A Florida jury has found Casey Anthony not guilty of murder in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, Caylee.
A jury of 7 women and 5 men in Orlando did find the 25-year-old Anthony guilty of giving false information to a law enforcement in connection with the case. The jurors returned the verdict after more than 10 hours of deliberation.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
'All-star' politicians announcing bipartisan committee to find 'third way' to solve Minnesota budget crisis
By Doug Grow From: MNPOST
An all-star group of Minnesota politicians has put together a bipartisan committee that has been charged with rapidly coming up with “a third way” to solve the state’s budget crisis and end the government shutdown.
Former Gov. Arne Carlson, former Vice President Walter Mondale and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger are the movers and shakers behind the committee, which clearly is being formed with the blessing of Gov. Mark Dayton.
The committee will be announced at a Capitol news conference on Tuesday.
Former Gov. Arne Carlson, former Vice President Walter Mondale and former U.S. Sen. Dave Durenberger are the movers and shakers behind the committee, which clearly is being formed with the blessing of Gov. Mark Dayton.
The committee will be announced at a Capitol news conference on Tuesday.
Group to include business leaders, finance experts
Members of the committee include a combination of business leaders, former legislators, former government finance officials, as well as current Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter, who was an assistant commissioner under Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Co-chairs of the committee will be former DFL state legislator Wayne Simoneau, who served as commissioner of Employee Relations and later Finance under Gov. Arne Carlson, and former state Sen. Steve Dille of Dassel, a Republican who retired after the 2010 session.
Members of the committee include a combination of business leaders, former legislators, former government finance officials, as well as current Management and Budget Commissioner Jim Schowalter, who was an assistant commissioner under Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Co-chairs of the committee will be former DFL state legislator Wayne Simoneau, who served as commissioner of Employee Relations and later Finance under Gov. Arne Carlson, and former state Sen. Steve Dille of Dassel, a Republican who retired after the 2010 session.
Arne Carlson
Other committee members include:
• John Gunyou, city manager of Minnetonka, former Finance commissioner under Carlson and the running mate of Margaret Anderson Kelliher in her unsuccessful bid to be the DFL’s gubernatorial candidate last November;
• Jay Kiedrowski, former Finance commissioner under Gov. Rudy Perpich;
• Former Wells Fargo CEO Jim Campbell; and
• Former Medtronic Vice President Kris Johnson.
Committee told to move fast
The committee has two distinct charges: Move rapidly and don’t be tied to any of the parameters — such as no new taxes and a fourth income-tax tier — that bogged down negotiations and led to the current shutdown.
The Republican legislative leadership was to be informed of the committee’s formation late Monday afternoon.
It’s unknown at this time whether Republican leaders will buy into the idea.
It’s believed that the idea grew out of conversations Dayton had with Carlson and former Republican Gov. Al Quie in recent months. The DFL governor frequently talked to those two in his efforts to find a way to reach agreement with the Republican majority.
Carlson spoke briefly about the work of the committee in a conversation Monday.
• John Gunyou, city manager of Minnetonka, former Finance commissioner under Carlson and the running mate of Margaret Anderson Kelliher in her unsuccessful bid to be the DFL’s gubernatorial candidate last November;
• Jay Kiedrowski, former Finance commissioner under Gov. Rudy Perpich;
• Former Wells Fargo CEO Jim Campbell; and
• Former Medtronic Vice President Kris Johnson.
Committee told to move fast
The committee has two distinct charges: Move rapidly and don’t be tied to any of the parameters — such as no new taxes and a fourth income-tax tier — that bogged down negotiations and led to the current shutdown.
The Republican legislative leadership was to be informed of the committee’s formation late Monday afternoon.
It’s unknown at this time whether Republican leaders will buy into the idea.
It’s believed that the idea grew out of conversations Dayton had with Carlson and former Republican Gov. Al Quie in recent months. The DFL governor frequently talked to those two in his efforts to find a way to reach agreement with the Republican majority.
Carlson spoke briefly about the work of the committee in a conversation Monday.
REUTERS/Mike SegarWalter Mondale
His hope is that the committee can come up with “a third way” to resolve the dispute. This third way — which could include everything from budget cuts, to expanding sales taxes to establishing “blink- off” income taxes — might not be popular with either the governor or Republican legislators.
But such ideas, coming from an outside group, might allow both sides “to save face” and get government functioning again.
“We need ideas that are rational to the great middle ground of Minnesotans,” Carlson said.
He said that those involved in the project believe that “all Minnesotans are willing to share” in the process of resolving the deficit problem.
