- PoliticsYahoo News
Intelligence whistleblowers face a dangerous path to Congress
Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson met with members of the House Intelligence Committee over a recent whistleblower complaint against President Trump by an intel analyst. WASHINGTON — When House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., issued a rare subpoena to acting spy chief Joseph Maguire, commanding him to share with Congress an “urgent” and “credible” disclosure reportedly relating to the president, it kicked off a heated debate across different government agencies and Capitol Hill over how to handle the anonymous complaint. One of the most perplexing questions for outsiders is if the complaint was so urgent, why didn't the whistleblower go straight to Congress, bypassing the jurisdictional battle between overseers?
- PoliticsAOL.com
Bill de Blasio's net worth as he pulls out of 2020 presidential race
New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week he is officially out of the 2020 presidential race. The official statement comes after weeks of speculation that the presidential hopeful planned on dropping his 2020 bid. De Blasio joins the likes of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Eric Swalwell and Gov. Jay Inslee, among others, who have given up ambitions to potentially become the 48th President of the United States.
- NewsYahoo News
'It's happening': Alien enthusiasts descend on Area 51 for a UFO party
The RVs, packed with UFO enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists and those just looking to party in a remote area of the Nevada desert for “Storm Area 51,” a gathering that began as an internet joke but is expected to attract several thousand people here over the next three days. It's here,” said Connie West, co-owner of the Little A'Le'Inn, which is hosting one of two competing “Alienstock” events this weekend. The original “Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us'” Facebook post was supposed to be a joke inspired by a recent documentary on the once secret military research site known as Area 51, part of the Nevada Test and Training Range, where conspiracy theorists allege the U.S. government is engaged in extraterrestrial research.
- NewsAOL.com
Texas man wanted for allegedly divorcing his wife without her knowledge
A Texas man is wanted by police after he allegedly filed for and completed divorce proceedings against his wife without her knowledge. Paul Nixon, 51, was accused of aggravated forgery — a felony charge — after authorities discovered his fraudulent divorce paperwork, the Houston Chronicle reports. Nixon apparently filed the paperwork on Feb. 15, the day after Valentine's Day.
- NewsThe Independent
Imelda’s toll in Texas: Flooding and fears about a bridge
As the remnants of the former Tropical Storm Imelda moved north on Friday, residents in southeast Texas awoke to shut down roads, scattered thunderstorms and the possibility of more flooding from a storm that became one the top 10 wettest in U.S. history. The storm that had barely earned a name — it briefly ranked as a tropical storm before being downgraded to a tropical depression — took many residents by surprise with its relentlessness, rekindling memories from when Hurricane Harvey dumped more than 50 inches of rainfall in some areas and caused dozens of deaths in 2017. As rain trickled down on and off on Friday, residents steeled themselves to assess the damage: At least two people had died, and authorities were investigating a third death after a man last seen walking around during the storm was found dead in a ditch in Houston.
- NewsUSA TODAY Opinion
On Kavanaugh and the FBI, time to investigate the investigation: Sen. Whitehouse
When I was a U.S. attorney, I worked closely with the FBI. When the FBI investigators were looking at something, what they wanted was information. The FBI is a machine for the acquisition and retention of information on cases. When the FBI began repelling and deflecting information in its investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's alleged history of sexual misconduct last year, that was unusual — a warning flag. Because of my position on the Senate Judiciary Committee, people reached out to my office to find out where to go in the FBI with information relevant to the allegations against Kavanaugh.
- NewsAssociated Press
Sheriff: 1 officer dead, 1 injured in Louisiana shooting
One police officer was fatally shot and another wounded Friday after a vehicle chase north of New Orleans, authorities said. Mandeville Police Chief Gerald Sticker confirmed one officer's death and the other's injury from gunfire in his community on the north shore of Lake Pontchartrain, near U.S. 190 and Louisiana Highway 22. Sticker said at a news conference that the wounded officer, who's being treated at Lakeview Regional Medical Center, is expected to survive.
