Florist...

In a hotly anticipated decision, the Washington Supreme Court ruled against a florist who was fined for not providing services for a gay couple's wedding.

The court had previously heard the case, State of Washington v. Arlene's Flowers, ruling that Barronelle Stutzman and her store, Arlene's Flowers, violated the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD) for refusing to make floral arrangements for a gay couple in 2013. Stutzman claimed that she was only acting in accordance with her religious beliefs. 

Another issue in the case is whether the creation of a floral arrangement is artistic expression protected by the First Amendment's free speech clause. Stutzman claimed that she would have sold Ingersoll and Freed "raw materials" and bulk flowers for their wedding, but she would not create a custom arrangement. Similarly, a baker had claimed that while he would not create a cake for a gay wedding, he would sell a premade one.

Fire...

Two commercial tanker ships were hit by apparent attacks on Thursday while sailing in international waters in the Gulf of Oman, and while a U.S. official said that it was too soon to make a determination if Iran was responsible, the official said "we’re not ruling to anything out at this time.”

The attacks come at a time of heightened tensions between the United States and Iran after an American aircraft carrier was deployed to the Middle East in what the U.S. said was an effort to deter possible Iranian attacks against U.S. forces or interests in the region.

Let us not get entangled with another conflict intended to destroy another country based on their religious conviction. And in the process we bleed, the minority and civilians get killed for no reason except the Saudi and others want higher oil prices.

Immaterial...

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit in which a former campaign staffer, Alva Johnson, accused President Donald Trump of kissing her against her will and alleged that Trump’s presidential bid engaged in pay discrimination against female and African American employees.

U.S. District Court Judge William Jung tossed out Johnson’s complaint, saying it was too laden with political claims.

“As currently stated, the Complaint presents a political lawsuit, not a tort and wages lawsuit,” Jung wrote. “ the Court will try a tort and wages dispute not a political one.  

The judge said the portion of Johnson’s suit dealing with the alleged unwanted kiss was unfocused and dragged in more than a dozen other Trump acts that are not legally relevant to the question of whether Trump kissed her without her consent.

Tech...

Tech companies like Google, Apple, Facebook and Netflix spent millions during the 2016 campaign cycle. But issues over privacy and election meddling  could be a liability for presidential hopefuls trying to court a 2020 electorate.

While Sen. Elizabeth Warren was railing against big tech companies, she was taking their money  plenty of it.

The Massachusetts Democrat, who is powering her presidential campaign with a bold proposal to break up the likes of Amazon, Google and Facebook, accepted a $2,700 contribution from Sheryl Sandberg, Facebook’s chief operating officer. But Sandberg, whose donation went unnoticed at the time, was just the biggest name from Silicon Valley to give to the senator: Warren took at least $90,000 from employees of Amazon, Google and Facebook alone between 2011 and 2018.

At the same time, Warren hasn’t weaned herself off of tech employee money  or their services. Warren’s campaign, for example, continues to buy ads through Facebook, and her books are still on Amazon.

Her reliance on the massive companies underscore tech’s pervasiveness in politics and society at large, but also politicians’ unwillingness to separate themselves from its legion of employees who give money.

In 2016, one of Warren’s current presidential competitors, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), received $361,000 from employees of Google’s parent company, Alphabet; $170,000 from employees of Microsoft; $132,000 from Apple employees; and $106,000 from Amazon employees.

 So watch carefully.

Last Day...

Taco...

Employees at the Taco Bell called police for a welfare check after they found McCoy unresponsive in his silver Mercedes in the drive-thru.

After officers arrived at the scene, they discovered the car was locked and in drive, and McCoy had a gun on his lap.

The officers on scene devised a plan to block off McCoy's car inside the drive-thru to prevent any erratic movement if he woke up. Eventually, they did see McCoy moving and appearing to scratch his arm, the police bodycam video shows.

McCoy then jerked up and appeared to reach down. Officers shouted, "Show me your hands!"

Six California police officers responding to the call about a man slumped unresponsive in his car fired-off 55 shots at the man in 3.5 seconds, according to an independent use-of-force report ordered by the city of Vallejo.

Police say McCoy's firearm was stolen, and his family says he may have had it for protection.

Wall...

Mexican immigration authorities said 371 people were detained Monday in what was the largest single raid so far on a migrant caravan since the groups started moving through the country last year.

The once large caravan of about 3,000 people was essentially broken up by the raid, as migrants fled into the hills, took refuge at shelters and churches or hopped passing freight trains. Few groups straggled along the highways, but with dozens of police and immigration checkpoints, they were bound to be caught.

Is Mexico paying for the wall?

Moderators...

The field of the Democratic party candidate is so crowded that it gives a bad vibe of how serious the candidates are and what is their ultimate goals.

Blows...

All political candidates are doing the same. Researchers tell them what the people want to hear and they reflect on it regardless of Ideology, Conviction, and or personal desire to achieve it.

The goal is to have enough votes to get to the office. So unless the candidate's history reflects the current views, then the talk is just that, talk.

Forbidden...

Mexican authorities have dramatically stepped up law enforcement pressure against Central American migrants in recent days in an effort to stave off a trade war with the United States. 

Mexican military police intercepted about 600 Central American migrants walking north on a highway in southern Mexico.

Mexican officials announced federal charges against two prominent migrant activists and financial penalties against more than two dozen people suspected of helping migrants. 

An activist group that has helped several large caravans of Central American migrants cross Mexico and reach the United States, was arrested in the northern border city of Sonoyta and charged with illegally transporting migrants. Another activist who has worked with caravans was arrested near the southern border and charged with smuggling migrants into Mexico.