Arizona Restaurant Closes Following Backlash From Its Pro-Trump Facebook Post

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An Arizona restaurant was forced to close its doors indefinitely this week after a politically charged Facebook post the eatery’s owners wrote prompted mass criticism from social media users.

Christopher Smith and Jay Warren, the owners of Cup it Up American Grill in Tucson, posted a statement on the restaurant’s social media page last week with a list of things the two support and resent, including the president, kneeling for the anthem and late night hosts, Vice News reported.

The post stated: “We believe in and support 100% in the following: OUR President, Always Standing for the National Anthem, repealing Obama Care…”

(Read more from “Arizona Restaurant Closes Following Backlash From Its Pro-Trump Facebook Post” HERE)

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Army Sacks General for Sexy Texts to Wife of a Sergeant

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The Army has sacked a two-star general who sent flirty messages to the wife of an enlisted soldier at his post in Italy, including one in which he referred to the woman as a “HOTTIE.”

Maj. Gen. Joseph Harrington until last month had commanded U.S. Army Africa from his post in Europe. USA TODAY first reported about the Facebook messages, triggering an inspector general’s investigation, Harrington’s suspension and now his firing.

Harrington’s dismissal was “due to a loss of confidence in his ability to command,” Army Col. Patrick Seiber, a spokesman, said in a statement. “The Army has been investigating allegations related to Maj. Gen. Harrington’s communications with the spouse of an enlisted soldier; however, since the review of the investigation is still ongoing, we can provide no further comment at this time.”

Harrington’s removal is likely a career-killer for an officer whose future had seemed bright. He had been a top aide to the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey. (Read more from “Army Sacks General for Sexy Texts to Wife of a Sergeant” HERE)

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Government Lawyers Ask Judge to Block Release of Comey Memos

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Government lawyers want a federal judge to block the release of memos written by former FBI Director James Comey about his conversations with President Trump, claiming that disclosing the documents would be “detrimental” to an investigation into Russian interference in the presidential campaign as well as an ongoing obstruction of justice probe.

The attorneys made the argument in a court filing submitted late Friday in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed for the Comey memos by several news organizations, including The Daily Caller News Foundation, CNN, and USA Today.

The lawsuit sought the release of all of the memos that Comey wrote following his encounters with President Trump. Comey, who was fired by Trump on May 9, has testified that he wrote the memos following in-person meetings and phone conversations with Trump.

Just after his ouster, Comey gave a memo he wrote on Feb. 14 — just after the firing of national security adviser Michael Flynn — to a friend with instructions to leak it to The New York Times. Comey says he wrote in that memo that Trump asked him to shut down an investigation into Flynn. (Read more from “Government Lawyers Ask Judge to Block Release of Comey Memos” HERE)

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George Lopez Booed off Stage After Trump Jokes Flop

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Comic George Lopez was booed off stage at a gala for juvenile diabetes in Denver last week, over an anti-Donald Trump routine that fell flat with the crowd.

We’re told the flap began when Trump backer and Liberty Media CEO Greg Maffei donated $250,000 but requested that Lopez cool it with the anti-Trump jokes at the Carousel Ball . . .

We’re told that Lopez responded to Maffei, “Thank you for changing my opinion on old white men, but it doesn’t change the way I feel about orange men.”

Trying to recover and sensing the audience turn, Lopez said, “Listen, it’s about the kids . . . I apologize for bringing politics to an event. This is America — it still is. So I apologize to your white privilege.”

We’re told Lopez also told a joke about Trump’s proposed border wall with Mexico, saying, “I guess you can get some Mexicans to do it cheaper and they wouldn’t crush the tunnels ­underneath.” (Read more from “George Lopez Booed off Stage After Trump Jokes Flop” HERE)

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Vegas-Massacre Security Guard ‘Checked Into a Quick Clinic’

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Jesus Campos, the hero security guard who was shot in the Las Vegas hotel massacre, checked into a ‘quick clinic’ after vanishing moments before he was due to speak to the media for the first time since the attack.

The security guard is yet to be interviewed since he was shot by Stephen Paddock on October 1 on the 32nd floor of the Mandalay Bay hotel.

On Thursday, Campos was due to appear at a press conference after being given an award for his bravery but he disappeared.

