CLG: Declassified Report Shows Doubts About Value of N.S.A.'s Warrantless Spying, LePage's plan to negate rule on nuclear power plants could be radioactive

News Updates from CLG
27 April 2015

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All links are here:http://www.legitgov.org/#breaking_news

Previous edition: American, Italian Hostages Killed in January CIA Drone Strike

FBI agent's sniper rifle stolen out of car's safe through the window at Salt Lake City hotel...just days before President Obama's Utah visit --Agent's stolen backpack and gear bags were recovered at a nearby hotel, but the gun has not been found | 25 April 2015 | An FBI agent's sniper rifle was ripped out of his car's window and stolen from a Salt Lake City hotel parking lot just days before President Obama visited Utah earlier this month. The gun was inside a hard rifle case and was 'secured properly' to a truck safe with padlocks and chains while the car was parked at the Marriott Springhill Suites, according to police. Marriott Springhill Suites, the agent's hotel, is next to the city's airport and just down the street from the state's FBI office. The hotel does not have surveillance cameras, according to the police report. [And, obviously, someone was cognizant of that fact and passed it along.] The Secret Service told Fox 13 Salt Lake City the agency was notified about the stolen rifle before President Obama's visit, but could not comment if the theft prompted an increase of security.

NSA spied on EU politicians and companies with help from German intelligence | 24 April 2015 |Germany's intelligence service, the Bundesnachrichtendienst (BND), has been helping the NSA spy on European politicians and companies for years, according to the German news magazine Der Spiegel. The NSA has been sending lists of "selectors"--identifying telephone numbers, e-mail and IP addresses--to the BND, which then provides related information that it holds in its surveillance databases. According to the German newspaper Die Zeit, the NSA sent selector lists several times a day, and altogether 800,000 selectors have been requested.

Declassified Report Shows Doubts About Value of N.S.A.'s Warrantless Spying | 24 April 2015 | The secrecy surrounding the National Security Agency's post-9/11 warrantless surveillance and bulk data collection program hampered its effectiveness, and many members of the intelligence community later struggled to identify any specific terrorist attacks it thwarted, a newly declassified document shows. The document is a lengthy report on a once secret N.S.A. program code-named Stellarwind. The report was a joint project in 2009 by inspectors general for five intelligence and law enforcement agencies, and it was withheld from the public at the time, although a short, unclassified version was made public. The government released a redacted version of the full report to The New York Times on Friday evening in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit.

Senate Republicans stealthily introduce bill to keep NSA phone surveillance intact | 23 April 2015 | Senate Republicans have launched the opening salvo in a battle over government surveillance powers, introducing a bill to preserve intact the National Security Agency's authority to store and search domestic telephone records...In an unusual procedural move, the GOP measure to extend the NSA's so-called "bulk collection" of phone records was not considered by any Senate committee. Instead, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., backed by the Intelligence Committee chairman, Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C., moved at about 10 p.m. Tuesday to begin the process of asking the full Senate to reauthorize Section 215 without changes. Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., criticized the late-night maneuver, saying the GOP leadership in the Senate is "trying to quietly pass a straight reauthorization of the bulk collection program that has been proven ineffective and unnecessary."

Car bombs, suicide attack kill at least 22 in Iraq | 26 April 2015 | At least 22 people were killed in explosions across Iraq on Sunday, including a suicide car bomb attack on a military post in western Anbar province, police and medical sources said. The deadliest attack came when a car packed with explosives was detonated at an army checkpoint near the town of al-Nukhaib, an outpost on the route to western neighbors Syria and Saudi Arabia, killing at least seven soldiers, the sources said. Another six people were killed and 17 others wounded when a car bomb went off near Khilani Square in central Baghdad, police and medical sources said.

More fighting, air strikes in Yemen, civilian death toll exceeds 550 | 24 April 2015 | Fighting between Yemen's warring factions raged in southern and central parts of the country and air strikes hit Houthi militia forces in Aden on Friday, but there were no fresh moves toward dialogue. Riyadh pounded targets with at least 20 airstrikes across Yemen on Thursday and 10 more on Friday. The civilian death toll from the fighting and airstrikes since the bombing started on March 26 has reached an estimated 551 people, the United Nations said on Friday. Its children's agency UNICEF said at least 115 children were among the dead.

Several U.S. probes likely of drone strikes that killed hostages | 24 April 2015 | The Central Intelligence Agency's Inspector General will conduct what could be the first of several investigations into the CIA drone strikes that killed American and Italian hostages and two U.S.-born al Qaeda [al-CIAduh] militants, U.S. government sources said on Friday. The Senate Intelligence Committee also is reviewing the attacks, a Congressional source said. Depending upon the results of the CIA watchdog's investigation, U.S. President Barack Obama could establish an outside investigative panel to examine the drone attacks, and broader U.S. drone policy, said a U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

David Petraeus sentenced to probation for sharing classified information | 23 April 2015 | David Petraeus, the retired US army general and former CIA director responsible for the development of the hugely influential "counter-insurgency" strategy used in Iraq and Afghanistan, was sentenced on Thursday to two years' probation and ordered to pay a fine of 100,000 for sharing highly classified information with his lover and biographer, Paula Broadwell. The fine was 60,000 more than had been expected under the terms of a plea deal; the two years' probation was as expected.