- PoliticsYahoo News
AOC's first congressional endorsements reflect subtle shift away from outsider status
It was seemingly an offbeat choice for the first endorsement by the leader of the Democratic insurgency heading into a presidential election year, when New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threw her support behind Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., last week. Markey is a 73-year-old incumbent, and AOC's announcement was part of an effort by Markey to roll out as many endorsements as possible, to demonstrate that the party is with him and not with his 38-year-old challenger, Rep. Joe Kennedy III.
WorldAFPCampaigning Trudeau vows Canada assault rifle ban
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, campaigning for re-election, vowed on Friday to ban assault rifles but fell short on handguns, saying only that he would help cities restrict pistols and revolvers in response to a spate of shootings. "You don't need military-grade assault weapons, ones designed to kill the largest amount of people in the shortest amount of time, to take down a deer," he told a news conference in Toronto. There have been 311 shootings in Canada's largest city so far this year, with gun violence having increased incrementally each year to almost triple the rate in 2014.
- NewsAOL.com
'Shocked and devastated': Connecticut father, son die in tragic fall after riding ATVs in abandoned quarry
"[Mark's] dad went to look at something, tripped and his son went to grab him and they both fell," the witness said during a 911 call reporting the incident. The father and son, who were both pronounced dead at the scene, spent a lot of time together, according to friends and family. "They're the type of guys that at 2 a.m. in the morning if your house was on fire, they'd be the first ones there," their boss, Dan Siracusa, told WFSB-TV.
- NewsUSA TODAY
2 Muslim men say American Airlines canceled flight after crew 'didn’t feel comfortable'
Two Muslim men from Texas say American Airlines profiled them and canceled their flight after crew members said they “didn't feel comfortable” flying with the pair. Abderraoof Alkhawaldeh and Issam Abdallah said they filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Transportation against the Fort Worth-based airline, asking the federal agency to investigate the incident. The men say American Airlines discriminated against them Saturday for appearing Muslim and Middle Eastern during a flight from Birmingham, Alabama, that was headed to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
- WorldReuters
Dozens detained in Kazakhstan at anti-China protests
ALMATY/NUR-SULTAN (Reuters) - Police detained dozens in Kazakhstan's two largest cities on Saturday as they took part in the latest protest against China's influence in the Central Asian republic. Neighboring China is already one of Kazakhstan's largest investors and trade partners and a plan to relocate a number of Chinese plants and factories to the former Soviet republic has faced public opposition. The latest round of protests on Saturday was organized by supporters of Mukhtar Ablyazov, a fugitive banker living in France who has been the fiercest critic of Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.
- NewsAOL.com
High school sparks controversy over 'ridiculous' lunch: 'It's honestly sad'
A Minnesota high school is facing criticism for serving a meal that many people have since called "ridiculous." Last Friday, Maryn Holler, a student at Apollo High School in St. Cloud, shared two photos of a lunch tray filled with baby carrots, a cup of marinara sauce and a hot dog bun filled with melted cheese. "Alright so i paid for this to eat at lunch today," she wrote on Facebook.
- PoliticsThe National Interest
Could a Tax on Stock Trades Pay Off the Nation’s Student Debt?
If several of the Democratic candidates for president have their way, student debt will be a thing of the past – at least for current student loan borrowers. Sen. Bernie Sanders has proposed ambitious legislation that would cancel all student loan debt. Sen. Elizabeth Warren's plan would pay up to US$50,000 in loans for borrowers making less than $100,000, and a reduced amount for those making between $100,000 and $250,000.
- BusinessArchitectural Digest
Architect Reinaldo Leandro on the Art of Building Design and Personal Style
The prominent architect and co-founder of the multidisciplinary design firm Ashe Leandro shares his thoughts on how the way he dresses relates to his design sensibility Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
- NewsAssociated Press
History buff finds ships that sank in 1878 in Lake Michigan
A diver and maritime history buff has found two schooners that collided and sank into the cold depths of northern Lake Michigan more than 140 years ago. Bernie Hellstrom, of Boyne City, Michigan, said he was looking for shipwrecks about 10 years ago when a depth sounder on his boat noted a large obstruction about 200 feet (60 meters) down on the lake bottom near Beaver Island. "I've made hundreds of trips to Beaver Island and every trip I go out the sounder is on," he told The Associated Press on Friday.