Coming to a rapid resolution is vital, the leaders of this movement believe. Rapid, in this case, means coming up with a framework as soon as Thursday.
Speed, they say, is essential because the government shutdown will not just cause inconvenience but will slow down the state’s economy.
Could state become national test case?
Beyond that, there’s a great concern among many leaders that Minnesota may end up as the “test tube state” in the national budget debate.
But such ideas, coming from an outside group, might allow both sides “to save face” and get government functioning again.
“We need ideas that are rational to the great middle ground of Minnesotans,” Carlson said.
He said that those involved in the project believe that “all Minnesotans are willing to share” in the process of resolving the deficit problem.
Coming to a rapid resolution is vital, the leaders of this movement believe. Rapid, in this case, means coming up with a framework as soon as Thursday.
Speed, they say, is essential because the government shutdown will not just cause inconvenience but will slow down the state’s economy.
Could state become national test case?
Beyond that, there’s a great concern among many leaders that Minnesota may end up as the “test tube state” in the national budget debate.
Dave Durenberger
Carlson said he and others are concerned that there are national organizations with “bagloads of money” eager to get into the midst of the Minnesota budget debate. That, they believe, would do nothing but raise the level of rhetoric.
Those supporting this committee also hope that it will free up individual members of the Republican caucus and, to a lesser extent, DFL legislators to vote independently of caucus orders.
“All legislators have the obligation to represent their district and the state of Minnesota, not the caucus,” Carlson said.
At this point, the ex-governor said he has had no specific advice to Dayton on how to bring about resolution.
“It’s a bit of pickle,” he said.
Doug Grow writes about public affairs, state politics and other topics. He can be reached at dgrow [at] minnpost [dot] com.
Those supporting this committee also hope that it will free up individual members of the Republican caucus and, to a lesser extent, DFL legislators to vote independently of caucus orders.
“All legislators have the obligation to represent their district and the state of Minnesota, not the caucus,” Carlson said.
At this point, the ex-governor said he has had no specific advice to Dayton on how to bring about resolution.
“It’s a bit of pickle,” he said.
Doug Grow writes about public affairs, state politics and other topics. He can be reached at dgrow [at] minnpost [dot] com.
Monday, July 4, 2011
Who is Ed Mezvinsky???
Edward "Ed" Mezvinsky born January 17, 1937, is a former Democrat congressman. As a Democrat, he represented Iowa 's 1st congressional district in the United States House of Representatives for two terms, from 1973 to 1977. He sat on the House Judiciary Cmt. that decided the fate of Richard Nixon. He and the Clintons were very politically intertwined for years.
In March 2001, Mezvinsky was indicted and later pleaded guilty to 31 of 69 charges of bank fraud, mail fraud, and wire fraud.
Nearly $10 million was involved in ponzi schemes and Nigerian e-mail scams.
After serving five years in federal prison, he was released in April 2008. He is expected to remain on federal probation until 2011, and still owes $9.4 million in restitution to his victims. So who is he???
He's Chelsea Clinton's father-in law.
Has anyone heard mention of this in any of the media?
If this guy was Jenna or Barbara Bush's, or better yet one of Sarah Palin's daughters, father-in- law, the news would have replaced the oil spill.
And some say there is no double standard.... sure there isn't!!
We need a Lights On Bill
Regardless of which party is at fault in this mess and both parties are placing the blame on the other, Governor Dayton needs call a special session and pass a lights on bill. The recent estimate is that it will cost Minnesotans 18 million a week with the state shut down, but will grow exponentially as time goes by, and through a trickle down effect from tens of thousands of laid off state workers losing there jobs and spending abilities. Also private companies have started laying off workers and if public transportation shuts down more will lose there jobs.
Nobody has mentioned the small businesses in Northern MN, that rely on the tourist trade and with state parks shut down, they are definitely hurting right now.
So, it is time for both parties to do the right thing, Governor Dayton call a special session on Tuesday. Democrat and Republican legislators, do what the people of Minnesota want, and pass a lights on bill.
Nobody has mentioned the small businesses in Northern MN, that rely on the tourist trade and with state parks shut down, they are definitely hurting right now.
So, it is time for both parties to do the right thing, Governor Dayton call a special session on Tuesday. Democrat and Republican legislators, do what the people of Minnesota want, and pass a lights on bill.
Sunday, July 3, 2011
Has O.J. Simpson confessed murder to Oprah?
Has O.J. Simpson confessed murder to Oprah? Huge TV interview planned in which convict 'will admit he killed Nicole in self-defence as she pulled a knife on him'
By Paul BentleyO.J Simpson has confessed to Oprah Winfrey that he murdered his former wife, it has been reported.
