Gun control fight in focus for President Obama

With the Senate returning from a two-week recess, the Obama administration is gearing up for an all-out push this week to get lawmakers to take action on gun control.

President Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and Michelle Obama all have events scheduled this week to advocate for the administration's gun proposals, but even though Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., moved a comprehensive gun package to the calendar for the Senate to consider in April, it is not clear whether Republicans will let the measure come to a vote.

Obama is scheduled to push for gun control Monday at the University of Hartford, just 50 miles north of Sandy Hook Elementary School, where 20 children and six educators were gunned down last year, sparking a national call for reform on gun legislation.

Last week, Obama made a similar appeal in Denver, Colo., just four miles from the site of another mass shooting last year at an Aurora movie theater.

"The only way this time will be different is if the American people demand that this time it must be different; that this time we must do something to protect our communities and our kids," the president said Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Biden is scheduled to host an event with law enforcement officials at the White House, and the first lady plans to travel to Chicago on Wednesday to speak about eliminating violence in communities.

The bill that Reid moved to the Senate calendar does not include the controversial assault weapons ban, but concerns about the universal background check requirement in the plan have placed the bill's future in a holding pattern as some Republicans have voiced concern that it will lead to a national registry of guns.

The full Senate could begin consideration of the gun measures as early as this week or potentially the week after, but a group of senators, led by Rand Paul, Mike Lee and Ted Cruz, have threatened to filibuster "any legislation that infringe on the American people's constitutional right to bear arms, or on their ability to exercise this right without being subjected to government surveillance."

"We will oppose the motion to proceed to any legislation that will serve as a vehicle for any additional gun restrictions," the senators wrote in a letter to Reid.

One senior Republican senator said the legislation should at least receive consideration on the Senate floor rather than be blocked by a filibuster.

"I don't understand it. What are we afraid of?" Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday.

"Please let us go to the floor. If we go to the floor, I'm still hopeful that what I call the sweet spot -- background checks -- can succeed. We're working hard there," Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on CBS' "Face the Nation."

White House senior adviser David Pfeiffer told ABC News' George Stephanopoulos the administration believes the background check portion of the bill will be approved "if people are willing to compromise."

"Now that the cameras are off, and they're not forced to look the Newtown families in the face, now they want to make it harder, and filibuster it," Pfeiffer asid. "If we have a simple up, or down vote, we can get this done."

"This is an issue that has 90 percent support. What the president wants is to sign a strong bipartisan bill that has enforceable background checks. And we can get that done," Pfeiffer said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday.

As the Senate weighs national gun measures this month, several states have already taken action and passed sweeping gun legislation over the past month. Colorado, Maryland and New York have enacted new gun restrictions in addition to Connecticut, which last week signed into law some of the nation's strictest gun laws since the massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary.

"We have come together in a way that relatively few places in our nation have demonstrated an ability to do," Gov. Dannel Malloy, D-Conn., said at the bill signing on Thursday.

Wayne LaPierre, executive vice president of the National Rifle Association, who opposes the assault weapons ban and universal background checks, criticized Connecticut's legislation.

"The problem with what Connecticut did is the criminals, the drug dealers, the people that are going to do horror and terror, they aren't going to cooperate," LaPierre said in a Fox News interview Thursday.

"Wayne reminds me of the clowns at the circus. They get the most attention. That's what he's paid to do," Malloy said on CNN's "State of the Union" Sunday. "This guy is so out of whack. It's unbelievable."

An ABC News/Washington Post poll conducted in March found that 91 percent of the public favors universal background checks. 52 percent favored stricter gun control laws in the country.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Also Read

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/gun-control-fight-focus-president-obama-224209509.html

andy kaufman tom watson kawasaki disease resurrection masters tickets one direction tulsa news

HTC One slated for April 19th release on T-Mobile

With all this talk about the cord-cutting masses no longer wanting to subsidize TV channels they don't watch, it's a little surprising that one of the oldest, most widely available forms of TV is waning: over-the-air broadcast TV. Despite its attractive price of $0 per month and billions of advertising revenue, nobody ? including the broadcast networks, the tech companies that are out to disrupt them, and the cord-cutters and cord-nevers who hate cable ? is very enthusiastic about antennas. ...

