Complaint: Ford Persecuting Christian Employee for Simply Voicing His Opinion on Homosexuals

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By Billy Hallowell. A former contract employee at Ford Motor Company is accusing the company of unlawful discrimination after he says he was fired for sharing an online comment expressing his faith-based opposition to Ford’s support for an LGBT employee organization.

Thomas Banks, a former design and release product engineer, told TheBlaze Wednesday that he has filed a complaint with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission through his attorneys at the Liberty Institute, a conservative legal firm.

Banks and his lawyers say the Ford Motor Company and Rapid Global Business Solutions Inc., a staffing firm that employed him, discriminated against Banks for sharing his religious beliefs, claiming the companies violated federal law, including the Civil Rights Act of 1991 and the Federal Civil Rights Act of 1964.

He said problems began when he received an online newsletter from Ford in July 2014 that referred to the company’s longstanding “policy to promote pro-homosexual ideas,” according to the Liberty Institute.

Banks, a Christian, submitted a comment in the feedback section of the newsletter, saying he found the company’s stance offensive. (Read more about the Ford employee voicing his opinion on homosexuals HERE)

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Openly Gay Alabama Politician Threatens to Expose Colleagues Alleged Affairs Over Gay Marriage Criticism

By Fox News. Alabama’s only openly gay lawmaker says if her colleagues don’t stop calling same-sex marriage immoral, she’ll publicly out her heterosexual colleagues she claims are having extramarital affairs.

State Rep. Patricia Todd said she was furious and disappointed by comments made after a federal judge struck down the state’s gay-marriage ban last week.

“I’m sick of the hypocrisy,” the Birmingham Democrat said on Facebook. “If you start disparaging my community, and I know that you are not exactly the family values person that you put yourself out to be, well, then, beware.”

Todd has not identified by name anyone she is considering accusing.

U.S. District Judge Callie V. S. Granade’s order, issued Friday, potentially makes Alabama the 37th state where gay marriage is legal. She put the order on hold for 14 days to let the state appeal. The state wants the ruling to remain on hold until the Supreme Court takes up the issue later this year. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Scott Walker Forms Committee for 2016 Presidential Bid

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Photo Credit: APWisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, whose speech to activists in Iowa last weekend drew strong reviews, has taken the first formal step toward a presidential candidacy in 2016, establishing a committee that will help spread his message and underwrite his activities as he seeks to build his political and fundraising networks in the months ahead.

Walker filed papers to set up the committee, called “Our American Revival,” and a new web site for the organization was scheduled to go live later Tuesday. The steps come after a busy weekend of pre-presidential events that included his address at the Iowa Freedom Summit, a later appearance at a gathering in California hosted by the billionaire Koch brothers and a stopover in Denver for additional fundraising.

“Our American Revival encompasses the shared values that make our country great; limiting the powers of the federal government to those defined in the Constitution while creating a leaner, more efficient, more effective and more accountable government to the American people,” Walker said in a statement in the release announcing the committee.

Walker’s steps come at a time when other prospective candidates are making similar moves in what has quickly become the largest prospective field of Republican candidates and the most wide open nomination contest in the modern history of the party.

The governor’s Iowa speech helped establish him more firmly in a presidential field that includes bigger names like former Florida governor Jeb Bush and possibly Mitt Romney, the party’s 2012 nominee, as well as bigger personalities like New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, veterans of past presidential campaigns and newcomers with specific appeal to parts of the GOP’s conservative base. (Read more about Walker forming the committee for his 2016 presidential bid HERE)

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Measles Outbreak Growing in Arizona

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By Connie Cone Sexton and Paulina Pineda. Two more cases of measles were confirmed in Arizona on Tuesday, and public health officials have warned that hundreds more people in the state may have been exposed this month.

Both of the cases confirmed Tuesday — a man in Pinal County and a woman in Phoenix — were linked to a family of four whose measles cases were confirmed last week following travel to Disneyland in California.

The outbreak of measles has reached “a critical point,” according to Will Humble, director of the Arizona Department of Health Services. The outbreak has the potential to be far worse than the state’s last measles outbreak in 2008, he said. (Read more about the measles outbreak HERE)

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Chicago Announces First Case of Measles

By Warner Todd Huston. As an outbreak of measles linked to several California Disney theme parks mounts, other states are also seeing measles appear. This week, for instance, a suburb of Chicago has announced its first case of the year.

Illinois Public Health Director Nirav Shah reported that the case was identified earlier this month and marks only the tenth case of measles in the last five years.

“This case in Illinois is a reminder of the importance of immunizations,” Shah said. “Immunizations are vital to protect not only each child, but the community as a whole.” (Read more from this story HERE)

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Bergdahl Now Facing Desertion Charges After Obama Traded Him for 5 Major Terrorists

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US Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, who was held captive for five years after disappearing from his base in Afghanistan in 2009, will be charged with desertion, according to NBC News. Bergdahl was released last year in a prisoner swap with the Taliban . . .

