Datasets:

autoevaluate

/

autoeval-eval-multi_news-default-e22c67-2252871794

like 0

Follow

Evaluation on the Hub 34

Sergio Marchionne had a “serious illness” lasting more than a year before the longtime Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV chief died this week, a Swiss hospital said Thursday, a condition the car maker said it didn’t know about. FCA’s statement came after University Hospital Zurich disclosed that Mr. Marchionne had received recurring treatment at its facility. The Italian-American auto maker cited medical privacy as the reason why it had “no knowledge of the facts relating to Mr. Marchionne’s health.” ... ||||| ZURICH (Reuters) - Fiat Chrysler FCHI.MI said it knew nothing about the medical condition of Sergio Marchionne after a Swiss hospital said on Thursday it had been treating the deceased chief executive for more than a year. FILE PHOTO: Formula One - F1 - Italian Grand Prix 2017 - Monza, Italy - September 3, 2017 Ferrari president Sergio Marchionne arrives before the race REUTERS/Max Rossi/File photo “Due to medical privacy, the company had no knowledge of the facts relating to Mr. Marchionne’s health,” a Fiat Chrysler spokesman said. Questions have been raised about how long Marchionne, who died on Wednesday, was ill and how much the company knew before it made the situation public. Marchionne rescued Fiat and Chrysler from bankruptcy after taking the wheel of the Italian carmaker in 2004 and he multiplied Fiat’s value 11 times through 14 years of canny dealmaking. He was due to step down at FCA in April next year. “The company was made aware that Mr. Marchionne had undergone shoulder surgery and released a statement about this,” the spokesperson said. “On Friday July 20, the Company was made aware with no detail by Mr. Marchionne’s family of the serious deterioration in Mr. Marchionne’s condition and that as a result he would be unable to return to work. The Company promptly took and announced the appropriate action the following day.” Asked whether the scope of the statement included the board and the chairman, the company declined to comment. The announcement of the death of Marchionne, 66, one of the auto industry’s most tenacious and respected CEOs, drew tributes from rivals and tears from his closest colleagues on Wednesday. University Hospital Zurich said earlier on Thursday Marchionne had been having treatment for a serious illness for more than a year before his death. Marchionne had fallen gravely ill after what the company had described as shoulder surgery at a Zurich hospital. He was replaced as chief executive last weekend after Fiat Chrysler (FCA) said his condition had worsened. “Mr. Sergio Marchionne was a patient at USZ. Due to serious illness, he had been the recipient of recurring treatment for more than a year,” the hospital said in a statement. “Although all the options offered by cutting-edge medicine were utilized, Mr. Marchionne unfortunately passed away.” University Hospital Zurich declined to comment on Marchionne’s illness, but said it deeply regretted his death and expressed its condolences to his family. ||||| The Swiss hospital that treated Sergio Marchionne says the former Fiat Chrysler CEO received treatment for a serious illness for more than a year before he died. "Due to serious illness, he had been the recipient of recurring treatment for more than a year," University Hospital Zurich said in a statement. "Although all the options offered by cutting-edge medicine were utilized, Mr. Marchionne unfortunately passed away." The hospital said it was issuing the statement to combat rumors about how it treated the charismatic executive, who died Wednesday at age 66. He was known for reviving Fiat and Chrysler and bringing the brands together under one roof. Questions have been raised in the media over how long Marchionne had been unwell, and whether Fiat Chrysler had been informed. The automaker said it was only made aware last week of a "serious deterioration" in Marchionne's condition. "Due to medical privacy, the company had no knowledge of the facts relating to Mr. Marchionne's health," the company said in a statement on Thursday. "The company was made aware that Mr. Marchionne had undergone shoulder surgery and released a statement about this," it said. "On Friday July 20, the company was made aware with no detail by Mr. Marchionne's family of the serious deterioration in Mr. Marchionne's condition and that as a result he would be unable to return to work," it added. "The company promptly took and announced the appropriate action the following day." Related: Marchionne was an outsider and an original Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) had warned in its most recent annual report in February that Marchionne's ability to run the company was "critical to the execution of our strategic direction and implementation of our business plan." "We have developed succession plans that we believe are appropriate, although it is difficult to predict with any certainty that we will be able to replace these [executives] with persons of equivalent experience and capabilities," the company said. It's unusual for companies to require executives to disclose medical problems, according to HR professionals. However, some companies require their top brass to get annual health checks to protect their business interests. Fiat Chrysler (FCAU) declined to comment on its health policies related to its top executives.

– The illness and death of Fiat Chrysler's fast-charging, unconventional CEO may have seemed sudden and surprising to many, but Sergio Marchionne was apparently sick for longer than anyone—even his employer—knew. That news comes to the Wall Street Journal from University Hospital Zurich, which notes Marchionne had a "serious illness" for which he sought treatment at the hospital for more than a year. In a statement issued to get ahead of "further speculation," UHZ says it gave the ailing Marchionne "all the options offered by cutting-edge medicine," though it didn't detail what exactly he was being treated for. And because of patient privacy rules, Fiat Chrysler says it was in the dark about Marchionne's issues. "The company had no knowledge of the facts relating to Mr. Marchionne's health," a company spokesman says, per Reuters, adding it wasn't until July 20 that it "was made aware with no detail by Mr. Marchionne's family of the serious deterioration in Mr. Marchionne's condition." The reason that's important is because "material" information about a company is required to be divulged to shareholders under securities laws. Whether a high-level exec's health counts as "material" can get murky, but a company can get itself into trouble if it puts out "half-truths or inconsistent statements," a Northwestern University professor tells the Journal. In February, Fiat Chrysler's annual report noted that Marchionne's hands-on involvement in the company was "critical to the execution of our strategic direction and implementation of our business plan," reports CNNMoney.

Please enable Javascript to watch this video CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Fernando Colon watched with keen interest as three missing women were found alive on Monday, after reportedly being held captive for years by 52-year-old Ariel Castro. Colon, 49, had been questioned by the FBI in 2004 about the disappearance of Gina DeJesus and Amanda Berry. He worked as a security guard in the neighborhood at the time, and he and his step-daughter were the last people to see DeJesus before she vanished. "For something like this to come up, you know for everybody to think that I had something to do with the disappearance of these girls, it was just devastating to me," said Colon. Colon also had a close connection to Ariel Castro. He was married to Castro's ex-wife and was step-father to Castro's four children. In 2004, Colon was convicted of two counts of gross sexual imposition and classified as a sex offender for molesting two of Castro's daughters. Colon said Castro orchestrated the case, even served as a witness at Colon's trial, to divert attention away from his own crimes. "Actually, that was something brilliant because if you come to think about it, he's got these girls prisoner in there, and put an accusation as such to me, makes him look like an angel, like he is such a proud father, such a trustworthy person," said Colon. Colon maintains that when he talked to the FBI in 2004, he identified Ariel Castro as a more likely suspect in the abductions of the young girls. Veteran Cleveland private investigator Chris Giannini worked for Colon's defense team in the molestation case. Giannini said Ariel Castro was known to spend time after school with his daughters and their friends, Amanda Berry and Gina DeJesus. He said Castro was also careful to keep people away from visiting his house. When asked if authorities should have taken a closer look at Castro, Giannini said, “absolutely… they should have gone and checked out his house and talked to him and interviewed him and thought about something. On top of that, he was a school bus driver, he drove that route down Lorain Road from Wilbur Wright Junior High every day at 2:40 in the afternoon." "If people would have listened, when I told them to look into this individual, these girls would not have been missing so long," said Colon. Colon said he now plans to appeal his molestation conviction based on the evidence now emerging against Ariel Castro. The FBI has not yet returned Fox 8's calls about the allegations made by Fernando Colon. For extended coverage on this story, click here. ||||| CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The daughter of kidnapping suspect Ariel Castro told America's Most Wanted in 2004 that she was the last person to see Gina DeJesus alive. Arlene Castro was a friend and classmate of Gina DeJesus at Wilbur Wright Middle School in Cleveland. She told the show -- which profiles missing-persons cases to draw attention to them -- that she was walking with DeJesus and borrowed 50 cents from the then-14-year-old to call her mother to ask if the two could hang out at Gina's. When her mother said no, Castro said they parted ways. According to past media reports, police dogs tracked DeJesus' scent to the payphone Castro said she used. This is an interview with Arlene Castro on "America's Most Wanted" in 2004. Here's a transcript from the show: This is Tom Morris with one of our most mysterious missing child cases: It started at this Cleveland middle school one year ago today. 14 year old Gina DeJesus left school and started walking done this busy Cleveland street. She never made it home. Gina vanished in broad daylight. Nancy Ruiz: When I came home and I got on the phone from 4 o'clock i started calling friends and they said they did not see her. Morris: I talked to the last person who did see Gina that day; her best friend and classmate, Arlene Castro. The two girls were walking home together hoping to spend the rest of the afternoon at Gina's house. Castro: I decided to call my mom and ask her and so she gave me .50 to call my mom and so my mom said no that I can't go over her house. and so I told her I couldn't and she said well okay I'll talk to you later and she just walked. Morris: Normally Gina would have taken the bus but after she gave Arlene .50 for the pay phone she didn't have enough money for left bus fare. So she headed home on foot. Police canines tracked Gina's scent from the pay phone on the corner to right down the street half way up the block to this no street sign right here. This is where the trail went cold. The disappearance of Gina DeJesus on busy Lorain Avenue has sent a familiar chill through this Cleveland community. The cops working to bring her home are the same cops working to solve the disappearance of another teenaged girl. almost exactly a year earlier just a few blocks away. Amanda Berry vanished on April 21, 2003 as she walked home from her job at this fast food restaurant. And when she disappeared which direction was she walking? She was last observed to be walking northbound on west 110th which is the street right here. Two attractive teenaged girls, they disappear in similar circumstances along the same busy avenue. What does it mean? A lot of the local people around here are you know are talking about it as well and how they are getting a little bit scared for their children as well. Whether or not these cases are connected police and the families of these two girls need your help. Gina DeJesus was last seen wearing a tan shirt light blue jacket and black pants. Amanda Berry has slick sandy blond hair and multiple piercings in each ear. If you have any information about either of these missing children Please give our hotline a call right now at 1-800-crime tv.

– If you thought the twisted details of the Cleveland case ended with yesterday's news of reported sightings of naked women in Ariel Castro's backyard, well, steel yourself: New reports reveal Castro bizarrely and brazenly inserted himself into the search for one of the missing girls. The latest: The AP reports that Castro physically aided in the search for Gina DeJesus, going so far as to hand out fliers with the 14-year-old's photo and perform at a musical fundraiser held in her honor. (DeJesus' uncle played in bands with Castro over the last two decades.) As previously reported, Castro attended a 2012 vigil for DeJesus; the AP now reports that a witness saw him comforting the girl's mother. A neighbor tells the AP he was with Castro the day investigators dug up a yard looking for remains. Castro reportedly told him, "They're not going to find anyone there." Brother Pedro reportedly took things even further: He spoke to Fox 8 in 2012 after the crews excavating a lot in search of a body found nothing. The line from its report at the time: "Cleveland resident Pedro Castro said, 'That’s a waste of money.'" But Fox 8 also reports on Ariel Castro's bizarre connection with another one-time suspect: Fernando Colon, who the FBI questioned in 2004 about DeJesus' disappearance, after it was determined that he and his stepdaughter were the last ones to see her. And here's where it gets weirder: His stepdaughter, Arlene, is Castro's daughter. Colon was convicted that same year of molesting two of Castro's daughters; Castro himself testified for the prosecution, and Colon now says he plans to appeal his conviction, asserting that Castro was attempting to keep the spotlight off his own crimes. Further, he says he told the FBI to look into Castro in connection with the missing girls. Odder still, Arlene actually appeared on America's Most Wanted to discuss the case in 2004. She says that she was with DeJesus on the day she went missing, and borrowed 50 cents from her to call her mom to ask for permission to go to DeJesus' home, reports the Plain Dealer. Her mom said no and the two went in different directions; but DeJesus no longer had enough money for bus fare, so she began to walk, then vanished.

Enlarge The patent rendering of the foot scanning robot that would take a depth and camera image… more No this isn't a joke: A patent from The Walt Disney Co. wants to scan your feet for data. The patent, dubbed "system and method using foot recognition to create a customized guest experience," seeks to use a mobile scanning mechanism or robot that would use a foot scanner to take depth information and a camera to take appearance information of a guest's foot and use that data to determine various factors like the most popular rides and common paths guests take from ride to ride. The patent, issued by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office on July 19 after originally being filed in April 2015, also describes the use of concealed sensors throughout a theme park that would track the guests' movements and keep collecting data on that logistical information. Enlarge The patent rendering of the foot scanning robot that would take a depth and camera image… more Gathering guest movements can help a theme park see where guests are spending most of their time, what walkways are being used the most and which rides are being visited most often so it can tweak operations and staff to those areas to improve efficiency. This is very much in line with what Disney's MagicBands were designed to do by helping gather data on guests that could be used to see what stores are getting increased traffic and how the park could adjust to improve the experience in those areas. "Recognizing individual guests or providing a method for an individual to register at certain rides or other attractions allows the amusement park to tailor certain experiences for the guest, such as creating a customized media output (e.g., photograph) directed to the particular guest," said the patent. Disney's patent states this method would be less invasive than other biometric scanning methods like retinal or fingerprint methods or taking photographs for facial recognition. It states the foot scanners would be able to take detailed information on a shoe including the color, tread and wear patterns, stains and even if gum were on the bottom of the shoe — all to reduce confusion of following the wrong guest on the data collecting side. Scanning a guest's feet or shoes seems to be a reliable way to track guest movements and reduce any problems that can happen if say a guest's outfit, such as their shirt or jacket, were used to identify them. "Less invasive manners, such as comparing a user's clothing or the like, can produce inaccurate results as many guests may have similar clothing or may change clothing, such putting on or taking off an outer layer or sweater, which can make detection unreliable," said the patent. It's important to note that this is just a patent and Disney files many patent that may or may not become a real part of the theme park experience. However, the theme park giant always is seeking ways to gather more information on its guests to refine its operations. Disney improving its guest experience could result in new and repeat visitation that drives Central Florida's $66 billion tourism and travel industry and attracts 60 million people annually to the region. Covers tourism, hospitality and sports business ||||| Cloud Disney has been granted a patent for a proposed shoe recognition system, which would inconspicuously track guests’ feet around the theme parks and gather information on the popularity of rides, stores and shows. A patent, filed in April last year and granted last week, describes a network of cameras and sensors which ‘blend’ in with the surroundings to scan visitors’ footwear on arrival, and track them as they move around the park. A robot at the entrance area will include a foot sensor for capturing a detailed image of at least one foot of a guest, and a camera for capturing a colour image of at least one foot. Disney notes in the patent that these devices are ‘angled towards the ground’ and placed at a ‘low level’ (e.g., below a guest’s knees), and are therefore ‘easier to conceal’ from the guest. It continues that the system of sensors around the park would be ‘out of a person’s line of sight’, to ‘unobtrusively capture’ information. Disney hopes that the data collected from the system will help improve park management and future planning. The patent states: ‘Acquiring and reacquiring guests at different locations in the amusement park can provide data to the amusement park owners, such as the most popular rides, and common guest paths from ride to ride. ‘Additionally, recognizing individual guests or providing a method for an individual to register at certain rides or other attractions allows the amusement park to tailor certain experiences for the guest.’ Disney explains that tracking shoes is more effective than current scanning methods. It suggests that shoe styles vary widely in appearance and colour, which helps to reduce confusion in identifying a particular guest. When two people have the same or similar shoes, Disney says that the system can also use additional information, such as lower leg data, tread wear, and foot size to distinguish between guests. The mass media giant adds that it has rejected other tracking technologies such as biometric scanning. It argues that techniques like retinal and fingerprint identification tend to be invasive, obtrusive, and inaccurate if guests are wearing certain accessories such as sunglasses or hats. Concerned with guest awareness of tracking, Disney also neglected plans for overall clothing recognition as, ‘those systems require cameras that are visible to the person’. It said that clothing recognition can also produce unreliable results as many guests have similar attire, and will change their clothing throughout the day, such as putting on or taking off a jacket or jumper. ||||| The Query ( ) was unparseable (Invalid input value ). See the number search help page for more details.

– Disney has received a patent to take pictures of visitors' feet at its theme parks, the Los Angeles Times reports. Specifically, the patent titled System and method using foot recognition to create a customized guest experience would scan guests shoes when they enter the park then track them as the move about. According to the Orlando Business Journal, this would allow Disney to track guests' favorite rides and paths through the park. It could also allow them to have Donald Duck greet guests by name or get souvenir photos or videos to them more quickly. The scanners could discern everything from shoe color, to wear patterns, to gum stuck on the sole. Disney filed for the patent back in 2015; it was issued by the US Patent & Trademark Office on July 19. The company, however, says it has no plans to actually use its foot camera patent. A spokesperson tells the Times that Disney files a lot of patents in an "ongoing effort to relentlessly innovate and push the boundaries of creativity and technology to create immersive experiences and legendary guest service." Disney had already decided against biometric scanning—such as fingerprinting, retinal scans, and facial recognition—to track visitors because it considers it too invasive, the Stack reports. Plus those methods can be thrown off by things like hats and sunglasses. The company also didn't want to track clothing because that would "require cameras that are visible to the person." The shoe-scanning cameras throughout the park would be "out of a person's line of sight." (But will members of "Club 33" have their photos taken?)

WASHINGTON ― The Environmental Protection Agency has frozen its grant programs, according to sources there. EPA staff has been instructed to freeze all its grants ― an extensive program that includes funding for research, redevelopment of former industrial sites, air quality monitoring and education, among other things ― and told not to discuss this order with anyone outside the agency, according to a Hill source with knowledge of the situation. An EPA staffer provided the information to the congressional office anonymously, fearing retaliation. It’s unclear whether the freeze is indefinite or temporary as the agency transitions fully to the Trump administration; the Senate has not yet confirmed Trump’s pick for EPA administrator, Scott Pruitt. It’s also not clear the immediate impact the grant freeze would have on programs across the country, since EPA grants are distributed at varying intervals and frequency. “I will say it’s pretty unusual for us to get these kinds of anonymous contacts from people at the agency, which makes me think it’s unusual,” said the Hill source. A source who works closely with states and territories on EPA grants said they heard from the agency on Tuesday evening that a review of grants would be done by Friday. Neither the Trump transition office nor the central press office at the EPA responded to a request for comment Monday. The Huffington Post received a message that was reportedly sent to staff Monday that seems to cover the current agency guidance on talking to the press in general, not just about the directive on grants. The memo states that the agency is imposing tight controls on external communication, including press releases, blog posts, social media and content on the agency website. I just returned from a briefing for Communication Directors where the following information was provided. These restrictions are effective immediately and will remain in place until further direction is received from the new Administration’s Beach Team. Please review this material and share with all appropriate individuals in your organization. If anyone on your staff receives a press inquiry of any kind, it must be referred to me so I can coordinate with the appropriate individuals in OPA. No press releases will be going out to external audiences. No social media will be going out. A Digital Strategist will be coming on board to oversee social media. Existing, individually controlled, social media accounts may become more centrally controlled. No blog messages. The Beach Team will review the list of upcoming webinars and decide which ones will go forward. Please send me a list of any external speaking engagements that are currently scheduled among any of your staff from today through February. Incoming media requests will be carefully screened. No new content can be placed on any website. Only do clean up where essential. List servers will be reviewed. Only send out critical messages, as messages can be shared broadly and end up in the press. I will provide updates to this information as soon as I receive it. (”Beach team” refers to staffers for the new administration working at the various agencies while new leadership is put in place; “OPA” most likely refers to the “Office of Public Affairs.”) There are clearly major changes underway at the EPA as the Trump team takes the helm. Trump appointed Myron Ebell, the director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the libertarian think tank Competitive Enterprise Institute and a fierce EPA critic, to oversee the transition work at the agency. Axios reported Monday that the Trump team plans to cut $815 million from the agency’s budget, for programs like states and tribal assistance grants, climate programs and other “environment programs and management.” Pruitt has a long history of battling the agency over environmental regulations as the attorney general of Oklahoma, describing himself as “a leading advocate against the EPA’s activist agenda.” In a report later Monday night, ProPublica confirmed the freeze in an interview and reported it also includes EPA contracts. Ebell told ProPublica the freeze is to “make sure nothing happens they don’t want to have happen.” “This may be a little wider than some previous administrations, but it’s very similar to what others have done,” he said. But a former Obama administration EPA official tells HuffPost that while “it is completely normal for incoming administrations to come in and take stock of what’s happening across an agency,” the Trump administration’s moves so far are “extreme, and very troubling, especially when it comes to both the grant freeze and the public communications.” “When it comes to the grants freeze, this could be especially problematic at the state level. EPA sends a huge amount of its budget to the states, where it is ultimately spent,” said the official. “That’s where you could ultimately see the most negative impacts, especially at times when states are already suffering budget challenges. Time will tell, but this is not a great start when it comes to supporting states or transparency and a commitment to sharing important information with the public.” HuffPost also reported Tuesday that staffers at several other federal agencies, including the Department of Agriculture and Health and Human Services, have also been told to shut down external communication for the time being. Do you work in a federal agency? Email us at [email protected] and let us know what you’re seeing and hearing. ||||| The headquarters of the Environmental Protection Agency in Washington. (Matt McClain/ The Washington Post) The Trump administration has instructed officials at the Environmental Protection Agency to freeze its grants and contracts, a move that could affect everything from state-led climate research to localized efforts to improve air and water quality to environmental justice projects aimed at helping poor communities. An email went out to employees in the agency’s Office of Acquisition Management within hours of President Trump’s swearing-in on Friday. “New EPA administration has asked that all contract and grant awards be temporarily suspended, effective immediately,” read the email, which was shared with The Washington Post. “Until we receive further clarification, which we hope to have soon, please construe this to include task orders and work assignments.” According to its website, each year the EPA awards more than $4 billion in funding for grants and other assistance agreements. For now, it appears, that funding is on hold, casting a cloud of uncertainty over one of the agency’s core functions, as well as over the scientists, state and local officials, universities and Native American tribes that often benefit from the grants. President Trump signed an executive order formally withdrawing the U.S. from the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, an order establishing a federal hiring freeze and a third order reinstating the "Mexico City policy," on Jan. 23 at the White House. (Reuters) “EPA staff have been reviewing grants and contracts information with the incoming transition team,” an agency spokesperson said in an email Tuesday. “Pursuant to that review, the agency is continuing to award the environmental program grants and state revolving loan fund grants to the states and tribes; and we are working to quickly address issues related to other categories of grants.” The agency said the goal is to complete the grants and contracts review by the close of business Friday. It is unclear whether the move by the incoming administration was related to President Trump’s order Monday that federal agencies halt hiring in all areas on the executive branch except for the military, national security and public safety, which also curbed contracting as a way of compensating for the freeze. “Contracting outside the Government to circumvent the intent of this memorandum shall not be permitted,” the memorandum states. [Trump’s regulatory freeze halts four Obama rules aimed at promoting greater energy efficiency] Administration officials inserted the language in an apparent attempt to curb the growth in federal contracts that arose during previous freezes imposed under Presidents Jimmy Carter and Ronald Reagan. But the total halt in contracts and grants for a single agency appeared to go beyond that specific provision, which applied solely to contracting activities in response to the halt in hiring. Myron Ebell, who oversaw the EPA transition for the new administration, told ProPublica on Monday that the freezing of grants and contracts was not unprecedented. “They’re trying to freeze things to make sure nothing happens they don’t want to have happen, so any regulations going forward, contracts, grants, hires, they want to make sure to look at them first,” said Ebell, director of the Center for Energy and Environment at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, an industry-backed group that has long sought to slash the authority of the EPA. “This may be a little wider than some previous administrations, but it’s very similar to what others have done,” he told the publication. But not in recent history has such a blanket freeze taken place, and one employee told ProPublica he did not recall anything like it in nearly a decade with the agency. The move is likely to increase anxieties inside an already tense agency. Ebell and other transition officials have made little secret about their goal of greatly reducing the EPA’s footprint and regulatory reach. Trump has repeatedly criticized the EPA for what he calls a string of onerous, expensive regulations that are hampering businesses. And his nominee to run the agency, Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, has repeatedly sued the EPA over the years, challenging its legal authority to regulate everything from mercury pollution to various wetlands and waterways to carbon emissions from power plants. 1 of 83 Full Screen Autoplay Close Skip Ad × A look at President Trump’s first 100 days View Photos The beginning of the president’s term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. Caption The beginning of the president’s term has featured controversial executive orders and frequent conflicts with the media. March 17, 2017 President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump and their son, Barron, walk to Marine One at the White House en route to Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post Buy Photo Wait 1 second to continue. Read more: Trump names Scott Pruitt, Oklahoma attorney general suing EPA on climate change, to head the EPA Meet the man Donald Trump is counting on to scale back the EPA Trump freezes hiring of many federal workers For more, you can sign up for our weekly newsletter here and follow us on Twitter here. ||||| The Trump administration has imposed a freeze on grants and contracts by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a move that could affect a significant part of the agency’s budget allocations and even threaten to disrupt core operations ranging from toxic cleanups to water quality testing, according to records and interviews. In one email exchange obtained by ProPublica on Monday, an EPA contracting officer concluded a note to a storm water management employee this way: “Right now we are in a holding pattern. The new EPA administration has asked that all contract and grant awards be temporarily suspended, effective immediately. Until we receive further clarification, this includes task orders and work assignments.” Asked about any possible freeze and its implications, EPA officials did not provide an answer. One EPA employee aware of the freeze said he had never seen anything like it in nearly a decade with the agency. Hiring freezes happened, he said, but freezes on grants and contracts seemed extraordinary. The employee said the freeze appeared to be nationwide, and as of Monday night it was not clear for how long it would be in place. The substance of the email exchange was confirmed by one senior EPA employee with over 20 years at the agency. An EPA lawyer also said that earlier communications had described such a freeze. Monday night, Myron Ebell, who ran the EPA transition for the incoming administration, confirmed the basics of the freeze, but said the actions were not unprecedented. “They’re trying to freeze things to make sure nothing happens they don’t want to have happen, so any regulations going forward, contracts, grants, hires, they want to make sure to look at them first,” said Ebell, who returned over the weekend to his position directing energy and global warming policy at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a free-market, industry-aligned group that has long fought the EPA’s growth and influence. “This may be a little wider than some previous administrations, but it’s very similar to what others have done,” he said. President Trump has nominated Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA. Pruitt has deep ties to the fossil fuel industry, and formed an alliance between the industry and other attorneys general to fight former President Baracks Obama’s climate proposals. He is seen as a hero among conservatives who believe the EPA oversteps its federal authority. Pruitt faced tough questioning and even outright skepticism during his initial confirmation hearing last week. The Washington Examiner published a statement Monday by Tom Carper, the Delaware Democrat and ranking member on the Environment and Public Works Committee, saying, "Following the committee hearing on Scott Pruitt's nomination to head the EPA, serious questions remain about the nominee's record and vision for the agency he seeks to lead." Much about any freeze at the EPA remains unclear, including whether it affects only new grants and contracts, or may also affect the roughly $6.4 billion worth of federal contracts the EPA already has in place. EPA press offices across the country did not immediately respond to calls and emails requesting comment. The EPA routinely contracts out services ranging from hazardous waste handling to drinking water quality testing. More than 600 active contracts with businesses ranging from small minority-owned consulting companies to institutions as big as Colorado State University can be explored here. The environmental agency’s grants are used to support private, state and municipal level environmental testing, remediation and innovation projects. Together those programs can total more in spending than an entire year’s budget for the agency. The EPA awarded roughly $1.4 billion worth of contracts and $9.6 billion in grants in 2013, the latest year for which data was available, according to the government spending website InsideGov.com. The agency’s total budget in 2016 was $8.6 billion. A freeze on payments would appear consistent with other actions taken on Monday, including President Trump signing an executive order instituting a hiring freeze for new federal workers — a centerpiece of the pledge he made in his “Contract with the American Voter” during the presidential campaign. If anyone has more information on recent events at the EPA, please contact us. Abrahm Lustgarten contributed reporting to this story.

– The Environmental Protection Agency is stuck in what insiders call a "holding pattern" after a Trump administration order that freezes all EPA grants and contracts. "New EPA administration has asked that all contract and grant awards be temporarily suspended, effective immediately,” an email obtained by the Washington Post states. "Please construe this to include task orders and work assignments," states the email, which was sent on Friday, within hours of Trump's swearing in. The email says the agency hopes to receive more clarification soon on the order, which could affect everything from climate research and education to waste handling and water testing. Trump has nominated longtime EPA critic Scott Pruit to run the agency. Myron Ebell, the prominent climate skeptic who ran the EPA transition for the Trump team, tells ProPublica that the move isn't unusual, though it may be wider than what previous administrations have done. "They're trying to freeze things to make sure nothing happens they don’t want to have happen, so any regulations going forward, contracts, grants, hires, they want to make sure to look at them first," he says. A source tells the Huffington Post that EPA staffers have been ordered not to discuss the freeze with anybody outside the agency. There also has been a freeze on EPA press releases and social media postings, according to a memo obtained by the HuffPo. (On Monday, Trump brought in a federal hiring freeze.)

Size really does seem to matter when it comes to cancer risk. Being tall undoubtedly has its benefits. You can see in a crowd and grab objects off high shelves. But with the good comes the bad. The taller you are, the higher your odds of developing cancer, and a new paper has added weight to this. key points Key points: Taller people have more cells in their body, as well as higher levels of a protein that encourages cells to divide and grow For every 10cm over the average height, a person's risk for cancer increases 10 per cent New analysis of data from big cancer studies supports this, and also finds a few specific cancers to be more or less strongly correlated with height Leonard Nunney, an evolutionary biologist at the University of California, Riverside, looked at massive cancer databases to find out how the number of cells in a person's body, using height as a proxy, might affect their risk of developing cancer. Reporting in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, he found being taller and having more cells did mean more cancer overall: For every 10 centimetres over the average height, the risk of developing any cancer increased by around 10 per cent. This fits with previous studies. "If you were comparing a 5-foot guy to a basketball player who's over 7 feet tall, then that basketball player has around twice the risk of cancer across the board," Professor Nunney said. He also found that taller people were at much higher risk of melanoma, and women specifically had greater odds of developing thyroid cancer. But it doesn't mean tall people should panic. "Now, you can't do anything about your height, but what you can do is tell extremely tall individuals that they should be aware of this, and if they have any concerns, to get checked," he said. "It just suggests more vigilance, I think." So more cells = more cancer? Sort of Whether you grow up towering over your peers or knee-high to a grasshopper depends on a whole host of things, said Yash Chhabra, a cancer biologist at the University of Queensland who wasn't involved with the study. "With height, it's not just your genetics that decide how tall a person will be, but also the nutrition that your mother had while they were pregnant," Dr Chhabra said. "And, of course, diet and lifestyle as you grow up also have a huge impact on your height." key points Peto's paradox If animals with more cells get more cancer, why do humans get more cancer than elephants and whales? This is Peto's paradox, named after an Oxford epidemiologist who noticed the phenomenon in the 1970s Evolutionary biologists think that more massive species have evolved measures that suppress cancers The link between height and cancer risk was brought to light by massive cancer projects, such as the UK's Million Women study. "They all demonstrated really clearly that height is indeed a factor," Professor Nunney said. "And it's not just one cancer. It's most cancers that have some relationship with height." So what's behind this? One theory is that taller people simply have more cells. And with more cells comes more chances for cancer. This is what Professor Nunney wanted to explore. So he examined Million Women data with three other big cancer projects — one each from the US, Europe and Korea — to see how different types of cancer correlated with height. He found most cancer types did increase with height as expected. But there were a few that bucked the trend. Environmental effects can mask height effects Risk of stomach, mouth and, in women, cervical cancer didn't seem to be affected by height. Professor Nunney suspected those cancer types had a "pretty strong environmental influence that might be masking height effects. "The easiest one to explain in that sense is cervical cancer, because we know that almost 100 per cent of cervical cancers are related to infection with one of a few strains of HPV." What had him stumped, though, was the relatively much higher risk of thyroid cancer in taller women he saw. "I have no idea what's going on there," Professor Nunney said. "The high value is driven primarily by the data from Korea, where there's a really strong effect with height, especially in women, way higher than you see in other studies. "Across other cancers, there's no real geographical variation." Taller people — both men and women, in all datasets — tended to have a higher risk of melanoma too. With height usually comes more skin. That extra surface area might seem like an easy explanation for more melanoma, but that's not the case, Professor Nunney said. Some organs don't scale as much as others. For instance, a taller person might have a larger colon than a shorter person, but each brain will be closer in size. "Short people tend to have relatively larger heads than tall people," Professor Nunney said. Skin is one of those organs that doesn't scale as much. His predicted melanoma risk for taller people fell well short of the real values. Share The reason that big dogs grow so large also increases their cancer risk. Growth factors play a role in cancer risk This brings us to another potential driver behind the cancer-and-height link: a protein called insulin-like growth factor 1, or IGF-1. IGF-1 is produced in response to growth hormone and encourages cells to divide and grow. Not surprisingly, IGF-1 plays an enormous role in childhood growth — particularly during puberty — but also helps build up organs and tissues in adults. And it turns out that taller people have slightly higher levels of IGF-1 in their blood, so "it may be that tall individuals have just a fractionally faster rate of cell division that could account for the extra cancer", Professor Nunney said. And on the flip side, having no IGF-1 appears to bestow anti-cancer qualities. A remote population of dwarf people in Ecuador has a mutation in the growth hormone receptor, which prevents the release of IGF-1, said Andrew Brooks, also a cancer biologist at the University of Queensland and not involved with the study. "And they don't seem to have any cancer, which is interesting." When biologists selectively induce a similar genetic defect in mice, he added, those mice are also "extremely resistant" to developing cancer. It's also thought that IGF-1 is why smaller dogs, which usually have lower levels of IGF-1, tend to live longer than their larger counterparts. The take-home, though, is that height is far from the be all and end all when it comes to cancer risk, Professor Brooks said. Everyone, regardless of their height, can reduce their cancer odds by eating well, exercising, staying away from smoking and being careful in the sun. "Smoking, for instance, is a far greater risk than being tall." ||||| Report suggests link between height and cancer risk could simply be because there are more cells for something to go wrong in Taller people have a greater risk of cancer because they are bigger and so have more cells in their bodies in which dangerous mutations can occur, new research has suggested. A number of studies have previously found a link between a lofty stature and a greater risk of developing some form of cancer, with research suggesting that for every 10cm of height within the typical range for humans, the risk increases by about 10%. A similar link has also been found in dogs, with bigger breeds having a greater risk of such diseases. Scientists have put forward a number of different explanations for this, including that certain growth hormones could play a role in both height and cancer, or that environmental factors such as childhood nutrition or illness could be a factor. “One of the major hypotheses was that something was happening early in life that was making your cells more susceptible to cancer and, sort of incidentally, causing you to be tall,” said Leonard Nunney, professor of biology at the University of California Riverside. But now Nunney says he has crunched the numbers to show it might be down to a simpler matter of size: tall people simply have more cells for something to go wrong in. Nunney said his work, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, is based on the fundamental model of how cancer develops, whereby individuals accumulate mutations in their cells (other than sperm or eggs) over their life: if a particular set of mutations arise then a certain cancer will initiate. The theory suggests that having more cells, or more divisions per cell, would therefore increase cancer risk. Taller people more likely to get cancer, say researchers Read more Nunney compared the overall risk of men and women developing cancer of any type with increasing height, as found from previous studies of large cohorts, with what might be expected from calculations based on the number of cells in a body. The results reveal that his predictions are in tune with the real-life observations, giving a 13% increased risk for women for every additional 10cm in height compared with 12% from observations, and an 11% predicted increase in men for every 10cm taller compared with 9% seen in real life. Overall, an increased risk with height was seen for 18 out of 23 cancers considered. Nunney says some cancers may have shown no link because the effect of height was masked by other drivers such as HPV infection for cervical cancer. Nonetheless, Nunney says the findings suggest sheer number of cells is important. “Whether that comes from a better diet or the fact that your parents happen to be tall doesn’t matter … it is purely a number of cells, however that comes about,” he said, although he admits height differences only appear to partly explain why men are at greater risk of many cancers than women. The research also threw up some surprises: for example, the skin cancer melanoma shows a much stronger link to height than expected – something Nunney suggests might be down to taller people having slightly higher levels of a growth hormone called IGF-1. Nunney said a slight boost in the rate of cell division, as a result of higher levels of IGF-1, might have a stronger effect on these cells than it does in other tissues, possibly because melanoma might need a larger set of mutations to develop than other cancers. Taller women more likely to develop cancer Read more Prof Dorothy Bennett, director of the Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute at St George’s, University of London, welcomed the research, although she said Nunney’s calculations involved a number of assumptions, including that cancer risk increases in direct proportion to adult height. But she said the argument was compelling: “The simplifications seem reasonable, and therefore the main study conclusion is probably going to be the best-supported one available at present: namely that for most cancer types, cell number can predict sufficiently well the numerical relations between height and cancer, with no need to suggest additional factors.” That said, Bennett said there was no obvious reason melanoma should have a particularly strong link to height. Georgina Hill, from Cancer Research UK, said individuals should not be concerned about their stature. “A number of studies over the years have shown that taller people seem to have a slightly higher risk of cancer,” she said. “But the increased risk is small and there’s plenty you can do to reduce the risk of developing cancer, such as not smoking and keeping a healthy weight.” ||||| (CNN) Tall people are at a greater risk of cancer because they have more cells in their body, new research has suggested. A person's risk of developing cancer increases by 10% for every 10 centimeters (4 inches) they are over the average height, the study said, because they have more cells which could mutate and lead to cancer. Average height was defined in the study as 162cm (5 feet, 4 inches) for women and 175cm (5 feet, 9 inches) for men. The findings match with previous research, which has also connected height to an increased risk of developing a range of health problems including blood clots, heart problems and diabetes. Leonard Nunney, a professor of biology at the University of California Riverside, analyzed previous sets of data on people who had contracted cancer -- each of which included more than 10,000 cases for both men and women -- and compared the figures with anticipated rates based on their height. He tested the hypothesis that this was due to the number of cells against alternatives, such as possible hormonal differences in taller people, which could lead to an increased rate of cell division. A link was found between a person's total cell number and their likelihood of contracting cancer in 18 of the 23 cancers tested for, the study says. The research also found that the increase in risk is greater for women, with taller women 12% more likely to contract cancer and taller men 9% more likely to do so. Those findings matched with Nunney's predicted rates, using his models, of 13% for women and 11% for men. Colon and kidney cancer and lymphoma were among the types of cancer for which the correlation was strongest. "We've known that there is a link between cancer risk and height for quite a long time -- the taller someone is, the higher the cancer risk," Georgina Hill from Cancer Research UK told CNN. "What we haven't been sure of is why -- whether this is simply because a taller person has more cells in their body, or whether there's an indirect link, such as something to do with nutrition and childhood," added Hill, who was not involved in the study. She said the study provides good evidence of the "direct effect" theory that the total number of cells does indeed cause the link. "The methodology is good - they took data from large studies, which is important, and they looked at lots of different categories of cancer." But she noted that the increase in risk of developing cancer is small compared to the effects that lifestyle changes can have. "It was only a slightly higher risk and that there are more important actions that people can take to make positive changes, [such as] stopping smoking and maintaining a healthy weight," she said. Two of the types of cancer tested for, thyroid cancer and melanoma, were found to be more susceptible to an increase in risk than expected, and Nunney suggested in the study that other factors could be at play in those cases, such as geography. Get CNN Health's weekly newsletter Sign up here to get The Results Are In with Dr. Sanjay Gupta every Tuesday from the CNN Health team. "There are no obvious reasons for these exceptions, although the author speculates that cell turnover rates may come into play for melanoma," Dorothy C. Bennett, director of the Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute in London told CNN. Bennett, who was not involved in the study, explained that pigment cells, the source of melanoma, divide and are replaced a little faster in taller people. "But I cannot at present think of any reason why this [faster division] should be so, but nor any other clear reason for the higher correlation with height," Bennett said.

– A new study on cancer won't make for pleasant reading for tall people. Consider this quote from lead researcher Leonard Nunney of the University of California Riverside: "If you were comparing a 5-foot guy to a basketball player who's over 7 feet tall, then that basketball player has around twice the risk of cancer across the board," he tells Australia's ABC. Yes, Nunney's study in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B suggests that taller people are at greater risk for cancer. The surprisingly simple reason? They have more cells, and thus more things go can wrong in those cells, explains the Guardian. Specifically, the study found that cancer risk rises by 10% for every 4 inches people are above average height—5 feet 4 for women and 5 feet 9 for men, reports CNN. The findings held true for 18 of 23 cancers studied. "Now, you can't do anything about your height, but what you can do is tell extremely tall individuals that they should be aware of this, and if they have any concerns, to get checked," says Nunney. Cancers of the colon and kidney were among those with the strongest correlation to height. A researcher not involved with the study says it backs up previously seen links between height and cancer, but she said tall people shouldn't worry too much. "The increased risk is small, and there's plenty you can do to reduce the risk of developing cancer, such as not smoking and keeping a healthy weight," says Georgina Hill of Cancer Research UK. (A WWE wrestling star made an emotional revelation about his own cancer.)

Defendant pleads not guilty in Pier 14 killing San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, (left) leads Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, into the Hall of Justice in San Francisco, Calif. on Tues. July 7, 2015, for his arraignment on suspicion of murder in the shooting death of Kate Steinle on San Francisco’s Pier 14 last Wednesday. less San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, (left) leads Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, into the Hall of Justice in San Francisco, Calif. on Tues. July 7, 2015, for his arraignment on suspicion of murder in the ... more Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle Buy photo Photo: Michael Macor / The Chronicle Image 1 of / 12 Caption Close Defendant pleads not guilty in Pier 14 killing 1 / 12 Back to Gallery The man accused of fatally shooting a stranger who was walking with her father on San Francisco’s Pier 14 pleaded not guilty to murder Tuesday, as his attorney argued that the evidence points to a tragic accident. Juan Francisco Lopez-Sanchez, whose age is listed as 45 by police and 52 in jail records, made his first appearance in court, listening intently as Judge Daniel Flores read the charges against him in connection with the shocking death of 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle. The circumstances of Steinle’s killing remained unclear Tuesday, but police have learned that the gun had been stolen just days earlier from a federal agent, according to sources close to the investigation. Lopez-Sanchez, asked for his plea through a Spanish interpreter, answered “no culpable” and repeated the statement throughout the short hearing, even when he was not asked. He didn’t appear to understand what was happening, saying again that he was not guilty in Spanish in response to a question by the judge regarding his next court appearance. Steinle had been walking along Pier 14 on the busy Embarcadero with her father when she was shot through the heart at about 6:30 p.m. on July 1. Interview in English In a jailhouse interview with KGO, Lopez-Sanchez appeared to admit to firing the shot, saying the gun went off after he found it wrapped in a T-shirt under a bench — and after he took sleeping pills he found in a trash can. But outside court, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, whose office is representing Lopez-Sanchez, suggested that the defendant did not understand what he was being asked during the television interview. “That interview was done primarily in English by a reporter,” he said. “I think certainly, that interview raised a lot of questions about whether Mr. Sanchez understood what was being asked.” Lopez-Sanchez’s lawyer, Matt Gonzalez, the chief attorney in the public defender’s office, said his client has a second-grade education. “This very well could be a completely accidental discharge of a firearm,” he said. “You’ve got an individual who does not know the victim in the case, has no interest or desire in injuring her in any way, and no witness or anybody to allege that there was any crime going on at the time the shooting occurred.” Lopez-Sanchez was also charged with using a gun, which could add up to 10 years to his sentence if he is convicted of murder. The .40-caliber pistol that investigators believe Lopez-Sanchez fired had been stolen from a federal agent in a car burglary in San Francisco in late June, said one source, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk about the case publicly. Other sources said the weapon — which Lopez-Sanchez allegedly dumped in the bay before it was recovered — was apparently not the agent’s official gun. Steinle’s death sparked outrage after it was revealed that Lopez-Sanchez had a long history of drug crimes and had been deported five times to Mexico, but was recently released from San Francisco County Jail rather than being turned over to federal immigration agents for a potential sixth deportation. He was brought to San Francisco in March after serving 46 months at a federal prison in Victorville (San Bernardino County) for felony re-entry into the country. He had an old, outstanding warrant in the city, alleging that he fled marijuana charges in 1995. According to court records, the case was old enough that the evidence had been purged by the time Lopez-Sanchez appeared in court on March 27. Prosecutors discharged the case, and Lopez-Sanchez remained in County Jail until April 15, when the Sheriff’s Department released him without alerting immigration. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials said they had asked to be notified before Lopez-Sanchez’s release, so they could seek to deport him again. S.F., state policy The Sheriff’s Department said it had followed its own policy in not holding Lopez-Sanchez for immigration agents, as well as a 2013 city ordinance and a state law signed the same year by Gov. Jerry Brown. Steinle’s parents did not attend Tuesday’s arraignment, but an uncle who was present shook and rocked during the proceedings and scoffed as Lopez-Sanchez declared he was not guilty. The uncle declined to comment outside court. Gonzalez implored the media to look past the immigration debate raised by the case at the “ubiquitous nature of guns in our society.” “Every day in the United States, innocent people die from gun accidents,” he said. “In contrast to that, I can say there are numerous studies that immigrants are far less likely to commit acts of violence than native-born persons.” When asked about the immigration issue, Alex Bastian, a spokesman for the district attorney’s office, demurred and said, “Today’s about Kate.” “It’s about this incredible family that has shown such strength during this incredibly difficult time,” he said. “It’s about bringing justice to that family and it’s about doing everything we ethically can to prosecute this case and bring the justice this family rightfully deserves.” Assistant District Attorney Diana Garcia asked that Lopez-Sanchez be held without bail, while Gonzalez argued that he had the right to bail, even if he would not be able to afford it. Judge Flores then set bail at $5 million after the prosecutor requested $10 million. Lopez-Sanchez is scheduled to return to court July 27. Chronicle Staff Writer Jaxon Van Derbeken contributed to this story. Vivian Ho is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. E-mail: [email protected] Twitter: @VivianHo ||||| Iowa City, Iowa (CNN) In Hillary Clinton 's first national interview of the 2016 race, she attacked her Republican rivals on immigration and dismissed the suggestion that the American people have a problem trusting her. "People should and do trust me," she told CNN's Brianna Keilar. She blamed the "barrage of attacks that are largely fomented by and coming from the right" for fueling a perception that trust is an area of vulnerability for her. Clinton displayed little hesitation about attacking Republicans herself, saying that she is "very disappointed" in Donald Trump for his comments about immigrants and in the Republican Party for not condemning his remarks more quickly. She then pivoted to skewering the entire GOP field for their immigration stance, saying, "They're on a spectrum of hostility, which I think is really regrettable in a nation of immigrants like ours." The interview foreshadowed the Clinton that will hit the campaign trail in the coming months as election season heats up. She was occasionally defensive, especially when pressed on whether she has any responsibility for the public's mistrust in her. But she had no problem with going on the offense against her Republican challengers. Clinton took direct aim at GOP rival Jeb Bush. JUST WATCHED Hillary Clinton on Immigration and the GOP race Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Hillary Clinton on Immigration and the GOP race 02:09 "He doesn't believe in a path to citizenship. If he did at one time, he no longer does," she said. The Bush campaign rebuffed Clinton's criticism and instead accused her of flip-flopping on immigration. "Hillary Clinton will say anything to get elected and her numerous flip-flops on immigration prove it," said Emily Benavides, a Bush campaign spokeswoman, in a statement. "As he outlined in his book on this issue, Gov. Bush believes in a conservative legislative solution to fix our broken immigration system that includes earned legal status for those currently in the country after they pay fines and taxes, learn English and commit no substantial crimes while securing our border," she said. Clinton also blamed the city of San Francisco for mishandling the case of an undocumented immigrant who had been deported five times before killing a woman there -- in a sanctuary city where local law enforcement do not enforce federal immigration laws. JUST WATCHED Hillary Clinton on how 33,000 emails got deleted Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Hillary Clinton on how 33,000 emails got deleted 02:40 "The city made a mistake, not to deport someone that the federal government strongly felt should be deported," she said. "I have absolutely no support for a city that ignores the strong evidence that should be acted on." The full interview aired Tuesday on "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer" and will re-air at 8 p.m. on "Anderson Cooper 360." Pressed on why the public has a hard time trusting her, Clinton maintained she faced "the same kind of onslaught" in her two New York Senate campaigns and her confirmation as secretary of state, and said Republicans have sought to turn controversies like her use of a private email address and the Clinton Foundation's actions against her. And that, Clinton said, is why national polls and swing-state surveys have found that a majority of voters say they don't see her as honest and trustworthy. A Quinnipiac University Swing State poll found that by margins of 8 to 14 percentage points voters in Florida, Ohio and Pennsylvania are skeptical of Clinton's trustworthiness. In Florida, 51% of voters hold the negative view of Clinton, compared to 43% who feel she is trustworthy. In Ohio, 53% of voters find Clinton not trustworthy, compared to 40% who do. And in Pennsylvania, 54% of voters don't find her honest, while 40% do. "I think it's understandable that when questions are raised, people maybe are thinking about them and wondering about them," Clinton said. "But I have every confidence that during the course of this campaign, people are going to know who will fight for them, who will be there when they need them, and that's the kind of person I am and that's what I will do, not only in a campaign but as president," she said. Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Hillary Clinton accepts the Democratic Party's nomination for president at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia on July 28. The former first lady, U.S. senator and secretary of state was the first woman to lead the presidential ticket of a major political party. Hide Caption 1 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Before marrying Bill Clinton, she was Hillary Rodham. Here she attends Wellesley College in Massachusetts. Her commencement speech at Wellesley's graduation ceremony in 1969 attracted national attention. After graduating, she attended Yale Law School. Hide Caption 2 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Rodham was a lawyer on the House Judiciary Committee, whose work led to impeachment charges against President Richard Nixon in 1974. Hide Caption 3 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight In 1975, Rodham married Bill Clinton, whom she met at Yale Law School. He became the governor of Arkansas in 1978. In 1980, the couple had a daughter, Chelsea. Hide Caption 4 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Arkansas' first lady, now using the name Hillary Rodham Clinton, wears her inaugural ball gown in 1985. Hide Caption 5 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons celebrate Bill's inauguration in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1991. He was governor from 1983 to 1992, when he was elected President. Hide Caption 6 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Bill Clinton comforts his wife on the set of "60 Minutes" after a stage light broke loose from the ceiling and knocked her down in January 1992. Hide Caption 7 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight In June 1992, Clinton uses a sewing machine designed to eliminate back and wrist strain. She had just given a speech at a convention of the International Ladies' Garment Workers Union. Hide Caption 8 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight During the 1992 presidential campaign, Clinton jokes with her husband's running mate, Al Gore, and Gore's wife, Tipper, aboard a campaign bus. Hide Caption 9 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton accompanies her husband as he takes the oath of office in January 1993. Hide Caption 10 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons share a laugh on Capitol Hill in 1993. Hide Caption 11 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton unveils the renovated Blue Room of the White House in 1995. Hide Caption 12 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton waves to the media in January 1996 as she arrives for an appearance before a grand jury in Washington. The first lady was subpoenaed to testify as a witness in the investigation of the Whitewater land deal in Arkansas. The Clintons' business investment was investigated, but ultimately they were cleared of any wrongdoing. Hide Caption 13 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons hug as Bill is sworn in for a second term as President. Hide Caption 14 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The first lady holds up a Grammy Award, which she won for her audiobook "It Takes a Village" in 1997. Hide Caption 15 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons dance on a beach in the U.S. Virgin Islands in January 1998. Later that month, Bill Clinton was accused of having a sexual relationship with former White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Hide Caption 16 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton looks on as her husband discusses the Monica Lewinsky scandal in the Roosevelt Room of the White House on January 26, 1998. Clinton declared, "I did not have sexual relations with that woman." In August of that year, Clinton testified before a grand jury and admitted to having "inappropriate intimate contact" with Lewinsky, but he said it did not constitute sexual relations because they had not had intercourse. He was impeached in December on charges of perjury and obstruction of justice. Hide Caption 17 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The first family walks with their dog, Buddy, as they leave the White House for a vacation in August 1998. Hide Caption 18 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight President Clinton makes a statement at the White House in December 1998, thanking members of Congress who voted against his impeachment. The Senate trial ended with an acquittal in February 1999. Hide Caption 19 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton announces in February 2000 that she will seek the U.S. Senate seat in New York. She was elected later that year. Hide Caption 20 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton makes her first appearance on the Senate Environment and Natural Resources Committee. Hide Caption 21 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Sen. Clinton comforts Maren Sarkarat, a woman who lost her husband in the September 11 terrorist attacks, during a ground-zero memorial in October 2001. Hide Caption 22 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton holds up her book "Living History" before a signing in Auburn Hills, Michigan, in 2003. Hide Caption 23 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton and another presidential hopeful, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, applaud at the start of a Democratic debate in 2007. Hide Caption 24 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Obama and Clinton talk on the plane on their way to a rally in Unity, New Hampshire, in June 2008. She had recently ended her presidential campaign and endorsed Obama. Hide Caption 25 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Obama is flanked by Clinton and Vice President-elect Joe Biden at a news conference in Chicago in December 2008. He had designated Clinton to be his secretary of state. Hide Caption 26 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton, as secretary of state, greets Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin during a meeting just outside Moscow in March 2010. Hide Caption 27 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight The Clintons pose on the day of Chelsea's wedding to Marc Mezvinsky in July 2010. Hide Caption 28 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight In this photo provided by the White House, Obama, Clinton, Biden and other members of the national security team receive an update on the mission against Osama bin Laden in May 2011. Hide Caption 29 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton checks her Blackberry inside a military plane after leaving Malta in October 2011. In 2015, The New York Times reported that Clinton exclusively used a personal email account during her time as secretary of state. The account, fed through its own server, raises security and preservation concerns. Clinton later said she used a private domain out of "convenience," but admits in retrospect "it would have been better" to use multiple emails. Hide Caption 30 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton arrives for a group photo before a forum with the Gulf Cooperation Council in March 2012. The forum was held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Hide Caption 31 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Obama and Clinton bow during the transfer-of-remains ceremony marking the return of four Americans, including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, who were killed in Benghazi, Libya, in September 2012. Hide Caption 32 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton ducks after a woman threw a shoe at her while she was delivering remarks at a recycling trade conference in Las Vegas in 2014. Hide Caption 33 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton, now running for President again, performs with Jimmy Fallon during a "Tonight Show" skit in September 2015. Hide Caption 34 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton testifies about the Benghazi attack during a House committee meeting in October 2015. "I would imagine I have thought more about what happened than all of you put together," she said during the 11-hour hearing. "I have lost more sleep than all of you put together. I have been wracking my brain about what more could have been done or should have been done." Months earlier, Clinton had acknowledged a "systemic breakdown" as cited by an Accountability Review Board, and she said that her department was taking additional steps to increase security at U.S. diplomatic facilities. Hide Caption 35 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders shares a lighthearted moment with Clinton during a Democratic presidential debate in October 2015. It came after Sanders gave his take on the Clinton email scandal. "The American people are sick and tired of hearing about the damn emails," Sanders said. "Enough of the emails. Let's talk about the real issues facing the United States of America." Hide Caption 36 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton is reflected in a teleprompter during a campaign rally in Alexandria, Virginia, in October 2015. Hide Caption 37 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton walks on her stage with her family after winning the New York primary in April. Hide Caption 38 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight After Clinton became the Democratic Party's presumptive nominee, this photo was posted to her official Twitter account. "To every little girl who dreams big: Yes, you can be anything you want -- even president," Clinton said. "Tonight is for you." Hide Caption 39 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Obama hugs Clinton after he gave a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia. The president said Clinton was ready to be commander in chief. "For four years, I had a front-row seat to her intelligence, her judgment and her discipline," he said, referring to her stint as his secretary of state. Hide Caption 40 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton arrives at a 9/11 commemoration ceremony in New York on September 11. Clinton, who was diagnosed with pneumonia two days before, left early after feeling ill. A video appeared to show her stumble as Secret Service agents helped her into a van. Hide Caption 41 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight Clinton addresses a campaign rally in Cleveland on November 6, two days before Election Day. She went on to lose Ohio -- and the election -- to her Republican opponent, Donald Trump. Hide Caption 42 of 43 Photos: Hillary Clinton's life in the spotlight After conceding the presidency to Trump in a phone call earlier, Clinton addresses supporters and campaign workers in New York on Wednesday, November 9. Her defeat marked a stunning end to a campaign that appeared poised to make her the first woman elected US president. Hide Caption 43 of 43 Asked whether she played a role in the sentiment reflected in polls that she's not trustworthy, Clinton said: "This has been a theme that has been used against me and my husband for many, many years. And at the end of the day, I think voters sort it all out." She similarly dismissed questions about her use of a personal email address on a private server while serving as secretary of state. Clinton said she turned over all the emails -- including some which show her using a secured fax machine, or asking for iced tea during meetings -- that had anything to do with public business, and that she broke no laws in sticking with one device because she's not technically savvy. "This is being blown up with no basis in law or in fact. That's fine, I get it -- this is being, in effect, used by the Republicans in the Congress. OK," Clinton said. "But I want people to understand what the truth is, and the truth is, everything I did was permitted and I went above and beyond what was expected." If elected president, Clinton said she doesn't have any plans to push for the closure of the Clinton Foundation -- which has faced criticism for accepting foreign contributions during her tenure as America's top diplomat. "I have no plans to say or do anything about the Clinton foundation other than to say I am proud of it and I think for the good of the world, its work should continue," she said. JUST WATCHED Hillary Clinton on which woman should be on the 10 dollar bill Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Hillary Clinton on which woman should be on the 10 dollar bill 00:46 The interview spanned a broad range of topics -- among them a discussion of adding a woman to the $10 bill. Clinton declined to select a favorite woman for the honor, but suggested a woman should instead go on a $20. "I don't like the idea that as a compromise you would basically have two people on the same bill. One would be a woman. That sounds pretty second class to me," Clinton said. "So I think a woman should have her own bill." Nor would she pick which Saturday Night Live actress, Amy Poehler or Kate McKinnon, plays the best Hillary Clinton. "Amy's a friend of mine and Kate's doing a great job. You're not going to get me to pick one or the other," she said. "I think I'm the best Hillary Clinton." ||||| Authorities are investigating whether a gun associated with a Bureau of Land Management employee was used in the fatal shooting of a young woman on a tourist-heavy San Francisco pier, an agency spokesperson said. "The matter is under investigation, and law enforcement is working to confirm the origin of the weapon," the spokesperson said in a statement. Sources familiar with the investigation say the gun belonged to a federal agent and may have been stolen recently. It is unclear whether the firearm was a government-issued service weapon or a personally owned gun. A lawyer for suspect Francisco Sanchez said at a Tuesday arraignment hearing that Sanchez meant the victim, Kate Steinle, 32, no harm. "There is no motive whatsoever for this defendant to have caused any harm to the deceased," public defender Matt Gonzalez said in court. "He did not know her." Gonzalez said it is "very likely that this was an accidental shooting." Sanchez, 45, pleaded not guilty to murder and was held on $5 million bail, according to court records. He has been charged with one count of murder with enhancements for the use of a firearm, according to court records. Sanchez will be back in court July 27, according to court records. Earlier this week, Sanchez told ABC station KGO-TV in a jailhouse interview that he started wandering on Pier 14 Wednesday, July 1 after taking sleeping pills he found in a dumpster. He said he then picked up a gun that he found and it went off. Courtesy of Steinle family The case has sparked a debate about illegal immigration because Sanchez, an undocumented immigrant, has been deported several times to his native Mexico and Immigration and Customs Enforcement blamed the San Francisco police for not honoring an immigration detainer earlier in the year. Sanchez has five previous convictions for re-entry after deportation, according to court records. He was on probation in Texas at the time of the shooting and served federal time for sneaking back into the country. In an exclusive jailhouse interview, a KGO-TV reporter asked the alleged gunman, "Did you keep coming back to San Francisco because you knew that they wouldn't actively look for you to deport you?" Sanchez responded, "Yes." U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement had said in a statement that Sanchez was turned over to the San Francisco Police Department this past March on an outstanding drug warrant, and that the department requested that police notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement prior to his release so ICE officers could make arrangements to take custody. However, the San Francisco Sheriff's Department said that it had no "legal basis" to hold Sanchez based on a federal immigration detainer, according to the Associated Press. A lawyer for the sheriff's department told the AP the city only turns over illegal immigrants if there's an active warrant for their arrest, so on April 15, after the local drug case closed, Sanchez was released. In a statement Monday, San Francisco Mayor Edwin Lee said the city's sanctuary policy "should not create a safe harbor for convicted, violent felons." "I am concerned about the circumstances that led to the release of Mr. Sanchez," Lee's statement added. "All agencies involved, federal and local, need to conduct quick, thorough and objective reviews of their own departmental policies and the decisions they made in this case." The San Francisco police union spoke out against the sanctuary policy, writing on its Facebook page Monday. "A young innocent woman has been murdered in cold blood," the statement said. "He is an illegal alien not an undocumented immigrant and if he was where he belonged (Mexico) this innocent victim would still be alive." ||||| SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A law enforcement official says the weapon used in the shooting death of a woman on a San Francisco pier belonged to a federal agent — the latest twist in a case that has become a flashpoint in the country's debate over immigration. San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, left, talks to members of the media after Francisco Sanchez' arraignment Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in San Francisco. Prosecutors have charged Sanchez, a Mexican... (Associated Press) Assistant Director of Field Operations, Enforcement and Removal Operations at the?U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Department of Homeland Security Philip T. Miller testifies before the... (Associated Press) San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi gestures during an interview Monday, July 6, 2015, in San Francisco. Mirkarimi has defended the release of Francisco Sanchez from jail on April 15, who is now accused... (Associated Press) Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman, Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., left, shakes hands with Associate Director of Refuee, Asylum, and International Operations at U.S. Citizenship... (Associated Press) Francisco Sanchez, center, is lead out of the courtroom by San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi, right, and Assistant District Attorney Diana Garciaor, left, after his arraignment at the Hall of... (Associated Press) Francisco Sanchez walks into the court for his arraignment at the Hall of Justice on Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in San Francisco. Prosecutors have charged the Mexican immigrant with murder in the waterfront... (Associated Press) San Francisco Public Defenders Jeff Adachi, left, and Matt Gonzalez, right, talks to members of the media after Francisco Sanchez' arraignment Tuesday, July 7, 2015, in San Francisco. Prosecutors have... (Associated Press) FILE - This undated photo provided by the San Francisco Police Department shows Francisco Sanchez. The fatal shooting of a woman at a sightseeing pier has put San Francisco under an uncomforable and nasty... (Associated Press) The official, who had been briefed on the matter, said Tuesday that a check of the gun's serial number shows it belonged to a federal agent. The official — who was not authorized to speak publicly about the case and spoke on condition of anonymity — declined to elaborate. The San Francisco Police Department, which is investigating the case, refused to comment on the disclosure. The suspected gunman, Juan Francisco Lopez Sanchez, has been deported to his native Mexico five times and is suspected of living in the United States illegally when Kathryn Steinle, 32, was gunned down last week while on an evening stroll with her father along San Francisco's popular waterfront area. Federal officials transferred Sanchez to San Francisco's jail in March to face a 20-year-old marijuana charge after Sanchez completed his latest prison term for illegally entering the country. The San Francisco sheriff, citing the city's "sanctuary city" policy, released Sanchez in April after prosecutors dropped the drug charge, despite an Immigration and Customs Enforcement request to hold him for federal authorities so deportation proceedings could begin. Sanchez pleaded not guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder. He told two television stations who interviewed him in jail that he found the gun used in Steinle's killing wrapped in a shirt on the pedestrian pier she was walking on. Sanchez said the gun went off in his hands, and his public defender, Matt Gonzalez, said Tuesday that the San Francisco woman's death appeared accidental. Regardless of the reason behind Steinle's death, the shooting has touched off criticism from leading Republican lawmakers — and from top Democrats, including both of California's U.S. senators. Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton told CNN that San Francisco was wrong to ignore the ICE detainer request and release Sanchez from custody. "The city made a mistake, not to deport someone that the federal government strongly felt should be deported," Clinton said. Sen. Dianne Feinstein called on San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee to start cooperating with federal immigration officials who want to deport felons such as Sanchez. "I strongly believe that an undocumented individual, convicted of multiple felonies and with a detainer request from ICE, should not have been released," Feinstein said. The mayor's office said it has reached out to Homeland Security officials to determine if there's a way to cooperate while still upholding the city's sanctuary policy. "Mayor Lee shares the senator's concerns surrounding the nature of Mr. Sanchez's transfer to San Francisco and release," said Christine Falvey, a spokeswoman for the mayor. Democratic Sen. Barbara Boxer, also from Northern California, said she asked Gov. Jerry Brown if state law was followed in Sanchez's release. "For decades, I have supported deporting violent criminals, and I have always believed that sanctuary should not be given to felons," Boxer said. San Francisco Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi has defended Sanchez's release and the city law requiring it to ignore ICE detainer requests. The sheriff said ICE could have obtained a warrant or court order to keep Sanchez in custody. "ICE knew where he was," Mirkarimi said Monday. State and federal Republicans, meanwhile, said they would look into the matter. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson, who chairs the Senate's homeland security committee, criticized federal officials and demanded to know why Sanchez was not deported. "Does that make any sense to you?" Johnson demanded to know at a hearing Tuesday. "Because I'll tell you it doesn't make any sense to the American public." Republican state Sen. Jeff Stone said he would introduce legislation in Sacramento to require cities to comply with ICE detainer requests. At Sanchez's arraignment Tuesday, prosecutor Dianna Garcia argued against releasing Sanchez on bail, saying, "This was an act of random violence, shooting an innocent victim in the back." The judge set bail at $5 million, which Gonzalez said will keep Sanchez jailed pending trial. ___ Associated Press writers Amy Taxin in Los Angeles, Janie Har in San Francisco and Erica Werner in Washington contributed to this report.

– Another twist in the Francisco Sanchez case: The gun that the murder suspect claims he found wrapped in a T-shirt on a bench belonged to a federal agent and was stolen in a recent car break-in, sources tell the San Francisco Chronicle. The sources say the firearm wasn't the agent's official gun, and ABC News reports that the Bureau of Land Management is investigating whether the gun belonged to one of its employees. Sanchez, who claims the gun went off accidentally when he picked it up, killing 32-year-old Kathryn Steinle, pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder yesterday, the AP reports. Sanchez has been deported from the US five times, and San Francisco's decision not to turn him over to federal authorities for deportation when a drug charge was dropped in April has been strongly criticized by lawmakers and presidential candidates, including Hillary Clinton, who told CNN yesterday that the "city made a mistake, not to deport someone that the federal government strongly felt should be deported." At yesterday's hearing, Sanchez's public defender said the shooting appeared accidental and argued that the media should look at the "ubiquitous nature of guns in our society" instead of the immigration issue, the Chronicle reports.

Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| President Trump, who signed a $1.3 trillion spending bill last week, is frustrated with the amount Congress provided to finance a U.S.-Mexico border wall and is pressing to use money dedicated to the military. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) President Trump, who repeatedly insisted during the 2016 campaign that Mexico would pay for a wall along the southern border, is privately pushing the U.S. military to fund construction of his signature project. Trump has told advisers that he was spurned in a large spending bill last week when lawmakers appropriated only $1.6 billion for the border wall. He has suggested to Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and congressional leaders that the Pentagon could fund the sprawling project, citing a “national security” risk. After floating the notion to several advisers last week, Trump told House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) that the military should pay for the wall, according to three people familiar with the meeting last Wednesday in the White House residence. Ryan offered little ­reaction to the idea, these people said, but senior Capitol Hill officials later said it was an unlikely prospect. The president’s pursuit of defense dollars to finance the U.S.-Mexico border wall underscores his determination to fulfill a campaign promise and build the barrier despite resistance in the Republican-led Congress. The administration’s last-minute negotiations with lawmakers to secure billions more for the wall failed, and Trump grudgingly signed the spending bill Friday after a short-lived veto threat. Four days later, Trump continued to express regret over signing the $1.3 trillion package, which funded the government and averted a shutdown, saying it was a mistake and he should have followed his instincts. In another interaction with senior aides last week, Trump noted that the Defense Department was getting so much ­money as part of the spending bill that the Pentagon could surely afford the border wall, two White House officials said. The Pentagon received about $700 billion in the spending package, which Trump repeatedly lauded as “historic.” Meanwhile, the $1.6 billion in the bill for some fencing and levees on the border not only fell far short of the $25 billion that Trump was seeking, but it also came with tight restrictions on how the money could be spent. The individuals and officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk freely about private discussions. [Trump signs massive spending bill, but not before a little drama] White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders deflected a question Tuesday about money dedicated to the military being used to fund construction of the wall. “I can’t get into the specifics of that at this point, but I can tell you that the continuation of building the wall is ongoing, and we’re going to continue moving forward in that process,” Sanders told reporters. “Build WALL through M!” Trump recently wrote on Twitter. He retweeted those words Tuesday, noting that “our Military is again rich.” Two advisers said “M” stood for “military.” The president has suggested to Mattis that his department, instead of the Department of Homeland Security, could fund the construction, two Trump advisers said. But the military is not likely to fund the wall, according to White House and Defense Department officials. The Pentagon has plenty of money, but reprogramming it for a wall would require votes in Congress that the president does not seem to have. Taking money from the 2018 budget for the wall would require an act of Congress, a senior Pentagon official said. To find the money in the 2019 defense budget, Trump would have to submit a budget amendment that would require 60 votes in the Senate, the official said. Democrats in Congress would probably chafe at military spending going to the construction of a border wall, and military officials may also blanch, White House advisers said. Defense hawks in the Republican ranks would balk at taking money now dedicated to the Pentagon for aircraft, weapons and improvements to the armed forces’ readiness and instead steering it toward construction of the wall. “First Mexico was supposed to pay for it, then U.S. taxpayers, and now our men and women in uniform?” Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement to The Washington Post. “This would be a blatant misuse of military funds and tied up in court for years. Secretary Mattis ought not bother and instead use the money to help our troops, rather than advance the president’s political fantasies.” Trump has grown frustrated watching constant TV criticism of the spending package and is determined to find a new way to fund the wall, several advisers said, privately grousing that his political supporters could become disenchanted without progress. After a recent trip to see prototypes of the wall in California, Trump has grown more animated by the issue, advisers said. The president’s comments raising the possibility of using Pentagon funds to build the wall came after the collapse of negotiations with Democrats to secure $25 billion in long-term wall funding in exchange for protections for young immigrants at risk for deportation because of Trump’s cancellation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. The White House offered three years of protections for DACA recipients, according to multiple congressional aides, but Democrats demanded ­pro­tections for a larger group of “dreamers,” including those who never applied or are ineligible for DACA. The negotiations fell apart before the spending bill was drafted and passed last week. [‘Trump blew it’: The president missed his best chance yet to get funding for his border wall] The urgency to strike a deal reflected the growing sense that the spending bill represented the last chance for the Trump administration to secure substantial wall funding, at least in the president’s first term. Top Republicans believe it is all but certain that Democrats will gain House seats in November’s midterm elections — and perhaps take the majority — greatly enhancing their bargaining position in future spending negotiations. Only $641 million is earmarked for new primary fencing in areas that have no barriers, and most of the money can be spent only on “operationally effective designs” that were deployed as of last May. That means the prototype designs the Trump administration is exploring cannot be built, except along a stretch of the border near San Diego where a barrier is already in place. Greg Jaffe contributed to this report. ||||| Washington (CNN) President Donald Trump has privately floated the idea of funding construction of a border wall with Mexico through the US military budget in conversations with advisers, two sources confirmed to CNN Tuesday. Trump discussed the idea in a private meeting last week with House Speaker Paul Ryan, a source familiar with the conversations said, as he reviewed the omnibus spending bill, which does not include funding for construction of a border wall. It was not immediately clear how serious Trump was about pursuing this option, but the move would likely face steep hurdles with appropriators in Congress. The idea is Trump's latest attempt to find a way to build the border wall he promised supporters during his campaign as Mexico has dismissed his call for Mexico to fund its construction. Trump has said he would seek that payment in the form of a refund, either through trade negotiations, remittance payments or other means. Congressional budgeting is done with very specific instructions for how dollar amounts are spent. Any repurposing of funds requires express congressional approval, which Trump is unlikely to get. The source noted that additional authorization from Congress would likely be necessary if this option was pursued. A senior administration official confirmed the President has floated this idea, along with others, as alternative ways to pay for the wall. Read More

– After failing to get Congress—or Mexico—to cough up enough cash for a wall along the Mexican border, President Trump has been looking into getting the Pentagon to pay for it, reasoning that it has plenty of money under the new federal budget, insiders say. The sources tell the Washington Post that Trump, worried that failure to build the promised wall will cause supporters to desert him, has been privately pushing Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, among others, to make the wall a military-funded project because of national security fears. But officials say the military is unlikely to pay for the wall, and even if the Pentagon was willing, it would require an act and the move would not get 60 votes in the Senate. In a tweet Tuesday, Trump argued that the military is "rich" and building a border wall is all about national defense because there are "enemy combatants pouring into our Country." "Build WALL through M!" he urged. Trump wants $25 billion for the wall, but the latest spending bill allocates just $1.6 billion, with restrictions on how it can be spent. "First Mexico was supposed to pay for it, then US taxpayers, and now our men and women in uniform?” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer tells the Post. "This would be a blatant misuse of military funds and tied up in court for years." CNN reports that press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders declined to comment on possible military funding Tuesday. The "continuation of building the wall is ongoing, and we're going to continue moving forward in that process," she said.

These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites. ||||| This article is excerpted from “Fenway Park: A Salute to the Coolest, Cruelest, Longest-Running Major League Baseball Stadium in America,” produced by The Boston Globe and published by Running Press. The storied home of the Red Sox for a century, “America’s Most Beloved Ballpark’’ also is the oldest in the major leagues, and the most famous. From the classic brick entrance on Yawkey Way to the unique left-field wall with its manual scoreboard to Pesky’s Pole in right field, its timeless features are recognized from the Bronx to the Dominican Republic to Japan. John Updike’s “lyric little bandbox,’’ which he likened to “an old-fashioned peeping-type Easter egg,’’ is so linked with Boston and baseball history that it is a destination in itself, equal to the Freedom Trail and the swan boats, with visitors taking guided ballpark tours even during winter. In “Cheers,’’ the long-running situation comedy based in a Back Bay tavern, bartender Sam “Mayday’’ Malone was a former Sox relief pitcher. The fan film “Fever Pitch’’ is based around Fenway, where Kevin Costner also took James Earl Jones for an inspirational outing in “Field of Dreams.’’ Fenway’s field is like no other. Because the park was jammed into a city lot bounded by narrow streets, its dimensions are a crazy confluence of oblique angles, like the three-sided oddity in centerfield that can turn the game into Pachinko, with the ball bouncing and rattling about. There is so little playable foul territory that dozens of balls end up in the stands, which are so close to the diamond that fans can hear the players’ chatter. Continue reading below Related Photos Fenway Park before 1950 Fenway is a charmingly auditory experience, from the scalpers on Brookline Avenue (“Who needs tickets?’’) to the fans singing “Sweet Caroline’’ during the eighth inning to the playing of “Dirty Water’’ over the public address system after victories. Fenway’s endearing quirkiness is much of its allure. Except for some increased seating and creature comforts, the park has remained largely unchanged since it opened in 1912 in the same week that the Titanic sank. “When I brought my kids to Fenway, they never complained about the inconveniences of the ancient ballpark,’’ wrote Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy, who confessed that he still took “some weird comfort in the knowledge that the poles that occasionally obscured our vision of the pitcher are the same green beams that blocked the vision of my dad and his dad when they would take the trolley from Cambridge to watch the Red Sox in the 1920s.’’ Babe Ruth threw his first pitch and Ted Williams hit his last home run at Fenway. From Christy Mathewson, to Ty Cobb, to Satchel Paige, to Joe DiMaggio, to Hank Aaron, most of baseball’s greatest names have appeared on Fenway’s stage, which also has accommodated an extraordinary variety of athletes, politicians, and entertainers. Three of Boston’s professional football teams - the Redskins, the Yanks, and the Patriots - performed at Fenway. The Bruins and Flyers, two of hockey’s fiercest rivals, played in the Winter Classic there on New Year’s Day. Franklin Delano Roosevelt gave his final campaign address at Fenway. The Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, and Bruce Springsteen all sang there. Every significant moment from every year is here, and then some. The dramatic World Series victory over the Giants in 1912. The 1934 fire that scorched Tom Yawkey’s renovated park. Ted Williams’s “Great Expectoration’’ of 1956. Jim Lonborg’s “hero’s ride’’ after putting the Sox in position to secure the Impossible Dream pennant in 1967. Carlton Fisk’s dramatic “is-it-fair?’’ homer in the 12th inning of Game 6 of the 1975 World Series against the Reds. Bucky “Bleeping’’ Dent’s heartbreaking screen shot in the 1978 divisional playoff game with New York. Roger Clemens’s record 20 strikeouts against the Mariners in 1986. Dave Roberts’s stolen base against the Yankees in 2004 that was the beginning of the end of 86 years of October frustration. Fenway is all about lore. The Royal Rooters torturing visiting ballplayers with incessant renditions of “Tessie.’’ Williams’s monster bleacher shot knocking a hole in a fan’s straw hat. Manny Ramirez’s mystery disappearance inside the belly of the Monster. Jimmy Piersall oinking like a pig on the basepaths. Luis Tiant’s rhumba windup that the New Yorker’s Roger Angell dubbed “Call the Osteopath.’’ Pedro Martinez playing matador to former skipper Don Zimmer’s enraged bull during a brawl with the Yankees. A midget coming out of the stands to cover third when the Indians used the “Williams Shift.’’ This is the story of 100 years of Fenway Park.

– Baseball's "Sistine Chapel" turns 100 today, a century to the day after its first regular-season game. As the oldest major-league stadium, Fenway Park has seen the Boston Red Sox through a turbulent century, hosting heroes from Babe Ruth to Ted Williams to Hank Aaron, the Boston Globe notes. Today, you can feel the stadium's age, columnist Dan Shaughnessy tells USA Today: "The seats between the aisles were built for people 5-foot-6 in 1912," and "some of the things that don't work are never going to work." "But overall, it is the jewel of baseball and the best place to watch a baseball game," he concludes. The stadium was the product of a $120,000 purchase of 8 acres of land in Boston. Nearly a century later, the park seemed old-fashioned and small compared to others, and it faced a shutdown. But new owners invested $285 million to bring it up to date, and it's expected to stay in business another 40 years. "We think of Fenway as the 'Little Engine that Could,' and it just keeps chugging along," Red Sox co-owner Tom Werner says. Today, the Sox celebrate the anniversary with a game against—who else?—the New York Yankees.

Part philosophical treatise, part pulp fiction, part pure horror show, Ridley Scott 's "Prometheus" ends up with less to say than it thinks it does. Though more involving than much of this year's summer blockbuster competition, by the standards set by its wizardly director it's something of a disappointment.Scott's "Alien" (1979) and "Blade Runner" (1982) are two of the preeminent science fiction films, and so it was inevitable that "Prometheus" would be compared to them. But it's especially the case because "Prometheus" — starring Noomi Rapace Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron — shares, as Scott himself has said, some DNA strands with "Alien."Anyone who is unfamiliar with "Alien" need not worry — "Prometheus" stands on its own. But those with vivid memories of what happened to Ellen Ripley aboard the Nostromo 33 years ago will find several points of reference in common with this latest iteration.Aside from Scott's expert first-time use of 3-D, the main differences between "Prometheus" and those earlier films are that the new venture is more creepy than it is scary, and it's considerably more self-conscious about the ideas that lie beneath the action.Although the director remains a master creator of alternate worlds, "Prometheus," unlike its predecessors, does not wear its themes lightly. It pushes too hard for significance, which is dicey in and of itself for genre material and contrasts badly with the standard nature of some of the story's plotting.As written by Jon Spaihts and Damon Lindelof (co-creator of TV's "Lost"), "Prometheus" begins, after an arresting but baffling prologue, at a dig on Scotland's Isle of Skye in the year 2089.Elizabeth Shaw (Rapace) and Charlie Holloway ( Logan Marshall-Green ), a pair of romantically involved archaeologists, have made a startling discovery: a 35,000-year-old pictogram that shows humans worshiping an enormous figure who points to the stars.This same image has also been discovered in a number of far-flung sites all over the world, leading Shaw and Holloway to conclude (as an unacknowledged Erich von Daniken claimed in his 1968 book "Chariots of the Gods") that beings from outer space had a big hand in creating life on Earth.Messianically determined to find these aliens and answer once and for all big questions like "Where do we come from? What is our purpose?," the pair persuades the world's richest human, Peter Weyland of Weyland Industries ( Guy Pearce under a ton of makeup), to spend a trillion dollars, give or take, to fund a trip to outer space with the purpose of tracking those "engineers" down."Prometheus" proper begins on a spaceship ominously named after the character in Greek mythology who suffered greatly for challenging the gods. Though Janek (an excellent Idris Elba ) is the nominal captain, the ship is really run by Meredith Vickers (Theron), a Weyland Industries bigwig who is not shy about saying things like "my job is to make sure you do yours."Theron, who has clearly found her comfort zone with ice-cold roles, is strong here, but from the acting point of view "Prometheus" belongs to the protean Fassbender, who excels as David, the spaceship's resident android.Considered by Peter Weyland to be the closest thing to a son he has, albeit with the drawback of not having a soul, David (who watches "Lawrence of Arabia" for tips on being human) is smarter and more capable than anyone on the ship and very much knows it. Fassbender gets David's almost-but-not-quite human character exactly right and is especially good at conveying the can-he-be-trusted aspect that always comes with android territory.More hit and miss is Rapace (of "The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo"), who never quite connects with the tree-hugger aspects of Shaw's character but really comes into her own once things start to go south in a major way.For it will not come as a surprise to anyone that everything is not exactly sweetness and light on the planet where the Prometheans land in search of those creative aliens. All kinds of awful, increasingly grotesque and horrific stuff starts to happen, and having someone with Shaw's indomitability around turns out to be a major plus for mankind.(In an odd convergence, both "Prometheus" and the benighted "Battleship" share a press material reference to scientistStephen Hawking'swarning that intelligent life from other planets "might develop into something we wouldn't want to meet." True story.)Making up for the expected nature of some of the film's plot twists is Arthur Max 's spooky, H.R. Giger-influenced production design, Dariusz Wolski 's fluid cinematography, as well as Scott's moment-to-moment storytelling skill. Though the thrills here are less visceral than "Alien" and the world imagined less mind-altering than "Blade Runner," those gifts continue to impress in any galaxy you care to mention.'Prometheus'R for sci-fi violence, including some intense images, and brief language2 hours, 4 minutesIn general release ||||| A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race. Video courtesy of 20th Century Fox. Ridley Scott has been quoted as saying that fans of "Alien" will recognize strands of its DNA in "Prometheus." They're impossible to miss, both in the brilliant visuals and in some aspects of the plot. Yet his new film suffers from crucial chromosome breaks. What was then a model of narrative clarity and seductive suspense—"In space no one can hear you scream"—is now diffuse and often assaultive. In part that reflects the evolving priorities of the movie business in the intervening three decades. "Prometheus," in efficient 3-D, places most of its bets on the wonders that today's... ||||| Prometheus June 6, 2012 Ridley Scott's "Prometheus" is a magnificent science-fiction film, all the more intriguing because it raises questions about the origin of human life and doesn't have the answers. It's in the classic tradition of golden age sci-fi, echoing Scott's "Alien" (1979), but creating a world of its own. I'm a pushover for material like this; it's a seamless blend of story, special effects and pitch-perfect casting, filmed in sane, effective 3-D that doesn't distract. A scene at the outset shows a world with apparently only one animal being, a pale humanoid who stalks a high ridge surrounded by spectacular scenery. This person eats something that causes painful vomiting and rapid body decay. The vomit is followed into flowing water, where it seems to morph into living cellular structures. Where is this place? Is it Earth? Who is the being, and why is it alone and naked? Is the scene a visualization of the theory that life first arrived on Earth from outer space? Cut to a human spaceship in the year 2093, qualifying "Prometheus" for a flash-forward spanning more years than the opening of "2001." The trillion-dollar ship Prometheus is en route to a distant world, which seems pointed to in prehistoric cave paintings. There's reason to believe human life may have originated there. It's an Earth-sized moon orbiting a giant planet, and at first it seems a disappointment: no growing things, unbreathable atmosphere. But the crew notices straight lines on the surface, and as we all know, nature makes no straight lines. The lines lead to a vast dome or pyramid, and the film will mostly take place inside the dome and the Prometheus. But let's put the plot on hold and introduce two of the crew members: Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) wears a cross around her neck and believes life ultimately had a divine origin. Her boyfriend, Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), accuses her, a scientist, of dismissing centuries of Darwinism. What they find in the pyramid leaves the question open. Alien humanoids, in suspended animation, incredibly have DNA that's a perfect match for our own. So they could somehow have brought life to Earth — but why? And from this moon where they slumber inside their pyramid, or from another planet around a distant star? Why did they stop here? What are they waiting for? The film then develops horror scenes comparable to "Alien," although it depends more on action and weaponry than that film's use of shadows and silence. For me, the most spellbinding scenes involve the crew members exploring the passages and caverns inside the pyramid, obviously unvisited in aeons, and their experiences with some of the hibernating alien beings. One of the key members of this crew is David (Michael Fassbender), an android, who knows or can figure out more or less everything, even alien languages, and is sort of a walking, talking, utterly fearless HAL 9000. The alien race in "Prometheus" shares a body characteristic that reminds me of "Alien" and countless films since: Elements can detach from them and enter into other bodies as hostile parasites. This leads to an astonishing sequence in which Elizabeth, alone on the ship, discovers she is pregnant with an alien Something and somehow finds the will to control a robot surgery device that removes it. Her later showdown with a waning oxygen supply shows equal resourcefulness; Noomi Rapace ("The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo," 2009) continues here the tradition of awesome feminine strength begun by Sigourney Weaver in "Alien." Another strong woman is on board, Meredith Vickers (Charlize Theron), a representative of the corporation that privately financed the Prometheus. She treats the others like her employees, which they are, and believes she always speaks for the company's wishes. The ship's captain, Janek (Idris Elba), makes no pretensions of scientific expertise like the others but is a no-nonsense working pilot. Janek has the most interesting evolution, from the irreverent hipster in his first scenes into a man with the ability to intuit the truth about what he's seeing. The most tantalizing element is how it plays with the role of these DNA twins. Did they create life on Earth? The possibility of two identical DNAs as a coincidence is unthinkable. Charlie digs at Elizabeth, suggesting their existence disproves her beliefs. Her obvious response: Where did they come from? This puzzle is embedded in an adventure film that has staggering visuals, expert horror, mind-challenging ideas and enough unanswered questions to prime the inevitable sequel. ||||| Still courtesy Twentieth Century Fox Film. After you've seen Prometheus, come back and listen to our Spoiler Special: Dana Stevens Dana Stevens is Slate’s movie critic. Prometheus (20th Century Fox), Ridley Scott’s return to visionary science fiction three decades after Alien and Blade Runner, opens big, with an aerial 3-D camera sweeping low over panoramic landscapes so vast and bleak it’s as if the location scout actually visited outer space. (The sheer cliff drops and glacial expanses seen in this stunning opening sequence are in fact located in Iceland.) At the edge of a waterfall in this austere setting stands a humanoid creature whose marble-white skin and exaggerated muscle definition recall classical statuary. He ingests a small dish of what looks like bubbling caviar—then immediately and spectacularly crumbles to dust. As the organic material of his body washes away, we watch DNA-like structures twist and form in CSI-style micro-closeup. This is a whiz-bang beginning for a movie, with its implicit suggestion that the origin of human life may have involved some form of alien self-sacrifice. Unfortunately, nothing that happens for the rest of Prometheus equals or, for that matter, explains its striking prologue. Co-scripted by Damon Lindelof of Lost, this film shares that series’ love for nested mythologies and involute philosophical riddles. Prometheus is more interested in piling on big questions than in answering them. It’s deep without being particularly smart, although the dazzling design and special effects keep you from noticing that basic flaw until at least an hour in. Advertisement After Caviar Man takes his fateful dive, we move to Earth in 2089, a few decades before the beginning of Alien (to which this movie positions itself as a kind of prequel). Two archeologists, Elizabeth Shaw (Noomi Rapace) and Charlie Holloway (Logan Marshall-Green), explore a prehistoric cave whose wall paintings suggest contact between early man and an alien visitor—a pattern the scientists (who are also a couple) have noticed in sites around the world. On the strength of this pair’s crackpot-sounding theory, an ominous group known as the Weyland Corp. (Put it this way: The chairman is a dead man who appears only in the form of a pre-recorded hologram) agrees to underwrite an exploratory space mission to seek out the origin of human life. Get Slate in your inbox. The titular ship (which, like many unwisely named sci-fi vessels, might as well be christened the USS Hubris) sets out for an Earth-like planet in a distant solar system, manned by a crew that’s placed in suspended animation for the bulk of the journey. The only creature minding the ship is David (Michael Fassbender), an unsettlingly lifelike android. He passes his time on the empty, silent vessel monitoring the ship’s progress and watching Lawrence of Arabia for tips on human behavior. As they approach their destination, David begins to rouse his fellow crewmembers from their sleep pods: the ship’s laconic pilot, Janek (Idris Elba); an uptight representative of the Weyland Corp., Vickers (Charlize Theron); the archeologist couple; and a few other characters who (not to spoil anything) might not be worth getting overly invested in. Once the crew lands on the planet’s surface and begins exploring the huge ancient structure they find there, their mistakes pile up pretty quickly. It probably wasn’t a smart idea for Elizabeth to bag up the fossilized head of a dead alien they find in one chamber and bring it onboard the ship for examination. It definitely didn’t make sense for two disgruntled geologists (Rafe Spall and Sean Harris) to peel off from the main group and start back for the ship on their own. And if you’re stranded for the night in a vast, labyrinthine structure on another planet, you might think twice about approaching the gray-green phallic snake-thing that rises up suddenly from a puddle of black ooze and addressing it with a cajoling, “Hey, little guy.” After the first round of redshirts meet their grisly ends, things really start to get weird aboard the Prometheus. Looking in the mirror, Charlie sees, or imagines he sees, a tiny worm peeking out of his eyeball (an effective moment of minimalist body horror that evokes David Cronenberg’s The Fly.) Later, David coolly informs Elizabeth that she’s pregnant with an alien life form, resulting in a gynecological horror scene that’s both the movie’s most memorable set piece and the mark of its irrevocable descent into implausibility. The last half hour is a blur of chases, explosions, and battles (man-on-man, monster-on-man, and monster-on-monster). Prometheus could have been an elegant, moody sci-fi actioner if only it didn’t strain so hard (especially in the final scenes) for weighty existential meaning. There’s an ongoing theological debate between the atheist android David—who, as a manmade being, resists the idea of a divine creator—and the Christian truth-seeker Elizabeth, who insists on wearing a cross under her spacesuit even as the evidence pours in that the creatures who engineered us are indifferent if not outright malevolent. “Where do we come from? What is our purpose? What happens when we die?” David asks a human character at one point, enumerating the questions that drive the ship’s mission. Thanks to Fassbender’s precise, witty performance—when he’s on screen, the movie snaps to attention—David sounds both mocking of human curiosity and wistfully envious of it.

– Critics agree: The visuals in Ridley Scott's Prometheus are stunning. As for the story—about a space crew tracking the aliens who may have created us—it's a little too heavy for its own good. "Prometheus could have been an elegant, moody sci-fi actioner if only it didn't strain so hard for weighty existential meaning," writes Dana Stevens at Slate. The film "is more interested in piling on big questions than in answering them. It’s deep without being particularly smart," though its design and effects are so "dazzling" you won't realize "that basic flaw until at least an hour in." Joe Morgenstern echoes Stevens in the Wall Street Journal. "This tale of an interstellar search asks cosmic questions about the meaning of life, but comes up with lame answers in a script that screams attention-deficit disorder," he notes. Still, it's "worth seeing for the quality of its sci-fi sights." In the Los Angeles Times, Kenneth Turan notes that the movie "pushes too hard for significance," which "contrasts badly with the standard nature of some of the story's plotting." For "its wizardly director, it's something of a disappointment." But at the Chicago Sun-Times, Roger Ebert raves that Prometheus is "a seamless blend of story, special effects, and pitch-perfect casting, filmed in sane, effective 3-D that doesn't distract." And Ebert finds it "all the more intriguing because it raises questions about the origin of human life and doesn't have the answers."

Last month, Rolling Stone published a story entitled A Rape on Campus, which described a brutal gang rape of a woman named Jackie during a party at a University of Virginia fraternity house, the University's failure to respond to this alleged assault – and the school's troubling history of indifference to many other instances of alleged sexual assaults. The story generated worldwide headlines and much soul-searching at UVA. University president Teresa Sullivan promised a full investigation and also to examine the way the school investigates sexual assault allegations. Because of the sensitive nature of Jackie's story, we decided to honor her request not to contact the man who she claimed orchestrated the attack on her nor any of the men who she claimed participated in the attack for fear of retaliation against her. In the months Sabrina Rubin Erdely reported the story, Jackie said or did nothing that made her, or Rolling Stone's editors and fact-checkers, question her credibility. Jackie’s friends and rape activists on campus strongly supported her account. She had spoken of the assault in campus forums. We reached out to both the local branch and the national leadership of Phi Psi, the fraternity where Jackie said she was attacked. They responded that they couldn’t confirm or deny her story but that they had questions about the evidence. In the face of new information reported by the Washington Post and other news outlets, there now appear to be discrepancies in Jackie's account. The fraternity has issued a formal statement denying the assault and asserting that there was no "date function or formal event" on the night in question. Jackie herself is now unsure if the man she says lured her into the room where the rape occurred, identified in the story as "Drew," was a Phi Psi brother. According to the Washington Post, "Drew" actually belongs to a different fraternity and when contacted by the paper, he denied knowing Jackie. Jackie told Rolling Stone that after she was assaulted, she ran into "Drew" at a UVA pool where they both worked as lifeguards. In its statement, Phi Psi says none of its members worked at the pool in the fall of 2012. A friend of Jackie’s (who we were told would not speak to Rolling Stone) told the Washington Post that he found Jackie that night a mile from the school's fraternities. She did not appear to be "physically injured at the time" but was shaken. She told him that that she had been forced to have oral sex with a group of men at a fraternity party, but he does not remember her identifying a specific house. Other friends of Jackie’s told the Washington Post that they now have doubts about her narrative, but Jackie told the Washington Post that she firmly stands by the account she gave to Erdely. We published the article with the firm belief that it was accurate. Given all of these reports, however, we have come to the conclusion that we were mistaken in honoring Jackie's request to not contact the alleged assaulters to get their account. In trying to be sensitive to the unfair shame and humiliation many women feel after a sexual assault, we made a judgment – the kind of judgment reporters and editors make every day. We should have not made this agreement with Jackie and we should have worked harder to convince her that the truth would have been better served by getting the other side of the story. These mistakes are on Rolling Stone, not on Jackie. We apologize to anyone who was affected by the story and we will continue to investigate the events of that evening. Will Dana Managing Editor From Rugby Road to Vinegar Hill, we're gonna get drunk tonight The faculty's afraid of us, they know we're in the right So fill up your cups, your loving cups, as full as full can be As long as love and liquor last, we'll drink to the U of V —"Rugby Road," traditional University of Virginia fight song Sipping from a plastic cup, Jackie grimaced, then discreetly spilled her spiked punch onto the sludgy fraternity-house floor. The University of Virginia freshman wasn't a drinker, but she didn't want to seem like a goody-goody at her very first frat party – and she especially wanted to impress her date, the handsome Phi Kappa Psi brother who'd brought her here. Jackie was sober but giddy with discovery as she looked around the room crammed with rowdy strangers guzzling beer and dancing to loud music. She smiled at her date, whom we'll call Drew, a good-looking junior – or in UVA parlance, a third-year – and he smiled enticingly back. Sidebar "Want to go upstairs, where it's quieter?" Drew shouted into her ear, and Jackie's heart quickened. She took his hand as he threaded them out of the crowded room and up a staircase. Four weeks into UVA's 2012 school year, 18-year-old Jackie was crushing it at college. A chatty, straight-A achiever from a rural Virginia town, she'd initially been intimidated by UVA's aura of preppy success, where throngs of toned, tanned and overwhelmingly blond students fanned across a landscape of neoclassical brick buildings, hurrying to classes, clubs, sports, internships, part-time jobs, volunteer work and parties; Jackie's orientation leader had warned her that UVA students' schedules were so packed that "no one has time to date – people just hook up." But despite her reservations, Jackie had flung herself into campus life, attending events, joining clubs, making friends and, now, being asked on an actual date. She and Drew had met while working lifeguard shifts together at the university pool, and Jackie had been floored by Drew's invitation to dinner, followed by a "date function" at his fraternity, Phi Kappa Psi. The "upper tier" frat had a reputation of tremendous wealth, and its imposingly large house overlooked a vast manicured field, giving "Phi Psi" the undisputed best real estate along UVA's fraternity row known as Rugby Road. Phi Kappa Psi House Jackie had taken three hours getting ready, straightening her long, dark, wavy hair. She'd congratulated herself on her choice of a tasteful red dress with a high neckline. Now, climbing the frat-house stairs with Drew, Jackie felt excited. Drew ushered Jackie into a bedroom, shutting the door behind them. The room was pitch-black inside. Jackie blindly turned toward Drew, uttering his name. At that same moment, she says, she detected movement in the room – and felt someone bump into her. Jackie began to scream. "Shut up," she heard a man's voice say as a body barreled into her, tripping her backward and sending them both crashing through a low glass table. There was a heavy person on top of her, spreading open her thighs, and another person kneeling on her hair, hands pinning down her arms, sharp shards digging into her back, and excited male voices rising all around her. When yet another hand clamped over her mouth, Jackie bit it, and the hand became a fist that punched her in the face. The men surrounding her began to laugh. For a hopeful moment Jackie wondered if this wasn't some collegiate prank. Perhaps at any second someone would flick on the lights and they'd return to the party. "Grab its motherfucking leg," she heard a voice say. And that's when Jackie knew she was going to be raped. She remembers every moment of the next three hours of agony, during which, she says, seven men took turns raping her, while two more – her date, Drew, and another man – gave instruction and encouragement. She remembers how the spectators swigged beers, and how they called each other nicknames like Armpit and Blanket. She remembers the men's heft and their sour reek of alcohol mixed with the pungency of marijuana. Most of all, Jackie remembers the pain and the pounding that went on and on. As the last man sank onto her, Jackie was startled to recognize him: He attended her tiny anthropology discussion group. He looked like he was going to cry or puke as he told the crowd he couldn't get it up. "Pussy!" the other men jeered. "What, she's not hot enough for you?" Then they egged him on: "Don't you want to be a brother?" "We all had to do it, so you do, too." Someone handed her classmate a beer bottle. Jackie stared at the young man, silently begging him not to go through with it. And as he shoved the bottle into her, Jackie fell into a stupor, mentally untethering from the brutal tableau, her mind leaving behind the bleeding body under assault on the floor. When Jackie came to, she was alone. It was after 3 a.m. She painfully rose from the floor and ran shoeless from the room. She emerged to discover the Phi Psi party still surreally under way, but if anyone noticed the barefoot, disheveled girl hurrying down a side staircase, face beaten, dress spattered with blood, they said nothing. Disoriented, Jackie burst out a side door, realized she was lost, and dialed a friend, screaming, "Something bad happened. I need you to come and find me!" Minutes later, her three best friends on campus – two boys and a girl (whose names are changed) – arrived to find Jackie on a nearby street corner, shaking. "What did they do to you? What did they make you do?" Jackie recalls her friend Randall demanding. Jackie shook her head and began to cry. The group looked at one another in a panic. They all knew about Jackie's date; the Phi Kappa Psi house loomed behind them. "We have to get her to the hospital," Randall said. Their other two friends, however, weren't convinced. "Is that such a good idea?" she recalls Cindy asking. "Her reputation will be shot for the next four years." Andy seconded the opinion, adding that since he and Randall both planned to rush fraternities, they ought to think this through. The three friends launched into a heated discussion about the social price of reporting Jackie's rape, while Jackie stood beside them, mute in her bloody dress, wishing only to go back to her dorm room and fall into a deep, forgetful sleep. Detached, Jackie listened as Cindy prevailed over the group: "She's gonna be the girl who cried 'rape,' and we'll never be allowed into any frat party again." Two years later, Jackie, now a third-year, is worried about what might happen to her once this article comes out. Greek life is huge at UVA, with nearly one-third of undergrads belonging to a fraternity or sorority, so Jackie fears the backlash could be big – a "shitshow" predicted by her now-former friend Randall, who, citing his loyalty to his own frat, declined to be interviewed. But her concerns go beyond taking on her alleged assailants and their fraternity. Lots of people have discouraged her from sharing her story, Jackie tells me with a pained look, including the trusted UVA dean to whom Jackie reported her gang-rape allegations more than a year ago. On this deeply loyal campus, even some of Jackie's closest friends see her going public as tantamount to betrayal. Sidebar "One of my roommates said, 'Do you want to be responsible for something that's gonna paint UVA in a bad light?' " says Jackie, poking at a vegan burger at a restaurant on the Corner, UVA's popular retail strip. "But I said, 'UVA has flown under the radar for so long, someone has to say something about it, or else it's gonna be this system that keeps perpetuating!' " Jackie frowns. "My friend just said, 'You have to remember where your loyalty lies.'" From reading headlines today, one might think colleges have suddenly become hotbeds of protest by celebrated anti-rape activists. But like most colleges across America, genteel University of Virginia has no radical feminist culture seeking to upend the patriarchy. There are no red-tape-wearing protests like at Harvard, no "sex-positive" clubs promoting the female orgasm like at Yale, no mattress-hauling performance artists like at Columbia, and certainly no SlutWalks. UVA isn't an edgy or progressive campus by any stretch. The pinnacle of its polite activism is its annual Take Back the Night vigil, which on this campus of 21,000 students attracts an audience of less than 500 souls. But the dearth of attention isn't because rape doesn't happen in Charlottesville. It's because at UVA, rapes are kept quiet, both by students – who brush off sexual assaults as regrettable but inevitable casualties of their cherished party culture – and by an administration that critics say is less concerned with protecting students than it is with protecting its own reputation from scandal. Some UVA women, so sickened by the university's culture of hidden sexual violence, have taken to calling it "UVrApe." "University of Virginia thinks they're above the law," says UVA grad and victims-rights advocate Liz Seccuro. "They go to such lengths to protect themselves. There's a national conversation about sexual assault, but nothing at UVA is changing." Liz Seccuro with her husband, Mike in front of the Charlottesville District Court in Charlottesville, Va., Thursday, March 15th, 2007. Steve Helber/AP S. Daniel Carter, who as former director of public policy for the advocacy group Clery Center for Security on Campus is a national expert on college safety, points out that UVA's sexual assault problems are not much worse than other schools; if anything, he says, the depressing reality is that UVA's situation is likely the norm. Decades of awareness programming haven't budged the prevalence of campus rape: One in five women is sexually assaulted in college, though only about 12 percent report it to police. Spurred by a wave of activism, the Obama administration has stepped up pressure on colleges, announcing Title IX investigations of 86 schools suspected of denying students their equal right to education by inadequately handling sexual-violence complaints; if found in violation, each school runs the risk of financial penalties, including the nuclear option (which has never been deployed) of having its federal funding revoked. The University of Virginia is one of the 86 schools now under federal investigation, but it has more reason to worry than most of its peers. Because, unlike most schools under scrutiny, where complaints are at issue, UVA is one of only 12 schools under a sweeping investigation known as "compliance review": a proactive probe launched by the Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights itself, triggered by concerns about deep-rooted issues. "They are targeted efforts to go after very serious concerns," says Office of Civil Rights assistant secretary Catherine Lhamon. "We don't open compliance reviews unless we have something that we think merits it." UVA says it has been complying fully with the investigation. But Carter notes that UVA and other elite schools tend not to respond well to criticism and sanctify tradition above all else. "That's common to more prestigious institutions," Carter says. Prestige is at the core of UVA's identity. Although a public school, its grounds of red-brick, white-columned buildings designed by founder Thomas Jefferson radiate old-money privilege, footnoted by the graffiti of UVA's many secret societies, whose insignias are neatly painted everywhere. At $10,000 a year, in-state tuition is a quarter the cost of the Ivies, but UVA tends to attract affluent students, and through aggressive fundraising boasts an endowment of $5 billion, on par with Cornell. "Wealthy parents are the norm," says former UVA dean John Foubert. On top of all that, UVA enjoys a reputation as one of the best schools in the country, not to mention a campus so brimming with fun that in 2012 – the year of Jackie's rape – Playboy crowned it the nation's number-one party school. Students hold themselves up to that standard: studious by day, wild by night. "The most impressive person at UVA is the person who gets straight A's and goes to all the parties," explains fourth-year student Brian Head. Partying traditions fuse the decorum of the Southern aristocracy with binge drinking: At Cavalier football tailgates, the dress code is "girls in pearls, guys in ties" while students guzzle handles of vodka. Not for nothing is a UVA student nicknamed a Wahoo, as undergrads like to explain; though derived from a long-ago yell from Cavalier fans, a wahoo is also a fish that can drink twice its own body weight. University of Virginia campus Lance King/Getty Wahoos are enthralled to be at UVA and can't wait to tell you the reasons why, beginning, surprisingly, with Thomas Jefferson, whose lore is so powerfully woven into everyday UVA life that you practically expect to glimpse the man still walking the grounds in his waistcoat and pantaloons. Nearly every student I interviewed found a way to mention "TJ," speaking with zeal about their founding father's vision for an "academical village" in the idyllic setting of the Blue Ridge Mountains. They burble about UVA's honor code, a solemn pledge not to lie, cheat or steal; students are expected to snitch on violators, who are expelled. UVA's emphasis on honor is so pronounced that since 1998, 183 people have been expelled for honor-code violations such as cheating on exams. And yet paradoxically, not a single student at UVA has ever been expelled for sexual assault. "Think about it," says Susan Russell, whose UVA daughter's sexual-assault report helped trigger a previous federal investigation. "In what world do you get kicked out for cheating, but if you rape someone, you can stay?" Attorney Wendy Murphy, who has filed Title IX complaints and lawsuits against schools including UVA, argues that in matters of sexual violence, Ivy League and Division I schools' fixation with prestige is their downfall. "These schools love to pretend they protect the children as if they were their own, but that's not true: They're interested in money," Murphy says. "In these situations, the one who gets the most protection is either a wealthy kid, a legacy kid or an athlete. The more privileged he is, the more likely the woman has to die before he's held accountable." Indeed, UVA is the same campus where the volatile relationship of lacrosse star George Huguely V and his girlfriend Yeardley Love was seen as unremarkable – his jealous rages, fanned by over-the-top drinking – until the 2010 day he kicked open her door and beat her to death. UVA president Teresa Sullivan denies the administration sweeps sexual assault under the rug. "If we're trying to hide the issue, we're not doing a very good job of it," she says, noting that this past February UVA hosted the first-ever sexual-assault summit for college administrators. It's true that recently, while under close government scrutiny, the school has made some encouraging changes, including designating most UVA authority figures as mandatory reporters of sexual assault and teaming up with student activists to create a bystander-intervention campaign. Students praise UVA's deans as caring folks who answer late-night calls from victims and even make emergency-room visits. University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan AP And yet the UVA public-relations team seemed unenthused about this article, canceling my interview with the head of UVA's Sexual Misconduct Board, and forbidding other administrators from cooperating; even students seemed infected by their anxiety about how members of the administration might appear. And when President Sullivan was at last made available for an interview, her most frequently invoked answer to my specific questions about sexual-assault handling at UVA – while two other UVA staffers sat in on the recorded call – was "I don't know." All you girls from Mary Washington and RMWC, never let a Cavalier an inch above your knee. He'll take you to his fraternity house and fill you full of beer. And soon you'll be the mother of a bastard Cavalier! "Rugby Road" Two weeks after Jackie's rape, she ran into Drew during her lifeguard shift at the UVA pool. "Hey, Jackie," Drew said, startling her. "Are you ignoring me?" She'd switched her shift in the hopes of never seeing him again. Since the Phi Kappa Psi party, she'd barely left her dorm room, fearful of glimpsing one of her attackers. Jackie stared at Drew, unable to speak. "I wanted to thank you for the other night," Drew said. "I had a great time." Sidebar Jackie left her shift early, saying she wasn't feeling well. Then she walked back to her dorm and crawled under the covers. She didn't go to classes for the rest of the week, and soon quit her lifeguarding job – the first time she could remember quitting anything. She would never again return to the Anthropology course she shared with one of her assailants. She was constantly on the edge of panic, plagued by flashbacks – and disgusted by her own naiveté. She obsessed over what easy prey she'd been, as the attention-starved freshman who for weeks drank up Drew's flirtations. "I still grapple with 'Did I do something that could have been construed as that's what I wanted?' " she says. Before Jackie left for college, her parents – a Vietnam vet and retired military contractor, and a stay-at-home mom – had lectured her about avoiding the perils of the social scene, stressing the importance of her studies, since Jackie hoped to get into medical school. Jackie had a strained relationship with her father, in whose eyes she'd never felt good enough, and always responded by exceeding expectations – honor roll, swim team, first-chair violin – becoming the role model for her two younger brothers. Jackie had been looking forward to college as an escape – a place to, even, defy her parents' wishes and go to a frat party. "And I guess they were right," she says bitterly. She was having an especially difficult time figuring out how to process that awful night, because her small social circle seemed so underwhelmed. For the first month of school, Jackie had latched onto a crew of lighthearted social strivers, and her pals were now impatient for Jackie to rejoin the merriment. "You're still upset about that?" Andy asked one Friday night when Jackie was crying. Cindy, a self-declared hookup queen, said she didn't see why Jackie was so bent out of shape. "Why didn't you have fun with it?" Cindy asked. "A bunch of hot Phi Psi guys?" One of Jackie's friends told her, unconcerned, "Andy said you had a bad experience at a frat, and you've been a baby ever since." "Some of my hallmates were skeptical," says one survivor of rape. "They were silent and avoided me afterwards. It Made me doubt myself." That reaction of dismissal, downgrading and doubt is a common theme UVA rape survivors hear, including from women. "Some of my hallmates were skeptical," recalls recent grad Emily Renda, who says that weeks into her first year she was raped after a party. "They were silent and avoided me afterwards. It made me doubt myself." Other students encounter more overt hostility, as when a first-year student confided her assault to a friend. "She said she thought I was just looking for attention," says the undergrad. Shrugging off a rape or pointing fingers at the victim can be a self-protective maneuver for women, a form of wishful thinking to reassure themselves they could never be so vulnerable to violence. For men, skepticism is a form of self-protection too. For much of their lives, they've looked forward to the hedonistic fun of college, bearing every expectation of booze and no-strings sex. A rape heralds the uncomfortable idea that all that harmless mayhem may not be so harmless after all. Easier, then, to assume the girl is lying, even though studies indicate that false rape reports account for, at most, eight percent of reports. Emily Renda Courtesy of Emily Renda And so at UVA, where social status is paramount, outing oneself as a rape victim can be a form of social suicide. "I don't know many people who are engrossed in the party scene and have spoken out about their sexual assaults," says third-year student Sara Surface. After all, no one climbs the social ladder only to cast themselves back down. Emily Renda, for one, quickly figured out that few classmates were sympathetic to her plight, and instead channeled her despair into hard partying. "My drinking didn't stand out," says Renda, who often ended her nights passed out on a bathroom floor. "It does make you wonder how many others are doing what I did: drinking to self-medicate." By the middle of her first semester, Jackie's alarm would ring and ring in her dorm room until one of her five suitemates would pad down the hall to turn it off. Jackie would barely stir in her bed. "That was when we realized she was even there," remembers suitemate Rachel Soltis. "At the beginning of the year, she seemed like a normal, happy girl, always with friends. Then her door was closed all the time. We just figured she was out." Long since abandoned by her original crew, Jackie had slept through half a semester's worth of classes and had bought a length of rope with which to hang herself. Instead, as the semester crawled to an end, she called her mother. "Come and get me," Jackie told her, crying. "I need your help." The first weeks of freshman year are when students are most vulnerable to sexual assault. Spend a Friday night in mid-September walking along Rugby Road at UVA, and you can begin to see why. Hundreds of women in crop tops and men in khaki shorts stagger between handsome fraternity houses, against a call-and-response soundtrack of "Whoo!" and breaking glass. "Do you know where Delta Sig is?" a girl slurs, sloshed. Behind her, one of her dozen or so friends stumbles into the street, sending a beer bottle shattering. ("Whoo!" calls a far-away voice.) Sidebar "These are all first-years," narrates one of my small group of upperclasswomen guides. We walk the curving length of tree-lined Rugby Road as they explain the scene. The women rattle off which one is known as the "roofie frat," where supposedly four girls have been drugged and raped, and at which house a friend had a recent "bad experience," the Wahoo euphemism for sexual assault. Studies have shown that fraternity men are three times as likely to commit rape, and a spate of recent high-profile cases illustrates the dangers that can lurk at frat parties, like a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee frat accused of using color-coded hand stamps as a signal to roofie their guests, and this fall's suspension of Brown University's chapter of Phi Kappa Psi – of all fraternities – after a partygoer tested positive for the date-rape drug GHB. Presumably, the UVA freshmen wobbling around us are oblivious to any specific hazards along Rugby Road; having just arrived on campus, they can hardly tell one fraternity from another. As we pass another frat house, one of my guides offers, "I know a girl who got assaulted there." Phi Kappa Psi House "I do too!" says her friend in mock-excitement. "That makes two! Yay!" Frats are often the sole option for an underage drinker looking to party, since bars are off-limits, sororities are dry and first-year students don't get many invites to apartment soirees. Instead, the kids crowd the walkways of the big, anonymous frat houses, vying for entry. "Hot girls who are drunk always get in – it's a good idea to act drunker than you really are," says third-year Alexandria Pinkleton, expertly clad in the UVA-after-dark uniform of a midriff-baring sleeveless top and shorts. "Also? You have to seem very innocent and vulnerable. That's why they love first-year girls." Once successfully inside the frat house, women play the role of grateful guests in unfamiliar territory where men control the variables. In dark, loud basements, girls accept drinks, are pulled onto dance floors to be ground and groped and, later, often having lost sight of their friends, led into bathrooms or up the stairs for privacy. Most of that hooking up is consensual. But against that backdrop, as psychologist David Lisak discovered, lurk undetected predators. Lisak's 2002 groundbreaking study of more than 1,800 college men found that roughly nine out of 10 rapes are committed by serial offenders, who are responsible for an astonishing average of six rapes each. None of the offenders in Lisak's study had ever been reported. Lisak's findings upended general presumptions about campus sexual assault: It implied that most incidents are not bumbling, he-said-she-said miscommunications, but rather deliberate crimes by serial sex offenders. In his study, Lisak's subjects described the ways in which they used the camouflage of college as fruitful rape-hunting grounds. They told Lisak they target freshmen for being the most naïve and the least-experienced drinkers. One offender described how his party-hearty friends would help incapacitate his victims: "We always had some kind of punch. . . . We'd make it with a real sweet juice. It was really powerful stuff. The girls wouldn't know what hit them." Presumably, the friends mixing the drinks did so without realizing the offender's plot, just as when they probably high-fived him the next morning, they didn't realize the behavior they'd just endorsed. That's because the serial rapist's behavior can look ordinary at college. "They're not acting in a vacuum," observes Lisak of predators. "They're echoing that message and that culture that's around them: the objectification and degradation of women." One need only glance around at some recent college hijinks to see spectacular examples of the way the abasement of women has broken through to no-holds-barred misogyny: a Dartmouth student's how-to-rape guide posted online this past January; Yale pledges chanting "No means yes! Yes means anal!" And despite its air of mannered civility, UVA has been in on the naughty fun for at least 70 years with its jolly fight song "Rugby Road," which celebrates the sexual triumphs of UVA fraternity men, named for the very same street where my guides and I are now enveloped in a thickening crowd of wasted first-years. Through the decades, the song has expanded to 35 verses, with the more recent, student-penned stanzas shedding the song's winking tone in favor of something more jarringly explicit: A hundred Delta Gammas, a thousand AZDs Ten thousand Pi Phi bitches who get down on their knees But the ones that we hold true, the ones that we hold dear Are the ones who stay up late at night, and take it in the rear. In 2010, "Rugby Road" was banned from football games – despite a petition calling it "an integral part" of UVA culture. But Wahoos fearing the loss of tradition can take heart that "Rugby Road" verses are still performed on campus by UVA's oldest a cappella group, the Virginia Gentlemen. At the end of her freshman year, Jackie found herself in the Peabody Hall office of Dean Nicole Eramo, head of UVA's Sexual Misconduct Board. This was a big step for Jackie. She still hadn't even managed to tell her own mother exactly what had happened at Phi Kappa Psi. Upon returning to school for her second semester, Jackie had tried to put on a brave face and simply move forward, but instead continued falling apart. Though a psychiatrist had put Jackie on Wellbutrin, she had remained depressed, couldn't concentrate, and spent the semester so frightened and withdrawn that her academic dean finally called her in to discuss why she'd failed three classes. In his office, with her mother beside her, she'd burst into tears, and her mother explained she'd had a "bad experience" at a party. He'd blanched and given Jackie the e-mail for Dean Eramo. Sidebar If Dean Eramo was surprised at Jackie's story of gang rape, it didn't show. A short woman with curly dark hair and a no-nonsense demeanor, Eramo surely has among the most difficult jobs at UVA. As the intake person on behalf of the university for all sexual-assault complaints since 2006, it's her job to deal with a parade of sobbing students trekking in and out of her office. (UVA declined to make Eramo available for comment.) A UVA alum herself, Eramo is beloved by survivors, who consider her a friend and confidante – even though, as only a few students are aware, her office isn't a confidential space at all. Each time a new complaint comes through Eramo's office, it activates a review by UVA's Title IX officer, is included in UVA's tally of federally mandated Clery Act crime statistics, and Eramo may, at her discretion, reveal details of her conversation with the student to other administrators. (Jackie was mortified to learn later that Eramo had shared her identity with another UVA administrator.) After all, a dean's foremost priority is the overall safety of the campus. Jackie says when she asked why UVA's rape stats were hard to find, the dean said, "Because nobody wants to send their daughter to the rape school." When Jackie finished talking, Eramo comforted her, then calmly laid out her options. If Jackie wished, she could file a criminal complaint with police. Or, if Jackie preferred to keep the matter within the university, she had two choices. She could file a complaint with the school's Sexual Misconduct Board, to be decided in a "formal resolution" with a jury of students and faculty, and a dean as judge. Or Jackie could choose an "informal resolution," in which Jackie could simply face her attackers in Eramo's presence and tell them how she felt; Eramo could then issue a directive to the men, such as suggesting counseling. Eramo presented each option to Jackie neutrally, giving each equal weight. She assured Jackie there was no pressure – whatever happened next was entirely her choice. Like many schools, UVA has taken to emphasizing that in matters of sexual assault, it caters to victim choice. "If students feel that we are forcing them into a criminal or disciplinary process that they don't want to be part of, frankly, we'd be concerned that we would get fewer reports," says associate VP for student affairs Susan Davis. Which in theory makes sense: Being forced into an unwanted choice is a sensitive point for the victims. But in practice, that utter lack of guidance can be counterproductive to a 19-year-old so traumatized as Jackie was that she was contemplating suicide. Setting aside for a moment the absurdity of a school offering to handle the investigation and adjudication of a felony sex crime – something Title IX requires, but which no university on Earth is equipped to do – the sheer menu of choices, paired with the reassurance that any choice is the right one, often has the end result of coddling the victim into doing nothing. "This is an alarming trend that I'm seeing on campuses," says Laura Dunn of the advocacy group SurvJustice. "Schools are assigning people to victims who are pretending, or even thinking, they're on the victim's side, when they're actually discouraging and silencing them. Advocates who survivors love are part of the system that is failing to address sexual violence." Phi Kappa Psi House Illustration by John Ritter Absent much guidance, Jackie would eventually wonder how other student victims handled her situation. But when she clicked around on UVA's website, she found no answers. All she found were the UVA police's crime logs, which the university makes available online, but are mostly a list of bike theft, vandalism and public-drunkenness complaints. That's because only a fraction of UVA students who report sex crimes turn to campus police. The rest go to Dean Eramo's office, to Charlottesville police or the county sheriff's office. Yet when RS asked UVA for its statistics, the press office repeatedly referred us to the UVA police crime logs. UVA parent Susan Russell believes that misdirection is deliberate. "When a parent goes to the campus crime log, and they don't see sexual assault, they think the school is safe," Russell says, adding that her daughter's 2004 sexual assault once appeared in the log mislabeled "Suspicious Circumstances." Eventually, UVA furnished Rolling Stone with some of its most recent tally: In the last academic year, 38 students went to Eramo about a sexual assault, up from about 20 students three years ago. However, of those 38, only nine resulted in "complaints"; the other 29 students evaporated. Of those nine complaints, four resulted in Sexual Misconduct Board hearings. UVA wasn't willing to disclose their outcomes, citing privacy. Like most colleges, sexual-assault proceedings at UVA unfold in total secrecy. Asked why UVA doesn't publish all its data, President Sullivan explains that it might not be in keeping with "best practices" and thus may inadvertently discourage reporting. Jackie got a different explanation when she'd eventually asked Dean Eramo the same question. She says Eramo answered wryly, "Because nobody wants to send their daughter to the rape school." For now, however, Jackie left her first meeting with Eramo feeling better for having unburdened herself, and with the dean's assurance that nothing would be done without her say-so. Eramo e-mailed a follow-up note thanking Jackie for sharing, saying, "I could tell that was very difficult for you," and restating that while she respected Jackie's wish not to file a report, she'd be happy to assist "if you decide that you would like to hold these men accountable." In the meantime, having presumably judged there to be no threat to public safety, the UVA administration took no action to warn the campus that an allegation of gang rape had been made against an active fraternity. All the first-year women are morally uptight. They'll never do a single thing unless they know it's right. But then they come to Rugby Road and soon they've seen the light. And you never know how many men they'll bring home every night. "Rugby Road" You can trace UVA's cycle of sexual violence and institutional indifference back at least 30 years – and incredibly, the trail leads back to Phi Psi. In October 1984, Liz Seccuro was a 17-year-old virgin when she went to a party at the frat and was handed a mixed drink. "They called it the house special," she remembers. Things became spotty after Seccuro had a few sips. But etched in pain was a clear memory of a stranger raping her on a bed. She woke up wrapped in a bloody sheet; by rifling through the boy's mail before fleeing, she discovered his name was Will Beebe. Incredibly, 21 years later, Beebe wrote Seccuro a letter, saying he wanted to make amends as part of his 12-step program. Seccuro took the correspondence to Charlottesville police. And in the midst of the 2006 prosecution that followed, where Beebe would eventually plead guilty to aggravated sexual battery, investigators made a startling discovery: That while at Phi Psi that night, Seccuro had been assaulted not by one man, but by three. "I had been gang-raped," says Seccuro, who detailed her ordeal in a 2011 memoir. William N. Beebe out of the Charlottesville, Va. Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on Tuesday, Jan. 17th, 2006. Brady Wolfe/Daily Progress/AP That it took two decades for Seccuro to achieve some justice is even more disgraceful, since she reported her rape to the UVA administration after leaving the Phi Psi house on that 1984 morning. "I went to the dean covered in scabs and with broken ribs," she remembers. "And he said, 'Do you think it was just regrettable sex?' " Seccuro wanted to call police, but she was incorrectly told Charlottesville police lacked jurisdiction over fraternity houses. If Seccuro's story of administrative cover-up and apathy sounds outrageous, it's actually in keeping with the stories told by other UVA survivors. After one alumna was abducted from a dark, wooded section of campus and raped in 1993, she says she asked a UVA administrator for better lighting. "They told me it would ruin Jefferson's vision of what the university was supposed to look like," the alum says. "As if Thomas Jefferson even knew about electric lights!" In 2002 and 2004, two female students, including Susan Russell's daughter, were unhappy with their sexual-misconduct hearings, which each felt didn't hold their alleged perpetrators accountable – and each was admonished by UVA administrators to never speak publicly about the proceedings or else they could face expulsion for violating the honor code. For issuing that directive, in 2008 UVA was found in violation of the Clery Act. "UVA is more egregious than most," says John Foubert, a UVA dean from 1998 to 2002, and founder of the national male sex-assault peer education group One in Four. "I've worked for five or six colleges, and the stuff I saw happen during my time there definitely stands out." For example, Foubert recalls, in one rare case in which the university applied a harsh penalty, an undergrad was suspended after stalking five students. Heated discussion ensued over whether the boy should be allowed back after his suspension. Though the counseling center wanted him to stay gone, Foubert says, the then-dean of students argued in favor of his return, saying, "We can pick our lawsuit from a potential sixth victim, or from him, for denying him access to an education." The few stories leaking out of UVA's present-day justice system aren't much better. One student, whose Title IX complaint against UVA is currently under investigation by the Office of Civil Rights, said that in December 2011, another student raped her while she was blackout drunk, possibly drugged. As she wrote in a student publication, evidence emerged that the man had previously been accused of drugging others, but the information was rejected as "prejudicial." The Sexual Misconduct Board told the young woman it found her "compelling and believable," but found the man not guilty. "I had never felt so betrayed and let down in my life," wrote the woman. "They said that they believed me. They said that UVA was my home and that it loved me. Yet, how could they believe me and let him go completely unpunished?" Rolling Stone has discovered that this past spring a UVA first-year student, whom we'll call Stacy, filed a report stating that while vomiting up too much whiskey into a male friend's toilet one night, he groped her, plunged his hands down her sweatpants and then, after carrying her semi-conscious to his bed, digitally penetrated her. When the Charlottesville DA's office declined to file charges, she says, Stacy asked for a hearing with the Sexual Misconduct Board, and was surprised when UVA authority figures tried to talk her out of it. "My counselors, members of the Dean of Students office, everyone said the trial process would be way too hard on me," says Stacy. "They were like, 'You need to focus on your healing.' " Stacy insisted upon moving forward anyway, even when the wealthy family of the accused kicked up a fuss. "They threatened to sue deans individually, they threatened to sue me," she recalls. But Stacy remained stalwart, because she had additional motivation: She'd been shaken to discover two other women with stories of assault by the same man. "One was days after mine, at a rush function at his frat house," says Stacy. "So I was like, 'I have to do something before someone else is hurt.' " Her determination redoubled after the Dean of Students office informed her that multiple assaults by a student would be grounds for his expulsion – a mantra that Eramo repeated at a Take Back the Night event in April. Jackie came across something disturbing: Two other young women confided that they, too, had been victims of Phi Kappa Psi gang rapes. Bearing her deans' words in mind, at her nine-hour formal hearing in June, Stacy took pains to present not only her own case, but also the other two allegations, submitting witness statements that were allowed in as "pattern evidence." The board pronounced the man guilty for sexual misconduct against Stacy, making him only the 14th guilty person in UVA's history. Stacy was relieved at the verdict. "I was like, 'He's gone!' 'Cause he's a multiple assailant, I'd been told so many times that that was grounds for expulsion!" So she was stunned when she learned his actual penalty: a one-year suspension. (Citing privacy laws, UVA would not comment on this or any case.) Turns out, when UVA personnel speak of expulsion for "multiple assaults," they mean multiple complaints that are filed with the Sexual Misconduct Board, and then adjudicated guilty. Under that more precise definition, the two other cases introduced in Stacy's case didn't count toward his penalty. Stacy feels offended by the outcome and misled by the deans. "After two rapes and an assault, to let him back on grounds is an insult to the honor system that UVA brags about," she says. "UVA doesn't want to expel. They were too afraid of getting negative publicity or the pants sued off them." She's a helluva twat from Agnes Scott, she'll fuck for 50 cents. She'll lay her ass upon the grass, her panties on the fence. You supply the liquor, and she'll supply the lay. And if you can't get it up, you sunuva bitch, you're not from UVA. "Rugby Road" When did it happen to you?" Emily Renda asked Jackie as they sat for coffee at the outdoor Downtown Mall in the fall of 2013. "September 28th," Jackie whispered. "October 7th, 2010," Emily responded, not breaking her gaze, and Jackie knew she'd found a friend. As Jackie had begun her second year at UVA, she'd continued struggling. Dean Eramo had connected her with Emily, a fourth-year who'd become active in One Less, a student-run sexual-assault education organization that doubles as a support group. Sitting with Emily, Jackie poured out her story, wiping her eyes with napkins as she confided to Emily that she felt like a broken person. "You're not broken," Emily told her. "They're the ones who are fucked up, and what happened to you wasn't your fault." Jackie was flooded with gratitude, desperate to hear those words at last – and from someone who knew. Emily invited her to a meeting of One Less, thus introducing her to UVA's true secret society. Illustration by John Ritter: Photo of Nicole Eramo in Illustration by Jenna Truong/Cavalier Daily In its weekly meetings, the 45-member group would discuss how to foster dialogue on campus. Afterward they'd splinter off and share stories of sexual assault, each tale different and yet very much the same. Many took place on tipsy nights with men who refused to stop; some were of sex while blackout drunk; rarer stories involved violence, though none so extreme as Jackie's. But no matter the circumstances, their peers' reactions were largely the same: Assaults were brushed off, with attackers defended ("He'd never do anything like that"), the victim questioned ("Are you sure?"). After feeling isolated for more than a year, Jackie was astonished at how much she and this sisterhood had in common, including the fact that a surprising number hadn't pursued any form of complaint. Although many had contacted Dean Eramo, whom they laud as their best advocate and den mother – Jackie repeatedly calls her "an asset to the community" – few ever filed reports with UVA or with police. Instead, basking in the safety of one another's company, the members of One Less applauded the brave few who chose to take action, but mostly affirmed each other's choices not to report, in an echo of their university's approach. So profound was the students' faith in its administration that although they were appalled by Jackie's story, no one voiced questions about UVA's strategy of doing nothing to warn the campus of gang-rape allegations against a fraternity that still held parties and was rushing a new pledge class. Some of these women are disturbed by the contradiction. "It's easy to cover up a rape at a university if no one is reporting," admits Jackie's friend Alex Pinkleton. And privately, some of Jackie's confidantes were outraged. "The university ignores the problem to make itself look better," says recent grad Rachel Soltis, Jackie's former roommate. "They should have done something in Jackie's case. Me and several other people know exactly who did this to her. But they want to protect even the people who are doing these horrible things." But no such doubts shadowed the meetings of One Less, which was fine by Jackie. One Less held seminars for student groups on bystander intervention and how to be supportive of survivors. Jackie dove into her new roles as peer adviser and Take Back the Night committee member and began to discover just how wide her secret UVA survivor network was – because the more she shared her story, the more girls sought her out, waylaying her after presentations or after classes, even calling in the middle of the night with a crisis. Jackie has been approached by so many survivors that she wonders whether the one-in-five statistic may not apply in Charlottesville. "I feel like it's one in three at UVA," she says. But payback for being so public on a campus accustomed to silence was swift. This past spring, in separate incidents, both Emily Renda and Jackie were harassed outside bars on the Corner by men who recognized them from presentations and called them "cunt" and "feminazi bitch." One flung a bottle at Jackie that broke on the side of her face, leaving a blood-red bruise around her eye. She e-mailed Eramo so they could discuss the attack – and discuss another matter, too, which was troubling Jackie a great deal. Through her ever expanding network, Jackie had come across something deeply disturbing: two other young women who, she says, confided that they, too, had recently been Phi Kappa Psi gang-rape victims. A bruise still mottling her face, Jackie sat in Eramo's office in May 2014 and told her about the two others. One, she says, is a 2013 graduate, who'd told Jackie that she'd been gang-raped as a freshman at the Phi Psi house. The other was a first-year whose worried friends had called Jackie after the girl had come home wearing no pants. Jackie said the girl told her she'd been assaulted by four men in a Phi Psi bathroom while a fifth watched. (Neither woman was willing to talk to RS.) As Jackie wrapped up her story, she was disappointed by Eramo's nonreaction. She'd expected shock, disgust, horror. For months, Jackie had been assuaging her despair by throwing herself into peer education, but there was no denying her helplessness when she thought about Phi Psi, or about her own alleged assailants still walking the grounds. She'd recently been aghast to bump into Drew, who greeted her with friendly nonchalance. "For a whole year, I thought about how he had ruined my life, and how he is the worst human being ever," Jackie says. "And then I saw him and I couldn't say anything." "You look different," Drew told Jackie while she stared back at him in fear, and he was right: Since arriving at UVA, Jackie had gained 25 pounds from antidepressants and lack of exercise. That interaction would render her too depressed to leave her room for days. Of all her assailants, Drew was the one she wanted to see held accountable – but with Drew about to graduate, he was going to get away with it. Because, as she miserably reminded Eramo in her office, she didn't feel ready to file a complaint. Eramo, as always, understood. Given the swirl of gang-rape allegations Eramo had now heard against one of UVA's oldest and most powerful fraternities – founded in 1853, its distinguished chapter members have included President Woodrow Wilson – the school may have wondered about its responsibilities to the rest of the campus. Experts apprised of the situation by RS agreed that despite the absence of an official report, Jackie's passing along two other allegations should compel the school to take action out of regard for campus safety. "The fact that they already had that first victim, they should have been taking action," says SurvJustice's Laura Dunn. "That school could really be sued." If the UVA administration was roiled by such concerns, however, it wasn't apparent this past September, as it hosted a trustees meeting. Two full hours had been set aside to discuss campus sexual assault, an amount of time that, as many around the conference table pointed out, underscored the depth of UVA's commitment. Those two hours, however, were devoted entirely to upbeat explanations of UVA's new prevention and response strategies, and to self-congratulations to UVA for being a "model" among schools in this arena. Only once did the room darken with concern, when a trustee in UVA colors – blue sport coat, orange bow tie – interrupted to ask, "Are we under any federal investigation with regard to sexual assault?" Dean of students Allen Groves, in a blue suit and orange necktie of his own, swooped in with a smooth answer. He affirmed that while like many of its peers UVA was under investigation, it was merely a "standard compliance review." He mentioned that a student's complaint from the 2010-11 academic year had been folded into that "routine compliance review." Having downplayed the significance of a Title IX compliance review – which is neither routine nor standard – he then elaborated upon the lengths to which UVA has cooperated with the Office of Civil Rights' investigation, his tone and manner so reassuring that the room relaxed. Told of the meeting, Office of Civil Rights' Catherine Lhamon calls Groves' mischaracterization "deliberate and irresponsible." "Nothing annoys me more than a school not taking seriously their review from the federal government about their civil rights obligations," she says. Within days of the board meeting, having learned of Rolling Stone's probe into Jackie's story, UVA at last placed Phi Kappa Psi under investigation. Or rather, as President Sullivan carefully answered my question about allegations of gang rape at Phi Psi, "We do have a fraternity under investigation." Phi Kappa Psi national executive director Shawn Collinsworth says that UVA indeed notified him of sexual assault allegations; he immediately dispatched a representative to meet with the chapter. UVA chapter president Stephen Scipione recalls being only told of a vague, anonymous "fourth-hand" allegation of a sexual assault during a party. "We were not told that it was rape, but rather that something of a sexual nature took place," he wrote to RS in an e-mail. Either way, Collinsworth says, given the paucity of information, "we have no evidence to substantiate the alleged assaults." "Under investigation," President Sullivan insists when I ask her to elaborate on how the university is handling the case. "I don't know how else to spell that out for you." But Jackie may have gotten a glimpse into the extent of the investigation when, in the days following my visit to campus, she was called into Eramo's office, bringing along her friend Alex for moral support. According to both women, Eramo revealed that she'd learned "through the grapevine" that "all the boys involved have graduated." Both girls were mystified. Not only had Jackie just seen one of the boys riding his bike on grounds but, as Alex pointed out, "Doesn't that mean they're admitting something happened?" No warning has yet been issued to the campus. With a pocketknife and pepper spray tucked into her handbag, and a rape whistle hanging from her key chain, Jackie is prepared for a Friday night at UVA. In a restaurant on the Corner, Jackie sips water through a straw as the first of the night's "Whoo!"s reverberate from the sidewalk outside. "It makes me really depressed, almost," says Jackie with a sad chuckle. "There's always gonna be another Friday night, and another fraternity party, and another girl." Across the table, Alex sighs. "I know," she says. Bartenders and bouncers all along the Corner are wearing T-shirts advertising the new "Hoos Got Your Back" bystander-intervention campaign, which all seems very hopeful. But this week, the third week of September, has been a difficult one. Charlottesville police received their first sexual-assault report of the academic year; Jackie and Alex were also each approached by someone seeking help about an assault. And as this weekend progresses, things will get far worse at UVA: Two more sexual assaults will be reported to police, and, in every parent's worst fears come true, an 18-year-old student on her way to a party will vanish; her body will be discovered five weeks later. Suspect Jesse Matthew Jr., a 32-year-old UVA hospital worker, will be charged with Hannah Graham's "abduction with intent to defile," and a chilling portrait will emerge of an alleged predator who got his start, a decade ago, as a campus rapist. Back in 2002, and again in 2003, Matthew was accused of sexual assault at two different Virginia colleges where he was enrolled, but was never prosecuted. In 2005, according to the new police indictment, Matthew sexually assaulted a 26-year-old and tried to kill her. DNA has also reportedly linked Matthew to the 2009 death of Virginia Tech student Morgan Harrington, who disappeared after a Metallica concert in Charlottesville. The grisly dossier of which Matthew has been accused underscores the premise that campus rape should be seen not through the schema of a dubious party foul, but as a violent crime – and that victims should be encouraged to come forward as an act of civic good that could potentially spare future victims. Jackie is hoping she will get there someday. She badly wants to muster the courage to file criminal charges or even a civil case. But she's paralyzed. "It's like I'm in my own personal prison," she says. "I'm so terrified this is going to be the rest of my life." She still cries a lot, and she has been more frightened than usual to be alone or to walk in the dark. When Jackie talks about her assault, she fixates on the moment before Drew picked her up for their date: "I remember looking at the mirror and putting on mascara and being like, 'I feel really pretty,' " Jackie recalls. "I didn't know it would be the last time I wouldn't see an empty shell of a person." Jackie tells me of a recurring nightmare she's been having, in which she's watching herself climb those Phi Kappa Psi stairs. She frantically calls to herself to stop, but knows it's too late: That in real life, she's already gone up those stairs and into that terrible room, and things will never be the same. It bothers Jackie to know that Drew and the rest get to walk away as if nothing happened, but that she still walks toward that room every night – and blames herself for it during the day. "Everything bad in my life now is built around that one bad decision that I made," she says. "All because I went to that stupid party." ||||| An exterior view of the Phi Kappa Psi fraternity house at the University of Virginia, in Charlottsville, Va., the site of an alleged sexual assault of a student revealed in a Rolling Stone article published online Wednesday. (Ryan M. Kelly/AP) Faced with mounting pressure from students, faculty and alumni, University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan suspended all campus fraternities Saturday, an action prompted by a searing magazine account of an alleged 2012 gang rape inside a fraternity house at the school. The suspension, which includes sororities and other Greek organizations, will continue until Jan. 9, the Friday before the spring semester is to begin, Sullivan said in a statement posted on the university’s Web site. “In the intervening period we will assemble groups of students, faculty, alumni, and other concerned parties to discuss our next steps in preventing sexual assault and sexual violence on Grounds,” she said, using university parlance for its Charlottesville campus. Sullivan’s lengthy statement was the most dramatic sign that the 195-year-old university, which prides itself as a bastion of tradition, gentility and honor, was reeling from charges­ that it failed to reckon with a culture of excessive drinking and sexual misconduct on campus. The article in Rolling Stone magazine, posted online Wednesday, describes a brutal sexual assault that allegedly occurred in the Phi Kappa Psi house. The victim, who was given an alias by the magazine, said a fraternity member led her upstairs during a party and into a dark room, where several men raped her. On Friday, the magazine published additional accounts from anonymous U-Va. students describing on-campus rapes and an inadequate response from the university officials contacted by the victims. The university’s Board of Visitors will meet Tuesday to discuss the allegations, as well as policies and procedures on sexual assault, Sullivan said. One prominent board member, former rector Helen Dragas, posted to the university’s Facebook page to say she had learned that a college friend “had the exact same thing happen to her in a fraternity house.” “I never knew it,” wrote Dragas, who attended U-Va. in the early 1980s, “and I was really shaken that women were being victimized then, and still are more than thirty years later. This is a serious problem, to say the least. We need to solve it.” After the suspension was announced, Dragas said in an e-mail that she’d heard “reactions around Grounds ranging from ‘not nearly enough’ to ‘it implies all our sons are guilty.’ ” Sullivan’s statement came after more than 1,000 students and faculty members signed a letter sent Friday night calling on the president to freeze activities for groups under investigation for sexual assault and for a suspension of Greek-letter organizations throughout the weekend. Hundreds attended a rally Thursday, and dozens more marched through campus Friday calling for new efforts to combat “rape culture” at the university, according to reports in the student-run Cavalier Daily. On Saturday afternoon, four protesters were arrested for trespassing at the Phi Kappa Psi house, said Lt. Stephen Upman, a Charlottesville police spokesman “People were unsatisfied with [Sullivan’s] initial response,” said Retsy Holliday, a senior foreign affairs majors who was one of the drafters of the letter. “This was our cry for more action. And she responded.” The president of the university’s Inter-Fraternity Council, which consists of 31 chapters with about 1,500 student members among them, said Saturday that the suspension would “ultimately benefit our university and the Greek community in the long term.” President Tommy Reid, a fourth-year student, said he and fellow fraternity leaders learned about the suspension Saturday morning in conversations with the university’s dean of students. The council had already announced early Saturday that it was voluntarily suspending social activities through the weekend, Reid said, “in recognition of the fragility of the U-Va. community right now, out of respect for the survivors of sexual violence at U-Va.” “We were in very serious conversations with fraternity presidents about taking similar actions for the rest of the semester,” he said. Besides the 31 fraternities represented by the Inter-Fraternity Council, the suspension also applies to 16 sororities and 15 minority-oriented Greek-letter organizations organized under other councils, said university spokesman Anthony P. de Bruyn. About 3,500 students are Greek-affiliated, he said. Sullivan’s announcement came at a particularly active moment on the university’s social calendar, with the last home football game of the Cavaliers’ season held Saturday. Although the Greek suspension lasts seven weeks, the practical effect is modest. Students are set to leave campus Wednesday for Thanksgiving break, returning for one week of class the following Monday. Final exams are scheduled thereafter through Dec. 16, with classes then recessed until Jan. 12. Reid said many U-Va. fraternities would typically host holiday dances, parties or fundraisers over the coming weeks that will now be canceled. The Rolling Stone article has roiled the campus, raising questions among students, faculty members and parents about the way the case was handled by university administrators. Elected officials, including Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) and Sen. Mark R. Warner (D), expressed deep concern about the allegations, which are under investigation by Charlottesville police. Sullivan called the account “appalling” and said it “caused all of us to reexamine our responsibility to this community.” Besides the rape allegations, the Rolling Stone article described a seemingly unconcerned response from U-Va. administrators. “We know, and have felt very powerfully this week, that we are better than we have been described, and that we have a responsibility to live our tradition of honor every day, and as importantly every night,” Sullivan wrote. She also made her most forceful call to students and alumni to be cooperative in the police investigation: “There are individuals in our community who know what happened that night, and I am calling on them to come forward to the police to report the facts. Only you can shed light on the truth, and it is your responsibility to do so.” Alex Pinkleton, a junior who said she is a close friend of the victim from the Rolling Stone article, said that students on campus have experienced a range of emotions in the aftermath of the story’s publication. “There’s been disappointment to intense anger,” Pinkleton said. “Now it’s about how best to take that energy, take that anger towards fraternities and Phi Psi, and taking all of those emotions and turning it into a constructive conversation about sexual assault.” Pinkleton said she survived a rape and an attempted rape during her first two years on campus. “The party culture on college campuses lends itself to sexual assaults,” she said. In her statement, Sullivan encouraged the university community to participate in a review of the university’s sexual misconduct policy for students. “Providing candid feedback to this policy is a practical step that you can take to help,” she wrote, “and I hope that you will.” She also sent a particular message to senior undergraduates on the day of the last home football game — a traditional occasion for the “fourth-year fifth,” in which some seniors drink to particular excess before kickoff: “I hope that you will embrace your role as leaders and demonstrate a renewed sense of responsibility to our community, and a renewed commitment to make that community better. It starts today.” Phi Kappa Psi, the fraternity implicated in the Rolling Stone article, suspended activities at its U-Va. chapter Thursday. The fraternity’s national leadership said that it would cooperate in the police investigation and that it had launched its own internal investigation into the allegations. Mrinalini Chakravorty, an English professor, said that the Greek system at U-Va. has run amok for years, contributing to the challenge of addressing sexual assaults on campus. “The Greek life here is entrenched; it’s been tradition,” Chakravorty said. “The question of how to reform it is a big one.” One mother of a recent U-Va. graduate from Northern Virginia said that the article left her daughter in tears. The mother said that she could not finish reading the article because “it was too painful.” She said she believes that not much has changed since she was a student there three decades ago. As a freshman in the fall of 1978, the woman said she was date-raped after a party. “What is seared into my memory is that he was on top of me, and I was saying, ‘No! No! No!’ ” she said. “I never told anybody. I felt shame and embarrassment. I thought it was my fault because I had gotten myself into that situation.” The woman said she never reported the rape because she felt vulnerable and alone. The Washington Post generally does not name victims of sexual assault. The woman said that the university should take responsibility for crimes that occur on campus. “I want to ask them, ‘What if this were your daughter? Or your sister?’ ” she said. “I don’t call myself a victim. I call myself a survivor.” Michelle Boorstein contributed to this report. ||||| Thank you for Reading. Please purchase a subscription to continue reading. A subscription is required to continue reading. Thank you for reading 5 free articles. You can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 5 free articles, or you can purchase a subscription and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information. If you are a current 7-day subscriber you are granted an all-access pass to the website and digital newspaper replica. Please click Sign Up to subscribe, or Login if you are already a member. Thank you for reading 5 free articles. You can come back at the end of your 30-day period for another 5 free articles, or you can purchase a subscription and continue to enjoy valuable local news and information. If you are a current 7-day subscriber you are granted an all-access pass to the website and digital newspaper replica. Please click below to Get Started. ||||| University of Virginia President Teresa A. Sullivan on Saturday issued the following statement: Dear members of the University Community, Over the past week many of you have reached out to me directly to offer your opinions, reactions, and suggestions related to combatting sexual violence on Grounds. I want you to know that I have heard you, and that your words have enkindled this message. At UVa we speak in idealistic terms: honor and tradition inform our thinking, and balance our daily actions. And it is easy here, where success is demanded as much as it is sought, to let our idealism outweigh our reality. Jefferson, as he always does, provides a compelling backdrop: It is more honorable to repair a wrong than to persist in it. The wrongs described in Rolling Stone are appalling and have caused all of us to reexamine our responsibility to this community. Rape is an abhorrent crime that has no place in the world, let alone on the campuses and grounds of our nation’s colleges and universities. We know, and have felt very powerfully this week, that we are better than we have been described, and that we have a responsibility to live our tradition of honor every day, and as importantly every night. As you are aware, I have asked the Charlottesville Police Department to investigate the 2012 assault that is described in Rolling Stone. There are individuals in our community who know what happened that night, and I am calling on them to come forward to the police to report the facts. Only you can shed light on the truth, and it is your responsibility to do so. Alongside this investigation, we as a community must also do a systematic evaluation of our culture to ensure that one of our founding principles– the pursuit of truth – remains a pillar on which we can stand. There is no greater threat to honor than secrecy and indifference. I write you today in solidarity. I write you in great sorrow, great rage, but most importantly, with great determination. Meaningful change is necessary, and we can lead that change for all universities. We can demand that incidents like those described in Rolling Stone never happen and that if they do, the responsible are held accountable to the law. This will require institutional change, cultural change, and legislative change, and it will not be easy. We are making those changes. This morning the Inter-Fraternity Council announced that all University fraternities have voluntarily suspended social activities this weekend. This is an important first step, but our challenges will extend beyond this weekend. Beginning immediately, I am suspending all fraternal organizations and associated social activities until January 9th, ahead of the beginning of our spring semester. In the intervening period we will assemble groups of students, faculty, alumni, and other concerned parties to discuss our next steps in preventing sexual assault and sexual violence on Grounds. On Tuesday, the Board of Visitors will meet to discuss the University’s policies and procedures regarding sexual assault as well as the specific, recent allegations. In the words of one student who wrote to me this week, “Policy is needed, but people make change.” We need the collective strength of the members of our community to ensure that we have the best policies. So as you prepare for what I hope is a restful Thanksgiving holiday, I hope that you will take time to review and respond to the recently posted Student Sexual Misconduct Policy, which is currently open for public comment. You may find that policy at this link. Providing candid feedback to this policy is a practical step that you can take to help and I hope that you will. To our fourth-year students: as you prepare to celebrate your last home football game today, I hope that you will embrace your role as leaders and demonstrate a renewed sense of responsibility to our community, and a renewed commitment to make that community better. It starts today. Finally, I want to express my grief at hearing the news of the death of second-year student Peter D'Agostino, whose passing adds overwhelming emotion to what has been a difficult semester for all of us. We are united in our compassion, resolve, and determination: Compassion for survivors of assault; resolve to make our community better; determination to begin to solve this problem here and now. I hope that you will join me. Teresa A. Sullivan President (Editor's note: For a full list of messages to the University community, see Important University of Virginia Messages Regarding Sexual Assault)