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/htc-one-slated-april-19th-release-t-mobile-190556900.html

space shuttle new york courtney upshaw catch me if you can delmon young arrested the raven the raven zerg rush

CA-NEWS Summary

Britain's "iron lady" Margaret Thatcher dies: spokesman

LONDON (Reuters) - Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has died following a stroke, a spokesman for the family said. "It is with great sadness that Mark and Carol Thatcher announced that their mother Baroness Thatcher died peacefully following a stroke this morning," Lord Tim Bell said.

North Korea suspends last project with South, Putin cites Chernobyl

PAJU, South Korea (Reuters) - North Korea suspended its sole remaining major project with the South on Monday after weeks of threats against the United States and South Korea, as Russian President Vladimir Putin said any nuclear conflict may make Chernobyl look like a fairy tale. Reclusive North Korea's decision to all but close the Kaesong industrial park coincided with speculation that it will carry out some sort of provocative action - another nuclear weapons test or missile launch - in what has become one of the most serious crises on the peninsula since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

Suicide car bomber kills 15, brings chaos to Damascus

BEIRUT (Reuters) - A suicide car bomb exploded in the main business district of Damascus on Monday, killing at least 15 people, setting cars ablaze and damaging buildings, according to state television. A Damascus resident who described the blast as the biggest she had heard in the capital during the two-year-old revolt against President Bashar al-Assad said large plumes of black smoke were rising from the Sabaa Bahrat district.

Second person dies from Egypt cathedral clashes

CAIRO (Reuters) - A second Egyptian died on Monday of wounds sustained in clashes at Cairo's Coptic cathedral the previous day in an outbreak of sectarian violence that the government and Muslim and Christian leaders sought to calm. A security source said a 21-year-old Muslim man, named only as Mohamed, died of a fractured skull in hospital after fighting between local Muslims and Copts who had been attending a funeral for four Christians shot dead in a town near Cairo on Friday.

U.N.'s Ban says chemical weapons team ready to deploy in Syria

THE HAGUE (Reuters) - U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said a team to investigate claims of chemical weapons use in Syria was ready to deploy within 24 hours and urged the Syrian government to give the go-ahead so work could begin. Ban, who met the head of the global chemical weapons monitoring body in The Hague on Monday, said an advance team had been sent to Cyprus. "We are ready, it is a matter of time," he said. The full team will consist of 15 experts, including inspectors, medical experts and chemists.

Kremlin urges Germany to punish topless protest against Putin

HANOVER, Germany (Reuters) - Russia urged Germany to punish a group of women who staged a bare-breasted protest against President Vladimir Putin on Monday during a visit to a trade fair in Hanover with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Three members of the women's rights group Femen, which has staged protests against Russia's detention of the feminist punk band Pussy Riot around Europe, disrupted a visit by Putin and Merkel to an industry fair focusing on Russian business.

Pakistan's Musharraf entangled in treason accusation

ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - Pakistan's Supreme Court has ordered former President Pervez Musharraf to respond to an accusation of treason, a move that could hurt his ambitious bid to win back influence in the country. Lawyer Iqbal Haider has filed a complaint which states that Musharraf had committed treason when he declared emergency rule while in power, in 2007.

Roadside bomb kills nine civilians in Afghanistan

KABUL (Reuters) - A roadside bomb exploded under a bus in Afghanistan on Monday killing nine civilians, police said, two days after 11 children and a woman were killed during a NATO attack on militants in another part of the country. Also on the weekend, a car bomb killed five Americans, including three U.S. soldiers, a young diplomat and a U.S. Defense Department contractor, in the southern province of Zabul.

In mid-term doldrums, Canada's Conservatives hope to reboot

OTTAWA (Reuters) - Voter fatigue with Canada's ruling Conservatives and signs of stress within the government are putting Prime Minister Stephen Harper under pressure to freshen up his team and policies as the telegenic son of Pierre Trudeau starts snapping at his heels. Even though the election is 30 months away - in October 2015 - the next few months will be a critical time for Harper, given mounting evidence in opinion polls that the Conservatives risk losing power after what would be nearly a decade in office.

