Bloomberg News Violates Its Own Presidential Campaign Coverage Rules

A Bloomberg News investigation into the fact that the campaigns of Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) buy things from Amazon, and how those purchases are allegedly at odds with the candidates’ crusades against the corporate giant, violates a company editorial policy adopted after the news outlet’s founder, former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, entered the presidential race in November.

Since Bloomberg remains owner of Bloomberg News, the company’s editor-in-chief John Micklethwait improvised an editorial policy designed to escape accusations of bias in favor of its founder and owner.

Writing to Bloomberg News staff, Micklethwait said in a late November memo that the news site would continue to cover the 2020 presidential campaign “in much the same way as we have done so far.”

But, Micklethwait clarified, the outlet will also maintain its “tradition” of not investigating Bloomberg, his family or his foundation, and that, in the interest of fairness, it would “extend the same policy to his rivals in the Democratic primaries.”

FBI posts big Black Friday gun check numbers; second-largest single day in program history

The FBI fielded more than 200,000 background checks on Black Friday gun purchases, continuing a steady surge this year following a series of mass shootings that have renewed calls for more restrictive gun laws.

In all, the bureau posted 202,465 checks Friday, an 11% increase from last year and falling just short of the single-day record: 203,086 in 2017.

While background checks, required for purchases at federally licensed firearm dealers, are not a measure of actual gun sales, the National Instant Criminal Background Check System is a way to gauge market demand. The number of firearms sold Friday is likely higher because multiple firearms can be included in one transaction by a single buyer.

Black Friday traditionally has been one of the busiest for FBI analysts, but this year's one-day number comes amid rising monthly volumes that are approaching the one-year record of 27.5 million in 2016.

Atheist group says Texas judge 'crossed the line' when she handed a Bible to Amber Guyger

A national atheist group has filed a formal complaint with the state of Texas after a judge in a Dallas court gave a Bible to former police officer Amber Guyger who was convicted of murdering her neighbor.

The gesture by Texas District Judge Tammy Kemp, who also suggested the Bible could change Guyger's life, came at the end of an emotional sentencing hearing this week. Guyger received a 10-year prison sentence for fatally shooting Botham Jean, an unarmed man in a Dallas apartment she had mistaken for her own. 

Kemp left the bench to approach and hug the tearful Guyger, handing her what she said was one of the personal Bibles she used every day.

"This is your job for the next month," Kemp told Guyger. "It says right here. John 3:16. And this is where you start. 'For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life ...'"

Florida teen died protecting his 5-year-old sister during a burglary, police say

 A 15-year-old boy in Florida died while protecting his younger sister during a burglary, police said.

Khyler Edman was found dead in his home in Port Charlotte, Florida, Thursday, according to the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office. Police initially responded to reports of an injured person acting strangely in Edman's neighborhood around 4 p.m.

A man fled as police arrived in the neighborhood. Shortly after, a neighbor called 911 to report that there was a burglar in his home. Police apprehended the man, identified as Ryan Clayton Cole, 27, who had several stab wounds on his hands and side.

Authorities canvassed the area and discovered a second home had signs of forced entry. Inside, they found Edman's body and his sister, who was unharmed.

Man who kissed reporter on live TV charged with harassment in Kentucky

A man faces charges after being identified by police as the individual who kissed a reporter during a live broadcast Friday at the Bourbon & Beyond music festival in Kentucky.

Eric Goodman was identified by Louisville Metro Police as the man who kissed reporter Sara Rivest during a live shot outside the Kentucky Exposition Center last week. He was charged with harassment with physical contact, a misdemeanor, according to an LMPD spokesman.

Rivest confirmed the news in a Twitter post Thursday morning. She said Goodman wrote her an apology letter that she would read on a broadcast later in the day.

During the broadcast, a man behind Rivest made a spanking motion with his hand and smiled as he walked off camera. He returned a few seconds later and kissed Rivest on her cheek without her permission before running off.

Police blew up his house and shot him. Now he wants to make sure they don’t do it to anyone else.

A Dixmont man who was shot by Maine State Police after they blew up his home with a robot bomb in June 2018 has sued the law enforcement agency, seeking to bar it from ever bombing or shooting another citizen again.

Michael Grendell, 62, has named 18 members of the Maine State Police and one member of the state Attorney General’s office as defendants in a civil lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court in Bangor that seeks to prohibit state police from “further interference of the rights” of citizens through bombing or shooting.

Grendell is also seeking financial damages from the state in connection with the 20-hour police standoff that ended the morning of June 29, 2018, with the explosion of his Fox Lane house and resulted in him being shot in the face and torso. Grendell spent two months in the hospital after the incident, used a feeding tube, and suffered hearing loss and cognitive damage, according to the lawsuit, which requests a jury trial to assess Grendell’s claims.

The 58-page lawsuit asks the state to cover Grendell’s medical expenses, lost wages and earning capacity, and attorneys’ fees. It also requests general damages for what the lawsuit calls a violation of Grendell’s constitutional rights and assault and battery against him.

Friend who provided Dayton shooter with 100-round magazine and body armor faces federal charges

A friend of Connor Betts accused of providing the Dayton, Ohio, shooter with the body armor and a 100-round double drum magazine used during his attack is facing federal firearms charges.

Hours after the August 4 attack, agents with the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Firearms, Tobacco and Explosives visited the home of Ethan Kollie in nearby Kettering, according to a probable cause affidavit. Kollie told the agents he enjoyed firearms, owned two pistols and had bought body armor and a firearms accessory for Betts earlier this year, the affidavit says.

The 24-year-old allowed agents to search his home, where they smelled marijuana and saw a water pipe, commonly used to consume cannabis, and a Draco pistol, the affidavit says.

Agents interviewed Kollie again, this time at his place of employment, on Thursday. During that interview, Kollie told agents he had done hard drugs, marijuana and LSD with Betts several times a week between 2014 and 2015, the affidavit says.

'Straight pride' parade organizer accidentally calls own coalition a 'peaceful racist group "

At a crowded city council meeting, where dozens gathered to protest a "straight pride" parade planned to take place in Modesto, Calif., the organizer of the event made an unfortunate gaffe while arguing his case. As he was met with jeers during his time at the podium, the head of the National Straight Pride Coalition said his organization was a "totally peaceful racist group."

Don J. Grundmann, the leader of the newly founded National Straight Pride Coalition, unintentionally made citizens, and city council members, burst out in laughter when he took the stage last Wednesday night as he attempted to defend his planned "straight pride" rally on Aug. 24.

At one point during his allotted time at the podium, Grundmann challenged city council member Kristi Ah You, claiming she "pulled the race card" while opposing his event.

"You attacked us as racists," Grundmann said, pointing at Ah You. "You pulled the race card to justify attacks against us in that park. When they come, you're going to turn right around and say we deserved it.

"We haven't done anything. We're a totally peaceful racist group."