Whole Foods taking legal action against cake accuser, releases video

Source: Austin American-Statesman

Austin-based Whole Foods Market said it is taking legal action against an Austin man who claims he purchased a cake from the retailer that included a slur against gay people.

Whole Foods also released its security footage video from its North Lamar Boulevard flagship store that it says contradicts the man’s claims.

Whole Foods on Tuesday said it has investigated and said the man, Jordan Brown, made fraudulent claims and that the company would take legal action.

“After a deeper investigation of Mr. Brown’s claim, we believe his accusations are fraudulent and we intend to take legal action against both Mr. Brown and his attorney,” the company said in the statement.

Read more: http://www.statesman.com/news/business/whole-foods-taking-legal-action-against-cake-accus/nq7qt/

Should Bernie have stood strong on Whore-gate? Was it cowardly of him to apologize?

I have seen a lot of defense on this board of what was said last night. If it was a-ok, why did Senator Sanders feel the need to apologize?

17 of 19 Democratic Pennsylvania State Senators endorse Hillary

Ahead of the April 26th primary, PA Senate Democrats have overwhelmingly lined up to support Hillary Clinton for President.

“Secretary Clinton will bring a lifetime of experience fighting for the issues that matter most — not just for Pennsylvanians, but for the country as a whole,” said Senate Democratic Leader, Jay Costa (Allegheny). “With Clinton in the White House, we will have an experienced leader who knows Pennsylvania and will be able to move the ball forward.”

“Hillary Clinton’s ties run deep in Pennsylvania and in Philadelphia,” said Senate Democratic Senate Appropriations Chair, Senator Vincent J. Hughes (Philadelphia). “From her time as First Lady, to U.S. Senator, to Secretary of State, I’ve seen in Hillary someone with an incredible grasp of legislation and the legislative process, and an undeniably compassionate understanding of the role in Government in the lives of every American.”

“Clinton is the best candidate to lead our country,” said Senate Democratic Campaign Committee Chair, Daylin Leach (Montgomery). “She combines the progressive ideals that our country needs with the pragmatism and resume to get things done. At a time when the Republican Presidential candidates seem to be stoking the flames of fear and anger, I have never been more proud to support Hillary Clinton for President.”

more: http://www.politicspa.com/pa-senate-democrats-endorse-clinton/74422/

17 of 19 Democratic Pennsylvania State Senators endorse Hillary

Ahead of the April 26th primary, PA Senate Democrats have overwhelmingly lined up to support Hillary Clinton for President.

“Secretary Clinton will bring a lifetime of experience fighting for the issues that matter most — not just for Pennsylvanians, but for the country as a whole,” said Senate Democratic Leader, Jay Costa (Allegheny). “With Clinton in the White House, we will have an experienced leader who knows Pennsylvania and will be able to move the ball forward.”

“Hillary Clinton’s ties run deep in Pennsylvania and in Philadelphia,” said Senate Democratic Senate Appropriations Chair, Senator Vincent J. Hughes (Philadelphia). “From her time as First Lady, to U.S. Senator, to Secretary of State, I’ve seen in Hillary someone with an incredible grasp of legislation and the legislative process, and an undeniably compassionate understanding of the role in Government in the lives of every American.”

“Clinton is the best candidate to lead our country,” said Senate Democratic Campaign Committee Chair, Daylin Leach (Montgomery). “She combines the progressive ideals that our country needs with the pragmatism and resume to get things done. At a time when the Republican Presidential candidates seem to be stoking the flames of fear and anger, I have never been more proud to support Hillary Clinton for President.”

more: http://www.politicspa.com/pa-senate-democrats-endorse-clinton/74422/

Schlumberger Cutting Venezuela Work Because the Country Has No Cash

Source: Fortune

Oilfield services provider Schlumberger said it would reduce its operations in Venezuela due to payment problems, a further sign of the cash crunch facing the OPEC nation because of weak oil markets.

Venezuelan state oil company PDVSA, the exclusive operator of the country’s oilfields, has built up billions of dollars in unpaid bills to service providers as a result of cash-flow problems.