– A Rolling Stone report on an alleged gang rape at a University of Virginia fraternity has prompted the school's president to suspend all frats until the spring semester. In an open letter to students and staff today, president Teresa Sullivan calls for "the collective strength of the members of our community" to fight sexual assault, the Washington Post reports. Before the spring term begins on Jan. 9, "we will assemble groups of students, faculty, alumni, and other concerned parties," including school officials, to address the issue. "I write you in great sorrow, great rage, but most importantly, with great determination," Sullivan writes. "Meaningful change is necessary, and we can lead that change for all universities." She also directs a message to those "individuals in our community who know what happened that night … I am calling on them to come forward to the police to report the facts. Only you can shed light on the truth, and it is your responsibility to do so." She adds: "There is no greater threat to honor than secrecy and indifference." Police are investigating the case, and another campus protest is planned for tonight following a football game, the Daily Progress reports.

Press Release Sanders: Michigan Governor Must Resign over Flint Lead-Poisoning Crisis January 16, 2016 Twitter Facebook Email Link BURLINGTON, Vt. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Saturday called on Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder to resign for his administration’s failure to deal with a lead-poisoning crisis that has sickened thousands of children in Flint, Michigan. “There are no excuses. The governor long ago knew about the lead in Flint’s water. He did nothing. As a result, hundreds of children were poisoned. Thousands may have been exposed to potential brain damage from lead. Gov. Snyder should resign,” Sanders said. Problems with Flint’s public water system date to a decision nearly two years ago by a receiver, appointed by the governor, who decided to cut costs by drawing the city’s drinking water from the polluted Flint River instead of from Lake Huron. The governor and other state officials knew – but did not acknowledge until last fall – that the river water was corroding pipes and causing lead to leach into the drinking water. The decision not to add chemicals to prevent corrosion of the pipes was made at the direction of the governor’s Department of Environmental Quality. The state health department in Michigan apparently knew about elevated lead levels in the blood of children but did not warn the public. “Because of the conduct by Gov. Snyder’s administration and his refusal to take responsibility, families will suffer from lead poisoning for the rest of their lives. Children in Flint will be plagued with brain damage and other health problems. The people of Flint deserve more than an apology,” Sanders said. ||||| A look at some of the key events in the development of the Flint water crisis: ___ APRIL 2014: In an effort to save money, Flint begins drawing its water from the Flint River instead of relying on water from Detroit. The move is considered temporary while the city waits to connect to a new regional water system. Residents immediately complain about the smell, taste and appearance of the water. They also raise health concerns, reporting rashes, hair loss and other problems. SUMMER 2014: Three boil-water advisories are issued in 22 days after positive tests for coliform bacteria. OCTOBER 2014: A General Motors engine plant stops using Flint water, saying it rusts parts. JANUARY 2015: Flint seeks an evaluation of its efforts to improve the water amid concerns that it contains potentially harmful levels of a disinfection byproduct. Detroit offers to reconnect Flint to its water system. Flint insists its water is safe. JAN. 28: Flint residents snap up 200 cases of bottled water in 30 minutes in a giveaway program. More giveaways will follow in ensuing months. FEB. 3: State officials pledge $2 million for Flint's troubled water system. FEBRUARY: A 40-member advisory committee is formed to address concerns over Flint's water. Mayor Dayne Walling says the committee will ensure the community is involved in the issue. MARCH 19: Flint promises to spend $2.24 million on immediate improvements to its water supply. MARCH 27: Flint officials say the quality of its water has improved and that testing finds the water meets all state and federal standards for safety. SEPT. 24: A group of doctors led by Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha of Hurley Medical Center urges Flint to stop using the Flint River for water after finding high levels of lead in the blood of children. State regulators insist the water is safe. SEPT. 29: Gov. Rick Snyder pledges to take action in response to the lead levels. It's the first acknowledgment by the state that lead is a problem. OCT. 2: Snyder announces that the state will spend $1 million to buy water filters and test water in Flint public schools. OCT. 8: Snyder calls for Flint to go back to using water from Detroit's system again. OCT. 15: The Michigan Legislature and Snyder approve nearly $9.4 million in aid to Flint, including $6 million to help switch its drinking water back to Detroit. The legislation also includes money for water filters, inspections and lab testing. NOV. 3: Voters elect newcomer Karen Weaver over incumbent Mayor Dayne Walling amid fallout over the drinking water. DEC. 29: Snyder accepts the resignation of Department of Environmental Quality Director Dan Wyant and apologizes for what occurred in Flint. JAN. 5: Snyder declares a state of emergency in Flint, the same day federal officials confirm that they are investigating. JAN. 12: Snyder activates the Michigan National Guard to help distribute bottled water and filters in Flint and asks the federal government for help. JAN. 13: Michigan health officials report an increase in Legionnaires' disease cases during periods over the past two years in the county that includes Flint. JAN. 14: Snyder asks the Obama administration for major disaster declaration and more federal aid. ||||| In a photo from Jan. 2, 2016, Sherri Miller and her son, Jameer, 7, a first-grader, are seen at Freeman Elementary School in Flint, Mich., where Jameer was getting his finger-prick blood sample tested... (Associated Press) FLINT, Mich. (AP) — The longest line at Freeman Elementary School's Family Fun Night was not for face painting or food. It was for lead testing. For three months, families in the former auto manufacturing hub of Flint have taken their children for blood tests and lived on bottled water after doctors found high levels of lead in the bodies of the community's youngest people. "It really is a scary situation to know that we can't get clean drinking water," said Sherri Miller, who brought her first-grade son, Jameer, to have a finger-prick blood sample tested. "It really is scary to think someone knew about this" and did nothing. Nearly two years have passed since safe drinking water flowed from Flint faucets. The financially troubled city began drawing its water from the Flint River in 2014 to save money. Officials failed to treat the corrosive water properly to prevent metal leaching from old pipes. Worse, residents didn't learn they were drinking tainted water until the state issued warnings a year and a half after the switch was made. For the city's 100,000 residents, daily life is now all about lead. Before the crisis, Flint, about an hour's drive north of Detroit, had become a symbol of the decline of the U.S. auto industry, having suffered waves of auto plant layoffs and the loss of half its population. Forty-one percent of the population falls below the poverty line. These days, it's a place where parents fear for the health of young children, who can develop learning disabilities and behavior problems from lead exposure. "It has such damning, lifelong and generational consequences," said Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, director of pediatric residency at Hurley Children's Hospital, where more than 2,000 children have been tested. She is credited with bringing the problem to the public's attention after state agencies initially dismissed her concerns. "It was frustrating that it went on for so long," Hanna-Attisha said, complaining that even since the state began taking action, "everything has been slow." Gov. Rick Snyder finally acknowledged in late September that the water was unsafe, saying the consequences of switching to Flint River water were not "fully understood." The decision to use the river was made while a Snyder-appointed emergency manager was running city government. The city, which had been under state supervision since 2011, returned to local control last April. Flint went back to Detroit water in October, but some fear the old pipes were so damaged that they must be replaced, at costs estimated as high as $1.5 billion. On Monday, Snyder apologized to Flint and pledged that officials would contact every household to ensure families have bottled water and a filter and to check whether they want to be tested for lead exposure. He also promised to seek a long-term solution. "This is a crisis," the governor said. "So we're responding appropriately. There's more work to be done." Snyder's many critics got louder at midweek, when the governor announced that two spikes in Legionnaires' disease had occurred in the county that includes Flint during the time Flint River water was used. Ten people died. Michigan health officials said they cannot conclude that the outbreak stemmed from Flint's water, but others argued it probably had. Late Thursday, Snyder asked President Barack Obama to issue a federal disaster declaration in an effort to get federal aid, a move critics countered should have been taken sooner. The president signed an emergency declaration on Saturday and ordered federal aid for the city. After Snyder declared a state of emergency Jan. 5, residents could go to fire stations to pick up a daily ration of one case of bottled water per household and a water filter. But even that effort fell short. The following Monday, a pile of empty filter boxes was stacked against the wall at one station. One woman came back three times in the hope of getting one. Hours later, even the water was gone after volunteers had given out almost 900 cases. And the fire station had not received any of the lead test kits that had been promised. Volunteers also began going door-to-door to distribute water. Snyder called on the National Guard to help. For angry residents, it's still not enough. "The state was telling everybody, 'It's fine, relax. ... It's safe,'" even as people complained that the water looked cloudy and tasted bad, said community activist Melissa Mays. "They lied." Mays, her husband and three sons ages 11, 12 and 17 are taking medication to reduce high lead and other heavy metal levels in their blood. "Like everybody else, we drank and cooked with it because they told us it was safe," she said. Rabecka Cordell said she learned from her doctor that both she and her 5-year-old son, Dayne, have lead poisoning. She said she also has leukemia, and her son has learning and speech disabilities. She won't even bathe in the water and won't wash her son in it. "It's ridiculous," Cordell said. At the elementary school's lead testing on Tuesday, more than 50 kids lined up. One was fifth-grader Maleah Gill. "You wonder how long has it been in her system?" said her father, Matt Gill. "How much has she taken in? What's the effects? Hurley Children's Hospital is distributing 10,000 booklets on mitigating the effects of lead on children, including recipes high in iron, calcium and vitamin C. Adding to the challenge is that there are few grocers with fresh produce within Flint city limits. At a local farmers market, the hospital offers weekly recipe and cooking demonstrations with lead in mind. The first one was hearty egg burritos. Nutrition "has a huge mitigating role," Hanna-Attisha said. She urged parents to consult early and often with a pediatrician. In consultations, the doctor said, "we need to give families hope that with secondary prevention interventions, not every kid is going to have problems." ___ Follow Roger Schneider on Twitter at https://twitter.com/rogschneider. ||||| Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder asked President Obama to declare both an emergency and an expedited major disaster in the county where the city of Flint has been dealing with the fallout from lead-contaminated drinking water. (Reuters) The city of Flint, Mich., is in the midst of a water crisis several years in the making. The city opted out of Detroit's water supply and began drawing water from the Flint River in April 2014, part of a cost-saving move. Eighteen months later, in the fall of 2015, researchers discovered that the proportion of children with above-average lead levels in their blood had doubled. The city reconnected to Detroit's water system in October, but the damage was done. Water from the Flint River was found to be highly corrosive to the lead pipes still used in some parts of the city. Even though Flint River water no longer flows through the city's pipes, it's unclear how long those pipes will continue to leach unsafe levels of lead into the tap water supply. Experts currently say the water is safe for bathing, but not drinking. A group of Virginia Tech researchers who sampled the water in 271 Flint homes last summer found some contained lead levels high enough to meet the EPA's definition of "toxic waste." The researchers posted their test results online, which I represent graphically below with other visuals to help understand just how high above normal Flint's lead levels really were. Lead in water is measured in terms of parts per billion (ppb). If a test comes back with lead levels higher than 15 ppb, the EPA recommends that homeowners and municipalities take steps to reduce that level, like updating pipes and putting anti-corrosive elements in the water when appropriate. But 15 ppb is a regulatory measure, not a public health one. Researchers stress that there is no 100 percent "safe" level of lead in drinking water, only acceptable levels. Even levels as low as 5 ppb can be a cause for concern, according to the group studying Flint's water. So let's start with Flint's neighboring cities. At the city level, public health officials are most concerned with the 90th percentile level of lead exposure in homes they test -- that is, 90 percent of homes will have a lead level below this threshold, while 10 percent will register above it. Forty-five minutes away from Flint in Troy, Mich., the 90th percentile level for lead in 2013 was 1.1 parts per billion. Not too shabby at all. In the graphics that follow, each splotch represents 1 part per billion. The splotches aren't proportionally scaled to the cups -- 1 part per billion is way too small to be visualized at this level. But all of the following graphics are scaled proportionally to each other, to give an impression of relative lead levels. In Detroit, the water supply Flint had previously been connected to, the 90th percentile reading was 2.3 parts per billion -- still highly acceptable. Here's an illustration of water at the 5 parts per billion level. This is below the borderline for EPA acceptability, but the team of researchers studying Flint's water say that levels this high can be a cause for concern, particularly for young children. Now things get interesting. Here's a glass illustrating the 90th percentile reading among the 271 Flint homes tested by researchers last summer: At 27 parts per billion, it's five times as high as the level of concern, and nearly twice as high as the EPA's already-generous guidelines. According to the researchers who ran these tests, the health effects of lead levels this high "can include high blood pressure and other cardiovascular problems, kidney damage and memory and neurological problems." Recall, though, that 10 percent of the homes in the sample had lead levels even higher than this. Here's the highest lead reading in that sample, from a home in the city's 8th Ward: That's more than 10 times the EPA limit. It's 30 times higher than the 5 ppb reading that can indicate unsafe lead amounts. But that 158 ppb reading is far from the worst one that turned up in Flint, unfortunately. In the spring of 2015, city officials tested water in the home of LeeAnne Walters, a stay-at-home mother of four and a Navy wife. They got a reading of 397 ppb, an alarmingly high number. But it was even worse than that. Virginia Tech's team went to Walters' house to verify those numbers later in the year. They were concerned that the city tested water in a way that was almost guaranteed to minimize lead readings: They flushed the water for several minutes before taking a sample, which often washes away a percentage of lead contaminants. They also made residents collect water at a very low flow rate, which they knew also tended to be associated with lower readings. So the Virginia Tech researchers took 30 different readings at various flow levels. What they found shocked them: The lowest reading they obtained was around 200 ppb, already ridiculously high. But more than half of the readings came in at more than 1,000 ppb. Some came in above 5,000 -- the level at which EPA considers the water to be "toxic waste." The highest reading registered at 13,000 ppb. The professor who conducted the sampling, Dr. Marc Edwards, was in "disbelief." "We had never seen such sustained high levels of lead in 25 years of work," he said. According to Edwards, the team retested the water with extra quality controls and assurance checks, and obtained the exact same results. You can check out their description of the testing at the website they set up for their water study. It includes unsettling photos of LeeAnne Walters' tap water containing rust and metal particles large enough to be seen with the naked eye. The Walters family had stopped drinking the water a long time ago, according to the Virginia Tech team. But still, the lead levels were too high. One of Walters' 4-year-old sons was diagnosed with lead poisoning. It appears that the city of Flint and state of Michigan have finally started to take the water problem seriously. Again, they reconnected the city to Detroit's supply back in October, but the water remains unsafe to drink. In recent days the National Guard was activated to help distribute drinking water to the city's residents. And in yet another unsettling wrinkle in Flint's saga, 87 cases of Legionnaire's Disease, 10 fatal, have been diagnosed in the city since June. It's not yet clear whether that outbreak is linked to the water. ||||| Buy Photo The federal agency FEMA has sent two officials to Michigan to monitor the Flint drinking water crisis. (Photo: Ryan Garza/Detroit Free Press)Buy Photo LANSING President Barack Obama on Saturday declared a federal emergency in Flint, freeing up to $5 million in federal aid to immediately assist with the public health crisis, but he denied Gov. Rick Snyder's request for a disaster declaration. A disaster declaration would have made larger amounts of federal funding available more quickly to help Flint residents whose drinking water is contaminated with lead. But under federal law, only natural disasters such as hurricanes and floods are eligible for disaster declarations, federal and state officials said. The lead contamination of Flint's drinking water is a manmade catastrophe. The president's actions authorize the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to coordinate responses and cover 75% of the costs for much-needed water, filters, filter cartridges and other items for residents, capped initially at $5 million. The president also offered assistance in finding other available federal assistance, a news release Saturday from the White House said. Snyder, who on Thursday night asked Obama for federal financial aid in the crisis through declarations of both a federal emergency and a federal disaster, said in a news release Saturday he appreciates Obama granting the emergency request "and supporting Flint during this critical situation." "I have pledged to use all state resources possible to help heal Flint, and these additional resources will greatly assist in efforts under way to ensure every resident has access to clean water resources," he said. U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Flint, welcomed the emergency declaration and issued a statement: “I welcome the president’s quick action in support of the people of Flint after months of inaction by the governor," Kildee said. "The residents and children of Flint deserve every resource available to make sure that they have safe water and are able to recover from this terrible manmade disaster created by the state.” On Friday, Kildee led a bipartisan effort in support of the request for federal assistance. Kildee had long called for Snyder to request federal aid. Typically, federal aid for an emergency is capped at $5 million, though the president can commit more if he goes through Congress. Snyder's application said as much as $55 million is needed in the near term to repair damaged lead service lines and as much as $41 million to pay for several months of water distribution and providing residents with testing, water filters and cartridges. In what's become a huge government scandal, garnering headlines across the country and around the world, Flint's drinking water became contaminated with lead after the city temporarily switched its supply source in 2014 from Lake Huron water treated by the Detroit Water and Sewerage Department to more corrosive and polluted Flint River water, treated at the Flint water treatment plant. The switch was made as a cost-cutting move while the city was under the control of a state-appointed emergency manager. The state Department of Environmental Quality has acknowledged a mistake in failing to require the addition of needed corrosion-control chemicals to the water. That caused lead, which causes brain damage and other health problems in children, to leach into the water from pipes and fixtures. Resident complaints about the taste, odor and appearance of the water, which began immediately after the switch, were largely ignored by state officials. The state also dismissed reports of elevated lead levels in the blood of Flint children from pediatrician Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha before for the first time publicly acknowledging a problem in October 2015. Snyder declared a state of emergency Jan. 5 and mobilized the National Guard Jan. 12 but has been widely and strongly criticized for not moving more quickly. State Senate Minority Leader Jim Ananich, D-Flint, said federal assistance makes him "more confident ... Flint families will begin receiving the help they deserve." "We need to remain committed and ensure the state fully accepts responsibility in this crisis and does everything they can to correct the long-term impact on our community," Ananich said in a news release Saturday. U.S. Sen. Debbie Stabenow, D-Lansing, said in a news release Saturday she appreciates "the president's quick action in responding to the urgent needs of families in Flint." "I will continue to push for federal resources to address this crisis, and for a commitment of resources from the state to meet the immediate needs of the community and to set aside a future fund to address the long-term needs of children and families," Stabenow said. U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, also welcomed the announcement and said he will work to support further federal support for Flint residents. However, "the State of Michigan and Gov. Snyder must step up and provide the necessary resources to deal with the long-term effect of water contamination," Peters said in a statement. U.S. Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Dearborn, praised Obama for moving "with unprecedented speed to respond, within 36 hours of receiving the request." Contact Paul Egan: 517-372-8660 or [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @paulegan4. Read or Share this story: http://on.freep.com/1RsCM1X ||||| CLOSE Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder says help is being given to Flint residents affected by the city's water woes while officials work on a long-term solution. The governor made his remarks during a tour of the Detroit auto show. (Jan. 12) AP Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder activated the National Guard to help the American Red Cross distribute water to Flint residents to help them deal with the lead contamination that is in the City of Flint's water supply. (Photo: Getty Images) Corrections and clarifications: This article has been updated to clarify the health experts recommend that all of Flint’s children be treated as though they have been exposed to lead. FLINT, Mich. — In order to address the public health crisis in Flint, every Flint child under 6 years of age -- 8,657 children, based on an analysis of Census data -- should be considered exposed to lead. The direction came earlier this week from the doctor who forced the state to acknowledge Flint’s lead problem and the state itself. The exposure began in April 2014 after the city switched from using Detroit’s water system, which pumps water out of Lake Huron, to its own treatment plant, which drew water from the Flint River. In recommendations to the state on Monday, Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha said all kids under the age of 6 should be treated with some kind of prevention actions. Eden Wells, the state's chief medical executive, reiterated in a news conference Monday the fact that all children who drank the city's water since April 2014 have been exposed to lead. "It is important when we think about a public health perspective that we consider the whole cohort ... exposed to the drinking water, especially 6 years and under since April 2014, as exposed, regardless of what their blood level is on Jan. 11." The state's most recent report, based on tests conducted between October and December 2015, shows that 43 people — only a small portion of the number exposed — had elevated blood lead levels. That's because these tests measure only the amount of lead in a person's blood, which decreases after about 30 days, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That means testing done today does not represent past exposure. Once lead is present in the bloodstream, it is distributed throughout the body, primarily to bones, teeth and soft tissue. Lead accumulates in the body over time. Blood-lead tests used to identify recent or ongoing exposure to lead, do not measure the overall lead burden in the body. There is no safe level of lead in the body, but the impacts of lead are considered most severe on the developing brains and nervous systems of children and fetuses. And even the 8,657 Flint children younger than 6 exposed to lead may be a low estimate; It doesn't include unborn children whose mothers drank tainted water during their pregnancies, or children and pregnant women who reside outside Flint but were exposed while visiting relatives, childcare centers or hospitals inside city limits. See a map of the number of Flint children less than six years of age by block group. Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1RrPONo ||||| The latest on the drinking water crisis in Flint, Michigan (all times local): 3:10 p.m. President Barack Obama has signed an emergency declaration for Flint, Michigan, that clears the way for federal aid to the city undergoing a drinking water crisis. The White House issued a release Saturday calling for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to coordinate all disaster relief efforts to "alleviate the hardship and suffering" on residents. Flint's city switched water supplies in 2014 while a new pipeline was under construction and the corrosive water from the Flint River leached lead from old pipes. FEMA has been authorized to provide water, filters, cartridges and other items for 90 days. Direct federal funding also will be made available. Gov. Rick Snyder requested the federal declaration Friday, saying needs "far exceed the state's capability." He says emergency measures could cost $41 million.

– Flint, Michigan's water woes are officially a federal emergency—nearly two years after the city took the money-saving move of switching from using Lake Huron water treated in Detroit to water from the Flint River. That water was found to be highly corrosive to lead pipes still in use in the city, causing lead to leach into residents' drinking water. On Saturday President Obama declared a federal emergency in the city of 100,000, thereby unleashing federal funding and authorizing FEMA to provide water, filters, cartridges, and other items for 90 days, per the AP and Detroit Free Press. Gov. Rich Snyder puts the cost of the aforementioned water distribution and filtering items at $41 million. More: Sanders vs. Snyder: Speaking of Snyder, Bernie Sanders called for his resignation Saturday. "The governor long ago knew about the lead in Flint's water. He did nothing. As a result, hundreds of children were poisoned." Timeline: The AP has a timelines of the crisis, which dates to the April 2014 switch. Notable: In October 2014, a GM engine plant stopped using Flint's water, stating that it was rusting parts. Visualized: The Washington Post has a jarring and informative series of graphics that illustrate "how toxic Flint's water really is." One family's water tested at a level that the EPA considers to be "toxic waste." Every kid: The state's chief medical executive, along with the doctor who publicly called for Flint to stop its use of Flint River water, this week said all 8,657 kids under age 6 in Flint should be considered exposed to lead and treated as such, reports USA Today. The residents' ordeal: The AP speaks with some locals. Rabecka Cordell and her 5-year-old son have lead poisoning; she also has leukemia, he has learning and speech disabilities. She refuses to even use the water to bathe.

Before I hacked a stranger's smart home, I asked for permission. An anonymous creep who hacked a Texas family's baby monitor was not as polite. ABC News reports that a Houston couple heard an unfamiliar voice talking to their sleeping 2-year-old daughter on Saturday night and realized that a stranger had taken control of their camera-enabled monitor. And he wasn't a very nice stranger: Marc Gilbert was doing the dishes after his birthday dinner and he heard strange noises coming from his daughter Allyson’s room while she was sleeping. “Right away I knew something was wrong,” he told ABC News. As he and his wife got closer to the room, they heard the voice calling his daughter an “effing moron,” and telling her,”‘wake up you little slut.” So not the best birthday. Luckily (?) his daughter is deaf and her cochlear implants were turned off. So the hacker turned his vitriol on her parents: The hacker then began shouting expletives at her parents and calling Gilbert a stupid moron and his wife a b****. “At that point I ran over and disconnected it and tried to figure out what happened,” said Gilbert. “[I] Couldn’t see the guy. All you could do was hear his voice and [that] he was controlling the camera.” In comments on an article about the hack, Marc Gilbert said he did take basic security precautions, including passwords for his router and the baby-stalking IP cam, as well as having a firewall enabled. Looking at the footage taken by ABC News, it appears that Gilbert was using a Foscam wireless camera. That may have been the problem, as a vulnerability in that product was disclosed by security researchers just months ago in a presentation titled "To watch or to be watched: Turning your surveillance camera against you." I've reached out to Foscam (but the wait time on the Hong Kong-based company's customer service line is currently 41 minutes). One of the features of the camera the Gilberts appear to have is "remote internet monitoring from anywhere in the world." That sounds eerie rather than reassuring given the vulnerability exposed earlier this year by security researchers Sergey Shekyan and Artem Harutyunyan of Qualys, Inc. (Shekyan has since moved to Shape Security.) They revealed that Foscam had a firmware vulnerability that would allow someone to take control of the company's products remotely and said that thousands of Foscam cameras in the U.S. were vulnerable. The presentation did not seem to garner much attention -- just a few articles; this is probably because the researchers called them "IP cams" rather than the more-alarming "baby monitors." According to connected device search engine Shodan, there are over 48,000 of these types of cameras connected to the Web, and over 400,000 around the world. It's not clear how many of those are vulnerable to the hack exposed by the researchers. The conference put the researchers' presentation online, which provides a guide on how the exploit works. Apparently, the hacker who harassed this Texas family took advantage of the vulnerability. A June blog post from Foscam says the company recently released a firmware update meant to fix a few issues with the product. Some of the security fixes provide insight into how the Gilberts may have been hacked; according to the Foscam blog post, the update "increased security by prompting for users to change default admin password" and "allow[s] for changing of the default admin username from 'admin' to something else." However, when the Qualys researchers revealed the vulnerability at a conference in April, they said that "99% of Internet-connected wireless Foscam IP cameras [were] still using the old firmware," reports Network World. So, if you've got a Foscam camera aimed at your baby or anything else in your home, make sure your firmware is updated and check out the advice at the end of this article. Hat tip to Trustwave security researcher Daniel Crowley for helping to identify the monitor brand. ||||| Imagine a stranger not only spying on your child, but talking to them too. It happened to a Houston dad. He heard a man yelling at his little girl through her baby monitor. Marc Gilbert says he used internet cameras as a baby monitor to watch his kids in their rooms. "It felt like somebody broke into our house,” Gilbert said. Gilbert believes a hacker got access to this internet-based baby monitor that sits in his daughter's room. He says someone hacked his router and the camera... allowing them to taunt his toddler through the camera's speakers. "He said, 'wake up, Allyson, you little (expletive),’” Gilbert said. Factfinder12 sat down with Cybertron International's Bill Ramsey for some advice on securing your internet-based baby monitor. “You should always change default user names and passwords on any device that you buy,” Ramsey said. Ramsey says change the passwords on your router and the device itself. And don't use a word out of the dictionary--make it hard. "If your baby monitor is a wireless baby monitor, then you really need to set-up a very strong encryption for it to talk to the wireless router,” Ramsey said. Finally, if your baby monitor is connected to a website, make sure you set-up a strong password on that site too. While internet-based baby monitors can give you access to your child's room from anywhere, Ramsey says you don't want just anyone to have that kind of access too. "There are some inherent security risks that come along with that and this is demonstrating that very well. Somebody being able to see and talk to your baby. Wow, that's like somebody standing in the window,” Ramsey said. Ramsey says a hacker could break into a monitor through your router, the device, or the device's website... if it has one. That's why it's important to protect all three of those areas with strong passwords. We also asked how a hacker could find internet-based baby monitors. Ramsey says hackers often drive around looking for open wireless networks. So make sure yours is locked. Also, they can try to hack a website to get access. ||||| HOUSTON, Texas (WTVR) – A Texas couple is warning other parents after the camera they were using to monitor their two-year-old and keep her safe was hacked. For two years, Marc Gilbert and his wife have come to rely on their internet cameras to keep an eye on their two toddlers when they are in their rooms, KTRK reports. However, over the weekend, someone else was watching, too. Gilbert said he first heard a strange voice with either a British or European accent coming from down the hall from the two-year-old’s room. As he and his wife got closer, what they heard left them shaken. “He said, ‘Wake up, Allyson, you little slut,’” Gilbert said, who the watched the cam turn and focus on he and his wife. Once the couple was in view of the camera, ABC News reports that the hacker called Gilbert a stupid moron and his wife a b****. Gilbert immediately yanked the plug from the camera. He now thinks someone hacked his router and the camera. The person was able to call the child by name since he could see Allyson’s name on her wall. The only saving grace is that Allyson never heard a thing. “Allyson was born deaf, so she has cochlear implants. Thankfully, we had them off, and she didn’t hear any of it and she slept right through it,” Gilbert said. A computer expert suggests following all security recommendations for these types of cameras, as well as making sure home networks are secure. ||||| A Houston couple is still shaken after saying they heard the voice of a strange man cursing and making lewd comments in the bedroom of their 2-year-old daughter. When Marc Gilbert and his wife Lauren entered the room, the voice cursed them as well. The creepy voice - which had a British or European accent - was coming from the family's baby monitor that was also equipped with a camera. A hacker apparently had taken over the monitor. The incident occurred on Aug. 10 as Marc Gilbert was doing the dishes after his birthday dinner and he heard strange noises coming from his daughter Allyson's room while she was sleeping, Gilbert said. "Right away I knew something was wrong," he told ABC News. As he and his wife got closer to the room, they heard the voice calling his daughter an "effing moron," and telling her,"'wake up you little slut." The hacker then began shouting expletives at her parents and calling Gilbert a stupid moron and his wife a b****. "At that point I ran over and disconnected it and tried to figure out what happened," said Gilbert. "[I] Couldn't see the guy. All you could do was hear his voice and [that] he was controlling the camera." Baby monitors can also be used by potential burglars Allyson is deaf, said Gilbert, so she did not wake up. "It's somewhat of a blessing," said Gilbert of his daughters' hearing impairment. "If she had heard it it would have been a big problem." Their son Ethan, 3, did not hear anything either and only woke up after he heard his parents that night. Gilbert wonders whether there were similar previous incidents that he wasn't aware of. "It's quite possible that this had been going on more than one day," he said. "Security vulnerabilities exist." Parry Aftab, a lawyer specializing in internet privacy and security law, said that such hacking is "very uncommon" but noted that is "one of our greatest fears that people are going to be able to access these baby monitors." Aftab said that if monitors are connected to Wi-Fi, keeping a password is imperative. Otherwise, she explained, anyone can access the Wi-Fi-and therefore has access to the monitor as well. In order to prevent universal access, said Aftab, it is key to maintain the secrecy of passwords. "Guard the people who have access to your computers and your passwords," she advised. She noted that baby sitters, housekeepers, or unattended cell phones can all be sources to obtain passwords. Gilbert did not report the incident to the police, but said he is still shaken up and wary about publicizing the story for fear of endangering his children. He was also reluctant to provide photographs of his children. He did call his internet service provider, who told him to check his passwords on the device. Gilbert said he is leaving the device permanently unplugged. "I don't think it ever will be connected again," he said. "I think we are going to go without the baby monitor now." But he wants other parents to be aware of the potential dangers of the monitors being hacked.

– A Houston couple was disturbed to hear a stranger in their 2-year-old daughter's room Saturday. The man, who had a European-sounding accent, was making lewd comments ("wake up, you little slut") and called both the toddler and the parents names including "effing moron" and "bitch." But he wasn't actually in the room—he had apparently hacked the wireless IP camera that was being used as a baby monitor, which dad Marc Gilbert quickly disconnected. In what he calls "somewhat of a blessing," Gilbert's little girl is deaf, and never woke up throughout the ordeal. "If she had heard it it would have been a big problem." The hacker appeared to be controlling the IP cam; that apparently allowed him to learn the baby's name (it appears on the wall of her room), which he said aloud, WTVR reports. "I don’t think it ever will be connected again. I think we are going to go without the baby monitor now," her dad tells ABC News, adding that he is publicizing his story so other parents are aware of the danger. Based on ABC's footage, Forbes thinks the Gilberts were using a Foscam wireless camera, which it notes were found to have security vulnerabilities recently. KWCH has some basic security tips for nervous parents.

Launch Gallery Expand The deputy manager of al-Aqsa TV, Mohamed Abou Oun, inspects the car that two al-Aqsa cameraman were riding in when an Israeli missile struck them in Gaza City on November 20, 2012. The Israeli military said that Mahmoud al-Kumi, 29, and Hussam Salama, 30, were “Hamas operatives” but gave no information to support the claim. © 2012 Fred Abrahams/Human Rights Watch (Gaza City) – Four Israeli attacks on journalists and media facilities in Gaza during the November 2012 fighting violated the laws of war by targeting civilians and civilian objects that were making no apparent contribution to Palestinian military operations. The attacks killed two Palestinian cameramen, wounded at least 10 media workers, and badly damaged four media offices, as well as the offices of four private companies. One of the attacks killed a two-year-old boy who lived across the street from a targeted building. The Israeli government asserted that each of the four attacks was on a legitimate military target but provided no specific information to support its claims. After examining the attack sites and interviewing witnesses, Human Rights Watch found no indications that these targets were valid military objectives. “Just because Israel says a journalist was a fighter or a TV station was a command center does not make it so,” said Sarah Leah Whitson, Middle East director at Human Rights Watch. “Journalists who praise Hamas and TV stations that applaud attacks on Israel may be propagandists, but that does not make them legitimate targets under the laws of war.” The four attacks struck a car containing two cameramen whom the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alleged were “Hamas operatives”; antenna towers atop two buildings housing media that the IDF alleged were Hamas “operational communications infrastructure”; and two floors of a building housing media in which the IDF said it had “surgically targeted” a Hamas “intelligence and command center.” Israeli officials sought to justify attacks on Palestinian media by saying the military had targeted individuals or facilities that “had relevance to” or were “linked with” a Palestinian armed group, or had “encouraged and lauded acts of terror against Israeli civilians.” These justifications, suggesting that it is permissible to attack media because of their associations or opinions, however repugnant, rather than their direct participation in hostilities, violate the laws of war and place journalists at grave risk, Human Rights Watch said. Official statements that reflect the military having adopted an unlawful basis for attacks are evidence of war crimes because they show intent. Under international humanitarian law , or the laws of war, journalists and media workers are civilians and therefore immune from attack unless they are directly participating in hostilities. Television and radio stations are civilian objects protected from attack unless they are used to make an “effective contribution to military action” and their destruction in the specific circumstances offers “a definite military advantage.” For example, a radio station that is used to transmit military orders would be a legitimate military target.Broadcasts intended to improve civilian morale or express support for attacks are not considered direct participation in hostilities. On November 20, the IDF targeted a car on a Gaza City street with two cameramen from al-Aqsa TV, Mahmoud al-Kumi, and Hussam Salama, killing them both. The deputy head of al-Aqsa TV, which is the official television station of the Hamas government in Gaza, told Human Rights Watch that al-Kumi and Salama were cameramen covering the conflict and were returning from filming in al-Shifa Hospital in a car marked “TV.” The two men’s families, interviewed separately, said the men were neither participating in the fighting nor members of any armed group. Human Rights Watch found no evidence, including during visits to the men’s homes, to contradict that claim. Hamas’s armed wing, al-Qassam Brigades, has not put either man on its official list of killed fighters– an unlikely omission if the men had been playing a military role. The IDF said that al-Kumi and Salama were “Hamas operatives” and cameramen for al-Aqsa, which “regularly features programming that encourages and praises attacks on Israeli civilians.” But the IDF provided no specific information that the men were Hamas fighters or otherwise directly participating in the hostilities. Hamas-run media are protected from attack under the laws of war unless directly taking part in military operations, Human Rights Watch said. Israeli missile strikes also hit the roofs of two high-rise buildings in Gaza City that house offices of local and international media, apparently to target antennas that Israel said Hamas was using for military communications. The IDF struck the 11-storey Shawa and Housari Building in the early morning of November 18 with at least three missiles hitting near the base of a large antenna tower on the roof. Some of the munitions entered the office below, wounding seven staff members from the private Quds TV station, including a cameraman who lost his right leg below the knee. The office of Quds TV, a Lebanon-based satellite channel with a pro-Hamas editorial line, was badly damaged. The antenna tower on the roof above the office, which belonged to the official radio station of Islamic Jihad, al-Quds Radio, remained standing. Another missile struck the roof above an office of the privately-owned Alwan Radio, which broadcasts talk shows and entertainment unrelated to politics, and was not broadcasting during the November fighting. The missile entered the office, which was unoccupied at the time, and damaged Alwan’s antenna, transmitter, transmission cables, and computers, the owner of the station, Wael al-Awour, told Human Rights Watch. The attack knocked Alwan off the air for more than three weeks. Later that morning, around 6 a.m., two missiles struck the roof of the 15-storey Shoruq Building. The first penetrated the roof and caused damage in a stairwell. The second broke through the roof and badly damaged a studio of al-Aqsa TV, which was unoccupied at the time. The second missile also damaged an antenna tower on the roof that al-Aqsa said it used for its terrestrial broadcasts, knocking those broadcasts off the air. Al-Aqsa also broadcasts via satellite, and that continued uninterrupted. A second and separate attack on the third floor of the Shoruq Building on the afternoon of November 19 appeared to target specific Palestinian militants, who, if present, would have been unlawfully placing the building’s civilian occupants at risk, Human Rights Watch said. The IDF apparently contacted at least one international journalist in the building to warn them to evacuate. The IDF said it struck “operational communications infrastructure” on the roofs of the two high-rises with “surgical targeting.” It released videos of both strikes, which showed optically guided missiles hitting an antenna tower on each of the roofs, but provided no specific information demonstrating that those towers were being used for military purposes. Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev, when asked in a television interview about the attack on the Shawa and Housari Building, said that the IDF had targeted Hamas “communications facilities” on the roof and that no foreign journalists were hurt. When pressed about the seven wounded media workers on the floor below, he replied: “There is the al-Aqsa station, which is a station that is a Hamas command and control facility, just as in other totalitarian regimes the media is used by the regime for command and control and also for security purposes. From our point of view, that’s not a legitimate journalist.” Regev and other Israeli officials provided no information to substantiate the claim that al-Aqsa TV or al-Quds TV were operating as command and control facilities in either of the high-rise buildings or elsewhere in Gaza. Radio and television antenna towers are civilian objects protected from attack, making the attacks on the two buildings unlawful, Human Rights Watch said. On November 20 and 21, at least six Israeli missiles hit the sixth and seventh floors of the eight-storey Naama Building in Gaza City, causing extensive damage to five different offices. The apparent target was al-Jeel Press Office, whose owner, Mustafa al-Sawaf, is a journalist and analyst with openly pro-Hamas views. The other offices were an advertising agency, an engineering firm and a technology company. The IDF said it had “surgically targeted” a Hamas “intelligence and command center” but did not explain the precise target in the building or its involvement in military operations. A Human Rights Watch visit to the building one week after the strikes and interviews with employees from four of the five offices, including al-Sawaf, uncovered no information to suggest that any of them were used for military operations. In the absence of a demonstrated military objective, the strikes over two days were unlawful attacks on civilian objects, Human Rights Watch said. No office employees were wounded in the Naama Building attacks. However, shrapnel from one of the munitions on November 21 struck an apartment across the street, killing two-year-old Abdulrahman Naim and wounding his brother and cousin. Human Rights Watch requested information from the IDF concerning the attacks on the Aqsa cameramen, the Shawa and Housari Building, the Shoruq Building, and the Naama Building. The IDF replied that it was checking the “details of the events” and would be able to respond once this check is complete without saying when that would be. During the November fighting, an IDF spokeswoman, Lt. Col. Avital Leibovich, told the media that the IDF targeted “people who have relevance to terror activity.” Shefurthersought to justify attacks on media by writing that Hamas’s al-Aqsa TV and a radio station called al-Quds Educational Radio, which has ties with Islamic Jihad, are “intricately linked with Islamic Jihad and Hamas and have encouraged and lauded acts of terror against Israeli civilians for the past decade.” She continued: “Such terrorists, who hold cameras and notebooks in their hands, are no different from their colleagues who fire rockets aimed at Israeli cities and cannot enjoy the rights and protection afforded to legitimate journalists.” Regev, the Israeli government spokesman, said that those working for Hamas media cannot be considered journalists: “They are an integral part of the Hamas structure and no one can deny that fact.” He added: “All those involved in targeting Israeli civilians directly or indirectly should not feel that they have impunity.” “Israeli officials have dangerously and unlawfully blurred the distinction between civilians who call for or support military attacks and those who directly participate in attacks,” Whitson said. “This claimed justification for attacking civilians opens the door to war crimes.” Under the laws of war, civilians and civilian structures may not be deliberate targets of attack. Just as it is unlawful to attack the civilian population to lower its morale, it is unlawful to attack facilities that shape public opinion, such as the media; neither directly contributes to military operations. International law obligates states to investigate serious violations of the laws of war. Victims of violations and their families should be promptly and adequately compensated. Anyone responsible for deliberately or recklessly committing a serious violation of the laws of war should be prosecuted for war crimes. The armed conflict between Israel and Hamas and armed groups in Gaza from November 14 to 21 involved unlawful attacks on civilians by both sides. At least 103 Palestinian civilians and four Israeli civilians died during the fighting. “Israeli forces unlawfully attacked civilians and civilian objects because of their ties to Hamas and have not shown any involvement in military operations to justify the attacks,” Whitson said. IDF Attacks on Media During the November 2012 Fighting Al-Aqsa TV Cameramen Mahmoud al-Kumi and Hussam Salama On November 20, around 4:40 p.m., an Israeli missile struck a car in Gaza City, killing Mahmoud al-Kumi and Hussam Salama, two cameramen for al-Aqsa TV, the official station of the Hamas government in Gaza. IDF spokespersons said that al-Kumi and Salama were “Hamas operatives” and cameramen for al-Aqsa, which “regularly features programming that encourages and praises attacks on Israeli civilians.” But Israel provided no specific information to support its claim that the two men were combatants or civilians actively taking part in hostilities, which would make them legitimate targets. Human Rights Watch separately interviewed a manager at al-Aqsa TV and the families of al-Kumi and Salama. None indicated that the two men had been members of any armed group. The two were reporting on the conflict for the station and had recently gathered footage at Gaza City’s al-Shifa Hospital, the station’s deputy director, Mohamed Abu Oun, told Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch saw nothing at the homes of al-Kumi or Salama that suggested they were members of any armed group, such as posters or banners honoring them as killed fighters, which is common for killed fighters from Palestinian armed groups. The websites of Hamas’s al-Qassam Brigades and Islamic Jihad’s Saraya al-Quds Brigades did not claim the men as martyrs, which they usually do for their fighters killed in combat. Al-Kumi, 29, was married with three children, ages two, four, and five. Salama, 30, was married with four children, ages eight months, two, three, and five. “He did not fight for Hamas or Fatah – nothing,” Salama’s father, Mohamed Salama, told Human Rights Watch. “He had nothing to do with any of the factions.” Al-Aqsa TV said that al-Kumi began work at the station in August 2007; Salama began in January 2007. Deputy director Abu Oun said they were driving a black Renault car that was marked with “TV” and “Press.” Human Rights Watch inspected the badly burned remains of the car, in which only the hood remained intact. No signs of letters were visible on the hood but they might have burned off in the fire. Al-Shawa and Housari Building Around 1:30 a.m. on November 18, Israeli forces launched at least four missiles at the roof of the Shawa and Housari Building, an 11-story building in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City that houses local and international media offices. Israel released video of the strike and said it had targeted “operational communications infrastructure.” Some of the missiles penetrated the building’s roof and wounded to varying degrees seven staff members in the Quds television station, which has an office on the top floor. One of the men, Khader al-Zahar, lost his right leg below the knee. An eighth staff member suffered smoke inhalation when he went upstairs to help. The photo director of al-Quds TV, Derwish Bulbul, who suffered bruises and smoke inhalation, told Human Rights Watch that the strike occurred unexpectedly while some of his colleagues in the office were working and others were sleeping. “We were surprised by the sound of an explosion and smoke coming down on us,” he said. He helped carry al-Zahar and another wounded colleague, Mohamed al-Akhras, out of the office, and as they were at the door a second missile hit. “Because of the explosion we were thrown to the floor,” Bulbul said. Human Rights Watch inspected the roof and the Quds TV office on November 29. On the roof above the office was a circular hole about two meters in diameter next to the base of a large antenna tower belonging to Islamic Jihad’s al-Quds Radio that was still standing. The eastern wall of the Quds TV office below had three large holes and a fourth smaller hole. The office’s five rooms and studio containing cameras and editing equipment suffered extensive damage. The roof had a second hole about two centimeters in diameter. That strike penetrated the roof, entered an office of the privately-owned Alwan Radio, went through a wooden door and struck the floor. No one was in the office at the time. A remnant of the munition found in the office plus the small entry hole in the roof suggests that Israel fired a narrow-diameter missile, probably an optically guided Spike missile, produced in Israel. The video released by the IDF shows an optically guided missile striking the base of the large antenna tower. The owner of Alwan Radio, Wael al-Awour, said the attack damaged the station’s antenna, transmitter, transmission cables, servers, and computers. The station, which broadcasts talk shows and entertainment unrelated to politics, was not broadcasting during the November fighting. The damage to the equipment kept the station off the air until mid-December, al-Awour said. Al-Quds TV is a private satellite station based in Lebanon with a pro-Hamas editorial line. The director of the station, Emad al-Efrangi, told Human Rights Watch that the station was active in covering the conflict but was not involved in any military operations. The IDF did not assert that either al-Quds TV or Alwan Radio was the target of the attack, saying it had targeted the roof to “disrupt the internal communications of Hamas, who were using the equipment on these buildings [al-Shawa and Housari Building and al-Shoruq Building] to direct attacks against Israeli civilians.” The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs also claimed that the target was an antenna “used by Hamas for military operations.” However, neither the IDF nor the Foreign Ministry provided any specific information to show that the antenna tower was being used for military purposes. The attack did not knock down or disable the targeted antenna tower, which belonged to the official radio station of Islamic Jihad, al-Quds Radio. Al-Shoruq Building Israeli missiles struck the 15-story Shoruq Building, another building that houses Palestinian and international media offices, on the morning of November 18 and the afternoon of November 19. The first attack, around 6 a.m., involved two strikes on the roof, which injured two media workers on the 14th floor from broken glass and badly damaged a studio of Hamas-run al-Aqsa TV on the top floor. The studio was unoccupied at the time. The IDF released a video of the strike on the antenna tower, which shows a missile hitting near the tower’s base. According to the IDF, the strike targeted an antenna that it called an “operational communications infrastructure.” A tweet by the IDF spokesperson after the attack said: “If Hamas commanders in #Gaza can communicate with each other, then they can attack us. This is the capability that we targeted.” The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the attack had targeted “antennas used by Hamas for military operations.” None of these assertions provided specific information linking the use of the antenna, a presumptive civilian object, to military operations, thereby making the attack unlawful. Human Rights Watch examined the roof of the building, and saw a hole about a half meter wide next to the base of a large antenna tower used by al-Aqsa TV, which was lightly damaged but still standing. Two munition fragments seen in al-Aqsa’s studio came from an apparent Spike missile. The strike knocked al-Aqsa’s terrestrial broadcast off the air but the station continued to broadcast via satellite, an engineer at the station said. Most Gazans watch the station via satellite. The privately owned Mayadeen media company, which provides media production for local and international clients, also has an office on the top floor. Nine staff members were in the office at the time, most sleeping, but none of them were wounded, a Mayadeen employee and witness to the attack told Human Rights Watch. The office suffered light damage, mostly broken glass. A second attack that afternoon on the building’s third floor appears to have been on a military target, killing one member of Islamic Jihad’s armed wing, Ramez Hareb. If Palestinians involved in military operations were meeting in the Shoruq Tower, as the IDF claimed, they were placing civilians at unnecessary risk in violation of the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said. The IDF apparently contacted at least one international journalist in the building to warn them to evacuate. Naama Building Six Israeli missile strikes that hit the sixth and seventh floors of the eight-storey Naama Building in the Rimal neighborhood of Gaza City on November 20 and 21 wounded no one in the building but badly damaged the offices of an advertising agency, a researcher and consultant, an engineering firm, and a technology company and – possibly the intended target – a pro-Hamas journalist and analyst. Shrapnel from one of the strikes killed a two-year-old boy across the street and wounded his brother and cousin. The IDF did not name the Naama Building but said it had “surgically targeted” the seventh floor of a “media building” in the Rimal district where Hamas was operating an “intelligence and command center.” The strike on November 21 was a joint mission of the IDF and the Internal Security Agency, the IDF said . Human Rights Watch inspected the building on December 1 and saw no indications that it had been used for military operations. The eastern wall had four holes on the sixth floor and two on the seventh. Four witnesses to the attack said Israeli forces struck the sixth floor on November 20 at about 11 p.m. and the seventh floor on November 21 at about 3:30 p.m. On the sixth floor, Human Rights Watch saw one hole, about one meter wide, in the outside wall of an audio studio in the advertising agency, Arts for Media and Training. Two missiles hit the next-door office of Ghazi Sourani, a researcher and consultant, ripping holes in the outside wall. Another missile broke through the outside wall of AES Engineering Services. No one was in the offices at the time of the attack. Missiles hit two offices on the seventh floor the next day. One hit a technology company called Rama HiTech Systems. The other hit al-Jeel Press Office, owned and managed by a journalist and analyst, Mustafa al-Sawaf. The company provides reporting and media services for local and Arab websites. Al-Sawaf told Human Rights Watch that, while he holds pro-Hamas views, his media work is independent, and his office was not used for any military purposes. A different building that al-Jeel Press Office shared with other local and international media companies was struck by Israeli missiles in June 2004 . Shrapnel from the November 21 strike killed two-year-old Abdelrahman Naim, who lived across the street. His family said he was playing at home with his brother and two cousins. His 15-year-old brother, Mahmoud, and 16-year-old cousin, Sami, were lightly wounded. According to Abdelrahman’s mother, Najal Naim, and a medical report from al-Shifa Hospital viewed by Human Rights Watch, the toddler was killed from shrapnel that entered his chest. Najal Naim told Human Rights Watch: ||||| Israeli army attacks on journalists and media facilities in the Gaza Strip during last month's military operation violated the laws of war, Human Rights Watch said in a release Thursday. Two Palestinian cameramen were killed and at least 10 media personnel were wounded in the offensive, which was launched after weeks of rocket attacks on Israel. The Israeli government has said each of the targets was a legitimate military objective. In its statement, the New York-based rights group said it found no support for that claim. "Just because Israel says a journalist was a fighter or a TV station was a command center does not make it so," said Sarah Leah Whitson, the group's Mideast director. The Israeli military said in a statement that it "acts in accordance with the laws of armed conflict, despite the ongoing deliberate violations and abuse of these laws by the terrorist organizations in the Gaza Strip." It said it was investigating the events mentioned in the report and would respond further once the inquiry was completed.

– Israel broke the laws of war by targeting media facilities and journalists "that were making no apparent contribution to Palestinian military operations" during its November offensive against Gaza, Human Rights Watch argues in a statement released today. The group recorded four attacks by Israeli forces over the eight-day conflict that killed two Palestinian cameraman, injured 10 media members, and destroyed four media offices; a 2-year-old living adjacent to a targeted building died as well. "Just because Israel says a journalist was a fighter or a TV station was a command center does not make it so," says the Mideast director of HRW. The Israeli military insists all of its attacks were "in accordance with the laws of armed conflict," reports the AP. The journalist advocacy group Reporters Without Borders yesterday reported that 2012 has been the deadliest year on record for journalists, with 88 killed around the world, largely because of conflicts in Syria, Pakistan, and Somalia. That's up by a third over last year, notes al-Jazeera.

PARIS (AP) — Ever wonder what Keira Knightley and Rihanna do when they just want to go to the grocers like average people? (Click Prev or Next to continue viewing images.) ADVERTISEMENT (Click Prev or Next to continue viewing images.) A model wears a creation for the Alexander McQueen ready-to-wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Zacharie Scheurer) (Associated Press) A model wears a creation for the Alexander McQueen ready-to-wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Zacharie Scheurer) (Associated Press) A model wears a creation as part of Iris Van Herpen's ready-to-wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Associated Press) Models wear creations for Chanel's ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Associated Press) Actress Keira Knightley and her husband James Righton pose as they attend Chanel's ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Thibault... (Associated Press) A model wears a creation as part of Iris Van Herpen's ready-to-wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Associated Press) Model Cara Delevingne gestures towards German fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld after the presentation of Chanel's ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March... (Associated Press) A model wears a creation for Valentino's ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon) (Associated Press) Singer Rihanna, second right, watches a model presenting a creation as part of Chanel's ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Thibault... (Associated Press) Models wear creations for Chanel's ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Thibault Camus) (Associated Press) A model wears a creation for Valentino's ready to wear fall/winter 2014-2015 fashion collection presented in Paris, Tuesday, March 4, 2014. (AP Photo/Jacques Brinon) (Associated Press) They go to Karl Lagerfeld's luxury Chanel supermarket, of course. Tuesday saw the fashion showman put on a "Chanel Shopping Center" fall-winter show that featured an audacious Walmart-sized reconstruction and saw the celebrity pair applaud vigorously from the front row. They clearly didn't seem to mind sitting near the canned goods food section. However, events took a nose dive after the show when the rowdy fashion crowd looted the set. Here are the highlights of this and Tuesday's other incredible ready-to-wear shows in Paris. CHANEL'S SUPERMARKET IS SO LUXURY IT GETS LOOTED The attention to detail was astounding. An entire supermarket had been reconstructed across several hundred square meters of Paris' Grand Palais. Guests stared in disbelief at shelves bursting with consumable products especially made for this show: bottles of "Tweed cola," wine branded "Maison Gabrielle," and even grilled bread stamped "CC." This was clearly a fall-winter show like no other. Chanel trolleys at the side led on to a tall pile of coconuts next to writing "1 for the price of 2," a fresh fruits and veg section, and large signs advertising Chanel's latest special offers. Instead of discounts they read "50 percent markup." "Luxury should be worn like you're going to the supermarket. It's the pop art of the 21st century," said the couturier in high spirits. At the very least, it's proof that Lagerfeld is fashion's greatest showman. Though the set was a universal hit, perhaps Monsieur Lagerfeld later had one regret: telling revelers they could help themselves to the produce. It triggered a stealing-frenzy, with security guards having to swoop in as revelers stripped the shelves. At the exit, fashionistas' bags were actually searched to remove stolen goods. One fashion editor succeeded in making off with a Chanel doormat. KEIRA KNIGHTLEY, RIHANNA AND CHANEL COOKING OIL "Pirates of the Caribbean" star Keira Knightley — in a monochrome Chanel dress with tiny waist — rocked the front row alongside her husband, Klaxons singer James Righton whom she married last year. They entered a cordoned-off area after the show alongside superstar Rihanna near some Chanel cooking oil. It triggered a media frenzy with a worried Knightley saying, "I think there's a fight breaking out." Her husband, who watched from the sidelines, seemed puzzled by the luxury supermarket concept. "It's my first Chanel show. It was fairly mad. Is this normal?" Yes, at least in Lagerfeld's world it is. THE CHANEL CLOTHES CHANNEL YOUTH AND COLOR Just like a supermarket, Lagerfeld produced a collection that was so varied there was choice for everyone. With attention given to large rounded shoulders, exaggerated upper torsos, cinched or exposed midriffs and lashings of tweed, Lagerfeld mixed and matched. Stylish brown tweed was turned into a jumpsuit — with voluminous pockets on the bust and great 80s turn ups. A section that seemed to channel the designs of artist Vassily Kandinsky provided bursts of color on driving coats and a pair of bold blue and green leggings. It looked very young, but Lagerfeld quipped after the show: "Never young enough for today's standard. The older the (women) are, the younger they want to look!" For the fun factor, models carried large leather and silver-bound Chanel shopping baskets as they theatrically browsed the catwalk shelving. If the show seemed to lack the focus of Lagerfeld's best shows, some fantastic single garments made up for it. One black three-quarter length coat had a lovely fluidity with delicate diagonal ribs. IRIS VAN HERPEN'S SHOCK TACTICS The human body was in focus at Dutch designer Iris Van Herpen's sublime debut catwalk show on the ready-to-wear calendar. Van Herpen likes to shock. In this show the shock-factor saw three models writhing in suspended square plastic bags that had the oxygen sucked out. It disturbed several guests as it looked as if the models were in discomfort or couldn't breathe. In the clothes, embroidered beads on mini sheaths resembled shining human cells on models in jutting boots without heels. While some beautifully executed techno-fabric, silver, cocktail dresses glistened like organic fluid. Several looks also seemed to turn the body inside out: black and white chubby fur tops had the top slashed off to reveal flaps of fabric like exposed flesh. The collection perfectly towed the line between surreal artistry and wearability, but next time Van Herpen shouldn't try to frighten guests. ALEXANDER MCQUEEN'S LITTLE BO PEEP HAS LOST HER WEREWOLF Sarah Burton produced a cryptic but accomplished show for Alexander McQueen set on an emotive green heath. A-line skirts in broderie anglaise, large white rounded collars, thigh-high lace up boots and tulle embellishments pointed to an 18th century vibe. Then, the patches of long black and white fur and animal eyebrows at times looked like Burton was going for a werewolf vibe. Was she chanelling the beginnings of British gothic horror writing that started in the late 18th century? VALENTINO'S ANSWER TO THE SWINGING SIXTIES Valentino 's Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pierpaolo Piccioli gave their diaphanous, and slightly puritanical designs, an injection of 1960s and Pop Art. Though the design duo they didn't pay attention to the menswear vibe sweeping fall-winter shows so far — and people don't expect uber-feminine Valentino to, either — this show definitely felt more "trendy" than in previous seasons. The best look was a shimmering silk purple, silver and pewter baby-doll dress with black color. And some of the harlequin looks were eye-catching, though sometimes a little busy. It was the couture-infused gowns they did best — after all, couture is almost synonymous with the house. Fastidiously embroidered butterflies gave a beautiful lift to a sexy sheer tulle cocktail gown and continued with a bird motif on another in deep blue. ___ Thomas Adamson can be followed at Twitter.com/ThomasAdamsonAP ||||| 1 of 5. German designer Karl Lagerfeld (R) and model Cara Delevingne appear at the end of his Fall/Winter 2014-2015 women's ready-to-wear collection show for French fashion house Chanel at the Grand Palais transformed into a 'Chanel Shopping Center' during Paris Fashion Week March 4, 2014. PARIS (Reuters) - Most designers try to make consumers dream at their fashion shows, but Karl Lagerfeld sought to bring them back into real life by presenting his latest collection in a spoof Chanel supermarket. Paris' prestigious Grand Palais, where the French brand traditionally hosts its glamorous shows, was filled with endless rows of Chanel-branded pasta, cheeses, sauces, detergents and other products of daily life created solely for the occasion. "For me the supermarket is the pop art of today," Lagerfeld said on Tuesday after the show, admitting he rarely went to supermarkets himself. Pushing brightly colored trolleys and pretending to exchange gossip, models picked up products with tongue-in-cheek labels such as Coco beer bottles, Chateau Gabrielle white wine and Chanel crémeuh - or creamoo - milk. Others carried metallic baskets adorned with Chanel's iconic handbag chains. The designer's new autumn/winter collection was full of oversized tweed jackets worn over shiny pencil-thin pants complete with flashy sneakers, also spotted at January's haute couture show. Some models wore comfortable-looking orange woolen jogging suits and fluorescent pink shredded leggings. Speakers spat out loud pop music, interrupted by public announcements such as "the young Marine is waiting for her parents at the cashiers" or "Mrs Martin is requested at the fresh foods department". Lagerfeld said Chanel had created more than 500 different labels and put more than 100,000 items on display, some of which would be later given to charity. No cost or detail was spared to create the atmosphere of a typical French supermarket such as Carrefour. Hanging over the white aisles, some giant yellow signs offered 20 percent discounts while others said: "the DIY department is open on Sundays," pointing to recent controversy in France over allowing DIY shops to trade on Sundays. Once the show was over, many members of the audience furiously seized Chanel food products from the shelves. "The supermarket concept was brilliant as it put fashion into real life," French actress and singer Vanessa Paradis, previously the face of Chanel's Coco perfume and lipstick, told Reuters after the show. Lagerfeld, who turned 80 last year and has spent three decades at Chanel's helm, is credited with having regularly infused fresh life into the brand to keep it modern and in tune with its times while remaining faithful to its heritage. "It is not because you buy Chanel clothes that you should not be allowed into the supermarket," Lagerfeld said after exchanging hugs and kisses with his A-lists guests such as singer Rihanna and actress Keira Knightley. (Reporting by Astrid Wendlandt; Editing by Catherine Evans)

– Chanel's show at Paris Fashion Week yesterday had a somewhat pedestrian theme: The Grand Palais, where the show was held, was turned into a Chanel supermarket. There were rows of food and household items, all with Chanel-branded names like Coco beer and Tweed cola, and models pushed shopping carts or carried baskets through the aisles while music and fake announcements played ("the young Marine is waiting for her parents at the cashiers," for example); signs advertised "sales"—like "1 for the price of 2" and "50% markup." Altogether, more than 100,000 items were displayed with more than 500 different labels; some will be donated to charity, Reuters reports, but others were grabbed by audience members after the show ... and things got so crazy that security guards had to intervene, with the AP noting fashionistas' bags were actually searched upon exit, with stolen goods removed, though one apparently made off with a Chanel doormat. "For me the supermarket is the pop art of today," said designer Karl Lagerfeld ... though of course he also said he himself rarely actually visits supermarkets. Chanel last made headlines for featuring models in sneakers.

Coffee chain Starbucks is moving its bottled-water operation out of California amid the historic drought, the company said in a statement. Starbucks said Thursday it will move its Ethos bottled water production to Pennsylvania over the next six months. It is trying to find a new water source for the West Coast, the company said. "We are committed to our mission to be a globally responsible company and to support the people of the state of California as they face this unprecedented drought," John Kelly, Starbucks senior vice president of Global Responsibility and Public Policy, said in a statement. Stores in California will also reduce water use by more than 25 percent, the coffee chain said. The company said it made the decision in order to help California conserve water. Last week, Mother Jones pointed out that Starbucks' Ethos water sold in the Western United States draws its supply from private springs in Baxter, California, which is classified by the state as being in "exceptional drought." Starbucks donates 5 cents for every bottle of Ethos water it sells to the Ethos Water Fund, which makes grants to improve water and sanitation projects in countries that face water challenges, the company said on its website. Starbucks said it has distributed over $12 million since buying the water company in 2005. California's water board this week approved a mandatory 25 percent urban water reduction called for by Gov. Jerry Brown, as well as other regulations designed to save water. California is in its fourth year of drought. Play Facebook Twitter Embed Drought Takes Toll On Wildlife 1:28 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog IN-DEPTH — Phil Helsel ||||| Looking for news you can trust? Subscribe to our free newsletters. Update, May 8, 2015: In a statement on Thursday, Starbucks announced it would be moving its California bottling operations to Pennsylvania over the next six months, citing concerns over the drought crisis. “We are committed to our mission to be a globally responsible company and to support the people of the state of California as they face this unprecedented drought,” John Kelly, the company’s senior vice president of Global Responsibility and Public Policy said. Ethos Water was supposed to help fix the global water crisis: Founded in 2002 in Southern California, the bottled-water company promised that for every unit it sold, it would donate a small amount of money to water charity projects in the developing world. The idea quickly took off. In 2005, Ethos was acquired by Starbucks. Now, for every $1.95 bottle of Ethos water it sells, Starbucks makes a 5-cent donation to the Ethos Water Fund, part of the Starbucks Foundation. “When our customers choose to buy Ethos Water, they’re improving the lives of people who lack vital resources,” Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz said in 2008. Some of the biggest celebrities in Hollywood have lent their names to Starbucks’ Ethos brand. Matt Damon starred in an ad campaign, and Starbucks partnered with a company that drives celebrities to the Oscars and filled the cars with Ethos bottles, “so Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz walked into the awards carrying Ethos Water,” as Ethos cofounder Peter Thum explained. In 2011, Ethos’ other cofounder, Jonathan Greenblatt, became special assistant to the president and head of the White House Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation. Obama himself lauded Greenblatt last fall for his “innovative solutions to America’s challenges.” Starbucks says that its partnership with Ethos has raised more than $12.3 million for water charity projects to date. So far, media coverage has focused on Starbucks’ goal to quench the thirst of the world’s parched masses; the story behind the bottled water it sells here in the United States has been a nonissue. But now, as California’s historic drought wears on, Starbucks is facing a water crisis of its own. Starbucks gets its spring water free of charge—in California, water companies typically don’t have to pay for the groundwater they use. The bottling plant that Starbucks uses for its Ethos customers in the western United States is located in Merced, California, which is currently ranked in the “exceptional drought” category by the US Drought Monitor. Its residents face steep water cuts in their homes, and surface water for the region’s many farms is drying up. On April 16, the Merced Sun-Star reported that residents were complaining about a private water bottler, owned and operated by the grocery chain Safeway, that ships the increasingly scarce groundwater out for profit. In addition to its own bottled water, the plant also produces Starbucks’ Ethos water. No one knows exactly how much water the plant is using—the city of Merced considers that information confidential. (Starbucks uses a water source in Pennsylvania for the Ethos bottles sold in its locations in the eastern United States.) The Starbucks water bottled at the plant comes from private springs in Baxter, a small unincorporated community in Placer County, a few hours north of Merced in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada mountains. The spring water comes free of charge—in California, water companies typically don’t have to pay for the groundwater they use. Like Merced, Baxter is located in “exceptional drought” territory. In a story about the water shortage last year, the New York Times pointed to a community near Baxter, quoting a rancher as saying that the drought was “as bad as I have ever experienced.” When I asked a Starbucks spokesman about the company’s reaction to concerns about bottlers’ use of increasingly scarce water, he told me that Starbucks uses “a private spring source that is not used for municipal water for any communities.” But Mary Scruggs, a supervising engineering geologist with California’s Department of Water Resources, notes that communities can be affected by the use of surrounding springs “if you capture and pull it out before it ever makes it” to downstream users. The bottling plant that Starbucks uses is located in Merced, California, which is currently ranked in the “exceptional drought” category. Bottling companies are trusted to monitor the health of their springs and the recharge rate, though in California the regulation and monitoring of bottled water extraction and its environmental impacts is notoriously opaque. Unlike in other states, well logs are kept confidential and reviewing such data requires permission from the well owner. In addition to the spring water it bottles, Starbucks also uses Merced city water to manufacture its bottled water product. A report commissioned by the International Bottled Water Association found that it takes on average 1.32 liters of water to make a liter of bottled water, though critics argue that it can take several times more than that once all the packaging is accounted for. In March, Merced County passed an ordinance that will place new permitting restrictions on some groundwater use, though whether this will affect the Starbucks bottling plant remains to be seen. “We’re cautious about setting precedents,” says Ron Rowe, director of the Division of Environmental Health for Merced County, adding that his agency hasn’t yet issued permits for any company under the new ordinance. Starbucks declined to provide sales figures for Ethos Water, but the company’s estimate of $12.3 million given to charity works out to about 246 million bottles sold. Given the original price of $1.80 a bottle, by my calculation, that’s more than $442 million in sales. While bottled water accounts for just a small fraction of California’s total water use, some residents are nonetheless fed up with bottling plants that profit off their dwindling water supply. Protesters have begun staging events at Nestlé’s bottling facility in nearby Sacramento. Starbucks, with its mission to bring water to the world’s thirstiest regions, has so far escaped the kind of scrutiny that Nestlé and others have endured. But as a Merced area resident recently noted during a city council meeting about the bottling plant that Starbucks uses, “You might think that in the midst of a drought emergency, diverting public fresh water supplies to bottle and selling them would be frowned upon.” This article was reported in partnership with the Investigative Fund at The Nation Institute, with support from the Puffin Foundation.

– Starbucks will shift its bottled water operation out of California as the state's lengthy drought intensifies. The coffee chain says it will move production of its Ethos water to Pennsylvania for six months while it searches for an alternative West Coast source, NBC News reports. "We are committed to our mission to be a globally responsible company and to support the people of the state of California as they face this unprecedented drought," the company said in a statement. The announcement follows a critical report in Mother Jones that revealed Ethos water came from private springs in Baxter, an area deemed to be in "exceptional drought." Asked by Mother Jones about concerns surrounding a dwindling water supply for residents, a company rep said Ethos' source "is not used for municipal water for any communities." However, the spring water got bottled in nearby Merced, also under severe drought conditions, and the company used city water as part of the process. The article described how the brand has become a favorite among Hollywood celebs because 5 cents from every bottle goes to the Ethos Water Fund, which works to improve access to water and sanitation abroad. Other bottled water brands, including Nestle, also get their water from California.

ROME (AP) — Italy's health ministry has ordered an investigation into the death of a 4-year-old girl from malaria after checks determined she hadn't traveled to any country at risk for the disease. The child died Monday at the Brescia public hospital after being transferred from Trento. Italy is not known to have the kind of mosquitoes that spread malaria. The health ministry said Tuesday it is sending a team of experts to the Trento hospital to determine how the girl got infected, since she hadn't made any trips to countries with the parasitic disease. Malaria is a tropical disease that mostly strikes children in Africa, although parts of Asia, Latin America and the Middle East are also at risk. The disease is estimated to have killed more than 420,000 people last year. In recent years, European health officials have noted several isolated cases of locally acquired malaria, including one case in Rome in 2009. Suspicion fell on the Trento facility because it was treating two other children with malaria. But the disease does not spread easily between people and typically either requires a mosquito bite or blood transfusion. The ANSA news agency quoted the head of the Trento health service, Paolo Bordon, as saying that the child received no blood transfusions and that the malaria-infected children were being treated in other rooms with single-use equipment. Bordon suggested the girl might have caught it earlier, given the timing of her symptoms. Malaria symptoms, which include fever, a headache and chills, typically appear about 10 days after an infected mosquito bite. Bordon said it was possible the girl might have contracted the disease before arriving at the Trento hospital, possibly from a mosquito trapped in luggage. According to the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, there have been 75 cases of malaria linked to mosquitoes in luggage arriving in Western Europe from malaria-endemic countries in the past few decades. ||||| Breaking News Emails Get breaking news alerts and special reports. The news and stories that matter, delivered weekday mornings. / Updated By Claudio Lavanga ROME — Malaria killed a 4-year-old girl in Italy, raising fears that the mosquito-borne disease has returned to the country after decades. Sonia Zago developed a high fever after returning home from a vacation in Bibione, a seaside town on the Adriatic coast near Venice. As her condition worsened, she was taken to a hospital in the northern city of Trento. Within an hour of arriving, the girl had fallen into a coma and was diagnosed with malaria. Zago was then transferred to a hospital in Brescia that treats tropical diseases, but she died on Sunday night. The girl had never traveled to a risk-prone country, raising questions about how she contracted the disease. "It baffles us how she could have been infected" The Ministry of Health confirmed Tuesday that it had dispatched a team of experts to investigate. Dr. Claudio Paternoster, director of the infectious diseases ward at Santa Chiara hospital in Trento, said that he had not seen a case of home-grown malaria during his 30-year career. He said that Zago had been admitted to the facility about two weeks ago due to suspected diabetes and had shared a ward with two children who had contracted malaria while in Burkina Faso. "It’s not probable, almost impossible, to pass on the [parasite] from patient to patient," Paternoster told NBC News. "So the only option I can think of is that the mosquito that carried the disease may have traveled to Italy, and survived somehow." Tropical diseases expert Alberto Matteelli, left, is flanked by Ezio Belleri, general manager of the "Spedali Civili" hospital, as they meet the media in Brescia, Italy on Sept. 5, 2017. Italy's health ministry has ordered an investigation into the death of a 4-year-old girl from malaria after checks determined she hadn't traveled to any country at risk for the disease. Filippo Venezia / ANSA via AP He added: "It baffles us how she could have been infected.” Italy has been malaria-free since the 1950s, with most recorded cases linked to tourists who returned from countries where it is common. Paternoster speculated that climate change may be to blame. ”It was a long and very hot summer," Italian daily Corriere della Sera quoted Paternoster as saying. On Tuesday, the World Health Organization was hosting a meeting in Moscow to discuss how to keep Europe malaria-free. Zero cases of home-grown malaria were reported in Europe in 2015. The WHO says Italy could be vulnerable to a return of malaria if mosquitoes are not properly controlled. Malaria is caused by a parasite that has a complex life cycle dependent on both animals, including humans, and mosquitoes. CORRECTION (Sept. 5, 2017, 2:45 p.m. ET): Due to a mistranslation in a quotation from Dr. Paternoster, a previous version of this article incorrectly described the nature of malaria. It is a parasite, not a virus. ||||| In A Case That Is 'Almost Impossible,' Girl Dies Of Malaria In Italy Enlarge this image toggle caption Sinclair Stammers/Getty Images/Science Photo Library RM Sinclair Stammers/Getty Images/Science Photo Library RM A 4-year-old girl has died of malaria in Italy, where the disease is thought to have been wiped out. Troubled health officials are looking for answers. The girl was taken to the hospital Saturday in her Alpine hometown of Trento after she developed a high fever, according to the Italian newspaper, Corriere della Sera. Lab tests confirmed she was infected with cerebral malaria, the deadliest kind. The girl had already fallen into a coma. She was transferred to a hospital specializing in tropical diseases in neighboring Brescia, where she died in the early morning hours Monday, reports the daily newspaper. "This is the first time in 30 years of career that I have been involved in a case of native malaria in Trentino," Dr. Claudio Paternoster, an infectious disease specialist at Trento's Santa Chiara Hospital, told the newspaper. Malaria was endemic throughout Italy until the first half of the 20th century, especially in coastal and marshy areas hospitable to the mosquitoes carrying the disease. But a campaign launched in 1947 to eradicate malaria, mainly through pesticides, proved to be successful. The World Health Organization declared Italy malaria-free in 1970. Since then there have been cases of malaria reported, but almost all of them have been imported, says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now health officials are trying to piece together how and where the girl may have been infected. "It's a mystery, almost impossible," Paolo Bordon, general manager of the provincial health service, tells Corriere della Sera. The child had never traveled abroad, but she had recently returned from a vacation in Bibione, a coastal resort northeast of Venice on the Adriatic Sea. Corriere della Sera reports that the trip — in the first weeks of August — is compatible with the incubation period for malaria. The BBC reports that the child had previously been treated for her diabetes at the Trento hospital, where two other children were recovering from malaria they had caught in Africa. While patient-to-patient transmission of the disease is rare, it is possible. Yet Paternoster tells Corriere della Sera that the girl was treated in a different ward from the infected children and she did not have a blood transfusion. Officials are also considering the "mosquito in a suitcase" theory, where an infected insect could have been brought over by a traveler. Just one kind of mosquito — the Anopheles — (and only females at that) can transmit the disease, and it is not known to live in Italy. "(To) our knowledge, there are no vectors suitable for transmitting malaria in Trentino and Italy," Paternoster told Corriere della Sera. But he says an investigation is underway to see if the mosquito is once again present in the region. "It has been a hot summer and with climate change it is not possible to exclude the adaptation of some species," Paternoster said. But as NPR's Michaeleen Doucleff has reported, it can be tricky to definitively link climate change to the spread of vector-borne diseases, in part, because the life span of mosquitoes is so short and may only be made shorter in warmer weather. Malaria is caused by a parasite that leads to flu-like symptoms. And every year, millions of people are sickened with the disease. Many recover, but small children are especially vulnerable. Ninety percent of malaria cases occur in sub-Saharan Africa, where it kills about 3,000 children every day, according to UNICEF. Europe was declared malaria-free in 2015. This week the World Health Organization is hosting a meeting in Moscow to discuss keeping Europe malaria-free. ||||| Image copyright Science Photo Library Image caption The female Anopheles mosquito passes on the malaria parasite by feeding on human blood A four-year-old Italian girl has died of cerebral malaria in northern Italy, a region free of the disease, in what doctors see as a very mysterious case. Sofia Zago died in Brescia on Sunday night, after being rushed to hospital with a high fever on Saturday. Italy is free of the Anopheles mosquito that carries cerebral malaria, the deadliest form of the blood disease. But after a scorching August, some fear that it might have reached Italy. A flight could have brought it in. Sofia had been on holiday with her parents at Bibione, an Adriatic resort near Venice. Trento, where the girl's malaria was diagnosed on Saturday, lies within the Trentino region in the foothills of the Alps. "It's the first time in my 30-year career that I've seen a case of malaria originating in Trentino," said Dr Claudio Paternoster, an infectious diseases specialist at Trento's Santa Chiara Hospital. Since the 1950s, Italy has not had a malaria problem because mosquito-infested marshes were drained. There is speculation that Sofia might have caught malaria from one of two children treated for it at the Trento hospital after 15 August. They had caught it in Africa, and recovered. Sofia had had treatment there for child diabetes and there was a break before her emergency readmission to the hospital at the weekend. A Trentino health official, Paolo Bordon, said Sofia had not been in the same ward as the other two children. Sofia had not had a blood transfusion, he added, stressing that the treatments for malaria and diabetes were utterly different. The Plasmodium Falciparum parasite carried by the Anopheles mosquito can kill a human within 24 hours. About 438,000 people died of malaria in 2015 in the 95 tropical countries where it is endemic, Italy's Corriere della Sera daily reports. Extreme gardening to tackle malaria Three countries get first malaria vaccine Malaria drugs fail for first time in UK Rare case for Europe By Michelle Roberts, Health Editor, BBC News Online Only some types of mosquito are able to transmit the disease from person to person. Risky insects are found in large areas of Central and South America, Africa, Asia, the South Pacific and some parts of Eastern Europe, but not in the rest of Europe. As a result, malaria is largely limited to tropical areas - cases appearing within the European Union are typically "suitcase" ones, linked to recent travel to other parts of the world where malaria is present. The latest case in northern Italy has baffled experts. It is not clear how the girl caught it, but her case is not unique. The European Centre for Disease Prevention Control closely monitors cases and has found a few cases of "locally acquired" malaria in the EU - two in France and three in Spain in 2014. But there were explanations for how some of these might have occurred. One was a patient who had received a kidney from a donor with malaria; another was a newborn whose mother had recently returned from Equatorial Guinea. One of the Spanish patients had no history of travel, but lived a few kilometres from a town where a "suitcase" malaria person lived. No infected local mosquitoes were found, but lab tests showed two people had an identical strain of the disease.

– The death of a 4-year-old girl from malaria on Monday in Italy has local health authorities searching for answers and worrying about a resurgence of the deadly disease, NPR reports. Italy was declared malaria-free in 1970, and the mosquito that carries the disease no longer lives in the country. "It baffles us how she could have been infected,” NBC News quotes a doctor at a hospital in Trento as saying. Sofia Zago was brought to the hospital on Saturday with a high fever and quickly fell into a coma. Tests showed she had cerebral malaria, the deadliest form of the disease, and she died Monday after being moved to a hospital in Brescia. A doctor says it was the first case of native malaria he's seen in Trento in 30 years. "It's a mystery, almost impossible," the general manager of the provincial health service says regarding the case. Doctors believe Sofia may have been infected during a trip to a beach resort near Venice. It's possible she was infected by a mosquito that had managed to travel to Italy inside of luggage. It's also possible, though very unlikely, Sofia contracted the disease a few weeks ago when she was hospitalized for childhood diabetes. The BBC reports there were two children at the hospital at the same time recovering from malaria they picked up in Africa, though they were in a different ward and Sofia received no blood transfusions. Italy's health ministry has ordered an investigation, according to the AP. While Europe was declared malaria-free in 2015, there have been several individual cases of locally transmitted malaria in recent years, including one in Rome in 2009. (After decades of work, a malaria vaccine is finally here.)

Amanda Knox and prison life A primetime television interview and a new book have put Amanda Knox's experience of prison life in Italy back under the spotlight. But do these accounts tally with what she said at the time? In the weeks leading up to publication of Amanda Knox's memoir, Waiting to be Heard, descriptions of her four years in a Perugia women's prison as a "trauma in an Italian hellhole of sex and debauchery" - as the National Enquirer put it - have become increasingly lurid. Knox's memoir is a vivid personal account of the difficulties of prison life in Italy, complete with claims about inappropriate behaviour by staff. But Knox herself once painted a different picture. Other documents - including writings Knox penned in her own hand while incarcerated, case files and state department records - conjure up quite another impression of a very different Knox, one who was more sanguine about her experience. "The prison staff are really nice," wrote Knox in her personal prison diary, which was eventually published in Italy under the title Amanda and the Others. Continue reading the main story Kercher murder: Timeline 1 November 2007 : Kercher is killed at her apartment in Perugia. Police find her a day later. : Kercher is killed at her apartment in Perugia. Police find her a day later. 6 November 2007 : Kercher's US housemate Knox is arrested, along with Sollecito and Congolese national Patrick Diya Lumumba. : Kercher's US housemate Knox is arrested, along with Sollecito and Congolese national Patrick Diya Lumumba. 20 November 2007 : Rudy Guede detained in Germany and extradited to Italy. Mr Lumumba released without charge : Rudy Guede detained in Germany and extradited to Italy. Mr Lumumba released without charge 28 October 2008: Guede sentenced to 16 years. A judge rules Sollecito and Knox will face a murder trial Guede sentenced to 16 years. A judge rules Sollecito and Knox will face a murder trial 4 December 2009: Knox and Sollecito found guilty of murder and sexual violence, and jailed for 26 and 25 years Knox and Sollecito found guilty of murder and sexual violence, and jailed for 26 and 25 years 3 October 2011: Knox and Sollecito acquitted Knox and Sollecito acquitted 26 March 2013: Re-run of appeals ordered. Acquittals overturned "They check in to make sure I'm okay very often and are very gentle with me. I don't like the police as much, though they were nice to me in the end, but only because I had named someone for them, when I was very scared and confused." She described Italian prisons as "pretty swell", with a library, a television in her room, a bathroom and a reading lamp. No-one had beaten her up, she wrote, and one guard gave her a pep talk when she was crying in her cell. Unlike the heavily-edited memoir, these are phrases she handwrote herself, complete with strike-outs, flowery doodles, peace signs and Beatles lyrics. The prison diary and Waiting to be Heard match up to an extent, and she cites some passages of her own diary. Knox recounts in her diary early on that a male prison guard winked at her when she got letters from men, often brought up her sexuality and gave her the impression he was making a pass at her. Both accounts also refer to the devastating but erroneous news from the prison doctor that she had tested positive for HIV, although her diary presents a more relaxed person at this point. "First of all, the guy told me not to worry, it could be a mistake, they're going to take a second test next week." But there are discrepancies between her memoir and her own descriptions early on in the case of why she made certain written declarations to police. In the memoir, Knox describes getting emotional as she watched the footage of the man she initially blamed for the murder, Patrick Lumumba, walking out of prison as a free man and standing with his wife and baby after he was cleared. Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. She writes that she had a flashback to the interrogation, when she felt coerced into a false accusation. "I was weak and terrified that the police would carry out their threats to put me in prison for 30 years, so I broke down and spoke the words they convinced me to say. I said: 'Patrick - it was Patrick.'" In her memoir, she describes in detail the morning that she put that accusation in writing, and says the prison guard told her to write it down fast. Yet in a letter to her lawyers she gives no hint of being rushed or pressured. "I tried writing what I could remember for the police, because I've always been better at thinking when I was writing. They gave me time to do this. In this message I wrote about my doubts, my questions and what I knew to be true." There is a similar contradiction a few paragraphs later, when she describes in harrowing terms the trauma of an examination at the police station. "After my arrest, I was taken downstairs to a room where, in front of a male doctor, female nurse, and a few female police officers, I was told to strip naked and spread my legs. I was embarrassed because of my nudity, my period - I felt frustrated and helpless." The doctor inspected, measured and photographed her private parts, she writes - "the most dehumanising, degrading experience I had ever been through". But in the 9 November letter to her lawyers, she described a far more routine experience. "During this time I was checked out by medics. I had my picture taken as well as more copies of my fingerprints. They took my shoes and my phone. I wanted to go home but they told me to wait. And that eventually I was to be arrested. Then I was taken here, to the prison, in the last car of three that carried Patrick, then Raffaele, then me to prison." She says she was often suicidal, but recollections of prison staff and other inmates differ. Flores Innocenzia de Jesus, a woman incarcerated with Amanda in 2010 described Knox as sunny and popular among the children who were in Capanne with their mothers, and recalled her avid participation in music and theatrical events. She also held a sought-after job taking orders and delivering goods to inmates from the prison dispensary. "Most of the time when we spoke during our exercise break, the kids would call her and she would go and play with them," de Jesus told me. Knox describes frequent prison tensions. According to de Jesus, there was resentment because she was seen as "a detainee with special status" due to frequent visits from influential Italian politician Rocco Girlanda, who brought her books, computers and other prized items. "She knew she was envied, but because she was very intelligent, she was able to have a rapport with the detainees, especially those who envied her, in a very spontaneous way," says de Jesus. State department cables, released through the Freedom of Information Act, show that between 2007 and 2009, three different high-level diplomats from Rome (Ambassador Ronald Spogli, Deputy Chief Elizabeth Dibble and Ambassador David Thorne) were among those reviewing Knox's case. Embassy officials visited regularly. Records show one consular official visited Knox on 12 November, soon after her arrest. A few weeks later she wrote in her diary how the visits of embassy officials improved her experience. "I am reading a romance novel that the consulate brought me, and I'm actually enjoying it. Soaking it up. How sad is that? So it's come to this. I could definitely see myself interested in Oprah's book club, but cheesy romance novels? I must be really REALLY bored." In 2008 and 2009, she was visited by two embassy officials at a time, six times. Ambassador David Thorne, whose name appears at the bottom of cables in August, November and December of 2009, is the brother- in-law of US Secretary of State John Kerry (at that time chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee). If the diplomats knew anything of the "harrowing prison hell" Knox was going through (as one paper put it), they are keeping those reports under wraps. Neither Kerry nor any other prominent US politician has made any public complaints. Even today, her Italian lawyers maintain she was not mistreated. With a new trial set in Florence in the coming year, a few key passages of "Waiting to be Heard" will most likely be heard once again, in an Italian courtroom. Follow the Magazine on Facebook or Twitter. ||||| In her soon-to-be released memoir, Amanda Knox will reportedly claim that she was sexually harassed by prison guards during her four years at Italy's Capanne prison. In the book, Knox according to the Daily Mail, writes that prison guard Raffaele Argiro would summon her for "chitchats" alone in his office at night. Knox reportedly expands on letters she wrote to friends obtained by British tabloids, saying the guard was fixated on the topic of sex, asking about her partners and if she would have sex with him. "I was so surprised and scandalized," Knox was quoted writing in the memoir, according to the Daily Mail. Her memoir, "Waiting to Be Heard," published by HarperCollins, will be released April 30. Argiro has since retired and denies the allegations. FULL COVERAGE: The Amanda Knox Trial "Obviously to hit on a prisoner who has no power when you're a man who is a prison official with enormous power, is very, very scary for a young woman," Vanity Fair contributing editor Judy Bachrach said. Knox was imprisoned at the Capanne prison in Perugia since she was arrested in 2007 for the murder of her British roommate Meredith Kercher. In 2009, Knox was sentenced to 26 years in prison while ex-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito was sentenced to 25 years. Knox was released from prison in 2011 after the appeals court threw out her conviction and scolded the prosecution's handling of evidence and the case. Sollecito was also released. Knox reportedly writes about a female inmate who wanted to start a lesbian affair. Knox alleges that she was falsely told by officials that she was HIV positive. RELATED: Amanda Knox 'Shocked' By Court Ruling That She Will Be Tried Again for Murder "Within the Italian people there is still that feeling that she's a spoiled rich kid who decided to kill her roommate for kicks. This is ludicrous. So there is a possibility she will be found guilty again," Bachrach said. Just last month Knox learned that the Italian Supreme Court ordered a new trial, meaning her marathon legal battle would continue for her and Sollecito. Knox said the court's decision was "painful" and "completely unfounded and unfair." The new trial is expected to start sometime next year, according to Knox's lawyer. Since her release from prison, Knox has resumed her life in Seattle, taking classes and spending time with her family and boyfriend, James Terrano. Knox's first interview since she was freed will air during a primetime special on Tuesday, April 30 at 10 p.m., ET on the ABC Television Network.

– Amanda Knox's new book describes a traumatic, harrowing ordeal as she was imprisoned for four years for a murder she says she didn't commit—but in some cases, the memoir is at odds with earlier accounts she gave, such as letters she wrote and even her own diary, the BBC reports: Though her memoir reportedly describes sexual harassment at the hands of prison guards, she described the staff as "really nice" in the diary, which was published in Italy. "They check in to make sure I'm OK very often and are very gentle with me." As for the prison itself, she called it "pretty swell." In her memoir, she writes that she was "weak and terrified" and coerced into falsely accusing Patrick Lumumba of Meredith Kercher's murder; she says a prison guard told her to write down the accusation quickly. But in a letter she sent lawyers after making the written declaration to police, she says nothing about being rushed, writing simply, "I tried writing what I could remember for the police, because I've always been better at thinking when I was writing. They gave me time to do this." Her memoir also describes a medical examination at the police station, during which she was stripped naked and told to spread her legs. She calls it "the most dehumanizing, degrading experience I had ever been through." But in the aforementioned letter to lawyers, she made it sound routine and simply said she was "checked out by medics." Click for the full report.

Thousands of lottery players in South Carolina thought Christmas was their lucky day. Starting at 5:51 p.m. last Dec. 25, gas stations and convenience stores across the state dispensed a steady stream of what appeared to be winning tickets. Some customers caught on to the anomaly and bought as many as they could. Nicole Coggins, 36, of Liberty, S.C., was one of them. “We figured we’d buy a reliable vehicle and take the kids to Disneyland,” she said, adding that she and a few other family members kept playing the game until they amassed what they thought were thousands of dollars in winnings. But Ms. Coggins was not able to cash in. The state suspended the game after two hours, at 7:53 p.m., and in a statement two days later, the South Carolina Education Lottery said its computer system vendor, Intralot, had experienced a programming error. ||||| COLUMBIA, SC (May 30, 2018) – Any lottery player who holds a Holiday Cash Add A Play ticket depicting nine (9) Tree symbols which was purchased on December 25, 2017 between 5:51 pm until the close of the game at 7:53 pm will be reimbursed the purchase price of this ticket. The South Carolina Education Lottery (SCEL) Board of Commissioners voted to reimburse the purchase price paid by each Holiday Cash Add-A-Play ticketholder bought on December 25, 2017 on or after 5:51 p.m. because these tickets were produced or issued in error. This decision is required by South Carolina Code Section 59-150-230(C)(3)(a) which provides that prizes arising from a ticket produced or issued in error must not be paid. Before making the decision the tickets were produced or issued in error, SCEL retained Gaming Laboratories International, LLC (GLI) to conduct an independent, impartial analysis. We appreciate players’ patience during this independent investigation. The results of this analysis revealed coding errors by SCEL’s former computer gaming vendor, and the vendor’s inadequate quality assurance testing that would have discovered these errors prior to deployment of this game. These actions caused approximately 71,000 plays (wagers) to be erroneously produced, issued and printed with nine (9) Tree symbols, which were incorrectly recognized as a $500 winning play. Regrettably, these errors by the former vendor led loyal players to mistakenly believe that they held winning tickets. While SCEL is mindful of the magnitude of this decision on its players, any other decision would not comply with the law. To seek the refund of the purchase price of the tickets, a player should mail the original Holiday Cash Add-A-Play tickets (no copies or other reproductions will be processed for reimbursement) purchased on or after 5:51(17:51) P.M. on December 25, 2017 to this address: S.C. Education Lottery P.O. Box 11039 Columbia, SC 29211-1039 Include your name and return address. SCEL will refund the purchase price for each returned ticket and reimburse the player for postage up to the amount of first class USPS postage for the ticket(s) submitted to SCEL. Since these reimbursements will require manual processing, we ask that players mail in all tickets to avoid wait time at the Claim Center. Requests for Holiday Cash Add-A-Play refunds must be received by SCEL no later than January 7, 2019. # # # ||||| South Carolina Lottery Christmas Winners Won't Get Prizes Enlarge this image toggle caption Fitria Ramli / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm Fitria Ramli / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm For two glorious hours it was the gift that kept on giving. And on Christmas Day no less. Between 5:51 p.m. and 7:53 p.m. last December, South Carolinians playing the state lottery were treated to tens of thousands of winning Holiday Cash Add-A-Play tickets, each worth up to $500 regardless of the holder's good or bad behavior. It was an improbable lucky streak that was, in fact, too good to be true. And on Wednesday, the South Carolina Education Lottery announced it will not be delivering more than $30 million in prizes to players who bought tickets during the brief window "because they had been produced in error." A computer glitch was behind the fortuitous — or unfortunate — anomaly, depending on what side you're on, that caused gas stations and convenience stores to issue about 71,000 winning plays. The objective of the tic-tac-toe-like game was to line up three Christmas trees in any direction — horizontal, vertical or diagonal — for a cash prize ranging from $2 to $500. But lottery officials said a five-month analysis of the incident "revealed coding errors" leading machines to repeatedly print tickets depicting nine tree symbols resulting in the biggest prize. The South Carolina Education Lottery blamed its former computer gaming vendor, Intralot. The state lottery said the Greece-based company failed to run adequate quality assurance testing prior to deploying the game. "Regrettably, these errors by the former vendor led loyal players to mistakenly believe that they held winning tickets," the South Carolina Education Lottery said in a statement. "This is a very unusual and specific situation because it has to do with the nature of the game," an Intralot representative told NPR, adding that he could not go into further detail. The official noted the company's quick response time to the mistake. "We all became aware of the problem within hours," he said. "We were able to identify that there was unusual behavior very quickly and we followed the correct procedure to shut it down." "We think it was a pretty good response," he said. Winners-in-waiting have been holding out hope that the lottery board of commissioners would decide to honor the prize value of the tickets. But after an hours-long meeting Wednesday the commissioners ruled players would be reimbursed only for the cost of each lottery ticket: $1 for each claim that is mailed in. "This was not a lottery discretionary matter," Tim Madden, one of the lottery's attorneys told FOX Carolina. "Once this board decided that these tickets were issued, produced or printed in error, then state law mandates that no prize shall be paid." Holli Armstrong, a spokeswoman for the South Carolina Education Lottery, told NPR the cost of the error-filled tickets would have totaled approximately $35 million. But in light of the board's decision, the lottery is out about $1.7 million — the sum players were able to cash-in before the mistake was discovered on Christmas Day. That leaves scores of unhappy people who feel they're entitled to the full cash prize. "It's not fair," Nicole Coggins complained to The New York Times. "It's not right." Coggins was planning on making large purchases with her winnings, including a car and a trip to Disneyland. Coggins is part of one of two lawsuits that have so far been filed against the state lottery and Intralot on behalf of people who have been denied prize money, according to the Times. The South Carolina Education Lottery reported record ticket sales in the most recent fiscal year (2016 - 2017) totalling $1.64 billion and issued more than $1 billion in prizes. Nearly $5 billion has been allocated to education programs throughout the state since the start of the lottery in 2002.

