There can be no possible justification for such an overbroad collection of the telephone communications of The Associated Press and its reporters. These records potentially reveal communications with confidential sources across all of the newsgathering activities undertaken by the AP during a two-month period, provide a road map to AP’s newsgathering operations and disclose information about AP’s activities and operations that the government has no conceivable right to know.Associated Press President and Chief Executive Officer Gary Pruitt • In a letter, sent to U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder, denouncing the Justice Department’s decision to acquire the phone records of AP journalists as well as a number of the wire service’s offices over a two-month period. The move came as a result of a 2012 AP story which leaked the news of a foiled attack on the anniversary of Osama bin Laden’s death. The move, which followed the Obama administration’s general policy of trying to shut down leaks, nonetheless was disowned by the White House. “We are not involved in decisions made in connection with criminal investigations, as those matters are handled independently by the Justice Department,” said White House Press Secretary Jay Carney. “Any questions about an ongoing criminal investigation should be directed to the Department of Justice.” The move has been condemned by many journalists.
The Supreme Court agreed with Monsanto on Monday that an Indiana farmer’s unorthodox planting of the company’s genetically modified soybeans violated the agricultural giant’s patent.
The court unanimously rejected farmer Vernon Hugh Bowman’s argument that he was not violating Monsanto’s patent because the company’s pesticide-resistent “Roundup Ready” soybeans replicate themselves. Justice Elena Kagan said there is no such “seeds-are-special” exception to the law.
“We think that blame-the-bean defense tough to credit,” Kagan wrote. “Bowman was not a passive observer of his soybeans’ multiplication; or put another way, the seeds he purchased (miraculous though they might be in other respects) did not spontaneously create eight successive soybean crops.”
We won’t pretend to be well-versed enough in this case and/or patent law (or any legal field for that matter) to have a strong opinion on the outcome of this case, though we suspect there will be more than a few readers who do. Anybody think the Supreme Court got this one wrong?
The Minnesota Senate is expected to give final approval on Monday to a bill that would make the state the 12th in the United States to allow same-sex couples to marry and only the second in the Midwest.
Leaders in the Senate, where Democrats hold a 39-28 majority, have said they believe they have the support to approve a bill legalizing gay marriage. They set a vote for Monday on the measure that members of the state House approved last week.
Democratic Governor Mark Dayton has said he would sign the bill, which would make Minnesota the third state this month to legalize gay marriage after Rhode Island and Delaware. The law would take effect August 1.
Dr. Kermit Gosnell was found guilty of murder on Monday, for killing three babies during supposed late-term abortion procedures he performed at a clinic which serves low-income women in Philadelphia. He was also found guilty of involuntary manslaughter, and 21 counts of performing an abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy. Gosnell faces the death penalty for his crimes, and sentencing is expected next week. (Update: Clarified wording based on newer version of the story. — Scott @ SFB; Photo via MicahFries.com) source
If you’ve got the IRS operating in anything less than a neutral and nonpartisan way, then that is outrageous. It is contradictory to our traditions, and people have to be held accountable.President Obama • Commenting on an admission that the IRS targeted conservative groups, many associated with the tea party, during the 2012 election cycle, following an apology from an IRS official on Friday and this morning’s leak of the Inspector General’s report to ABC News. President Obama’s comments came during a joint press conference with British Prime Minister David Cameron, who’s currently visiting Washington D.C. to discuss the war in Syria. source
New Orleans Police Department release image of gunman shooting into crowd at Mother’s Day parade
New Orleans police searched on Monday for the gunmen who wounded 19 people, including two children, at a Mother’s Day parade, a police spokesman said.
Ten men, seven women, and a girl and a boy both age 10, were hit when gunmen opened fire at the parade on Sunday. Police said they were looking for three suspects, adding that a motive for the shooting was unknown.
Harrowing stuff.
With deference to the genius of David Bowie, here’s Space Oddity, recorded on Station. A last glimpse of the World.
Huge thanks in the making of the video to the talented trio of Emm Gryner, Joe Corcoran and Andrew Tidby, plus Evan Hadfield and all at the CSA.Honestly, this is even better than you think it will be.
Politicalprof: If NASA marketed itself this way, we’d already have colonies on Mars…
All of our astronauts should be this self-aware.
The shooting in New Orleans was captured by Vine user MoneyMakingTUCHE, which may perhaps be a first for the Twitter-owned platform. Scary stuff. If you turn on the audio you can hear the gunshots. (via @AntDeRosa)
NEW ORLEANS — NOPD Superintendent Ronal Serpas says that at least 12 people were shot a Mother’s Day second-line parade in the 7th Ward. The youngest victim in the shooting was 10 years old. Another, thirteenth victim wasn’t actually shot, but was injured in a fall. Police believe three suspects were involved. They were seen fleeing toward Claiborne Avenue. Police say there were 200 people at the corner where shots rang out, and 300 to 400 people at the second line in all. There were about 10 cops on the scene trying to control the second line when the shooting happened. There were reportedly two different guns involved.
(WWTV)
No immediate fatalities were reported in the shooting, according to the New Orleans Time-Picayune. A fluid situation however; we’re keeping an eye on.
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Seth Meyers is officially is the new host of NBC’s “Late Night,” replacing the Leno-replacing Jimmy Fallon and proving one thing: “Weekend Update” is a farm system. (AP photo)
The saga of [Ariel] Castro and his alleged crimes is peppered with what-ifs. During the period that he is accused of holding the young women captive, authorities appeared at his home several times but never discovered the abducted women.Washington Post reporters Manuel Roig-Franzia, Jerry Markon and Luz Lazo • In a long, in-depth piece describing the alleged crimes of Ariel Castro and the young women he abducted. There were many warning signs — including a home relatives described as creepy before the abductions took place and an ongoing domestic violence case that a grand jury refused to hear. It’s a dark story, but read this one to the end. In related news, his brothers have spoken out about the incident, saying they were unaware of what was happening.
Trenton hostage situation passes 24 hours
(Photo: Eduardo Munoz / Reuters)
A hostage situation in the New Jersey capital of Trenton passed its 24th hour on Saturday as police worked to coax out an unidentified armed man who has taken “multiple” hostages amid reports of fatalities.
The Trenton police have confirmed that at least one person inside the house is dead, amid unconfirmed reports of another fatality. They declined to disclose any names or ages of the people still inside.
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