Archive for the ‘Obama’ Category

Don’t look for Obama’s official portrait anytime soon – Washington Post

Over the weekend, a painting of former president Barack Obama was making the rounds on social media, with users assuming it was his official post-presidency portrait a shocking development because in the picture in question, the 44th president was depicted wearing that infamous tan suit that got him so much flak (remember the audacity of taupe). Of course, it turned out not to be the real deal (it seemed to be just fan art by a Dutch painter combined with a dash of wishful thinking), but it made us think we should check in on the progress of the actual framing of the ex-prez.

Presidential portraits typically take a year or two from start to finish, per the White House Historical Association, and work on Obamas portrait only started once he left the White House, an association spokeswoman tells us.

We dont know which artists the Obamas selected (the president and first lady typically choose who will paint their likenesses), and the association spokeswoman was mum on the artists identities. By tradition, two portraits are done of each the president and first lady one to hang in the White House and the other in the National Portrait Gallery. And before the fiscal hawks start squawking, we should note that the association, not the American taxpayers, foot the bill for the artwork.

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Don't look for Obama's official portrait anytime soon - Washington Post

Court Strikes Obama-Era Rule Capping Cost of Phone Calls From Prison – New York Times

Court Strikes Obama-Era Rule Capping Cost of Phone Calls From Prison
New York Times
WASHINGTON A federal court on Tuesday struck down regulations that cap the soaring cost of phone calls made by prison inmates, in another rollback of Obama-era telecommunications rules. In a 2-1 decision, the United States Court of Appeals for the ...

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Court Strikes Obama-Era Rule Capping Cost of Phone Calls From Prison - New York Times

Intimate book of Obama confirmed by former staffer – Starts at 60

An intimate book about former US president Barack Obama is set to be published.

The good news is that it has his full support.

So much so Obama has been confirmed aswriting the foreword for the publication.

The book is by former White House photographer Pete Souza, and is titled Obama: An Intimate Portrait.

The book, to be released in November this year builds on his widely followed Instagram account. If that is any indication the book is sure to have some amazing images and be much sought after for Obama fans.

Read more: White House prank on Obama causes social media meltdown.

Souza has used his account to get a little bit political this week too.

Following reports thatthe basketball team Golden State Warriors had voted not to visit the White House to celebrate their NBA championship, the former White House photographer under the Obama administrationposted thisphoto (below) of Warriors player Steph Curry with former president Barack Obama.

Souza has known Obama for more than a decade, dating back to when Obama was a U.S. senator from Illinois. A previous book of Souza pictures, The Rise of Barack Obama, came out in 2008. Souza also was a White House photographer during Ronald Reagans administration.

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Intimate book of Obama confirmed by former staffer - Starts at 60

Trump admin. delays Obama-era reboot of nutrition label amid industry pressure – Ars Technica

Enlarge / Former First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled the new, modernized Nutrition Facts Label at the Building a Healthier Future Summit.

Following pressure from the food and beverage industry, the Food and Drug Administration announced Tuesday that it would indefinitely delay the rollout of new nutrition labels that were designed to help consumers better evaluate the contents and of packaged foods.

Manufacturers originally had more than two years to refresh their labels with the new standards. The deadline for large producers was July 26, 2018, while those making less than $10 million in annual food sales had an additional year. Some companies are smoothly working on the roll-out of their new labels, while others pushed back on lawmakers, saying they needed more time.

The Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA), for instance, calledthe FDAs indefinite delay a common-sense decision, citing lack of final details about added sugar and dietary fiber labeling. The fast-approaching compliance deadline was virtually impossible to meet without the needed final guidance documents from FDA, the association said in a statement.

In a March letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Tom Price (obtained by advocacy group Center for Science in the Public Interest),the GMA urged that the deadline be pushed back until 2021.

But, despite GMAs concerns over incomplete guidance, other food makers didnt seem to have any trouble redesigning their labels. Candy maker Mars Inc., for instance, told the AP that it still intends to roll out the new labels this year and be in full compliance by next year. And The Washington Post reports that other early adopters include: Nabisco/Mondelz, which has rolled the labels out on its Wheat Thins crackers; PepsiCo, which has put them on Lays chips, Fritos, and Cheetos; and KIND, which makes granola bars.

Despite this potential business pitfall, Figel said he wasnt surprised by the FDAs delay. Theres just been a lot of pressure to extend the deadline, he said.

The FDAs label delay is just the latest in a series of moves to rollbacknutrition and health policies laid out during the Obama era. In May, the Trump administration announced that it was hitting the brakes on efforts to improve the nutritional quality of school lunches, including reducing sodium and boosting whole grains. Also in May, the FDA delayed the roll out of calorie counts on restaurant menus.

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Trump admin. delays Obama-era reboot of nutrition label amid industry pressure - Ars Technica

Texas woman freed from life sentence by President Obama is back in prison – USA TODAY

Carol Denise Richardson is back in prison.(Photo: Texas Federal Court)

A Texas woman who was freed from a life sentence last year after PresidentObama granted her clemency is behind bars again.

According to the Houston Chronicle, Carol Denise Richardson, 49, was arrested for theft in Pasadena, a Houston suburb, and violated other conditions imposed when she was released from prison.

"This defendant was literally given a second chance to become a productive member of society and has wasted it," Assistant U.S. Attorney Ted Imperato said in a statement released by his office. "She has clearly shown a willful disregard for the law and must face the consequences for her crimes and actions."

Richardson was convicted by a federal jury in June 2006 for conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of crack cocaine and two counts of possession with intent to distribute the drug, the paper reported. With an extensive criminal background, she was sentenced to life in prison.

After her release in July last year, the Chronicle said, Richardson was ordered to remain under supervision for 10 years, but on April 13 was arrested by Pasadena police.

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In addition to the theft charges, Richardson violated five separate terms of her release including failing to report that she had been arrested, that she'd been terminated from a job for not showing up and that she had changed her address.

Appearing before U.S. District Judge Keith Ellison on Thursday, Richardson was told that shehad wasted a rare opportunity at freedom. Ellisonordered her back to federal prison for 14 months, with five years of supervised release beyond that.

Mark Anthony Diaz, the attorney assigned to Richardson's case, told the paper that his client cried throughout the hearing. He said the theft involved $60 of laundry detergent that she planned to sell to buy drugs

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Texas woman freed from life sentence by President Obama is back in prison - USA TODAY