The talk show host made headlines recently saying that one of her regrets was never having got the shamed former sportsman to confess to the killing.
And it appears her wish may well have come true with reports Simpson has already told one of her producers in an interview from jail that he knifed ex-wife Nicole in self-defence - a confession he will now repeat to the talk show queen during a spectacular televised sit down interview.
Revealing all? Oprah is said to be lining up an historic interview with Simpson
Simpson is currently serving a nine-year sentence at Nevada’s Lovelock Correctional Centre, after he was convicted of robbery and kidnapping in Las Vegas in October 2008 after a botched heist to retrieve his memorabilia he said was stolen by dealers.
Coup: Will Oprah finally get the confession from O.J. Simpson that she is said to have been pining for?
According to the National Enquirer, the interview is set to be filmed after Simpson confessed he killed the pair in self-defence to a producer from inside prison.
'Oprah has been in touch with O.J. for the past year,' a source told the magazine. She contacted him in prison to explore the possibility that he might give her an interview.
'He has always been a big fan of hers, but for a long time he was reluctant to say he did the crime or give the details of how it happened.'
According to the insider, Simpson recently decided to go through with the confession after he was contacted again by one of Oprah's producers.
'He told the producer: "Tell Oprah that yes, I did it. I killed Nicole, but it was in self-defence. She pulled a knife on me and I had to defend myself",' the insider was quoted as saying.
He reportedly then went on to give a full account of what happened on the night of the murders on June 12 1994.
Confession? O.J. Simpson and his ex-wife, Nicole Brown Simpson, when they were a couple in 1993
Murdered: Ronald Goldman was an American waiter and an aspiring model
'O.J. said he went home and kept getting angrier and angrier and worked himself into an absolute rage,' the source told the Enquirer.
Family: Simpson, pictured with Nicole and their children, Sydney Brook and Justin
'I went over there to give her a piece of my mind,' he was quoted as saying.
When he arrived and no one answered at the house, he started pounding the door and shouting, according to the report.
The door allegedly then swung open and Nicole was standing there with a kitchen knife in her hand.
'O.J. told the producer, "she was yelling go away! Go away! And waving the knife around at me. At one point she was lunging at me with the knife and I was just trying to talk to her. Nicole stepped out of the apartment - slashing the knife in the air.
'"I was in such a rage that something just snapped. I couldn't take her constant taunting of me with other men or her using drugs and drinking while my kids were living with her. I went beserk.
'"Before I knew what I was doing I took the knife away from Nicole and started slashing at her. I cut her over and over again until she was lifeless. I was shocked at my own anger - I had killed the woman I had loved for so long.."'
Evidence: A glove that was found at Simpson's home - originally said to have been the pair to another which was bloodied from the violent murders
Weapon: A German-made 15-inch knife similar to one originally said to have been sold to Simpson five weeks before the murders
The shamed former sportsman was acquitted on October 3, 1995 of stabbing to death his ex-wife Nicole Brown Simpson and her friend Ronald Goldman after perhaps the most famous trial in modern history.
After the bodies were found in a pool of blood on her driveway in Los Angeles driveway, Simpson, who has until now maintained he did not commit the murders, began a bizarre slowspeed car chase with police.
Custody: Simpson's original mugshot
He was allegedly headed for the Mexican border with $5,000 dollars and his passport when he was tracked by authorities.
Eventually, 27 police cars trailed him until he surrendered on his mansion's driveway an hour and a half later.
Despite huge amounts of evidence against Simpson, including bloodstains in his car, a glove holding DNA from the three, a sock engrained with traces of his victims' blood on his bedroom carpet and tapes of a terrified Nicole begging police for help as Simpson hit her - he was acquitted of the murders.
If the confession is made to Oprah on television, Simpson will not, however, suffer legal consequences.
Under the law of double jeopardy, a second trial is forbidden following an acquittal.
Fireworks Locations in the Twin Cities Metro
Twin Cities 4th of July Fireworks 2011
Sparks will fly in the north, south, east and west metro
Metromix Twin CitiesJune 20, 2011
We here at Metromix Twin Cities HQ dutifully scoured the Fourth of July schedules across the metro, looking for the best public fireworks starting this Friday.
From Anoka to Lakeville, here are some celebrations that include live music, fair food and fun all to celebrate our nation's birth. The best shows are organized by geography so you can find where to go in your neck in the woods or, if you're feeling gutsy, venture out to one of the big bashes (we've chosen a couple fireworks displays worth the drive, no matter where you live).
