintPress News - Congress is currently working to reform its Toxic Substances Control Act, with the addition of one paragraph that lets Monsanto off the hook for any legal liability for human, wildlife, or environmental destruction the company may have caused as a result of PCBs. The clause, found at section 7(c) of H.R. 2576, would block PCB lawsuits by state and local governments, as well as American citizens. It would even prevent states from passing their own PCB regulations… While many people agree that the chemical legislation has been in serious need of being overhauled, this new legislation will largely determine how the chemical industry is regulated, who can sue, and possibly even which chemicals will be allowed or disallowed. But for some unknown reason that neither the federal lawmakers or Monsanto will take credit for, the new wording serves to protect only a single company—Monsanto, not the thousands of people who may have been harmed by PCBs in the United States.

Large Carbon (CO) Monoxide Gas release along the West Coast - A seismic precursor seen in action
Dutchsinse - … on the night of February 25th, and throughout the day on February 26th, a large release of CO (Carbon Monoxide) gas was detected along with elevated levels of SO2 (sulfur dioxide) across a vast area of the West coast of the United States… What could be producing this large of a carbon (CO) gas release? The locations which are centered to the North (in Canada) are a dead giveaway that this release is seismic in nature. Volcanoes and pumping operations seeing a release AFTER we see a series of earthquakes strike dormant volcanoes and pumping operations… What could cause Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, or Sulfur Dioxide gas? Magma could and would be the ONLY possible culprit capable of producing this large of a gas release — the nail in the coffin on the “cause” falls upon the fact that these large releases of gas are centered around volcanoes and man-made crust puncture points… All signs are pointing towards “seismic” activity building in the region. The gas on the West coast might be a precursor warning sign, but at this point we have very few past examples to compare this to.

Tuesday - March 1, 2016 - Today in History:

1692 - In Salem Village, in the Massachusetts Bay Colony, the Salem witch trials began. Four women were the first to be charged.
1781 - In America, the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation.
1790 - The U.S. Congress authorized the first U.S. census.
1803 - Ohio became the 17th U.S. state.
1845 - U.S. President Tyler signed the congressional resolution to annex the Republic of Texas.
1867 - Nebraska became the 37th U.S. state.
1872 - The U.S. Congress authorized the creation of Yellowstone National Park. It was the world's first national park.
1907 - In Odessa, Russia, there were only about 15,000 Jews left due to evacuations.
1932 - The 22-month-old son of Charles and Anne Lindbergh was kidnapped. The child was found dead in May.
1937 - In Connecticut, the first permanent automobile license plates were issued.
1941 - FM Radio began in Nashville, TN, when station W47NV began operations.
1950 - Klaus Fuchs was convicted of giving U.S. atomic secrets to the Soviet Union.
1954 - The United States announced that it had conducted a hydrogen bomb test on the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.
1954 - 5 U.S. Congressmen were wounded when 4 Puerto Rican nationalists opened fire from the gallery of the U.S. House of Representatives.
1961 - The Peace Corps was established by U.S. President Kennedy.
1974 - Seven people were indicted in connection with the Watergate break-in. The charge was conspiring to obstruct justice.
1987 - S&H Green Stamps became S&H Green Seals. The stamps were introduced 90 years earlier.
1989 - In Washington, DC, Mayor Barry and the City council imposed a curfew on minors.
1992 - King Fahd of Saudi Arabia announced major political reforms that ceded some powers after 10 years of disciplined rule.
1993 - The U.S. government announced that the number of food stamp recipients had reached a record number of 26.6 million.
1995 - Yahoo! was incorporated.
2002 - Operation Anaconda began in eastern Afghanistan. Allied forces were fighting against Taliban and Al Quaida fighters.
2003 - In the U.S., approximately 180,000 personnel from 22 different organizations around the government became part of the Department of Homeland Security. This completed the largest government reorganization since the beginning of the Cold War.
2003 - Khalid Shaikh Mohammed was captured by CIA and Pakistani agents near Islamabad. He was the suspected mastermind behind the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

NYT Insists Libya Weapons Looted, Sent to Syria, Africa
Kurt Nimmo - The Times would have us believe weapons in Libya were “looted” and sold to Islamists in Syria and Mali. First, many of these weapons were given to the “rebels” in Libya by NATO and the United States, an effort overseen by then Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. This was confirmed by US intelligence in 2015. Other weapons purportedly came from Gaddafi’s arsenals. “NATO has given permission to a number of weapons-loaded aircraft to land at Benghazi airport and some Tunisian airports,” an intelligence report states, according to a report published by The Washington Times. The weapons cache included tanks and surface-to-air missiles.

