'scorpio0679' Diary:
"For those who have written-off the TEA party as having lost influence or worse yet, dead, will have their first real test coming up in a few weeks. Not long ago, Orrin Hatch, the long-time senator from Utah, was narrowly prevented from walking away with the GOP nomination when the TEA party prevented him from achieving 60 percent of the vote at the state’s nominating convention. He will now face challenger Dan Liljenquist in a primary election this June. Orrin Hatch is a long-time Washington insider with moderate tendencies who once stated that he wished to punch conservative activists in the mouth and that the TEA party was filled with radical libertarians.
Similarly, Dick Lugar, the 36-year incumbent senator from Indiana, has been in the TEA party’s cross-hairs for a long time. After a conference of 70 TEA party groups declared their unanimous opposition to his re-nomination, conservative Richard Mourdock declared his candidacy to take him on. The most recent indicators suggest that Lugar is at serious risk of losing in the May 8 primary. The Washington Post reports that some Lugar supporters may be bailing on him in the homestretch. Remember that Lugar is the guy that takes money from George Soros, refused to sign a letter supporting the lawsuit against Obamacare, voted to confirm both Elena Kagan and Sonia Sotomayor, and has a horrible record on gun rights.
Taking on and defeating entrenched incumbents is nothing new to the TEA party. If, as some claim, the TEA party’s day has come and gone, well-funded establishment moderates like Sens. Lugar and Hatch should easily dispatch their insurgent opponents. On the other hand, if the coming electoral season will be another TEA party bloodbath (ala Fall 2010), these two primaries may well be the warning bells....."
(Read more? Click title)
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
SandBoxUtah: Deseret News "Utah vies for China's outsourcing"
Blaze Bullock:
"When Gov. Gary Herbert went to China in 2011, there were five other governors there, Salt Lake Chamber spokesman Marty Carpenter told KSL.
So clearly, Utah isn't the only state vying for money from China, but it does have some things other states don't. For example, the former governor of Utah was the U.S. Ambassador to China, and Salt Lake City and Beijing have both been home to the Olympics. These give Utah a leg up on the competition, Carpenter told KSL..." (Read more? Click title)
"When Gov. Gary Herbert went to China in 2011, there were five other governors there, Salt Lake Chamber spokesman Marty Carpenter told KSL.
So clearly, Utah isn't the only state vying for money from China, but it does have some things other states don't. For example, the former governor of Utah was the U.S. Ambassador to China, and Salt Lake City and Beijing have both been home to the Olympics. These give Utah a leg up on the competition, Carpenter told KSL..." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Good for Shea"
Lakshmi Johal-Dominguez, Orem:
"Thank you, Pat Shea, for being a truth-teller ("Utah: A beehive of corruption," Opinion, April 21). Last week, I heard Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, give a legislative update, and what a noble spin he gave to the federal land-grab issue.
As a taxpayer, I want a list of the legislators and lobbyists who will make money if this "indefensible legislation" goes through. How many conflicts of interest, wrapped up in patriotism, are involved in this "fantasy claim" of state ownership of RS2477 roads?
I want a published list of the campaign contributions given in exchange for pushing this agenda. Which oil and gas companies will benefit? Which land developers and realtors will benefit? How much secret money will change hands behind closed doors?
How clever and corrupt to have us taxpayers foot the legal bill for a losing proposition! I’m with Shea — we need to get rid of the extremist poison of the connivers, the manipulators and the greedy.
We must elect responsible leaders to serve Utahns in a open and nonpartisan environment. Let’s remove those from office who think they can set up their personal financial kingdoms and "who believe that they alone know the truth of things...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: CBS "Utah: Chronic homelessness down 9 percent"
(See related stories here and here)
"SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Chronic homelessness continued to drop in Utah despite an overall increase in the homeless population, state officials said Monday.
Overall, there are an estimated 540 chronically homeless people living on Utah's streets, according to an annual population count. That is 9 percent fewer than in 2011 and the seventh year in a row that the number has dropped, said Gordon Walker, director of the Division of Housing and Community Development.
The homeless population did increase by 13 percent, from an estimated 14,351 to 16,642, which Walker said is expected during a weak economy.
But because of the continued reduction in chronic homelessness — when a person has been homeless for more than a year, or multiple times within the past five years — there is more room at housing shelters for those who are temporarily homeless.
Homeless outreach groups have conducted the annual census since 2004. Walker said they do the count on the same night in January, which provides consistency, and have a statistical model that accounts for the homeless they miss...." (Read more? Click title)
"SALT LAKE CITY, Utah — Chronic homelessness continued to drop in Utah despite an overall increase in the homeless population, state officials said Monday.
Overall, there are an estimated 540 chronically homeless people living on Utah's streets, according to an annual population count. That is 9 percent fewer than in 2011 and the seventh year in a row that the number has dropped, said Gordon Walker, director of the Division of Housing and Community Development.
The homeless population did increase by 13 percent, from an estimated 14,351 to 16,642, which Walker said is expected during a weak economy.
But because of the continued reduction in chronic homelessness — when a person has been homeless for more than a year, or multiple times within the past five years — there is more room at housing shelters for those who are temporarily homeless.
Homeless outreach groups have conducted the annual census since 2004. Walker said they do the count on the same night in January, which provides consistency, and have a statistical model that accounts for the homeless they miss...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah governor scolds UDOT boss, but backs him "
Robert Gehrke:
"Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday he supports John Njord, although he criticized the state transportation boss over the way the high-profile reinstatement of a fired employee has been handled.
"Utah Gov. Gary Herbert said Thursday he supports John Njord, although he criticized the state transportation boss over the way the high-profile reinstatement of a fired employee has been handled.
"He already knows my displeasure," Herbert said during his monthly KUED TV news conference, referring to a meeting he had Wednesday with the Utah Department of Transportation director.
Njord fired employee Denice Graham more than a year ago, accusing her of leaking information about a $1.1 billion contract to rebuild Interstate 15 through Utah County. A judge ordered her reinstated earlier this year, but Graham’s attorneys and UDOT have been at odds over her back wages...."
(Read more? Click title)
Monday, April 30, 2012
SandBoxUtah: Newsmax "Rather: Romney Has ‘Good Chance of Beating’ Obama"
Newsmax:
"Former “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather says presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has a 50 percent chance of beating President Barack Obama in November.
“I have no idea what kind of president [former Massachusetts] Gov. Romney will make, but I do think . . . he has a good chance of becoming president,” Rather told Politico. “President Obama is even money at best at this particular time . . . His odds right now are 50/50 in my book.”
Obama performs much better campaigning than as president, said Rather, who is promoting a new book, “Rather Outspoken: My Life In the News.” Obama must recapture his skills of engagement and persuasiveness that served him so well in 2008, if he wants to succeed again, Rather said.
On the subject of 2016, Rather said current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will likely repeat her 2008 attempt for the presidency. “I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t,” he said. “Overnight is a long time in politics. A week is forever, and we’re talking about something four years down the road. But . . . I’d be surprised if she doesn’t make a run in 2016.....” (Read more? Click title)
"Former “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather says presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney has a 50 percent chance of beating President Barack Obama in November.
