Coretta Scott King dies

Some up in arms over provision added to Patriot Act

A new provision added to the Patriot Act has some very concerned about civil liberties. This provision would allow the Secret Service to charge someone with a felony at an event desginated an event of national significance if they enter a restricted perimeter even after the event has concluded. Normally local law enforcement are ones involved in arresting demonstrators. The new law would prohibit anyone from entering an area designated a security zone. The law would effectively designate the event as a protectee not just the public official(s). The White House said it had nothing to do with adding this new provision. The Secret Service said it does not comment on pending legislation.

Trial for former Enron executives began today

Bush to visit MN on Thursday to push State of the Union Agenda

Senate to vote on Alito nomination on Tuesday

Cindy Sheehan considers run for US Senate in CA

Activist Cindy Sheehan who protested the war outside President Bush's Texas ranch is mulling the possibility of running for the democratic nomination for US Senate in California against Senator Diane Feinstein.

Republicans urge White House to release Abramoff records

Republicans have urged President Bush to release records of his contacts with Jack Abramoff while at the White House. Bush has stated that any information will be made available to federal prosecutors but have not made them available to the public. The Justice Department is currently investigating former lobbyist Jack Abramoff's ties to Capitol Hill and the White House.

WA State Senate passes gay rights legislation

The Washington State Senate today narrowly approved a bill adding sexual orientation as a cvil right in areas such as housing, employment and insurance. The newly elected democratic governor is expected to sign the bill into law.

MPLS Public Schools Superintendent resigns

Mexico reverses policy to provide border maps to illegal immigrants

Former Enron executives ask for change of venue outside of Houston

GA Legislature passes revised version of photo ID to vote

After a federal judge rejected a law requiring photo ID for citizens to vote the Georgia state legislature passed a revised version of the bill which takes out the fee requirement but still requires a photo ID to vote. Civil rights groups complained that this law disenfranchises low income and minority groups. The Justice Department must also approve this law because some states have had a history of disenfranchising voters. The Justice Department supported the original version of the bill.

State Rep. Tom Emmers sponsors bill requiring photo ID to vote

State Representative Tom Emmers today announced that he is sponsoring a bill requiring photo ID when citizens go to the polls. He said that this is necessary now that election results are getting closer and we need to ensure accurate results.

Hamas wins majority in Palestinian elections

Hamas wins majority of Palestinian seats. This could put the peace process in jeopardy since Hamas charter states that its mission is to destroy Israel. This could put the United States in an awkward position since Hamas is recognized as a terrorist organization by the US State Department.

Palestine holds elections; Hamas wins seats

Liberterian candidate Sue Jeffers to run for Governor

Independence Party candidate Peter Hutchinson to run for Governor

Canada elects conservative for P.M. as new leader

Bush to visit India and Pakistan in March

Senate Cmte sends Alito nomination to the floor on party-line vote

The Senate Judiciary Committee today voted to send the nomination of Samuel Alito to the full Senate for consideration. The full Senate may take up the nomination as early as Friday or possibly on Tues. Jan. 31st. Tuesday is the presidents State of the Union Address.

Supreme Court refuses to rule on issue of Blackberry

The Supreme Court refused to rule on the issue of Blackberry. The court would not intervene at the request of Blackberry allowing a federal appeals court to decide the case. Blackberry is being sued by NTP for a patent infringement against Blackberry for email services (RIM).

Patriot Act needs renewal soon

Congress passed a measure to temporarily ensure that the act stays but will be expiring on Feb. 3rd. They wanted to iron out differences concerning national securities and civil liberties.

Ford announces 25-30,000 job cuts as part of restructuring plan; spares St. Paul plant for now

Ford to announce major restructuring plan on Monday

Ford Motor Company is set to announce major restructuring plan which will likely include closure of plants on Monday effecting several states. The United States has suffered major losses of manufacturing jobs in the last twenty years due to globalization and cheaper labor overseas. The local St. Paul Ford plant is high on the list of plants expected to be shutdown.

Gov. Pawlenty proposes $897 Million Bonding Bill for 2006 Session

Chile and Liberia elect women to top leadership posts

Mining accidents prompt investigation; review of existing laws

Several accidents within a matter of weeks has prompted an investigation and review of existing federal laws by congress regarding coal mines. Some say that more regulations are needed to ensure the safety of the miners. Others contend that this job is dangerous regardless of the number of regulations that are enacted. West Virginia Governor Manchin is expected to introduce legislation into the state legislature on Monday and then fly to Washington and meet with the West Virginia congressional delegation to push for more regulation. The investigations into the current accidents are likely to take weeks if not months in order to provide specific recommendations to the appropriate agencies and public officials.

Judge strikes down MD ban on gay marriage

Feds charge 11 with Ecoterrorism

The Department of Justice has charged 11 with ecotorrorism. Several commercial establishments have been targeted by a group called ELF (Earth Liberation Front). Federal prosecutors say they destroyed millions of dollars in property damage including several auto dealerships that sell SUV's. The southwest United States has been the prime target of ELF and other similar environmental activists who say that this is the only way to stop the environmental damage that is caused by these enterprises.

DOW takes nose dive

The DOW dropped more than 200pts today on high crude oil prices, low corporate profit earnings, and the continuing standoff with Irans nuclear program.

Google to fight subpoena by DOJ

Google says it will vigorously protect the information of its users. The Department of Justice issued a subpoena to obtain private records to argue a case in federal court with regards to child pornography. Google says that it does not want to do that because it cannot be sure that it wouldnt release information specific to individuals.

