"Huntsman compares GOP to China. Hatch's political turn-around. Utah's new political rock star.
Happy Tuesday. It wasn't that long ago that Jon Huntsman ran for the Republican presidential nomination, now the former Utah governor is becoming one of the party's greatest antagonists, recently comparing it to communist China. [WaPost] [ChiTrib] [DNews]..." (Read more Political Cornflakes? Click title)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
SandBoxUtah: Bleeding Heartland "No Romney endorsers on new Iowa GOP State Central Committee "
''desmoinesdem':
"The Iowa GOP's new State Central Committee consists of 16 people, four chosen from each of Iowa's four new Congressional districts. The only Republicans able to vote for the central committee members were delegates to yesterday's district conventions. Those delegates were previously elected at Iowa GOP county conventions in March.
The Iowa Republican blog asked all publicly announced candidates for the State Central Committee three questions, including "Who [sic] did you caucus for in 2012?" Kevin Hall posted a handy "voter guide" about the GOP committee candidates here.
It's remarkable how few people running for the State Central Committee wanted to associate themselves with the certain Republican nominee.
Hall mentioned seven candidates in IA-01, eight in IA-02, nine in IA-03, and eleven in IA-04. I don't know how many people ran for the central committee at the district conventions without publicly announcing their bids ahead of time. One of the people elected in IA-04, Kris Thiessen, was not mentioned in Hall's post...."
(Read more? Click title)
"The Iowa GOP's new State Central Committee consists of 16 people, four chosen from each of Iowa's four new Congressional districts. The only Republicans able to vote for the central committee members were delegates to yesterday's district conventions. Those delegates were previously elected at Iowa GOP county conventions in March.
The Iowa Republican blog asked all publicly announced candidates for the State Central Committee three questions, including "Who [sic] did you caucus for in 2012?" Kevin Hall posted a handy "voter guide" about the GOP committee candidates here.
It's remarkable how few people running for the State Central Committee wanted to associate themselves with the certain Republican nominee.
Hall mentioned seven candidates in IA-01, eight in IA-02, nine in IA-03, and eleven in IA-04. I don't know how many people ran for the central committee at the district conventions without publicly announcing their bids ahead of time. One of the people elected in IA-04, Kris Thiessen, was not mentioned in Hall's post...."
(Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: The BLT ~ Legal Times "Senator: If Court Doesn't Strike Arizona Immigration Law, Congress Will"
"If the U.S. Supreme Court upholds an Arizona immigration law after hearings this week, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other legislators say they will file legislation to undo it.
“Congress does not intend for states to enforce their own immigration schemes,” Schumer said at a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill. “It is simply too damaging to our economy and too dangerous to our democracy, to have 50 different states be permitted to take their own direction when it comes to immigration policy.”
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday on Arizona’s immigration enforcement law, SB 1070, which gives police broad authority to detain individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Schumer said the Arizona law also makes it a federal crime for any individual to fail at any time to possess documents verifying their immigration status.
At a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, Schumer said his legislation would expressly preempt states and localities from enforcing immigration law unless doing so with the consent of the federal government, and prevent states from enacting their own civil or criminal penalties for immigration violations.
Schumer said he hopes the legislation will not be necessary, “because I do believe the Supreme Court will decide SB 1070 is not constitutional.” The Supreme Court has consistently interpreted the naturalization language in Article I to mean that the establishment of the immigration laws and the manner of their execution are committed solely to the federal government, Schumer said...." (Read more? Click title)
“Congress does not intend for states to enforce their own immigration schemes,” Schumer said at a hearing Tuesday on Capitol Hill. “It is simply too damaging to our economy and too dangerous to our democracy, to have 50 different states be permitted to take their own direction when it comes to immigration policy.”
The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments Wednesday on Arizona’s immigration enforcement law, SB 1070, which gives police broad authority to detain individuals suspected of being in the country illegally. Schumer said the Arizona law also makes it a federal crime for any individual to fail at any time to possess documents verifying their immigration status.
At a Senate Judiciary subcommittee hearing, Schumer said his legislation would expressly preempt states and localities from enforcing immigration law unless doing so with the consent of the federal government, and prevent states from enacting their own civil or criminal penalties for immigration violations.
Schumer said he hopes the legislation will not be necessary, “because I do believe the Supreme Court will decide SB 1070 is not constitutional.” The Supreme Court has consistently interpreted the naturalization language in Article I to mean that the establishment of the immigration laws and the manner of their execution are committed solely to the federal government, Schumer said...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Deseret News "Utah awaits Supreme Court immigration decision on Arizona"
Marjorie Cortez:
"SALT LAKE CITY — When the Supreme Court takes up the constitutional challenges to Arizona's immigration enforcement law Wednesday, the seismic impact could well shake the future of Utah's own immigration law.
