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Second, our country is a signatory to the United Nations Convention Against Torture. Waterboarding a prisoner is against international law and could subject the torturer -- or the person ordering or approving the torture -- to international sanctions, including prosecution in international courts.
In the early part of the last decade, torture fans in the George W. Bush Justice Department -- most infamously in a legal opinion by attorneys John Yoo and Jay Bybee -- twisted the law itself into contortions to argue that certain forms of torture were permissible. Al-Qaeda, they said, was a "non-state actor," not a country. As such, its members should receive none of the protections of international law.
That argument was specious on its face. Absolutely nothing in U.S. law says that there are two sets of rules -- one for countries and one for terrorist groups. The law is the law, whether we like it or not -- including international conventions adopted by the United States.
What Trump and his cronies are advocating is illegal, immoral, and unconstitutional. In fact, it's an impeachable offense. No president can order anybody to commit torture. Anyone who does should be hauled before a judge.
Personally, I have trouble taking any candidate who knows so little about the law and the Constitution seriously. But deep down, I almost want one of them to win, just so Congress, the Supreme Court, and the American people can make an example of him or her.
Maybe that's what it will take to finally put this torture issue to rest.
Excavation and boring of one of the tunnel tubes of 8.
Qazigund four-lane highway tunnel has been completed.
Sources in Nauyuga Engineering Company, executing the Rs 2100 crore four-lane tunnel project, said the ‘last blast’ in tube one was done Thursday morning and boring work with Austrian Tunnelling Method (ATM) of tube number two is under progress and will take three more weeks to ‘break through’. He said a function would be held at the time of the last blast in presence of VIPs.
After completing excavation of one tube now we are about 15 meters away from break through with last blast of tube two, said the source. He said work in second tube is going on day and night on war footing despite loose rocks and water leakage issues inside the tunnel.
The four-lane tunnel was handed over to Nauyuga Engineering Company in 2011-12 by National Highway Authority of India. Several deadlines to complete this tunnel have expired already because of “unavoidable behaviour of rocks” inside tunnel and lot of strikes by workers.
The tunnel is expected to be thrown open for traffic in next 18 months.
THIS is the horrific moment a man shoves a complete stranger into the path of an oncoming truck.
The terrifying random attack was captured by CCTV cameras in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday.
The shocking footage first shows the suspect sitting in a chair on the footpath outside a restaurant.
As his victim wanders into view, the man rises from his chair and strides towards him.
He is then seen pushing the elderly man, aged in his 60s, over onto the edge of the road.
A large truck then suddenly appears in view. With the driver unable to completely stop, the victim is caught underneath the truck's front left tyre.
He is now in a critical condition in hospital with a collapsed lung and broken bones, police told CBS Los Angeles.
However, emergency services later spotted the suspect about eight hours later and he was taken into custody.
A political adviser to California Senate Leader Kevin de León accepted vape pens and edibles from a marijuana industry lobbyist while talking about how to best convince de León to support a cannabis regulatory bill currently in the state Senate. Although the interaction was not illegal, ethics experts agree it violated the spirit of the law.
The Capitol building in Sacramento.
A political aide to California Senate President pro tempore Kevin de León accepted at least $85 in marijuana products from a pot lobbyist at the end of May before discussing how his boss needed to be "educated" into taking a more liberal stance on medical marijuana.
According to California's Political Reform Act, both full-time employees and contracted consultants for state legislators are barred from accepting unreported gifts worth more than $10 from lobbyists in any given calendar month. However, the adviser in question inhabits what several ethics experts described to BuzzFeed News as a legal loophole, because although he refers to Sen. de León as his boss, he is technically paid by the California Democratic Party and therefore is not required by law to report his gift. Therefore, Josh Drayton, a political adviser to de León via a group called the Senate Democrats, cheerfully accepted at least one hash oil–filled vaporizer pen and a container of marijuana edibles from pot lobbyist Nate Bradley in front of a BuzzFeed News reporter.
Public officials exchanging gifts and favors with lobbyists has long been a focus of public concern, but the legalization of marijuana raises the possibility of politicians and their staff being swayed not just by traditional incentives like financial donations, fancy lunches, or free concert tickets. The future of legislative influence may very well be in expensive buds or a passed joint.
