CNN Broadcasts Zimmerman Social Security Number

"On Monday, CNN showed George Zimmerman’s Social Security number and other personal information live over the air, including address, date of birth, and phone number. Officer Doris Singleton was testifying when the prosecutors showed a narrative report including Zimmerman’s information. That immediately launched a round of tweets by Zimmerman haters celebrating knowledge of that information. CNN has now released a statement about showing Zimmerman’s personal information: 'Routinely the evidence is first given to the Court Clerk for redaction, and that didn’t happen in this instance.'" Continue reading

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Justice Department facilitated anti-Zimmerman protests

"A division of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) was deployed to Sanford, Florida in 2012 to provide assistance for anti-George Zimmerman protests, including a rally headlined by activist Al Sharpton, according to newly released documents. The Community Relations Service (CRS), a unit of DOJ, reported expenses related to its deployment in Sanford to help manage protests between March and April 2012, according to documents obtained by the watchdog group Judicial Watch." Continue reading

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Mexican journalist acquitted of drug charges pens book on hellish prison experience

"'They handcuffed me, covered my face with a hood and kidnapped me for two days in a location unknown to police chiefs,' Lemus told AFP. 'I endured torture that I never imagined could exist,' he said. He said his captors wrapped plastic bags around his head to deprive him of oxygen, electrocuted his testicles and beat him with wooden boards. Still, he refused to sign a confession saying he was a member of a drug cartel. He later signed a document admitting he was detained alongside two drug traffickers, enough to get him sentenced to 20 years in prison." Continue reading

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Snowden’s full statement from Moscow: ‘I did what I believed right’

"A little over one month ago, I had family, a home in paradise, and I lived in great comfort. I also had the capability without any warrant to search for, seize, and read your communications. Anyone’s communications at any time. That is the power to change people’s fates. It is also a serious violation of the law. The 4th and 5th Amendments to the Constitution of my country, Article 12 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and numerous statutes and treaties forbid such systems of massive, pervasive surveillance. My government argues that secret court rulings, which the world is not permitted to see, somehow legitimize an illegal affair." Continue reading

Continue ReadingSnowden’s full statement from Moscow: ‘I did what I believed right’

Interview with Chris Kalbaugh, Producer of 4th of July DUI Checkpoint Video

"Thursday THP released dash cam video of its own. Troopers say it shows what Chris' video doesn't: a dog detecting drug residue in his vehicle. Chris says he even took and passed a drug test a few days later to prove his innocence. Chris isn't sure if he'd do it again, but says he proved his point and learned an important lesson.Chris says he was detained about 25-30 minutes, and allowed to leave without being charged with anything. Officers say 250 motorists went through that 4th of July checkpoint with one arrest." Continue reading

Continue ReadingInterview with Chris Kalbaugh, Producer of 4th of July DUI Checkpoint Video

Anonymous Person Posts $500,000 Bond To Free Texas Teen

"Justin Carter, the 19-year-old who was arrested and jailed in February after making a Facebook comment about a school shooting, is out of jail. An anonymous donor posted the $500,000 bond to allow Carter to go home. Carter plans to stay near New Braunfels, Texas, to await his trial on a felony terroristic threat charge. Carter, who was indicted by a Comal County grand jury in April, has gotten global attention because of the First Amendment questions raised by his case and the high bail that kept him behind bars for nearly five months. His lawyer told NPR last week that he had represented 'murderers, rapists, terrorists' and none had had such high bail." Continue reading

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China Gold Output Seen Rising to Record by Mining Group

"Gold output in China, the world’s largest producer, is poised to rise almost 10 percent this year to a record even as bullion prices slump, the nation’s mining association said. Bullion extended its drop this year to 23 percent and hedge funds cut bets on a rally by the most since February after the Federal Reserve said it may slow a bond-buying program that’s been pumping stimulus into global markets. That hasn’t deterred buyers in the second largest economy, which may pass India as the largest gold consumer as early as this year as regulators in Beijing make investing in the precious metal easier." Continue reading

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Third-Largest US Futures Broker Newedge Fined for Lax Oversight of Manipulative Trades

"The brokerage allowed potentially manipulative trading such as 'spoofing,' in which firms place orders designed to trick other firms into buying or selling stocks. Finra said clients also engaged in multiple 'wash trades,' in which a firm acts as buyer and seller in the same trade, creating the illusion of heavy trading volume that lures firms that are tracking for such activity. Finra last August implemented a sophisticated market-surveillance system that already has sparked nearly 300 investigations. The SEC is using a new market-monitoring system called Midas to track trading across stock exchanges." Continue reading

Continue ReadingThird-Largest US Futures Broker Newedge Fined for Lax Oversight of Manipulative Trades

Not All Insurers Game for State Exchanges: The Consumer Impact

"As more insurers decide to pack up and leave certain states as health exchanges start to take form, experts say consumers are going to be left feeling the pain. Over the last few weeks, several departure announcements have sent a ripple through the health insurance industry, as companies weigh whether or not they want to play ball under Obamacare. So far, California has experienced the biggest migration with Aetna (AET), UnitedHealthcare (UNH) and Cigna (CI) leaving the state’s exchange, Covered California. Fifteen states and D.C. are in the process of creating their insurance exchanges before the 2014 deadline; when individuals must purchase insurance or face a fine." Continue reading

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DEF CON hacker conference tells Feds not to attend

"One of the world’s largest hacker conferences, Def Con, requested that government employees do not attend this year’s annual conference, citing discomfort with federal officials in the wake of National Security Administration revelations. Traditionally, there has been a general acknowledgement that not all federal government employees who attend the Def Con conference do so openly, and a jovial 'Spot the Fed' competition has become commonplace at the Def Con conference. General Keith Alexander, the head of the NSA, spoke at last year’s Def Con conference and denied that the government had vast files of information, calling it 'absolute nonsense.'" Continue reading

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