Rich Californians Balk at Limits: ‘We’re Not All Equal When It Comes to Water’

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Drought or no drought, Steve Yuhas resents the idea that it is somehow shameful to be a water hog. If you can pay for it, he argues, you should get your water.

People “should not be forced to live on property with brown lawns, golf on brown courses or apologize for wanting their gardens to be beautiful,” Yuhas fumed recently on social media. “We pay significant property taxes based on where we live,” he added in an interview. “And, no, we’re not all equal when it comes to water.”

Yuhas lives in the ultra-wealthy enclave of Rancho Santa Fe, a bucolic Southern California hamlet of ranches, gated communities and country clubs that guzzles five times more water per capita than the statewide average. In April, after Gov. Jerry Brown (D) called for a 25 percent reduction in water use, consumption in Rancho Santa Fe went up by 9 percent.

But a moment of truth is at hand for Yuhas and his neighbors, and all of California will be watching: On July 1, for the first time in its 92-year history, Rancho Santa Fe will be subject to water rationing.

“It’s no longer a ‘You can only water on these days’ ” situation, said Jessica Parks, spokeswoman for the Santa Fe Irrigation District, which provides water service to Rancho Santa Fe and other parts of San Diego County. “It’s now more of a ‘This is the amount of water you get within this billing period. And if you go over that, there will be high penalties.’ ” (Read more from “Rich Californians Balk at Limits: ‘We’re Not All Equal When It Comes to Water'” HERE)

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Jeb Bush: I’ll Break Away From GOP Pack

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Jeb Bush said in an interview aired Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union” that he believes he’ll be in a better position to break away from the rest of the Republican field when he announces his presidential candidacy.

“I think this transition to a candidacy will allow me to be more direct about my advocacy of the leadership skills necessary for the next president to fix a few things,” Bush told CNN’s Dana Bash in Tallinn, Estonia, on Saturday.

“And as a candidate, contrary to someone who has been listening and learning along the way, I’ll offer up alternatives to the path we’re on as well, so I’ll be more specific on policy,” he said.

Bush, who has long been viewed as a likely presidential contender, is expected to announce his candidacy on Monday. But he believes it could take some time for him to break out of a crowded Republican pack, which already boasts 10 candidates.

“People make up their minds in the last weeks of these primaries,” Bush said. “My expectation is we’ll have slow, steady progress. That’s been the expectation all along.” (Read more from “Jeb Bush: I’ll Break Away From GOP Pack” HERE)

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Parents of ‘Black’ NAACP President Say She is White! [+video]

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The City of Spokane announced Thursday it’s investigating whether the president of the Spokane chapter of the NAACP violated the city’s code of ethics in her application to serve on the citizen police ombudsman commission.

Rachel Dolezal serves as chair of the independent commission, in addition to her work as an adjunct faculty member at Eastern Washington University and president of the NAACP local chapter. On her application to serve on the commission, she identified herself as African-American. But public records, including Dolezal’s own birth certificate, list her biological parents as Ruthanne and Lawrence Dolezal of Montana. The Dolezals told KXLY Thursday that Rachel is their biological daughter and that they are both white . . .

On the NAACP Spokane Facebook page, a picture was posted earlier this year showing Dolezal and an African-American man. In the post, he’s identified as Dolezal’s father. KXLY4’s Jeff Humphrey asked Dolezal about that claim Wednesday afternoon.

“Ma’am, I was wondering if your dad really is an African-American man,” Humphrey asked.

“I don’t understand the question,” Dolezal answered. “I did tell you [that man in the picture] is my dad.” “Are your parents white?” Humphrey asked. At that point, Dolezal removed the microphone, ended the interview and walked away. (Read more from “Family Says ‘Black’ NAACP President Is White!” HERE)

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California Crackdown Unprecedented: State Orders Even Larger Water Cuts for Farmers

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California regulators ordered farmers and others who hold some of the state’s strongest water rights Friday to stop pumping from three major waterways in one of the country’s prime farm regions.

The order involving record cuts by senior water rights holders in the Sacramento, San Joaquin and delta watersheds followed mandatory water curtailment earlier this year to cities and towns and to farmers with less iron-clad water rights . . .

Economists and agriculture experts say growing of some crops will shift in the short-term to regions with more water, so the water cuts are expected to have little immediate impact on food prices.

