News and Headlines. 1/29/2020

News and Headlines: In The News, Politics, World News, Commentary/Opinion.

In The News:

Driver must pay $18 million for running over woman and daughter in Calabasas crosswalk

The jury also found Friday that Nicole Herschel, 39, acted with malice in the 2016 incident, which occurred at a 101 Freeway onramp.

The surviving victim, Yijing Chen, had told authorities that after the crash, Herschel got out of her Chevy Silverado pickup, dragged the body of Chen’s unconscious mother toward the curb, then reversed the truck and parked along an adjacent road.

Herschel waited at the scene of the crash, and when California Highway Patrol officers spoke with her, she maintained she came upon the injured women while driving to the supermarket.

A man said his toddler son had been shot in an alley. Here’s how Chicago police say his story fell apart.

The man with a child in his arms spotted police in the parking lot of Weiss Memorial Hospital and ran toward the officers yelling, “Someone just shot my baby!”

The 1-year-old boy was bleeding from the head.

The officers told him to go into the emergency room while they headed to the alley across the street where the man said someone had fired at him, hitting his son instead, according to police sources.

It didn’t take long for the man’s story to fall apart, the sources said, and now he and the boy’s mother are facing possible felony charges.

GEORGE SOROS TO START $1 BILLION SCHOOL TO FIGHT NATIONALISTS, CLIMATE CHANGE

The Open Society University Network will offer an international platform for teaching and research, the 89-year-old said Thursday at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

The university will be launched through a partnership of the Soros-backed Central European University and Bard College.

In his speech and a follow-up question and answer session, Soros covered a wide-range of issues, including the “overheated” U.S. economy, the dominance of Facebook Inc. and the autocratic rule of Xi Jinping, Narendra Modi, Jair Bolsonaro and Donald Trump, who he called a “con man and the ultimate narcissist.”

More than 300 firefighters respond to ‘suspicious’ blaze at 25-story Los Angeles apartment building

Helicopters rescued residents from the roof of the building, Terrazas said at a press conference.

Initial reports that some residents jumped from the building were false. A large inflatable bag was set up on the ground on one side of the building.

The person seen scaling the side of the building was going to jump but firefighters intervened, Terrazas said.

Earlier the same morning, a windswept blaze damaged a 26-story office building three blocks away.

About 50 people were evacuated from that building, where damage was mostly confined to the first and second floors, according to The Associated Press.

Police Shot and Killed a Man Who Was Handcuffed and Buckled Into a Cop Car

A Maryland police officer on Monday night shot and killed a man who was buckled in the passenger seat of a cruiser with his arms handcuffed behind his back.

During a briefing after Monday’s incident, a department spokesperson said that officers were initially responding to reports that a driver had run into multiple vehicles in Temple Hills at around 8 p.m.

The spokesperson said the officers believed the driver was under influence and smelled PCP coming from inside his car.

The driver was arrested, cuffed, and strapped into the passenger seat of the police cruiser. One of the police officers then got into the driver’s seat.

Witnesses told a local CBS affiliate that they overheard a struggle coming from the cruiser and then heard two loud bangs.

Trump signs US-Mexico-Canada trade agreement

President Trump sign the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.

Fox Allows Super Bowl Ad With Drag Queens, Won’t Approve Pro-Life Commercial

According to NBC News, this year’s big game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers will include a commercial featuring drag queens/LGBTQ activists.

Meanwhile, pro-life advocates with the new Faces of Choice organization said they have been waiting at least six months for an answer from FOX about their ad.

The drag queen ad from Sabra hummus already is stirring up controversy. It features drag queens Kim Chi and Miz Cracker from “RuPaul’s Drag Race.”

LGBTQ marketing strategist Bob Witeck celebrated the significance of the ad, telling NBC:

Mississippi: 13th inmate dies in less than a month amid crisis in prison system

Mississippi’s ageing and underfunded network of prisons has come under renewed scrutiny in recent weeks after a spate of unrest over the new year led to multiple stabbing deaths and a statewide lockdown.