– The Christmas miracle that wasn’t. Last year on Christmas Day, lottery dispensers at convenience stores and gas stations across South Carolina started doing something remarkable. For two hours they spewed out winning tickets of up to $500 like candy. Lottery officials quickly figured out the problem, and cashiers began seeing the message, “transaction not allowed,” when customers went to collect their prizes, reports the Washington Post. But before the bonanza was over, 71,000 of the $1 Holiday Cash Add-A-Play tickets had been dispensed, with the errant prize money totaling about $35 million. So, what happens to all the winning tickets that were rejected? They are worth exactly $1, the state lottery board announced on Wednesday. The winners will not get their prize money, but they can get a refund. After a five-month investigation, lottery officials found the problem was caused by coding errors, reports NPR. The officials say Intralot, a Greece-based ticket vendor, did not run proper testing procedures before releasing the game. "While [the state lottery] is mindful of the magnitude of this decision on its players, any other decision would not comply with the law,” officials said, per the New York Times. Players holding winning tickets are not happy. Nicole Coggins, who thought she had won $18,000, has filed a class-action lawsuit against the lottery commission and the vendor, one of two lawsuits that have been filed, according to the Post. “We think it’s a breach of contract if the commission decided to deny them their rightful winnings,” her lawyer says. "It's not fair," Coggins tells the Times. "It's not right."

Global stocks kicked off 2016 with a stumble, as a disappointing report on China’s economy rekindled concerns over slowing global growth and tempered hopes for a better year. U.S. stocked tumbled at the open and remained lower throughout the session on the heels of a rout in European and Asian markets. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell as much as 467 points in morning trading before recovering slightly. The... ||||| The S&P 500 posted steep losses on Monday, marking it the worst start to a new year in more than a decade. Investors dumped risky assets such as equities and piled into havens, bidding up prices of gold and Treasurys following a rout in Chinese shares overnight as well as heightened tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia that sparked a global equity selloff. See recap of live blog: U.S. stocks unravel on renewed China worries in 2016 The S&P 500 SPX, +1.32% fell 31.28 points, or 1.5%, to 2,012.66, led by a decline in financials, health-care and consumer discretionary stocks, while all 10 main sectors closed lower. “It is not surprising to see such a selloff considering negative headlines from China and tensions between Iran and Saudi Arabia. What is surprising is that it is happening on the first day of the year,” said Ryan Larson, head of equity trading at RBC Global Asset Management. “While trading desks are busier than they normally would be on Mondays, this is not a panic selling, it’s orderly. We are likely to see this kind of volatility a lot in 2016,” Larson said. The S&P 500-tracking “SPY” ETF opened down nearly 2%. According to Bespoke Investment Group analysts, since the SPY SPY, +1.33% began trading in 1994, the ETF has opened lower on the first trading day of the year only twice, and never by more than 1%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average DJIA, +1.38% closed off session lows, but still recorded a triple-digit loss. The blue-chip index fell 276.09 points, or 1.6%, at 17,148.94, led by a drop in DuPont Co. US:DD and J.P.Morgan Chase & Co. JPM, +1.62% Meanwhile gold prices US:GCG6 settled at two-week highs, while Treasurys rallied, as the uncertainty spurred a flight to havens. The Nasdaq Composite COMP, +1.03% tumbled by 104.32 points, or 2.1%, to 4,903.09. China slump: The sharp losses followed an almost 7% slide in China’s Shanghai Composite Index SHCOMP, +0.56% on the back of a weak manufacturing reading. The slide activated a new circuit-breaker system for Chinese stocks, halting trading on the mainland for the rest of the day. European stocks also slumped. “It is unclear if the rout in China is more of a function of overvalued markets there or deteriorating economy,” said Maris Ogg, president at Tower Bridge Advisors. “We believe China’s economy is growing at a much more modest 2%-4% range, not the 7% officials in China say. But that is not news to most investors. However, trading halts and market plunges did spook global investors,” Ogg said. Opinion: China’s rigged markets could fall much further, much faster Last summer, a severe selloff in China’s stock market sparked a global market rout, which was seen as one of the reasons the U.S. Federal Reserve kept interest rates steady at its September meeting. Chinese officials announced plans for the circuit-breaker system in December, as a measure to prevent the wild swings that accelerated this summer’s stock-market crash. But analysts and investors say the circuit breaker could trigger more selling, as the freeze spooks investors and losses snowball, setting off the halt all over again. U.S. stocks ended 2015 mostly lower after a losing session on Thursday. Markets were closed Friday for New Year’s Day. Saudi-Iran tensions: Investors also monitored developments in the Middle East, where a rift between Saudi Arabia and Iran raised concerns about further disruptions to oil prices. Saudi Arabia over the weekend cut ties with Iran after attacks on its embassy in Tehran by people protesting the execution of prominent Shiite Muslim cleric Nemer al-Nemer. Oil prices CLG6, +0.00% briefly spiked on the tensions between Saudi Arabia and Iran, but have since fallen and settled lower. Data: In economic news, the Institute for Supply Management said its manufacturing index slipped to 48.2% last month from 48.6% in November. That’s the lowest reading since the last month of the Great Recession. U.S. construction spending sank 0.4% in November to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.12 trillion, the Commerce Department reported Monday. That was well below the 0.9% gain expected by economists surveyed by MarketWatch. Movers: Pharmaceutical company Baxalta Inc. US:BXLT jumped 5.5% after speculation Shire PLC UK:SHP is close to completing a takeover of its U.S. rival. Shares of Tesla Motors Inc. TSLA, -12.97% dropped 6.9% after the electric car maker released delivery numbers for the fourth quarter on Sunday. Netflix Inc. NFLX, -3.99% slid 3.9% after Baird Equity Research downgraded the stock to neutral and said risk-reward is balanced following its recent strength. Amazon.com Inc. AMZN, +0.18% fell 5.8% after Monness Crespi Hardt downgraded the stock to neutral from buy and suspended its price target. Other markets: European stock markets SXXP, +1.80% skidded, with Germany’s DAX 30 index DAX, +2.63% off more than 4% and on track for its worst day since August. The dollar traded mixed against other major currencies, although the ICE Dollar Index DXY, -0.13% was up 0.2% at 98.827. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed a lawsuit against Volkswagen AG VOW, +1.10% , US:VLKAY alleging the car maker installed illegal emissions-defeat devices in some 600,000 vehicles. Providing critical information for the U.S. trading day. Subscribe to MarketWatch's free Need to Know newsletter. Sign up here.

– It's a bleak start to the new year on Wall Street Monday morning: The Dow fell more than 360 points at the open after China's stock market suffered a huge plunge of its own. Chinese stocks fell 7%, spooking US investors worried about a global slowdown, reports the Wall Street Journal. The Nasdaq and S&P 500 were down similar percentages. "The rout in China is placing pressure on markets more globally, although it remains to be seen how long the hit to market sentiment will persist," says a note at Investec, per MarketWatch.

The developing agreement on the DNA database would be part of a series of pacts that would resolve many of the key outstanding issues in the legislative session this year, including the state’s budget for the next year, new political districts for state legislators and a new pension plan that would reduce retirement benefits for future public employees. “We have the parameters of a deal,” Assemblyman Joseph R. Lentol, a Democrat from Brooklyn , said of the DNA bill that he is sponsoring. Negotiations are moving at an unusually brisk pace in the capital, as Mr. Cuomo and lawmakers face two sets of deadlines: a federal court has demanded an update on the Legislature’s redistricting progress by Thursday, and the governor and legislators are required by law to have a new budget in place by April 1. New York’s DNA database was created in the mid-1990s but applied only to those convicted of a limited number of crimes; the data collection has been expanded three times since then by the Legislature, most recently in 2006. Currently, DNA samples can be collected from people convicted of fewer than half of the crimes codified in state law, including all felonies and some misdemeanors. The measure would expand that to require that a DNA sample be submitted by all convicted criminals. The Manhattan district attorney, Cyrus R. Vance Jr. , an advocate for expanding the database, wrote in a recent opinion article that taking DNA samples from those convicted of low-level crimes had proved to be effective. He said that since the state allowed prosecutors to collect DNA from individuals convicted of petty larceny, investigators had been able to identify people linked to 48 murders and 220 sexual assaults statewide. In one case prosecuted by Mr. Vance’s office, DNA from the butt of a cigarette smoked by Lerio Guerrero while he was being questioned for trespassing in Brooklyn last year linked him to a 1998 rape. Mr. Guerrero had been arrested several times in the interim, but none of his convictions were for crimes serious enough to warrant that he give a DNA sample. Newsletter Sign Up Continue reading the main story Please verify you're not a robot by clicking the box. Invalid email address. Please re-enter. You must select a newsletter to subscribe to. Sign Up You agree to receive occasional updates and special offers for The New York Times's products and services. Thank you for subscribing. An error has occurred. Please try again later. View all New York Times newsletters. Prosecutors also argue that the database could be used to exonerate the wrongfully convicted by matching DNA in their cases to someone else. But the defense bar has argued that courts sometimes place onerous restrictions on gaining access to evidence after a conviction and has, therefore, urged the Legislature to make it easier for defense lawyers to get evidence and run tests against the database. “New York has a demonstrated problem with eyewitness misidentification and false confessions leading to wrongful convictions,” said Stephen Saloom, the policy director of the Innocence Project. “Any legislation that ignores the recommendations of those who’ve studied these issues is ignoring the heart of wrongful conviction reform needed in New York State .” Advertisement Continue reading the main story The Assembly speaker, Sheldon Silver , a Manhattan Democrat, has pushed to allow defendants access to the database. “We need to see fairness in terms of discovery, in terms of a defendant or a, quote-unquote, wrongfully convicted person,” he said. The Senate majority leader, Dean G. Skelos , a Long Island Republican, said he was not opposed to access provisions, as long as it was “done in a very tight and controlled way.” Senator Skelos did say he was against including broader so-called wrongful conviction protections in the bill, like videotaping interrogations. Some in the Assembly, led by Hakeem Jeffries of Brooklyn, have been pushing to include as part of the DNA bill a measure that would make it a violation, rather than a crime, to possess very small amounts of marijuana in public view, but it was not clear whether that provision would make it into the final language. “There’s absolutely no justification for expanding the database and simultaneously including illegitimate misdemeanor marijuana arrest convictions that are racially biased and fatally flawed,” he said. The discussions over the DNA database are running alongside quickening budget negotiations. As part of his spending plan, the governor is proposing to give newly hired public workers across the state, including in New York City , the choice between a less generous pension plan than is available to current employees or a defined contribution plan, which is similar to a 401(k). But the senior administration official said the governor was now prepared to drop the 401(k) option, which has been a lightning rod for criticism from labor unions, so long as legislative leaders agreed to his proposal to create a new pension tier that would provide reduced retirement benefits for future workers. ||||| Bennett Barbour was convicted in 1978 of a rape he didn’t commit. At trial, he had an alibi supported by several witnesses. He didn’t match the victim’s description of her attacker. Barbour suffers from a severe bone disease that would have made it nearly impossible for him to be the assailant. Police found no physical evidence connecting him to the crime, beyond the eyewitness identification by his alleged victim. Barbour was handed an 18-year sentence and paroled after nearly five years. He tells me his time in prison was “a nightmare.” He has cancer now, “all over my body,” and travels regularly to Richmond for treatment. In prison, he says, “everything is taken away. Your pride ...” as his voice trails off. Jonathan Sheldon, a lawyer familiar with his case says, “People think, ‘Oh, he only got five years.’ But in that five years he lost his six-month-old marriage, and scarred his relationship with his daughter. That five years broke him.” The Commonwealth of Virginia learned that Bennett Barbour was innocent nearly two years ago, when DNA testing cleared him of the crime. Virginia authorities, however, never informed Barbour of his innocence. (State officials claim to have mailed a letter with the test results to Barbour’s last four known addresses, but none of those letters ever reached him.) Barbour learned of the DNA tests that proved his innocence only last month, on Feb. 5, when he received a phone call from Sheldon. “I was with my nephew playing cards, and Mr. Sheldon called my mother’s house looking for me,” says Barbour. “He said the authorities stopped looking for me because they couldn’t find me. But Sheldon found me in two days using the Internet.” Advertisement Actually, that’s not true. It only took Sheldon a few hours. Dahlia Lithwick Dahlia Lithwick writes about the courts and the law for Slate and hosts the podcast Amicus. Bennett Barbour is one of the fortunate ones. He, unlike what may ultimately amount to dozens of other men wrongly convicted and incarcerated by the state of Virginia, knows that his innocence can be conclusively proved. His lawyers at the University of Virginia’s Innocence Project filed paperwork last week to have the state formally declare him innocent. The trouble is that Barbour is one of only a handful who have enjoyed this vindication. Years ago, Virginia authorities realized they were likely convicting innocent men. The state’s officials know their criminal justice system is riddled with errors. As they investigated the depth of the problem, they have found that indeed many more men—at least dozens, maybe more—might be exonerated using DNA tests. But the state’s authorities did not move quickly to suspend these sentences or contact the individuals or families involved. They did not publicize their findings. Indeed, they denied Freedom of Information Act requests that would have shed light on the problem. Rather, Virginia state officials appears to have devised a system of notifying current and former convicts that is almost guaranteed to lead to the fewest number of exonerations. How was it that Bennett Barbour’s DNA came to be tested several decades after the alleged rape? In September 2004, Mark Warner, then Virginia’s governor, ordered a random audit of 31 old criminal cases after a vast trove of biological evidence was discovered lying around in old case files saved by state forensic serologists. The testing of those 31 samples led to the exonerations of two convicted rapists. Warner, embarrassed by the revelations, then ordered in late 2005 that every sample obtained between 1973 and 1988 be rechecked. It amounted to thousands of files. It was a project intended to take 18 months at a cost of $1.4 million dollars. Now in its seventh year, the cost of the project hovers at $5 million. Nobody has any idea exactly how the Virginia Department of Forensics has conducted its work. Indeed, no one knows much about the specifics of the crime lab’s work at all. According to the Richmond Times Dispatch, the state located approximately 800 biological samples of DNA that could be tested. Of those, only 214 were in sufficient condition to yield accurate results. Among these, more than 70 people—one commonly cited figure is 79—appear to have been excluded as the perpetrators of a crime. Advertisement University of Virginia law school professor Brandon Garrett (who has contributed to Slate) is an expert on wrongful convictions and DNA exoneration. His landmark study, Convicting the Innocent, scrutinized the cases of the first 250 people to be exonerated nation-wide by DNA testing. To hear him tell it, Virginia’s statewide audit is a mystery wrapped in obfuscation. “This DNA testing program began two Governors ago,” he says, “but its operation has remained shrouded in secrecy. We do not know how the authorities chose to test the cases that they have tested. We do not know how long the authorities have known about the many dozens of cases where DNA has excluded the individuals. We do not know what local prosecutors plan to do about the cases where DNA may prove innocence.” At the time Virginia’s audit began, Barry Scheck, co-founder of the Innocence Project, which has used DNA testing to exonerate hundreds of prisoners across the country, noted in astonishment that “a random sample of convicted felons and we're getting a 7 percent exoneration rate" in Virginia. But it appears that a 7 percent exoneration rate may be grossly understating the problem. UVA’s Garrett suspects that the error rate may actually be as high as 17 percent. As he discovered in his own research, Barbour’s conviction, based on the testimony of a single eyewitness, reflects the reality that of the first 250 people exonerated by DNA testing, a whopping 76 percent were misidentified by eyewitnesses. Whatever the percentage of error on the part of Virginia’s criminal justice system, one thing is certain: Only a handful of the falsely convicted have received the exonerations they deserve. Since DNA retesting began in Virginia, two people have been formally exonerated and another, who is dead, was cleared of a rape he didn’t commit. When Barbour’s paperwork is processed, he will be only the fourth person to be exonerated, despite the fact that the state is aware of scores of others who may be innocent. Even now Barbour remains skeptical. “They can do anything now to trick it up like they did 34 years ago,” he says. “I’m not going to be excited ’til it all comes out. I’m innocent. I’m here. But I don’t trust the justice system. Period.” After all, Virginia authorities never did successfully contact Barbour to acknowledge his innocence. It was Jonathan Sheldon, a private-practice attorney in Fairfax, Va. who took it upon himself to contact Barbour and many of the other 70-some men who have been convicted of crimes, excluded by DNA testing, and never advised of that fact. As of today, the state has given him only 32 names and Sheldon says he has already located most of them. Some are dead. Some are dying. Some suffer from mental illnesses that make it impossible for them to even understand why he is calling. As the Richmond-Times Dispatch’s Frank Green, who first reported on Barbour’s exclusion by DNA testing, wrote last month: “The Virginia Department of Forensic Science has issued reports that exclude at least 76 felons as the source of biological evidence in their cases.” Yet as of last month, 29 of those felons had not been notified that the new DNA reports existed. Advertisement Sheldon launched this crusade to notify as many innocent men as possible because, in his view, neither Virginia’s crime lab nor its prosecutors’ office is taking that task seriously. How the Commonwealth of Virginia managed to put the crime lab and prosecutors’ office in charge of retesting DNA and notifying the prosecutors of the state’s own errors is one of the mysteries here. It would appear to be a program destined to end in confusion, obstruction, or worse. And it has. I spoke to Pete Marone, director of the Virginia Department of Forensic Science. Marone argues that the state’s crime lab should not be making legal determinations about the meaning of these DNA tests. “At what point does the lab’s responsibility end?” he asks. “We’re a lab. We do analysis. We don’t determine what the meaning is.” He says that the crime lab’s policy is to turn over their results to the police department and prosecutors, who are in a better position “to ascribe value to those numbers.” Initially, Virginia’s state authorities had no plans to notify the convicts that their DNA was being tested. Then, in 2008, the state legislature ordered them to notify those same convicts that their samples had been found and might be examined. If a convict failed to return the paperwork, the sample was tested nonetheless. Despite Marone’s claim that the Department of Forensic Science only conducts lab work, it alone is responsible for informing state prosecutors and police that former convicts have been cleared by DNA tests. The department put out a call to pro bono lawyers around the state, who were asked to hand-deliver notifications that the accused might now be subject to DNA retesting. But there was a condition: Those lawyers were required to sign confidentiality agreements indicating that they were barred from explaining the content of the letters to the accused or from representing them in court. Marone explains the rationale for constraining these volunteer lawyers: “The General Assembly said to send pro bono attorneys,” he says. “They can’t go blabbing all over the place. They can’t have the person they are notifying be their client.” He adds that this was done, in part, to protect the pro bono lawyers: “If you send a young, new attorney to a bad neighborhood, bad things could happen.” Advertisement The letters themselves were mainly legal jargon, and most of the recipients had no idea why the state was contacting them. Here is a copy of one of the state’s notification letters: According to Deirdre Enright of the Innocence Project at the University of Virginia Law School (and one of Barbour’s lawyers), most of the recipients were simply terrified that the commonwealth was re-examining their alleged crimes at all. The volunteer lawyers who delivered these letters were reduced, more or less, to being carrier pigeons, unable to explain the crucial significance of these letters’ content for the lives of these men and their families. The net effect was simply to frighten most of the convicts who received them, who knew only that the justice system was spontaneously taking another look at them decades later. Marone sees it differently. “This is the criminal justice system,” he says. “The answer is not to release all the criminal records to the newspapers. Lots of these folks hear about the testing and say ‘I did my time. I’ll tell you what to do with your report.’ We couldn’t go searching the streets for people.” The lawyers at the UVA Innocence Project believe that’s wrongheaded. Those who have been convicted of a crime they did not commit want to know that they could now be proven innocent. They also quickly realized that the worst possible agency to be notifying individuals—the prosecutors and state crime lab—had taken the sole authority to help them. Matthew Engle, legal director of the Innocence Project Clinic, tells me that those agencies are “not in the business of exonerating people, they’re in the business of convicting people.” Advertisement Enter Jonathan Sheldon. A successful Northern Virginia attorney, Sheldon has long been involved in death row cases and has worked for years to try to end the death penalty in the commonwealth. Indeed, he was one of the lawyers for John Allen Muhammad, the D.C. sniper. As he learned of the pro bono lawyers fanning out across the state, Sheldon grew infuriated that Virginia was unwilling to release the names of the more than 70 people who DNA testing suggested were innocent. “Why ask for volunteer lawyers to find people and tell them about DNA testing that might be meaningless?” he asks. “Why was the state trying to eliminate all these lawyers from representing all these people?” Sheldon submitted a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request and investigated further. He looked at the sample letter being mailed out. “These are not well-educated people,” he says, of most of the accused. “I thought, ‘If you send that letter to someone they are going to think the government is after them again.’ ” Sheldon also realized that despite all the testing going on, it appeared that not a single prosecutor had notified anyone that they had been found innocent. “At some point,” he says, “we were poking and prodding them and filing FOIA requests and they just broke and offered to winnow out the 70-something names that had been excluded.” As with the pro bono lawyers before him, state authorities made Sheldon promise not to help those who could be exonerated sue the Department of Forensic Science or take any action on their behalf. Instead, beginning in January, he began making what he calls “oblique” phone calls to men who couldn’t always understand what he was trying to tell them about the state, their DNA, and the justice system. And so, while the commonwealth was unable to track down Bennett Barbour for two years, Sheldon did it in a few hours. (Barbour’s lawyer Deirdre Enright says she was able to find Barbour’s correct address in an hour using WhitePages.com.) Nate Green, the Williamsburg Commonwealth's Attorney, told the Richmond Times Dispatch that when he received the 2010 report in Barbour’s case, he sent letters out to the four addresses Barbour had occupied over the last 15 years and received no response. Sheldon says Green “is a good guy and meant well,” but you can’t hand a lab report to the police and tell them to go find a guy. “It’s just not his job to go find old cases and it’s not the police’s job,” he says. Sheldon made it his job. In yet another case that recently emerged, the family of a deceased man seeking information on his DNA test results learned that their letter had been misplaced as well. When Sheldon asked the Virginia crime lab for those records, he was told that the department had “not, as part of the project's process, intentionally sent notification letters or certificates of analysis to family members of deceased suspects.” In other words, DNA tests that could potentially exclude deceased offenders may not be released at all. Marone claims the forensics department called the prosecutors immediately in this instance, but the “paperwork was put aside.” He cautions that critics of the system should “keep in mind that until last year, we weren’t allowed to give those reports to anyone but a law enforcement agency. That information is private and personal, and maybe that individual doesn’t want his family members to have a copy of the report. We have to protect the sensitivity and privacy of those individuals.” Advertisement Marone acknowledges that the system is “not perfect and it’s not timely.” But he rejects the idea that anyone is to blame. Marone claims the crime lab is doing its job, albeit slowly, and that it is the responsibility of the prosecutors and police to notify those who have been excluded by the testing. Sheldon, for his part, rejects the idea that the forensics lab is merely a passive, impartial observer. “[The Department of Forensic Science] thinks of themselves as this holy, unbiased, scientific branch of government,” he says. “But they are an organization with political sensibilities that are strongly pro-prosecution. That’s not surprising since prosecutors and the police are its main constituents.” It’s hard to tell whether all this represents mere incompetence on the part of the commonwealth, or some more pernicious effort to cover up past error, intimidate potential exonerees, and disqualify dozens of pro bono attorneys who likely could have represented them. The fact that vitally important information seems to fall into a black hole between the forensics lab, the prosecutors’ offices, and the convicts and their lawyers, suggests that intentional or not, the net effect is that injustices are not being brought to light. It remains to be seen whether there will be any repercussions for the state for its failure to notify what may be dozens of men that they were imprisoned for crimes they didn’t commit. The editorial board of the Richmond Times Dispatch recently advocated “making prosecutors and police chiefs personally liable for the failure to inform innocent men in a timely manner of evidence exonerating them.” Sheldon says that it may certainly be the case that someone will have a claim against the state as these convicts learn of Virginia’s errors and delays, particularly if someone is still in prison and has not been notified. At the very least, there is a strong push from Innocence Project branches and defense lawyers around the state to allow someone other than Department of Forensic Science and the prosecutors’ offices to take responsibility for notifications. Sheldon did learn recently that the forensics department may be taking action of a different sort. According to someone at the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project, the crime lab initiated an inquiry into whether Sheldon breached his confidentiality agreement because of the press coverage of Barbour's story. Marone denies that this is so.

– New York is poised to become the first state in the nation to require people convicted of any crime, no matter how minor, to provide DNA samples for a database. The state's lawmakers are putting the finishing touches on the measure, which would double the size of New York's DNA database, reports the New York Times. Supporters—including all 62 of the state's district attorneys—say the move will catch more violent offenders and exonerate more innocent people. "Every single time we’ve expanded the DNA database, we have shown how effective it is in convicting people who commit crimes, and we’ve also shown that it can be used to exonerate the innocent,” the chief of the Citizens Crime Commission says. The legislation would allow both prosecutors and defense lawyers to access the database. Some lawmakers are seeking to add a measure to the bill that would make it a violation, not a crime, to possess very small amounts of marijuana in public. Click for more on a state with a serious wrongful-conviction problem.

Just in time for holiday cookie season, we’ve discovered that the vanilla flavoring in your baked goods and candy could come from the anal excretions of beavers. Beaver butts secrete a goo called castoreum, which the animals use to mark their territory. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists castoreum as a “generally regarded as safe” additive, and manufacturers have been using it extensively in perfumes and foods for at least 80 years, according to a 2007 study in the International Journal of Toxicology. “I lift up the animal’s tail,” said Joanne Crawford, a wildlife ecologist at Southern Illinois University, “and I’m like, ‘Get down there, and stick your nose near its bum.’” “People think I’m nuts,” she added. “I tell them, ‘Oh, but it’s beavers; it smells really good.’” Castoreum is a chemical compound that mostly comes from a beaver’s castor sacs, which are located between the pelvis and the base of the tail. Because of its close proximity to the anal glands, castoreum is often a combination of castor gland secretions, anal gland secretions, and urine. The fragrant, brown slime is about the consistency of molasses, though not quite as thick, Crawford said. While most anal secretions stink—due to odor-producing bacteria in the gut—this chemical compound is a product of the beaver’s unique diet of leaves and bark, Crawford added. Instead of smelling icky, castoreum has a musky, vanilla scent, which is why food scientists like to incorporate it in recipes. Save a Cow, Milk a Beaver But getting a beaver to produce castoreum for purposes of food processing is tough. Foodies bent on acquiring some of the sticky stuff have to anesthetize the animal and then “milk” its nether regions. (Read about scientists who milk mice.) “You can milk the anal glands so you can extract the fluid,” Crawford said. “You can squirt [castoreum] out. It’s pretty gross.” Due to such unpleasantness for both parties, castoreum consumption is rather small—only about 292 pounds (132 kilograms) yearly. That statistic includes castoreum, castoreum extract, and castoreum liquid, according to Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients. Still concerned you’re chowing down on beaver-bum goop? Because of its FDA label, in some cases, manufacturers don’t have to list castoreum on the ingredient list and may instead refer to it as “natural flavoring.” Yum. Follow Mollie Bloudoff-Indelicato on Twitter. ||||| Andrew Unangst/Photographer's Choice/Getty Images As any Cosmo reader will tell you, it’s a well-tested truth that men love the smell of vanilla. Turns out though, that men may not be falling for a scent that reminds them of childhood, but for something else entirely: Castoreum a.ka. a fragrant, brown slime that comes from a beaver’s castor sacs, which are located pretty much where you expect them to be located. The chemical compound that beavers use to mark their territory has a musky, vanilla scent, which is why some perfume makers incorporate the component into their products and food scientists add the all-natural ingredient into recipes. As one can surmise, the vanilla aroma is not typical of the area, but is a product of the beaver’s unique diet of leaves and bark, said Joanne Crawford, a wildlife ecologist at Southern Illinois University, speaking to National Geographic. Collecting castoreum can be a tricky endeavor though. A beaver’s castor sacs are located between the pelvis and the base of the tail. Because of its close proximity to the anal glands, castoreum is often a combination of castor gland secretions, anal gland secretions, and urine. “You can milk the anal glands so you can extract the fluid,” Crawford said. “You can squirt [castoreum] out. It’s pretty gross.” That may explain why castoreum is not an especially common source of vanilla flavoring. According to Fenaroli’s Handbook of Flavor Ingredients, published in 2005, total annual consumption of both castoreum extract and castoreum liquid was around 250 pounds, undoubtedly because the milking process is unpleasant for all parties involved. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration lists castoreum as a “generally regarded as safe” additive, and manufacturers have been using it extensively in perfumes and foods for at least 80 years, according to National Geographic and a study in the International Journal of Toxicology. Because the FDA considers the ingredient safe, in some cases, manufacturers don’t have to list castoreum on the ingredient list and may instead refer to it simply as “natural flavoring.” Apparently “gross” is not something the FDA quantifies. MORE: The Web Hates Burger King’s Fake Name Change MORE: Child’s Birthday Cake Attacked In Washington Courthouse

– Like vanilla ice cream? Don't read this—because the smell of a beaver's butt is key to at least some vanilla flavoring, Time reports. More specifically, beavers like to mark their territory with a musky, vanilla compound located in sacs between the pelvis and the base of the tail. Manufacturers have been extracting it for 80 years to flavor foods and perfumes—but it's tricky, because the compound often mixes with urine and anal gland secretions. "You can milk the anal glands so you can extract the fluid," wildlife ecologist Joanne Crawford tells National Geographic. "You can squirt it out. It’s pretty gross." But she admits to sticking her nose in there and taking a whiff: "People think I’m nuts. I tell them, 'Oh, but it’s beavers; it smells really good.'" For the record, the slimey brown compound is extracted by anesthetizing a beaver and "milking" its nether regions. Ice cream sundae, anyone?

In Cerro Gordo, a town nestled in the Inyo Mountains of California, near Death Valley, there’s a single saloon with swinging doors, two out-of-tune pianos and a mysterious bloodstain on the wall beneath three bullet holes. It’s one of Brent Underwood’s favorite places in the ghost town, and now that he owns it, he plans on sharing it with the world. (He’s still trying to learn the story behind the bloodstain.) On Friday, Mr. Underwood and his friend Jon Bier became the latest owners of Cerro Gordo, which translates to “fat hill,” after buying it for $1.4 million. They plan to restore the town while preserving its past, Mr. Underwood said, adding that they hope to attract a variety of visitors. He said they expected to spend about $1 million to get things started. Jake Rasmuson of Bishop Real Estate said that he received hundreds of inquiries after the sale was announced in early June. Twelve of the offers were serious, he said, noting that the original asking price was $925,000. ||||| (CNN) — It is possible to buy entire towns these days. A little over a month after a 19th century ghost town in California called Cerro Gordo went on sale, Brent Underwood bought it for $1.4 million, real estate agent Jake Rasmuson said. The asking price for Cerro Gordo is $925,000, according to a property listing The sale closed on Friday the 13th -- "in true ghost town fashion," Rasmuson quipped. "We really didn't expect the activity we had," he said, saying that he underestimated the amount of offers the town would receive. "We received about a dozen offers, Mr. Underwood's offer was appreciated by the sellers," Rasmuson said. "There were other offers, but Mr. Underwood's plan was beneficial to the preservation and public use of the property." Cerro Gordo has been protected from digger, looters and effects from nature, according to the real estate company. Nolan Nitschke Cerro Gordo, which means "fat hill," has 22 structures remaining, including an abandoned hotel, church and bunkhouse. The abandoned mining town, which occupies over 300 acres of land, had been in family hands for decades, but they felt it was the right time to sell it, Rasmuson said. Cerro Gordo came into existence as a small mining town after the discovery of silver in 1865. At one point, it became the largest producer of silver and lead in California, according to its website "In its heyday, it averaged a murder a week," Rasmuson said. "It's really part of the Wild West." After the fall of lead and silver prices, and other setbacks, including a fire, Cerro Gordo's silver operations slowed and eventually became deserted. Buildings on Cerro Gordo include a historic hotel, a bunkhouse and superintendents house. Nolan Nitschke So what will become of this ghost town? Ideas ranged from turning Cerro Gordo into a theme park to a marijuana town. But Underwood, who owns a backpacker hostel in Austin, Texas, called HK Austin , says history is the reason he was interested in the town. "It isn't often you're entrusted to maintain such an interesting part of American history," he said in an email to CNN. "The town is so rich in history and has impacted so many lives." Underwood said he and business partner Jon Bier had been looking at hospitality locations around the United States that were large enough to create a unique destination. He said a friend sent him the CNN article discussing the initial sale. "I knew it was the one," Underwood said. The asking price for Cerro Gordo is $925,000. It was sold for $1.4 million. Nolan Nitschke Now that he's bought Cerro Gordo, he says he plans to "renovate a select number of the existing buildings to a point we'd be comfortable hosting people for long periods of time." That includes bringing WiFi to the 19th century property as well, he said. "We're looking to create a new destination. It isn't often you're able to have such a canvas to work with. We have over 300 acres and dozens of buildings," Underwood said. "We want to maintain the historic nature of the property while introducing amenities that will allow more people to enjoy the location." The long-term goals for Cerro Gordo are to bring "high level programming in forms of writing retreats, music events, dining experiences, photo shoots, theater, special events, and more." Underwood said he wants to create an experience that's available nowhere else. ||||| Hard Luck Castle Mine Photo 2 Photo 4 Photo 5 Photo 6 Photo 7 Photo 8 Photo 9 Photo 10 Photo 11 Photo 12 Photo 13 Photo 14 Photo 15 Photo 16 Photo 17 Photo 18 Photo 19 Photo 20 Photo 21 Photo 22 Photo 23 Photo 24 Photo 25 Photo 26 Photo 27 Photo 28 Photo 29 Photo 30 Photo 31 Photo 32 Photo 33 Photo 34 Photo 35 Photo 36 Photo 37 Photo 41 Photo 42 IMG_4752 IMG_4753 IMG_4759 IMG_4758 IMG_4763 IMG_4764 IMG_4767 IMG_4773 IMG_4783 IMG_4777 IMG_4789 IMG_4791 IMG_4799 Video Tour 1 Bonnie Clair Road, Goldfield, NV 89013 Features: 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths 4 story, 22 rooms, 8,000 square feet Off grid power. Water trucked in. 4000 gallon tank Separate wood and auto/metal shops 40 Acres on two parcels Dormant gold mine included View Listing Details Remarks: An amazing opportunity to own one of the most unique properties in the the United States, the Hard Luck Castle combines elements of the Wild West with a modern-day castle. Encompassing 40 acres of land and 8,000 square feet of living space in the private Nevada wilderness. This exceptional property is self-sustainable and completely off the power grid. Read below for a complete list of offerings. The Main Building - The Castle: 4 story, 22 rooms, 8,000 square feet. Constructed from 2000 to 2012 with superior engineering to last 400 to 500 years. All steel, concrete, cinder block, and glass materials with 16" thick walls. Two kitchens, 3 full baths, full wood shop, wine cellar, theater and game room, glass solarium / planetarium, fountain room, large main entrance with afternoon view deck, two 1920's pipe organs. Partially furnished with antiques. 4,000 gallon water storage with rain catchment's and a water hauling trailer. Castle has become a tourist attraction and a landmark in Esmeralda County. Out-Buildings: Work / Automotive Shop - 600 square feet (20'x30') steel fabrication and welding workshop with automotive lift, second story storage with hoist, numerous hand and power tools, and full welding arrangement. Original, but remodeled miners cabin - comfortable, historic, plumbed and electricity added. Wooden cabin that sleeps 4 cozily. Complete kitchen. Shower House - shower and toilet with modern plumbing for use by cabin occupants. Guest trailer and outdoor rustic shower stall with a view. Power House with main generator. Gold mine tunnel with small secure storage / work area and rail-car access. The Land and Mining Claims: The Hard Luck Castle is built on 40 acres of patented private land. situated 9 miles off Hwy. 267 in Esmeralda County, NV. 187 miles from Las Vegas and 325 miles from Reno, NV. Productive, but dormant gold mine included. 160 ft. Gold mine shaft in serviceable condition. Closed at the start of WWII and never reopened, but still high in Gold content! Assay available. Total privacy at 6,000 feet elevation on Gold Mt. Nearest commerce center at Gold Point 10 miles away and Beatty, 50 miles away. Esmeralda County is one of the most relaxed counties in the US with NO building codes and few intrusive laws on private land. Year-around access on regularly graded county road. Just below the snow line and not too hot in the summer (90 degrees in July). Power Sources: The Castle has complete off-grid self-sufficiency, with several power sources. Solar and wind power charged battery as main power. 3000 gallon propane tank with heaters throughout the castle. Main diesel generator Two back-up diesel / propane generators 300 gallon diesel storage tank Included Equipment: Entire Castle with accompanying and personal property to be sold! Complete wood shop and all wood working equipment and hand tools. Complete automotive and metal shop with auto hoist, hand tools, welders, ample storage, compressed air, plus much more! Cat 12 road grader for snow removal and road clearing. 800 gallon water - hauling trailer Extras not mentioned: Cellular phone service available Satellite service available Direct TV service available RV Pad with complete hookups Seller will consider financing with substantial down payment $950,000 Music: Quick Links » Schedule a Viewing » Request More Info » FREE Listing Updates » View Map » Satellite Photo » Search the MLS » Print Flyer » Email This Listing » Feedback » View Entire MLS » Mineral Info Jake Rasmuson 760.873.4264 (Office) 619.971.0544 (Cell) 760.873.4875 (Fax) Contact Me Visit My Website View My Other Listings About Jake Bishop Real Estate Rasmuson & Assoc. 370 W. Line St. Bishop, CA 93514 760.873.4264 © 2019 Properties Online Inc., Patent No. US 6,760,707. The above information including square footage is based on data received from the seller and/or from public sources. This information is deemed reliable but has not been independently verified and cannot be guaranteed. Prospective buyers are advised to verify information to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. By providing links to other sites Properties Online Inc. does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to the agent, brokerage, brand or Properties Online Inc.. Powered by 01401464© 2019 Properties Online Inc., Patent No. US 6,760,707. The above information including square footage is based on data received from the seller and/or from public sources. This information is deemed reliable but has not been independently verified and cannot be guaranteed. Prospective buyers are advised to verify information to their own satisfaction prior to purchase. By providing links to other sites Properties Online Inc. does not guarantee, approve or endorse the information or products available at these sites, nor does a link indicate any association with or endorsement by the linked site to the agent, brokerage, brand or Properties Online Inc.. Powered by ListingDomains.com ||||| The ghost town of Cerro Gordo is officially under new management. After being on the market, the sale of the abandoned mining town south of the Sierra Nevada fittingly closed on Friday the 13th. The 24,000-square-feet of buildings and more than 300 acres of patented mining claims once averaged a "murder a week" in its hey day, and was once the largest producer of silver and lead in California. The new owners, Brent Underwood and Jon Bier, have assembled a team of Los Angeles-based investors for the town with hopes "to continue this piece of American history." The new owners said prior to the finalization of the sale they met with the previous owners of Cerro Gordo and found they had a common vision for what they hoped the town could be. "There were offers that were quite higher than our offer," Bier said. "But to the credit of the family that sold it, they went with our offer because we were going to keep the integrity and tell the story of what makes it culturally significant." "Our goal is to maintain the historical nature of the property and respect the piece of history," Underwood said. But that's not to say some changes won't be taking place. Cerro Gordo doesn't have running water so in order to make the town an extended-stay destination, that problem is No. 1 on the list. Both Bier and Underwood spoke of necessary refurbishments to be done to buildings so they are structurally sound as well as adding a restaurant and bar one day. Underwood said there aren't immediate plans to build new structures and that the current plans primarily revolve around refurbishing the 22 original buildings left standing in the ghost town. The group of investors have dreams of holding group retreats, stargazing, hiking tours and hatch throwing workshops. However one thing that won't be changing with the new sale is longtime caretaker, Robert Desmarais. Desmarais has lived in Cerro Gordo for the past 21 years as a caretaker, living alone in the desolate town even after his wife left the town because of the extreme altitude and weather conditions. He first came to Cerro Gordo in 1997 after seeing an ad in a trade magazine about mining in the town. Ever since his first visit, he has become one of the keepers of the ghost town. "I've fallen in love with the history of the town," Desmarais said. "I like the adventure and I love the fact that I am preserving history." Desmarais said he "doesn't want to ever leave" the wild wild west town and continues to hope that more people come and experience it. "I just really hope that the town can stay historically correct," Desmarais added. "And that more people can come and visit the town." ||||| Historic California ghost town sells for $1.4 million on Friday the 13th The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-5', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 5', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-10', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 10', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-15', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 15', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-20', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 20', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. The 19th-century mining town of Cedro Gordo and the surrounding 300 acres outside Lone Pine, Calif., is listed for $925,000. Photo: Nolan Nitschke window._taboola = window._taboola || []; _taboola.push({ mode: 'thumbnails-c', container: 'taboola-interstitial-gallery-thumbnails-24', placement: 'Interstitial Gallery Thumbnails 24', target_type: 'mix' }); _taboola.push({flush: true}); Photo: Nolan Nitschke Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close Historic California ghost town sells for $1.4 million on Friday the 13th 1 / 24 Back to Gallery A bidding war recently broke out over a prime piece of California real estate — and it wasn't for a tiny San Francisco condo. In this case, a dozen offers were made for an entire town, the 19th-century mining hub of Cerro Gordo, on 300 acres in the Inyo Mountains outside Lone Pine, Calif. It was listed for for $925,000 in June and closed on Friday the 13th for $1.4 million. "I would say the date was very coincidental," says listing agent Jake Rasmuson of Bishop Real Estate. "Strictly by chance but very fitting for the property." The seller accepted an offer from a group of Los Angeles investors who plan to preserve the relic of the American West and keep it open to the public. "We did have higher offers, however the sellers really liked the buyers' proposal and liked the buyers' plan," says Rasmuson. Now Playing: In the shadow of Mount Whitney, the property includes vast acreage of sage-studded land with mineral rights and a well-preserved authentic ghost town. There are almost two dozen buildings, including a church, a saloon, a historic hotel called the Belshaw Bunkhouse, a hoist house and a superintendent's house. The town was protected from diggers over the years, and many artifacts from the area are housed in a museum. Cerro Gordo has been in the hands of the same family for decades, and though privately owned, it was open to the public for tours. The owners were hoping to sell to someone who appreciates the property's history. ALSO, Northern California ranch, nearly the size of San Francisco, listed for $31 million The buyers are Brent Underwood, who founded the youth hostel HK Austin and Jon Bier, who runs a public relations firm catering to athletes. The two teamed up with other investors to make the purchase; they include Ryan Holiday, former director of marketing at American Apparel; Tero Isokauppila, CEO/founder of superfood company Four Sigmatic; Brendan Gahan, CEO/founder of Epic Signal; George Rutolo, owner of The Whisky Bars; and Kelley Mooney, an en executive at Hulu. "We want to maintain the historic nature of the property while introducing amenities that will allow more people to enjoy this piece of American history," Underwood says. "We have spent a lot of time with the current owners and caretaker to learn the history of the place. I've read all the books I can find on the town. I can't express our excitement to be able to continue the care of this beautiful location." He adds that they also hope to eventually add overnight accommodations and events such as writing retreats, concerts, photo shoots, theater and more. Silver was first discovered in the hills of Cerro Gordo in 1865, and in the following years prospectors flocked to its rich veins of silver. It became known as the "silver thread" to Los Angeles and silver was loaded onto mule trains and taken to the city. The town population swelled to some 5,000 at its height and quickly dwindled when silver prices dropped in 1877. "We want to create a place that pays tribute to this historic part of American history," Underwood says.

– On Friday, two friends became the proud new owners of a California ghost town. Cerro Gordo, a 300-acre town nestled in the Inyo Mountains not far from Death Valley, has a "Wild West" history thanks to the discovery of silver there in 1865; within four years, mining operations made it the largest producer of silver and lead in the state, and it later became the largest producer of zinc carbonates in the entire country. But that era ended, and by 1950, Cerro Gordo was basically abandoned. The previous owners, brothers who inherited the town from their family—the property listing says the town had been owned by the same family for decades—decided to sell it while attempting to keep its history intact, and received a dozen serious offers after announcing the sale in June. The original asking price was $925,000, but Brent Underwood and Jon Bier ended up purchasing it for $1.4 million, the New York Times reports. The entrepreneurs' plan is to revive the town, developing it into a destination while preserving its history. There are nearly two dozen buildings on the property, the San Francisco Chronicle reports, including a church and theater, a general store, a museum, a two-story hotel, an eight-bed bunkhouse, and of course a saloon; in addition to its iconic swinging doors and two pianos, the saloon features a bloodstain underneath three bullet holes on one wall. (The real estate agent tells CNN the town "averaged a murder a week" at the peak of the mining era.) Its caretaker—he's been there 21 years, NBC LA reports, and is currently the only person living in the town—will stay there as buildings are restored. Underwood and Bier plan to move there in August, the Sacramento Bee reports. Among other things, they plan to build an observation deck; Mount Whitney and Death Valley National Park can be seen from parts of the town. "You very much feel like you’re back in time," Underwood says.

(CNN) A video released by ISIS on Thursday threatens new attacks in France, Italy, the United States and beyond. The video features two suspected ISIS fighters threatening to blow up the White House and launch more attacks on Paris. One fighter mentions a "conquest of Rome." The Vatican's St. Peter's Square was recently featured on the cover of the terror group's online magazine. Italy has responded to the video and magazine by beefing up security in Rome and the Vatican, with 1,000 members of the army being deployed around the country. The U.S. Embassy in Rome is urging Americans visiting Italy to remain vigilant and aware of their surroundings amid the latest ISIS threats. It warns that St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, as well as Milan's Duomo and La Scala, could be terrorist targets. The Embassy warns that "general" venues such as houses of worship, restaurants, theaters and hotels in Rome and Milan could be targeted. Wednesday, the terror group released a video warning of an impending attack on New York City. The video mentions Times Square and purports to show an explosive device being put together and a bomber zipping his jacket over a suicide belt. The New York City Police Department said it was aware of the video and was deploying additional members of its new anti-terrorism squad out of an abundance of caution. "While some of the video footage is not new, the video reaffirms the message that New York City remains a top terrorist target," the statement said. "While there is no current or specific threat to the city at this time, we will remain at a heightened state of vigilance and will continue to work with the FBI, the Joint Terrorism Task Force and the entire intelligence community to keep the city of New York safe." Mayor Bill de Blasio encouraged New Yorkers to go about their normal business. "The people of New York City will not be intimidated," he said late Wednesday. "We understand it is the goal of terrorists to intimidate and disrupt our democratic society. We will not submit to their wishes." A similar video was released in April, according to John Miller, the NYPD deputy commissioner of intelligence and counterterrorism. "This is an old video that was kind of rehashed," he said. "This is ISIS doing what ISIS and al Qaeda and terrorist groups do, which is propaganda." "When we see the video, we make note of it, but it's like a lot of videos we've seen," Miller said. CNN terrorism analyst Paul Cruickshank said authorities can't ignore the video, whether or not it turns out to be a credible threat. "I think they have to treat it quite seriously, because ISIS is the richest terrorist group in history. It has an extraordinary number of Western recruits. ... One of its biggest ambitions right now is to a launch a terrorist attack inside the United States," he said. ISIS first drew international attention for taking over swaths of Iraq and Syria, leaving a trail of violence and destruction in its wake. Its efforts to bring terror to the global stage seem to be growing. Earlier this week, another video released by ISIS threatened to strike Washington. ||||| New York City is open for business, and don’t let the terrorists tell you any different. That was the defiant message Wednesday night from Mayor de Blasio and Police Commissioner Bill Bratton, just hours after crazed jihadists released a threatening video that put a bullseye on the Big Apple. FULL COVERAGE: LATEST NEWS ON THE PARIS TERROR ATTACKS “The people of New York City will not be intimidated,” de Blasio said, standing in the middle of Times Square, one of the locations featured in the ISIS propaganda video. “We understand it is the goal of terrorists to intimidate and disrupt our democratic society. We will not submit to their wishes.” Mayor de Blasio, Police Commissioner Bratton and Deputy Commissioner for Intelligence John Miller address the ISIS threat to New York City. (Sam Costanza for New York Daily News) Officials insisted that there had been no specific threat against New York City. Even so, cops remained on high alert. BILL BRATTON UPS ANTI-TERROR EFFORTS AFTER PARIS ATTACKS “People can feel comfortable coming into the city,” Bratton said. “Do not be afraid. The NYPD will protect you.” Gov. Cuomo echoed the city’s stay-strong stance. An explosive device is featured in the new ISIS video. (Islamic State) Several jihadis address the camera, promising to continue the violence and to attack Western targets, as shots of homemade explosive devices are shown. (Islamic State) A man is seen pulling the pin of an explosive device in the new ISIS video. “I encourage all New Yorkers to remain alert and report any suspicious activity, while at the same time not letting this disrupt their daily lives,” Cuomo said in a statement. “Remember that the terrorists’ goal is to let fear win — New Yorkers never have, and we never will.” The terrorist group released a video Wednesday promising more violence in the wake of last Friday’s Paris attacks that killed 129 people and injured hundreds more. The ISIS propaganda video appears to threaten New York City and shows areas of Manhattan including Times Square and Herald Square. (Thomas Imo/Photothek via Getty Images) Several jihadists address the camera, and shots of homemade explosive devices flash across the screen as images of Times Square, a TGI Friday’s restaurant, Fifth Ave. and Herald Square roll by. ||||| Play Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed ISIS Threatens New York City in New Propaganda Video 2:09 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog New York City's mayor and police commissioner vowed the Big Apple would not live in fear of threats from the terror group ISIS, which on Wednesday released a video showing New York landmarks and referencing the Paris attacks. "The people of New York City will not be intimidated," Mayor Bill de Blasio told reporters in Times Square Wednesday night. "We understand it is the goal of terrorists to intimidate and disrupt our democratic society. We will not submit to their wishes." The terror group released a propaganda video Wednesday showing Times Square and other landmarks, and referencing the Paris terror attacks. The images of New York City were published in April, and officials said the threats are not new. ISIS has claimed responsibility for Friday's terror attacks in Paris that killed 129 people. New York City Police Commissioner William Bratton said the video appears to be "hastily produced, it is a mishmash of previously released video" that includes parts of other previously released videos that threatened Germany and Israel. "There is, as we have repeated frequently, no city in America that is better prepared to defend and protect against a terrorist attack," Bratton said. Play Facebook Twitter Google Plus Embed War of Words Erupt Between Obama, GOP Candidates on Syrian Refugees 2:38 autoplay autoplay Copy this code to your website or blog The NYPD increased security after the Paris attacks out of an abundance of caution, including deploying heavily-armed police teams throughout the city. The FBI said it was aware of the video, but added there is no specific threat to the city. In 2010, Faisal Shahzad tried to detonate a car bomb outside a theater in Times Square. The explosive failed to detonate. Shahzad said the Pakistani Taliban provided him with funding and training for attack. He pleaded guilty to federal charges and was sentenced to life in prison with no possibility of parole.

– It will take more than an ISIS video to intimidate New York City, a defiant Mayor Bill de Blasio said Wednesday night after the group released a propaganda video mentioning the Paris attacks and threatening that New York City could be next. "The people of New York City will not be intimidated," de Blasio said in a Times Square press conference, per NBC. "We understand it is the goal of terrorists to intimidate and disrupt our democratic society. We will not submit to their wishes." CNN reports that the NYPD is deploying extra officers out of an "abundance of caution" following the release of the video, which shows footage of sites, including Times Square, and depicts a bomber with a suicide belt. De Blasio was joined in Times Square by NYPD Commissioner Bill Bratton, who said the "hastily produced" video shouldn't scare away visitors, the New York Daily News reports. "People can feel comfortable coming into the city," he said. "Do not be afraid. The NYPD will protect you." NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo also urged New Yorkers not to give terrorists the reaction they're hoping for, the Daily News reports. "I encourage all New Yorkers to remain alert and report any suspicious activity, while at the same time not letting this disrupt their daily lives," he said in a statement. "Remember that the terrorists' goal is to let fear win—New Yorkers never have, and we never will." (ISIS says it brought down a plane with a bomb in a soda can.)

What advisors are telling their clients 3:15 PM ET Wed, 20 Jan 2016 | 07:09 U.S. stocks closed lower Wednesday but well above session lows as the S&P 500 held a technical level and biotechs recovered in late trade. ( Tweet This ) Traders noted that once the S&P 500 tested the 1,800 level in early afternoon trade, buyers started to come in. "Any rally that starts is going to be violent to the upside," said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at Wunderlich Securities. Read MoreWhy the wild market reversal Small-cap stocks and biotechs led the initial recovery. The major averages more than halved intraday losses, with the Nasdaq composite attempting gains as the close approached, but the late-day rally lost steam. The S&P 500 ended at its lowest level since April 2014. "People who caught a free ride on the way up are getting out of it," said Jeremy Klein, chief market strategist at FBN Securities. The major U.S. averages are down more than 9 percent for the year so far and are more than 10 percent below their 52-week intraday highs, in correction territory. The Dow Jones industrial average closed about 250 points lower after earlier falling nearly 566 points with IBM contributing the most to declines. UnitedHealth contributed the most to gains. The S&P 500 closed 1.17 percent lower, near 1,859, after earlier falling more than 3.5 percent through its October 2014 intraday low of 1,820 to hit its lowest since February 2014. Energy closed down nearly 3 percent after briefly dipping 6 percent. The Russell 2000 closed about half a percent higher after falling 3.66 percent intraday. The Dow transports briefly turned higher before closing down about half a percent, still well off an earlier decline of more than 3.5 percent. "The market's been hurt in the past two-and-a-half weeks by strong openings. That invites selling," said Bruce Bittles, chief investment strategist at RW Baird. "Today the market opened sharply down and that shows a lot of pessimism here and may help turn things around." The Nasdaq composite closed mildly lower at its lowest since October 2014 after attempting to recover from an intraday decline of more than 3.5 percent. The iShares Nasdaq Biotechnology ETF (IBB) reversed a decline of more than 3 percent to end up 2.75 percent, but well off session highs of 4 percent gains. "My guess is what you're seeing right now is some short covering," said Paul Yook, portfolio manager at BioShares Funds, adding "the outlook for the sector is actually really good." Netflix ended mildly lower, while Apple closed a touch higher, both reversing sharp declines in intraday trade. "Obviously you're going to have to bounce at some point. The biggest thing I've seen is the reversal in the biotech stocks," said Peter Coleman, head trader at Convergex. "Once you start to get a lift off the lows you're always going to get short covering," he said, noting he remains a "little skeptical" the intraday recovery can hold. About 11 stocks declined for every four advancers on the New York Stock Exchange, with an exchange volume of nearly 1.5 billion and a composite volume of nearly 6.4 billion in afternoon trade. Earlier, about 30 stocks declined for every advancer. The number of new 52-week lows on the New York Stock Exchange (1,357) and Nasdaq (853) were the most on a single day since November 2008. ||||| Investors have noticed that the stock market has gone through a radical change in the past few months. Veteran investor Mark D. Cook, who pointed out red flags a year ago, feels vindicated. Finally, stock prices confirmed what he saw in 2014: We’re in a bear market and about to go over the cliff, he says. Here is a chat I had with Cook over the weekend. Why do you still believe we’re in a bear market? First, the oil and gas situation is a huge problem, and it will continue. We’re not getting bounces. Instead, oil investors just want to sell. The second problem, and it’s just getting started, is China. China is like an athlete that twisted his ankle and needs time to heal. If the ankle doesn’t heal, it will get worse, and that’s what is happening right now. Is there anything technical that you are looking at? Yes. First, every rally in a bear market has no traction. In a bull market, rallies will hold for days or weeks. Now we’re getting sharp “one-day wonders” that fail. Every hope is dashed. That is a strong characteristic of a bear market. Second, the NYSE Tick is registering no institutional activity on the buy side. Every rally is a chance for mutual funds to lighten positions. And this is only January. Wait until people look at their January statements. Many will be shocked. If this is a bear market, how will investors react in the months ahead? There are four psychological stages that people go through during a bear market. Right now, investors know the market is struggling but most believe it will come back. In fact, many see this as a buying opportunity. Here are the four stages: Stage 1: Denial Right now, we’re in the denial stage. Anyone who is bullish is too stubborn to change his or her view. Many people have their head in the sand, and some may not even look at their January statements. Many believe the market will come back. Right now, many are still buying the dips, which does not work in a bear market. This is similar to what has happened to oil. Stage 2: High Anxiety In this stage, many investors are like a deer in the headlights. They are frozen and nervous but don’t do anything. They are told by brokers and financial experts to stay calm and don’t panic. We haven’t reached this stage yet. Stage 3: Fear In this stage, the rampant bulls finally realize they are in trouble. If they have bought stocks on margin, they might be getting calls from their broker to add money to losing positions. In this stage, they are watching in fear as their portfolio burns. They reluctantly start to take action as fear increases. Often they say to themselves, “When my stock gets back to even, I will sell.” Stage 4: Panic This is what I call the “uncle” stage. This is when panicked investors throw in the towel and take action. They want to get out of the market while they still have something left. At this stage, there is huge downside volume and double-digit declines on the indexes. At the end of Stage 4, many people vow to never buy stocks again. We are not even close to this stage yet. Typically, we hit bottom when investors capitulate after losses of 20% to 50% in their stock portfolios. ||||| U.S. stocks fell Wednesday, but ended well off their lows as investors waded back into the market to buy some of the year’s most beaten-up companies. Stock-trading volume was heavy as the market swung back and forth, with 12.4 billion shares trading. It was the highest-volume session since August 24. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell...

– It might be the worst day yet in an already lousy year for the stock market: The Dow was down more than 500 points shortly after noon, a fall of about 3.3%, and the Nasdaq and S&P 500 were down similar percentages. The news comes after yet another bad day for Asian stocks, with Japan's Nikkei falling into bear territory—roughly defined as 20% below a recent high, reports the Wall Street Journal. One huge, familiar factor: Oil prices continue to fall, with the price of a barrel now under $27 a barrel. "Obviously we're in the throes of an environment where sentiment is not positive about risk assets, so it takes very little to put pressure ... pressure coming from falling oil prices continues to serve as a cues for equities to follow suit," a strategist at Janney Montgomery Scott tells CNBC. This MarketWatch piece suggests "the bear market in stocks has finally arrived" for US investors.

'You Should Resign': Watch Sen. Elizabeth Warren Grill Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf Enlarge this image toggle caption Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images Facing off with the CEO whose massive bank appropriated customers' information to create millions of bogus accounts, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., had sharp questions Tuesday for Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf. She said Stumpf made millions of dollars in the "scam," telling him, "You should resign ... and you should be criminally investigated." As we've reported before, Wells Fargo is paying $185 million in penalties for acts that date to at least to 2011. The firm says it fired some 5,300 employees who were found to have created false accounts as it sought to increase "cross-selling" — building the number of accounts each customer holds. The exchanges between Warren and Stumpf were among the sharpest, but other senators also pressed the executive about what have become hot topics as public outrage has grown over the case. Here's some of what panel Chairman Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., and others wanted to know: Whether Stumpf regards the case as one of fraud Whether the bank will "claw back" any of the millions it has paid to former executive Carrie Tolstedt, who is retiring with nearly $125 million How the bank will help customers whose credit ratings have been hurt by the fake accounts Responding to those questions, Stumpf said he lacked the appropriate expertise, declaring himself at various times not to be a lawyer, a compensation expert or a credit consultant. Warren began her questioning by citing Wells Fargo's Vision and Values Statement, particularly its suggestion, "If you want to find out how strong a company's ethics are, don't listen to what its people say, watch what they do." "So, let's do that," Warren said. She then accused Stumpf of failing to hold himself or any other senior executives accountable for the company's actions. "It's gutless leadership," she said, noting that Stumpf is not resigning, returning any of his earnings or firing any senior executives. Warren moved on to the subject of cross-selling — calling it a particular focus of Stumpf's tenure as CEO, citing his goal of eight accounts per customer and saying that cross-selling was "one of the main reasons that Wells has become the most valuable bank in the world." The senator asked Stumpf, "Cross-selling is all about pumping up Wells' stock price, isn't it?" "No," the executive answered. "Cross-selling is shorthand for deepening relationships," he continued — before Warren cut him off. She then produced 12 transcripts of Wells Fargo earnings calls Stumpf participated in from 2012 to 2014 — "the three full years in which we know this scam was going on," Warren said. "In all 12 of these calls, you personally cited Wells Fargo's success at cross-selling retail accounts as one of the main reasons to buy more stock in the company," Warren told Stumpf. She went on to quote him from the transcripts, as he touted the company's record growth to more than six accounts per household. When Warren asked Stumpf — who made $19.3 million in annual compensation (including a performance bonus of $12.5 million) in 2015, how much his stock holdings at Wells Fargo had gained during the period in question, the executive said that the information was all in the public record. Warren then produced the information herself, saying that Stumpf held an average of 6.75 million shares in the company in that time frame — and that the share price had risen by about $30, "which comes out to more than $200 million in gains, all for you personally, and thanks in part to those cross-sell numbers that you talked about on every one of those calls." Here's what Warren said toward the end of her allotted time to question Stumpf: "Here's what really gets me about this, Mr. Stumpf. If one of your tellers took a handful of $20 bills out of the crash drawer, they'd probably be looking at criminal charges for theft. They could end up in prison. "But you squeezed your employees to the breaking point so they would cheat customers and you could drive up the value of your stock and put hundreds of millions of dollars in your own pocket. "And when it all blew up, you kept your job, you kept your multi-multimillion-dollar bonuses, and you went on television to blame thousands of $12-an-hour employees who were just trying to meet cross-sell quotas that made you rich. "This is about accountability. You should resign. You should give back the money that you took while this scam was going on, and you should be criminally investigated by both the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission. This just isn't right." Stumpf testified with a conspicuously bandaged right hand — it was particularly noticeable when he raised it to be sworn in Tuesday morning. A bank representative says he injured himself playing with his grandchildren. During his allotted time to question Stumpf, Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., voiced skepticism at the idea that the 5,300 Wells Fargo employees who were fired had all acted independently. "You state unequivocally that there are no orchestrated effort or scheme, as some have called it, by the company," Toomey told Stumpf. "But when thousands of people conduct the same kind of fraudulent activity, it's a stretch to believe that every one of them independently conjured up this idea of how they would commit this fraud." ||||| Sen. Elizabeth Warren on Tuesday called for a criminal investigation into Wells Fargo executives over the cross-selling scandal that has engulfed the bank and told CEO John Stumpf he should resign. As her colleagues grilled Stumpf, Warren lit into the head of the nation's second-largest bank, saying reform won't come to the industry until executives are sent to jail. "This is about accountability," she said. "You should resign, you should give back the money you took while this scam was going on and you should be criminally investigated by both the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission." "The only way that Wall Street will change is if executives face jail time when they preside over massive frauds," she added. "Until then it will be business as usual, and at giant banks like Wells Fargo, that seems to mean cheating as many customers, investors and employees as they possibly can." As Warren accused Stumpf of "gutless leadership," Wells Fargo's stock price dipped. By midday. it was at $46.20 a share, up 0.43 percent. Warren's comments came amid testy questioning of Stumpf, who presided over what authorities have labeled as illegal cross-selling to millions of customers who often were enrolled into programs without their knowledge. She ripped into the culture that created the scandal. "If one of your tellers took a handful of 20-dollar bills out of the cash drawer, they'd probably be looking at criminal charges for theft," she said. "They could end up in prison, but you squeezed your employees to the breaking point so they could cheat customers and you could drive up the value of hyour stock and put hundreds of millions of dollars in your pocket." "It wasn't a scam, and cross-selling is a way of deepening relationships," Stumpf said. Warren, who earned her reputation on Capitol Hill as a crusader for Americans against the financial services industry, is one of the scant few on the Senate banking committee who has not been cut a check by Wells Fargo's political action committee. —Jon Marino contributed to this report. ||||| Donald Trump is expected to announce that he plans to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital on Wednesday. The decision is, in some ways, a compromise. Trump had previously pledged to move the United States embassy to Jerusalem, a decision that would have set off an even greater international firestorm. The administration has insisted that it still plans to move the embassy to Jerusalem, but Trump will sign another six-month waiver, meaning that no change is imminent. Still, the decision has been met with predictable criticism. Pope Francis called on the United States to respect the status quo in Jerusalem, which both the Israelis and Palestinians claim as their capital. The U.S. has historically insisted that Jerusalem’s status be resolved in peace talks; endorsing Jerusalem as Israel’s “undivided” capital will likely poison the well before talks have even begun. (West Jerusalem is predominantly Israeli, while East Jerusalem is largely Palestinian; pushes for a Palestinian state have typically called for East Jerusalem to be the capital of such a state.) Manuel Hassassian, the Palestinian representative to the U.K., told the BBC that recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital would be the “kiss of death” to the peace process. Violent protests are expected in response. The decision comes amidst a broader shift in Middle East politics. The New York Times reported on Sunday that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman presented Mahmoud Abbas, the head of the Palestinian Authority, with a peace plan “that would be more tilted toward the Israelis than any ever embraced by the American government.” Per the Times: The Palestinians would get a state of their own but only noncontiguous parts of the West Bank and only limited sovereignty over their own territory. The vast majority of Israeli settlements in the West Bank, which most of the world considers illegal, would remain. The Palestinians would not be given East Jerusalem as their capital and there would be no right of return for Palestinian refugees and their descendants. The Saudis have denied the contents of the report. But with both Saudi Arabia and the United States growing closer to Israel, it’s becoming increasingly doubtful that Trump will uphold his previous pledge to be a fair broker in negotiations between the Israelis and Palestinians.

– Sen. Elizabeth Warren went after Wells Fargo CEO John Stumpf during a Senate hearing Tuesday with the kind of heat she usually reserves for Donald Trump tweetstorms. "You should resign ... and you should be criminally investigated," NPR quotes Warren as saying. Stumpf was in front of the Senate banking committee after Wells Fargo employees created millions of fake accounts for customers without their permission in order to charge them extra fees. Stumpf said he was "deeply sorry" for what happened, New Republic reports. But—according to CNBC—he maintained it wasn't a "scam"—Warren's word—but a "way of deepening relationships" with customers. Warren accused Stumpf of "gutless leadership" for passing responsibility for what happened away from himself and other senior executives while blaming "thousands of $12-an-hour employees who were just trying to meet cross-sell quotas that made you rich." The employees' cross-selling scheme was at least partially responsible for Wells Fargo stock going up, making Stumpf's shares alone gain $200 million in value. While more than 5,000 Wells Fargo employees were fired, none of the senior executives are losing their jobs. Warren said the only way Wall Street will be reformed is if CEOs like Stumpf start seeing jail time. She's one of only a few members of the Senate banking committee that hasn't gotten money from Wells Fargo's PAC.

Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period. ||||| Ancient Tomb In Spain Destroyed And Replaced With A Picnic Table Updated at 1:45 p.m. ET The accidental destruction of an ancient tomb in northwest Spain was best summed up by an archaeologist in one perfect, if unintended, pun: "monumental error." Workers in the town of Cristovo de Cea in the Galicia region mistook what is believed to be a 6,000-year-old Neolithic tomb for a broken stone picnic table and "repaired it." Lauren Frayer reported from Spain for NPR's newscast: "An ancient tomb in northwest Spain had heritage status — and thus was supposed to be protected and clearly marked as an artifact. But somehow the local town council wasn't aware. So when parks and rec workers saw the granite slabs — they thought they were part of a park bench that needed repair. They poured concrete into the ancient burial chamber, and topped it with a brand new picnic table. An environmental group realized the error and complained. The tomb is believed to be more than 6,000 years old, from the area's ancient Celtic settlers." An investigation into how the tomb came to be destroyed is underway, according to The Local, but it appears to be an open and shut case: Officials simply weren't aware the site existed — not even the town's mayor, José Luis Valladores. "No one told me, neither Heritage nor the environmental group," he told the Spanish Huffington Post. "The site wasn't even marked, and the logical thing would have been for them to get in contact with the local council so that we could have taken measures to protect the site," he added. Juan Barceló, the archaeologist who called the mistake a monumental error, said he "was horrified when he heard [the] news," and speculated that the breakdown in communication between builders and the local authorities was probably due to the summer holidays. He also told The Local that mistakes like this are not the norm. "This is not representative of Spain, where monuments over 100 years old are all preserved by law," Barceló said. "All authorities, national, state and local work effectively preserving our heritage. But sometimes accidents happen. I am sure that such disasters happen in many other countries, but have not been published." It turns out Barceló is partly right. Other countries have destroyed ancient remains, but usually it's done knowingly. In 2007, as The New York Times reports, "a work crew in the ancient capital city of Nanjing unearthed and destroyed the burial sites of 10 noblemen from six dynasties." Just last year, according to archaeologists, an ancient Native American burial ground and village in California was discovered and then razed in order to make way for multimillion-dollar homes. However, the mistaken destruction of ancient relics isn't completely unheard of. In 2013, NPR's Scott Neuman wrote about workers destroying a 2,300-year-old Mayan pyramid in Belize to use the rubble for road repair. They were apparently unaware that the pyramid was a Mayan ruin. And then there are times when even the best intentions to preserve ancient relics go horribly awry, like this story from NPR's Eyder Peralta about a painter's attempt to restore a fresco.

– Usually municipal workers taking the initiative to replace a broken picnic table would be heralded as a minor civic victory. However, that's less the case when the "broken picnic table" was actually a 6,000-year-old tomb under government protection. NPR reports the tomb is believed to have been built by Neolithic Celtic settlers in what is now the town of San Cristovo de Cea in Spain. After removing the granite slabs they thought had been parts of a bench, workers poured concrete into the burial chamber and topped it off with a picnic table. A Spanish archaeologist tells the Local he was "horrified" by the "monumental error" after an environmental group discovered what had happened in June. Town officials say they weren't aware the tomb was even there, despite it being listed as a heritage site. "No one told me," the mayor tells El Huffington Post. "The site wasn't even marked." But a regional government department is investigating the situation and tells the Local "the town council was well aware of its existence." According to NPR, this kind of thing isn't unheard of. Two years ago, workers in Belize accidentally ruined a 2,300-year-old Mayan pyramid because they needed rubble to fix a road. But more often these ancient sites are destroyed on purpose. Last year, for example, developers dismantled a Native American burial ground in California to make room for some million-dollar homes. (This kid knows a thing or two about accidentally destroying precious things.)

After a 20-year decline in favorability, the percentage of Americans who support the death penalty has once again dropped below the 50% mark. According to a new Pew Research Center poll, just 49% of the US now supports capital punishment. The last time this few Americans supported the death penalty was 45 years ago, in 1971, when the Baltimore Colts were Super Bowl V champions and Richard Nixon was Time's Man of the Year. With a few exceptions, the rate has fallen steadily every year since 1994, when support peaked at 80%. While the overall rate has fallen considerably since the mid-nineties, politics still play a big role in who supports the death penalty and who doesn't. In the Pew poll, 34% of Democrats said they support it while 72% of Republicans did. The declining level of support may stem from recent negative press surrounding the most popular form of the death penalty: lethal injection. In 2014, multiple inmates on death row were the victims of botched executions when the cocktail of drugs meant to sedate, paralyze, and ultimately kill the men failed to work properly. Some inmates struggled for an hour or more, convulsing on the sedation table before coroners eventually declared them dead of a heart attack. In the two years since, the US federal government has yet to come up with a widely agreed upon alternative to lethal injection drugs, and so fewer executions are being carried out overall. In 1999, 98 people received the death penalty. This year, only 15 have met the same fate. ||||| For the first time in almost half a century, support for the death penalty has dipped below 50 percent in the United States. Just 49 percent of Americans say they support capital punishment, according to a Pew Research Center poll conducted from late August to early September. That represents a seven-point decline in about a year and a half. Support peaked at 80 percent in 1994. The death penalty has had majority support among Americans for 45 years. The last time support was as low as it now stands was in 1971. Pew has surveyed Americans on the subject for the past two decades and relies on the polling organization Gallup for older data. ||||| Note: For 2018 data on views of the death penalty, click here. As the Supreme Court prepares to hear the first of two death penalty cases in this year’s term, the share of Americans who support the death penalty for people convicted of murder is now at its lowest point in more than four decades. Only about half of Americans (49%) now favor the death penalty for people convicted of murder, while 42% oppose it. Support has dropped 7 percentage points since March 2015, from 56%. Public support for capital punishment peaked in the mid-1990s, when eight-in-ten Americans (80% in 1994) favored the death penalty and fewer than two-in-ten were opposed (16%). Opposition to the death penalty is now the highest it has been since 1972. Though support for the death penalty has declined across most groups, a Pew Research Center survey conducted Aug. 23-Sept. 2 among 1,201 adults finds that most Republicans continue to largely favor its use in cases of murder, while most Democrats oppose it. By more than two-to-one, more Republicans (72%) than Democrats (34%) currently favor the death penalty. Two decades ago, when majorities in both parties favored the death penalty, the partisan gap was only 16 percentage points (87% of Republicans vs. 71% of Democrats). And, for the first time in decades, independents are as likely to oppose the use of the death penalty (45%) as they are to favor it (44%). The share of independents who support capital punishment has fallen 13 points since last year (from 57%). This shift in views among independents is particularly pronounced among those who lean toward the Democratic Party (a 10-point decrease in support) and those who do not lean to either party (down 16 points). Support for the death penalty among independents who lean toward the GOP is little changed from March 2015 (73% now, 70% then). Even as support for the death penalty has declined across nearly all groups, demographic differences remain: Men are more likely to back the use of the death penalty than women, white Americans are more supportive than blacks and Hispanics, and attitudes on the issue also differ by age, education and along religious lines. More than half of men (55%) say they are in favor of the death penalty and 38% are opposed. Women’s views are more divided: 43% favor the death penalty, 45% oppose it. A 57% majority of whites favor the death penalty for those convicted of murder (down from 63% last year). But blacks and Hispanics support it at much lower rates: Just 29% of blacks and 36% of Hispanics favor capital punishment. There are only modest difference by age and education in support for the death penalty, with 18- to 29-year-olds somewhat less likely to support it (42% favor) than those in older age groups (51% of those 30 and older). Those without a college degree are more likely than those with at least a college degree to favor the use of the death penalty in cases of murder (51% vs. 43%). White evangelical Protestants continue to back the use of the death penalty by a wide margin (69% favor, 26% oppose). White mainline Protestants also are substantially more likely to support (60%) than oppose (31%) the death penalty. But among Catholics and the religiously unaffiliated, opinion is more divided: 43% of Catholics favor capital punishment, while 46% oppose it. And while 50% of those who are religiously unaffiliated oppose the death penalty, 40% support it. A more detailed study last year of attitudes toward capital punishment found that 63% of the public thought the death penalty was morally justified, but majorities said there was some risk of an innocent person being put to death (71%) and that the death penalty does not deter serious crime (61%). Note: View the methodology for the Aug. 23-Sept. 2 survey and the topline. (PDF). Topics: Supreme Court, Death Penalty, Gender, Social Values, Race and Ethnicity

– For the first time in 45 years, Americans who support the death penalty can't count themselves among the majority. Just 49% of Americans polled from late August to early September said they supported capital punishment for people guilty of murder, while 42% said they opposed it, according to the Pew Research Center. Recent botched executions by lethal injection may be responsible for the drop in support from March 2015, when 56% of Americans backed the death penalty, reports Business Insider. But support has actually fallen across the political spectrum since the mid-1990s, when support reached 80% as violent crime and murder rates rose, per the Washington Post. Some 57% of white Americans now support the death penalty, compared to 29% of blacks and 36% of Hispanics, according to the poll of 1,201 adults. Men, older Americans, and those without a college degree are also more likely to support the death penalty. But just 34% of Democrats support capital punishment, compared to 71% two decades ago, reports the New York Times. Some 72% of Republicans support it, down from 87%, and 44% of independents support it, down from 57%. As support has fallen, so have the number of executions. There have been just 15 so far this year, including 12 in Texas and Georgia. (Ohio is set to resume executions after a three-year break.)

Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| A baby in China went 10 days with a chopstick stuck up his nose, which punctured his brain and caused an infection because nobody noticed, Central European News reported. Hanhang, 1, was eating chow mein with his parents in Chaoyang City when he tripped and fell, sending the object up his nose, CEN reported. His parents removed the chopstick and rushed him to the hospital for further treatment where doctors failed to notice additional pieces of the object penetrating his brain, according to the report. “When we got home after our first visit to the hospital, my husband broke all the chopsticks in half and threw them away as we were worried something like this could happen again,” Yu Liao, Hanhang’s 25-year-old mom told CEN. “But we had no idea there was still one inside of his head,” she said. Hanhang began vomiting and showing signs of drowsiness, prompting his parents to bring him to the hospital for a second time, Liao told CEN. It was then that doctors noticed the piece of chopstick in his brain. “We were beside ourselves with worry,” Liao said. “After removing the remaining six centimeters his condition improved immediately, but he does have a brain infection so will be staying in the hospital for further treatment,” Dr. Li Shaovi told CEN. “Luckily it did not affect him much.” ||||| Family, doctors fail to notice chopstick stuck in boy's brain via @foxnewshealth http://t.co/3YSbWVAwXQ pic.twitter.com/uXOkgLGMuH — Fox News (@FoxNews) March 6, 2015 The x-ray photo of a Chinese boy’s brain that was punctured by a chopstick is unsettling. Yet it’s this image that finally allowed a medical team to understand why the child was vomiting and fatigued and ultimately save his life. Hanhang, 1, was walking around with a chopstick when he tripped and fell, according to CEN. The long stick drove up his nose and his parents quickly removed the object and took him to the hospital. Doctors examined Hanhang and failed to notice that the chopstick had punctured the brain and small pieces were still lodged in his head. “When we got home after our first visit to the hospital, my husband broke all the chopsticks in half and threw them away as we were worried something like this could happen again,” Yu Liao, Hanhang’s 25-year-old mom told CEN. “But we had no idea there was still one inside of his head,” she said. At home, Hanhang’s condition worsened as he repeatedly vomited and was noticeably lethargic. His parents brought him back to the hospital where doctors ordered an X-ray and discovered the chopstick piece. “We were beside ourselves with worry,” Liao said. “After removing the remaining six centimeters his condition improved immediately, but he does have a brain infection so will be staying in the hospital for further treatment,” Dr. Li Shaovi told CEN. Kids and chopsticks can be a dangerous combination. A 2-year-old Chinese boy stuck a chopstick in his nose last year and it penetrated three inches into his brain. Doctors spent four hours carefully removing it. Also, last year a 12-year-old Chinese boy was running across a school playground when he fell over onto a pair of chopsticks in his hand. The sticks penetrated his neck and the boy underwent surgery to remove them. Note to parents: Chopsticks are to only be handled by children sitting at the dinner table.

– He's OK now, but a toddler in China went 10 days with part of a chopstick in his brain. It seems young Hanhang tripped and fell with the chopstick in his hand, and it went straight up his nose, according to a report by Central European News spotted by Fox. His parents saw it happen, removed the chopstick—or so they thought—and took him to the hospital to be safe. Unfortunately, doctors sent him home without realizing that about 2 inches of the chopstick had broken off and was still inside. “When we got home after our first visit to the hospital, my husband broke all the chopsticks in half and threw them away as we were worried something like this could happen again,” says his mother, Yu Liao. When the boy grew increasingly lethargic and sick, his parents brought him back, and only then did an X-ray reveal the reason. Hanhang showed immediate improvement once it was removed. The Mommy Files blog at the San Francisco Chronicle rounds up two similar stories and concludes, "Note to parents: Chopsticks are to only be handled by children sitting at the dinner table." (The X-ray calls to mind another strange case, this one involving a nail gun.)

Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, embattled by controversy at home, might have been expected to be extra careful on her visit to China where she’s looking to boost investment in her country’s sputtering economy. But the Argentine President, who met with President Xi Jinping on Wednesday and joined a meeting of 1,000 Argentine and Chinese businessmen, sparked a flurry of online outrage when she posted a tweet mocking the Chinese accent by replacing r’s with l’s: “Are they here only for the lice and petloleum,” she said in Spanish, in a tweet that has been shared more than 1,500 times since she posted it Wednesday: Fernández, who has more than 3.5 million followers on Twitter, followed up the initial tweet a minute later with another post that appeared to respond to the commotion over her earlier comment: “Sorry, do you know what? The levels of ridiculousness and absurdity are so high they can only be digested with humor,” she said. Fernández’s government has been rocked by the death of Alberto Nisman, a prosecutor investigating the deadly 1994 bombing of a Jewish community center. Nisman’s body was found the day before he had been expected to testify before Congress that the President had covered up Iran’s alleged involvement in the attack. On Thursday, the lead investigator into Nisman’s death said that a warrant for Fernández’s arrest signed by the prosecutor had been found in the garbage in his apartment. ||||| These crawls are part of an effort to archive pages as they are created and archive the pages that they refer to. That way, as the pages that are referenced are changed or taken from the web, a link to the version that was live when the page was written will be preserved.Then the Internet Archive hopes that references to these archived pages will be put in place of a link that would be otherwise be broken, or a companion link to allow people to see what was originally intended by a page's authors.The goal is to fix all broken links on the web . Crawls of supported "No More 404" sites.

– Argentinian President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner is in China today, where she met with President Xi Jinping to sign various agreements and spoke at a conference attended by 1,000 businessmen in an effort to raise Chinese investment in Argentina's struggling economy. And yet, she still thought it would be a good idea to post a tweet mocking the Chinese accent, Bloomberg reports. The tweet, posted in Spanish, translates as: "Did they only come for lice and petloleum?" She was referring to the businessmen; Bloomberg notes that the tweet was in response to criticism that she tends to crowd her supporters into events. She followed the original tweet up with, "Sorry, do you know what? The levels of ridiculousness and absurdity are so high they can only be digested with humor," Time reports. The presidential palace's official Twitter account retweeted that second tweet, but not the first. (Kirchner is really not having a good week.)

"It's kind of sad. I don't think this is what Harper Lee wants." -- Monroe County Heritage Museum attorney Matt Goforth. MOBILE, Alabama – A rift between Monroe County’s most famous resident and its heritage museum has grown deeper with a trademark infringement lawsuit filed by author Harper Lee. The suit, filed last week in Mobile’s federal court, seeks an order prohibiting Monroe County Heritage Museum Inc. from using the name of Lee’s Pulitzer Prize-winning book, “To Kill a Mockingbird,” to promote its activities or sell merchandise. Mobile lawyer Clay Rankin, who represents the 87-year-old author, declined to comment. The suit suggests that the museum has attempted to take advantage of Lee’s declining health, becoming more “brazen” in its trademark violations. The civil complaint alleges that in the past, the museum would “grudgingly” honor Lee’s request to stop using her famous book. The suit cites an example of a cookbook that traded on a fictional character created by Lee. “Now, though, things are different,” the complaint states. “Ms. Lee suffered a stroke and is in ill health. The Defendant apparently believes that she lacks the desire to police her trademarks, and therefore seeks to take advantage of Ms. Lee’s condition and property.” Matt Goforth, an attorney for the museum, said he is not aware of a single incident in which Lee previously has asked the museum not to use the book’s name or characters. He said he believes the recent acrimony is the product of “handlers” who have gained influence over Lee’s affairs. “It’s kind of sad. I don’t think this is what Harper Lee wants,” he said. “The museum doesn’t like to be in this spot. We didn’t start this fight.” Lee’s novel was an instant success when it debuted in 1960. The book, which chronicles a lawyer’s defense of a black man accused of raping a white woman in the fictional town of Maycomb, has sold more than 30 million copies in English and has been translated into more than 25 other languages. The suit claims that the museum is a “substantial business” that generated more than $500,000 in revenue in 2011. Goforth describes it as a nonprofit that would be put out of business if Lee’s suit succeeds. Conflict between the museum and author erupted earlier this year when the museum moved to block Lee from registering her trademark. Lawyers in that case will begin taking sworn testimony and exchanging documents on Oct. 28. That dispute will be decided by the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. In May, she sued the son-in-law of her former literary agent in an attempt to re-secure her copyright on the book. She settled that in September. Last week’s federal lawsuit is the latest salvo in the conflict with the museum. “The town’s desire to capitalize upon the fame of ‘To Kill A Mockingbird’ is unmistakable: Monroeville’s town logo features an image of a mockingbird and the cupola of the Old County Courthouse, which was the setting for the dramatic trial in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird,’” the complaint states. The suit alleges that the museum falsely proclaims its mission to be history. “Rather, its primary mission is to trade upon the fictional story, settings and characters that Harper Lee created in ‘To Kill A Mockingbird,’ and Harper Lee’s own renown as one of the nation’s most celebrated authors,” the complaint states. Goforth flatly denied Lee’s allegations. “The museum has been doing what it does, which is putting on the play, for 25 years,” said Goforth, adding that it has sold related merchandise for about 20 years. “Every single statement in this complaint is completely false or meritless, and maybe both.” The suit cities various examples indicating how closely the museum is tied to the book, right down to the website, tokillamockingbird.com. In a statement, Goforth responded that the museum has been honoring Lee’s legacy for more than two decades. “Unfortunately for Harper Lee, those handlers are doing nothing but squandering her money with this lawsuit. The Museum is squarely within its rights to carry out its mission as it always has,” he wrote. “Monroe County's history cannot be understood without an understanding of the history and impact of’ To Kill a Mockingbird.’ It is a part of what Monroe County is both as a county and a community.” The lawsuit alleges the museum’s lawyer demanded a “royalty-free” license in June as a condition for not opposing Lee’s trademark application and then pressured the Reuters news agency into changing its report that the museum was refusing to share its profits with Lee. ||||| More than 50 years have passed since Harper Lee published To Kill a Mockingbird, her gripping novel about racial injustice in deeply segregated Alabama. Now the town where Lee was born and raised, and which served as the inspiration for her best-selling book, has once again become the scene of an unsettling legal dispute that has divided the community. This time Lee, who at 87 is profoundly deaf and almost totally blind, is not the author of the story but – on the surface at least – its protagonist. In a move which has shocked Monroeville, Lee, who resides in an assisted-living facility in the town, is bringing a lawsuit against the local museum, accusing the small, not-for-profit institution of exploiting her fame and the prestige of her Pulitzer-winning book without offering compensation. The museum is fighting back, condemning Lee’s lawsuit as “false” and “meritless” and warning that the legal action could destroy an institution that honours the author's legacy and provides an economic boost to the town. It is the kind of ugly public dispute that Lee, an intensely private figure who has spent her life avoiding the spotlight, might have been expected to avoid. Unsurprisingly, Monroeville has been awash with with rumour about whether Miss Nelle, as the author is known locally, was personally responsible for the decision to sue the museum. The answer to that question is complicated, but it appears to involve Lee’s 102-year-old sister, Alice, and a close associate, an attorney who happens to be married to a relative of Truman Capote. Capote is the other literary great who spent much of his childhood in Monroeville, living in a house next-door to Lee. The pair became close friends and Lee famously assisted Capote when he researched the Kansas murder that formed the basis of another classic, In Cold Blood. Both Lee and Capote are honoured in the Monroe County Heritage Museum, which attracts 30,000 visitors a year. Most come in April and May, when the restored 1903 courthouse, which served as a model for the To Kill a Mockingbird movie, starring Gregory Peck, becomes the backdrop for a theatrical production of Lee’s novel. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Harper Lee with Gregory Peck, the star of the 1962 adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird. Photograph: Bettmann/Corbis Lee’s only published novel is one of the great works of 20th century literature. It has sold 30 million copies and, according to her lawsuit, is on the required reading list for more than three-quarters of American high schools. The book is set in the 1930s in the fictional town of Maycomb, a place almost indistinguishable even today from Monroeville, a place of 6,500 people which adheres to Lee’s description of “an island in a patchwork sea of cotton fields and timber land”. The extent to which Lee’s novel is an accurate reflection of her upbringing in the town is the source of much debate – and is likely to feature in the legal case. Lee's legal complaint recognises that the book was “inspired by Ms Lee’s home” in Monroe County, but adds: “Nonetheless, the setting, plot and characters are products of Ms Lee’s imagination.” On 19 August, her lawyers filed a trademark application. The museum filed an opposition, prompting the lawsuit served on 15 October, which takes issue with the museum’s website and gift shop, which it accuses of “palming off its goods”, including t-shirts, coffee mugs other various trinkets with Mockingbird brands. The museum says the gift shop generates a paltry $28,000 a year, and helps employ a few “pitifully paid” people from the town. The lawsuit even takes a swipe at Monroeville, saying the “desire to capitalize” on the fame of Lee’s book is evident in the town’s choice of logo: a mockingbird and the cupola of the Old County Courthouse. Yet Lee, who stopped granting full interviews in 1964, has herself made clear that To Kill a Mockingbird was partly rooted in the Monroeville she knew. Her father, Amasa Coleman Lee, was, like the novel’s Atticus Finch, a local attorney and state senator. There are obvious streaks of Lee in the young female narrator of the story, Scout, and her close friend Dill appears at least loosely based on Capote. “It is and it isn’t autobiographical,” Lee told the New York Herald Tribune in 1962. “The trial, and the rape charge that bring on the trial, are made out of a composite of such cases and charges. What I did present as exactly as I could were the clime and tone, as I remembered them, of the town in which I lived. From childhood on, I did sit in the courtroom watching my father argue cases and talk to juries.” Harper Lee in the Monroeville courthouse. Photograph: Donald Uhrbrock/Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images For much of the last quarter of a century, Lee appears to have had an ambivalent view of the museum. Instinctively uncomfortable with anything that brings unwanted attention, she is once said to have complained about the “cottage industry” that has grown around the novel. But until now, the only time she is known to have expressed that view to the museum was in 2002, when it published a cookbook based on the character Calpurnia – an incident mentioned in the lawsuit. According the museum, when Lee said that she wasn’t happy, they quickly removed Calpurnia’s Cookbook from the shelves – copies are still stored in the attic. On the other hand, there is evidence the museum has had the tacit blessing of Lee’s family and friends. A plaque on the wall bears the name of the author’s nephew, Dr Edwin Lee, a local dentist. Some of those closest to Lee, including a lifelong friend, the Reverend Dr Thomas Lane Butts, have served on the museum’s board. And three years ago – on the 50th anniversary of the novel’s publication – Lee herself visited the museum, with the Hollywood actress Patricia Neal. When the museum sent Lee flowers, she replied with a note which read: “My dearest friends, the roses are spectacular and I love them, sincerely yours, Nelle Harper Lee.” Since then, Lee’s health has deteriorated. Her infirmity partly explains a second, unrelated lawsuit that the author brought earlier this year against her literary agent. In that case, Lee’s lawyers claimed Samuel Pinkus, the son-in-law of the writer’s long-time agent, Eugene Winick, had duped Lee into signing over the copyright on the book. The case was settled two months ago. Until 2011, Lee’s financial interests had long been protected by her sister, Alice, who was herself profoundly deaf, and relied upon lip-reading. Now 102, Alice Lee is, like her sister, known as a formidable character in town, having practiced law with the venerable Barnett, Bugg, Lee and Carter law firm. The Carter in that firm is Tonya Carter, the lawyer most people in Monroeville seem to think has been given power of attorney by Harper Lee. There is no known documentary evidence to support that suggestion, and Carter has not responded to requests for comment. But two sources close to Lee confirmed that Carter had indeed been given power of attorney by the author. Carter is also a well-known figure in Monroeville. She is married to Patrick Carter, a pilot who happens to be a cousin to Capote, and the couple run a restaurant, Prop and Gavel, a stone’s throw from the museum. With resentment over the lawsuit running high, some locals say they are boycotting Carter’s restaurant in protest. That may be unfair. Even if Carter does have power of attorney over Lee’s business affairs, she may still be acting on explicit instructions from Lee – or at the very least consulting with the author. Gregory Peck, as Atticus Finch, argues his case. Photograph: Sportsphoto Ltd/Allstar Legal papers submitted in the lawsuit filed against Lee's literary agent, in May, said that while the author's physical health had seriously deteriorated since a stroke in 2007, it had not affected her “mental capabilities”. But in a small town like Monroeville, it does not take long for ill-feeling to spread. The lawsuit, much like the fictional rape trial Lee portrayed in To Kill a Mockingbird , is forcing locals to take sides. Stephanie Rogers, 29, the museum's executive director, talks of two “camps” emerging in Monroeville, but insists most people are behind the museum. “I haven’t heard anything else the other way,” she said. But dissenting voices can be heard, even if they are whispered. In the Courthouse Cafe, across the road, a hushed debate was recently overheard. “The thing about small towns like this: everybody will put a foot in if they think they can make a dollar,” a woman said. “I think it is bad that they’re acting like Harper Lee don’t exist.” Additional reporting by Verna Gates in Monroeville

– Harper Lee is apparently as litigious as she is reclusive. The To Kill a Mockingbird author has, in the Guardian's words, "shocked" her hometown of Monroeville, Ala., by suing its local museum. The 87-year-old's accusation: that the nonprofit is making use of her fame without compensation. The trademark infringement lawsuit, filed Oct. 15, calls out the Monroe County Heritage Museum's website and gift shop sales of Mockingbird-branded goods. The museum says that shop rakes in a measly $28,000 annually, which funds a few "pitifully paid" employees, and that it has sold such goods for two decades, reports AL.com. But the suit accuses the museum of taking advantage of the book, and cites its web URL as example: tokillamockingbird.com. Just 30,000 visitors head to the museum annually, and it warns that the suit could prove its undoing. Making the story even more contentious: Locals aren't sure if Lee is actually the driver of the suit, and the museum suspects her "handlers" are taking advantage of her declining health. More confusing still, the suit suggests the museum is exploiting her health by committing bolder trademark violations, notes AL.com. Lee is deaf and nearly blind, and currently living in an assisted-living facility in Monroeville. The Guardian doesn't exactly make clear who is believed to be the driver, but floats one name: Tonya Carter, a lawyer married to Truman Capote's cousin (a longtime friend of Lee's). Many believe Lee handed Carter power of attorney, though the Guardian could find no paper trail proving that.

On Monday night, thousands of people lined the streets of Soho to remember and honour those who lost their lives in the Orlando shooting, which took place in Pulse, an LGBT nightclub. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and London Mayor Sadiq Khan were among those in attendance. LGBT people and supporters stood in silence to remember the victims, holding banners and signs with Pride slogans, such as 'Not Afraid'. 49 rainbow coloured balloons - one for each person killed - were released into the air as people clapped and cheered after the silence - and then the chorus began to sing. ||||| In the aftermath of the mass shooting that took place in Orlando, Florida, on Sunday, vigils have been held across the world to pay tribute to the victims. The London vigil took place Monday night. SEE ALSO: Tributes pour in across the UK for victims of the Orlando shooting London Gay Men's Chorus joined thousands of other people at Old Compton Street, where they sang Simon & Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" to an emotional crowd.

– Love is pouring into Orlando from around the world—including some 4,000 miles away in London. Among those to gather at a vigil in the city's Soho district Monday—in memory of those killed at Pulse nightclub—was the London Gay Men's Chorus, which performed a moving rendition of Simon and Garfunkel's "Bridge Over Troubled Water" that "will send shivers down your spine," per Mashable. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, in attendance along with London Mayor Sadiq Khan, described a "sense of solidarity," per the Telegraph. "Love, in the end, defeats this crime, because it's stronger," he said.

I think this is the right call, actually, but not for the usual reasons. Besides, O surely realizes that they’ll leak sooner rather than later. In an interview with Steve Kroft for this Sunday’s “60 Minutes,” President Obama says he won’t release post-mortem images of Osama bin Laden taken to prove his death… Republican House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Rogers said Wednesday that the Obama administration should not release the gruesome post-mortem images, saying it could complicate the job for American troops overseas. Rogers told CBS News he has seen a post-mortem photo… “Imagine how the American people would react if Al Qaeda killed one of our troops or military leaders, and put photos of the body on the internet,” Rogers continued. “Osama bin Laden is not a trophy – he is dead and let’s now focus on continuing the fight until Al Qaida has been eliminated.” I can think of four arguments for releasing the photos. One: It’ll prove that he’s dead. Except, of course, that it won’t. Conspiracy cranks will screech about the pic being doctored or the victim being an impostor (“those aren’t his eyebrows!”) within five minutes of it being posted. There’s no such thing as “proof” anymore; the Internet age is proof-proof. If anything, the more evidence you provide, the more pretexts you create for kooks to pose moronic challenges to it. If the White House wants to reassure people that the photos exist, they can show them to Republican leaders, to members of the press, and maybe to 9/11 families for their satisfaction. (Scott Brown apparently has already seen them.) Two: It’ll warn the jihadis of the world of what awaits if they mess with America. Didn’t the Zarqawi death photos already warn them of that, though? How about killing scores of Al Qaeda commanders with drone strikes in Pakistan and elsewhere? The fact that Bin Laden and Zawahiri were in hiding for 10 years is pretty solid evidence that they know what happens when you mess with Uncle Sam. Three: Turnabout is fair play. If we had to endure photos of U.S. troops doing wrong at Abu Ghraib, let’s celebrate the photos of U.S. troops doing right by taking down a monster. I think that’s a better argument for why the Abu Ghraib photos shouldn’t have been released, though, than for why the Bin Laden photos should be. And in fact, Obama agrees: Remember when he broke his promise to the left to release photos of detainee abuse and filed suit to keep them suppressed in the name of national security? Also, Abu Ghraib was a case of exposing government malfeasance, which the public has a right to know about. They may not have a right to the photos, given the propaganda value of those photos to the enemy, but it’s not an apples and apples comparison with a national high-five like killing Bin Laden. Four: It’s a trophy. People want to see dead Osama’s face because they want to revel in it. They’d put it on t-shirts and coffee mugs even though, according to one of CBS’s sources, it’s beyond gruesome (the “bullet opened his skull, exposing the brain, and it also blew out his eye”). After watching Americans forced to choose between burning alive or jumping to their deaths on 9/11, the thinking goes, we deserve to plaster images of Bin Laden’s cortex on billboards. Fair enough, but I have to say, just knowing how the raid went down and that his skull ended up being popped like a balloon is already … deeply satisfying. I keep thinking of him in his bedroom, listening to the SEALs banging around downstairs and hyperventilating at the thought of what would happen when they opened the door. I don’t need an extra scoop of sugar on that hot fudge sundae. It’s already tastier than I could have hoped for. So those are the arguments in favor. The obvious argument against releasing the photo, per Bob Gates and Hillary, is that it’ll “inflame anti-American sentiment” and put troops in the field at greater risk. Didn’t we already cross that bridge, though, by … killing Osama Bin Laden? And haven’t we heard that same argument used before by our political leaders to pressure people like Terry Jones on free speech? The argument the administration could/should have made is that sometimes we have to accept a greater operational risk in the interest of protecting core values like the First Amendment — and that this isn’t one of those times, since there’s really no core value that would be served by releasing a “suck it, jihadis” Bin Laden death photo. It would feel great, but as I said above, it already feels great. And the “suck it” message has, I take it, already been received by all the important people via the fact that Osama now literally sleeps with the fishes. The reason I think this is a good call is that I like the idea of Bin Laden being reduced to an afterthought, even in death. He had already reduced himself to that status after 10 years of hiding like a rat and churning out the occasional audio message that no one paid much attention to. Then, on Sunday, in the span of 12 hours, he went from quietly doing whatever he was still doing for Al Qaeda to quietly having a chunk of his head blown off to quietly being kicked off the deck of a U.S. carrier into the sea. Just like that, gone from the face of the Earth; I’ll bet the carrier crew didn’t even hear the splash. That’s a sweet ending for a messianic fanatic. Release the photo and you undo some of that, though, by treating him like a big enough deal that the world should gawk at his fate. Why give his followers that satisfaction? He wasn’t a big deal. He was to us because we had unfinished business with him, but nearly everyone else — possibly even Al Qaeda — had moved on. And now we get to move on too. Next. Update: Ah, looks like Scott Brown only saw one of the fake photos circulating online. I’m sure the GOP leadership can view the real thing if it asks Obama to make them available. Although Boehner says he doesn’t need to: “That’s a decision for the administration to make,” Boehner said when asked if it was necessary to release any of the bin Laden photos, which U.S. officials have described as carrying the gory imprint of a gunshot wound to the head. “They have to decide what to do. I’m convinced. I have no doubts.” Update: A Pakistani security official showed up at the compound shortly after the raid ended and snapped a few pics, which he then sold to Reuters. If you want to see what happens to jihadis when they come face to face with SEALs, brace yourself and click here. ||||| Elsewhere in Slate, William Saletan explains why the human-shield myth was a bad idea, Dave Weigel talks about how Osama's death proved everyone right, John Dickerson looks at Obama's secret meetings, Dahlia Lithwick says it's time to end the war on terror, Chris Beam explains the mood in Pakistan, Heather Murphycompiles a slideshow of the elite Navy SEALS, and Maura O'Connor looks at how the war still continues in Afghanistan. For the most up-to-date-coverage, visit theSlatest. Slate's complete coverage is rounded up here. In a world where every form of splatter, dismemberment, and slaughter has found a home on the Web—a place in which tens, perhaps hundreds, of millions have watched blood bubble out of Neda Salehi Agha Soltan's face and pool on the asphalt beneath her head—it seems nuts that President Barack Obama has decided not to release the photos of Osama Bin Laden's bullet-dented cranium.* In a 60 Minutes interview to be aired Sunday, Obama said he thought it important that "very graphic photos of somebody who was shot in the head are not floating around as an incitement to additional violence or as a propaganda tool." White House Press Secretary Jay Carney spoke yesterday about the "sensitivities involved" in releasing the "gruesome" and potentially "inflammatory" photos, and mused about whether allowing their publication would "serve or in any way harm our interests" at home and abroad. Today, he said the administration didn't want the photos to become "icons" that would help rally support against the United States. Advertisement Rep. Mike Rogers, R-Mich., the chairman of the House Intelligence panel, opposes making the photos public for similar reasons, saying he doesn't want the images to "make the job of our troops serving in places like Iraq and Afghanistan any harder than it already is. The risks of release outweigh the benefits." Obama and Rogers' idea that news should be calibrated by the government to ease the job of the U.S. military makes for a First Amendment loophole you could drive a motorized regiment through. If al-Qaida and its supporters are more irate with the United States this week than they were last week, it's because U.S. commandos killed Bin Laden. Obama should never have marked him for death if tending the "sensitivities" of al-Qaida and its allies was U.S. policy. It's hard to imagine that a death photo of Bin Laden would elevate al-Qaida and its supporters to some fury that his killing didn't. Or, as @knifework tweeted this afternoon, "Who hasn't shot someone in the face, fed their corpse to the sharks, and then fretted over how their followers would feel about the photo?" I don't advocate the photos' release because I think it will convince the unconvincible that Bin Laden is dead or because I desire a "trophy" or a football "spiked," as Obama puts it in his 60 Minutes interview. I'm for the publication of the pictures because they're an essential part of the war on al-Qaida. Withholding the photos and couching their suppression in the name of national security misjudges what makes al-Qaida tick and infantilizes the nation. It also sets a precedent for "news that's too gruesome to reveal." Here's how CBS News reporter David Martin describes the photos, based on a description provided to him: It does sound very gruesome. Remember, bin Laden was shot twice at close range, once in the chest and once in the head, right above his left eye, and that bullet opened his skull, exposing the brain, and it also blew out his eye. So these are not going to be pictures for the squeamish. Barbie Zelizer, author of the recent book About To Die: How News Images Move the Public, finds it paradoxical that the administration would recoil from releasing the photos but gladly provides verbal descriptions of the spectacular raid and Bin Laden's killing. "You can't have it both ways," Zelizer told me in an interview. The Bin Laden photos, Zelizer says, are "part of the record, part of the news event" and locking them away ascribes "magical powers" to the photos that wouldn't otherwise exist. If we conceal them from public view, we board a slippery slope that flows toward ignorance, timidity, doubt, and conspiracy-mongering. Part of the ambivalence about releasing the photos, Zelizer says, is that a universally accepted narrative for Bin Laden's killing has yet to emerge. As I wrote the day after the raid, the press and the government had huge trouble agreeing exactly how the operation unfolded. Did Bin Laden make a human shield of his wife? Was she killed? Did he shoot at the SEALs? Or did the SEALs summarily execute an unarmed man? If such an accepted narrative existed, it might be easier for the administration to predict how the photos would be received at home and overseas. But it's not the White House's business to control and manage news for the good of the nation based on some imagined worst-case reaction to events. That's Soviet thinking. If a nation can be trusted to view the horrors of 9/11 in real time, flip through the Abu Ghraib picture book, witness the made-for-video murder of Daniel Pearl, see images of dead Uday and Qusay on the evening news, and gaze upon pictures of dead soldiers coming home as air freight (photos that President Bush, incidentally, tried to ban in the name of managing the news), then it can be trusted to stomach the last photos of Osama Bin Laden—and whatever turmoil those photos might cause. Why? Because that's what sort of country the United States is. ****** What about the helmet-cam video of the operation? Yeah, I'm for its release, too, although I can see the case for why it should be edited to withhold secret operational details that led to the mission's success. Make the case for the release of the unexpurgated video in email to . Expurgate my Twitter feed. (Email may be quoted by name in "The Fray," Slate's readers' forum; in a future article; or elsewhere unless the writer stipulates otherwise. Permanent disclosure: Slate is owned by the Washington Post Co.) Track my errors: This hand-built RSS feed will ring every time Slate runs a "Press Box" correction. For email notification of errors in this specific column, type Dead Laden in the subject head of an email message, and send it to . Correction, May 5, 2011: This article originally misspelled the last name of Neda Salehi Agha Soltan. (Return to the corrected sentence.) Like Slate on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter. Like This Story Follow Slate's Press Box ||||| The president's decision to withhold photographs of the dead Osama bin Laden is only the last in a series of terrible mistakes in the handling of his body. Although there should be no doubt that bin Laden is actually dead, there are grave doubts as to the circumstances surrounding his death. Was he shot in cold blood? Was he shot in the back or in the front? Were his hands raised in surrender? Was he actively resisting? Many of these doubts could have been resolved if bin Laden's body had been subjected to the usual investigatory techniques routinely employed in homicide cases. His body should have been subjected to an autopsy, to forensic testing by an experienced medical examiner, to extensive photographing of entrance and exit wounds, to paraffin testing for gun-powder residue, and to other such forensic examination. Editorial Board Member Matt Kaminski on the bin Laden photos. Burying his body at sea constituted the willful destruction of relevant evidence, which naturally gives rise to suspicions that there was something to hide. I fully credit the administration's explanation that the reason for the hasty burial at sea was the desire not to offend religious Muslims and not to create a shrine to a dead mass murderer. But many reasonable people around the world will wonder whether the decision may also have been based on a desire to suppress the whole truth. In my nearly half-century of representing defendants charged with homicide, I have come to know that the best evidence of how a person died comes from the body of the deceased. Dead bodies often talk more loudly, clearly and unambiguously than live witnesses. Bin Laden's body should have been preserved as long as necessary to gather all relevant evidence, notwithstanding the requirements of Shariah Law. When a Muslim or a Jew is the victim of a homicide in the United States, religious considerations do not trump civil requirements. Their bodies are generally sent to the medical examiner for thorough examination. Notwithstanding religious prohibitions, autopsies are performed and organs removed for testing. No special exception should have been made for bin Laden's body. View Full Image Getty Images Inside Osama Bin Laden's compound, where he was killed during a raid by U.S. special forces The president's decision to suppress the remaining photographic evidence is disturbing on many levels. First, it is wrong on its merits. The public is used to seeing visual portrayals of dead bodies on television and in movies. Anyone who has served as a juror or a courtroom observer in a homicide case has seen bodies riddled with bullets or afflicted with stab wounds. We are mature enough to endure viewing such visual evidence if we choose to. Nor is there any real risk that these photographs will inflame Muslim or Arab sensibilities any more than the photographs of Saddam Hussein did. In a democracy, doubts must always be resolved in favor of disclosure, particularly in a matter of such great public interest and controversy. Surely Congress has at least equal authority to decide what to do with the photographs. Moreover, the press may have the right to obtain and publish these highly relevant items of evidence as part of its duty to inform the public. Some media will surely challenge the president's decision—and if they do I hope they win. The great Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis taught us nearly a century ago that "sunlight is the best disinfectant." The remaining evidence of how bin Laden was killed—the photographs and the results of any forensic tests that may have been hastily performed—should be exposed to the sunlight of publication. Mr. Dershowitz is a law professor at Harvard. His latest book is "Trials of Zion" (Grand Central Publishing, 2010).

– Reactions to President Obama's decision not to release the Osama bin Laden death photos are rolling in—and most seem to disagree with the prez: "While gory photographs would have inflamed some jihadists and wannabes, I believe they would have disillusioned and deflated others," writes Eugene Robinson in the Washington Post. "A heroic myth of invulnerability had been built around bin Laden," which the photos would soundly refute. "The reason to display the photos is to show bin Laden for what he really was: not a holy warrior, not a holy anything, but a deluded mass murderer who met the end he so richly deserved." But, writing on Hot Air, Allahpundit disagrees with Robinson. The Zarqawi death photos, not to mention the numbers of al-Qaeda commanders killed by drone strikes, already warned jihadists "of what awaits if they mess with America." Releasing the photos means treating bin Laden "like a big enough deal that the world should gawk at his fate." By not releasing them, he is "reduced to an afterthought." Many have argued that releasing the photos would put American troops in greater danger from al-Qaeda, but the "idea that news should be calibrated by the government to ease the job of the US military makes for a First Amendment loophole you could drive a motorized regiment through," writes Jack Shafer on Slate. "It's hard to imagine that a death photo of bin Laden would elevate al-Qaeda and its supporters to some fury that his killing didn't." In the Wall Street Journal, Alan Dershowitz calls the decision not to release the photos "only the last in a series of terrible mistakes" in handling bin Laden's body. He's more aghast that the corpse was not subjected to routine forensic techniques, which could have answered many of the lingering questions: "Was he shot in cold blood? Was he shot in the back or in the front? Were his hands raised in surrender? Was he actively resisting?" Burying bin Laden at sea "naturally gives rise to suspicions that there was something to hide."

The statue of Jefferson Davis, once president of the Confederate States, stands just south of the Main Building on UT's campus on June 22, 2015. Editor's note: This story has been updated throughout. Just days after an advisory panel recommended the University of Texas at Austin relocate some or all of its statues of Confederate leaders, UT-Austin President Gregory Fenves announced that the statue of Confederate President Jefferson Davis will soon have a new home. UT is relocating the Davis statue to an exhibit in the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History. Four other statues the panel considered relocating — including ones of Confederate generals Robert E. Lee and Albert Sidney Johnston — will remain on the university’s South Mall, but Fenves will consider adding explanatory plaques to place them in historical context. “While every historical figure leaves a mixed legacy, I believe Jefferson Davis is in a separate category,” Fenves wrote in a letter to the UT-Austin community, “and that it is not in the university’s best interest to continue commemorating him. Davis had few ties to Texas; he played a unique role in the history of the American South that is best explained and understood through an educational exhibit.” The statue of former U.S. President Woodrow Wilson will also be relocated to another outdoor location, but for symmetrical reasons: He stands opposite Davis on South Mall. The Davis statue will likely be removed in the next two days, UT-Austin spokesman Gary Susswein said. It will be refurbished and relocated to the Briscoe Center in the next 18 months. In June, Fenves assembled a 12-member panel of students, professors and alumni to assess the appropriateness of the statues. The panel solicited more than 3,100 opinions from the public and released its recommendations Monday. Its report presented five options, four of which involved moving some or all of the statues to a history center on campus. Another option would have left the statues in place but called for explanatory plaques. UT-Austin student government President Xavier Rotnofsky and Vice President Rohit Mandalapu made removal of the Davis statue a central part of their platform when running for office. Both served on the advisory panel and said they were happy to see their goal achieved. "If there is a statue to be relocated it should be Jefferson Davis, the leader of the Confederacy," Mandalapu said. "Now it can be moved to a place where it can be contextualized and studied within the scope of history." The other Confederate statues of Lee, Johnston and Confederate Postmaster General John Reagan — and one of former Texas Gov. James Hogg — have strong ties to Texas, Fenves said in his letter, noting Lee's legacy "should not be reduced to his role in the Civil War." Moving the Davis statue, while leaving the other four in place is a respectful decision that still honors the heritage of the United States and the university, Fenves said. The Davis statue has been the most controversial of the ones commemorating Confederate leaders. In March, the student assembly passed a resolution asking UT to remove the statue of Davis. In April, it was vandalized with the phrase “Davis Must Fall.” A week after June's deadly shooting at a black church in South Carolina, the statues of Davis, Lee and Johnston were tagged with the phrase “Black Lives Matter.” "Statues have layers of meaning: aesthetic, historical, aspirational and educational. History is not innocent; it is the living foundation for the present," the report said. "The university’s approach to changing and replacing monuments on campus should be conservative but not uncritical." While applauding UT's decision, state Sens. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, and Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo reiterated their call for examination of Confederate monuments on the Capitol grounds. "We hope the conversation at UT will encourage state leaders to have a similar debate about the numerous Confederate statues that dot the Capitol grounds," they said in a statement. "We renew our previous request — one that's been echoed by many legislators, both Democrat and Republican — to create a task force to begin a serious conversation about how best to honor Texas' past, ensure historical accuracy and celebrate figures who are relevant to our state and worthy of our praise." Disclosure: The University of Texas at Austin is a corporate sponsor of The Texas Tribune. A complete list of Tribune donors and sponsors can be viewed here. ||||| Updated throughout at 10:21 a.m. AUSTIN — The University of Texas at Austin will move the statue honoring Jefferson Davis to the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, President Greg Fenves announced on Twitter Thursday morning. The other four confederate statues will remain in place. “James Stephen Hogg, Albert Sidney Johnston, and John Reagan had deep ties to Texas,” Fenves wrote in a letter to the UT community. “Robert E. Lee’s complicated legacy to Texas and the nation should not be reduced to his role in the Civil War.” Fenves said he will consider placing a plaque on the Littlefield Fountain to explain the context behind the four remaining statues. “This combination of locating the Jefferson Davis statue in a center devoted to history and keeping the remaining statues along the Main Mall is both respectful of the heritage that is important to many and serves as a poignant display of our nation’s and university’s history,” Fenves wrote. To preserve symmetry on campus, U.S. President Woodrow Wilson will be moved to another exterior location on campus. Currently Wilson and Davis sit atop the main mall together, overseeing UT’s South Mall lawn. Earlier this week, a task force formed to study the statues released a report that offered up five solutions for the statues, which have garnered controversy. Just one would have left the statues where they are located, but the task force wrote that this option could prolong the controversy. Fenves’ decision is the latest in a series of backlashes the Confederate symbol has faced nationwide since Dylann Roof, the white suspect in the fatal shootings at a black church in Charleston. S.C., was shown in a photo with the Confederate battle flag. This is a developing story — check back later for updates.

– In the midst of a continued backlash against Confederate symbols following the deadly shooting at a black church in South Carolina, the University of Texas at Austin said today it will be relocating a statue of Jefferson Davis, the Dallas Morning News reports. The statue of the Confederate president, which is located on UT's Main Mall, had been defaced in recent months with the phrases "Davis Must Fall" and—following the church massacre—"Black Lives Matter," according to the Texas Tribune. While the statue of Davis will be moved to the Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, four other statues of Confederate leaders, including Robert E. Lee, will remain on the Main Mall because of their relationship to Texas history, the Morning News reports. Earlier this week, the school created an advisory panel of students, professors, and alumni to make recommendations about the statues, of which Davis was the most controversial. After announcing his decision to move Davis, UT's president said it wasn't "in the university's best interest to continue commemorating" him. He is also considering plaques to give historical context for the remaining Confederate statues. The Morning News reports the university is also moving a statue of former President Woodrow Wilson, which had been located across from the statue of Davis, for symmetry purposes.

The group of teenagers who filmed and mocked a man as he was drowning in a Cocoa pond will face charges after all, police said Friday. Jamel Dunn drowned in a Cocoa pond July 7 5 teens laughed while filming drowning, police say Cocoa Police turned to state death-reporting statute for charges RELATED: Man's body found at edge of Cocoa pond identified SEE BELOW: Video of the drowning ▼ In a news conference, Cocoa Police Chief Michael Cantaloupe did not describe the charges that will be filed against the five teenagers who recorded and mocked 31-year-old Jamel Dunn as he drowned July 7. But he said that after looking long and hard at Florida law, the teens would face charges for not reporting a death. He said that there's no law requiring to report to officials that someone is dying. But after someone has died, people are required to contact authorities. A day after police said that no charges would be filed despite the immorality of the teens' actions, Cantaloupe said his detectives and prosecutors from the State Attorney's Office spoke for hours on Friday, trying to find a way to press charges. Police are now in the midst of paperwork to the office, he said.   The statute they will use, Florida Statute 406.12, is typically reserved for medical examiners when it comes to reported deaths. It reads: "It is the duty of any person in the district where a death occurs, who becomes aware of the death of any person occurring... must report such death and circumstances to the district medical examiner." The charge is a misdemeanor. "It will be kind of a test case," Cantaloupe said. "... As far as we know, the statute has never been used in this way." Cantaloupe said there should be a law that would make it illegal to not report someone who is dying and in need of aid. "We don't want another family have to go through what the Dunn family has went through," he said. Building better laws, working with juveniles and establishing better family relationships may prevent another situation, he added. Cantaloupe said it's possible Dunn would be alive today if one of the teens had called for help. Cantaloupe said he's not giving out the names of the teenagers because it's an ongoing investigation. But he said their ages are between 14 to 16 years old. BREAKING: @cocoapolice file charges against teens in case of man who drowned in pond. Chief -- it's duty 4 people 2 report death @MyNews13 pic.twitter.com/5I8XwwzQyE — Greg Pallone (@gpallone13) July 21, 2017 Charging documents and evidence are being sent to the State Attorney’s Office, which will determine whether the charges will be prosecuted. Dunn's sister, Simone McIntosh, who just learned from investigators about the charges being filed, told News 13 that she "hopes they stick, and new legislation is written so this never happens to another family." Cell phone video In the disturbing cell phone video, Dunn, 31, is seen trying to keep his head above water in a Cocoa pond as the five teens stood on the bank, watching, laughing and recording the entire incident, police said. They made it clear they were not going to help him. "Ain't nobody going to help you you dumb *****; you shouldn't have got in there," one of the teens is heard saying. Seconds later, Dunn goes under and does not come back up. It's one of the most disturbing videos that Cocoa Police spokeswoman Yvonne Martinez said she has seen or heard. "He went under, didn't come back up, and they continued to laugh," she said. As one of them was being interviewed with his mother present, she was in tears, while the boy had a smirk on his face, she added. The State Attorney's Office released a statement about the drowning. "The incident depicted on the recording does not rise to sufficient evidence to support a criminal prosecution under Florida statutes. We can find no moral justification for either the behavior of persons heard on the recording of the deliberate decision not to render aid to Mr. Dunn," it stated. "This is an isolated act of unspeakable inhumanity and in no way is a reflection of our community," Cocoa Mayor Henry Parrish III said in a statement. Dunn was determined to have entered the water on his own after video from a neighbor’s security camera showed him scaling a fence and intentionally going into the pond. 'Rendering aid' is not a requirement in many states When it comes to people in distress, many states do not require that someone render aid or even call authorities. Some states do require assistance in car crashes, or if you're the person who put the other person in danger in the first place. Another is on the water: Federal law requires a mariner under U.S. jurisdiction to help anyone "found at sea in danger of being lost." Also, all states have good Samaritan laws that protect people from being sued for anything that happened while trying to help someone in danger. Many countries do have laws requiring assistance, even if you only call authorities. They include Argentina, Brazil, France, Germany, Italy and Russia. Information from the Associated Press was used in this story. WARNING: Some may find this video disturbing. News 13 has removed the audio of the video in respect to Jamel Dunn's family. ||||| Police in Florida are pursuing misdemeanor charges against five teenagers for failure to report a death after authorities say they recorded video of a man’s drowning and didn't intervene. The video, taken earlier this month in Cocoa, Florida, about 45 miles east of Orlando, shows a person's head bobbing up and down in a pond. The teenagers, who are between the ages of 14 and 18 and have not been named by police, are heard laughing and joking in the video, with one of them appearing to laugh and say, "He just died!" Cocoa Police Chief Mike Cantaloupe said the department learned of the recording last weekend and later reviewed it. Police identified and interviewed the five teens, he said. Police in conjunction with the State Attorney’s Office determined that charges of "failure to report a death under Florida Statute 406.12," a misdemeanor, will be pursued, the Cocoa police said in a statement today. Police said the charging document, case report and video evidence are being sent to the State Attorney’s Office for review, and a decision about whether the charges will be prosecuted. “When we initially reviewed this case it was determined there were no laws broken as the teens were not directly involved with the death,” Cantaloupe said in a statement today. "Further research of the statutes and consultation with the State Attorney’s Office yielded the decision to move forward with charges under this statute. It’s our belief that this law has never been enforced in a scenario like this, but we feel it could be applicable.” Cantaloupe added, “Pursuing criminal charges is a way to hold them accountable for their own actions.” Earlier, Cocoa police said that the five teenagers were not facing criminal charges after the State Attorney’s Office was consulted. “As horrible as this video is the laws in the State of Florida do not obligate citizens to render aid or call someone to render aid to a person in distress," Cantaloupe said on Thursday. The victim, 31-year-old Jamel Dunn of Cocoa, drowned July 9, police said. He was reported missing July 12 and authorities recovered his body July 14 after a passerby reported a body floating in the pond. Police said home surveillance video apparently captured Dunn jumping over a fence and willingly going into the water. "I don't think you can ever replace a lost life," Cantaloupe told ABC News today. He added, "I think what we look at is, the hope that what we do from here going forward, whether it be this charge or some new legislation, that another family doesn’t have to go through this. And that we work with our youth ... to instill these morals ... I would’ve never believed that somebody could watch somebody in distress and not do anything about it." Of the video recorded by the teenagers, Cantaloupe said in a statement Thursday, "There are no words to describe how utterly inhumane and cruel the actions of these juveniles were towards Mr. Dunn. ... I want to express my deepest condolences to Mr. Dunn’s family and friends." Cocoa Mayor Henry Parrish III released a statement today regarding the incident. "It saddens me to the core to watch video shot by a group of kids watching a man drown and doing nothing to help him. There just are no words to describe the lack of conscience within these young people," he said. "I also would like to extend my deepest condolences to Mr. Dunn’s family and friends," he added. "My hope is we all come together to make sure this doesn’t happen to anyone else." Parrish said of the decision to pursue charges, "While this in no way will bring justice for what occurred, it is a start." "In a case like this we struggle to understand how anyone could be so cold and heartless and then learn that there are no laws in Florida that obligate someone to render aid or call for someone to render aid for a person they see in distress," he said. "If this case can be used as an example to draft new legislation, then I am committed to move forward to make that happen. More so, may this tragic incident, which has shocked all of us, cause each of us to examine ourselves and our responsibility to one another." "I implore the State Attorney’s Office to follow through and file the charges presented by the Cocoa Police Department!" he added. ABC News' Benjamin Stein contributed to this report.