“I have no idea what kind of president [former Massachusetts] Gov. Romney will make, but I do think . . . he has a good chance of becoming president,” Rather told Politico. “President Obama is even money at best at this particular time . . . His odds right now are 50/50 in my book.”
Obama performs much better campaigning than as president, said Rather, who is promoting a new book, “Rather Outspoken: My Life In the News.” Obama must recapture his skills of engagement and persuasiveness that served him so well in 2008, if he wants to succeed again, Rather said.
On the subject of 2016, Rather said current Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will likely repeat her 2008 attempt for the presidency. “I’ll be surprised if she doesn’t,” he said. “Overnight is a long time in politics. A week is forever, and we’re talking about something four years down the road. But . . . I’d be surprised if she doesn’t make a run in 2016.....” (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Huntsman stirs crowd at Envision Utah celebration "
Cathy Mckitrick:
"Jon Huntsman Jr. may not have excited the Republican base this year as he sought to become his party’s presidential nominee, but among Envision Utah colleagues Monday the popular two-term governor and former U.S. Ambassador to China enjoyed star status.
"Jon Huntsman Jr. may not have excited the Republican base this year as he sought to become his party’s presidential nominee, but among Envision Utah colleagues Monday the popular two-term governor and former U.S. Ambassador to China enjoyed star status.
Huntsman spoke to about 280 people at the 2012 Corporate Friends Breakfast, the kick-off event to celebrate the 15-year anniversary of Envision Utah, a volunteer organization that launched in 1997 to help chart Utah’s future course. In 1999, Huntsman replaced Robert Grow to serve as the organization’s second chairman...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Fox News Insider "Dad of Firefighter Killed on 9/11 Reacts to Freedom Tower Surpassing Height of Empire State Building"
"Fox News legal analyst Peter Johnson, Jr. shared a special interview with viewers on this day that he said brings with it a sense of freshness and opportunity. Lee Ielpi lost his son Jonathan on 9/11 after he came eight miles from Queens, NY to help save fellow New Yorkers after the attacks. Lee is himself a survivor of that fateful day, as well as a Vietnam vet; he also runs the Tribute center near the WTC site. According to Ielpi, words can’t express the meaning for him and others like him of this marked day.
“I think this is an absolutely spectacular day … it shows the resilience of this country of ours,” he said. “It’s rebuilding. It’s revitalizing. It’s bringing back what was taken away from us.”....."
(Watch the interview? Click title)
“I think this is an absolutely spectacular day … it shows the resilience of this country of ours,” he said. “It’s rebuilding. It’s revitalizing. It’s bringing back what was taken away from us.”....."
(Watch the interview? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Wausau Daily Herald "Families evicted from Utah storage facility"
"Ed Snoddy, a homeless outreach worker with Volunteers of America since 1995, said he has not personally witnessed people living in storage units. He has worked with many people who live in homeless camps and abandoned buildings.
"This is the first I've heard about it. Personally, on our outreach trips we've never seen it," he told the Deseret News.
Tony Milner is executive director of Family Promise of Salt Lake, a nonprofit agency that provides services and housing to homeless families through a network of churches. More often, people seeking assistance live in their cars, he said.
Rents for storage units are significantly lower than apartments or rooms. A 10-by-10 foot unit rents for about $80 a month.
Cory Milligan, manager of 13th South Self Storage, said finding an apartment or room "is tough once you have bad credit. The economy keeps getting worse. It's probably going to happen more."...."
(Read more? Click title)
"This is the first I've heard about it. Personally, on our outreach trips we've never seen it," he told the Deseret News.
Tony Milner is executive director of Family Promise of Salt Lake, a nonprofit agency that provides services and housing to homeless families through a network of churches. More often, people seeking assistance live in their cars, he said.
Rents for storage units are significantly lower than apartments or rooms. A 10-by-10 foot unit rents for about $80 a month.
Cory Milligan, manager of 13th South Self Storage, said finding an apartment or room "is tough once you have bad credit. The economy keeps getting worse. It's probably going to happen more."...."
(Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah temporary homeless numbers reach all-time high"
Brooke Adams:
"A statewide effort to get chronically homeless people off the streets and into supported housing continues to make progress, but officials on Mondayannounced the number of Utahns who experienced periodic homelessness reached an all-time high this winter.
"A statewide effort to get chronically homeless people off the streets and into supported housing continues to make progress, but officials on Mondayannounced the number of Utahns who experienced periodic homelessness reached an all-time high this winter.
Volunteers and outreach workers counted 3,052 people in shelters and another 475 on the streets in the statewide Point In Time annual survey that began Jan. 26 and extended over five days to ensure as complete a tally as possible. On an annualized basis, state officials project that 16,642 people experienced an episode of homelessness between January 2011 and January 2012, an increase of 13 percent...."
(Read more? Click title)
Saturday, April 28, 2012
SandBoxUtah: Power Line "Love is sweeping the country"
Scott Johnson:
"Utah Republicans nominated the impressive Mia Love to run against incumbent Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson in the newly created Fourth Congressional District. John Fund covered the story for NRO. Ms. Love Love, the 37-year-old daughter of Haitian immigrants and the mayor of Saratoga Springs, a community of 18,000 outside Salt Lake City, was the Tea Party candidate in the Republican field for the nomination. Fund writes:
"Utah Republicans nominated the impressive Mia Love to run against incumbent Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson in the newly created Fourth Congressional District. John Fund covered the story for NRO. Ms. Love Love, the 37-year-old daughter of Haitian immigrants and the mayor of Saratoga Springs, a community of 18,000 outside Salt Lake City, was the Tea Party candidate in the Republican field for the nomination. Fund writes:
Love’s presence in Congress would certainly shake up the House. I met her at CPAC, the annual conservative conference, where she gave a stirring speech: “According to liberals, I’m not supposed to exist. I know that I am going to be a target for the Left. I have something to say to them: Game On.”Love is perfectly representative of the Tea Party movement. She is smart, engaged and knowledgeable, harking back to first principles to guide us in our way forward. Hear her out in Glenn Reynolds’s InstaVision interview of her for PJTV last month, posted here and on YouTube (below). (I dissent only from her enthusiasm for Ron Paul.)....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Newsmax "Pete Sessions: Obamacare Has Cost Medicare Budget $500 Billion"
Martin Gould and John Bachman:
"The country has to accept that the Medicare budget has lost $500 billion due to President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul, and figure out a way to work around it, Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions tells Newsmax.TV.
Unless the Supreme Court rules to overturn the law completely the money will not come back, so Republicans have to make sure the public is aware of the situation – and who is to blame – before the November elections.
“We have the responsibility as policymakers in Washington to deal with the law,” the Texas congressman said in an exclusive interview. “Now that we know the $500 billion, by law, is gone, we have to deal with that....." (Read more? Click title)
"The country has to accept that the Medicare budget has lost $500 billion due to President Barack Obama’s healthcare overhaul, and figure out a way to work around it, Republican Congressional Committee chairman Pete Sessions tells Newsmax.TV.