Most of these deaths have occurred at the notorious Parchman penitentiary, a sprawling prison farm complex constructed in the Jim Crow era and modelled on an antebellum slave plantation, situated in the north of the state.

Much of the unrest occurred in the prison’s most dilapidated and violent quarters, unit 29, where state health inspections combined with contraband cellphone images have documented numerous instances of decay including vermin, mould, overflowing toilets and broken bathroom installations.

SpaceX Successfully Launches Next Batch of Satellites Into Orbit

Today’s launch is part of SpaceX’s efforts to blanket the world with high-speed Internet. The company now has 240 satellites in its constellation.

In order to provide minimal coverage it needs about 400 satellites and for moderate Internet coverage, 800 satellites, reported Space.com.

The report noted SpaceX could begin offering minimal coverage as soon as this year with areas of the U.S. and Canada the first to receive it.

The idea is to provide Internet coverage to far-flung corners of the world where it’s impossible to bring Internet.

Politics:

More Free Stuff 2020

Commentary/Opinion:
Last year, we added up all the candidates’ spending plans.

Since then, they’ve proposed so much additional spending that we had to do a new video!

We break the spending plans into four categories: Education, Welfare, Environment, and… a “Grab-bag” section.

Trump campaign: New Jersey rally attendance 26.3% Democrats and 10.4% people who didn’t vote in 2016

Trump campaign manager Brade Parscale tweeted that there were “158,632 Requested Tickets (92,841 distinct signups)” and “73,482 Voters Identified,” calling the statistics “mind boggling.”

The Trump campaign’s numbers, which are gathered at every event, are the continuation of a broader trend.

Almost half of the attendees at Trump’s recent rally in Ohio identified themselves as Democrats or independents, and almost 60% identified the same way at a rally in Wisconsin.

White House told Bolton to remove classified material from manuscript before publication

“Under federal law and the nondisclosure agreements your client signed as a condition for gaining access to classified information, the manuscript may not be published or otherwise disclosed without the deletion of this classified information,”

Ellen J. Knight, a National Security Council aide, wrote in a letter to Bolton attorney Charles J. Cooper last week, which was obtained by Fox News.

The letter was transmitted to Bolton’s attorney on Jan 23. The New York Times article about the manuscript came out on the 26th – three days after the letter was transmitted.

That indicates the NSC had already made the determination that there was top secret information in Bolton’s manuscript before anything became public.

Senators Collins, Romney, and Murkowski ask about how to consider mixed motives

Today, the Senators are posing written questions to counsel for both sides.

The first question came from Senator Collins of Maine, who asked the question on behalf of herself, Senator Murkowski of Alaska, and Senator Romney of Utah.

Collins: Mr. Chief Justice, I send a question to the desk on behalf of myself, Senator Murkowski, and Senator Romney.

Roberts: This is a question for the counsel for the President.

If President Trump had more than one motive for his alleged conduct, such as the pursuit of personal political advantage, rooting out corruption, and the promotion of national interest, how should the Senate consider more than one motive in its assessment of Article I.

Ashley Biden organization received $166K federal grant while father was vice president

A Delaware nonprofit organization received a $166,000 federal grant about the same time it appointed then-Vice President Joe Biden’s daughter as executive director, according to government and tax records.

In September 2014, the Delaware Center for Justice was selected for a competitive two-year grant by the U.S. Department of Justice through the federal Edward Byrne Memorial grant program, which Biden helped steer significant funding to as vice president and senator.

His daughter, Ashley Biden, 38, had been associate director of the Delaware Center for Justice for about a year at the time.

Two months after the grant selection, the nonprofit organization announced that she had been promoted to executive director.

Jim Jordan calls for whistleblower to testify before Senate

Rep. Jim Jordan says the first witness to be called to the Senate impeachment trial should be the whistleblower.

Kushner calls impeachment ‘waste of time, distraction’ from Trump accomplishments

White House senior adviser Jared Kushner weighs in on the Trump administration’s Middle East peace plan and the ongoing impeachment trial.

