James “Jim” Wright Jr., the former Congressman and Speaker of the House from 1987 through 1989, died Wednesday morning the age of 92. He is survived by his wife, Betty, and four children. [...] He was re-elected to the U.S. Congress 17 times. After an ethics inquiry spearheaded by then-Rep. Newt Gingrich, Wright resigned during his term as speaker in June of 1989. Calling the year-long House Ethics Committee investigation into speaking fees and gifts an “agonizing experience,” Wright maintained his innocence, reiterating 20 years after the investigation that he was “convinced” no laws or House rules were violated.
He was re-elected to the U.S. Congress 17 times. After an ethics inquiry spearheaded by then-Rep. Newt Gingrich, Wright resigned during his term as speaker in June of 1989. Calling the year-long House Ethics Committee investigation into speaking fees and gifts an “agonizing experience,” Wright maintained his innocence, reiterating 20 years after the investigation that he was “convinced” no laws or House rules were violated.
ther states have plenty of corruption, but it’s hard to beat New York when it comes to sheer volume. The indictment Monday of Dean Skelos, the state Senate majority leader, and his son Adam came just three months after charges were brought against Sheldon Silver, then the Assembly Speaker. Having the top leaders in both chambers face indictment in the same session is an unparalleled achievement, but Skelos is now the fifth straight Senate majority leader in Albany to face indictment. New York doesn’t so much have a culture of corruption as an entire festival. So far, Senate Republicans are standing by Skelos, but if they decide to make a change, they probably won’t turn to Thomas Libous, the chamber’s Number Two leader. He faces trial this summer on charges of lying to the FBI, while his son faces sentencing later this month on similar charges. All told, more than two dozen members of the New York state legislature have been indicted or resigned in disgrace over the past five years.
New York doesn’t so much have a culture of corruption as an entire festival. So far, Senate Republicans are standing by Skelos, but if they decide to make a change, they probably won’t turn to Thomas Libous, the chamber’s Number Two leader. He faces trial this summer on charges of lying to the FBI, while his son faces sentencing later this month on similar charges. All told, more than two dozen members of the New York state legislature have been indicted or resigned in disgrace over the past five years.
IT JUST GOT way, way easier to search and browse the US Geological Survey’s collection of historical topographic maps, thanks to a new online map viewer. These maps—more than 178,000 of them—date back to 1880, and they cover the entire country. Best of all, they’re free to download for anyone who wants to, say, check out the contours of the Grand Canyon or study the urbanization of the San Francisco Bay Area (see below). Hunting for historical topo maps on the USGS site used to be confusing and annoying. It involved a lot of clicking on what you hoped was the right thing, squinting at the tiny preview maps, and twiddling your thumbs while the enormous full-sized version downloaded. And then starting over when it turned out to be the wrong thing.
Hunting for historical topo maps on the USGS site used to be confusing and annoying. It involved a lot of clicking on what you hoped was the right thing, squinting at the tiny preview maps, and twiddling your thumbs while the enormous full-sized version downloaded. And then starting over when it turned out to be the wrong thing.
U.S. is 33rd best place to be a mother in the world. Yes, 33rd. Behind Portugal, Belarus, Croatia., by james321 Head of Kansas GOP Calls Waitress Who Returned Brownback's Tip "Arrogantly Stupid" and "Ignorant", by Dartagnan Are you sick of highly-paid teachers?, by sboucher
Head of Kansas GOP Calls Waitress Who Returned Brownback's Tip "Arrogantly Stupid" and "Ignorant", by Dartagnan
Are you sick of highly-paid teachers?, by sboucher
Taking a line from astronaut Neil Armstrong, Dr. Wolfgang Bernhard of Daimler Trucks and Buses told the crowd bused to the site from Las Vegas for the news conference that they were about to witness "a short drive for man and a long haul for mankind." "We are really showing that we're at the cradle of innovation," Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said Tuesday after helping affix the state's automated vehicle license to the truck. The truck isn't quite a working reality, though. For one, Daimler isn't taking customer orders just yet.
"We are really showing that we're at the cradle of innovation," Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval said Tuesday after helping affix the state's automated vehicle license to the truck.
The truck isn't quite a working reality, though. For one, Daimler isn't taking customer orders just yet.
WRAL-TV reports attorneys said in court Monday that Raleigh officer Matthew Kohr should be compensated for burns, blisters and emotional damage caused after the officer spilled the coffee in his lap in 2012.