Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 12, 2015. Index for Today’s Briefing RUSSIA/UKRAINE ISIL TURKEY UN SECURITY COUNCIL/ ISIL INDIA SRI LANKA YEMEN/IRAN YEMEN JAPAN PAKISTAN IRAN/YEMEN SOUTH KOREA/CUBA YEMEN CUBA TRANSCRIPT: 12:43 p.m. EST MS. PSAKI: Hi, everyone. Maybe I was a little quick on the two minutes. (Laughter.) QUESTION: Perhaps. MS. PSAKI:[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 12, 2015. Thank you, Taj [Atkinson], for that kind introduction – and for the commitment you’ve shown to ensuring that Central High School in Newark is the kind of place where you and your classmates can learn, grow, and thrive. I applaud you for striving to build fellowship[Read More…]

Public Opinion and Wasted Tax Dollars Push Legislator to Fix Broken Marijuana Policies SANTA FE, NM –(ENEWSPF)—February 12, 2015. Today, for the first time in history, a legislative committee voted in favor of taxing and regulating marijuana in New Mexico.  On a vote of 5-4 New Mexico State Senator Ortiz[Read More…]

Letter Sent to Congressional Judiciary Leadership on Key Criminal Justice Reform Priorities; Legislation Should Address Prison Overcrowding, Unsustainable Costs, and Racial Disparities Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 12, 2015. Amidst a flurry of legislative activity on criminal justice reform, a broad coalition of groups, representing faith leaders, criminal justice reform and civil and[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 12, 2015. SEASONALLY ADJUSTED DATA In the week ending February 7, the advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims was 304,000, an increase of 25,000 from the previous week’s revised level. The previous week’s level was revised up by 1,000 from 278,000 to 279,000. The 4-week moving average[Read More…]

Washington, DC—(ENEWSPF)—February 12, 2015. The United States welcomes the agreement reached today in Minsk by the OSCE-led Trilateral Contact Group, which was endorsed by the leaders of Ukraine, Russia, Germany, and France.  The agreement represents a potentially significant step toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict and the restoration of[Read More…]

Washington, DC–(ENEWSPF)–February 11, 2015 -12:15 P.M. EST   MR. EARNEST:  Good afternoon, everybody.  I don’t have anything at the top, Darlene, so we can go straight to your questions if you’re ready.   Q    Thank you.  Two questions on Kayla Mueller.  Has the White House learned any of the[Read More…]

WASHINGTON–(ENEWSPF)–February 11, 2015 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) issued the following statement today after President Barack Obama formally asked Congress to authorize a military campaign against the Islamic State terrorist group: “The Islamic State is a brutal and dangerous terrorist organization which has murdered thousands of innocent men, women and[Read More…]

WASHINGTON, D.C.–(ENEWSPF)–February 11, 2015 – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today called on law enforcement authorities to address speculation about a possible bias motive for the killing of three young Muslims who were shot in the head yesterday in Chapel[Read More…]

Four Senators File Brief Calling for Release of Memos Authorizing “Targeted Killing” of U.S. Citizens NEW YORK –-(ENEWSPF)–February 11, 2015.  A bipartisan group of senators filed a brief late last night in federal appeals court in support of the American Civil Liberties Union and The New York Times’ lawsuits seeking[Read More…]