Clashes Erupt as French Police Dismantle 'Jungle' Migrant Camp in Calais
Epoch Times - Clashes between migrants and riot police erupted as French demolition teams worked to dismantle a migrant camp in Calais knows as the Jungle. The BBC reports that riot police used teargas in response to migrants throwing stones at them. Prefect Fabienne Buccio, who had ordered the camp evacuated and dismantled earlier this month, showed up as the operation began. Her office decried “intimidation” tactics by some activists who she said were manipulating migrants into refusing to accept government offers of shelter… French authorities are offering to relocate uprooted migrants into heated containers installed last month nearby, or at centers around France where they can decide whether to apply for asylum. Many have resisted the move, fearing it will hurt their chances of reaching Britain, and some migrant advocates say there isn’t enough space in the new area.

China set to lay off millions of workers in coal and steel industry
CBC News - "Premier Li Keqiang told [U.S. Treasury] Secretary Lew that as China moves forward in reducing overcapacity, we will focus on two areas, the steel and coal sectors," said [deputy Chinese finance minister] Zhu. "And in the process of reducing overcapacity, we will properly handle the issue of unemployment… "In coal, regulators expect to eliminate some 1.8 million jobs, the minister of human resources, Yi Weimin, said at a separate event Monday. That would be equivalent to about 17 per cent of the 10.3 million people the China National Coal Association said last year are employed by the industry… In steel, regulators have eliminated some 90 million tons of production capacity over the past three years and plan to close another 150 million tons in the next three to five years, according to Zhu. China's steel production last year was about 800 million tons, or half the world total.

"I'm actually quite flattered!: ISIS Hacks Website of Tiny Solar Company with Only 11 Employees
The Daily Sheeple - The hack redirected visitors to Solar UK’s website to an alternate page with the message, “Fear us. We are the Islamic Cyber Army. We have responded to the call of war and have risen across the globe, from within their own back yard to strike viciously – anywhere and any time.” The company was also featured in an ISIS video outlining “crucial” targets. There’s just one problem for the terror group. Fear wasn’t exactly the response they got from their hack. Bemusement would be a better description of it. Solar UK only has eleven employees, and at first, its founder Duncan Lee thought the whole thing was a joke according to the UK Express: “When it initially happened, I just thought it was some 16-year-old kid showing off his prowess. If they have put it in a video and claimed that we are a target, then I’m actually quite flattered!”

This Is How Government Dealt With Dissent And Revolt In Collapsing Venezuela – “Soldiers Shooting Civilians In The Streets, Paramilitaries Roaming Neighborhoods”
Mac Slavo - Venezuela is in complete chaos as a result of their economic collapse. And as a result, state-rationed food and groceries have run out, prices are hyper-inflated and millions of people are waiting in huge lines for any goods that are available. Black markets have gone boom, with neighbors making necessities available to other neighbors, but they must avoid crackdown from a jealous State that is desperate to hang onto power.... The Caracas Chronicles is one of the rare sources to report what is really happening: What we saw were not “street clashes”, what we saw is a state-hatched offensive to suppress and terrorize its opponents. […] Throughout last night, panicked people told their stories of state-sponsored paramilitaries on motorcycles roaming middle class neighborhoods, shooting at people and storming into apartment buildings, shooting at anyone who seemed like he might be protesting. People continue to be arrested merely for protesting, and a long established local Human Rights NGO makes an urgent plea for an investigation into widespread reports of torture of detainees. There are now dozens of serious human right abuses: National Guardsmen shooting tear gas canisters directly into residential buildings.

Japanese nuclear reactor shuts down 3 days after restart
RT - Japanese utility Kansai Electric Power Company (KEPCO) said its Takahama’s fourth reactor shut down on Monday due to a problem, three days after it was restarted, Japan Times reported. There is no problem with the reactor’s cooling system, the company said. KEPCO was trying to send power to the grid from the reactor when the turbine shut down, which led to the automatic shutdown of the entire reactor, a company spokesman said… The No. 4 reactor at the plant, located some 380 km from Tokyo, was brought back online last Friday. Shortly after, Kansai said it discovered an 8-liter pool with traces of the contaminated water across the floor, indicating that a total of 34 liters had managed to spill. This amounts to about 64,000 becquerels of radioactive waste… The Takahama No. 4 reactor would have been the fourth to come online after the nationwide shutdown. The push by the government and utility companies came amid protests across Japan against continued reliance on nuclear energy, fueled by a failure to tackle the Fukushima crisis in a proper way.

