News and Headlines: In The News, Politics: World News: Commentary/Opinion.
In The News:
FBI offers $10,000 reward for arrest of drive-by shooter in pregnant mother’s death
“I know that everyone watching is as disgusted as I am with these senseless deaths,” Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales said at a news conference. “I plead for anyone with information that can come forward and help us.”
Police do not have anyone in custody 10 days after the shooting, but they know the area outside Gene’s Supper Club, 4323 North 60th St., was busy with pedestrians and cars around bar-close.
The Police Department is also raising money and collecting donations to help the Sandifer family. In addition to the newborn baby, Sandifer left behind five children and her husband, Lorenzo.
Police are seeking baby and newborn supplies and new or slightly used toys and educational supplies for children up to age 10. They will also hold a fundraiser.
“This homicide tears us at the heartstrings of us all,” Capt. Willie Murphy said.
Viral video shows individual threatening pro-Trump student group: ‘Slash Republican throats!‘
Police at Arizona State University said that they are investigating a video that showed an individual shouting violent threats at a group of pro-Trump students on campus.
The video, posted by Students for Trump at Arizona State University on Feb. 5, shows an individual at ASU’s Tempe campus, shouting at the group at they stood at tables.
ASU spokesman Jerry Gonzalez told The Arizona Republic, “We are looking into this video posted to Twitter that shows a young male screaming at a couple of other people on campus about political leanings.”
Louisiana man pleads guilty to burning 3 historically black churches
Holden Matthews, 22, said he burned the churches to raise his profile as a “black metal” musician, according to a press release from the Department of Justice.
The genre became inextricably linked to the crime after a series of high-profile church burnings were committed in Norway in the early 1990s.
Matthews, the son of a St. Landry Parish deputy, admitted to burning down three Baptist churches in Port Barre and Opelousas between March 26 and April 4, 2019.
He said he burned down the predominantly African American churches because of the religious character of the buildings. All three were completely destroyed.
Former lawmaker, cable veteran launch 24-hour Black News Channel
Based in Tallahassee, Fla., the 24-hour network says it will produce news “by black people for black people,” and expects to reach 33 million households — mainly in large African-American markets like New York City, Los Angeles and Atlanta.
Its mission is to “provide intelligent programming that is informative, educational, entertaining, inspiring and empowering to its African-American audience.”
BNC Chairman and former Oklahoma Rep. J.C. Watts co-founded the network with cable television veteran Bob Brillante.
The BNC said it will look at policy views from the the African-American Mayors Association in urban cities and from the Congressional Black Caucus.
Jacksonville Jaguars owner and billionaire businessman Shahid “Shad” Khan, the only Muslim owner in the NFL, is the network’s largest investor.
Severe thunderstorm threat to coincide with flood risk in South
Residents across much of the lower Mississippi River Valley through the Southeast coast have been on alert following damaging winds and tornadoes that swept through the area last week.
Some parts of the South won’t have to wait until midweek to be on alert for disruptive storms. An initial round of severe weather is expected into Monday evening from eastern Texas to southern Mississippi.
For the start of the week, the main threats will be flooding downpours, hail and damaging wind gusts.
Violence against Trump supporters on rise as election season ramps up
Police recently arrested a man who drove a van into a GOP voter registration tent in Florida.
While no one was injured, attacks like these are becoming a familiar pattern aimed at supporters of the president.
One America’s Jenn Pellegrino has more from the White House.
‘The scale of the theft was staggering’: Justice Department indicts Chinese military hackers who stole Equifax data
The nine-count indictment announced during a Justice Department press conference on Monday morning, charged Wu Zhiyong, Wang Qian, Xu Ke, and Liu Lei, of the People’s Liberation Army’s 54th Research Institute.
They allegedly conspired to hack into Equifax’s computer networks and stole massive amounts of information from the consumer credit reporting agency.
“This was a deliberate and sweeping intrusion into the private information of the American people,” Barr said.
“Today, we hold PLA hackers accountable for their criminal actions, and we remind the Chinese government that we have the capability to remove the internet’s cloak of anonymity and find the hackers that nation repeatedly deploys against us.”
2 Arkansas police officers wounded in Walmart shooting; suspect shot
According to the affiliate, Walmart security called police after a man inside the store began threatening people.
Once police arrived, the two officers confronted the suspect.
He pulled out a gun and shot them both. St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby May told Fox 13 that the officers then returned fire and shot and killed the suspect, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
One of the officers, who was shot four times, was rushed to a hospital in Memphis.
NYC cops ‘declaring war’ on Mayor de Blasio, union says, following ‘assassination attempts’ on officers
“Mayor De Blasio, the members of the NYPD are declaring war on you!” the Sergeants Benevolent Association wrote in a tweet.
“We do not respect you, DO NOT visit us in hospitals. You sold the NYPD to the vile creatures, the 1% who hate cops but vote for you.
