Saturday, May 3, 2014


News Clips For The Day


Western Observers Freed by Pro-Russians in Slovyansk: OSCE – NBC
Alastair Jamieson
First published May 3rd 2014

European military observers held by pro-Russian separatists in Ukraine have been released, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe said early Saturday.
All 12 being held hostage were freed in the town of Slovyansk, RIA Novosti reported.

It came hours after President Barack Obama warned Russia that it must help free the observers, calling their detention "inexcusable" and "disgraceful."

An Associated Press reporter on Saturday saw one of the observers, German Col. Axel Schneider, and his Ukrainian translator walk free.

Insurgent leader Vyacheslav Ponomarev told The AP that all seven observers and their five Ukrainian assistants were free.

Insurgents in Slovyansk, the epicenter of the current crisis in eastern Ukraine, seized the observer team on April 25.




“It came hours after President Barack Obama warned Russia that it must help free the observers, calling their detention 'inexcusable' and 'disgraceful.'” Clearly the Russians are in control of the mobs in Eastern Ukraine though they choose to deny it. Insurgent leader Vyacheslav Ponomarev simply comments that the team including Ukrainians are all free. The TV news last night reported heavy fighting in the East with deaths at least on the Ukrainian side, but I didn't find an article about that on either of my websites, NBC, CBS, ABC and NPR. Maybe it was published yesterday. At least they are continuing to fight rather than giving up.




81 Pounds of Marijuana Discovered in Checked Suitcases at Oakland Airport – NBC
By Geoffrey Eisler and Jean Elle
Saturday, May 3, 2014

Transportation Security Administration agents at Oakland International Airport found 81 pounds of marijuana inside a passenger’s checked suitcases.

TSA officials said Friday morning the luggage belonged to a 26-year-old woman traveling to Jackson, Mississippi.

The passenger was arrested by Alameda County Sheriff's Office deputies summoned to the airport by TSA agents. The deputies also seized three suitcases full of marijuana.

Officially, the TSA says it was a random search that turned up the vacuum-packed bricks of marijuana, but Alameda County Sheriff's Office spokesman Sgt. Ray Kelly said agents probably smelled something suspicious.

“As most people may know, it’s not hard to smell the odor of marijuana,” Kelly said. “It’s very hard to conceal that odor.”Investigators believe the passenger intended to cash in upon arrival in Mississippi.

“We in California are known for having high quality marijuana, and lots of it,” Kelly said. “So it’s basically being exported out of our state, we believe, to Mississippi, where it’s probably being sold at a much higher value.”

Officials said the marijuana seized at the airport may be worth as much as $500,000 in Mississippi.

While the passenger in this case is under arrest, the TSA says passengers who fly with much smaller amounts of marijuana don’t typically go to jail, as long as they have a medical marijuana card.

“Normally, if it’s an allowable amount of marijuana, when the police officers respond, they just allow the passenger to go on and travel,” TSA spokesperson Nico Melendez said.

This time police canceled the trip.

“It’s one of the larger drug busts that I recall in my 12 years with the TSA,” Melendez said.

Kelly said investigators are hoping to learn who the woman was working with and whether she has taken this kind of “business trip” before.   




In spite of marijuana being legalized in some states for recreational use there are still people aiming to smuggle it in and sell it on the street. I guess the TSA is stationed at airports and on the lookout for such luggage that smells of more than perfume. Eighty-one pounds is really a large amount. The photograph showed a very neatly packed set of large plastic bags lined up in two rows in a suitcase.

I wouldn't like to get caught with that. I wonder what that young woman was paid to smuggle those suitcases in. She is in for a long stay in prison now. It just isn't worth the penalty to do something that risky. As the Sheriff's spokesman said, “it's not hard to smell the odor of marijuana.” I've heard several people knowingly claim that marijuana smells sweet, but they clearly have never been near any. It has a strong, biting sharp smell like dead pecan tree leaves. I find it pleasant. It smells a lot like Patchouli perfume. Of course, it's been a very long time since I was tempted to use any.





Ariz. teen sexually assaulted 18 girls, maybe more, cops say
By CRIMESIDER STAFF CBS NEWS May 2, 2014

SAN TAN VALLEY, Ariz. -- An Arizona teen accused of multiple sex crimes against one underage girl has been re-arrested as the number of potential victims climbs to 18, the Pinal County Sheriff's Office (PCSO) said Thursday evening.

According to CBS affiliate KPHO, police had been investigating allegations that 12 more girls were victimized by the same man, 18-year-old Tyler Kost, of San Tan Valley in suburban Phoenix. Now sheriff's investigators say another five cases have been identified, and they expect the number of victims to continue to grow.

