Aug 28 The real financial monster: low interest rates By Terry Burnham At an economic conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, last week, Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen said the central bank is awaiting more recovery in the labor market before deciding when to raise interest rates. That was bad news for economist… Continue reading
Aug 27 Watch What does it take to free a captured American? By PBS News Hour A wave of American hostages held by Islamic extremists has raised questions about the U.S. policy not to pay ransoms. Jeffrey Brown talks to David Rohde of Reuters and Brian Jenkins of RAND Corporation for views on the divergence between… Continue watching
Aug 27 Watch Why do foreign fighters join the Islamic State? By PBS News Hour Douglas McAuthur McCain, an American man who was killed while fighting for the Islamic State in Syria, is not the first U.S. citizen to die as an Islamic militant in the war-torn country, and the FBI warns there are dozens… Continue watching
Aug 27 Watch American hostages renew focus on U.S. ransom policy By PBS News Hour After 22 months in captivity, American journalist Peter Theo Curtis spoke publicly for the first time since his release from an al-Qaida affiliate in Syria. Meanwhile, Islamic State militants have threatened to kill journalist Steven Sotloff unless the U.S. stops… Continue watching
Aug 27 Immigration judges’ union seeks independent court system By Alicia A. Caldwell, Associated Press The federal immigration court system should be separated from the Justice Department and operated independently of federal law enforcement, the top two leaders of the immigration judges' union said Wednesday. Continue reading
Aug 27 Army general loses a star for stalling sexual assault case By Robert Burns, Associated Press A two-star Army general faulted for failing to properly investigate sexual assault and other accusations against a colonel on his staff will be retired at one-star rank, the Army announced Wednesday. Continue reading
Aug 27 Bob Dylan to release all ‘Basement Tapes’ recordings, including 30 you’ve never heard By Colleen Shalby In the spring of 1967, Bob Dylan was on societal retreat near Woodstock, New York, following a motorcycle accident months before. With the “Blonde on Blonde” tour cancelled, the Band joined him there, and in the garage of a house… Continue reading
Aug 27 Why you have the right to a $5K dividend from Uncle Sam By Peter Barnes Unless we change our distribution of non-labor income, we can kiss our middle class goodbye, says entrepreneur Peter Barnes. In his new book, "With Liberty and Dividends for All," Barnes proposes a nationwide dividend program, like Alaska's, that would help… Continue reading
Aug 27 U.S. considering new relief mission in Iraq By Robert Burns, Associated Press The Obama administration is considering launching a humanitarian relief operation for Shiite Turkmen in northern Iraq who have been under siege for weeks by Islamic State militants, U.S. defense officials said Wednesday. Continue reading
Aug 27 Louisiana Gov. Jindal sues Obama over Common Core By Melinda Deslatte, Associated Press Gov. Bobby Jindal filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the Obama administration, accusing it of illegally manipulating federal grant money and regulations to force states to adopt the Common Core education standards. Continue reading