Wetterling bows out of US Senate race and backs Amy Klobuchar

Patty Wetterling announced at a press conference that she has decided to drop out of the US Senate race. She did not want to have a party fight so that they could focus their efforts in taking the fight to Washington. Wetterling waged a previous campaign running for US Congress aganst incumbent Congressman Mark Kennedy who is now the presumptive nominee for the republican ticket for the US Senate. More importantly Wetterling threw her support behind Hennepin County Attorney Amy Klobuchar.

SEC to recommend more disclosure of executive pay

The Securities and Exchange Commission will be voting in a few months on a list of proposals designed to curb excessive pay by corporations to CEO's. This was prompted by the former head of the New York Stock Exchange receiving more than $100million in a retirement package. The Commission believes that this will allow shareholders to see more specifically how their executives are compensated. Some of the recommendations including disclosing how much in stock offering the company is offering, any specific compensation items above $10,000 and also retirement packages.

Senate Judiciary Cmte to hold hearing on NSA's warrantless wireteaps Feb. 6th

Local Ford plant to be furloughed; faces uncertain future

The local St. Paul Ford plant that makes the Ford Ranger faces an uncertain future as they announce a 2 week furlough beginning Jan. 31. Rumor has it that the St. Paul plant is on the list that Ford plants to close this year. Sales of Rangers have been in decline for quite sometime. Lawmakers and the Governor have lobbied Ford to keep the plant open and offered incentives. Ford has not officially commented on whether the plant will close and has said that a final decision has not been reached.

Stampede for lobbying reform on Capitol Hill underway

After many unsuccessful attempts by individual members of congress to get effective lobbying reform the Abramoff scandal has pushed the leadership into sweeping lobbying reform. Some critics however say this is more cosmetic than it is substantive. Both parties have come out with proposals such as limiting the amount that members can receive from lobbyists for lunch, increasing the time before a member can become a lobbyist, banning private trips paid for by lobbyists and chaging the rules on how earmarks are done. Earmarks are individual projects that are often added for members districts. Currently earmarks are often voted up or down as a whole package rather than as amendments so that the merits of the project can be debated. This often forces members to vote for projects that they do not agree with but want their own project.

Supreme Court rules on several issues

The Supreme Court ruled on several issues:
1) The court ruled against the families of 9/11 who were suing Motorola and the city of New York over the effectiveness of the walkie talkies. The court ruled that the families gave up the right to sue once they accepted money from the September 11th Fund.

2) The court ruled in favor of Oregon's Assisted suicide law. The Bush Administration had argued that this was in violation of federal law.

3)The court allows state to remove life support from a child. The state took legal custody after the father was found to have abused the child. If the child dies the father could face murder charges.

ACLU files suit over NSA warrantless wiretaps

The ACLU has filed a lawsuit in federal court contending that the NSA's warrantless wiretaps are unconstitutional.

EU calls for emergency meeting of IAEA for referral to UN

The European Union has called for an emergency meeting in two weeks for the IAEA to refer Iran to the UN Security Council as it fails to cooperate about its nuclear technology. Iran says that it has the right to develop nuclear technology. Europe and the United States are suspicious of Iran's intentions since they have plenty of oil and no need for a nuclear power plant. Iran has threatened to cut off its oil supplies to the world market if the world community interferes with their strategy. China and Russia have joined Europe and United States in their demands for inspections.

House Admin. Chair to temporarily to step down

Rep. Bob Ney (R-OH) has said he has honored the request of Speaker Hastert to temporarily step down as the House Administration chair. The republicans are expected to move lobbying reform bills through that committee. Ney is one of the members targeted in the bribery investigation by the Justice Department.

Jonathon Sharkey to run for Governor

Gov. Palwenty orders Dept. of Human Services to cover Medicare glitch

Pawlenty Admin. and union agree on pay during govt shutdown

The Pawlenty Administration and the states public employees union came to agreement on compensation for employees who were furloughed during the government shutdown. The agreement calls for the union members who were directly effected to received 50% of their pay for the time period or the appropriate vacation time accrued.

Bush visits Gulf Coast and Mayor Nagin

Judge orders New Orleans hotels to accomodate Katrina victims

A judge has ordered New Orleans hotels to allow Katrina victims to stay at their hotels until March. The hotels complained that they are trying to get back into the normal business operation and this ruling makes it more difficult. Katrina victims do get vouchers from FEMA to cover the cost of the hotels.

St. Paul Mayor signs stricter smoking ban

Congressional Aide pleads guilty in separate bribery case

A former aide to Congressman William Jefferson (D-LA) pleaded guilty to bribery charges in which the congressman and the aide were involved in a company in Nigeria.

AZ Gov. asks Rumsfeld to send National Guard troops to assist in border protection

Republicans file petition to recall LA Gov. Kathleen Blanco

Republicans have filed a petition to recall Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco from office. They must get 900,000 signatures of registered voters within 180 days of filing the petition. Republicans say that Blanco failed to prepare for and respond to Katrina in an effective manner.

US gets backing of permanent members of UN Security Council to back Iran warning

The United States has gotten the backing of Russia and China on the UN Security Council to back a resolution warning Iran to stop its pursuit of nuclear technology. Permament members of the UN Security Council have veto power on any resolution.

Texas court refuses to dismiss other charges against DeLay