Feds arrest suspect in ricin-positive letters sent to Obama, senator

Obama angrily denounces gun-rights groups as willful liars

Senate rejects background checks on gun purchases in 54-46 vote

By Alexander Bolton - 04/17/13 04:27 PM ET

The Senate delivered a devastating blow to President Obama’s agenda to regulate guns Wednesday by defeating a bipartisan proposal to expand background checks.
It failed by a vote of 54 to 46, with five Democrats voting against it. Only four Republicans supported it.
Democratic Sens. Mark Pryor (Ark.), Max Baucus (Mont.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Mark Begich (Alaska) and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.) voted against it. Reid supported the measure but voted against it to preserve his ability to bring the measure up again.
GOP Sens. John McCain (Ariz.), Susan Collins (Maine), Pat Toomey (Pa.) and Mark Kirk (Ill.) voted "yes."
The amendment sponsored by Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Toomey appeared to have political momentum last week.

Bloomberg Decries Death of Background Check Bill in Senate

By Colin Campbell 4/17 4:52pm

(Photo: Getty)

The U.S. Senate voted down a bipartisan deal to expand background checks to gun shows and internet sales today, and Mayor Michael Bloomberg isn’t happy.
“Today’s vote is a damning indictment of the stranglehold that special interests have on Washington,” Mr. Bloomberg declared in a statement condemning both parties for their inaction. “Democrats – who are so quick to blame Republicans for our broken gun laws – could not stand united. And Republicans – who are so quick to blame Democrats for not being tough enough on crime – handed criminals a huge victory, by preserving their ability to buy guns illegally at gun shows and online and keeping the illegal trafficking market well-fed.”
Mr. Bloomberg, who has become a national spokesman of sorts for gun control in the aftermath of last year’s infamous Connecticut elementary school massacre, further suggested that he’d continue to put millions of dollars into affecting future congressional elections on the basis of this issue.
“But even with some bi-partisan support, a common-sense public safety reform died in the U.S. Senate at the hands of those who are more interested in attempting to protect their own political careers – or some false sense of ideological purity – than protecting the lives of innocent Americans,” he continued. “The only silver lining is that we now know who refuses to stand with the 90 percent of Americans – and in 2014, our ever-expanding coalition of supporters will work to make sure that voters don’t forget.”
Update (5:58 p.m.): Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who rose to some national prominence for his tough gun control measures passed earlier this year, also weighed in:

“The Senate’s failure to pass a bipartisan measure that is supported by the vast majority of American people is a sad statement on the power of extremists to stand in the way of reason and common sense. Background checks for firearm sales is a reasonable measure that would help keep guns out of the hands of criminals and help keep Americans safe from gun violence. In the wake of the seemingly unending cycle of tragedy involving gun violence, the Senate’s inability to pass even a watered down, minimal gun safety bill is simply unacceptable.”

College fires professor who forced students to sign pledge to vote for Obama

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By Oliver Darcy, on Apr 17, 2013

Brevard Community College (BCC) has fired a professor after a school investigation concluded she required students to sign a pledge to vote for President Obama in the run-up to the 2012 election.

Brevard Community College has fired Professor Sharon Sweet who forced her students to sign this pledge.

The school’s spokesman John Glisch, said the Board of Trustees voted Wednesday morning to terminate mathematics professor Sharon Sweet with an overwhelming vote.
“The board voted 3-1, with one member absent, to dismiss professor Sweet,” Glisch told Campus Reform Wednesday afternoon.

Wife of ex-judge confesses in Texas DA slayings

AP 4/17/2013 5:46:33 PM

(AP) Wife of ex-judge confesses in Texas DA slayings
By DANNY ROBBINS
Associated Press
KAUFMAN, Texas
Authorities say the wife of a former judge has confessed to being involved in the shooting deaths of a North Texas district attorney, his wife and an assistant prosecutor.

Kim Lene Williams was arrested early Wednesday. Kaufman County sheriff's spokesman Lt. Justin Lewis says Williams is being charged in all three deaths. Lewis says she is being held on $10 million bond.

According to an arrest warrant affidavit, Williams told investigators Tuesday that she was involved in the shootings of Kaufman County District Attorney Mike McLelland, his wife, Cynthia, and one of his prosecutors, Mark Hasse.

The investigation has also focused on her husband, Eric Williams, whom McLelland and Hasse successfully prosecuted for theft.

The McLellands were found dead March 30, two months after Hasse was slain.

Center for Free Opinions

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Senate rejects background checks