In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

[Content Note: Police brutality; racism; death] "The microphone equipment for the dashboard camera in the cruiser in which Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke was riding on the night he fatally shot 17-year-old Laquan McDonald had been 'intentionally destroyed,' according to maintenance documents first acquired by DNAinfo. The records, which include service requests on hundreds of Chicago police vehicles, show that officers have routinely been involved in the intentional destruction and sabotage of body-worn microphones that sync with dashboard camera video." Rage seethe boil.

[CN: Police brutality; racism; death] In related news from Chicago: "The Chicago police officer accused of killing 19-year-old Quintonio LeGrier just after Christmas says he intends to file a lawsuit against the dead teenager's estate, alleging that LeGrier assaulted the officer and caused him emotional distress. Officer Robert Rialmo claims he shot LeGrier seven times because the teenager swung a bat at him. Rialmo also accidentally shot an elderly neighbor, Bettie Jones, in the chest and killed her." I don't even have fucking words.

[CN: Contaminated water] "Senate Democrats said Thursday they would request $600 million in emergency federal aid to help Michigan attack the contaminated water emergency in the city of Flint, the most far-reaching financial solution proposed so far to manage the crisis. Under the proposed legislation, the federal government would provide $600 million in federal emergency aid to the state, with as much as $400 million designated for drinking water infrastructure improvements and $200 million to deal with the health fallout from the lead exposure. ...Democrats said the federal government has a responsibility to help Flint, where the drinking water was found to have elevated levels of lead. As of last month, the state had identified 43 people with elevated toxic lead levels in their blood. 'We all know this was literally a man-made crisis,' said Senator Debbie Stabenow, Democrat of Michigan, who attended a town-hall meeting in Flint on Wednesday. 'It is so heartbreaking to talk to moms and dads and kids who are so afraid of what's going to happen,' she said."

[CN: Insurrection] The FBI is negotiating with the remaining insurrectionists at Malheur. While some remain inside the refuge, others are surrendering. "The FBI took three additional militants into custody Wednesday, as occupiers of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge began to trickle away from the site they have held for 26 days, and as the militants arrested Tuesday faced indictment in federal court."

Another big endorsement in the Democratic primary: "The Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) political action committee CAPA21 formally endorsed Hillary Clinton for president today, citing her track record on AAPI community issues and staff appointments. CAPA21 is the first major AAPI political action committee to make an endorsement in the 2016 presidential race. 'CAPA21's endorsement of Secretary Clinton is a recognition of her attention to AAPIs and AAPI issues in her campaign,' Glen S. Fukushima, CAPA21 co-founder and chair, told NBC News. 'A major rally dedicated to AAPIs, her AAPI Leadership Council, her vision statement on AAPI prosperity, and her appointment of AAPIs to key campaign positions demonstrate that she values AAPI voters.'"

[CN: Misogynoir; slut-shaming; reproductive policing] Kanye West went on an unbelievable Twitter rant yesterday, which included some vicious slut-shaming against his ex Amber Rose. Damon Young has the play-by-play with lots of amazing commentary, at turns hilarious and serious.

[CN: Fat stigma] "Barbie, the iconic plastic toy doll model, is getting three new body types this year. The US company behind the famous toy, Mattel, is adding 'tall, curvy, and petite' body shapes to its line-up of the fashion dolls. Several skin tones, eye colours and hair styles will also be added to the collection, the company said." But no fat Barbies, because we wouldn't want to tell fat girls that their bodies are okay, too. Fates forfend.

Wow: A New Jersey family's "one-of-a-kind geothermal/solar snow-melt system" had them out from under Storm Jonas' heaps of snow in no time!

And finally! "This Baby Polar Bear Hitched a Ride on Its Mom's Butt." As advertised.