Luke Skywalker
Super Moderator
{vb:raw ozzmodz_postquote}:
Secretary of State Kate Brown smiles before a swearing-in ceremony Jan. 4, 2013, at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Ore.(Photo: Timothy J. Gonzalez, (Salem, Ore.) Statesman Journal)
1. Oregon gets new governor as Kitzhaber resigns
Oregon will swear in the country's first openly bisexual governor Wednesday as John Kitzhaber resigns amid an investigation into his fiancee's role in his office. Because Oregon does not have a lieutenant governor, Secretary of State Kate Brown will take over the governorship. Oregon's attorney general's office is investigating whether Kitzhaber's fiancee used her role in his office to obtain private consulting work.
Oregon Senate Minority Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, center, confers with fellow Senators Susan Castillo, D-Eugene, right, and Rick Metsger, D-Portland, as legislators convene at the Capitol in Salem, Ore., Sunday, Feb. 10, 2002, for the third day of a special session to rebalance the state budget.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Statesman Journal file)
Oregon Senate Minority Leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, middle, has a conversation with Sen. Lenn Hannon, R-Ashland, left, while Sen. Peter Courtney, D-Salem, listens on the Senate floor in Salem, Ore., Thursday, Feb. 28, 2002, as the fourth day of the Legislature's special session begins.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Statesman Journal file)
Oregon Sen. Avel Gordly, left, D-Portland, is joined by House Minority leader Kate Brown, D-Portland, as they say the Pledge of Allegiance on the House floor to begin another day of a special session in Salem, Ore., July 27, 2002. Gordly galvanized lawmakers in the 2001 Legislative Session to prepare ballot Measure 14, which would delete racist language from the Oregon constitution. She says there have been discussions about deleting the language since she took office in 1991, but only in recent years has it received enough attention to prompt lawmakers into action.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Statesman Journal file)
Senate Republican leader Sen. Bev Clarno, R-Bend, left, and Senate Democratic leader Sen. Kate Brown, D-Portland, right, escort the new Senate President, Sen. Peter Courtney, D-Salem, from his seat on the senate floor, to be sworn in at the Capitol in Salem, Ore., Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2003.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Statesman Journal file)
Last SlideNext Slide
2. Pitchers and catchers report for spring training
Let's take a break from the snow and ice to talk about a sure sign warmer weather is on the horizon. Pitchers and catchers are filing into camps in Florida and Arizona for spring training as baseball gets set for what may be its most competitive year ever. Story lines abound, with eyes sure to be on the World Series champion San Francisco Giants and the New York Yankees' back-from-suspension Alex Rodriguez, among other things.
In this photo taken with a fisheye lens, Pittsburgh Pirates catchers wait their turn in the batting cage during an informal spring training workout in Bradenton, Fla., Tuesday, Feb. 17, 2015.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Gene J. Puskar, AP)
3. Silicon Valley trial could air loads of dirty laundry
Jury selection begins Wednesday for a trial that could shine a light on how women are treated in Silicon Valley. Ellen Pao, a former partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield and Byers – one of the most powerful venture capital firms in the tech industry – claims years of sexual harassment and discrimination toward women at the firm. Fists are already shaking at Silicon Valley because of the lack of women, blacks and Hispanics at tech firms, said Kellie McElhaney, a business professor at Berkeley.
Ellen Pao, center, talks with attorneys Therese Lawless and Alan Exelrod at the San Francisco Civic Center Courthouse following a court appearance on Feb. 17.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Martin E. Klimek, USA TODAY)
4. Argentina government braces for march to protest prosecutor death
Prosecutors in Argentina want answers in the mysterious death of Alberto Nisman, a prosecutor who was investigating the country's worst terrorist attack. They have organized a silent march Wednesday and the government is bracing for possible unrest. Argentina has been rocked by the Jan. 18 death of Nisman, who accused President Cristina Fernandez of a cover-up. Fernandez has denied the allegations.
Men walk pass posters that read in Spanish "Demand justice to justice," in reference to march organized by federal prosecutors demanding justice after the death of special prosecutor Alberto Nisman almost a month ago, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Friday, Feb. 13, 2015.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: Rodrigo Abd)
5. China urges fewer fireworks during New Year celebrations
Authorities in China are urging people to light fewer fireworks this week as cities fight a losing battle against air pollution. Dozens of cites in the country have outright banned lighting fireworks on Wednesday and Thursday. The holiday is celebrated by Chinese communities around the world — in San Francisco, where about one in five residents is of Chinese descent, the celebration is stretched over a few weeks, culminating in a parade with a 270-foot-long dragon. The year of the sheep starts Thursday.
Lion dancers perform at the opening ceremony of the Ditan Park temple fair on the eve of the Lunar New Year in Beijing on Feb. 18.<span style="color: Red;">*</span>(Photo: GREG BAKER, AFP/Getty Images)
Bonus: It's Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent for Christians. USA TODAY College Correspondent Megan Raposa talks about how to take Lent beyond Facebook fasting or talking about fasting on Facebook.
And, the essentials:
Weather: Wintry weather will continue to plague the eastern U.S. while the West enjoys pleasant temperatures and sunny skies.
[h=2]UP NEXT[/h][h=2]03[/h]
The national weather forecast for Wednesday, February 18 calls for snow showers from the Great Lakes to the East Coast and bitter cold in the Northern Plains. This arctic front will hit Florida. VPC
Powered By WizardRSS.com | Full Text RSS Feed