Unless the Supreme Court rules to overturn the law completely the money will not come back, so Republicans have to make sure the public is aware of the situation – and who is to blame – before the November elections.
“We have the responsibility as policymakers in Washington to deal with the law,” the Texas congressman said in an exclusive interview. “Now that we know the $500 billion, by law, is gone, we have to deal with that....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah immigration law could hinge on fate of Arizona’s"
David Montero:
"So now the two sides wait while eight judges sort through the immigration time bomb known simply known as SB1070.
"So now the two sides wait while eight judges sort through the immigration time bomb known simply known as SB1070.
Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff read the transcripts of Wednesday’s U.S. Supreme Court hearing on Arizona’s enforcement-only law and said, based on the questioning from the justices, it was difficult to imagine how they wouldn’t uphold provisions of SB1070."........
.......Sandstrom eventually said he didn’t want to do what Arizona did as pressure mounted from the business community, leaders in Utah’s Republican Party and religious groups to avoid passing a copycat of SB1070. "For example, I don’t think it’s practical to check status on every single person on, say, a traffic stop,’ Sandstrom said. "That’s one of the things we negotiated on that bill that I think turned out better than the original language."
So instead of requiring local police to check legal status of people during a lawful stop, Sandstrom’s version only required it be checked on a felony or Class A misdemeanor stop. On other misdemeanors, the check is left to the officer’s discretion..." (Read the article? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Fox 13 "Four rescued from Utah Lake after canoe capsize"
Brittany Green-Miner and Zach Whitney:
"UTAH LAKE – Four people were rescued from Utah Lake Saturday afternoon after their canoe flipped.
Utah Park Rangers and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a boat in distress on Utah Lake at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses say a small canoe was out on the water and tipped, throwing two passengers into the 60-degree water.
“
We looked over and we see a canoe tipped over on the side,” said Michael Hoffman, who saw the boat tip. ”Police started coming and everything, so we knew it was an emergency.”
The group was near the shore of the lake and was able to get onto land, though they were in the water for about 45 minutes. One of the teens showed the beginning signs of hypothermia and was hospitalized...."
(Read more? Click title)
"UTAH LAKE – Four people were rescued from Utah Lake Saturday afternoon after their canoe flipped.
Utah Park Rangers and the Utah County Sheriff’s Office responded to reports of a boat in distress on Utah Lake at around 12:30 p.m. Saturday. Witnesses say a small canoe was out on the water and tipped, throwing two passengers into the 60-degree water.
“
We looked over and we see a canoe tipped over on the side,” said Michael Hoffman, who saw the boat tip. ”Police started coming and everything, so we knew it was an emergency.”
The group was near the shore of the lake and was able to get onto land, though they were in the water for about 45 minutes. One of the teens showed the beginning signs of hypothermia and was hospitalized...."
(Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Times Live "Sundance festival swaps Utah mountains for London"
"Sundance London, a smaller version of the US film festival set up by the actor and director in 1985, will showcase 22 films as well as a string of live music performances at the 02 Arena in southeast London.
"Music and cinema look like they could be the next hybrid," Redford, 75, said at a press conference at the 02.
The star of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid said the London gala would be a "scaled down version of what we do in the mountains in Utah", where Sundance has grown into the United States' biggest independent film festival.
"I was reluctant to see us go out until the time was really right, and it felt like it was," he said.
Sundance London, which runs until Sunday, will host the British premieres of 14 American feature-length movies and 8 short films originally screened at its US sister festival...."
(Read more? Click title)
"Music and cinema look like they could be the next hybrid," Redford, 75, said at a press conference at the 02.
The star of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid said the London gala would be a "scaled down version of what we do in the mountains in Utah", where Sundance has grown into the United States' biggest independent film festival.
"I was reluctant to see us go out until the time was really right, and it felt like it was," he said.
Sundance London, which runs until Sunday, will host the British premieres of 14 American feature-length movies and 8 short films originally screened at its US sister festival...."
(Read more? Click title)
Thursday, April 26, 2012
SandBoxUtah: Deseret News "FreedomWorks endorses Mia Love, Dan Liljenquist"
Lisa Riley Roche and Dennis Romboy:
"SALT LAKE CITY — A national tea party organization has endorsed Utah Republicans Mia Love in 4th Congressional District and Dan Liljenquist in the U.S. Senate race.
Meantime, Gov. Gary Herbert declined again Thursday to back Sen. Orrin Hatch, saying he likes both the longtime senator and his primary election opponent Liljenquist.
Though FreedomWorks didn't formally back Liljenquist before the state GOP convention last weekend, it has actively organized opposition to Hatch's re-election campaign for the past year. Liljenquist forced Hatch into a primary runoff, the six-term senator's first since being elected in 1976.
“We have been working with Utah conservatives since last May to elect the strongest and most consistent advocate for conservative economic policy, and Dan has proven himself to be the man for the job," said Russ Walker, FreedomWorks national political director...." (Read more? Click title)
"SALT LAKE CITY — A national tea party organization has endorsed Utah Republicans Mia Love in 4th Congressional District and Dan Liljenquist in the U.S. Senate race.
Meantime, Gov. Gary Herbert declined again Thursday to back Sen. Orrin Hatch, saying he likes both the longtime senator and his primary election opponent Liljenquist.
Though FreedomWorks didn't formally back Liljenquist before the state GOP convention last weekend, it has actively organized opposition to Hatch's re-election campaign for the past year. Liljenquist forced Hatch into a primary runoff, the six-term senator's first since being elected in 1976.
“We have been working with Utah conservatives since last May to elect the strongest and most consistent advocate for conservative economic policy, and Dan has proven himself to be the man for the job," said Russ Walker, FreedomWorks national political director...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: ABC News "Mia Love: black, conservative, Mormon, GOP House candidate from Utah"
Chris Moody:
"Amid the crowded field of House candidates across the country in 2012, expect to hear a lot about Mia Love, a Republican who is an African American and a Mormon and who on Saturday defeated a handful of rivals to clinch the party nomination in the campaign for Utah's fourth congressional district. Love is preparing to face incumbent Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson. Victory in November would make her the first black Republican congresswoman in history.
A Brooklyn-born Mormon convert, Love is a marathon-running mother of three and the daughter of Haitian immigrants who came to the United States with $10 in their pockets, she says. Her mother cleaned houses and worked as a nurse at a retirement home while her father worked for a painting company, toiled as a janitor at a Catholic school and drove a school bus to support their growing family.
"I am a product of that hard work," she said in an interview with Yahoo News, "a product of the American dream."..." (Read more? Click title)
"Amid the crowded field of House candidates across the country in 2012, expect to hear a lot about Mia Love, a Republican who is an African American and a Mormon and who on Saturday defeated a handful of rivals to clinch the party nomination in the campaign for Utah's fourth congressional district. Love is preparing to face incumbent Democratic Rep. Jim Matheson. Victory in November would make her the first black Republican congresswoman in history.
A Brooklyn-born Mormon convert, Love is a marathon-running mother of three and the daughter of Haitian immigrants who came to the United States with $10 in their pockets, she says. Her mother cleaned houses and worked as a nurse at a retirement home while her father worked for a painting company, toiled as a janitor at a Catholic school and drove a school bus to support their growing family.
