MOSCOW — Russia’s Justice Ministry has listed Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as foreign agents, a move that could see them lose…
MOSCOW — Russia’s Justice Ministry has listed Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty as foreign agents, a move that could see them lose their reporting credentials in the Russian parliament.
The move announced on Tuesday comes amid an escalating tit-for-tat between Russia and the U. S. over government-funded media outlets.
Kremlin-funded RT television was registered with the U. S. Justice Department last month as a foreign agent following a demand from Washington. In retaliation, Russia adopted a bill that allows the government to designate international media outlets as foreign agents.
After the committee that governs Capitol Hill access for broadcast journalists withdrew credentials for RT last week, the Russian parliament vowed also to bar access for media organizations listed as foreign agents. The lower chamber of the Russian parliament is expected to adopt the ban later this week.

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The Supreme Court is taking up the highly anticipated case of the Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
By MARK SHERMAN Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) – The Supreme Court is taking up the highly anticipated case of the Colorado baker who refused to make a wedding cake for a same-sex couple.
Tuesday’s clash at the high court pits baker Jack Phillips’ First Amendment claims of artistic freedom against the anti-discrimination arguments of the Colorado Civil Rights Commission, and two men Phillips turned away in 2012.
The commission ruled that Phillips violated the state’s anti-discrimination law when he refused to make a wedding cake for Charlie Craig and David Mullins.
The argument is the first involving gay rights since the Supreme Court ruled in 2015 that states could not prevent same-sex couples from marrying.
The Trump administration is supporting Phillips in his argument that he can’t be forced to create a cake that violates his religious beliefs. It appears to be the first time the federal government has asked the justices to carve out an exception from an anti-discrimination law.
The case’s outcome also could affect photographers and florists who have voiced objections similar to those of Phillips.
“Artists shouldn’t be forced to express what the government dictates. The commission ordered Jack to celebrate what his faith prohibits or to stop doing the work he loves. The Supreme Court has never compelled artistic expression, and doing so here would lead to less civility, diversity, and freedom for everyone, no matter their views on marriage,” Kristen Waggoner, the Alliance Defending Freedom who is representing Phillips, said in an email.
But the American Civil Liberties Union and other rights groups that have sided with the gay couple said they fear a ruling for Phillips could allow for discrimination by a range of business owners. They said the court has never recognized what they call a constitutional right to discriminate.
“The question is whether a shop like Masterpiece Cakeshop can put up a sign in its window saying, ‘Wedding cakes for heterosexual couples only,'” ACLU deputy legal director Louise Melling said. The ACLU is representing Craig and Mullins.
All eyes will be on Justice Anthony Kennedy, whose vote often decides cases that otherwise split the court’s liberals and conservatives. The 81-year-old Kennedy is the author of the 2015 gay marriage decision and all the court’s major gay-rights rulings. At the same time, Kennedy has forcefully defended free-speech rights in his nearly 30 years as a justice.
Colorado native Neil Gorsuch also will be taking part in the most important gay rights case since he joined the Supreme Court in April.
Colorado is among only 21 states that have statewide laws barring discrimination against gays and lesbians in public accommodations.
The case, Masterpiece Cakeshop v. Colorado Civil Rights Commission, 16-111, will be decided by late June.
Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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It has been painful to see how wrong the media has been about the Trumps and Alabama U. S. Senate candidate Roy Moore. Numerous cable news programs have followed video of President Trump’s…
It has been painful to see how wrong the media has been about the Trumps and Alabama U. S. Senate candidate Roy Moore.
Numerous cable news programs have followed video of President Trump’s statements supporting Moore with Ivanka Trump’s now famous quote in an Associated Press interview.
Sure there is – they call it the U. S. Senate.
It is clear the president and his daughter are on the same wavelength where Roy Moore is concerned. They both want to see him in the U. S. Senate, though perhaps for different reasons.
It should be pointed out the so-called “fake news” media has also been wrong about other things where the Alabama Senate race is concerned.
One pundit after another has talked about how horrible it is that voters in Alabama would even consider someone like Roy Moore for the U. S. Senate. Where is their decency? Where are their morals?
It’s not that Alabamians are that excited about Moore representing them in Washington. Contrary to what the media says, it has little or nothing to do with Moore’s appeal to evangelical Christians or to those who agree with his stance on such issues as same-sex marriage (he’s against it) and nuclear proliferation (he has no idea what it is).
The answer is much more basic – a vote for Roy Moore is a vote to get him out of Alabama. Have you ever had to stand in the voting line behind someone who rides his horse to the polls? It is not a pleasant sight.
This is not the first time Alabama residents have attempted to exile Roy Moore to what Ivanka Trump calls “a special place in hell.”
On two earlier occasions, Yellowhammer State voters sent Moore to their miniaturized version of that special place, the Alabama Supreme Court. Their plans failed when some fool (Roy Moore) kept installing giant monuments of the Ten Commandments or refused to follow the U. S. Constitution and got himself kicked out of office.
So now, the answer to Alabama’s dilemma is a simple one. The state can get rid of Roy Moore by electing him to the U. S. Senate.
The plan already worked four times with Jeff Sessions.
Hopefully, the media will get the story right when and if Roy Moore wins the special election and earns his seat in that “special place in hell.”
The biggest fear for Alabama now is what happens if Moore arrives and is not happy with life in the nation’s capital. After all, it is not that easy to find a school football game on Friday night and who goes to the mall these days?
The people of Alabama don’t need to worry. The solution is a simple one. All they have to do is pack up a Bible and some high school yearbooks in Roy Moore’s suitcase and he may stay in the U. S. Senate forever.

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Team says linebacker hopes to return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday after suffering scary injury at Cincinnati.
Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier suffered an unspecified back injury Monday night at Cincinnati but is not expected to need surgery, according to team general manager Kevin Colbert.
The Steelers announced hours after their 23-20 win against the Bengals that the Pro Bowler hopes to return to Pittsburgh on Tuesday. Shazier underwent a CT scan and MRI after being injured in the first quarter. He was carted off the field and taken by ambulance to University of Cincinnati Medical Center after going limp and slumping to the turf after tackling receiver Josh Malone using the crown of his helmet.
Coach Mike Tomlin provided no update on Shazier immediately following the game.
NFL Network reported Shazier had suffered a spinal contusion. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported he had a spinal concussion.
Trainers worked for several minutes on Shazier, the Steelers’ leading tackler, who was eventually strapped to a backboard and carted off the field at Paul Brown Stadium before being taken to the hospital.
Shazier, who didn’t appear to be moving his legs, covered his head with his hands as he left the field.
Tomlin acknowledged the difficulty he and his team had emotionally overcoming Shazier’s loss during the game.
Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton was among those who offered encouragement to Shazier as he left the playing field.
Cincinnati linebacker Vontaze Burfict was also carted off the field later in the game after an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit from Steelers wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster, who was also penalized for taunting Burfict on the play after standing over his body. Smith-Schuster apologized after the game.
Burfict was ruled out with a head injury, however before the cart got to the locker room, he jumped off and ran into the locker room.
PHOTOS: Best of NFL Week 13

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