Kost had posted bail after he was arrested on Monday, reports the station. After he was picked up again, detectives requested that he be held on a "no bond" status, PCSO spokesman Tim Gaffney said.

Nearly all of the potential victims are high school students, according to sheriff's spokesman Sgt. Pat Ramirez. Investigators said that one girl was only 13 years old, while the oldest victim is 17. 

"Once we started looking at it, it immediately started to mushroom," said Pinal County Sheriff Paul Babeu. "We absolutely believe there will be far more victims that are out there."

The station says Kost is a student at Poston Butte High School. After he was apprehended Monday, he was booked into the Pinal County Jail (PCSO) on two counts of sexual assault and two counts of sexual misconduct with a minor.

In one case, Kost threatened, harassed and told one of the victims to kill herself, deputies said. The girl followed attempted suicide and was hospitalized, Ramirez said. KPHOI reports that even with the victim in the hospital, Kost continued to harass her, causing her to leave the state. 

In another case, the station says, a victim became pregnant after she was allegedly raped, according to PCSO. "One of the victims actually became pregnant because of the sexual assault, and she subsequently had an abortion," Babeu said. "These are horrible crimes that cannot be tolerated in our community."

The initial arrest reportedly came after a citizen tipped off a Pinal County sheriff's detective assigned to the Persons Crimes Bureau. 

Around the same time, officials with the Florence Unified School District say Kost came into their office to report being bullied, says the station. At that time, Kost was not aware there was a simultaneous investigation of the sex assaults with him as a suspect.

The alleged attacks happened in several places, says the station: "He would assault these young female victims in their own bedrooms, in his bedroom, in the desert, at a community pool, at community parks," Babeu said.

Detectives said that because of his youthful and innocent looks, he was not perceived as a threat.

A judge set bond at $10,000, which was quickly posted and Kost was released from custody on his own recognizance and was back with his family, until Thursday -- not even required to wear an monitoring bracelet according to KPHO.

A spokesman with the Florence Unified School district said late Tuesday that Kost has been officially suspended from school. 

Detectives are continuing the investigation and additional charges are pending.




“...multiple sex crimes against one underage girl” sounds like the kind of crime that may give Kost a much longer prison term, plus the fact that he is now being charged in as many as 18 cases. It's a little shocking that a “boy” like this could be so violent at such a young age. Of course 18 is not really a boy. By that age they are as tall and strong as many fully grown men. His photograph, though, showed a sad and scared face with a look of being near tears. That may be why the authorities allowed him free on bail in the first case.

“In one case, Kost threatened, harassed and told one of the victims to kill herself, deputies said. The girl followed attempted suicide and was hospitalized, Ramirez said. KPHOI reports that even with the victim in the hospital, Kost continued to harass her, causing her to leave the state.” These details are strangely like the other teenaged bully stories I have seen in the news in the last year, often perpetrated in girl on girl bullying. The heartlessness and the utter immaturity of it stands out to me. I wonder how many teenaged boys are multiple rapists. The date rape drugs came on the scene within the last fifteen years or so, but usually among college aged men.

“Around the same time, officials with the Florence Unified School District say Kost came into their office to report being bullied, says the station. At that time, Kost was not aware there was a simultaneous investigation of the sex assaults with him as a suspect.” This aspect of bullied students also being bullies has been mentioned in several articles on the subject of the problem which is apparently rampant in high schools today. It definitely occurred sometimes when I was young, but was nowhere near this common.

One of the main reasons schools are failing as educational institutions today in the US is the lack of discipline by school officials. The studious and responsible youths have more difficulty learning if gangs are threatening them. They need personal safety in order to focus on their studies. Of course, some parents have taken to complaining when their children are disciplined and even suing the school boards rather than disciplining their kids. A law preventing such suits would likely run amok, as truly abusive disciplinary procedures might tend to become common. I can think of a couple of actually abusive teachers when I was young, but much better conditions in the schools overall were dominant then.

“Detectives are continuing the investigation and additional charges are pending.” School officials should look into other violence among students at that same school. Kids tend to follow the leader in their mischief at a certain age. That school may have a much worse problem with criminal behavior among the kids than has been realized. One of my opinions about school violence and harassment is that if those behaviors were considered crimes and reported to the police, especially if a knife or other weapon is involved, the schools would have fewer problems. The school system is trying to handle an actual criminal problem as though it were childish disobedience. I would like to see that stopped. Teachers take their lives in their hands in some schools these days. No wonder people don't want to teach anymore.




5 Things to Know About the MERS Virus Now That It's Here – ABC
By KATIE MOISSE (@katiemoisse) and SYDNEY LUPKIN (@slupkin)
May 2, 2014

A deadly SARS-like virus spreading through the Middle East has landed in the U.S., health officials said today.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this afternoon confirmed the first U.S. case of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome or MERS – a viral infection that has killed more than 100 people worldwide.