Lebanon's new premier says election delay likely

BEIRUT (Reuters) - Lebanon's June election faces a possible delay, prime minister-designate Tammam Salam said, as he prepared to form a government which aims to resolve months of dispute over the vote and shield the country from war in neighboring Syria. Salam, a moderate who won broad political support to become premier, said he would try to bring all of Lebanon's rival factions into a government whose main priority was paving the way for the parliamentary election.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ca-news-summary-025650088.html

Tsunami Lil Reese Hurricane Sandy Nyc Saanvi Venna vikings Colin Powell Tyrann Mathieu

Sports bar to open in Samler Building in Lebanon

The Samler Building stands at 800 Cumberland St. in Lebanon on Friday. Come Monday, the address will be the home of the Samler on 8th, a sports bar featuring American cuisine and 11 televisions for patrons viewing. (LEBANON DAILY NEWS LES STEWART)

A new restaurant will open Monday in downtown Lebanon.

The Samler on 8th will be at 800 Cumberland St., on the corner of Eighth and Cumberland streets. The opening is set for 4 p.m.

Restaurant owner Derek Ninkovich said the restaurant will feature American cuisine in a sports bar/pub atmosphere. The restaurant will have 11 televisions for viewing sporting events, he said.

Ninkovich said he has applied for a liquor license for the establishment and is awaiting approval from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board.

After Ninkovich receives the liquor license, the restaurant will have 28 draft beers.

The hours will be 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week. After Ninkovich receives the liquor license, the restaurant will be open to 2 a.m., he said.

The restaurant will seat about 70, including 22 at the bar and 48 at the tables, he said.

lesstewart@ldnews.com; 717-272-5611, ext. 131

Source: http://www.ldnews.com/latestnews/ci_22963202/sports-bar-open-samler-building-lebanon?source=rss_viewed

rashard lewis curacao curacao home run derby kourtney kardashian kourtney kardashian DNS Changer

Fire official: 2 trapped North Carolina children likely dead

DENVER, N.C. (AP) ? Two young children trapped when dirt fell on them at a home construction site Sunday were not expected to be found alive and crews expected to work through the night to recover their bodies, a fire official said.

A father of one of the children called 911 at about 6 p.m. to report what happened, said Lincoln County Emergency Services public information officer Dion Burleson. Crews were on the scene in minutes, but couldn't get to the 7-year-old boy and 6-year-old girl, Burleson said.

Crews used shovels and climbing gear trying to get to the children at the Denver neighborhood. Emergency personnel from several places, including nearby Charlotte, were on the scene late Sunday.

Video from WSOC-TV shows backhoes scooping dirt from a deep hole surrounded by dirt. Equipment surrounded the hole. Burleson said it is hard to estimate how far down the children might be.

The man who called was the father of at least one of the children, Burleson said. Neighbors told WBTV that the children were cousins.

This is "devastating for both the family members and responders who are on the scene," Burleson said. "This is a tragic night in Denver."

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/fire-official-2-trapped-nc-children-likely-dead-021803356.html

super bowl start time target jason wu gi joe jason wu for target collection nick diaz vs carlos condit the patriot hall of fame

Pastor Rick Warren says his son committed suicide

LAKE FOREST, Calif. (AP) ? Popular evangelical Pastor Rick Warren asked members of his Southern California church for prayers as he and his family coped with the apparent suicide of his 27-year-old son.

The church said on Saturday that Matthew Warren took his own life at his Mission Viejo home.

Matthew Warren struggled with mental illness, deep depression and suicidal thoughts throughout his life, Saddleback Valley Community Church said in a statement, after his body was found Friday night.

"Despite the best health care available, this was an illness that was never fully controlled and the emotional pain resulted in his decision to take his life," the church said.

Allison O'Neal, a supervising deputy coroner for Orange County, declined to release the cause and manner of death pending an autopsy of the young man.

Rick Warren, the author of the multimillion-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life," said in an email to church staff that he and his wife had enjoyed a fun Friday evening with their son. But their son then returned home to take his life in "a momentary wave of despair."

Over the years, Matthew Warren had been treated by America's best doctors, had received counseling and medication and been the recipient of numerous prayers from others, his father said.

