1.5 million without power from storm in DC/Maryland/Virginia region; 15 dead from triple digit heat and storm

Source: WTOP

Link to Tiger's Golf tournament with no fans: http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/8115466/pga-tour-congressional-halted-wake-brutal-storm

Power outage numbers as of 11 a.m.

•Pepco: 450,000
•Dominion: 431,000 in Northern Virginia
•BGE: 420,000 in D.C. area including Baltimore
•Potomac Edison: 44,000 in Maryland
•SMECO: 34,000
•NOVAC: 23,000
•Rappahannock: 20,000 in D.C. area

Below are the websites and phone numbers for area power companies:

•Pepco : 1-877-737-2662
•Dominion Power: 1-866-366-4357
•BGE: 1-877-778-2222
•Allegheny: 1-800-255-3443
•NOVEC: 1-888-335- 0500
•SMECO: 1-877-747-6326

Transportation

•Amtrak service Washington to Philadelphia was suspended until noon
•Metro is running as usual
•Bus routes are running sporadically because of downed trees

These hotels are open and DO accept animals

•Residence Inn by Marriot on Plum Orchard Drive, Silver Spring, Md. They are pet-friendly
•Embassy Suites D.C. Convention Center is open, has rooms. This hotel does not accept pets, only service animals
•DoubleTree on Rhode Island Ave in DC is open, has room. This hotel does not accept pets, only service animals

Here are some places you can go to keep cool:

In the City of Alexandria:

•The Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke Street
•Charles Houston Recreational Center, 901 Wythe Street
•Cora Kelly Recreational Center, 25 West Reed Avenue
•Barrett Library, 717 Queens Street
City pools:

•Old Towne Pool, 1609 Cameron Street
•Memorial Pool, 901 Wythe Street

Prince George's County:

•Baden Community Center, 13601 Baden-Westwood Road, Brandywine
•Camp Springs Senior Activity Center, 6420 Allentown Road, Camp Springs
•Glassmanor Community Center, 1101 Marcy Avenue, Oxon Hill
•Kentland Community Center, 2411 Pinebrook Avenue, Landover
•Prince George's Plaza Community Center, 6600 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville
•Curry Sports and Learning Complex, 8001 Sheriff Road, Landover
•Show Place Arena, 14900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Upper Marlboro
•Suitland Community Center, 5600 Regency Lane, Forestville

The following libraries will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and air-conditioned:

•Accokeek Library, 15773 Livingston Rd., Accokeek
•Bladensburg Library, 4820 Annapolis Rd, Bladensburg
•Beltsville Library, 4319 Sellman Rd, Beltsville
•Laurel Library, 507 7th Street, Laurel
•Hyattsville Library, 6530 Adelphi Road, Hyattsville

Rockville, open from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

•Thomas Farm Community Center, 700 Falls Grove Drive
•Rockville Swim and Fitness Center, 355 Martins Lane
•Pump House, 401 South Horners Lane

Montgomery County

•Richard Montgomery High School, 250 Richard Montgomery Drive in Rockville
•Clarksburg High School, 22500 Wims Road in Clarksburg
•White Oak Recreation Center, 1700 April Lane in White Oak. Bring prescription medicines, critical phone numbers, and any comfort items such as personal pillows.

Libraries:

•Germantown
•Bethesda
•Praisner
•Damascus

Pools:

•Germantown Indoor Swim Center, 18000 Central Park Circle, 240-777-6830
•Olney Indoor Swim Center, 16605 Georgia Avenue, Olney, 240-777-4995
•Germantown Outdoor Pool, 18905 Kingsview Drive, Germantown 240-777-8067
•Long Branch Outdoor Pool, 8700 Piney Branch Road, Silver Spring, 301-431-5700

Arlington County

*Note: all Arlington County pools are closed because of power outages.

•Artisphere, 1101 Wilson Blvd, Rosslyn, -- open until 11 p.m.
•Walter Reed Community Center, 2909 16th Street S. -- open until 5 p.m.
•Madison Community Center, 3829 N. Stafford Street -- open until 1 p.m.
•Dept. Parks & Rec Trades Center, S. Taylor Street, just off S. Arlington Mill Dr.,Shirlington
•Pentagon City Mall, 1250 S. Hayes St.
•Aurora Hills Library, 735 S. 18th St. -- open until 6 p.m.
•Central Library, 1015 N. Quincy St. -- open until 6 p.m.
•Glencarlyn Library, 300 S. Kensington St. -- open until 6 p.m.