– Despite reports Thursday that they wouldn't be charged with a crime, the five teens who allegedly laughed and filmed a man as he drowned in Florida earlier this month could now face misdemeanor charges. ABC News reports police have recommended charges for "duty to report" against the unnamed teens, who range in age from 14 to 16. News 13 explains that while Florida doesn't have a law requiring bystanders to report someone dying, it does have a law that requires people to report someone has died. Jamel Dunn, 31, drowned earlier this month. Cocoa Police Chief Mike Cantaloupe says it's the first time the law would be used in this manner, and the teens would serve as a "test case." News 13 reports the statute is most typically applied to medical examiners. The State Attorney's Office worked with police to come up with the charges, but the office will determine whether to prosecute the case. Cantaloupe previously called the teens' actions "utterly inhumane and cruel."

Watch the amazing story of an 82-year-old man who's voluntarily lived on a deserted island for almost three decades. A MAN who lived as a castaway on a deserted island for almost 30 years has been removed from his home after becoming the longest lasting voluntary castaway alive. Masafumi Nagasaki arrived on the island of Sotobanari, on the Yaeyama Islands, an archipelago in the southwest of Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, in 1989 and lived a life in solitude until he became known as the “naked hermit” as a 76-year-old in 2012. The island is one of the few that remain deserted in Japan where according to locals, even fisherman rarely stop. Mr Nagasaki is among the few voluntary castaways who have spent decades on a deserted island; he has surpassed Australian castaway David Glasheen who this year celebrates 21 years on Restoration Island, off the coast of Far North Queensland. His recent eviction was detected by Alvaro Cerezo, who documents island castaways including the ‘real life tarzan’ who lived in the deepest jungles of Vietnam. There are no phones. No lighters. No fresh water — and not many clothes either. He braves typhoons and biting mosquitoes in the buff. • Woman dumps herself on deserted island • Real-life castaway: ‘He’s not afraid to die’ • Castaway reveals difficulties of island life Mr Nagasaki’s only wish was to die on the island he called home for the last three decades. “Finding a place to die is an important thing to do, and I’ve decided here is the place for me,” he told Reuters in 2012. “It hadn’t really occurred to me before how important it is to choose the place of your death, like whether it’s in a hospital or at home with family by your side. But to die here, surrounded by nature — you just can’t beat it, can you?” He told Docastaway’s Alvaro Cerezo, who spent five days on the island with Mr Nagasaki before his sudden departure: “I don’t want to move from here, I will protect this island. I will risk my life to protect this island. I will never find a paradise like this. “I’ve never felt sad here, I cannot survive if I have those kinds of feelings. Things here are more realistic.” Mr Nagasaki was so confident he said he “will never move from here even if the world changes”. “I won’t leave even if someone tells me there is a better place. All that I want I can find it here. I don’t need any thing else,” he said. “I have no option, I’ve already told my family I will die here. My wish is to die here without bothering any one, that’s why I don’t want to get sick or injured. I want to be killed by a typhoon, so nobody can try to save me. To die here is the best, its just perfect for me.” It’s unclear how Mr Nagasaki ended up on Sotobanari in the first place. At one point he was married and there are suspicions he has two children, but he “doesn’t like to talk about his past”, according to Mr Cerezo. He was believed to have been a photographer before escaping civilisation, but again, “he doesn’t want to hear or talk about”. He even apparently ran his own hostess club in Niigata, a port city in Honshu, Japan’s main island. Mr Nagasaki said he was working in a factory in Osaka when one day a colleague told him about a mysterious archipelago and since then he dreamt of escaping from civilisation. One day, when on a flight, he was “horrified” by the amount of pollution he saw in the sea below and “exploded”. So the self-confessed “city man with no outdoor experience” packed his bags and found his remote island hideaway. He thought he would stay perhaps two years max, but ended up clocking almost 30 years. “In civilisation people treated me like an idiot and made me feel like one. On this island I don’t feel like that,” he said. “Here, on the island I don’t do what people tell me to do, I just follow nature’s rules. You can’t dominate nature so you have to obey it completely.” Mr Nagasaki spent his first few years on the island clothed but when a typhoon swept through and destroyed his few belongings, he realised “wearing clothes here was completely out of place for me” and began to live life commando. “Walking around naked doesn’t really fit in with normal society, but here on the island it feels right, it’s like a uniform,” he told Reuters in 2012. “If you put on clothes you’ll feel completely out of place.” He’s spent the rest of his time on the island naked and alone but he found friends in some strange places; he stopped eating meat and fish and refused to eat the vast number of turtle eggs left by its maternal visitors. “I’ve seen those baby turtles being born and crawling towards the sea. I get goosebumps every time I see that. It makes me think how wonderful life is. “This environment makes me feel like that this island really changed me. I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I have no problem with it.” Despite the freedom of a tropical paradise, Mr Nagasaki’s routine was strict; gym session in the morning, followed by hours of beach cleaning with a pair pf white gloves and a rake. “I have never seen a beach as clean as his, not even in the most luxurious island resorts,” Mr Cerezo said. “They were five unforgettable days and I am extremely thankful to have had the opportunity to see through his eyes for the last time and enjoy his precious island.” Fast forward to April 2018 and authorities have removed the 82-year-old and returned him back to civilisation. “He was kicked out of the island, someone saw him on the island and it seems like he was weak,” Mr Cerezo told news.com.au. “They called the police and they took him back to civilisation and that’s it. He couldn’t even fight back because he was weak. They won’t allow him to return.” Mr Cerezo, whose business it is to find idyllic islands and host private visitors, said that since being removed, Mr Nagasaki is now living in the nearest city to the island, Ishigaki, 60 kilometres away in a government house. “His health is OK, he was probably only sick or had the flu [when he was taken] but they won’t allow him to go back any more, he cannot go there, it’s over.” — For more information about Masafumi Nagasaki visit nagasaki.docastaway.com. — For more information on Alvaro Cerezo and Docastaway, visit docastaway.com — Continue the conversation with Matt Young on Facebook or Twitter ||||| SOTOBANARI ISLAND, Japan (Reuters) - Dangerous currents swirl around Sotobanari island, which has not a drop of natural water, and local fishermen rarely land there. Seventy-six-year-old naked hermit Masafumi Nagasaki sits at table made from polystyrene box as he eats a food on Sotobanari island, off western coast of Iriomote island, Okinawa prefecture, April 14, 2012. REUTERS/Stringer But 76-year-old Masafumi Nagasaki has made this kidney-shaped island in Japan’s tropical Okinawa prefecture his retirement home, with an unusual dress code: nothing at all. Naked, he braves lashing typhoons and biting insects as a hermit in the buff. “I don’t do what society tells me, but I do follow the rules of the natural world. You can’t beat nature so you just have to obey it completely,” he said. “That’s what I learned when I came here, and that’s probably why I get by so well.” Seventy-six-year-old naked hermit Masafumi Nagasaki speaks on Sotobanari island, off western coast of Iriomote island, Okinawa prefecture, April 14, 2012. REUTERS/Stringer The wiry Nagasaki, his skin leathered by the sun of two decades on the island, worked briefly as a photographer before spending years on the murkier side of the entertainment industry. When retirement came, he wanted to get far away from it all. He chose Sotobanari, which is roughly a 1,000 meters across and means “Outer Distant island” in the local dialect. It lies off the coast of Iriomote island, far closer to Taiwan than to Tokyo. His resolve was tested relatively soon into his stay when a massive typhoon swept over the island, scouring away most of the scrub he had counted on for shade, as well as carrying away the simple tent he lived in. “I just scorched under the sun,” he said. “It was at that point I thought this was going to be an impossible place to live.” For the first year he lived on Sotobanari, he threw on clothes whenever boats passed his way. But slowly the island stripped away his embarrassment. “Walking around naked doesn’t really fit in with normal society, but here on the island it feels right, it’s like a uniform,” he said. “If you put on clothes you’ll feel completely out of place.” Slideshow (7 Images) He does throw on clothes once a week for a trip to a settlement an hour away by boat, where he buys food and drinking water. He also collects the 10,000 yen ($120) sent to him by his family, on which he lives. His staple food is rice cakes, which he boils in water, eating whenever hunger strikes - sometimes four or five times a day. Water for bathing and shaving comes from rainwater caught in a system of battered cooking pots. Each day is conducted according to a strict timetable, starting with stretches in the sun on the beach. The rest is a race against time as he prepares food, washes and cleans his camp before the light fails and insects come out to bite. It isn’t the healthiest of lifestyles, he concedes - but that isn’t the point. “Finding a place to die is an important thing to do, and I’ve decided here is the place for me,” he said. “It hadn’t really occurred to me before how important it is to choose the place of your death, like whether it’s in a hospital or at home with family by your side. But to die here, surrounded by nature - you just can’t beat it, can you?” ($1 = 80.3800 Japanese yen) ||||| Published on Jun 24, 2018 Masafumi Nagasaki is an 82 year old Japanese man who has lived completely alone as a castaway for the last 29 years on Sotobanari desert island (Iriomote Okinawa, Japan) This voluntary Robinson Crusoe with his bright pink turban has spent all this time living completely naked and surviving by himself. He has become the voluntary castaway who has lived the longest time on a desert island. The only wish of this survivor was to die on his desert island. But sadly the Japanese Authorities forced him to return to civilization last month :( Fortunately we lived with him for 5 unforgettable days before he was kicked out, and were able to share his life and carry out this fascinating interview documentary. READ FULL STORY: https://bit.ly/2lAnMUl NAGASAKI TRIBUTE WEBSITE: http://nagasaki.docastaway.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WE HAVE ALSO DISCOVERED MORE ROBINSON LIKE HIM: - Watch 'The Vietnamese Tarzan' https://youtu.be/jXw3Mfe9Sm0 - Watch 'The Australian Hermit' https://youtu.be/w4NichvCRlE - Watch 'The First Castaway Girl' https://youtu.be/TdtB6Eol-rE ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Become a Robinson with us: http://www.docastaway.com/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Appearing on this video: - Alvaro Cerezo https://www.facebook.com/AlvaroDocast... - Tamiki Kato https://www.facebook.com/tamiki.kato ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Follow us on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Docastaway Follow us on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/Docastaway

– He used to be a city boy with zero experience with the great outdoors. But that didn't stop Masafumi Nagasaki from heading to the uninhabited Japanese island of Sotobanari for what he thought would be a two-year respite from the rest of the world. That was in 1989, as the man who came to be known as the "naked hermit" ended up sticking around until this past April, a nearly 30-year stay all by his lonesome. The 82-year-old, who long ago eschewed clothing, technology, and other creature comforts and had hoped to die on the island, was removed earlier this year after someone reportedly called authorities out of concern he'd become too weak, documentary maker Alvaro Cerezo tells News.com.au. "They took him back to civilization and that's it," Cerezo says. "They won't allow him to return." Cerezo spent five days with Nagasaki before he was booted from his "paradise," where he insists he was never lonely, bored, or sad. A 2012 Reuters article reported Nagasaki did don clothing once a week to make a boat trip to a settlement an hour away to buy food and water; he'd also collect an allowance sent from his family. Speaking of family, Nagasaki was once married and may have had a couple of kids, but he "doesn't like to talk about his past," Cerezo notes. What he missed most from his former life while he was holed up on the island: lighters, per the documentary. What he didn't miss: money and religion. "[Those] two things are destroying the world," he says. He also wished he could have been killed by a typhoon during his stay so "nobody [would] try to save me." Nagasaki is now living in a government house in a city about 40 miles away from his beloved island. (This man is one of central Europe's last hermits.)

After quitting Hollywood back in 2009 to focus on her family, Katherine Heigl, the rom-com queen, is back and better than ever with a new US TV show, State Of Affairs, and animated movie, The Nut Job. Speaking exclusively to us, Katherine explained the reasons behind her break from the limelight and said she was starting to regret taking so many parts in romantic comedies and needed to reevaluate her career goals. 'This thing that was my best friend for a long time suddenly turned on me,' she said of the notorious Hollywood machine. 'And I didn�t expect it. I was taken by surprise and angry at it for betraying me.' 'I had an amazing time. I love romantic comedies. I was so stoked to be doing them. But maybe I hit it a little too hard. I couldn�t say no. There�s nothing wrong with them, but maybe I overloaded my audience. I should have done a superhero movie or a psychological thriller.' 'I stopped challenging myself. It became a bit by rote and, as a creative person, that can wear you down. That was part of why I took that time off, to ask myself, "What do I want? What am I looking for?" and shut down all the noise.' Speaking about her return to LA and her now-steady career/life balance, she said: 'I feel like I�m finally rolling into the next phase of my adulthood.' 'We made a deal [with the producers of State Of Affairs] that we will only do 15 episodes a season, so I can go back to Utah and do all the things that inspire me.' 'There�s still a part of me that�s a Hollywood animal as well.' Also this month we have the ultimate AW14 trend report, a Marie Claire kids special, plus interviews with Miranda Kerr, Taylor Schilling and Kate Upton. Marie Claire�s August 2014 issue is out now. Got a tablet? Take the new look Marie Claire wherever you go, download straight to your iPad & iPhone, Kindle (just search the store for 'marie claire magazine'), Nook or Google Nexus for only �2.99. ||||| Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams arrive on the red carpet of the 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, in Los Angeles, 28 January 2007. AFP PHOTO/GABRIEL BOUYS (Photo credit should read GABRIEL BOUYS/AFP/Getty Images) | GABRIEL BOUYS via Getty Images Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams may have had the ideal romance in "The Notebook," but off-screen, it's a whole different story. Director Nick Cassavetes recently revealed to VH1 that, at one point, Gosling wanted McAdams kicked off the film's set and replaced with another actress. "Maybe I'm not supposed to tell this story, but they were really not getting along one day on set. Really not," said Cassavetes. "And Ryan came to me, and there's 150 people standing in this big scene, and he says, 'Nick, come here.' And he's doing a scene with Rachel and he says, 'Would you take her out of here and bring in another actress to read off-camera with me?' I said, 'What?' He says, 'I can't. I can't do it with her. I'm just not getting anything from this." Apparently, the only thing that calmed the feud between the lead actors was more fighting. "We went into a room with a producer; they started screaming and yelling at each other. I walked out," Cassavetes recalled. "At that point I was smoking cigarettes. I smoked a cigarette and everybody came out like, 'All right, let's do this.' And it got better after that, you know? They had it out. The rest of the film wasn't smooth sailing, but it was smoother sailing." In a 2007 interview with The Observer, Gosling opened up about his rocky relationship with McAdams. "We inspired the worst in each other. It was a strange experience, making a love story and not getting along with your co-star in any way," Gosling said. Somehow, the tension between the pair led to a real-life romantic relationship. Gosling himself seems confused by how that came to be. "I don't know what happened," he told The Observer. "Two years later I saw her in New York and we started getting the idea that maybe we were wrong about each other ..." Gosling trailed off. Gosling and McAdams dated on and off until they finally called it quits in 2007. In the couple's volatile fashion, Gosling told GQ in 2007 that the two didn't break up without a fight. “The only thing I remember is we both went down swingin’ and we called it a draw," Gosling said. Guess love really isn't like the movies.

– If you thought Katherine Heigl's career was suffering because she's difficult to work with, well, allow the actress to set the record straight: It was actually doing too many romantic comedies that was the problem. "I had an amazing time. I love romantic comedies," she explains in a new interview with Marie Claire UK. "I was so stoked to be doing them. But maybe I hit it a little too hard. I couldn’t say no. There’s nothing wrong with them, but maybe I overloaded my audience. I should have done a superhero movie or a psychological thriller." That's when things changed for her. "This thing that was my best friend for a long time suddenly turned on me," she says, referring to the biz. "And I didn’t expect it. I was taken by surprise and angry at it for betraying me." But that's not the only reason she took a five-year hiatus from the limelight, she explains: Thanks to the plethora of rom-coms, "I stopped challenging myself. It became a bit by rote and, as a creative person, that can wear you down. That was part of why I took that time off, to ask myself, 'What do I want? What am I looking for?' and shut down all the noise." She's back now, with a new TV show. (Speaking of movie romances, a shocking interview out yesterday revealed that Ryan Gosling wanted Rachel McAdams kicked off The Notebook set.)

A New York restaurant has a pulled a dessert called ‘Roofie Colada’ from its menu after angry backlash over social media. The Phunky Elephant in Staten Island is known for its decadent after dinner creations like its Cookie Crumble Martini and Milky Way cocktail. The ‘Roofie Colada’ was a dessert-drink hybrid made with coffee ice cream, Kahlua, vanilla vodka, caramel, chocolate syrup, topped with donuts and whipped cream. The name is allegedly derived from a joke on the cartoon “Family Guy,” reports Advance media via SILive.com. Seen at The Phunky Elephant on Staten Island. Complaints can be registered on their FB page. http://t.co/1tKOMdxzyC pic.twitter.com/S7noMYHiaZ — Ilyssa Silfen (@IlyssaSilfen) June 15, 2014 The dessert has been on the menu since the summer, appearing after the episode when the joke originally aired. Patricia Gaja, who owns the gastropub, admitted that she had been receiving complains about the dish for months, but felt that recent backlash was getting out of hand. “Even with all that whipped cream you can't make a rape joke palatable. Roofie Colada = Not Funny,” user Lauren Marie posted. Ilyssa Silfen, a patron who dined at the restaurant called out the restaurant on their Facebook page and received what she called a flip response: “For the record, you know that there aren't any 'date rape' drugs in this dessert, right?" the Facebook response from The Phunky Elephant stated. "Just to be clear because I think you're taking this a little too far." But now the restaurant has changed its attitude amid a string of more complaints. On Tuesday, page administrators posted an apology and said the drink will be taken off the menu until a suitable name replacement is found. "The Phunky Elephant is a place with a unique atmosphere. We treat our guests with the utmost respect and we are always open to feedback to make our restaurant a welcoming and comfortable place with a touch of humor and quirkiness,” the message reads “ “We certainly did not intend to create an impression of reckless or negligent behavior by presenting the desert at question to our guests nor did we mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable or insulted. This desert name was simply a homage to an adult cartoon and there was no malice. We obviously do not support date rape or any sort of violence for that matter." "We humbly apologize if we have offended anyone and we appreciate the community around us and its awareness toward the cause. Please be advised that the dessert is currently off the menu until it is appropriately renamed." ||||| STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — A controversial dessert name at the Phunky Elephant bar and restaurant has been removed from the menu after residents called the item offensive and insensitive. The Rosebank restaurant's "Roofie Colada" dessert — with whipped cream, coffee ice cream and vanilla vodka — was a nod to the comedy of Fox's "Family Guy" animated series. But many say regardless of the original joke, the drug linked to date rape is nothing to take lightly. "Even with all that whipped cream you can't make a rape joke palatable," wrote Lauren Marie Cappello on the restaurant's Facebook review page. In response to an inquiry from the Advance, Patricia Gaja, the owner of Phunky Elephant, said the restaurant would be renaming the item, which has been receiving complaints since it debuted on the menu in June. "We certainly did not intend to create an impression of reckless or negligent behavior by presenting the desert at question to our guests nor did we mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable or insulted," Gaja wrote. Critics of the dessert's name say the reference was harmful because it normalized "roofies" as a date rape drug, making it acceptable to joke about a type of behavior that often leads to rape or sexual assault. Gaja said she thought the criticism had "gotten a little bit out of hand," but she said she does "understand where people are coming from." She and the restaurant staff came up with the name over the summer, after the Family Guy episode which mentioned the joke aired. She said she had only heard of one in-person complaint, but saw many on social media. Prior to its removal from the menu, several patrons voiced their disapproval to restaurant employees. Up until Tuesday, the response was generally unsympathetic, said Stapleton resident Jeremiah Jurkiewicz. He spent his birthday at the restaurant with a group of friends over the summer. When they noticed the dessert, one of his friends expressed concern to a restaurant employee. "They just said, 'we really like Family Guy here,'" Jurkiewicz said. Other patrons told the Advance that when they tried to speak to restaurant employees about the item, the staff referenced the Family Guy episode. A friend of Jurkiewicz's, Ilyssa Silfen, publicly commented on the restaurant's Facebook page about the dessert. The response from the company was dismissive and insensitive, Silfen said. "For the record, you know that there aren't any 'date rape' drugs in this dessert, right?" the Facebook response stated. "Just to be clear because I think you're taking this a little too far." The message went on to criticize the public nature of the message she wrote, saying their response may have been different if she had sent them a private message. Silfen said the response "showed me that they don't care about how they're trivializing the deadly serious issue of rape in our society as well as the pain and trauma of those who have been assaulted this way." The Phunky Elephant's public apology stated that the naming of the dessert was not meant to condone rape. "This desert name was simply a homage to an adult cartoon and there was no malice," the statement read. "We obviously do not support date rape or any sort of violence for that matter. We humbly apologize if we have offended anyone and we appreciate the community around us and its awareness toward the cause." The dessert item was shared on social media and has stirred a debate among patrons, many of whom see no problem with the name of the dessert and have encouraged others not to get offended by the joke. When local musician Carl Gallagher posted a picture of the item from his visit on Saturday, it drew more than 90 comments. "People generally either agree that it's in poor taste or say 'lighten up, it's just a joke,'" he said. "I can see both points of view. I think the issue here is this: an individual can say anything he wants and offend whomever he wishes. But an establishment has a responsibility to listen to the people whose money keeps them in business." Gallagher and his girlfriend raised the issue with a restaurant employee during their meal, but said the employee laughed it off. Several of Gallagher's friends responded that the intent was not malicious. "I think that people hate the name, and associate 'roofie' instantly with date rape, which is probably not what the owners had in mind," local musician and north shore resident Rob Carey told the Advance. The mixture of responses is troubling to residents like Jurkiewicz, who said it would be easy to change the name of the item instead of justify it. "It just shows how people don't take things like rape and sexual assault seriously," Jurkiewicz said. Gaja said the restaurant is in the process of creating a new seasonal menu now, which won't include the Roofie Colada. "We'll put a little more thought into things and make sure we don't make anyone feel uncomfortable," she said. "The last thing we want is for people to feel uncomfortable by the name of something on our menu."

– Family Guy humor works on the Family Guy, but not, apparently, on a drinks' menu. A Staten Island bar and restaurant has retired its "Roofie Colada" and apologized to patrons offended by what they saw as a date-rape joke, reports Fox News. The Phunky Elephant put the vokda and kahlua drink on the menu over the summer as a salute to the animated show, whose character Quaqmire is known to order it for his dates. Complaints began surfacing in person and online, but the restaurant initially shrugged them off, reports Staten Island Live. "For the record, you know that there aren't any 'date rape' drugs in this dessert, right?" went one Facebook reply from the restaurant a while back. But with criticism gathering social-media steam, Patricia Gaja pulled the drink and said it would be renamed. "We certainly did not intend to create an impression of reckless or negligent behavior," she wrote. "Nor did we mean to make anyone feel uncomfortable or insulted."

Print Share + Twin Suicide Pact Had Columbine Connection ARAPAHOE COUNTY, Colo. (CBS4) ― CBS4 Investigator Rick Sallinger has learned why twin sisters from Australia may have come to Colorado to carry out their suicide pact.Investigators found a magazine cover related to the Columbine tragedy at the La Quinta Inn where Kristin and Candace Hermeler, 29, were staying before they shot themselves. But their connection dates back to 1999, just a couple of months after the shooting.Kristin wrote two letters to Brooks Brown, a student at Columbine High School who was once targeted by Eric Harris, one of the Columbine gunmen.Brown and Harris became friends before the April 20,1999 shootings at the high school.In one letter dated June 12, 1999, Kristin wrote, "As someone who has been rejected, victimized and ostracized in their life, I would like to thank you for giving him (Eric) that chance."She went on to write, "Thank you for not judging and for accepting Eric and Dylan who were, from what I have heard, rejected and victimized by so many others. Thank you so much. Sincerely, Kristin."In another letter dated July 14, 1999, she wrote, "... you felt like everyone hates you. Words could never tell you how sorry I am that you feel like anyone hates you. It completely baffles me as to why anyone would hate someone when they don't know them, it sickens me."Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office said that Kristin died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Her sister, Candace survived after shooting herself. She remains in serious condition at Swedish Medical Center.Her family released this statement Friday afternoon, "Our family would like to say thank you for the outpouring of support and concern shown during this past week. This is an extremely difficult time for our family. We would especially like to thank the Arapahoe County Sherriff's office for their diligence and perseverance in determining the facts and circumstances of this situation. We are also grateful to the paramedics who responded and assisted our daughters."Ernest and Kelsay Hermeler also requested privacy.The Hermeler twins were at the Family Shooting Center inside Cherry Creek State Park on Monday and were shooting for an hour and a half before the incident. The details of what exactly happened have been unclear until now because the surviving twin has been unable to communicate clearly to deputies what happened.On Thursday she was able to share the fact that the sisters had planned to commit suicide together and "did in fact shoot themselves," according to authorities.The sisters had been at the shooting range for lessons. Investigators believe they carefully planned out what was to be their final moments."In reality they walked in that gate right there just as jovial and smiling and talking to each other like a couple of gals out on a field trip," said shooting range owner Doug Hamilton.Because each woman turned the gun on herself, not the other, investigators said no crime was committed."Her demeanor was somewhat defensive which I believe any of us would. She is here in a foreign country being interviewed by law enforcement," said Captain Louie Perea."But she was willing to speak with us and did speak with us for some length of time."The case has attracted international attention, bringing reporters from Australia to Colorado."In the beginning it has been a real mystery case, a puzzle that everyone has been quite intrigued in as the days have developed," said Emma Dallimore an Australian TV reporter who recently arrived to cover the story. "It just seems more and more to be a very tragic story.""Based on the physical evidence collected, the surviving sister's statements, and video surveillance footage from the shooting center the Arapahoe County Sheriff's Office believes that this incident was indeed a suicide and attempted suicide," the sheriff's department wrote in a prepared statement.Officials said they are not releasing the video surveillance footage obtained from the shooting range. (© MMX CBS Television Stations, Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.) ||||| The Hermeler twins' interest in Columbine High School grew from their experience as victims of bullying, as suggested by their phone calls and 11-year-old letters to a Columbine survivor. Kristin Hermeler, the 29-year-old sister who committed suicide Monday at an Arapahoe County gun range, called herself "someone who has been rejected, victimized and ostracized" in a letter to Columbine survivor Brooks Brown. "I just wanted to write to you and let you know that not a day goes by that I do not think about what happened," she wrote in a letter dated July 14, 1999. A month earlier she wrote, "I am completely shattered by what happened." Her sister, Candice, survived the .22-caliber bullet she fired into the Kristin's Letters Click for larger versions. center of her forehead at the same instant her sister killed herself. The existence of the letters was first reported by News4. Connecting to Columbine "It was a very sweet letter, very sad," Brooks Brown told The Denver Post by telephone Saturday. "It was her wanting to know why it happened, trying to understand." Brooks Brown said they made contact by phone, letters and e-mail — but not for many years. He said Kristin told him she and her sister had been bullied "physically and mentally." Judy Brown, Brooks' mother, spoke to both twins at length on the phone in 1999. On Saturday, she recalled how sensitive and sympathetic the two girls were. At the time, the twins were 18 years old. "It never goes away," Judy Brown said. "Bullying changes who you are and who you become." During their visit to Colorado, which began a few months ago, the twins never contacted the Browns. Why the women decided to commit suicide together at the Family Shooting Center remains a mystery, and so far the surviving twin has refused to discuss the reason with investigators. Angry and distraught during the investigators' two-hour bedside interview Thursday, she denied any interest in Columbine, despite a photocopy of a May 1999 Time magazine cover that depicts shooters Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris that was found among the twins' belongings. "I don't give a (expletive)," Candice said, according to police. "It happened a long time ago." About a year before the Columbine massacre, Brooks Brown had been subjected to personal and online threats by eventual shooter Harris, to the point that his parents contacted law enforcement and America Online. But eventually the two had made peace — to the point that, according to a May 10, 1999, Time magazine article, Brooks Brown told his parents in early April that Harris had "grown up" and become "a new Eric." On April 20, 1999, Brooks Brown came across Harris in the school parking lot just minutes before the shooting. Harris was pulling a bag of materiel from his car, which, unknown to Brown, contained explosives. "Brooks, I like you," Harris told him. "Now get out of here. Go home." Brooks left. Minutes later, 15 people, including Harris and Klebold, were dead or dying. Another 23 were wounded. The killings sparked national debates about the influence of guns, music, video games and TV and movie violence. It also led to a new focus on the dangers of high school cliques and bullying. Grappling with pact Candice remained in serious condition Saturday evening at Swedish Medical Center in Englewood. Her parents arrived in Denver on Friday and have asked reporters to respect their privacy. Hospital spokeswoman Karen Prestia would not discuss whether Candice Hermeler is on a suicide-prevention watch, or what kind of treatment she is receiving. Barb Mettler, chairwoman of the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Colorado, said people like Candice are likely to try to "complete the mission." She's not surprised the twins seemed so normal the day they intended to die. "Once the decision has been made to commit suicide, things become normal — that decision becomes normal to that person," she said. "They're not doing it because they want to kill themselves; they're doing it because they want the pain to stop, the emotional pain and sometimes the physical pain." Outwardly the twins seemed to have little reason to want to die. Attractive, educated and well-traveled, they came from a privileged background with, by all accounts, loving, supportive parents. "It cuts across all demographics, genders, all economic situations," Mettler said of suicide. As unusual as twins in a suicide pact might seem, it's also understandable, said Mettler, who is also a counselor at Spanish Peaks Mental Health Center in Pueblo. "It's much like a mother who kills her children and commits suicide, because she's convinced no one else can care for her children," she said. "Twins are so connected that they think no one else could understand them, and one couldn't go on without the other. It's a little like the idea that 'We came in together, we'll go out together.' " Final minutes at the range Investigators and gun-range staff said the twins had gone to the range twice before. Monday afternoon, they took a Yellow Cab from their motel 6 miles away to the shooting range. They rented two pistols, a revolver and a semiautomatic, for $20 each and began to fire away at targets in lane No. 13 at the outdoor range, chatting with others, even borrowing an overcoat from another shooter when a gloomy cold front moved in Monday afternoon. At 2:52 p.m., they decided it was time to die, after placing the borrowed coat on a table. Fifteen-year-old Will Gwaltney and his father, Bill, a shooting instructor, were in the next lane. Efforts to reach the Gwaltneys on Saturday were unsuccessful. On Friday, Bill Gwaltney told the Herald Sun newspaper of Melbourne, Australia, that his son shouted, and he saw one of the twins writhing on the ground. Will called out, "There's a problem, there's a problem!" and his dad began CPR. With blood in her hair and bulging eyes, Candice sat back on her feet, unresponsive, according to investigators. "It's a difficult feeling," Bill Gwaltney said. "You wish you could have prevented it, but nobody knew it was coming." Joey Bunch: 303-954-1174 or [email protected]

– The Australian twins who shot themselves at a Colorado firing range may have been obsessed with the Columbine school shootings, which happened just 20 miles from the shooting range where one sister died. Investigators found that Kristin Hermeler, the twin who died, wrote letters to a former Columbine student in 1999, and they found a magazine cover related to the tragedy in the twins’ belongings, CBS 4 reports. Investigators determined that no crime was committed since each twin shot herself. Kristin’s letters were to Brooks Brown, a student who received so many threats from Columbine gunman Eric Harris a year before the shooting that his parents contacted the police—but who then forgave and befriended Harris, telling his parents just weeks before the shooting he was "a new Eric." “As someone who has been rejected, victimized, and ostracized in their life, I would like to thank you for giving [Eric] that chance,” she wrote. Brown tells the Denver Post he and Kristin went on to talk via phone and email, but hadn’t spoken in years. Surviving sister Candice was “somewhat defensive” while being questioned, a police officer says; she reportedly said, “I don’t give a [expletive]. It happened a long time ago,” when asked about Columbine.

I Saw His Humanity: 'Reveal' Host On Protecting Right-Wing Protester Enlarge this image toggle caption Amy Osborne/AFP/Getty Images Amy Osborne/AFP/Getty Images On Sunday a planned rally of right-wing activists in Berkeley, Calif., mostly fizzled out, but thousands of peaceful left-wing protesters turned out, singing songs and chanting. About 150 members of anti-facist groups — also known as antifa or black bloc protesters — also were there, marching in formation with covered faces. Then a couple of people from the right-wing did show up. That's when Al Letson, host of the investigative radio program and podcast Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, saw one right-wing man fall to the ground, and some left-wing antifa protesters beating him. Letson jumped on top of the guy to protect him, because, he says, he didn't want anyone to get hurt. Earlier this month, a woman was killed during a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Va. "When I glanced to my left I saw, you know, a mass of people just coming off the lawn towards this guy, and I don't know — I just, I thought they were going to kill him. And I just didn't want anybody to die," Letson says. "And I just put my body down on top of his, in the hopes that they would not hit me." Interview highlights On why he protected this man What came to me was that he was a human being, and I didn't want to see anybody die. And, you know, I've been thinking a lot about the events in Charlottesville, and I remember seeing the pictures of a young man being brutally beaten by these guys with poles, and when I saw that I thought, "why didn't anybody step in?" And you know, in retrospect, it doesn't matter if he doesn't see my humanity, what matters to me is that I see his. What he thinks about me and all of that, like — my humanity is not dependent upon that. On how he balances his ethics as a journalist with his own morality I don't want to be a part of the story, at all. And I believe in all of those journalistic ethics and all of that — but I also think that, before that, I'm a human being. You know, I mean this sounds really high-minded and maybe a little nutty, but I am a huge NPR nerd, and many years ago I was listening to Terry Gross and father Greg Boyle was on there, and he gave this quote that has just stuck with me ever since. He said, "I want to live like the truth is true, and go where love has not been found." And it's how I want to govern myself in the world. So when I get into this situation where the decision is, do you be a journalist or do you be a human, I'm going to put the journalism to the side and do the thing that feels right for me. On if this event changed his view of antifa protesters It hasn't really changed the way I think about them at all. I think that the problem that happens when we have the antifa or people on the left engaging in violence is that it shifts the narrative. Suddenly, we are equating people that are fighting Nazis with Nazis — and the two things don't equate, right? And we've seen what they can do when they're in power. So we see and know exactly what that is. It's a false equivalency to say that the people fighting back against that are the exact same. But I also see how the violence that is coming from the antifa movement can be spun to make it seem like the two are equivalent. So you know, we're living in tricky times when there's a lot of nuance that needs to be walked through — and America is not good at nuance. So I think, for me, it didn't change the way I thought about them, but it does mean as a reporter, as a producer, as a journalist ,that I'm thinking even more about what that nuance means, and how to communicate it to the audience. ||||| Amy Osborne/AFP/Getty Images On Sunday, while covering Berkeley’s Rally Against Hate, Al Letson—host of the Center for Investigative Reporting’s Reveal podcast—found himself shielding a man from the blows of far-left black bloc protesters. The clip of his intervention has been shared widely across social media by critics of the antifa movement. Antifa beat down apparent alt-righter. pic.twitter.com/WVdDJqLKmA — Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) August 27, 2017 I interviewed Letson about the incident, and what it's like to cover antifa and the alt-right more broadly, Monday afternoon. Advertisement Osita Nwanevu: So walk me through how you ended up protecting this guy. Who was he? Al Letson: No idea who he was. The longer story is that there was the rally—I think one thing that people should know is that it was mostly a peaceful rally. It wasn’t like anarchy and fighting and brawling everywhere. It was mostly a peaceful thing. Most of the protesters there were not what I would call antifa. They were a mixture of people. The antifa were definitely there, but I would say that they were maybe 20 percent of the crowd? But they were there, and they showed up in force. So [far-right activist] Joey Gibson was doing his “Patriot Prayer” thing—he came through with like two other guys, and he was antagonizing the black bloc, and it really escalated. So they started chasing Joey and this guy. They ran across the street—I’m literally right next to Joey while all this is happening, so I know this to be true—they ran into the police, and the police kind of protected them. But this other guy—I’m not sure if he was with Joey. It looked like he was, but I’m not sure. He was running in kind of a different place, and he stumbled—or someone tripped him—and then four or five people surrounded him and began to kick and hit him with like a flagpole. And I was just filming it, but at some point I looked behind him and I saw a whole mass of people coming, and I just thought that they were going to kill him. And, you know, I didn’t want anybody to die. So I just dropped my stuff and dove in and got on top of him. Originally I wasn’t planning on getting on top of him; I just wanted to shield him. I wanted to break it up, but then I realized there were too many of them, and there was no way that was going to happen. There’s been a rumor going around on social media—which has been promoted by conservative writers—that this man was simply going to a grocery store. Is that true? Advertisement No, I don’t think that’s true at all. He was there with Joey, and I think he was filming the rally, if I remember correctly. I know he had a camera. And I think that they took the camera from him. But I’m pretty sure he was out there with Joey filming the whole thing. Did stepping in calm down the antifa demonstrators? And were there other fights before this? I pretty much left after that. After that, I was burnt. But I saw people having small skirmishes here or there. Mostly it was running people out of the square—like someone would try to say something, and they would get chased out. That happened twice, maybe three times. It was very small, very contained. It was not like this chaotic scene that you see in the video. Absolutely, that did happen. It was crazy there. But it was mostly a peaceful situation. I think there’s been a tendency to conflate the question of whether it’s moral to physically confront the alt-right with the question of whether that kind of action is actually effective. What are your thoughts on the broader debate we’ve been having about violence? What I’m seeing happen is that the violence from the far left is beginning to create an equivalency in both the media’s mind and a lot of other people’s minds between the alt-right and the alt-left. And I don’t think that there’s an equivalency there. What you’re talking about with the white nationalists, white supremacists, alt-right, whatever they want to name themselves—they want an ethno-state. They want people of color, LGBTQ people, and everybody that’s not white out of this country. And we’ve seen what that looks like in Nazi Germany. We know what that means. You’re not going to get people to peacefully line up and walk out of the country. So, you’re talking about people who are advocating genocide and then equating them with people who are fighting against advocates for genocide. And there’s no equivalency there for me. Obviously if someone’s talking about the genocide of a race or getting rid of people, it’s much worse than someone who is doing violence to protect those people. But I think violence creates that false equivalency. So I think it’s something that we as a country and the black bloc and others have to think about. You interviewed Richard Spencer right after the election in November, and that kind of dialogue has been held up as a productive alternative to direct confrontation or preventing figures on the alt-right from expressing their views. Did you find that conversation productive? Do you think you actually delegitimized him in any meaningful way? Yeah, I feel pretty strongly about this. I think that there is a way that I engage that is about exposing them and allowing our listeners and anyone listening to see exactly who this person is. I think that there are ways that you can engage them where you are giving them a platform, and that’s not what I ever want to do. But for me—I didn’t know who Richard Spencer was until maybe a week before that interview. And therefore, if I don’t know who he is, I can’t see the foundation that he’s laying out to build his organization and spread his concepts. Only in the light can we dispel this stuff that’s growing in the dark corners. So, that’s the way I see it: I’ve got to keep my eye on this guy. ||||| Al Letson shields a demonstrator from attacks at a protest in Berkeley Sunday. Credit: Shane Bauer i UPDATE: The man Letson protected identifies himself as Trump supporter and video blogger Keith Campbell. While covering Sunday’s “Rally Against Hate” in Berkeley, California, today, Reveal host Al Letson witnessed a man being attacked by a group of protesters. The man was balled up on the ground, fending off blows from several people. Letson, wearing a red T-shirt, jumped in front of the batterers, protecting the man from further injury. Antifa beat down apparent alt-righter. pic.twitter.com/WVdDJqLKmA — Shane Bauer (@shane_bauer) August 27, 2017 “I was scared they were going to kill him,” Letson said. “So the only thing I could think was I wanted to get on top of him to protect him.” The altercation was caught on video by Mother Jones journalist Shane Bauer, who identified the aggressors as anti-fascist protesters, sometimes called antifa. He also said the man being beaten may have been a member of the alt-right. Hear what led up to the event Letson was covering the event along with other Reveal staff members. In the video, he can be seen wearing his headphones, with his recording gear in a black satchel strapped across his body. “Our editorial policy is clear: we are unbiased observers not participants,” said Reveal Editor in Chief Amy Pyle. “However, in reviewing the video, it is clear that Al did not take sides. Instead, he responded as any of us might if we saw another human in distress.” Thousands of people had converged in downtown Berkeley Sunday in response to a planned right-wing rally dubbed “No to Marxism in America.” A huge police presence also flooded the streets to ward off violence between right- and left-wing groups. And barriers were erected around Martin Luther King Jr. Civic Center Park, where the rally was to have unfolded. The right-wing organizers had announced yesterday that they were canceling their events, and very few of their supporters had shown up. However, there were reports of several arrests and scattered skirmishes throughout the morning and early afternoon. Letson was at the Civic Center Park as the surrounding streets filled with left-wing groups, including members of the antifa, also known as the black bloc for their trademark black attire and face-covering masks and bandanas. Letson recounted what happened next, a scene he also caught on video: Right-wing organizer Joey Gibson arrived at the park shortly after 1:30 p.m. He and a couple of his supporters were chased by what appeared to be antifa members, who began to throw things at him. Joey Gibson, organizer of yesterday's cancelled Patriot Prayer rally, chased by #BerkeleyProtests demonstrators https://t.co/BkPqrJDnEw — Reveal (@reveal) August 27, 2017 In Letson’s video, law enforcement officers can be seen standing on the sidelines, a protest policing strategy criticized during the violent April “Battle of Berkeley” protests and in Charlottesville, Virginia, earlier this month. Gibson continues through a line of police. Other videos from the scene show him being handcuffed. Meanwhile, Letson said, a man who appeared to be one of Gibson’s supporters was also chased by 20 to 30 antifa protesters, who began to kick and hit him with sticks. Letson dove on top of the man, suffering a few collateral blows but no injuries. Tear gas was released, quickly dispersing the crowd. Later, the man Letson protected reached out to him on social media. His name is Keith Campbell, 54, a President Donald Trump supporter and video blogger who was live streaming the rally on Sunday. He says antifa members know him from his conservative youtube channel Patriot Warrior Media – where he’s known as KPikklefield – and targeted him specifically. “Someone pointed me out and called me by name and started running toward me,” he said. “Someone knocked my camera out of my hand and I was going to grab it and someone hit me over the head and I went down. I was sure they were going to kill me. I was thinking, ‘I hope it’s quick’ because it hurt.” Campbell told Reveal he has no memory of Letson shielding him and only learned about it after seeing video of the attack. “I wanted to reach out to Al because it was a direct, coordinated attack,” he added. “It’s incredible what he did.” Campbell sustained bruised ribs and kidneys on Sunday, he said, but suffered no permanent damage. He said he has relocated out of state for the moment to avoid further attacks. Jack Smith IV, a senior writer at Mic, recorded the incident from another angle. In it, Letson can be heard urging demonstrators to stop their attack. There’s a brief pause in the confrontation, then another fight breaks out between two protesters who had been watching nearby. Someone dives on top of another guy being beaten by Antifa, begging them to stop, fleeing behind police lines. Intra-left blows exchanged. pic.twitter.com/bz2zFEB25j — Jack Smith IV (@JackSmithIV) August 27, 2017 Berkeley Police, who were in charge of the law enforcement response on Sunday, did not respond to a request for comment. Media inquiries should be addressed to engagement reporter Byard Duncan, by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @byardduncan. Don't miss the next big story. Brave investigations that change minds, laws and lives. Emailed directly to you.

– When journalist Al Letson saw a suspected alt-right protester being beaten by "antifa" supporters in Berkeley, Calif., on Sunday, he didn't stop to consider what the fallen man might think of him. Letson, who is black, simply wanted to save him. Running into the crowd, Letson jumped on top of the man in order to protect him. A series of videos posted to Twitter show Letson, in a red shirt, shielding the man's body and attempting to push the assailants away. "What came to me was that he was a human being, and I didn't want to see anybody die," Letson, host of podcast Reveal from the Center for Investigative Reporting, tells NPR. "In retrospect, it doesn't matter if he doesn't see my humanity, what matters to me is that I see his." Letson tells Slate that the unidentified protester had been with Joey Gibson of right-wing group Patriot Prayer during the mostly peaceful rally. But after Gibson began "antagonizing the black bloc," 20 to 30 others began chasing them. Gibson fled but his apparent companion "stumbled—or someone tripped him—and then four or five people surrounded him and began to kick and hit him," Letson says. When he noticed "a whole mass of people coming," Letson says he intervened in fear for the man's life. Though he was struck a few times, he'd do it all again, per Reveal. "I remember seeing the pictures of a young man being brutally beaten by these guys with poles [in Charlottesville], and when I saw that I thought, "Why didn't anybody step in?" he says.

Let’s start with the crossbow, because the crossbow is huge. I’m sitting in the passenger seat of a camo-painted ATV, rumbling through the northern Louisiana backwoods with Phil Robertson, founder of the Duck Commander company, patriarch at the heart of A&E’s smash reality hit Duck Dynasty, and my tour guide for the afternoon. There are seat belts in this ATV, but it doesn’t look like they’ve ever been used. Phil is not wearing one. I am not wearing one, because I don’t want Phil to think I’m a pussy. (Too late!) The crossbow—a Barnett model equipped with a steel-tipped four-blade broadhead arrow—is perched on the dash between us. It looks like you could shoot through a goddamn mountain with it. “That’ll bury up in you and kill you dead,” Phil says. The bow is cocked and loaded, just in case a deer stumbles in front of us and we need to do a redneck drive-by on the poor bastard, but the safety is on. SAFETY FIRST. Still, Phil warns me, “You don’t want to be bumping that.” As we drive out into the woods, past a sign that reads parish maintenance ends, Phil is telling me all about the land around us and how the animals are a glorious gift from God and how blowing their heads off is part of His plan for us. “Look at this,” he says, gesturing to the surrounding wilderness. “The Almighty gave us this. Genesis 9 is where the animals went wild, and God gave them wildness. After the flood, that’s when he made animals wild. Up until that time, everybody was vegetarian. After the flood, he said, ‘I’m giving you everything now. Animals are wild.’” There’s a fly parked on Phil’s long beard. It’s been there the whole ride, and I desperately want to pluck it out, but I decide against it. Along with the crossbow, there’s a loaded .22-caliber rifle rattling around in the footwell. And yet, much like the 14 million Americans who Nielsen says tune in to Duck Dynasty every week—over 2 million more than the audience for the Breaking Bad finale—I am comfortable here in these woods with Phil and his small cache of deadly weaponry. He is welcoming and gracious. He is a man who preaches the gospel of the outdoors and, to my great envy, practices what he preaches. He spends most of his time out here, daydreaming about what he calls a “pristine earth”: a world where nothing gets in the way of nature or the hunters who lovingly maintain it. No cities. No buildings. No highways. Oh, and no sinners, too. So here’s where things get a bit uncomfortable. Phil calls himself a Bible-thumper, and holy shit, he thumps that Bible hard enough to ring the bell at a county-fair test of strength. If you watch Duck Dynasty, you can hear plenty of it in the nondenominational supper-table prayer the family recites at the end of every episode, and in the show’s no-cussing, no-blaspheming tone. But there are more things Phil would like to say—“controversial” things, as he puts it to me—that don’t make the cut. (This March, for instance, he told the Christian-oriented Sports Spectrum magazine that he didn’t approve of A&E editing out “in Jesus” from a family prayer scene, even though A&E says that the phrase has been uttered in at least seventeen episodes.) Out here in these woods, without any cameras around, Phil is free to say what he wants. Maybe a little too free. He’s got lots of thoughts on modern immorality, and there’s no stopping them from rushing out. Like this one: “It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.” Perhaps we’ll be needing that seat belt after all. · · · The Duck Dynasty origin story is the mighty river from which all other Robertson-family stories flow. And it is an awesome story, one that improves the more it is told, so here is my stab at it: Phil Robertson grew up bone poor in the northwest corner of this state—a place where Cajun redneck culture and Ozark redneck culture intersect—to a manic-depressive mother and a roughneck father. He was a star quarterback in high school and earned a scholarship to play at Louisiana Tech, but quit after one season because football interfered with duck-hunting season. The guy who took his roster spot at Tech was Terry Bradshaw, because that’s how these kinds of stories go. Phil On Growing Up in Pre-Civil-Rights-Era Louisiana “I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field.... They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.” According to Phil’s autobiography—a ghostwritten book he says he has never read—he spent his days after Tech doing odd jobs and his evenings getting drunk, chasing tail, and swallowing diet pills and black mollies, a form of medicinal speed. In his midtwenties, already married with three sons, a piss-drunk Robertson kicked his family out of the house. “I’m sick of you,” he told his wife, Kay. But Robertson soon realized the error of his ways, begged Kay to come back, and turned over his life to Jesus Christ. In 1972, with Jesus at the wheel, Robertson founded the Duck Commander company, which sold a line of custom-made duck-hunting calls that quickly became popular among avid hunters for their uncanny accuracy in replicating the sound of a real duck. He eventually sold half the company to his son Willie, now 41, and together they made a DVD series about the family’s duck hunts, which led to a show on the Outdoor Channel, which led to Duck Dynasty on A&E, which led to everything blowing right the fuck up. The show—a reality sitcom showcasing the semiscripted high jinks of Phil, his brother “Uncle Si,” his four sons, Alan, Willie, Jase, and Jep, and the perpetually exasperated but always perfectly accessorized Robertson-family ladies—has become the biggest reality-TV hit in the history of cable television, reportedly earning the family a holy shit–worthy $200,000-an-episode paycheck. It’s a funny, family-friendly show, with “skits that we come up with,” as Phil describes the writing process. They plunder beehives. They blow up beaver dams. And when the Robertson-family ladies go up to a rooftop in a hydraulic lift, you just know that lift will “accidentally” get stuck and strand them. But the show, whose fifth season premieres on January 15, is just one part of the family’s pop-cultural dominance. In 2013 four books written (kind of!) by Robertson family members made the top ten on the New York Times nonfiction best-seller list. Another book—penned by Jase Robertson and detailing his Christian rebirth at age 14, his struggle to forgive his father’s past behavior, and his young daughter’s struggle through five facial-reconstruction surgeries to overcome a severe cleft lip and palate—is forthcoming and destined to make it five best-sellers. There’s also a book of devotionals somewhere in there, along with Duck Dynasty–themed birthday cards, bobblehead dolls, camo apparel (pink camo for the ladies), Cajun-spice seasoning, car fresheners, iPhone games (from the press release: “As players successfully complete the challenges, their beards grow to epic proportions and they start to transform from a yuppie into a full-blown redneck!”), and presumably some sort of camou flage home-pregnancy test. It’s easy to see the appeal. The Robertsons are immensely likable. They’re funny. They look cool. They’re “smarter than they look,” says sportswriter Mark Schlabach, who co-writes the family’s books. And they are remarkably honest both with one another and with the viewing audience: Phil’s old hell-raising, Si’s traumatic stint in Vietnam, the intervention that the family staged for Jep when he was boozing and doing drugs in college (Phil placed him under house arrest for three months)—all of it is out in the open. The more they reveal, the more people feel connected to them. And then, of course, there is their faith, which plays no small role here. During the family’s initial negotiations about the show with A&E, Jase told me, “the three no-compromises were faith, betrayal of family members, and duck season.” That refusal to betray their faith or one another has been a staple of every media article about the Robertson family. It’s their elevator pitch, and it has made them into ideal Christian icons: beloved for staking out a bit of holy ground within the mostly secular, often downright sinful, pop culture of America. · · · Phil Robertson’s house is located in the sticks about twenty miles outside the city of Monroe (pronounce it mun-roe). It’s a rather small house—the kind of place its owner would proudly call “humble.” The kitchen table is covered with big plastic tubs of cinnamon rolls and mini muffins. There are candy dishes filled to the brim, bricks of softening butter, and packages of jerky made from unknown animals, sent by unnamed fans. (I tried some, and it was awesome.) Just inside the front door, a giant flat-screen TV shows Fox News on mute at all times, and a bunch of big squishy sofas are arranged in a rectangle around it. Si Robertson is sitting on the couch facing the TV. Jep Robertson, age 35, the youngest son, curls up in a recliner in the corner with a pistol strapped to his waist. He barely speaks, like a countrified Silent Bob. Jase, 44, and Willie share a love seat while Phil lounges barefoot on a camo-patterned recliner in the far corner of the room. Two dogs share the recliner’s footrest with Phil’s heavily callused bare feet. He has severe bunions, so his big toes jut in at forty-five-degree angles. The main TV room is cluttered with mismatched furniture and photos hung haphazardly on the walls. And Phil looks like part of the clutter himself, as if he’d been wedged into that recliner a while back by some absentminded homeowner who didn’t know where else to put him. ||||| (Photo Credit: Getty Images) Jesse Jackson has decided to weigh in on the inflammatory comments that Phil Robertson made to GQ about gays and African Americans. In an interview with Drew Magary, the "Duck Dynasty" star said the Nazis needed Jesus, that he never saw the mistreatment of African Americans while growing up in Louisiana before the civil rights era and that homosexuality was a sin. A&E; has already suspended Robertson, but Reverend Jackson, his Rainbow PUSH Coalition and GLAAD are demanding to meet with network execs, along with Cracker Barrel's CEO, to discuss the future of all "Duck Dynasty" memorabilia or content. Read: Phil Robertson Defends Anti-Gay Comments: 'All I Did Was Quote From The Scriptures' "These statements uttered by Robertson are more offensive than the bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama, more than 59 years ago," Jackson said in a statement obtained by ABC News. "At least the bus driver, who ordered Rosa Parks to surrender her seat to a white person, was following state law. Robertson's statements were uttered freely and openly without cover of the law, within a context of what he seemed to believe was 'white privilege.'" The release, dated Dec. 23, requests a meeting within 72 hours with A&E; and Cracker Barrel execs and urges the network to uphold Robertson's suspension. Jackson and GLAAD said they believe it's not right for a personality with such a large platform to benefit from such comments. Related: 'Duck Dynasty' Suspends Phil Robertson On Sunday, Robertson defended his comments about gays and blacks to a small Bible study group in West Monroe, La. "I will not give or back off from my path," he reportedly said Sunday. Robertson added that his GQ comments were quotes from the Bible. "I didn't think much of it at all, but it seems a lot of other people did," he said. EDITOR'S NOTE: ABC is a part owner of the A&E; Network"

– Phil Robertson's anti-gay comments have been getting the lion's share of attention in recent days, but he also said a few things to GQ about African Americans that, along with those aforementioned comments, aren't sitting so well with Jesse Jackson. In discussing his youth in pre-civil rights era Louisiana, the Duck Dynasty patriarch said, in part: I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. ... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues." In a Dec. 23 statement obtained by ABC News, Jackson addressed Robertson's comments in no uncertain terms. "These statements are more offensive than the bus driver in Montgomery, Alabama, more than 59 years ago. At least the bus driver, who ordered Rosa Parks to surrender her seat to a white person, was following state law. Robertson’s statements were uttered freely and openly without cover of the law, within a context of what he seemed to believe was 'white privilege.'" Jackson, his Rainbow PUSH Coalition, and GLAAD in the statement demand a meeting with A&E execs ... along with Cracker Barrel's CEO, to discuss content and merchandising.

Photo Advertisement Continue reading the main story CAMDEN, N.J. — Food companies tinker with the signature products in their portfolios at their own risk — and few products are as classic as Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. Now, Campbell Soup is altering its famous broth. The new recipe appears first in a limited-edition line in cans festooned with Chewbacca and other figures from the coming “Star Wars” film. The new version of its chicken noodle soup contains 20 ingredients, most of which can be found in the average home kitchen, compared with 30 in its previous incarnation (sold last year in cans featuring the Avengers). “We’re closing the gap between the kitchen and our plants,” said Denise M. Morrison, chief executive of Campbell. Under Ms. Morrison’s leadership, which began in 2011, Campbell has moved quickly to address changing trends in food and to try to stanch the gradual decline in unit sales, a measurement of the number of cans of soup sold. The company is banishing ingredients that today’s consumers don’t like and using advertising and social media to have a conversation with consumers about what it is doing. Acquisitions have also given Campbell toeholds in new markets and brought new ideas to the organization. “Before, when we talked about our business, we talked about how many cases we shipped,” Ms. Morrison said in an interview here in her office. “Today, we’re talking about our food” — as in what’s in it, where it comes from and what impact it has on the environment. Changing those traditional recipes carries quite a bit of risk. “It’s a delicate balance because these products are beloved,” said Charles Vila, vice president for consumer and customer insights at Campbell. “Their profile has become very defined in the consumer mind over the years, so any change we make is very carefully considered.” The company also has an incentive to bolster the anemic sales of soup, its core product. Globally, soup sales peaked in 2012 at $16.2 billion and have stagnated since, last year ringing up $16 billion, according to Euromonitor, a consumer research firm. Euromonitor estimates that sales will fall further this year, to a little over $15 billion. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Continue reading the main story What’s New in Campbell’s Chicken Soup? The new version of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup contains just 20 listed ingredients, most of which can be found in the average home kitchen, compared with 30 in its previous incarnation. Items in green appear on the new label but not on the old. Bryan Thomas for The New York Times Chicken stock Enriched pasta (wheat flour, egg whites, niacin, ferrous sulfate, thiamine mononitrate, riboflavin, folic acid) Carrots Chicken meat Chicken fat Salt Modified food starch Potassium chloride Monosodium glutamate Chicken flavor Maltodextrin Water Dehydrated mechanically separated chicken Celery Onions Vegetable oil Flavoring Yeast extract Cornstarch Dehydrated chicken broth Sugar Beta carotene for color Dehydrated onions Soy protein isolate Sodium phosphate Disodium inosinate Disodium guanylate Lactic acid Spice Flavoring (soybean oil, soy lecithin) Dehydrated chicken Onion extract Garlic extract Reasons for soup’s slump are hard to pin down, said Emily Balsamo, a research analyst at Euromonitor. “It’s a similar situation in a lot of categories, I would say, where I think there’s just a lot of distrust of larger, established food companies,” Ms. Balsamo said. Within the soup category, and even within the canned soup category, smaller brands like Annie’s and Amy’s Kitchen or Hain Celestials are doing relatively better, she said. “Maybe it has something to do with them being largely organic.” In fact, Ms. Balsamo said, early sales of Campbell’s new line of organic soup sold in cartons are strong. But Campbell, which largely relies on the United States market for its soup sales, has more to lose than most other big companies selling soup. Campbell Soup accounted for almost three-quarters of the $1.6 billion in condensed soup sales here last year, but its unit sales fell more than 5 percent, according to IRI, a data and research firm. The company also dominates the ready-to-eat soup business, but there, too, it lost more than 5 percent of market share last year. (Campbell has attributed some of the decline to reductions it made in promotional deals with grocery chains.) Advertisement Continue reading the main story Other big soup producers like General Mills, which makes the Progresso brand, and private-label soup brands also declined in sales. IRI data shows, on the other hand, that Pacific Foods of Oregon, a maker of organic soup, is gaining market share. Ms. Morrison speaks more candidly than most of her peers about the impact that changing consumer preferences and demographics are having on Campbell and other large food companies, which she described as “seismic shifts.” Photo “There are 80 million millennials now, and they’re shopping and thinking differently about food and in a way that is influential,” she said. She said changes in the family are also challenging food companies. “Families now are multicultural, multigenerational, single-parent, same-sex, mixed and traditional,” Ms. Morrison said. She also noted that the numbers of middle-class consumers, who powered sales for so long, were shrinking. “Food companies largely serve the mainstream, but there’s a shrinking middle class in the U.S., a widening chasm between the haves and have-nots,” Ms. Morrison said. About a year after Ms. Morrison took the helm, Campbell shocked its peers by buying Bolthouse, a maker of juice and salad dressings, and overnight became one of the world’s largest carrot growers. Bolthouse gave Campbell entree to the coveted perimeter of the grocery store at a time when consumers were increasingly shunning the middle aisles that were long home to the company’s products. The next year, Campbell bought Plum Organics, a fast-growing producer of pouched baby and children’s foods that deftly uses social media to connect with consumers. In the last year, 40 percent of Campbell’s advertising budget has gone to social media and digital advertising, in large part based on what it has learned from Plum, according to Mark Alexander, president of the company’s United States business. Photo Campbell then opened an avenue into China with the purchase of the Kelsen Group, a Danish maker of cookies and snacks with an impressive footprint in Asia. And this year, Campbell acquired the tiny Garden Fresh Gourmet, a purveyor of refrigerated salsas and dips, in a nod to the growth of snacking. At the same time, Campbell has added new products like Skillet Sauces, sold in pouches, and Slow Kettle soups in tubs — just heat and eat. Such products play the same role in America’s kitchen as Campbell’s soup did in the past, offering kitchen cooks shortcuts and busy consumers a quick meal. “We’ve really accelerated our innovation program,” Mr. Alexander said, referring to the company’s simple meals and beverage business in the United States. “About 11 or 12 percent of our sales last year came from products launched in the last three years, compared to mid-single digits in the past.” Campbell is retooling its traditional portfolio as rapidly as it can. “The biggest challenge was time,” said Jesse Fellows, a senior technologist for product development at Campbell, who was charged with simplifying chicken noodle soup. Advertisement Continue reading the main story Advertisement Continue reading the main story It took two months of intense work to come up with the balance of ingredients that would produce a broth and noodles that tasted the same or better than the soup that had been produced the same way since 2011, when Campbell’s adjusted the spices and reduced the beta carotene used to impart color. Photo Those were relatively simple changes. Mr. Fellows was asked for a more thorough overhaul aimed at getting rid of ingredients that are out of favor, things like monosodium glutamate, or MSG, and disodium inosinate and disodium guanylate, which enhance flavor, as well as things like vegetable oil and cornstarch. (Celery was eliminated because child taste-testers didn’t like the flavor, a spokeswoman said.) By changing the proportion of yeast extract and other flavorings, Mr. Fellows said, he was able to offset the loss of the chemical flavor enhancers. And working with Campbell’s chefs, he added and subtracted things like water and dehydrated chicken broth. “The culinary department owns the flavor, and we worked hard to uphold the reputation of chicken noodle soup,” said Bryan Cozzi, a test chef at Campbell. But the process does not end when Mr. Fellows and Mr. Cozzi finish their work. They may be sent back to the drawing board if the new formulation adds cost to a product. “Often the biggest challenge is affordability,” said Jeff George, vice president for research and development. “In some cases, we can pass on the cost, but often, we can’t.” Campbell may even tinker with shipping cases and labels to bring the cost in line. Photo This fall, Campbell began a new advertising campaign, “Made for Real, Real Life,” which aims to reintroduce consumers to the idea that soup can be a staple in the kitchen. The first spot in the series, which features a gay couple feeding their young son Campbell’s Star Wars chicken noodle soup, kicked up a controversy, but Campbell’s shrugged it off. “No one has seen the whole campaign,” Mr. Vila said. “There are a variety of families in it, reflecting the mosaic of families we have in America today.” The second ad in the series features a mother and father preparing an organic tomato soup for their son. “At least we know what he’s eating,” the young father says to his wife — oblivious to his son, licking a glue stick at the table. In the kitchens here, food scientists and chefs are gingerly tinkering with Campbell’s classic tomato soup. Mostly, that is about replacing high-fructose corn syrup with sugar. But that changes the taste and texture slightly — one test version was less sweet, more tangy and slightly less silky in the mouth. “Will that make a difference to consumers who’ve eaten this soup for years and love it just the way it is?” Mr. George said. “That’s the question we ask ourselves over and over again.” ||||| Update: Campbell's Is Rethinking Its Chicken Soup Recipe Campbell Soup is changing the recipe of one of its chicken soups, but says it isn't quite ready to tinker with its classic chicken noodle version. NPR's Allison Aubrey contacted the company, which clarified that it is changing the ingredient list of the Healthy Kids Shaped Pasta with Chicken in Chicken Broth — in cans with Star Wars- and Frozen-themed labels. "This is the first step in our journey and we are currently working on a number of our recipes, but it's too soon to give any definite timing on when changes may be made to the classic red & white chicken noodle soup," spokeswoman Anna Burr says. Earlier, we reported that Campbell was tinkering with the recipe for its chicken noodle soup in the red-and-white cans. Our earlier post continues: Campbell eliminated 13 ingredients, including a number of flavoring chemicals, such as monosodium glutamate (MSG), but also left out celery and onions, The New York Times reports. The new recipe also cuts potassium chloride, maltodextrin and disodium guanylate, among other ingredients. It adds water, dehydrated onions and dehydrated chicken broth. "We're closing the gap between the kitchen and our plants," Denise M. Morrison, chief executive of Campbell, told the newspaper. Calls to Campbell Soup's corporate communications office were not returned. The move, which the Times says cut the number of ingredients from 30 to 20, comes as consumers are increasingly aware of what they're eating and how it affects the environment. "Before, when we talked about our business, we talked about how many cases we shipped," Morrison said, according to the Times. "Today, we're talking about our food" — as in what's in it, where it comes from and what impact it has on the environment." The change also comes at a time when both global soup sales and Campbell's soup sales have lagged. The newspaper adds:

– Campbell's is tinkering with its chicken soup recipe to appeal to millennials, multicultural families, and same-sex parents—among others, the New York Times reports. The company is removing ingredients that have fallen out of favor with customers—potassium chloride, monosodium glutamate, disodium inosinate, and, um, celery, to name just a few—in an effort to shore up flagging sales. “We’re closing the gap between the kitchen and our plants,” Campbell Soup CEO Denise Morrison tells the Times. While most of the changes were made with an eye on more natural ingredients, celery apparently fell victim to child taste-testers. All told, the new recipe includes only 20 ingredients to the old recipe's 30. But don't worry if you're a fan of classic Campbell's chicken soup in all its disodium guanylate goodness. NPR reports the changes will only affect children's chicken soup containing noodles shaped like Star Wars and Frozen characters. After a minor change to the recipe in 2011, this more complete overhaul took Campbell's chefs two months of tinkering, according to the Times. NPR reports the company may or may not make similar changes with its classic chicken soup recipe. But company chefs are already attempting to remove high-fructose corn syrup from Campbell's tomato soup, according to the Times. “It’s a delicate balance because these products are beloved,” one Campbell Soup executive says. (If fewer ingredients can't save Campbell's, maybe instant soup pods can.)

Skip Ad Ad Loading... x Embed x Share Video: Roffs in West Melbourne is using technology to help with search for missing teen boaters. Video by Tim Shortt. Posted 7/27/15. Austin Stephanos, left, 14, and Perry Cohen, 14, were reported missing on Friday. (Photo: AP) WEST MELBOURNE, Fla. — If Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen are floating at sea awaiting rescue, as their families and rescuers hope, subtle current-speed changes surrounding the Gulf Stream could drastically alter their drift course — making search efforts more difficult. “Even if it’s only a quarter of a mile-per-hour difference, well, a quarter of a mile-per-hour in 10 hours starts adding up. You get to be 2 to 3 miles apart, and then you start getting 15 to 20 miles apart. Then you’re 30,” said Mitch Roffer, founder and president of Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service. “Then if one of those possible trajectories goes into the core of the Gulf Stream, now you’re moving twice as fast,” Roffer said. “They could be anywhere from 60 to 180 miles away from where they started, just as a function of where they were in the Gulf Stream. That’s a huge difference, between 60 and 180 miles. So you’re talking about a 120-mile variance in your estimate of where they might be,” he said. ROFFS is a West Melbourne oceanographic consulting company that analyzes currents and pinpoints “convergence zones” along Gulf Stream boundaries where fish are likely to congregate. Roffer’s primary customers are recreational and commercial fishermen. Mitch Roffer, Ph.D., is founder and president of Roffer’s Ocean Fishing Forecasting Service in West Melbourne, They specialize in fisheries oceanography, environmental monitoring, and operational support. Roffer is analyzing satellite maps as parta of the search for the missing teen boaters, Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen. (Photo: TIM SHORTT/FLORIDA TODAY) He said a friend of the boys’ families asked him to help with the search effort, so he analyzed satellite imagery Monday and posted color-coded maps on Facebook and Twitter for use by volunteer rescuers. Monday morning, Stephanos’ family stated on social media that they believe the boys may have crafted makeshift flotation devices using a white boat engine cover, life jackets and a white cooler. Assuming the boys ditched their boat on the western side of the Gulf Stream, Roffer predicted they may have floated today to a region from Cape Canaveral northward, extending about 30 miles seaward. He said volunteer pilots flew missions from Melbourne and New Smyrna Beach using his information. Ted Lund is a Florida Today outdoors writer and Cocoa Beach licensed boat captain. He said the boys’ disappearance demonstrates the power of the sea. “It’s just another illustration that the ocean isn’t inherently dangerous — it’s incredibly unforgiving. And it doesn’t care if you’re a captain of industry or a Cuban refugee. The ocean is just indifferent,” Lund said of the incident. “And you can find yourself in trouble very quickly,” he said. Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/1Sa051L ||||| The families of two teenage boys who went missing while fishing off the coast of Florida pleaded for help Monday, asking people to scour the shores for debris or any clues that might lead to their sons. The 19-foot white single-engine boat that Austin Stephanos and Perry Cohen, both 14, took out off the coast of Jupiter late last week was found Sunday, roughly 67 miles off the shore of Daytona Beach. There was no sign of the teens in the boat, according to the Coast Guard. "We want everybody, once again, from Palm Beach all the way up the coast of Georgia ... to get on down there and look for anything off," Nick Korniloff, Perry's stepfather, said Monday. ||||| Just One More Thing... We have sent you a verification email. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your profile. If you do not receive the verification message within a few minutes of signing up, please check your Spam or Junk folder. Close

– The families of Perry Cohen and Austin Stephanos are living a nightmare—the 14-year-old boys are missing at sea and their capsized boat was found on Sunday—but they believe the teens have the skills to survive. As the search off the coast of Florida continues, family members say the boys may have crafted a flotation device using items including life jackets, an engine cover, and a cooler that were missing from their single-engine fishing boat, USA Today reports. Relatives and neighbors say the boys, like others in their Palm Beach County neighborhood, are experienced sailors and have been around boats their entire lives, reports the Palm Beach Post. A Coast Guard spokesman says the search is continuing "aggressively" and the water is warm enough that the teens, who were last seen on Friday, could survive for four or five days, the Post reports. Because of currents, search efforts are focusing on the area north of where the boat was found near Daytona Beach, though they could be hard to spot, the spokesman says. "When a person is in the water, you're basically looking for the chest up, so it's a relatively small object you're looking for," he says. "It's a challenging environment." The families have urged people from Palm Beach to the coast of Georgia to look for clues that might have washed up, especially the Yamaha engine cover and YETI cooler, NBC News reports.

SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean cargo vessel is missing after losing contact in the South Atlantic about 1,500 miles offshore, South Korea’s foreign ministry said Sunday. 22 crew members are unaccounted for, the foreign ministry confirmed. Two Filipino crew members floating in a life raft were rescued Saturday, but other lifeboats found in the area were empty, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported. On Friday a crew member sent a text message saying the 148,000-tonne ship was taking in water on the port side, Yonhap said. Stellar Daisy went missing 1,500 miles off Brazil's South Atlantic coast Smith, Saphora (206526372) / Google Maps "A search operation is continuing for the 22 people," a South Korean foreign ministry official in Seoul said, adding eight of the missing are South Korean nationals and 14 are Filipinos. South Korea has requested Brazil and Uruguay to aid in the search and rescue. The very large ore carrier (VLOC) Stellar Daisy was sailing from Brazil to China carrying iron ore when it sent a distress signal to its operator, South Korea’s Polaris Shipping, on Friday, Yonhap said. The ship is owned by the shipping firm which is based in Busan, South Korea. ||||| 2017/04/02 10:19 (ATTN: RECASTS headline, lead; UPDATES with more details throughout; ADDS photo) SEOUL, April 2 (Yonhap) -- Search and rescue efforts are under way to find 22 crew members of a South Korean ship that sank in the South Atlantic last week, after two sailors were safely picked up in a life raft, the Seoul government said Sunday. The search for the missing South Korean ship, the Stellar Daisy, began Saturday, one day after the ship's crew sent a text to their South Korean employer, saying their ship was sinking. The Marshall Islands-flagged ship was sailing near Uruguay when it made the distress call, according to the foreign ministry here. Seoul's embassy in Brazil had asked for assistance to find the missing crew with the Brazilian Air Force dispatching a C-130 plane to the site. The escape raft carrying the two Filipino crew was found drifting by commercial ships in the area. Another raft and two powered lifeboats that can carry up to 30 people each were also discovered, but no one was on board. Authorities said that all crew members probably were wearing their life vests. The 266,000-ton Stella Daisy, carrying eight South Korean and 16 Filipino sailors, departed Rio de Janeiro on March 26. The fate of the South Korean ore carrier also remains unconfirmed. (END)

– A ship that measures more than 1,000 feet long has vanished in the South Atlantic. The Stellar Daisy departed Rio de Janeiro last Sunday and was bound for China with its load of iron ore. But on Friday, while off Uruguay, the crew texted their South Korean employer to say the 266,000-ton ship was taking on water on the port side, reports Reuters. Commercial ships in the area some 1,500 miles off the coast were made aware of the situation and began searching; two Filipino crew members were found in a life raft. But Yonhap reports that a second raft and two 30-person lifeboats were both found empty, though authorities believe the 22 missing crew members were wearing life vests. "A search operation is continuing for the 22," says a South Korean foreign ministry official. The BBC reports the Uruguayan navy has said ships participating in the search detected the smell of fuel.

Google has altered autocomplete suggestions in its search engine after it was alerted to antisemitic, sexist and racists entries. Google’s autocomplete feature aims to suggest common searches after a user enters one or more words into the site’s search box or address bar of its Chrome browser. Typing the phrase “are Jews” into Google, the search engine suggested “evil”, for “are women” it again suggested “evil” and for “are Muslims” it suggested “bad”, an Observer article reported. Google, democracy and the truth about internet search Read more On Monday the searches for Jews and women no longer returned those results, although the “are Muslims bad” autocomplete was still present. A Google spokesperson said: “We took action within hours of being notified on Friday of the autocomplete results.” Google did not comment on its decision to alter some but not all those raised in the article. It said: “Our search results are a reflection of the content across the web. This means that sometimes unpleasant portrayals of sensitive subject matter online can affect what search results appear for a given query. These results don’t reflect Google’s own opinions or beliefs – as a company, we strongly value a diversity of perspectives, ideas and cultures. “Autocomplete predictions are algorithmically generated based on users’ search activity and interests. Users search for such a wide range of material on the web – 15% of searches we see every day are new. Because of this, terms that appear in autocomplete may be unexpected or unpleasant. We do our best to prevent offensive terms, like porn and hate speech, from appearing, but we acknowledge that autocomplete isn’t an exact science and we’re always working to improve our algorithms.” This is not the first time Google and others’ autocomplete and search algorithms have caused offence. An auto-suggested photo tag within Google’s Photos service in July 2015 labelled two black teenagers as “Gorillas”. Google apologised and said it was working on “longer term fixes” around the recognition of dark-skinned faces as well as the linguistics of photo labels. In May 2015, Google apologised when the White House was returned as a result for searches for “nigger house” and “nigger king” within Google maps. Google declined to explain why the results occurred but a spokesperson said: “Some inappropriate results are surfacing in Google Maps that should not be, and we apologise for any offence this may have caused.” In April this year Google apologised after a search for “unprofessional hairstyles for work” yielded image results showing predominantly black women with natural hair, while searching for “professional” ones returned pictures of coiffed, white women. In June, Google’s image search also caused offence by returning criminal mugshots for searches of “three black teenagers” but not for “three white teenagers”. Google has also previously denied “conspiracy theories” accusing it of censoring its search results to please the Conservative party in exchange for a deal over its taxes. ||||| Google must urgently review its search ranking system because of “compelling” evidence that it is being “manipulated and controlled” by rightwing propagandists, leading academics have said, after the Observer reported that hate sites are now dominating searches on Muslims, Jews, Hitler and women. Cathy O’Neil, a data scientist and the author of Weapons on Math Destruction, said that unless Google acknowledged responsibility for the problem, it would be a “co-conspirator” with the propagandists. “This is the end for Google pretending to be a neutral platform,” she said. “It clearly has a terrible problem here and it has to own and acknowledge that. “It simply can’t go on pretending that it has no editorial responsibilities when it is delivering these kinds of results. It is simply not defensible for it go on claiming ‘plausible deniability’. It has clearly become a conduit for rightwing hate sites and it must urgently take action.” Google alters search autocomplete to remove 'are Jews evil' suggestion Read more The Observer found that searches for “are jews” were offering the suggestion “are jews evil”, and nine out of the 10 top results gave links to rightwing antisemitic hate sites. Google refused to comment on the individual search results, but on Sunday, it moved to change some but not all of the autocomplete suggestions that the report highlighted. Frank Pasquale, professor of law at Maryland University, said he found this “a very troubling and disturbing development”. “They’ve gone on in the fly and plugged the plug on certain search terms in response to your article, but this raises bigger and more difficult questions. Who did that? And how did they decide? Who’s in charge of these decisions? And what will they do in the future? This is clearly just being done in response to a story in the media, but it’s not accountable, and it’s not sustainable. I find it really troubling that they’ve taken this very quick and hasty response without any explanation of how and why they’ve done it.” Google had removed the lines suggesting that Jews and black people are evil and that blacks “commit more crimes”, but it is still suggesting Muslims were “bad” and that Islam “should be destroyed”. While Facebook has faced criticism in the wake of revelations about how the site had become a conduit for fake news, the problem facing Google is potentially even more intractable. O’Neil said that she believed Google would ultimately have to hire human editors. She said: “There’s a a growing list of social media empires that have been attempting with all their power and might to claim that they don’t have editorial responsibility, but they have been proven wrong. “They have been proven wrong by this troll army, and quite clearly when it comes to the questions that require a subtle understanding of the truth versus lies, they are going to have to use human judgment. “It is clearly very frightening what is going on here. Google has done a huge amount of work to avoid exactly this scenario. And yet the troll army has still managed to break through all its resources and defences. It is very troubling and they are clearly very, very good at this, but it’s why Google has to own this problem. It is doing a terrible job here. “Twenty years ago, these sites with these views … they would have been completely shut out by the mainstream press, but we have replaced our guardians of information with algorithms that are dumb and that can be toyed with and manipulated.” Jonathan Albright, assistant professor of communications at Elon University, North Carolina, said that rightwing websites had launched a new “information war”, and that that they were winning. His research has shown that fake news and extremist sites have created a vast network of links to each other and mainstream sites that has enabled them to game Google’s algorithm. The top eight out of 10 results for the Google search “was Hitler bad?”, for example, are links to Holocaust denial sites including the neo-Nazi site, StormFront.org. Albright’s research has shown that fake news and information is a far bigger structural problem than had been previously realised. He has mapped a “vast satellite system that is encroaching on the mainstream news system”. Websites propagating extreme rightwing propaganda have thrown out thousands of hyperlinks that connect to each other and to mainstream news sources, such as YouTube and Facebook, and he says they “are growing in strength and influence every day”. Julia Powles, a researcher at Cambridge University on technology and law, said Google’s response to the problem was “the classic PR response”. She added: “The media makes a fuss about something. Google goes in and hand-tweaks the result, while still claiming that it is not an editor and it is totally neutral, when clearly that is not true. It can and does change search results when it suits them. Google, democracy and the truth about internet search Read more “They keep using this analogy that they’re like a card catalogue, but they’re really more like a card shark that can be gamed. It raises deeply disturbing issues about the democratic distribution of information.” A Google spokesperson said: “We took action within hours of being notified on Friday of the autocomplete results.” Google did not comment on its decision to alter some but not all those results raised in the article. It said: “Our search results are a reflection of the content across the web. This means that sometimes, unpleasant portrayals of sensitive subject-matter online can affect what search results appear for a given query. These results don’t reflect Google’s own opinions or beliefs. As a company, we strongly value a diversity of perspectives, ideas and cultures.” Danny Sullivan, the editor of Search Engine Land and one of the leading authorities on Google search, said Google faced a “very difficult, very challenging issue”. “They’ve done the PR of getting rid of some of the bad stuff quickly, and they will hope the PR spin will help this go away, but it doesn’t take away from the bigger issues. I take the concern very deeply. Google is the universal resource that people turn to. It is a concern they really need to solve.” ||||| Tech-savvy rightwingers have been able to ‘game’ the algorithms of internet giants and create a new reality where Hitler is a good guy, Jews are evil and… Donald Trump becomes president Here’s what you don’t want to do late on a Sunday night. You do not want to type seven letters into Google. That’s all I did. I typed: “a-r-e”. And then “j-e-w-s”. Since 2008, Google has attempted to predict what question you might be asking and offers you a choice. And this is what it did. It offered me a choice of potential questions it thought I might want to ask: “are jews a race?”, “are jews white?”, “are jews christians?”, and finally, “are jews evil?” Are Jews evil? It’s not a question I’ve ever thought of asking. I hadn’t gone looking for it. But there it was. I press enter. A page of results appears. This was Google’s question. And this was Google’s answer: Jews are evil. Because there, on my screen, was the proof: an entire page of results, nine out of 10 of which “confirm” this. The top result, from a site called Listovative, has the headline: “Top 10 Major Reasons Why People Hate Jews.” I click on it: “Jews today have taken over marketing, militia, medicinal, technological, media, industrial, cinema challenges etc and continue to face the worlds [sic] envy through unexplained success stories given their inglorious past and vermin like repression all over Europe.” Google is search. It’s the verb, to Google. It’s what we all do, all the time, whenever we want to know anything. We Google it. The site handles at least 63,000 searches a second, 5.5bn a day. Its mission as a company, the one-line overview that has informed the company since its foundation and is still the banner headline on its corporate website today, is to “organise the world’s information and make it universally accessible and useful”. It strives to give you the best, most relevant results. And in this instance the third-best, most relevant result to the search query “are Jews… ” is a link to an article from stormfront.org, a neo-Nazi website. The fifth is a YouTube video: “Why the Jews are Evil. Why we are against them.” The sixth is from Yahoo Answers: “Why are Jews so evil?” The seventh result is: “Jews are demonic souls from a different world.” And the 10th is from jesus-is-saviour.com: “Judaism is Satanic!” There’s one result in the 10 that offers a different point of view. It’s a link to a rather dense, scholarly book review from thetabletmag.com, a Jewish magazine, with the unfortunately misleading headline: “Why Literally Everybody In the World Hates Jews.” I feel like I’ve fallen down a wormhole, entered some parallel universe where black is white, and good is bad. Though later, I think that perhaps what I’ve actually done is scraped the topsoil off the surface of 2016 and found one of the underground springs that has been quietly nurturing it. It’s been there all the time, of course. Just a few keystrokes away… on our laptops, our tablets, our phones. This isn’t a secret Nazi cell lurking in the shadows. It’s hiding in plain sight. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Are women… Google’s search results. Stories about fake news on Facebook have dominated certain sections of the press for weeks following the American presidential election, but arguably this is even more powerful, more insidious. Frank Pasquale, professor of law at the University of Maryland, and one of the leading academic figures calling for tech companies to be more open and transparent, calls the results “very profound, very troubling”. He came across a similar instance in 2006 when, “If you typed ‘Jew’ in Google, the first result was jewwatch.org. It was ‘look out for these awful Jews who are ruining your life’. And the Anti-Defamation League went after them and so they put an asterisk next to it which said: ‘These search results may be disturbing but this is an automated process.’ But what you’re showing – and I’m very glad you are documenting it and screenshotting it – is that despite the fact they have vastly researched this problem, it has gotten vastly worse.” And ordering of search results does influence people, says Martin Moore, director of the Centre for the Study of Media, Communication and Power at King’s College, London, who has written at length on the impact of the big tech companies on our civic and political spheres. “There’s large-scale, statistically significant research into the impact of search results on political views. And the way in which you see the results and the types of results you see on the page necessarily has an impact on your perspective.” Fake news, he says, has simply “revealed a much bigger problem. These companies are so powerful and so committed to disruption. They thought they were disrupting politics but in a positive way. They hadn’t thought about the downsides. These tools offer remarkable empowerment, but there’s a dark side to it. It enables people to do very cynical, damaging things.” Google is knowledge. It’s where you go to find things out. And evil Jews are just the start of it. There are also evil women. I didn’t go looking for them either. This is what I type: “a-r-e w-o-m-e-n”. And Google offers me just two choices, the first of which is: “Are women evil?” I press return. Yes, they are. Every one of the 10 results “confirms” that they are, including the top one, from a site called sheddingoftheego.com, which is boxed out and highlighted: “Every woman has some degree of prostitute in her. Every woman has a little evil in her… Women don’t love men, they love what they can do for them. It is within reason to say women feel attraction but they cannot love men.” Next I type: “a-r-e m-u-s-l-i-m-s”. And Google suggests I should ask: “Are Muslims bad?” And here’s what I find out: yes, they are. That’s what the top result says and six of the others. Without typing anything else, simply putting the cursor in the search box, Google offers me two new searches and I go for the first, “Islam is bad for society”. In the next list of suggestions, I’m offered: “Islam must be destroyed.” This is the equivalent of going into a library and asking a librarian about Judaism and being handed 10 books of hate Danny Sullivan Jews are evil. Muslims need to be eradicated. And Hitler? Do you want to know about Hitler? Let’s Google it. “Was Hitler bad?” I type. And here’s Google’s top result: “10 Reasons Why Hitler Was One Of The Good Guys” I click on the link: “He never wanted to kill any Jews”; “he cared about conditions for Jews in the work camps”; “he implemented social and cultural reform.” Eight out of the other 10 search results agree: Hitler really wasn’t that bad. A few days later, I talk to Danny Sullivan, the founding editor of SearchEngineLand.com. He’s been recommended to me by several academics as one of the most knowledgeable experts on search. Am I just being naive, I ask him? Should I have known this was out there? “No, you’re not being naive,” he says. “This is awful. It’s horrible. It’s the equivalent of going into a library and asking a librarian about Judaism and being handed 10 books of hate. Google is doing a horrible, horrible job of delivering answers here. It can and should do better.” He’s surprised too. “I thought they stopped offering autocomplete suggestions for religions in 2011.” And then he types “are women” into his own computer. “Good lord! That answer at the top. It’s a featured result. It’s called a “direct answer”. This is supposed to be indisputable. It’s Google’s highest endorsement.” That every women has some degree of prostitute in her? “Yes. This is Google’s algorithm going terribly wrong.” I contacted Google about its seemingly malfunctioning autocomplete suggestions and received the following response: “Our search results are a reflection of the content across the web. This means that sometimes unpleasant portrayals of sensitive subject matter online can affect what search results appear for a given query. These results don’t reflect Google’s own opinions or beliefs – as a company, we strongly value a diversity of perspectives, ideas and cultures.” Google isn’t just a search engine, of course. Search was the foundation of the company but that was just the beginning. Alphabet, Google’s parent company, now has the greatest concentration of artificial intelligence experts in the world. It is expanding into healthcare, transportation, energy. It’s able to attract the world’s top computer scientists, physicists and engineers. It’s bought hundreds of start-ups, including Calico, whose stated mission is to “cure death” and DeepMind, which aims to “solve intelligence”. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin in 2002. Photograph: Michael Grecco/Getty Images And 20 years ago it didn’t even exist. When Tony Blair became prime minister, it wasn’t possible to Google him: the search engine had yet to be invented. The company was only founded in 1998 and Facebook didn’t appear until 2004. Google’s founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page are still only 43. Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook is 32. Everything they’ve done, the world they’ve remade, has been done in the blink of an eye. But it seems the implications about the power and reach of these companies is only now seeping into the public consciousness. I ask Rebecca MacKinnon, director of the Ranking Digital Rights project at the New America Foundation, whether it was the recent furore over fake news that woke people up to the danger of ceding our rights as citizens to corporations. “It’s kind of weird right now,” she says, “because people are finally saying, ‘Gee, Facebook and Google really have a lot of power’ like it’s this big revelation. And it’s like, ‘D’oh.’” MacKinnon has a particular expertise in how authoritarian governments adapt to the internet and bend it to their purposes. “China and Russia are a cautionary tale for us. I think what happens is that it goes back and forth. So during the Arab spring, it seemed like the good guys were further ahead. And now it seems like the bad guys are. Pro-democracy activists are using the internet more than ever but at the same time, the adversary has gotten so much more skilled.” Last week Jonathan Albright, an assistant professor of communications at Elon University in North Carolina, published the first detailed research on how rightwing websites had spread their message. “I took a list of these fake news sites that was circulating, I had an initial list of 306 of them and I used a tool – like the one Google uses – to scrape them for links and then I mapped them. So I looked at where the links went – into YouTube and Facebook, and between each other, millions of them… and I just couldn’t believe what I was seeing. “They have created a web that is bleeding through on to our web. This isn’t a conspiracy. There isn’t one person who’s created this. It’s a vast system of hundreds of different sites that are using all the same tricks that all websites use. They’re sending out thousands of links to other sites and together this has created a vast satellite system of rightwing news and propaganda that has completely surrounded the mainstream media system.” He found 23,000 pages and 1.3m hyperlinks. “And Facebook is just the amplification device. When you look at it in 3D, it actually looks like a virus. And Facebook was just one of the hosts for the virus that helps it spread faster. You can see the New York Times in there and the Washington Post and then you can see how there’s a vast, vast network surrounding them. The best way of describing it is as an ecosystem. This really goes way beyond individual sites or individual stories. What this map shows is the distribution network and you can see that it’s surrounding and actually choking the mainstream news ecosystem.” Like a cancer? “Like an organism that is growing and getting stronger all the time.” Charlie Beckett, a professor in the school of media and communications at LSE, tells me: “We’ve been arguing for some time now that plurality of news media is good. Diversity is good. Critiquing the mainstream media is good. But now… it’s gone wildly out of control. What Jonathan Albright’s research has shown is that this isn’t a byproduct of the internet. And it’s not even being done for commercial reasons. It’s motivated by ideology, by people who are quite deliberately trying to destabilise the internet.” Facebook Twitter Pinterest A spatial map of the rightwing fake news ecosystem. Jonathan Albright, assistant professor of communications at Elon University, North Carolina, “scraped” 300 fake news sites (the dark shapes on this map) to reveal the 1.3m hyperlinks that connect them together and link them into the mainstream news ecosystem. Here, Albright shows it is a “vast satellite system of rightwing news and propaganda that has completely surrounded the mainstream media system”. Photograph: Jonathan Albright Albright’s map also provides a clue to understanding the Google search results I found. What these rightwing news sites have done, he explains, is what most commercial websites try to do. They try to find the tricks that will move them up Google’s PageRank system. They try and “game” the algorithm. And what his map shows is how well they’re doing that. That’s what my searches are showing too. That the right has colonised the digital space around these subjects – Muslims, women, Jews, the Holocaust, black people – far more effectively than the liberal left. “It’s an information war,” says Albright. “That’s what I keep coming back to.” But it’s where it goes from here that’s truly frightening. I ask him how it can be stopped. “I don’t know. I’m not sure it can be. It’s a network. It’s far more powerful than any one actor.” So, it’s almost got a life of its own? “Yes, and it’s learning. Every day, it’s getting stronger.” The more people who search for information about Jews, the more people will see links to hate sites, and the more they click on those links (very few people click on to the second page of results) the more traffic the sites will get, the more links they will accrue and the more authoritative they will appear. This is an entirely circular knowledge economy that has only one outcome: an amplification of the message. Jews are evil. Women are evil. Islam must be destroyed. Hitler was one of the good guys. Fake news and a 400-year-old problem: we need to resolve the ‘post-truth’ crisis Read more And the constellation of websites that Albright found – a sort of shadow internet – has another function. More than just spreading rightwing ideology, they are being used to track and monitor and influence anyone who comes across their content. “I scraped the trackers on these sites and I was absolutely dumbfounded. Every time someone likes one of these posts on Facebook or visits one of these websites, the scripts are then following you around the web. And this enables data-mining and influencing companies like Cambridge Analytica to precisely target individuals, to follow them around the web, and to send them highly personalised political messages. This is a propaganda machine. It’s targeting people individually to recruit them to an idea. It’s a level of social engineering that I’ve never seen before. They’re capturing people and then keeping them on an emotional leash and never letting them go.” Cambridge Analytica, an American-owned company based in London, was employed by both the Vote Leave campaign and the Trump campaign. Dominic Cummings, the campaign director of Vote Leave, has made few public announcements since the Brexit referendum but he did say this: “If you want to make big improvements in communication, my advice is – hire physicists.” Steve Bannon, founder of Breitbart News and the newly appointed chief strategist to Trump, is on Cambridge Analytica’s board and it has emerged that the company is in talks to undertake political messaging work for the Trump administration. It claims to have built psychological profiles using 5,000 separate pieces of data on 220 million American voters. It knows their quirks and nuances and daily habits and can target them individually. “They were using 40-50,000 different variants of ad every day that were continuously measuring responses and then adapting and evolving based on that response,” says Martin Moore of Kings College. Because they have so much data on individuals and they use such phenomenally powerful distribution networks, they allow campaigns to bypass a lot of existing laws. “It’s all done completely opaquely and they can spend as much money as they like on particular locations because you can focus on a five-mile radius or even a single demographic. Fake news is important but it’s only one part of it. These companies have found a way of transgressing 150 years of legislation that we’ve developed to make elections fair and open.” Did such micro-targeted propaganda – currently legal – swing the Brexit vote? We have no way of knowing. Did the same methods used by Cambridge Analytica help Trump to victory? Again, we have no way of knowing. This is all happening in complete darkness. We have no way of knowing how our personal data is being mined and used to influence us. We don’t realise that the Facebook page we are looking at, the Google page, the ads that we are seeing, the search results we are using, are all being personalised to us. We don’t see it because we have nothing to compare it to. And it is not being monitored or recorded. It is not being regulated. We are inside a machine and we simply have no way of seeing the controls. Most of the time, we don’t even realise that there are controls. Facebook and Google move to kick fake news sites off their ad networks Read more Rebecca MacKinnon says that most of us consider the internet to be like “the air that we breathe and the water that we drink”. It surrounds us. We use it. And we don’t question it. “But this is not a natural landscape. Programmers and executives and editors and designers, they make this landscape. They are human beings and they all make choices.” But we don’t know what choices they are making. Neither Google or Facebook make their algorithms public. Why did my Google search return nine out of 10 search results that claim Jews are evil? We don’t know and we have no way of knowing. Their systems are what Frank Pasquale describes as “black boxes”. He calls Google and Facebook “a terrifying duopoly of power” and has been leading a growing movement of academics who are calling for “algorithmic accountability”. “We need to have regular audits of these systems,” he says. “We need people in these companies to be accountable. In the US, under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, every company has to have a spokesman you can reach. And this is what needs to happen. They need to respond to complaints about hate speech, about bias.” Is bias built into the system? Does it affect the kind of results that I was seeing? “There’s all sorts of bias about what counts as a legitimate source of information and how that’s weighted. There’s enormous commercial bias. And when you look at the personnel, they are young, white and perhaps Asian, but not black or Hispanic and they are overwhelmingly men. The worldview of young wealthy white men informs all these judgments.” Later, I speak to Robert Epstein, a research psychologist at the American Institute for Behavioural Research and Technology, and the author of the study that Martin Moore told me about (and that Google has publicly criticised), showing how search-rank results affect voting patterns. On the other end of the phone, he repeats one of the searches I did. He types “do blacks…” into Google. “Look at that. I haven’t even hit a button and it’s automatically populated the page with answers to the query: ‘Do blacks commit more crimes?’ And look, I could have been going to ask all sorts of questions. ‘Do blacks excel at sports’, or anything. And it’s only given me two choices and these aren’t simply search-based or the most searched terms right now. Google used to use that but now they use an algorithm that looks at other things. Now, let me look at Bing and Yahoo. I’m on Yahoo and I have 10 suggestions, not one of which is ‘Do black people commit more crime?’ “And people don’t question this. Google isn’t just offering a suggestion. This is a negative suggestion and we know that negative suggestions depending on lots of things can draw between five and 15 more clicks. And this all programmed. And it could be programmed differently.” What Epstein’s work has shown is that the contents of a page of search results can influence people’s views and opinions. The type and order of search rankings was shown to influence voters in India in double-blind trials. There were similar results relating to the search suggestions you are offered. “The general public are completely in the dark about very fundamental issues regarding online search and influence. We are talking about the most powerful mind-control machine ever invented in the history of the human race. And people don’t even notice it.” Good luck in making Google reveal its algorithm | John Naughton Read more Damien Tambini, an associate professor at the London School of Economics, who focuses on media regulation, says that we lack any sort of framework to deal with the potential impact of these companies on the democratic process. “We have structures that deal with powerful media corporations. We have competition laws. But these companies are not being held responsible. There are no powers to get Google or Facebook to disclose anything. There’s an editorial function to Google and Facebook but it’s being done by sophisticated algorithms. They say it’s machines not editors. But that’s simply a mechanised editorial function.” And the companies, says John Naughton, the Observer columnist and a senior research fellow at Cambridge University, are terrified of acquiring editorial responsibilities they don’t want. “Though they can and regularly do tweak the results in all sorts of ways.” Certainly the results about Google on Google don’t seem entirely neutral. Google “Is Google racist?” and the featured result – the Google answer boxed out at the top of the page – is quite clear: no. It is not. Google and Facebook are thinking long term. They have the resources, money and ambition to do whatever they want John Naughton But the enormity and complexity of having two global companies of a kind we have never seen before influencing so many areas of our lives is such, says Naughton, that “we don’t even have the mental apparatus to even know what the problems are”. And this is especially true of the future. Google and Facebook are at the forefront of AI. They are going to own the future. And the rest of us can barely start to frame the sorts of questions we ought to be asking. “Politicians don’t think long term. And corporations don’t think long term because they’re focused on the next quarterly results and that’s what makes Google and Facebook interesting and different. They are absolutely thinking long term. They have the resources, the money, and the ambition to do whatever they want. “They want to digitise every book in the world: they do it. They want to build a self-driving car: they do it. The fact that people are reading about these fake news stories and realising that this could have an effect on politics and elections, it’s like, ‘Which planet have you been living on?’ For Christ’s sake, this is obvious.” “The internet is among the few things that humans have built that they don’t understand.” It is “the largest experiment involving anarchy in history. Hundreds of millions of people are, each minute, creating and consuming an untold amount of digital content in an online world that is not truly bound by terrestrial laws.” The internet as a lawless anarchic state? A massive human experiment with no checks and balances and untold potential consequences? What kind of digital doom-mongerer would say such a thing? Step forward, Eric Schmidt – Google’s chairman. They are the first lines of the book, The New Digital Age, that he wrote with Jared Cohen. We don’t understand it. It is not bound by terrestrial laws. And it’s in the hands of two massive, all-powerful corporations. It’s their experiment, not ours. The technology that was supposed to set us free may well have helped Trump to power, or covertly helped swing votes for Brexit. It has created a vast network of propaganda that has encroached like a cancer across the entire internet. This is a technology that has enabled the likes of Cambridge Analytica to create political messages uniquely tailored to you. They understand your emotional responses and how to trigger them. They know your likes, dislikes, where you live, what you eat, what makes you laugh, what makes you cry. And what next? Rebecca MacKinnon’s research has shown how authoritarian regimes reshape the internet for their own purposes. Is that what’s going to happen with Silicon Valley and Trump? As Martin Moore points out, the president-elect claimed that Apple chief executive Tim Cook called to congratulate him soon after his election victory. “And there will undoubtedly be be pressure on them to collaborate,” says Moore. Journalism is failing in the face of such change and is only going to fail further. New platforms have put a bomb under the financial model – advertising – resources are shrinking, traffic is increasingly dependent on them, and publishers have no access, no insight at all, into what these platforms are doing in their headquarters, their labs. And now they are moving beyond the digital world into the physical. The next frontiers are healthcare, transportation, energy. And just as Google is a near-monopoly for search, its ambition to own and control the physical infrastructure of our lives is what’s coming next. It already owns our data and with it our identity. What will it mean when it moves into all the other areas of our lives? Facebook Twitter Pinterest Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg: still only 32 years of age. Photograph: Mariana Bazo/Reuters “At the moment, there’s a distance when you Google ‘Jews are’ and get ‘Jews are evil’,” says Julia Powles, a researcher at Cambridge on technology and law. “But when you move into the physical realm, and these concepts become part of the tools being deployed when you navigate around your city or influence how people are employed, I think that has really pernicious consequences.” Powles is shortly to publish a paper looking at DeepMind’s relationship with the NHS. “A year ago, 2 million Londoners’ NHS health records were handed over to DeepMind. And there was complete silence from politicians, from regulators, from anyone in a position of power. This is a company without any healthcare experience being given unprecedented access into the NHS and it took seven months to even know that they had the data. And that took investigative journalism to find it out.” The headline was that DeepMind was going to work with the NHS to develop an app that would provide early warning for sufferers of kidney disease. And it is, but DeepMind’s ambitions – “to solve intelligence” – goes way beyond that. The entire history of 2 million NHS patients is, for artificial intelligence researchers, a treasure trove. And, their entry into the NHS – providing useful services in exchange for our personal data – is another massive step in their power and influence in every part of our lives. Because the stage beyond search is prediction. Google wants to know what you want before you know yourself. “That’s the next stage,” says Martin Moore. “We talk about the omniscience of these tech giants, but that omniscience takes a huge step forward again if they are able to predict. And that’s where they want to go. To predict diseases in health. It’s really, really problematic.” For the nearly 20 years that Google has been in existence, our view of the company has been inflected by the youth and liberal outlook of its founders. Ditto Facebook, whose mission, Zuckberg said, was not to be “a company. It was built to accomplish a social mission to make the world more open and connected.” The more we argue with them, the more they know about us. It all feeds into a circular system Jonathan Albright It would be interesting to know how he thinks that’s working out. Donald Trump is connecting through exactly the same technology platforms that supposedly helped fuel the Arab spring; connecting to racists and xenophobes. And Facebook and Google are amplifying and spreading that message. And us too – the mainstream media. Our outrage is just another node on Jonathan Albright’s data map. “The more we argue with them, the more they know about us,” he says. “It all feeds into a circular system. What we’re seeing here is new era of network propaganda.” We are all points on that map. And our complicity, our credulity, being consumers not concerned citizens, is an essential part of that process. And what happens next is down to us. “I would say that everybody has been really naive and we need to reset ourselves to a much more cynical place and proceed on that basis,” is Rebecca MacKinnon’s advice. “There is no doubt that where we are now is a very bad place. But it’s we as a society who have jointly created this problem. And if we want to get to a better place, when it comes to having an information ecosystem that serves human rights and democracy instead of destroying it, we have to share responsibility for that.” Are Jews evil? How do you want that question answered? This is our internet. Not Google’s. Not Facebook’s. Not rightwing propagandists. And we’re the only ones who can reclaim it.

– Google will no longer offer a search suggestion for "are Jews evil" which directs users to anti-Semitic websites. The search engine says it has removed offensive autocomplete results initially spotted by Carole Cadwalladr at the Observer, reports the Guardian. Cadwalladr explained how Google suggested a search for "are Jews evil" when "are Jews" was typed into its search box. Typing "are women" and "are Muslims" returned "are women evil" and "are Muslims bad," Cadwalladr said. Clicking those suggestions took her to page results that would lead one to conclude that "Jews are evil. Women are evil. Islam must be destroyed. Hitler was one of the good guys," Cadwalladr added. An answer box highlighted by Google even explained that "every woman has some degree of prostitute in her." A data scientist urged Google to take action, noting it had "clearly become a conduit for right-wing hate sites" and a victim of "the troll army," per the Guardian. "It is clearly very frightening what is going on here." Most of the offensive autocomplete results spotted by Cadwalladr have since been erased—"are women equal to men" was among them, per CBS News—though "are Muslims bad" is still a suggestion. Google says it tries "to prevent offensive terms, like porn and hate speech, from appearing," but "autocomplete predictions are algorithmically generated based on users' search activity and interests" and "may be unexpected or unpleasant." That said, "we acknowledge that autocomplete isn't an exact science and we're always working to improve our algorithms." (Google previously suggested Wisconsin was "stupid.")

Mary Altaffer/Associated Press Guards try to wake a man sleeping in Zuccotti Park on Wednesday. The newly homeless Occupy Wall Street activists on Thursday plan a citywide day of demonstrations, an event that will test both the movement's resilience following its eviction from Zuccotti Park and the city's ability to deal with the decentralized protests. Protesters plan to start early. At 7 a.m., some say they'll try to march on Wall Street and disrupt the beginning of the work day. So far, a heavy police presence and a warren of barricades have kept protesters from holding serious protests on Wall Street. Others will gather in Zuccotti Park. WSJ's Jess Firger updates from the Occupy Wall Street protests, where protesters are being arrested after clashes with police. The end of the day suggests a heightening of protesting activities, with plans to march over the Brooklyn Bridge, she reports on Markets Hub. Photo: AP. In the afternoon, they're urging people to gather at transit hubs in each of the five boroughs. They've also called for student walkouts. Then, protesters plan to take trains to Foley Square, in Lower Manhattan. While on the subway, groups will talk about economic inequality, one organizer said. At Foley Square, plans call for a large rally that is being backed by some of the city's largest unions, one of which has obtained a permit for the rally. Protesters then plan to march across the Brooklyn Bridge's pedestrian path. The events are tied to the Occupy Wall Street movement's two-month anniversary. It's not clear how disruptive demonstrators plan to be, or what kind of police response they'll face. City officials on Wednesday said they're expecting problems and police are prepared to handle them. Following the Occupy Wall Street Protests See key dates since the Occupy Wall Street protests began. View Interactive More photos and interactive graphics "Everything that we have seen and heard suggests that we may have tens of thousands of people tomorrow protesting," Deputy Mayor Howard Wolfson told reporters on Wednesday. "The protesters are calling for a massive event aimed at disrupting major parts of the city." Paul Browne, an NYPD spokesman, declined to comment on any police department plans for policing the various protests on Thursday. "We don't talk about police tactics in advance," he said. After protesters were evicted from Zuccotti Park early Tuesday morning it's not clear if the demonstrations will end or if they'll enter a new phase. WSJ's Hilke Schellmann reports from downtown Manhattan. A police officer who works in a nonpatrol position in a Manhattan precinct said he has been ordered to report to duty policing the Occupy Wall Street protest at 4 a.m. Thursday. The officer, who asked not to be identified, said he has been told to muster at Broadway and Exchange Place and to bring "hats and bats," terms for riot helmets and batons. He said he didn't know exactly how many officers like him have been ordered to the detail but supposed if they're pressing him into action, "it will be a lot." Mr. Browne said that in general the protest has been peaceful but that there's been "a small group" of troublemakers. "Our kind of overall posture has not changed," Mr. Browne said. "We'll continue to accommodate peaceful protest." One widely circulated video showed a man outside Zuccotti Park on Tuesday yelling that protesters were going to burn New York City to the ground and "you're going to see what a Molotov cocktail can do to Macy's." At about 5 p.m. on Wednesday at Zuccotti Park, police arrested Nkrumah Tinsely, 29, of the Bronx and charged him with making terroristic threats. He was awaiting arraignment last night. With a few exceptions, most of the Occupy Wall Street demonstrations haven't had much impact on commuters or the basic functioning of New York City beyond a few relatively small areas, like Wall Street and Zuccotti Park. The park was barricaded Wednesday, with police and private security guards manning checkpoints to keep protesters from re-establishing the camp that was dismantled early Tuesday in a surprise police raid. A few demonstrators gathered inside, but most of the construction workers and office workers who used to frequent the park stayed away. Many protesters were elsewhere, too, recovering after the drama and confusion that followed their eviction from the park. Enlarge Image Close Justin Lane/European Pressphoto Agency A woman makes a sign near the park where protests had been based. Some volunteers were working to help the movement regroup. Bill Mills, a 20-year-old from New Jersey, was at the United Federation of Teachers space where Occupy Wall Street has been storing its cache of donated supplies. He fielded requests from protesters who came looking for gear such as pants, umbrellas and food. He said he thinks the sweep of Zuccotti Park will make the protests stronger by stripping away the people who came only for fun and free food, not activism. " Michael Bloomberg is my hero," Mr. Mills said. "He catapulted us out of all this lethargy. He threw out all the drunks, all the hypocrites, all the liars, all the people who were here for a little bit of fun, and brought us down to the people who are smart enough to get things done and really have something invested in this." —Alison Fox, Sean Gardiner and Sophia Hollander contributed to this article. Write to Andrew Grossman at [email protected] ||||| occupy wall street Thousands Assemble for Occupy Wall Street Day of Action [Updated] Update, 10:19 p.m.: The Daily News estimates that several thousand people marched across the Brooklyn Bridge. The bridge protest was largely peaceful and the marchers have now returned to Zuccotti Park. Some technologically adept Occupiers have been projecting a series of messages onto the giant Verizon building on the east side of Manhattan: "You are a part ... of a global uprising ... from the heart ... another world is possible ... we are winning. Check out the video here. Update, 6:30 p.m.: The Times reports that 60 protesters have already been arrested at the foot of the Brooklyn Bridge, where they sat in the road and chanted, "All day, all week, Occupy Wall Street." Among the arrested demonstrators was City Councilman Jumaane Williams. The police are going to need some more arrest buses. Update, 6:20 p.m.: Thousands of protesters have gathered in and around Foley Square, and next on the agenda is a giant march to the Brooklyn Bridge, which will cap off today's action-packed two-month anniversary of the protest's beginning. Way back at the start of October, remember, protesters marched on the Brooklyn Bridge, resulting in hundreds of arrests. Today they've made damn sure the NYPD knows they're coming. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FFA18IvFyE Update, 4:33 p.m.: In an afternoon press conference, Police Commissioner Ray Kelly said 177 people connected with the protests have been arrested so far today. The NYPD reports that the overtime tab for the city's cops is currently at $8 million. "Unfortunately, some protesters today have deliberately pursued violence," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Even in the face of this antagonism, the police maintained incredible restraint." In a dig at the day's action, he added, "The real story for tomorrow morning's paper was there were just not that many people out here." Protesters are currently demonstrating at subway stations around the city and marching around Union Square, where the crowds look pretty strong, at least from the Internet. Plans call for the protest to move next to Foley Square, a few blocks from City Hall. Update, 2:13 p.m.: The clash appears to have subsided again, as people are being allowed to exit and enter the park. The Daily News reports that an injured cop may have been the reason for the rush, and quotes an officer as saying, "There is an injured officer with a laceration to his hand. He is in stable condition. The protester had a glass object in his left hand. It's going to require stitches. The man who assaulted the officer is not in custody." The Times is now reporting that the protester with the glass has been apprehended. Eyewitnesses, meanwhile, are describing a protester who was kicking a barricade and caused a scuffle as police tried to detain him. Update, 1:53 p.m.: The NYPD is reportedly raiding Zuccotti Park again, entering with batons drawn and not allowing anyone to enter or exit the park. The scene is somewhat chaotic as journalists on the outside attempt to figure out what's going on inside. Mass arrests appear imminent as paddy wagons have pulled up and cops in riot gear surround the perimeter. The live-streaming of video persists. The videographer reports that a protester requesting to exit the barricades asked if he was stuck inside and an officer responded, "Yup." Protesters can be heard chanting, "We are the 99 percent," and "Leave our park." The Daily News reports that a police officer was hit in the head with a bottle, and a protester bleeding from the head was also seen being escorted out of the park by police. Sound cannons have also been deployed against protesters. Update, 12:58 p.m.: After a frenzied attempt by marchers to break down heightened security at Zuccotti Park, barricades were placed back around the area by 12:30 p.m. as the struggle between police and protesters subsided. Police say there were at least 75 arrests in the morning. During the return to the park from the morning's Stock Exchange march, the Times reports, "Officers could be seen shoving and hitting protesters and journalists." Update, 12:00 p.m.: Groups of demonstrators are now headed out of Zuccotti and towards the Brooklyn Bridge and City Hall, where there are plenty of police set up and waiting. Another group headed up Cedar Street, where police in riot gear mobilized. Update, 11:11 a.m.: The New York Times reports that protestors, amid chants of "our park", are trying to remove and jump the police barricades at Zuccotti. Police have moved in, and there have been several arrests. Update, 10:30 a.m: A group of protestors is headed back to Zuccotti; another is ensconced on Wall Street. Police say about 60 protestors have been arrested this a.m. There was a scuffle on William Street, as demonstrators took over the street, but it's now been cleared. Meanwhile, there were several arrests outside Trinity Church; one woman there spilled her tea while she was being arrested, then grabbed the container and threw the liquid on two cops. The church is also playing host to several topless women, who say they're protesting the treatment of women at Zuccotti Park. Update, 9:40 a.m: The Stock Exchange's opening bell rang on time at 9:30 a.m. Protestors responded by ringing a "people's bell" outside, where Wall Street workers struggled to press through the crowds to the office. Update, 9:21 a.m.: Nassau and Pine has been reopened to traffic, after arrested protestors were bussed away. There have also been arrests on Beaver Street, near New. And one arrestee this morning was a retired police captain named Ray Lewis, whom the crowd cheered as he was taken away. There's also a mini counter-protest, begun by people saying they want to get through to their offices — a group of men holding signs reading Get a Job and Occupy an Office. Elsewhere, an observer caught what looks like a Wall Streeter throwing a punch at a demonstrator. Update, 9:05 a.m: Here's the scene from Pine and Nassau, where the morning's first arrests took place. A group of perhaps 30 protestors sat down, to stake out their territory. Police told them they could be arrested for marching without a permit, and soon began to drag away the seated occupiers, batons unsheathed. Update, 8:24 a.m.: The march, which has swelled dramatically in size already, remains fairly peaceful: Lots of chanting, an ever-growing police presence, but no drama quite yet. Protesters have approached barricades at at least a couple sites, including Pine and Nassau and Wall and Hanover, but they've largely, it seems, either stopped to wait, or turned to continue marching. There's also been a sighting of Hipster Cop, who was apparently greeted with cheers — perhaps a sign that no one's in a truly combative mood yet today. ||||| Police officers clash with protesters affiliated with Occupy Wall Street in Zuccotti Park on November 17, 2011 in New York City. The day has been marked by sporadic violence, arrests, and injuries sustained by both protestors and police. Protesters attempted to shut down the New York Stock Exchange today, blocking roads and tying up traffic in Lower Manhattan. ( Andrew Burton/Getty Images ) By Mathew Katz, Serena Solomon, Julie Shapiro, Jill Colvin, Nicole Bode, Ben Fractenberg, Carla Zanoni, Tom Liddy and Leslie Albrecht DNAinfo Staff MANHATTAN — Tensions between cops and Occupy Wall Street protesters boiled over in Zuccotti Park Thursday afternoon following a failed morning attempt to shut down the New York Stock Exchange — part of a "Day of Action" to mark the movement's two-month anniversary that included thousands marching on the Brooklyn Bridge. The clashes came after more than 100 protesters were arrested as throngs from the anti-greed group surrounded the stock exchange chanting "Wall Street's closed." A total of 242 protesters had been arrested by Thursday afternoon, including five for assault, police said. Ten were injured in the process, including one with a head wound. "Some people were intent on being arrested. There's no question about that. It's part of the tactic and strategy," said Police Commissioner Raymond Kelly, who added that he was "pleased" with the performance of his officers. Seven police officers were injured during the mass protests, including five cops who had a liquid, possibly vinegar, tossed in their faces, Mayor Bloomberg said during a press conference at Bellevue Hospital, where one of the injured cops were being treated. Two officers were struck by objects thrown by protesters, including one, Matthew Walters, 24, who received 20 stitches in his left hand when he tried to deflect a star-shaped glass object that had been thrown at him. Another cop was treated and released for a hand injury. All of the officers were hospitalized but none was seriously hurt. "We will ensure that everyone has a right to execute their First Amendment Rights," said the mayor, adding that most protesters "have acted responsibly." "But make no mistake about it, if anyone's actions cross the line, and jeopardize the health and safety of the first responders, we will act accordingly." Cops also confiscated a dozen metal devices that could have been used by protesters to lock themselves to objects, but none were used. Just before 2 p.m., police closed the exits to Zuccotti Park, which was jammed with protesters, sparking a fight for control of the barricades surrounding the plaza — the movement's lower Manhattan base until the space was cleared Tuesday morning in a pre-dawn raid. Shortly before that, 30 or 40 cops surged into the park, but protesters surrounded the officers and started yelling. Police then pushed some protesters to the ground and hit others with batons. About 50 cops then stormed into the park, moving demonstrators from one side to the other while protesters pushed back. Cops stood in a circle in the center of the park while the group chanted, "This is a non-violent protest." In the melee, a man was seen laying on the ground bleeding from the head. Police said that the man, Brandon Watts, 20, tossed batteries and pieces of a plastic pen at police officers. He also allegedly stole a deputy inspector's hat. Watts then tried to shove metal barricades at the officers, who tackled him to the ground as he kicked at them, police said. The suspect, who hit his head on the ground, was treated and Bellevue Hospital and released. He was charged with attempted assault, resisting arrest and grand larceny, police said. The scuffle came just hours before a series of other actions including small protests on the subway in the afternoon and students rallying in Union Square and at Hunter College and a planned march on the Brooklyn Bridge, where more than 700 protesters were arrested in October. In Foley Square, ahead of the march to the bridge, thousands of protesters were joined by members of the Service Employees International Union and some 200 Verizon workers chanting "we are the 99 percent" and "this is what a police state looks like." Also among the throng were rappers Fab 5 Freddy and KRS ONE. As the group streamed through Lower Manhattan, funneled by police barricade, several protesters who had already gathered at the foot of the bridge were arrested, including City Councilman Jumaane Williams, according to his Twitter account. According to a witness, about 100 demonstrators wearing white shirts sat down and linked arms before being taken into custody. As protesters marched across the bridge chanting "Whose bridge? Our bridge?" cars honked their horns in support. Cheers erupted as a giant "99%" symbol was projected onto the Verizon building, near the base of the bridge. Earlier in the day, protesters said they thought their actions had delayed the stock exchange's opening bell, but an NYSE spokesman said trading started on time at 9:30 a.m. "For us, it's business as usual," said NYSE spokesman Ray Pellechia. But at Zuccotti Park demonstrators rang cow bells and climbed trees to celebrate their attempt to shut down the global trading hub. "I think it was a success," said 26-year-old Karen Jenson, a Wyoming resident who's been participating in the Occupy Wall Street protests for the past five weeks. "I was not overwhelmed with our success, but I felt like we were humble about it." Outside the stock exchange, some of the thousands of protesters that amassed formed a human chain to block workers from heading toward the financial center, sparking a clash with police. During the scuffle cops were seen repeatedly hitting a protester with a nightstick near Broad and Beaver streets. A protester in a wheelchair joyfully recounted how cops arrested her near William Street as demonstrators linked arms and refused police orders to disperse. "They asked me if I really wanted to be arrested," said 63-year-old Nadina LaStina, who uses a wheelchair because of a childhood bout with polio. "I said, that's why I'm here, so they arrested me." But police weren't able to load LaStina and her wheelchair into a paddy wagon to central booking with other arrested protesters. Instead took her mugshot in the street and handed her a summons for disorderly conduct on the spot. "It was extremely important to me as a disabled person," said LaStina of her arrest. "I am very angry. I want our democracy back." Many angry commuters were caught up in the fracas as they tried to make their way to work. "These a--holes need to get a job and stop keeping us from ours," said Jenn Bobics, 42, who works at an investment firm. "I can't get to work now, or at least I don't know how to." A 23-year-old security guard on her way to work from Queens called the protest "ridiculous." "I have to get to work," said Shareema Williams. Police had barricaded Wall Street at Broadway only allowing those with employee IDs to pass. They also closed Hanover and Pine streets, as well as Thames Street from Nassau Street to Broadway, and Nassau Street from just south of Cedar to Wall Street. Cops in riot gear tried to keep protesters on the sidewalk, but their swelling numbers caused many of them to spill into the street. At least eight police officers were stationed in front of Wall Street's famous bronze bull sculpture. Marchers heckled Wall Street workers as they showed up for work, shouting, "Get your corporate ID out, this is a police state" and "God Bless America." Tylee Robinson, a 23-year-old actor, tried to sneak past a police barricade wearing a suit and tie and carrying a fake corporate ID. "I'm prepared to get arrested, I'm prepared to get beaten," he said. But he drew the line at being the first to jump barricades. "I would follow someone else jumping over the barricade, but I wouldn't lead it," he said. Some protesters said it was Tuesday's police raid at Zuccotti Park that inspired them to join the day's events. Among them was Alison Bell, a 54-year-old lawyer from Stowe, Vt., who was with her 20-year-old son, Cameron, in Zuccotti Park. "I participated in these sorts of things at [my son's] age. It makes me hopeful for the first time in a long time," Bell said. "We want a big show of support from people who haven't been here before like me, and people who've been here from the beginning."

– Days after being removed from Zuccotti Park, Occupy Wall Street is launching its biggest day of protests yet, and the arrests are already piling up: Daily Intel reports that about 60 people have been arrested after clashing with police in their attempt to reach the New York Stock Exchange. Thousands marched toward the NYSE shortly after 7:30am in an attempt to block it on the movement’s two-month anniversary. Protesters chanted "Get your corporate ID out. This is a police state" and "God Bless America" at Wall Street workers as they passed through police checkpoints, notes DNAInfo. Though some workers had difficulty getting in, the stock exchange opened at 9:30am per usual; protesters rang a "people's bell" outside. Later in the day, protesters plan to head to subway stations to “listen to a singular story from one of our hardest-hit and most inspirational neighbors,” fliers for the event say. Next, it’s a march to Manhattan’s Foley Square, where a protest is backed by major unions; then on to local bridges to “demand that we get back to work rebuilding our country's infrastructure.” Officials say they expect “tens of thousands” of protesters. Police plan to bring “hats and bats”—riot gear—to the events, one tells the Wall Street Journal. Still, “we'll continue to accommodate peaceful protest,” says a rep for the NYPD.