The case involved a healthcare worker who had been working in Saudi Arabia, the CDC said today. The patient, whose name and gender have not been released, flew from Saudi Arabia to London on April 24, and then flew to Chicago before developing a fever, cough and shortness of breath on April 27. The patient sought emergency medical care at a hospital in Indiana April 28, where he or she remains in stable condition receiving oxygen.

“We should not be surprised if additional cases are identified,” U.S. Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Anne Schuchat said at a media briefing today.

While details of the case and the potential for spread are still emerging, here are five things you need to know about MERS.

It’s Spreading
Saudi Arabia is ground zero for the outbreak, with 378 cases and 107 deaths. But at least 14 other countries have reported infections, including Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Tunisia, Malaysia, Oman, France, Greece, Italy, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and now the U.S.

The virus spreads from person-to-person through close contact, but might also be transmitted to humans from animals, according to the CDC.
Find out how to protect yourself from MERS.

It’s Deadly
Roughly one-third of the people known to have contracted the MERS virus have died from it, according to data from the World Health Organization. Most of the fatal cases have involved the elderly and people with pre-existing medical conditions.

It Can Look Like the Flu
Symptoms of the MERS virus include fever and cough, which are also symptoms of the flu. MERS can also cause diarrhea and shortness of breath, and can lead to pneumonia and kidney failure.
See how MERS affects the body.

It Might Have Come From Camels, Bats or Both
While the source of MERS remains a mystery, scientists suspect that it came from an animal. Camels and bats in Saudi Arabia have tested positive for the virus, according to the CDC.

There’s No Cure
There's no treatment for MERS. People who get sick are given supportive treatment to address the infection’s various symptoms, according to the CDC. There's no vaccine, either.




“'We should not be surprised if additional cases are identified,' U.S. Assistant Surgeon General Dr. Anne Schuchat said at a media briefing today” The good news is that it is spread by close contact rather than by a sneeze in a crowded theater like the flu. The bad thing is that one out of three have died, especially among the elderly and unhealthy, and there is no cure yet. “Camels and bats in Saudi Arabia have tested positive for the virus, according to the CDC.”

This probably won't spread rapidly from this one case, especially now that the CDC is aware of it and probably has quarantined the patient. Still, we need to find a vaccine for it and fast. It is in thirteen other countries now, and not all in the Middle East. Anything that looks like flu is especially dangerous because people will tend to stay home and not even consult a doctor. An epidemic could get started that way. I do hope this case remains isolated in the US. We have such high populations in some cities that the spread could become a real problem.




Virginia Senator Pledges Support for Hillary Clinton in 2016 – ABC
By Liz Kreutz
May 2, 2014

Senator Tim Kaine has joined a growing list of top Democratic Senators who are ready for Hillary Clinton.

During a speech Saturday morning at a South Carolina Women’s Democratic Council breakfast, the Virginia Senator will pledge his support for former Secretary of State Clinton should she decide to run for president in 2016, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks obtained by ABC News.

Kaine, a former chairperson of the Democratic National Committee and former governor of Virginia, a swing state, will also announce that he has joined “Ready for Hillary,” the SuperPac encouraging Clinton to run – and will urge others to do the same.

“Pledge your support right now so that Hillary Clinton will know that, should she take this step, there are millions of us ready to take the field with her and make sure she wins,” Kaine says.

In 2006, Kaine endorsed then-Senator Barack Obama over Clinton in the presidential primary, which he acknowledges in his prepared remarks.

“I made my decision early because I knew something—he was the right person for the job but getting there would be hard,” he says of his early support for Obama.

For the “same reason,” Kaine says, he is giving an early endorsement to Clinton, citing the extra challenges women face to “achieve top leadership spots in this country.”

Kaine joins a growing group of Democratic leaders who have urged Clinton to run in 2016.

Caroline Kennedy, the Ambassador to Japan and daughter of former president John F. Kennedy, toldABC News last month she would “absolutely” support Clinton in 2016. Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm, and both Missouri Sen. Claire McCaskill and New York Sen. Chuck Schumer publicly announced their support for a Clinton campaign last year. And in October it was revealed that every one of the 16 female Democratic senators signed a secret letter to Clinton encouraging her to run.

The letter included a signature from Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who despite speculation has repeatedly insisted she will not be running for president herself in 2016, but who has not explicitly endorsed a Clinton candidacy either.

Clinton has also received public support from a range of people, not only politicians, including Star Trek star William Shatner and “Happy” singer, Pharrell Williams.

Recent polls show Hillary Clinton would be the clear front-runner should she decide to run.

