The media circus in Simi Valley

The media circus in Simi Valley
Military hearing on Bergdahl desertion charges begins
Fed begins final day of meeting on crucial rate decision
Jeb leaves a vacuum. Who fills it?
Military in Burkina Faso confirms coup, dissolves government
Contraception opt-out violates religious freedom: U.S. appeals court
Pope's U.S. visit may deepen Republicans' Hispanic problem
Military prosecutors say Bergdahl deliberately snuck off post
Rate the candidates' performances in the second GOP debate
2 bodies found in ruins of Sierra Nevada foothills fire
Simi Valley GOP primary debate live blog
Live updates: GOP hopefuls clash at debate
Your debate scorecard for the GOP showdown in Simi Valley

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Military hearing on Bergdahl desertion charges begins

Posted: 17 Sep 2015 09:27 AM PDT

HOUSTON (AP) — A hearing to decide if Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl should face a military trial for leaving his post in Afghanistan began Thursday — proceedings that his lead lawyer said would reveal details of what led to the Idaho native's disappearance in 2009.

Fed begins final day of meeting on crucial rate decision

Posted: 17 Sep 2015 06:12 AM PDT

The Federal Reserve opened the final day of deliberations Thursday on a crucial interest rate increase that has left global markets and economic policy makers on edge for weeks. After locking its benchmark interest rate at zero percent for nearly seven years, the Fed must decide whether the US and global economies are strong enough to weather a modest hike. Supporters of an increase say the US economy has gained enough strength to begin moving the Fed away from its extraordinary crisis-era policy of easy money to a more normal policy stance.

Jeb leaves a vacuum. Who fills it?

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Military in Burkina Faso confirms coup, dissolves government

Posted: 17 Sep 2015 06:52 AM PDT

OUAGADOUGOU, Burkina Faso (AP) — While gunfire rang out in the streets, Burkina Faso's military took to the airwaves Thursday to declare it now controls the West African country in a coup mounted weeks before elections.

Contraception opt-out violates religious freedom: U.S. appeals court

Posted: 17 Sep 2015 09:34 AM PDT

A U.S. appeals court has ruled that President Barack Obama's healthcare law violates the rights of religiously affiliated employers by forcing them to help provide contraceptive coverage even though they do not have to pay for it. The split in the circuit courts created makes it more likely that the U.S. Supreme Court will take up the issue in its coming term, which begins in October and runs through June. The law allows religiously affiliated non-profit employers to opt out of paying for contraceptive coverage directly.

Pope's U.S. visit may deepen Republicans' Hispanic problem

Posted: 16 Sep 2015 10:16 PM PDT

By James Oliphant ORLANDO (Reuters) - Bob Cortes, a Republican legislator in Florida, fears he is losing the Hispanic vote that helped get him elected. The culprits: Republican presidential candidates such as Donald Trump who are railing against immigration. The upcoming visit by the most socially progressive pope in generations threatens to alienate them even more, driving a further wedge between Cortes' party and the Hispanic voters it needs to win back in order to retake the White House.

Military prosecutors say Bergdahl deliberately snuck off post

Posted: 17 Sep 2015 09:48 AM PDT

U.S. military prosecutors said in opening statements on Thursday that Army Sergeant Bowe Bergdahl, a former prisoner of war in Afghanistan held for five years before being swapped in 2014 for five Taliban leaders, deliberately left his post. The prosecutors said at a preliminary hearing to establish probable cause that Bergdahl launched a plan that was weeks in the making and there was sufficient evidence to hold him for trial on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. If convicted of misbehavior, the most serious charge, Bergdahl, 29, could be sentenced to life in prison.

Rate the candidates' performances in the second GOP debate

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2 bodies found in ruins of Sierra Nevada foothills fire

Posted: 16 Sep 2015 07:18 PM PDT

MIDDLETOWN, Calif. (AP) — Officials searched the burned-out remains of homes in Northern California on Wednesday, looking for a former police reporter and several other people who authorities fear were killed in a fast-moving blaze in that part of the state.