On May 11 at 8:26 a.m. a 40-person team at VCU Medical Center successfully delivered sextuplets. Ajibola Taiwo, a native of Western Nigeria, was 30 weeks and two days pregnant when she gave birth to three boys and three girls by cesarean section. The babies ranged in weight from 1 pound, 10 ounces to 2 pounds, 15 ounces. All six are doing well and continue to thrive in the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU neonatal intensive care unit. (L to R) Adeboye and Ajibola Taiwo held two of their sextuplets on May 23, 2017. The couple practiced kangaroo care, also known as skin-to-skin. During kangaroo care, the baby is held against the bare chest of a parent. The act of placing the infant skin-to-skin with mom or dad has been shown to maintain skin temperature regulation of the newborn, increase initiation of successful breastfeeding, and ease the transition to life outside the womb. The Taiwos tried to conceive for 17 years and were overcome with joy when they saw four heartbeats at their first ultrasound in November. It was not until January when they arrived at VCU Medical Center that they learned they were expecting sextuplets. “I was excited,” said Adeboye Taiwo, the father. “For the very first time we were expecting.” According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2015 there were nearly 4 million live births in the United States, only 24 of which were quintuplets or other higher order births. Delivering sextuplets requires a coordinated team effort including many hours of planning and simulation. The Taiwos’ medical team included experts from maternal-fetal medicine, labor and delivery, nursing, anesthesia, respiratory, neonatal medicine, social work, nutrition, cardiology and chaplain services. “The team quickly assembled to begin prenatal management and delivery planning including pre-delivery drills and resuscitation exercises,” said Susan Lanni, M.D., medical director of labor and delivery and maternal-fetal specialist at VCU Medical Center. “A typical labor and delivery shift includes one, perhaps two premature births, usually with time in between. We had to coordinate with our colleagues in the NICU for six premature babies to be delivered simultaneously.” The comfort of kangaroo care and skin-to-skin-contact, provided as soon as safely possible for a newborn and as often as possible for an infant in the NICU, supports attachment and bonding for both the infant and parent and provides a calm, soothing environment closer to what the baby experienced before birth. Developing a relationship with the mother and father was a critical component to the successful high-risk delivery. “We’re going through this extraordinary journey together with the family,” said Ronald Ramus, M.D., director of the Division of Maternal-Fetal Medicine at VCU Medical Center. “It’s not every day that parents bring home sextuplets. Mrs. Taiwo was eating, sleeping and breathing for seven. A lot of the support and encouragement we gave her to make it as far as she did was important, and one of the biggest contributions we made as a team.” Adeboye Taiwo said everyone performed beyond his expectations from the time they arrived at VCU Medical Center. “The medical team is excellent in medicine and hospitality,” he said. “We are far from home but the medical team is our family. That is what got us this far.” Ajibola Taiwo was discharged from the hospital May 18. She and her husband actively participate in the sextuplets’ care in the NICU. “This is an amazing medical accomplishment that would not be possible without the outstanding coordination of our obstetrics and neonatal teams,” said Russell Moores, M.D., medical director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unitat Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU. “While our level 4 NICU cares for the region’s most critically ill and premature babies every day, it’s humbling to help the Taiwos’ new family survive and thrive. Given their prematurity, they are doing exceptionally well, but should they require subspecialty care, we have all that they could need at CHoR.” “I hope for the smallest of my six children to grow up and say ‘I was so small, and look at me now,’” said Ajibola Taiwo. “I want my kids [to] come back to VCU to study and learn to care for others with the same people who cared for me and my family.” Jamie Burton, RN, repositioned one of the sextuplets, comforting her with a crocheted octopus. The octopus’ soft tentacles comfort the baby and remind her of the mother’s umbilical cord inside the womb, helping to prevent the baby from pulling on her tubes and wires. Editor’s note: At this time the hospital and family are not facilitating media requests. A media availability may be provided once the babies are discharged from the hospital. ||||| RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A Virginia hospital says its staff has successfully delivered sextuplets and the three boys and three girls are thriving. VCU Medical Center in Richmond announced the births in a statement Wednesday, saying they were the first sextuplets delivered at the hospital. The babies were born May 11 to parents who had tried to conceive for 17 years. The statement says a 40-person team was involved and the delivery required hours of planning. Ajibola Taiwo, a native of Nigeria, gave birth via cesarean section. The babies ranged from 1 pound, 10 ounces, to 2 pounds, 15 ounces. Sextuplets are quite rare. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, of the nearly 4 million live births in the U.S. in 2015, only 24 were quintuplets or other higher-order births.

– A couple who spent 17 years trying to conceive finally managed the feat—six times over. A Virginia hospital says sextuplets born May 11 to Ajibola Taiwo, a native of Nigeria, are "thriving." The three boys and three girls were born via C-section, and weigh between 1 pound, 10 ounces, and 2 pounds, 15 ounces, each. It's the first set of sextuplets born at Richmond's VCU Medical Center, which employed a 40-person team in the birth. And it wasn't just an extremely rare occurrence for the hospital: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention logged only 24 births involving quintuplets or more among the US' almost 4 million live births in 2015, reports the AP. The Times-Dispatch reports Taiwo was 30 weeks and 2 days along at delivery and was released after a week in the hospital. "I hope for the smallest of my six children to grow up and say, 'I was so small, and look at me now,'" she says. A hospital press release explains that four heartbeats appeared during the couple's first ultrasound in November; it wasn't until January that they learned the four heartbeats were actually six. (This birth story garnered extensive press coverage this month, but for tragic reasons.)

Professor Shambaugh is an internationally recognized authority and author on contemporary China and the international relations of Asia, with a strong interest in the European Union and transatlantic issues. Before joining the faculty at George Washington, he held the positions of Reader in Chinese Politics at the University of London's School of Oriental & African Studies (SOAS) and Editor of The China Quarterly. He also previously served as an analyst on the staff of the National Security Council East Asia Bureau and the Department of State's Bureau of Intelligence & Research (1976-78). He was also a nonresident Senior Fellow in the Foreign Policy Studies Program at The Brookings Institution (1998-2015), previously directed the Asia Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (1986-87), served on the Board of Directors of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (2009-2015), and has been elected a member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, U.S. Asia-Pacific Council, and other public policy and scholarly organizations. He is a recipient of research grants from the Ford Foundation, Rockefeller Foundation, Smith Richardson Foundation, German Marshall Fund, British Academy, U.S. National Academy of Sciences, and other philanthropic bodies. He has been appointed a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars (2002-03), an Honorary Research Professor at the Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (2008–), a Senior Fulbright Research Scholar at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences Institute of World Economics & Politics in Beijing (2009-10), and Distinguished Visiting Professor at the S. Ranjaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore (2017). Professor Shambaugh has also been a visiting scholar or professor at universities in Australia, China, Hong Kong, Italy, India, Japan, Russia, and Taiwan. He is also a frequent contributor to the international media, serves on a number of editorial boards, and has been a consultant to various governments, research institutions, foundations, and private corporations. Professor Shambaugh is a prolific author, having published more than 30 books and 300 articles. ||||| Propaganda officials warn state media off using moniker after push to portray leader as man of the people appears to backfire Chinese propaganda chiefs have reportedly ordered state-controlled media to refrain from using the nickname “Big Daddy Xi” to refer to the president. Since Xi Jinping took power in 2012 the epithet has been at the centre of an energetic push to portray the Communist party leader as an omnipotent people’s president. An entire genre of “Big Daddy Xi”-themed songs has sprung up, fuelling fears that he is attempting to build a Mao-like personality cult. Singing Xi's praises: chorus of Chinese pop songs celebrate president Read more However, China’s official news agency, Xinhua, and the leading 21st Century Business Herald newspaper have received instructions to steer clear of the nickname, Bloomberg reported. One Xinhua journalist told the Guardian the news group had become cautious in its use of the nickname “Xi Dada” – which translates as Big Daddy or Uncle Xi – although they had not seen a specific written instruction to avoid the term. The moniker has not appeared on Xinhua’s website since 27 April but did show up in a 1 May story on another party-run news website with the headline: “What Big Daddy Xi said at the Communist party’s Central Party School conference.” It is unclear why Beijing’s propaganda officials have decided to step back from Xi’s nickname. Experts believe it may hint at growing discomfort – both in and outside China – about how the leader is portrayed as a Mao-style autocrat. In recent weeks, Chinese officials have expressed discomfort over the perception that a cult of personality is growing around their leader. The website of the Economist was blocked in China after a cartoon on its front page showed Xi sporting a Mao-style Zhongshan suit beside the headline: “Beware the cult of Xi”. Writing in the New York Review of Books this month, Columbia University’s Prof Andrew J Nathan accused Xi of bringing back “many of the most dangerous features of Mao’s rule: personal dictatorship, enforced ideological conformity, and arbitrary persecution”. Kerry Brown, the author of CEO, China: The Rise of Xi Jinping, said the apparent move to purge Xi’s nickname from headlines was a possible admission that China’s portrayal of its leader had backfired. While spin doctors had hoped to paint Xi as a respected globe-trotting world leader, Brown said, large portions of the international community and media now viewed Xi as “a big, big dictator”. “That’s a big-time propaganda failure,” he said. “I can imagine that in their five-minute-a-month meeting with Xi Jinping, the head of publicity got told: ‘Whose bright idea was that [nickname]? Send him or her to Gansu [in China’s far west]!’” Brown added: “They don’t want [China] to be seen as an autocracy. So this interpretation of the outside world as a Xi Jinping autocracy must be driving them absolutely nuts.” 'Rule the party strictly!': Chinese president 'Big Daddy Xi' makes rap debut Read more Roderick MacFarquhar, a Harvard University China expert, said the apparent abandonment of the nickname was unlikely to signal a change in direction for the authoritarian leader, who has suggested is the country’s most powerful since Mao. “My own feeling is that he may be tweaking the way he presents himself but I don’t think that he is changing his fundamental principles. [His belief remains] that if there is going to be a ‘Chinese dream’ it has got to be Xi Jinping who is in charge,” MacFarquhar said. “I don’t know whether his spies or informants have told him that ‘Xi Dada’ has made him look rather ridiculous … but there is some talk that the propaganda chief may have been overdoing it deliberately, and maybe Xi Jinping fell for that.” Qiao Mu, an outspoken journalism professor from the Beijing Foreign Studies University, said he was unaware of an explicit directive to avoid the nickname but said it was possible verbal orders had been given to tone down the intense media focus on Xi. The academic said he would welcome such a move. “The members of the politburo should all be equal. So why don’t we have a ‘Big Daddy Wang’ and a ‘Big Daddy Zhang’, as well as a ‘Big Daddy Xi’?” MacFarquhar admitted the inner workings of Chinese politics were so opaque it was hard to grasp the significance of the move. “I think there are all sorts of currents around Chinese leaders at the moment and it is difficult to tell who is on whose side,” he said. Additional reporting by Christy Yao. ||||| Rating is available when the video has been rented. This feature is not available right now. Please try again later. ||||| It was the dream of pop stardom that convinced Zhou Dandan, a belly dancing instructor from Hubei province, to pen her paean to the Chinese president, Xi Jinping. For Tang Jianyu it was a desire to canonise her country’s commander-in-chief. “He is the ideal husband for any girl,” gushed Tang, a 39-year-old amateur musician from Wuxi in Zhejiang province. As Xi moves into his fourth year as president of the world’s most populous nation, the two musicians are part of a growing chorus of Chinese minstrels singing the praises of the man they call “Xi Dada” which translates as Uncle or Big Daddy Xi. A rapidly expanding list of pop hits celebrating the president includes tracks such as Our Xi Dada, The Idol Xi Dada, If You Want to Marry, Marry Somebody Like Xi Dada, China has its Xi Dada, Be a Man Like Xi Dada and, best known of all, Xi Dada Loves Peng Mama (a reference to China’s first lady, Peng Liyuan). “I want to sing Big Daddy Xi’s praises,” explained Zhou, 29, who is from the city of Xiangyang and uses the stage name “A Yi Mi La”. “There are millions of reports telling Xi’s story so it struck me I should write a song about him.” She added: “I think he is a very ambitious [leader]. He is very bold but at the same time cautious.” Part of the fast-growing Xi repertoire seems to be genuinely spontaneous tributes to a leader whose high-profile anti-corruption campaign has won him many fans. Other works – such as a big budget television song and dance extravaganza that was reportedly bankrolled by the government of Hunan province – appear part of a coordinated propaganda push to bolster Xi’s standing. “We are in your hearts! You are in our hearts! You love us, the people! We the people deeply love you!” the performers of that state-backed song chant. Some detect a troubling attempt to build a Mao-esque personality cult around Xi. Carl Minzner, an expert in Chinese governance at New York’s Fordham University, said Xi’s time in office had seen an increasingly intense and fawning focus on the Communist party chief in the media and some sections of the arts. “You put all those things together … and it’s a budding cult of personality. And the fear about that is that this has echoes that go back to the Maoist era and you just wonder how that might get used,” he said. In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the revered China scholar David Shambaugh said: “I thought the Chinese system had moved beyond one-man-rule and personality cults.” He added: “Xi has obviously reversed this carefully crafted norm, and I do not think it is good for China. This is not the 1960s.” Daniel Leese, author of Mao Cult: Rhetoric and Ritual in China’s Cultural Revolution, said Xi had a long way to go before emulating Mao’s cult following. However, he too saw hints of a personality cult developing around Xi. Unlike the portrayal of Mao Zedong, Xi was not depicted as a god-like figure. “He is not superhuman,” Leese said. Rather, propaganda chiefs sought to craft the image of an approachable public servant who boasted both supreme leadership skills and the ability to act as a detached and influential political referee. Budding poets are also attempting to get in on the act, including Pu Liye, the author of one recent ode to Xi. “General secretary, my eyes follow in your wake. And in these eyes my verse takes shape,” reads one of the poem’s opening lines. Pu, a journalist at the state-run Xinhua news agency, declined to discuss his homage to Xi, which was received with widespread derision on the internet, but he confirmed that he wrote the politically-charged stanzas. “I don’t want to say much,” he said. “Is that OK?” Additional reporting by Christy Yao ||||| China has become the powerhouse of the world economy, its incredible boom overseen by the elite members of the secretive and all-powerful communist party. But since the election of Xi Jinping as General Secretary, life at the top in China has changed. Under the guise of a corruption crackdown, which has seen his rivals imprisoned, Xi Jinping has been quietly building one of the most powerful leaderships modern China has ever seen. In CEO China, the noted China expert Kerry Brown reveals the hidden story of the rise of the man dubbed the 'Chinese Godfather'. Brown investigates his relationship with his revolutionary father, who was expelled by Mao during the Cultural Revolution, his business dealings and allegiances in China's regional power struggles and his role in the internal battle raging between the old men of the Deng era and the new super-rich 'princelings'. Xi Jinping's China is powerful, aggressive and single-minded and this book will become a must-read for the Western world. ||||| Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period. ||||| A push to rein in a popular nickname for Chinese President Xi Jinping signals his image-makers are refining their effort to portray him as a populist hero of the masses. In recent weeks, news outlets including the official Xinhua News Agency and the 21st Century Business Herald have been cautioned against using “Xi Dada” in reports and on social media, according to people with knowledge of the matter. QuickTake China's Pain Points Xinhua employees were told last Friday not to refer to Xi as "Dada," said one of the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal policies. The Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission received a similar order for its publications, according to another person. Since Xi came to power more than three years ago, the name -- literally Xi Big Big, or Big Daddy Xi in his hometown vernacular -- has proliferated on social media, with videos, songs and poetry praising him as an affable father figure. While that image has helped offset perceptions of his privileged upbringing as the "princeling" son of a revolutionary leader, it’s fueled criticism that the Communist Party was building a new personality cult like the one blamed for political turmoil under Mao Zedong. Edicts banning the use of the name by state-controlled media show authorities feel they need to tone down the rhetoric, said Zhang Lifan, a Beijing-based historian and political commentator. "The deification effort has hit a snag," Zhang said. "The approach was a bit too crude and went overboard, and it met with resistance and even sparked repulsion. The propaganda team needs something different to accentuate Xi’s authority." Fan Club The name "Xi Dada" dates back to the early days of his ascension as party secretary, with a verified fan club using it in a December 2012 post on the Twitter-like Weibo, according to the website of the party’s People’s Daily newspaper. It’s a term used in Shaanxi, the northwestern region where Xi’s father was born and where the future president toiled as a "sent-down youth" during Mao’s Cultural Revolution. Tourists pose for photos at the Qing-Feng Steamed Dumpling Shop in Beijing on Dec. 29, 2013, a day after Xi Jinping dropped in unexpectedly and ordered a simple lunch meal. Photographer: Ng Han Guan/AP Photo Xi personally endorsed the nickname in September 2014, when he gave a school teacher visiting Beijing from the southwest province of Guizhou permission to address him by it. "Xi Dada" became a central feature of a social media campaign encouraged by state-controlled media, including smiling cartoons of Xi and photos of his impromptu visit to a Beijing dumpling shop. Before Xi’s visit to the U.S. last September, the People’s Daily posted the online video "Who Is Xi Dada?" featuring foreign students expressing admiration for the "cute" leader. A song with the lyric, "If you want to marry, marry someone like Xi Dada, a man full of heroism, with a strong backbone," was circulated widely this year. Personality Politics Such imagery struck others as a regression to personality politics. Deleted Weibo posts collected by the U.S.-based China Digital Times website include protests against the term, with one August 2014 post describing it as "only used by prostrating lackeys hungry for a daddy." Why authorities are now reining in the term is unclear. A 21st Century Business Herald journalist, who was informed about the policy recently and asked not to be identified, said the name was overused and probably seen as counterproductive. While media and government agencies have been told not to use the nickname, there’s no indication it’s being blocked from Internet searches or scrubbed from web pages and social media accounts. One contributing factor may have been public criticism of the Lunar New Year Gala in February, an event watched by 690 million people, according to China Central Television. Stages symbolizing steps in Xi’s political career and sequences extolling his leadership of last year’s military parade led Internet users to dismiss the show as politicized and an extended version of CCTV’s state-managed nightly news broadcast. "My guess is that Xi doesn’t want his image to be too familiar and warm," said Perry Link, author of "An Anatomy of Chinese: Rhythm, Metaphor, Politics," and a professor of Chinese studies at the University of California at Riverside. "He would rather it be imposing and awe-inspiring, like Mao’s."

– It seemed a good idea at the time, but China's propaganda officials are now reportedly walking back one particular attempt to paint President Xi Jinping as the "people's president" by asking state media to stop referring to him by his nickname, per the Guardian. That nickname is "Xi Dada," or "Big Daddy Xi," and while the intent of the moniker was, as another Guardian article frames it, to "craft the image of an approachable public servant," it seems to have instead created a cult of personality that some fear is reminiscent of Mao Zedong. Sources tell Bloomberg that both the Xinhua News Agency and the 21st Century Business Herald were "cautioned" last month about using "Xi Dada," even though the name doesn't appear to have been blocked from online searches or scrubbed online, and no explicit written ban seems to have been issued. The nickname got its start after a fan club started circulating it in 2012, per the People's Daily, and Xi himself gave it the thumbs-up in 2014. There's even a series of songs that have been dedicated to Big Daddy Xi, including "Our Xi Dada" and "Xi Dada Loves Peng Mama" (referring to his wife). "I thought the Chinese system had moved beyond one-man-rule and personality cults," noted Chinese scholar David Shambaugh scoffs to the Guardian. "I do not think it is good for China. This is not the 1960s." Experts speculate it's that sort of thinking that may have caused officials to try to pull back the name, even blocking the Economist website for posting a cartoon Xi in a Mao-style getup next to the headline, "Beware the cult of Xi." Some say Xi is likely not pleased. "That's a big-time propaganda failure," the author of a book on Xi's rise tells the Guardian. "I can imagine that in their five-minute-a-month meeting with Xi Jinping, the head of publicity got told: 'Whose bright idea was that [nickname]? Send him or her to Gansu [in China's far west]!'" (Did Taiwan's president call him "Big Daddy Xi" during their historic handshake?)

According to the New York Post and People.com, Nicole “Snooki” Pollizzi, is, despite her protestations, pregnant with her first child. “The Jersey Shore star is roughly three months pregnant, and the baby’s father is her boyfriend, Jionni LaValle, according to the paper, which also notes that as recently as Feb. 2, the diminutive reality star went on ABC’s Good Morning America and shot down stories about her being in a family way.” But Snooki isn’t an outlier in her baby mama drama. Pollizi, who recently began filming a reality spin-off of the Jersey Shore with costar and friend Jenni Farley in my hometown of Jersey City, NJ, is experiencing what millions of single American women will go through this year: the weighty iron wrench that a bambino throws into even the best-laid plans for life, career, relationships, you name it. According to recent reporting in the NYTimes, the fastest-growing group of new moms are young, single women. “More than half of births to American women under 30 occur outside marriage,” Sabrina Tavernise writes, “It used to be called illegitimacy. Now it is the new normal.” Only in Snooki’s case, we get to watch it play out in the tabloids. And in terms of her career, it’s a much bigger, heavier and potentially more destructive wrench. See, the 4’9” star has built her name upon her Jersey Shore antics—skipping work, flashing her panties, getting arrested—most often with the lubrication of liquor. She’s lined her pockets with endorsement deals for energy drinks and diet pills—definite no-no’s for a mommy-to-be. It would be easy to say that Snooki’s troubles—should this baby turn out to be true—are worlds away from those of your run-of-the-mill (read: non reality star) pregnant 24-year-old. But the truth is that her issues are just heightened versions of the same. Will she be able to provide for her child? Likely, although it depends on whether she’s hired a real-deal wealth manager or if she’s squandering her $100K an episode on leopard print and spray tans. Will her career plans survive this unexpected baby-bump in the road? If she can convince producers that her labor should be televised, then maybe. And in the end, will Snooki be a good mother? While the premise of the new series, rumored to be titled “Snooki and JWoww v. The World,” is still unknown, it’s easy to imagine producers thought it would follow suit: on the pair’s first weekend in Jersey City they celebrated Jenni “JWoww” Farley’s 26th birthday at O’Connell’s Bar by renting out a full floor for partying. For her part, Polizzi’s told the press that it won’t be all vodka and club-hopping this season. “We want it to be different than ‘Jersey Shore,’ so it’s not always going to the club, drinking and partying,” she told US Weekly. “It’s the first time I’m going to be on my own for real. You’ve only seen the party side of us.” On her own, or drinking for two? Reps for both Polizzi and 495 Productions, which produces the show in addition to Jersey Shore, did not respond to phonecalls, but given the delayed production schedule, it’s worth speculating that it was Snooki’s big news that slowed things down, not the conflicts over locations that were fed to the press. Were production assistant scrambling for set pieces to hide the bump as it grows over the six weeks of filming? According to the unnamed sources in Wednesday’s Post, Snooki is one step ahead of everyone, plotting to parlay the wrench of an unexpected pregnancy into (yet another) media moment: she’s allegedly brokered a deal to announce her pregnancy on the cover of US Weekly. We’ll just have to wait and see if 495 Productions and their cameras are in on the fun. What do you think? If Snooki told 495 bigwig Sally Ann Salsano that she was in a family way, did Salsano see red—or only dollar signs? ||||| IS THERE A TEST FOR FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME AT THREE MONTHS IN UTERO? Sources tell the New York Post that perpetual party girl is preggers but keeping the news under wraps so she can sell it to a tabloid. Check out What To Expect When Snooki's Expecting: The Fallout On Jersey Shore Jersey Shore's breakout star -- and by that we don't mean herpes -- is currently filming her spinoff series with Jenni "JWoww" Farley in Jersey City. Star reported several weeks ago that Snookums was pregnant, but the diminutive star with the loud persona denied those claims on GMA on Feb. 2. Snooki's obviously ambivalent boyfriend, Jionni LaValle, is speculated to be the father. Snooki has been practically whining during the last few months that she wants to be married, telling Ryan Seacrest in January that LaValle is "the one" and "Oh my god, I can’t wait to have guido babies.” God help that devil spawn. ||||| "FASD" redirects here. For other uses, see FASD (disambiguation) Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs) are a group of conditions that can occur in a person whose mother drank alcohol during pregnancy.[1] Problems may include an abnormal appearance, short height, low body weight, small head size, poor coordination, low intelligence, behavior problems, and problems with hearing or seeing.[1][2] Those affected are more likely to have trouble in school, legal problems, participate in high-risk behaviors, and have trouble with alcohol or other drugs.[7] The most severe form of the condition is known as fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).[1] Other types include partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS), alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD).[1][8] Some accept only FAS as a diagnosis, seeing the evidence as inconclusive with respect to other types.[9] Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are caused by drinking alcohol during pregnancy.[1] Surveys from the United States have found about 10% of pregnant women have drunk alcohol in the last month, and 20% to 30% drank at some point during the pregnancy.[10] About 4.7% of North American women who are pregnant are alcoholics.[11] The risk of problems depends on the amount consumed and the frequency of consumption as well as when during pregnancy the alcohol is consumed.[10] Other risk factors include an older mother, smoking, and poor diet.[12][10] There is no known safe amount or safe time to drink during pregnancy.[1][13] While drinking small amounts of alcohol does not cause abnormalities in the face, it may cause behavioral issues.[11] Alcohol crosses the blood brain barrier and both directly and indirectly affects a developing baby.[14] Diagnosis is based on signs and symptoms in the person.[1] Fetal alcohol spectrum disorders are preventable by avoiding alcohol.[4] For this reason, medical authorities recommend no alcohol during pregnancy or while trying to become pregnant.[15][16][17] While the condition is permanent, treatment can improve outcomes.[1][3] Interventions may include parent-child interaction therapy, efforts to modify child behavior, and possibly medications.[5] FASD is estimated to affect between 2% and 5% of people in the United States and Western Europe.[6] FAS is believed to occur in between 0.2 and 9 per 1000 live births in the United States.[6] In South Africa, some populations have rates as high as 9%.[8] The negative effects of alcohol during pregnancy have been described since ancient times.[8] The lifetime cost per child with FAS was $2,000,000 in 2002 in the US.[6] The term fetal alcohol syndrome was first used in 1973.[8] Types [ edit ] FASDs encompass a range of physical and neurodevelopmental problems that can result from prenatal alcohol exposure.[1] The most severe condition is called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS),[1] which refers to individuals who have a specific set of birth defects and neurodevelopmental disorders characteristic of the diagnosis.[18] Some accept only FAS as a diagnosis, seeing the evidence as inconclusive with respect to other types.[9] Partial fetal alcohol syndrome (pFAS) refers to individuals with a known, or highly suspected, history of prenatal alcohol exposure who have alcohol-related physical and neurodevelopmental deficits that do not meet the full criteria for FAS.[18] The subtypes of pFAS are alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) and alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD).[18] In addition to FAS, pFAS, ARND, and ARBD, any other conditions believed to be related to prenatal alcohol exposure, such as spontaneous abortion and sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), are also considered to be on the spectrum of related disorders.[18] It is unclear as of 2017 if identifying a FASD-related conditions benefits the individual.[9] Signs and symptoms [ edit ] Facial characteristics of a child with FAS The key of FASD can vary between individuals exposed to alcohol during pregnancy. While consensus exists for the definition and diagnosis of FAS, minor variations among the systems lead to differences in definitions and diagnostic cut-off criteria for other diagnoses across the FASD continuum. The central nervous system damage criteria particularly lack clear consensus. A working knowledge of the key features is helpful in understanding FASD diagnoses and conditions, and each is reviewed with attention to similarities and differences across the four diagnostic systems. More than 400 problems, however, can occur with FASD.[19] Growth [ edit ] In terms of FASD, growth deficiency is defined as significantly below average height, weight or both due to prenatal alcohol exposure, and can be assessed at any point in the lifespan. Growth measurements must be adjusted for parental height, gestational age (for a premature infant), and other postnatal insults (e.g., poor nutrition), although birth height and weight are the preferred measurements.[20] Deficiencies are documented when height or weight falls at or below the 10th percentile of standardized growth charts appropriate to the population.[21] Criteria for FASD are least specific in the IOM diagnostic system ("low birth weight..., decelerating weight not due to nutrition..., [or] disproportional low weight to height" p. 4 of executive summary),[16] while the CDC and Canadian guidelines use the 10th percentile as a cut-off to determine growth deficiency.[2][22] The "4-Digit Diagnostic Code" allows for mid-range gradations in growth deficiency (between the 3rd and 10th percentiles) and severe growth deficiency at or below the 3rd percentile.[20] Growth deficiency (at severe, moderate, or mild levels) contributes to diagnoses of FAS and pFAS, but not ARND or static encephalopathy. Growth deficiency is ranked as follows by the "4-Digit Diagnostic Code":[20] Severe: Height and weight at or below the 3rd percentile. Moderate: Either height or weight at or below the 3rd percentile, but not both. Mild: Either height or weight or both between the 3rd and 10th percentiles. None: Height and weight both above the 10th percentile. In the initial studies that discovered FAS, growth deficiency was a requirement for inclusion in the studies; thus, all the original people with FAS had growth deficiency as an artifact of sampling characteristics used to establish criteria for the syndrome.[citation needed] That is, growth deficiency is a key feature of FASD because growth deficiency was a criterion for inclusion in the study that defined FAS. This suggests growth deficiency may be less critical for understanding the disabilities of FASD than the neurobehavioral sequelae to the brain damage.[16] Facial features [ edit ] Several characteristic craniofacial abnormalities are often visible in individuals with FAS.[23] The presence of FAS facial features indicates brain damage, although brain damage may also exist in their absence. FAS facial features (and most other visible, but non-diagnostic, deformities) are believed to be caused mainly during the 10th and 20th week of gestation.[24] Refinements in diagnostic criteria since 1975 have yielded three distinctive and diagnostically significant facial features known to result from prenatal alcohol exposure and distinguishes FAS from other disorders with partially overlapping characteristics.[25][26] The three FAS facial features are: A smooth philtrum: The divot or groove between the nose and upper lip flattens with increased prenatal alcohol exposure. Thin vermilion: The upper lip thins with increased prenatal alcohol exposure. Small palpebral fissures: Eye width decreases with increased prenatal alcohol exposure. Measurement of FAS facial features uses criteria developed by the University of Washington. The lip and philtrum are measured by a trained physician with the Lip-Philtrum Guide,[27] a five-point Likert Scale with representative photographs of lip and philtrum combinations ranging from normal (ranked 1) to severe (ranked 5). Palpebral fissure length (PFL) is measured in millimeters with either calipers or a clear ruler and then compared to a PFL growth chart, also developed by the University of Washington.[28] Ranking FAS facial features is complicated because the three separate facial features can be affected independently by prenatal alcohol. A summary of the criteria follows:[20][29] Severe: All three facial features ranked independently as severe (lip ranked at 4 or 5, philtrum ranked at 4 or 5, and PFL two or more standard deviations below average). Moderate: Two facial features ranked as severe and one feature ranked as moderate (lip or philtrum ranked at 3, or PFL between one and two standard deviations below average). philtrum ranked at 3, PFL between one and two standard deviations below average). Mild: A mild ranking of FAS facial features covers a broad range of facial feature combinations: Two facial features ranked severe and one ranked within normal limits, One facial feature ranked severe and two ranked moderate, or One facial feature ranked severe, one ranked moderate and one ranked within normal limits. None: All three facial features ranked within normal limits. Central nervous system [ edit ] Central nervous system (CNS) damage is the primary key feature of any FASD diagnosis. Prenatal alcohol exposure, which is classified as a teratogen, can damage the brain across a continuum of gross to subtle impairments, depending on the amount, timing, and frequency of the exposure as well as genetic predispositions of the fetus and mother.[16][30] While functional abnormalities are the behavioral and cognitive expressions of the FASD disability, CNS damage can be assessed in three areas: structural, neurological, and functional impairments. All four diagnostic systems allow for assessment of CNS damage in these areas, but criteria vary. The IOM system requires structural or neurological impairment for a diagnosis of FAS, but also allows a "complex pattern" of functional anomalies for diagnosing PFAS and ARND.[16] The "4-Digit Diagnostic Code" and CDC guidelines allow for a positive CNS finding in any of the three areas for any FASD diagnosis, but functional anomalies must measure at two standard deviations or worse in three or more functional domains for a diagnosis of FAS, PFAS, and ARND.[20][22] The "4-Digit Diagnostic Code" also allows for an FASD diagnosis when only two functional domains are measured at two standard deviations or worse.[20] The "4-Digit Diagnostic Code" further elaborates the degree of CNS damage according to four ranks: Definite: Structural impairments or neurological impairments for FAS or static encephalopathy. Probable: Significant dysfunction of two standard deviations or worse in three or more functional domains. Possible: Mild to moderate dysfunction of two standard deviations or worse in one or two functional domains or by judgment of the clinical evaluation team that CNS damage cannot be dismissed. by judgment of the clinical evaluation team that CNS damage cannot be dismissed. Unlikely: No evidence of CNS damage. Structural [ edit ] Structural abnormalities of the brain are observable, physical damage to the brain or brain structures caused by prenatal alcohol exposure. Structural impairments may include microcephaly (small head size) of two or more standard deviations below the average, or other abnormalities in brain structure (e.g., agenesis of the corpus callosum, cerebellar hypoplasia).[16] Microcephaly is determined by comparing head circumference (often called occipitofrontal circumference, or OFC) to appropriate OFC growth charts.[21] Other structural impairments must be observed through medical imaging techniques by a trained physician. Because imaging procedures are expensive and relatively inaccessible to most people, diagnosis of FAS is not frequently made via structural impairments, except for microcephaly. Evidence of a CNS structural impairment due to prenatal alcohol exposure will result in a diagnosis of FAS, and neurological and functional impairments are highly likely.[2][16][20][22] During the first trimester of pregnancy, alcohol interferes with the migration and organization of brain cells, which can create structural deformities or deficits within the brain.[31] During the third trimester, damage can be caused to the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory, learning, emotion, and encoding visual and auditory information, all of which can create neurological and functional CNS impairments as well.[32] As of 2002, there were 25 reports of autopsies on infants known to have FAS. The first was in 1973, on an infant who died shortly after birth.[33] The examination revealed extensive brain damage, including microcephaly, migration anomalies, callosal dysgenesis, and a massive neuroglial, leptomeningeal heterotopia covering the left hemisphere.[34] In 1977, Dr. Clarren described a second infant whose mother was a binge drinker. The infant died ten days after birth. The autopsy showed severe hydrocephalus, abnormal neuronal migration, and a small corpus callosum (which connects the two brain hemispheres) and cerebellum.[34] FAS has also been linked to brainstem and cerebellar changes, agenesis of the corpus callosum and anterior commissure, neuronal migration errors, absent olfactory bulbs, meningomyelocele, and porencephaly.[34] Neurological [ edit ] When structural impairments are not observable or do not exist, neurological impairments are assessed. In the context of FASD, neurological impairments are caused by prenatal alcohol exposure which causes general neurological damage to the central nervous system (CNS), the peripheral nervous system, or the autonomic nervous system. A determination of a neurological problem must be made by a trained physician, and must not be due to a postnatal insult, such as a high fever, concussion, traumatic brain injury, etc. All four diagnostic systems show virtual agreement on their criteria for CNS damage at the neurological level, and evidence of a CNS neurological impairment due to prenatal alcohol exposure will result in a diagnosis of FAS or pFAS, and functional impairments are highly likely.[2][16][20][22] Neurological problems are expressed as either hard signs, or diagnosable disorders, such as epilepsy or other seizure disorders, or soft signs. Soft signs are broader, nonspecific neurological impairments, or symptoms, such as impaired fine motor skills, neurosensory hearing loss, poor gait, clumsiness, poor eye-hand coordination. Many soft signs have norm-referenced criteria, while others are determined through clinical judgment. "Clinical judgment" is only as good as the clinician, and soft signs should be assessed by either a pediatric neurologist, a pediatric neuropsychologist, or both. Functional [ edit ] When structural or neurological impairments are not observed, all four diagnostic systems allow CNS damage due to prenatal alcohol exposure to be assessed in terms of functional impairments.[2][16][20][22] Functional impairments are deficits, problems, delays, or abnormalities due to prenatal alcohol exposure (rather than hereditary causes or postnatal insults) in observable and measurable domains related to daily functioning, often referred to as developmental disabilities. There is no consensus on a specific pattern of functional impairments due to prenatal alcohol exposure[16] and only CDC guidelines label developmental delays as such,[22] so criteria (and FASD diagnoses) vary somewhat across diagnostic systems. The four diagnostic systems list various CNS domains that can qualify for functional impairment that can determine an FASD diagnosis: Related signs [ edit ] Other conditions may commonly co-occur with FAS, stemming from prenatal alcohol exposure. However, these conditions are considered alcohol-related birth defects[16] and not diagnostic criteria for FAS. Cause [ edit ] Fetal alcohol syndrome usually occurs when a pregnant woman has more than four standard drinks per day.[36] Milder symptoms have been found with two drinks per day during the early part of pregnancy.[36][37] Among those who are alcoholic about a third of children have FAS.[36] Evidence of harm from less than two drinks per day or 10 drinks per week is not clear.[36][38] While small amounts of alcohol do not cause an abnormal appearance, it may cause behavioral issues.[11] There is conflicting evidence regarding whether drinking by fathers before conception can cause FAS.[36] Mechanism [ edit ] Despite intense research efforts, the exact mechanism for the development of FAS or FASD is unknown. On the contrary, clinical and animal studies have identified a broad spectrum of pathways through which maternal alcohol can negatively affect the outcome of a pregnancy. Clear conclusions with universal validity are difficult to draw, since different ethnic groups show considerable genetic polymorphism for the hepatic enzymes responsible for ethanol detoxification.[39] Genetic examinations have revealed a continuum of long-lasting molecular effects that are not only timing specific but are also dosage specific; with even moderate amounts being able to cause alterations.[40] A human fetus appears to be at triple risk from maternal alcohol consumption:[41][42] The placenta allows free entry of ethanol and toxic metabolites like acetaldehyde into the fetal compartment. The so-called placental barrier is of almost no barrier with respect to ethanol. The developing fetal nervous system appears particularly sensitive to ethanol toxicity. The latter interferes with proliferation, differentiation, neuronal migration, axonic outgrowth, integration, and fine-tuning of the synaptic network. In short, all major processes in the developing central nervous system appear compromised. Fetal tissues are quite different from adult tissues in function and purpose. For example, the main detoxicating organ in adults is the liver, whereas the fetal liver is incapable of detoxifying ethanol, as the ADH and ALDH enzymes have not yet been brought to expression at this early stage. Up to term, fetal tissues do not have significant capacity for the detoxification of ethanol, and the fetus remains exposed to ethanol in the amniotic fluid for periods far longer than the decay time of ethanol in the maternal circulation. The lack of significant quantities of ADH and ALDH means that fetal tissues have much lower quantities of antioxidant enzymes, like SOD, glutathione transferases, and glutathion peroxidases, resulting in antioxidant protection being much less effective.[ citation needed ] Diagnosis [ edit ] Because admission of alcohol use during pregnancy can stigmatize birth mothers, many are reluctant to admit drinking or to provide an accurate report of the quantity they drank. This complicates diagnosis and treatment [22] of the syndrome. As a result, diagnosis of the severity of FASD relies on protocols of observation of the child's physiology and behavior rather than maternal self-reporting. Presently, four FASD diagnostic systems that diagnose FAS and other FASD conditions have been developed in North America: The Institute of Medicine's guidelines for FAS, the first system to standardize diagnoses of individuals with prenatal alcohol exposure; [16] The University of Washington's "The 4-Digit Diagnostic Code", which ranks the four key features of FASD on a Likert scale of one to four and yields 256 descriptive codes that can be categorized into 22 distinct clinical categories, ranging from FAS to no findings; [20] The Centers for Disease Control's "Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Guidelines for Referral and Diagnosis", which established consensus on the diagnosis FAS in the U.S. but deferred addressing other FASD conditions; [22] and and Canadian guidelines for FASD diagnoses, which established criteria for diagnosing FASD in Canada and harmonized most differences between the IOM and University of Washington's systems.[2] Each diagnostic system requires that a complete FASD evaluation includes an assessment of the four key features of FASD, described below. A positive finding on all four features is required for a diagnosis of FAS. However, prenatal alcohol exposure and central nervous system damage are the critical elements of the spectrum of FASD, and a positive finding in these two features is sufficient for an FASD diagnosis that is not "full-blown FAS". While the four diagnostic systems essentially agree on criteria for fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), there are still differences when full criteria for FAS are not met. This has resulted in differing and evolving nomenclature for other conditions across the spectrum of FASD, which may account for such a wide variety of terminology. Most individuals with deficits resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure do not express all features of FAS and fall into other FASD conditions.[16] The Canadian guidelines recommend the assessment and descriptive approach of the "4-Digit Diagnostic Code" for each key feature of FASD and the terminology of the IOM in diagnostic categories, excepting ARBD.[2] Thus, other FASD conditions are partial expressions of FAS. However, these other FASD conditions may create disabilities similar to FAS if the key area of central nervous system damage shows clinical deficits in two or more of ten domains of brain functioning. Essentially, even though growth deficiency and/or FAS facial features may be mild or nonexistent in other FASD conditions, yet clinically significant brain damage of the central nervous system is present. In these other FASD conditions, an individual may be at greater risk for adverse outcomes because brain damage is present without associated visual cues of poor growth or the "FAS face" that might ordinarily trigger an FASD evaluation. Such individuals may be misdiagnosed with primary mental health disorders such as ADHD or oppositional defiance disorder without appreciation that brain damage is the underlying cause of these disorders, which requires a different treatment paradigm than typical mental health disorders. While other FASD conditions may not yet be included as an ICD or DSM-IV-TR diagnosis, they nonetheless pose significant impairment in functional behavior because of underlying brain damage. Fetal alcohol syndrome [ edit ] The following criteria must be fully met for an FAS diagnosis:[2][16][20][22] Growth deficiency: Prenatal or postnatal height or weight (or both) at or below the 10th percentile[21] FAS facial features: All three FAS facial features present[28] Central nervous system damage: Clinically significant structural neurological, or functional impairment Prenatal alcohol exposure: Confirmed or Unknown prenatal alcohol exposure Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is the first diagnosable condition of FASD that was discovered. FAS is the only expression of FASD that has garnered consensus among experts to become an official ICD-9 and ICD-10 diagnosis. To make this diagnosis or determine any FASD condition, a multi-disciplinary evaluation is necessary to assess each of the four key features for assessment. Generally, a trained physician will determine growth deficiency and FAS facial features. While a qualified physician may also assess central nervous system structural abnormalities and/or neurological problems, usually central nervous system damage is determined through psychological, speech-language, and occupational therapy assessments to ascertain clinically significant impairments in three or more of the Ten Brain Domains.[43] Prenatal alcohol exposure risk may be assessed by a qualified physician, psychologist, social worker, or chemical health counselor. These professionals work together as a team to assess and interpret data of each key feature for assessment and develop an integrative, multi-disciplinary report to diagnose FAS (or other FASD conditions) in an individual. Partial FAS [ edit ] Partial FAS (pFAS) was previously known as atypical FAS in the 1997 edition of the "4-Digit Diagnostic Code". People with pFAS have a confirmed history of prenatal alcohol exposure, but may lack growth deficiency or the complete facial stigmata. Central nervous system damage is present at the same level as FAS. These individuals have the same functional disabilities but "look" less like FAS. The following criteria must be fully met for a diagnosis of Partial FAS:[2][16][20] Growth deficiency: Growth or height may range from normal to deficient[21] FAS facial features: Two or three FAS facial features present[28] Central nervous system damage: Clinically significant structural, neurological, or functional impairment in three or more of the Ten Brain Domains[43] Prenatal alcohol exposure: Confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure Fetal alcohol effects [ edit ] Fetal alcohol effects (FAE) is a previous term for alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder and alcohol-related birth defects.[1] It was initially used in research studies to describe humans and animals in whom teratogenic effects were seen after confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure (or unknown exposure for humans), but without obvious physical anomalies.[44] Smith (1981) described FAE as an "extremely important concept" to highlight the debilitating effects of brain damage, regardless of the growth or facial features.[45] This term has fallen out of favor with clinicians because it was often regarded by the public as a less severe disability than FAS, when in fact its effects can be just as detrimental.[46] Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder [ edit ] Alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder (ARND) was initially suggested by the Institute of Medicine to replace the term FAE and focus on central nervous system damage, rather than growth deficiency or FAS facial features. The Canadian guidelines also use this diagnosis and the same criteria. While the "4-Digit Diagnostic Code" includes these criteria for three of its diagnostic categories, it refers to this condition as static encephalopathy. The behavioral effects of ARND are not necessarily unique to alcohol however, so use of the term must be within the context of confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure.[47] ARND may be gaining acceptance over the terms FAE and ARBD to describe FASD conditions with central nervous system abnormalities or behavioral or cognitive abnormalities or both due to prenatal alcohol exposure without regard to growth deficiency or FAS facial features.[47][48] The following criteria must be fully met for a diagnosis of ARND or static encephalopathy:[2][16][20] Growth deficiency: Growth or height may range from normal to minimally deficient[21] FAS facial features: Minimal or no FAS facial features present[28] Central nervous system damage: Clinically significant structural, neurological, or functional impairment in three or more of the Ten Brain Domains[43] Prenatal alcohol exposure: Confirmed prenatal alcohol exposure;0 Alcohol-related birth defects [ edit ] Alcohol-related birth defects (ARBD), formerly known as possible fetal alcohol effect (PFAE),[44] was a term proposed as an alternative to FAE and PFAE[49] The IOM presents ARBD as a list of congenital anomalies that are linked to maternal alcohol use but have no key features of FASD.[16] PFAE and ARBD have fallen out of favor because these anomalies are not necessarily specific to maternal alcohol consumption and are not criteria for diagnosis of FASD.[47] The Canadian guidelines recommend that ARBD should not be used as an umbrella term or diagnostic category for FASD. Exposure [ edit ] Prenatal alcohol exposure is determined by interview of the biological mother or other family members knowledgeable of the mother's alcohol use during the pregnancy (if available), prenatal health records (if available), and review of available birth records, court records (if applicable), chemical dependency treatment records (if applicable), or other reliable sources. Exposure level is assessed as confirmed exposure, unknown exposure, and confirmed absence of exposure by the IOM, CDC and Canadian diagnostic systems. The "4-Digit Diagnostic Code" further distinguishes confirmed exposure as High Risk and Some Risk: High Risk: Confirmed use of alcohol during pregnancy known to be at high blood alcohol levels (100 mg/dL or greater) delivered at least weekly in early pregnancy. Some Risk: Confirmed use of alcohol during pregnancy with use less than High Risk or unknown usage patterns. Unknown Risk: Unknown use of alcohol during pregnancy. No Risk: Confirmed absence of prenatal alcohol exposure. Confirmed exposure [ edit ] Amount, frequency, and timing of prenatal alcohol use can dramatically impact the other three key features of FASD. While consensus exists that alcohol is a teratogen, there is no clear consensus as to what level of exposure is toxic.[16] The CDC guidelines are silent on these elements diagnostically. The IOM and Canadian guidelines explore this further, acknowledging the importance of significant alcohol exposure from regular or heavy episodic alcohol consumption in determining, but offer no standard for diagnosis. Canadian guidelines discuss this lack of clarity and parenthetically point out that "heavy alcohol use" is defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as five or more drinks per episode on five or more days during a 30-day period.[50] "The 4-Digit Diagnostic Code" ranking system distinguishes between levels of prenatal alcohol exposure as high risk and some risk. It operationalizes high risk exposure as a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) greater than 100 mg/dL delivered at least weekly in early pregnancy. This BAC level is typically reached by a 55 kg female drinking six to eight beers in one sitting.[20] Unknown exposure [ edit ] For many adopted or adults and children in foster care, records or other reliable sources may not be available for review. Reporting alcohol use during pregnancy can also be stigmatizing to birth mothers, especially if alcohol use is ongoing.[22] In these cases, all diagnostic systems use an unknown prenatal alcohol exposure designation. A diagnosis of FAS is still possible with an unknown exposure level if other key features of FASD are present at clinical levels. Confirmed absence of exposure [ edit ] Confirmed absence of exposure would apply to planned pregnancies in which no alcohol was used or pregnancies of women who do not use alcohol or report no use during the pregnancy. This designation is relatively rare, as most people presenting for an FASD evaluation are at least suspected to have had a prenatal alcohol exposure due to presence of other key features of FASD.[20][22] Ten brain domains [ edit ] A recent effort to standardize assessment of functional CNS damage has been suggested by an experienced FASD diagnostic team in Minnesota. The proposed framework attempts to harmonize IOM, 4-Digit Diagnostic Code, CDC, and Canadian guidelines for measuring CNS damage vis-à-vis FASD evaluations and diagnosis. The standardized approach is referred to as the Ten Brain Domains and encompasses aspects of all four diagnostic systems' recommendations for assessing CNS damage due to prenatal alcohol exposure. The framework provides clear definitions of brain dysfunction, specifies empirical data needed for accurate diagnosis, and defines intervention considerations that address the complex nature of FASD with the intention to avoid common secondary disabilities.[43] The proposed Ten Brain Domains include:[43] The Fetal Alcohol Diagnostic Program (FADP) uses unpublished Minnesota state criteria of performance at 1.5 or more standard deviations on standardized testing in three or more of the Ten Brain Domains to determine CNS damage. However, the Ten Brain Domains are easily incorporated into any of the four diagnostic systems' CNS damage criteria, as the framework only proposes the domains, rather than the cut-off criteria for FASD.[51] Differential diagnosis [ edit ] The CDC reviewed nine syndromes that have overlapping features with FAS; however, none of these syndromes include all three FAS facial features, and none are the result of prenatal alcohol exposure:[22] Prevention [ edit ] The only certain way to prevent FAS is to avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancy.[47][52] In the United States, the Surgeon General recommended in 1981, and again in 2005, that women abstain from alcohol use while pregnant or while planning a pregnancy, the latter to avoid damage even in the earliest stages (even weeks) of a pregnancy, as the woman may not be aware that she has conceived.[15] In the United States, federal legislation has required that warning labels be placed on all alcoholic beverage containers since 1988 under the Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Act. There is some controversy surrounding the "zero-tolerance" approach taken by many countries when it comes to alcohol consumption during pregnancy. The assertion that moderate drinking causes FAS is said to lack strong evidence and, in fact, the practice of equating a responsible level of drinking with potential harm to the fetus may have negative social, legal, and health impacts.[53] In addition, special care should be taken when considering statistics on this disease, as prevalence and causation is often linked with FASD, which is more common and causes less harm, as opposed to FAS.[54] Treatment [ edit ] There is no cure for FASD, but treatment is possible. Because CNS damage, symptoms, secondary disabilities, and needs vary widely by individual, there is no one treatment type that works for everyone. Medication [ edit ] Psychoactive drugs are frequently tried on those with FASD as many FASD symptoms are mistaken for or overlap with other disorders, most notably ADHD.[55] Behavioral interventions [ edit ] Behavioral interventions are based on the learning theory, which is the basis for many parenting and professional strategies and interventions.[48] Along with ordinary parenting styles, such strategies are frequently used by default for treating those with FAS, as the diagnoses oppositional defiance disorder (ODD), conduct disorder, reactive attachment disorder (RAD) often overlap with FAS (along with ADHD), and these are sometimes thought to benefit from behavioral interventions. Frequently, a person's poor academic achievement results in special education services, which also utilizes principles of learning theory, behavior modification, and outcome-based education. Developmental framework [ edit ] Many books and handouts on FAS recommend a developmental approach, based on developmental psychology, even though most do not specify it as such and provide little theoretical background. Optimal human development generally occurs in identifiable stages (e.g., Jean Piaget's theory of cognitive development, Erik Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, John Bowlby's attachment framework, and other developmental stage theories). FAS interferes with normal development,[56] which may cause stages to be delayed, skipped, or immaturely developed. Over time, an unaffected child can negotiate the increasing demands of life by progressing through stages of development normally, but not so for a child with FAS.[56] By knowing what developmental stages and tasks children follow, treatment and interventions for FAS can be tailored to helping a person meet developmental tasks and demands successfully.[56] If a person is delayed in the adaptive behavior domain, for instance, then interventions would be recommended to target specific delays through additional education and practice (e.g., practiced instruction on tying shoelaces), giving reminders, or making accommodations (e.g., using slip-on shoes) to support the desired functioning level. This approach is an advance over behavioral interventions, because it takes the person's developmental context into account while developing interventions.[citation needed] Advocacy model [ edit ] The advocacy model takes the point of view that someone is needed to actively mediate between the environment and the person with FAS.[47] Advocacy activities are conducted by an advocate (for example, a family member, friend, or case manager) and fall into three basic categories. An advocate for FAS: (1) interprets FAS and the disabilities that arise from it and explains it to the environment in which the person operates, (2) engenders change or accommodation on behalf of the person, and (3) assists the person in developing and reaching attainable goals.[47] The advocacy model is often recommended, for example, when developing an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for the person's progress at school.[55] An understanding of the developmental framework would presumably inform and enhance the advocacy model, but advocacy also implies interventions at a systems level as well, such as educating schools, social workers, and so forth on best practices for FAS. However, several organizations devoted to FAS also use the advocacy model at a community practice level as well.[57] Public health and policy [ edit ] Treating FAS at the public health and public policy level promotes FAS prevention and diversion of public resources to assist those with FAS.[47] It is related to the advocacy model but promoted at a systems level (rather than with the individual or family), such as developing community education and supports, state or province level prevention efforts (e.g., screening for maternal alcohol use during OB/GYN or prenatal medical care visits), or national awareness programs. Several organizations and state agencies in the U.S. are dedicated to this type of intervention.[57] The US Centers for Disease Control estimates 3 million women in the United States are at risk of having a baby with FASD, and recommended that women of child-bearing age should be on birth control or abstain from drinking alcohol as the safest way to avoid this.[58] Prognosis [ edit ] Primary disabilities [ edit ] The primary disabilities of FAS are the functional difficulties with which the child is born as a result of CNS damage due to prenatal alcohol exposure.[59] Often, primary disabilities are mistaken as behavior problems, but the underlying CNS damage is the originating source of a functional difficulty,[60] rather than a mental health condition, which is considered a secondary disability. The exact mechanisms for functional problems of primary disabilities are not always fully understood, but animal studies have begun to shed light on some correlates between functional problems and brain structures damaged by prenatal alcohol exposure.[47] Representative examples include: Functional difficulties may result from CNS damage in more than one domain, but common functional difficulties by domain include:[47][48][56][60] Note that this is not an exhaustive list of difficulties. Secondary disabilities [ edit ] The secondary disabilities of FAS are those that arise later in life secondary to CNS damage. These disabilities often emerge over time due to a mismatch between the primary disabilities and environmental expectations; secondary disabilities can be ameliorated with early interventions and appropriate supportive services.[59] Six main secondary disabilities were identified in a University of Washington research study of 473 subjects diagnosed with FAS, PFAS (partial fetal alcohol syndrome), and ARND (alcohol-related neurodevelopmental disorder):[47][59] Mental health problems: Diagnosed with ADHD, Clinical Depression, or other mental illness, experienced by over 90% of the subjects Disrupted school experience: Suspended or expelled from school or dropped out of school, experienced by 60% of the subjects (age 12 and older) Trouble with the law: Charged or convicted with a crime, experienced by 60% of the subjects (age 12 and older) Confinement: For inpatient psychiatric care, inpatient chemical dependency care, or incarcerated for a crime, experienced by about 50% of the subjects (age 12 and older) Inappropriate sexual behavior: Sexual advances, sexual touching, or promiscuity, experienced by about 50% of the subjects (age 12 and older) Alcohol and drug problems: Abuse or dependency, experienced by 35% of the subjects (age 12 and older) Two additional secondary disabilities exist for adults:[47][59] Dependent living: Group home, living with family or friends, or some sort of assisted living, experienced by 80% of the subjects (age 21 and older) Problems with employment: Required ongoing job training or coaching, could not keep a job, unemployed, experienced by 80% of the subjects (age 21 and older) Protective factors and strengths [ edit ] Eight factors were identified in the same study as universal protective factors that reduced the incidence rate of the secondary disabilities:[47][59] Living in a stable and nurturing home for over 73% of life Being diagnosed with FAS before age six Never having experienced violence Remaining in each living situation for at least 2.8 years Experiencing a "good quality home" (meeting 10 or more defined qualities) from age 8 to 12 years old Having been found eligible for developmental disability (DD) services Having basic needs met for at least 13% of life Having a diagnosis of FAS (rather than another FASD condition) Malbin (2002) has identified the following areas of interests and talents as strengths that often stand out for those with FASD and should be utilized, like any strength, in treatment planning:[48] Music, playing instruments, composing, singing, art, spelling, reading, computers, mechanics, woodworking, skilled vocations (welding, electrician, etc.), writing, poetry Participation in non-impact sport or physical fitness activities Epidemiology [ edit ] FASD is estimated to affect between 2% and 5% of people in the United States and Western Europe.[6] FAS is believed to occur in between 0.2 and 9 per 1000 live births in the United States.[6] The lifetime cost of an individual with FAS were estimated to be two million USD in 2002.[6] Drinking any quantity during pregnancy, the risk to give birth to a FAS is about 1,5%, and to a FASD about 15%. Drinking large quantities, defined as 2 standard drinks a day, or 6 standard drinks in a short time, give a 50% risk to a FAS birth.[64] Australia [ edit ] FASD among Australian youth is more common in indigenous Australians.[65] The only states that have registered birth defects in Australian youth are Western Australia, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia.[66] In Australia only 12% of Australian health professionals are aware of the diagnostics and symptoms of FASD.[65] In Western Australia, the rate of births resulting in FASD is 0.02 per 1000 births for non-Indigenous Australians, however among indigenous births the rate is 2.76 per 1000 births.[66] In Victoria, there have been no registered FASD related births for indigenous Australians, but the rate for the general population in Victoria is 0.01-0.03 per 1000 births.[66] There have been no dedicated FASD clinics within Western Australia, but there are also no nationally supported diagnostic criteria anywhere in Australia.[67] Passive surveillance is a prevention technique used within Australia to assist in monitoring and establishing detectable defects during pregnancy and childhood.[66] History [ edit ] From the 1960s to the 1980s, alcohol was commonly used as a tocolytic, a method to stop preterm labor. The method originated with Dr. Fritz Fuchs, the chairman of the department of obstetrics and gynecology at Cornell University Medical College.[68][69] Doctors recommended a small amount of alcohol to calm the uterus during contractions in early pregnancy or Braxton Hicks contractions. In later stages of pregnancy, the alcohol was administered intravenously and often in large amounts. "Women experienced similar effects as occur with oral ingestion, including intoxication, nausea and vomiting, and potential alcohol poisoning, followed by hangovers when the alcohol was discontinued."[70] Vomiting put the mother at a high risk for aspiration and was "a brutal procedure for all involved." [68] Because the alcohol was being given intravenously, the doctor could continue giving the treatment to the mother long after she had passed out, resulting in her being more intoxicated than would otherwise be possible. Such heavy intoxication is highly likely to contribute to FASD.[68] Historical references [ edit ] Anecdotal accounts of prohibitions against maternal alcohol use from Biblical, ancient Greek, and ancient Roman sources[71] imply a historical awareness of links between maternal alcohol use and negative child outcomes.[33] For example, in the Bible, Judges 13:4 (addressed to a woman who was going to have a baby) reads: "Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean" (ESV). In 1725 British physicians petitioned the House of Commons on the effects of strong drink when consumed by pregnant women saying that such drinking is “…too often the cause of weak, feeble, and distempered children, who must be, instead of an advantage and strength, a charge to their country.”[72] There are many other such historical references. In Gaelic Scotland, the mother and nurse were not allowed to consume ale during pregnancy and breastfeeding (Martin Martin). Claims that alcohol consumption caused idiocy were part of the Teetotalism's message in the 19th century,[73] but such claims, despite some attempts to offer evidence, were ignored because no mechanism could be advanced.[74] The earliest recorded observation of possible links between maternal alcohol use and fetal damage was made in 1899 by Dr. William Sullivan, a Liverpool prison physician who noted higher rates of stillbirth for 120 alcoholic female prisoners than their sober female relatives; he suggested the causal agent to be alcohol use.[75] This contradicted the predominating belief at the time that heredity caused intellectual disability, poverty, and criminal behavior, which contemporary studies on the subjects usually concluded.[47] A case study by Henry H. Goddard of the Kallikak family—popular in the early 1900s—represents this earlier perspective,[76] though later researchers have suggested that the Kallikaks almost certainly had FAS.[77] General studies and discussions on alcoholism throughout the mid-1900s were typically based on a heredity argument.[78] Prior to fetal alcohol syndrome being specifically identified and named in 1973, only a few studies had noted differences between the children of mothers who used alcohol during pregnancy or breast-feeding and those who did not, and identified alcohol use as a possible contributing factor rather than heredity.[47] Recognition as a syndrome [ edit ] Fetal Alcohol Syndrome was named in 1973 by two dysmorphologists, Drs. Kenneth Lyons Jones and David Weyhe Smith of the University of Washington Medical School in Seattle, United States. They identified a pattern of "craniofacial, limb, and cardiovascular defects associated with prenatal onset growth deficiency and developmental delay" in eight unrelated children of three ethnic groups, all born to mothers who were alcoholics.[79] The pattern of malformations indicated that the damage was prenatal. News of the discovery shocked some, while others were skeptical of the findings.[80] Dr. Paul Lemoine of Nantes, France had already published a study in a French medical journal in 1968 about children with distinctive features whose mothers were alcoholics,[81] and in the U.S., Christy Ulleland and colleagues at the University of Washington Medical School had conducted an 18-month study in 1968–1969 documenting the risk of maternal alcohol consumption among the offspring of 11 alcoholic mothers.[82] The Washington and Nantes findings were confirmed by a research group in Gothenburg, Sweden in 1979.[83] Researchers in France, Sweden, and the United States were struck by how similar these children looked, though they were not related, and how they behaved in the same unfocused and hyperactive manner.[83] Within nine years of the Washington discovery, animal studies, including non-human monkey studies carried out at the University of Washington Primate Center by Dr. Sterling Clarren, had confirmed that alcohol was a teratogen. By 1978, 245 cases of FAS had been reported by medical researchers, and the syndrome began to be described as the most frequent known cause of intellectual disability. While many syndromes are eponymous, i.e. named after the physician first reporting the association of symptoms, Dr. Smith named FAS after the causal agent of the symptoms.[84] He reasoned that doing so would encourage prevention, believing that if people knew maternal alcohol consumption caused the syndrome, then abstinence during pregnancy would follow from patient education and public awareness.[84] At the time, nobody was aware of the full range of possible birth defects from FAS or its rate of prevalence.[84] Over time, as subsequent research and clinical experience suggested that a range of effects (including physical, behavioral, and cognitive) could arise from prenatal alcohol exposure, the term Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) was developed to include FAS as well as other conditions resulting from prenatal alcohol exposure.[84] Currently, FAS[16][44][79] is the only expression of prenatal alcohol exposure defined by the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems and assigned ICD-9 and diagnoses. See also [ edit ] ||||| Snooki Talks Drinking on 'Ellen': 'Why Did I Wake Up in a Garbage Can?' Email This Nicole " Polizzi, who was The reality star-turned-author, whose book, 'A Shore Thing,' hit shelves yesterday, Nicole " Snooki " Polizzi has a well-documented history of having a darn good time, and in an interview with Ellen DeGeneres, the 'Jersey Shore's' littlest lush admits that she may occasionally overdo it.Polizzi, who was fined $500 for disorderly conduct in September following an alcohol-fueled beach outing, confesses that episodes of over-imbibing used to happen as often as once a month.The reality star-turned-author, whose book, 'A Shore Thing,' hit shelves yesterday, told DeGeneres , "I want to remember my night and sometimes I just don't." She went on to admit, "I don't want to be a role model." While her hard-partying ways have been the source of great amusement for 'Jersey Shore' viewers, Snooki says that living with reckless abandon is not always as fun as it may seem."It sucks," she says. "You're like, 'What did I do? Why did I wake up in a garbage can?'"

– Let's hope Snooki sorta planned that baby she's reportedly carrying (stop giggling). Because if she didn't, that fetus has to be nearly swimming in booze by now. While Forbes is concerned about what's to become of the diminutive reality star's "brand," others are worried about the drinking habits of the pregnant 24-year-old, who seems to spend very few minutes sober on Jersey Shore. "Is there a test for fetal alcohol syndrome at three months in utero?" wonders crabbygolightly.com. "Quick, word association test," demands studybreaks.com, "because all that comes to mind" for the pregnant "diva of debauchery" is "fetal alcohol syndrome"—a leading cause of mental retardation. The reported pregnancy poses problems for Snooki and JWoww's spin-off, and for Jersey Shore, where the cast spends "approximately 97.2% of their time being absolutely trashed," notes studybreaks. Snooki has some qualms about her hard-partying ways, once telling Ellen DeGeneres: "I want to remember my night, and sometimes I just don't. It sucks. You're like, 'What did I do? Why did I wake up in a garbage can?'"

ORLANDO, Fla. — In their third debate in as many weeks, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and Gov. Rick Perry of Texas engaged in a sometimes heated back and forth over immigration , health care and entitlements, their rivalry dominating a stage that included seven other candidates struggling to catch up in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Mr. Romney and Mr. Perry arrived here with a strategic imperative to challenge the other’s consistency and conservative credentials. The tensions only grew as the night wore on, to the point where Jon M. Huntsman Jr., the former governor of Utah, joked that Mr. Romney and Mr. Perry were at risk of bludgeoning each other to death. Still, after two hours of dueling it was unclear whether Mr. Perry had achieved his goal of knocking Mr. Romney off his fairly unruffled stride. It was similarly not certain that Mr. Romney had made headway in knocking Mr. Perry down a few pegs from what has been a relatively strong opening to his young campaign. Mr. Romney sought to capitalize on the concern among many conservatives about Mr. Perry’s position on illegal immigration, harshly criticizing the Texas policy that allows illegal immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition rates at public colleges and universities. “That just doesn’t make sense to me,” Mr. Romney said, noting that illegal immigrants get as much as $22,000 a year in tuition breaks that out-of-state citizens do not get. Offering an impassioned defense of that policy — and receiving boos from a segment of the audience — Mr. Perry did not back down, saying, “If you say that we should not educate children that have come into our state for no other reason than they’ve been brought here by no fault of their own, I don’t think you have a heart.” The debate, held at the Orange County Convention Center and sponsored by Fox News, Google and the Republican Party of Florida, featured robust audience participation and questions submitted via YouTube. The 5,000 people there responded loudly at times, including boos during a question from a gay solider about the repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy regarding gay and lesbian service members. And while the Fox News moderators sought to engage all of the candidates, the exchanges between Mr. Romney and Mr. Perry — standing side by side — overshadowed the others. At one point, Mr. Romney cited a passage from Mr. Perry’s book “Fed Up!” and said the Texas governor had suggested that state or local governments be allowed to run their own Social Security programs. He accused Mr. Perry of running away from his own words. “There’s a Rick Perry out there that’s saying the federal government shouldn’t be in the pension business,” Mr. Romney said. “You better find that Rick Perry and get him to stop saying that.” Mr. Perry hit back by accusing Mr. Romney of editing his book “No Apologies” between printings to remove a passage saying that the health care plan he instituted in Massachusetts — considered a model for President Obama’s overhaul — was good for the nation. “You said that it was exactly what the American people needed to have — that’s Romneycare — given to them as you had in Massachusetts,” he said. Mr. Romney responded by saying: “I actually wrote my book, and in my book I said no such thing. And it’s fine for you to retreat from your own words in your own book, but please don’t try and make me retreat from the words that I wrote in my book.” As the exchange continued, Mr. Perry, standing to Mr. Romney’s right, joked, “It’s kind of badminton” and swung his arm. But later he set any joking aside, saying of Mr. Romney, “I think Americans don’t know sometimes which Mitt Romney they’re dealing with.” Mr. Romney had managed to emerge relatively unharmed from the past few debates, and the pressure was on Mr. Perry to change that. If Mr. Perry’s key line was meant to be a solid punch to the jaw, he seemed to rush it and stumble a bit. “Is it the Mitt Romney that was on the side of — against the Second Amendment before he was for the Second Amendment? Was it — was before — he was before the social programs from the standpoint of — he was for standing up for Roe v. Wade before he was against first — Roe v. Wade?” he said. “I mean we’ll wait until tomorrow to see which Mitt Romney we’re really talking to tonight.” A late attempt at humor seemed to go astray as well, when Mr. Perry was asked which of the candidates on stage he would pick as his vice-presidential nominee. Speaking of Herman Cain, a former business executive, Mr. Perry said he would “mate him up” with the former House Speaker Newt Gingrich to make a perfect political partner. Mock wincing, Mr. Romney remarked coolly that the night had produced “a couple of images I’m going to have a hard time getting out of my mind.” Mr. Huntsman, who served as ambassador to China in the Obama administration, appeared to express frustration that the night had been so much about Mr. Romney and Mr. Perry. He noted that four years ago the two supposed Republican front-runners were former Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani of New York and former Senator Fred Thompson of Tennessee. “They seemed to disappear altogether,” he said. “I can’t remember where they went.” ||||| ORLANDO — The Republican presidential field strayed away from the central 2012 topic of jobs Thursday night to wage a pitched debate over a pair of far more explosive issues: immigration and Social Security. In the Orlando debate’s most dramatic clash, Rick Perry defended himself from a multi-front attack on his immigration record, struggling to fend off rivals he called heartless for their attitude towards the children of undocumented immigrants. Text Size - + reset Perry defends immigration policy POLITICO 44 Three of Perry’s opponents – including his nearest competitor, Mitt Romney – accused the Texas governor of coddling illegal immigrants with a law allowing young people who broke the law by entering the United States to claim in-state tuition benefits in Texas. “That kind of magnet draws people into this country to get that education,” Romney charged. “We have to turn off the magnet of extraordinary government benefits.” Under fire from Rick Santorum and Michele Bachmann on the same issue, Perry said he didn’t believe in punishing children who entered the country illegally through no fault of their own. To candidates who disagree, Perry said: “I don’t think they have a heart.” “We need to be educating these children because they will become a drag on our society,” Perry said, drawing boos from the audience. The immigration exchange was a rare debate moment that put the staunchly conservative Perry on the defensive by attacks from the right. But it was not the only moment in the evening where Perry appeared unsteady or unfocused in his performance. Though the Texan has rocketed to a high single-digit lead in most 2012 primary polling, Perry has yet to hand in a commanding debate appearance, and on Thursday gave a conspicuously meandering answer on foreign policy that will reinforce questions about his preparedness as a candidate. In general, the debate hosted by Fox News, Google and the Republican Party of Florida followed a familiar script: Perry and Romney attacked each others’ views on Social Security, everybody beat up on the Obama administration and most of the candidates faded into the background. In addition to Perry, Romney, Bachmann and Santorum, there were five other candidates on stage: Herman Cain, Ron Paul, Jon Huntsman, Newt Gingrich and Gary Johnson, the former New Mexico governor making his first debate appearance in months. For much of the first hour, the debate was a fairly humdrum affair, showcasing an array of high-tech bells and whistles offered by Google, which co-sponsored the debate. The first set of questions came from viewers who submitted their questions on YouTube, and largely allowed the candidates to recite talking points without being challenged by moderators. And Fox took time away from the candidate forum to share results from instant polls of the debate viewers, who answered questions such as: How much does someone need to make before they are considered rich? ||||| Side by side in confrontational debate, Republican presidential hopefuls Mitt Romney and Rick Perry sarcastically accused each other Thursday night of flip-flopping on Social Security and health care, flashpoints in their intense struggle for the party nomination. Republican presidential candidates Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, share a laugh during a Fox News/Google debate Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, in Orlando, Fla. (AP... (Associated Press) Republican presidential candidates from left, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, Texas Gov. Rick Perry,... (Associated Press) Republican presidential candidates businessman Herman Cain, left, and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, get together prior to a debate Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux) (Associated Press) Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, listens as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney makes a comment during a Fox NEws/Google debate Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, in Orlando, Fla.... (Associated Press) Republican presidential candidate Texas Gov. Rick Perry, left, laughs as former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney makes a comment during a Fox News/Google debate Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, in Orlando, Fla.... (Associated Press) Republican presidential candidate former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney points to the audience with Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn, prior to a debate Thursday, Sept. 22, 2011, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan... (Associated Press) In a debate that focused on character and credibility as much as other issues, Perry insisted he had backed off "not one inch, Sir" from what he had written in a campaign-season book published a few months ago. Romney vouched for his own steadfastness moments later. "There are a lot of reasons not to elect me," he said. "There are a lot of reasons not to elect other people on this stage. ... But one reason to elect me is I know what I stand for. I've written it down. Words have meaning." The two men assailed one another in the third debate in as many weeks in a race for the Republican presidential nomination growing testier by the day. Perry runs ahead in national opinion polls, with Romney a close second, and they compete daily for endorsements from members of Congress and other party luminaries in hopes of gaining a permanent edge before the caucuses and primaries begin early next year. The other contenders on the stage struggled at times to gain the debate spotlight, even as they struggle to gain traction in the polls. The GOP presidential hopefuls all agreed quickly on one point _ that President Barack Obama's handling of the economy was woeful. They said they would cut taxes, eliminate government regulations and take other steps to help create jobs in a nation with 9.1 percent unemployment. Yet the two-hour event was marked by clashes over Social Security, health care, immigration, gun rights and more. Romney accused Perry of having said the federal government "shouldn't be in the pension business, that it's unconstitutional," a reference to Social Security benefits. Noting his rival's denials, Romney mocked him. "You better find that Rick Perry and get him to stop saying that," he said. Perry soon returned the favor, saying that Romney switched his position on health care between editions of a book he had published. In one edition, Perry said, Romney advocated expanding to the rest of the country the health care program he signed in Massachusetts. "Then in your paperback you took that line out, so speaking of not getting it straight in your book, Sir." "It's like badminton," said Perry. The Massachusetts legislation required residents of the state to purchase health coverage or pay a fine, a cornerstone of the law that Obama won from Congress last year that has inflamed conservative voters across the country. Perry also accused Romney of flip-flopping his views on the rights of gun owners. In fact, both Perry and Romney have sought to blur if not rewrite portions of their own records as they vie for the nomination. In Romney's case, that has meant trying to win support from conservative voters despite the moderate positions he held on social issues while he was governor of Massachusetts. And for Perry, it has meant trying to fend off criticism that his views on Social Security and other issues do not render him unelectable. Perry gave no ground on one issue _ his support for a state law in Texas that gives the children of illegal immigrants reduced tuition to state colleges and universities. "If you say that we should not educate children who have come into the state for no other reason than they've been brought there, by no fault of their own, I don't think you have a heart," he said. That drew a retort from former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum. "No one is suggesting that students who are illegal in this country shouldn't go to colleges and universities," he said, adding that he objects to giving them state subsidies to do so. "Most folks have to pay the full boat. ... Why should they be given preferential treatment as an illegal in this country?" he said. There was relatively little jockeying on the economy. "The president's party wants to take from some people and give to others. That isn't the way to lift America," said Romney. Perry said his state ranked first in the country five years in the row in attracting businesses looking to relocate. "Something special happened there ... and we plan to keep it that way," he said. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota told one questioner, "You should get to keep every dollar you earn," then backpedaled. "Obviously we have to give money back to the government so we can run the government," she said. The two-hour event was sponsored by Fox News and Google, in keeping with an emerging trend in which mainstream media organizations partner with Internet companies . Without saying so, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich gave an endorsement of sorts to one of the elements of Obama's job proposals. Asked whether he would renew unemployment benefits for those out of work, he said they should be required to participate in a "business led" job training program. "I believe it is fundamentally wrong to give people money for 99 weeks for doing nothing." He added. Obama has called for Congress to extend the current system of unemployment benefits, but he also wants to permit states to experiment with the type of training program that has been used in Gingrich's home state of Georgia. Also on stage were Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, businessman Herman Cain and former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman.

– Republicans got back into debate mode tonight, with Rick Perry and Mitt Romney trading a series of sharp and sometimes sarcastic barbs at one another over Social Security, immigration, and other issues, reports AP. No fewer than nine candidates were on the stage, thanks to the invite extended to former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson. (He got perhaps the biggest applause line of the night with this line: "My neighbor's two dogs have created more shovel-ready projects for this country" than Obama.) But Perry and Romney were the main focus, and their back-and-forth on Social Security typified things: Perry said his position on it isn't as radical as his foes say, adding it was "not the first time that Mitt's been wrong on some issues before," notes the New York Times. Romney responded: "There's a Rick Perry out there that's saying the federal government shouldn't be in the pension business. You better find that Rick Perry and get him to stop saying that." Perry then accused Romney of changing views of his Massachusetts health care law in different versions of his book, and later widened the flip-flopping charges to a host of other issues. (Romney used the phrase "nice try" at different times to deflect Perry criticisms.) Immigration also emerged as a main issue, with Romney, Michele Bachmann, and Rick Santorum criticizing the Texas policy of giving in-state tuition benefits to immigrants' kids, notes Politico. Bachmann called such programs "magnets," but Perry said of his critics, "I don't think you have a heart." Catch up with live-blogging and details on the other candidates here.

Something’s going on between Adele and the people at Pepsi Co. and the NFL. Over the weekend, news broke that Adele turned down an offer to perform at the next Super Bowl Halftime Show because she can’t dance and “it’s not about the music.” RELATED: Adele brings a fan up on stage — and it happens to be a Grammy nominated artist At a concert in Los Angeles, Adele told the crowd that she was approached with an offer to do the show and she turned it down. “I’d like to tell you I’m not doing the Super Bowl. I mean, come on,” she said. “That show is not about music, and I don’t dance or anything like that. They were very kind, they did ask me, but I did say no.” Adele talking about not doing the Super Bowl Halftime show during her show. She's the best 😂 pic.twitter.com/aNkE7SgJZr — Music News & Facts (@Musicnews_feed) August 14, 2016 In a joint statement, the NFL and Pepsi responded to Adele’s claim that she turned them down. “The NFL and Pepsi are big fans of Adele. We have had conversations with several artists about the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show. However, we have not at this point extended a formal offer to Adele or anyone else. We are focused on putting together a fantastic show for Houston and we look forward to revealing that in good time.” The 2017 Super Bowl will take place on February 5 at Houston’s NRG Stadium. We guess we will have to wait and see who will take the stage during the Halftime Show. (H/T: Billboard) ||||| It appears as though Adele won’t be performing at the 2017 Super Bowl after all. The British singer shut down the tabloid rumors during her tour stop in Los Angeles on Saturday (Aug. 13) Is Adele Performing at the 2017 Super Bowl Halftime Show? “First of all, I’m not doing the Super Bowl,” Adele told the Staples Center crowd. “I mean, come on, that show is not about music. And I don’t really -- I can’t dance or anything like that. They were very kind, they did ask me, but I said no.” Earlier this month, British tabloid newspaper The Sun, reported that the National Football League was eyeing Adele for next year's halftime performance. “There is nobody bigger in the world than Adele right now and organizers are doing absolutely everything they can to try to persuade her to sign up,” an NFL source allegedly told The Sun. Last October, the reclusive singer released her comeback hit "Hello." She is currently on her sold-out world tour in support of her third studio effort 25, which spent 10 weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 to date.

– Those tabloid rumors that Super Bowl LI viewers would get a "hello" from Adele at halftime appear to have been unfounded. That according to the singer herself, who on Saturday told concertgoers at LA's Staples Center that she's not doing the Super Bowl. Her explanation as reported by Billboard is pretty great: "I mean, come on, that show is not about music. And I don’t really—I can’t dance or anything like that. They were very kind, they did ask me, but I said no." Pepsi and the NFL, however, had a different take on how discussions have gone down.

Uncredited/Associated Press The Buffalo Bills have announced the hiring of Kathryn Smith as a quality control assistant under head coach Rex Ryan, which makes her "the first full-time female assistant coach in NFL history." The team announced a statement regarding the news, via Josh Reed of WIVB Sports: Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk first reported the news Wednesday. Smith will report to special teams coordinator Danny Crossman. Smith issued a statement on Thursday regarding the news, via NFL on ESPN: "I just like the way she is," head coach Rex Ryan said Friday, per Joe Buscaglia of WKBW. "She's really all about the team and how she can help. Exceeded what we thought she'd do." She has been part of Ryan's staff for the last seven years but never officially as part of the coaching staff. She held an administrative assistant position each of the last two seasons, and before that she worked within the New York Jets' player personnel department. Smith's hiring is a monumental moment for gender progress in the NFL, and it's been a long time coming. Jen Welter became the NFL's first female assistant of any kind before the 2015 season, serving under head coach Bruce Arians during training camp. Her position was temporary—teams regularly hire additional assistants on a temp basis to handle the extra players in camp—but it nonetheless opened a door Smith will walk through. Hue Jackson 'Cleansed' Cleveland with Lake Erie Plunge 'Last Chance U 'Star Getting His NFL Shot Is 44-Year-Old T.O. Working Out for a Comeback? Eagles Drafted a 6'8", 346-Lb Rugby Player 😳 Happy 4-Year Anniversary to the 2014 NFL WR Class One-Handed LB Might Be Draft's Biggest Badass Mayfield's Journey to the Draft Ends Thursday Ball Fam Has Nothing on the St. Browns 😏 NFL Stars Spending Their Offseasons Giving Back Derrius Guice Runs from Difficult Upbringing Harold Landry Is Draft's Best Pure Pass-Rusher Which Teams Are the Best Fit for Dez? Johnny Football Is BACK! Quavo's Mega-Celebrity Flag Football Game Meet the NFL's Next Alshon Jeffery Tremaine Edmunds Is NFL Draft No-Brainer Grading the Rams' Deal with Suh Meet the Undisputed Top CB in the NFL Draft Grading Jordy Nelson's Deal with the Raiders Grading the Kirk Cousins Contract Right Arrow Icon Last year, the NFL also hired Sarah Thomas as the first female referee in history. She worked as a full-time official during the 2015 season. While this is a promising step, the NFL is not the first league to welcome women into the coaches box. The NBA has long been at the forefront of the gender equality issue. Lisa Boyer was a volunteer assistant for the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2001-02, and the San Antonio Spurs hired Becky Hammon as an assistant before the 2014-15 campaign. Nancy Lieberman became the second full-time female assistant in the NBA in 2015. In September, the Oakland Athletics made Justine Siegal the first woman to hold a coaching position with an MLB team. As it stands, the NHL is the only one of the United States' four major professional sports leagues yet to make a major step on the gender equality front. Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter ||||| The Buffalo Bills' news release on the hiring of Kathryn Smith: The Buffalo Bills today announced that Kathryn Smith has been named the team’s special teams quality control coach. Smith is the first female to be named to a full-time coaching position in NFL history. “Kathryn Smith has done an outstanding job in the seven years that she has worked with our staff,” said Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan. “She certainly deserves this promotion based on her knowledge and strong commitment, just to name a couple of her outstanding qualities, and I just know she’s going to do a great job serving in the role of Quality Control-Special Teams.” “Kathryn has been working in a football administrative role and assisted the assistant coaches for years. She has proven that she’s ready for the next step, so I’m excited and proud for her with this opportunity. She will work with Danny Crossman and Eric Smith involving a number of responsibilities.” “I consulted with Bruce Arians on this since he was really the first NFL head coach to make this kind of move when he hired a female linebackers coach through the summer. You can see the success some of these young ladies are having in the coaching profession, such as the young lady that is an assistant to Coach (Greg) Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs, and realize how exciting this is for women like Kathryn Smith as well as the Bills organization.” Smith, who will enter her 14th year in the NFL next season, joins the Bills coaching ranks after spending 2015 as the team’s administrative assistant to the head coach. Prior to joining the Bills in 2015, Smith spent 12 seasons working for the New York Jets. Smith originally began her career in 2003 as a Jets gameday/special events intern. She became a college scouting intern in 2005 before being promoted to player personnel assistant in 2007 and going on to be named assistant to the head coach in 2014. ||||| The Buffalo Bills today announced that Kathryn Smith has been named the team’s quality control-special teams coach. Smith is the first female to be named to a full-time coaching position in NFL history. “Kathryn Smith has done an outstanding job in the seven years that she has worked with our staff,” said Bills Head Coach Rex Ryan. “She certainly deserves this promotion based on her knowledge and strong commitment, just to name a couple of her outstanding qualities, and I just know she’s going to do a great job serving in the role of Quality Control-Special Teams.” “Kathryn has been working in a football administrative role and assisted the assistant coaches for years. She has proven that she’s ready for the next step, so I’m excited and proud for her with this opportunity. She will work with Danny Crossman and Eric Smith involving a number of responsibilities.” “I consulted with Bruce Arians on this since he was really the first NFL head coach to make this kind of move when he hired a female linebackers coach through the summer. You can see the success some of these young ladies are having in the coaching profession, such as the young lady that is an assistant to Coach (Gregg) Popovich at the San Antonio Spurs, and realize how exciting this is for women like Kathryn Smith as well as the Bills organization.” Smith, who will enter her 14th year in the NFL next season, joins the Bills coaching ranks after spending 2015 as the team’s administrative assistant to the head coach. Prior to joining the Bills in 2015, Smith spent 12 seasons working for the New York Jets. Smith originally began her career in 2003 as a Jets gameday/special events intern. She became a college scouting intern in 2005 before being promoted to player personnel assistant in 2007 and going on to be named assistant to the head coach in 2014.

– The Buffalo Bills made a power run through a glass ceiling on Wednesday by hiring Kathryn Smith, the first full-time female member of coaching staff in NFL history. Smith, who has worked in the NFL since 2003 and joined the Bills last year as an administrative assistant to head coach Rex Ryan, is the new special teams quality control coach, reports the Buffalo News. She started out at the New York Jets, where she became a player personnel assistant in 2007 and was promoted to assistant to the head coach in 2014. "She certainly deserves this promotion based on her knowledge and strong commitment, just to name a couple of her outstanding qualities, and I just know she's going to do a great job serving in the role of quality control-special teams," Ryan said in a Bills press release. Her hire is a big step for the NFL, Bleacher Report notes, although there are already full-time female coaches in MLB and the NBA, leaving the NHL with some catching up to do. (Last summer, the Arizona Cardinals made Jen Welter the first woman to hold any kind of coaching position in the NFL.)

The spokesman for the Illinois lottery says three tickets have split the record $640 million Mega Millions jackpot. Mega Millions Lottery tickets that were given away to the first 540 people are displayed by the Hoosier Lottery's Mega Millions mascot at a store in Zionsville, Ind., Friday, March 30, 2012. The Mega... (Associated Press) A Mega Millions lottery contestant buys his ticket for Friday's $500-million game at a corner newsstand in New York, Thursday, March 29, 2012. Forget setting up a charity or establishing a trust, the... (Associated Press) Alfredo Mora, 91, shows off his lottery ticket for a chance at the historic Mega Millions jackpot, that reached more than $600 million on Friday, March 30, 2012, in New York. After nobody won the March... (Associated Press) Mike Lang says the winning tickets were in Illinois, Kansas and Maryland. He says the Illinois winning ticket was sold in the small town of Red Bud, near St. Louis. The Maryland lottery announced earlier its winner was from Baltimore County. No details have been released on the winning ticket in Kansas. Lang says each winning ticket was expected to be worth more than $213 million before taxes. THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below. Maryland lottery officials announced early Saturday that their state sold what could become the world's largest lottery payout of all-time, but it wasn't immediately clear if that ticket holder would get sole possession of the $640 million jackpot or have to split it with other winners. Carole Everett, director of communications for the Maryland Lottery, said the winning Mega Millions ticket was purchased at a retailer in Baltimore County. She said it's too early to know any other information about the lucky ticket holder or whether others were sold elsewhere in the nation. The winning numbers were 02-04-23-38-46, and the Mega Ball 23. National lottery officials were expecting to list early Saturday on their website how many winning tickets were sold and from what states, but Maryland sent out its news release and called media organizations hours before the scheduled announcement. The headline of its news release said the winning sale was "one of several nationwide," but Everett told The Associated Press she couldn't immediately confirm any others. Everett said the last time a ticket from the state won a major national jackpot was 2008 when a ticket sold for $24 million. "We're thrilled," she said. "We're due and excited." The estimated jackpot dwarfs the previous $390 million record, which was split in 2007 by two winners who bought tickets in Georgia and New Jersey. Americans spent nearly $1.5 billion for a chance to hit the jackpot, which amounts to a $462 million lump sum and around $347 million after federal tax withholding. With the jackpot odds at 1 in 176 million, it would cost $176 million to buy up every combination. Under that scenario, the strategy would win $171 million less if your state also withholds taxes. From coast to coast, people stood in line at retail stores Friday for one last chance at striking it rich. Maribeth Ptak, 31, of Milwaukee, only buys Mega Millions when the jackpot is really big and she bought one on Friday at a Milwaukee grocery store. She said she'd use the money to pay off bills, including school loans, and then she'd donate a good portion to charity. "I know the odds are really not in my favor, but why not," she said. Sawnya Castro, 31, of Dallas, bought $50 worth of tickets at a 7-Eleven. She figured she'd use the money to create a rescue society for Great Danes, fix up her grandmother's house, and perhaps even buy a bigger one for herself. "Not too big _ I don't want that. Too much house to keep with," she said. Willie Richards, who works for the U.S. Marshals Service at a federal courthouse in Atlanta, figured if there ever was a time to confront astronomical odds, it was when $640 million was at stake. He bought five tickets. "When it gets as big as it is now, you'd be nuts not to play," he said. "You have to take a chance on Lady Luck." ___ Associated Press Writers Carrie Antlfinger in Milwaukee, Jamie Stengle in Dallas and Kate Brumback in Atlanta contributed to this report. ||||| Maryland sold one of the winning tickets for last night’s record-breaking $640 million Mega Millions jackpot, lottery officials said. The lucky ticket was purchased around 7:15 p.m. Friday at a 7-Eleven in Baltimore County in the 8000 block of Liberty Road in Milford Mill. The winner bought one ticket with randomly selected numbers just a few hours before sales ended. The jackpot is considered the single largest in world history, according to lottery officials. The Maryland winner will split the prize with winners in Kansas and Illinois, the Los Angeles Times reported. Officials are also waiting for information on jackpot winners from other Mega Millions states. Carole Everett, a Maryland Lottery spokeswoman, said there were additional jackpot winners from other states, but it was not yet clear how many and where. There were four, $250,000 winners in Maryland as well. "Unfortunately, they're going to have to deal with sharing a $640 million jackpot," she said. Everett said no winner has yet come forward for the Maryland ticket. The winning store will get $100,000. The multi-state Mega Millions game is played in 44 states and jurisdictions, including Maryland, Virginia, Delaware and the District of Columbia. Last night’s winning numbers were 2-4-23-38-46 and Mega Ball 23. The Illinois Lottery says a grand prize ticket was sold at a store in Red Bud, Ill., near St. Louis, according to the Chicago Tribune. The store that sold the ticket was a mob scene early Saturday, with national press and curious onlookers gathered in the parking lot. Several satellite trucks have set up with lights and cameras. Rodney Gould, who lives a five minute walk from the store, stopped by to buy some Hall's cough drops without realizing that the store had sold a historic ticket. He grabbed his chest and sighed when he heard. "I should have purchased that ticket," he said. Gould bought a ticket at the 7-11 on Thursday. “This is truly remarkable and historic,” said Maryland Lottery Director Stephen Martino said in a statement. “We can’t wait to greet the winner of this world-record setting jackpot.” Maryland has been the site of several major lottery wins in recent years. In December, the restaurant and liquor store Wesley's in Elkton sold a $125 million winning Powerball ticket. In 2007, Mace Liquors in Essex sold a $26 million Mega Millions winning ticket. That same year, Walther Liquors in Nottingham sold a $330 million Mega Millions winning ticket to Ellwood August "Bunky" Bartlett and his wife, Denise. [email protected] twitter.com/lukebroadwater ||||| Comments are filtered for language and registration is required. The Times makes no guarantee of comments' factual accuracy. Readers may report inappropriate comments by clicking the Report Abuse link next to a comment. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.

– At least three lucky (and still anonymous) souls have winning tickets in the $640 million Mega Millions jackpot, reports AP. The winners were sold in Illinois (in Red Bud, near St. Louis); Maryland (in the Baltimore suburb of Milford Mill, reports the Baltimore Sun); and somewhere in Kansas. California struck out but had lots of close calls, notes the Los Angeles Times: Twenty-nine tickets there matched five of the six numbers, and each should be worth in the "high hundreds of thousands." For the record, the lucky numbers were 2-4-23-38-46, with the Mega Ball of 23.

type Movie Current Status In Season mpaa Unrated runtime 132 minutes Limited Release Date 05/02/15 performer Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love director Brett Morgen genre Documentary, Biography, Music We gave it an A In the opening moments of Brett Morgen’s devastatingly intimate documentary Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, there’s a series of Super-8 home movies narrated by the late Nirvana frontman’s mother. “I was head over heels in love with that child,” she says as the flickering image of a towhead with bright blue eyes and an even brighter smile waves at the camera. On a hissing old tape recording, she asks her toddler son who he is. And in the tiniest, helium-pitched voice, he replies, “I’m Kurt Cobain!” It just about breaks your heart. Could the live-fast-die-young god of grunge ever have been so sweet and innocent? It’s been more than two decades since Cobain was found dead at age 27, the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head—the intimations of which could be found in his lyrics and were known to his closest friends. In the immediate aftermath of his death, the myth-building began, as it tends to do with artists who leave us too soon. Since then, the narrative of Cobain’s life—on and off the stage and in and out of rehab—has become as familiar and ossified as gospel: the troubled Aberdeen, Wash., teen who started a garage band and vaulted to global superstardom, the sensitive soul swept up in a Sid-and-Nancy-like romance with Courtney Love, the battles with addiction, the overwhelming demands of fame, and the decision to check out. But as Morgen’s brilliant film (which also premieres May 4 on HBO) shows, the narrative was never quite that tidy. Normally I’m suspicious when a filmmaker gets into bed with his subject as Morgen has here. He had the cooperation of Cobain’s family, widow, and daughter. But that access merely allows the director to make Cobain’s story feel not only comprehensive and fresh but revelatory. Morgen gives us the man instead of the myth. Montage of Heck begins at the beginning, showing us the bright, happy kid who sinks into restless depression (the “teenage angst” that later “paid off well”). He’s shuttled between his divorced parents, never quite fitting in or feeling at home. Through hauntingly animated sequences that bring the young Cobain’s scribbled journals to life, we start to sympathize with the loneliness that eventually led him to form the band that would become his surrogate family. From there, we see Nirvana’s underground success with Bleach, followed by the meteoric, multiplatinum success of Nevermind and all the adulation and attention that followed. Interviews with Love, bandmate Krist Novoselic, and Cobain’s first girlfriend flesh out the portrait and hint at the inevitability of the musician’s tragic path, including the most difficult scene to watch in the film: a home movie where Cobain seemingly nods off on drugs as Love cuts their young daughter’s hair. It’s uncomfortable. It almost feels too private. And some Nirvana fans, who like their icons unblemished, may choose to look away. But it proves that Morgen isn’t interested in hagiography. He wants to show us the real Kurt Cobain, warts and all. A ||||| Frances Bean, who is now 25, was just 20 months old when her father killed himself, far too young to know him. After spending much of her life avoiding his myth and his music, she told Rolling Stone that the movie allowed her to "know" him in an unfiltered way. Through it, she discovered that her father truly loved her. ||||| “Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck,” Brett Morgen’s family-approved documentary about the prodigiously talented and troubled leader of Nirvana, opens with a credit for its source material. Mr. Morgen was given access to Cobain’s archives — “art, music, journals, Super 8 films and audio montages” — and his exhilarating, exhausting, two-hour-plus film, both an artful mosaic and a hammering barrage, reflects years of rummaging through that trove. “Montage of Heck” is really a series of montages, both visual (Mr. Morgen and Joe Beshenkovsky were the editors) and aural (Cameron Frankley did the sound design). Swirls of images flash by — childhood family movies, journal and notebook entries, Cobain’s drawings and paintings, scenes of life on the road, concert footage, magazine articles, the home movies of Cobain and his wife, Courtney Love — set to an intricately layered soundtrack of Nirvana songs, archival interviews and the semiconfessional audiotapes he made as part of his diverse, constant artistic output. Continue reading the main story Video You’re never unaware of this virtuosity — “Montage” is, more than anything, an editing tour de force — or of the highly constructed nature of Mr. Morgen’s narrative. The film stops short of Cobain’s suicide in 1994, which is recounted in a one-sentence title card. But a portrait is assembled of Cobain as relentlessly self-aware and self-critical, and a theory is advanced involving insecurity and shame. And Mr. Morgen — able to choose from the archives — finds abundant clues and premonitions in Cobain’s writings and uses a full bag of film tricks to make them tell the story he wants told. Photo Ultimate answers about the suicide, or about the nature of Cobain’s relationship with Ms. Love, are still elusive, though. When it comes down to it, Mr. Morgen is faced with the opacity and the nondramatic, self-fulfilling nature of the drug addiction story. This is partly why the first hour, with its home-movie footage of an angelic, hyperactive Cobain as a child and its animated sequences of his adolescence, set to his own taped narration, is the best part of the film. (Though the later scenes of Cobain and Ms. Love living in comfortable, generally cheerful rock-star squalor have their own fascination.) Mr. Morgen’s reliance on Cobain’s personal material goes along with an unusual sparseness of interview subjects for a biographical documentary — just seven, including his mother, father and sister, his bandmate Krist Novoselic and Ms. Love. (The Nirvana drummer Dave Grohl was interviewed but not included in the film.) You can speculate about how complete a picture we’re getting, given that Ms. Love’s and Cobain’s daughter, Frances Bean Cobain, was an executive producer of the film, but that’s all you can do. Cobain’s and Nirvana’s music is heard throughout, and there are unusual bonuses, like a shot of Cobain fiercely running through “Drain You” at a sound check or a poignant tape of him singing the Beatles’ “And I Love Her.” Oddly, we don’t really see Cobain’s development as a musician — he seems to appear fully formed, while the film concentrates on Cobain the writer, draftsman and personality. You’re not likely to mind, though, for the duration of Mr. Morgen’s seamless mystery ride.

– It's pretty much unanimous: Critics are in love with Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck, the documentary produced by Cobain's daughter, which hits theaters today before premiering on HBO next month. With interviews from his parents, Courtney Love, and more, it offers an intimate look at the star who committed suicide at 27. Here's what critics are saying: Director Brett Morgen "gives us the man instead of the myth" in a documentary that makes "Cobain's story feel not only comprehensive and fresh but revelatory," Chris Nashawaty writes at Entertainment Weekly. Some parts, including a home video of Cobain nodding off on drugs, are "uncomfortable," but "Morgen isn't interested in hagiography. He wants to show us the real Kurt Cobain, warts and all." The result is, in a word, "brilliant." "The movie creates a portrait of Cobain that’s more intimate, and more disturbing, than any that fans have witnessed before," writes Jim Farber at the New York Daily News. It "downplays commentary to stress raw evidence drawn from Cobain's deep archives." Viewers will see "a strung-out Cobain struggling to hold his infant daughter," Farber writes, and hear him speak about a high school suicide attempt. The film as a whole leaves "questions, frustrations, and a chill." "Edited from thousands of photographs, home movies, and audio clips" the "source materials alone [make] this film a must-see for any hard-core Nirvana fan," Charles R. Cross writes at the Seattle Times. The highlights come in "segments where noirish animations dramatize stories Cobain himself narrates in audio." Though the "many powerful images on screen ... begin to overwhelm the viewer," most will be left "cheering." Mike Hale describes the film as a "seamless mystery ride" that "concentrates on Cobain the writer, draftsman, and personality." Morgen "finds abundant clues and premonitions in Cobain’s writings" to suggest that "insecurity and shame" played a role in his suicide, though the truth remains elusive, Hale writes at the New York Times. His favorite part? Seeing an "angelic" Cobain as a child in the first half of the two-hour-plus film. Frances Bean Cobain recently spoke publicly about her dad.

Melquan Williams, 21, of Fairmont. Williams, a former Maxton police officer is charged with one count of felony, arson, burning church, uninhabited house, store, one count felony, conspiracy, His bond was set at $200,000. Austin Seth Hunt, 23, of Rowland, who works for the Department of Corrections, is charged with 1 count of felony, setting fire to grass, brush, woods, two counts felony, arson, burning church, uninhabited house, store, five counts felony, setting fire to grass, brush, woods and five counts felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $200,000. Ashley Marie Oxendine, 18, of Orrum, is charged with two counts felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods, two counts felony conspiracy. Her bond was set at $100,000. John Austin Huggins, 17, of Fairmont, is charged with two counts felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods, two counts felony, arson, burning church, uninhabited house, store and four counts felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Jordan Scott, 19, of Fairmont, is charged with four counts felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods, five counts felony arson, burning church, uninhabited house, store, and nine counts felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Kenny Caulder Jr., 19, of Fairmont, is charged with six counts felony arson, burning church, uninhabited house, store, two counts felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods and seven counts of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Willie Fuentes Strickland, 42, of Fairmont, is charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods, one count of felony arson, burning church, uninhabited house, store and three counts of felony, conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Jordan Emmanuel Hunt, 18, of Fairmont, is charged with four counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods, 12 counts of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Shellia Huggins, 19, of Fairmont is charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods, two counts of felony arson, burning church, uninhabited house, store, and four counts of felony conspiracy. Her bond was set at $100,000. William Kendall Strickland, 18, of Fairmont, NC is charged with one count of misdemeanor larceny, one count of felony setting fire to grass, brush, woods and one count of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. EMBED More News Videos Firefighters with the Fairmont and Orrum Fire Department set the fires over a two-year period. Eldorado Rd., Fairmont, NC Collins Mill Rd., Fairmont, NC Oakton Church Rd., Fairmont, NC Atkinson Road, Fairmont, NC Raynham Road, Fairmont, NC Reva Road, Fairmont, NC NC Highway 130, Fairmont, NC Main Street, Fairmont, NC Mitchell Rd., Fairmont, NC Davis Road, Fairmont, NC Happy Hill Road, Fairmont, NC Marion Stage Road, Fairmont, NC Pleasant Hope Road, Fairmont, NC Following a year-long investigation, 10 volunteer firefighters have been arrested and accused of intentionally setting fires to abandoned homes and woods throughout Robeson County.Sheriff Ken Sealey said firefighters with the Fairmont and Orrum Fire Department set the fires over a two-year period.A Maxton police officer and NC Department of Corrections officer were also charged in connection with the investigation.There were 90 arson-related charges with more expected, the sheriff said.The 10 volunteer firefighters arrested were:All 10 were placed in the Robeson County Detention Center.Sealey also said the actions of the firefighters have cost taxpayers thousands of dollars."This investigation is not about any particular fire department. It's an investigation involving individuals," Insurance Commissioner and State Fire Marshal Mike Causey said.Chief State Fire Marshal Brian Taylor said all North Carolina fire departments were fully functional and that there are no coverage issues in Robeson County.The Robeson County Sheriff's Office, State Bureau of Investigation, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and the NC Forestry Service were involved in the investigation.The locations of fires affected were: ||||| You must enter the characters with black color that stand out from the other characters Message: * A friend wanted you to see this item from WRAL.com: http://wr.al/1CDJA — Ten volunteer firefighters were arrested Tuesday and accused of being involved in a nearly two-year conspiracy to set numerous fires in woods and abandoned structures, according to the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office. The firefighters work with the Fairmont Rural Fire Department and the Orrum Fire Department. There are approximately 90 arson-related charges in the investigation, and more charges are expected, authorities said. "Not accidental, set on fire...what it costs taxpayers to answer these numerous calls. We've been doing this for the last six months," Sheriff Kenneth Sealey said. "Several woods fires and abandoned house fires in a week." Sealey said a tip lead to the start of the investigation. Carolyn Harriman, who lives around the corner from the Fairmont firehouse, said she is shocked by the allegations. "I don't understand that. I mean, the job might be boring at times, but you don't go creating fires just to have something to put out," she said. The following people were arrested and charged in the case: Melquan Williams, 21, of Fairmont, was charged with one count of felony arson and one count of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $200,000. Austin Seth Hunt, 23, of Rowland, was charged with six counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods, two counts of felony arson burning a church, uninhabited house or store, and five counts of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $200,000.00. Ashley Marie Oxendine, 18, of Orrum, was charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods and two counts of felony conspiracy. Her bond was set at $100,000. John Austin Huggins, 17, of Fairmont, was charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods, two counts of felony arson burning a church, uninhabitable house or store and four counts of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000.00. Jordan Scott, 19, of Fairmont, was charged with four counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods, five counts of arson burning a church, uninhabited house or store and nine counts of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Kenny Caulder Jr., 19, of Fairmont, was charged with six counts of felony arson burning a church, uninhabited house or store, two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods and seven counts of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Willie Fuentes Strickland, 42, of Fairmont, was charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods, one count of felony arson burning a church, uninhabited house or store and three counts of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Jordan Emmanuel Hunt, 18, of Fairmont, was charged with four counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods, 12 of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Shellia Huggins, 19, of Fairmont, was charged with two counts of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods, two counts of felony arson burning a church, uninhabited house or store and four counts of felony conspiracy. Her bond was set at $100,000. William Kendall Strickland, 18, of Fairmont, was charged with one count of misdemeanor larceny, one count of felony setting fire to grass, brush or woods and one count of felony conspiracy. His bond was set at $100,000. Investigators say more arrests are possible. Anyone with information about the investigation is asked to call Lt. Kevin Graham of the Robeson County Sheriff’s Office at 910-671-3100.

– They volunteered to fight fires, but authorities say they were also purposely setting fires over a period of almost two years. After a tip led to a yearlong investigation, 10 volunteer firefighters in North Carolina's Robeson County were arrested Tuesday and charged with arson and related crimes, ABC 11 reports. So far there are 90 charges involved in the case, which involves firefighters from the Fairmont Rural Fire Department and the Orrum Fire Department, and officials say more charges are expected and more arrests could be made. "I don't understand that. I mean, the job might be boring at times, but you don't go creating fires just to have something to put out," a local, who lives near the Fairmont firehouse, tells WRAL. The firefighters are accused of setting fires in woods and at abandoned structures; WRAL and ABC 11 both have the names of those accused—among them are a police officer and a Department of Corrections officer—and specific charges. Authorities say the alleged crimes cost taxpayers thousands of dollars.

A sniper with Canada's elite special forces in Iraq has shattered the world record for the longest confirmed kill shot in military history at a staggering distance of 3,540 metres. The Canadian Armed Forces confirmed Thursday that a member of Joint Task Force 2 made the record-breaking shot, killing an Islamic State insurgent during an operation in Iraq within the last month. "The Canadian Special Operations Command can confirm that a member of Joint Task Force 2 successfully hit a target at 3,540 metres," the forces said in a statement. "For operational security reasons and to preserve the safety of our personnel and our Coalition partners we will not discuss precise details on when and how this incident took place." Story continues below advertisement Read more: New mission against Islamic State won't include sending troops to Syria: Sajjan Read more: Ottawa lays out $62-billion in new military spending over 20 years The elite sniper was using a McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle while firing from a high-rise during an operation that took place within the last month in Iraq. It took under 10 seconds to hit the target. "The shot in question actually disrupted a Daesh [Islamic State] attack on Iraqi security forces," said a military source. "Instead of dropping a bomb that could potentially kill civilians in the area, it is a very precise application of force and because it was so far way, the bad guys didn't have a clue what was happening." The military source said the JTF2 operation fell within the strictures of the government's advise and assist mission. "As stated multiple times in the past, members of the Canadian Special Operations Task Force do not accompany leading combat elements, but enable the Iraqi security forces who are in a tough combat mission," the statement said. "This takes the form of advice in planning their operations and assistance to defeat Daesh through the use of coalition resources." The kill was independently verified by video camera and other data, The Globe and Mail has learned. Story continues below advertisement Story continues below advertisement "Hard data on this. It isn't an opinion. It isn't an approximation. There is a second location with eyes on with all the right equipment to capture exactly what the shot was," another military source said. A military insider told The Globe: "This is an incredible feat. It is a world record that might never be equalled." The world record was previously held by British sniper Craig Harrison, who shot a Taliban gunner with a 338 Lapua Magnum rifle from 2,475 metres away in 2009. Previously, Canadian Corporal Rob Furlong had set the world record in 2002 at 2,430 metres when he gunned down an Afghan insurgent carrying an RPK machine gun during Operation Anaconda. Weeks before, Canadian Master Cpl. Arron Perry briefly held the world's best sniper record after he fatally shot an insurgent at 2,310 metres during the same operation. Both soldiers were members of the 3rd Battalion Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry. JTF2 special forces are primarily tasked with counterterrorism, sniper operations and hostage rescue. Much of the information about this elite organization is classified and not commented on by the government. The unit's snipers and members of Canadian Special Operations Regiment, who are carrying out the main task of training Kurdish forces, have been operating in tough conditions in Iraq. Story continues below advertisement The Trudeau government pulled CF-18 fighter jets out of Iraq in 2016 but expanded the military mission, which will see the number of Canadian special forces trainers climb to 207 from 69 in an assist, train and advise mission. Canadian commandos are not supposed to be involved in direct combat, but are authorized to go up to the front lines on training missions with Kurdish Peshmerga fighters and to paint targets for coalition air strikes. For operational security reasons, sources would not reveal the names of the elite Canadian sniper and his partner, nor the location where the action took place. A sniper and his observer partner are often sent to remote and dangerous locations to hunt down insurgents while having to carry heavy equipment. Once they have located the target, snipers follow the same methodical approach before each shot. Breathe in, out, in, out, find a natural pause and then squeeze the trigger. Canada has a reputation among Western military forces for the quality of its snipers, despite the small size of the Canadian Armed Forces compared to the United States and Britain. "Canada has a world-class sniper system. It is not just a sniper. They work in pairs. There is an observer," a military source said. "This is a skill set that only a very few people have." The skill of the JTF2 sniper in taking down an insurgent at 3,540 metres required math skills, great eyesight, precision of ammunition and firearms, and superb training. Story continues below advertisement "It is at the distance where you have to account not just for the ballistics of the round, which change over time and distance, you have to adjust for wind, and the wind would be swirling," said a source with expertise in training Canadian special forces. "You have to adjust for him firing from a higher location downward and as the round drops you have to account for that. And from that distance you actually have to account for the curvature of the Earth." U.S. Sergeant Bryan Kremer has the longest confirmed sniper kill shot by a U.S. soldier. He killed an Iraqi insurgent with his Barrett M82A1 rifle at 2,300 metres in 2004. ||||| The distances are mind-boggling: in 2002, Master Cpl. Arron Perry from the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry took aim at an Afghan insurgent from a distance of 2,300 metres and hit his target, setting the world record for the longest confirmed kill shot in military history. Not long after, Cpl. Rob Furlong, in the same operation, bested his brother-in-arms with a confirmed kill at 2,430 metres. His record would stand longer, until 2009, when a British sniper, Craig Harrison, made a shot from 2,475 metres. On June 21, Harrison’s record was shattered by another Canadian, an elite special forces sniper, who, according to the Canadian military, killed an ISIS fighter in Mosul from an incredible 3,540 metres. Let’s put that in perspective: if you stacked six CN Towers end to end, you would still be more than 200 metres short. The bullet, according to military experts, would have travelled for nearly 10 seconds before hitting its target. The shooter not only would have had to take into consideration wind conditions, but at that distance, also the curvature of the earth. More astonishing, perhaps, is the fact that over the last 15 years, the active-combat sniping record has been broken four times, and three of those have been by Canadians. That’s no coincidence, says Furlong, who now runs a marksmanship academy in Edmonton. “I’ve been saying this forever,” he tells Maclean’s by telephone. “Canadian snipers are the best in the world. The sniper training program has been around for a long time. It’s the foundation, and it’s been retooled from lessons learned in Afghanistan. We’ve built it to be the best.” This latest record, Furlong adds, has taken sniping “to a different level.” Canadian snipers are considered some of the best in the world in part because they are not simply taught to hit their targets. Like much of the Canadian military, many are trained with skills above their existing rank, in the sniper’s case as Unit Master Snipers, meaning they have the skills to design and run complex operations if the need ever arises. That in itself may not make them better snipers but the gestalt of sniper-training and command-thinking combined could explain their skill. The practice of equipping soldiers with more than the skills they will need on the battlefield has served the Canadian military well. In Afghanistan, the results were clear. Maclean’s witnessed firsthand how soldiers out on patrol, sometimes for days in enemy territory, operated as closely knit teams. Command decisions were made with input from different ranks, offering multiple perspectives to patrol commanders. The level of training Canada provides its soldiers, particularly its elite JTF2 commandos, is the driving force behind Canada’s reputation for fielding a highly skilled and intellectually capable military. “This is a very important point,” says Chris Kilford, a retired Canadian artillery officer and now a fellow at the Queen’s University Centre for International and Defence Policy. “I have been very impressed with the young people in our special forces that I have interacted with overseas. Corporals and master corporals: bright and articulate. I also think that in general our people are often capable of working at a higher level than the rank on their shoulder.” Furlong agrees, adding that Canadian soldiers are more “cross-trained” than many other soldiers in the world, and Canada’s snipers specifically are given every opportunity to pursue leadership training that refines their mental capabilities, a key component to the psychologically demanding job they do. Still, there are the naysayers. Warrant Officer Oliver Cromwell, an instructor at the infantry school at CFB Gagetown in New Brunswick* who has taught sniper courses, cautions that more information is needed before the 3,450 meter distance is confirmed. “There is a difference between slant angle range and true range,” he says. “Slant angle range—if the shooter is at an elevated position relative to the target—may appear longer that the true range, sometimes twice the true distance. I don’t want to be a naysayer but those are just the facts.” Some online message boards have have also questioned the validity of the new record. In one case a contributor to a military discussion suggested the sniper likely fired into a crowd of ISIS fighters and happened to hit one. But Furlong points out that these types of distances, 3,000 metres and more, are regularly achieved on the shooting range. “It’s not an impossible distance,” he says. “The difference is between a shooting range and a battlefield. They are two completely different environments. The pressure these guys are under is huge. So to the naysayers I would just say, this can be done.” As for the men who accomplished it—snipers work in pairs, including a spotter—Furlong says they probably didn’t realize what they had done until later. “When we broke the record, we didn’t know until we got back to base,” he says. “To be honest, I didn’t really care, neither when I broke it or when mine was broken. Records are made to be broken.” Still, unless there are major advances in equipment, Furlong adds, this one should stand for a long time. CORRECTION, June 29, 2017: This story originally stated the location of CFB Gagetown. Maclean’s regrets the error. ||||| A Canadian sniper working alongside Iraqi forces in their fight against ISIS successfully struck a member of the militant group from a distance of 3,540 metres, Canada's military confirmed Thursday. The sniper is a member of the elite Joint Task Force 2 special forces unit, but citing operation security the military provided no details about how or when the incident took place. The Globe and Mail first reported the sniper record Thursday and quoted unnamed military sources who said the kill shot disrupted an ISIS attack on Iraqi security forces. The shot surpasses the previous record held by a British soldier, who in 2009 shot a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan from a distance of 2,475 metres. 'Force multipliers' Jody Mitic, a former Canadian sniper who now serves as an Ottawa city councillor, said he had heard rumours of the Canadian's record-breaking feat and describes it as "a hell of a shot." Mitic said to hit a target at that distance, the sniper team, likely a shooter and spotter, would have to take every possible factor into account, from the temperature of the weapon and ammunition to the curvature of the Earth. "The shooter and the spotter know exactly what they're doing," Mitic said. But "at the end of the day, long-range shooting, it's your best guess." "There's so much that goes into this, but at the same time, when you're in that environment, operating in that way, a lot of these things become second nature," Mitic said in an interview with CBC News. Jody Mitic, a former Canadian Forces sniper and now an Ottawa city councillor, says a long-distance shot must take many factors into consideration, and even then 'It's your best guess.' (CBC) Mitic, who was badly injured by a land mine in Afghanistan in 2007, expects the sniper team would have been working in the area for a while and would have known the conditions and terrain extremely well. He said teams like this have long been a vital part of Canada's military operations. "We're called 'force multipliers,'" Mitic said. "If you have a well-trained, well-equipped group of snipers in an area, that frees up about a hundred other troops to go and do other things." Canadian sniper history Canadians have held the record for longest kill shot before. Former corporal Rob Furlong shot a Taliban fighter in Afghanistan in 2002 from a distance of 2,430 metres. He broke the record set just a few days earlier by another Canadian, former master corporal Aaron Perry, who shot an insurgent from a distance of 2,286 metres. The history of snipers in the Canadian military goes back much further. Cpl. Francis Pegahmagabow, an Ojibwa member of the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion, was the deadliest sniper of the First World War, with a record of 378 kills. He still stands as one of Canada's most decorated First Nations soldiers. Cpl. Francis Pegahmagabow, a sniper in the First World War, recorded 378 kills and is Canada's most decorated First Nations soldier. (Marius Barbeau/Canadian Museum of History) Mark Zuehlke, who has written a dozen books on Canada's military history, said Canadian snipers showed deadly effectiveness in both world wars. "The best snipers were usually country boys who knew how to hunt," Zuehlke said. "They knew how to handle a gun and handle a gun well." The Canadian mission in Iraq has been the subject of much debate over whether Canada's troops are involved in a combat mission. That debate was reignited recently when the Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Jonathan Vance revealed Canadian troops were operating inside Mosul. In a statement confirming the sniper's successful shot, the Canadian Forces insisted its mission in Iraq is still to merely "advise and assist" Iraqi forces. "This takes the form of advice in planning for their operations and assistance to defeat Daesh [ISIS] through the use of coalition resources," the statement said. ||||| Canadian Sniper Hit A Target More Than 2 Miles Away, Military Confirms Enlarge this image toggle caption Dan Balilty/AP Dan Balilty/AP A sniper with Canada's elite special forces is being credited with making a world record shot, after the military confirmed Thursday that he hit a target from nearly 2.2 miles away during a recent operation in Iraq. Military sources tell Canada's The Globe and Mail newspaper that the sniper killed an ISIS insurgent during an attack on Iraqi security forces. "The Canadian Special Operations Command can confirm that a member of the Joint Task Force 2 successfully hit a target from 3,540 meters," the force said in an email to NPR. "For operational security reasons and to preserve the safety of our personnel and our Coalition partners, we will not discuss precise details on when and how this incident took place." The sniper reportedly fired from an elevated position; for the shot to be accurate, many factors — from wind and gravity to the Earth's curvature — would have to be taken into account. The shot easily surpasses the previous record for the longest confirmed sniper shot of 2,474 meters (1.54 miles), which was set by Britain's Craig Harrison in 2009. A source in the military tells the Globe and Mail that details of the shot were verified by video camera and other data, relying in part on information from a second location. "The elite sniper was using a McMillan TAC-50 sniper rifle while firing from a high-rise during an operation that took place within the last month in Iraq," the paper reports. "It took under 10 seconds to hit the target." Joint Task Force 2 is a specialized unit that was created in 1993, after the Canadian Armed Forces took over responsibility for federal counterterrorism operations. The special forces group says its mission is to protect "the Canadian National Interest and combats terrorism at home and abroad." In Iraq, Canada's Special Operations Task Force says, its role is to share expertise with Iraq's military to help "detect, identify and defeat (ISIS) activities from well behind the Iraqi security force front line in Mosul."

– An amazing, if grisly, feat continues to resonate after a report in Thursday's Globe and Mail of Toronto. The newspaper, quoting military sources, says a Canadian sniper in Iraq killed an ISIS militant from the mind-boggling distance of 3,540 meters, or 2.2 miles. The Canadian military has not confirmed what would be the longest kill shot by a sniper in history, but the story has in the meantime drawn attention to something else: the remarkable prowess of Canadian snipers in general. Some coverage: The training: If confirmed, that means the sniper record has been broken four times in the last 15 years, three of those times by Canadians, notes Maclean's magazine. One reason, it says, is because Canadian snipers "are not simply taught to hit their targets." The training goes beyond their shooting duties, making sure they're able to "design and run complex operations" if necessary. "That in itself may not make them better snipers but the gestalt of sniper-training and command-thinking combined could explain their skill." Long history: The CBC examines the history of Canada's military marksmanship, noting that Cpl. Francis Pegahmagabow of the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion had 378 kills, making him deadliest sniper of World War I. A military historian says the skill carried into WWII. "The best snipers were usually country boys who knew how to hunt." Official statement: The Canadian military has not confirmed the kill, but it did confirm the shot. "A member of the Joint Task Force 2 successfully hit a target from 3,540 meters," it says in an email to NPR, adding that it won't divulge further details for troop safety. Really? The Globe and Mail says the shot was verified by video and data, but that hasn't emerged yet, and some are skeptical. The Washington Post talks to former US snipers who say that even seeing a human target would be difficult from that distance, even with advanced scopes. A theory floated by a former Marine shooter: "A spotter with an advanced optical device was able to verbally walk the sniper onto the target and correct his aim.” Yes: Canadian Cpl. Rob Furlong, who once held the record himself at 2,430 meters, counters the skeptics: “It’s not an impossible distance,” he says. “So to the naysayers I would just say, this can be done.” It's a "hell of a shot," adds former Canadian sniper Jody Mitic, who was written a book called, of course, Unflinching: The Making of a Canadian Sniper. A critic: In a post at Stuff.co.nz, John Edens thinks the shot was possible, given high-tech gizmos to account for everything from wind speed to the curvature of the earth. Plus, the gun used, a McMillan TAC-50 rifle, employs a 50-caliber bullet the size of a "large cigar." His beef, though, is with media coverage that he thinks glorifies war. "It's an achievement to a point, but it's not really one humanity should be proud of."

