The Pentagon on Thursday will present plans to the White House to send up to 10,000 more troops to the Middle East, in a move to beef up defenses against potential Iranian threats, U.S. officials said. The officials said no final decision has been made yet, and it's not clear if the White House would approve sending all or just some of the requested forces. Officials said the move is not in response to any new threat from Iran, but is aimed at reinforcing security in the region. They said the troops would be defensive forces, and the discussions include additional Patriot missile batteries, more ships and increased efforts to monitor Iran. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because the plans have not been formally announced. Thursday morning's meeting comes as tensions with Iran continue to simmer, and it wasn't clear if a decision would be made during the session. Any move to deploy more forces to the Middle East would signal a shift for President Donald Trump, who has … [Read more...] about Pentagon Proposing a Troop Buildup in Mideast: Sources
Politics
Troubled Alabama prison system releases 3-year plan
The Alabama Department of Corrections today released a plan for change in a prison system plagued by violence, crowding, and understaffing, and facing federal intervention.The release of the “Strategic Plan 2019-2022” comes as the ADOC, the Gov. Kay Ivey administration and the Legislature work to respond to an April 2 report from the Department of Justice that alleged conditions in men’s prisons violate the Constitution. The report said the DOJ could sue the state in federal court after a 49-day notification period that ended Tuesday if the state failed to adequately respond. Jay Town, U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama, said in a statement Tuesday that the DOJ was encouraged by the state’s response so far.The ADOC is also embroiled in a five-year-old federal lawsuit over health care for inmates. U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson ruled in 2017 that mental health care was "horrendously inadequate."The Strategic Plan released today sets goals for … [Read more...] about Troubled Alabama prison system releases 3-year plan
Ingraham: Pelosi and the Democrats ‘uninterested in working’
close Video House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says Trump is involved in a 'cover-up' Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer says that Democrats have invested everything they have in trying to undermine President Trump. Fox News' Laura Ingraham said Wednesday that House Speaker Nancy Peloi's actions today proved that Democrats are "uninterested" when it comes to working with President Trump. "I still remember, maybe some of you do, as well, when Democrats actually cared about issues like the abuse of government authority, the overreach of the surveillance state, the presumption of innocence. But all of that went out the window, all of those principles, when key figures in the Obama DOJ became obsessed to their core, every fiber of their being, with taking out Trump," Ingraham said on "The Ingraham Angle," referencing the investigation into the origins of the Russia probe. ANGRY DEM SAYS TRUMP 'RAPING THE COUNTRY,' AS IMPEACHMENT PUSH NEARS CRITICAL MASS Shortly … [Read more...] about Ingraham: Pelosi and the Democrats ‘uninterested in working’
Abortion protests continue Wednesday in downtown Fargo
FARGO — Rain did little to keep demonstrators on both sides of the abortion debate from continuing protests near Fargo's Red River Women's Clinic Wednesday after hundreds gathered outside just the day before as part of nationwide protests against recently-passed abortion restrictions in several state legislatures. "I think that this has always been a contentious issue in this nation, but I think specifically now it's coming to a head, ' said abortion rights supporter Jake Mullin. In steady rain that lasted through much of the day, dozens lined First Avenue in downtown Fargo outside North Dakota's only abortion clinic. "I just believe that people have the right to choose what they do with their bodies," said abortion rights protester Hayley Broich. listen live watch live "We are here to help persuade Women to choose life for the little ones … [Read more...] about Abortion protests continue Wednesday in downtown Fargo
California lawmakers consider sweeping charter-school changes
SACRAMENTO — Almost 30 years ago, California lawmakers passed a landmark charter-school law that helped give momentum to the national “school choice” movement. The law has dramatically reshaped education in the state: About 11 percent of California’s 6 million public-school students are now enrolled, and billions of taxpayer dollars flow to charters every year. But some Democratic lawmakers say it’s time for a do-over. They’re pushing a package of legislation, with support from the California Teachers Association, to overhaul the law. The bills aim to slow the growth of charters, whose enrollment totals have increased as those of traditional public schools in some districts have declined. They would give school districts more leverage to deny applications to open new charter schools and cap the number of such schools statewide. Charter opponents say the schools’ growth has created numerous unintended consequences: draining funding from public … [Read more...] about California lawmakers consider sweeping charter-school changes