According to allegations, Bergdahl abandoned his outpost in June 2009 to avoid “hazardous duty or important service,” which are grounds for charges of desertion under the Uniform Military Code of Justice, or UCMJ, as NBC News reported. According to one senior official who spoke with NBC News, Bergdahl allegedly abandoned his post “in the middle of a combat zone, potentially putting the lives of his fellows soldiers at risk.”

Bergdahl was reportedly captured by the Haqqani terrorist network in Pakistan. He was released in exchange for five Taliban commanders held at the US detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, a decision for which the White House has come under fire . . .

The news comes as an embarrassment to the White House, which as Hot Air reported, “cough[ed] up five big fish for one deserter.”

The White House, which arranged for the prisoner swap in May, was criticized at the time for “negotiating with terrorists.” Some Republican lawmakers, as well as others in Bergdahl’s unit, objected to the trade on the grounds that Bergdahl had deserted. (Read more about Bowe Bergdahl facing desertion charges HERE)

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Islamic Court Using Sharia Law Confirmed in Texas

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Photo Credit: BreitbartAn Islamic Tribunal using Sharia law in Texas has been confirmed by Breitbart Texas. The tribunal is operating as a non-profit organization in Dallas. One of the attorneys for the tribunal said participation and acceptance of the tribunal’s decisions are “voluntary.”

Breitbart Texas spoke with one of the “judges,” Dr. Taher El-badawi. He said the tribunal operates under Sharia law as a form of “non-binding dispute resolution.” El-badawi said their organization is “a tribunal, not arbitration.” A tribunal is defined by Meriam-Webster’s Dictionary as “a court or forum of justice.” The four Islamic attorneys call themselves “judges” not “arbitrators.”

El-badawi said the tribunal follows Sharia law to resolve civil disputes in family and business matters. He said they also resolve workplace disputes.

In matters of divorce, El-badawi said that “while participation in the tribunal is voluntary, a married couple cannot be considered divorced by the Islamic community unless it is granted by the tribunal.” He compared their divorce, known as “Talaq,” as something similar to the Catholic practice of annulment in that the church does not recognize civil divorce proceedings as ending a marriage.

He also said there is a difference between how a man and a woman can request a divorce under their system. “The husband can request the divorce directly from the tribunal,” El-badawi stated. “The wife must go to an Imam who will request the divorce for her.” He called it “two paths to the same result.” The practice of Khula is the process where a wife can initiate a divorce proceeding and where the husband can agree to the divorce in exchange for a financial compensation. It appears the wife must agree to give up any claim to the “dower” that was not already paid or to return it if it has already been paid. Once the financial issues are resolved the husband can then proclaim the Talaq (divorce). (Read more about the Islamic court HERE)

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First Sheriff Joe, Now California DMV Ordered to Overlook Identity Theft by Illegal Aliens

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Illegal aliens may enjoy a free pass on identity theft due to a new investigative policy at California’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).

The policy, issued last year and effective as of Jan. 1, 2015, directs DMV investigators to overlook identity theft by applicants “who may have attempted to obtain or been issued a license or ID card previously through submission of false information.”

A DMV source who asked to remain anonymous provided Breitbart News exclusively with a copy of the newly-enacted internal policy memorandum. The document informs DMV investigative officers that past identity theft is acceptable when the illegally-acquired IDs were only used to obtain a driver license, and where the license or ID was not used to commit any other crime.

It is unclear how investigators are meant to determine whether a falsely obtained driver license or ID was used solely for driving, or also to commit other crimes, such as using a fraudulently-obtained driver license to open a bank account, to apply for a loan, or even to purchase alcohol.

The policy seems to expect applicants to admit voluntarily to using a fraudulent driver license or ID for purposes other than driving a motor vehicle, if they did so. (Read more about the California DMV HERE)

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Donald Trumps Slams Romney at Iowa Freedom Summit (+video)

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By Mark Sappenfield. With all due respect, the Republican Party could probably do with a lot less of what was heard at the Iowa Freedom Summit Saturday.

On one hand, that might seem strange, considering that the Iowa Freedom Summit was all about getting America back to its “core principles of pro-growth economics, social conservatism, and a strong national defense,” according to the event website . . .

But then Donald Trump spoke.

He called Mitt Romney a “choker” for losing the 2012 presidential race to President Obama, and then said that Jeb Bush’s brother – former President George W. Bush – was the man who gave America Mr. Obama in the first place. (Read more about Trump at the Iowa Freedom Summit HERE)

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Hilary Clinton Appears to be M.I.A While Other Possible 2016 Candidates Attend Iowa Freedom Summit

By Liz Kreutz. At a time when many potential 2016 presidential contenders appear to be starting the ignition of their campaigns, Hillary Clinton has pressed the brake pedal.

Or so it seems.

Clinton’s calendar, which was jam-packed throughout most of last year with paid speeches, award ceremonies, fundraisers, book tour stops, campaign appearances and official Clinton Foundation business, is now virtually empty.

Over the past six weeks, the likely Democratic presidential candidate has made just two public appearances -– both on the same day, and both in Canada. She doesn’t have another event scheduled until late next month . . .

