Crimea’s parliament has declared the region an independent state today, after its residents voted overwhelmingly to break off from Ukraine and seek to join Russia.  In the same resolution, it says all Ukrainian state property on the territory of the Black Sea peninsula will be nationalized and become the property of the Crimean Republic.  A delegation of Crimean lawmakers is traveling to Moscow today for negotiations on what to do next.  The U.S. and its allies in Europe are expected today to announce sanctions against Russia, including visa bans and potential asset freezes.  President Barack Obama told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call Sunday that Crimea’s vote “would never be recognized” by the United States.  And Obama and other top U.S. officials are warning Moscow against making further military moves toward southern and eastern Ukraine.