Gun control measures advance in Washington legislature

Senate Bill 6077 would prohibit the manufacturing, possession, distribution, importation, transfer and sale of magazines that can hold more than 10 rounds of ammunition.

Senate Bill 6294 would require concealed-carry applicants to pay to receive training, including basic safety rules, safe storage, suicide prevention, live-fire exercises, and more.

Republicans pushed back.

“Are the criminals that are going to engage in these violent acts going to obey a law like this?” Sen. Mike Padden, R-Spokane Valley, said. “I think it’s highly unlikely.”

Maine House speaker subject of campaign finance complaint by Republicans

“Sara Gideon continues her pattern of unethical behavior,” Kouzounas said in Tuesday’s release.

“First, the Maine Ethics Commission found Gideon broke the law by illegally using her corporate-funded Leadership PAC to reimburse herself for campaign contributions.

Today, Mainers learn she tried to hide thousands of dollars worth of campaign ads while also illegally boosting her own political ambitions.”

The complaint urges the commission to pursue an investigation.

Illinois lawmakers push to give dogs, cats legal representation in abuse cases

Proposed legislation filed by State Rep. Allen Skillicorn, R-East Dundee, would have the Illinois Department of Natural Resources create a county-by-county database of legal professionals, from lawyers to paralegals to experts on animal abuse, willing to step in on a dog or cat’s behalf when a person is facing punishment for neglecting or abusing them.

The bill is limited to dogs and cats.

The motion to appoint a special legal aid for the animal may be made by any party in the court.

The Dark Origins Of Don Lemon’s Southern Stereotype (Pt.1)| Michael Malice | POLITICS | Rubin Report

Commentary/Opinion:
Dave Rubin of The Rubin Report talks to Michael Malice (Author and Media Personality) about the power and manipulation by corporate mainstream media.

Michael Malice is an author and host of the “Your Welcome with Michael Malice” podcast. His most recent book is “The New Right”.

Michael shares his thoughts and reacts to a clip of a Don Lemon hosted CNN panel mocking Trump supporters.

Michael reveals the surprising dark origins of the southern rube stereotype.

He also talks about how there is an asymmetry between truth and lying and that the media is destroying it’s trust far faster than it can be regained.

Joe Biden puts hands on voter, angrily responds when confronted about climate change

“I’m going to support you if you win the nomination because we got to get rid of Trump but what are we going to do about climate change?” the man, identified as Ed Fallon, asked Biden.

“We have to stop building and replacing pipelines,” Fallon added.

Biden responded by placing his hands on Fallon, pushing him away, then angrily telling Fallon to not vote for him.

“Go vote for someone else [if] you’re not gonna vote for me in the primary,” Biden responded.

Trump impeachment defense team member Doug Collins announces Senate bid; GOP senatorial campaign arm slams him for ‘selfishness,’ ‘shortsightedness’

During his Fox appearance, Collins — who is also a member of the president’s impeachment defense team — said that he wasn’t concerned that a potentially contentious intra-party showdown with Loeffler might open the seat up for a Democrat to sweep in and take the seat.

But the National Republican Senatorial Committee — Senate Republicans’ campaign arm — doesn’t see things that way.

The committee’s executive director Kevin McLaughlin criticized Collins’ announcement in a statement siding with Loeffler and saying that his Senate bid would prove harmful to the party.

Biden, Sanders battle for top spot in latest Iowa poll

Biden stands at 23 percent support and Sanders at 21 percent in the poll, which was conducted Thursday through Monday.

The former vice president’s 2-point edge over the populist independent senator who’s making his second straight White House bid is well within the survey’s sampling error.

Buttigieg – who at 38 is the youngest candidate in the Democratic presidential field – stands at 16 percent, with Warren of Massachusetts at 15 percent.

World News:

Palestinians reject “deal of century”, vow to conquer Jerusalem – TV7 Israel News 29.01.20

1) U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled the political portion of his long-anticipated peace initiative, the so-called “deal of the century”, declaring it to be a vision for peace, prosperity and a brighter future for both Israelis and Palestinians.