"I'll never forget how, many years ago, after another approach had failed to give relief, Matthew said 'Dad, I know I'm going to heaven. Why can't I just die and end this pain?'" Warren recalled.

Despite that, he said, his son lived for another decade, during which he often reached out to help others.

"You who watched Matthew grow up knew he was an incredibly kind, gentle, and compassionate man," Warren wrote. "He had a brilliant intellect and a gift for sensing who was most in pain or most uncomfortable in a room. He'd then make a bee-line to that person to engage and encourage them."

Another pastor will preach in Warren's place on Sunday as part of a previously planned sermon series, church spokeswoman Kristin Cole said.

The elder Warren founded Saddleback Church in 1980, according to his biography on the church website, and over the years watched it grow to 20,000 members. He and his wife, Kay, began by holding Bible studies for people who weren't regular churchgoers.

Matthew Warren was the youngest of their three children.

As Saddleback grew over the years, it spread out from its Lake Forest headquarters, 65 miles southeast of Los Angeles, adding several other campuses and ministries around Southern California.

The church says it now offers more than 200 community ministries and support groups for parents, families, children, couples, prisoners, addicts, and people living with HIV, depression and other illnesses.

In 2008, the church sponsored a presidential forum with Barack Obama and John McCain. Obama and Republican nominee Mitt Romney were invited to a similar forum last fall, but Warren canceled it several days beforehand, saying the campaign had become too uncivil.

Warren was named the top newsmaker of the year for 2009 by the Religion Newswriters Association. He gained attention that year with his invocation at Obama's inauguration, as well as with comments he made in the aftermath of California's Proposition 8, which overturned gay marriage.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/pastor-rick-warren-says-son-committed-suicide-080418298.html

nfl playoff picture nfl playoff picture Larry King Suzy Favor Hamilton mayan calendar end of the world end of the world

Britney Spears Fans Mad After Jamie Lynn Tweets Justin Timberlake About 'Cry Me A River'

Britney Spears fans got heated after the singer's little sister, Jamie Lynn, tweeted her most famous ex, Justin Timberlake.

On Thursday, the 22-year-old participated in the popular Twitter trend "Throwback Thursday," or #tbt. Jamie Lynn tweeted a photo of her, Britney and Justin in the backseat of a car. In the shot, Jamie Lynn is sitting on the lap of the former 'NSYNC member with Britney beside them.

She also included a message to the "Suit & Tie" singer, according to E! News: "@jtimberlake Weird hearing ur music as an Adult. Ha Not only do I appreciate it. I GET it. #jay #crymeariver #mirror."

Fans didn't respond well to Jamie Lynn's trip down Britney-Justin memory lane. They accused the young mom of going against her sister, Zap2It notes.

Justin, who dated the "Scream & Shout" singer for three years, allegedly wrote "Cry Me A River" about his 2002 breakup with Britney -- and featured a lookalike in the music video.

Jamie Lynn quickly backtracked once fans started defending Brit, tweeting, "I hope you all know that my tweets are only to support my sister @britneyspears - anything left over was to @jtimberlake #sisterlove #4eva," she tweeted, according to Zap2It.

Jamie Lynn has since deleted the tweets.

Although they were once pop music's royal couple, in a 2011 interview with Vanity Fair Timberlake said he and Britney had not spoken in 10 years. For him, the relationship couldn't have lasted because he was a different person then.

?We were two birds of the same feather?small-town kids, doing the same thing. But then you become adults, and the way you were as kids doesn?t make any sense," he said. "I won?t speak on her, but at least for me, I was a totally different person. I just don?t think we were normal; there was nothing normal about our existence. We spent way too much time being the biggest thing for teenyboppers.?

Watch "Cry Me A River" below.

Also on HuffPost:

"; var coords = [-5, -72]; // display fb-bubble FloatingPrompt.embed(this, html, undefined, 'top', {fp_intersects:1, timeout_remove:2000,ignore_arrow: true, width:236, add_xy:coords, class_name: 'clear-overlay'}); });

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/06/britney-spears-jamie-lynn-spears-justin-timberlake_n_3029692.html

mozambique oosthuizen great expectations jake owen oosthuizen louis double eagle bubba