Freddie Stubbs
Freddie Stubbs's JournalCourt Overturns Conviction of Berlusconi in Sex Case
Source: The New York Times
ROME — An appeals court in Milan on Friday overturned the conviction of the former Italian prime minister, Silvio Berlusconi, for paying for sex with a minor, and revoked his seven-year prison sentence and a lifetime ban from holding public office.
Mr. Berlusconi, 77, was found guilty just over a year ago of paying for sex with a young woman named Karima el-Mahroug, nicknamed “Ruby Heart-Stealer,” when she was still a minor, and abusing his office to cover it up.
He appealed the conviction, and the Milanese court ruled in his favor, dealing Mr. Berlusconi a legal victory that strengthens his waning position within the Italian political arena.
The former prime minister was not present in court on Friday; he was in Cesano Boscone, about seven miles outside Milan, at a nursing home where he is serving a year of community service assisting Alzheimer’s patients one day a week, a sentence he received in a separate conviction for tax fraud. Mr. Berlusconi left the care home without speaking to reporters, but he rolled down the window of his car to shake the hand of a supporter who yelled out: “Justice is done!”
Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/19/world/europe/court-overturns-conviction-of-berlusconi-in-sex-case.html?smid=fb-nytimes&WT.z_sma=WO_COC_20140718&bicmp=AD&bicmlukp=WT.mc_id&bicmst=1388552400000&bicmet=1420088400000&_r=1
Obama opens East Coast to oil search
Source: The Associated Press
ST. AUGUSTINE BEACH, Fla. (AP) - The Obama administration has approved the use of sonic cannons to explore for oil and gas off the Eastern Shore.
The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management on Friday formally approved guidelines for using air cannons in the Atlantic Ocean from Florida to Delaware.
Energy companies could buy new oil and gas leases and begin drilling in 2018 if they find profitable reserves.
The guidelines are meant to protect endangered whales and other creatures from the loud noises and increased vessel traffic, but the government's environmental impact study estimates that more than 138,000 sea creatures could be harmed.
Read more: http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_268748/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=5qTaYHfq
Boehner says no to impeachment
Source: The Hill
Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Wednesday said he doesn't support calls from members of his party to impeach President Obama.
Asked about former GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin's comments that Obama should be impeached over the influx of child migrants illegally crossing the border, Boehner said, “I disagree.”
Then asked about members of the House GOP who have also urged for impeachment, Boehner repeated, “I disagree.”
Palin called for Obama’s impeachment on Tuesday in an op-ed for Breitbart News.
Read more: http://thehill.com/homenews/house/211689-boehner-says-no-to-impeachment
Sanders backs VA pick
Source: The Hill
enate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) voiced his support Wednesday for the Obama administration's pick to lead the troubled Veterans Affairs Department, hinting at a smooth confirmation process.
Sanders labeled his hour-long Tuesday sit-down with former Procter & Gamble executive Robert McDonald “a really good meeting.”
“I was impressed by his devotion to veterans, by his service in the military, by his corporate service and knowledge of running a very, very large entity,” Sanders told reporters.
“I have a feeling he’s going to be a very good secretary at the VA,” he added.
Read more: http://thehill.com/policy/defense/211715-sanders-endorses-va-pick
Nazareth mayor looking into allegations against police chief
Nazareth Mayor Carl R. Strye Jr. said he personally is looking into a resident's allegations of racism, bullying and other wrongdoing against police Chief Thomas Trachta, but added, "I'm convinced most of this is unfounded."
Strye's action comes a day after political blogger Bernie O'Hare urged Borough Council to fire the five-year police chief over several infractions alleged by O'Hare, including using code words such as UNB to refer to "unwanted N-word in Borough."
"If [police] were doing anything like that, I'd have heard about it and I've never, ever heard anyone say that was going on," Strye said Tuesday, referring to the code words. "There's no way it's true. I'm talking with the officers, and I'll take a look at some of these other things. If reprimands are warranted, we'll do that, but I'm convinced most of this is unfounded."
O'Hare, a Nazareth resident who says his campaign to get Trachta fired has led at least one officer to try to intimidate him, is less than confident Strye will conduct a valid investigation.
more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/nazareth/mc-nazareth-mayor-responds-20140708,0,3367724.story
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