The order applies to 114 entities that have claims dating back to 1914 or earlier. It will force thousands of water users in the state to tap groundwater, buy water at rising costs, use previously stored water or go dry . . .

It’s the first time since the drought of 1977 that the state has directed a significant number of senior water rights holders to stop pumping because of drought and amounts to the most widespread cuts ever among those with some of the state’s strongest water rights. (Read more from “California Crackdown: State Orders Larger Water Cuts for Farmers” HERE)

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Sneak: Republicans Plan New Obamatrade Push Next Week

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U.S. Sen. Jeff Sessions warns:

It appears there will be another attempt by Tuesday to force through new executive powers for President Obama. A vote for TAA next week is a vote to send fast-track to the President’s desk and to grant him these broad new executive authorities. If that happens, it will empower the President to form a Pacific Union encompassing 40 percent of the world’s economy and 12 nations—each with one equal vote. Once the union is formed, foreign bureaucrats will be required to meet regularly to write the Commission’s rules, regulations, and directives—impacting Americans’ jobs, wages, and sovereignty. The union is chartered with a “Living Agreement,” and there is no doubt it will seek to expand its membership and reach over time.

Fast-track will not only apply to the Pacific Union, but can expedite an unlimited number of yet-unseen international compacts for six years. There are already plans to advance through fast-track the Trade in Services Agreement, the goal of which includes labor mobility among more than 50 nations, further eroding the ability of the American people to control their own affairs.

Americans do not want this, did not ask for it, and are pleading from their hearts for their lawmakers to stop it.

(Read more from “Sneak: Republicans Plan New Obamatrade Push” HERE)

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Revealed: What Ex-McKinney Cop Did to a Teenage Girl Before Arriving at Pool Party

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Cpl. Eric Casebolt, the McKinney, Texas, police officer who resigned after video showed him brandishing his firearm and restraining a 15-year-old black girl on the ground last week, said his emotions ran high, per his attorney . . .

The video which led to Casebolt’s downfall shows him subduing 15-year-old Dajerria Becton to the ground and drawing his firearm when other teenagers approached him during a disturbance call at a pool party, though he never fired. McKinney police chief Greg Conley called his actions “indefensible” and “out of control.”

WFAA described how Bishkin defended his client during the press conference, explaining Casebolt’s day had already taken an “emotional toll” on him before he responded to the disturbance call.

The attorney started the press conference by saying Casebolt let his emotions get the best of him before he answered the disturbance call at the Craig Ranch community pool.

He had already been called to two suicide calls that Friday — one involved having to console the wife of a man who had just ended his life. During the second call, he managed to talk a teenage girl off her parents’ roof.

(Read more from “Revealed: What Ex-McKinney Cop Did to a Teenage Girl Before Arriving at Pool Party” HERE)

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Prison Worker Gave NYC Killers Blades, Chisels Before Escape [+videos]

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A New York prison worker charged with aiding in the escape of two convicted killers allegedly brought hacksaw blades, chisels, a punch and a screwdriver bit into the prison weeks before the men made their brazen escape, according court documents.

Joyce Mitchell, 51, was arrested by state police Friday and charged with a felony count of promoting prison contraband and a misdemeanor count of criminal facilitation. She pleaded not guilty at her arraignment Friday night. She faces up to seven years in prison if convicted of the top charge.

Police say Mitchell brought contraband into the upstate Clinton Correctional Facility, and that helped convicted murderers David Sweat and Richard Matt break out of prison in the early morning hours of June 6. They remained at large Friday.

“This is one large piece of the puzzle in the quest to find the escaped murderers,” New York State Police Maj. Charles Guess told reporters during a news conference Friday night . . .

Sweat and Matt escaped nearly a week ago from maximum-security Clinton Correctional Facility in the town of Dannemora, sawing out of their cells with power tools before clambering through the works of the building and out through a manhole. (Read more from “Prison Worker Gave NYC Killers Blades, Chisels Before Escape” HERE)

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How Did Dusty Rhodes Die? WWE Star Triple H and More Mourn Virgil Runnels’ Death on Twitter

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WWE Hall of Famer Dusty Rhodes, who was also known as “The American Dream,” died Thursday, WWE said. He was 69. A cause of death has not been revealed.