“NYPD cops have been assassinated because of you,” the tweet added. “This isn’t over, Game on!”
De Blasio’s office ripped Sergeants Benevolent Association President Ed Mullins on Monday, telling Fox News that his “comments are absolutely reprehensible.
California man hunts down alleged hit-and-run driver after wife killed
Police Sgt. Chad Fountain confirmed Richardson’s account, the Riverside Press-Enterprise newspaper reported Saturday.
Richardson said he was moved to act because the grief of losing his wife and mother of his children was overwhelming.
“When you have your older kids falling on the ground crying cause they have no control,” he said.
“Your younger kids waking you up in the middle of the night saying they missed her, it’s a lot.”
Politics:
AZ Democrat Senators: Register or Surrender ‘Assault Weapons’
The legislation, SB 1625, also provides the third option of rendering the firearm inoperable.
Moreover, the text of SB 1625 makes clear that the legislation ends not simply the ownership of “assault weapons,” but the manufacture of said firearms as well.
An exception for manufacturing is provided for those making guns for police or military.
The statute to surrender said firearms also applies to “high capacity” magazines and certain semiautomatic pistols and shotguns.
Citizens United | Full Measure
Commentary/Opinion:
You’ve probably heard of the Supreme Court case known as Citizens United. This year is the tenth anniversary of the landmark decision.
But odds are you don’t know much more than it has something to do with money in politics.
As we move into campaign 2020— and lots of money in politics— we sort out what was really behind it and how it’s impacting elections today.
There’s something you may not know about the whole court battle started by the conservative nonprofit Citizens United. It was inspired by a liberal documentary.
The Problem With Pete …
Commentary/Opinion:
The Problem With Pete … Blue Collar Logic.
Byron York on more bad news for Joe Biden
Commentary/Opinion:
Undecided moderate Democrats in New Hampshire appear not to be breaking for former Vice President Joe Biden, says Fox News contributor Byron York, chief political correspondent for the Washington Examiner.
More Officials May Be Ousted After Trump’s Acquittal, Says Kellyanne Conway
When asked by “Fox & Friends” anchors about whether more officials will be dismissed, Conway said it was “maybe” part of the White House’s plans.
“In the case of the Vindman brothers, you remember, they were detailed here,” and remain “employed today,” Conway told the news outlet.
She said they “didn’t get fired” but “just got relocated.” Reports have said that the Vindman twins were hired by the Pentagon.
White House Budget Director Doubles Down: Trump’s 2021 Budget Won’t Cut ‘Social Security And Medicare’
Earlier in the day, Trump told governors at the White House he would not “touch Medicare” or Social Security, despite Sunday reports claiming the opposite.
Additionally, Vought claimed that the budget proposal would balance the budget by 2035, a consistent promise made by Trump on the 2016 campaign trail, and would result in a national surplus by 2035.
When asked if the budget sought to “defund Planned Parenthood,” he added that there are “provisions” in the proposal that “do not allow taxpayer resources to clinics that perform abortion.”
For the first time ever, the budget will feature an entire chapter devoted to curbing wasteful government spending, including reducing funding to several agencies and outright cutting programs including:
Trump’s New Budget Request Calls for Substantial Non-Defense Spending Cuts
This year’s proposal, titled “A Budget for America’s Future,” includes $4.4 trillion in spending cuts over 10 years, according to a summary sheet provided to The Epoch Times.
The blueprint aims to reduce the deficit each year and achieve a balanced budget in 15 years.
Nearly $2 trillion of savings will be to mandatory spending, which includes entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.
Another $2 trillion in savings will come from discretionary spending, and the rest will be interest savings, according to the plan.
Trump proposes to reduce foreign assistance by 21 percent, including cuts to United Nations programs.
Eliminations of various programs and accounts are expected to save nearly $170 million compared to the 2020 enacted level.
Steve Hilton presents the ‘Articles of Incompetence’ against Pelosi
Commentary/Opinion:
Nancy Pelosi has spent three years blocking President Trump’s actions to help the average American.
Trump’s high approval rating is proof he represents the will of the people Pelosi wants to dismiss.
Rep. Ilhan Omar promotes call for GI Bill to apply to all Americans
“Imagine what it would do for our country and those who live here if we were to take the ethos behind the original G.I. Bill and apply it to everybody—canceling all student debt and making public colleges, universities, and vocational schools tuition-free,” Omar tweeted, quoting the AlterNet story.
But Omar was quickly criticized for advocating such a massive expansion.
“I’m a recipient of the GI Bill,” responded Chris Manning, a veteran who ran for Congress in New Mexico as a Libertarian in 2018.
“The GI Bill was earned by agreeing to serve my country for six years and to put my life at risk as an infantryman in Afghanistan.
It wasn’t something just given to me with nothing expected in return. Don’t cheapen our sacrifice w/ this comparison.”