“Schlumberger appreciates the efforts of its main customer in the country to find alternative payment solutions and remains fully committed to supporting the Venezuelan exploration and production industry,” the company said in a statement.

“However, Schlumberger is unable to increase its accounts receivable balances beyond their current level.”



Read more: http://fortune.com/2016/04/13/schlumberger-venezuela-cutbacks-cash/

Poll: Clinton maintains double-digit lead in NY

According to a Quinnipiac University survey released Tuesday, Clinton takes 53 percent support to Sanders’s 40 percent ahead of the critical primary on April 19.

That’s essentially unchanged from the same poll at the end of March, when Clinton led 54 to 42 percent.

Clinton’s lead in New York is solidified by overwhelming support among black voters; she leads among that demographic 65 to 28 percent.


Sanders has a strong contingent of black surrogates and supporters working on his behalf in New York, including director Spike Lee and civil rights icon Harry Belafonte, but so far he has been unable to cut into Clinton’s huge advantage there.

more: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/275991-poll-clinton-maintains-double-digit-lead-in-ny

Venezuela's cellphone providers suspend international calls

Source: CBS News

CARACAS, Venezuela -Venezuela's two main cellphone service providers are suspending long distance calling as the South American country struggles to pay its bills.

Movistar, a subsidiary of the Spain-based Telefonica, and Digitel both announced last week that they would be cutting international service because of issues related to Venezuela's byzantine currency controls. Digitel ended that service on Saturday while Movistar will do so Friday.

The companies had already dramatically reduced the list of countries Venezuelans could call.

Movistar said the change will be temporary, but didn't say when long distance calling will resume. Venezuelans will still be able to make international calls from some landlines.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/news/venezuelas-cellphone-providers-suspend-international-calls/

Joe Biden: I’d Like to See a Woman Elected President

Source: Time

Vice President Joe Biden hasn’t endorsed a candidate in this fall’s presidential election, but he said in a new interview that he “would like to see a woman elected.”

“This country is ready for a woman,” Biden said when asked in an interview with Mic about whether former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is being held to a higher standard on the campaign trail. “There’s no problem. We’re going to be able to elect a woman in this country.”

When the reporter pressed and asked the Vice President whether he would personally like to see a woman elected, he responded that he did. Though Biden’s staff appeared to try cutting off the interview after that question, the Vice President continued.

“The President and I are not going to endorse because we both when we ran said, ‘Let the party decide,'” Biden added. “But gosh almighty, Hillary Clinton is overwhelmingly qualified to be President.”

Read more: http://time.com/4289026/joe-biden-woman-elected-president/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+timeblogs%2Fswampland+%28TIME%3A+Swampland%29

Daughter of Sandy Hook victim slams Sanders on guns

The daughter of a woman who died in the 2012 mass shooting in Newtown, Conn., lashed out at Bernie Sanders on Tuesday night for his support of legislation that keeps victims of gun violence from suing weapon manufacturers.

Erica Smegielski's mother, Dawn Hochsprung, was the principal at Sandy Hook Elementary School and one of 26 people killed by the shooter there.

Smegielski tweeted:

Shame on you, @BernieSanders try living one hour of our lives. Love, the #SandyHook Principal's Daughter https://twitter.com/nydailynews/status/717507584530518016

Sanders needs to change 'tone' if he wants NY debate

Source: The Hill

A top aide to Hillary Clinton's campaign on Monday dodged questions about setting up a debate with Bernie Sanders in New York, saying it depends on the senator's "tone."

"This is a man who said he'd never run a negative ad ever. He's now running them. They're planning to run more," Joel Benenson, Clinton's chief strategist, said on CNN. "Let's see the tone of the campaign he wants to run before we get to any other questions."

After winning a trio of states over the weekend, Sanders on Sunday called for a debate in New York ahead of that state's April 19 primary. The Vermont senator is looking to cut into Clinton's delegate lead and says he has the "momentum" heading into the latter half of the race.

The pair faced off in a Miami debate earlier this month, and a Sanders campaign letter on Sunday said the two campaigns had agreed to a California debate in May but had not agreed to terms on a debate in April, according to The New York Times.

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/presidential-races/274470-clinton-aide-new-york-debate-depends-on-tone-of-sanders