January 20, 2017

Virginia Beach, Norfolk concerned about broadband internet bill in the General Assembly

RICHMOND -- The two largest cities in Hampton Roads are opposing a bill in the legislature that their leaders say would limit municipal control of their broadband infrastructure and maybe hamper their ability to bring faster internet speeds and lower prices to residents.

Virginia Beach passed a resolution this week coming out against HB2108, known as the Virginia Broadband Deployment Act. Norfolk is scheduled to vote on a resolution rebuking it Tuesday.

The bill, introduced by Del. Kathy Byron, R-Campbell, has met significant criticism – which she argues is misguided.

The bill’s goal, she says, is to prioritize broadband delivery to unserved areas of the state – mainly rural areas – before municipalities try to create their own internet services that duplicate systems in areas already served by high-speed internet, defined in the bill as 10 megabits per second.

Read more: http://pilotonline.com/news/government/local/virginia-beach-norfolk-concerned-about-broadband-internet-bill-in-the/article_aeb4b971-021e-5ea0-b2eb-85546dc17426.html

January 20, 2017

Ricky Gray's lawyers say his execution may have violated the Constitution

GREENSVILLE -- The lawyers for Ricky Gray said there is “grave concern” that the procedure used to execute him Wednesday night violated the U.S. Constitution by causing him pain and suffering.

The curtain that hid Gray from view while IVs were inserted in his arms was closed for 33 minutes – far longer than in a typical execution, the lawyers said in a statement Thursday. Gray was healthy and there was no reason for the delay, they said.

The Virginia Department of Corrections “has been able to provide no plausible explanation for failure to insert the IV for such a delayed period of time. Mr. Gray had reported to us that VDOC staff examined his body, particularly inspecting his veins, multiple times over the days leading up to the execution,” the statement reads.

Lisa Kinney, a Department of Corrections spokeswoman, confirmed that the delay in opening the curtain was due to trouble finding a veinand said the execution was conducted under the established protocol.

Read more: http://pilotonline.com/news/government/virginia/ricky-gray-s-lawyers-say-his-execution-may-have-violated/article_534d837a-53ba-59d2-9e64-36736a0be52e.html

January 20, 2017

What Color Will Senor Trumpanzee Be?

We love the Dublin-based European betting house Paddy Power. Even though I'm not a betting man myself, they always offer fascinating opportunities to bet on current events. In a press release today, "Deep Saffron Is The New Black-- Paddy Power Open Betting On Inauguration Specials-- Including Trump's Skin Colour," they're calling attention to the odds they're offering on several important aspects of tomorrow's biggest day for fascism since Germany expanded employment by 1- preventing Jews from working, which opened up thousands of jobs for members of the master race and 2- banning labor unions from striking.

The bookie makes lighter tones Tiger’s Eye and Deep Saffron its 6/1 favourites with Mango Tango leading the chasing pack at 7/1.

Further down in the betting is Vivid Tangelo and Cool Copper at 8/1 while Mahogany props up the betting at 18/1.

Paddy Power are also betting on what will be the first Trump-ism uttered by the tycoon during his speech.

Read more: http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/

January 20, 2017

Dawnna Dukes Indicted on Charges of Misuse of Public Funds, Tampering with Public Records

Dawnna Dukes has been indicted by a Travis County grand jury in relation to charges that she misused public resources and tampered with public records. The three charges accuse the longtime Austin state representative of using staff time and campaign funds for personal purposes, as well as tampering with records to gain reimbursement. Dukes was formally indicted on two counts of abuse of official capacity and one count of tampering with public records on Wednesday.

A release from Travis County District Attorney Margaret Moore said Dukes is accused of 13 separate instances of tampering with a governmental record in that indictment. Each of those counts are punishable by up to a two-year state jail sentence and a $10,000 fine.

The additional two indictments for abuse of official capacity allege that she used both public money and campaign money for personal purposes. Both are class A misdemeanors and are punishable by a maximum one-year jail sentence and a $4,000 fine.

Read more: http://www.texasstandard.org/stories/dawnna-dukes-indicted-on-charges-of-misuse-of-public-funds-tampering-with-public-records/#

January 20, 2017

Federal judge: Planned Parenthood can stay in Texas Medicaid program until Feb. 21

AUSTIN — U.S. District Judge Sam Sparks on Thursday temporarily stalled Texas' move to kick Planned Parenthood out of the state's Medicaid program, delaying it until Feb. 21.

Sparks said he did not decide on the merits of the case but issued his temporary order because of the timing of the ouster, which was scheduled for Saturday.

Texas removed Planned Parenthood's affiliates from Medicaid in December, a year after announcing intentions to cut off the provider. Planned Parenthood employees who testified earlier this week said the move would be devastating for the thousands of low-income women in Medicaid who rely on the nonprofit for care.