Ford White House Altered Rockefeller Commission Report
National Security Archive at The George Washington University - The Gerald Ford White House significantly altered the final report of the supposedly independent 1975 Rockefeller Commission investigating CIA domestic activities, over the objections of senior Commission staff, according to internal White House and Commission documents posted today by the National Security Archive at The George Washington University. The changes included removal of an entire 86-page section on CIA assassination plots and numerous edits to the report by then-deputy White House Chief of Staff Richard Cheney. Today’s posting includes the entire suppressed section on assassination attempts, Cheney’s handwritten marginal notes, staff memos warning of the fallout of deleting the controversial section, and White House strategies for presenting the edited report to the public. The documents show that the leadership of the presidentially-appointed commission deliberately curtailed the investigation and ceded its independence to White House political operatives.

US to Conduct 'Megaquake' Exercises on West Coast - FEMA
Sputnik News - Some 6,000 emergency and military personnel are set to conduct a four-day exercise on the US west coast to prepare for a potential rupture to the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which could become the country’s largest natural disaster, US officials said on Monday. Officials pointed out the "Cascadia Rising" exercise will be the largest conducted in the Pacific Northwest, and will involve personnel from emergency-operations centers from the US states of Washington, Oregon, Idaho as well as Canada’s province of British Columbia… Nearly 15 years ago, Washington State was hit by a massive earthquake that caused widespread damages. Experts predict that another earthquake will hit this June, but will not be as severe. However, they add that when the next "megaquake" does strike, it could reach a magnitude of 9 degrees that will cause Tsunamis as high as 30 feet along the US and Canadian west coast. FEMA estimates that the next "megaquake" will likely cause some 10,000 fatalities, at least 30,000 injuries and will damage nearly all of the west coast’s port facilities and electrical systems.

FDA Officially Belongs to Big Pharma With Senate Confirmation of Dr. Robert Califf
EcoWatch - It is hard to believe only four senators opposed the confirmation of Robert Califf, who was approved [;ast] Wednesday as the next Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner.... Califf, chancellor of clinical and translational research at Duke University until recently, received money from 23 drug companies including the giants like Johnson & Johnson, Lilly, Merck, Schering Plough and GSK according to a disclosure statement on the website of Duke Clinical Research Institute. Not merely receiving research funds, Califf also served as a high level Pharma officer, say press reports. Medscape, the medical website, discloses that Califf “served as a director, officer, partner, employee, advisor, consultant or trustee for Genentech.” Portola Pharmaceuticals says Califf served on its board of directors until leaving for the FDA.... He is known for defending Vioxx which is reported to have caused at least 50,000 heart attacks and events before its withdrawal.... Califf was instrumental in the Duke drug trial of the blood thinner Xarelto and a cheerleader of the drug despite medical experts’ objections to its approval and 379 subsequent deaths.
* Related Video: Dr. Michael Carome describes the thousands in consulting fees new FDA commissioner Dr. Robert Califf received

Arizona House Passes Bill to Take on any New Federal Gun Control
Tenth Amendment Center - (Feb. 29, 2016) – Today, the Arizona House passed a bill to prohibit the state from using personnel or resources to enforce any new federal gun control measures, setting the foundation to nullify them in practice within the state. The vote was 35-24. The legislation would prohibit any state or local agency and their employees from knowingly and willingly participating in any way in the enforcement of any future federal act, law, order, rule or regulation issued regarding a personal firearm, a firearm accessory or ammunition “that infringes the right to keep and bear arms guaranteed by the Second Amendment of the United States Constitution or that impairs that right in violation of Article 2, Section 26 of the Arizona constitution”. The bill would also ban the use of state assets or money in the enforcement of future federal gun laws.

$3.6 Million Awarded In Flash-Bang Grenade Maiming Of Baby
COP BLOCK - The parents of a baby injured by a flash-bang grenade during a no-knock multi-agency task force raid in Georgia, will be awarded $3.6 million after a federal judge's decision on Friday. 19-month-old Bounkham Phonesavah (Baby Bou Bou) spent weeks in a burn unit after deputies with a Cornelia Police Department SWAT team threw a flash bang grenade directly into his crib, which exploded in his face, leaving him permanently disfigured.... The only officer that faced any charges as a result of the incident was twenty-nine-year-old Nikki Autry – a special agent of the Mountain Judicial Circuit Criminal Investigation and Suppression Team (NCIS). She was indicted by a federal grand jury in July for providing false information in a search warrant affidavit and providing the same false information to obtain an arrest warrant that ultimately led to the raid. Prosecutors had said that Autry knew the informant she relied on wasn’t a reliable source and didn’t buy drugs from anyone inside the house, but gave the affidavit to the judge anyway who issued the no-knock warrant. Autry was charged with four counts of civil rights violations for willfully depriving the occupants of the residence of their right to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures by an officer and “knowingly depriving [the] right to be free from arrest without probable cause.”