"There's a lot at stake. All eyes are on what the Supreme Court does," said Karen Tumlin, attorney for the National Immigration Law Center, who argued on behalf of plaintiffs who have challenged the constitutionality of Utah's immigration enforcement law, HB497. The law was passed by the Utah Legislature in 2010.
If the Supreme Court leaves in place the injunction against the Arizona law, Tumlin said the national center's next move would be to ask U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups for a "direct, full opinion on the Utah law."...." (Read more? Click title)
"SALT LAKE CITY — When the Supreme Court takes up the constitutional challenges to Arizona's immigration enforcement law Wednesday, the seismic impact could well shake the future of Utah's own immigration law.
"There's a lot at stake. All eyes are on what the Supreme Court does," said Karen Tumlin, attorney for the National Immigration Law Center, who argued on behalf of plaintiffs who have challenged the constitutionality of Utah's immigration enforcement law, HB497. The law was passed by the Utah Legislature in 2010.
If the Supreme Court leaves in place the injunction against the Arizona law, Tumlin said the national center's next move would be to ask U.S. District Judge Clark Waddoups for a "direct, full opinion on the Utah law."...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Customs and Border Protection "Del Rio Border Patrol Sector Agents Seize Heroin, Marijuana Worth Nearly $1.5 Million"
"Del Rio, Texas – Del Rio Border Patrol Sector agents seized more than 1,703 pounds of marijuana and nearly one and a half pounds of heroin worth close to $1.5 million dollars over the past week.
Saturday, Eagle Pass South Station agents tracking a group of suspected undocumented immigrants encountered five abandoned military-style duffel bags hidden near a creek. The bags contained 281.83 pounds of marijuana worth $225,464. A search of the immediate area led to no further apprehensions or seizures.
Sunday, Carrizo Springs Station agents working in an area ranch encountered seven abandoned green duffel bags. A further search of the bags revealed a total of 290.9 pounds of marijuana worth $232,720.
Monday, Eagle Pass Station Marine Unit observed several subjects swimming across the Rio Grand River pulling several large floating bundles into Mexico. As agents approached them aboard an airboat, the subjects released the bundles and swam back into Mexico. Agents recovered four bundles containing more than 264 pounds of marijuana worth over $211.900.
Tuesday, Carrizo Springs Station agents working in an area ranch discovered five abandoned duffel bags containing 226.9 pounds of marijuana worth $181,520.
Wednesday, Eagle Pass Station agents observed several subjects running away from a sedan parked on the side of a highway and disappear into the brush. Agents followed the sedan as it drove away and initiated a vehicle stop. The vehicle failed to yield to the agents and became immobilized in an irrigation canal after it drove off the roadway in an attempt to elude capture. The driver was arrested and agents seized 276.4 pounds of marijuana worth $221,120 found inside the vehicle.
Also Wednesday, Eagle Pass South Station agents working at a traffic checkpoint encountered a suspicious subject aboard a commercial bus. Further investigation revealed that the subject was transporting more than 1.3 pounds of heroin concealed on his person worth over $106,550. Thursday, agents working in an area ranch discovered one abandoned duffel bag containing nearly 60 pounds of marijuana worth approximately $47,360.
Also Thursday, Eagle Pass Station agents observed one subject crossing the highway with two military-style duffel bags. When agents approached the subject, he along with several other subjects absconded back to Mexico. A search of the area led to the discovery of seven military-style duffel bags containing 303.6 pounds of marijuana worth $242,880.
All cases were turned over to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws."
SandBoxUtah: Courthouse News "Feds Charge Army Men in Murder-Drug Sting"
Cameron Langford:
"LAREDO, Texas (CN) - An Army officer offered to supply guns and training to the Zetas drug cartel and kill rival drug dealers in exchange for money and cocaine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in announcing the arrest of the officer and five other men.
Kevin Corley, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was arrested Saturday afternoon in Laredo and charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy and murder-for-hire plot, prosecutors said in a statement.
The U.S. Attorney's Office did not state Corley's rank, nor military assignment. But the Colorado Springs Gazette reported on Monday that 1st Lt. Kevin Corley was discharged from the Army this month. The Gazette did not state whether the discharge was honorable, or why he was discharged.
The Gazette reported that Kevin Corley and co-defendant Sgt. Samuel Walker were both assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, in Colorado Springs.
Also arrested Saturday in Laredo were Walker, 28; and Shavar Davis, 29, of Denver, Colo., prosecutors said.