Charles County

•Capital Clubhouse (Emergency Pet Shelter at this location), 3303 Waldorf Marketplace, Waldorf
•Thomas Stone High School (Cafeteria), 3785 Leonardtown Road, Waldorf
•Dept. of Community Services Building (Emergency Pet Shelter at this location), 8190 Port Tobacco Road, Port Tobacco
•Village Green Pavilion, 100 Walter Thomas Road, Indian Head

Summer 2012 Blockbusters Begin - Trailers -

Spiderman


Ted


Madea

President Obama and Mitt Romney reply to the Supreme Court Decision on the Affordable Health Care Act

---

From: Barack Obama [mailto:democraticparty@democrats.org]
Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 6:50 PM
To: Kirk Tanter
Subject: Say you're with me

Friend -- This is a good day for millions of Americans who can continue to benefit from the protections and economic security provided by the Affordable Care Act. While the Supreme Court's decision should put to rest the debate over health care, Mitt Romney and the Republicans in Congress just can't take yes for an answer. My opponent said a short while ago that the first thing he would try to do as president is repeal the health care law. We can't allow that to happen. So we have to win this election. Say you're with me on the Affordable Care Act: http://my.democrats.org/This-Decision Thank you for all that you do. Barack

________________________________________________________________________________ From: Mitt Romney [mailto:info@mittromney.com] Sent: Thursday, June 28, 2012 6:30 PM To: Kirk Tanter Subject: Supreme Court ruling on Obamacare To view this email as a web page, go here. Friends, Today, the Supreme Court upheld Obamacare. But regardless of what the Court said about the constitutionality of the law, Obamacare is bad medicine, it is bad policy, and when I'm President, the bad news of Obamacare will be over. It was always a liberal pipedream that a 2,700 page, multi-trillion-dollar Federal Government takeover of our health care system actually could address the very serious problems we face with health care. With Obamacare fully installed, government will reach fully half of the economy - that is the recipe for a struggling economy and declining prosperity. On Day One, I will work to repeal Obamacare to stop the government's takeover of our health care and intrusion in our lives. I will push for real reform to our health care system that focuses on helping patients and protecting taxpayers. We cannot afford Barack Obama's on-the-job learning, Big Government proposals, and irresponsible spending. Our basic liberties are at stake - and I will fight to restore our freedoms, renew the respect for our Constitution, and halt the government takeover of health care. This November it's all on the line. The stakes couldn't be higher. Donate $10 or more to put a stop to the policies of Barack Obama and the liberal Democrats. Thanks, Mitt Romney

Remarks by the President on Supreme Court Ruling on the Affordable Care Act

East Room

12:15 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT:  Good afternoon.  Earlier today, the Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act -- the name of the health care reform we passed two years ago.  In doing so, they've reaffirmed a fundamental principle that here in America -- in the wealthiest nation on Earth – no illness or accident should lead to any family’s financial ruin.

I know there will be a lot of discussion today about the politics of all this, about who won and who lost.  That’s how these things tend to be viewed here in Washington.  But that discussion completely misses the point.  Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country whose lives will be more secure because of this law and the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold it.

And because this law has a direct impact on so many Americans, I want to take this opportunity to talk about exactly what it means for you.

First, if you’re one of the more than 250 million Americans who already have health insurance, you will keep your health insurance -- this law will only make it more secure and more affordable.  Insurance companies can no longer impose lifetime limits on the amount of care you receive.  They can no longer discriminate against children with preexisting conditions.  They can no longer drop your coverage if you get sick.  They can no longer jack up your premiums without reason.  They are required to provide free preventive care like check-ups and mammograms -- a provision that's already helped 54 million Americans with private insurance.  And by this August, nearly 13 million of you will receive a rebate from your insurance company because it spent too much on things like administrative costs and CEO bonuses, and not enough on your health care.

There’s more.  Because of the Affordable Care Act, young adults under the age of 26 are able to stay on their parent's health care plans -- a provision that's already helped 6 million young Americans.  And because of the Affordable Care Act, seniors receive a discount on their prescription drugs -- a discount that's already saved more than 5 million seniors on Medicare about $600 each.

All of this is happening because of the Affordable Care Act. These provisions provide common-sense protections for middle class families, and they enjoy broad popular support.  And thanks to today’s decision, all of these benefits and protections will continue for Americans who already have health insurance. 

Now, if you’re one of the 30 million Americans who don’t yet have health insurance, starting in 2014 this law will offer you an array of quality, affordable, private health insurance plans to choose from.  Each state will take the lead in designing their own menu of options, and if states can come up with even better ways of covering more people at the same quality and cost, this law allows them to do that, too.  And I’ve asked Congress to help speed up that process, and give states this flexibility in year one.

Once states set up these health insurance marketplaces, known as exchanges, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate against any American with a preexisting health condition.  They won’t be able to charge you more just because you’re a woman.  They won’t be able to bill you into bankruptcy. If you’re sick, you’ll finally have the same chance to get quality, affordable health care as everyone else.  And if you can’t afford the premiums, you'll receive a credit that helps pay for it.