Republicans won't challenge Cuba's removal from terrorism list | 23 April 2105 | Republicans say they will not mount a challenge to President Barack Obama's plan to remove Cuba from the list of state sponsors of terrorism. South Florida Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen met with congressional colleagues last week to map strategy to prevent the de-listing and had planned to introduce a bill this week. On Thursday, she changed course.

Statue of Liberty, Liberty Island Evacuated Over Bomb Threat --All Clear Given Nearly 4 Hours After Caller Threatened to Blow Up Statue | 24 April 2015 | The Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island were evacuated Friday following a bomb threat. Sources tell CBS2 this was the second threat made in two days with some kind of computer enhanced or pre-recorded message, CBS2 reported. U.S. Parks Police received a 911 at around 11:21 a.m., with a caller stating they were going to blow up the Statue of Liberty, a National Park Service Statue spokesperson said.

Statue of Liberty evacuated over security concern | 24 April 2015 | The Statue of Liberty and Liberty Island were evacuated Friday afternoon due to an unspecified security concern, the National Park Service said. The evacuation of the monument came shortly before 1 p.m., officials said. Law enforcement officials were conducting a sweep of Liberty Island. Update: An anonymous caller threatened to blow up the Statue of Liberty Friday, triggering an evacuation of the national monument and Liberty Island before police declared the site all clear. A 911 caller made the threat late Friday morning, "stating they were going to blow up the Statue of Liberty," the National Park Service said in a statement. Federal police, including two canine units, investigated and the dogs found "an area of interest" in a locker area at the statue's base, the agency said. Law enforcement then decided to evacuate the island.

Minnesota declares state of emergency over bird flu; Gov. Dayton authorizes National Guard call-up, if needed | 24 April 2015 | Minnesota declared a state of emergency on Thursday over a fast-spreading strain of avian flu that has led to the extermination of more than 7.3 million birds in the country. The highly pathogenic H5N2 strain of bird flu has been identified on 46 Minnesota farms in 16 counties and affected more than 2.6 million birds in the state. State health officials said they were expediting prescriptions for the antiviral dr-g Tamiflu for farm workers and others who have been in direct contact with infected flocks...Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton (D) said he had authorized the National Guard to be called up for duty if needed.

3rd bird flu outbreak hits 34,000 Iowa turkeys | 24 April 2015 | A third case of avian influenza has been identified in Iowa, this time infecting a commercial facility with 34,000 turkeys in Sac County. The operation is within the 10-kilometer monitoring zone of the state's first case, a commercial turkey facility with 27,000 birds in Buena Vista County. That case was reported last week.

California's SB277 mandatory vaccination bill passes Senate committee after votes rigged, public testimony silenced | 22 April 2015 | After California's vaccine mandate bill SB277 was halted last week with an outcry of public outrage against it, the pro-vaccine mafia machine went to work. Democratic Sens. Ben Allen of Santa Monica and Richard Pan of Sacramento helped pursue a vote rigging agenda to replace seats on the committee with pro-vaccine industry sellouts. A new DemocRAT, Sen. Bill Monning, was chosen to fill a vacant seat, and with his vote in favor of stripping Californians of vaccine exemption rights, SB277 was approved today..."This time no public testimony was allowed," reports the Sacramento Bee, confirming that the California Senate conspired to not just rig the vote, but also silence the public outrage so that Senate "representatives" didn't have to hear their constituents' testimony.

Capitol lobbyists, staff jump security line during California vaccine debate | 22 April 2015 | The controversy surrounding California's mandatory vaccine bill has brought the Capitol long lines, crowded hallways and signs asking visitors to use the stairs as anti-vaccine advocates fill committee hearings to demand the state keep its personal belief exemption in place. Now you can add a special entrance for staff and lobbyists to the list. With Senate Bill 277 facing a crucial vote on Wednesday, the Joint Rules Committee sprung into action to keep disruptions to a minimum for those who work in the building the pharma-terrorists and their henchmen.

Tokyo park closed after unusually high radiation level is detected; buried substance suspected | 24 April 2015 | An unusually high level of radiation has been detected at a park in Toshima Ward, Tokyo, the ward office said Thursday, prompting speculation that some kind of material has been buried there. The ward office has banned the public from entering the municipal park, located near Tobu Railway Co.'s Shimoitabashi Station in the Ikebukuro-honcho district and surrounded by residences. On Thursday afternoon, up to 480 microsieverts per hour were recorded at one spot on the surface of the ground near playground equipment, the municipality said.