In statehouses across the country, elected officials are trying to figure out how to turn a black market narcotic into a legitimate medicine or commodity. There are few precedents for how this should work, so they're making up the rules as they go along, with great variety and little guidance from the federal government. With so much money at stake for those who want licenses to grow, process, or sell legal weed, local legislators have a lot of influence over who will get to run a lucrative industry.
Although the value of Bradley's gift to Drayton is relatively low, this interaction represents a chumminess between political advisers and lobbyists that dances very close to the stated intention of the Political Reform Act, which was put in place to prevent gifts and financial interests from influencing legislation. Drayton's lawyer, Lance Olson, defended his client by saying Drayton did not do anything illegal, because he is not under contract with de León nor with any state or local agency. As a result, he said, Drayton is not subject to the gift-reporting requirements that an adviser or consultant under contract with de León's office would need to abide by.
Drayton's boss, de León, is one of the most powerful Democrats in California state government and has considerable influence over whether a bill supported by Bradley that would create a regulatory framework for medical marijuana will pass the state Senate this August. The bill would provide a state-level licensing system to codify the existence of the cannabis businesses that Bradley represents, which currently operate in an unregulated legal gray area.
California state Senate President pro tempore Kevin de León.
Although Drayton introduced himself to BuzzFeed News by saying he worked for de León, he later offered some clarification on how de León's office, where staffers are subject to gift restrictions because they are paid by the state Senate, works in conjunction with the Senate Democrats, where staffers are not subject to gift restrictions because they are paid by the California Democratic Party.
"We are the political arm for whoever the pro tem of the Senate is," Drayton said. "We are a piecemeal office that does a lot of little things. Mainly what we do are campaigns. Any time there's a changeover in the pro tem, our office structure changes. They bring in their own political director and adviser."
Drayton's business card lists his title as "advisor," has about 90% of the seal of the California state Senate, and has de León's name at the top.
"It's fairly standard behavior, but it is misleading. You can use a very close approximation of the seal without breaking any laws, and you can imply you work for the government as long as you don't specifically state that you do," said Dan Schnur, the director of the Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California.
Schnur said that he felt Drayton's acceptance of the gifts while presenting himself as working for de León violates the spirit of the law. "There's no question it's a loophole that should be closed. The problem is the people who would have to close it are the ones benefiting from the loophole."
Gary Winuk, the former chief enforcer of the California Fair Political Practices Commission, told BuzzFeed News that although the FPPC has not specifically addressed this question before, Drayton's actions would violate the spirit of the Political Reform Act if he does any advising to de León.
"It doesn't really matter who's paying him," Winuk said. "If his job is to provide advice, and he's paid to give advice to a legislator, he should be subject to the gift ban."
Loyola Law School professor and Vice President of the Los Angeles Ethics Commission Jessica Levinson agreed, saying she felt that having an adviser who is not under contract directly with the legislature and therefore is not subject to gift limits seemed to show a violation of the intent and spirit of the law.
"If it's permissible, it shouldn't be," said Levinson. "He seems to be holding himself out as working for the Senate pro tem and enjoying the benefits of working for Kevin de León but not the burdens. Along with the privilege and power of working for a state senator, particularly one in leadership, comes certain responsibilities, and chief among those is filing disclosure reports and being subject to a variety of restrictions."
The Fair Political Practices Commission was created in conjunction with the passage of the Political Reform Act as the bipartisan government agency tasked with enforcing the separation of financial interests and political influence in California, and imposing penalties where necessary. Jay Wierenga, the FPPC's communications director, said he had never heard of a politician or legislative employee legally reporting the gift of a federally illegal narcotic and that the organization could only determine whether Drayton had broken a law after doing an independent investigation.
"The public, when trying to decide who to vote for, should always make sure public officials work in the public interest, not in their own. Just because something is legal doesn't always mean it's right," Wierenga said.
The exchange happened in the office of the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), two blocks from the domed white Capitol building, in late May after a chance encounter on L Street. After the two greeted each other, Bradley told Drayton he had just received a new shipment of vape pens and brought him upstairs to the CCIA office to give him some.
"You have the battery still?" Bradley asked Drayton, once they got upstairs. When Drayton said he didn't have it on him, Bradley gave him a new one, as well at least one cartridge containing a gram of hash oil and a package of THC-infused espresso beans. Such cartridges typically cost about $50, while the cost of a battery is around $25 and that brand of marijuana-infused chocolates usually sell for $15 — all of which would go over the $10-a-month gift limit if he were subject to the restrictions.