Today, the Supreme Court also upheld the principle that people who can afford health insurance should take the responsibility to buy health insurance.  This is important for two reasons.

First, when uninsured people who can afford coverage get sick, and show up at the emergency room for care, the rest of us end up paying for their care in the form of higher premiums.

And second, if you ask insurance companies to cover people with preexisting conditions, but don’t require people who can afford it to buy their own insurance, some folks might wait until they’re sick to buy the care they need -- which would also drive up everybody else’s premiums.

That’s why, even though I knew it wouldn’t be politically popular, and resisted the idea when I ran for this office, we ultimately included a provision in the Affordable Care Act that people who can afford to buy health insurance should take the responsibility to do so.  In fact, this idea has enjoyed support from members of both parties, including the current Republican nominee for President.

Still, I know the debate over this law has been divisive.  I respect the very real concerns that millions of Americans have shared.  And I know a lot of coverage through this health care debate has focused on what it means politically.

Well, it should be pretty clear by now that I didn’t do this because it was good politics.  I did it because I believed it was good for the country.  I did it because I believed it was good for the American people.

There’s a framed letter that hangs in my office right now.  It was sent to me during the health care debate by a woman named Natoma Canfield.  For years and years, Natoma did everything right.  She bought health insurance.  She paid her premiums on time.  But 18 years ago, Natoma was diagnosed with cancer.  And even though she’d been cancer-free for more than a decade, her insurance company kept jacking up her rates, year after year.  And despite her desire to keep her coverage -- despite her fears that she would get sick again -- she had to surrender her health insurance, and was forced to hang her fortunes on chance.
I carried Natoma’s story with me every day of the fight to pass this law.  It reminded me of all the Americans, all across the country, who have had to worry not only about getting sick, but about the cost of getting well.

Natoma is well today.  And because of this law, there are other Americans -- other sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers -- who will not have to hang their fortunes on chance.  These are the Americans for whom we passed this law.

The highest Court in the land has now spoken.  We will continue to implement this law.  And we'll work together to improve on it where we can.  But what we won’t do -- what the country can’t afford to do -- is refight the political battles of two years ago, or go back to the way things were.

With today’s announcement, it’s time for us to move forward -- to implement and, where necessary, improve on this law.  And now is the time to keep our focus on the most urgent challenge of our time:  putting people back to work, paying down our debt, and building an economy where people can have confidence that if they work hard, they can get ahead.

But today, I’m as confident as ever that when we look back five years from now, or 10 years from now, or 20 years from now, we’ll be better off because we had the courage to pass this law and keep moving forward.

Thank you.  God bless you, and God bless America.

END             
12:23 P.M. EDT

In 255-67 vote, House places Holder in contempt of Congress

Story by The Hill
Written by Jordy Yager and Pete Kasperowicz

The House voted Thursday to place Attorney General Eric Holder in contempt of Congress for not complying with a congressional subpoena.

Seventeen Democrats bucked party lines and voted with Republicans to pass a criminal contempt resolution in a 255-67 vote. House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.) pushed that resolution as part of his 16-month investigation into the botched "Fast and Furious" gun-tracking operation.
 
Only two Republicans voted "no" on the measure, while 65 Democrats recorded "no" votes and 108 Democrats didn't cast votes. Most of them were protesting the fact that the House GOP was holding the vote.

The two Republican "no" votes were Reps. Steve LaTourette (Ohio) and Scott Rigell (Va.). Rep. Dan Lipinski (D-Ill.) was the only "present" vote from either party.

Democrats voting for the resolution were Reps. Jason Altmire (Pa.), John Barrow (Ga.), Dan Boren (Okla.), Leonard Boswell (Iowa), Ben Chandler (Ky.), Mark Critz (Pa.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), Kathy Hochul (N.Y.), Ron Kind (Wis.), Larry Kissell (N.C.), Jim Matheson (Utah), Mike McIntyre (N.C.), Bill Owens (N.Y.), Collin Peterson (Minn.), Nick Rahall (W.Va.), Mike Ross (Ark.) and Tim Walz (Minn.).