Arrested in South Carolina were Marcus Mickle, 20, and Calvin Epps, 26, both of Hopkins, S.C. The sixth defendant, Mario Corley, 40, of Saginaw, Texas, was arrested in Charleston, S.C., according to the U.S. attorney's statement.
"The investigation began in January 2011, when Mickle began negotiations with whom he thought were members of the Los Zetas Cartel, actually undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, to purchase marijuana in return for stolen weapons," prosecutors said in the statement. "The criminal complaint indicates that as they began discussions about the distribution of marijuana in the Columbia, S.C., area, Mickle and Epps allegedly told undercover agents about a friend in the military who could provide military weapons to them.
"The agents were later introduced to Corley, who allegedly identified himself as an active duty officer in the Army responsible for training soldiers. He offered to provide tactical training for cartel members and to purchase weapons for the cartel under his name."
Over the next several months, Corley communicated with the undercover agents about the services he could provide the cartel using his military training, prosecutors said.
"According to the criminal complaint, Corley allegedly mailed an Army tactics battle book to the agents, thoroughly explained military tactics and told undercover agents he could train 40 cartel members in two weeks," prosecutors said....." (Read more? Click title)
"LAREDO, Texas (CN) - An Army officer offered to supply guns and training to the Zetas drug cartel and kill rival drug dealers in exchange for money and cocaine, the U.S. Attorney's Office said in announcing the arrest of the officer and five other men.
Kevin Corley, 29, of Colorado Springs, Colo., was arrested Saturday afternoon in Laredo and charged in a drug trafficking conspiracy and murder-for-hire plot, prosecutors said in a statement.
The U.S. Attorney's Office did not state Corley's rank, nor military assignment. But the Colorado Springs Gazette reported on Monday that 1st Lt. Kevin Corley was discharged from the Army this month. The Gazette did not state whether the discharge was honorable, or why he was discharged.
The Gazette reported that Kevin Corley and co-defendant Sgt. Samuel Walker were both assigned to the 4th Brigade Combat Team of the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, in Colorado Springs.
Also arrested Saturday in Laredo were Walker, 28; and Shavar Davis, 29, of Denver, Colo., prosecutors said.
Arrested in South Carolina were Marcus Mickle, 20, and Calvin Epps, 26, both of Hopkins, S.C. The sixth defendant, Mario Corley, 40, of Saginaw, Texas, was arrested in Charleston, S.C., according to the U.S. attorney's statement.
"The investigation began in January 2011, when Mickle began negotiations with whom he thought were members of the Los Zetas Cartel, actually undercover Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) agents, to purchase marijuana in return for stolen weapons," prosecutors said in the statement. "The criminal complaint indicates that as they began discussions about the distribution of marijuana in the Columbia, S.C., area, Mickle and Epps allegedly told undercover agents about a friend in the military who could provide military weapons to them.
"The agents were later introduced to Corley, who allegedly identified himself as an active duty officer in the Army responsible for training soldiers. He offered to provide tactical training for cartel members and to purchase weapons for the cartel under his name."
Over the next several months, Corley communicated with the undercover agents about the services he could provide the cartel using his military training, prosecutors said.
"According to the criminal complaint, Corley allegedly mailed an Army tactics battle book to the agents, thoroughly explained military tactics and told undercover agents he could train 40 cartel members in two weeks," prosecutors said....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: The BLT ~ Legal Times "In Gulf Spill Probe, DOJ Charges Former BP Engineer with Obstruction"
Mike Scarcella:
"As the U.S. Justice Department continues to investigate the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, federal prosecutors today filed the first criminal charges flowing from the deadly explosion and leak that became the worst environmental disaster in the country's history.
The government charged Kurt Mix, a former engineer for BP plc, with obstruction of justice for allegedly intentionally destroying evidence that the authorities wanted to review. Mix, 50, a Texas resident, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. said in a statement that Mix alleged deleted records concerning the amount of oil flowing from the Macondo well after the explosion in April 2010. Eleven people were killed in the incident.
"The Deepwater Horizon Task Force is continuing its investigation into the explosion and will hold accountable those who violated the law in connection with the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history," Holder said in the statement...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
"As the U.S. Justice Department continues to investigate the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, federal prosecutors today filed the first criminal charges flowing from the deadly explosion and leak that became the worst environmental disaster in the country's history.
The government charged Kurt Mix, a former engineer for BP plc, with obstruction of justice for allegedly intentionally destroying evidence that the authorities wanted to review. Mix, 50, a Texas resident, was charged in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
Attorney General Eric Holder Jr. said in a statement that Mix alleged deleted records concerning the amount of oil flowing from the Macondo well after the explosion in April 2010. Eleven people were killed in the incident.