2) Hundreds of Islamists rallied in the Hamas-controlled territory, during which they vowed to persist in their armed struggle to oust the Jewish people from the land, which they declare to be “Palestine.”

3) Israel is moving to implement the first stages of President Trump’s plan – as Prime Minister Netanyahu intends to have the cabinet vote on a motion to apply Israeli law to the Jordan Valley and all of the settlements in Judea and Samaria.

Vladimir Putin pardons American-Israeli woman jailed in Russia on drug charges

A presidential decree ordering Naama Issachar’s release on “humanitarian principles” was effective immediately, the Kremlin said.

The 26-year-old backpacker was arrested in April at a Moscow airport after Russian authorities charged her with carrying more than nine grams of hashish in her luggage. Issachar was convicted and sentenced to 7 1/2 years in prison.

She’s been serving her sentence in a prison colony just outside Moscow.

Coronavirus: returning Britons could be kept in quarantine for 14 days

As the last British Airways flights from Beijing and Shanghai returned to the UK after the airline suspended operations in China, about 200 Britons in the vicinity of Wuhan were preparing to leave on an emergency chartered plane.

They will be asked to sign a contract confirming their willingness to spend a fortnight in quarantine before being allowed to board the special flight on Thursday morning.

Anyone displaying signs of illness will be barred from boarding, Downing Street said.

As the scramble among foreign nationals to get out of China intensified, there was controversy over the rights of British families including Chinese passport-holders to leave the country together.

Inmates facing extradition to US escape Mexico City jail

The Mexico City prosecutor’s office said in a statement that Luis Fernando Meza González, Victor Manuel Félix Beltrán and Yael Osuna Navarro escaped from a prison on the south side of the city without offering details.

Meza González and Félix Beltrán were being held on drug charges and Osuna Navarro for alleged criminal association.

Report: Turkey leads cyber-spying op against NATO allies

Turkey is found to be running a cyber-spying campaign against several fellow NATO members amid a struggle for energy dominance in Southern Europe.

This may put into question Turkey’s own membership in NATO.

One America’s Kristian Rouz looks into the matter.

Is this the world’s most gruesome food market? Dogs, rats, bats and monkeys among the animals roasted WHOLE in Indonesia

WARNING GRAPHIC CONTENT:
The Tomohon Traditional market in North Sulawesi, Indonesia sells whole monkeys, bats, cats, dogs, pigs, rats, sloths and even giant pythons laid out on tables with painful expressions still etched on their faces.

Although the market’s dead dogs may be difficult for westerners to look at, Mr Walsh points to the different cultures and attitudes towards the animals in South East Asia.

‘Put simply, Westerners see dogs solely as pets. Indonesians see them as both pets and as sources of meat – it’s just how we’re raised,’ he said.

In the photographs, many of the animals are stiff and completely black with a haunting pained expressions on their faces.

‘After they are killed the animals are roasted over a fire, so the fur burns off, the skin tightens and peels back, causing that ‘screaming’ look,’ Mr Walsh explained.

Commentary/Opinion:

Sanctuary? New York City Is A Kill Zone | Ep 520

Sanctuary city policies allow murderers, rapists, robbers, the worst offenders you can think of, roam free.

American citizens die horrible deaths because Democrats love illegal immigration more than their own country.

Donald Trump stressed this at his rally last night and now needs to start punishing the sanctuary jurisdictions that are popping up all over the country.

Then, BlazeTV host Chad Prather joins to talk about the idiots on CNN who are all but handing Trump a November victory with their open mockery of rural voters.

They also laugh about the MSNBC reporters flub of the word “Lakers” while discussing Kobe Bryant’s untimely death.

CNN’s Laughing At Us!

Every now & then, Democrats are honest with us. CNN’s laughing at us and that’s a good thing.

Here’s the Simple Truth.

Mark Steyn blasts Don Lemon, CNN panel for mocking Trump supporters

Mark Steyn reacts to CNN panel trashing Trump supporters as ‘illiterate and uneducated’ on Tucker Carlson Tonight.