"I am a product of that hard work," she said in an interview with Yahoo News, "a product of the American dream."..." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salon "Beware the Romney boys"
(Photo Credit: iStockphoto/gmnicholas/Salon/Benjamin Wheelock)
Sarah Laskow:
"If Barack Obama beats Mitt Romney in November, the political prospects of the Romney boys will take a hit, as well. But if their dad wins, whatever ambitions Tagg and Josh have will get a boost. And there will still be time enough for Matt, Craig or Ben to decide to give politics a try. Given how American dynasties work, “the odds are very great that at least one of them is going to go into the family business at some time,” says Hess...." (Read more? Click title)
"If Barack Obama beats Mitt Romney in November, the political prospects of the Romney boys will take a hit, as well. But if their dad wins, whatever ambitions Tagg and Josh have will get a boost. And there will still be time enough for Matt, Craig or Ben to decide to give politics a try. Given how American dynasties work, “the odds are very great that at least one of them is going to go into the family business at some time,” says Hess...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: CBS News "Utah leaders back ski lift connection"
"SALT LAKE CITY — The Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce is organizing a coalition to push for a ski lift that would connect two Utah resorts if Congress goes along with a sale of national forest land.
The chamber is enlisting notable Utah figures who say it's the start of something big — the first lift connection among the cluster of Wasatch resorts. Together they could make for North America's largest skiing complex.
Jake Garn — former U.S. senator, Navy pilot and astronaut — says a gondola connecting the Canyons and Solitude resorts would allow people to ski both sides of the Wasatch mountains without driving around.
The LIFT UTAH coalition was announced Tuesday as 40 backcountry skiers and environmentalists stood outside the Salt Lake chamber to protest the development of high alpine terrain where the snow piles deep....." (Read more? Click title)
The chamber is enlisting notable Utah figures who say it's the start of something big — the first lift connection among the cluster of Wasatch resorts. Together they could make for North America's largest skiing complex.
Jake Garn — former U.S. senator, Navy pilot and astronaut — says a gondola connecting the Canyons and Solitude resorts would allow people to ski both sides of the Wasatch mountains without driving around.
The LIFT UTAH coalition was announced Tuesday as 40 backcountry skiers and environmentalists stood outside the Salt Lake chamber to protest the development of high alpine terrain where the snow piles deep....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Market Watch Intrepid Potash, Inc. Announces BLM Approval of the HB Solar Solution Mine Project and Commencement of Construction"
"Intrepid Potash, Inc. announced today that on March 19, 2012, the Bureau of Land Management ("BLM") issued its Record of Decision ("ROD") approving the HB Solar Solution mine near Carlsbad, New Mexico and, with the BLM's approval, Intrepid immediately commenced construction activities on the project. The ROD became final this month.
Intrepid's Executive Chairman of the Board, Bob Jornayvaz, stated, "We are very pleased to have begun construction of our HB project after more than three years of the BLM's careful review and study of the project's environmental impacts. This project is a game changer for Intrepid that will allow us to capitalize on our solution mining and solar evaporation expertise that we have developed from our current operations in Moab and Wendover, Utah. The HB Solar Solution mine will be one of the lower-cost potash mines in North America with cash costs estimated to be between $60 and $80 per ton, improving our overall cost profile and margin opportunity. We also expect the mine to increase our potash production by approximately twenty-five percent." Mr. Jornayvaz continued, "The tremendous support for the project from the Carlsbad community; local, state, and federal government; and the oil and gas operators in the area was integral to our successful navigation of the Environmental Impact Statement process required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The ROD validates that the project meets the requirements for balanced management of public lands."..." (Read more? Click title)
Intrepid's Executive Chairman of the Board, Bob Jornayvaz, stated, "We are very pleased to have begun construction of our HB project after more than three years of the BLM's careful review and study of the project's environmental impacts. This project is a game changer for Intrepid that will allow us to capitalize on our solution mining and solar evaporation expertise that we have developed from our current operations in Moab and Wendover, Utah. The HB Solar Solution mine will be one of the lower-cost potash mines in North America with cash costs estimated to be between $60 and $80 per ton, improving our overall cost profile and margin opportunity. We also expect the mine to increase our potash production by approximately twenty-five percent." Mr. Jornayvaz continued, "The tremendous support for the project from the Carlsbad community; local, state, and federal government; and the oil and gas operators in the area was integral to our successful navigation of the Environmental Impact Statement process required by the National Environmental Policy Act. The ROD validates that the project meets the requirements for balanced management of public lands."..." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah sues over bird refuge boundaries "
Judy Fahys:
"A decades-old quarrel about the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge has landed in court.
"A decades-old quarrel about the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge has landed in court.
The Utah Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands is suing the U.S. Interior Department, along with its agencies, the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bureau of Land Management, in U.S. District Court in Salt Lake City on the question of where state land ends and federal land begins at the 83-year-old refuge on the Great Salt Lake...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah extends public comment period for refinery expansion"
Judy Fahys:
"State regulators have again extended the public comment period for Tesoro’s proposed refinery expansion.
"State regulators have again extended the public comment period for Tesoro’s proposed refinery expansion.
On Monday, the Utah Division of Air Quality said it was extending the deadline to June 7 — partly to accommodate critics who have a beef with the Salt Lake City plant’s expansion and who will be required to pursue their concerns in a new appeals system that begins May 8. The comment period was originally set to end in March...." (Read more? Click title)
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "News roundup: Huntsman compares the GOP to China"
"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)
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)
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)
Saturday, April 21, 2012
SandBoxUtah: LA Times "From a Mexican kingpin to an FBI informant"
This is a must read.
A fascinating look at the inside operations of one of the most powerful and deadly Mexican Drug Cartels there is.
I'm not sure how anyone, can read something like this piece and still have any thoughts whatsoever that legalizing drugs has validity or as an officer of law look the other way to illegal drug use.
Thank you to all of our Customs and Border Protection officers including K-9. All of our DEA, ICE, FBI, every drug task force, every agent, officer and deputy that keeps to the best of their ability and power, these cartels on the outsides of our borders.
Richard A. Serrano:
"WASHINGTON — Police and federal agents pulled the car over in a suburb north of Denver. An FBI agent showed his badge. The driver appeared not startled at all. "My friend," he said, "I have been waiting for you."
And with that, Jesus Audel Miramontes-Varela stepped out of his white 2002 BMW X5 and into the arms of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Over the next several days at his ranch in Colorado and an FBI safe house in Albuquerque, the Mexican cartel chieftain — who had reputedly fed one of his victims to lions in Mexico — was transformed into one of the FBI's top informants on the Southwest border.
Around a dining room table in August 2010, an FBI camera whirring above, the 34-year-old Miramontes-Varela confessed his leadership in the Juarez cartel, according to 75 pages of confidential FBI interview reports obtained by The Times/Tribune Washington Bureau.
