Update: The number of persons killed is now being estimated at 5 to 15. Last nights numbers provided by EMS were incorrect.

Emergency Medical Services in Waco say 60 to 70 have died in the explosion at a fertilizer plant in Waco, TX. Hundreds more have been injured.

The fire started in an anhydrous ammonia tank and spread to the building, authorities said. The resulting explosion spread the fire to the Middle School and to a nearby nursing home.

To check on injured residents admitted to Hillcrest Baptist Medical Center call (254) 202-1100. The Red Cross is on its way.

When the Oklahoma City bombings first happened, the first suspects were innocent Muslims.

In Boston, the FBI rushed to search the home of a Saudi student injured in the blast. Why does the Washington Post, when reporting that he wasn't involved, refers to him as a "witness" instead of a victim. He sustained serious burns, why isn't he a victim just like the American victims?

In Texas, there was rampant speculation the Aryan Brotherhood or drug smugglers were responsible for the murders of two Texas prosecutors and one of their wives. The New York Times even ran a chart with pictures of "possibly connected" Aryan Brotherhood crimes. Arrests have now been made. While arrests are not indicative of guilt, one of the two arrested admitted participating in the killings with her husband, a disgruntled former Justice of the Peace. [More...]

The Supreme Court today ruled in Missouri v. McNeely (opinion here) that the natural dissipation of alcohol in the bloodstream does not constitute an exigency in every case sufficient to justify conducting a blood test without a warrant.

The majority opinion was written by Justice Sotomayor. There were two concurring and one dissenting opinions.

While the court didn't say a warrant was needed, it made clear officers shouldn't assume one is not needed. Scotus Blog explains: [More...]

The Senate today rejected new gun control measures.

Among the measures that failed: One that banned high-capacity magazines with more than ten rounds, one that banned rapid-firing "assault" weapons and one calling for expanded background checks.

The vote was 54-46 vote, and 60 votes were needed.

While I'm glad the bills failed, I think it was a mistake by Obama to keep bringing out the Sandy Hook survivors in support of his plan.

It's also clear from Boston that gun laws won't stop horrific acts of violence or terrorism. If guns aren't available, anyone bent on mayhem will find another way to commit it. Bombs have a greater destructive potential than guns. [More....]

Bon Jovi lived up to all expectations and then some. Our seats were great. Here's some photos the TL kid took:

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• Seven (me and the TL kid)

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One of my favorite Bon Jovi concerts to watch -- Live Earth in 2007 -- I don't think I've ever seen Al Gore get so excited.

I only uploaded the first 25 seconds because the music is copyrighted. But you can view the whole thing on You Tube. For videos from the current tour, check out JoviGirl1983

The TL kid will be here in an hour so I'm off to get ready. I know there's lots of news today, but it will have to wait until tomorrow for me.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

I just got online and saw the news about the Boston Marathon bombing. How awful. Here's a thread to discuss it.

Update: Miami Herald reporter Carol Rosenberg is back at Guantanamo. The Pentagon now says 45 of the 166 detainees as on hunger strikes, 13 are on tube feeds, and two are hospitalized for observation. Follow her on Twitter, she posts frequent and accurate updates.

Those kids, they sure do "the darndest things." This story about a six year old who took the family car to get more chinese food from the restaurant his family had eaten at the night before, and made it three miles before being stopped by the cops, made me laugh.

Is force-feeding the hunger striking detainees at Guantanamo torture? The group Physicians for Human Rights says it is.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

If anyone besides me was worried that the big snowstorm Denver is getting today and tomorrow will interfere with Bon Jovi's arrival for tomorrow night's show, you can rest easy. Phil X (the terrific guitarist who is taking Richie Sambora's place on this leg of the tour) tweeted this photo last night at 10:45 p.m. after their Des Moines show. They were on the plane, waiting for takeoff, Ketel One and Pelegrino bottles already out.

36 hours and counting. [More...]

Yemeni detainee Samir Naji al Hasan Moqbel is one of the many prisoners at Guantanammo on a hunger strike. He has been held for 11 years, never been charged with a crime, and cleared for release.

He tells his story in an op-ed in the New York Times, Guantanamo is Killing me. It's very disturbing to read. You wouldn't do a dog this way.

Shame on us. The U.S. needs to send these men home.

The Denver Post has an article today on Denver billionaire Phil Anschutz who is taking a greater role in his expanding sports and entertainment ventures in Los Angeles. Anschutz, who rarely gives interviews and is very private, has been on a "media tour" in the past month. He gave his first media interview in decades. The reason: He's trying to bring an NFL team back to Los Angeles. The team would play at his Farmers Field stadium.

[Last month] Anschutz embarked on a Southern California publicity tour. Area sportswriters and business officials were taken aback not only by his decision to grant his first extensive media interview in decades, but by the sight of Anschutz sitting courtside at an L.A. Lakers game at Staples Center.

I'm not interested in whether Anschutz and AEG bring an NFL team to L.A. I just want to know why the Rolling Stones aren't coming to Denver since Anschutz is bankrolling the tour-- epecially since it was the Stones that reached out to AEG not the other way around. [More...]

Militants in Somalia attack the Supreme Court. All 9 attackers, most wearing suicide vests, were killed, court was in session, and hostages were taken. These AP photos show a ravaged city and incredible poverty. A burning car, rescue efforts, a woman with a baby trying to get to safety, one of the injured clinging to the pants of the soldier trying to help him, a little girl and her brother running to safety.

In the random acts of violence department: In Long Beach, CA, a man goes to a 7-11 and a homeless man throws a flammable object in his car.
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