Social Security currently pays benefits to over 9 million veterans-about 4 in 10 veterans. Over one-third of America's 54 million Social Security beneficiaries are either veterans or family members living with them, such as their spouses. Social Security's young survivors' benefits are particularly important to the 4 in 10 active duty members who are married with children and the 1 in 20 who are single parents. As of January 16, 2011, the number of American servicemen and women killed on active duty in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was 5,860, leaving behind an estimated more than 4,000 children.
Over one-third of America's 54 million Social Security beneficiaries are either veterans or family members living with them, such as their spouses.
Social Security's young survivors' benefits are particularly important to the 4 in 10 active duty members who are married with children and the 1 in 20 who are single parents.
As of January 16, 2011, the number of American servicemen and women killed on active duty in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan was 5,860, leaving behind an estimated more than 4,000 children.
“This is a disaster,” said one prominent Polk County Republican. An elected official called it “an embarrassment”. The embarrassing disaster was the result of Congresswoman Michelle Bachmann’s last minute cancellation of her appearance at the Polk County GOP’s Robb Kelley Dinner. Bachmann’s absence turned what should have been a very successful fundraiser into a black eye for herself, her presidential aspirations and the county party.
Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, a close ally of former senator John Ensign (R-Nev.), on Thursday defended his actions related to the scandal that prompted Ensign to resign his seat, calling himself “proud” of the way he handled the situation. Ensign abruptly resigned earlier this month following the release of a Senate Ethics Committee report alleging that the Nevada Republican broke federal laws by trying to hide an affair with Cynthia Hampton, Ensign’s former treasurer and the wife of Ensign’s close personal friend and former aide, Doug Hampton ... Coburn’s name was mentioned repeatedly in the committee’s 75-page report, which described the Oklahoma Republican and former Ensign roommate as an intermediary between Ensign and Doug Hampton as the two allegedly negotiated the terms of compensation in exchange for Hampton keeping quiet about the affair.
Ensign abruptly resigned earlier this month following the release of a Senate Ethics Committee report alleging that the Nevada Republican broke federal laws by trying to hide an affair with Cynthia Hampton, Ensign’s former treasurer and the wife of Ensign’s close personal friend and former aide, Doug Hampton ...
Coburn’s name was mentioned repeatedly in the committee’s 75-page report, which described the Oklahoma Republican and former Ensign roommate as an intermediary between Ensign and Doug Hampton as the two allegedly negotiated the terms of compensation in exchange for Hampton keeping quiet about the affair.
A Marshfield man who planned to kill abortion providers in Madison this week was thwarted on the eve of the intended attack when his gun accidentally fired in a motel room, leading to his arrest for reckless endangerment, according to a federal complaint filed Thursday. Ralph Lang, 63, confessed his intentions to investigators, saying his goal was "to lay out abortionists because they are killing babies," the complaint said. [...] Lang had a history of targeting Planned Parenthood buildings.
Ralph Lang, 63, confessed his intentions to investigators, saying his goal was "to lay out abortionists because they are killing babies," the complaint said. [...]
Lang had a history of targeting Planned Parenthood buildings.
Three cops working for Arizona’s notorious Sheriff Joe Arpaio were arrested this morning for human smuggling, narcotics trafficking, and laundering money for a vast drug ring with ties to Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel. One of the cops, Deputy Alfredo Navarrette, was a ten-year veteran of Arpaio’s controversial anti-human smuggling division, which has been criticized for civil rights violations. After Navarrette’s arrest, a sweep of his apartment turned up two illegal immigrants. Another cop, Marcella Hernandez, is eight months pregnant with the child of the cartel’s capitán. She had nearly $20,000 on her when she and Sylvia Najera, another corrections officer, were arrested this morning. Guess when Arpaio started calling himself “America’s Toughest Sheriff,” he forgot to add, “unless it’s happening right in front of me.”
Following up on their threat, Catholic Charities of Rockford, IL, have voluntarily ended all their adoption and foster care services rather than comply with the civil unions law that will take effect next week. In doing so, the organization terminated $7.5 million in state contracts, fired 58 workers, and likely displaced 350 foster children.
Japanese nuclear regulators trusted that the reactors at Fukushima Dai-ichi were safe from the worst waves an earthquake could muster based on a single-page memo from the plant operator nearly a decade ago. In the Dec. 19, 2001 document - one double-sized page obtained by The Associated Press under Japan's public records law - Tokyo Electric Power Co. rules out the possibility of a tsunami large enough to knock the plant offline and gives scant details to justify this conclusion, which proved to be wildly optimistic.
In the Dec. 19, 2001 document - one double-sized page obtained by The Associated Press under Japan's public records law - Tokyo Electric Power Co. rules out the possibility of a tsunami large enough to knock the plant offline and gives scant details to justify this conclusion, which proved to be wildly optimistic.
Scientists aiming their gene sequencers at commercial seafood are discovering rampant labeling fraud in supermarket coolers and restaurant tables: cheap fish is often substituted for expensive fillets, and overfished species are passed off as fish whose numbers are plentiful. [...] Recent studies by researchers in North America and Europe harnessing the new techniques have consistently found that 20 to 25 percent of the seafood products they check are fraudulently identified, fish geneticists say.
Recent studies by researchers in North America and Europe harnessing the new techniques have consistently found that 20 to 25 percent of the seafood products they check are fraudulently identified, fish geneticists say.