He told about marijuana and cocaine routes to California, New York and the Great Lakes. He described the shooting deaths of 30 people at a horse track in Mexico, and a hidden mass grave with 20 bodies, including two U.S. residents....." (Read more? You should. Click title)
(Photo credit: Maggie Ybarra, El Paso Times / November 30, 2010)
A fascinating look at the inside operations of one of the most powerful and deadly Mexican Drug Cartels there is.
I'm not sure how anyone, can read something like this piece and still have any thoughts whatsoever that legalizing drugs has validity or as an officer of law look the other way to illegal drug use.
Thank you to all of our Customs and Border Protection officers including K-9. All of our DEA, ICE, FBI, every drug task force, every agent, officer and deputy that keeps to the best of their ability and power, these cartels on the outsides of our borders.
Richard A. Serrano:
"WASHINGTON — Police and federal agents pulled the car over in a suburb north of Denver. An FBI agent showed his badge. The driver appeared not startled at all. "My friend," he said, "I have been waiting for you."
And with that, Jesus Audel Miramontes-Varela stepped out of his white 2002 BMW X5 and into the arms of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
Over the next several days at his ranch in Colorado and an FBI safe house in Albuquerque, the Mexican cartel chieftain — who had reputedly fed one of his victims to lions in Mexico — was transformed into one of the FBI's top informants on the Southwest border.
Around a dining room table in August 2010, an FBI camera whirring above, the 34-year-old Miramontes-Varela confessed his leadership in the Juarez cartel, according to 75 pages of confidential FBI interview reports obtained by The Times/Tribune Washington Bureau.
He told about marijuana and cocaine routes to California, New York and the Great Lakes. He described the shooting deaths of 30 people at a horse track in Mexico, and a hidden mass grave with 20 bodies, including two U.S. residents....." (Read more? You should. Click title)
(Photo credit: Maggie Ybarra, El Paso Times / November 30, 2010)
SandBoxUtah: The Hill/E2 Wire "House clears highway bill with Keystone pipeline mandate, thwarts Obama"
Ben Geman, Russell Berman and Keith Laing:
"Defying a White House veto threat, the House on Wednesday passed legislation that extends transportation program funding through September and mandates construction of a controversial oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast.
All but 14 Republicans, with support from 69 Democrats, voted 293-127 for legislation that falls far short of Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) earlier plan to move a sweeping five-year, $260 billion package.
But Boehner’s retreat serves two crucial tactical and political purposes for the Speaker. It sets up talks with the Senate on the highway bill and keeps the Keystone pipeline — a centerpiece of GOP attacks on White House energy policy — front and center ahead of the November election.
Republican leaders hailed the bipartisan vote as a rebuke of President Obama. Two senior Democrat leaders, Reps. James Clyburn (S.C.) and John Larson (Conn.), approved the measure....."
(Read more? Click title)
"Defying a White House veto threat, the House on Wednesday passed legislation that extends transportation program funding through September and mandates construction of a controversial oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast.
All but 14 Republicans, with support from 69 Democrats, voted 293-127 for legislation that falls far short of Speaker John Boehner’s (R-Ohio) earlier plan to move a sweeping five-year, $260 billion package.
But Boehner’s retreat serves two crucial tactical and political purposes for the Speaker. It sets up talks with the Senate on the highway bill and keeps the Keystone pipeline — a centerpiece of GOP attacks on White House energy policy — front and center ahead of the November election.
Republican leaders hailed the bipartisan vote as a rebuke of President Obama. Two senior Democrat leaders, Reps. James Clyburn (S.C.) and John Larson (Conn.), approved the measure....."
(Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Washington Times " Battlegrounds established for Hispanic votes"
Stephen Dinan:
"Dream Act students rallied outside Mitt Romney’s campaign speech in North Carolina on Wednesday, accusing him of forsaking Hispanic immigrants and vowing to make him pay in the November election — even as President Obama’s campaign announced its own outreach efforts to try to shore up his support among Hispanic voters.
The Obama campaign also launched its first set of Spanish-language ads, airing in Colorado, Nevada and Florida, that tout his expansion of federal funding for education.
The moves are designed to try to hold on to Hispanic voters, who backed Mr. Obama 67 percent to 31 percent over John McCain in 2008, and whom the president’s campaign deems critical to a repeat win this year. The campaign laid out a plan to get to that point by attacking Mr. Romney on his immigration stances, while highlighting the federal spending the president has directed at programs important to Hispanics.
“President Obama believes that when we prosper, that all of us must prosper and that we recognize all of us are in this together,” said San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a national co-chairman of Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign. “Mitt Romney doesn’t believe that. His words and his actions make that clear.”
At stake is the fastest-growing bloc in American politics...." (Read more? Click title)
"Dream Act students rallied outside Mitt Romney’s campaign speech in North Carolina on Wednesday, accusing him of forsaking Hispanic immigrants and vowing to make him pay in the November election — even as President Obama’s campaign announced its own outreach efforts to try to shore up his support among Hispanic voters.
The Obama campaign also launched its first set of Spanish-language ads, airing in Colorado, Nevada and Florida, that tout his expansion of federal funding for education.
The moves are designed to try to hold on to Hispanic voters, who backed Mr. Obama 67 percent to 31 percent over John McCain in 2008, and whom the president’s campaign deems critical to a repeat win this year. The campaign laid out a plan to get to that point by attacking Mr. Romney on his immigration stances, while highlighting the federal spending the president has directed at programs important to Hispanics.
“President Obama believes that when we prosper, that all of us must prosper and that we recognize all of us are in this together,” said San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro, a national co-chairman of Mr. Obama’s re-election campaign. “Mitt Romney doesn’t believe that. His words and his actions make that clear.”
At stake is the fastest-growing bloc in American politics...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Red State "What is the Cost of EPA Interference? "
Ben Howe:
"I’ve written several posts here about the cost of EPA interference in our lives. Estimates of job losses at the hands of the supposedly well-intentioned Environmental Protection Agency are in the millions. As Lisa Jackson’s EPA continues its unrelenting war against coal, an obvious thing is going to happen: the cost of powering your home and your daily life is going to go up. In fact, it’s going to skyrocket. Don’t take it from me, take it from the man himself...." (Read more? Click title)
"I’ve written several posts here about the cost of EPA interference in our lives. Estimates of job losses at the hands of the supposedly well-intentioned Environmental Protection Agency are in the millions. As Lisa Jackson’s EPA continues its unrelenting war against coal, an obvious thing is going to happen: the cost of powering your home and your daily life is going to go up. In fact, it’s going to skyrocket. Don’t take it from me, take it from the man himself...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Fox 13 "Son of former Utah governor chosen as running mate"
Aaron Vaughn:
"SALT LAKE CITY — It is a name not seen on a Utah ballot for nearly four decades. A Democrat with Utah family history may provide Democrats with some new firepower on their gubernatorial ticket.
Utah governor’s candidate, and retired military general, Peter Cooke, announced Vince Rampton, the son of former Governor Cal Rampton, as his running mate. The two of them tried to send a message about Utah Democrats on Thursday.
“We have a message that is so important that without a two party system, how do you have a democracy?” asked Cooke.
With that message, Cooke introduced a man whose name recalls a time when Utah elected Democrats. Rampton’s father, Cal, served as governor for three terms. But that was a long time ago.