An interesting historical fashion footnote: Thom Browne criticized President Obama’s wardrobe in a 2010 WSJ magazine interview. He said in the interview: “Obama could be dressed so much better. It looks like his clothing just doesn’t fit him. What is he doing? He’s a politician. My brother is a politician, and unfortunately they are too concerned that their constituents will not appreciate them looking better than everyone else. As opposed to thinking, “I should dress well because that’s what people want to see.” I saw a documentary on the Queen Mum during the war and she still dressed to go out and see the people because they expected it. They wanted to see a queen. They didn’t want to see her looking like them.” ||||| In 2009 Chief Justice John Roberts flipped some very important words in President Obama's swearing-in. Four years later, it appears the two still haven't figured out how to do get this tradition quite right. Here's the big "oops" moment from today's inauguration: "The office of the president of the United Sta—" is the flub, if you can call it that. President Obama seemed to cut himself off instead of saying the full word "States," and he sort of froze up. Here's our GIF of Obama upon realizing he (sort of) screwed up: And here's a freeze-frame: Four years ago, if you recall, it was Justice Roberts messing up the oath. And all that official practicing on Sunday seems for naught. It won't help much now, but here's how the oath of office supposed to go: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Want to add to this story? Let us know in comments or send an email to the author at aabadsantos at theatlantic dot com. You can share ideas for stories on the Open Wire. Alexander Abad-Santos

– President Obama has been publicly sworn in for his second term—though he actually took the oath yesterday. Today the oath, administered by Chief Justice John Roberts, went off a little more smoothly than it did during Obama's first inauguration, though the AtlanticWire points out it wasn't error-free. And the flub this time was Obama's. While reciting the phrase "The office of the president of the United States," he effectively choked on the last word, saying just "Sta—," and making a little face after doing so. In other oath-taking tidbits, the president placed his hand on two Bibles: one Abraham Lincoln's and the other Martin Luther King's. (Prof. Cornel West wasn't thrilled about the latter choice, notes the National Review: West slammed the use of King's "prophetic fire as just a moment in presidential pageantry.") Joe Biden, meanwhile, again took the oath from Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the Wall Street Journal notes. Among other highlights of the ceremony thus far: The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir performed "Battle Hymn of the Republic," James Taylor sang "America the Beautiful," and civil rights leader Myrlie Evers-Williams offered the invocation.

A rehearsal for the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump take place at the US Capitol in Washington, DC (AFP Photo/SAUL LOEB) Washington (AFP) - The inauguration of Donald Trump as America's 45th president is the highlight of several days of pomp and circumstance in the US capital. Here's a look at the timeline of events. Thursday, January 19 10:35 am - Performances begin at Lincoln Memorial. "Voices of the People," the first act of a day-long public concert, will feature groups such as the DC Fire Department Emerald Society Pipes and Drums, the Republican Hindu Coalition, high school marching bands, choirs and baton twirlers. 3:30 pm to 4 pm - Trump and Vice President-elect Mike Pence participate in a wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery in honor of the nation's veterans. 4 pm to 6 pm - Trump will deliver remarks during the second act of the concert at Lincoln Memorial, dubbed the "Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration." The event, broadcast live nationally, will be headlined by country stars Toby Keith and Lee Greenwood and feature a fireworks finale. Trump is expected to spend Thursday night at Blair House, the presidential guest residence across the street from the White House. Friday, January 20 Morning - Trump, Pence and their families are expected to attend services at St. John's Episcopal Church, just steps from the White House. Afterward, President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama welcome Trump and his wife Melania to the White House for morning tea. The two couples will then travel together to the Capitol by motorcade. 9:30 am - Inauguration ceremony begins on the west front of the Capitol with musical performances. Attendees will include members of Congress, Supreme Court justices, diplomats and the public. Former presidents Jimmy Carter, George W. Bush and Bill Clinton will attend, as will Trump's election opponent Hillary Clinton. Former president George H.W. Bush is in frail health and will not be present. Sixteen-year-old soprano Jackie Evancho will sing the national anthem. The Rockettes dance troupe will also be performing, at a time yet to be announced. 11:30 am - Opening remarks. Religious leaders will offer the invocation and readings. Pence will be sworn in by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Noon - Trump will recite the oath of office, administered by US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts. He will use president Abraham Lincoln's inauguration Bible, as well as the Bible that Trump's mother gave to him at his Sunday school graduation in 1955. Afterward, Trump will deliver his inaugural address. 12:30 Ceremony ends. Afterward, in keeping with tradition, Trump and Pence will attend the Congressional Lunch in the Capitol. 3 pm to 5 pm - Inaugural parade. The newly minted president and vice-president make their way 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) along Pennsylvania Avenue from the Capitol to the White House, trailed by some 8,000 parade participants. They will include members of all US military branches, as well as high school and university marching bands, equestrian corps, first responders, veteran groups and even a tractor brigade. 7 pm to 11 pm - Trump, Pence and their wives will make appearances at three official inaugural balls, two of which will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center and the other at the National Building Museum. A number of semi-official and unofficial balls also will take place throughout the city. Saturday, Jan 21 10 am to 11 am - Trump and Pence attend the interfaith National Prayer Service, held at the Washington National Cathedral. ||||| Why it matters: A funding freeze could be seen as a slap against the organization — which the U.S. and Israel consider to be biased against Israel and too politicized — and an attempt to pressure the Palestinians to return to peace talks with Israel. But a State Department official said that the fact the money wasn't transferred on Jan. 1 doesn't mean it was frozen. "There are still deliberations taking place, and we have until mid January to decide what we are going to do,” the official said. The Trump administration has frozen $125 million in funding for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which provides aid to Palestinian refugees, according to three Western diplomats who were informed of the move. They said the funding, one third of the annual U.S. donations to the agency, was supposed to be transferred by Jan. 1 but was withheld. The details: The diplomats, who asked to speak on conditions of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said the funding was frozen until the Trump administration finishes its review of U.S. aid to the Palestinian Authority. The move comes after the Palestinian Authority suspended their contacts with the Trump administration in response to its decision to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. A senior White House official said no decision have been made yet, but confirmed that a review of the U.S. assistance to the Palestinians is underway "in light of the Palestinians' recent conduct." The diplomats added that U.S. officials told U.N. officials in the last two days that President Trump is considering totally cutting the part of the funding which was frozen, and is even considering cutting up to $180 million, which amounts to half of the U.S. funding to UNRWA. The impact: The Western diplomats said freezing or cutting of such a big part of the U.S. funding would be catastrophic for the organization, would hamper its work and might lead to negative consequences for the Palestinian refugee camps in Gaza, the West Bank, Jordan and Lebanon. U.N. secretary general António Guterres has spoken with senior U.S. official about the UNRWA funding and also consulted with foreign ministers from other donor countries, according to the diplomats. The Israeli security establishment and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories — the Israeli organization that oversees government activities in the West Bank and Gaza — are concerned about possible freezing or cutting of U.S. funding to UNRWA, fearing the escalation of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. “The humanitarian situation in Gaza is complicated enough and harming UNRWA funding will only make it more complicated," a senior Israeli security official told me. What we're hearing: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is not enthusiastic about the cutting of U.S. funding to UNRWA, but is politically pressed by conservative ministers in his cabinet and by the fact he can't be more dovish on the Palestinian issue than President Trump. Officials in the prime minister's office told diplomats from several western countries that Israel does not object to the cutting of U.S. funding to the Palestinian Authority, but prefers that the U.S. doesn't cut funding to UNRWA due to the fact it also serves Israeli security interests. A senior Israeli official told me Netanyahu is in touch with the White House on the UNRWA funding issue, and conveyed the message that Israel prefers “gradual disengagement" with UNRWA by the U.S. and not a big funding cut. The prime minister's office said in a statement: "Netanyahu supports President Trump's critical attitude towards UNRWA and believes practical steps need to be taken in order to change the fact that UNRWA is being used to entrench the Palestinian refugee problem instead of solving it." ||||| Instead of being the party of “no,” Democrats could be the party of “maybe” during Donald Trump Donald John TrumpTrump to fundraise for 3 Republicans running for open seats: report Trump to nominate former Monsanto exec to top Interior position White House aides hadn’t heard of Trump's new tax cut: report MORE’s presidency. Democrats on Capitol Hill will try to block much of Trump’s agenda during the next four years. But there are some areas where the incoming administration and minority Democrats could find room for cooperation, including infrastructure, trade deals, the minimum wage and entitlements. Both sides risk a serious backlash from their respective bases if they pursue too close of an alliance, but there are potential upsides, as well. For Trump, using the opposing party could help him cobble together the votes needed to push parts of his populist agenda through Congress. And for Democrats, it’s a way to exploit divisions between Trump and Capitol Hill Republicans to achieve some of their policy goals. With that in mind, here are several policy areas where Trump and the Democrats could join forces. Trade Trump can act on his own to begin changing America’s overseas trade agreements, which he derided on the campaign trail. ADVERTISEMENT He has vowed to announce that the U.S. is leaving the Trans-Pacific Partnership on his first day in office, and he could also deliver official notice of the country’s plans to leave the North American Free Trade Agreement with Canada and Mexico (NAFTA). But he will need Congress’s help to put in place new trade policies, a painstaking process that could take years. To do that, he could turn to Democrats, who have traditionally been more averse to free trade than Republicans. Trump could attempt to pick up Democratic votes to ratify a rewrite of NAFTA, if he is able to succeed in potential future negotiations with Canada and Mexico. He could also pitch them on his proposed tariff on imports, which has been met with crickets from Republicans. Some Democrats who are skeptical of free trade have already made overtures to Trump on the issue. Progressive groups have praised his nominee for U.S. Trade Representative. But they have also threatened to whack Trump if he veers off course. “During the campaign, President-elect Trump promised to reform American trade policy, but a promise is not enough,” Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) said earlier this month. Minimum wage Boosting the federal minimum wage — which currently sits at $7.25 per hour — has long been a major policy goal for Democrats. They are hoping they have an ally in the new president. Trump sent conflicting signals during the campaign about what he wants to do with the minimum wage, which has not been raised in seven years. During a November 2015 GOP primary debate, Trump famously said that wages in the U.S. are “too high.” Trump changed his position after facing pressure from workers groups and liberals such as Sens. Bernie Sanders Bernard (Bernie) SandersHarris presses young people to vote early in Iowa trip Dems lower expectations for 'blue wave' Election Countdown: Takeaways from heated Florida governor's debate | DNC chief pushes back on 'blue wave' talk | Manchin faces progressive backlash | Trump heads to Houston rally | Obama in Las Vegas | Signs of huge midterm turnout MORE (I-Vt.) and Elizabeth Warren Elizabeth Ann WarrenWarren wants probe into whether former U.S. soldiers worked as assassins for UAE 'Broad City' stars urge Clinton not to run again Big Dem donors stick to sidelines as 2020 approaches MORE (D-Mass.). He has said he supports raising it to as much as $10 per hour. “I would leave it and raise it somewhat,” Trump told Fox News host Bill O’Reilly in a July interview. “You need to help people — and I know it’s not very Republican to say.” Democrats, many of whom want to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour, have been discouraged by Trump’s pick of fast food executive Andrew Puzder to lead the Department of Labor, in part because he opposes a minimum wage increase. “Mr. Puzder is the classic example of a millionaire CEO who nickel-and-dimes workers while raking in profits for himself,” Sen. Patty Murray Patricia (Patty) Lynn MurrayOvernight Health Care: House passes funding bill | Congress gets deal on opioids package | 80K people died in US from flu last winter Wilkie vows no 'inappropriate influence' at VA Dems push back on using federal funds to arm teachers MORE (D-Wash.) said last month. “He has spoken out against increasing the minimum wage.” Transportation/Infrastructure Among Trump's most prominent — and consistent — vows on the campaign trail was to move quickly on a sweeping package designed to improve the nation's roads, bridges and infrastructure. It's an idea long-championed by Obama and congressional Democrats, who repeatedly ran into a buzz saw of opposition from Republicans, primarily over the scope of federal spending and how the massive costs would be paid for. Trump is attempting to ease those concerns by pushing the Republicans' favored “public-private” strategy, in which Washington would provide financial incentives, largely through tax breaks, to encourage buy-in from private companies. But Elaine Chao, Trump's pick to head the Transportation Department, told a Senate panel last week that Trump's plan will also feature direct federal spending — an idea that may need Democratic support to move through Congress. “Private tax breaks … will only aid infrastructure projects that have their own revenue stream,” Sen. Cory Booker (N.J.), senior Democrat on the Commerce Committee's surface transportation subpanel, warned Chao. Finding the right balance will be tricky, as Republicans are insisting that any infrastructure package must curtail regulations — a strategy sure to alienate Democrats — while Trump is also promoting so-called Buy American provisions certain to get pushback from Republicans. But it's the funding question that will pose the highest hurdle — a dynamic Chao acknowledged. “The pay-fors for any infrastructure proposal are all challenging, and all have their particular champions and … detractors,” she said, vowing to work with both parties. “We cannot do this alone.” Medicare drug-price negotiations Trump's attack on the law barring Medicare from negotiating drug prices breaks with the long-held position of Republicans, who secured the ban when Medicare's prescription drug program was created in 2003. But the president-elect has vowed to press on, using last week's press conference to accuse the “disastrous” industry of “getting away with murder.” The comments are music to the ears of Democrats, who have pushed for years to undo the negotiation ban. “I like what I'm hearing,” said Rep. Peter Welch Peter Francis WelchPoll: GOP Vermont governor has 14-point lead on Dem challenger Dems damp down hopes for climate change agenda Electric carmakers turn to Congress as tax credits dry up MORE (D-Vt.), who introduced legislation this month allowing Medicare to purchase drugs in bulk directly through the companies. “If President-elect Trump was serious,” Welch said, “I will work with him to make it happen.” Trump would need the Democrats' help. Speaker Paul Ryan Paul Davis RyanElection Countdown: Takeaways from heated Florida governor's debate | DNC chief pushes back on 'blue wave' talk | Manchin faces progressive backlash | Trump heads to Houston rally | Obama in Las Vegas | Signs of huge midterm turnout Will the Federal Reserve make a mistake by shifting to inflation? Sanders: Democrats ‘absolutely’ have chance to win back rural America MORE (R-Wis.) is already taking the president-elect to task, telling Axios on Monday that the Medicare drug law “works extremely well.” “I don't speak like that, generally speaking,” Ryan said. “There's a lot more we can do to bring down the price of drugs.” The issue could leave Rep. Tom Price in a tough spot. The Georgia Republican, who's been opposed to Medicare drug negotiation, is Trump's pick to lead the Health and Human Services Department. Social Security Trump's populist campaign message included promises to keep Social Security intact, marking another break with Republicans that puts the president-elect squarely in line with Democrats. GOP leaders have proposed for years to scale back benefits under the popular seniors' program, including provisions to hike the eligibility age and lower payments for wealthier seniors. Ryan, a former Budget Committee chairman, has frequently been the face of those provisions. Trump has attacked such changes, and Reince Priebus, Trump's soon-to-be chief of staff, said Sunday they'll be off the table in the coming budget debates. “There are no plans in President-elect Trump's policies moving forward to touch Medicare and Social Security,” Priebus told ABC's “This Week” program. Democrats are not about to let the incoming administration forget the promise. Sanders, a liberal icon whose presidential bid has given him a national stage, arrived on the chamber floor this month hauling a poster-sized depiction of a Trump campaign tweet boasting of his plans to preserve the big entitlement programs. “I was the first & only potential GOP candidate to state there will be no cuts to Social Security, Medicare & Medicaid,” read Trump's tweet. “Millions of people voted for him,” Sanders said, “on the belief that he would keep his word.” ||||| The dollar tumbled to its lowest level in a month after Donald Trump suggested to The Wall Street Journal he favored a weaker dollar, breaking with decades of tradition and intensifying investor concern over the incoming administration’s capacity to surprise. The president-elect in an interview published Monday described the dollar as “too strong. ” He dismissed a major tax proposal that would favor U.S. exports over imports— known as a border adjustment—that was expected to further boost the dollar, as “too complicated.” ... ||||| Donald Trump enters office as the most unpopular of at least the last seven newly elected presidents, a new ABC News/Washington Post poll finds, with ratings for handling the transition that are also vastly below those of his predecessors. Forty percent of Americans in the national survey approve of the way Trump has handled the transition, half as many as the 80 percent who approved of Barack Obama’s preparations to take office. Trump also trails far behind George W. Bush (72 percent transition approval), Bill Clinton (81 percent) and George H.W. Bush (82 percent) on this measure. See PDF with full results, charts and tables here. Similarly, just 40 percent in this poll, produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates, approve of most of Trump’s Cabinet choices, trailing his four most recent predecessors by 19 to 26 percentage points. Also, only 40 percent see Trump favorably overall. That’s 21 points behind Obama’s departing favorability rating (his best since November 2009) and by far the lowest popularity for an incoming president in polling since 1977. Previous start-of-presidency favorability ratings have ranged from 56 percent for George W. Bush to 79 percent for Obama. Consider the flipside: Just 9 to 20 percent saw Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and Obama unfavorably as they took office. It was 36 percent for George W. Bush. It’s 54 percent for Trump. Expectations Even with those weak ratings, Trump garners high expectations on some issues. Six in 10 Americans polled expect him to do an excellent or good job on the economy and on jobs alike, and 56 percent expect him to do well in handling terrorism. On the economy, Trump may get tailwinds. Fifty-one percent say it’s in excellent or good shape, the most since October 2006 in ABC/Post polls. Even still, 63 percent say the country’s seriously off on the wrong track — a view on which Democrats and Republicans have essentially swapped positions since the election, with the biggest change for the party that won the White House. Positive expectations for Trump drop to about 50 percent on three other issues: helping the middle class, handling the deficit and making Supreme Court appointments. Expectations go negative on four more: handling health care, international crises, race relations and issues of particular concern to women. Expectations of Trump are more negative than positive by 24 points on women’s issues, 37 versus 61 percent, and by 17 points on race relations, 40 versus 57 percent. Skeptics/Issues More generally, skepticism about Trump is extensive. Sixty-one percent of Americans surveyed lack confidence in him to make the right decisions for the country’s future. Obama was rated as poorly on this measure in the midst of his second term. But he started his presidency with the opposite result, 61 percent confidence. Fifty-two percent see Trump as unqualified for office. Still, in a positive trend for him, that’s down from a peak of 64 percent in June. Results are informed by opposition to many of the incoming administration’s policy plans. Out of eight such policies tested in this survey, majorities support three: deporting undocumented immigrants who have committed crimes (most popular by far, with 72 percent support), renegotiating NAFTA (57 percent) and punishing companies that move jobs overseas (53 percent). Support goes below 50 percent for repealing “Obamacare” (46 percent support versus 47 oppose), building a wall on the border with Mexico (37 percent support), withdrawing from the nuclear deal with Iran (37 percent), barring entry to most Muslims who aren’t U.S. citizens (32 percent) and quitting the Paris climate treaty (31 percent). (On “Obamacare,” two-thirds of those who favor repeal say the law should be replaced with a new one at the same time.) It’s notable that large majorities oppose two proposals that have been signatures of Trump’s political rise: barring entry of non-U.S. Muslims (63 percent opposed) and building a wall along the border with Mexico (opposed by 60 percent). Opposition peaks, at 66 percent, to another idea, providing tax breaks for privately funded roads, bridges and transportation projects that would then charge tolls for people who use them. Another likely policy debate may pose its own risks for Trump. He has proposed an across-the-board tax cut. Seventy-five percent in this survey support a tax cut for middle- and low-income Americans, but support falls to 48 percent for a business tax cut and just 36 percent for cutting taxes paid by higher-income Americans. Others Among other issues: • Just 35 percent approve of the way Trump has handled the issue of campaign email hacking, while 54 percent disapprove. Nearly two-thirds think Russia was behind it, and among them, 7 in 10 think Russia’s goal was to help Trump win the election. Forty-three percent see Trump as “too friendly” toward Russia; about as many say he’s handling this well. • Neither the media nor Trump is well rated in their handling of each other, but Trump fares considerably less well. Americans divide essentially evenly on whether the news media are treating Trump fairly or unfairly. But they see Trump’s treatment of the news media as unfair rather than fair by a substantial 57 to 38 percent. Groups Evaluations of Trump’s proposed policies and expectations for his presidency vary widely, with no division more prominent than the one between political partisans. One of the largest rifts by party emerges on Trump’s planned wall along the Mexican border. Seventy-two percent of Republicans support it, most saying they do so strongly, while 87 percent of Democrats are opposed, nearly three-quarters strongly. Partisans split similarly on repealing the Affordable Care Act, with 8 in 10 Republicans in favor and three-quarters of Democrats against. In terms of expectations, nearly all Republicans expect Trump to do an excellent or good job handling the economy and job creation alike, while fewer than 3 in 10 Democrats say the same. Democrats are the least optimistic about Trump’s handling of the health care system, with just 9 percent giving him at least a “good” prospective rating. That compares with 87 percent of Republicans. Not all of Trump’s plans are welcomed as universally by GOP partisans. Fewer than half of Republicans support the public-private infrastructure plan proposed by his advisers or his previously stated intention to pull out of the Paris climate agreement. (He later said he has an “open mind” about the deal.) Fewer than a quarter of Democrats support either proposal. Some divisions echo the election. White men without college degrees, a strongly pro-Trump group, support repealing the 2010 health care law by 65 versus 27 percent, while white women with a college degree — who narrowly backed Clinton — mirror them in opposition, 35 versus 63 percent. The pattern repeats in expectations for Trump’s handling of race relations; nearly two-thirds of non-college white men have high expectations, while as many college-educated white women have low ones. Race is a key factor. Compared with whites, nonwhites are 36 points less likely to expect much from Trump in job creation and 30 points less likely to think he’ll do well on race relations. And while support for building the border wall has increased among whites from 42 to 50 percent since September, it remains extremely unpopular among Hispanics, with just 11 percent in support. There will be much measurement of Trump’s job approval in the years ahead, and the best stand-in for that gauge now is approval of his handling of the transition. This peaks at 77 percent among Republicans, 68 percent among strong conservatives and 61 percent among evangelical white Protestants. But it’s just 45 percent in the states Trump won in the presidential election, as well as 42 percent among political independents, with 50 percent disapproving. Further, whites, a group Trump won by a 20 points in the election (per the exit poll), approve of his work on the transition by a 10 point margin, 52 to 42 percent. That ranges from 64 percent approval among non-college white men to 36 percent among college-educated white women. Seventy-five percent of nonwhites disapprove, including 85 percent of blacks and 76 percent of Hispanics. Methodology This ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cellular telephone Jan. 12 to 15, 2017, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,005 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 3.5 points, including the design effect. Partisan divisions are 31-23-37 percent, Democrats-Republicans-independents. The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York City, with sampling, data collection and tabulation by Abt-SRBI of New York City. See details on the survey’s methodology here. ||||| Presidential Transition Trump set to take office without most of his Cabinet Republicans are on track to take longer to fill out his team than for any administration since George H.W. Bush in 1989. When Bill Clinton was sworn into office 24 years ago, every single member of his Cabinet but one was confirmed by the Senate within two days. When Donald Trump is sworn in on Friday, he’ll be lucky to have half that many installed. With Republicans in control of the White House and the Senate, it wasn’t supposed to be this difficult for Trump to get his team in place posthaste, especially since Democrats did away with the 60-vote requirement for Cabinet nominees. But all signs are pointing to a slog for Trump and the Senate GOP, even if Republicans believe eventually all of Trump's picks will be approved. Story Continued Below “We were presented with the problem that the Trump administration was basically unprepared for presenting a Cabinet,” said Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). “They compounded that problem by picking both billionaires with enormously complicated financial situations, and people who have enormous conflicts of interests.” Trump made his Cabinet selections in rapid fire after the election, but has been hampered since by ethics complications for some of them, Democratic opposition and an unforgiving calendar. His Cabinet is now on track to take the longest to fill since George H.W. Bush’s in 1989, according to an analysis by POLITICO of the confirmation process of the last five presidents. Trump will also likely face by far the most dissenting votes from the Senate minority of any new administration in history. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Chuck Schumer are in negotiations about approving much of Trump’s national security team on Friday, potentially giving him a defense secretary, a CIA chief and homeland security head on Day One. A few of his less controversial nominees may also be approved soon after, including Elaine Chao as transportation secretary and Ben Carson as housing and urban development head. But after that, it looks like a major traffic jam. And next week’s congressional retreat and a spate of hearings that were recently postponed could combine to slow the approval process for weeks or longer. What's more, on Tuesday evening Schumer came to the floor to denounce the GOP for limiting questioning of education secretary hopeful Betsy DeVos to five minutes per senator, predicting it could slow the entire confirmation process to a crawl. "We feel very strongly there ought to be another hearing [for DeVos]," Schumer said. "This will affect how the rest of the nominees will go forward." Several prominent confirmation hearings are scheduled for after Trump’s takes office, including for Rep. Tom Price to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Democrats can use parliamentary tactics to delay Cabinet confirmations for several days apiece, and any one individual senator can force McConnell to jump through procedural hoops and burn the Senate’s time before holding a confirmation vote. “Their ultimate goal is to slow this thing down. And we can’t let them,” said Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas). “I don’t know what they’re going to do.” While Cornyn and other GOP leaders are confident that Republicans will band together and approve Trump's entire Cabinet using their 52-seat majority, the ride looks rocky. A Trump transition official said staff members were aggressively calling senators to make the case for Secretary of State designee Rex Tillerson, focusing on Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) "in particular." Democrats are hoping to hobble Price over stock trades he made while in Congress, labor secretary choice Andrew Puzder over domestic abuse allegations and treasury hopeful Steve Mnuchin over his bank's foreclosure practices. The senior Trump transition official said all three were ready for a fight, and that rumors that any would drop out were not true. Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani said Puzder and Price are the “most challenging” right now, but predicted they will eventually be confirmed. Republicans spent Tuesday rallying around the embattled Price, a conservative House member whom the GOP desperately need to be confirmed to help the party repeal and replace Obamacare. Price is accused of trading stocks whose value was affected by legislation he worked on in Congress. “Tom Price’s stock? No. If he’s done something insider, I’d love to hear it,” said Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.). “I have not heard anything that disqualifies him.” Other confirmation hearings were delayed because the Cabinet picks had not reached agreements to resolve ethical conflicts stemming from their financial holdings. Office of Government Ethics Director Walter Shaub said that’s an aftereffect of Trump not vetting his nominees ahead of time. Democrats have used the slow-moving ethics process as justification to criticize some of Trump’s selections. Whitehouse said that just hours before DeVos was set for her confirmation hearing he received a thick stack of her papers, which he had little time to review before. DeVos’ hearing, along with that of billionaire Wilbur Ross’ hearing to be commerce secretary, were both postponed last week. But Republicans say Democrats will pay politically if they further draw out the confirmation process. “If Sen. Schumer tries to slow down, I think he will regret it,” said Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.), one of Trump’s closest allies in Congress. In 1989, George H.W. Bush’s Cabinet had no confirmations on Inauguration Day, mainly because the transition was from another GOP administration so there was less pressure to move swiftly. That year, some Cabinet nominees were confirmed as late as March. But Trump is not keeping on any of President Barack Obama’s Cabinet secretaries, and the transition between administrations looks sure to be hobbled in the early days by Senate’s infighting. A Trump transition official said his team is hoping to get as many as seven nominees confirmed by voice vote on Friday, but Republican and Democratic sources said there’s little chance of hitting that mark. Trump hasn't even made a choice for his agriculture secretary. There were just seven confirmation hearings last week, limiting how many nominees can be confirmed soon. And several, like Jeff Sessions to be attorney general and Tillerson, have no chance of being approved later this week. Sessions’ committee vote won’t occur until after Trump is sworn in and Tillerson’s nomination is “controversial,” said Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.), which means a speedy vote should not be expected. “I’m for moving as quickly as we can,” Cardin said. “But that one will take a floor debate.” Though there are another seven confirmation hearings for Cabinet or Cabinet-level nominees this week, it would be stretch for them to be ready for floor action by Friday. But Republicans are trudging on, with Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) scheduling a Feb. 2 committee hearing for Puzder a day after CNN reported that the labor secretary pick is having “second thoughts" about remaining in the running for the job. “I think they all make it through,” said Tom Quinn, a Democratic lobbyist who has met with Trump since the election. But “some of the [nominees] will really get roughed up.” If Democrats fight the GOP tooth and nail, it could be more than a month before Trump gets his 15 Cabinet secretaries and six cabinet-level slots filled—- and potentially a lot longer for him to begin installing deputy-level officials that often run the department while the secretary serves as the public face. “I haven’t heard anyone say, ‘Let’s drag this out as long as possible,’” said Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Asked how long it could take to process Trump’s Cabinet, Durbin responded: “How long will it take to go through the financial papers of some of these billionaires? I can’t tell you.”

– Interviews with Donald Trump and related stories about him and his policies are in full supply two days before he takes office. A sampling: The Washington Post has a feature on Trump's life in Trump Tower: He "rarely leaves, not even for a breath of fresh air," and generally stays surrounded by a close circle of family and advisers. Despite his regular tweets, Trump doesn't use email and almost never surfs the internet, but he does have one unusual access point: He answers his own cellphone, "something that acquaintances and colleagues speak of in almost reverential terms." Read the profile here. Axios has an interview with Trump, and the interviewers write that the president-elect "seemed moved" by his intel briefings. "I've had a lot of briefings that are very … I don't want to say 'scary,' because I'll solve the problems. But … we have some big enemies out there." Read it in full here. The Wall Street Journal also interviewed Trump, and it had real-world implications: "The dollar tumbled to its lowest level in a month after Donald Trump suggested ... he favored a weaker dollar, breaking with decades of tradition and intensifying investor concern over the incoming administration’s capacity to surprise." Read it here. In a wide-ranging interview with the New York Times Magazine, Joe Biden sounds worried about Trump's shifting foreign policy pronouncements. "It's like a Rubik's cube trying to figure this guy out," he says. "We have no freakin' idea what he's going to do." Read it in full here. Trump will enter office with only about half of his Cabinet in place. Politico takes a look here. Trump also will enter office as the most unpopular president in at least 40 years (see ABC News), while President Obama exits with his approval ratings at an all-time high (see CNN). The Hill looks ahead and sees five areas where Trump and Democrats can make progress, including a possible boost in minimum wage. The list is here. See Friday's inauguration schedule here.

McDonald’s should probably think about giving one of its Florida cashiers a raise. On Tuesday morning, Pedro Viloria, a worker who mans the drive-thru, jumped through the ordering window at a McDonald’s in Doral, Fla., to help a woman who suddenly became unconscious while operating her vehicle. Viloria was stationed at his post behind the drive-thru window when a woman — who turned out to be an off-duty Miami-Dade police officer —pulled up in an SUV to order breakfast for herself and her two children. After preparing the order, Viloria returned to the window and noticed that the driver was struggling to breathe. MCDONALD'S BLASTED OVER 'INSULTING' SHAMROCK SHAKE TWEET Soon after, the woman lost consciousness, her foot slipped from the brake, and her SUV began to roll down the drive-thru lane. Viloria, who witnessed the woman falling unconscious, says he immediately went into “hero mode” and jumped through the restaurant’s drive-thru window. Surveillance footage also shows Viloria pulling the off-duty officer from the SUV as it rolled forward. A second McDonald’s employee, along with paramedics who were in the restaurant, helped to revive the woman at the scene. She was then taken to the hospital for additional treament. A representative for McDonald’s has since released a statement on the incident in which they commend Viloria’s bravery, reports Fox 5 NY. “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the officer and her family during this difficult time,” McDonald’s wrote. “I think I speak for our McDonald’s family when I say how proud we are of Pedro. He is an excellent employee, so it didn’t surprise me that he took immediate action and jumped through a window to help save this woman. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS “And he was not the only member of the team that played a pivotal role in ensuring she received the medical attention she needed. A second employee, who asked to remain unnamed, assisted with CPR. Their quick thinking and action were everything in that moment.” As of Wednesday, Miami-Dade Police Detective Daniel Ferrin has yet to release any information on the woman’s condition. The Associated Press contributed to this report. ||||| Follow CBSMIAMI.COM: Facebook | Twitter MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A McDonald’s employee jumped right through a drive-thru window in order to help save a Miami-Dade police officer. “I thought, ‘If those kids lose their mother today, that’s going to be tragic,’” said Pedro Viloria. Viloria was working the window at the McDonald’s on 113th Avenue in Doral early Tuesday morning. He was serving breakfast to a lady in an SUV along with her children, a boy and a girl. Viloria noticed something wrong with the mother, so did the kids. “Her kids were screaming, ‘Mother, mother, stop it, mother what are you doing?’” Viloria recalled. On surveillance camera you can see the SUV start to move. Apparently the women’s foot was off the brake. Viloria knew he had to make a move, so he hopped out the service window in pursuit of the SUV and the stricken driver. He did it just as the SUV came to a stop up against the driveway curb. Viloria said he told the kids to call 911 right away. The kids did just that as a firefighter walked into the McDonald’s. The firefighter was unaware of what was happening, but soon enough he headed out knowing something was up. He and his partner rushed to help, so did an off-duty paramedic. Within what seemed like seconds, fire rescue was on the scene. “I was with the kids telling them it was going to be all right,” Viloria said. McDonald’s released a statement applauding Viloria’s actions. “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with the officer and her family during this difficult time. I think I speak for our McDonald’s family when I say how proud we are of Pedro. He is an excellent employee, so it didn’t surprise me that he took immediate action and jumped through a window to help save this woman. And he was not the only member of the team that played a pivotal role in ensuring she received the medical attention she needed. A second employee, who asked to remain unnamed, assisted with CPR. Their quick thinking and action were everything in that moment.”

– McDonald's employee Pedro Viloria doesn't typically jump through the drive-thru window, but a shocking moment during his Tuesday breakfast shift in Doral, Florida, led him to do just that. Now, he's being deemed a hero for his quick actions. Mashable reports that after handing over an order to an off-duty police officer at the pick-up window, Viloria noticed she was struggling to breathe. She then fell unconscious, causing her foot to slide off the brake, per Fox News. The officer’s SUV then began rolling forward with her two children inside, yelling in the back seat. In one swift motion, Viloria leapt through the window to help. (You can see video at CBS Miami. "In that moment, I thought, I'd rather save that woman's life," Viloria tells WPLG. The SUV narrowly missed colliding with another vehicle before coming to a stop at a curb. Another McDonald's employee, who asked to remain unnamed, administered CPR along with a number of first responders who happened to be at or nearby the scene. The condition and identity of the officer has yet to be released after she was transported to the hospital. “I think I speak for our McDonald’s family when I say how proud we are of Pedro," says a statement from McDonald's that also thanked his co-worker. "Their quick thinking and action were everything in that moment.”

A policy intended to achieve racial equality at a north Mississippi school has long meant that only white kids can run for some class offices one year, black kids the next. But Brandy Springer, a mother of four mixed race children, was stunned when she moved to the area from Florida and learned her 12-year-old daughter couldn't run for class reporter because she wasn't the right race. The rules sparked an outcry on blogs and other websites after Springer contacted an advocacy group for mixed-race families. The NAACP called for a Justice Department investigation _ not surprising in a state with a history of racial tension dating to the Jim Crow era. By Friday afternoon, the Nettleton School District announced on its website that it would no longer use race in school elections. Superintendent Russell Taylor posted a statement saying the practice had been in place for 30 years, dating back to a time when school districts across Mississippi came under close scrutiny from the U.S. Justice Department over desegregation. "It is the belief of the current administration that these procedures were implemented to help ensure minority representation and involvement in the student body," the statement said. "It is our hope and desire that these practices and procedures are no longer needed." Springer, who moved to Lee County from Florida in April, said her daughter was told the office of sixth-grade class reporter at Nettleton Middle School was available only to black students this year. Her anger grew when she saw school election guidelines that allowed only whites to run for class president this year. In alternating years, the positions would be reversed so blacks could run for president and whites could hold other positions, district officials said. Even if the rule is an attempt to ensure black and white participation, Springer said diversity is no longer a black and white issue, with a growing number of mixed-race children, Hispanics and other ethnicities attending school together. The school agreed, saying it the statement that it "acknowledges and embraces the fact that we are growing in ethnic diversity and that the classifications of Caucasian and African-American no longer reflect our entire student body." Springer is white. Her two older children, including the sixth grader, are half Native American. Her two younger children have a black father. "How are they supposed to be classified?" she asked. "My main concern is that the object of school is to prepare people for life. An employer could never do this: Advertise a position for a white man only or a black man only," she said. "This is not a lesson we want to teach." The changes in school elections may have come too late for Springer. Springer said she moved to another school district last week and pulled her kids from Nettleton Middle School. School administrators did not immediately respond to messages seeking further comment left Friday by The Associated Press. Nettleton is a town of about 2,000 people with a population that is about 66 percent white and 32 percent black. Springer's plight demonstrates the complexities faced not only by interracial families, but by school officials trying to achieve racial equality in a state known for tensions between blacks and whites. The school district also manipulated prom and homecoming elections so that the outcome is an equal division of blacks and whites. Springer and others worried that could leave out Hispanics, Asians or any other student from another race or ethnicity, Springer said. Springer's story spread rapidly on the Internet after she contacted a website for mixed families _ mixedandhappy.com. Suzy Richardson, the website's founder and the mother of four mixed-race children, said she and her husband have "raised our children to tell them they are black and white. They're half of me and half of dad." "It really made me upset (to hear Springer's story). The message that were sending to kids is that they have to choose one side of who they are," she said. "The message that we're sending our children is that we do things based on race." Before the school announced it was changing its practices, Charles Hampton, a vice president of the Mississippi NAACP, said he would ask the U.S. Justice Department to investigate. "That's something that shouldn't be happening anywhere in America, but we still have pockets of it happening at certain schools," Hampton said. "The local community needs to get involved and demand they change the policy." ||||| If we still have segregated proms in the American South, including in Mississippi, why not segregated middle school elections? Welcome to Nettleton Middle School, where not only are class elections segregated, but the president slots are designated for white students. But even segregated proms have an apparent black equivalent. In this middle school class officers election, there's no pretense of separate but equal: The highest a black student can aspire to is vice president of just one of the classes. Because it's not like a black person can be president or anything! Mixed And Happy, an online community for mixed-race families, first got wind of the situation from a parent at the school, who also found out that there are segregated prom and homecoming kings and queens. Among the many things that are wrong with this scenario is the fact that multiracial students, or those who are neither black or white, are erased. As the mother, Brandy, wrote Mixed And Happy, Advertisement "My son and daughter that go to this middle school are Native American and Italian. But, we also have 3- and 6- year olds that are African American and Italian. I would like to know which category they would lump them in. I have always taught my children not to see race. This is so disgusting to me." Brandy's daughter had wanted to be class 'reporter," but because her mother is white and her father is black, she wasn't eligible for the black-designated position. When Brandy complained to the School Board, "They told me that they 'Go by the mother's race b/c with minorities the father isn't generally in the home.' They also told me that 'a city court order is the reason why it is this way.'" Late last night, the principal of the school posted a statement on its website: Sponsored "Student elections have not yet been held at Nettleton Middle School for the 2010-2011 school term. The processes and procedures for student elections are under review. We are reviewing the origin of these processes, historical applications, compliance issues, as well as current implications and ramifications. A statement will be released when review of these processes is complete." Apparently it's just come to their attention that they're systematically racist! Thanks, Internet. Update: More details on the school, including its handbook-mandated homecoming segregation and black principal, as well as further comments from the mother who first complained. : Second Update: The school has reversed its policy, saying it was a rotation put into place 30 years ago to ensure diversity. Class President? Must Be White To Apply At This Mississippi School! [Mixed And Happy] Class Officers Segregated By Race [TSG] Earlier: Morgan Freeman Brings Integrated Prom To Mississippi School When Tradition Destroys Progress

– After enduring a ruckus over its segregated student government elections, a Mississippi middle school has nixed rules it says were put into place some three decades ago in order to ensure minority representation. Under the rules, white students were allowed to run for class president one year, black students the next. Other positions were similarly segregated at Nettleton Middle School, reports AP. The brouhaha began when a mother learned her white daughter could not run for the position of sixth-grade reporter. It spread to the blogosphere and ultimately led to the superintendent's reversal: "It is the belief of the current administration that these procedures were implemented to help ensure minority representation and involvement in the student body," the statement said. "It is our hope and desire that these practices and procedures are no longer needed."

The large, deadly explosion at an Iran military base in Iran on Nov. 12, which Iranian authorities have called an accident that set back research work there by a few days, appears to have been far more devastating than their description suggested, according to an analysis of newly released commercial satellite images of the blast site. The images reveal vast destruction and chaotic disarray across a sprawling complex composed of more than a dozen buildings and large structures. The Institute for Science and International Security, a private group in Washington, made the satellite images public Monday, along with an analysis of the damage. “It was pretty amazing to see that the entire facility was destroyed,” Paul Brannan, the report’s author, said Tuesday in an interview. “There were only a few buildings left standing.” It was impossible to determine from the images whether the explosion had been a simple accident or an act of sabotage. The force of the explosion was so great that it shook windows in many surrounding towns, according to Iranian news sites and witnesses quoted at the time. But no photographs of the blast damage were released by the Iranian government, which has become increasingly sensitive about its military capabilities as tensions escalate with the West over its missile and nuclear programs. The base, set in an isolated patch of Iranian desert ringed by a security cordon, is about 30 miles west of Tehran and three miles west of the town of Bidganeh. The explosion is already known to have killed 17 members of the armed forces, including a founder of the country’s missile program, Gen. Hassan Tehrani Moghaddam. Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, presided over a vast state funeral for General Moghaddam and 16 other members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps two days after the explosion. The showy memorial service underscored General Moghaddam’s importance. Hassan Firouzabadi, the Iranian military chief of staff, said on Nov. 16 that the blast occurred while researchers were working on weapons capable of delivering Israel a “strong punch in the mouth.” He also said their research would result in only a “short-term delay of a few days.” But it was hard to reconcile his appraisal with the obliteration seen in the satellite image. The spy-satellite business, once a secretive monopoly of advanced nations, went commercial starting more than a decade ago. Today, a new generation of civilian satellites can peer down from orbit to see objects on the ground as small as two or three feet wide — enough to distinguish between a car and a truck. Last week, on Nov. 22, a commercial satellite operated by DigitalGlobe snapped an image of the stricken base. It showed that most of its buildings had been destroyed or extensively damaged. In its analysis, the Institute for Science and International Security noted that some of the destruction may have resulted from subsequent demolition of buildings and the removal of debris that may have occurred. But it also discounted that possibility. “There do not appear to be many pieces of heavy equipment such as cranes or dump trucks on the site, and a considerable amount of debris is still present,” the report noted. “About the same number of trucks are visible in the image after the blast as in an image from approximately two months prior to the blast. Thus, most of the damage seen in the Nov. 22, 2011, image likely resulted from the explosion.” In the interview, Mr. Brannan said that the institute’s sources indicated that the blast occurred while rocket engineers were performing a volatile procedure with a missile engine. His report called the work integral to “a major milestone in the development of a new missile.” ||||| Reports Satellite Image Showing Damage from November 12, 2011 Blast at Military Base in Iran by Paul Brannan November 28, 2011 ISIS has acquired commercial satellite imagery of a military compound near the town of Bid Kaneh1 in Iran where a large explosion occurred on November 12, 2011. Compared to an earlier picture of the site, an image taken on November 22, 2011 shows that most of the buildings on the compound appear extensively damaged (see figures 1 and 2). Some buildings appear to have been completely destroyed. Some of the destruction seen in the image may have also resulted from subsequent controlled demolition of buildings and removal of debris. There do not appear to be many pieces of heavy equipment such as cranes or dump trucks on the site, and a considerable amount of debris is still present. About the same number of trucks are visible in the image after the blast as in an image from approximately two months prior to the blast. Thus, most of the damage seen in the November 22, 2011 image likely resulted from the explosion. ISIS learned that the blast occurred as Iran had achieved a major milestone in the development of a new missile. Iran was apparently performing a volatile procedure involving a missile engine at the site when the blast occurred. Figure 1. November 22, 2011 commercial satellite image showing extensive damage at a military base in Iran resulting from a November 12, 2011 explosion. Most of the buildings on the compound are extensively damaged or destroyed. Figure 2. September 9, 2011 commercial satellite image of the same military base in Iran, for reference, approximately two months before the blast occurred. 1Allen Thomson, former intelligence analyst, located the geographic coordinates for the town of Bid Kaneh.

– The mysterious explosion at an Iranian military base west of Tehran earlier this month was far more devastating than initially reported, reports the New York Times. Satellite images of the site reveal destruction across a sprawling complex of some dozen buildings. “It was pretty amazing to see that the entire facility was destroyed,” said the author of a report by the private Institute for Science and International Security. “There were only a few buildings left standing." The explosion killed at least 17 servicemen. Iran's military chief of staff said that the blast occurred while researchers were working on weapons capable of delivering a “strong punch in the mouth" to Israel. ISIS experts believe the explosion occurred during a "volatile procedure" involving a new missile.

A Colorado first grader was suspended because he pointed his finger in a manner which exhibited a “gun shape” and said, “You’re dead” to a Stratton Meadows Elementary School classmate. The child’s father, Austin Thurston, felt a school suspension over the Monday incident involving Elijah Thurston was excessive. Elijah Thurston, 6, was suspended from Stratton Meadows Elementary School for one day. An official at the Colorado public school reportedly explained to the first grader what the word “dead” meant and told him not to “confuse” activities in gameplay with reality. “I know they have zero tolerance, but more of a maybe no recess. Going as far as a one-day suspension is a little extreme for a 6-year-old in a first-grade class,” Austin Thurston said during an interview with KRDO News. “Of course I think he was playing. What 6-year-old doesn’t play cops and robbers, or cowboys and Indians?” A Harrison School District 2 representative told the local media that the Stratton Meadows Elementary School suspension for the finger gun was appropriate. The spokesperson would not elaborate on the finger gun pointing incident, stating student privacy. The suspension will be included on Elijah Thurston’s permanent record. Austin Thurston had this to say when asked what he and his wife has discussed with Elijah in regards to guns. “We just told him there’s a time and a place for everything, and we told him school is never a place for that. We let him know that the guns in the wrong hands will be very dangerous. He knows the difference between really doing that, and just putting your finger up and saying, ‘boom you’re dead.’ We made sure he understands the severity of what he said.” The Colorado first grader is writing a letter of apology to the school and stating in his own words that he understands his actions. The apology letter was not required by the school district. The school suspension for the finger gun-pointing incident is just one of many cases where a young student was punished for a similar act, making a paper gun or a gun shape out of food, or bringing a toy gun to school. Many adults can still remember taking guns to school and making or buying pretend swords and knives to go with Halloween costumes for school parties. Many schools in America used to have gun clubs and shooting teams. During this long-gone era, school shootings were not making national headlines. What do you think about the Colorado first grader being suspended for making a finger gun shape? [Image via: Shutterstock.com] ||||| A Virginia couple has filed a lawsuit against their son’s school, the school resource officer, and the Bedford County Sheriff’s Office after their 11-year-old son was kicked out of school for bringing a plant — that wasn’t pot — to school, the Roanoke Times is reporting. The troubles for the unnamed sixth-grader, identified only as RMB, began in September 2014. Melvin Williams, the lawyer for Bruce and Linda Bays, the boy’s parents, says that the boy was at school when word somehow got to school administrators that he had a bag of marijuana and a lighter in his backpack. “We know they relied on ‘tips’ that after the fact turn out to be less than reliable.” The boy was in gym class when he was summoned to the principal’s office. There, the principal, in the presence of the school resource officer, emptied the boy’s backpack and found a bag containing leaves and a lighter. He was immediately suspended for 10 days, pending an administrative hearing, then kicked out of school for a year. The school resource officer also filed marijuana possession charges against the youth in juvenile court. There was only one problem: three tests on the plant that the boy brought to school determined that it wasn’t marijuana, according to Raw Story. “The field test came back not inconclusive, but negative. Yet [Resource Officer Calohan] went to a magistrate and swore he possessed marijuana at school.” RMB’s parents believe that he was likely the victim of a prank; RMB rides the same bus with high school students and his parents believe an older teen likely put the substance into his backpack without RMB knowing about it, a claim the school has rejected. The school maintains that the fact that the substance the boy allegedly brought to school turned out not to be marijuana is irrelevant; under the school’s Zero Tolerance drug policy, “lookalike” drugs are also forbidden. The case illustrates how schools’ so-called “Zero Tolerance” policies, while well-intentioned, can sometimes be taken to ridiculous lengths. Earlier this month, according to this Inquisitr report, a first-grader in Colorado was suspended, under his school’s zero-tolerance violence policy, for pointing his finger in the shape of a gun. RMB will be allowed to resume attending school — at an alternative school and under strict probationary guidelines — on Monday, but his parents want him back in his old school, with his record expunged. RMB’s parents claim that, since their son’s suspension for bringing not-marijuana to school, the gifted and talented student has been withdrawn, and is being treated by a child psychiatrist for depression and panic attacks. [Image courtesy of: Set Apart People] ||||| The seed for Wide00014 was: - Slash pages from every domain on the web: -- a ranking of all URLs that have more than one incoming inter-domain link (rank was determined by number of incoming links using Wide00012 inter domain links) -- up to a maximum of 100 most highly ranked URLs per domain - Top ranked pages (up to a max of 100) from every linked-to domain using the Wide00012 inter-domain navigational link graph

– The details of the story are hazy, but what's certain is this: An 11-year-old was suspended from school in Virginia after school officials in late September found what they believed was a marijuana leaf in his backpack, along with a lighter. (A suit filed in the case alleges the assistant principal found "crumpled leaves.") The boy, identified only as RMB, was suspended for 364 days for alleged "possession of marijuana," and he faced charges in juvenile court. Turns out, however, that three tests found the leaf wasn't pot at all, and the juvenile charges were dropped, the Roanoke Times reports. But things with the school weren't so simple: Only now, six months after the case began, has RMB been able to return to class at a different school, and he remains on probation. That time away has taken a toll. The son of Bruce and Linda Bays of Bedford County, both teachers, used to be an easygoing, upbeat child. Now he gets panic attacks, suffers from depression, and fears authority figures. After a disciplinary hearing, his mother tells the Times, "he just broke down and said his life was over. He would never be able to get into college; he would never be able to get a job." He's being treated by a psychiatrist, and his parents have launched a federal lawsuit against Bedford County Schools and the county sheriff's office. But the suit could face a hurdle when it comes to school drug policy: It also bans "imitation controlled substances," defined as a "pill, capsule, tablet, or other item which is not a controlled substance." In the meantime, it remains unclear how the leaf got in RMB's bag. The Inquisitr points to concerns about "zero tolerance" school policies, noting that this month, a 6-year-old was suspended for shaping his hand like a gun—and it wasn't the first such suspension.

The actress “didn’t believe this day would come,” she said on “Megyn Kelly Today” Friday, reacting to the early morning arrest of Harvey Weinstein, whom she says raped her 20 years ago at the Sundance Film Festival. Her reaction was right in line with how much of Hollywood cheered the mogul’s downfall. ||||| On Thursday, Morgan Freeman issued a statement of apology following accusations of harassment by multiple women who have worked on movie sets with him, worked for his production company, or interviewed him in a professional setting. In a CNN report published on Thursday, eight women alleged that the 80-year-old actor subjected them to inappropriate behavior, including unwanted touching and comments about their figure. Several of the accusers said they didn't report Freeman's alleged behavior because they feared for their jobs. Freeman responded to the accusations in a statement to ET. "Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy," the statement reads. "I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected -- that was never my intent." However, interview footage from past ET sit-downs with the Oscar-nominated actor shows more examples of questionable behavior, as described in the CNN report. In 2015, author and activist Janet Mock served as an ET special correspondent covering Freeman’s film, Five Flights Up. During their junket interview, Freeman addressed Mock’s appearance, saying, “I don’t know how you all manage to do that all the time.” “You got a dress halfway between your knee and your hips, and you sit down right across from me and you cross your legs,” he continued. Mock, who is currently writing and producing for Ryan Murphy’s new FX series, Pose, addressed the encounter in a statement to ET on Thursday, saying, “This interaction is an exhibition of the casual nature at which men in positions of power believe that everything belongs to them, including women’s bodies as they’re merely just trying to do their job.” “For me, as a young woman of color, who is a reporter and a fan of popular culture, I was deeply disappointed that someone who was seen as America’s grandfather was susceptible to such disturbing behavior and felt comfortable enough to do that as cameras were rolling, and that he could take claim of my body and look at it before even looking into my eyes.” Entertainment reporter Chloe Melas, who co-authored the CNN piece on the accusations against Freeman, said she began reaching out to women after experiencing what she described as her own inappropriate encounter with the actor, at a press junket for his 2017 film, Going in Style. Melas, who was six months pregnant at the time, claims Freeman looked her up and down while shaking her hand, and repeatedly said some variation of “I wish I was there,” as cameras rolled in front of his co-stars and other junket personnel. The reporter said she was later told that Warner Bros. HR could not corroborate the account because only one of Freeman's remarks was on video and the Warner Bros. employees present did not notice anything. See more on the accusations against the actor in the video below. RELATED CONTENT: RELATED: Morgan Freeman Accused of Harassment and Inappropriate Behavior by 8 Women NEWS: Jeffrey Tambor Accused Of Verbal Harassment by 'Arrested Development' Co-Star Jessica Walter NEWS: Gwyneth Paltrow Says She Loves Brad Pitt for Confronting Harvey Weinstein

– Morgan Freeman says this could "undermine" everything he's done. On Friday, the 80-year-old actor issued a personal defense of his behavior with women, saying he's kidded around with female colleagues but never jeopardized work environments or offered jobs for sex, the LA Times reports. "I am devastated that 80 years of my life is at risk of being undermined, in the blink of an eye, by Thursday’s media reports," Freeman says in a statement. "All victims of assault and harassment deserve to be heard. And we need to listen to them. But it is not right to equate horrific incidents of sexual assault with misplaced compliments or humor." Freeman is likely referring to recent Entertainment Tonight footage of him sitting down with female interviewers. In one instance, he asks a correspondent if she was married and "fooled around with other guys." In another, with author/activist Janet Mock, he marvels at how she "got a dress halfway between your knee and your hips, and ... cross[ed] your legs." For Mock, this was "an exhibition of the casual nature at which men in positions of power believe that everything belongs to them, including women's bodies." But Freeman says he only wanted women to "feel appreciated and at ease around me. As a part of that, I would often try to joke with and compliment women, in what I thought was a lighthearted and humorous way." See his initial apology here.

The VW emissions scandal is mainly the result of physics meeting fiction. In the simplest terms, we have reached the point of de miminis returns in extracting performance from a gallon of diesel while reducing pollutants, at least at reasonable cost. Unsurprisingly, and despite having the greatest research and development program in diesel engines, VW had to cheat to meet current European and U.S. standards. Meeting future tighter diesel standards will prove even more fruitless. For a significant fraction of the non-compliant diesel cars already in the hands of drivers, there is no real solution. Drivers won’t come in for a fix that compromises performance. Further, solutions which result in net greater CO2 emissions, a regulated pollutant, are inappropriate for CARB to endorse. Retrofitting urea tank systems to small cars is costly and impractical. Some cars may be fixed, but many won’t and will be crushed before they are fixed. A giant sum of money thus will be wasted in attempting to fix cars that cannot all be fixed, and where the fix may be worse than the problem if the cars are crushed well before the end of their useful lives. We, the undersigned, instead encourage the CARB to show leadership in directing VW to “cure the air, not the cars” and reap multiples of what damage has been caused while strongly advancing California’s interests in transitioning to zero emission vehicles. The solution we propose for VW and the CARB is to, in a legally enforceable form: 1./ Release VW from its obligation to fix diesel cars already on the road in California, which represent an insignificant portion of total vehicles emissions in the State, and which cars do not, individually, present any emissions-related risk to their owners or occupants 2./ Instead, direct VW to accelerate greatly its rollout of zero emission vehicles, which by their very nature, have zero emissions and thus present zero opportunities for cheating, and also do not require any enforcement dollars to verify 3./ Require that this acceleration of the rollout of zero emissions vehicles by VW result in a 10 for 1 or greater reduction in pollutant emissions as compared to the pollution associated with the diesel fleet cheating, and achieve this over the next 5 years 4./ Require that VW invest in new manufacturing plants and/or research and development, in the amounts that they otherwise would have been fined, and do so in California to the extent that California would have been allocated its share of the fines 5./ Allow VW some flexibility in the execution and timing of this plan by allowing it to be implemented via zero emission vehicle credits. In contrast to the punishments and recalls being considered, this proposal would be a real win for California emissions, a big win for California jobs, and a historic action to help derail climate change. The bottleneck to the greater availability of zero emissions vehicles is the availability of batteries. There is an urgent need to build more battery factories to increase battery supply, and this proposal would ensure that large battery plant and related investments, with their ensuing local jobs, would be made in the U.S. by VW. ||||| Tesla Motors Chief Executive Elon Musk and more than three dozen others are urging California regulators to push Volkswagen AG toward more environmentally friendly vehicles after the German auto giant recently used software to cheat on emissions tests with diesel-powered cars. California regulators should direct Volkswagen to “accelerate greatly its rollout of zero-emission vehicles,” Mr. Musk and others wrote in a letter Thursday to Mary Nichols, head of the California Air Resources Board. Unlike vehicles powered by gas... ||||| The fallout from Volkswagen’s massive emissions scandal earlier this year is not nearly complete. While the auto company already faces rampant distrust and dismal sales, it’s also being ordered by federal and state regulators to fix all of its emissions-cheating cars—a huge, expensive task. But dozens of Silicon Valley leaders—including Tesla CEO Elon Musk, former eBay president Jeff Skoll, and Energy Innovation CEO Hal Harvey—are arguing that it isn’t even worth it. “A great sum of money [will] be wasted in attempting to fix cars that cannot all be fixed,” wrote 44 tech leaders in an open letter to the California Air Resources Board (CARB) last Thursday (Dec. 17). Instead of focusing on fixing diesel cars, Musk and his colleagues said, Volkswagen should be required to put its resources toward becoming a zero-emissions car company. The letter, which is available in full here, offers a detailed plan, proposing that CARB “release VW from its obligation to fix diesel cars already on the road in California;” direct VW instead to “accelerate greatly its rollout of zero emission vehicles;” and to require that VW invest in R&D or new plants “in the amounts that they otherwise would have been fined,” with the share of fine dollars that would have gone to California being used for investment specifically in California. The letter authors note: “In contrast to the punishments and recalls being considered, this proposal would be a real win for California emissions, a big win for California jobs, and a historic action to help derail climate change.” At this month’s climate conference in Paris, 13 countries pledged to make only emissions-free cars in 2050 and beyond. Tesla, Musk’s own car company, doesn’t sell any cars that run on diesel. Zero-emissions cars—”which by their very nature,” the authors of the CARB letter note, “have zero emissions and thus present zero opportunities for cheating”—are coming more and more into the mainstream nowadays. If California regulators were to heed the letter from Musk and his colleagues, Volkswagen—as the world’s biggest carmaker—would certainly be speeding up the global transition.

– More than 40 technology leaders have proposed a radical solution for how Volkswagen can fix its emissions-test-cheating vehicles: don't. Instead Quartz reports the 44 signers—including Tesla's Elon Musk—of a letter sent to the California Air Resources Board on Thursday suggest putting all the money and resources that would have gone toward fixing diesel cars already on the road toward speeding up production of emissions-less electric vehicles. "Cure the air, not the cars," they write in the letter. Earlier this year, Volkswagen found itself in hot water when it was revealed it had installed software to cheat emissions tests in nearly 500,000 diesel cars sold in the US, the Wall Street Journal reports. Quartz reports regulators have ordered Volkswagen to fix all emissions-test-cheating vehicles currently on the road. In their letter, Musk and the other signers argue it's no longer worth it from a financial or performance standpoint to keep trying to make diesel cleaner, and many owners won't get the fix anyway. According to the Journal, they argue putting that money—as well as money from potential fines—toward electric cars and new zero-emission plants and technologies would reduce pollution 10 times what fixing the individual cars would. They also point out zero-emission cars have no way to cheat emissions tests, Quartz reports. Neither Volkswagen nor CARB have responded directly to the letter, with a CARB spokesperson telling the Journal only that their "focus has and will continue to be cleaning the air and advancing the cleanest vehicle and fuel technologies.”

SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Legislature passed a bill Wednesday that eliminates the statute of limitations for lawsuits against perpetrators of child sexual abuse. Deondra Brown, co-founder of the nonprofit Foundation for Survivors of Abuse, watched from the Senate gallery as lawmakers engaged in a final debate before voting to pass HB277 and sending it to Gov. Gary Herbert for his signature. “On behalf of victims across the state of Utah, we’re excited to know that we can kind of breathe, take our time in healing, and come forward and tackle that big legal case when and if we are every ready,” Brown said. Brown has followed the progress of HB277 and testified in favor of the bill at committee meetings throughout the legislative process. Three Brown sisters, members of the 5 Browns piano quintet, were molested by their father, Keith Brown, as children. The sisters sought criminal charges in 2010 against their father, who had also been their professional manager. Keith Brown was sentenced in March 2011 to 10 years to life for sodomy on a child, a first-degree felony, and one to 15 years each on two counts of sex abuse of a child, a second-degree felony. The crimes occurred when the girls were 13 years old or younger. Current Utah law limits civil actions to four years after a victim’s 18th birthday. HB277 would remove those limitations and allow victims time to heal and muster the courage and maturity to take civil action and hold their abusers accountable, said bill sponsor Rep. Ken Ivory, R-West Jordan. “Someone that victimizes a child should never be able to hide behind time — ever,” Ivory said. The bill’s floor sponsor, Sen. Aaron Osmond, R-South Jordan, said 1 in 6 boys and 1 in 4 girls in Utah will suffer or have suffered from sexual abuse. He added that most children who are sexually abused don’t come to a realization or the ability to deal with the experience until after age 40. The bill gives victims a four-year window from the time of discovery or remembrance of the child abuse experience to file civil action, Osmond said, allowing them to overcome emotional obstacles that often bar them from taking action. As a result, perpetrators could be susceptible to lawsuits for crimes committed years ago, Ivory said. Sen. Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, argued against HB277, saying the statute of limitations was put in place for a reason and citing cases where individuals who realized repressed memories of child sexual abuse, but later discovered them to be wrong. He said he’s “not for abuse by any means,” but he’s concerned about what the bill would allow. Sen. Gene Davis, D-Salt Lake City, joined Jenkins in voting against the bill. After the Senate’s vote, Deondra Brown said victims of child sexual abuse shouldn’t have a “door closed in their face” because of time limits, and they should be granted the option if or when they decide they want to file civil actions against perpetrators. She said victims deal with medical bills and health issues for “the rest of their lives” and shouldn’t have to shoulder the burden of paying for it, which she said costs the average victim up to $1 million over the course of their lives. Victims should be allowed to pursue a case that would hold the perpetrator accountable and relieve that financial burden, Deondra Brown said. “They’re the ones that inflicted this upon us to begin with,” she said. When asked if she would consider civil action against her father, Deondra Brown said she had talked about a civil case several years ago with her siblings, but they felt as though they “were able to get the case that (they) needed though the criminal side of things." “But honestly, I don’t know where I would be 10 years from now if that’s something I would still like to be able to explore,” she said. “I’d love to be able to have that option in the state of Utah.” The Senate's final vote on the bill was 24-2. Email: [email protected] ||||| RANDOLPH, Rich County — Under strong words from a judge and years of pain from his former student, a retired Rich High School teacher has been sentenced to prison for sexually assaulting the woman 22 years ago. Michael Layne Williamson, 60, spoke of shame, pain and forgiveness as he appeared before 1st District Judge Thomas Willmore for sentencing on July 27. The former teacher pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated sexual abuse of a child, one second-degree felony, while the other was reduced to a third-degree felony. No details of the case were released when Williamson was originally charged in November, and requests by the Deseret News to the Rich County sheriff's and attorney's offices for police documents were denied. Inquiries about appealing the denial were ignored. In an audio recording of Williamson's sentencing hearing, the judge — unmoved by Williamson's apologies and scolding him for calling his actions a mistake — sentenced the former teacher to one to 15 years, with an additional term of up to five years to run concurrently. While in prison he must complete a sex offender course. A pre-sentence report had recommended 210 days in jail for Williamson, his attorneys explained, asking that he be able to serve his time in home confinement as he battles stage 4 prostate cancer. Prosecutors did not ask for a specific punishment for Williamson, saying they left the decision to the judge's discretion. Willmore scoffed at the short recommended sentence, which he attributed to the Justice Reinvestment Initiative and efforts to reduce prison populations. He based his sentence on the girl's young age, the position of trust that Williamson held, and the way he disgraced the "noble profession" of a teacher. Reading from an apology letter describing the remorse and shame that he, too, has lived with, Williamson said in the hearing, "This indiscretion of mine was of the most heinous type." Willmore interrupted at that moment. "Let me stop you right there. It is not an indiscretion. You broke the law. And I heard from many of these letters from your family that it was a mistake," the judge said. "A mistake means unintended consequences or a lapse of judgement," he continued, pounding his hand for emphasis. "That's far beyond a lack of judgment and indiscretion. You and your family tried to sweep this under the rug, tried to downplay this." In an emotional testimony, the woman, now 35, showed the judge a picture of herself in eighth grade to reinforce that it wasn't an adult who was victimized, it was a child. "You pushed forward little by little until I was so deep in that there was no way out. You were my teacher, my friend's dad, an adult, all of those people I was taught to respect and to listen to and to trust," the woman said. "You used all of it to satisfy your own perverted desires. You made sure I knew how much I would ruin everyone's life and everything around me if I ever told anyone. You made sure I knew how much you stood to lose if anyone ever found out. "You put it all on my shoulders, those of a 13-year-old, to carry. I always blamed myself." The woman, who the Deseret News has chosen not to name, explained that she kept her silence about what happened between her and her teacher, eventually leaving the state. On a recent trip back to Utah, however, the pain came rushing back, and she said she made a choice: Report the abuse to law enforcement or take her own life. "Since breaking my silence I have attempted to begin processing everything I have pushed aside for two decades," she said, describing the blame, anger, hurt and embarrassment she long believed was of her own making. "I am 35 years old and I am now just starting to understand those things are a reflection of you and not me." Among the greatest challenges since coming forward, the woman said, has been battling the panic she now feels seeing her own children go to school or activities knowing that she, at their age, was not safe. "With my knowledge of the evil that is out there, I feel helpless in protecting them when I couldn't even protect myself," she said. "So many times I have broken down crying when I am talking to my kids about boundaries and how to keep their bodies safe, telling them that no matter what anyone else tells them it is not their fault." In his statement, Williamson apologized to the court, the community, his church and the school district. He called on the woman and her family to do what he called one of the hardest things they may ever face: forgive him. "I am so sorry for the pain and anguish I have caused you," he said, calling the woman by name. "I sincerely apologize for every out-of-line thought, action and deed which I committed. I truly wished you no harm and had no intention of hurting you so severely. I was reckless with our student-teacher relationship and ignored the values and principles that I truly believe in and cherish." In several moments, Williamson spoke of his faith in God and his belief that forgiveness is possible. "The future is ahead and the past is in the past," Williamson concluded. "My hope and prayer is that through these proceedings we can all find closure and live courageously into life ahead. Our lives and our families have been irreversibly changed by my actions of 20 years ago. My earnest prayer is that all of us can move forward from this spot and create our own personal future full of love, forgiveness and healing." Email: [email protected], Twitter: McKenzieRomero

– A retired Utah school teacher was sent to prison for having sex with one of his teenage students 22 years ago, reports the Deseret News. The woman came forward last year and told police that former teacher Michael Layne Williamson, 60, had repeatedly assaulted her over a period of years. He was sentenced to one to 15 years in prison by a judge who berated him for disgracing the "noble profession" of teaching. Williamson, who pleaded guilty in May to aggravated sexual abuse of a child and another count of attempted sexual abuse, apologized in court. "This indiscretion of mine was of the most heinous type," he said. "Let me stop you right there," retorted Judge Thomas WIllmore. "It is not an indiscretion. You broke the law." The unidentified victim, now 35, displayed a photo of herself as an eighth-grader and said Williamson ruined her life. "You put it all on my shoulders, those of a 13-year-old, to carry," she said. "I always blamed myself." She said she left the state and kept silent but on a trip back home, the pain was too much. Supporters of Williamson, however, wrote that he was a respected teacher and golf coach who “fell victim to the persuasions of a girl,” reports the Herald Journal. It's possible this isn't the end of Williamson's legal trouble: Last year, the state changed the law to allow victims of sexual abuse to file civil lawsuits years after the fact, notes the Deseret News. (In Texas, this teacher was accused of having a longtime sexual relationship with an eighth-grade student.)

UPDATE: 4/19/2001 Read Richard Metzger: How I, a married, middle-aged man, became an accidental spokesperson for gay rights overnight on Boing Boing It’s time to clarify a few details about the controversial “Hey Facebook what’s SO wrong with a pic of two men kissing?” story, as it now beginning to be reported in the mainstream media, and not always correctly. First of all, with regards to the picture: The photo which was used to illustrate my first post about the John Snow Kiss-In is a promotional still from the British soap opera “Eastenders.” It features one of the main characters from the show (Christian Clarke, played by the actor John Partridge- left) and someone else who I don’t know. I am not a regular viewer so I can’t say if the man on the right is an extra or an actual character. This picture has itself caused scandal in the UK, as it was a gay kiss that was broadcast before the watershed, and as such led to a number of complaints to the BBC. However, since this episode aired (October 2008) Christian now has a boyfriend and a few more gay kisses have taken place. In relation to the John Snow Kiss-In event, I used this particular photo because I considered it to be quite mild (no groping, no tongues). The photos I had considered using before I chose that one are much more racy. Oh the irony! Secondly, the removal of the Facebook John Snow Kiss-In event: It turns out that the Facebook event for the John Snow Kiss-In was not blocked by Facebook, but made private by the creator of the event itself. Paul Shetler, the organizer, left this comment on the previous thread: “Hey I just saw this. Before it goes too far, I just want people to know that FB have NOT removed the kiss-in event page; it’s still there, but _I made the event private after the event_ was over and only visible to those who had been invited as there were starting to be trolls posting abusive nonsense on it.” Thanks for clearing that up, Paul. Now if Facebook will only reply to Richard’s query about why they removed my original post and photo when he put it up on his wall… It has been erroneously reported in the media that our own Richard Metzger (who lives in Los Angeles) organized the London “Kiss-In” event, which is untrue, and also unfair to Paul Shetler and the actual organizers. Also, Richard did not state in his post that Facebook HAD taken the event page down, he just questioned IF this was the case and IF there was a connection with MY post about the event being removed from his own wall. This seems to have confused some people. Here is a report on the John Snow Kiss-In from the Guardian, featuring an interview with Mr Shetler: ||||| || News || Page 1 of 1 UPDATED: A photo of two men kissing that was posted on a Facebook page protesting a London pub’s decision to eject a same-sex couple for kissing has been removed by the social networking site, an error, according to a rep for the company. "The photo in question does not violate our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities and was removed in error," the statement, obtained by America Blog, says. We apologize for the inconvenience" The Dangerous Minds Facebook page was set up to promote a “gay kiss-in” demonstration in London to protest the pub. The page used a photo of two men kissing to promote the event. According to NYULocal.com, the photo was quickly removed and the following e-mail was sent to administrators of the Facebook page: “Shares that contain nudity, or any kind of graphic or sexually suggestive content, are not permitted on Facebook.” The decision to remove the photo has prompted scores of people to post their own pictures of same-sex couples kissing in protest — dozens in the last few hours alone.

– It turns out Facebook is only guilty of about half of what it’s been accused of in the gay kiss incident. The social networking site apologized yesterday for taking down an image used to promote a “kiss-in” event in London. “The photo in question does not violate our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities, and was removed in error,” the site said in a statement, according to the Advocate. But Facebook did not, as has been reported in several places, take down the kiss-in event itself. Here’s what happened: The photo Facebook took down was posted by the Dangerous Minds blog to promote the event. In its initial write-up about the incident, the blog observed that the page organizing the protest had been taken down. But it was actually the organizer himself who "removed" the event, Dangerous Minds clarified. Organizer Paul Shetler explains that he decided to switch it from a public event to a private one, as "there were starting to be trolls posting abusive nonsense on it."

Martin funeral director: No signs of fight on body (CBS News) SANFORD, Florida - The defense of George Zimmerman rests on a violent fight that he said occurred before he fired the shot that killed Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman is neighborhood watch volunteer at the center of the case. It was almost five weeks that Martin, the unarmed 17-year-old, was killed after Zimmerman found him suspicious. We don't know what happened immediately immediately before the shot was fired. CBS News correspondent Mark Strassman has new evidence in the case. Trayvon Martin was buried in Miami with a gunshot wound to his chest. But otherwise, according to Richard Kurtz, the funeral director who prepared Martin for burial, his body showed no injuries. "We could see no physical signs like there had been a scuffle [or] there had been a fight," he said. "The hands -- I didn't see any knuckles, bruises or what have you. And that is something we would have covered up if it would have been there." Video shows Zimmerman with cops; Dad speaks out Complete coverage: The shooting of Trayvon Martin And as a surveillance tape shows, George Zimmerman in handcuffs, 40 minutes after he killed Trayvon Martin. He seemed to show no apparent injuries, either. Yet Zimmerman claims Martin beat him and threatened his life, so he shot the teenager in self-defense. But Ben Crump, the lawyer for Martin's parents, said the video shows a murderer. "Look at that video," he said. "Do you see any blood on his head? He said he broke his nose. Look at that video. And look at how easy he walks out of the car." Zimmerman, a crime watch volunteer, thought Martin looked suspicious, called police, and followed Martin along a street and around a corner. Robert Zimmerman, the gunman's father, told WOFL-TV in Orlando that Martin suddenly confronted his son. Watch the full interview with Richard Kurtz, the funeral director who prepared Trayvon Martin's body for burial, below: "At that point he was punched in the nose," he said. "His nose was broken. and he was knocked to the concrete. Trayvon Martin got on top of him and just started beating him in the face and in the nose, hitting his head on the concrete." Police reports noted Zimmerman was "bleeding from the nose and the back of the head." But a closer look at Zimmerman shows no obvious head or face injuries. At one point, an officer does check the back of his head. Martin's family contends this video proves police never wanted to arrest Zimmerman. And Cheryl Brown said a widespread perception is wrong: Sanford police wanted to charge Zimmerman. She identified Chris Serino as the lead investigator who questioned people in the neighborhood. "Detective Serino -- did you have the sense when he interviewed you that he thought it was a killing in self-defense?" Strassmann asked Brown. "No, because he actually stated to me in my family room that 'we do not believe it was self-defense and we need to prove it,'" said Brown. A special prosecutor will now decide whether Zimmerman deserves to be charged. Zimmerman's father insists his son is also a victim here. "...They are just making up stuff that are not true about George. How he is being portrayed is an absolute lie." Robert Zimmerman said Martin beat his son for more than one minute. And when his son fired his .9-mm, Robert Zimmerman said it was because he had no choice. ||||| About this Show: Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN. Questions or comments? Send an email Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°

– It wasn't a great day for George Zimmerman yesterday, as a series of stories raised fresh doubts about his tale of killing Trayvon Martin in self-defense. First, the funeral director who prepared Martin's body for burial said he observed no signs of a struggle, reports CBS News. Aside from the gunshot wound to the chest, "We could see no physical signs like there had been a scuffle," he explained. "The hands—I didn't see any knuckles, bruises, or what have you. And that is something we would have covered up if it would have been there." Also: The mother of a key 13-year-old eyewitness in the case says that police pressured her son to tell them details he hadn't seen, reports the New York Daily News. He saw just one person in the grass, she says, and couldn't tell who it was "because it was too dark." But the police persisted, giving the boy a multiple choice question about the color of the sweater he saw. Of the three options, he told them he thought it might be red—the color Zimmerman was wearing. "I believe he felt pressured to give the color," says mom. An anonymous eyewitness spoke to Anderson Cooper last night. He says Zimmerman didn't seem injured as he walked away. More news from the past: Zimmerman was fired in 2005 from an under-the-counter security guard job because he "had a temper and he became a liability," a former co-worker tells the New York Daily News. The man described Zimmerman as "like Jekyll and Hyde," saying, "When the dude snapped, he snapped. He definitely loved being in charge. He loved the power. Still, I could never see him killing someone. Never," he said.

Getty Images Any talk of golf as exercise could make cyclists choke on their energy bars. But a new study suggests that a round of golf can confer longevity benefits just as robust as a 100-mile bike ride. The study in the Christmas edition of BMJ—the peer-reviewed publication formerly known as the British Medical Journal—is based on the mortality records of 9,889 athletes who competed in the Olympic Games between 1896 and 1936. "Engaging in cycling and rowing (high cardiovascular intensity) had no added survival benefit compared with playing golf or cricket (low cardiovascular intensity)." More Marathon Runners Stop Aging Out of the Race The study adds to a small but growing body of research suggesting that years-long doses of extreme exercise—measured by amount or intensity—may be unproductive, if not counterproductive. In general, the research suggests that the well-established longevity benefits of exercise may cease to accrue or may even diminish beyond a point, for instance, 20 miles a week of running. "During high intensive exercise the human body has to deal with all kinds of micro traumata. Over time, this will result in an accumulation of damage, which can be explained as a form of aging," said Frouke Engelaer, an author of the study, conducted by a vitality-and-aging department at Leiden University Medical Centre in Leiden, Netherlands. This research is too preliminary and controversial to trigger warnings against marathons and triathlons. And by all accounts it shouldn't be used as an excuse for staying sedentary, which poses well-established risks of cardiovascular disease. Apart from health, moreover, extreme fitness can induce euphoria. "When I was in my peak Ironman triathlon shape, I felt my absolute best," said John Gamba, who writes a blog called Golfer Turned Triathlete. Gamba, 42, doesn't necessarily buy the idea that walking the links is just as good for him as running a half marathon. But his father does. "My dad just came up to me and said some doctor told him that triathlon and other intensive sports aren't good for you," said Gamba. Write to Kevin Helliker at [email protected] Corrections & Amplifications The first name of John Gamba was wrongly given as James in an earlier version of this article. ||||| R Zwiers , PhD candidate 1, F W A Zantvoord , medical student 1, F M Engelaer , PhD candidate 12, D van Bodegom , assistant professor of medicine 12, F J G van der Ouderaa , chief scientific officer 1, R G J Westendorp , professor of old age medicine 12 1Leyden Academy on Vitality and Ageing, Rijnsburgerweg 10, 2333 AA Leiden, Netherlands 2Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden Correspondence to: F Engelaer Engelaer{at}leydenacademy.nl Accepted 14 September 2012 Abstract Objective To assess the mortality risk in subsequent years (adjusted for year of birth, nationality, and sex) of former Olympic athletes from disciplines with different levels of exercise intensity. Design Retrospective cohort study. Setting Former Olympic athletes. Participants 9889 athletes (with a known age at death) who participated in the Olympic Games between 1896 and 1936, representing 43 types of disciplines with different levels of cardiovascular, static, and dynamic intensity exercise; high or low risk of bodily collision; and different levels of physical contact. Main outcome measure All cause mortality. Results Hazard ratios for mortality among athletes from disciplines with moderate cardiovascular intensity (1.01, 95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.07) or high cardiovascular intensity (0.98, 0.92 to 1.04) were similar to those in athletes from disciplines with low cardiovascular intensity. The underlying static and dynamic components in exercise intensity showed similar non-significant results. Increased mortality was seen among athletes from disciplines with a high risk of bodily collision (hazard ratio 1.11, 1.06 to 1.15) and with high levels of physical contact (1.16, 1.11 to 1.22). In a multivariate analysis, the effect of high cardiovascular intensity remained similar (hazard ratio 1.05, 0.89 to 1.25); the increased mortality associated with high physical contact persisted (hazard ratio 1.13, 1.06 to 1.21), but that for bodily collision became non-significant (1.03, 0.98 to 1.09) as a consequence of its close relation with physical contact. Conclusions Among former Olympic athletes, engagement in disciplines with high intensity exercise did not bring a survival benefit compared with disciplines with low intensity exercise. Those who engaged in disciplines with high levels of physical contact had higher mortality than other Olympians later in life. Introduction Public health associations recommend physical exercise because it is associated with lower mortality risks, better mood and cognition, and lower prevalence of cardiovascular disease.1 2 3 4 5 6 7 However, when Pheidippides ran from Marathon to Athens in 490 BC to announce the Greek victory over the Persians, he died on arrival. As his case illustrates, exercise of high intensity can also place great strain on the body and can cause serious injuries and damage.8 The question is whether regular high intensity exercise is associated with a lower or higher mortality risk. When the first modern Olympic Games were held in Athens in 1896, including a marathon run to Athens, the organisers decided to shorten the distance, with the death of Pheidippides in mind. The current distance of 42.195 km was determined only later during the third Olympics in London, when the royal family requested the race to be from the start at Windsor Castle to the royal stage in the White City Stadium. This year, the Olympic Games were back in London, but whether high intensity exercise is beneficial for reducing mortality risk is still debated.9 10 The effect of high intensity exercise on mortality later in life has mostly been studied among professional athletes, using the general population as a control group. The outcomes from these studies differ; some did not find a survival benefit, whereas others showed lower mortality in athletes than in their non-athletic counterparts from the general population.11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 The lower mortality risk of professional athletes compared with the general population could be due to specific social and psychometric characteristics, and whether high intensity exercise brings a survival benefit or an increased mortality risk for athletes remains to be elucidated. We analysed mortality patterns in a large historic cohort of athletes who had all participated in the Olympic Games between 1896 and 1936 but performed at different levels of cardiovascular, static, and dynamic intensity exercise. Methods Study population In May 2011 we retrieved a cohort of 21 127 former Olympic athletes from the continuously updated Sports Reference database, the largest online database of Olympic athletes.25 Figure 1⇓ summarises the inclusion process. We included 9889 former Olympic athletes, born between 1830 and 1910, with a known age at death, who participated in at least one of the Summer Olympic Games between 1896 and 1936. We excluded 2162 athletes from nine disciplines that were not mentioned in the classification of the American College of Cardiology.26 We classified skeleton as bobsledding and polo as equestrian, because of the very similar types of exercise. For 7534 athletes, the age at death was unknown owing to an unknown date of birth, date of death, or both. Finally, we excluded 1542 participants born after 1910, as they could possibly be still alive. Fig 1 Flow diagram showing inclusion of former Olympic athletes in study Classification of Olympic disciplines We classified the 43 Olympic disciplines according to the classification system of the 8th Task Force on the Classification of Sports by the American College of Cardiology.26 The classification of cardiovascular intensity sums a static component reflecting maximal voluntary muscle contraction and a dynamic component reflecting maximal oxygen uptake; both were categorised at three levels of intensity—low, moderate, and high. The system also defines three levels of static and dynamic intensity—low, moderate, and high. When an athlete had participated in multiple disciplines, we categorised him/her in the discipline with the highest cardiovascular score. The risk of bodily collision was also classified by the American College of Cardiology.26 Finally, we classified the various disciplines as low (non-contact), moderate (limited contact), and high (full contact), according to the classification of contact sports of the American Academy of Pediatrics.27 The levels of exercise intensity were similar in athletes who were included in and excluded from this analysis (data not shown). Statistical analysis We calculated hazard ratios for all cause mortality by using a left truncated Cox proportional hazards model, entering participants at the age of first participation in the Olympic Games. All analyses were adjusted for sex, year of birth, and nationality. We used Stata 11 for all calculations. Results We included 9889 athletes from 43 different Olympic disciplines that were classified in various categories of intensity of exercise, risk of bodily collision, and the level of physical contact. The supplementary table summarises the characteristics of these 43 disciplines. Figure 2⇓ shows all 43 disciplines stratified for the level of static, dynamic, and cardiovascular intensity, classified according the American College of Cardiology.26 Fig 2 43 Olympic disciplines classified in categories of static and dynamic intensity, as well as three categories of low, moderate, and high cardiovascular intensity (from yellow to red).26 We firstly calculated hazard ratios for mortality dependent on different levels of exercise intensity. As the participants came from different birth cohorts, we adjusted all our analyses for year of birth, which, as expected, was correlated with mortality. Next, we adjusted for sex and nationality, which were also correlated with mortality (data not shown). Table 1⇓ shows hazard ratios for mortality for different levels of cardiovascular, static, and dynamic intensity in both univariate and multivariate analyses. Engagement in disciplines with increasing cardiovascular intensity was not associated with a significantly higher mortality risk; the hazard ratio for moderate intensity was 1.01 (95% confidence interval 0.96 to 1.07; P=0.71), and that for high intensity was 0.98 (0.92 to 1.40; P=0.46). Multivariate analysis showed similar results (table 1⇓). Analysis of the static and dynamic components separately showed similar non-significant results. Univariate analysis showed a small beneficial effect of moderate static exercise, but this was not reflected in a lower hazard ratio in athletes engaged in disciplines with high intensity static exercise. Table 1 Hazard ratios of mortality for athletes in disciplines with different intensities of exercise View this table: We also studied the effect of bodily collision and physical contact on mortality (table 2⇓). Athletes engaged in disciplines with a high risk of bodily collision had an 11% higher mortality risk compared with those who were not exposed (hazard ratio 1.11, 1.06 to 1.15; P<0.001). When comparing athletes who had performed in disciplines with various levels of physical contact, we found that those who participated in sports with only moderate contact did not have a higher mortality risk. However, athletes who were exposed to high levels of physical contact had a 16% higher mortality risk compared with those with low physical contact (hazard ratio 1.16, 1.11 to 1.22; P<0.001). These higher mortality risks remained similar in the multivariate analysis, whereas the hazard ratio for bodily collision became non-significant. Table 2 Hazard ratios of mortality for athletes in disciplines with different risk of bodily collision and physical contact View this table: We additionally did similar analyses in various subgroups—men only, deaths after age 50, born before 1900, and born after 1900 (fig 3⇓). In none of the subgroups was exercise at high cardiovascular intensity associated with a reduction in mortality risk. However, we found a significant higher mortality risk in all these subgroups for risk of bodily collision and high physical contact. Fig 3 Hazard ratios of mortality (95% CIs) in former Olympic athletes according to cardiovascular intensity, bodily collision, and physical contact. Analyses were adjusted for sex, year of birth, and nationality Discussion Our results show that former Olympic athletes who engaged in disciplines with high cardiovascular intensity had similar mortality risks to athletes from disciplines with low cardiovascular intensity. This would indicate that engaging in cycling and rowing (high cardiovascular intensity) had no added survival benefit compared with playing golf or cricket (low cardiovascular intensity). Although comparing modern sporting activity with that during the first series of the games is a daunting task, this analysis is sobering for all those athletes who trained so hard to qualify for the London Olympics in 2012. Moreover, our analyses point to a potential risk for those engaged in disciplines with a high risk of bodily collision or high levels of physical contact. As the higher mortality risk persisted for death after age 50, this increased risk could not be explained by the death of young athletes due to trauma. We consider it more likely that the higher mortality risk reflects the effect of a gradual accumulation of multiple bodily injuries during sporting activities. Previous studies have shown that bodily collisions or fierce physical contacts are responsible for a large proportion of the total burden of injuries.8 28 These injuries may have longlasting detrimental effects, in line with the generalised theory of ageing. For instance, repetitive blows to the head, especially in boxers, are associated with cognitive impairment, early onset dementia, and reduced life expectancy.29 30 Our findings stand in contrast to several other studies showing a benefit to late life mortality risk in very well trained athletes.31 32 33 34 A possible explanation could be that these studies included only exercise of moderate intensity. Other studies, however, described a late life survival advantage for endurance athletes who had trained at high physical intensity.22 23 24 35 All previous observations may be subject to bias, however, as trained athletes differ from the general population in more ways than just physical fitness. We consider our comparison of former Olympic athletes who performed their sports at different physical intensity to be more robust than a comparison between trained athletes and people from the population at large. This interpretation is strengthened by the fact that outcomes were congruent in all domains of physical intensity (for example, cardiovascular, static and dynamic intensity). In this study, we used data from athletes who participated in the Olympic Games between 1896 and 1936, so outcomes reflect late life consequences of intensive exercise programmes that were in vogue 70 to 110 years ago. Since then, training programmes, especially on a (semi)professional level, have changed substantially. Top athletes now not only train more often and more intensely, but training has also become more individualised and specifically focused. Moreover, medical care to prevent permanent damage is undoubtedly better and could explain why in the past the potential benefits of intensive physical training were overwhelmed by trade-offs later in life. We do not have access to any data that allow for a valid comparison of use of anabolic steroids and other stimulating substances, but many people would argue that their use was probably less prevalent in the past than it is now. For all of these reasons, care is needed in extrapolating our findings to the late life effects of current training schemes. Regarding the negative effect of bodily collision and fierce physical contact, current sporting activities are much more extreme with regard to velocity, g force, and other mechanical strains. Collisions and physical injuries could therefore have more effect nowadays, despite better protective aids and medical treatment. Our findings could well underestimate the late life effects of the gradual accumulation of permanent damage due to repeated collisions and injuries to which top athletes are exposed. This being said, several potential confounders could decrease or further increase the hazard ratios for mortality that we have found. These include unknown factors such as the total number of years spent in training, age at which intensive training ceased, intensity of exercise after athletes withdrew from competitive sports, specific behaviour in specific types of sport, and specific personal characteristics depending on the type of sport. The beneficial effects of exercise could also be counterbalanced by detrimental effects of (acute) cessation of physical exercise resulting in a net neutral effect. Although we did not find evidence that former Olympic athletes from disciplines involving high intensity exercise have a higher mortality risk than other former Olympians, people should think for a moment before engaging in disciplines with risk of bodily collision or fierce physical contact. This notion may help to explain a historical fact. Before Pheidippides exclaimed “νικωμεν” (we have won) and collapsed, he had not only run from Marathon to Athens but had fought in the battle of Marathon before that. It is tempting to speculate that it was not the run from Marathon to Athens but the effect of armed force that led to his tragic death. What is already known on this topic Modern athletes who performing high intensity exercise have a survival benefit when compared with the general population Intensive exercise places great strain on the human body and can cause serious injuries and damage What this study adds Former Olympic athletes who engaged in disciplines with high cardiovascular intensity had similar mortality risks to those from disciplines with low cardiovascular intensity Engaging in disciplines with risk of bodily collision or physical contact was associated with a higher mortality risk compared with other disciplines Notes Cite this as: BMJ 2012;345:e7456 Footnotes Contributors: RZ and FWAZ contributed equally to this work; they collected and analysed the data with assistance from FE and DvB. All authors contributed to writing the article and participated in the scientific debate. FE is the guarantor. Funding: None. Competing interests: All authors have completed the ICMJE uniform disclosure form at www.icmje.org/coi_disclosure.pdf (available on request from the corresponding author) and declare: no support from any organisation for the submitted work; no financial relationships with any organisations that might have an interest in the submitted work in the previous three years; no other relationships or activities that could appear to have influenced the submitted work.

– Golf may be "a good walk, spoiled," but at least it doesn't spoil your life expectancy. In fact, a new study finds that heavy cardio sports like cycling and rowing do nothing to help you live longer than playing golf or cricket, reports the Wall Street Journal. Researchers looked at mortality rates in 9,889 Olympic athletes who completed from 1896 to 1936 in 43 types of sports, and surprisingly found that those who competed in intense activities did not live any longer than those who curled, shot guns, played cricket, or golfed. "Engaging in cycling and rowing (high cardiovascular intensity) had no added survival benefit compared with playing golf or cricket (low cardiovascular intensity)," says the study. One theory is that intensive exercise over the long-term also leads to injuries and damage that balance out the benefits of such exercise. "Over time, this will result in an accumulation of damage, which can be explained as a form of aging," says a study author. You can read the original BMJ article here.

Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| President Donald Trump said the truth would only come out if lawmakers get access to documents they have been thwarted from obtaining. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images Trump responds to new FBI informant reports President Donald Trump on Saturday appeared to respond to new reports that an FBI informant had reached out to multiple campaign aides during the 2016 presidential campaign. "If the FBI or DOJ was infiltrating a campaign for the benefit of another campaign, that is a really big deal," the president wrote on Twitter. Story Continued Below On Friday night, The New York Times reported that an unnamed FBI informant talked to two campaign advisers who allegedly had suspicious contacts with individuals linked to Russia. The Times did not name the informant but described the person as an "American academic who teaches in Britain" and who made contact with Trump foreign policy advisers George Papadopoulos and Carter Page. The alleged informant's name has been published by conservative media outlets and circulated widely on Twitter. Earlier Friday, apparently responding to previous conservative media reports, Trump had tweeted: "Reports are there was indeed at least one FBI representative implanted, for political purposes, into my campaign for president. It took place very early on, and long before the phony Russia Hoax became a 'hot' Fake News story. If true - all time biggest political scandal!" The most reliable politics newsletter. Sign up for POLITICO Playbook and get the latest news, every morning — in your inbox. Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. Trump's Saturday response shifted from alleging an FBI source was "implanted" into the campaign to suggesting the campaign was "infiltrated." He maintained any such FBI action was politically motivated. There's no indication that was the case. Papadopoulos' April 2016 conversation with an Australian diplomat indicating the Russians had so-called dirt on Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton reportedly started the FBI investigation that has led to special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether Trump campaign officials colluded with the Russian government during a Kremlin campaign to meddle in the 2016 election. Trump added that the truth about the alleged FBI informant could only come out with "the release or review of documents that the House Intelligence Committee (also, Senate Judiciary) is asking for." Congressional Republicans have engaged in an intense fight with the Justice Department over access to highly sensitive and classified information about the investigation into the Trump campaign, and the identity of the FBI's informant, and have routinely expressed frustration with DOJ's refusals to grant access to the documents. House Freedom Caucus co-founder Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) said Friday that if the reports about an informant are true, "that is as wrong as it gets."

– President Trump took another leap into uncharted territory Sunday with a demand for the Justice Department to investigate whether the FBI infiltrated his 2016 campaign. Trump tweeted that he would officially demand Monday that the department "look into whether or not the FBI/DOJ infiltrated or surveilled the Trump Campaign for Political Purposes - and if any such demands or requests were made by people within the Obama Administration!" In what the Washington Post describes as an effort to avoid a bigger showdown, the Justice Department bowed to the pressure late Sunday, saying its inspector general would investigate whether political motivations had tainted the investigation of alleged Russian links to Trump's campaign, which is now being led by special counsel Robert Mueller. "If anyone did infiltrate or surveil participants in a presidential campaign for inappropriate purposes, we need to know about it and take appropriate action," said Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Trump's tweet followed reports that an FBI informant had talked to Trump campaign advisers with alleged links to Russia, which the president called a "really big deal" in a tweet Saturday, Politico reports. Analysts described his demand for an investigation of the investigation as unprecedented. "I can't think of a prior example of a sitting president ordering the Justice Department to conduct an investigation like this one," University of Texas School of Law professor Stephen Vladeck tells the New York Times. "That's little more than a transparent effort to undermine an ongoing investigation."

FILE - In this May 9, 2011 file photo, the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is seen in West Feliciana Parish, La. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson expressed frustration as he questioned why prison... (Associated Press) FILE - In this May 9, 2011 file photo, the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is seen in West Feliciana Parish, La. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson expressed frustration as he questioned why prison officials won't spend roughly $1 million to install air conditioning on death row, since the state... (Associated Press) FILE - In this May 9, 2011 file photo, the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is seen in West Feliciana Parish, La. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson expressed frustration as he questioned why prison officials won't spend roughly $1 million to install air conditioning on death row, since the state... (Associated Press) FILE - In this May 9, 2011 file photo, the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola is seen in West Feliciana Parish, La. U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson expressed frustration as he questioned why prison... (Associated Press) BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — The state of Louisiana's refusal to install air conditioning on death row has already cost taxpayers more than $1 million in legal bills, according to records obtained by The Associated Press. The state could spend roughly the same money — and possibly much less — on an air conditioning system that would satisfy a federal judge's order to protect death-row inmates from dangerous heat and humidity inside Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. Instead, the corrections department and attorney general's office have accrued at least $1,067,000 in expenses fighting the 3-year-old lawsuit filed on behalf of three inmates with medical problems. This tally, based on state documents provided in response to the AP's public records requests, is the first public accounting of how much the case has cost taxpayers. Most of the money has gone to private attorneys on opposing sides of the case, which the judge said could ultimately cost many more millions of dollars. Expert witnesses and state contractors also have received tens of thousands of dollars. A list of expenses incurred by the prison itself adds up to more than $100,000, including an April 2014 payment of nearly $29,000 to a firm that was monitoring the heat and humidity every 15 minutes. Airing his frustrations last month, U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson said the bill is "stunning," given the painful cuts lawmakers are making to balance the state budget. He wondered out loud whether the state's refusal to give up the fight is based on prison management concerns, politics or ideology. "Is this really what the state wants to do?" he asked. "It just seems so unnecessary." Jackson is scheduled to hear testimony Wednesday on whether the state's current heat remediation measures — one cold shower a day, ice chests in their cells and fans outside — are adequately protecting the plaintiffs as Louisiana's sweltering summer approaches. A plaintiffs' expert has estimated it would cost about $225,000 — not including engineering fees or operating costs — to install air conditioning on death row's six tiers, which house dozens of inmates. In 2014, an engineer hired by the state said nine air-conditioning units could adequately cool all eight tiers in the 10-year-old building that houses death row. An attorney for the state has said each unit would cost "several thousand dollars." The state hasn't made public its total estimate. Spokeswomen for the corrections department and attorney general's office said they can't comment on pending litigation. But the judge cited a state remediation plan in suggesting that the litigation is already more costly than the fix. "The state itself indicated that they could install mechanical air, fix this problem, end this case, for about -- what was it? About a million dollars," Jackson said. Louisiana's attorneys argue that the consequences would reverberate far beyond Angola's prison walls, spawning more lawsuits from prisoners across the country demanding air-conditioned cells. "It would be a large burden on the prisons to have to set forth the costs to implement these measures," Grant Guillot, an attorney for the state, said during an appeals court hearing last year. One such lawsuit — filed in 2014 in Texas — claims at least 20 prisoners have died of heat-related causes in that state since 1998. Private attorneys from two law firms have billed the state more than $424,000. Most of that has gone to a Baton Rouge firm with a law partner — E. Wade Shows — who served as campaign treasurer to former Attorney General James "Buddy" Caldwell, who was voted out of office last year. That firm — Shows, Cali & Walsh — has billed 2,420 hours at an average of about $140 per hour. The firm and Shows donated a combined $20,000 to Caldwell's campaigns since 2007. The state also had to cover fees for the inmates' attorneys, from The Promise of Justice Initiative, because Jackson ruled in their favor. Inmates' attorneys received $490,000 through a settlement with Caldwell's successor, Attorney General Jeff Landry. This case is "another example of elected officials taking a stand as long as the taxpayers pay for it," said Bill Quigley, a Loyola University law professor who runs the New Orleans school's poverty law center. "It's very sad, and it's a waste of money," Quigley said. More than two years have passed since the judge ruled that Louisiana imposes unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment once the heat index exceeds 88 degrees. The heat index routinely crosses that threshold on death row, and occasionally exceeds 100 degrees. Plaintiff James Magee, confined 23 hours a day in his cell, said it's like a "sauna" in the morning and an "oven" in the afternoon. Last year, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals partially upheld Jackson's decision, but said any remedy should be limited to the three plaintiffs, not all 85 inmates on death row, and invited the state to provide relief without installing air conditioning. ||||| BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A federal judge is set to hear testimony on whether Louisiana prison officials are adequately protecting death-row inmates from dangerous heat and humidity levels in a facility where the state refuses to install air conditioning. Three death-row inmates who sued three years ago over the sweltering conditions in their cells at Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola are expected to attend Wednesday's hearing in U.S. District Judge Brian Jackson's courtroom. Jackson ruled more than two years ago that Louisiana imposes unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment once the heat index on death row exceeds 88 degrees. The state insists its current heat remediation measures — cold showers, ice chests and fans — are adequately protecting the plaintiffs. The inmates' attorneys disagree and are urging Jackson to reconsider air conditioning as a requirement.

– The state of Louisiana's refusal to install air conditioning on death row has already cost taxpayers at least $1,067,000 in expenses fighting a lawsuit filed on behalf of three inmates with medical problems, according to records obtained by the AP. Meanwhile the state could spend roughly the same money—and possibly much less—on an AC system that would satisfy a federal judge's order to protect death row inmates from dangerous heat and humidity inside Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. This tally, based on state documents provided in response to the AP's public records requests, is the first public accounting of how much the case has cost taxpayers. Most of the money has gone to private attorneys on opposing sides of the case, which US District Judge Brian Jackson says could ultimately cost many more millions of dollars, and expert witnesses and state contractors also have received tens of thousands of dollars. More than two years have passed since Jackson ruled Louisiana imposes unconstitutionally cruel and unusual punishment once the heat index exceeds 88 degrees. The index routinely crosses that threshold on death row, occasionally exceeding 100 degrees; plaintiff James Magee said it's like a "sauna" in the morning and an "oven" in the afternoon. A plaintiffs' expert estimated it would cost about $225,000—sans engineering fees or operating costs—to install AC on death row's six tiers. A state engineer in 2014 said nine AC units could cool all eight tiers in the 10-year-old building that holds death row, with a state attorney saying each unit would cost "several thousand dollars." State attorneys argue installing AC would spawn more suits from prisoners nationwide demanding cooler cells. Jackson is set to hear testimony Wednesday on whether the state's current heat remediation measures—one cold shower a day, ice chests in the cells, and fans outside—are adequately protecting the plaintiffs as Louisiana's sweltering summer approaches.

Go to the Legal Help page to request content changes for legal reasons. ||||| BEIJING (AP) — A car plowed into a crowd of children outside a primary school in northeastern China on Thursday, killing five people and injuring 18, a local government spokesman said. The driver was taken into custody after the crash around noon in the coastal city of Huludao in Liaoning province, said the spokesman for Jianchang county in the city's suburbs, who declined to give his name as is standard with Chinese bureaucrats. He described the crash as "a major traffic accident" and that the cause was under investigation. Security camera footage showed a line of children crossing the street in front of their school when a car approaches, which then changes lanes and swerves into the crowd of children. It wasn't clear if the crash was a deliberate attack or whether the driver was swerving to avoid obstacles in front of him. Last month, a knife-wielding man drove a vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians in the eastern city of Ningbo, killing two people and wounding 16. And in September, 11 people were killed and 44 hospitalized after a man drove an SUV deliberately into people at a plaza in the central province of Hunan, before jumping out and attacking victims with a dagger and shovel. Other deadly attacks have occurred at schools, including several in 2010 in which nearly 20 children were killed, prompting a response from top government officials and leading many schools to beef up security. However, in June, a man used a kitchen knife to attack three boys and a mother near a school in Shanghai, killing two of the children. Last year, police said a man set off an explosion at the front gate of a kindergarten in eastern China, which struck as relatives gathered to pick up their children at the end of the day, killing eight people. The attackers' most common motivations are identified as mental illness or alienation from society and a desire to settle scores.

– A car plowed into a crowd of children outside a primary school in northeastern China on Thursday, killing five people and injuring 18, a local government spokesman said. The driver was taken into custody after the crash around noon in the coastal city of Huludao in Liaoning province, the spokesman said. He described the crash as "a major traffic accident" and that the cause was under investigation. Disturbing security camera footage showed a line of children crossing the street in front of their school when a car approaches, which then changes lanes and swerves into the crowd of children, the AP reports. It wasn't clear if the crash was a deliberate attack or whether the driver was swerving to avoid obstacles in front of him. (Last month, 14 children were injured in a stabbing attack in Chongqinq.)

When Ottawa researchers publish a paper about a protein that can used to treat heart disease on Tuesday, fellow scientists in California will probably be saying, “Doh!” like Homer Simpson. The naturally-occurring protein, called cardiotrophin 1, also known as CT-1, can trick the heart into repairing damage and improving blood flow. Therapy using the protein, which the Ottawa researchers have already proved in animal models, will likely be ready for clinical trials in patients with right heart failure and myocardial infarction — heart attack — in two or three years. With luck, therapy will be available to the general population in about a decade. It might even reduce the need for heart transplants. About 20 years ago, the California scientists were investigating CT-1 and benefits for heart patients, but they gave up after they learned that CT-1 was also linked to disease. Around 2005, the Ottawa researchers decided to tease out how the mechanisms behind how the protein worked, both positive and negative. They believed the negative effects were compensating for something else. The Ottawa researchers, including scientists from The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Carleton University and private industry, have worked to understand the signalling pathways, genes and cellular processes associated with CT-1. It was a long road, and along the way there were a lot of blind alleys, said Lynn Megeney, the senior author on a paper published Tuesday in the journal Cell Research. When part of the heart dies, its remaining muscles try to adapt by getting bigger. But this happens in a dysfunctional way, and it doesn’t actually help the heart pump more blood. CT-1 helps the muscles to grow in a more healthy way and stimulates blood vessel growth around the heart, improving its ability to pump blood. This process happens naturally during pregnancy and when athletes exercise. After the baby is born or the athlete stops exercising, the heart returns to its original state, said Megeney, a senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and professor at the University of Ottawa. The researchers have tested CT-1 on animal models with right heart failure. In humans, more than 40 per cent of the total heart failure population has right heart failure, said Megeney. It’s a growing epidemic in North America and one of the leading causes of death and disability in high-income nations. “The medical world has become quite proficient at treating heart failure. It’s good at helping people with classic congestive heart failure. But the problem is that these medications don’t work on right heart failure.” For some patients, the only option is a heart transplant. CT-1 can “beneficially remodel” the right side of the heart, he said. While exercise could theoretically have the same benefits, people with heart failure usually can’t exercise. “Treatment with CT-1 might get them to that point.” In the research with mice and rats, CT-1 was delivered with a mini-pump about the size of a tablet inserted under the skin. A similar gadget would likely work with people. Treatment is not a permanent solution. So far, about two weeks of treatment have proven to be beneficial for about two months after treatment stops. The researchers still need to figure out the minimum dose to get the maximum effect, but CT-1 treatment could replace a cocktail of drugs, said Megeney. Dr. Duncan Stewart, a cardiologist, co-senior author of the paper and executive vice-president of research at The Ottawa Hospital, called the experimental therapy “very exciting”, especially since it shows promise for both right and left heart failure. Megeney and Stewart have patents pending for the use of CT-1 to treat heart conditions. “Currently, the only treatment for right heart failure is a transplant,” said Stewart. “And although we have drugs that can reduce the symptoms of left heart failure, we can’t fix the problem, and left heart failure often leads to right heart failure over time.” Score one for basic science. “This derives from simple, basic research on the cellular and molecular mechanisms that make heart muscle grow,” said Megeney, who has already presented the findings at international meetings. “People hadn’t pushed to understand the process. It was under the radar for a long time.” ||||| A protein called cardiotrophin 1 might be an effective treatment for heart failure, according to researchers who found that it tricks the heart into growing in a healthy way. This growth is reversible, similar to that which occurs in response to endurance exercise or pregnancy. Researchers from Canada have shown that it may be possible to trick the heart into growing healthily, without having to exercise. Researchers from Canada have shown that it may be possible to trick the heart into growing healthily, without having to exercise. The team, including members from the Ottawa Hospital and the University of Ottawa in Ontario, Canada, reports the finding in the journal Cell Research. The study paper also describes how, in animal models of heart failure, cardiotrophin 1 (CT1) promotes heart repair and improves blood flow. Heart failure is a serious condition in which the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to meet the needs of the body and its organs. The condition commonly results from heart muscle damage following a heart attack, the main cause of which is coronary artery disease. There are around 26 million people living with heart failure worldwide, and numbers are rising. Step forward in regenerative medicine The outlook for patients diagnosed with heart failure are poor; their survival rates are worse than those of patients with breast, prostate, and bowel cancer. In the United States - where around 5.7 million adults are living with heart failure - around half of patients die within 5 years of being diagnosed. If heart failure is diagnosed and treated early, it is possible to improve survival and quality of life. Treatment usually consists of drug therapy, reducing dietary sodium, and exercising regularly. The new study represents a step forward in a regenerative medicine approach to the treatment of heart failure, where the aim is to treat or even cure the disease by regrowing damaged tissue or restoring function. Co-senior study author Lynn Megeney, a professor at the University of Ottawa, explains that when part of the heart dies - as it does in heart failure - "the remaining muscles try to adapt by getting bigger, but this happens in a dysfunctional way and it doesn't actually help the heart pump more blood." But he says that, in animals with heart failure, they found that CT1 caused the heart muscles to "grow in a more healthy way," and it also stimulated the heart to grow new blood vessels. "This actually increases the heart's ability to pump blood, just like what you would see with exercise and pregnancy," he adds. CT1 investigated in several models Prof. Megeney and team investigated the effects of CT1 in laboratory-grown heart muscle cells, rats, and mice. They also compared the effects of CT1 with those of phenylephrine (PE), which is a drug that stimulates the "bad kind of heart growth," such as the harmful, irreversible enlargement that occurs in heart failure. The researchers found that, when treated with CT1, heart muscle cells grow into longer, healthier fibers, whereas treatment with PE just results in wider growth. Also, with CT1, the new heart muscle tissue formed with new blood vessels alongside, which helps the heart to pump better. PE did not have this effect. Furthermore, the heart growth that occurs with CT1 is reversible; when treatment stops, the organ returns to its original size, as it does when exercise stops or after pregnancy. The unhealthy heart growth that results from PE, on the other hand, is irreversible; when treatment stops, the heart remains dysfunctionally enlarged. In two animal models of heart failure - one caused by heart attack, which damages the left side of the heart, and the other caused by pulmonary hypertension, or high blood pressure in the lungs, which damages the right side - CT1 treatment led to "dramatic improvements" in heart function. Finally, although both CT1 and PE use the "cell suicide," or apotosis, molecular pathway to trigger heart muscle growth, CT1 showed superior ability to control the pathway. The team is excited by these findings because, if they translate to humans, they could vastly improve the prognosis for patients with heart failure. Promising for both types of heart failure Co-senior author Prof. Duncan Stewart - cardiologist, senior scientist, and executive vice president of research at the Ottawa Hospital - explains that, at present, the "only treatment for right heart failure is a transplant." "And although we have drugs that can reduce the symptoms of left heart failure," he adds, "we can't fix the problem, and left heart failure often leads to right heart failure over time." The researchers are hopeful that CT1 will work in humans with heart failure because it did so in several animal models of the condition. They also point out that, while in theory, exercise is an obvious way to reap the benefits that CT1 appears to offer, this route is not open to people with heart failure, who can only exercise in a limited way. Profs. Megeney and Stewart already have patents pending for using CT1 to treat heart problems, and they hope to partner with others to test the protein in human patients. Nevertheless, they say that it will be several years, even if the tests are successful, before the treatment is ready for widespread clinical use. ||||| Researchers have discovered that a protein called cardiotrophin 1 (CT1) can trick the heart into growing in a healthy way and pumping more blood, just as it does in response to exercise and pregnancy. They show that this good kind of heart growth is very different from the harmful enlargement of the heart that occurs during heart failure. They also show that CT1 can repair heart damage and improve blood flow in animal models of heart failure. The results are published in Cell Research. The research team is from The Ottawa Hospital, the University of Ottawa, the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and Carleton University. Heart failure is a leading cause of death and disability in high-income countries and a growing problem around the world. It occurs when the heart can't pump enough blood through the body, often because a heart attack has damaged the heart muscle tissue. "When part of the heart dies, the remaining muscles try to adapt by getting bigger, but this happens in a dysfunctional way and it doesn't actually help the heart pump more blood," said Dr. Lynn Megeney, senior author of the study and a senior scientist at The Ottawa Hospital and professor at the University of Ottawa. "We found that CT1 causes heart muscles to grow in a more healthy way and it also stimulates blood vessel growth in the heart. This actually increases the heart's ability to pump blood, just like what you would see with exercise and pregnancy." Dr. Megeney and his colleagues conducted a variety of studies in mice, rats and cells growing in the lab. In addition to CT-1, some of the studies involved a drug called phenylephrine (PE), which is known to cause the bad kind of heart growth. They found: Heart muscle cells treated with CT-1 become longer, healthier fibres, while those treated with PE just grow wider. CT-1 causes blood vessels to grow alongside the new heart muscle tissue and increases the heart's ability to pump blood, while PE does neither. When CT-1 treatment stops, the heart goes back to its original condition, just like it does when exercise or pregnancy end. However, the dysfunctional heart growth caused by PE is irreversible. CT-1 dramatically improves heart function in two animal models of heart failure - one caused by a heart attack (affecting the left side of the heart) and one caused by high blood pressure in the lungs (pulmonary hypertension, affecting the right side of the heart). Both CT-1 and PE stimulate heart muscle growth through a molecular pathway that has traditionally been associated with promoting cell suicide (apoptosis), but CT-1 has a better ability to control this pathway. "This experimental therapy is very exciting, particularly because it shows promise in treating both left and right heart failure," said Dr. Duncan Stewart, a cardiologist, senior scientist and co-senior author on the paper who is also Executive Vice-President of Research at The Ottawa Hospital and a professor at the University of Ottawa. "Currently, the only treatment for right heart failure is a transplant. And although we have drugs that can reduce the symptoms of left heart failure, we can't fix the problem, and left heart failure often leads to right heart failure over time." "An intriguing aspect of this research was how human CT1 was able to promote a healthy growth response in multiple animal models," said co-author Dr. Patrick Burgon, scientist at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute and assistant professor at the University of Ottawa. "This suggests the action of CT1 is universally conserved and puts us much closer to therapy." The researchers also note that while exercise could theoretically have the same benefits as CT-1, people with heart failure are usually limited in their ability to exercise. Dr. Megeney and Dr. Stewart have patents pending for the use of CT-1 to treat heart conditions and they hope to develop partnerships to test this protein in patients. If this testing is successful it will take a number of years for the treatment to become widely available. ### Full reference: Cardiotrophin 1 Stimulates Beneficial Myogenic and Vascular Remodeling of the Heart. Cell Research advance online publication 8 August 2017; doi:10.1038/cr.2017.87 Mohammad Abdul-Ghani, Colin Suen, Baohua Jiang, Yupu Deng, Jonathan J. Weldrick, Charis Putinski, Steve Brunette, Pasan Fernando, Thomas T. Lee, Peter Flynn, Frans H. H. Leenen, Patrick G. Burgon, Duncan J. Stewart, and Lynn A. Megeney http://www. nature. com/ cr/ index. html Funding and other acknowledgements: Dr. Megeney and Dr. Stewart are part of The Ottawa Hospital's Regenerative Medicine Program, which includes the Sprott Centre for Stem Cell Research and the Sinclair Centre for Regenerative Medicine. This research was possible because of generous support from the community for Regenerative Medicine Research. This study was also supported by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Ontario Research Fund, the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada and Fate Therapeutics. Fate also contributed scientifically to this research. Media contact: Amelia Buchanan; [email protected]; Office: 613-798-5555 x 73687; Cell: 613-297-8315 About the partner institutions: The Ottawa Hospital is one of Canada's largest learning and research hospitals with over 1,100 beds, approximately 12,000 staff, over one million patient visits per year and an annual budget of over $1.2 billion. Along with the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, we are proudly affiliated with the University of Ottawa, one of Canada's top 10 research universities. The Hospital and Heart Institute were awarded exemplary status from Accreditation Canada and together with the University, have developed a roadmap for cardiovascular research excellence in the region.

– Scientists in Canada say they've found a way to trick the heart, making it behave as if it were the beneficiary of exercise even if no exercise was able to be done. According to a study in Cell Research, the Ottawa researchers discovered that protein cardiotrophin 1 (CT1) can fuel healthy heart growth, repair heart damage, and cause the heart to pump more blood in cases of left heart failure, as a result of heart attack, and right heart failure, as a result of high blood pressure in the lungs, reports Medical News Today. It's a big deal since medications used to treat left heart failure don't work on right heart failure, which usually requires a heart transplant, per a release. Exercise can be beneficial because it boosts the heart's ability to pump blood, but "people with heart failure usually can't exercise," researcher Lynn Megeney tells the Ottawa Citizen. The heart usually responds by expanding, irreversibly, in an unhealthy way. But that's why CT1 is "very exciting," Megeney says. It "causes heart muscles to grow in a more healthy way and it also stimulates blood vessel growth in the heart," increasing blood flow just like with exercise. And just like with exercise, the heart returns to its original size afterward. Megeney says the discovery could lead to fewer heart transplants, but he says it could be two or three years before researchers begin clinical trials on humans and, assuming they go well, a decade before treatment is available to the public. (To avoid heart issues, avoid beer?)