Read more »

President Obama opens the National Urban League Convention

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June 28, 2012 View e-mail online

President Obama has announced that he will be attending the National Urban League Conference.  What about you?  Have you registered Yet? Register today and join the nations leaders in power-packed plenary sessions and workshops that will inspire you to take action at the hottest conference of the year: Join Reverend Al Sharpton, activist and author Kevin Powell along with Warren Ballentine, republican strategist Ron Christie and journalist Jeff Johnson for the not-to-be-missed plenary, Occupy the Vote: Are Voting Rights Under Attack? Attend the groundbreaking State of Urban Education plenary session with thought leaders, Dr. Julianne Malveaux and Professor Michael Eric Dyson to discuss the challenges facing urban schools and students. Check out the engaging Expo Hall Empowerment Zone Seminars: Transforming Your Life, Reclaiming Your Power with Kim Fields, and Empower Your Mind, Body, And Soul with Donna Richardson Joyner. It won't be all work and no play! Every conference registrant receives a FREE concert ticket to see Chaka Khan, Doug E. Fresh and Biz Markie at the New Orleans Arena!  Don't miss the excitement. Get your free tickets when you REGISTER TODAY! See you in New Orleans! Text CONF2012 to 69866 for Conference updates!     Make your Hotel Reservations Today: Official 2012 National Urban League Conference Hotels New Orleans, LA Make reservations now! presenting sponsors: For Updates:    Join Us on Facebook    Follow us on Twitter @NatUrbanLeague @MarcMorial Text NOLA to 69866 Visit nul.org/conference/2012 120 Wall Street New York, NY 10005 ph: (212) 558-5300 fax: (212) 344-5332 www.nul.org www.iamempowered.com

THIS ISSUE • ReMARCs  • To Be Equal  • Jobs Network  • Washington Updates  • Affiliates

Opening ReMARCs The opening address at the National Urban League's 2012 Conference will be delivered by President Barack Obama. The President will address the Conference on Wednesday, July 25, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. We're thrilled and proud to welcome the President to our Annual Conference for the third time. It has become a tradition for Presidents and major-party candidates to address the conference, not only to share their agenda for the nation, but also to hear ours.

Occupy the Vote  TO REGISTER TO VOTE, CALL:  1-866-MY-VOTE-1

Supreme Court Ruling a victory for President Obama as he heads into tough election

Story by The Hill
Written by Amie Parnes

• C-Span story link: http://www.c-span.org/Events/Supreme-Court-Upholds-Health-Care-Law/10737431946-9/
• The Supreme Court Ruling: http://www.c-span.org/uploadedFiles/Content/Documents/11-393c3a2.pdf 
• Affordable Health Care Benefits: http://www.whitehouse.gov/healthreform

The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the healthcare law and rule President Obama’s controversial landmark legislation as constitutional is an enormous victory for the White House ahead of a presidential election thought by many to be deadlocked.

The President will speak about the ruling within the next few hours, a senior administration source told The Hill.

As the decision came down Thursday, White House aides gathered in Press Secretary Jay Carney's office with the door closed in what aides quipped was their "war room." The press office was virtually deserted as people awaited word on the Supreme Court’s decision.

President Obama had been scheduled to be in the Oval Office when the decision came down. But White House reporters were temporarily held near Carney's office as The President apparently made his way from the residence to the West Wing.

Thursday's ruling and the decision to keep the mandate — the crux of the law — intact is expected to invigorate the President's supporters and will surely boost morale on the president’s team at the White House and campaign headquarters in Chicago on the heels of a rocky month for Obama.

“We knew all along that the law was constitutional,” said one White House aide. “We said it then in the face of all the criticism we got. We’re saying it now. We never had any doubt.”

A former senior administration official familiar with the president’s thinking, said despite the constant controversy surrounding the law, the President still sees the passage of the law as one of the most important — if not the most important — accomplishments of his time in office, “without question.”

That may be true but the healthcare law — the centerpiece of Obama’s domestic agenda for much of Obama’s first term — remains unpopular with the American public, with some Democrats accusing the White House of doing a bad job selling it. In recent months, as he’s begun to hit the campaign trail, Obama has only mentioned the law hurriedly in passing, instead of highlighting it as one of his monumental achievements.

“It’s been very difficult for the President to campaign on because polling behind it has been two-to-one and people have this sense that they don’t like it,” said Cal Jillson, a professor of political science at Southern Methodist University.

But Jillson and other observers say the high court’s decision on Thursday could also motivate conservatives to hit the polls this fall to ensure Obama is no longer in office.

“The Republicans will make more use of it then the Democrats,” Jillson said. “They’ll use it to really rally their party.”

One healthcare strategist agreed with that premise: “It will definitely rev up some people at the margins,” the strategist said. “I’m sure it will inspire some on the right to campaign even harder for Mitt Romney.”

But Republican strategist Ron Bonjean said while the decision will likely provide an automatic boost to the Obama administration and a ratification of their policies, it leaves Democrats with little more.

“If the healthcare law was so popular, the president’s approval rating would be through the roof,” Bonjean said.

Now that the healthcare law is upheld, Obama’s opponents are expected to launch another round of lawsuits on other provisions — which some predict could take years.