“For my entire lifetime, the LDS Democrat has lived in kind of a shadow world. It’s this terribly timid ‘I’m one are you one too?’” says Vince Rampton....." (Read more? Click title)
"SALT LAKE CITY — It is a name not seen on a Utah ballot for nearly four decades. A Democrat with Utah family history may provide Democrats with some new firepower on their gubernatorial ticket.
Utah governor’s candidate, and retired military general, Peter Cooke, announced Vince Rampton, the son of former Governor Cal Rampton, as his running mate. The two of them tried to send a message about Utah Democrats on Thursday.
“We have a message that is so important that without a two party system, how do you have a democracy?” asked Cooke.
With that message, Cooke introduced a man whose name recalls a time when Utah elected Democrats. Rampton’s father, Cal, served as governor for three terms. But that was a long time ago.
“For my entire lifetime, the LDS Democrat has lived in kind of a shadow world. It’s this terribly timid ‘I’m one are you one too?’” says Vince Rampton....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Fox 13 "Republican delegate lavished with praise from candidates"
Aaron Vaughn:
"WEST JORDAN — There are 4,000 Utahns getting a lot of attention right now because they are delegates to state party conventions. And with the most contentious set of races in a long time, Republican delegates might be getting more attention than they want.
“My mailbox every day looks like I’ve forgotten to pick up my mail for a week,” says Ann Ford, who is lavished with attention as a Republican delegate...." (Read more? Click title)
"WEST JORDAN — There are 4,000 Utahns getting a lot of attention right now because they are delegates to state party conventions. And with the most contentious set of races in a long time, Republican delegates might be getting more attention than they want.
“My mailbox every day looks like I’ve forgotten to pick up my mail for a week,” says Ann Ford, who is lavished with attention as a Republican delegate...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: The Hill/Ballot Box "Hatch falls just short at Utah GOP convention, will face primary"
Cameron Joseph:
"Sen. Orrin Hatch fell just short of an outright victory at the Utah Republican convention, meaning he will face a primary to secure the GOP nomination for his own Senate seat.
Hatch finished the second round of balloting with 59.1 percent of the vote, tantalizingly close to the 60 percent threshold he needed to lock up his party's nomination at the convention.
He'll face former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist (R) in a primary, a race in which he starts off with a big edge in money and in the polls...." (Read more? Click title)
"Sen. Orrin Hatch fell just short of an outright victory at the Utah Republican convention, meaning he will face a primary to secure the GOP nomination for his own Senate seat.
Hatch finished the second round of balloting with 59.1 percent of the vote, tantalizingly close to the 60 percent threshold he needed to lock up his party's nomination at the convention.
He'll face former state Sen. Dan Liljenquist (R) in a primary, a race in which he starts off with a big edge in money and in the polls...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: ABC News "Orrin Hatch praises Ron Paul and son Rand"
Rachel Rose Hartman:
"SALT LAKE CITY, Utah-- Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) raised some third-party hackles this month when he railed against libertarians during an interview with NPR.
"Give me a break. These people are not conservatives. They're not Republicans. They're radical libertarians and I'm doggone offended by it," Hatch said during a discussion in an interview released April 12 of the tea party groups challenging his re-election bid this year.
The former boxer continued: "I despise these people, and I'm not the type of guy you come in and dump on without getting punched in the mouth."
Those comments quickly blew up the libertarian blogosphere, especially after the conservative website Daily Caller picked up on the interview.
But at a delegate open house here Thursday night, Yahoo News caught Hatch, who would benefit from libertarian support at Saturday's GOP convention, singing praises for libertarian-turned-Republican Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas congressman running for president.
Hatch was asked Thursday to comment on the current monetary system versus the one outlined by our "Founding Fathers." And without any additional prompting, Hatch issued his opinion of Paul. "I think that Ron Paul has some good ideas in that area and I do think that the Federal Reserve should be audited," Hatch said. The senator then defended Fed chairman Ben Bernanke as someone "sincere," "dedicated," "smart," and who makes himself available to Hatch, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee..." (Read more? Click title)
"SALT LAKE CITY, Utah-- Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) raised some third-party hackles this month when he railed against libertarians during an interview with NPR.
"Give me a break. These people are not conservatives. They're not Republicans. They're radical libertarians and I'm doggone offended by it," Hatch said during a discussion in an interview released April 12 of the tea party groups challenging his re-election bid this year.
The former boxer continued: "I despise these people, and I'm not the type of guy you come in and dump on without getting punched in the mouth."
Those comments quickly blew up the libertarian blogosphere, especially after the conservative website Daily Caller picked up on the interview.
But at a delegate open house here Thursday night, Yahoo News caught Hatch, who would benefit from libertarian support at Saturday's GOP convention, singing praises for libertarian-turned-Republican Rep. Ron Paul, a Texas congressman running for president.
Hatch was asked Thursday to comment on the current monetary system versus the one outlined by our "Founding Fathers." And without any additional prompting, Hatch issued his opinion of Paul. "I think that Ron Paul has some good ideas in that area and I do think that the Federal Reserve should be audited," Hatch said. The senator then defended Fed chairman Ben Bernanke as someone "sincere," "dedicated," "smart," and who makes himself available to Hatch, ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee..." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Talk Radio "INTERVIEW: Sean Reyes - Candidate For Attorney General"
Listen to this good interview of candidate for Utah AG Sean Reyes? Click title.
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah: A beehive of corruption"
Pat Shea:
"I have served on the Governor’s Council of Balanced Resources since its creation in 2009, but no longer.
Here’s why:
At our last meeting, legislation by the Utah Legislature purporting to reclaim federal land for the state of Utah was discussed, though the main proponent of the idea, Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, was absent.
When lawmakers were considering the legislation, Bob Abbey, director of the federal Bureau of Land Management, told The Salt Lake Tribune that "it’s too bad we can’t focus on our shared values, instead of litigating and spending money."
In keeping with that spirit of shared values, during the meeting I drafted a letter from the Balanced Resources Council to the BLM director, asking for his view of our shared values. I read the letter to the council and everyone agreed it was a good idea.
Alan Matheson Jr., the governor’s chief environmental adviser and staff person for the council, asked that Gov. Gary Herbert be given a chance to review the letter. Two weeks later, I received a phone message that the governor was not willing to have his council send such a letter.
Matheson said that if Abbey wanted to write a letter on his own describing his perception of our "shared values," the letter could be reviewed by the council. Disgusted, I resigned from the council on April 13.
SandBoxUtah: KSL Utah "Busted Spice operation may be part of nationwide drug ring"
Interesting to read some of the avatar comments around the State of Utah on this bust. There seems to be about the same ratio of pro-law enforcement to the legalize all drugs crowd to just nonsense trolls talking just to hear themselves.
Which is roughly what we have on the Western Slope of Colorado in commentary. I would be curious to see what some of you who follow SandBox could do out there in trying to get a true dialogue going on one of their forums. just sayin.
Thank you to all the agencies, officers and agents who participated in this major bust. You're appreciated in both Utah and Colorado.