"The Deepwater Horizon Task Force is continuing its investigation into the explosion and will hold accountable those who violated the law in connection with the largest environmental disaster in U.S. history," Holder said in the statement...." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxUtah: The Vernal Express "Collaboration on Anadarko drilling project praised "
Coloradans watched closely the collaboration between Bill Barrett Corp and Utah conservation groups over the proposed drilling in the Jack Canyon Wilderness and Desolation Canyon areas in 2010.
The mutual satisfaction on both sides of the issue has been held up since, as a goal for negotiations throughout our own oil and gas regions.
A reminder to Utahans of that historical compromise can be found by clicking here.
As 'Utah's SandBox Commentators' continues its soft launch, reading up on all the oil and gas current doings around the State of Utah and surrounding states has been interesting.
Some of the current articles that seem to show a wide range of feelings are linked here:
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/6157250
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/53902874-90/blm-canyon-congress-desolation.html.csp
http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/04/21/obama-designates-new-monument-bishop-cries-foul
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120423/NEWS01/120423004/As-Bakken-oil-booms-police-prepare-change-updated-1-45-p-m-?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Overall, there seems to be less angst directed at the industry by conservationists than there is in Colorado. But, the organizations that Utah has in protest to all energy development seem to be much more volatile.
Congratulations again to Bill Barrett Corp for breaking historic ground in the compromise arena in 2010. Here's to many more years of both sides of the issues finding ways to come together in agreement.
The mutual satisfaction on both sides of the issue has been held up since, as a goal for negotiations throughout our own oil and gas regions.
A reminder to Utahans of that historical compromise can be found by clicking here.
As 'Utah's SandBox Commentators' continues its soft launch, reading up on all the oil and gas current doings around the State of Utah and surrounding states has been interesting.
Some of the current articles that seem to show a wide range of feelings are linked here:
http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/NaturalGas/6157250
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/jazz/53902874-90/blm-canyon-congress-desolation.html.csp
http://www.standard.net/stories/2012/04/21/obama-designates-new-monument-bishop-cries-foul
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20120423/NEWS01/120423004/As-Bakken-oil-booms-police-prepare-change-updated-1-45-p-m-?odyssey=nav%7Chead
Overall, there seems to be less angst directed at the industry by conservationists than there is in Colorado. But, the organizations that Utah has in protest to all energy development seem to be much more volatile.
Congratulations again to Bill Barrett Corp for breaking historic ground in the compromise arena in 2010. Here's to many more years of both sides of the issues finding ways to come together in agreement.
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Kyle Goon: Dew Tour’s exit may deflate Utah athletes "
(See similar story here)
Kyle Goon:
"Monday’s announcement that the Dew Tour won’t be back in Utah has a lot of folks adding up dollars and cents.
Kyle Goon:
"Monday’s announcement that the Dew Tour won’t be back in Utah has a lot of folks adding up dollars and cents.
The most prominent ripple in the State of Sport is the loss of an event that generated millions for the state’s economy. The gravity-defying stunts on the nation’s premier action sports tour drew in tens of thousands of fans, not to mention great tourism exposure. As organizers are left to contemplate how to fill EnergySolutions Arena without Bob Burnquist or Bucky Lasek soaring on their skateboards, it’s easy to imagine all the checkbooks walking away.
But for a state with a burgeoning corps of young action sports athletes, it might be a few years before we see the effect that losing the Dew Tour could have on their aspirations.
Take 16-year-old snowboarder Max Raymer, a Park City native who went to the inaugural Youth Winter Olympics this year. Losing the Dew Tour won’t take him off the slopes anytime soon, but it sure was nice to be able to see some of his idols — and some of his close friends — compete at Snowbasin.
"It’s kind of a bummer they’re not going to come back," he says. "For kids who are just getting into it, being there makes you want to compete and get better. They’re going to lose that now."
That impact could be quite profound. Utah annually drew some of the largest crowds of all the tour stops. In 2010, 60,500 people flocked to Salt Lake City for the summer events, and the next winter brought 44,300 fans to Snowbasin.
In a state somewhat awkwardly sandwiched between skateboard mecca California and some of the more well-known winter resorts in Colorado, the Dew Tour was a real chance not just for Utah to shine, but for the younger generation living here to get a glimpse of an exciting genre of sports. Action sports — ranging from BMX biking to snowcross, basically anything that involves hurtling through the air or zipping along a ramp — have hosted some of the most exciting pioneering going on in athletics today...."
(Read more? Click title)
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