Trump ordered that the term Homo sapiens be changed to Hetero sapiens. In history books and on websites, the airplane from which the atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima will no longer be identified as the Enola Gay, but rather the Enola Straight. Trump also ordered billionaire Mark Cuban, who supported Kamala Harris in the 2024 election, to change his name to Mark American. If he does not do so, he will be charged with terrorism.   read more

The Obama administration is backing a corporate polluter in a case before the U.S. Supreme Court that has implications for U.S. Marines and their families exposed to contaminated water. CTS Corporation is trying to avoid liability for pollution it caused. A victory for CTS would represent a defeat for the Lejeune parties, and the Obama administration—despite the president’s professed support for the environment and veterans—seems just fine with that outcome.   read more

The Justice Department is going after Sprint in federal court claiming the telecommunications company overcharged law enforcement agencies for wiretapping costs. It says Sprint inflated its bills to the FBI, DEA and other agencies by 58%--overcharging by $21 million--causing "significant loss to the government’s limited resources.” It claims Sprint tried to get away the overbilling by disguising it as other spying costs. Sprint denies the allegations.   read more

Solar power has grown in popularity over the past couple of years, so much so that installations of new panels and systems have outpaced the combined installs of the previous three decades. In just the last 18 months, the U.S. has set up more solar energy systems than during the prior 30 years, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Last year was particularly productive for solar developers, with installations up 41% over 2012.   read more

The first-ever commercial promoting medicinal marijuana will soon air in New Jersey, Chicago and Massachusetts on Fox, Comedy Central, CNN, ESPN, AMC, Discovery and the Food Channel. In the ad, a suspicious-looking guy works back alleys to sell sushi. At one point he thrusts opens his trenchcoat to reveal select cuts of sashimi for sale. “You wouldn’t buy your sushi from this guy,” the voiceover says. “So why would you buy your marijuana from him?”   read more

The Obama administration has levied the largest penalty ever for violations of the Clean Water Act against one of the nation’s biggest coal companies. Alpha Natural Resources will pay a $27.5 million penalty for causing pollution in five states, and will spend $200 million to reduce pollution coming out of its coalmines. In many of its 6,000 violations, Alpha failed to properly operate water treatment systems or even install them to prevent pollutants from entering waterways.   read more

It is not illegal in Massachusetts to take photos up the skirts of women without their permission in public places, the state’s highest court has ruled. The justices said the law only applies to victims who are nude in certain locations, like bathrooms and dressing rooms. The decision shocked many. “I am in disbelief that the courts would come to this...decision and outraged at what it means for women’s privacy and public safety," said Senate president Therese Murray.   read more

Secular humanists have been taking legal action against Christian crosses on public property. AHA says Maryland's Bladensburg Peace Cross violates the 1st Amendment clause prohibiting government from establishing a religion. “That cross] was...intended to be a secular memorial to the veterans of World War I,” counters Park & Planning's Kira Lewis. "It [has] plaques... that serve that purpose, but there is no religious language on the cross whatsoever.”   read more

It’s unclear why the two L.A. gangbangers traveled all the way to the Middle East to help Assad. Their whereabouts only became known after they posted a video online showing them fighting on what they claimed was the front lines of the Syrian civil war. “We’re kind of concerned about their recruitment and whatever other associates they have here," said LAPD's Mike Downing. "What we’re worried about is the ones we don’t know about here or coming back to the U.S.”   read more

A new study shows doctors are the No. 1 source for painkillers used by chronic abusers. The CDC found in 27% of cases, physicians were the most common source. The second most common source of painkillers for abusers was family members and friends, responsible in 26% of cases. The crisis of narcotic painkiller addiction was declared an epidemic by the CDC in 2011. Nationally, OxyContin and Vicodin have led the way among prescription-related overdoses averaging more than 16,000 a year.   read more

The plant, located at the Savannah River Site, a Cold War-era nuclear fuel factory, had experienced numerous cost overruns. Instead of needing $1 billion to build, the project was going to consume $10 billion. In addition, it was estimated the MOX facility would require another $24 billion just to operate it over a 15-year period. DOE officials concluded that they could not continue with the plant’s construction, leaving it two-thirds completed. It now will go into “cold-standby.”   read more

Among all cabinet-level departments, Justice will take the biggest hit. Its 2015 budget request is nearly 40% lower than what the department received in the current fiscal year. The Small Business Administration would suffer a 22% loss in funding, while the Army Corps of Engineers’ cut would be 18% if Obama’s budget succeeds. Over at the Pentagon, the defense budget will remain the same from 2014 to 2015.   read more

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Sinclair is charged with forced oral copulation with a female captain while on deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan. Sinclair admits to having an affair with his accuser, but insists their sexual encounters were consensual. He pleaded guilty to lesser accusations of adultery, trying to obtain nude photos of other female officers, and possessing pornography. If convicted on the rape charge, the general could receive a sentence of life in prison.   read more

Meagan Simmons, a 28-year-old mother of four, was arrested for drunk driving. But her attractive mugshot landed on the Internet with such captions as: “Guilty of taking my breath away,” and “Arrested for breaking and entering your heart.” Simmons went along with the unexpected publicity, gaining thousands of Twitter and Instagram followers and hinting of a possible Playboy layout. But when a company used her mugshot for its online advertising, she decided to sue for damages.   read more

Yet another potential impact of a warmer planet has been discovered: ancient viruses being brought back to life as a result of melting ice. This possible risk was discovered in Siberia, where scientists found a 30,000-year-old virus that became exposed in the melting permafrost. The contagion is a “giant” virus—the largest ever found. Researchers say it may be just the first of other long-gone viruses to return to life, including those that can impact human health.   read more

About 20% of Medicare patients receiving care at skilled nursing facilities have endured various levels of preventable harm by medical professionals, an investigation found. It was learned that 22% of patients experienced adverse events during their stays. Another 11% suffered “temporary harm” events. Problems include overdoses of anticoagulants, falls, blood clots, and infections. The harm was due to substandard treatment, inadequate monitoring, and failure or delay of care.   read more

Mike Anderson was 22 when he helped rob a Burger King. He got caught, was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison. But Anderson never served his time, due to a clerical blunder. Anderson turned his life around. He got a job, married, started a family and began coaching football. By all accounts he was a model citizen. But then the justice system caught up with him. In July 2013, authorities decided it was time to put Anderson, now 36, behind bars.   read more