Friday, April 29, 2016

Special Supplement for Federal Employees Under FERS

Special Supplement for Federal Employees Under FERS

Snippet of Article: "...Now, one common misconception is that the Special Supplement is actually paid out by Social Security. In reality it’s actually paid out by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and receiving the Special Supplement does not reduce what you would draw from Social Security or force you to file for Social Security at age 62. How is the Special Supplement calculated?..."

Source: www.fedsmith.com

FERS annuity supplement, fers annuity supplement calculator,

Thursday, April 28, 2016

FBI arrests brother of San Bernardino terrorist and 2 others after searches

FBI arrests brother of San Bernardino terrorist and 2 others after searches

Snippet of Article: "...Federal agents arrested three people, including the older brother of San Bernardino gunman Syed Rizwan Farook, while conducting searches in Corona and Ontario on Thursday morning, a law enforcement official told the Los Angeles Times..."

Source: www.latimes.com

FBI

Wednesday, April 27, 2016

Federal Reserve statement of April 27, 2016

Federal Reserve statement of April 27, 2016

Snippet of Article: "...growth in economic activity appears to have slowed. Growth in household spending has moderated...the Committee decided to maintain the target range for the federal funds rate at 1/4 to 1/2 percent..."

Source: www.usatoday.com

Thursday, April 21, 2016

U.S. charges woman for exporting underwater drone technology to China

U.S. charges woman for exporting underwater drone technology to China

Snippet of Article: "...Florida woman was charged for conspiring to illegally export technology used in underwater drones to a Chinese state-owned entity..."

Source: www.reuters.com

Amin Yu, underwater drone technology, Harbin Engineering University in China,

Monday, April 18, 2016

Saudis warn of economic reprisals if Congress passes 9/11 bill

Saudis warn of economic reprisals if Congress passes 9/11 bill

Snippet of Article: "...The Obama administration has, in turn, applied heavy pressure on Congress to block the bill. Top officials from the State Department and Pentagon warned Senate Armed Services Committee staffers last month that the bill could bring economic risks to the U.S..."

Source: www.cnn.com

Sunday, April 10, 2016

Federal Agencies 'Chomping at the Bit' to Use Panama Papers to Catch Criminals

Feds 'Chomping at the Bit' to Use Panama Papers to Catch Criminals

Snippet of Article: "...The official, who is familiar with ongoing discussions about the document trove, said agents from every three-letter agency are lining up to crunch the data to bolster existing cases and build new ones against organized crime syndicates, drug cartels, foreign corrupt and kleptocratic regimes and even suspected Hezbollah terror cells in Latin America and possibly the U.S. That includes the FBI, the IRS and other Treasury agents, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) ..."

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Panama Papers

Thursday, April 7, 2016

Retirement Planner: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

Retirement Planner: Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

Snippet of Article: "...A pension based on earnings not covered by Social Security can affect the amount of your Social Security benefit. We do not know whether you are eligible for such a pension, so the benefit estimates you have received may not have been adjusted for such a possibility.

Our Windfall Elimination Provision factsheet explains whether you might be affected.
How WEP Can Affect Your Benefit

If you think your pension will affect your Social Security benefit, you can

Look at our WEP chart to see..."

Source: www.ssa.gov

Wednesday, April 6, 2016

This is not justice: Coal King Gets 1 Year and $250,000 Fine For Deaths of 29

Coal King Don Blankenship Gets 1 Year in Prison After Deadly Mine Disaster

Snippet of Article: "...Blankenship was sentenced today to one year in prison, plus one year’s supervised release and a $250,000 fine -– the maximum penalty for the conspiracy charge, according to ABC News’ local affiliate WCHS. Prosecutors had bemoaned such a short maximum sentence for what they called “monstrous” wrongdoing..."