Since the Supreme Court heard arguments on the law back in April, Obama expressed confidence that the law was a good one and that it would be upheld.

“Ultimately, I am confident that the Supreme Court will not take what would be an unprecedented, extraordinary step of overturning a law that was passed by a strong majority of a democratically elected Congress,” Obama told reporters at a press conference.

Even so, Jillson and other observers say the Supreme Court decision is indeed “a dodged bullet” for the Obama administration and Democrats.

And even with the high court victory, Democratic strategist Jamal Simmons predicted that Obama still wouldn’t spend more time campaigning on the issue.

“I haven’t seen any evidence that talking about health care reform will increase the president’s chances of being reelected,” he said. “The American people have already factored in health care. It’s baked in the cake.”

Read more »

Nature: An Eagle's Hunting Technique

Al Sharpton's Voter Engagement Tour Kicks Off

Reverend Al Sharpton and the National Action Network will travel to key states where voter suppression and disenfranchisement is practiced and voter identification laws are prevalent. (Photo: AP)

Story by Black America Web
Written by Denise Stewart

The black church fueled the 20th century civil rights movement with everything from voter registration drives to justice rallies, and this week, the Rev. Al Sharpton and National Action Network will launch a modern day initiative to register and educate black voters and protect their votes.

Thursday at Eatonville, Florida’s Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church, National Action Network will launch its "Voter Engagement Tour," that will travel to key states where voter suppression and disenfranchisement is practiced and voter identification laws are prevalent. The tour is being led by the Rev. Michael A. Walrond Jr., of NAN’s Ministers Division in conjunction with Education for a Better America.

“The black church is that support bastion for voter enfranchisement and raising national awareness,” said Tanya Clay House, public policy director for the Lawyer’s Committee on Civil Rights. “I am pleased to see Rev. Sharpton and the National Action Network launch this effort,” House told BlackAmericaweb.com.

The tour launch in Florida comes just as that state squares off in court with the federal government over the legality of Florida’s efforts to purge its voter rolls.

U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle is holding a hearing today on whether to block Florida's push to remove voters who may not be U.S. citizens.

Federal authorities sued the state earlier this month, saying the state must halt the voter purge because it is too close to the Aug. 14 election.

State officials asked local election supervisors to check out the citizenship status of more than 2,600 voters. While more than 100 non-U.S. citizens have been removed supervisors have also discovered more than 500 people on the list were U.S. citizens.

Most counties in Florida have stopped removing voters due to differing opinions over whether it is legal.

Speaking recently on Sharpton’s Politics Nation on MSNBC, Ion Sancho, the Leon County, Florida supervisor of elections said a majority of the state’s supervisors “will not conduct any illegal activity. We’re going to ensure our voters are protected.”

Florida Gov. Rick Scott and his administration have a list of some 180,000 voters who they believe are ineligible to cast ballots in the state.

But the DOJ and justice advocates fear the list includes a large number of legitimate voters and that the purge violates the National Voter Registration Act that says voter roll maintenance must stop 90 days before an election.

The key to combatting the assault on voting rights is to educate voters and to register voters, says Melanie Campbell, president and chief executive officer of the National Coalition for Black Civic Participation.

“About 30 percent of the blacks in this country who are eligible to vote are not registered,” Campbell told BlackAmericaWeb.com. When you go into churches with voter education and voter registration efforts, you have a captive audience, she said.

“We respond when the message comes from a trusted voice in communities we trust,” she said. For African-Americans, that place has often been the church.

Already this year, the Empowerment Movement, headed by the Rev. Jamal Bryant in Baltimore, has registered more than 100,000 voters through registration efforts in black churches, organizers said.

From now until election day in November, the National Action Network will go throughout the country, educating voters on how to combat  restrictive new voter requirements and ultimately protect voter rights.

Cities and states with a history of issues voter protection issues will be the major focus, Sharpton said.

“NAN's mission is to work to ensure that every vote in every community across the nation is counted,” Sharpton said in a prepared statement. “Voter suppression efforts are threatening the notion of democracy as we know it. When about 5 million Americans may be disenfranchised from the polls this November, according to the Brennan Center for Justice, we understand that complacency is not an option.”

Colorado wildfire of 'epic proportions' displaces 32,000; tests firefighters

Story by CNN
Written by Ed Payne
Photo by Colorado Springs Gazette/Getty

 Firefighters again will battle inferno-like conditions on Wednesday as they try to tame an explosive wildfire that has already chased some 32,000 residents from their homes near Colorado Springs, Colorado.

"This is a firestorm of epic proportions," Richard Brown, the Colorado Springs Fire chief, said late Tuesday. Winds gusting to 65 mph through mountain canyons blew the wildfire through containment lines into northwest Colorado Springs on Tuesday afternoon.

