Free Republic

An employee at the marine development authority of Qingdao’s Jimo district said the “relevant authorities” are preparing to bring down the object, the report said. The employee was not informed what the object was. The person said fishermen in the area have been told to be careful about safety, the report added. The United States and Canada brought down three high-altitude airborne objects in February, including one that Washington said was sent deliberately by China for surveillance. Beijing countered that it was a harmless weather-monitoring device that blew off course.

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform voted on Thursday to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress. The committee’s approval paves the way for a vote in the full House of Representatives. Lerner is accused of leading an effort to target the tax status of conservative organizations, while giving liberal organizations a pass. Lerner previously pled the Fifth Amendment when questioned by the committee on May 22, 2013. The Fifth Amendment protects against self-incrimination. But since Lerner had previously professed her innocence in a statement, a little over one month later the committee voted that...