U.S.Yahoo News VideoOfficials: Tour bus crash near national park in Utah kills 4
A tour bus carrying Chinese-speaking tourists crashed near a national park in southern Utah, killing at least four people and critically injuring up to 15 others, authorities said Friday.
WorldAFPYemen rebels announce plan to halt attacks on Saudi Arabia
Yemen's Huthi rebels unexpectedly announced Friday that they planned to halt all attacks on Saudi Arabia as part of a peace initiative to end their country's devastating conflict, five years after they captured the capital Sanaa. The announcement comes after a wave of drone strikes last weekend on Saudi oil installations knocked out half of the kingdom's production and sent shock waves through energy markets. The Iran-backed Huthis claimed responsibility for the attacks, but Riyadh's ally Washington has condemned them as an "act of war", placing the blame on Tehran and announcing new sanctions against the Islamic republic.
- LifestyleAOL.com
Boy, 4, who was diagnosed with autism and cancer within months of each other beats odds
A 4-year-old boy who was diagnosed with autism and cancer within three months has impressively beaten the odds, the Cleveland Clinic recently announced in a news release. Two years ago, Simon McKenzie reportedly became reserved, raising concerns from his grandparents. "I think you need to have him evaluated for autism," the child's grandmother recalled telling his parents, Mark McKenzie and Autumn Ziemba.
- NewsUSA TODAY
Friday's global strike was likely the largest climate rally ever
Millions of people around the world took part in Friday's climate strike, and estimates of total crowd sizes are still rolling in — some as high as 4 million. From New Delhi to Antarctica, protesters marched to draw attention to the climate crisis ahead of the United Nations Climate Action Summit, which kicks off Monday. In New York City, where schools excused the city's 1.1 million students from class to participate, Mayor Bill de Blasio put preliminary crowd estimates at 60,000.
- WorldReuters
Stacks of cash shown at trial of Sudan's toppled leader Bashir
Stacks of cash piled high were shown as evidence on Saturday against ousted Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir at his trial on charges of possessing illicit foreign currency and corruption. Millions of euros and Sudanese pounds were found at Bashir's residence in April after he was overthrown and detained by the military following months of demonstrations against his rule. The court heard four defense witnesses on Saturday, including Abubakr Awad, who was minister of state for the presidency until Bashir's fall, before it was adjourned until next Saturday.
- NewsAccuWeather
Atlantic likely to churn out tropical systems into 2nd half of September
Three additional areas over the Atlantic Basin are being closely monitored for potential tropical development in the coming days, while the western Gulf may be an area to watch September or October. One tropical disturbance was hovering over the central Caribbean, located to the south of Haiti, Saturday morning. "While this central Caribbean feature was producing a broad area of showers and thunderstorms, significant wind shear has and is likely to continue to keep this system in check this weekend," Dan Kottlowski, AccuWeather's top hurricane expert, said.
- WorldThe National Interest
Israel Could Not Survive Hamas' Missiles Without The Iron Dome
Key point: Israeli missile defense technology is cutting edge. On July 15th, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced it was deploying more Iron Dome missile defense systems near Tel Aviv and other parts of southern Israel. The Iron Dome is Israel's most effective defense system against short-range projectiles.
- CelebrityAOL.com
Gwyneth Paltrow's Banana Republic blazer is the chicest fall wardrobe essential
It's no secret Gwyneth Paltrow has mastered the art of minimal chic. With a stellar wardrobe of perfectly curated basics -- blazers, trousers and t-shirts-- the Goop founder is constantly giving us everyday wearable inspiration with a hint of modern menswear. Her latest notable outfit came when the 46-year-old mom hosted a Goop podcast event in Beverly Hills alongside Kerry Washington.
- WorldAssociated Press
Parachutists jump over Dutch heath to mark WWII operation
Parachutes glowing gold and white against clear blue skies, hundreds of paratroopers floated to the ground in the eastern Netherlands on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of a daring but ultimately unsuccessful mission that Allied commanders hoped would bring a swift end to World War II. Operation Market Garden dropped nearly 35,000 paratroopers deep behind enemy lines in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. After landing, the troops were to capture and secure key roads and bridges so Allied forces massed in Belgium could pour into Germany's industrial heartland.