Alex Cabrero:
"St. George — Police recovered more than $1 million worth of Spice and bath salts from a St. George warehouse earlier this week. Now investigators say the southern Utah operation could be a big part of a nationwide supply chain.
"This distribution center that was here in southern Utah was supplying Spice and bath salts throughout the U.S.," said Lt. David Moss, Commander of the Washington County Area Drug and Gang Task Force.
"That's just what they call it," Moss continued. "Spice is not spice you put on your food, and bath salts (are) not something you put in your bath."
They're really illegal drugs. Spice has a similar effect on the body as marijuana, Moss said, and bath salts act a lot like methamphetamine.
The warehouse was full the drug, made and distributed from inside. This week, police made five arrests on drug charges and took evidence from smoke shops in Washington and St. George.
KSL News left messages with the owners of those shops to get their side of the story, but they did not return our calls.
A worker at the Earrings and More smoke shop claims everything police took was legal.
"The people we arrested were the ones that were manufacturing and distributing, and are the ones that were supplying it to some of these businesses," Moss said.
Both drugs have become a big problem in southern Utah, Moss said, but part of the reason might be because the State Legislature made the drugs illegal about a year ago."
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Utah wage growth outpaced U.S. in 2011 "
Paul Beebe:
"The latest details about Utah wages add fresh evidence that the state’s economy is healing faster than the rest of the nation — albeit modestly.
The median wage for all Utah occupations was $32,050 in 2011 — up a moderate 2.4 percent from the previous year, according to Department of Workforce Services figures.
The U.S. median wage grew at a slower pace. It rose just 1.8 percent between 2010 and last year, according to the department’s figures.
"That may be a little bit of an indicator that Utah’s economy is perking up a little bit faster than the nation’s," John Mathews, a department economist, said Thursday.
Utah’s latest median wage managed to reverse several years of declining growth. In 2007, the median in the state was 3.9 percent higher than in 2006. But as the recession settled in, growth slowed. Subsequent increases in each of the succeeding years were progressively smaller before finally bottoming out in 2010 at 1.7 percent....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Denver Post "Energy Fuels to buy Utah's White Mesa uranium mill"
"GRAND JUNCTION — A company trying to build the nation's first new uranium mill in more than 30 years has agreed to buy the United States' only existing conventional uranium mill.
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported Monday that Energy Fuels Inc. plans to buy Denison Mines Corp.'s White Mesa Mill, near Blanding, Utah, as well as its mines along the Colorado-Utah border, and elsewhere in Utah and Arizona. Energy Fuels will exchange about 425.4 million shares for the properties, valued at about $107.1 million
Energy Fuels wants to build a uranium mill in Colorado's Montrose County and owns potential mining properties in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming and New Mexico....."
The Grand Junction Daily Sentinel reported Monday that Energy Fuels Inc. plans to buy Denison Mines Corp.'s White Mesa Mill, near Blanding, Utah, as well as its mines along the Colorado-Utah border, and elsewhere in Utah and Arizona. Energy Fuels will exchange about 425.4 million shares for the properties, valued at about $107.1 million
Energy Fuels wants to build a uranium mill in Colorado's Montrose County and owns potential mining properties in Colorado, Utah, Arizona, Wyoming and New Mexico....."
SandBoxUtah: Deseret News "Utah's largest oil producer will invest $500 million in Utah this year"
Geoff Liesik:
"Houston-based Newfield has accounted for roughly one-third of the oil produced in Utah in each of the past three years, according to the state Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, which makes it a major contributor to state coffers.
Utah receives more than $10 million in state royalty payments and severance taxes annually from Newfield, and between 2005 and 2010, the state received more than $50 million in ad valorem and production taxes from the company.
Duchesne and Uintah counties derive more than $5 million annually in tax revenues from Newfield as well."
"Houston-based Newfield has accounted for roughly one-third of the oil produced in Utah in each of the past three years, according to the state Division of Oil, Gas and Mining, which makes it a major contributor to state coffers.
Utah receives more than $10 million in state royalty payments and severance taxes annually from Newfield, and between 2005 and 2010, the state received more than $50 million in ad valorem and production taxes from the company.
Duchesne and Uintah counties derive more than $5 million annually in tax revenues from Newfield as well."
SandBoxUtah: Sacramento Bee "Utah Valley Announces 2012 Festivals and Events Schedule"
The full list with specifics on all 2012 festivals and events. Click title.
Utah Valley and Conventions Bureau:
"PROVO, Utah, April 18, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- The Utah Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau (UVCVB) has announced its 2012 event lineup for festivals and recreational activities. With many new and returning events, spring and summer of 2012 in Utah Valley are packed with a wide variety of attractions for those living in or visiting Utah Valley.
"2012 marks another exciting year for the Utah Valley tourism industry, and we are pleased to welcome The Beach Boys to the Stadium of Fire in July," said Joel Racker, President and CEO of UVCVB. "Spring marks the beginning of our festival & events season throughout Utah Valley and we invite everyone to plan a visit and enjoy all that Utah Valley has to offer during this year's exciting festival season."
Upcoming events include the annual Strawberry Days & Rodeo in Pleasant Grove, Scottish Festival at Thanksgiving Point, the Bluebird Cafe Series at Robert Redford's Sundance Resort, Princess Festival, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and more....."
Utah Valley and Conventions Bureau:
"PROVO, Utah, April 18, 2012 -- /PRNewswire/ -- The Utah Valley Convention and Visitors Bureau (UVCVB) has announced its 2012 event lineup for festivals and recreational activities. With many new and returning events, spring and summer of 2012 in Utah Valley are packed with a wide variety of attractions for those living in or visiting Utah Valley.
"2012 marks another exciting year for the Utah Valley tourism industry, and we are pleased to welcome The Beach Boys to the Stadium of Fire in July," said Joel Racker, President and CEO of UVCVB. "Spring marks the beginning of our festival & events season throughout Utah Valley and we invite everyone to plan a visit and enjoy all that Utah Valley has to offer during this year's exciting festival season."
Upcoming events include the annual Strawberry Days & Rodeo in Pleasant Grove, Scottish Festival at Thanksgiving Point, the Bluebird Cafe Series at Robert Redford's Sundance Resort, Princess Festival, the Timpanogos Storytelling Festival and more....."
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
SandBoxUtah: Deseret News "3 Utah schools named as nation's top 'green colleges'"
"The Princeton Review first created this one-of-a-kind resource for college-bound students in 2010 in collaboration with the Center for Green Schools at the U.S. Green Building Council, which is best-known for developing the LEED green building rating system.
In 2010, USGBC launched its Center for Green Schools to increase its efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed and operated so that all educational facilities can enhance student learning experiences.
The list is available by going to www.centerforgreenschools.org/greenguide..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
In 2010, USGBC launched its Center for Green Schools to increase its efforts to drive change in how campuses and schools are designed, constructed and operated so that all educational facilities can enhance student learning experiences.
The list is available by going to www.centerforgreenschools.org/greenguide..." (Read more? Click title)
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Petition calls for Canyons School District investigation "
Katie Drake:"
An online petition calling for an investigation into alleged bullying tactics by Canyons School District officials had more than 700 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.