Source: abcnews.go.com

Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Postal Service Inspector General report sees trouble ahead for 2016 political mailings

USPS Inspector General report sees trouble ahead for 2016 political mailings

Snippet of Article: "... some mailers are so upset with how slow the mail has become that they are questioning the value of political mail. The inspector general noted that its surveys have found issues with the flow of mail as a result of plant consolidations, and that those problems are raising issues with the people who would be using the mail in the fall elections..."

Source: www.linns.com

Mail plant consolidations, political mail,

Friday, March 18, 2016

FBI: Calif. college stabbing suspect had Islamic State propaganda

FBI: Calif. college stabbing suspect had Islamic State propaganda

Snippet of Article: "...A California college student who stabbed a classmate and attacked three more people last fall acted on his own but may have collected information on terrorists via social media, the FBI office in Sacramento, Calif., said Thursday. Faisal Mohammad..."

Source: www.usatoday.com

Thursday, March 17, 2016

CDC director: Opiate painkillers physicians prescribe 'are just as addictive as heroin'

Opioids are bad medicine for chronic pain, say new federal guidelines

Snippet of Article: "...The appeal accompanied the release of new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that strongly discourage doctors from prescribing opiates — such as OxyContin, Percocet and Vicodin — for back problems, migraines, arthritis and other chronic conditions, a routine practice over the last decade and a half..."

Source: www.latimes.com

Opiate painkillers, CDC,

More Reading:

  • CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain — United States, 2016 | MMWR
  • Wednesday, March 9, 2016

    Huff to USPS: ‘Stop this Reckless Consolidation’

    Huff to USPS: ‘Stop this Reckless Consolidation’

    Snippet of Article: "... Huffman called USPS’ consolidation plan “reckless,” saying the proposed legislation would add a much-needed level of oversight and make sure future consolidation plans “are based on data and the unique priorities of our local communities. Specifically, according to a release from Huffman’s office, the Stop Postal Closures Act of 2016 would..."

    Source: www.northcoastjournal.com

    Stop Postal Closures Act

    Wednesday, March 2, 2016

    F.B.I. Error Locked San Bernardino Attacker’s iPhone

    F.B.I. Error Locked San Bernardino Attacker’s iPhone

    Snippet of Article: "...F.B.I. personnel apparently believed that by resetting the iCloud password, they could get access to information stored on the iPhone. Instead, the change had the opposite effect — locking them out and eliminating other means of getting in. The iPhone used by Syed Rizwan Farook..."

    Source: www.nytimes.com

    FBI, Syed Rizwan Farook, iPhone,

    Friday, February 26, 2016

    2017 Federal Employee Pay Raise Update: 5.3% Catch-up?

    Federal Employees to Receive 5.3% Catch-up Under House Bill

    Snippet of Article: "...Rep. Connolly's bill, the Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act, would provide employees with a 3.9% across-the-board increase plus a 1.4% locality adjustment. President Obama has proposed a combined 1.6% raise for federal employees next year..."

    Source: www.prnewswire.com

    Federal Adjustment of Income Rates (FAIR) Act

    Sunday, February 21, 2016

    Koch brothers to spend some $900 million to cut Social Security, Medicare, federal aid to education, and environmental programs through campaign donations/money says Sanders

    Charles Koch agrees ...

    Snippet of Article: "...'The Koch brothers – second-wealthiest family and extreme right-wing family – they also have one vote, but they are going to spend some $900 million in this campaign to try to elect candidates who will cut Social Security, Medicare, federal aid to education, and environmental programs,' Sanders said to students at George Mason University in November..."

    Source: www.csmonitor.com

    Koch brothers, Charles Koch, Social Security, Medicare, federal aid to education, environmental programs,

    Saturday, February 13, 2016

    Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia dead at 79

    Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia dead at 79

    Snippet of Article: "...One of history's most vehement proponents of the originalist interpretation of the Constitution, Scalia believed the Constitution should be interpreted as it was when it was written, according to the intent of those who wrote and ratified it. Original Intent is a school of constitutional thought held by political and legal conservatives. Scalia spoke out against "judicial activism" when judges take the values of contemporary society into consideration..."