Bloomberg Pledges To Investigate ICE And End Trump Policies In Newly Unveiled Immigration Plan
“Mike will reverse the Trump administration’s policies — like Remain in Mexico, asylum metering, and the asylum transit ban –that block asylum seekers from having their claims heard, and will affirm protections for individuals fleeing systemic, identity-based violence — including victims of gang and domestic violence and LGBTQ+ asylum seekers,” the plan read.
The president’s most notable border goal — a massive wall between the U.S. and Mexico — would also be on the chopping block in a Bloomberg administration.
The former NYC mayor also hopes to upend the legal immigration system by removing per-country caps on family-based visas and setting the refugee resettlement number at 12,5000.
Bloomberg also would nix the Trump administration’s travel ban and called it “un-American” and “discriminatory.”
World News:
Does A Sudden Surge In SO2 Levels Suggest A Huge Surge In Cremations Across China?
We now have further evidence of hidden coronavirus cremations in China.
Data from http://windy.com shows a massive release of sulfur dioxide gas from the outskirts of Wuhan, commonly associated with the burning of organic matters. Levels are elevated, even compared with the rest of China.
From the same time, using the same scale – notice that the emissions are heightened across the board. Only other city that comes near to it is Chongquing, which is also afflicted by the coronavirus.
A few distinct possibilities:
German politics upended as Merkel’s heir apparent quits
(AP Photo/Markus Schreiber)
Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, whose flagging support dropped further after regional Christian Democratic Union lawmakers ignored the party’s instructions, told senior CDU members she won’t seek the chancellorship in next year’s election.
The surprise decision upended Merkel’s plan to hand Kramp-Karrenbauer the reins after leading Germany for more than 15 years.
The announcement followed days of in-fighting within the party over the election of a governor in the state of Thuringia.
Christian Democratic Union legislators there voted with the far-right Alternative for Germany party (AfD) last week to oust a left-wing incumbent.
U.S. warns Israel over immediate annexation of West Bank – 10.2.20 TV7 Israel News
1) Sporadic rocket fire by Palestinian Islamists from the Gaza Strip continued to plague Israel’s southern communities over the weekend, consequently prompting Israeli retaliatory strikes against terror installations in the Hamas-controlled enclave.
2) The United States warns Israel not to assert its sovereignty over parts of the West Bank, before a joint effort to map the territories is complete.
3) An Iranian attempted satellite launch failed to cross into orbit yesterday, after months of preparations by the country’s aerospace industries
Iran Unveils New Ballistic Missile With 300-Mile Range
The cousin of the Fatah-110, the Fatah-330, also with a 310-mile range, is one of the two missile-types believed to be used in the January attack on U.S. troops at the Al-Assad base in Iraq.
That missile attack was retaliation for the killing of Iranian military commander Qassem Soleimani on Jan. 3 by the U.S. military.
Its space program is of particular concern since the technology needed to hoist a satellite into space could potentially be converted for use in long-range ballistic missiles.
On Feb. 9, the domestically made Zafar satellite (Farsi for “Victory”) fell short of reaching orbit. It was the third consecutive launch failure since the start of 2019.
No Iranian satellite has successfully reached orbit in the past four years.
NATO official warns Chinese missiles ‘can reach US and Europe’
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and other members of the Trump administration have warned Western allies repeatedly that Beijing represents a threat.
American officials believe that Beijing is refining and exporting a high-tech surveillance state to tyrannical governments while using economic clout to gain political influence and enhance spy capabilities in Western countries.
“There is a difference of quality in terms of how we see Russia and how we see China in the alliance,” Geoana said.
“But the fact that we are seeing China both as a challenge and as an opportunity is reflecting, at the same time, the view coming from the U.S. and many other European countries that China is a nation that is changing the global balance of power, which is an understatement.”
‘Serious and imminent’: UK raises threat level for coronavirus amid outbreak
The U.K. Department of Health and Social Care announced on Monday that the coronavirus poses a “serious and imminent threat to public health” and activated emergency protocols that allow health officials to quarantine patients to prevent the spread of the virus forcibly.
The British government designated Arrowe Park Hospital and the Kents Hill Park Training and Conference Centre as “isolation” zones where citizens returning from China will be quarantined and monitored for 14 days.
The U.K. health agency labeled Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, an “infected area.”
Thailand Suffers Deadly Mass Shooting. Dozens Reported Dead
The gunman, Sgt. Maj. Jakrapanth Thomma, was reportedly upset over a financial dispute according to authorities.
Thomma killed two of his fellow officers on his base in Korat, Thailand and proceeded to steal weapons, ammunition, and an army Humvee before continuing his shooting spree at Terminal 21 Korat, a large mall in the city of Nakhon Ratchasima filled with weekend shoppers.
Thomma shot his way into the mall, killing several people who were walking and driving on the way.