Category: Uncategorized

On March 18, an anonymous individual filed a federal lawsuit against a Missouri law that makes it a crime for anyone to circulate a handbill commenting on a candidate for public office, if the handbill doesn’t identify the person paying for the literature. John Doe v Weedman, w.d., 2:15cv-4054.
The plaintiff wants to circulate literature for the April 7 election for Ferguson city council. He wants to criticize one candidate, and advocate the election of an opposing candidate. “John Doe” wants to criticize a candidate who is currently a prosecutor and a judge, and “John Doe” is afraid …read more

Smyrna, GA — Meet 24-year-old Nicholas Taft Thomas, father to a beautiful baby girl, who is barely 5-months-old. His name sadly became another hashtag on Tuesday, when police took his life shortly after 1:30 pm.
The incident began when three Smyrna police officers and four officers with the Cobb County Police Department arrived at the Goodyear store where Thomas worked to serve him with a warrant for a probation violation, reportedly for a traffic offense.
When the young father saw the officers at his place of employment, he attempted to flee and jumped into a white Maserati. Perhaps the new …read more

Jonesboro, Ark. – In a radical new piece of legislation, House Bill 1716, would tax Arkansas drivers for each mile they drive. The bill has passed committee and now moves to the House for a vote.
In an extreme constraint on personal liberty, the state may begin keeping track of citizen’s mileage in an effort to institute a mileage tax on Arkansas residents.
The passage of H.B. 1716 would signal the Arkansas Highway Commission to enact a pilot program. It would be similar to a test program conducted in Oregon, which would charge drivers 1.5 cents per mile driven.
In an effort to …read more

Aaron Blake has written this article about the fact that U.S. Senator Ted Cruz was born in Canada to a Cuban father and a U.S. citizen mother. The article discusses the part of Article II that says presidents must be “natural-born.” Thanks to Thomas Jones for the link.
Although the article asserts that U.S. Senator John McCain was born in the Panama Canal Zone, there is strong evidence that he was born in Colon, Panama, which was never part of the Canal Zone although it was virtually surrounded by the Zone.
UPDATE: see this U.S. News & World Report …read more

Florida proponents of a top-two system have filed a proposed initiative constitutional amendment with the Secretary of State. This link contains the form of the petition and the wording of the proposal. The proponents include attorney Glenn Burhans, Jr., of Tallahassee, and Andrew Jones. Thanks to Richard Moroney for the link. …read more

Washington, D.C. – In a clear escalation in the ongoing war on U.S. citizens, the Justice Department has recommended that bank employees snitch on customers attempting to withdraw more than $5,000.
Federal regulations already require banks to submit a “Suspicious Activity Report” (SAR) when, “Transactions conducted or attempted by, at, or through the bank (or an affiliate) and aggregating $5,000 or more…” according to the handbook for the Federal Financial Institution Examination Council.
The banks are required to fill a certain number of SAR reports every month. This forces them to file SARs for perfectly legal actions (such as withdrawing cash).
If using …read more

On March 23, the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral argument in Walker v Texas Division of Sons of Confederate Veterans, 14-144. Texas lets hundreds of organizations, as well as commercial establishments like restaurants, arrange for automobile license plates that carry the emblem or insignia of that organization or business. But Texas won’t let the Sons of Confederate Veterans have its own license plates.
During the oral argument, four times, one justice or another wanted to know if the U.S. Constitution would let Texas issue specialty plates for the Republican Party and yet refuse such plates for the Democratic Party. …read more

On the afternoon of March 23, U.S. District Court Judge Andrea Wood said her decision in Libertarian Party of Illinois v Illinois State Board of Elections will be issued “within the week.” The issue is the unique Illinois law that says newly-qualifying parties must run a full slate of candidates, whereas already qualified parties have no such obligation.
The judge also canceled the status conference set for March 24 and reset it for April 7 at 9 a.m. For some time she has been saying the decision will be released before the next status conference, but she has postponed …read more

Glendale, AZ– On December 16, 2013, Deputy Sean Pearce, son of recalled State Senator Russell Pearce, was recklessly driving an unmarked Chevrolet Tahoe. He was going 81 mph in a 40 mph zone, with no lights or sirens activated as he pursued a murder suspect. The suspect was over a mile away from the officer when Pearce rammed into the vehicle of 63-year-old John Edward Harding and took his life.
Last year, County Attorney Bill Montgomery announced that he would not be charging Harding with a felony. He cited that both drivers may have been obstructed due to a third …read more

(Jonathan Roberts/Mayor Greg Fischer)

Louisville, KY — When Asia Ford’s husband lost a limb to diabetes she decided that weighing nearly 500 pounds was no longer in the cards for her. Two years and over 200 pounds later, Ford is participating 10K runs!
Ford was 4 miles into the 10K Rodes City Run, when she began feeling sick. On Facebook, Ford stated that since she forgot to eat before the race, she started struggling.
Ford’s trouble breathing was seen by Metro Police Lt. Aubrey Gregory, who was at the back of the race acting as the incident commander with an ambulance and …read more