His family did not immediately issue a statement, but the WWE wrote a tribute to the wrestler, whose real name was Virgil Runnels. “Runnels became a hero to fans around the world thanks to his work ethic, his impassioned interviews and his indomitable spirit. Moreover, Runnels was a dedicated father to WWE Superstars Goldust (Dustin Runnels) and Stardust (Cody Runnels), a caring husband and a creative visionary who helped shape the landscape of WWE long after his in-ring career had ended,” the message read. “WWE extends its sincerest condolences to Runnels’ family, friends and colleagues” . . .

WWE stars like Triple H and Ric Flair mourned the wrestler on Twitter. Triple H called Rhodes his “mentor” and Flair said “The American Dream” sent “much love” to his family. Their messages were quickly shared hundreds of times by their thousands of followers. Some of their posts have been shared below:

(Read more from “How Did Dusty Rhodes Die? WWE Star Triple H and More Mourn Virgil Runnels’ Death on Twitter” HERE)

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Federal Insanity: Obama Wants HUD to Bring Low-Income Residents Into Wealthy Neighborhoods

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President Obama is pursuing a new set of regulations, administered through the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), intended to bring more economic diversity to homogenous residential enclaves presently dominated by the rich.

“A final Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rule due out this month is aimed at ending decades of deep-rooted segregation around the country,” The Hill magnanimously reported Thursday.

“The regulations would use grant money as an incentive for communities to build affordable housing in more affluent areas while also taking steps to upgrade poorer areas with better schools, parks, libraries, grocery stores and transportation routes as part of a gentrification of those communities.”

Like so many of Obama’s economic ideas, this one centers not on incentivizing poorer communities to create wealth in situ, but in leveling the playing field by introducing poorer people into wealthy neighborhoods. The administration is relying heavily on the use of “segregation” as a descriptor for the status quo, although it’s an open question whether it’s speaking in strictly racial terms. (Read more from “Obama Wants HUD to Bring Low-Income Residents Into Wealthy Neighborhoods” HERE)

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Ruling Class Trade Bill Barely Survives House Vote [+video]

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By Cristina Marcos. President Obama’s trade agenda survived a bad scare in the House on Thursday when the GOP rule governing debate for the package narrowly survived a 217-212 vote.

Thirty-four Republicans voted against the rule, while eight Democrats backed it.

A handful of pro-trade Democrats withheld their votes, watching the tally closely from the floor. Then, when it was apparent Republicans would not be able to pass the typically partisan measure on its own, they threw their votes in favor all at once.

The tight vote foreshadows the challenge GOP leaders will face Friday, when the House votes on two critical pieces of Obama’s trade agenda: fast-track authority and a separate bill offering help to workers displaced by trade.

GOP opposition to the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, as well as to fast-track, led Republicans to oppose their party’s rule. (Read more from “Trade Bill Survives Scare” HERE)

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Jeff Sessions Issues Final ‘Critical Alert’: Obama Trade Just Like Amnesty, Obamacare

By Matthew Boyle. Sen. Jeff Sessions, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee’s subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest, is issuing one final clarion call against Obamatrade as the House readies to vote on the matter on Friday.

Sessions’ final “critical alert,” one of several he’s issued throughout the Obamatrade process, shows House Ways and Means Committee chairman Rep. Paul Ryan has been engaged in deception as he attempts to guide Obamatrade’s passage through the House.

“Promoters of fast-track executive authority have relied on semantic obfuscation in an effort to deny the obvious: the President’s top priority is obtaining fast-track authority because he knows it will expand his powers and allow him to cement his legacy through the formation of a new political and economic union,” Sessions said.

If, as promoters amazingly suggest, the President had more powers without fast-track, he would veto it. The authority granted in “Trade Promotion Authority” is authority transferred from Congress to the Executive and, ultimately, to international bureaucrats. The entire purpose of fast-track is for Congress to surrender its power to the Executive for six years. Legislative concessions include: control over the content of legislation, the power to fully consider that legislation on the floor, the power to keep debate open until Senate cloture is invoked, and the constitutional requirement that treaties receive a two-thirds vote. Legislation cannot even be amended.

It’s unclear what will happen when it does come up for a vote on Friday in the House, but one thing is absolutely certain: Pass or fail, Ryan’s credibility on the right is shot. What’s more, there’s likely to be a conservative grassroots rebellion against establishment Republicans in Washington that may dwarf the one Obamacare caused back in 2010. (Read more from “Jeff Sessions Issues Final ‘Critical Alert’: Obama Trade Just Like Amnesty, Obamacare” HERE)

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