Although there was no quid pro quo agreement between Bradley and Drayton stipulating a specific favor in exchange for the marijuana products, conversation swiftly moved from the presents to de León. The state senator has said that he opposes any effort to pass a ballot initiative in 2016 legalizing recreational marijuana and is working on legislation to punish people who are growing marijuana on public lands for damage done to the environment.
"Thank you for the treats!" Drayton told Bradley, after putting the vape pen and the edibles into his bag.
"No problem. I figured we just got a fresh load, and I'm like, I better hand them out while I have them, to friends," Bradley replied.
"You know, my boss really needs to be educated, the whole way through, you know, Kevin de León. He just wants to stay away from this," Drayton said.
Bradley told Drayton that one of his colleagues at the CCIA had spoken to de León's main policy consultant the day before and had come away convinced that de León's office was ready to help pass the bill but de León himself was not.
"We'll get him somehow," Drayton said. "I think nobody has approached him with the thought that regulating keeps it out of [kids'] hands."
Bradley liked this suggestion and added that in his speaking engagements he often uses a photograph of women in the early 20th century trying to end the Prohibition era with a sign that says "Legalize Alcohol, Save Our Kids."
The potential ethical implications of the exchange between Bradley and Drayton became known to BuzzFeed News after Bradley requested a correction to a story about how his experience in law enforcement and gregarious personality was allowing him to bridge partisan divides in Sacramento and usher a fair set of medical marijuana regulations through the California legislature.
The request, which was related to consumption of marijuana on the night a BuzzFeed News reporter was shadowing Bradley, drew BuzzFeed News' attention to the nature of the exchange between Bradley and Drayton. BuzzFeed News did not issue a correction.
When asked for comment on the interaction with Drayton, Bradley's lawyer, Khurshid Khoja, responded, "CCIA and its board are not aware of any laws that have been violated by the activity you alleged. We are assessing the factual circumstances surrounding these allegations, and will determine what, if any, action must be taken as a result."
Schnur said that although giving or receiving an undisclosed gift is a relatively minor violation in the eyes of the law, doing so on an ongoing basis or explicitly in exchange for influence over legislative activity would be a much bigger problem.
"When [Gov.] Jerry Brown first pushed for [the Political Reform Act] back in the '70s, he called it 'two burgers and a coke,"' Schnur said.
"Just because it's two joints and a coke doesn't change the underlying statute."
• Hosted a workshop with the Craig/Moffat Economic Development Partnership about an increased funding request.
• Approved, 7-0, Nov. 27 meeting minutes.
• Approved, 7-0, November bills of $257,792.96.
• Approved, 7-0, a special events permit for St. John’s Greek Orthodox Church for Dec. 31 at the Moffat County Fairgrounds Pavilion.
• Approved, 7-0, the renewal of the Holiday Inn & Suites sports page.
• Approved, 7-0, a change of corporation structure and a change of manager at Holiday Inn & Suites.
• Approved, 7-0, the renewal of a hotel and restaurant liquor license for Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant.
• Approved, 7-0, a license transfer from the Golden Cavvy to The Baker House Bar & Grill.
• Awarded, 7-0, a $27,950 bid to Masterworks Mechanical, Inc. for a commercial boiler for the wave pool.
• Awarded, 7-0, a $27,950 bid to C&M Golf & Grounds for a turf grass and debris sweeper for parks and recreation.
• Approved, 7-0, resolution number nine appropriating funds to Boys and Girls Club of Craig roof repairs.
• Approved, 7-0, a $33,370 bid from APH Construction for roof repairs at the Boys and Girls Club of Craig.
• Approved, 6-1, an audit proposal from McMahan and Associates, LLC for 2012 through 2014 audit services.
The local U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced four initiatives that can help north Okaloosa County farmers improve their operations.
CRESTVIEW � The local U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service has announced four initiatives that can help north Okaloosa County farmers improve their operations.
�Help producers install conservation practices on USDA-certified organic operations or those working toward organic certification.
�Help producers install high tunnels � "in layman's terms, a greenhouse," Williams said� designed to extend the growing season, increase productivity, keep plants at a steady temperature and conserve water and energy.
�Help producers conserve energy on their operations.