According to a Washington Post-ABC News poll last week, Clinton leads former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush–who is seen by many top GOP leaders as the most promising candidate in the Republican party–by 53 to 41 percent. The poll also shows Clinton with a substantial lead among women, as well as with young voters — a key support group for Barack Obama in his two presidential elections.

The “Ready for Hillary” group, which models itself after President Obama’s 2008 and 2012 campaign tactics of garnering community support, says it has hauled in almost $6 million, almost all of it from small-dollar donors, since its launch.

With grassroots support, polling numbers to back her up, and high-level endorsements, Clinton essentially has a campaign waiting for her should she decide to run. Whether she will, however, remains a mystery.




“Senator Tim Kaine has joined a growing list of top Democratic Senators who are ready for Hillary Clinton.” She even has her own superpac already – “Ready for Hillary,” the SuperPac encouraging Clinton to run.” Caroline Kennedy, Jennifer Granholm, Claire McCaskill, Chuck Shumer have come out for her, and “every one of the 16 female Democratic senators signed a secret letter to Clinton encouraging her to run.” There are also William Shatner and Pharrell Williams.

The article says that “recent polls” show that she would be the “clear front-runner” should she run. I think I will contact her website and encourage her because I have had Jeb Bush for a governor and I don't want him for President. He doesn't have the callous edge to his personality that so many Republicans have, but he is very much a party man.





John Boehner Faces A Primary Challenge, But Only Barely – NPR
by FRANK JAMES
May 03, 2014

Let's stipulate that Speaker John Boehner doesn't really have to worry about his Republican primary challengers Tuesday.

He's raised close to $13 million to date. None of his GOP foes have raised even $50,000.
Despite conservative unrest surrounding his leadership, there isn't much sign of it back home in Boehner's Cincinnati-area district. His opponents are largely unknown and in the 2012 Republican primary, the speaker won a landslide 84 percent of the vote against a Tea Party challenger.

Boehner ran even better in November — Democrats failed to field a candidate and the speaker won 99.2 percent. That kind of percentage is usually only seen in dictatorships.
Boehner was so confident in 2012, he didn't even run an ad. This year, the 12-termer isn't taking any chances - he's already aired one ad.

It wasn't a particularly memorable one, mind you, just unidentified people saying positive things about the speaker to the camera. "John Boehner is fighting for people like us, working families," says a toddler-toting woman, accompanied by a man and a grade-schooler, a picture perfect family-friendly tableau.

Family-friendly isn't how you'd describe the memorable campaign ad of a Boehner challenger. That viral, web-only spot — which played off TV commercials for virility products and a well-known mispronunciation of Boehner's name — accused the speaker of causing "electile dysfunction."

The candidate behind it, J.D. Winteregg, is a high school and college French teacher and Tea Party member who has accused Boehner of being a creature of Washington (which you pretty much have to be by definition to become House speaker).

The ad got Winteregg noticed, which was the point. Unfortunately for him, among those noticing it were the administrators at the small Christian school where he worked until recently as an adjunct professor. The school didn't appreciate the foray into partisan politics or the ad's tone and message; Winteregg was informed his services were no longer needed.

Along with Winteregg, Boehner also faces another Tea Party challenger, Eric Gurr, a computer consultant. The speaker at one point had three Tea Party challengers but Matthew Ashworthdropped out and threw his support, for what it was worth, to Gurr.
In a heavily Republican district that gave 62 percent of the vote to Mitt Romney, Tuesday's election is really the only one that matters for Boehner. And yet it doesn't really.




“Despite conservative unrest surrounding his leadership, there isn't much sign of it back home in Boehner's Cincinnati-area district. His opponents are largely unknown and in the 2012 Republican primary, the speaker won a landslide 84 percent of the vote against a Tea Party challenger.” This article describes Boehner's only TV ad so far as “family friendly,” and contrasts it with the abusive ad of his challenger: “That viral, web-only spot — which played off TV commercials for virility products and a well-known mispronunciation of Boehner's name — accused the speaker of causing "electile dysfunction."

The Tea Party candidate who ran that ad, J. D. Winteregg, was employed at a Christian college as a French professor. They wanted no part of the scandalous ad and fired him! He still faces another Tea Party candidate Eric Gurr who is a computer consultant. His last election in which no Democrat ran against him was a rout – he got 99.2 % of the vote. “That kind of percentage is usually only seen in dictatorships.”

I am, needless to say, delighted with Boehner's success because he has several times stood against the Tea Party candidates in the Congress on important issues, especially the closing down of the government earlier in 2013. He is not a radical right-wing Republican. We need more like that. They have still continued to think. Before the Tea Party the legislative process went smoother for the most part. I think their obstructionist tactics are going to begin to go against them with the Republicans who are at home without work during the shutdown of all but key government offices. I don't think they will have the votes to do that particular trick again.