In an effort to dismiss the crisis of campus sexual assault, some rape deniers have attacked the findings of our film and some of the victims in it. Whatever the motivation of these critics—and frankly it boggles the mind—the truth is on our side. These are the facts. For press inquiries contact [email protected]. Kamilah Willingham’s Story The Assault On January 16, 2011, third-year Harvard Law student Kamilah Willingham (KW) reported to the Harvard Office of Sexual Assault and Responses that she and her friend (AB) were sexually assaulted during the early morning hours of January 15, 2011 by fellow Harvard Law student Brandon Winston (BW). On January 18, 2011, Willingham filed a report regarding the assault allegations with Cambridge Police. The Harvard Law Investigation and Adjudication On April 18, 2011, Willingham filed a complaint with the Administrative Board of Harvard Law School, alleging that Winston violated the Law School’s policy and guidelines related to sexual harassment. The Board appointed an independent Fact Finder, an attorney, to investigate her claim. On August 10, 2011, the Fact Finder released a report that found that Winston “was not credible” in regard to his version of the sexual contact with both Willingham and her friend, and that Willingham did not give affirmative consent to Winston to engage in sexual conduct with him. From the Fact Finder’s Report: “His [Winston’s] denial was not credible.” “BW’s actions in undressing AB, touching her body, rubbing her crotch, and inserting his finger in AB’s vagina, when she was incapacitated by alcohol intoxication, was abusive and unreasonably invasive.” “BW’s explanation that he believed AB welcomed the sexual conduct is not reasonable or credible.” “The Fact Finder finds the evidence compelling, and finds that BW could not reasonably have believed that his sexual conduct toward AB at KW’s apartment was welcome.” “BW changed his account at least two times.” “BW did not appear credible when providing the explanations, and they do not offer a reasonable explanation for his statement that he put ‘a finger briefly in the v at most’ or for his later retraction.” On September 19, 2011, the Harvard Law Administrative Board conducted a hearing on Willingham’s complaint against Winston. After reviewing all of the evidence, the Board found the following: “The student [Winston] had initiated sexual conduct with the complainant while she was asleep or unconscious, and not capable of consenting.” “He [Winston] had initiated sexual contact with the friend while she was incapable of consenting.” “The student’s [Winston’s] conduct toward the complainant was unwelcome and abusive or invasive, and that it had the effect of unreasonably interfering with her work or academic performance and/or created an intimidating, demeaning, degrading, hostile or otherwise seriously offensive working or educational environment at Harvard Law School.” As a result, on September 21, 2011, the Board imposed a sanction of dismissal on Winston. The Appeal Harvard Law initiated a required appeal of Winston’s dismissal in the Spring of 2012. The flawed appeal process violated a number of Title IX guidelines, and Harvard was later forced to change its policies in a settlement with the Department of Education. As a part of the appeal process, Harvard Law faculty voted to overturn the findings of both the Independent Fact Finder and the Administrative Board and reinstated Willingham’s assailant. The appeal process included the following actions: Harvard Law initiated a Review Hearing without informing Willingham or including her in the process, a direct violation of Title IX guidelines. The Hearing Officer for the appeal process interviewed the accused (with his lawyer present), but did not interview Willingham, violating Title IX guidelines. The Hearing Officer was one of the accused’s professors. When Willingham later asked the Harvard Law dean in an email about the professional and personal relationship of the accused and the Hearing Officer, the dean refused to disclose that relationship. The Review Hearing upheld the Administrative Board’s sanction of dismissal. Despite the fact that the Review Hearing only included Winston’s testimony, an assembly of Harvard Law faculty full professors proceeded with their review and voted to overturn the findings and decisions of the Independent Fact Finder, the Administrative Board, and the Hearing Officer. This process was in direct violation of Title IX guidelines. Willingham was not notified of the appeal decision until months after the accused was notified (another violation of Title IX guidelines) and after the accused had returned to Harvard law where Willingham was still enrolled. Harvard Law refused to inform Willingham of who was present at the Harvard Law faculty vote, what the vote count was, or what the specific reason was for overturning the finding. The dean of Harvard Law refused to give Willingham a written or digital copy of the decision to overturn the findings. The Department of Education Investigates In the 2014 settlement agreement of the Title IX complaint between the Department of Education (DOE) and Harvard Law School, Harvard Law was required to change its appeal process. The DOE chose to highlight only one case (without identifying names) in their press release about why Harvard had to change its appeal process. Every indication is that the case was Kamilah Willingham’s. The Criminal Process In September 2012, prosecutors from the Middlesex District Attorney’s Office presented six possible charges to a Middlesex Superior Court grand jury. The grand jury indicted Winston on two felony counts of indecent assault and battery (the equivalent of felony sexual assault) against Willingham’s friend. In March 2015, a jury convicted Winston for non-sexual assault. Statistics 1 in 5 women are sexually assaulted while in college A multitude of national and individual school studies over the past fifteen years have come to the universal conclusion that approximately 20% of female students will be sexually assaulted during their time at college. The large, national The Washington Post-Kaiser Poll (2015) found that 20% of young women who attended college during the past four years were sexually assaulted. A study commissioned by the Association of American Universities (2015) surveyed 150,000 students at 27 colleges and universities across the country and found that 27.2% of female college seniors reported they had experienced some kind of unwanted sexual contact since entering college. England (2015) : A national survey of more than 20,000 students from 21 four-year colleges found that 25% of college women were sexually assaulted. Kilpatrick (2007) A national sample representing women currently attending U.S. colleges and universities found that 11.5% have been raped. Fisher (2000): A national sample of 4,446 women found that 20-25% were sexually assaulted. Outreach to Universities The filmmakers reached out to the presidents of every college and university mentioned in the film. Two university presidents were interviewed for the film, and thirty-five college or university presidents declined to speak or did not respond. Erica Kinsman’s Story The Assault Early in the morning of December 7, 2012, Florida State University student Erica Kinsman reported to the police that she was raped several hours earlier by an unknown man after drinking a Potbelly’s, a popular local bar. Investigative Timeline A thorough examination of the police investigation of Kinsman’s rape by The New York Times found that “there was virtually no investigation at all, either by the police or the university” into the events that occurred on the night of December 7th, 2012. According to the Times, investigators showed little interest in finding out what happened on the night of Erica Kinsman’s rape. They “delayed talking to witnesses, interviewing Jameis Winston (the accused) and collecting his DNA.” The following timeline details how long it took police to gather key evidence and FSU’s failure to investigate Kinsman’s report of sexual assault. 12/7/12 – Erica Kinsman, a Florida State University student, reported to the Florida State Police and the Tallahassee Police Department that she was raped several hours earlier by an unknown man after drinking at Potbelly’s, a popular local bar. Police took Kinsman to the Tallahassee Memorial Hospital where a rape kit was administered and bruises were noted in Kinsman’s medical record. The police didn’t act on information provided by Kinsman, and failed to obtain and review the video camera footage at Potbelly’s, locate the cab driver who drove them from the bar, or interview critical witnesses, all of which would have aided investigators in identifying Kinsman’s assailant. 1/10/13 – The police failed to identify Winston until 34 days after Kinsman’s initial report, learning his identity only after Kinsman recognized him in class and informed the police. Police waited nearly two weeks to contact Winston after Kinsman identified him as her assailant. 1/22/13 – FSU Head Football Coach Jimbo Fisher and Senior Associate Athletics Director Monk Bonasorte learned that Winston had been accused of rape. Both were obligated by FSU policy and the U.S. Department of Education to report this to FSU’s Title IX Coordinator so that they could begin an investigation, but did not. 1/23/13 – The Tallahassee police contacted the accused after waiting nearly two weeks. Winston did not show up for the requested interview. Instead, his attorney appeared at the Tallahassee police station on his behalf. 2/11/13 – The Tallahassee police closed the case 66 days after Kinsman reported her rape, without interviewing Winston and crucial witnesses (one of whom videotaped part of the sexual encounter) or getting DNA or phone records from Winston. The investigative officer, Detective Angulo, had worked for the Seminole Boosters, the fundraising arm for FSU athletics. The officer’s report states that he suspended the investigation because the accuser was uncooperative, which she denies. 10/25/13 – Kinsman notified her victims advocate that she wanted to participate in FSU code of conduct proceedings for a Title IX investigation of her case. 11/12/13 – FSU Dean of Students Jeanine Ward-Roof and FSU Police Chief Perry learned that a second FSU student had accused Winston of sexual assault. Ward-Roof emailed FSU Policy Chief Perry that there would be no disciplinary proceedings against Winston for either assault, a direct violation of school policy and U.S. Department of Education guidelines. 11/13/13 – The State’s Attorney Office of the 2nd Judicial Circuit began an investigation into Kinsman’s assault. 11/14/13 – Investigators interviewed key witnesses and obtained DNA samples from the accused 342 days after the initial complaint was reported. For the first time, investigators interviewed two teammates of Winston’s who claimed to have witnessed sex between Winston and Kinsman. Investigators also obtained Winston’s DNA, which matched DNA found on Kinsman’s clothing. 12/5/13 – The State’s Attorney Office announced they were not charging Winston. The Tallahassee police investigation is closed. 1/23/14 – More than one year after FSU officials were made aware that Winston was accused of rape, FSU finally meets with him regarding the Kinsman case. him. Winston refuses to answer any questions. FSU does not meet with Kinsman. 2/10/14 – FSU closes the case (even though they still had not interviewed Kinsman) because Winston refused to speak with them. 12/5/14 – Nearly two years after the report of rape, FSU held a hearing regarding Kinsman’s case, even though the Department of Education strongly recommends that any accusation of sexual assault be investigated and resolved within 60 days. During the hearing, Kinsman answered all 156 questions asked of her. Winston refused to answer all of the questions asked of him except three. This was the exchange: Justice Harding: And I would like to know in what manner, verbally or physically, that she gave consent. And I ask that with the understanding that you have previously given. Winston: Both, your honor, verbally and physically. Justice Harding: And what did she say and what did she do? Winston: Moaning is mostly physically. Well, moaning is physically. And verbally at that time, Your Honor. Justice Harding: Well, that was during the sexual encounter? Winston: Yes, Your honor. Justice Harding: Okay. All right. Thank you. ||||| On their website, Mr. Dick and Ms. Ziering dismiss critics of the film, saying, “The truth is on our side.” In a statement on Sunday afternoon, they said: “We were not surprised by the lengths Mr. Winston and his lawyer were willing to go to stop the public from seeing this film. When documentaries bring to light uncomfortable truths about powerful people and institutions, it’s not unusual for them to wage aggressive campaigns to silence their critics. We fully stand behind Erica Kinsman and all of the survivors who bravely spoke out in our film.” Ms. Kinsman is Mr. Winston’s accuser. Mr. Winston’s threat of legal action came a week after 19 Harvard professors attacked “The Hunting Ground,” saying it distorted the university’s handling of a sexual assault claim. The accusation eventually resulted in a conviction for misdemeanor nonsexual assault against a student, Brandon Winston, who was not named in the film, but was named in the professors’ letter. Late last week, Brandon Winston’s defense team and supporters unveiled an elaborate website that explains their view of his actions and takes “The Hunting Ground” to task for what it calls “critical omissions and distortions.” Mr. Dick and Ms. Ziering last week challenged the Harvard professors’ action in a text message to The New York Times. It said, in part: “Everything in ‘The Hunting Ground’ is accurate and we fully stand behind our Harvard Law survivor’s account of her assault, as well as the accounts of all the subjects in our film.” Escalating denunciation of “The Hunting Ground” comes as the movie is being considered by members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for a so-called short list of 15 documentary feature Oscar contenders, which will be released next month. The film’s critics have also had an eye on the large viewership CNN may bring to a film that found only a tiny audience in theaters when released in February by the Weinstein Company’s digitally oriented Radius-TWC unit. As of March, for instance, another controversial documentary, “Blackfish,” about the treatment of whales in captivity, had been seen by about 27 million viewers on CNN, though it had just $2 million in ticket sales when Magnolia Pictures released it in 2013. ||||| Jameis Winston says he's prepared to sue if the cable news network goes ahead and airs the documentary accusing him of rape. Two days before CNN is set to debut The Hunting Ground, an attorney for former Florida State University and current Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston is warning the cable news network that its documentary about college campus rapes is defamatory. "We are writing to formally caution CNN that the portions of the film 'The Hunting Ground' pertaining to Mr. Winston are false and defamatory to Mr. Winston," states a letter to CNN's Jeff Zucker, obtained by The Hollywood Reporter. "We urge CNN to reconsider the reckless decision to proceed with the broadcast of this deeply-flawed documentary in the face of the overwhelming evidence the film's producers consciously and intentionally failed to adhere to any accepted journalistic standards." Winston was accused of rape by Erica Kinsman during the football player's Heisman Trophy season. The Tallahasee Police Department and FSU conducted a much-criticized investigation and took no action against Winston, who was selected first overall in the NFL draft this past May and in the midst of his rookie season. As Kinsman and Winston duel with each other in court — she's suing him for sexual battery, he's brought counterclaims for tarnishing his image — The Hunting Ground has lurked in the background after premiering at the Sundance Film Festival earlier this year. Directed by Kirby Dirk and produced by Amy Ziering, Hunting Ground spotlights Kinsman coming forward to speak publicly for the first time about what Winston allegedly did to her, as well as the ensuing investigations. At Sundance, the film was warmly received, but it's since been attacked as unfair in some circles. Winston's letter from attorney John Boudet alleges that the film "manipulates, misstates or simply omits facts to present a false narrative," that the filmmakers omitted exculpatory evidence like toxicology tests, medical examinations and eyewitness testimony, and also that Amy Herdy, one of the film's producers, admitted in one email that the film is "in the corner of advocacy for victims" with "no need to get the perpetrator's side." FSU has voiced its own complaints and asked CNN not to air the film, but Winston goes much further. "CNN may have persuaded itself that Mr. Winston's status as a public figure insulates your company from a libel judgment," states the letter. "If CNN decides to proceed with this broadcast, we will perhaps have the opportunity to test that legal proposition in a court of law." On Saturday morning, filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering issued the following statement to THR: "We fully stand behind Erica Kinsman’s account, and the accounts of all the subjects in our film. When documentaries bring to light uncomfortable truths about powerful people and institutions, it's not unusual for them to wage aggressive campaigns to silence their critics. That's what we're seeing now. We invite viewers to watch the documentary and draw their own conclusions." The full letter is below. We've reached out to CNN for comment. Nov. 21, 11:16 a.m.: Updated with statement from filmmakers. ||||| CNN Airs Documentary On Sexual Assault, Despite Legal Threats CNN aired The Hunting Ground — a controversial documentary about campus sexual assaults — despite the threat of legal action. A lawyer for Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston threatened to sue CNN if it aired the film on Sunday night. It ran as scheduled. In the film, Erica Kinsman accuses Winston of committing sexual assault during his time on the football team at Florida State University, a claim his lawyer says is defamatory. In a letter to CNN first obtained by The Hollywood Reporter, lawyer John Boudet says the film "manipulates, misstates or simply omits facts to present a false narrative": "We urge CNN to reconsider the reckless decision to proceed with the broadcast of this deeply-flawed documentary in the face of the overwhelming evidence the film's producers consciously and intentionally failed to adhere to any accepted journalistic standards." The documentary, which was shown at the Sundance Film Festival, argues women are at serious risk of sexual assault on college campuses and many college administrators have repeatedly tried to sweep the problem under the rug to avoid public relations problems. Kinsman has filed a lawsuit against Winston, accusing him of forcible rape in 2012. He was not charged by police in Florida and is now starting for the Buccaneers. Kinsman's lawyer, John Clune, issued a statement over the weekend saying Winston had launched a "PR battle": "His latest attack is an attempt to revive his lawyers' media themes and, as expected, shows no understanding of rape trauma and misrepresents the actual evidence. More importantly, Mr. Winston should get used to the rape allegations against him because film or no film, they aren't going away." CNN made clear it would go ahead with plans to air the documentary. "CNN is proud to provide a platform for a film that has undeniably played a significant role in advancing the national conversation about sexual assault on college campuses," a network spokeswoman told The New York Times. "We are confident that both the film and our extensive associated coverage give this important issue the full and fair treatment it deserves." The Hunting Ground has also been criticized for its depiction of an incident at Harvard Law School, in which a student was accused of assaulting two women. A letter signed by 19 Harvard Law School faculty members said the film "provides a seriously false picture both of the general sexual assault phenomenon at universities and of our student," noting a grand jury declined to indict him on the most serious sexual assault charges brought against him. The documentary makers say they stand behind the case as they presented it.

– CNN aired a documentary about campus rape Sunday night—and this one came with the threat of a lawsuit ahead of time. The network ran The Hunting Ground, a documentary first seen at the Sundance Film Festival, reports NPR. The most controversial part includes an interview with Erica Kinsman, who accuses football star Jameis Winston of sexually assaulting her while at Florida State. Winston, a Heisman winner who is now a quarterback for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, never faced criminal rape charges, and the school cleared him of misconduct, notes the New York Times. Kinsman is suing Winston, however, and Winston's lawyers now may do the same to CNN, reports the Hollywood Reporter. "We are writing to formally caution CNN that the portions of the film 'The Hunting Ground' pertaining to Mr. Winston are false and defamatory to Mr. Winston," says a letter to CNN obtained by the site ahead of Sunday's airing. But CNN shot back in a statement that it is "proud to provide a platform for a film that has undeniably played a significant role in advancing the national conversation about sexual assault on college campuses." Winston's legal team says the film “manipulates, misstates or simply omits facts to present a false narrative," but filmmakers Kirby Dick and Amy Ziering say "the truth is on our side."

Story highlights The four wounded in the shooting are in intensive care, an official says Authorities will be working through the night at the school, an official says The gun has been traced to the shooter's father, source says The shooter killed one person and wounded four others Jordan Luton was finishing his lunch in the cafeteria at Washington state's Marysville-Pilchuck High School on Friday when he heard it -- a loud bang. Then there was another. And another. And another. And another. What he saw was freshman Jaylen Fryberg go up to a table with students, "came up from behind ... and fired about six bullets into the backs of them," Luton told CNN. "They were his friends, so it wasn't just random." Some of the students began to run. Luton and others hit the ground, some hiding under tables. By the time it was over, two people -- the gunman and a female student -- were dead and four were wounded, according to authorities. Those wounded were all under the age of 18, they said. The shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Marysville police spokesman Robb Lamoureux told reporters. JUST WATCHED Student: There was blood everywhere Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Student: There was blood everywhere 01:11 JUST WATCHED Students flee after reported shooting Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Students flee after reported shooting 02:15 Two girls are in the intensive care unit at Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett, and two boys are in ICU at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, Providence spokeswoman Erin Al-Wazan said. Three are "very critically ill" with "very serious" injuries, she said. One is in serious condition. One of the boys, age 14, suffered a jaw injury. The other, age 15, was critically injured in the head. Source: Gun traced to shooter's father The gun used in the shooting has been traced to Fryberg's father, a law enforcement source with knowledge of the investigation told CNN. It is a "high capacity" weapon but did not have an extended magazine, the source said on condition of anonymity. The source said investigators are searching the family home. A Beretta .40-caliber handgun is believed to have been used, a federal law enforcement source told CNN. Why did this happen? That's the question being asked as investigators combed the school late Friday for clues and interviewed students who witnessed the shooting. Investigators were expected to work through the night at the school, which has been closed through next week. While authorities have not detailed what occurred inside or identified the shooter, students offered up accounts that painted a terrifying, chaotic picture. The shooting began during an early lunch break at the school of about 2,500 students that sits in the heart of Marysville, a small city bisected by the major thoroughfare connecting the region with Vancouver, British Columbia. Authorities got a 911 phone call at 10:39 a.m. (1:39 p.m. ET) from someone inside the school, which is north of Seattle and Everett, Lamoureux said. 'People started screaming' Luton was sitting two tables away when the shooting began. Fryberg appeared to target one table, where there were about 10 students sitting. "I'm pretty sure he shot at specific people because they were pretty good friends with him," Luton said. "He put some bullets in the back of the students," he said. "He turned and looked at me and my girlfriend ... and kind of gave us a smirk." The shooter continued firing as he left the cafeteria, Luton said. "I have no idea what his motive was because yesterday at football practice, he was all fine, talking .... having a good time," he said. "And then today, just horrible. I don't know what went through his head or what caused him to do it." By all accounts, Fryberg was a popular student. Just a week ago, he had been named as the high school's freshman homecoming prince, according to a YouTube video of the ceremony and accounts provided by students to CNN. Fryberg's multiple social media accounts depict him frequently hunting and using rifles. Those accounts say he was a Native American and a member of the Tulalip tribe. Luton could not confirm reports that Fryberg had been bullied. But two weeks ago, according to Luton, Fryberg got into a fight after somebody said "something racist" to him. 'Run, get out of here' Freshman Rachel Heichel was sitting at a table about 60 feet away from Fryberg. When the shots started, she turned around and saw the shooter standing there. "When I saw him, I was like 'Oh my God, that's Jaylen.' I would have never expected it would have been him, out of all people," she said. "It was really heartbreaking for me to see that. I saw him with the a gun in his hand, shooting." She never heard Fryberg say anything. "All I heard was people screaming, 'Run, get out of here. Let's go,'" Heichel said. At first, they thought it was a fire drill A student locked down inside a classroom told CNN by phone that students initially thought it was a fire drill until teachers told everyone to run into classrooms because there was a shooting. A student who says he was in the cafeteria when the shooting began told CNN he called the police, and then gave his phone to a teacher. The student described a chaotic and bloody scene, saying blood was "everywhere." Another student, identified as Austin Taylor, told CNN Seattle affiliate KING that he had just finished eating when he saw the shooter. "He was just sitting there. Everyone was talking. All of the sudden, I see him stand up, pull something out of his pocket," he said. "At first, I thought it was just someone making a really loud noise ...like a big loud pop ... until I heard four more after that. And I saw three kids just fall from the table." Austin said he ducked under a table. When the shooting stopped, he said he looked out and saw the shooter was trying to reload. "When that happened, I just ran in the opposite direction, and I was out of there as fast as I could," he said. ||||| October 24, 2014 at 11:06 AM UPDATED STORY AND ADDITIONAL COVERAGE AT 10:30 P.M. FRIDAY: Popular student’s deadly attack stuns school and community EARLIER POST Two students are dead after one of them opened fire Friday morning in the Marysville-Pilchuck High School cafeteria before turning the gun on himself, authorities said. Police said a girl was killed and two other girls and two boys were wounded in the 10:45 a.m. shooting. Several students identified the shooter as freshman Jaylen Fryberg, recently named the school’s homecoming prince. Zach Yarbrough, a junior, said he saw the shooter “extend his arm across a round table and fire his gun three to four times.” He watched the shootings but didn’t see what happened afterward because he “was already out of the cafeteria.” Four young people — two boys and two girls — were taken by ambulance to Providence Regional Medical Center in Everett. Both girls who are at Providence with gunshot wounds to the head are now out of surgery and in a critical care unit. Both were ID’d by family members with the help of police, but families asked not to release their names. Doctors will monitor brain activity overnight, and there was no immediate prognosis, said Dr. Joanne Roberts, chief medical officer for Providence. Friday afternoon, teary-eyed teens and adults who said they were family and friends of one of the victims huddled in a hallway near a main entrance to the hospital. Some made calls on their cellphones, but most stood quietly near one another. Another victim, Andrew Fryberg, a 15-year-old cousin of Jaylen, had surgery at Providence then was transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. The fourth, 14-year-old Nate Hatch, was shot in the jaw and was also transferred to Harborview. He was out of surgery and in serious condition Friday afternoon. He also is a cousin of Fryberg. “His family is coming to grips with what happened,” a hospital spokeswoman said. Jarron Webb, 15, said the shooter was angry about a romantic relationship he was involved in, and that the girl was one of the people shot. He said he believes one of the victims was his friend since kindergarten. Freshmen Brandon Carr, 15, and Kobe Baumann, 14, said they were just outside the cafeteria when the shooting happened. “We started hearing these loud banging noises, like someone hitting a trash can,” Carr said. They heard screaming and yelling. “Once I knew it was gunshots, we just booked it,” Carr said. They eventually joined about two dozen kids inside a classroom with police and FBI. Police told them to stay in there. “Everybody in the classroom was just freaking out crying,” Carr said. Eventually, they were told they could leave, and were loaded onto buses. Carr said he knew Fryberg and that both were on the freshman football team. He said that Thursday at practice, Fryberg was in good spirits. “He was all happy, dancing around and listening to music. I don’t know what happened today,” Carr said. Baumann said he was in fourth-period English class with Fryberg right before the shooting, and that he seemed kind of nervous. “He sits right up in the front. He got called on, but he just kept his head down and didn’t really say anything.” Students reported pandemonium in the lunchroom after the shooting, with dozens rushing for doors and then jumping a fence to escape. Freshman Austin Wright said every exit in the lunchroom was jammed with kids escaping gunfire. “I heard three gunshots and I ran.” Richard Young, who knows the Fryberg family and has a son at the high school, said he’s heard community members describe Jaylen as “a really good kid.” “He was well-liked,” Young said. “It’s just a big shock to everybody.” Fryberg’s postings on Twitter are full of angst, with his most recent posting on Thursday morning saying, “It won’t last…. It’ll never last….” “I should have listened…. You were right,” he wrote in another message earlier in the week. Other images on social media showed him joyful, playing sports and spending time with his girlfriend. One image shows him proudly holding the antler of a deer, with a hunting rifle next to him. Jaylen comes from a family that is prominent in the Tulalip Tribes. His grandfather is director of fish and wildlife at the tribe. “Anytime something happens to one of our kids, it affects everyone,” tribal communications director Niki Cleary said. “Everybody will be dealing with this for a long time.” As residents gathered at the Don Hatch Youth Center on the reservation, one Tulalip resident said many members heard the last name on the news and immediately knew who the broadcasters were talking about. By process of elimination, they realized it was Jaylen. “We’re all one family,” he said. “You never imagine it’s going to happen here.” A crisis team is providing counseling services at the center. Anyone in the area is welcome to come, behavioral health executive director Diane Henry said. “We’ll be here as long as we’re needed,” Henry said. At a noon news conference, Marysville Police Cmdr. Robb Lamoureux called the scene an active investigation and said police officers were going door-to-door to ensure that the campus was safe. They were leaving tape to mark the doors of rooms that had been cleared. Officers were finding students and staff members hiding alone or in small groups. “We are confident that there was only one shooter and that the shooter is dead,” Lamoureux said. Some of the school’s 1,200 students were evacuated, walking out and across the fields with their hands up. Others were told to stay inside classrooms. Sophomore Arlene Cortez, 16, says she locked herself in a classroom with other students for about 45 minutes before police came in. Some were bused to the nearby Shoultes Gospel Hall, where they are being accounted for. Lamoureux urged parents and family members of students to stay away from the scene, saying authorities would provide information on a location for them to be reunited with students. At the church, tearful parents and students were being reunited, and hugging. “I never thought I would be standing here after a school shooting,” said Heather Parker, whose son, Corbin, is a senior. “He’s pretty shook up. He just said ‘I’m OK.’ He was trying to calm me down.” Adam Holston, 14, a freshman, was just leaving the lunchroom when the gunfire broke out. “Everyone just started running. I could hear the gunshots and my heart was racing and we didn’t know what was going on.” Some ran out to the parking lot, some to the field. “Someone opened a door and we all ran into classrooms and just stayed there.” Jery Holston had two children in the school communicating with him by cellphone. They were both OK. Adam is a freshman; Kayleigh is a senior. Holston said Adam called him this morning yelling, “Dad, dad, hurry, someone is shooting. Please come.” He said his son ran and hid outside in the field by the stadium. Jery was in Stanwood at the time. “I probably did a hundred miles per hour to get there. I didn’t stop for anything. My heart went into my stomach. As a father, this has been my fear since my kids have been in school, that something like this would happen.” Ayn Dietrich-Williams, a spokeswoman for the FBI in Seattle, said agents were in Marysville to offer assistance. All classes have been canceled through next week, and activities and sports through at least the weekend. Marysville is among three school districts recently chosen to share a $10 million federal grant for improved student mental-health services, which have been identified as a pressing need. Administrators were working on plans for the money just as news came about the shooting Friday morning. “We’re stunned,” just stunned,” said Jodi Runyon, assistant to Marysville superintendent Becky Berg. Jerry Jenkins, who supervises Marysville and several other districts for the Puget Sound Educational Service District, said, “The tragedy that happened in Marysville could have happened anywhere. We used to have a much greater social safety net. Marysville has been willing to sit down and work with mental health providers to get mental health services to kids who need it, even though that is not a school’s traditional role.” This story includes information from Times staff reporters Jennifer Sullivan, Christine Clarridge, Mike Baker, Leah Todd, Lewis Kamb, Coral Garnick, Paige Cornwell, Dan Beekman and Jim Brunner, Times researcher Miyoko Wolf and assistant metro editor John de Leon. Photos: Scenes from the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting

– A shooter who opened fire in a high school near Seattle is dead, police say. He reportedly shot other students at Marysville-Pilchuck High School before taking his own life, but the details are still firming up. The Seattle Times reports that one of his victims is dead and that four other students are injured. A student at the school says the gunman, reportedly a freshman, walked up to a table in the cafeteria with four to six people and opened fire. Police say they are confident the gunman acted alone, reports CNN. A lockdown at the school, located in Washington state's Marysville, was being lifted. “Everyone just started running," recalls 14-year-old Adam Holston. "I could hear the gunshots, and my heart was racing and we didn’t know what was going on.”

Lejeune Marine dies skydiving in Australia with his wife A 33-year-old Camp Lejeune Marine died Saturday afternoon while skydiving with his wife in Australia — a trip she won in a competition on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in January. He crashed into the ground after a flawless descent that ended with unexplained complications that remain under investigation. Brandon McGraw, 33, of Hampstead died in Euroa, Australia — which is in Melbourne, Victoria — while skydiving with his wife, Cherilyn McGraw, a special education teacher at Topsail Elementary School. McGraw recently had returned from Afghanistan, and while his rank was not known at press time, photos on his Facebook page depict a man fond of extreme sports who was skilled at climbing and skydiving. The couple was jumping with members of Euroa Skydive, an Australian skydiving school. Ian Matthews, who works at Euroa Skydive, told The Daily News that Brandon was an experienced skydiver with more than “a few jumps under his belt.” “McGraw watched his wife do a tandem jump before exiting the plane,” Matthews said. “He floated for three or four minutes with a good canopy. ||||| A Marine died in a freak parachute accident during a dream vacation to Australia his wife had won on The Ellen DeGeneres Show. Brandon McGraw, 33, was killed in Euroa on Saturday afternoon when, on coming down for a landing, he suddenly veered left and right and slammed into the ground. The last image of Brandon McGraw before his jump that ended with his shocking death. (Cherilyn McGraw via Facebook) The Afghan and Iraq war veteran, who’d watched his wife Cherilyn safely perform a tandem jump with an instructor seconds before, went into cardiac arrest. Brandon McGraw takes a photo of himself on the plane just before his jump. (Cherilyn McGraw via Facebook) He was pronounced dead at the scene 12:30 p.m. Cherilyn McGraw on the Ellen show. (Cherilyn McGraw via YouTube/NBC) Gunnery sergeant McGraw was based at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. The couple was from Huntington and married in Nov. 2011. Cherilyn McGraw competed and went on to win a contest that earned her the trip to Australia. (Cherilyn McGraw via YouTube/NBC) His wife won the “Stuff Your Down Under Pants” contest on The Ellen DeGeneres Show on Jan. 16 last year, the Jacksonville Daily News reported. She took home a trip for two to Australia. Cherilyn McGraw and husband Brandon McGraw were married in 2011. (Brandon McGraw via Facebook) The duo finally took advantage of the prize this month, flying to the southern hemisphere — with a stop-over in New York City — at the weekend. Cherilyn McGraw with her late husband, who was a Marine who served in both Afghanistan and Iraq, as he returned home from his military service. Capt. Barry Morris, of Marine Corps Forces Special Operations Command, told WTKR McGraw was an extreme sports enthusiast with “many” skydive jumps under his belt. Undated photo of Brandon McGraw in Afghanistan. McGraw’s special education teacher Cherilyn wife paid tribute to her husband on Facebook. Cherilyn McGraw with her husband Brandon McGraw on their wedding day. Calling him her “hero” and “angel,” she uploaded the haunting final photo of him smiling on board the plane just moment before jumping. “These are truly such symbolic photos,” she wrote. “He was happy and doing what he loved. It’s amazing all that photos can capture in a moments time … I love you more than anything in the world, honey. You are the most amazing man,” she added. The Euroa Skydive school, based near Melbourne, Victoria, is now investigating the incident - the first fatality in its 30-year history.

– A Marine and his wife were in Australia last week on a trip they won on Ellen DeGeneres' show in January, but it ended in tragedy when the Marine was killed in a skydiving accident. Cherilyn McGraw made a tandem jump in Euroa, north of Melbourne, on Saturday, but husband Brandon had skydiving experience and jumped solo, the Daily News reports. Something went wrong with his parachute 300 feet from the ground, causing him to twist and turn and ultimately crash; he went into cardiac arrest and died at the scene. An employee of Euroa Skydive says Brandon had more than "a few jumps under his belt," as well as training and documentation, and that most of his jump went flawlessly. Australian media have cited high winds as a possible factor. McGraw, 33, had recently come back from a deployment in Afghanistan, and was also an Iraq war veteran, the New York Daily News reports. His wife, a special education teacher in their home state of North Carolina, won the trip by competing in a "Stuff Your Down Under Pants" contest on Ellen, managing to stuff the most balls into a large pair of pants. McGraw's Facebook page shows he was a fan of extreme sports including skydiving, and a Marine Corps captain confirms to confirms to WCTI that McGraw was highly trained. Following his death, Cherilyn posted pictures to Facebook taken moments before her husband's jump, saying he "was happy and doing what he loved" when he died.

A fugitive who picked her Fort Myers Beach murder victim based on their similar appearances is now suspected of using that woman's identity to try to avoid arrest. Lois Riess, 56, was already wanted for killing her husband, David Reiss, in Blooming Prairie, Minn. in March. On Monday, while hiding out in Florida, she shot and killed 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson at Marina Village at Snug Harbor on Old San Carlos Boulevard, deputies said. Riess targeted Hutchinson because the two looked alike, according to investigators. After killing her, Riess stole Hutchinson's cash, credit cards, ID, and car and is believed to be using her identity. Authorities are now searching for Hutchinson's white 2005 Acura TL with Florida license plate Y37TAA in a nationwide search. Riess is possibly hiding out in Texas, according to the Lee County Sheriff's Office. A warrant for her arrest has been issued for murder, grand theft auto, and grand theft of personal identification in Lee County. RELATED: Homicide investigation underway on Fort Myers Beach Minnesota's Dodge County Sheriff's Office also issued a warrant for her arrest for second-degree murder on Thursday. Dodge County investigators said David Riess was supposed to go on a fishing trip, and when he didn't show up a friend contacted police. Riess was found shot multiple times in his home in Blooming Prairie. Lois Riess is also accused of taking $10,000 from her husband's business account and transferring the money into his personal account. Authorities said Lois Riess then forged her husband's signature on three checks written from his personal account to herself, totaling $11,000. © Copyright 2018 WBBH/WZVN (Waterman Broadcasting). All rights reserved. ||||| This undated photo provided by the Dodge County, Minn., Sheriff's Office shows Lois Riess, of Blooming Prairie, Minn., who is being sought in connection with the killing of a Florida woman. Riess is charged... (Associated Press) This undated photo provided by the Dodge County, Minn., Sheriff's Office shows Lois Riess, of Blooming Prairie, Minn., who is being sought in connection with the killing of a Florida woman. Riess is charged in the shooting death of Pamela Hutchinson of Bradenton, Fla. Authorities don't believe the women... (Associated Press) This undated photo provided by the Dodge County, Minn., Sheriff's Office shows Lois Riess, of Blooming Prairie, Minn., who is being sought in connection with the killing of a Florida woman. Riess is charged in the shooting death of Pamela Hutchinson of Bradenton, Fla. Authorities don't believe the women... (Associated Press) This undated photo provided by the Dodge County, Minn., Sheriff's Office shows Lois Riess, of Blooming Prairie, Minn., who is being sought in connection with the killing of a Florida woman. Riess is charged... (Associated Press) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota woman who is wanted in connection with her husband's death is now charged with killing a Florida woman who resembled her and stealing the woman's identity as she eluded authorities, officials said Friday. Lois Riess, 56, of Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, has been charged in the shooting death of Pamela Hutchinson, 59, of Bradenton, Florida. Authorities were called to an area of Fort Myers Beach on Monday and found Hutchinson dead, with gunshot wounds. Authorities aren't aware of any connection between the two women, but they believe Riess shot and killed Hutchinson to assume her identity. "Ms. Hutchinson's purse was found to be in disarray and all cash, credit cards and identification appeared to be removed," Lee County Undersheriff Carmine Marceno said, adding: "Further investigation revealed that Ms. Hutchinson was targeted by the suspect due to the similarities in their appearance." Riess is believed to be driving Hutchinson's car, a white Acura TL with Florida license plate Y37TAA. The car has been seen in Louisiana and Corpus Christi, Texas, since Hutchinson died. Riess' 2005 white Cadillac Escalade was found abandoned in a Florida park. Riess is wanted in Florida for murder, grand theft of a motor vehicle and grand theft and criminal use of personal identification. Her current whereabouts are unknown. "Riess's mode of operation is to befriend women who resemble her and steal their identity," Marceno said. "U.S. Marshals are actively involved in a national search for this dangerous fugitive. Riess is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached if located." Riess is also wanted in the March death of her husband, David Riess. Prosecutors are preparing second-degree murder charges in that case. Minnesota's Dodge County Sheriff Scott Rose said Friday that authorities believe the same gun was used in both killings. Anyone who sees Reiss is urged to call 911, and anyone with information on her whereabouts is urged to call the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension or Florida authorities. Riess has been on the run since at least late March, after David Riess's business partner called Dodge County authorities on March 23 to ask them to check on him. The partner said no one at work had seen David Riess in over two weeks. Authorities found David Riess's body inside his home with multiple gunshots. They couldn't determine how long he had been dead, and investigators could not find his wife. During the investigation, authorities learned that Lois Riess may have been at Diamond Joe's Casino in Iowa. Authorities from Dodge County, the BCA and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation went to the casino, but Riess had already left. Authorities later learned she was in south Florida. __ Follow Amy Forliti on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/amyforliti . More of her work at: https://apnews.com/search/amy%20forliti

– Police in two states are looking for a 56-year-old woman accused of a bizarre double slaying. Authorities say that Lois Riess first shot to death her husband in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota, last month, reports WBBH. Riess than allegedly fled to Florida, where she was hiding out in Fort Myers Beach. There, police say she killed 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson on Monday solely because Hutchinson bore a resemblance to her, and Riess wanted to assume her identity. Riess allegedly ransacked the woman's apartment and stole her cash, credit cards, and forms of ID. Riess is believed to be on the run again—in Hutchinson's white Acura with Florida plates—and authorities suspect she's on her way to Texas. "Riess's mode of operation is to befriend women who resemble her and steal their identity," says Lee County Undersheriff Carmine Marceno, per the AP. She's considered armed and dangerous.

The 40 piece Chicken McNugget is the most substantial meal available at McDonald’s, according to calorie counts published by the fast food chain. At 1,880 calories, enough energy is packed into 40 chicken nuggets to provide lunch for a family or group of friends, and close to the daily average recommended caloric intake for an individual. The Big Breakfast with Hotcakes and a large biscuit is second on the menu, with 1,310 calories. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed roughly 500 McDonald’s menu items, including burgers, sandwiches, salads, beverages, and sides, to determine the most calorie heavy options available at the fast food giant. Most of the highest calorie foods from McDonald’s are larger sandwiches such as the chicken club or large portion items such as the 40 piece Chicken McNugget. The size of the item is not the only factor in its calorie count. The 16 ounce McFlurry with M&M’s contains 930 calories, and the Large Oreo Frappe contains 810. While each of these drinks is equal to roughly half the recommended daily intake of 2,000 to 2,800 calories, as beverages they might be only part of a much larger meal. One chicken sandwich, medium french fries, and a McFlurry — an entirely plausible lunch order at McDonald’s and likely one of three meals in a day — has well over 2,000 calories. Click here to see the 50 McDonald’s menu items with the most calories. McDonald’s meals have more calories than home-cooked meals and also food served at most non-fast food chains. But while the obesity epidemic in the United States is widely linked to high calorie consumption, no studies demonstrate a direct link between McDonald’s specifically and adverse health outcomes. Academic research does, however, show high concentrations of obesity and other negative health outcomes in areas where there are high concentrations of fast food restaurants of any type. Calories represent the amount of energy a body can generate from a given portion of food. Carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are all processed by the body to generate energy, or calories. Therefore, since energy can come from different food sources with varying nutritional benefits, calories alone do not tell the full story. An item with relatively few calories, for example, may have more sodium than a higher-calorie alternative. With 630 calories, the Premium Grilled Chicken Bacon Clubhouse Sandwich provides what would constitute an ordinary meal in calorie count. With 1,740 milligrams of sodium, however, the sandwich has nearly the most sodium on the menu. To identify the 50 McDonald’s menu items with the most calories, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed nutritional information for 500 menu items as listed on McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) website. For similarly branded items of equal caloric value — the Quarter Pounder with Cheese and the Quarter Pounder Deluxe, for example — only one item was considered. Fat and carbohydrates measured in grams and sodium measured in milligrams also came from McDonald’s. These are the 50 most substantial McDonald’s menu items. ||||| Starting in 1996, Alexa Internet has been donating their crawl data to the Internet Archive. Flowing in every day, these data are added to the Wayback Machine after an embargo period.

– If you're eating at McDonald's, you probably aren't counting calories, but you might be surprised at which of the restaurant's menu items are most clogged with calories. Take the Double Quarter Pounder With Cheese, for example. It's one of the more substantial meals at McDonald's, per 24/7 Wall St., but at 780 calories, it doesn't even crack the top 10. Some of the heartiest options: 40 Chicken McNuggets: 1,880 calories Big Breakfast With Hotcakes: up to 1,310 calories with a large biscuit Premium Crispy Chicken Club Sandwich: 990 calories 20 Chicken McNuggets: 940 calories 16oz. McFlurry With M&M's: 930 calories Large Chocolate McCafe Shake: 850 calories Click for the full list or the surprising stats of a McDonald's salad.

Tiger Woods is planning to return to the PGA tour in the Spring, RadarOnline.com has learned. By that time he will have completed rehab for sexual addiction and hopes to have his life back on track, a source close to the situation told RadarOnline.com exclusively. PHOTOS: Tiger Mistress Rachel Uchitel In A Bikini As RadarOnline.com reported January 15, Tiger is at Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. He is in a six-week program at the clinic, which is directed by Dr. Patrick Carnes, who has pioneered treatment for sexually compulsive behavior. PHOTOS: Tiger’s Wife Elin “Tiger is totally devastated,” the source told RadarOnline.com. “He wants to show everyone that he intends to change.” Tiger Mistress Caught In Lie Over Nude Photos Of Him Still, he’s already planning his comeback and is aiming to be back on the PGA tour by Spring. The Masters begins April 5 but it is not yet known if Tiger will attempt to be ready for that high-profile tournament, which he has won four times. Tiger is not publicly revealing his plan to return to golf this Spring but the source told RadarOnline.com that the golfing great believes going through rehab will help him convince everyone – including corporate sponsors – that he has changed. News organizations scoured Hattiesburg the past few days looking for Tiger Sightings but his rehab is a closed facility. Two local media outlets also reported that Tiger was receiving treatment in town. EXCLUSIVE: Tiger In Sex Rehab Tiger’s wife Elin has not been wearing her wedding ring but also has not filed for divorce. He has been romantically linked to at least 14 women during his marriage. His most recent affair was with Rachel Uchitel and was uncovered by the National Enquirer. Shortly after that story was reported Tiger drove into a fire hydrant and tree in the early morning hours after Thanksgiving and has not been seen since in public. Click Here for All Tiger Stories ||||| EXCLUSIVE: Tiger Woods Wife Has Not Visited Him In Rehab Tiger Woods' wife has not visited him while he's been in sexual addiction rehab, RadarOnline.com is reporting exclusively. Tiger is receiving treatment at Pine Grove Behavioral Health and Addiction Services in Hattiesburg, Miss., a story broken by RadarOnline.com on Friday. PHOTOS: Tiger's Wife At the Gym Now we've learned exclusively that wife Elin has stayed away from the facility and not seen her husband since he was admitted, as speculation continues to mount about the future of the marriage. PHOTOS: Tiger and His Family Through the Years Tiger has no roommate while in the facility - at his request. The clinic features one of the best sex addiction treatment centers in the country and is directed by Dr. Patrick Carnes, who has pioneered treatment for sexually compulsive behavior. SEXY PHOTOS of Tiger Mistress Jaime Grubbs Tiger has been linked to more than 14 women in extra-marital affairs and sources tell RadarOnline.com that there are lots more that have not been revealed. His affair with Rachel Uchitel was exposed by the National Enquirer and led to the revelation of the golfing great's secret life of serial cheating. TOPLESS PHOTOS of Tiger Mistress Rachel Uchitel Hattiesburg local reports have placed Tiger at the clinic. Tiger and Elin have two children. She has been photographed not wearing her wedding ring but has made no public statement about the future of their marriage. Jennifer Mitchell / Splash News

– Get ready for the Tiger Woods comeback, coming to a golf course near you this spring. A source tells Radar that’s when Woods plans to return to the PGA tour, when his sex rehab program is over—but it remains to be seen whether he’ll be ready for the Masters, which begins April 5. "Tiger is totally devastated," the source says. "He wants to show everyone that he intends to change." He’s spending six weeks in a private room at a rehab center in Mississippi—where wife Elin Nordegren has (shocker!) not visited him, Radar adds.

Trenton Lewis, 21, goes the extra mile for his job at UPS. Actually, it's several miles. In order to start loading trucks by 4 a.m,, Lewis starts walking from his home in downtown Little Rock before midnight. "It will probably take me two-and-a-half or three hours," said Lewis. In the rain or cold and through some rough areas of town Lewis walked. He never missed a shift and was never late to work. "I had music in my head. I was just walking, not worried about nothing, I was just moving my feet," said Lewis. "[My job] got more important to me. When I had my daughter, I knew I had to step up. I didn't have a job when she was born," said Lewis. Patricia Bryant worked with Lewis in the loading docks. She mentioned Lewis' daily trek to her husband Kenneth Bryant, a veteran driver at UPS. "Man, that's got to be a dedicated young man to walk to work," said Bryant. He started collecting donations from other workers at UPS. "I was like, 'It's coming together, It's coming together, slowly," said Bryant. Eventually, he collected $1,900 and found a reliable car. "That's actually the third car because a couple of them fell through," said Bryant. Bryant even went so far as to fix a nick in the front bumper because he wanted everything to be perfect for the big surprise. The group told Lewis it was a union meeting in the parking lot. Then, Bryant reached into his pocket. "He just pulled some keys out of his pocket, and I'm like 'That can't be mine. Those keys cannot be mine.' He brought them to me and my heart just dropped. this can't be real," said Lewis. Nowadays, Lewis leaves for work at 3:30 a.m. "It feels good because it's just me and the car. I don't have to use my feet no more," said Lewis. No more long walks, but definitely some lasting friendships. ||||| Every day for the past seven months, UPS worker Trenton Lewis has been waking up at midnight to make it to his 4 a.m. shift loading trucks in Little Rock, Arkansas. Lewis, 21, didn't have a car, so he walked to work -- for five miles -- no matter the weather. The new father said he was doing it for his baby daughter. "[My job] got more important to me when I had my daughter," Lewis told ABC affiliate KATV in Little Rock. "I knew I had to step up. I didn't have a job when she was born." KATV The proud dad has never missed a shift in the seven months and was never late to work, according to KATV. When his UPS co-workers Patricia and Kenneth Bryant found out about Lewis' long walk every day, they came up with a plan to help. The Bryants collected donations from other co-workers and bought him a Saturn, which cost just shy of $2,000. When they surprised him with the keys in the UPS facility parking lot, last week, Lewis said he had no idea about their plan to buy him a car. KATV He said his first reaction was, "Those keys cannot be mine." "He brought them to me and my heart just dropped," Lewis said. "This can't be real." Trenton now leaves for work at 3:30am, he said, allowing him sleep in and give his legs a break. ||||| LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KARK/KXAN) — Every day, Trenton Lewis, 21, walks 5.5 miles from his home to his job at the UPS center in Little Rock, Ark. And then he makes that trip back home. Lewis says he gets up in the middle of the night to get to work by 4 a.m. Sometimes he would get rides, but most of the time he walks. He’s had the same routine for the past seven months. “I don’t want to miss work at all,” Lewis said. “I wanted to be with my daughter, to be able to support her. I wanted to be a father.” Lewis didn’t tell many people how he got to the office, but Kenneth Bryant found out. “If someone has that type of determination, I’d be willing to help them,” UPS clerk Kenneth Bryant said. “We just wanted to lend somebody a helping hand.” Bryant started asking around to see if coworkers would pitch in and buy Lewis a car. “That’s a young man that wants to work and will do whatever it takes to be successful,” Bryant said. After seeing his hardship, his co-workers teamed up to buy Lewis his own car. “They were astonished that someone would get up at that time of morning, at night, and walk to work that far,” Bryant said. Eventually the coworkers raised $2,000 for a car and in a Facebook Live video, Lewis’ work family surprised him with the keys to a car. “This is my first car,” said a shocked Lewis. “I have great, awesome coworkers. I had no idea. I guess they are very good secret holders.” Now, Lewis has his keys, a UPS keychain and a new car, thanks to his coworkers. “I knew things were going to get better if I kept coming to work so, that’s just what I did.”

– Trenton Lewis has never missed a shift and never been late for his 4am shift at a UPS facility in Little Rock, Ark., a dedication driven by his love for his 14-month-old daughter, Karmen, per CNN. His attendance is even more impressive when you consider his wakeup time and commute: Lewis rolls out of bed at midnight and then, as ABC News notes, "in the rain or cold, through some rough areas of town—he walks." And it's a 5.5-mile journey one way for the 21-year-old single dad, reports KXAN, adding that Lewis has been doing this now for seven months. Lewis tells KATV he didn't have a job when Karmen was born, but when she entered his life, "I knew I had to step up." His pride kept him from mentioning his daily walk to co-workers, but Patricia Bryant, known as the "queen bee" of the UPS site, discovered Lewis' secret—and then, along with her husband, Kenneth, set out to find a way to make things easier for Lewis. They did so by pooling together nearly $2,000 from colleagues and using it to purchase a used Saturn for Lewis, which they presented to him at a gathering they told him was a "union meeting." "Those keys cannot be mine," he recalls thinking when they revealed the surprise, per KATV. His new leave time from home each morning: 3:30am, giving him a few more hours to sleep in. "I knew things were going to get better if I kept coming to work so, that's just what I did," Lewis tells KXAN.

Mo Ibrahim prize for African leadership: No winner Mo Ibrahim said only exceptional leaders will get the prize Continue reading the main story Related Stories There is no winner this year for the world's most valuable individual prize - the Mo Ibrahim prize for good governance in Africa. The $5m (£3.2m) prize is supposed to be awarded each year to a democratically elected leader who governed well, raised living standards and then voluntarily left office. The panel said no candidate had met all of the criteria - as in 2009 and 2010. Last year, Cape Verde President Pedro Verona Pires won the prize. He led the fight against Portuguese colonialism, introduced multi-party politics and was praised for raising living standards. The $5m prize is spread over 10 years and is followed by $200,000 a year for life. 'No compromise' Announcing the decision, Mr Ibrahim said: "You make your bed, you have to lie on it. If we said we're going to have a prize for exceptional leadership, we have to stick to that. We are not going to compromise." "We are not just in the business of positive messages - we would lose our credibility," the AFP news agency quotes him as saying. "The prize committee reviewed a number of candidates but none met all of the criteria needed to win the prize," said committee member Salim Ahmed Salim. The two other winners in the six years since the prize was launched were Botswana's President Festus Mogae and Mozambique's Joaquim Chissano. Earlier this month, Mr Ibrahim's foundation announced a special $1m award to Archbishop Desmond Tutu for "speaking truth to power". The London-based body called the cleric "one of Africa's great voices for justice, freedom, democracy and responsible, responsive government". Sudan-born telecoms entrepreneur Mr Ibrahim says the good governance prize is needed because many leaders of sub-Saharan African countries come from poor backgrounds and are tempted to hang on to power for fear that poverty awaits them when they leave office. ||||| The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences cited the two economists for "the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design." The Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences was the last of the 2012 Nobel awards to be announced. It's not technically a Nobel Prize, because unlike the five other awards it wasn't established in the will of Alfred Nobel, a Swedish industrialist also known for inventing dynamite. The economics prize was created by the Swedish central bank in Nobel's memory in 1968, and has been handed out with the other prizes ever since. Each award is worth 8 million Swedish kronor, or about $1.2 million. ||||| Two American economists won the Nobel Prize in economics Monday for their research into how to match different actors in given markets, such as job seekers with employers and patients with donated kidneys. David Wessel has details on Lunch Break. Photo: AP. Two Americans won the Nobel Prize in economics Monday for research that has improved the way people are matched with limited resources, such as patients with donated organs or students with their preferred high schools. Enlarge Image Close Reuters Lloyd Shapley, above, and Alvin Roth won the prize in economics for separate bodies of work that have helped kidney patients and high-school applicants. Alvin Roth, a Harvard University professor who is moving to Stanford University, and Lloyd Shapley of the University of California Los Angeles were honored "for the theory of stable allocations and the practice of market design," the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said. Their research focuses on how to fairly and efficiently match people with things—be they employers, schools or donated kidneys—when pricing isn't involved. Their work led to systems used by school districts in New York City, Boston and other cities to place students in high schools; by hospitals to match donated kidneys with patients; and by a program that assigns recent medical-school graduates to hospitals for residency programs. Messrs. Shapley and Roth worked independently, rather than together. The academy pointed to Mr. Shapley's research, starting in the 1950s, that was highly theoretical—he initially examined how spouses select one other—and later was used by Mr. Roth to address real-life situations. Real Time Economics Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley were lauded for their research on how to match different agents in markets, such as job seekers with employers. Find out more about their work in this Real Time Econ post. "Now we are able to see the fruits of this 50-year quest, if you wish, and these techniques—initially very much mathematical—are now directly affecting peoples' lives," said Tayfun Sonmez, a Boston College economist. Mr. Sonmez, who also has done research on matching kidney donors and patients, said the systems developed by Messrs. Shapley and Roth have made it easier for families to find others for kidney exchanges. "We can use some of these insights to optimally organize these exchanges so that we can save as many lives as possible," he said. Two American economists have won the Nobel Prize in economics for their work in researching market design and putting practical applications in use. Harvard's Alvin Roth and Lloyd Shapley of UCLA were honored. Video: Associated Press. The academy said the pair's combined work "has generated a flourishing field of research and improved the performance of many markets." The award, officially called the Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel, carries a $1.2 million prize. Mr. Shapley, 89 years old and a professor emeritus at UCLA, was honored for 1960s-era research, conducted with the late David Gale, that theorized how men and women could be matched for marriage. A "stable" match occurred when each side's preferences were met. The academy said Mr. Shapley's algorithm ensured "stable matching" and served to "limit agents' motives for manipulating the matching process." Winners & Their Work Read more about the 2012 laureates. View Graphics Nobel Prize Winners See which academic institutions and countries have had the most winners. View Graphics Mr. Roth, 60, later used that theoretical research to address real-world problems. Starting in the 1980s, he first examined the residency system used to assign medical-school graduates to hospitals and determined that the system led to "stable matches." But not for all. The system couldn't accommodate doctor couples who wanted to be placed in the same region. Mr. Roth redesigned the system to take into account such requests when placing residents. Mr. Roth helped redesign New York City's process for assigning students to high schools in 2004. Under the old system, students would list their top five preferred schools. Schools, in turn, were more likely to admit students who ranked them as their first choice. After three rounds of selections, remaining students were assigned through an administrative process, the Academy said. Some 30,000 students a year were assigned to schools for which they had expressed no preference, the academy said in a description of Mr. Roth's work. Mr. Roth designed a new system, based on Mr. Shapley's and Mr. Gale's initial algorithm, that addressed those issues. In the first year, the number of students assigned to schools they hadn't requested dropped by 90%. Getty Images Alvin Roth In a phone interview broadcast during a news conference in Sweden, Mr. Roth joked, "When I go to class this morning, my students will pay more attention." He said in a separate interview that one outcome of his research is that schools are responsive to families' preferences. "School places are scarce resources. What's a good place for one child may differ from child to child," Mr. Roth said. The algorithms developed by Mr. Roth and his colleagues let schools use the information provided by parents on which schools would best suit their children. "It would be a shame not to use that information well," he said. In a statement released by UCLA, Mr. Shapley's sons, Peter and Christopher Shapley, said, "We know he is tremendously thankful that his life's work is being recognized with such a prestigious award and grateful for the many congratulations expressed by colleagues and friends." Write to Josh Mitchell at [email protected]

– Americans Alvin Roth and Peter Shapley have won the Nobel prize for economics on the strength of their work matching players in a wide range of markets, the Wall Street Journal reports. "For example, students have to be matched with schools, and donors of human organs with patients in need of a transplant. How can such matching be accomplished as efficiently as possible?" asks the Swedish Academy in charge of the awards. "The prize rewards two scholars who have answered these questions on a journey from abstract theory on stable allocations to practical design of market institutions." The prize is the last of the 2012 Nobels to be awarded, the AP notes. In other major prize news, this year's winner of the Mo Ibrahim prize for good governance in Africa is... nobody. Just as in 2009 and 2010, no candidate qualified for the world's biggest individual prize, at $5 million. The prize is intended for a leader who's elected democratically, boosts living standards, and leaves office voluntarily, the BBC notes. "You make your bed, you have to lie on it. If we said we're going to have a prize for exceptional leadership, we have to stick to that. We are not going to compromise," said Ibrahim.

Story highlights A man in England is infected with a form of the bacteria that is completely resistant to the first line of treatment Gonorrhea has been a growing concern as the bacteria adapt (CNN) Public Health England is investigating the case of a UK man infected with a multidrug-resistant form of gonorrhea. The man attended sexual health services this year and was found to be infected with a form of the bacteria that is completely resistant to the first line of treatment used against it. First-line treatment for gonorrhea is a combination of two antibiotics (azithromycin and ceftriaxone), and this is the first global report of an infection with high-level resistance to both drugs, according to Public Health England. The man caught the sexually transmitted infection in Southeast Asia one month before his symptoms began, the case report states. His infection is "is very resistant to the recommended first-line treatment," said Dr. Gwenda Hughes, consultant scientist and head of the sexually transmitted infection section at Public Health England. "This is the first time a case has displayed such high-level resistance to both of these drugs and to most other commonly used antibiotics." Read More ||||| Image copyright Getty Images A man in the UK has caught the world's "worst-ever" case of super-gonorrhoea. He had a regular partner in the UK, but picked up the superbug after a sexual encounter with a woman in South East Asia. Public Health England says it is the first time the infection cannot be cured with first choice antibiotics. Health officials are now tracing any other sexual partners of the man, who has not been identified, in an attempt to contain the infection's spread. He picked up the infection earlier in the year. The main antibiotic treatment - a combination of azithromycin and ceftriaxone - has failed to treat the disease. Dr Gwenda Hughes, from Public Health England, said: "This is the first time a case has displayed such high-level resistance to both of these drugs and to most other commonly used antibiotics." Discussions with the World Health Organization and the European Centres for Disease Control agree this is a world first. What is gonorrhoea? Image copyright CAVALLINI JAMES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY The disease is caused by the bacterium called Neisseria gonorrhoeae. The infection is spread by unprotected vaginal, oral and anal sex. Of those infected, about one in 10 heterosexual men and more than three-quarters of women, and gay men, have no easily recognisable symptoms. But symptoms can include a thick green or yellow discharge from sexual organs, pain when urinating and bleeding between periods. Untreated infection can lead to infertility, pelvic inflammatory disease and can be passed on to a child during pregnancy. Analysis of the man's infection suggests one last antibiotic could work. He is currently being treated and doctors will see if it has been successful next month. So far no other cases - including in the British partner - have been discovered, but the investigation is still under way. Dr Hughes added: "We are following up this case to ensure that the infection was effectively treated with other options and the risk of any onward transmission is minimised." Doctors have long been warning this could happen. In 2015, there was an outbreak of azithromycin-resistant gonorrhoea centred on Leeds. The fear is the bug could eventually become untreatable by any antibiotic. You may also be interested in: Dr Olwen Williams, the president of the British Association for Sexual Health and HIV said: "The emergence of this new strain of highly resistant gonorrhoea is of huge concern and is a significant development. "We are concerned that the problem will worsen due to the dramatic cuts that have been delivered to the public health budget. "Worryingly this has left sexual health services at 'tipping point', with clinic closures coming at the worst possible time." Follow James on Twitter. ||||| This article is over 9 months old Public Health England say case is first global report of strand resilient to main antibiotic care A man in the UK has contracted a super-strength strand of gonorrhoea believed to be the first case globally to resist the main antibiotic treatment. Calls to rein in antibiotic use after study shows 65% increase worldwide Read more Public Health England (PHE) said the patient had a regular female partner in the UK, but contracted the infection from a sexual encounter with a woman in south-east Asia. He visited a health clinic for treatment in early 2018. Attempts to get rid of the sexually transmitted infection with the recommended treatment – a combination of antibiotics azithromycin and ceftriaxone – have failed. “We are investigating a case who has gonorrhoea which was acquired abroad and is very resistant to the recommended first line treatment,” Dr Gwenda Hughes, the head of PHE’s STI section said. “This is the first time a case has displayed such high-level resistance to both of these drugs and to most other commonly used antibiotics.” An analysis of the case for PHE notes it is the “first global report” of the infection resisting both antibiotics. Gonorrhoea can lead to infertility if left untreated and is known to cause symptoms including unusual discharge from the sexual organ and inflammation. Fears of antibiotic-resistant gonorrhoea spreading in the UK has prompted health officials to trace the man’s sexual partners to try to contain the spread. The man’s UK partner tested negative for the infection, the PHE report said. Dr Hughes added: “PHE actively monitors, and acts on, the spread of antibiotic resistance in gonorrhoea and potential treatment failures, and has introduced enhanced surveillance to identify and manage resistant strains of infection promptly to help reduce further spread.”

– Learning you have gonorrhea is bad; learning officials consider your case of gonorrhea the "worst ever" is something else entirely. The Press Association reports a man in the UK was diagnosed earlier this year with what is believed to be the first strain of gonorrhea to be resistant to the main antibiotic treatment. Public Health England says the man contracted this super-gonorrhea during a sexual encounter with a woman in Southeast Asia. His symptoms appeared about a month later, according to CNN. As is usual with gonorrhea, doctors attempted to treat it with the antibiotics azithromycin and ceftriaxone. Unusually, the antibiotics didn't work. "This is the first time a case has displayed such high-level resistance to both of these drugs and to most other commonly used antibiotics," Dr. Gwenda Hughes with PHE says. The World Health Organization and the European Centres for Disease Control agree that it's a global first, the BBC reports. The man's antibiotic-resistant gonorrhea is a major concern for experts, who fear the STD becoming untreatable. "The bacteria that cause gonorrhea are particularly smart," Teodora Wi at WHO said last year. "Every time we use a new class of antibiotics to treat the infection, the bacteria evolve to resist them." Health officials are going back through the man's sexual history to keep the gonorrhea from spreading. So far no other cases have appeared, including in the man's regular female partner in the UK. Doctors are trying a final antibiotic on the man and will know if it worked next month.

Jonathan Trappe, a balloonist who had been attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean but was forced to land in a remote area on Newfoundland's west coast, was picked up on Friday afternoon by a helicopter that had been chartered by CBC to conduct an aerial survey of the area. "I've never been so glad to see the media," Trappe told CBC News videojournalist Lindsay Bird when she found him. 'I've never been so glad to see the media.'—Jonathan Trappe Trappe left Caribou, Maine, near the New Brunswick border, on Thursday in a small boat suspended below more than 300 helium-filled balloons. He may not have made it to his European destination, but Trappe said the journey was about more than that. "We set out on this expedition for the adventure, and we got the adventure," Trappe said. "The destination was always unknown, and it's pretty grand where we've come in to. It's not the destination I set out for, but it's kind of the way with real adventure — adventure isn't what you planned on, it's what you find, and that's what we have today." Trappe said he was burning through ballast too quickly to make it across the Atlantic and was forced to choose between landing in the isolated woods Thursday night or ditching over the ocean sometime Friday. 'Hmm, this doesn't look like France' Once he was on the ground, Trappe said, he contacted his crew via satellite message to assure them that he was safe and there was not an emergency. "The Atlantic Ocean has been crossed many times, and in many ways, but never quite like this," Trappe said in a promotional video. "Hmm, this doesn't look like France," Trappe wrote in a post on his Facebook page Thursday. Shortly after, Trappe posted that he had set up an exposure canopy on his boat to settle in for the night and included a link to a satellite map showing his location. Trappe, who had intended to become the first person to fly across the Atlantic with only the aid of cluster balloons, landed in a remote area south of the small Bay of Islands community of Lark Harbour. Much of the area surrounding where Trappe landed is impassable. There are no roads leading to the location, but residents had been trying to reach him on ATVs, without success. Trappe has made a name as an adventurer using clusters of balloons, including flying in a house, much as in the Disney-Pixar animated film Up. ||||| To help personalize content, tailor and measure ads, and provide a safer experience, we use cookies. By clicking or navigating the site, you agree to allow our collection of information on and off Facebook through cookies. Learn more, including about available controls: Cookies Policy

– A US balloonist who was trying to cross the Atlantic Ocean using hundreds of helium-filled balloons has landed short of his goal in Newfoundland. With sense of humor intact: "This doesn't look like France," he posted on Facebook. The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. reported today that it used a helicopter to retrieve Jonathan Trappe from the remote area where he landed a night earlier. "It's not the destination I set out for, but it's kind of the way with real adventure," Trappe told the CBC. "Adventure isn't what you planned on, it's what you find, and that's what we have today." Trappe landed safely in a rugged area near York Harbour after reporting that he was having trouble controlling his balloons yesterday evening, according to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. Instead of using a conventional hot-air balloon, Trappe was using more than 300 colorful helium-filled balloons, like those used in the animated movie Up. He said his calculations indicated he wasn't going to make it to Europe, so he decided to set down on land before crossing over open ocean.

Hillary Clinton ducks object thrown at her during Las Vegas speech Hillary Clinton, addressing the annual Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries convention at Mandalay Bay Thursday, knew she would be following in the footsteps of George W. Bush, who spoke at the convention two years ago, but she was surprised to join the former president as the target of a shoe attack. A few minutes into her opening remarks to the crowd of more than 1,000, a woman with long platinum blond hair threw multiple objects at Clinton. Several people in the audience saw papers thrown, and Clinton had to dodge at least one projectile near her head. Clinton, the former secretary of state and presumed Democratic front-runner for the 2016 presidential nomination, was momentarily startled, and at first wondered aloud if it had been a bat. The woman did not yell anything out, and immediately walked briskly to the ballroom exit. Clinton was unharmed and handled the situation with aplomb, quickly getting back on track. “Thank goodness she didn’t play softball like I did,” she quipped to loud applause. The thrower declined to give her name, but said she threw her shoe and "dropped" some papers. She was escorted out of the convention by convention center security and Secret Service officers, and convention organizers said police would be called. The shoe thrower was wearing sandals. In December 2008, a man threw a show at George W. Bush while he held a press conference in Iraq. Mark Carpenter, a spokesman for the recycling institute, said the woman dodged security to get inside. “The woman interrupting the speech was not affiliated with our organization and was not credentialed for this event. Our staff denied her access before she later rushed past security,” Carpenter said in a statement after the event. “An ISRI staffer then stopped her as she approached the stage. She was then handed over to law enforcement. We are grateful that Secretary Clinton continued in a professional manner to share her firsthand knowledge and experience of how the recycling industry has a positive impact on the economy and environment.” The rest of Clinton’s address went smoothly. She did not use the stage to announce her plans for the 2016 presidential race, but did mention her book due out this summer chronicling her four years as secretary of state. Clinton was the keynote speaker for the closing ceremonies of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries annual convention, which drew approximately 6,000 people. The institute is a trade organization that represents businesses in the recycling field, and has 1,600 companies on its roster. In her speech, and question and answer session with the recycling institute’s chair, Jerry Simms, Clinton touched on the recycling industry, international trade, the civil war in Syria and U.S. relations with Russia. “(Scrap recycling) offers a chance to improve the environment and stimulate the economy at the same time,” she said before discussing the Clinton Foundation’s various projects involving sustainable waste management. “We can be the clean energy superpower for the 21st century as American innovation unlocks new supplies, pioneers new technologies, and gives us new tools to lower carbon emissions,” she said. While Clinton has said she will not announce if she will run for president in 2016 until the end of this year, at times she waded into stump-speech waters. “We have to tackle the problems we have. We have nearly 6 million young people in America out of school and out of work,” Clinton said. “We’re not making the investments in public infrastructure and science that will keep us ahead of the curve. Washington too often seems to be operating in what I like to call an evidence-free zone, where ideology trumps data.” Many of the scrap recycling companies rely on international trade, and Simms asked Clinton about preventing protectionist trade policies of other nations. “We have to be stronger about going after countries in the WTO, like China, now like Russia, like any others who try to put those barriers up,” Clinton responded. “We have to be tougher in bringing trade action against them. We have to threaten reciprocity, because they love to get into our market while they block their markets.” On Russia’s military incursion into Crimea and annexation of the region, Clinton said the U.S. and other nations should provide economic support to Ukraine and help ensure fair elections. “What we’re watching is a naked, unlawful annexation of Crimea, and a continuing effort by (Russian President Vladimir) Putin to undermine and destabilize the rest of Ukraine,” she said. “What Putin has to understand is this action he took against Crimea will cost him economically and will undermine his energy income.” Simms also asked Clinton about dysfunction in Washington and how to improve the atmosphere in American politics. “People in politics are like people in any profession — they do what they think will be rewarded,” she said. “I’m concerned about the attitude and atmosphere of politics and how people are being pushed to the extremes on all sides of the political spectrum. And, I think it’s a very serious problem when people run for office proudly claiming they will never compromise.” After the speech people in the audience said they were surprised to see a disturbance at their event, and praised Clinton for her poise. Don Pittman, who works in metal recycling in Vancouver, British Columbia, said he appreciated Clinton’s comments on free trade and promotion of scrap recycling materials. “In Canada we follow what your leaders, and perhaps future leaders, have to say on these issues because they have a big impact on us,” he said. Others appreciated that Clinton tackled some complicated issues of economics and foreign relations. “She was very knowledgeable and didn’t skip a beat on a broad range of questions,” said Rajesh Agarwal, who was attending the conference from Miami. “She was very cool when that woman interrupted, super cool.” The Las Vegas appearance was part of a cross-country tour in which Clinton is giving paid speeches to industry organizations and appearing before key Democratic Party constituents. ||||| Hillary Clinton’s Las Vegas adventure Thursday might be good training if the Democrat runs for president and has to dodge critics — in this case one armed with a strappy shoe. A female protester threw the footwear at Clinton near the start of her speech at a metal recycling conference as well as some papers that fluttered in the air like wings, prompting the former secretary of state to declare: “Is that a bat?” When Clinton, who wasn’t hit by the shoe, realized someone threw something at her, she took it in stride. “Is that somebody throwing something at me?” Clinton asked, putting her right hand above her eyes to cut the glare of lights from the stage at Mandalay Bay “Is that part of Cirque du Soleil?” Clinton quipped, prompting laughter from the audience. “My goodness, I didn’t know that solid waste management was so controversial,” she added, referring to what she was talking about when the protester took action around 1:52 p.m. “Thank goodness she didn’t play softball like I did.” The audience of more than 1,000 people attending the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ annual convention applauded Clinton’s gumption and some stood, giving her a standing ovation. The U.S. Secret Service confirmed the protester had sneaked into the convention and wasn’t associated with the group. The convention organizers said she was initially denied access to the ballroom, but later rushed past security. “The subject was not a ticketed guest and had eluded hotel security to enter the event,” said Secret Service spokesman George Ogilvie. Secret Service agents noticed the woman and as they and hotel security approached her she threw a shoe. The women then turned around, threw her hands into the air and began marching toward the back of the room. The woman was immediately taken into custody by Secret Service and hotel security, Ogilvie said. No information was immediately released about the woman’s identity. Dylan de Thomas, a reporter for a trade publication called “Resource Recycling,” said he saw the protester throw the shoe. “It looked like a shoe with a strap on it,” de Thomas said. The Secret Service didn’t release information about the papers the protester threw. But an attendee handed a reporter a piece of paper that was apparently thrown by her and it appeared to be a copy of a Department of Defense document labeled confidential and dated August 1967, The Associated Press reported. It referred to operation “Cynthia” in Bolivia. After Clinton’s speech, which focused on environmental issues and international affairs, she took some prewritten questions from the audience. She didn’t mention any presidential plans, although she has said she’ll decide later this year. Jerry Simms, the outgoing chairman of the scrap metal recycling trade group, started the Q-and-A by apologizing to Clinton for what he called “that crude interruption.” Clinton, a former U.S. senator from New York and President Barack Obama’s first secretary of state, was asked about a range of issues, several centered on whether the administration was robust enough in its responses to international crises. On Syria, for example, she was asked why Obama didn’t follow through with a threat to take military action if President Bashar Assad used chemical weapons, which he apparently did against his own people during that nation’s civil war. Clinton said the United States decided it was better to work with Russia to get Syria to give up its chemical weapons, which she said the country had stockpiled, representing a greater threat to the entire Mideast region. “As of today, more than 50 percent of the chemical weapons have been removed,” Clinton said. “And that’s an incredible accomplishment because you are doing it in the middle of a war.” Clinton disputed the idea posed in another question that the U.S.-Israel relationship had weakened under Obama. “The relationship has never been more solid,” she said. “The actions between our two countries, I think, are on a very strong footing.” She noted the U.S. helped fund the Iron Dome missile defense system Israel is using to intercept missile attacks. On Russia’s move to grab Crimea, Clinton said the U.S. and NATO would act more forcefully and be obligated to act militarily if Moscow made moves against former Soviet states now included under NATO’s defense umbrella. “If he were so foolish as to move into the Baltics or Romania or Bulgaria or any of our other NATO allies who used to be part of (the Soviet Union), that would trigger a military defense because an attack on one is an attack on all,” she said. Clinton’s visit to Las Vegas comes as she’s thinking about running for president in 2016 and ahead of the publication of her new book on her time as Obama’s secretary of state. Although she said she won’t make a White House decision until later this year, all signs seem to point to Clinton launching a second presidential bid as the far and away leader of the potential Democratic field of candidates, polls show. Her Nevada stop was part of a three-state speaking tour this week that also included events in Oregon and California. If she runs, Clinton will have a ready-made campaign foundation. A super PAC “Ready for Hillary,” which is urging her to run and promoting her already, raised $1.7 million in the first quarter of the year, according to Politico. The total includes low-dollar donations with more than 80,000 contributions so far, the political publication said. “Ready for Hillary” organizers followed Clinton’s tour to sign up supporters and hand out buttons and bumper stickers. Clinton, 66, reportedly receives about $200,000 plus travel and hotel expenses for such speeches to private groups. In 2008, Clinton lost the Democratic primary to Obama in a tense, hard-fought race. Her husband, former President Bill Clinton, served in the White House for two terms, from 1993 until 2001. Review-Journal reporter Maria Agreda contributed to this report. Contact Laura Myers at [email protected] or 702-387-2919. Find her on Twitter: @lmyerslvrj.

– Hillary Clinton had to be fast on her feet during a speech in Las Vegas today. A woman in the audience chucked a shoe that whizzed past her head, reports the Las Vegas Sun. "Good thing she didn't play softball like I did," said Clinton, drawing laughter. The unidentified woman apparently threw a stack of papers, too, before being escorted from the convention to face arrest, reports the Review-Journal. Clinton was speaking before the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, and the woman wasn't part of the convention, says a spokesperson. It's unclear at this point what prompted her protest. "My goodness, I didn’t know that solid waste management was so controversial,” said Clinton. (Click to see George W. Bush's famous close call with a shoe in Iraq.)

Reaction to an NBC10 exclusive report, releasing the final words of the inspector who killed himself following a deadly building collapse. NBC10's Nefertiti Jaquez has the details. (Published Saturday, June 15, 2013) In a final message before taking his life, the lead building inspector responsible for a Center City building that collapsed last week said he was to blame for the deadly disaster. "It was my fault. I should have looked at those guys working, and I didn't," Ronald Wagenhoffer said in a video recorded on his cell phone. NBC10 Philadelphia has learned the 52-year-old veteran Philadelphia Licenses & Inspections staffer recorded the one-minute long message for his family. Wagenhoffer was found dead around 9:30 Wednesday night of an apparent suicide, city officials confirmed at a press conference Thursday. Reaction to Final Words of Inspector Before Suicide We have reaction to an NBC10 exclusive report, detailing the final words of an L & I inspector who killed himself following last week's deadly building collapse. Only NBC10 has confirmed that the inspector admitted he never set foot on the construction site before signing off on the project. NBC10's Harry Hairston reports. (Published Friday, June 14, 2013) Law enforcement sources say Wagenhoffer shot himself once in the chest inside his pickup truck along a wooded section of the 100 block of Shawmont Avenue in the Roxborough neighborhood of Philadelphia. That's less than a mile from his home. In the video, Wagenhoffer says he couldn't sleep and blamed himself for the building collapse at 2136 Market Streets that killed six and injured 13 when the building collapsed onto a store on June 5. He admitted he never truly inspected an adjacent work site after a citizen complained about safety concerns, although he reported there were no violations found. "When I saw it was too late. I should have parked my truck and went over there but I didn't. I'm sorry," Wagenhoffer said in the message. City officials said Wagenhoffer was sent to the demolition site of 2134 Market Street on May 14 -- that's adjacent to the building that collapsed at 2136 Market Street. The inspection was set to take place after Center City resident Stephen Field complained to the city's 311 call center about a lack of safety equipment on workers and adequate protection of the sidewalk. The city has been saying for a week that no issues were found. Building Inspector Admits Fault The man responsible for inspecting the building that collapsed last week in Center City, admits he was at fault in a cellphone video he left for his family. Ronald Wagenhoffer apparently committed suicide last night. NBC10's Nefertiti Jaquez uncovers new information in the case. (Published Thursday, June 13, 2013) Last Wednesday, the four-story outer wall of 2136 Market Street crumbled onto the Salvation Army Thrift Store next door. Six people were killed in the collapse -- three employees and three patrons. The wall also buried 13 others who were in different areas throughout the store, including the basement. They were eventually rescued by citizens and first responders. Excavator operator Kane R. Robert, also known as Sean Benschop, stands charged in the collapse. Investigators with the District Attorney's homicide unit say he tested positive for the pain killer Percocet and marijuana on the day of the collapse. They allege he was in no condition to operate heavy machinery. A grand jury has been convened to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse. L&I records also show Wagenhoffer completed and passed an initial inspection at 2136 Market Street on Feb. 25. City officials said that fellow employees and L&I Commissioner Carlton Williams reached out to Wagenhoffer in the days after the collapse. "This man did nothing wrong," Deputy Mayor Everett Gillison said at a press conference Thursday. "The department did what it was supposed to do under the code that existed at the time." In a tweet posted Friday afternoon, Mayor Nutter's Press Secretary Mark McDonald refuted NBC10's reporting of the video message. "NBC10 falsely stated that L&I inspector said of collapse -- "It was my fault." That is a total lie," he wrote. NBC10 Vice President of News Anzio Williams said, "We have seen the video. We are standing behind our journalism." In a phone conversation with Williams, McDonald maintained his belief that the report was inaccurate. A source close to the investigation who did not want to be named because they aren't authorized to speak publicly about the case, said Wagenhoffer had been grieving for days. They said Wagenhoffer did not take any time off after the collapse because he thought sticking to his work routine might help him deal with the tragedy. On Thursday, Nutter, who is in Chicago, was asked if Wagenhoffer should have been placed on leave after the building collapse. "Each of us deals with our grief and sorrow and any sense of responsibility in a different way. I'm not going to second guess his judgment to keep working," Nutter responded. He said Wagenhoffer had been in constant contact with his supervisor and was offered time off, but declined. Mayor Nutter Responds to Inspector's Suicide The lead inspector of a Center City building that collapsed last week commits suicide. Ronald Wagenhofferr was the last inspector to examine the building that collapsed, but city officials say he did nothing wrong. NBC10's Daralene Jones caught up with the mayor and asked why the inspector was still working after such a tragedy. (Published Thursday, June 13, 2013) "I think what you have here is a 16-year-employee who cared very deeply about his job," said Nutter. "We don't know all the things that may have been going through his mind." Commissioner Williams called Wagenhoffer an outstanding employee. “He was a dedicated civil servant who did his job," he said. "He started in the Department of Public Property and moved his way up through the ranks as one of our top code officials in the Department of Licenses & Inspections." Nutter said the city is also encouraging other employees to get emotional support if they need it. "Obviously I don't know why this happened, but we've tried to send a message out certainly to all of our public employees who are deeply affected by this, especially those who worked with Ron," Nutter said. Wagenhoffer leaves behind a wife, Michele and a son. Mayor Nutter Astounded Over Inspector's Suicide Mayor Michael Nutter said Ron Wagenhoffer was a man who cared deeply about his job and had a great love for the city of Philadelphia. Wagenhoffer shot himself to death last night. He was the lead inspector on the building that was under demolition when it collapsed last week onto a Salvation Army thrift store, killing six people and injuring 13 others. (Published Thursday, June 13, 2013) Deputy Mayor Gillison added there are five investigations underway regarding the collapse and that the city is "proud" of L&I's work. Griffin Campbell was the contractor overseeing the demolition. In a statement released by his attorney Kenneth Edelin, he said "heartfelt condolences go to the family of the inspector." "We also continue to pray for the families of those that were lost, and for the health and speedy recovery of those that were injured," the statement continued. ||||| A worker at a Salvation Army store adjacent to a building in the process of being torn down was sorting clothes when she heard rumbling and was suddenly buried, a lawyer for her said Friday as a shopper joined the woman in her lawsuit against the demolition contractor. A reporter makes a photograph of a makeshift memorial for Kimberly J. Finnegan near the scene of a building collapse, Thursday, June 6, 2013, in Philadelphia. Wednesday a building under demolition collapsed... (Associated Press) AP10ThingsToSee - A dust cloud rises as people run from the scene of a building collapse on the edge of downtown Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. At least six people were killed and 14 inured... (Associated Press) In this photo provided by Jordan McLaughlin, a dust cloud rises as people run from the scene of a building collapse on the edge of downtown Philadelphia on Wednesday, June 5, 2013. Buoyed by the discovery... (Associated Press) Firefighters view the aftermath of a building collapse, Thursday, June 6, 2013, in Philadelphia. Wednesday a building under demolition collapsed onto a neighboring thrift store, killing six people and... (Associated Press) Mayor Michael Nutter speaks during a news conference in the aftermath of a building collapse, Thursday, June 6, 2013, in Philadelphia. On Wednesday, the building under demolition collapsed onto a neighboring... (Associated Press) Firefighters view the scene of a building collapse, Thursday, June 6, 2013, in Philadelphia. On Wednesday, the building under demolition collapsed onto a neighboring thrift store, killing six people and... (Associated Press) Workmen work by hand at the scene of a building collapse, Thursday, June 6, 2013, in Philadelphia. Wednesday a building under demolition collapsed onto a neighboring thrift store, killing six people and... (Associated Press) Nadine White, a 54-year-old mother of three, had worked at the thrift store for about eight months. She was in the back of the store when she "heard a rumble and a wall collapsed on her," attorney Larry Bendesky said. A second plaintiff, Linda Bell, joined the lawsuit. Bell, a 50-year-old mother of three, was shopping when the collapse happened. She fell into the basement and was covered by rubble for more than an hour. "She's pretty shook up, in a lot of pain," her attorney Joseph Marrone said. Their lawsuit against demolition contractor Griffin Campbell gained speed as the rescue operation from Wednesday's collapse wound down. Robert Mongeluzzi, another of White's attorneys, said Campbell violated several federal safety regulations, while building owner Richard Basciano should have picked a more qualified and competent contractor to do the work. "This is the most egregious construction accident I think I've ever been involved in," said Mongeluzzi, who has represented hundreds of plaintiffs in construction accidents and is considered a top lawyer in the field. The lawyers received permission Friday from a judge to bring in experts to videotape and photograph the continuing demolition work by the city from a safe distance. Common Pleas Court Judge Ellen Ceisler ruled that once the site is deemed safe, experts for all parties can inspect the remaining debris. "From what we can understand, given (Campbell's) checkered past, and what appears to be a total lack of experience and know-how, we believe that was a grossly negligent selection," Mongeluzzi said Thursday. A man who answered the phone Friday at Campbell's home said he was not home, and Campbell's cellphone voicemail box was full. Peter Greiner, attorney for Basciano, was in a meeting Friday and did not immediately return a call. Campbell has previously been arrested on charges involving drugs, assault and insurance fraud and has had two bankruptcy filings. His daughter, Dominique Lee, who answered the door at his home, said Thursday that he wasn't there but was "mourning the loss of those people just like everyone else." The four-story building toppled onto the thrift store on Philadelphia's busy Market Street, six people, including a woman working her first day at the store. Thirteen people were injured. The collapse has brought swift and mounting fallout in a city where demolition contractors are lightly regulated. Officials have begun inspecting hundreds of demolition sites citywide, and a city councilman charged that dangerous, under-the-radar tear-downs are taking place throughout Philadelphia. The Department of Licenses and Inspections said it had 300 open demolition permits throughout the city; inspectors had visited about 30 of the sites by Thursday afternoon and planned to get to the rest by next week. The spot inspections included all four construction and demolition sites connected to Campbell. The city found violations at two of the Campbell sites and ordered a halt to the work. Councilman James Kenney, among others, called for a review of the demolition application and inspection process and demanded a stricter process for demolition companies. "This is happening all over the city," he said. "I need to know who the workers are who are there, what they know, what they don't know, how they've been trained." The city does check the condition of buildings to be torn down before demolition can begin _ and inspects them again after the tear-down is finished _ but does not require an inspection during demolition. A pre-demolition inspection at the site on May 14 turned up no issues, said Carlton Williams, head of the city's Department of Licenses and Inspections. Pennsylvania does not license demolition contractors, nor does the city. Williams said the city code does not require demolition contractors to show any proficiency in tearing down buildings. "Buildings get demolished all the time in the city of Philadelphia with active buildings right next to them. ... They're done safely in this city all the time," Mayor Michael Nutter said Thursday. "Something obviously went wrong here yesterday and possibly in the days leading up to it. That's what the investigation is for." Nutter said he was unaware of any complaints about the demolition work done by Campbell in the days before the tragedy. But the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said it had gotten a complaint May 15 that workers at the site were at risk of falling. The complaint was still open at the time of the disaster, U.S. Labor Department spokeswoman Leni Uddyback-Fortson said. OSHA regulates the demolition industry and enforces standards meant to ensure worker safety. Among other things, its regulations forbid any wall section exceeding one story to stand alone without bracing, unless the wall was designed that way. Witnesses have said they saw a 30-foot section of unbraced wall before the collapse. A video of the demolition taken the Sunday before the collapse showed bricks raining down on the sidewalk as a worker used a backhoe and claw to remove a second-story front wall. The sidewalk and the staircase leading up from a subway stop appeared open to pedestrians despite the falling bricks. Cars and trucks could also be seen going past, just a few feet away. ___ Rubinkam reported from northeastern Pennsylvania. Associated Press writers JoAnn Loviglio, Kevin Begos and Keith Collins contributed to this story, along with AP's News and Information Research Center.

– The man who inspected a Philadelphia building three weeks before it collapsed last week, killing six and injuring 13, has died in an apparent suicide. The 52-year-old, whose name has not been released, inspected the building several times and ruled it safe after a complaint was lodged last month, reports NBC. He apparently shot himself in the chest while parked in his pickup truck in an isolated area about a mile from his home, where his wife found him. His suicide note had been a text to her. Meanwhile, a crane operator awaits trial in the collapse, while victims are suing the demolition contractor.

WASHINGTON — The secretary of the Navy has recommended that future security reviews include any available police reports, even if they did not result in charges or convictions, after the shooting deaths of 12 Navy personnel by a gunman who had an honorable discharge, a Secret-level clearance and at least two firearms incidents in law enforcement files. The recommendation, disclosed Monday, came as the Navy completed a detailed review of the military career of Aaron Alexis, the gunman who was killed at the Washington Navy Yard after last week’s shooting rampage. The review, ordered by Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, included an assessment of whether events in Mr. Alexis’s military career should have raised alerts about his violent potential. In 2004, three years before enlisting as a Navy reservist, Mr. Alexis brandished a .45-caliber pistol and fired at the tires of a construction worker’s car. In another incident, in September 2010, after he was in uniform, commanders halted efforts to force Mr. Alexis out of the Navy with a less-than-honorable discharge because the police declined to pursue a case and it was not entered into his military file, Navy officials said. The proposals were an acknowledgment by the Navy that there were events that should have raised red flags about Mr. Alexis’s potential for violence. ||||| WASHINGTON — Washington Navy Yard shooter Aaron Alexis obtained a secret-level security clearance after a federal personnel report failed to mention that a 2004 arrest involved a firearm, the Navy said Monday. A senior Navy official told reporters the service learned of the incident's violent nature only after Alexis had shot 12 people to death at the Washington Navy Yard last week and was himself fatally shot by police. The Office of Personnel Management knew of Alexis' Seattle arrest because of a fingerprint check when he joined the Navy Reserve in 2007 and interviewed him about it, the official said. Alexis had not disclosed the offense on his security questionnaire. Alexis said that he had an altercation with a man doing construction work near his home and that the men had been "taking retaliatory action toward each other's parked cars," according to the investigative document that the personnel office gave to the Navy. Alexis said the construction worker had put a foreign substance in Alexis' gas tank, and Alexis retaliated by "deflating the male person's tires," according to the report. That account "reads very different from the police account of what took place that day," the senior official said. The Seattle police report says Alexis shot out the tires and was charged with malicious mischief, the official said. Monday's disclosure revealed another in a chain of missed opportunities by the Navy and Alexis' civilian employer — a military contractor — to come to grips with his violent tendencies and apparent mental illness. Alexis had complained that he was hearing voices and being bombarded by microwaves. Because of his job, which required a security clearance, he had a valid ID card that allowed him to enter the Navy Yard. "The summary of the Seattle incident that was provided to [the Navy] makes no reference to firearms, makes no reference to a gunshot ... makes no reference to firing into the air," the Navy official said. The Navy provided access to the briefing on condition that the official not be identified. The personnel office said Seattle police would not provide records on the 2004 incident. The office interviewed Alexis, who did not say that a weapon was involved. The personnel office said it could not force police departments to cooperate. The Navy cleared Alexis based on all the information it had, the senior official said, and there is no way to know "how they would have adjudicated knowing the events we know now. In a vacuum looking back, what we do know is that the events suggest very different activity." The construction worker did not press charges and the case was dismissed, the personnel office told the Navy. Sometimes personnel office investigations include police documents, the Navy official said, but in this case the report sent to the Navy did not. A recent memo sent to Navy Secretary Ray Mabus from Assistant Navy Secretary Juan M. Garcia included a recommendation that all personnel office investigative reports include "any available police documents related to the subject being investigated for clearance eligibility." The recommendation has been sent to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel. On his security clearance form, Alexis answered "no" to questions about whether he had been charged with or convicted of a felony, and "no" to whether he had been arrested by any law enforcement official in the last seven years. The personnel report said Alexis said he did not disclose information about his 2004 arrest because the charge was dismissed and he was told by his attorney that it would be removed from his record. Alexis was found to be eligible for the security clearance in March 2008 after the Navy reviewed the personnel investigation. The only concern was Alexis' credit history, according to a timeline released by the Navy. His clearance was valid for 10 years. In September 2008, Alexis was arrested in DeKalb County, Ga., on suspicion of disorderly conduct and jailed for two nights, resulting in an unauthorized absence. The Navy gave Alexis an administrative punishment. In July 2009, he was punished again for being "drunk and disorderly," according to the timeline. But there was no police involvement, and Alexis successfully appealed the punishment, which was removed from his record. In September 2010, he was arrested in Fort Worth for discharging a firearm in his home after an altercation with a neighbor. Alexis told police the gun accidentally went off as he was cleaning it. No charges were filed. After the Fort Worth incident, Alexis' commander began the process "to administratively separate him from the Navy," according to the timeline. But when Alexis was not charged, the matter was dropped. Alexis left the Navy three months later with an honorable discharge. [email protected]

– The Los Angeles Times sheds more light on how Navy Yard gunman Aaron Alexis was able to get secret-level security clearance from the Navy, despite the fact that he had been arrested in 2004 for an incident involving a gun. Alexis did not mention the incident on the security questionnaire he filled out three years later, but the Navy's Office of Personnel Management learned about it after doing a fingerprint check. He was asked about it and claimed all he did was deflate a man's tires. In reality, he shot out the man's tires, according to the police report filed in Seattle. Alexis said he did not disclose the incident because the charge was dismissed and his lawyer had told him it would be wiped from his record. Investigators did not interview anyone else about the incident, the Washington Post reports, and Seattle police refused to provide the records related to the incident, according to the personnel office. So the Navy cleared Alexis in March 2008 based on what it knew. (The LAT notes the only red flag was his credit history.) The full picture of the 2004 incident didn't emerge until after the Navy Yard shootings, says a senior Navy official. Now, the secretary of the Navy has recommended to Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel that security reviews in the future include all police reports—even those that did not result in charges, the New York Times reports.

Baby Name Report Card: Beneficial and Harmful Baby Names by Albert Mehrabian, Ph.D. Part One: Preliminaries Preface Chapter 1: What is in a Name? Chapter 2: What Impressions are Made by Names? Chapter 3: Names: Lifetime advantage versus handicap Chapter 4: How to change a name Chapter 5: Common issues in name selection Chapter 6: General guidelines for selecting names Chapter 7: Name scores explained Part Two: Girls' Names Chapter 8: Girls' names that connote an ethical-caring person, or its opposite Chapter 9: Girls' names that connote a popular-fun person, or its opposite Chapter 10: Girls' names that connote a successful person, or its opposite Chapter 11: Girls' names that connote femininity, or its opposite Chapter 12: Girls' names that connote a generally attractive person, or its opposite Chapter 13: Alphabetical list of girls' names Part Three: Boys' Names Chapter 14: Boys' names that connote an ethical-caring person, or its opposite Chapter 15: Boys' names that connote a popular-fun person, or its opposite Chapter 16: Boys' names that connote a successful person, or its opposite Chapter 17: Boys' names that connote masculinity, or its opposite Chapter 18: Boys' names that connote a generally attractive person, or its opposite Chapter 19: Alphabetical list of boys' names References Experimental findings show that people with desirable or attractive names are treated more favorably by others than are those with undesirable or unattractive names. Also, persons with undesirable or unattractive names tend to be handicapped in their personal, social, and work-related activities. Accordingly, it behooves parents to discover the impressions that will be generated by the names they select for their children. Our large-scale surveys conducted for more than a decade identified desirable, attractive and beneficial names versus undesirable, unattractive, and harmful ones. Positive-negative impressions created by various types of names (e.g., given names vs. nicknames) are reported in the publications referenced below. In addition, "Baby Name Report Card" provides summary descriptions of impressions created by most commonly used names. In effect, the volume provides scientifically-based information for choosing baby names. It supplies guidelines for selecting names that will impart positive and beneficial, rather than negative and harmful, impressions to others; that is, names that will be assets rather than liabilities throughout a lifetime. It also includes useful information for adults who are dissatisfied with their first or last names and would like to assume new names. Ethical-Caring (e.g., trustworthy, loyal, sincere, kind, generous, respectful, warm, patient, responsible) Popular-Fun (e.g., playful, humorous, cheerful, outgoing, good-looking, adventurous, athletic, healthy) Successful (e.g., ambitious, intelligent, independent, confident, assertive, creative) Masculine-Feminine Overall Attractiveness (a statistical combination of the first three dimensions) Average ratings from all respondents who rated a given name are summarized using scores that range from zero to 100, with 50 being an average score. For example, "John" received an average Success score of 98 (extremely high) whereas "Knut" received a Success score of 11 (extremely low). These two names differ substantially in terms of the impression of Success (which includes connotations of intelligence, creativity, ambition) they impart. Mehrabian, A. (1992). Interrelationships among name desirability, name uniqueness, emotion characteristics connoted by names, and temperament. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 22, 1797-1808. Mehrabian, A. (1994). The Name Connotation Profile. (Available from Albert Mehrabian, 1130 Alta Mesa Road, Monterey, CA, USA 93940) Mehrabian, A. (1997). Impressions created by given names. Names, 45, 19-33. Mehrabian, A. (2001). Characteristics attributed to individuals on the basis of their first names. Genetic, Social, and General Psychology Monographs, 127, 59-88. Mehrabian, A., & Piercy, M. (1993). Positive or negative connotations of unconventionally and conventionally spelled names. The Journal of Social Psychology, 133, 445- 451. Mehrabian, A., & Piercy, M. (1993). Differences in positive and negative connotations of nicknames and given names. The Journal of Social Psychology, 133, 737-739. Mehrabian, A., & Piercy, M. (1993). Affective and personality characteristics inferred from length of first names. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 19, 755-758. Mehrabian, A., & Valdez, P. (1990). Basic name connotations and related sex stereotyping. Psychological Reports, 66, 1-2. ||||| Photo Advertisement Continue reading the main story When Frank Hudock, 35, a restaurant manager in the Chicago area, first told his wife, Jennifer Hudock, 30, an executive assistant, that his grandparents wanted them to name their son Frank, per generations of family tradition, her response was, “That’s never going to happen.” They had just decided on a name they both agreed on — Max — after arguing about dozens of others, and that had been a big relief. But then the grandparents threw in a sweetener: an offer of $10,000 in exchange for choosing Frank. Ms. Hudock’s company didn’t have a maternity leave policy, and she wasn’t going to get paid for several months. She agreed to think it over. This may seem like an unusual proposal, but several professional baby-name watchers report seeing others along those lines. Maryanna Korwitts, a naming consultant also based near Chicago, said one client’s grandfather offered a family business if a baby could be named for him. Another’s in-laws, she said, suggested a dream wedding the mother never had and could not afford on her own — the price being the right to name the firstborn. Linda Murray, the editor in chief of the website BabyCenter, which maintains a database of 40,000 possible names, believes such offers are a salvo from the old guard fired against a general millennial disregard for tradition when christening their children. “For thousands of years, choosing a family name was really how it was done,” Ms. Murray said. “Now parents are really trying to choose a name that is unique, that suits their child and that says something about their personality.” They are paying consultants such as Ms. Korwitts to choose a name, testing ideas as if they were marketing slogans with college admissions officers, and creating new monikers just because they like the sound. But older relatives have some leverage against such flights of fancy — in part because now, living longer, they can actually see themselves memorialized with the next generation. One of Ms. Korwitts’s clients faced pressure to give her son her grandfather’s name, she said, because they wanted him to die in peace. And “this generation of young parents are more likely to live with their parents or take financial support,” Ms. Murray said. “So if you are living in their house or they are helping with your rent or a down payment on a house, you may feel beholden to their wishes.” A 35-year-old graphic designer in Great Neck, N.Y., who didn’t want to be named for fear of ruffling relatives’ feathers, said she was conflicted when her mother-in-law asked how much money it would take to name her daughter after her side of the family. “If I really believed I could have gotten her to pay for college, it really seems foolish of me not to put my discomfort aside,” she said. “I would probably always resent that person, but to be able to take care of that anxiety, that would be nice.” The graphic designer ultimately said no — “you only get to do this once,” she said — but other parents are coming up with creative solutions. Julia Wang, site director of another baby website, The Bump, said she sees parents using part of a name of family members and combining it with something else to make it unique. Others let family members choose middle names, Chinese names or Hebrew names. Still others give their child one official name and then call him or her something else. “You might be able to have your cake and eat it too,” Ms. Murray said. The Hudocks, though, stuck with Max. In their case, they chose to honor another grandparent: Jennifer Hudock’s father, also named Max, who died when she was 7. “It was a decision we made together as husband and wife,” she said.

– Crib, car seat, baby wipe warmer—there are so many things expectant parents need to buy. Here's something else for the shopping list: a baby-naming consultant. And "the ultimate exercise in personal branding," as Quartz puts it, is not cheap. Swiss branding firm Erfolgswelle, for instance, charges more than $29,000 to choose the perfect moniker for a soon-to-arrive bundle of joy, Bloomberg reports. Agency head Marc Hauser says his team spends about 100 hours coming up with the perfect name, which includes verifying there's no trademark on the name and consulting historians to determine whether a potential name has "an aggravating past." He uses his own name—Marc—as an example, saying his firm wouldn't suggest it because it's linked to an ancient Roman god of war. If you'd rather squirrel away that 30 grand, say for a college fund, New York-based My Name for Life will help you name junior starting at several hundred dollars. If a baby namer knows what they're doing, "it's worth every penny," Albert Mehrabian, who wrote The Baby Name Report Card, tells Bloomberg's Polly Mosendz. (He gave her name a B-, and here he explains why "Chad" scores a 98 but "Bud" scores a 2.) Quartz quips that instead of paying, you could just turn to your in-laws, who "will probably be happy to provide you with loads of advice for free." Or maybe for something sweeter: In October the New York Times reported on cases in which would-be grandparents have given their own kids everything from $10,000 to the promise of a family business in exchange for the right to name their grandchild. (Here are some free suggestions for unusual baby names.)

Peter Hamby is a national political reporter at CNN and the author of the recent Joan Shorenstein Center report “Did Twitter Kill the Boys on the Bus? Searching for a Better Way to Cover a Campaign.” By now, everyone knows that Mitt Romney’s inner circle was righteously peeved at New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for spending the final days of the 2012 presidential race arm-in-arm with President Obama as they toured the Jersey coastline after its thrashing by Hurricane Sandy. The buddy-buddy act boxed Romney out of national media coverage for days while lending the president some bipartisan street cred. But it wasn’t just the storm. Christie had rankled Romney’s team throughout the campaign: He held back his endorsement as long as possible, flirted with big-shot GOP donors who begged him to jump into the race and used his prime-time address at the Republican National Convention to puff up his Garden State record — without mentioning Romney once. For Romney’s aides, dealing with Christie’s overbearing team was about as pleasurable as a traffic jam on the New Jersey Turnpike. For Christie’s staff in Trenton, the feeling toward the Romney machine was pretty much mutual. Many months after Romney’s loss, that toxic relationship is revealed in page-turning detail in “Double Down,” a chronicle of last year’s grind-it-out election by journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann. The authors deploy the conversation-driving formula that propelled their previous book, “Game Change: Obama and the Clintons, McCain and Palin, and the Race of a Lifetime,” to bestseller status and a movie deal with HBO. (The same network has already optioned the rights to “Double Down.”) The duo’s M.O. — translating insider politics for mass-market readers with behind-the-scenes reporting and Gonzo flair — is custom-built for today’s news cycle, in which scoops explode on Twitter and oblige the rest of the political media to chase, confirm, refute, scrutinize, analyze to death. The digital blast radius for “Double Down” is infinite. “Double Down: Game Change 2012” by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann (Penguin Press). (Penguin Press) And it will hit Christie first. Halperin and Heilemann make abundant use of a vice-presidential vetting file dropped into their hands by someone in Romney’s orbit to illuminate secrets about the governor. Delivering the documents to the authors was a stunning breach of political decorum that can only be read as a giant middle finger at Christie and his aides. According to the authors, Romney and his team were shaken by what they discovered about Christie during “Project Goldfish,” as the hush-hush veep search process was known. His “disturbing” research file is littered with “garish controversies,” the authors write: a Justice Department investigation into his free-spending ways as U.S. attorney, his habit of steering government contracts to friends and political allies, a defamation lawsuit that emerged during a 1994 run for local office, a politically problematic lobbying career that included work on behalf of a financial firm that employed Bernie Madoff. And that’s not to mention the Romney team’s anxiety about the governor’s girth. For Christie, who is coasting to reelection on Tuesday and already laying behind-the-scenes groundwork for a 2016 presidential bid, the book’s revelations are a Drudge-ready public relations nightmare that will send his advisers scrambling to explain awkward aspects of his record and his personal life just as he is stepping onto the national stage. For Halperin and Heilemann (and their publisher), this means one thing: mission accomplished. Coming off the history-making spectacle of the 2008 race, the borderline­ nihilistic presidential campaign of 2012 presents a challenge to authors seeking to spin a compelling tale. That may explain why the pair devotes considerable attention to the Republican primary contest, a more topsy-turvy drama than the trench warfare between Obama and Romney. The book lacks the made-for-Hollywood scenes of “Game Change”: Elizabeth Edwards ripping off her shirt to reveal her mastectomy scars in an emotional tarmac confrontation with her cheating husband, or anything Palin-related. But there’s still click-bait aplenty: Obama meditating on drone strikes and telling his aides that he’s “really good at killing people”; Christie’s raging temper; Romney adviser Stuart Stevens vomiting backstage after Clint Eastwood’s performance art in Tampa; Romney’s fascination with fat people, including his habit of ribbing male campaign staffers about dating overweight women; George W. Bush calling Rick Perry, his gubernatorial successor in Texas, “a chicken-[expletive] guy”; Obama’s team secretly polling and focus-grouping the notion of replacing Joe Biden with Hillary Rodham Clinton on the Democratic ticket; and so on. It’s a book that will launch a thousand listicles. Such goodies were mined over three years from deep-background interviews with the candidates, their aides and the small galaxy of Washington fixers who surrounded the campaigns. The authors explain their hazy sourcing in a note at the book’s conclusion; media snobs will have a field day. The Halperin-Heilemann method, a number of those who sat for interviews told me, is to invite a subject to a private room at a restaurant or a plush hotel suite, ply them with booze and let the stories flow. But the alcohol was unnecessary; the wild success of the first volume guaranteed that insiders would talk this time. Indeed, in a summer’s worth of casual conversations with veterans of all the campaigns, it was difficult for me to find anyone who didn’t consent to an interview with the pair. The book’s loose argument is that both Obama and Romney placed their bets about the race early on and “doubled down” throughout the contest. It’s an apt take on Obama World. The “Obamans,” as the authors call them, set out to annihilate Romney almost two years before the election and executed their plan with brutal efficiency. There were hiccups along the way, specifically Obama’s dreary debate-prep sessions and his cringe-worthy performance in Denver, but his deputies in Chicago rarely deviated from their search-and-destroy mission. Romney’s campaign, though, with its bad habit of reacting to news cycles with snap decisions, always felt more ad hoc, with tactics trumping strategy. Though the gossip merchants of This Town might be disappointed, readers are for the most part spared staff-level infighting and post-campaign score settling. There are exceptions: Former White House chief of staff Bill Daley comes in for rough treatment, depicted as a feckless outsider lost in the youthful, clannish and data-reliant Obama-verse. Although Romney’s chief strategist, Stevens — a popular punching bag for know-it-all Republican consultants after the loss — emerges mostly unscathed, we witness some flashes of impetuousness. He was frustrated, it seems, to be the lone voice on Team Romney lobbying for Christie to be on the ticket instead of Paul Ryan, who is as much a cipher in the book as he was during the campaign: rarely mentioned and barely consequential. The authors’ main project is to get into the minds of the candidates, even if the book does little to alter our understanding of the campaign’s main players. Obama is brilliant but peevish, allergic to the nitty-gritty of politics. Romney is a decent man but hopelessly ham-fisted on the stump and oblivious to why voters can’t seem to appreciate his private-equity résumé. As for the vice president, Biden is as Uncle Joe as ever: loyal to Obama and desperate to be in the arena, but prone to gaffes and rhetorical indulgences that give the president and his aides heartburn. Richard Ben Cramer’s “What It Takes” remains the great ur-text of Bidenology. But the “Game Change” guys do dredge up what might be the Bidenest quote of all time: “I don’t understand why everyone’s so mad at me,” he tells a confidante, after endorsing same-sex marriage before the president did. God bless him. Obama’s evolving relationship with Bill Clinton is one of the more intriguing tales of “Double Down.” Aware that Clinton would be a crucial asset to the campaign, Obama World lured the former president to its side, even agreeing to pay off Hillary Clinton’s 2008 campaign debt in exchange for Bill’s help. The two presidents slowly warmed to each other throughout the race. “He’s luckier than a dog with two d----,” Clinton told his friends of Obama. The real drama of the 2012 campaign unfolded on the Republican side: the Newt-killing, Perry-on-painkillers, 9-9-9, couple-of-Cadillacs theatrics of the Republican primary. After opening with some 80 pages of Obama portraiture, the authors gorge themselves on the hot mess of the GOP race for the next 200 pages. The most enjoyable action plays out among the “Romneyites” (yes, the authors have an annoying habit of sprinkling their text with gnomic nicknames; let this be the last time Rick Santorum is called “Santo”). The Romney campaign’s methodical destruction of Gingrich, first in Iowa and again in Florida, is detailed, as is Romney’s problematic lurch to the right as he fought off a conservative insurgency fronted by Santorum and his sweater vest. If Halperin and Heilemann have a bias, it’s toward the candidates who stood a chance of winning — except for their recurring obsession with Donald Trump. Tim Pawlenty’s campaign merits four pages. Ron Paul is an afterthought. Iowa straw poll winner Michelle Bachmann gets five pages, and the most memorable thing we learn is that she gets her hair done at a place called Fantastic Sam’s. Jon Huntsman is the exception, and the authors’ rendering of him is not pretty. Perhaps most damning for a candidate who professed to be above politics-as-usual, the authors report that the Huntsman campaign was behind two of the cycle’s roughest news hits: peddling dirt to reporters on Mitch Daniels’s wife, Cheri, a warning shot intended to keep the former Indiana governor out of the GOP field; and facilitating Politico’s splashy story about Cain’s apparent extramarital dalliances, a revelation that drove the pizza magnate from the race. Halperin and Heilemann fixate just as much on the Republicans who never set foot on a debate stage and who handed Romney enough breathing room and financial support to capture the nomination. Christie gets an entire chapter (titled “Big Boy”). Daniels, Haley Barbour and Mike Huckabee all receive more attention than Cain, who once topped the national polls. The Nate Silver wing of the Internet will almost surely gripe that the book is an example of political journalism’s worst instincts — it’s too dependent on the hunches and agendas of sources rather than hard measures of why Obama won. The authors ascribe colossal import to the tactical decisions and shouting matches inside campaign war rooms, but their dishy portraits often skimp on the larger forces that drove the race, from an improving economy and demographic shifts to Romney’s charisma deficit and the Obama campaign’s superior voter-contact machinery. Campaigns, though, aren’t just about number-crunching and statistical analysis. Candidates matter. Voters tell pollsters that they make their choices based on issues such as education, health care, taxes and the economy — and they do. But they also care about temperament, empathy, strength, reason, trust and the human side of these strange and wily people who think they’re up to the task of running the country. And as Halperin and Heilemann understand, so do readers. Read more from Outlook, friend us on Facebook, and follow us on Twitter. ||||| AP This will not go over well for the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize winner. According to the new book "Double Down," in which journalists Mark Halperin and John Heilemann chronicle the 2012 presidential election, President Barack Obama told his aides that he's "really good at killing people" while discussing drone strikes. Peter Hamby of The Washington Post noted the moment in his review of the book. The reported claim by the commander-in-chief is as indisputable as it is grim. Obama oversaw the 2009 surge in Afghanistan, 145 Predator drone strikes in NATO's 2011 Libya operations, the May 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden, and drone strikes that killed the Pakistani Taliban leader and a senior member of the Somali-based militant group al-Shabab this week. His administration also expanded the drone war: There have been 326 drone strikes in Pakistan, 93 in Yemen, and several in Somalia — killing upwards of 4,000 people overall — under Obama, compared to a total of 52 strikes under George Bush. In 2011 two of those strikes killed American-born al-Qaeda propagandist Anwar al-Awlaki and his American-born, 16-year-old son within two weeks. Under Obama U.S. drone operators began practicing "signature strikes," a tactic in which targets are chosen based on patterns of suspicious behavior and the identities of those to be killed aren't necessarily known. (The administration counts all "military-age males" in a strike zone as combatants.) Furthermore, the disturbing trend of the "double tap" — bombing the same place in quick succession and often hitting first responders— has become common practice under Obama's eye. Obama has also embraced the expansion of capture/kill missions by Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) after it developed into the primary counterterrorism tool of the Bush administration. One JSOC operator told investigative journalist Jeremy Scahill, author of "Dirty Wars: The World Is A Battlefield," that global operations under Obama became "harder, faster, quicker — with the full support of the White House." Scahill, who also made a "Dirty Wars" documentary, told NBC News that Obama will "go down in history as the president who legitimized and systematized a process by which the United States asserts the right to conduct assassination operations around the world." Needless to say, a lot of innocent people have been killed along with combatants. So although President Obama has proven to be "really good at killing people," the demonstration has not necessarily been noble. (h/t @kgosztola)

– A new book on the 2012 election has President Obama making a rather brutal claim, particularly, as Michael Kelley notes at Business Insider, for a Nobel Peace laureate: The president said to aides that he's "really good at killing people." The quote comes from Double Down, by Mark Halperin and John Heilemann, and it's mentioned briefly in Peter Hamby's Washington Post review. (Hamby gives it as an example of the book having "click-bait aplenty.") Kelley, for his part, observes that Obama's comment is quite accurate. While there were 52 total drone strikes while George W. Bush was president, Obama's administration has overseen 326 drone strikes in Pakistan, 93 in Yemen, and some in Somalia. That's on top of the surge in Afghanistan, the killing of Osama bin Laden, and drone strikes during NATO's Libya mission in 2011; Business Insider has even more examples. Click for more tidbits from the Game Change sequel.

How the Internet reacted to Steve Bannon's growing power in the White House CLOSE The hashtag #StopPresidentBannon hit the top of Twitter's U.S. trending chart as thousands sought to protest President Trump's chief strategist. Time Twitter is demanding the nation #StopPresidentBannon. As confusion and anger swirled over President Trump's executive order to restrict people from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States, the president signed another order giving chief strategist Steve Bannon a seat on the National Security Council. The #StopPresidentBannon hashtag exploded Sunday as users deplored the ex-Breitbart News chief's increased influence in the White House. Bannon — who was considered a controversial choice for chief strategist because of Breitbart's tendency to share views many perceive as racist, sexist and anti-Semitic — can now regularly attend meetings that deal with policy issues affecting national security. What Twitter is saying: Since when does the Breitbart guy know more about national security than the Joint Chiefs and the CIA? Never! #StopPresidentBannon — Ed Turner (@papabear7533) January 29, 2017 I wouldn't trust Steve Bannon to run the Tilt-A-Whirl, let alone the country I live in and love. #StopPresidentBannon — John Pavlovitz (@johnpavlovitz) January 29, 2017 We know who's really in charge. Trump is an illegitimate president who's also letting a Nazi run the country.#StopPresidentBannon — blackpridebrownlove (@KaylinWinters2) January 29, 2017 Steve Bannon's influence on Trump is America's greatest threat to national security. But we haven't lost yet. Let's #StopPresidentBannon! pic.twitter.com/UEspca1edf — #NotMyPresident (@France4Hillary) January 29, 2017 People voted for a man who they thought was good businessman and ended up a w/ puppet controlled by white nationalist #StopPresidentBannon — akash chittari (@sanju_akas) January 29, 2017 Without immigration Trump would have no wives. #MuslimBan#StopPresidentBannon — Matthew Kick (@MatthewKick) January 29, 2017 Read or Share this story: http://usat.ly/2jL27GM ||||| WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Sunday said the addition of President Donald Trump's chief strategist, Steve Bannon, to regular meetings of the country's top national security officials was essential to the commander in chief's decision-making process. Trump took steps Saturday to begin restructuring the White House National Security Council, adding the senior adviser to the principals committee, which includes the secretaries of state and defense. At the same time, Trump said his director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff would attend "where issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed." Bannon served in the Navy before attending Harvard Business School, working at Goldman Sachs, starting his own media-focused boutique investment banking firm and later heading the ultraconservative outlet Breitbart News. "He is a former naval officer. He's got a tremendous understanding of the world and the geopolitical landscape that we have now," White House press secretary Sean Spicer told ABC's "This Week." Spicer said "having the chief strategist for the president in those meetings who has a significant military background to help make — guide what the president's final analysis is going to be is crucial." But to Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine, the Democratic vice presidential nominee, the NSC "sadly has some really questionable people on it," he told NBC's "Meet the Press," citing Bannon among them. Breitbart has been condemned for featuring racist, sexist and anti-Semitic content.

– Amid President Trump's flurry of actions Saturday was some restructuring at the National Security Council. White House chief strategist Steve Bannon now has a permanent seat on the principals committee of the NSC, reports the Washington Post, which notes that "the changes affirm the ascent of Bannon" in giving a political adviser a seat at the military table. At the same time, Trump ordered that the director of national intelligence and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, former members of the principals committee, would be invited only when "issues pertaining to their responsibilities and expertise are to be discussed." The move is contrary to former President George W. Bush, reports CBS News, who banned Karl Rove from interactions with the NSC; former President Obama, however, occasionally sent David Axelrod and Robert Gibbs to NSC meetings. Bannon, however, "is a former naval officer. He's got a tremendous understanding of the world and the geopolitical landscape that we have now," says press secretary Sean Spicer, per the AP. Meanwhile, USA Today notes that the shakeup started #StopPresidentBannon trending. (Bannon had some succinct advice for the media on Saturday.)

It's never easy dining out alone -- but one man has found the perfect, sweetest way to ensure he never feels lonely. Twitter user Madina Bashizadah posted this heartbreaking picture earlier this week of an older widower having a meal at In-N-Out Burger -- with a photo of his late wife next to him. Oh my god I just died!!! He has a picture of his wife with him as he eats! I love him I love love 😭😭😭😭😭 pic.twitter.com/c9t0qKJfEi — ℳadi ℬash (@Maaadina) October 22, 2014 "The older gentleman was sitting down enjoying his meal and I noticed that he had a photo with him," Bashizadah told The Huffington Post in an email. "Automatically, I assumed she wasn't here with us and I started tearing up because it was such a beautiful moment but heartbreaking at the same time." Other diners kept approaching the older man, asking him about the photo and "with everyone who approached he was happy and excited to talk about her." We found out that she was his sweetheart, his wife who passed away 5 years ago. They met at 17 but the war had kept them apart. He had searched for her for 10 years and one day as he was telling his barber the story, the barber calls his daughter in and it ends up being her. They were married instantly and it lasted for 55 years until she passed. He takes her photo everywhere. On one side of the laminated photo it's him and her sitting on a couch together and on the back it has a photo of him and her side by side when they were young. Goes to show you true love does exist. A love story for the ages. ||||| Every picture tells a story. But a photo making the Internet rounds of a man eating at a California In-N-Out Burger alongside a picture of his deceased wife has uncovered a story of true love that will make you squeeze your honey extra hard tonight. Two weeks ago, imgur.com user "soulrose" posted a picture of a man perched in a red and white booth gazing longingly at a photo, with his walker nearby. "I saw this elderly gentleman dining by himself, with an old picture of a lady in front of him. I though [sic] maybe I could brighten his day by talking to him,” soulrose writes. Tearjerker of the day. Elderly man pictured eating with photo of his "soulmate" of 55 years who died 5 years ago. pic.twitter.com/z8RwHfLw73 — Jeff McArthur (@jmacspeaks) October 29, 2014 After talking to the man, the user found out it was indeed his wife, and proceeded to be blown away by the story of how they met and their enduring love. “They met when they were both 17. They dated briefly, then lost contact when he went to war and her family moved. But he said he thought about her the entire war. After his return, he decided to look for her. He searched for her for 10 years and never dated anyone,” soulrose wrote. “People told him he was crazy, to which he replied 'I am. Crazy in love.' On a trip to California, he went to a barber shop. He told the barber how he had been searching for a girl for ten years. The barber went to his phone and called his daughter in. It was her! She had also been searching for him and never dated either.” According to the story, the unnamed man proposed right then and there was married to his wife for 55 years before she died 2009. Madina Bashizaduah from San Francisco posted a similar image on Twitter on Oct. 22 of the same man—just with a different shirt and new picture. She said he always leaves home with a picture of his sweetheart and recounted the same story of a fateful love for the ages. Oh my god I just died!!! He has a picture of his wife with him as he eats! I love him I love love ���������� pic.twitter.com/c9t0qKJfEi — ℳadi ℬash (@Maaadina) October 22, 2014 Soulrose said the man had a few nuggets of wisdom, saying: "I was a very rich man. Not with money, but with love" and "Tell your wife that you love her everyday. And be sure to ask her, have I told you that I love you lately?"

– Determined not to forget his true love after her death five years ago, an elderly man has been bringing along a photo of her during his outings to a California burger joint. Multiple patrons have spotted the widower at an In-N-Out Burger, seated with a photo of his deceased wife in front of him. Photos of the loving husband have gone viral, and folks who've approached him say he has been "happy and excited to talk about her." Madina Bashizadah tweeted a photo of the man last week and emailed the Huffington Post that when she saw him, "I started tearing up because it was such a beautiful moment but heartbreaking at the same time." She says that he told diners that he met his wife when they were both 17, lost touch for 10 years, then married "instantly" once they reunited—they were together for 55 years before she died. Imgur user soulrose spotted the man on an earlier outing, Fox News reports, and wanted to try to "brighten his day," but the diner ended up brightening soulrose's day instead by revealing he still celebrates his wife's birthday and their anniversary. Other sweet revelations from their conversation: "I was a very rich man. Not with money, but with love." "I never had a single argument with my wife, but we had lots of debates." "Tell your wife that you love her every day. And be sure to ask her: Have I told you that I love you lately?" (This man dove deep underwater to leave something special for his deceased wife.)

Hell hath no fury like the mother of an entitled, lazy, narcissistic millennial. One such mother in Toronto has taken her frustration over having to bankroll her 23-year-old son's lifestyle, along with her impressive Quickbooks skills, and used them to send him a powerful message: Bitch better have my money! "Mom gave me an invoice for supporting me for three months," Reddit user Chalipo wrote in a post on the subReddit /r/funny last month. "Charged me $1000 for being an unappreciative asshole." Other charges on the list included home utilities, prescriptions, cleaning services, health insurance and "specialty meals" — all things that are often consumed by entitled, lazy, narcissistic millennials, who might still be living at home with their parents because they're burdened with too much student loan debt to be able to afford to move out. In a new interview with TODAY, Chalipo's mom said that her invoice was just a lighthearted gag and she does not actually expect her son — who, statistically speaking, is probably making way less money than his parents did — to pay her the $39,000 she is owed. "It was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, although obviously I was a little annoyed by him, as you can see with that thousand dollar itemized 'unappreciative' comment," she told TODAY. "But he was never expected to pay it. It was really just to prove a point and to make him wake up." Will the wake-up call help Chalipo overcome his inherently entitled, lazy, narcissistic millennial nature and get a job, despite the dismal employment prospects facing his generation? Only time will tell. (No, but seriously, our generation is totally screwed.) h/t TODAY ||||| Parents Angry mom bills 'unappreciative son' $39K for things he takes for granted share tweet pin email A 23-year-old Toronto student living at home just got schooled about failing to give his mother the respect she deserves. After the two got into an argument that both sides agreed stemmed from a misunderstanding, the mother drew up a $39,254 bill, charging him for just a fraction of the ways she has supported her son since he moved back home 13 months ago. Among the more notable expenses on the bill: a $1,000 fee for “being an a**hole and not appreciative of your mother’s support financially or otherwise.” The stunt worked. The son owned up to his poor behavior and apologized. And then he immediately shared his mom’s note on Reddit. Reddit “I just looked at it and thought, ‘This is golden Reddit material,’” the young man, who goes by “Chalipo” on the platform, said in a phone interview with TODAY.com. “I thought it was one of those things that everyone would appreciate and get a good laugh out of it. I expected a couple of witty comments but I didn’t know that it would make international headlines.” The post went viral, with most people finding the note humorous and sympathizing with Chalipo’s mom. “It was a joke," she said. "It was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, although obviously I was a little annoyed by him, as you can see with that thousand dollar itemized ‘unappreciative’ comment. But he was never expected to pay it. It was really just to prove a point and to make him wake up.” But some Reddit users criticized the way she went about making her point, or mistook her for being serious. That’s why neither she nor her son wanted their real names used. RELATED: Boy, 5, gets 'no-show' bill for missing his buddy's birthday party The argument that ultimately led to the invoice began over an application Chalipo’s mom was trying to fill out over the phone for a plan to help cover medication costs for Chalipo's brother. Because the plan only provides coverage for an entire household, Chalipo’s mother needed information from her older son, who refused to provide it. Both he and his mother admit he didn’t understand the circumstances at the time. “To me, I thought I was arguing about giving her my personal information to a stranger over the phone, when I knew there were scams going on out there,” Chalipo said. “I didn’t have all the facts.” And yes, both agreed that Chalipo acted, indeed, like a … jerk. “I can see why she thought I was being selfish, but my motives weren’t bad,” he said. Shutterstock Front view of female bank employee in elegant white blouse writing something on receipts with documents and adding machine on her wooden desk.; Shutterstock ID 312203876; PO: today.com - mish In addition to being charged for being unappreciative, Chalipo’s mom also billed her son $1,037 for his portion of the electricity bill, $23,550 for five years of tuition and $5,726 for health care premiums. She clarified that the $600 she charged him for “wedding, xmas gifts, valentines” was not for anything she bought him but, instead, money she gave so that he could buy presents for others, including a Valentine’s Day gift for his girlfriend. "She was being generous so I could be generous," Chalipo agreed. Chalipo has lived with his mom for most of his life but moved in with his father about three years ago. He moved back in with his mother 13 months ago and currently works part time and is a full-time student. He plans to graduate soon with a radio broadcast degree and is saving up to move into his own place with his girlfriend. “He’s a good kid. He means well,” his mother said. Chalipo said he eventually plans to repay his mom, hopefully in more ways than one. “My mom will get old one day and I’ll take care of her and spend years and years repaying her, even changing her diapers,” he said. His mother wasn't sure how to respond to the gesture. “That’s a really morbid thought," she said, "but thanks." Follow TODAY.com writer Eun Kyung Kim on Twitter. ||||| Press J to jump to the feed. Press question mark to learn the rest of the keyboard shortcuts r/funny ||||| After an argument, one fed-up mother in Brampton, Toronto, decided to give her 23-year-old son who lives at home a wake-up call by invoicing him for more than $39,000. The son, known on Reddit as “Chalipo,” posted the invoice to the site on March 2, and it's since gone viral. “We got into a discussion that it doesn’t cost a lot for him to live here,” Chalipo’s mom, 51, who asked that her name not be disclosed, told ABC News today. But her son didn't get it. So she made up a mock invoice to show how much money her son costs her. Chalipo’s mom addressed the invoice to her “Unappreciative Son” and wrote that it was “for services delivered free of charge in the last 13 months ALONE (except for Tuition – which is 5 years).” The bill came to a grand total of $39,254.17. Courtesy Chalipo There were the typical charges for Internet, cable and gas. But there were also some unique charges such as “specialty meals,” “contribution towards wedding, xmas gifts, valentines” -- which she clarified was money she gave to him to buy gifts -- and a $1,000 charge for “being an a--hole and not appreciative of your mother's support.” Chalipo, who also asked that his real name not be disclosed, said that he chuckled at the last charge. But he added that the invoice did teach him a lesson about being more appreciative of his mother. “After a few moments of quiet reflection, I let my mom know how effective this invoice was to help me understand how much she does for me and my brother,” Chalipo said. He added that he posted the invoice on Reddit because he knew people could get a laugh out of it, but he “had no idea it was going to make national headlines.” But, most importantly, Chalipo wants to “embrace this situation and show my appreciation.” He said he hopes to be “successful one day to support my family and continue to do good things for my family.” “I guess it worked,” Chalipo’s mother said. “It helped bring us closer,” her son added. “It restored her faith in me to be a successful son.”

