Mainstream News

Gold Beats Cocaine as Colombia Rebel Money Maker

"Colombian armed groups are reaping profits from illegal gold mining that are five times greater than returns from cocaine, according to Colonel Hector Paez, acting director of the country’s rural police division. Cocaine typically takes six months to produce and requires considerable knowledge, while an illegal mining operation in the Colombian jungle can extract two kilograms of gold a week, Paez said in a June 19 interview in Bogota. Gold, which slumped below $1,300 an ounce for the first time since September 2010 in New York yesterday, has become Colombia’s biggest export after oil and coal." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGold Beats Cocaine as Colombia Rebel Money Maker

Big tobacco stubs out e-cigarette competitors

"In anticipation of Reynolds’ first effort in the e-cigarette market, the company’s lobbyists are pushing laws at the state level that could add costs, paperwork and headaches onto smaller competitors that have largely served the e-cigarette market so far. More worrisome is that the online activities of thousands of e-cigarette consumers, who are looking for a tar-free alternative to smoking, could be effectively outlawed. The number of American smokers who have tried e-cigarettes doubled from 10 percent in 2010 to about 21 percent in 2011." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingBig tobacco stubs out e-cigarette competitors

Campus ‘smoke-free’ edicts extend to smokeless products and e-cigarettes

"The number of campuses enacting bans has been rapidly increasing. In early 2007, there were about 140 smoke-free campuses. By July 1, 2012, that number rose to about 770, according to the advocacy group. University of Massachusetts-Amherst's tobacco-free policy began July 1. Junior Derek Fisher said it is annoying that the university bans all forms of tobacco, even those that do not cause secondhand smoke, like chewing tobacco or electronic cigarettes. Electronic cigarettes are not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration. Many schools are including the products in their bans until health risks associated with them are known, Williams said." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCampus ‘smoke-free’ edicts extend to smokeless products and e-cigarettes

Fukushima appears to be leaking highly radioactive wastewater into ocean

"Members of the Nuclear Regulation Authority voiced frustration at Tokyo Electric Power (TEPCO), which has failed to identify the source and the cause of spiking readings of radioactive materials in groundwater. 'It is strongly suspected that highly concentrated contaminated waste water has leaked to the ground and has spread to the sea,' the authority said. The giant utility that services Tokyo and its surrounding regions has said groundwater samples taken at the battered Fukushima Daiichi plant on Tuesday showed levels of possibly cancer-causing caesium-134 were more than 110 times higher than they were on Friday." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFukushima appears to be leaking highly radioactive wastewater into ocean

Suspension over gun-shaped toaster pastry is now permanent mark on kid’s record

"This week brought more bad news for Joshua Welch, the Baltimore-area second-grader who was suspended for two days because his teacher thought he shaped a breakfast pastry into something resembling a gun. School officials have denied an appeal to have the suspension expunged from the boy’s permanent record. Welch, who is now eight, was suspended from Park Elementary School for two days in March after he allegedly sculpted the pastry into something that maybe looked like a gun. At the time, Welch said that his goal was to turn the prefabricated delicacy into a mountain, but that didn’t really materialize." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingSuspension over gun-shaped toaster pastry is now permanent mark on kid’s record

Glenn Greenwald: Edward Snowden likely to accept Venezuela asylum

"Greenwald told Reuters after speaking with Snowden on Tuesday that of the three countries that have offered Snowden asylum, Venezuela is better positioned 'to get him safely from Moscow to Latin America and to protect him once he’s there,' Greenwald said. 'They’re a bigger country, a stronger country and a richer country with more leverage in international affairs.' In addition to Venezuela, Nicaragua and Bolivia have indicated they would offer Snowden asylum. Cuba’s president said he supported Snowden and countries’ offers of asylum, but did not put forth an offer from Cuba." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGlenn Greenwald: Edward Snowden likely to accept Venezuela asylum

Gun-rights activist Adam Kokesh charged with possessing a mushroom near a firearm

"Police searched the Northern Virginia home of activist Adam Kokesh Tuesday evening and took him into custody on for allegedly being in possession of hallucinogenic mushroom while also having a gun, authorities said. 'Numerous police vehicles, including a light armored vehicle and two low-flying helicopters barricaded Adam’s street,' the news release says. 'More than 20 armored SWAT team members surrounded the house, as well as a number of detectives, and plainclothes officers.' The release says police used a battering ram to knock in the front door and detonated a flash grenade in the foyer, then ransacked the house in a five-hour search." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingGun-rights activist Adam Kokesh charged with possessing a mushroom near a firearm

80-Year-Old Man In Bedroom With Handgun Killed By Cops In Morning Pot Raid

"'When deputies approached a rear bedroom at the location, they encountered an 80-year-old male who was armed with a semi-automatic handgun. The suspect pointed the handgun at the deputies and a deputy-involved shooting occurred,' the statement read. The weapon, pot and pot-growing equipment were recovered at the home, part of a multi-unit property. Residents who lived in other units were detained for questioning and later released, according to the statement. Earlier in the day, Lt. Dave Dolson said deputies entered the home through an unlocked front door, Dolson said. One deputy fired as they encountered the man armed with a handgun, he said." Continue reading →

Continue Reading80-Year-Old Man In Bedroom With Handgun Killed By Cops In Morning Pot Raid

Philly narcs face lawsuit by victim of drug raid on auto shop

"The officers, who entered with guns drawn and never identified themselves as cops, then asked the three men 'where the drugs and money were hidden,' the complaint reads. Officer Thomas Liciardello allegedly struck Layre on the back of the head with a steel pipe, knocking him unconscious. After Layre began to regain consciousness, the officer allegedly kicked Layre in the mouth so hard that the business owner’s front upper row of teeth separated from their roots. The suit goes on to state that $41,000 in cash taken off of Layre had been money legitimately earned by Layre and that the officers unlawfully kept $34,400 of unreported cash for themselves." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPhilly narcs face lawsuit by victim of drug raid on auto shop

Libertarian group joins fight against garage restrictions in Dearborn

"At a Planning Commission meeting Monday night in Dearborn, a leader with a libertarian group started by former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul raised questions about the city’s plan to tweak an ordinance that regulates the use of garages. In recent years, a growing number of residents — especially those in the Arab-American community — have transformed their garages into living spaces where they hang out, cook, smoke water pipes, and eat. Some have even installed sliding glass doors. City officials are concerned such activity is causing safety hazards, pointing to a fire in November that was started by a heater kept in a garage." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLibertarian group joins fight against garage restrictions in Dearborn