If you're not interested in browsing the listings, you can also just do a quick search with "fireworks" and the city name, and if you're heading out for the better part of the day, remember to check the weather first.
From Anoka to Lakeville, here are some celebrations that include live music, fair food and fun all to celebrate our nation's birth. The best shows are organized by geography so you can find where to go in your neck in the woods or, if you're feeling gutsy, venture out to one of the big bashes (we've chosen a couple fireworks displays worth the drive, no matter where you live).
If you're not interested in browsing the listings, you can also just do a quick search with "fireworks" and the city name, and if you're heading out for the better part of the day, remember to check the weather first.
Click here for fireworks in your area.
Friday, July 1, 2011
Let's Make This Perfectly Clear.
The legislature did not pass a budget, the GOP did. Dayton did not shut the state down, the GOP and the Democrats did. The GOP did not compromise, the Democrats did not compromise. The GOP does not have a mandate. It is not the legislature verses Dayton. This whole thing boils down to GOP versus Democrats and the will and good of the citizens of Minnesota be dammed.
Both parties violated the spirit of the Minnesota Constitution. The citizens of Minnesota spoke when they voted, and they said negoiate compromise, because we are evenly divided. Here are the votes.
STATE HOUSE:
* * *
STATE SENATE:
ARTICLE I
Section 1. Object of government. Government is instituted for the security, benefit and protection of the people, in whom all political power is inherent, together with the right to alter, modify or reform government whenever required by the public good.
Sec. 2. Rights and privileges. No member of this state shall be disfranchised or deprived of any of the rights or privileges secured to any citizen thereof, unless by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the state otherwise than as punishment for a crime of which the party has been convicted.
Both parties violated the spirit of the Minnesota Constitution. The citizens of Minnesota spoke when they voted, and they said negoiate compromise, because we are evenly divided. Here are the votes.
STATE HOUSE:
• Republicans candidates: 1,036,019 votes (50.99%)
• DFL candidates: 995,853 votes (49.01%)
Republicans won by just under two percentage points.* * *
STATE SENATE:
• Republican candidates: 1,021,633 votes (50.41%)
• DFL candidates: 1,005,132 votes (49.59%)
Hardly a mandate, yet the GOP remains arrogant and talks like they have a mandate from the people. They don't. The Democrats as a result have there back up against the wall and they are not compromising either. When all is said and done this will cost the taxpayers 100's of million of dollars, not only in state expense because of the shut down, but, lost wages, revenue, tourist trade, and the list goes on. The legislators need to get back to work and settle this thing, not along party lines, but along the will of the people of Minnesota.
The GOP has the most to lose. The backlash could cost them all there gains by a huge margin in 2012. Whoever is giving them there political advice had better revise it and start listening to the people. The same holds true for the Democrats. There needs to be give and take. The GOP needs to realize this is not us against them and that they are slowly loosing there backing. They have already angered the sportsmen of Minnesota by breaking there promise to them and they have a long memory. Know they angering the poor by refusing to tax the rich, and now the majority of people in the state are against the gay marriage bill. Their Senators have created a backlash with people like Hackbarth calling a citizen and a union communist and murderers, and they won't talk about reprimanding Hackbarth. They have fallen into the Democrats trap by making the Democrats victims, and they don't see it. Also most people are smart enough to see that you can't balance a 6 billion dollar deficit with cuts alone, there has to be some new revenue, but they refuse to look at any.
The Democrats on the other hand are also angering people by wanting to raise taxes and we don't know if their proposed tax on the rich will affect low income people. Dayton made a huge mistake by promising never to shut down the state. People will remember that.
Both sides need to remember that as legislators they are not negotiating for the party they are negotiating for the will of the people, and neither side has done that. They all need to read the following from the Constitution of the State of Minnesota.
ARTICLE I
BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 1. Object of government. Government is instituted for the security, benefit and protection of the people, in whom all political power is inherent, together with the right to alter, modify or reform government whenever required by the public good. Sec. 2. Rights and privileges. No member of this state shall be disfranchised or deprived of any of the rights or privileges secured to any citizen thereof, unless by the law of the land or the judgment of his peers. There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the state otherwise than as punishment for a crime of which the party has been convicted.
You fix the Minnesota Budget
By Sharon Schmickle |MN Post
Your assignment is to close a gap of $5 billion for the fiscal years 2012 and 2013. The choices offered below are based on specific proposals by government officials, state agencies and independent experts. They do not represent a complete list of the options. And they represent estimates. But they do frame key tradeoffs.You Fix the Budget
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