Until then, Clinton appears to be lying low and staying out of the public eye. Meanwhile, much of the focus has turned toward potential Republican candidates like Mitt Romney, Jeb Bush and Rand Paul. A dozen others tested out their possible stump speeches at a summit in Iowa last weekend. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Utah Family Who Killed Themselves in Fear of the Apocalypse Overdosed on Drugs

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By Associated Press. A Utah couple and their three children who were found dead in their home last fall overdosed on drugs after the parents told friends and family they were worried about the apocalypse, authorities said Tuesday.

Police also found old letters written by the mother to a Utah inmate serving time for killing family members in the name of God, slayings chronicled in the 2003 Jon Krakauer book “Under the Banner of Heaven.”

Benjamin and Kristi Strack and three of their four children — ages 11, 12 and 14 — were found dead in September in a locked bedroom of their Springville home. All five were in a bed, with the kids tucked into the covers around their parents.

At a news conference Tuesday, Springville Police Chief J. Scott Finlayson said investigators have concluded their probe and determined the family members died from drug toxicity from either methadone, heroin or a combination of drugs, including those found in cold medicine.

Authorities determined the parents committed suicide. The younger two children’s deaths were ruled homicides, although Finlayson said there were no signs of a struggle. (Read more about the Utah family HERE)

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Utah Family That Killed Themselves Showed Troubling Signs According to Family

By Associated Press. Benjamin and Kristi Strack often talked about the apocalypse and wanting to leave the evil they saw in the world, but friends and family thought that meant they would one day move somewhere remote and live off the grid. . .

There were troubling signs before the five bodies were found in a locked bedroom of their Springville home in September. The couple had struggled with drugs, as well as legal and financial problems. They also had been close friends with a Utah prison inmate serving a life sentence for killing family members in the name of God, slayings chronicled in the 2003 Jon Krakauer book “Under the Banner of Heaven.”

Investigators determined the parents committed suicide, Springville Police Chief J. Scott Finlayson said at a news conference called Tuesday at the conclusion of the investigation. The younger two children’s deaths were ruled homicides, although Finlayson said there were no signs of a struggle.

The manner of death for the 14-year-old, Benson Strack, was undetermined. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Airlines Taking Bomb Threats Very Seriously

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Photo Credit: BreitbartBy Jordan Schachtel. Countless bomb threats continue to be disseminated against airliners on social media. On Tuesday, Southwest Airlines reported two threats against a flight that was traveling from San Francisco to Atlanta. As the threats continue to roll in, civilian airliners have demonstrated a noticeable change in their responses to the criminal acts.

Responding to the initial cluster of threats, airliners grounded planes and isolated them upon arrival. Some even diverted flight paths.

Los Angeles FBI spokeswoman Laura Eimiller told Breitbart News that the recent spate of social media threats against U.S. airliners were now being dealt with on a “case by case basis.”

The FBI spokeswoman explained that it is up to the airliners to decide whether to continue flights, rather than respond to every warning by grounding and isolating planes. “I should add that when decisions are made whether to divert or not, pilots consult with airlines security personnel (also known as ‘corporate security’), who are in contact with law enforcement,” said Eimiller. (Read more about the bomb threats HERE)

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Should Social Media be Responsible for Terrorist Posts?

By NBC News. In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks in Paris and the rise of ISIS, lawmakers and policy experts on Tuesday discussed whether social media sites should be held responsible when terrorists use them. Texas Republican Ted Poe, chairman of the House Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade, compared allowing groups like ISIS to post on social media to “letting our enemies take out an ad in the New York Times during World War II.” Poe questioned whether sites like Twitter should be legally responsible for tweets that incite violence, spread the demands of terrorist organizations or try to recruit people to extremist causes. Mark Wallace, chief executive officer of the Counter Extremism Project, suggested that Twitter set up a tiered system where unverified accounts are subject to closer scrutiny. (Read more from this story HERE)

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Explosive: Justice Department has been Tracking Cars in Real Time Nationwide, Collecting Millions of Records

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Photo Credit: Fox News The Justice Department has been building a national database to track in real time the movement of vehicles around the U.S., a secret domestic intelligence-gathering program that scans and stores hundreds of millions of records about motorists, according to current and former officials and government documents. . .

Officials have publicly said that they track vehicles near the border with Mexico to help fight drug cartels. What hasn’t been previously disclosed is that the DEA has spent years working to expand the database “throughout the United States,’’ according to one email reviewed by The Wall Street Journal.

Many state and local law-enforcement agencies are accessing the database for a variety of investigations, according to people familiar with the program, putting a wealth of information in the hands of local officials who can track vehicles in real time on major roadways.

The database raises new questions about privacy and the scope of government surveillance. The existence of the program and its expansion were described in interviews with current and former government officials, and in documents obtained by the American Civil Liberties Union through a Freedom of Information Act request and reviewed by The Wall Street Journal. It is unclear if any court oversees or approves the intelligence-gathering. . .

The DEA program collects data about vehicle movements, including time, direction and location, from high-tech cameras placed strategically on major highways. Many devices also record visual images of drivers and passengers, which are sometimes clear enough for investigators to confirm identities, according to DEA documents and people familiar with the program. (Read more on the federal government tracking cars in real time HERE)

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