"On behalf of the 11,000 patients we serve, we're thankful the judge has granted a temporary restraining order to allow us to stay in Medicaid," said Ken Lambrecht, president and chief executive officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas. "This has always been about our patients. We stand resolute to remain in this program because it's the right thing to do and because our patients rely upon us. ... We've been here in Dallas for 82 years and we're not going anywhere."

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/texas-politics/2017/01/19/federal-judge-planned-parenthood-can-stay-texas-medicaid-program-feb-21

January 20, 2017

Bomb threat clears Walmart in Midlothian, but 'no devices found'

Midlothian police evacuated a Walmart on Thursday night after a bomb threat and searched the store for a suspicious package.

By 9:30, police had completed their search and found nothing at the Supercenter along U.S. Highway 67, north of Main Street.

They expected the store to reopen within an hour.

The threat was reported shortly after 8 p.m.

Police spokesman John Spann said reports of an active shooter were false, and officers were simply evacuating the store to look for anything suspicious.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2017/01/19/bomb-threat-clears-walmart-midlothian

January 20, 2017

North Carolina Mayor Warns Texas of Manmade Recession If Bathroom Bill Passes

A North Carolina mayor issued a warning Thursday to Texas lawmakers concerning Senate Bill 6, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick’s anti-transgender bathroom bill.

Greensboro Mayor Nancy Vaughan said a similar law in the Tarheel State — House Bill 2 — has created a “manmade recession,” and recently prompted a Fortune 500 company to decide not to relocate its headquarters to her city.

Vaughan added that the law, estimated to have cost North Carolina’s economy hundreds of millions of dollars, has been especially harmful to low-wage, hourly workers who rely on jobs related to concerts and sporting events.

“I have not heard of one business that has said, ‘I’m coming to North Carolina because of HB 2,’” Vaughan said. “I would caution your legislature to be careful, because repealing it is much harder than passing it.”

Read more: https://www.texasobserver.org/north-carolina-mayor-warns-texas-of-manmade-recession-if-bathroom-bill-passes/

January 20, 2017

Texas House speaker pans bathroom bill, exposes GOP divide

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A proposal barring transgender people in Texas from using the bathroom of their choice is unequivocally bad for business, a powerful state Republican legislator said Wednesday, in defiance of conservative leaders who have applauded the measure amid North Carolina's economic upheaval due to a similar law.

Texas House Speaker Joe Straus' comments underscore an escalating ideological battle between the GOP's traditional business-minded base and further-right grassroots activists in a deeply red state. It's not just a squabble over civil rights that'll be laid bare during the 2017 legislative session, where Republicans hold majorities in both chambers, but also on how to deal with as much as $6 billion less to spend on the budget due to slumping oil prices in the nation's top oil-producing state.

"Many people where I come from get concerned about anything that can slow down the overall job-creating machine," Straus, a San Antonio Republican, told a gathering of the Texas Association of Business. "I think we should be very careful about doing something that can make Texas less competitive for investment, jobs and the highly skilled workforce needed to compete."

The speaker's remarks drew a standing ovation from members of the association, which has suggested the so-called bathroom bill could cost Texas billions in lost revenue and thousands of jobs.

Read more: http://bigstory.ap.org/article/2292b72f15144e09ab58ac410f9c04da/texas-house-speaker-pans-bathroom-bill-exposes-gop-divide

January 20, 2017

Corpus Christi mayor resigned after just 37 days on the job.

Just a little more than a month after taking office, a Texas mayor has announced his resignation on social media following a series of pointed questions about his personal and professional background.

Corpus Christi Mayor Dan McQueen said Wednesday on Facebook that he was stepping down.

“Consider this my resignation,” he said in the post, according to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. “I resign immediately. The city can no longer deal with such differing views and divisiveness. I step down from my position as Mayor, in order to allow the council and city to regain focus on success.

“Sorry, they are now into my ex-wives and kids. Nothing good will come from that mess.”

Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/01/19/a-new-mayor-promised-to-fix-a-texas-city-instead-he-resigned-after-just-37-days-on-the-job/

January 20, 2017

Anti-Trump Protesters Set Off Smoke Devices, Light Fires on Inauguration Eve

Protests against President-elect Donald Trump took a chaotic turn on the eve of his inauguration as demonstrators set off smoke devices and lit Trump merchandise on fire in downtown Washington, D.C.

D.C. police were seen putting on riot gear at 13th and F streets NW about 9:30 p.m. Thursday.

Protesters with the group Refuse Fascism converged on the street in front of the nearby National Press Club, where some Trump supporters are attending an event called the DeploraBall.

Nearby, police arrested 34-year-old Scott Ryan Charney, of Northwest D.C., and charged him with conspiracy to commit an assault. Police said Charney and two others conspired to commit a crime at the National Press Club building. Police are still searching for the two other suspects involved.

Read more: http://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/Protesters-Set-Off-Smoke-During-Anti-Trump-Protests-on-Inauguration-Eve-411275215.html