Gov. John Hickenlooper surveyed the Waldo Canyon Fire, telling reporters it was a difficult sight to see.

"There were people's homes burned to the ground. It was surreal," he said late Tuesday night. "There's no question, it's serious. It's as serious as it gets."

The 6,200-acre fire remained only 5% contained. Officials labeled it as exhibiting "extreme fire behavior."

Read more »

The President’s Home Refinance Plan

President Obama wants to help millions of responsible homeowners save hundreds of dollars each month by refinancing their mortgages.

Read More: http://www.whitehouse.gov/refi

Michael Jackson Legacy continues on Third Anniversary of Jackson's 2009 death

Video by ENTV

Link to MJ Auction items: http://music.yahoo.com/blogs/stop-the-presses/michael-jackson-left-behind-lisa-marie-insomniac-note-223057209.html   

High court strikes down key parts of Arizona immigration law

Gov. Jan Brewer says the U.S. Supreme Court's 5-3 decision to uphold part of Arizona Senate Bill 1070, which she signed into law in April 2010, is a victory for Arizona and all Americans.

Story/Video by MSNBC
Reported by Tom Curry
CNN link: http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/25/politics/scotus-arizona-law/index.html 

Members of the media gather June 25 for a stakeout in front of U.S. Supreme Court in Washington.

The Supreme Court on Monday struck down key parts of the tough anti-illegal immigration law enacted by Arizona in 2010.

Supreme Court today before the ruling on the Immigration Law (Photo by Reuters)

The law had made it a crime for non-citizens who are unlawfully present in the United States to work in Arizona and requires police officers to check the immigration status of any person whom they have probable cause to believe is an illegal immigrant.

The decision was a victory for President Obama who had criticized the law, saying it “threatened to undermine basic notions of fairness that we cherish as Americans.” The Justice Department moved quickly in 2010 to block enforcement of the law.

Read more »

Olympic Workout

Supreme Court rules on Health Care this week

Islamist Mohammed Morsi, leader of Muslim Brotherhood, wins Egypt election - Live Streaming from Cairo -

Tens of thousands of his supporters celebrate victory of Islamist candidate Mohammed Morsi.

Live Streaming link: http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/cvplive/cvpstream2&hpt=hp_t1#/video/cvplive/cvpstream2 

Story by NBC, AP, and Reuters

Video by MSNBC

Streaming by CNN: http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/cvplive/cvpstream2&hpt=hp_t1#/video/cvplive/cvpstream2 


Islamist Mohammed Morsi of the Muslim Brotherhood was elected president of Egypt with 51.7 percent of last weekend's knife-edge run-off vote, defeating former Mubarak accolyte Ahmed Shafiq, the state election committee said on Sunday.

His victory followed speculation and anxiety about back room deals and suspected interference by the ruling military council in determining the outcome in favor of Shafiq, widely seen as the candidate of pre-revolution Egypt.

In the end, Shafiq polled 48.2 per cent, with 12,347,380 votes against Morsi's 13,230,131.

Thousands of Brotherhood supporters burst into cheers on Cairo's Tahrir Square, waving national flags and chanting "Allahu Akbar!" or God is Great, greeting a dramatic victory. Morsi will be sworn in on July 1, according to the election timetable.

Morsi, a 60-year-old, U.S.-educated engineer who spent time in jail under Mubarak, won the first round ballot in May with a little under a quarter of the vote. He has pledged to form an inclusive government to appeal to the many Egyptians, including a large Christian minority, who are anxious over religious rule.

The military council will retain control of the biggest army in the Middle East, whose closest ally is the United States. Morsi has said he will respect international treaties, notably that signed with Israel in 1979, on which much U.S. aid depends.

"President Morsi will struggle to control the levers of state," Elijah Zarwan, senior policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, said in Cairo.

"He will likely face foot-dragging and perhaps outright attempts to undermine his initiatives from key institutions. Faced with such resistance, frustration may tempt him fall into the trap of attempting to throw his new weight around," Zarwan told Reuters. "This would be a mistake.

"His challenge is to lead a bitterly divided, fearful, and angry population toward a peaceful democratic outcome, without becoming a reviled scapegoat for continued military rule."

Egypt's ruling armed forces were on alert on Sunday as fears of violence mounted in the final hours before the state election committee named the winner of last weekend's presidential vote.

Sunday's result - five hundred days after the overthrow of Hosni Mubarak - is historic for the Middle East, but will not end power struggles between the army, Islamists and others over Egypt's future.

"We want the military council to announce the real results without forgery," said Hassan Eissa, 43, an accountant from north of Cairo who was demonstrating on the square ahead of the result.

"They have no right," Eissa said. "Egyptians shouldn't be under any kind of guardianship after the revolution."