Chad Iverson, who is running for Canyons Board of Education, said he believes an independent investigation of allegations against superintendent David Doty is needed. Iverson claims former district employees allege Doty uses bullying and intimidation to maintain control. Iverson is also calling for an anonymous survey of all district employees....."
SandBoxUtah: Command Posts "Doolittle Raid Reading and Viewing List"
(See related story and comments here)
A must read from Callie Oettinger.
Peruse official photos in this incredible collection. Read the stories gathered and link to historical data that you may have never known before.
'Doolittle's Tokyo Raiders', thank you so much for your service.
Photo Credit: Crew No. 13 (Plane #40-2247, target Yokosuka): 37th Bombardment Squadron, front row: Lt. Edgar E. McElroy, pilot; and Lt. Richard A. Knobloch, copilot; back row: Lt. Clayton J. Campbell, navigator; Master Sgt. Robert C. Bourgeois, bombardier; and Sgt. Adam R. Williams, flight engineer/gunner. Image: Pacific Air Forces.
Photo Credit: Crew No. 10 (Plane #40-2250, target Tokyo): 89th Reconnaissance Squadron, front row: Lt. Richard O. Joyce, pilot; and Lt. J. Royden Stork, copilot; back row: Lt. Horace E. Crouch, navigator/bombardier; Sgt. George E. Larkin Jr., flight engineer; and Staff Sgt. Edwin W. Horton Jr., gunner. Image and caption: Pacific Air Forces.
Photo Credit: Tung-Sheng Liu (third from right in white jacket) stands with the crew of Lt. Travis Hoover. He helped these men escape capture following the Doolittle Raid. He later immigrated to the United States and was one of four individuals names as honorary Doolittle Raiders. Image and caption: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
SandBoxUtah: Customs and Border Protection "CBP Narcotic Detector Dog Retires"
"Blaine, Wash – U.S. Customs and Border Protection retires narcotic detector dog “Ornella” this week after two years of resolute service protecting the northern border.
"Unapologetically pursuing and tracking patterns within the news others make since 2010."
Ornella is four and one half year old Sable Shepherd whose sharp nose is capable of detecting marijuana, cocaine, heroin, ecstasy, methamphetamine and concealed humans.
“She is a hard working CBP canine that definitely deserves a comfortable retirement and attentive companion,” said CBP K-9 Officer Shawn Johnson. “Ornella possesses those qualities and energies that make a successful detector dog a drug smuggler’s worst fear.”
CBP employs dogs as long as they can successfully perform the mission. The service career of a detector dog will normally last no longer than eight years. In Ornella’s case she is being retired early due to medical reasons but her retirement circumstances are rather unique.
Ornella will be placed in a caring new home by Save-A-Vet, a non-profit organization founded in 2007 dedicated to the placement of military and law enforcement working dogs after service to country and community is done. Her future will include play time, sun bathing and lazily lounging at the feet of her new companion.
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: Reuters "Court says Arizona can demand voter identification"
Tim Gaynor:
"A U.S appeals court on Tuesday ruled Arizona may require voters to show identification at the polls, a ruling likely to add fuel to the fiery debate about voting rights in a presidential election year.
But the court also ruled the state cannot demand that they show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, a decision the state's attorney general said he would appeal.
That could set the stage for yet another U.S. Supreme Court showdown over a contentious Arizona law touching on citizenship issues. Next week, the high court will hear arguments over the state's effort to crack down on illegal immigration....." (Read more? Click title)
"A U.S appeals court on Tuesday ruled Arizona may require voters to show identification at the polls, a ruling likely to add fuel to the fiery debate about voting rights in a presidential election year.
But the court also ruled the state cannot demand that they show proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, a decision the state's attorney general said he would appeal.
That could set the stage for yet another U.S. Supreme Court showdown over a contentious Arizona law touching on citizenship issues. Next week, the high court will hear arguments over the state's effort to crack down on illegal immigration....." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Newsmax "Rubio's Immigration Push a Potential Lift for GOP"
""We have to get Hispanic voters to vote for our party," Romney told a private fundraiser in Florida on Sunday in which he insisted the GOP needs an alternative to the DREAM Act. He warned that a significant number of Hispanics backing Obama "spells doom for us," according to NBC News.
Rubio, who notably called on his party to tone down the anti-immigrant talk earlier this year, is working on a plan that would allow young illegal immigrants who came to the United States with their parents to apply for non-immigrant visas. They would be permitted to stay in the country to study or work, could obtain a driver's license but would not be able to vote. They later could apply for residency, but they would not have a special path to citizenship.
Rubio said he has not talked to the Romney campaign about his plan but definitely would. "He's our nominee and I think it's important for him to feel comfortable with and be supportive of whatever endeavor we pursue," the senator said...." (Read more? Click title)
Rubio, who notably called on his party to tone down the anti-immigrant talk earlier this year, is working on a plan that would allow young illegal immigrants who came to the United States with their parents to apply for non-immigrant visas. They would be permitted to stay in the country to study or work, could obtain a driver's license but would not be able to vote. They later could apply for residency, but they would not have a special path to citizenship.
Rubio said he has not talked to the Romney campaign about his plan but definitely would. "He's our nominee and I think it's important for him to feel comfortable with and be supportive of whatever endeavor we pursue," the senator said...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBoxUtah: Salt Lake Tribune "Former Utah deputy faces federal charges in strip search case "
"A former Box Elder County Sheriff’s deputy has been charged with eight federal misdemeanors after prosecutors say he inappropriately searched eight women during traffic stops in 2010.
Scott Womack, 36, surrendered to federal authorities Wednesday morning, according to the U.S. Attorney David Barlow, and was scheduled to make an appearance in federal court on Wednesday, as well.
Womack has been charged with eight counts of deprivation of rights under color of law following a federal investigation...." (Read more? Click title)
SandBox Utah "SandBoxBlogs: Summit County Citizens Voice "Morning photo: Summit view" "
All photo credit: Ed Carley
"I’ve been taking photos of mountains since 2002 when I moved to Boone, North Carolina to attend Appalachian State University, and where I began carrying a camera with me on my hiking and rock climbing adventures. My first taste of the Colorado Rockies came in 2003 when I spent the summer living in Crested Butte and mountain biking in every spare moment. I moved to Summit County in 2007 and have been a full time resident since then. In that time I’ve carried my camera with me on many hiking, biking and snowboarding excursions in to these amazing mountains. I’m happy to share my photos with Summit County Citizens Voice readers....." (follow @ed_carley or click credit link)
"I’ve been taking photos of mountains since 2002 when I moved to Boone, North Carolina to attend Appalachian State University, and where I began carrying a camera with me on my hiking and rock climbing adventures. My first taste of the Colorado Rockies came in 2003 when I spent the summer living in Crested Butte and mountain biking in every spare moment. I moved to Summit County in 2007 and have been a full time resident since then. In that time I’ve carried my camera with me on many hiking, biking and snowboarding excursions in to these amazing mountains. I’m happy to share my photos with Summit County Citizens Voice readers....." (follow @ed_carley or click credit link)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)