LePage's plan to negate rule on nuclear power plants could be radioactive --Observers wonder why his attention to the issue begins with an attempt to disempower Maine voters. | 26 April 2015 | Consider yourselves warned, fellow citizens. Gov. Paul LePage [R-Grade 'A' Sociopath] is fiddling around with Maine's nuclear hot button...L.D. 1313, a bill quietly submitted by the LePage administration that would eliminate a longstanding requirement that any and all proposed nuclear power projects in Maine be put to a statewide referendum. Under LePage's new plan, scheduled for a hearing Wednesday at 1 p.m. before the Legislature's Energy, Utilities and Technology Committee, voters would no longer have a say on the creation of nuclear power plants with generating capacities of 500 megawatts or less. (Just so you know, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant's Unit 1 reactor...had a generating capacity of 460 megawatts.)

Death toll in Nepal quake rises to more than 3,200 | 26 April 2015 | The death toll from Nepal's earthquake rose to 3,218 on Monday, two days after the massive quake ripped across this Himalayan nation, leaving tens of thousands shell-shocked and sleeping in streets. Aid groups received the first word from remote mountain villages — reports that suggested many communities perched on mountainsides were devastated or struggling to cope. Landslides hindered rescue teams that tried to use mountain trails to reach those in need, said Prakash Subedi, chief district official in the Gorkha region, where the quake was centered.

New quake sends new avalanches crashing down Mount Everest | 26 April 2015 | Hikers and their guides on Mount Everest had not fully recovered from the death, injuries and trauma of avalanches caused by Nepal's massive magnitude 7.8 earthquake, when another one earthquake struck on Sunday. It was not as powerful at magnitude 6.7, but the epicenter was closer to the mountain, where people are still missing, some believed to be buried in snow. The new quake sent down new avalanches of snow and rock.

Google Executive Among Hundreds Dead From Nepal Quake | 25 April 2015 | Dan Fredinburg, a Google executive who described himself as an adventurer, was among the hundreds who died in a massive earthquake that struck Nepal on Saturday. Google confirmed his death. Lawrence You, the company's director of privacy, posted online that Fredinburg was in Nepal with three other Google employees climbing Mount Everest.

'Extremely Dangerous' Mile-Wide Tornado Spotted in North Texas | 27 April 2015 | A slow-moving and "extremely dangerous" tornado was confirmed Sunday night in north-central Texas, much of which was under tornado watches and flash flood warnings as a storm system swept through with large hail and damaging wind gusts, the National Weather Service said. After moving through the town of Rio Vista, the tornado moved east into rural parts of Johnson County, Emergency Management Director Jamie Moore told NBC News. The tornado was about a mile wide when it was first spotted, he said.

Cecily Strong Takes on Police Brutality at White House Correspondents' Dinner | 26 April 2015 | Saturday Night Live cast member and Chicago native Cecily Strong told some pretty brutal jokes at the White House Correspondents' Dinner Saturday night. One observation, however, about the extrajudicial killing of black men in the United States seemingly pushed the boundaries and buttons of many of those in attendance. Strong played off a string of Secret Service lapses. "Let's give it up for the Secret Service. I don't want to be too hard on those guys. You know, because they're the only law enforcement agency in the country that will get in trouble if a black man gets shot." There was a smattering of awkward chuckles, loud groans and a few boos, to which Strong responded, "Are you saying 'boo' or are you saying 'true?'"

Twelve arrested in Baltimore after march to protest black man's death | 26 April 2015 | Thousands of people marched peacefully through downtown Baltimore on Saturday to protest the unexplained death of a black man in police custody but pockets of violence erupted when a small group smashed windows and threw bottles at officers. At least 2,000 demonstrators attended the march to City Hall, the largest turnout since 25-year-old Freddie Gray died a week ago. Police arrested 12 people who ignored orders to disperse, Police Commissioner Anthony Batts said.

Baltimore Mayor Asks Fans to Stay Inside Camden Yards Amid Protests | 25 April 2015 | During a game between the Boston Red Sox and Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards on Saturday, protests in the city of Baltimore caused Mayor [police troll] Stephanie Rawlings-Blake to urge fans at the stadium to remain there for the time being. The gates to leave the stadium appear to have been locked at some point, as Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun later confirmed that the gates were reopened.

University of Maryland, Baltimore issues 'shelter in place' order amid violent protests | 25 April 2015 | The University of Maryland Baltimore issued a "shelter in place" order for its campus, telling students and staff not to leave buildings as protests turned violent downtown Saturday. "UMB Police have issued a shelter in place order for the UMB campus," the alert said. "Do not leave buildings. Avoid campus until further notice."

Fisherman risks own life to save baby fox from being kicked to death by thugs --A gang of thugs [terrorists] shot dead a vixen then viciously kicked her baby cub before being stopped by a passing fisherman | 24 April 2015 | A gang of vile thugs shot dead a vixen then set about killing her defenceless cub by kicking it as it lay cowering just inches from her dead mother. The poor animal was only saved when a hero fisherman risked his own life to intervene and was assaulted himself. The Good Samaritan came to blows with the brutes as they carried out the brutal attack on the defenceless baby after shooting her mum on a pitch-black country lane...The have-a-go-hero then grabbed the cub, took her home and wrapped her in a duvet with a teddy bear and hoped for the best.

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