His union representative revealed on Saturday that Campos was taken to a clinic shortly afterwards but he did not know which. (Read more from “Vegas-Massacre Security Guard ‘Checked Into a Quick Clinic'” HERE)

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Firefighters Battling Flames, High Winds Near Town of Sonoma

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Latest developments in the North Bay fires:

12:35 p.m. Evacuation lift: Officials in Sonoma County will lift the evacuation order for Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital at 3 p.m. The hospital is located just off Highway 101 on Mark West Springs Road. Other areas around the hospital will remain under a mandatory evacuation order.

12:10 p.m. Spot fire explodes in Sonoma: Winds kicked up a small fire at Lovall Valley Road and Wood Valley Road, causing it to explode in 30- to 40-foot flames that marched downhill toward the town of Sonoma. In a matter of minutes the fire had chewed up several acres. A helicopter swooped in to dump water on the blaze, and ground crews rushed to the attack.

12:35 p.m. Evacuation lift: Officials in Sonoma County will lift the evacuation order for Sutter Santa Rosa Regional Hospital at 3 p.m. The hospital is located just off Highway 101 on Mark West Springs Road. Other areas around the hospital will remain under a mandatory evacuation order. (Read more from “Firefighters Battling Flames, High Winds Near Town of Sonoma” HERE)

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18 States Sue Over Trump-Halted Obamacare Payments

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A new multi-state lawsuit has been announced to stop President Trump from halting key ObamaCare payments to insurers.

Eighteen states and Washington, D.C., signed onto the lawsuit filed Friday in federal court in California, according to Sarah Lovenheim, a spokeswoman for California Attorney General Xavier Becerra (D).

On Thursday night, Trump announced he would stop making the payments, which led to an outcry from critics saying he was sabotaging the health-care law.

The complaint will seek a temporary restraining order, preliminary injunction and permanent injunction requiring the cost-sharing reduction payments be made.

The administration, on a monthly basis, had been funding cost-sharing reduction subsidies, which compensate insurers for lowering the out-of-pocket costs of certain ObamaCare enrollees. (Read more from “18 States Sue Over Trump-Halted Obamacare Payments” HERE)

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Ted Cruz: Tax Reform May Not Happen Until Early Next Year

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Sen. Ted Cruz expects tax reform to get done “late this year or early next year” — not sticking to the hard 2017 deadline set out by top Republicans.

The Texas Republican told CNBC on Friday it will take “at least a couple months” to iron out differences within the GOP, which has a narrow majority in the Senate.

“I do think virtually every Republican wants to get to yes” on overhauling the tax system, Cruz said on “Squawk Box.”

President Donald Trump, top White House officials and House Speaker Paul Ryan have all set a target of this year to approve a tax bill. Ryan said Thursday he would keep the House in session through Christmas if necessary.

Late last month, Republicans released a framework for the taxproposal they hope to pass this year. It calls for major reductions in household and corporate income tax rates and a doubling of the standard deduction. (Read more from “Ted Cruz: Tax Reform May Not Happen Until Early Next Year” HERE)

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Hillary Clinton’s Newest Job Prospect

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Hillary Clinton is testing the waters on a return to academia.

The former U.S. Secretary of State and presidential nominee is in talks with Columbia University to take on a formal role at the Ivy League — and potentially house her archives there, multiple sources told the Daily News.

One option under discussion is an esteemed “University Professor” role that would allow Clinton to lecture across a range of schools and departments without the requirement of a strict course load, one source said.

A former law professor, Clinton could maintain the vaunted but vague role indefinitely or decide at a later date she wants to settle at Columbia’s celebrated law school or maybe the School of International and Public Affairs, the source said. (Read more from “Hillary Clinton’s Newest Job Prospect” HERE)

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County Sued for Bulldozing Parents’ Rights

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A lawsuit against a Minnesota county claims officials move two custody cases to Native American tribal court without the permission of the parents, violating their rights under federal law.

The case is being handled by the Thomas More Society, which said the parental rights of James Nguyen and Michelle Steinhoff “have been usurped in matters involving each of their minor children because the state of Minnesota is placing Native American tribal law above federal law.”

The complaint, in U.S. District Court in Minnesota, explains that although Nguyen’s former spouse has documented drug problems, and Steinhoff’s former spouse a multitude of criminal convictions, the tribal-member spouses were given custody of their children.

“Mr. Nguyen is married to a member of the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community nation. He and Steinhoff, like other members of the association, have been victimized by Minnesota’s policy of automatically invoking the jurisdiction of a tribe or Indian community,” explained Erick Kaardal, a Thomas More Society lawyer.

“This not only violates the Indian Child Welfare Act, but violates the constitutionally protected rights of the non-tribal parents.” (Read more from “County Sued for Bulldozing Parents’ Rights” HERE)

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