The following is a rundown of the day’s news drawn from other media sources with topics curated just for Money and Markets readers: personal security and freedom, immigration and the cold spell in the U.S.
Personal security and freedom
Rand Paul Will Sue Obama Over the NSA
Paul’s class-action suit has accrued hundreds of thousands of signatures via his website, though some have pointed out that the list will likely double as a supporter database for future political aspirations, which may include a run for the White House in 2016.
Rand Paul: ‘Do We no Longer Have a Fourth Amendment?’
“Our founders never intended for Americans to trust their government, our entire Constitution was predicated on the notion that government was a necessary evil to be restrained and minimized as much as possible,” he said.
Ohio National Guard Training Envisions Right-Wing Terrorism
Documents from an Ohio National Guard (ONG) training drill conducted last January reveal the details of a mock disaster where Second Amendment supporters with “anti-government” opinions were portrayed as domestic terrorists.
Americans Find Swift Stonewall on Whether NSA Vacuumed Their Data
The denials illustrate the bind in which the disclosures have trapped the Obama administration. While it has pledged to provide greater transparency, the NSA says it cannot respond to individuals’ requests without tipping off terrorists and other targets.
U.S. Press Freedom Plunges Under Obama to 46th in World, After Romania
The index, compiled by the press advocacy group Reporters Without Borders, analyzes 180 countries on criteria such as official abuse, media independence and infrastructure to determine how free journalists are to report.
Immigration
Immigration Groups Turn to Anger
“Obviously, persuasion only got us so far,” Kica Matos, a spokeswoman for the Fair Immigration Reform Movement, said Monday. “What we are now doing is to switch tactics from persuasion to punishment.”
Mexican University Offers Course on How to Become a U.S. Citizen
The Mexico City-based school system will include writing, reading and civics courses to prepare locals in becoming American citizens. In addition to the English requirement of the naturalization test, American history and government are also tested.
New York to Issue Undocumented Immigrants Papers
“To all of my fellow New Yorkers who are undocumented, I say: New York City is your home too, and we will not force ANY of our residents to live their lives in the shadows,” de Blasio said in a speech at Queens College.
Arctic winter continues to ravage U.S.
Historic Ice Storm Unfolds in South — Lengthy Power Outages Possible
While sleet is hazardous and difficult to remove, freezing rain brings the greatest risk for power outages and travel. This storm will bring both to many communities. However, the communities that receive between 0.5 and 1 inch of freezing rain could face severe problems.
‘Snow Rage’ Afflicts Storm-Weary Locals
As CBS 2’s Carolyn Gusoff reported Tuesday, people have found themselves fed up with the hassle of plowing, shoveling and salting. In fact, they have been pushed to the edge, to the point where they have been taking out their frustrations on plow drivers.
Atlanta Area Braces for Ice Storm; Four Die in Texas
The city dodged the first punch of a dangerous winter storm Tuesday, but forecasters warned of a potentially “catastrophic” second blow in a thick layer of ice that threatened to bring hundreds of thousands of power outages and leave people in their cold, dark homes for days.
Panicked Shoppers Fight Over Food Amid ‘Snowpocalypse’
Atlanta residents ransacked neighborhood grocery stores in frantic preparation for their second major snowstorm of the year, waging fights over food items and leaving destruction and empty shelves in their wake, a stunning precursor to what will ensue once a major crisis impacts the U.S.
Washington Braces for Impact
The Washington area is bracing for what could be the biggest snow storm to hit the region in four years. As much as a foot of snow is expected to fall between Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon with higher accumulations west of the District.
Best wishes,
The Money and Markets Team