The generals, who oversaw Mubarak's departure on Feb. 11, 2011, have repeatedly said, both to Egyptians and to their close U.S. ally, that they will return to barracks and hand over to civilian rule. But they present themselves as guardians of Egypt's security and long-term interests and moved to block the Islamists from taking more than a share of power.

The son of a peasant farmer, Morsi has spoken of a simple childhood in a village in the Nile Delta province of Sharqia, recalling how his mother taught him prayer and the Koran. He obtained his doctorate from the University of Southern California in 1982 after earlier studying at Cairo University.

Following his studies in the United States, he returned to Egypt in 1985. Two of his five children hold U.S. citizenship.

Charlene Gubash, NBC News producer in Cairo, Reuters and The Associated Press contributed to this report

Muslim Brotherhood-backed candidate Mohamed Morsi won Egypt's presidential election - Live Streaming from Cairo -

Thousands of Muslim Brotherhood supporters burst into cheers on Cairo's Tahrir Square, waving national flags.

Live Streaming link: http://www.cnn.com/video/?/video/cvplive/cvpstream2&hpt=hp_t1#/video/cvplive/cvpstream2

Story below by CNN

Mohamed Morsi was declared the new president of Egypt on Sunday in an announcement that triggered massive cheers in Cairo's Tahrir Square.

Morsi, of the Muslim Brotherhood, beat out Ahmed Shafik, who served as the last prime minister under ousted President Hosni Mubarak.

Morsi had more than 13 million votes, while Shafik had more than 12 million, election officials announced.

Both candidates had already declared victory in the hours before announcement.

Authorities in Egypt had been on "high alert" in advance of the announcement, concerned about what could happen if Shafik won. Officials had said they were ready to carry out long-standing policy of using deadly force against people who attack government buildings, officials said.

Instead, the streets of Cairo were filled with celebration -- even in scorching temperatures near 100 Fahrenheit.

The square was the site of mass protests last year that toppled Mubarak.

The presidential race brought Egypt's first democratic elections, which the United States described as historic. But the campaigns of both Shafik and Morsi accused each other of election fraud.

The Muslim Brotherhood announced in advance Sunday that it would stage a long-term protest if Shafik was declared the winner.

The announcement came amid heightened concerns that Shafik would give new life to the old guard and essentially nullify democratic gains since last year's revolution ended Mubarak's 30 years of rule.

"Did we really have a revolution if Shafik wins?" prominent novelist Alaa al-Aswany said via Twitter. "For the thousandth time this is not a battle between the military and the (Muslim) Brotherhood, it is a battle of the Egyptian people with the military regime that ruled us with an iron fist for 60 years."

Like Mubarak, Shafik is a former air force officer with close ties to Egypt's powerful military and is "the quintessential candidate of the counter-revolution," said Khaled Elgindy, a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington.

Morsi, an American-educated engineer, "represents the older, more conservative wing of the Brotherhood and openly endorses a strict Islamic vision," said Isobel Coleman of the Council on Foreign Relations.

But in an interview with CNN, Morsi said, "There is no such thing called an Islamic democracy. There is democracy only. ... The people are the source of authority."

A national security officer predicted violence if Shafik is declared the victor.

"In the event of Shafik's win, we expect some trouble on the street and in Tahrir (Square), which will be met with an iron hand according to the instructions we have received," said Lt. Col. Usama Emam.

"We are on high alert and so far there has not been any evidence of an imminent threat or plan of sabotage from any Islamist extremist groups," Emam said. He added that Egyptian authorities have arrested "elements" of the Palestinian group Hamas over the past week since Egypt's military rulers isued "de facto martial law and we are still tracking some of their fugitive members who had entered mainly through Sinai and made their way to Cairo."

More than 1,800 ambulances have been dispatched across the country as a proactive measure, the state-run EgyNews agency reported. It also said the country's interior ministry stressed the need to respect peaceful demonstrations.

But the ministry also said it would not tolerate any turmoil against authorities after Sunday's pivotal announcement.

"Minister Mohamed Ibrahim has given police forces orders to shoot to kill against anyone attempting to attack police stations after the results," interior ministry spokesman Gen. Marwan Mustapha said, reiterating government policy in such circumstances. "Increased security has been dispersed in the side streets of (Cairo's) Tahrir Square to protect government buildings."

The Muslim Brotherhood vowed it would stage "a long-term, open-end sit-in at Tahrir Square," complete with bathroom facilities made of bricks, daily food supply and tight security at the entrances of the square, said Jihad Haddad, a political adviser to the Muslim Brotherhood. Haddad cited the Brotherhood's disapproval of the ruling military body's new constitutional decree and de facto martial law.

