Holdout occupiers in Oregon surrender
BURNS, Ore. – Surrounded by FBI agents in armored vehicles, the last four occupiers of a national nature preserve surrendered Thursday, and a leader in their movement who organized a 2014 standoff with authorities was criminally charged in federal court.
The holdouts were the last remnants of a larger group that seized the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge nearly six weeks ago, demanding that the government turn over the land to locals and release two ranchers imprisoned for setting fires.
Meanwhile, Cliven Bundy, who was at the center of the 2014 standoff at his ranch in Nevada, was arrested late Wednesday in Portland after encouraging the Oregon occupiers not to give up.
Obama names pick for education post
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama will nominate Dr. John B. King Jr. to serve as Education Department secretary after receiving commitments from lawmakers to give his nomination speedy consideration, the White House said Thursday.
King has served as acting secretary since Arne Duncan stepped down at the end of December. Facing strong Republican opposition to many of Obama’s nominees in the Senate, the White House opted to skip the potential clash over education policies and said it didn’t intend to nominate another candidate.
Congress bans taxes for Internet access
WASHINGTON – Congress has voted to permanently bar state and local governments from taxing access to the Internet.
The Senate voted 75-20 Thursday to give final approval to the wide-ranging bill, which also revamps trade laws. President Barack Obama is expected to sign it.
The Internet tax prohibition has broad support, with few senators eager to oppose the election-year measure and open the door to taxing online access.
Associated Press