�Help private landowners improve longleaf pine forest ecosystems' sustainability and profitability.
The initiatives offer "an additional chance ... to improve water and air quality, build healthier soil, improve forest lands, conserve energy, enhance organic operations and achieve other environmental benefits," according to a USDA news release.
While farmers yearlong may apply for most USDA programs' funding assistance, March 15 is the deadline to apply for conservation technical assistance and possible cost-share funding opportunities for the four initiatives, the release stated.
No north county farmers have participated in the high tunnel initiative, though producers in neighboring counties have erected several such tunnels, local district conservationist Darryl Williams said.
"It (the high tunnel) has to be located on cropland. You can't just go locate it anywhere," he said. "That's not to say urban individuals couldn't apply if they have an agriculture exemption on your property.
The high-tunnel initiatives can help boost a crop's longevity, Williams said.
"It helps our farmers, ranchers and gardeners that are growing a crop sustain the growing season into the winter months. It assists those who are certified organic farmers to extend their growing season. Basically, the initiative would help you purchase the materials."
Congress' recent September 2013 extension of the 2008 Farm Bill made the new initiatives possible, the release stated.
For more information on the producer initiatives, conservation assistance or other programs, contact the U.S. Department of Agriculture's local Natural Resources Conservation Service office, 938 N. Ferdon Blvd., at 682-3714 or visit www.fl.nrcs.usda.gov.
Hoping to additionally strengthen its stature among cancer care facilities in Colorado, Banner Health’s North Colorado Medical Center on Thursday announced a collaboration with the world-renowned University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.
The Greeley hospital’s cancer care unit now will be known as Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at North Colorado Medical Center. The partnership went into effect Aug. 1, but the official announcement came Thursday night at a news conference and celebration at NCMC.
A similar function was hosted earlier in the day to announce a Banner-MD Anderson collaboration at what now will be known as Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center at McKee Medical Center in Loveland.
Margo Karsten is Banner Health’s CEO for NCMC, McKee Medical Center, the Fort Collins Medical Center and also is president of Banner’s western region.
“The MD Anderson team from Houston had 50 site visits up here,” she said after the news conference. “When you reach out them as an affiliate partner or have them run your program, they do their due diligence. So what it looked like was every visit, they looked at everything we did. Quality, the credentials of our physicians and clinical staff, how we deliver care. Was it the same level they deliver in Houston? That’s why it took so long to get this done.
The collaboration will not involve an influx of MD Anderson personnel, but rather rebranding with the use of the long-respected Anderson name and a consultation partnership and multidisciplinary approach involving the existing NCMC staff. Banner has been part of the MD Anderson Cancer Network since 2011 and previously has been affiliated with a Banner MD Anderson Cancer Center in Gilbert, Ariz.
Also present at the Greeley news conference was Michael Brown, president and CEO of MD Anderson’s physicians network and services corporation.
Brown said the collaboration will enable area residents “to have the opportunity to get MD Anderson quality and MD Anderson expertise without leaving the comfort of their own community.” He added studies have shown that patients do better when taking treatment closer to home.
“So I think what we’ve achieved here is really the best of both worlds,” he said.
This is a sample entry from Tom Dosdall’s newsletter, Technical Ag Knowledge, published on Friday October 6, 2017.
Watch the video for end of week commentary and analysis on corn, soybeans, and cotton. Changes in corn open interest are something to keep an eye on, as will be Thursday’s WASDE report. I also think the Dec ’18 carry has gotten wide enough to call our attention..
Experts have strongly condemned “irresponsible” and “deeply cynical” claims that a new food supplement can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s.
A study of 13 patients found that a combination of fish oil and eye-protective nutrients led to “significant” improvements in memory, sight and mood.
Trial patients who took the Memory Health supplement “displayed overwhelmingly positive responses”, according to a press release accompanying the product’s launch.
Progression of the disease was delayed and the supplement helped “maintain cognitive abilities and quality of life”, it was claimed.
A month’s supply of 30 of the capsules costs £27.50 and is available online from www.memoryhealth.com.
But leading experts strongly criticised the research behind the product, calling the “breakthrough” claims irresponsible and warning that the findings were “highly unlikely to be true”.
Thirteen patients with mild to advanced Alzheimer’s disease were given the supplement for 18 months and their progress assessed.

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