Egypt's all-powerful military leaders have said they won't reverse their widely deplored constitutional and judicial changes and also cautioned against election-related unrest.

"We will face anyone who will pose a challenge to the public and private sectors with an iron fist," the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) said.

Egypt's constitutional court dissolved the lower house of parliament this month, extending the military's power and sparking accusations of a coup d'etat.

Both presidential candidates claim victory in Egypt

Adding to the electoral tension is the question of how much power the new president will actually wield now that the military council has full legislative authority.

Under an interim constitutional declaration, the military council retains the power to make laws and budget decisions until a new constitution is written and a new parliament elected.

The declaration said Supreme Council members "shall decide all matters related to military affairs, including the appointment of its leaders." The president has the power to declare war, it says, but only "after the approval" of the Supreme Council.

The military council said it does not favor one political entity over another and respects the rights of Egyptians to protest but stressed the importance of self-restraint and respect for authority.

The Supreme Council urged political entities to respect democracy and "abstain from all possible acts that may descend the country into a full chaos."

Egyptian reform leader Mohamed ElBaradei -- the former head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency and a Nobel Peace Prize laureate -- warned that if Shafik was declared the winner, "we are in for a lot of instability and violence ... a major uprising."

He said there were fewer security concerns about a Morsi victory because Shafik supporters were unlikely to take their anger to the streets.

ElBaradei described the current situation as "a total, complete 100% mess."

Mohamed Mahsoob, a law professor at Menofiya University and a member of the El Wasat Party, tweeted: "The revolution will succeed, even if the newly elected president is below expectations because we will have the right to change him. But the revolution will not succeed if we have a president from the old regime that we toppled because he will working on seizing it back (and) reversing the accomplishments."

Why Mubarak's death wouldn't change Egypt's future

Amr Moussa, who served as foreign minister under Mubarak and mounted an effort to win the presidency in these elections, said "the next Egyptian president must call upon everyone to stand united as one." According to state-run news agency MENA, Moussa called on the new president "to head an emergency government of technocrats" that would last six to 12 months.

Jury finds Jerry Sandusky guilty on dozens of child sex abuse charges

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Story by CNN

Former Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky was found guilty Friday on 45 of 48 counts related to sexual abuse of boys over a 15-year period.
Jurors delivered the verdict around 10 p.m. after deliberating for about 21 hours.

There were convictions related to all 10 sexual abuse victims, with the three not-guilty verdicts applying to three different individuals.

Sandusky stood slightly hunched, looking down with his hand in his pocket but showing no visible emotion as the guilty verdicts were read out in court. His wife, Dottie, blinked back tears.

White House - Week of 6-18-12

This week, the President talks about an important policy change on immigration that more closely aligns our policy with our values, and traveled to the Group of 20 Summit in Los Cabos, Mexico, to work toward stabilization of the global economy.

Champions! Miami Heat defeats Oklahoma City Thunder to win second NBA title

Story by Miami Herald

Written by Joseph Goodman

The King has his ring

Two years ago, LeBron James chose to team up with Chris Bosh and Dwyane Wade in Miami and build an instant basketball dynasty. The Heat fell two wins shy of beginning that reign in 2011. On Thursday, Miami’s rule over the NBA officially started.

The Heat defeated the Thunder 121-106 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the world championship. After losing the first game of the series, the Heat won four straight to earn the franchise’s second NBA championship. While the Heat’s victories in Game 2, 3 and 4 were close and decided by only a few possessions, the clincher was an emphatic statement of basketball greatness.

The Heat defeated the Thunder 121-106 at AmericanAirlines Arena in Game 5 of the NBA Finals to clinch the world championship.

“We believe we built a team to be around for awhile,” team president Pat Riley said.
James, named Finals MVP, scored 26 points to go along with 13 assists and 11 rebounds, finishing with a triple-double in the biggest game of his career. His assist total tied a postseason career high. James entered Game 5 averaging 29.3 points, 10 rebounds and six assists in the series.

“It’s about damn time,” James said after receiving his MVP trophy.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/22/2862184/champions-miami-heat-defeats-oklahoma.html#storylink=cpy

PPM numbers highest in the Mid-Days

Morning drive isn’t a daily routine. Morning show personalities may be about to get a rude awakening: Tuning in every morning isn’t the norm for most people. The average P1 listener to a top-rated morning program listens to that show about two days a week. That’s according to a new Arbitron analysis of the daypart being released today at the Morning Show Boot Camp in Miami. Afternoon drive muscles past middays. One of the big bombshells when Arbitron launched PPM was the finding that middays had replaced mornings as the most-listened-to daypart in a majority of markets. That was the case in eight of the ten markets that had PPM currency or pre-currency data in July 2008. Four years later a new daypart is king: afternoon drive.