Trump’s Lead Exploding Ahead of Super Tuesday
Kit Daniels - Donald Trump gained even more in the polls in the days leading up to Super Tuesday while Marco Rubio’s support collapsed. Trump expanded his lead to 44% whereas Rubio dropped five points to 14% while Cruz now holds second place at 15%, according to a Morning Consult national survey of over 2,000 registered voters. “If Rubio hoped that going negative on Trump in the most recent GOP debate and on the campaign stump would reap benefits with voters, it hasn’t resonated with our national respondents,” the poll service concluded. n other words, every time Rubio attacks Trump, Trump’s lead grows, and similarly Fox News lost 50% of its support from Republicans by attacking Trump.

Cruz and Rubio Eligibility Lawsuit Set for 11 AM, Friday March 4th in Florida
The Gateway Pundit - Cruz has a new IL [Illinois] court date March 1st… and a joint court date with one Senator Marco Rubio on March 4th in Rubio’s home state of Florida... The motions filed in defense of Cruz and Rubio in Florida are available to the public through the Broward County Court website due to the state’s sunshine laws, Case # CACE15022044. Each one stakes their claim on only one half of the historical natural born requirements. Rubio argues the only thing that matters is he “was born in the United States”, while Cruz argues the only thing that matters is his mother’s citizenship, although the bulk of both rely on attempts to stop the case from moving forward on technicalities vs merits. Stunningly, while both crisscross the country appealing to voters, both have now argued that voters have no recourse to challenge a candidate over ineligibility, that courts have no authority to rule on this Constitutional matter. Instead, both argue it must wait until they are elected as President/Vice President and then the legislative body where they’re employed at the will of The People, Congress, would determine whether they’re eligible and if not, choose their replacement.

"The GOP Is On The Verge Of A Meltdown": Senior Republicans Threaten To Vote For Hillary
Zero Hedge - With Donald Trump set for a yuuge victory in tomorrow's Super Tuesday slugfest - oddsmakers see 80% chance of Trump being the nominee - tensions are mounting dramatically within the Republican establishment. As The FT reports, many mainstream Republicans believe Mr Trump would struggle to beat Hillary Clinton and are urgently rallying around their man Rubio with some senior Republicans saying privately that they might consider voting for Mrs Clinton if Mr Trump were to end up as their party nominee as one conservative commentator exclaimed "we are on the verge of a real meltdown in the Republican party."… And now the neocons are declaring war on Trump (as The Intercept notes)... Donald Trump’s runaway success in the GOP primaries so far is setting off alarm bells among neoconservatives who are worried he will not pursue the same bellicose foreign policy that has dominated Republican thinking for decades… Trump has done much to trigger the scorn of neocon pundits. He denounced the Iraq war as a mistake based on Bush administration lies, just prior to scoring a sizable victory in the South Carolina GOP primary. In last week’s contentious GOP presidential debate, he defended the concept of neutrality in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which is utterly taboo on the neocon right.

Amid Trump surge, nearly 20,000 Mass. voters quit Democratic party
Boston Herald - Nearly 20,000 Bay State Democrats have fled the party this winter, with thousands doing so to join the Republican ranks, according to the state’s top elections official. Secretary of State William Galvin said more than 16,300 Democrats have shed their party affiliation and become independent voters since Jan. 1, while nearly 3,500 more shifted to the MassGOP ahead of tomorrow’s “Super Tuesday” presidential primary… Galvin said the state could see as many as 700,000 voting in tomorrow’s Republican primary, a significant number given just 468,000 people are actually registered Republicans. In Massachusetts. unenrolled — otherwise known as independent — voters can cast a ballot in the primary of any party.

Lewandowski: If Trump Elected, ‘Days of Backroom Deals Are Over’ for Establishment
Breitbart - Donald Trump’s campaign manager Corey Lewandowski told Breitbart News Daily that the GOP establishment is desperate to stop Trump’s candidacy “because they know that if Donald Trump becomes the nominee and ultimately the president of the United States, the days of backroom deals are over.”

