Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

Freedom recession: New data shows "worst of the worst" countries for political rights, civil liberties

On January 23, 2011, in Uncategorized, by Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

The world’s democracies have failed to confront authoritarian challenges from countries like China, Egypt, Belarus, Russia, Venezuela, and Iran, suggests a new report on global freedom.

The report, published by Freedom House, also warns that a five-year trend of freedom “backsliding” represents the most significant decline since data was first published in 1972.

“According to Freedom in the World 2011, the latest edition of Freedom House’s annual survey of global political right and civil liberties, conditions worsened for the fifth consecutive year in 2010…”

Mobsters, money & murder: FBI nabs 127 La Cosa Nostra family members in largest single-day sting operation

On January 22, 2011, in Legal, by Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

In what was described as one of the largest single-day operations against the mafia in the FBI’s history, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said on Thursday more than 100 individuals were charged in 16 indictments. “We are pleased to announce an important step forward in our nation’s ongoing fight against the organized crime families of [...]

MSNBC's Keith Olbermann calls it quits

On January 21, 2011, in Developing, by Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

Controversial liberal cable host Keith Olbermann announced Friday that he is leaving MSNBC and has taped his last “Countdown” broadcast. Olbermann has not given a reason for his departure. MSNBC President Phil Griffin would not comment on the commentator’s announcement. “It is just under eight years since I returned to MSNBC,” Olbermann said in his [...]

Remembering Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

On January 18, 2011, in Developing, by Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

On Monday, January 17, Americans paused once again to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Born January 15, 1929, King became the face of the civil rights struggle in America. King, the youngest recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, was assassinated on April 4, 1968 at the age of 39. [...]

O.J. Simpson lawyer: "I have never, ever wavered" in belief that NFL great did not butcher Nicole Brown, Ronald Goldman

On January 13, 2011, in Legal, by Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

One of the key defense attorneys in the double murder trial against Orenthal James Simpson says he is convinced the former football great – who was acquitted by a Los Angeles, California jury on October 3, 1995 — is in jail today as punishment by a Nevada jury that believed he “beat the rap” in the deaths of his former wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman…

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Victims of the system: New gov’t report claims hundreds of guardianship abuse allegations nationwide

On January 12, 2011, in Gov't & Politics, Health, Legal, by Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

These are just some of the cases of physical abuse, neglect and exploitation of victims documented in a new government report to Congress. Based on interviews with seniors, advocates and attorneys, the report reviews the care provided by court-appointed guardians to mentally or physically incapacitated victims in 20 closed cases, from 45 states, from 1990-2010.

And while the report stops short of characterizing alleged abuses nationwide as “widespread”, it urgently highlights numerous failures…

Westboro Baptist Church: "Thank God for the shooter"

On January 11, 2011, in Developing, by Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

Westboro Baptist Church releases video on Arizona shooting… The controversial anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church, currently involved in a bitter Supreme Court battle over protests conducted at the funerals of American service men and women, said on Saturday God compelled 22-year old Jared Lee Loughner to open fire on twenty people in Arizona. According to a [...]

Record snow in Indiana

On January 10, 2011, in Developing, by Rusty Ray, Executive Editor

During a 24-hour period — from Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. through Jan. 8 at 1 p.m. — South Bend, Indiana recorded 32.1 inches of snow, which topped the existing record of 2o inches set on Jan. 30, 1909. According to a report on WSBT.com, the snow accumulations were heaviest in the northeastern side of [...]