    Source: www.waff.com

    originalist interpretation of the Constitution, Antonin Scalia (Supreme Court Justice),

    Sunday, February 7, 2016

    Bernie Sanders gains after suspicions about the results were immediately apparent at 14 precincts

    Clinton’s margin of victory in Iowa narrows after state Democratic party revises results

    Snippet of Article: "...Rania Batrice, a spokeswoman for Sanders’s Iowa campaign, said the 14 precincts included only those in which suspicions about the results were immediately apparent. “There are definitely other discrepancies that haven’t been addressed,” Batrice said..."

    Source: www.washingtonpost.com

    2016 Presidential race,

    Friday, February 5, 2016

    Secret Service agents: Hillary is a nightmare to work with

    Opinion

    Secret Service agents: Hillary is a nightmare to work with

    Snippet of Article: "...That exchange is one among many that active and retired Secret Service agents shared with Ronald Kessler, author of “The First Family Detail,” a compelling look at the intrepid personnel who shield America’s presidents and their families — and those whom they guard..."

    Source: nypost.com

    Secret Service,

    Thursday, February 4, 2016

    2017 Federal Pay Raise for Federal Employees

    Obama plans 1.6% pay raise for federal employees next year

    Snippet of Article: "... President Obama will include an average 1.6 percent pay raise for federal employees in his fiscal 2017 budget proposal. This year, the average raise is 1.3 percent, not including locality pay..."

    Source: www.sj-r.com

    2017 Federal Pay Raise

    Thursday, January 28, 2016

    Murder at Malheur: The Shot Heard Around the World

    Murder at Malheur: The Shot Heard Around the World

    Snippet of Article: "...We have seen this movie before. Federal officials abuse their authority and their heinous acts result in the deaths of people who did not deserve to die..."

    Source: www.thecommonsenseshow.com

    Ruby Ridge, Waco Massacre, Malheur (Oregon Patriot Standoff), Senseless Killing of Lavoy Finicum,

    Tuesday, January 26, 2016

    No shooting evidence found after sweep of Naval Medical Center San Diego

    No gunshots found after sweep of Naval Medical Center San Diego

    Snippet of Article: "...Authorities "have not located any casualties or evidence of a shooting having taken place," Navy Region Southwest spokesman Scott Sutherland told Navy Times. "They are conducting a secondary, more thorough floor-by-floor sweep now." Personnel remain sheltered in place, he said..."

    Source: www.navytimes.com

    shooting, Naval Medical Center (San Diego),

    Shooting at San Diego's Naval Medical Center

    Shooting reported at San Diego's Naval Medical Center

    Snippet of Article: "...reported hearing three gunshots in the basement of the center's Building 26, a combination gym and barracks building, at about 8 a.m. PT (11 a.m. ET), Navy spokesman Kevin Dixon said. A spokesman for the center, Mike Alvarez, said the incident is being treated as an active shooter situation ..."

    Source: www.cnn.com

    shooting, Naval Medical Center (San Diego),

    Thursday, January 21, 2016

    2016 'Wage and Salary' Pay Schedules

    2016 'Wage and Salary' Pay Schedules

    Snippet of Article: "...Wage and Salary, GS Pay Tables, AF SPECIAL SCHEDULES , Latest NAF Wage Schedules, ..."

    Source: www.cpms.osd.mil

    Pay Schedules (2016),

    Wednesday, January 20, 2016

    America says 'Yes' to guns, while politicians refuse listen

    FBI official: 'Perfect storm' imperiling gun background checks

    Snippet of Article: "...In each of the last six months, the number of background checks has risen steadily, according to FBI records, ending with December's record with more than a half-million over the previous monthly high..."

    Source: www.cnbc.com

    Second Amendment, States Rights, Guns in America,