Watch: MSNBC Attempt to Race Bait Trump Hilariously Backfires
Paul Joseph Watson - An attempt by MSNBC to portray Donald Trump as a racist hilariously backfired after the network cut to video footage of a black voter endorsing the Republican front runner. Host Tamron Hall set up the segment by asking Mother Jones bureau chief David Corn about former KKK member David Duke’s endorsement of Trump. Corn recycles talking points about Trump being a racist by association before Hall introduces a clip of “the new people” Donald Trump is “bringing into the fold”. Obviously expecting the video to feature a racist Trump supporter, the feed instead cuts to a clip of a black voter named Frank Vick who endorses Trump and decries media race bating. “David Duke and people like that they come out from under the rocks this time this year,” says Vick. “It got nothing to do with Donald Trump. We’re all Americans. We need to stop with all this racist stuff. Like me and my friend right here (points to white guy). We just met today and we gotta stop with the racist stuff.” After the feed returns to the studio, Hall looks completely flustered and doesn’t know what to say. “Um, clearly, let me just be clear here,” she stammers. “Obviously, the majority of Donald Trump supporters are not African-American, I don’t know how many African-Americans were in that building, but that is one person, that uh, we have chosen to cut that sound from….Uh, David?”

Citigroup Fined Again For Fraudulent Credit Card Practices
Shadowproof - Citigroup once again faces government fines for committing fraud in its credit card division. On February 23, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) fined Citigroup and its consumer division Citibank for the way it handles selling credit card debt. The CFPB ordered Citigroup to pay $8 million — $5 million in restitution and $3 million in fines — for “selling credit card debt with inflated interest rates and for failing to forward consumer payments promptly to debt buyers.” In a separate action, the CFPB ordered Citibank to comply with a court order from New Jersey which requires the bank to pay $11 million to consumers and forgo the collection of roughly $34 million from an estimated 7,000 consumers. The court order came after it was revealed that Citibank had lied about how high the interest rate was on the debt being sold to collection agencies, while also not forwarding payments customers made to the companies that had bought those debts.

Why “Made in America” matters to me
William Wynne - I am a well known advocate of American made products, because this is my country, and for both moral and economic reasons, I want jobs to stay here. It is my personal belief that lives of adults are physically, mentally and spiritually richer if they have a chance to do meaningful and productive work. I was born into a good family in the richest country the world has ever known. As an element of being grateful, I try to have every part we can made in this country, at shops that respect to human dignity of the workers and pay livable wages. If I was driven by greed, I could simply have most of our sub-components made in places like China, by workers without rights or freedom. When you buy a part from us for your plane, you can be assured that I put every effort into making sure that all hands that touched it before you were fairly compensated and worked in an environment that I would have a member of my own family work in.
* Related:  *  Where to Buy Made in USA Buy American Products & Services
                   * Shop "American Made in USA Products"
                   * Products Made in the USA Directory
                   * StillMadeinUSA.com

Another Major US Retailer To Close 100 Stores In 2016
Government Slaves - After closing 104 stores in 2015, Wolverine [Made In The USA in Rockford, Michigan] Worldwide plans to shutter 100 in 2016 in response to a difficult global retail and consumer environment. The Rockford footwear giant announced the closures this week while discussing fiscal 2015 results. Sixty of the 2016 closures will come as leases run out on storefronts… Company leaders didn’t provide any details about which stores would close, or when. But they did say their strategy, which mostly focused on dropping poorly-performing Stride Rite locations, is paying off… “Performance of our retail stores has improved significantly and we’re encouraged about the direction of the business today,” Chief Executive Officer Blake Krueger said during the Feb. 22 analyst call… Wolverine’s reported 2015 annual revenues slipped 2.1 percent to $2.69 billion and profits dropped 8 percent to $123.2 million over 2014.

The One Pet Food Ingredient I Strongly Suggest You Avoid
Dr. Becker - When pet food triggers a sudden illness in a dog or cat, it often involves either infection from a bacterial contaminant, or toxicosis. Two frequent offenders are aflatoxins and salmonella.... Aflatoxin contamination was responsible for a number of regional pet food recalls in 2011, as well as several major disease outbreaks over the past 20 years.... Aflatoxins are known to cause acute toxic illness and cancer in animals and humans, and are considered among the most carcinogenic substances on the planet. Cats and dogs are more sensitive to aflatoxins than many other animals.... If you feed kibble to your pet (which I only recommend if you cannot afford to feed better quality food), be sure to study the ingredient list carefully and avoid brands containing grains or corn in any form, including corn gluten meal, whole grain corn, corn flour, etc. Along with the increased risk of aflatoxin contamination, corn is a notoriously allergenic food that is difficult for many animals to digest. Also avoid formulas containing cereal grains like maize, sorghum, pearl millet, rice and wheat. Rice can also contain toxic levels of arsenic.
 

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