– A Reddit user living in Toronto better be kissing up to his momma for quite a while: The 23-year-old student, who goes by Chalipo on Reddit, recently got into an argument with his mom about how much it had cost her to support him over the last 13 months, reports ABC News. The pair clearly disagreed, so his mom drew up an invoice—including $23,550 for college tuition, $1,200 for specialty meals, an $187.20 share of the cable bill, and $1,000 "for being an a--hole and not appreciative of your mother's support financially or otherwise"—adding up to $39,254.17 after she applied 13% tax. As Mic.com puts it, "Hell hath no fury like the mother of an entitled, lazy, narcissistic millennial." "I just looked at it and thought, 'This is golden Reddit material,'" Chalipo, who shared the invoice on the platform on March 1, tells Today.com. The post quickly went viral. "I thought it was one of those things that everyone would appreciate and get a good laugh out of it ... but I didn't know that it would make international headlines," Chalipo adds. His mom admits she never expected her son to pay the bill. "It was intended to be tongue-in-cheek, although obviously I was a little annoyed by him," she says. "It was really just to prove a point and to make him wake up." It worked. "This was a very effective parenting technique and it has helped me to realize what an entitled little s--- I have been," Chalipo writes on Reddit. He also plans to make it up to his mom eventually. "My mom will get old one day and I'll take care of her and spend years and years repaying her, even changing her diapers," Chalipo says. Mom's response: "That's a really morbid thought, but thanks." (This mom billed her son as a roommate.)

North Korea's development of long-range missiles in 'final stages', leader Kim Jong-un says Posted North Korean leader Kim Jong-un says his country's development of banned long-range missiles is in its "final stages". In a televised New Year's address, Mr Kim said Pyongyang is close to test-launching an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). "Research and development of cutting-edge arms equipment is actively progressing and ICBM rocket test launch preparation is in its last stage," Mr Kim said. North Korea tested ballistic missiles at an unprecedented rate during 2016, although some experts have said it is years away from developing an ICBM fitted with a nuclear warhead capable of reaching the United States. The country has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The sanctions were tightened last month after Pyongyang conducted its fifth and largest nuclear test on September 9. In February, North Korea launched a satellite into space, which was widely seen as a test of long-range ballistic missile technology. South Korea 'to maintain military readiness' Meanwhile in South Korea, Prime Minister and Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn has sought to bolster the military, saying Seoul will spend whatever it takes to support the armed forces. "Our people have firm faith in our troops as they maintain stern military readiness with strong willpower," Mr Hwang said in a recorded message for the troops. Mr Hwang, who is leading the country following President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, has dismissed calls by the opposition to reconsider a decision to deploy an advanced US missile defence system to cope with North Korean threats. The plans to deploy the Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence system, or THAAD, has angered not only North Korea but also China, which suspects that the system would allow US radar to better track its missiles. AP/Reuters Topics: defence-and-national-security, world-politics, korea-democratic-people-s-republic-of, korea-republic-of ||||| North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said his country would continue developing long-range nuclear strike capabilities in 2017, while apologizing for failing to achieve certain goals in 2016, a video recording of his New Year’s Day speech showed on Sunday. Pyongyang will reach the final preparation stages for test-firing an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Kim said, notable because North Korea has historically suggested its long-range rocket launches are intended solely for satellite launch purposes. “The project of test-firing an intercontinental ballistic rocket enters into the final stage, which is included in [the country’s achievement],” Kim said. The statement follows remarks by high-profile North Korean diplomatic defector Thae Yong Ho that North Korea intends to complete its nuclear weapons development cycle by the end of 2017. Clad in a Western-style suit, Kim further said in his noon speech on Korean Central Television (KCTV) that Pyongyang would become “a powerful country with nuclear weapons” in 2017. And Kim further pledged to reinforce North Korea’s self-defense and preemptive strike capabilities by “making nuclear weapons a cornerstone (policy)” as long as the United States and South Korea “continue their nuclear threats” and annual joint military drills. APOLOGY AND ANGER Unlike his previous New Year’s addresses, the speech was also notable because Kim apologized – to an extent – to North Korean citizens, while also referencing the South Korean president by name. “Seeing that another year has started, my heart grows heavy with thoughts on how I may serve our people – the best in the world who trust and supports me with their solidarity – better and higher this year,” Kim Jong Un said towards the end of his address. “I have spent the whole year with regrets and a guilty conscience, to see my ability failing to reach what I have planned for the people. This year, I have made up my mind to spur on to greater efforts and to devote all of myself to the people.” But Kim criticized the South for driving inter-Korean relations to “the worst phase” and urged Seoul to come up with “aggressive measures” to ease military tensions on the Korean peninsula. “The South Korean government should respond to ‘our sincere efforts’ in preventing military collisions between the North and the South and alleviate the state of tension,” Kim said. “The ‘adulterine smear campaign against the DPRK and hostile actions,’ with an expectation of regime… change, should be immediately stopped,” Kim added. While Kim said he was willing to discuss reconciliation with his South Korean counterpart in his 2016 New Year’s speech, he specifically referenced the name of the now-disgraced South Korean president in Sunday’s speech. “We should vigorously engage in an all-national (meaning both Koreas) fight for smashing activities of anti-unification and unpatriotic group with toadyism like Park Geun-hye,” Kim said. Kim also slammed the South’s political situation, describing a series of candle vigils in the South calling for impeached President Park to step down as “anti-government rallies.” The rallies are a sign of an “explosion of deep-rooted grudge and anger against the conservative government, which strives for dictatorship, inhumane policies, flunkeyism and quislingism and fratricidal confrontation,” Kim said. ECONOMY On the economic front, Kim heavily emphasized successes the DPRK achieved from its 70-day battle and 200-day battle, the two major national campaigns which were underway for a large part of last year. Describing the two campaigns as “grandiose and creative battles” that opened the path towards the “new age,” Kim said their successes brought the “turning points on every battle line” to North Korea. Kim also referred to a “miraculous victory” while describing the North’s flood recovery work, a disaster which swept the country from late August to September last year. Claiming that multiple factories, companies, and collective farms achieved record-breaking outcomes in 2016, Kim once again highlighted the mentality of Jagangnyeok (self-sustainability) as the key to boosting the economy in 2017, a term that was repeated many times during the previous year’s address. Furthermore, Kim said the nation’s five-year economic growth plan – a long-term economic strategy first outlined in 2016 – should be continued. And while stressing the need to improve the state’s scientific output, electric production, chemistry, metal industry, mechanics, farming, fishing, and coal production, Kim especially stressed the importance of light industry. Ordering the nationalization of the state production process, Kim also outlined an intention to define proper business strategies to diversify and increase the quality of North Korean-made consumer goods produced from light industry infrastructure. Kim has also said that workers should finish the ongoing refurbishment of Ryomyong Street, a luxury residence boulevard in Pyongyang originally meant to be completed by December 2016, but delayed due to flood rehabilitation efforts. The annual speeches of North Korean leaders are regularly scrutinized by analysts for signs of potential policy changes for the year ahead. This article was written by Dagyum Ji and JH Ahn Featured Image: Rodong Sinmun ||||| SEOUL—North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un said on Sunday that his country is finalizing preparations for a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, which would mark an advance in its attempt to build a nuclear weapon capable of reaching the U.S. Mr. Kim, delivering a new-year address from Pyongyang on state television, also said that North Korea would continue to increase its military capabilities, with an emphasis on pre-emptive nuclear strikes, according to a transcript of his remarks by the Korean Central News... ||||| Story highlights Kim referred to his country as a "nuclear and military power," state media says The country conducted two nuclear tests and various missile tests in 2016 Kim determined to develop nukes by the end of 2017 "at all costs," defector says Seoul (CNN) North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said that his country is close to testing an intercontinental ballistic missile. "Research and development of the cutting-edge tech weapons are actively progressing and strengthening our defense capabilities, including last stage preparation of tests for intercontinental ballistic rocket launch have been continuously succeeding," Kim said in a televised address on New Year's Day. The speech was full of the North's usual self-congratulatory, lofty proclamations and anti-Western rhetoric. Kim referred to North Korea as a "nuclear and military power in the east that formidable enemy dare encroach on" and said "unless the US and its vassal forces stop nuclear threat and blackmail and unless they stop the war exercises which they stage right at our noses under the pretext of annual exercises, the DPRK would keep increasing the military capabilities for self-defense and preemptive striking capacity with a main emphasis on nuclear force," according to state news agency KCNA. JUST WATCHED What could Trump do about North Korea? Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH What could Trump do about North Korea? 02:29 But there's reason to take Kim's threats more seriously than those in years past.

– Kim Jong Un was up bright and early New Year's Day to make his first announcement of 2017: that North Korea is in the "final stages" of development of a long-range intercontinental ballistic missile and a test launch is imminent, ABC Australia reports. In his address on state TV from Pyongyang, Kim said his country would keep ramping up its nuclear weapons program until the US backs out of holding yearly military exercises in South Korea, and he reiterated previous claims that preemptive nuclear strikes were on the table, per the Wall Street Journal. "Research and development of cutting-edge arms equipment is actively progressing and ICBM rocket test launch preparation is in its last stage," Kim said, per ABC. Mixed with this ominous message was Kim's revelation that "I have spent the whole year with regrets and a guilty conscience" for not reaching certain goals, spurring a promise to "devote all of myself to the people," per NK News. Although CNN notes Kim's speech was "full of the North's usual self-congratulatory, lofty proclamations and anti-Western rhetoric," it also adds there may be reason to pay closer attention to Kim's words this time around. North Korea stayed busy on the weapons experimentation front throughout 2016, despite 10 years of UN sanctions: It test-launched ballistic missiles at what ABC calls an "unprecedented rate," put a satellite into space in February (believed to be a test of long-range ballistic missile capabilities), and pulled off its fifth nuclear test in September. Experts have estimated that North Korea's timeline for being able to mount a weapon on an ICBM that could reach US shores is probably still two to three years away, but per CNN, a "high-profile North Korean" defector has said Kim is set on developing nukes by year's end "at all costs."

Mendocino County Today: Thursday, July 23, 2015 by AVA News Service, July 23, 2015 BOWE BERGDAHL, the once-missing U.S. soldier in Afghanistan released in a prisoner exchange and later accused of desertion, was an unexpected visitor in Mendocino County this week. He was visiting old friends when the local dope team arrived on a marijuana raid. Bergdahl, who is awaiting military court martial, had an Army pass allowing him to be in Mendocino County. He apparently had no connection to the dope grow. Still military authorities were notified, and after calls "all the way up to the Pentagon," he was turned over a military escort who came to Ukiah to fetch him. SHERIFF TOM ALLMAN CONFIRMED Thursday morning that Sgt. Bergdahl was indeed in Mendocino County on Tuesday morning when the County's drug task force raided a property on Tomki Road, Redwood Valley. Bergdahl, who is on active duty while he awaits his court martial, "was not involved" in the marijuana operation, the Sheriff said, adding that Bergdahl was "above politeness" as several people from the home where Bergdahl was visiting were taken into custody. The Sheriff said Bergdahl had "readily produced his military ID." Instantly aware that the Sgt. was a high profile person, the Sheriff's Department quickly confirmed that Bergdahl was on an authorized leave to visit friends in Northern California and uninvolved with marijuana production. BERGDAHL had arrived last Friday at the remote property 7 miles northeast of central Redwood Valley, and was scheduled to return to the East Coast on Wednesday. He was not arrested. At the Pentagon's request, the combat veteran was transported by the Sheriff's Department to Santa Rosa where he was met by an Army major who was to accompany Bergdahl to his duty station near Washington. PLOWRIGHTS FINALLY FINED AV couple to pay $25,000 fine for water violations An Anderson Valley couple will be required to pay a $25,000 fine for violating a Cleanup and Abatement Order relating to illegal construction activities that allegedly caused sediment discharges into Little Mill Creek and its tributaries in Mendocino County, the North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board reported. The Cleanup and Abatement Order, issued in January 2011, alleges that Thomas R. Plowright III and Patricia Plowright had reconstructed existing roads, built new ones and used a bulldozer to move earthen material into watercourses, including Little Mill Creek outside of Philo. The creek feeds into the Navarro River and provides habitat for Steelhead trout and feeds streams that harbor Coho salmon. The alleged illegal construction activities violated the California Water Code and federal Clean Water Act. On Jan. 24, 2014, the Regional Water Board initiated an enforcement action against the Plowrights for failure to comply with the provisions of the Cleanup and Abatement Order. The Plowrights had failed to complete the full scope of the cleanup and replanting required under the order, and they did not monitor or report adequately to maintain compliance. On June 16, the Regional Water Board approved a stipulation for entry of judgment and proposed judgment. The judgment requires the Plowrights to pay $25,000 in penalties for water code violations, correct existing and ongoing violations and requires continued monitoring. All existing violations have been remedied, with the monitoring provisions required by the judgment still to be completed. The penalty will be paid to the State Water Resources Control Board’s Cleanup and Abatement Account. The North Coast Regional Board posted the proposed judgment on May 15, and Mendocino County Superior Court adopted the judgment on June 23. (The original incident occurred in the spring of 2010. It’s taken over five years for the creek damage case to make its way through the system.) MICHAEL KISSLINGER has died. Formerly a reporter for Mendocino County Public Radio and active in Ukiah-area civil affairs, Kisslinger leaves behind his wife, Anne Molgaard of First Five, an adult son, Zane, and a daughter, Aleyna. Michael Albert Kisslinger - age: 60 (January 26, 1955 to July 20, 2015 ) Michael Albert Kisslinger, 60, died of natural causes on Monday, July 20th, 2015, in Ukiah. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, one of three children of Robert Leo and Jean (Farbstein) Kisslinger. He grew up and attended public primary and high schools in University City, Missouri. He then spent the next eleven years attending three different universities pursuing seven different fields of study. He began his educational journey at Washington University in St. Louis, spent time at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and eventually acquired a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Enology and Fermentation Science from University of California, Davis. Later, he earned a Master’s Degree in Negotiation and Conflict Management from California State University, Dominguez Hills. Michael married Anne Cecile Molgaard in 1994 in Hopland, CA. They have two children, Zane and Aleyna. Michael was a man of many talents and skills, and spent time employed as a winemaker, conflict manager, nonprofit consultant, grantwriter, library technician, substitute teacher, and radio host. He was a professional folk dancer, got by in several languages, had a second degree black belt in Aikido, and was a nationally ranked Judo master as a teenager. Michael loved to cook, play cribbage, read science fiction, and volunteered with many community service groups throughout Mendocino County. He was curious, gregarious, and deeply interested in people and their stories. He loved long elaborate puns. But although he had many and varied interests, Michael’s children were his most enduring source of love, pride and accomplishment. Michael is survived by his daughter Aleyna, son Zane, and wife Anne. He also leaves his sister Donna Kisslinger Abram (Bill), brother Frank Kisslinger, and his daily morning canine companion, Hana. He was predeceased by his parents. Friends are invited to a memorial gathering on Thursday, July 23rd, at 6 pm in the picnic area of Todd Grove Park. Rabbi Shoshanah Devorah will preside, and light refreshments will be served. Please consider bringing a lawn chair. Funeral services will be held privately in the Gan Yarok section of Fernwood Cemetery in Mill Valley. Michael had often expressed a wish for a green burial in a natural setting with the least impact to the environment, rather than internment in a matzohleum. In lieu of flowers, donations can be sent to The Community Foundation of Mendocino County. * * * UNFORTUNATE CIRCUMSTANCES “Communication and Conflict Management Skills for Community Based Organizations” Workshops at County Libraries in August — Canceled. Do to unfortunate circumstances, Mendocino County Library’s scheduled public workshops on “Communication and Conflict Management Skills for Community Based Organizations” at Ukiah and Fort Bragg libraries have been cancelled. THE REDUNDANT and still proposed Coast trash transfer station did not get its anticipated rubber stamp from a joint meeting of the Supervisors and Fort Bragg City Council. The meeting was postponed until August 18th in Ukiah. Fish and Wildlife is threatening a lawsuit if the $5 million project proceeds. There is an existing transfer station at Pudding Creek owned and operated by Waste Management which could easily accommodate the relatively small added burden of trash now processed at Caspar. ON TUESDAY, July21, 2015, at approximately 11:30 PM, a Mendocino County Sheriff's Deputy was on routine patrol and noted a vehicle parked in an unusual place, partially hidden, behind Hopper's Dairy, a business located at 17707 N. Hwy 1, Fort Bragg, Ca. The deputy checked the area on foot and saw a subject in the darkness behind one of the delivery trucks, who was trying to sneak away. The deputy engaged the subject, recognizing him from prior contacts as John Cooley Jr., 38, of Fort Bragg. Subsequent investigation revealed that the locks had been broken off of the back of two of the delivery trucks and their doors were open. A broken lock was subsequently located in Cooley's pocket, and a large wrench was located, along with a piece of the broken lock, near one of the trucks. Cooley, who is on probation in addition to currently being out of custody on bail pending court appearances for a recent theft arrest, was arrested for two counts of burglary, possession of burglary tools, committing an offense while out on bail, and violation of probation. John Cooley Jr. was lodged at the Mendocino County Jail for Burglary, Possession of Burglary Tools, Crimes commit while on Bail and Violation of Probation and is being held with bail set at $45,000. CATCH OF THE DAY, July 22, 2015 JOSE BARRIGA-BARRERA, Ukiah. Probation revocation. ERIN BLACKWELL, Ukiah. Probation revocation. (Frequent flyer.) DANIEL BUTLER, Ukiah. Drunk in public, violation of county parole. JOHN COOLEY JR., Fort Bragg. Burglary, possession of burglary tools, offenses while on bail, probation revocation. DARLENE DAVIS, Covelo. Conspiracy, probation revocation. LONNY ELLIOTT, Ukiah. Violation of protective order, probation revocation. DILLON FOWLER, Cincinnati, Ohio/Ukiah. DUI, resisting. KENNETH HANOVER, Covelo. Arson, conspiracy. WILLIAM KING, Fort Bragg. Failure to appear, probation revocation. DANYELL LINDSEY, Sacramento/Ukiah. Suspended license. BRYAN LOCKWOOD, Ukiah. Drunk in public, probation revocation. NATHAM MORALES, Covelo. Probation revocation. DAVID PETERS, Covelo. DUI, failure to appear. THOMAS SANDERS, Ukiah. Drunk in public. (Frequent flyer.) JACQUELINE SMITH, Fort Bragg. Vehicle theft, possession of meth for sale, probation revocation. JOHN ZERANGUE, Ukiah. Pot possession for sale. REMEMBERING ROSIE MARIE GROVER by Jodie Martinez Early in the morning of July 19, 1985, while most of Ukiah was asleep, the Greyhound bus from San Francisco arrived in town, making its usual stop at the Yokayo Shopping Center on South State Street to let off passengers. The Ukiah passenger who left the safety of the bus that morning between 3:30 and 4 a.m. was Rosie Marie Grover. She had been spending the summer after her freshman year at Ukiah High in the Bay Area, staying with relatives in Hayward, where she had a summer job at an ice cream parlor. She was planning to use the money she earned for school clothes that fall. It was not the first job Rosie had held. Like many girls her age, she was an occasional babysitter, caring for the children of family friends and acquaintances while their parents enjoyed a night out or attended a community event. She also earned her own money by taking housecleaning jobs, and was described by her mother, Marilyn Hall, as “very independent.” Jackie Tupper, manager of the Deep Valley Mobile Home Park at the south end of Ukiah, where Rosie and her family lived, described her as a “very pretty, very sweet girl.” On that day 30 years ago, Rosie Grover arrived in Ukiah to find only a dark, deserted parking lot at the Greyhound depot. It was a Friday, and there had apparently been confusion over who would meet her. Relatives in Ukiah were expecting her on the afternoon bus, and those in the Bay Area thought someone would be meeting the early bus. Earlier, Rosie had telephoned the mother of a friend she wanted to visit that weekend. The friend’s mother later said that she had told Rosie her son would not be home that weekend, and that she herself had a broken-down car and would be unable to meet the bus. “I didn’t expect her on any bus,” she said. “Rosie, somehow, got it into her head that I would be there if my car were fixed. I think she wanted to come home so bad that she got it into her head somebody would be there.” No one was. Rosie was alone … she was frightened … she was 15. In many ways, Rosie Grover has become Ukiah’s child. Throughout the community – from her friends, her family, parents of every age child, even those of us who never knew her in life – we wish we could have been there when she stepped off that Greyhound bus to see her safely home. Rosie was wearing blue jeans, a white blouse, a pink sweater, pink shoes and pink socks. She was facing a walk home of more than a mile to a part of town that even today, three decades later, has little street lighting. She was also carrying a suitcase and a backpack. There were no cell phones, and “text” referred only to a book, not a form of communication. Rosie, carrying her luggage, turned south on State Street toward home. When she reached Foster’s Freeze on the east side of State Street near Talmage Road, she used a nearby pay phone to call for help, reaching the Ukiah office of the California Highway Patrol. Rosie’s first words to the CHP dispatcher were: “Yes. I wanted to know if somebody could come get me because I don’t have a way home and I just got off the bus.” The dispatcher told her “We don’t provide transport at all. Where do you have to go?” “I just have to get down the street a little ways and I don’t want to walk by myself because I’m really afraid,” Rosie answered. Asked if she were at the Greyhound bus depot, Rosie said she had walked as far as Foster Freeze. “OK,” the dispatcher said. “You should call the police department. I don’t know if they provide transport; the highway patrol doesn’t, not in the city limits anyway.” In addition to being frightened, and probably tired, Rosie knew that as a teenager she wasn’t supposed to be out late at night. “The police department? OK. Will I get into trouble for curfew even though it’s not my fault?,” she asked the dispatcher. “I don’t know,” the dispatcher replied. “It would be your parents that would get in trouble, not you.” “Oh, yeah, OK,” Rosie said. “Thank you.” “OK. Good-bye,” the CHP dispatcher replied. Rosie may then have tried to call her mother, whose phone rang that morning about that time, but when Marilyn Hall answered there was only a dial tone. Two hours later, Rosie’s lifeless body was found in the dry bed of Doolan Creek just off State Street. She had been raped, strangled, stabbed repeatedly and bludgeoned. Every bone in her face was broken. Before the morning was out, 21-year-old Richard Dean Clark, who had reported finding her body, was behind bars. He was a drifter, who had been staying with friends in the 700 block of South State Street. The night Rosie was killed he had spent the night in a car owned by one of the friends, and told police he had seen her walking on State Street. Clark confessed that he killed Rosie when she told him she was going to report him for having raped her. He told police that he thought his reporting finding the body would keep him from becoming a suspect. Even three decades later, the “community revulsion” over Rosie’s death has not diminished. Richard Dean Clark was convicted of raping and murdering her, with a special allegation that he killed in order to avoid arrest. His 1987 murder trial was one of the few moved out of the county due to the extensive pre-trial media coverage. Clark was prosecuted by the state Attorney General’s Office, and a San Jose jury recommended that he receive the death penalty, a recommendation adhered to by the presiding judge. Clark, now 51, has been on Death Row at San Quentin since Dec. 19, 1987. At the time he was convicted of killing Rosie, he was unable to read or write, but through attorneys he has avoided being put to death for nearly 28 years now. His 2009 appeal worked its way through the court system, with numerous time extensions along the way, and after four-and-a-half years was denied by federal District Court Judge William Alsup on March 31, 2014. Within a month, a new appeal was filed with the US Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. A week after her death, Rosie Grover was laid to rest in a corner of Ukiah’s Russian River Cemetery nearest the high school where she would have been a sophomore in the fall of 1985. Sunday evening, on the 30th anniversary of her death, a new memorial tree and bench at McGarvey Park in Ukiah will be dedicated in Rosie’s honor by friends and family. In a social media post, Rosie’s friend Denise Smith Mazan wrote the following: “July 19th marks the 30-year anniversary since my lifelong friend Rosie Grover’s life was tragically taken from her. A very sweet soul, Brian A Wells, who didn’t even know Rosie, but like so many people in Ukiah was impacted by the loss, decided to raise money to have a tree planted and bench installed in her honor.... Rosie’s death changed my life, and so many others. But her life is what mattered, the smiles she brought, the laughs, her loyalty. I had known Rosie since kindergarten, so just 10 short years until her death, but she has been in my life for 40 years and will continue to do so for the rest of my life. “This bench can just be a bench where people relax, or like my mom did at this very park when she was pregnant with me, sit and take a break on her walk to and from work. Or this bench could be more... Rosie’s life wasn’t perfect, but she always chose to put a smile on her face and bring happiness to the world. We all live with crazy stress, but life has a way of taking care of itself; you never know when that life will be gone. So choose to bring happiness to the world, your family, your friends, yourself. “Thank you, Rosie Grover, for that forever smile that we will never forget. I love you forever.” A footnote: Rosie Grover’s death led to a statewide change in CHP policy. “That was the impetus for making the policy change,” a Ukiah CHP dispatcher said in 2005. “Now we will make those phone calls” rather than leave it up to the person in need. If the agency having jurisdiction “were unable to respond, we would respond with our own officers,” local CHP Capt. Steve Bernard told a Daily Journal reporter on the 20th anniversary of Rosie’s death. (Courtesy, the Ukiah Daily Journal) FRIENDS OF OUTLET CREEK CA DFW database shows over $2 million expended for Salmonid Habitat Restoration in Outlet Creek Watershed Re: Grist Creek Aggregate — 500,000 ton per year Asphalt Plant on Outlet Creek approved with NO CEQA REVI EW Is there a new Streambed Alteration Agreement for this property? To: Angela Liebenberg CA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife Re: CEQA Review Coordinator for Mendocino Co. Hi Angela - this is a follow up to the email below which I sent on 7/21/15. Please see the attached summary of grant expenditures for Salmonid Habitat Restoration in the Outlet Creek Watershed, which the Friends of Outlet Creek are trying to protect from a new 500,000 ton per year asphalt plant which has been approved by the County of Mendocino with no CEQA review. Attached is a data base query result from the CA Dept of Fish and Wildlife data base; https://map.dfg.ca.gov/bios/?al=ds168. The query is a summary of grant funds expended in the Outlet Creek Watershed for Salmonid Habitat Restoration and Improvement, and shows a total of over $2,000,000 spent. The Friends of Outlet Creek are concerned that the threats to endangered Coho, Chinook and steelhead will be significantly increased with the installation of a new asphalt plant in the floodplain of Outlet Creek. We hope that you or someone in your agency would have concerns about this asphalt plant project and the potential it presents for fish habitat degradation in the Outlet Creek watershed, due to increased sediment delivery and point source pollutants entering the waterway. Please contact me if you have questions or comments. Thanks Glen Colwell, Willits 707-836-6595 PS. Hi Angela, I was referred to you by Laurie Harnsberger in the Eureka CA Fish and Wildlife office, and understand that you are the current CEQA review coordinator for Mendocino Co. I also left you a voice message around noon today on your office line. To begin, I've attachment a 2011 12-page Streambed Alteration Agreement between the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG) and Mr. Brian Hurt representing Grist Creek Aggregates, LLC. (Permittee). There are a total of six attachments with this message; The project for which attached Streambed Alteration Agreement Notification #.1600-2011-0138-R1 was issued was never completed by the applicant. However, the applicant, Grist Creek Aggregates, has now received and Authority to Construct Permit for a 500,000 ton per year asphalt plant to be installed in the flood plain of Outlet Creek, from the Mendocino Air Quality Management District, and is not being required by the County of Mendocino to follow CEQA. The project is proceeding with no environmental review whatsoever, (the County is dodging an weaving to avoid identifying this as a "project" under CEQA; no Neg Dec has been issued and no agency is identified as the Lead Agency as required by CEQA), and is being grandfathered as a "vested right" under guidance by the Mendocino Co. Board of Supervisors. The Friends of Outlet Creek has filed a lawsuit (also attached) in the Superior Court of Mendocino County to require CEQA compliance. We are seeking support from your agency for the attached lawsuit in the form of letters on official letterhead, etc. supporting our position that CEQA compliance for this project is mandatory. We are a small hand full of property owners along Outlet Creek, struggling to defend this watershed - WE NEED HELP! Any assistance your agency can provide is much appreciated! I hope we can talk soon to discuss this urgent issue. There will be a public meeting to hear our APPEAL before the MCAQMD (Air District) Hearing Board this coming Friday 7/24 at 10AM in the City of Ukiah Council Chambers. I know this is extremely short notice, but if there is any chance you could attend this hearing, we would be so very grateful. Any guidance you can provide would also be greatly appreciated. Glen Colwell, Willits 707-836-6595 FROM THE PRESS DEMOCRAT: SLAIN LAYTONVILLE SENIOR ‘SPECIAL’ Laytonville victim “was going to be an important person.” On the day his good friend was arraigned in his killing, Laytonville High School senior Teo Palmieri was remembered by people who knew him as a smart, creative boy headed toward a bright future. Laytonville High School senior Teo Palmieri was a brilliant, creative boy headed toward a bright future when his life was cut short during an inexplicable, middle-of-the-night knife attack, allegedly by Talen Barton, the close friend he had convinced his family to take in. http://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/4235058-181/laytonville-slaying-victim-was-going * * * CANADIAN COVERAGE OF LAYTONVILLE MURDERS California double-homicide horrifies Canadian's relatives in Manitoba — Theodore Norvell's extended family is grateful that he survived attack by Karen Pauls, CBC News L-Theodore Norvell, an engineering professor at Memorial University in St. John's, was attacked while visiting relatives in California. (Memorial University) R-Kathleen Martens, a cousin of Theodore Norvell's wife, says the extended family is shocked and horrified. Several relatives have flown to California to help support the family. (CBC) * * * Family members of Theodore Norvell in Manitoba are shocked and horrified over a vicious attack in California that killed two people and critically injured him and one other person. Norvell, 52, of St. John's, N.L., suffered multiple life-threatening stab wounds to the chest and neck early Sunday morning. Their 15-year-old daughter, Saskia Schulz-Norvell, was also in the home at the time, but she was not hurt. However, Norvell's brother-in-law, Coleman Palmieri, 52, and 17-year-old nephew Teo were killed in the attack. His sister, Dr. Cindy Norvell, 54, suffered stab wounds when she tried to intervene. She is also in serious condition. Their 14-year-old daughter wasn't injured. The Canadians were on an annual visit to see Norvell's sister and her family near Sacramento. His daughter was planning to attend a summer youth camp nearby with her cousin. Theodore Norvell's wife, Cheryl Schulz, who is originally from Morris, Man., has rushed to California. "They're dealing with immediately their health, stabilizing their lives," Martens said. "Down the road, I don't think they can see all the steps that need to be taken. There's not only the murders, funerals, hospitals, there's the criminal justice side of it. The home is a crime scene, so they're staying with family and friends." A GoFundMe account has already been set up to help both families pay for the medical expenses. Talen Barton, 19, appeared in court on Tuesday. He is charged with murder, attempted murder and falsely imprisoning the two teenage girls. Barton is in Mendocino County Jail in his own cell, away from other inmates. He was not granted bail and will be back in court in two weeks. Police said Saskia Schulz-Norvell called 911 and was able to keep Barton calm. Shortly after, Barton took the phone and engaged in a lengthy conversation with the dispatcher. Barton is said to have admitted stabbing four people in the home. The dispatcher talked Barton into putting the knife down and surrendering to police. "Adults would've cowered at his feet," Martens said. "Your dad is bleeding out and you're in the middle of this crisis situation. I don't know what she was thinking, but to stay calm and make the call and summon help as quickly as she did. I know she saved lives. In my mind, she's a hero." Theodore Norvell is a computer science engineering professor at Memorial University in St. John's. The attack has touched his friends and colleagues. "We were shocked and saddened to hear the news," said Dr. Dennis Peters, head of the university's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. "Dr. Norvell is a well-respected, dedicated member of our faculty. Our thoughts and prayers are with him and his family during this critical time." Norvell loves to sail and is a longtime fencing coach. "Theodore Norvell is Rhys' fencing coach. We are devastated to learn of this tragic event and our thoughts and prayers are with the family," Kelly Ann Marshall wrote on the GoFundMe site. "Dr. Norvell is my favorite professor, and I'm so sorry he is at the center of such a grave tragedy. My condolences and thoughts go out to him and his family — happy to help however I can," Scott Wood added on the site. Local media in California is reporting that Teo Palmieri lobbied his family to let Barton live with them, after Barton got into trouble for allegedly trying to hit his foster mother with a 15-pound hand weight. "You just never know what can happen," Martens said. "They … treated him just like a son. He lived with them, so I can't imagine once they come out of everything, if they'll ever have time to process it or understand it — someone they loved and trusted." (Courtesy, Canadian Broadcasting, Manitoba) STATE COULD BAN BOBCAT TRAPPING AT UPCOMING MEETING IN FORTUNA by Ryan Burns Two weeks from now, on Aug. 4 and 5, the California Fish and Game Commission will hold its regular meeting here in Humboldt County, at Fortuna’s River Lodge Conference Center, and during its Wednesday session the commission is scheduled to decide whether or not to ban bobcat trapping statewide. It’s a controversial issue, with some groups lining up exactly as you’d expect — environmental nonprofits supporting a ban, trappers and hunters opposing — while others say more information is needed before a decision is made. Here in Humboldt, the Environmental Protection Information Center (EPIC) has joined the campaign supporting a ban. In an action alert posted on its website, EPIC points out that commercial bobcat trapping in the state is largely driven by the foreign market value for the cats’ pelts, particularly in China and Russia. The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors, meanwhile, opposes the ban, saying the Fish and Game Commission lacks the authority to take such a sweeping action and should instead take the alternative approach: establishing no-trapping buffer zones around state and national parks and wildlife sanctuaries, where trapping is already prohibited. (Hunting bobcats would still be allowed, as would trapping problem bobcats, such as those threatening livestock.) These two options — a statewide ban or a zone-based approach — represent the two alternative paths that the Fish and Game Commission could take as a means of implementing a state law that passed two years ago: Assembly Bill 1213, aka the Bobcat Protection Act of 2013. That law focused on the area surrounding Joshua Tree National Park, where bobcat trapping had become a hot-button issue after trappers illegally captured and killed a number of bobcats on private property. But the law also instructed the commission to consider extending the ban to lands “within, and adjacent to, preserves, state conservancies, and any other public or private conservation areas identified to the commission by the public as warranting protection … .” Those are pretty vague criteria, and late last year the commission started discussing the possibility of making those protected areas really big — as in, big enough to encompass the entire state. Some background Bobcat trapping used to be a relatively big business in California. Until the 1970s there were no protections for bobcats and no restrictions on the “take” or “harvest” of the animal. But in 1971, with domestic and international demand for bobcat pelts rising, the state legislature gave the species non-game status. Since then California has issued trapping licenses and kept track of how many are killed each year during the official trapping season, which runs from Nov. 24 through Jan. 31. During the 1977-78 season more than 20,000 bobcats were killed in California, but shortly thereafter the bottom began to drop out of the market. Bobcat pelts, like pretty much every other market, are subject to the laws of supply and demand. The average price for a pelt dropped from a high of $167.33 in 1986-87 to just $17.91 three years later, and the take numbers have been comparatively low ever since. But demand began to rise again in the early 2000s, driven by people in Russia and China (and, to a lesser extent, Eastern Europe) who want the thick, soft pelts for fur coats and showpieces. While the official stats from Fish and Wildlife put the average price of pelts at $390 in the 2013-14 season, wildlife advocates say they’ve gone as high as $2,100 apiece. The cost of an annual trapping license, meanwhile, is just $115. To many, this practice seems fundamentally barbaric and morally wrong. (The San Francisco Chronicle, for example, quoted a fourth-grader who said, “It is disgusting that people are killing the beautiful bobcats.”) Natalynne DeLapp, executive director of EPIC, agreed that it’s a moral issue, but said it’s also an economic and scientific one. The bobcat is an important and highly adaptable mid-sized predator, DeLapp said. She added that while both options before the commission would help protect the species, a trapping ban makes more financial sense. EPIC has joined forces on this issue with the Center for Biological Diversity, which estimates that the zonal approach to bobcat management would cost nearly $600,000 per year, far more than the state brings in from trapping licenses and shipping tags for sales and exports. “When we write our comments [to the commission] we do have to look at the issue from an economic standpoint to justify our larger reasoning, which is the intrinsic value” of bobcats, DeLapp said. How many bobcats? Both EPIC and the Center for Biological Diversity call attention to the fact that Fish and Wildlife’s estimate of the total statewide bobcat population — 72,000 — is more than 35 years old, and a somewhat dubious figure to begin with. When Governor Edmund G. “Jerry” Brown signed AB 1213 into law in October 2013, he issued a signing statement [pdf here] calling for a new bobcat population survey, though no such effort has been undertaken. Dr. Greta Wengert is the assistant director of the nonprofit Integral Ecology Research Center, based in Blue Lake, and she has studied bobcats fairly extensively in northwestern California and the southern end of the Sierra Nevada range. But she also doesn’t know how many bobcats there are in California. “I don’t think anyone has a good estimate at all,” she said. A more important consideration is the bobcat population in each specific ecosystem, Wengert said. She described bobcats as “a cosmopolitan species,” meaning they live not only in forest ecosystems, where they interact with fishers, martens and mountain lions, but also on the outskirts of urban areas in Southern California, where they’re threatened by development and habitat encroachment. Circumstantial evidence suggests that bobcats are not a threatened species from a statewide perspective, according to Wengert. For one thing, the harvest numbers are low compared to both the past and to other states. “From a population perspective, the amount [of bobcats] harvested each year does not seem like it will affect the overall bobcat population,” she said. But again she mentioned that specific bobcat communities could indeed be threatened. “I feel like there’s a lot of information missing on which to base decisions, and it [regulation] may have to become a local question,” Wengert said. The zonal approach to bobcat management aims to take those sensitive bobcat populations into consideration. More than 500 bobcats were killed here during the boom season of 1987-88, but there hasn’t been more than 10 harvested in any year since the 2000-01 season. (The blank spaces reflect gaps in the data, not years with no harvest.) The low prevalence of trapping here might be due to the fact that desert-dwelling bobcats tend to have thicker, softer and more spotted pelts than those of cats living this far north, Wengert said. Regarding the original law, Wengert said Joshua Tree National Park is known for having “really healthy bobcat populations.” That being the case, trapping done outside the park is not likely to threaten the overall population. “It’s almost like they’re surplus animals,” she said, before quickly adding, “That’s only from biological perspective. Ethics are a different issue; I’m not gonna go there.” The legislative process The Humboldt County Board of Supervisors doesn’t go there either, though they do oppose the ban. Back in January, the board unanimously voted to send a letter [pdf here] opposing that option to the heads of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and the California Fish and Game Commission. As Board Chair Estelle Fennell recently explained to the Outpost, the supervisors’ opposition to a ban was based not so much on a philosophical or ethical stand as on procedural concerns. (Siskiyou County supervisors sent a letter articulating the same objections in March.) “It was actually based on a request from [Humboldt County’s] own Fish and Game Advisory Commission,” Fennel said. “Their concern, and subsequently the board’s, was about circumventing the legislative process.” As the board sees it, an outright state ban on bobcat trapping was duly considered and rejected by the state legislature back in 2013, during debate on the law itself. Implementing the ban now would be overstepping the commission’s authority, the board letter argues. Furthermore, Fennell noted, the board thinks the Department of Fish and Wildlife should undertake the population survey requested by Governor Brown. The Department of Fish and Wildlife, for its part, has endorsed the zonal approach, basing its argument on numbers and science. (The agency suggests charging a new annual bobcat trapping validation fee of $1,137 to offset the increased costs of management.) But Sonke Mastrup, executive director of the Fish and Game Commission, said morality issues are not beyond the scope of the five-member commission’s criteria for making such decisions. “As I like to tell folks, the commission’s job is to balance what the science calls for and what the public will tolerate,” Mastrup said. “Science is certainly a foundation, but it’s not the only thing that goes into to making a decision.” The commission will also consider public testimony and other information provided during the course of deliberations. But Mastrup said that, so far, advocates for a total ban have focused on the moral aspect. “Based on the testimony I’ve been hearing, it’s more about the morality or ethics of whether we should be allowing people to commercially exploit bobcat furs,” Mastrup said. “Mostly [the testimony] boils down to: We just don’t like it.” (And if you’re at all prone to such feelings, browsing websites like CagingBobcats.com or the Facebook photos of Camtrip Cages will likely stir your sympathies.) Mastrup said it’s also possible that no decision will be reached at the Fortuna meeting. The commission could opt to implement one of the two options, it could postpone the decision or it could say it doesn’t like either option and come up with another approach altogether. EPIC will host a “teach-in” the Monday before the hearing from 6-8 p.m. at the Arcata Community Center’s Arts and Crafts Room. The event will also address a couple other items on the commission’s agenda, including a request to list the Pacific Fisher under the California Endangered Species Act as well as EPIC’s own petition to add the Humboldt marten to that list. As for the bobcats, there’s at least one point on which seemingly everyone agrees: Better data is sorely needed. “The bottom line for me,” Wengert said, “is that the state really needs to invest in really good bobcat population numbers.” Thus far there have been no specific proposals to do so. If you’d care to attend the meeting (or live-stream it through cal-span.org), you can download the agenda ahead of time here. (Courtesy, LostCoastOutpost.com where more charts and graphs can be found.) WEST NILE CASE DISCOVERED IN MENDOCINO COUNTY. — On Tuesday July 22, the first case of West Nile Virus in Mendocino County since 2014 was reported by local health officials. They do not know if the infected individual was infected in Mendocino County or elsewhere. The patient attributed the infection to mosquito bites while out of state during the incubation period. The patient is reportedly recovering. The California Department of Public Health reported that the state's first West Nile virus death of this year occurred earlier this week in Nevada County, when a senior citizen died of the virus. No other human West Nile cases have been reported this year in California, according to www.westnile.ca.gov. Contracting West Nile does not always produce symptoms, but severe symptoms occur in less than 1% percent of those infected, including high fever, headache, neck stiffness, disorientation, tremors, coma, convulsions, muscle loss, numbness, paralysis and vision loss. The symptoms can last for several weeks and neurological effects may be permanent. Mild symptoms occur in up to 20% cases such as fever, headache, body aches, nausea, vomiting and/or swollen lymph glands or a rash on the chest, stomach and back. Officials estimate that about 80% of those infected do not exhibit symptoms do not feel ill. Persons over 50 are at a higher risk to develop serious symptoms. Precautions include avoid spending time outdoors at dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are most active; wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outdoors and use insect repellent; eliminate standing water where mosquitoes breed; and make sure screens do not allow the entry of mosquitos. photo by Annie Kalantarian I AM THE VERY MODEL OF A MODERN MAJOR-GENERAL I am the very model of a modern Major-General, I've information vegetable, animal, and mineral, I know the kings of England, and I quote the fights historical, From Marathon to Waterloo, in order categorical; I'm very well acquainted too with matters mathematical, I understand equations, both the simple and quadratical, About binomial theorem I'm teeming with a lot o' news--- With many cheerful facts about the square of the hypotenuse. I'm very good at integral and differential calculus, I know the scientific names of beings animalculous; In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General. I know our mythic history, King Arthur's and Sir Caradoc's, I answer hard acrostics, I've a pretty taste for paradox, I quote in elegiacs all the crimes of Heliogabalus, In conics I can floor peculiarities parabolous. I can tell undoubted Raphaels from Gerard Dows and Zoffanies, I know the croaking chorus from the Frogs of Aristophanes, Then I can hum a fugue of which I've heard the music's din afore, And whistle all the airs from that infernal nonsense Pinafore. Then I can write a washing bill in Balylonic cuneiform, And tell you every detail of Caractacus's uniform; In short, in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General. In fact, when I know what is meant by "mamelon" and "ravelin", When I can tell at sight a chassepôt rifle from a javelin, When such affairs as sorties and surprises I'm more wary at, And when I know precisely what is meant by "commissariat", When I have learnt what progress has been made in modern gunnery, When I know more of tactics than a novice in a nunnery: In short, when I've a smattering of elemental strategy, You'll say a better Major-General has never sat a gee--- For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury, Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century; But still in matters vegetable, animal, and mineral, I am the very model of a modern Major-General. --Gilbert & Sullivan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2OcbeGqbpU photo by Susie de Castro ON LINE COMMENT OF THE DAY Trump may not be the “cornpone Fascist” we were expecting, but that’s certainly the role he’s trying to play, and he’s got the qualifications. Donald Trump is good at one thing, and one thing only. He is a self-promoter, and he understands television. Everything he does on TV is well-conceived and on-point. His presentation doesn’t appeal to me, but I’m not his target audience. Trump is aiming at the WWE (Pro Wrestling) demographic, and he’s nailing it. It’s as if Trump has hired Vince McMahon to be his campaign manager. Trump’s appearance is as absurd as the things he says, and his tactic of responding to the consequences of his bluster with more bluster is perfect. Our current corporate-owned media exists to sell the image of people in bathtubs (via Viagra, of course), and portrays every single opinion as being of equal value to every other opinion, unless of course that opinion runs counter to the consume/waste cycle, in which case the opinion isn’t reported at all. So Trump’s panderings to the violent revenge fantasies of the lower middle class are reported with the same weight as anything else, and more screen time because Trump is the best-known of any of the candidates not named “Hillary.” Sure, America has an illegal immigration problem. Seeing as we have an enormous Southern border that is as unsecurable as our even longer Northern border, and a huge economic disparity with the neighboring nations to the South, there will be large numbers of migrant workers regardless of legal status. If that’s really a huge problem, the solution is to imprison those who hire illegal workers at sub-market wages. Since we’re not going to do that, it’s a moot point, and a malevolent political football at best. I think most of us would pay an addition 5% for fresh produce, and 15% for landscaping and light construction work, but even were we given the opportunity, it’s far more likely the “American Workers Only” premium would be skimmed off by corporate interests, and the work still done at slave-level wages. As for the rest of Trump’s cultural mythological nonsense, it’s pitch-perfect. Nobody had more unearned advantage in the world than the American blue-collar worker post-1945, and nobody in America has lost more ground in the past 40 years. A windfall is not the “new normal,” but to the uneducated worker who got used to being able to support a family on a single 40-hour paycheck, without more than a high school diploma, reversion to the mean feels like malicious deprivation. Trump’s cleverness is to feed the fears and resentments of the lower-middle class, presenting those who have cut into the temporary high-water-mark that class achieved until about 1970 as the villains, while avoiding any discussion of how that one-time advantage happened in the first place, and certainly no real discussion of why that status is evaporation now. Hint: it’s not the illegal immigrants coming here to do work at wages we can’t afford to accept. Anyway, cartoonishness is a regular feature of populist Fascists. Trump won’t be elected because the Elites still have enough control of political finance to prevent that, and Trump doesn’t actually want the job in the first place. Work is not exactly what Donald Trump does. He will, however, push the pool of candidates further to the Right than it has ever been before. He will accept honorary status as a celebrity with no obligations to anyone other than himself. We’ve gotten to the point in the decline of Empire when people embrace magical solutions, no matter how fantastical. Wicker airport facilities, human sacrifice disguised as Sport, large-scale persecution of scapegoats; all these and more will become increasingly prevalent. Clowns will pop up to sell us easy magic, and some of the clowns will be revealed in time to be monsters. No matter who gets elected next November, the corporate interests will get more of the wealth of the public diverted into their hands, and history will show the next President to be more like Commodus than Marcus Aurelius. Share this: Tweet ||||| This time, he stuck around. He’s been charged with desertion, but controversial POW Bowe Bergdahl didn’t try to get away when he got caught in the middle of a California drug raid, the Daily News has learned. Bergdahl, 29, just happened to be at a location in California’s Redwood Valley when it was raided by sheriff’s deputies Tuesday. Several arrests were made after cops seized 181 marijuana plants, authorities said. Bowe Bergdahl, rescued U.S. soldier, charged with desertion, faces life imprisonment Bergdahl, who was not charged, was taken in for a field interview, treated as a witness and released. Bergdahl, who was not charged, was taken in for a field interview, treated as a witness and released. (Uncredited/AP) "I'm not sticking up for the guy at all, but I will say this, he was very polite,” said Mendocino County Sheriff Thomas Allman. “He was not resistant at all. He shook everybody's hand. He thanked us all."" Allman said Bergdahl had paperwork indicating that he had arrived in California last Friday, and was scheduled to leave Wednesday. Bergdahl was released in the custody of the U.S. Army, and is currently stationed at Fort Sam Houston in Texas, where he remains on active duty. He currently has a job doing administrative duties, an Army spokesman said. Bergdahl who was AWOL when he was captured by the Taliban, was exchanged last year for five senior Taliban officials held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. (AP) The soldier, who was AWOL when he was captured by the Taliban, was exchanged last year for five senior Taliban officials held at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Bowe Bergdahl read Miranda rights during first interview with Army investigator about 2009 capture After a White House Rose Garden ceremony celebrating his release after five years in captivity, the Army announced that Bergdahl had been charged with one count of desertion for leaving his unit. Several soldiers died searching for him before he was finally released. Bergdahl’s case is currently “awaiting an article 32 hearing,” which is the equivalent of a grand jury hearing to see if it he will face a court martial, the spokesman said.

– What a California drug task force probably expected to find when it raided a Mendocino County pot farm: pot. What it probably didn't expect to find: Bowe Bergdahl. The US soldier, charged with desertion after he went missing in Afghanistan and was held by the Taliban for five years, was one of the people present Tuesday when sheriff's deputies rushed the Redwood Valley site and rounded up 181 marijuana plants, the New York Daily News reports. Bergdahl had been staying with "old friends" on the property since Friday while on approved leave from the Army, the Anderson Valley Advertiser reports. He "apparently had no connection to the dope grow," the paper adds, and wasn't charged. By all accounts, Bergdahl was courteous and cooperative during the raid, with the Mendocino County sheriff telling the Advertiser that the soldier was "above politeness." "I'm not sticking up for the guy at all, but I will say this, he was very polite," the sheriff says, per the Daily News. "He was not resistant at all. He shook everybody's hand. He thanked us all." And even though he wasn't implicated in any crime, Bergdahl's high profile prompted authorities to make calls "all the way up to the Pentagon," which sent an Army major to bring Bergdahl back to his Texas base; he had been scheduled to return Wednesday. Bergdahl is currently awaiting a hearing to see if he'll face a court-martial. (Bergdahl has described his brutal treatment in captivity.)

Rapper Eminem performed at the Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee this weekend, causing panic among concertgoers when one of his songs ended with realistic gunshot sound effects. The hip-hop star’s decision to use the violent sound effects incited a backlash on social media, with many people saying the noises were inappropriate given the prevalence of mass shootings in the U.S. In videos uploaded to social media, fans in the crowd can be heard screaming and seen ducking as the gunshot sounds go off at the end of the Eminem’s song “Kill you.” People criticized his decision, with some saying there should have been a warning if potentially traumatizing or triggering sound effects were going to be used. Fans defended him on social media, pointing out that he has incorporated gunshot sound effects into his music many times before, including just one week ago at the Governor’s Ball Music Festival in New York City. Others pointed out that Eminem wrote the song in 2002, prior to recent mass shootings and defended his choice to use the realistic effects. The rapper’s spokesperson said in a statement to TIME: “Contrary to inaccurate reports, Eminem does not use gunshot sound effects during his live show. The effect used by Eminem in his set at Bonnaroo was a pyrotechnic concussion which creates a loud boom. He has used this effect — as have hundreds other artists — in his live show for over 10 years, including previous US festival dates in 2018 without complaint.” ||||| Eminem performs on stage during the MTV EMAs 2017 held at The SSE Arena, Wembley on Nov. 12, 2017 in London. Eminem is drawing criticism from festival-goers who were frightened and upset over the rapper's use of sound effects that to some fans resembled gunshots during his headlining performance at Bonnaroo Saturday night (June 9). Many fans screamed and ducked as a series of loud blasts rang through the crowd during Eminem's performance of "Kill You," from his 2000 album, The Marshall Mathers LP. The nervous reaction arrives at a time when concert-goers are on edge following the deadly mass shooting at last year's Route 91 country music festival in Las Vegas. But a spokesman for Eminem told Billboard in an email that "contrary to inaccurate reports, Eminem does not use gunshot sound effects during his live show. The effect used by Eminem in his set at Bonnaroo was a pyrotechnic concussion which creates a loud boom. He has used this effect - as have hundreds of other artists - in his live show for over 10 years, including previous U.S. festival dates, without complaint." Social media star Andrea Russett was one of many in attendance at the Manchester, Tenn., festival who was traumatized by the sounds during Eminem's set. "I hate to be the one to say it, but being someone who suffers from very mild PTSD, it was EXTREMELY irresponsible and distasteful to end songs w the shot gun sound effect," Russett tweeted. "I have grown up loving eminem and his music but i was extremely triggered to the point of tears." She continued, "To hear a gun shot sound effect and see the entire crowd drop to the floor out of instinct is not funny, cute, or amusing. this is the sad reality that we are living. this is not funny or even something to be joked about." Some fans came to Eminem's defense, noting that the hip-hop star has used the gunshot sound effects during past performances. "Eminem has ended Kill You with the gun shot effects for (at least) 6 years now and this is the first time someone ever complains," one Twitter user pointed out. See more reactions on social media below. @AndreaRussett @sandwahhh @macykatemusic found this on instagram, the way everyone screams and the camera drops is terrifying pic.twitter.com/mZRwdqoWB4 — Sydney (@Sydneyheight1) June 10, 2018 i hate to be the one to say it, but being someone who suffers from very mild PTSD, it was EXTREMELY irresponsible and distasteful to end songs w the shot gun sound effect. i have grown up loving eminem and his music but i was extremely triggered to the point of tears. — Andrea Russett (@AndreaRussett) June 10, 2018 to hear a gun shot sound effect and see the entire crowd drop to the floor out of instinct is not funny, cute, or amusing. this is the sad reality that we are living. this is not funny or even something to be joked about. — Andrea Russett (@AndreaRussett) June 10, 2018 it just happened again. 3 times. we left the concert area and it still sounds so real from far away and everyone ducked again. we’re all shaking. NOT OKAY EMINEM. — red (@sandwahhh) June 10, 2018 i was having a good time at eminem’s set then he played a realistic gunshot noise. the whole crowd ducked and i’ve never felt more traumatized and ready to panic. completely inappropriate — red (@sandwahhh) June 10, 2018 doesn’t matter if eminem has had gun shot effects in the past, the crowd was actually scared and shaken up because of how actually realistic it is — red (@sandwahhh) June 10, 2018 Not for nothing this isn’t the first festival Eminem has performed this year. No one cared/complained about the gunshot sound effects until little miss princess andrea russett and her friend did. LMAO — babye (@gen_natt) June 10, 2018 If you can’t handle a sound of a gunshot, do not go to an Eminem concert Andrea Russett — Shay (@HerShayness) June 10, 2018 So apparently Eminem is performing at Bonnaroo right now and a bunch of younger people are losing their shit because his set included realistic gunshot sound effects. I dunno what song(s) it was from, but it sounds to me like a bunch of people became Eminem fans post 2002. — Trill Walton (@Mooque) June 10, 2018 are y’all really that mad at eminem over a song from 2002 that has a gun sound effect — j (@arcticsnessa) June 10, 2018 coming from a performing stand point, i get the effect of sound effects on stage, but there’s a certain point that cross’s the line. i’m one of eminem’s number 1 fans but to hear 3 gun shots coming straight from his set had me scared af. not gonna lie. especially in this world... — M (@macykatemusic) June 10, 2018 Honestly, fuck Eminem. Added gunshots to his set. Had to leave. So disgusting and distasteful. Shame on you. — Bella Lowery (@helloitsbella) June 10, 2018 ||||| UPDATE: A rep for Eminem gave E! News the following statement, "Contrary to inaccurate reports, Eminem does not use gunshot sound effects during his live show. The effect used by Eminem in his set at Bonnaroo was a pyrotechnic concussion creates a loud boom. He has used this effect—as have hundreds other artists—in his live show for over 10 years, including previous US festival dates in 2018 without complaint." ______ Some Eminem fans were left shaken by his performance at 2018 Bonnaroo music festival in Tennessee because they incorporated sound effects that sounded like gunshots, and the rapper was soon the target of an online backlash. While many were quick to point out that his music and concerts have for years incorporated such sounds for years, his set on Saturday triggered panic among others, and later, debate about whether the effects are appropriate in a time when nerves are already frayed in wake of the 2016 Paris nightclub shooting, the 2017 massacre at the Route 91 Harvest music festival in Las Vegas and the 2017 bombing at Ariana Grande's Manchester concert. "I hate to be the one to say it, but being someone who suffers from very mild PTSD, it was EXTREMELY irresponsible and distasteful to end songs w the shot gun sound effect. i have grown up loving Eminem and his music but I was extremely triggered to the point of tears," tweeted popular YouTube star Andrea Russett, 22. "To hear a gun shot sound effect and see the entire crowd drop to the floor out of instinct is not funny, cute, or amusing," she continued. "This is the sad reality that we are living. this is not funny or even something to be joked about."

– Gunshot sound effects at an outdoor music festival, when memories of last year's Las Vegas concert massacre are still fresh, goes way beyond poor taste, critics told Eminem after his Saturday night set caused panic at the Bonnaroo festival in Tennessee. Witnesses say some fans screamed, ducked, or dropped to the ground after the sounds were heard at the end of "Kill You," Billboard reports. "I hate to be the one to say it, but being someone who suffers from very mild PTSD, it was EXTREMELY irresponsible and distasteful to end songs w the shot gun sound effect," tweeted social media star Andrea Russett. "To hear a gun shot sound effect and see the entire crowd drop to the floor out of instinct is not funny, cute, or amusing," she added, per E! Online. Critics said that after the killing of 58 people in last year's Las Vegas mass shooting and other deadly attacks on concerts, Eminem should at least have warned people there could be gunshot noises during his set. But plenty of fans came to the rapper's defense on social media, arguing that he has used similar sound effects without problems during countless other live performances, including at a New York City music festival just a week ago, Time reports. An Eminem rep said the noises weren't even gunshot effects. "Contrary to inaccurate reports, Eminem does not use gunshot sound effects during his live show. The effect used by Eminem in his set at Bonnaroo was a pyrotechnic concussion (that) creates a loud boom. He has used this effect—as have hundreds other artists—in his live show for over 10 years," a spokesperson said in a statement. (A body was found Friday at a Bonnaroo campsite.)

Jonah Hill has quietly become a good “SNL” host. His name doesn’t get mentioned in the same sentence as Timberlake or Jon Hamm (who somehow hasn’t hosted since 2010), but here he is -- back for a third time -- giving another solid performance. Though, the cast is way too big right now. It’s impossible to get to know the cast when there are 17 (!) cast members fighting for airtime. There's no way around it, the show just feels muddled right now. I thought the cast was a little too big when it was at 14 for the past few seasons – but 17 seems to be a real hindrance. Look, this was the 12th episode of the season and I’m still catching myself saying, “Wait, was that Brooks Wheelan? I think that was Brooks Wheelan.” My point: I really don't know who Brooks Wheelan is. (I don't mean to pick on Mr. Wheelan, I could mention quite a few other cast member names instead.) I don’t know what the immediate solution is (even with the upcoming departure of Seth Meyers, he’s being replaced in the cast by Colin Jost), but it’s been difficult to build a connection with this particular cast. Sketch of the Night ”Lamborghini” (Bayer, Strong, Hill) I’ve never been a huge fan of this particular sketch. I mean, it’s certainly not “The Californians” when it comes to the echelon of “sketches I do not like,” but these always seemed like they were missing something or went on way too long. Having said that, this installment was hilarious. All of the jokes worked and Strong and Bayer have a rapport with each other now that’s really, really great. If the attitude is, “We’re going to keep doing this sketch until we get it right,” well, it’s done. Score: 8.5 The Good ”Jonah Hill Monologue” (Hill, Wells, Milhiser, Killam, DiCaprio) Leonardo DiCaprio doesn’t really bother with the talk show circuit, so it’s a little startling to see him pop up on network television. It was interesting, because he seemed a bit if a natural on stage and it would be interesting to see him host some day – which, by the way, will never happen. Anyway, DiCaprio and Hill mocked “Titanic” and it was funny – and I’m sure, somewhere, Billy Zane threw a shoe at his television. Score: 7.5 ”Weekend Update” (Meyers, Strong, Thompson, McKinnon) I get sadder every week because Meyers and Strong keep getting better and better with each other – this week the two actually broke down laughing at one point. Look, I’m sure Colin Jost will be fine – but there’s no way possible that “Update” won’t suffer, at least temporarily. Watching videos of Jost doing standup, he’s okay, but he seems nervous. No one is doubting his ability to be funny, but it’s going to take some time for him gain confidence as a performer, especially in contrast to a pro like Meyers. As solid as Meyers and Strong were last night, the individual segments were a mixed bag. Kenan Thompson as the police officer who arrested Justin Bieber was fine, if not forgettable. I like McKinnon’s Olya Povlatsky well enough, but I couldn’t stop thinking Why aren’t you playing Justin Bieber right now?! Score: 7.0 ”The Hit” (Thompson, Pharoah, Killam) Three hitman get distracted by the snow. Eh, this was nice. And I thought Thompson, Pharoah and Killam all had a nice little chemistry working. Score: 6.8 ”Cold Open: Men’s Figure Skating” (Killam, Strong, Moynihan, Pharoah, Bennett, McKinnon) The gist is that Vladimir Putin won’t allow gay athletes so the United States sends an all straight male figure skating team to the Olympics and they are predictably horrible. Honestly, the premise bugged me at first -- assumptions about the sexuality of male figure skaters and all -- but good gosh, Bobby Moynihan and Jay Pharoah won me over with their individual performances. If the actual Olympics featured Moynihan and Pharoah, I’d watch more male figure skating. Score: 6.5 ”Spike Jonze Trailer” (Hill, Bayer, Cera) It’s a little surprising that “SNL” would film a parody of “Her” considering how few people have actually seen “Her.” It’s a solid enough parody – this time, our protagonist falls in love with himself; also, Michael Cera shows up – but a movie like this seems ripe for a bigger payoff than the one we got. Score: 6.0 ”Couples Quiz” (Thompson, Hill, Strong, Killam, Zamata) Jonah Hill clogged the toilet. Okay, fine, I laughed. What do you want from me? I’m only human. SOMETIMES POOP JOKES CAN BE FUNNY! Score: 6.0 The Bad ”Inside SoCal” (Bennett, Mooney, O’Brien, Wheelan, Killam, Hill, Moynihan) First, I do love that Tarn Killam said “Philomania” with Leonardo DiCaprio who accidentally invented that word at the Golden Globes lurking backstage. As for the sketch … I don’t know. Look, I like Bennett and Mooney’s particular brand of humor, but the kinda, sorta play the same guys every time they do these shorts. I mean, they are getting them on the air, which is important, so why would they stop? But I’d like to see them do something else other than these two guys. (Also, was that Ken Griffey Jr. Baseball for the Super Nintendo playing in the background?) Score: 5.0 ”Benihana” (Hill, Bayer, Wells, Zamata, McKinnon, Pedrad) Seeing six-year-old Adam Grossman isn’t quite the same without Bill Hader’s sad dad sulking next to him. Anyway, I have no idea how this became a recurring sketch. (I once mentioned this sketch to Hill during an interview and he barked back something that at least seemed to be irritation, yet they keep happening. Anyway, who knows?) At least there’s an added inside joke this time with Benihana being a punchline in “The Wolf of Wall Street.” Score: 4.8 ”Boss Dinner” (Hill, Bennett, McKinnon, Thompson, Bryant) I think Aidy Bryant got more screen time in Adam Scott’s “Bosom Buddies” recreation than she did on “SNL” last night. (Again, this cast is way too big.) Anyway, Jonah Hill screams a lot. That’s about all you need to know. Score: 3.0 The Ugly ”Ranch” (Hill, Pedrad, Strong) “Hey, isn’t it funny when horses kick people?” “Yes, it was a laugh riot on ‘Mad Men’ … say, should we do a whole sketch about a horse that kicks people?” “Yes, yes we should.” (Mercifully, this sketch is not online because a Joni Mitchell song was briefly performed.) Score: 2.0 Average Score for this Show: 5.73 · Lady Gaga 6.06 · Edward Norton 5.91 · Paul Rudd 5.90 · Drake 5.82 · Jimmy Fallon 5.80 · John Goodman 5.76 · Josh Hutcherson 5.75 · Jonah Hill 5.73 · Bruce Willis 5.68 · Kerry Washington 5.60 · Tina Fey 5.35 · Miley Cyrus 5.20 Mike Ryan is senior writer for Huffington Post Entertainment. You can contact him directly on Twitter. Click below for this week's "SNL," Not Ready For Primetime Podcast featuring Mike Ryan and Hitfix's Ryan McGee. If you would like to subscribe to the podcast, you can do that here. ||||| Jonah Hill's star may have been on the rise as he hit Saturday Night Live for the third time as host last night, but his attempts to step out of Wolf of Wall Street co-star Leonardo DiCaprio's shadow went a bit awry during the opening monologue. After a series of DiCaprio-focused questions from the "audience" prompted a defensively boastful outburst from the host, DiCaprio himself appeared onstage to rein in Hill's fragile ego and admonish him for trying to act like a big shot. To sooth his nerves, Hill asked DiCaprio to do what the pair did every day on the Wolf of Wall Street set, "the thing that made me feel safe." Cue the Titanic pan pipes. See Where 'The Wolf of Wall Street' Ranks Among the 10 Best Movies of 2013 The episode also included a reimagining of Spike Jonze's Her, with Jonah Hill romancing himself as the voice of his own operating system. As things heat up between the man and his voice, the operating system hires a surrogate, played by Michael Cera, to take things to the next level. Building on last week's brilliant portrayal of Justin Bieber, Weekend Update featured an interview with Kenan Thompson as the Miami police officer who arrested the pop star for drag racing under the influence on Thursday. The officer gleefully described the incident as being "like finding a swaggy little leprechaun," and compared Bieber's resistance to "being barked at by a puppy who smelled like Smirnoff Ice." Another sly reference to the arrest appeared in the sketch where Vanessa Bayer and Cecily Strong's ex-porn stars attempt to hawk yellow Lamborghinis. ||||| So maybe you're not too keen on the idea of falling in love with a completely artificial computer personality. Who could blame you? That's pretty weird. Maybe instead, the future will be a place where you can learn to love yourself. Wait, actually scratch that; that's super weird too. Jonah Hill and Michael Cera illustrate that hypothetical horror just perfectly. Warning: light spoilers. [SNL]

– Jonah Hill returned to Saturday Night Live last night with an opening monologue that attempted to separate from Wolf of Wall Street co-star Leo DiCaprio, and somehow ended with "the thing that made me feel safe"—both actors wrapped in a Titanic-esque embrace as that migraine-in-your-eye-inducing music played. That wasn't the show's only highlight, with Gizmodo hailing Hill's Her spoof—featuring Michael Cera—as simultaneously "hilarious" and "super weird." Rolling Stone notes that Justin Bieber's brush with the law got two mentions, with Kenan Thompson appearing on "Weekend Update" as the cop who arrested the Biebs, and Cecily Strong and Vanessa Bayer getting in a little yellow Lamborghini reference in a sketch called, well, "Lamborghini." Over at Huffington Post, Mike Ryan names "Lamborghini" the sketch of the night on his scorecard.

Gammy, a baby born with Down's Syndrome, is held by his surrogate mother Pattaramon Janbua at a hospital in Chonburi province August 3, 2014. SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian biological parents of twins caught up in a surrogacy scandal in Thailand wanted both babies but the surrogate mother threatened to involve the police and they feared she would keep both children, they said on Sunday. David and Wendy Farnell were speaking publicly for the first time since the story broke more than a week ago of 7-month-old baby Gammy, who has Down's syndrome and is being cared for by his surrogate mother in Thailand. The couple told Australian television they felt they had little choice but to leave Thailand with Gammy's healthy sister. "We wanted to bring him with us," David Farnell, 56, told the Nine Network’s 60 Minutes program. They returned to Australia with Gammy’s sister Pipah as the surrogate mother Pattaramon Janbua had told them “if we try to take our little boy, she’s going to get the police and she’s going to come and take our little girl… and she’s going to keep both of the babies,” he said. The couple have been criticized for apparently rejecting the boy, who also has a hole in his heart and is being treated for a lung infection in a Thai hospital. 60 Minutes said the couple were not paid for the interview. Pattaramon said doctors, the surrogate agency and the baby’s parents had known that Gammy was disabled when she was four months pregnant but had not told her until the seventh month. She said she had feared she would be asked to abort him but would have refused due to her Buddhist beliefs. The Farnells said they were angry that the agency had not told them about the boy's condition until too late in the pregnancy to safely abort. They said they want the baby. The case has drawn international attention to the lack of regulation of international surrogacy and sparked calls in Australia for an overhaul of laws to cut the number of couples traveling abroad for surrogates. Public outrage intensified last week when it became known that David Farnell was jailed in 1997 for sex offences involving three girls aged under 13. "I have been convicted of child sex offences and I hang my head in shame for that," he told 60 Minutes, adding that he had reformed and was no longer a risk to children. As commercial surrogacy is outlawed in Australia many couples turn to clinics in Thailand and India. Thailand has no clear legal framework for surrogacy. Commercial surrogacy is barred by the Medical Council of Thailand but non-profit surrogacy is permitted for blood relatives, and exceptions are permitted on a case-by-case basis. A draft law banning commercial surrogacy in Thailand has been submitted to the military government, an official of the Social Development and Human Security Ministry said on Thursday. The Australian government has asked the Thai authorities to allow for the completion of any current commercial surrogate arrangements before introducing changes. Hands Across the Water, an Australian-run children's charity based in Thailand, will administer the more than A$241,000 ($224,000) raised so far in an online public appeal for Gammy’s medical treatment and care. (Reporting by Lincoln Feast in Sydney and Morag McKinnon in Perth; Editing by Lynne O'Donnell) ||||| The biological father accused of abandoning a baby because he was born with Down's syndrome has said he would have terminated the surrogate pregnancy had he known sooner about the boy's condition. A surrogate mother in Thailand gave birth to twins for David and Wendy Farnell. The girl, Pipah, was healthy and came back to Western Australia with the couple but the boy, named Gammy, was born with the disability and remains in the surrogate's care. Speaking on Channel 9's 60 Minutes programme, Mr Farnell said: "No parent wants a son with a disability. "It was late into the pregnancy that we learned the boy had Down's. They sent us the reports but they didn't do the checks early enough." Pattaramon Chanbua, baby Gammy's Thai surrogate mother He denies asking the surrogate mother at any time to have an abortion. Accused of ditching the boy, the couple have found themselves at the centre of an international scandal. "It has been very distressing and we miss our little boy," said Mr Farnell. "I come home from work some days and Wendy has dressed our little girl all in blue. She wants to still remember our little boy." They say that rather than abandoning Gammy the Thai surrogate, 21-year-old Pattaramon Chanbua, refused to let him go. Ms Chanbua says the boy's biological parents rejected him "She said if we tried to take our little boy she's going to get the police and she's going to come and take our little girl," said Mr Farnell. His wife added the whole episode made them both "very, very stressed". For more than a week Ms Chanbua has repeatedly painted the Farnells as heartless. To complicate matters further, Mr Farnell has 22 convictions for sexually abusing girls, one as young as five years old. "There is no reason to be concerned. I'm not going to harm my little girl," he told the interviewer when pressed on whether his daughter would be safe in his care. Asked if the couple understood why many think they are the most hated couple in Australia, he replied: "I can understand that. For one, thinking that we have abandoned our little boy, it's a terrible thing. Gammy's twin sister lives with their biological parents in Australia "And then to have me as a sex offender. Everybody hates sex offenders ... that's why I've tried so hard and want to be a good father to my children so people can see that I'm a good person now because I did this bad thing a long time ago." Worldwide attention generated by the story has led to almost £150,000 being raised to help pay for Gammy's medical costs. It has also highlighted the disturbing nature of Thailand's surrogacy industry. Thailand is preparing to fast-track legislation to outlaw commercial surrogacy, banning agencies acting as brokers, or accepting financial or other benefits. Advertising for women to act as surrogates for commercial purposes would also be illegal. Australian Foreign Minister Julie Bishop has called on the Thai government to allow a transitional period before the ban, to enable Australians to receive children still being carried by surrogates. ||||| Thai surrogate baby Gammy: Australian parents 'wanted him' Please turn on JavaScript. Media requires JavaScript to play. Continue reading the main story Related Stories The Australian couple accused of abandoning a baby born with Down's syndrome to a Thai surrogate mother say they wanted to take him home. David and Wendy Farnell, speaking publicly for the first time, insisted the Thai mother would not hand over Gammy, now seven months old. The couple, who took Gammy's twin sister, say they want to get him back. The surrogate mother originally said the couple deliberately left Gammy behind because of his disabilities. But in an interview with the Associated Press on Sunday, Pattharamon Chanbua, 21, appeared to backtrack, saying: "I did not allow Gammy to go back with them - that's the truth. It is because they would have taken Gammy back and put him in an institute." In an emotional interview on Australia's Channel Nine on Sunday, David Farnell said: "We did not abandon our son. "(Pattharamon) said that if we tried to take our little boy, she's going to get the police and she's going to try and take our little girl and she's going to keep both of the babies." He added: "The surrogate mother - it is her choice if she wants to give you the baby or not give you the baby. Although you have a surrogacy agreement, it really doesn't mean anything. It is her decision, and our surrogate mother said that she wanted to keep the baby boy." An online campaign has raised tens of thousands of pounds to help Pattharamon Chanbua with Gammy's medical expenses. The case took an even darker twist when it emerged that David Farnell had been convicted in the 1990s of multiple sex offences against young girls. He insisted on Sunday that his daughter, Pipah, was not at risk of harm from him. "I will do everything in the world to protect my little girl," he said. "I have no inclination of doing anything like this. I don't have any thoughts about this at all. That is the 100% truth. I cannot do this again." Officials say they have contacted the couple, but have no major concerns at present. 'Anger at agency' Pattharamon Chanbua, who has two other children, said the couple had asked her to have an abortion when she was told of the baby boy's condition four months after becoming pregnant. She said she refused, as it was against her Buddhist beliefs. Abortion on the grounds of foetal impairment is illegal in Thailand. David Farnell denied asking the mother to have an abortion but said they were angry that the surrogacy agency had not conducted tests earlier because by the time they found out about the baby's condition, it was too late in the pregnancy to abort the foetus. Had they known earlier, he said, they probably would have terminated the pregnancy. "I don't think any parent wants a son with a disability," he said. "Parents want their children to be healthy and happy." David Farnell said that was when Pattharamon Chanbua offered to keep Gammy. "We were thinking, oh, maybe this might be OK," he said. But when the babies were born, he added, he and his wife realised they wanted to keep both. He said the surrogate mother then insisted she be allowed to keep Gammy, and threatened to keep Pipah as well. Besides Down's syndrome, Gammy has a congenital heart condition and a lung infection.

– With their case making international headlines, the Australian parents of baby Gammy are telling their story. Speaking to Australia's 9News, David Farnell said he and his wife, Wendy, "wanted" to take Gammy home with them, Reuters reports—but his surrogate mother wouldn't let them. Surrogate Pattaramon Chanbua "said if we tried to take our little boy, she's going to get the police and she's going to come and take our little girl," Farnell said, via Sky News, referring to Gammy's twin sister. Earlier, the BBC notes, the Farnells told reporters they hadn't known about Gammy at all. In other moments from the interview: David Farnell also says the couple would likely have sought to terminate the pregnancy if they'd known earlier that Gammy had Down Syndrome, Sky News reports. "It was late into the pregnancy that we learned the boy had Down's," Farnell says, noting that "no parent wants a son with a disability." Farnell acknowledged his convictions for child sex abuse; 9News notes that he was convicted of abusing four girls, ages five to 10, over a decade. He spent three years in jail. "I’ve been convicted of child sex offenses and I hang my head in shame," he said. "Everybody hates sex offenders," he noted, per Sky. "That's why I've tried so hard and want to be a good father to my children, so people can see that I'm a good person now because I did this bad thing a long time ago."

Jesse Jackson Jr. and wife Sandi: From power couple to prison inmates BY NATASHA KORECKI AND LYNN SWEET Staff Reporters Updated: WASHINGTON — They were congressman and alderman, candidate and campaign chief. They are also husband and wife, father and mother. And on Wednesday, in an extraordinary sentencing hearing, Jesse Jackson Jr. and Sandi Jackson added another layer of complexity to their relationship: Both will be prison inmates. Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was sentenced to 2 1/2 years behind bars for stealing $750,0000 from his campaign fund while former Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) is to serve one year for filing false tax returns. Sandi Jackson, 49, appeared stunned by the imposition of a prison term, her face frozen and drained of color after the judge ordered a 12-month sentence that offers no ability to earn time off for good behavior. The former alderman later retreated to her defense chair and dropped her head. Sandi Jackson’s lawyers had vigorously argued for probation. The former congressman received half of the nearly five years he could have faced. Jackson Jr., 48, who had been blowing his nose and sobbing during his remarks to the judge, appeared to break into a half-grin as the news of the sentence settled in. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson took the unusual step of allowing the Jacksons -- parents of a 13 year old and 9 year old — to stagger their sentences. And in one of the more surreal moments of the proceedings, the judge recessed to allow husband and wife to confer over who would go to prison first. It was determined to be Jesse Jackson, who will report around Nov. 1. “There may be blurred lines for congressmen to follow when their lives are political. This case did not come near those areas,” said Judge Jackson (no relation). She said to impose no prison time would mean there was one set of rules for the “well-connected and one for everybody else. I cannot do it and I will not do it.” The judge rejected Jackson Jr.’s mental health issues as a defense saying that his string of accomplishments in life — propped up by a political family dynasty — “points to only one conclusion, and that is that you knew better.” She said Jackson could not claim his bipolar disorder as a mitigating factor because his series of purchases “were not all sudden and extraordinary purchases.” “This was a knowing, organized misconduct that was repeated and then covered up over the years,” the judge said. Still, she lauded Jackson Jr. for his accomplishments as congressman, saying he went beyond just doing his job. That included bringing clean drinking water to Ford Heights. She also praised a record he once held for not missing a vote in Congress in 13 years. The judge’s remarks came after emotional pleas from both Jacksons. The former congressman, addressing the court, stopped several times before the judge, to blow his nose in a tissue. At one point, he tried talking but whispered “I can’t see” because his crying was fogging up his glasses. “I didn’t separate my personal life from my political life, and I couldn’t be more wrong,” he said. “I take responsibility for my actions.” He added: “I am the example for the whole Congress.” He asked to be sent to a prison camp in Montgomery, Ala. “I want to make it a little inconvenient for everybody to get to me,” he muttered through tears. If the judge rejected the mental health defense, she appeared equally unimpressed by Sandi Jackson’s contention that she should escape prison because she needed to be there for her children. “I stand before you today asking for mercy,” Sandi Jackson said. “I ask to continue to provide for my children.” Sandi Jackson’s attorney, Dan Webb, implored the judge to allow his client to work off her sentence as community service. “To take the mother away … would be an unbearable burden on these two children,” Webb said. The judge later addressed the issue. “The message has not been subtle. The pleadings have laid this on very, very thick,” the judge replied. “It is not the court that put your children in this position. It is not the government that put your children in this position.” She cited spending of campaign funds that included $5,000 in furs and parkas “in one day,” spa trips, Disney trips and expenses in Las Vegas, then ordered Sandi Jackson to pay $22,000 in restitution separate from what her husband owed. The judge made clear that Sandi Jackson was not sentenced to a year and a day, which could have qualified her for good time and would have meant she would have effectively served 10 months in prison. Instead, under the rules of federal sentencing, she will serve a longer sentence with the judge sentencing her to one year. A prison term for the once-powerful Jesse Jackson Jr. marks a spectacular fall from grace for the son of the famed civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Before court, the elder Jackson and his family took part in a prayer circle led by Bishop Gordon Simon of Tri-State Baptist Church in Chicago. The younger Jackson easily sailed to re-election term after term in his South Side and south suburban 2nd Congressional District. All told, he spent 17 years serving the district until he resigned in disgrace last November. On Wednesday, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, upon seeing his son in the Washington, D.C., federal courthouse cafeteria, stood up and warmly embraced him. Jackson’s brothers, Yusef and Jonathan, as well as his sister, Santita, also greeted their brother as the family huddled in the cafeteria just before facing a federal judge. It was clear the day was expected to bring anguish for the incredibly public family: The Jacksons had hired a public relations consultant who was on hand, as was Judy Smith, the crisis counselor who inspired the ABC hit series “Scandal.” The senior Jackson later issued a statement saying he was proud that his son stood in court and accepted responsibility for his actions. “He was remorseful. He is recovering. He has highs and lows. I have a greater appreciation for it now,” the reverend said. “He turned to us as a family and said that ‘I let you down.’ ... I think we let him down, I may have missed the signs and I was apologetic to him.” Even in a state like Illinois, where governors, aldermen and congressmen have routinely gone to prison, the Wednesday hearing was remarkably rare as it involved a powerful couple who together saw their political demise in the same courtroom. “There’s no exact parallel,” said Dick Simpson, a longtime political observer and former Chicago alderman. The closest parallel is Illinois having four of the last seven governors in prison, he said. Simpson added that from 1976 to 2011 there were 18,069 corruption cases in Illinois. “There have been a couple of husbands of wives, but I don’t remember any that parallel the Jacksons,” he said. “Jesse Jr. was sort of African American royalty. He was seen as a rising star, who could have been governor, senator maybe mayor.” The rejection of some of their arguments notwithstanding, the judge did sentence both Jacksons to terms that were less than or at the low end of a federal guideline range. She credited each with admitting to the crimes and pleading guilty, sparing the government the expense of trial. Assistant U.S. Attorney Matt Graves took exception to Sandi Jackson’s argument for probation. Graves said considered independently of her husband, Sandi Jackson’s case was one of the worst involving personal use of campaign funds that had “ever been documented.” Among the items Sandi Jackson purchased with the funds were “thousands of dollars at salons and spa treatments,” a Disney vacation and a subzero freezer for their Chicago home, he said. She spent tens upon tens of thousands of dollars using the credit card of her husband’s congressional funds. She filed falsified reports to the Federal Election Commission and knowingly signed off on IRS tax forms she knew were inaccurate. Graves noted the Jacksons’ combined income in 2011 was nearly $350,000, putting the couple among the top 10 percent household incomes in the country and giving them no financial need to steal. Graves also questioned Jackson Jr.’s medical condition, saying: “It’s quite clear there’s no ‘there’ there,” arguing that Jackson Jr. shouldn’t get a lighter sentence because of any medical issues. “Jesse Jackson Jr.’s journey from the halls of Congress to federal prison is a tragedy of his own making,” said U.S. Attorney Ronald Machen in a statement. “Jackson’s political potential was unlimited, but he instead chose to treat his campaign account as a personal slush fund, stealing from the people who believed in him so he could live extravagantly. He squandered his great capacity for public service through outright theft. The prison sentence imposed today should serve as a wake-up call to other public officials who believe there are no consequences for betraying the public trust.” Jackson’s attorney Reid Weingarten had argued that Jackson’s campaign spending included gray areas, like that of many congressman with “safe” seats. “This is not [Bernie] Madoff. This is not a Ponzi scheme. The courthouse is not ringed with victims demanding his head,” Weingarten said. “The goddess of justice would not weep at an 18-month sentence.” Later, Weingarten characterized it this way: “It’s a tragedy. The fall from grace was complete.” For his part, Jackson Jr. shied away from cameras as he left court. But he predicted he had yet to write another chapter. “I still believe in the power of redemption,” Jesse Jackson Jr. said. “Today I manned up and tried to accept responsibility for the errors of my ways, and I still believe in the resurrection.” ||||| The wife of former Illinois congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has been sentenced to one year in prison for filing false joint federal income tax returns that understated the income the couple received. Sandra Jackson admitted in a guilty plea earlier this year that from mid-2006 through mid-October of last year, she failed to report $600,000 in income that she and her husband earned from 2005 to 2011. Mrs. Jackson was a Chicago alderman before she resigned during a federal investigation of the couple. She was sentenced Wednesday along with her husband. Jesse Jackson Jr. was sentenced to two and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to engaging in a scheme to spend $750,000 in campaign funds on personal items. ||||| WASHINGTON – The end of the Jackson family political dynasty arrived Wednesday as a Chicago power couple ready-made for the cameras learned the next few years of their lives will be spent taking turns in prison. Former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., the civil rights leader's son who once dreamed of becoming mayor or senator, and his wife, former 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, were tripped up by a taste for luxury that was bankrolled with $750,000 from campaign funds. On their day of reckoning, the Jacksons brought up a host of personal struggles in an effort to inspire sympathy: his reported mental illness, her series of miscarriages, the plight of their two children if they lost their mother to prison. In the end, the former congressman got 30 months in federal prison and could end up serving about five months less if he behaves behind bars. The former alderman got a year and stands to serve it all. Jackson Jr. was given until at least Nov. 1 to begin his prison term. Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson said supporters of the former congressman — including his own father — had urged her in letters to put him on probation. If she were to do so, she said, it would appear as if there were two systems of justice, "one for the well-connected and one for everybody else." "I cannot do it," she intoned. "And I will not do it." She shot down the notion, brought up by the defense, that elected officials once considered campaign accounts to be retirement funds. While acknowledging the good the Jacksons had done in office, she lambasted Jackson Jr.'s misdeeds as "knowing, organized, joint misconduct repeated and then covered up." She said Sandi Jackson was not a spouse who passively received the ill-gotten gains of crimes but one who knowingly spent thousands illegally on her personal whims. The judge noted that Sandi Jackson had served variously as campaign treasurer, campaign manager and consultant for the congressman. "You were a key player in the Jesse Jackson campaign. Together, you were the campaign," the judge told Sandi Jackson. "You are standing here to be sentenced because of your own significant and illegal conduct," the judge said. The Jacksons' sentences were lighter than prosecutors had recommended. They wanted four years for him and 18 months for her. Defense lawyers wanted him to serve 18 months. Sandi Jackson's lawyers did not get the probation they had sought for her, but they did get an order from the judge allowing her to remain free until her husband finishes serving his time. In another break, Jackson Jr. won't have to return $750,000 to his campaign fund, but must pay a $750,000 forfeiture as agreed when he pleaded guilty in February. Additionally, her plea deal called for her to pay $168,550, representing unpaid taxes, but the judge ordered her to pay only $22,000 in restitution. The sum represents money she misused from her own political accounts. The Jacksons cried as they addressed the judge separately before sentencing. "I didn't separate my personal life from my political activities, and I couldn't have been more wrong," said Jackson Jr., who paused to dry his eyes and blow his nose. Jackson Jr. apologized for his crimes and expressed regrets to his mother and father. "Your honor, throughout this process I've asked the government and the court to hold me and only me accountable for my actions," he said. He said he hoped that his wife could earn enough money in his absence to keep the family together. "When I get back, I'll take on that burden," he said. "By then I hope my children will be old enough that the pain I caused will be easier to bear." Sandi Jackson addressed the court after her husband. "I am a little nervous," she told the judge, "so I have a written statement that I would like to read to you." She continued: "I want to begin by apologizing first to my family, to my friends, my community and my constituents for the actions that brought me here today." She said she had caused "disappointment in my community" and had "put my family unit in peril." "My heart breaks every day with the pain this has caused my babies," she continued, weeping. "I ask to be parent, provider and support system that my babies will require in the difficult months ahead." Their children — a girl, 13, and a boy, 9 — were not in court. When the former alderman lost her bid for freedom, defense attorney Dan Webb said she wished to serve her term in a correctional institution in Marianna, Fla. The minimum-security facility is a prison camp about 65 miles northwest of Tallahassee. As for Jackson Jr., the judge said she would recommend he be placed in a federal prison camp in Alabama — he had stated that his first choice was one in Montgomery — or a prison in Butner, N.C. But the Bureau of Prisons will make the final call. Earlier in the hearing, Jackson Jr.'s lawyer, Reid Weingarten, said his client felt "horror, shame and distress" over his wrongs. But Weingarten also tried to downplay Jackson Jr.'s actions since he took money from his own campaign fund. It's not as if there are widows and orphans outside the courthouse who are victims and asking for his head, Weingarten said. "This is not Madoff. This is not a Ponzi scheme," the lawyer said. Bernard Madoff, now imprisoned in the Butner facility, is a financier whose Ponzi scheme led investors to lose their fortunes. Weingarten said Jackson Jr. "suffers from a very, very serious mental health disease." He identified the former congressman's illness as bipolar disorder and said it was relevant even though "we didn't plead guilty by reason of insanity." Matt Graves, an assistant U.S. attorney, countered that Jackson Jr.'s crimes represented one of the largest cases of theft from a campaign treasury ever prosecuted. Graves took a shot at Jackson Jr.'s reported bipolar disorder, saying when mental health issues are litigated in court, usually there is expert testimony, discovery and an examination of the defendant — and that none had occurred in the case. "When one looks at the facts," Graves said, "it's quite clear that there's no there there." He decried Jackson Jr.'s "wasted talent" and "what he threw away." Graves said Sandi Jackson's crimes were serious and had occurred over many years. He noted that defendants with children were given prison terms in courts across the country.

– Jesse Jackson Jr. wept in court today, apologized for using $750,000 in campaign funds as his personal piggy bank, and then took his lumps: 30 months in federal prison and three years' probation, reports the Chicago Tribune. “I am the example for the whole Congress,” he said. “I understand that. I didn’t separate my personal life from my political activities, and I couldn’t have been more wrong.” The former Illinois congressman added an unusual request: He wants to serve his time in Alabama because "I want to make it a little inconvenient for everybody to get to me.” His wife, Sandi, then got sentenced to 12 months in prison for filing false tax returns about their income, reports AP. She wept, too. “My heart breaks every day with the pain this has caused my babies,” she said, referring to their two children, ages 9 and 13. Because of the kids, the judge will allow the Jacksons to stagger their sentences and to decide themselves who goes first, reports the Sun-Times. Interesting part noted by the Tribune: The judge made a point to sentence Sandi Jackson to exactly one year, not the more common one year and one day. The latter would have made her eligible for time off for good behavior. Now she must serve her full term.

The device was unintentionally detonated by a bomb squad robot The backpack was found in a garbage can in a nearby restaurant FBI agents are reviewing surveillance footage After a suspension, transit service has resumed Explosion follows 2 other nearby weekend incidents FBI questioning 5 people about N.Y. explosion Saturday And Elizabeth man named as suspect in N.Y. case taken into custody ELIZABETH -- An improvised explosive device in a backpack detonated near the Elizabeth train station early Monday as authorities were using a bomb robot to examine the item, officials said. The blast occurred around 12:40 a.m. near Morris Avenue and Julian Place. The explosion was not a controlled blast, but happened unintentionally as the robot was cutting the device, according to Mayor Christian Bollwage. No one was injured in the blast, Bollwage said. Authorities found five devices inside a single backpack near the train station, including one that was detonated. After the explosion, press and bystanders were moved back because the four other explosive devices inside of the backpack were still believed to be live, Bollwage said. No other explosions were heard as of 5 a.m. On Twitter, the FBI's Newark division described the devices as "multiple improvised explosive devices." Earlier Sunday night, the FBI detained five people in Brooklyn for questioning related to the Saturday night explosion in Manhattan that injured more than two dozen people. The Elizabeth incident unfolded after two men found the backpack in a waste basket on North Broad Street and Julian Place around 8 p.m. Sunday, the mayor said. The men took the backpack "because they thought it was of some value," walked for a bit, then saw wires and a pipe, dropped the package and notified Elizabeth police, he said. Bollwage told reporters the explosives were originally found in the trash can about 300 feet from the door of Willy's Place near the train station in the city of about 125,000, which is also the Union County seat. "If that pub was crowded and there was a lot of people there, it could have severely injured, killed and maimed many, many people," Bollwage told reporters. Bollwage said the Elizabeth devices did not contain a cell phone or any other electronic detonators. After the items were found, Union County's Bomb Squad was called in and used a drone to examine the backpack, the mayor said. "The drone indicated it could be suspicious and it could be a live bomb," Bollwage said. When asked if he ever thought Elizabeth would be the target of such an attack, Bollwage said he was not sure the city was the intended target and that the devices could have instead been dumped by a person who realized he or she was being investigated. "I'm not willing to admit Elizabeth is a terror target," Bollwage said. "Because of the location, it's very possible someone was trying to get rid of package as opposed to set it off." Bollwage said FBI agents are reviewing surveillance footage from the restaurant near the trash can where the backpack was first found by the two men. Reached after midnight on Monday morning, a spokesman for the FBI in Newark, Special Agent Michael Whitaker, said only that his agency had responded to the scene, and declined to provide any details of the investigation. The FBI asked anyone with information to call 1-800-CALL-FBI. Police cordoned off the station and many streets surrounding it. The investigation halted train service on the busy Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coastline commuter rail lines. Later, officials said service would resume at 5:30 Monday, with delays expected. Tickets and passes on both rail lines are being cross-honored on PATH along with NJ Transit and private buses, according to the transit agency. Amtrak service was also suspended near Elizabeth, spokesman Craig Schulz said in a statement. "We apologize to our customers for the inconvenience and will resume service as soon as it is safe to do so," the spokesman said. Approximately 2,400 Amtrak passengers were impacted by the service suspension, the spokesman said. "Robust security measures are in place at stations, on trains and along the tracks and Amtrak Police remain in close contact with local, state and federal partner agencies to coordinate and share intelligence information," the statement said. "At this time there are no specific or credible threats against Amtrak." It was not immediately clear if the Elizabeth incident was linked to a bombing Saturday night in New York City that injured 29 people or another pipe-bomb style device that went off near a military charity race in Seaside Park also on Saturday. BREAKING PHOTO: blast near Elizabeth NJ train station as bomb techs try to disarm device. Video soon. @PIX11News pic.twitter.com/doX6PgktXw -- Anthony DiLorenzo (@ADiLorenzoTV) September 19, 2016 Bomb techs from the FBI, Union County, & the New Jersey State Police have arrived on the scene and are now rendering the area safe -- FBI Newark (@FBINewark) September 19, 2016 This post will be updated as more information becomes available. Steve Strunsky and Tom Haydon contributed to this report. Jessica Remo may be reached at [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Noah Cohen may be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. ||||| NEW YORK - New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday that residents of the city would see an expanded presence of police as officials investigate a bombing in Chelsea that injured 29, while guarding the United Nations General Assembly, which draws leaders from around the world to New York each year. “You will see a very substantial NYPD presence this week, bigger than ever,” de Blasio said during a press conference just after noon Sunday. De Blasio said all 29 victims of the explosion, which rocked a crowded and popular Manhattan neighborhood, have been released from area hospitals. Another possibly-explosive device discovered blocks away was safely removed early Sunday. Sources told CBS New York Sunday evening that the FBI made a car stop on the Belt Parkway near the Verrzano Bridge. There are several people in custody. It’s unknown the reasons for the car stop or whether its in regards to Chelsea. The FBI said in a statement that at 8:45 p.m., the FBI and NYPD conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle of interest in the investigation into Saturday’s bombing in Manhattan. No one has been charged with any crime. The investigation is continuing. Officials said there’s no evidence currently linking the explosion to terrorism, and said the incident appeared to be unrelated to a pipe bomb explosion earlier Saturday in Seaside Park, New Jersey near the start line of a charity run. “We know from everything we’ve seen so far that this was an intentional act. Again we do not know the nature of it, we do not know the motivation,” de Blasio said. At a press conference earlier on Sunday morning, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said he had spoken with New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, and so far the explosives did not appear to be similar. Atlhough Cuomo on Sunday referred to the explosion as an act of “terrorism,” NYPD, FBI and other NYC officials were hesitant to use the phrase until a suspect or motive could be established. In an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Rep. Peter King, R- N.Y., said it could still well turnout to be a terrorist act. “We had the Times Square bombing back in New York in 2011,” King said. “It took several days before we realized that that was coming out of the Taliban and Pakistan.” Roselyn Olivares, who lives on 23rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues, said the blast did damage to her fourth floor apartment. “My bedroom window was blown out,” she told 1010 WINS Radio. “We didn’t know what it was.” During the U.N. General Assembly, New York typically increases police presence, but officials said Sunday law enforcement would be on particularly high alert in the city this week, as a result of the explosion. Cuomo said 1,000 additional law enforcement officers were being deployed after the Saturday night blast in Chelsea, a primarily residential neighborhood on Manhattan’s west side that’s known for its art galleries and large gay population. Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the U.N. Secretary General, told CBS News’ Pamela Falk that more than 14,000 passes have been issued for dignitaries, their aides, and additional press for the U.N. General Assembly this year. “Security inside the United Nations is being assessed on a constant basis. Outside of the UN, security is the responsibility of the host country. We receive great cooperation and appreciate the support from the federal authorities and the NYPD throughout the year, and especially during the General Assembly to keep staff, delegates and visitors safe,” Dujarric said. It was unclear who was behind the blasts in New York and New Jersey, and what motivated them. A law enforcement source tells CBS News senior investigative producer Pat Milton that while no suspect nor motive has been established, terrorism has not definitively been ruled out as a possibility. The second device that officers investigated four blocks from the Chelsea scene was a pressure cooker with a cellphone and wires attached, and was found in a plastic bag. The device was removed with a robot and taken to a department firing range in the Bronx. An NYPD official tells CBS News they were successfully able to pull the device apart. They did not have to blow it up. Two law enforcement sources tell CBS News the device that exploded appears to also have been a pressure cooker bomb. One source said officials believe it was set off with a cellphone signal. New York Police Commissioner James O’Neill said at Sunday afternoon press conference that a bomb squad was still investigating the device. Authorities have one person on surveillance video seen planting at least one of bombs in Manhattan, CBS News learned Sunday night. This individual has not been identified. Authorities stress that he may or may not be the person who did this, but it is a solid lead. A source tells CBS News that they have not yet definitively made the connection between the blast in Chelsea, and the blast in Seaside. However, the source says both the Chelsea bombs and the Seaside Park bombs use cellphones as triggers. The New York Times reports the second device appeared to be similar to the devices used in the Boston Marathon bombing. Homemade pressure cooker bombs were used in the Boston Marathon attacks in 2013 that killed three people and injured more than 260. The explosion that rocked a bustling Chelsea neighborhood appeared to have come from a construction toolbox in front of a building. Photos from the scene show a twisted and crumpled black metal box. “This is a very dense area, the whole block is restaurants and residences and this area on a warm Saturday night is an area swarming with people,” New York City Councilman Cory Johnson told CBS New York. The blast happened on West 23rd Street, in front of a residence for the blind, near a major thoroughfare with many restaurants and a Trader Joe’s supermarket. Witnesses said the explosion at about 8:30 p.m. blew out the windows of businesses and scattered debris in the area. Officials said no evacuations were necessary. On Sunday, a team of five FBI agents searched an Uber driver’s vehicle that had been damaged in the Manhattan blast, ripping off the door panels inside as they examined it for evidence. The driver, MD Alam, of Brooklyn, had just picked up three passengers and was driving along 23rd Street when the explosion occurred, shattering the car’s windows and leaving gaping holes in the rear passenger-side door. “It was so loud,” the 32-year-old Alam said. “I was so scared. There was a loud boom and then smoke and I just drove away.” Alam said he hit the gas and tried to take his passengers to their destination in Queens, but pulled over along Madison Avenue and 39th Street. He went to a local police precinct to file a report for his insurance company and police contacted the FBI. New York City subway routes were affected by the explosion, which rattled some New Yorkers and visitors on the heels of the 15th anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks. Cuomo said mass transit in the area would resume as early as Monday. In Los Angeles, Police Chief Charlie Beck asked Emmys attendees to remain vigilant in the wake of explosions in New York City and New Jersey. Beck said there were no known credible threats to security in Los Angeles, but those attending Sunday’s Emmys in downtown Los Angeles were asked to report any suspicious activity. ||||| ELIZABETH, N.J. (AP) — A suspicious device found in a trash can near a New Jersey train station exploded early Monday as a bomb squad was attempting to disarm it with a robot, officials said. Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage said that the FBI was working to disarm one of five devices found in the same bag, which was discovered in a trash can by two men around 8:30 p.m. Sunday, near the Elizabeth train station on New Jersey Transit's Northeast Corridor rail line. The men had reported seeing wires and a pipe coming out of the package, Bollwage said. There was no immediate report of injuries or damage. A message left with the FBI wasn't immediately returned. The mayor warned that other explosions were expected. NJ Transit service was suspended early Monday between Newark Liberty Airport and Elizabeth, and New Jersey-bound Amtrak trains were being held at New York Penn Station, officials said, while New York-bound Amtrak trains were being held in Trenton. Train passengers reported being stuck on Amtrak and NJ Transit trains for hours Sunday night, while some trains moved in reverse to let passengers off at other stations. Amtrak said 2,400 passengers were affected and that trains were being brought into other stations for people to get other transportation. It wasn't clear when the Elizabeth station would be open, a threat to cause major issues on the Monday morning commute into New York. The discovery of the suspicious package comes a day after an explosion in Manhattan injured 29 people, and an unexploded pressure-cooker device was found four blocks away. Also Saturday, a pipe bomb exploded about an hour from the Elizabeth train station in Seaside Park, New Jersey, forcing the cancellation of a military charity 5K run. Officials said it didn't appear that those two incidents were connected, though they weren't ruling anything out. Investigators didn't immediately comment on whether they thought the Elizabeth incident was connected to either of the two blasts. Bollwage said that he wasn't willing to say that Elizabeth had become a target, and that it was possible that someone worried about the authorities was trying to get rid of the package. "I'm extremely concerned for the residents of the community, but more importantly extremely concerned for everyone in the state and country where someone can just go and drop a backpack into a garbage can that has multiple explosives in it with no timers and then you have to wonder how many people could have been hurt," Bollwage said. ___ This story has been corrected to show that the bag was found around 8:30 p.m., not 9:30 p.m. ||||| The discovery of a bag containing explosive devices near a train station in Elizabeth was causing big headaches for commuters. NJ Transit service was partially suspended and Amtrak trains weren't able to travel from New York Penn Station to Newark Penn Station. Checkey Beckford reports. (Published Monday, Sept. 19, 2016) What to Know Five people were taken into custody by the FBI Sunday for questioning after a traffic stop on the Verrazano Bridge As that was happening, a suspicious package was discovered at the Elizabeth train station in New Jersey Trains were halted between EWR and Elizabeth, halting traffic on the busy North East Corridor ahead of the morning rush Commuting will be a struggle Monday for thousands of NJ Transit and Amtrak commuters as authorities continue their investigations into a series of explosions and incendiary devices in New York City and New Jersey over the weekend. New Jersey Transit warned trains on multiple lines were subject to delays of up to an hour amid the ongoing police investigation. Service on all Northeast Corridor and North Jersey Coast lines resumed Monday morning. It had been suspended in both directions late Sunday night after a device found inside a bag near the NJ Transit station in Elizabeth, New Jersey, exploded. NJ Transit said commuters should expect residual delays and service changes as the investigation in Elizabeth continues. All New Jersey-bound Amtrak trains were also held at New York Penn Station after the bag was discovered in Elizabeth, hampering travel on the busy North East Corridor. Trains began moving out of New York Penn around 5:30 a.m. Amtrak said that Acela Express, Northeast Regional and other services will operate Monday with some schedule modifications. The railroad service said that passengers should expect cancellations and delays throughout the day. In Manhattan, West 23rd Street between Sixth and Seventh avenues reopened by 9 p.m. Monday after police spent the weekend investigating the blast there. Other roads that were initially closed for the investigation -- including parts of Sixth Avenue, Seventh Avenue, and West 14th to West 23rd streets -- were reopened earlier. PATH trains are skipping 23rd Street in Manhattan. PATH will cross-honor NJT passengers at NWK, HOB, WTC and 33rd Street stations. The 1 train has resumed making normal stops at its 23rd and 28th street stations, though the northeast stairway at the 23rd Street station remains closed, according to @NYCTSubway. The E and F trains are also stopping again at 23rd Street stations. Due to the 23rd Street closure, MTA buses M5, M7, M23 and X1 are detoured in both directions. The news of the suspicious bag at the Elizabeth station in New Jersey was first reported late Sunday night, around the same time that the FBI said it had taken five people from Elizabeth, New Jersey into custody for questioning after a traffic stop on the Verrazano Bridge. The FBI confirmed that the 8:45 p.m. Verrazano traffic stop was part of an investigation into Saturday's bombing in Manhattan that injured 29 people. None of them have been charged with a crime and the investigation is ongoing. The devices in Elizabeth apparently looked similar to what detonated in Seaside Park, New Jersey, on Saturday morning ahead of a race. No one was injured in the Seaside Park explosion. Hunt for Clues in 'Intentional' Chelsea Explosion ||||| NEW YORK (Reuters) - U.S. authorities on Wednesday were looking into whether an Afghan-born American citizen charged with carrying out bombings in New York and New Jersey acted alone or had help as the city’s top federal public defender sought access to the suspect. Police in New York City said they had not yet been permitted by doctors to speak to Ahmad Khan Rahami, 28, who was arrested on Monday after being wounded in a gunfight with police in Linden, New Jersey. Rahami has been charged with wounding 31 people in a bombing in New York on Saturday that authorities called a “terrorist act.” The Federal Bureau of Investigation released a photo of two men who found a second, unexploded pressure cooker device they say Rahami left in a piece of luggage in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood on Saturday night. The two men, who took the bag but left the improvised bomb on the street are not suspects, officials said, but investigators want to interview them as witnesses. “As far as whether he’s a lone actor, that’s still the path we are following, but we are keeping all the options open,” William Sweeney, the FBI’s assistant director in New York, told reporters. Rahami is also charged with planting a bomb that exploded in Seaside Park, New Jersey, but did not injure anyone and planting explosive devices in his hometown of Elizabeth, New Jersey, which did not detonate. He faces charges from federal prosecutors in both states. Federal prosecutors portray Rahami, who came to the United States at age 7 and became a naturalized citizen, as embracing militant Islamic views, begging for martyrdom and expressing outrage at the U.S. “slaughter” of Muslim fighters in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Palestine. Investigators were also probing Rahami’s history of travel to Afghanistan and Pakistan, and looking for evidence that he may have picked up radical views or trained in bomb-making. Both government and pro-Taliban sources in Pakistan on Wednesday said they had no knowledge of Rahami having met with prominent people connected to the Taliban or other religious groups. Prosecutors plan to move Rahami to New York from the New Jersey hospital where he is being treated as soon as his medical condition allows, said Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan. Policemen place in an ambulance a man they identified as Ahmad Khan Rahami, who is wanted for questioning in connection with an explosion in New York City, in Linden, New Jersey, in this still image taken from video September 19, 2016. REUTERS/Anthony Genaro DEFENSE LAWYER DEMANDS COURT APPEARANCE Rahami’s wife met with U.S. law enforcement officials while in the United Arab Emirates and voluntarily gave a statement, a law enforcement official said on Wednesday. She was not in custody. A New Jersey U.S. congressman previously said Rahami had emailed his office in 2014 for help in getting her a visa to enter the United States from Pakistan when she was pregnant. Rahami’s defense attorney, David Patton, on Wednesday demanded that his first court appearance to be scheduled as soon as possible, even if it occurs in his hospital bed, saying that the defendant had a constitutional right to a lawyer and a court appearance within two days of his arrest. New York Police Commissioner James O’Neill told a news conference that investigators had not yet received doctors’ clearance to interview Rahami, adding, “That may happen in the next 24 hours, pending the doctors’ approval.” Federal prosecutors in New York noted that while they had filed charges against Rahami, he remained in the custody of state officials in New Jersey, who initially arrested him after Monday’s gunfight. They said that makes Patton’s request for access premature. Patton, in a subsequent filing, shot back that such delays were unacceptable. “Mr. Rahami was arrested more than 48 hours ago. His bail in New Jersey was set without any appointment of counsel or court appearance. He still has not been provided counsel. He does not have a scheduled court appearance in New Jersey until next week,” Patton said. Slideshow (21 Images) The attacks in New York and New Jersey were the latest in a series in the United States inspired by Islamic militant groups including al Qaeda and Islamic State. A pair of ethnic Chechen brothers killed three people and injured more than 260 at the 2013 Boston Marathon with homemade pressure-cooker bombs similar to those used in this weekend’s attacks. Rahami, in other parts of a journal that prosecutors said he was carrying when he was arrested, praised “Brother” Osama bin Laden, the al Qaeda leader slain in a 2011 U.S. raid in Pakistan; Anwar al-Awlaki, an American-born Muslim cleric and leading al Qaeda propagandist who was killed in a 2011 U.S. drone strike in Yemen; and Nidal Hasan, the U.S. Army psychiatrist who shot dead 13 people and wounded 32 at Fort Hood, Texas, in 2009. Republican Rep. Michael McCaul, house Homeland Security Committee chairman, told CNN that Rahami’s writings in a journal showed that his actions had been inspired by Islamic State as “his guidance came from the lead ISIS spokesman.” “What that tells me as a counterterrorism expert that now we can definitively say this was an ISIS-inspired terrorist attack.” ||||| (CNN) Three attacks in 12 hours -- explosions on New York and New Jersey streets and a stabbing spree in a Minnesota mall -- combined for tumultuous weekend, afflicting injury and moments of alarm and leaving investigators scrambling for answers. As Monday's sunrise approached, New York City ramped up security not only because of the bombing that injured 29 people in Manhattan and the discovery of a mysterious device blocks away, but also because world leaders are gathering at the United Nations for debate at the General Assembly. Questions abounded about Saturday's incidents, including: What, exactly, were the motives? There were hints in the Minnesota attack, with ISIS claiming that a man who injured nine people in stabbings in St. Cloud before an off-duty police officer killed him was a "soldier of the Islamic State," though there was no immediate evidence he'd had contact with the terror group. A recap of the three incidents, all of which authorities said were being investigated as possible terror acts: • Around 9:30 a.m. in Seaside Park, New Jersey, one of three pipe-bomb-type devices that were wired together detonated in a garbage can, tearing apart the container but injuring no one; the other two didn't explode, federal law enforcement officials said. Officials said the blast probably was timed to disrupt a Marine Corps charity run, but no one was near the blast because registration problems delayed the race. Officials said the device had a cell phone as a timer; no one has claimed responsibility. • Around 8:30 p.m. in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood, an explosion rocked 23rd Street and 6th Avenue, injuring 29 people and sending panicked people scrambling for cover. A law enforcement source said it came from a device planted in or near a dumpster. Investigators found an intact pressure cooker blocks away. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said the pressure cooker and the exploded device in Chelsea were similar, and other officials said both devices had cell phones as apparent timers. No one has claimed responsibility. Investigators found similarities between the explosives used in both states, according to multiple law enforcement officials, but authorities said they have not concluded the incidents are linked. • About 9 p.m. ET (8 p.m. CT) in St. Cloud, Minnesota, a man wearing a security uniform entered Crossroads mall, made a reference to Allah and stabbed nine people before an off-duty police officer shot him dead, police said. He asked at least one person whether he or she was a Muslim before he attacked, witnesses said. JUST WATCHED Mayor: Off-duty officer who shot attacker a hero Replay More Videos ... MUST WATCH Mayor: Off-duty officer who shot attacker a hero 01:18 Police did not immediately release the attacker's name, and CNN hasn't independently verified ISIS' claim that he was linked to the group. St. Cloud's police chief said investigators were "trying to get to the bottom of his motivations." No official has suggested ties between the mall attack and the explosions in New Jersey and New York. NYC police presence 'bigger than ever' New Yorkers already were going to see a big police presence in the city because of the 71st session of the UN General Assembly, about a 2-mile drive from the Chelsea blast site. An explosion in New York City injured 29. But Saturday's explosion means the police presence will be even more intense, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday. "You should know you will see a very substantial NYPD presence this week -- bigger than ever," he said And Cuomo said 1,000 additional New York State Police officers and National Guard troops will be deployed to patrol bus terminals, airports and subway stations. 'This is a new era' Saturday's incidents follow a few other mass attacks that happened on US soil in the past year, including the deadly December shootings in San Bernardino, California, and the deadly June shootings at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida. In both of those incidents, the attackers claimed an affinity for ISIS. Threat of Islamist attacks alone has kept federal investigators busy -- the FBI has said that it is mounting 900 investigations of suspected Islamist militants in all 50 states. FBI Director James Comey said in July that ISIS terrorists may be dispersed in the West as the terror group loses territory in Iraq and Syria. But Comey isn't worried just about Islamist terror threats. "Our focus now is on a much more disparate threat that's hard to see -- unpredictable, motivated, and driven by people who are just disturbed," he said in an interview posted Friday on the FBI's website. New York isn't the only metropolis to take notice of Saturday's attacks. On the other coast, Los Angeles' police were gearing up for two high-profile events Sunday: the Emmy Awards and the Los Angeles Rams' first home game since their return from two decades in St. Louis. "As you wake up this morning to the troubling events in New York and New Jersey, please rest assured we have been monitoring the situation throughout the night," Los Angeles Police Chief Charlie Beck said in a statement released on Twitter. He said police had taken steps to ensure the Emmys and the football game would be safe, and asked people to be vigilant. Both events took place without incident. US Rep. Charlie Rangel, a Democrat who represents Manhattan, told CNN that Saturday's attacks -- and a level of vigilance needed to combat them -- represent "a new norm." "This is a new era, and everyone just has to be alert," he said Sunday. Photos: Explosion in Manhattan New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, right, and New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, second right, look over the mangled remains of a dumpster Sunday, September 18, in New York's Chelsea neighborhood. An explosion injured 29 people there the night before. Hide Caption 1 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Authorities believe the blast was caused by an explosive device in or near this dumpster. All 29 victims have been released from hospitals, according to the governor. Hide Caption 2 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan FBI agents review the scene of the explosion on Sunday morning. Hide Caption 3 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Police officers redirect passers-by as investigations continue early on Sunday morning. Hide Caption 4 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan A fire truck at the scene of the blast on Saturday. Hide Caption 5 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan The New York Police Department's Counterterrorism Bureau tweeted this image of the crumpled dumpster following the explosion in Chelsea. Hide Caption 6 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Just blocks away from the explosion, a suspicious device was found. Officials said the device appeared to be a pressure cooker with dark-colored wiring protruding, connected by silver duct tape to what appeared to be a cell phone. Hide Caption 7 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan De Blasio, in the blue tie, speaks at a news conference near the scene on Saturday. He was joined by New York Police Commissioner James O'Neill. Hide Caption 8 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Police block off a road near the site of the explosion. Hide Caption 9 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Firefighters and emergency workers gather at the scene. Hide Caption 10 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Police officers and firefighters respond to the scene. Hide Caption 11 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan A New York police officer and his dog check a garbage can close to the scene of the explosion. Hide Caption 12 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Two heavily armed police officers survey the scene. Hide Caption 13 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan New York police at the scene of the explosion. Hide Caption 14 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan A bomb squad vehicle arrives at the scene. Hide Caption 15 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Police arrive at the scene of the explosion. Hide Caption 16 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan A street is blocked off nearby. Hide Caption 17 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Police and firefighters gather near the scene. Hide Caption 18 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan A crowd gathers near the site of the explosion. Hide Caption 19 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan A line of emergency vehicles near the scene of the explosion. Hide Caption 20 of 21 Photos: Explosion in Manhattan Onlookers gather on the street. Hide Caption 21 of 21 The off-duty police officer who killed the Minnesota attacker reflects that kind of alertness, CNN law enforcement analyst Art Roderick said "No law enforcement officer believes they're ever off duty anymore," Roderick told CNN's Fredricka Whitfield. "I think everybody now just about carries a firearm when they're off duty from their regular law enforcement job." In Elizabeth, New Jersey, federal and local authorities were called into action Sunday night to investigate the contents of a backpack found in a garbage can near a train trestle, according to Mayor Chris Bollwage. As a precaution, local rail and bus service was suspended. After two men spotted the suspicious package, which had wires and a pipe but no apparent timing devices, they reported it to authorities. The FBI's bomb squad then deployed a robot to examine the devices. The suspicious package exploded after the bomb robot cut a wire in an effort to disarm the device. Authorities do not know if the Elizabeth explosion has ties to the Chelsea bombing. 'The entire neighborhood is real scared' Many in Chelsea were rattled by Saturday's bombing. Danilo Gabrielli, 50, was watching TV at his 23rd Street apartment about a block away from the explosion site when he heard the blast. He rushed to see what had happened and found a chaotic scene. "We smelled something, like an intense sulfur smell, and saw smoke coming out of this building. I saw pieces of metal -- not large, but not small either. A few friends of mine saw glass there." Gabrielli said "the entire neighborhood is real scared." "It's a real quiet neighborhood -- not like the center of the city or the Wall Street area. It's tiny bars, where you go to grab a drink, grab a bite to eat, watch a film. We were worried." 'It's not stalling everybody that lives here' Ryker Allen, 19, noticed the increased security presence in Manhattan. He woke up Sunday at his home in the Flatiron District, not far from the explosion, and saw "easily 100 police officers" meeting in front of his building. He said the attack was unnerving, but people still were going about their business. "I feel like it's something that's kind of hovering over, but it's not stalling everybody that lives here. It's not stopping anybody from getting their tasks done," he said. Allen wasn't alone in taking it in stride. For those trying to capitalize on the explosion: People aren't freaking out in Chelsea. People aren't in fear in the City. This in New York! — Ali H. Soufan (@Ali_H_Soufan) September 18, 2016 "For those trying to capitalize on the explosion: People aren't freaking out in Chelsea. People aren't in fear in the City," Ali H. Soufan's Twitter account read Saturday night.

– A bomb squad robot was destroyed and another had its arm blown off when one of five bombs found in a backpack near a New Jersey train station blew up early Monday. The FBI says the other four devices found will be encased in blastproof material and taken to the agency's headquarters for further investigation, the New York Times reports. The devices—which were discovered by two men who found the backpack on top of a garbage can outside a restaurant near the Elizabeth station—will be closely examined for evidence linking them to explosive devices found in New York City and elsewhere in New Jersey over the weekend. A round-up of coverage: Elizabeth Mayor Christian Bollwage says the two men thought the backpack held something of value and carried it some distance before realizing it held explosive devices and calling police, NJ.com. He says in its original location near a pub, the devices could have caused carnage. "If that pub was crowded and there was a lot of people there, it could have severely injured, killed and maimed many, many people," the mayor says. The AP reports that thousands of Amtrak and NJ Transit passengers were affected by the discovery of the device, with some stuck on trains for hours. Service has resumed but passengers in the area have been warned that they can expect delays Monday. NBC New York reports that investigators believe surveillance video shows the same man at two locations where explosive devices were found in Manhattan. Police aren't sure whether there is a link between the New York devices and those found in New Jersey. CNN reports that there is now an increased security presence in New York City not just because of the bombs, but because world leaders are gathering for the United Nations General Assembly. A law enforcement source tells CBS that investigators believe cell phones were used as triggers for both the Manhattan blast—which NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo calls "obviously an act of terrorism"—and the device that exploded before a New Jersey race to benefit Marines and sailors early Saturday. It's not clear whether a trigger was found with the Elizabeth devices. Bollwage says he's not sure his city was targeted. He suspects somebody may have just dumped the devices in Elizabeth, but he is "extremely concerned for everyone in the state and country where someone can just go and drop a backpack into a garbage can that has multiple explosives in it with no timers and then you have to wonder how many people could have been hurt." An official close to the investigation tells Reuters that all the devices involved have been crude and the level of planning appears low—but some investigators fear this was just a test. "That's what worries us," he says. "Was this some kind of test run, not just of the devices, but also of the surveillance in New York and the response?" (The FBI says it is questioning five people found in a "vehicle of interest.")

That geeky girl in the floral prints and glasses from “Blossom” is dishing out sex advice? Damn, I must be old. Yes, Mayim Bialik has plenty to say about sex and she is dishing it out on Kveller.com, a Jewish parenting web site. With baby-making on the brain, Mayim quotes the Torah on waiting seven days, plus an additional five, for a woman’s most fertile time. It’s all part of being a good Jew, you see. “Judaism loves love. We love sex. We are told it is a mitzvah to make love and to especially make love on Shabbat, when God’s presence is close,” Mayim explains. “A woman’s right to sexual satisfaction is detailed in her ketubah, her marriage contract, independent of pregnancy.” She continues: “Sex really can be for fun and for free; thank you Judaism. And when you are not cycling, such as during pregnancy and after menopause, have as much sex as you want. Have it upside down and sideways and from the chandeliers. It’s all good, it’s all kosher, and it’s a wonderful reminder that Judaism is pleasantly focused on how we live, rather than what happens after we die.” What a lovely sentiment — it almost makes me want to convert. Thanks, Blossom! [Kveller] Mayim isn’t the only celeb who knows a thing or two about a thing or two. Plenty of other celebs fancy themselves a Sue Johanson — although methinks John Mayer’s ability to dole out sex advice is dubious at best. Take a look at some sex advice from celebsand judge for yourself. ||||| A recent Kveller article by Cara Paiuk detailed the best things to do if trying to get pregnant. Cara recommended the book Taking Charge of Your Fertility, and I agree—that book changed my life and allowed me to have access to the intimate workings of the reproductive system easily, simply, and in the most effective way to achieve pregnancy. The book both helps you get pregnant and avoid pregnancy, since by learning your reliable and consistent patterns (which for the vast majority of women are universal), you truly can take charge of your fertility! This is not ‘the rhythm method;’ it’s just understanding biology. But did you know that the wisdom, simplicity, elegance, and baby-planning contained in that book (and in our biological make up) has been tapped into for thousands of years by Jews? That’s right. Long before tomes of endocrinology literature charted the hypothalamic and pituitary secretions of the hormones that govern menstruation, pregnancy, and breastfeeding’s effects on our cycles, the Torah detailed it for us. Mmm hmmm. That’s right, ladies. The Torah. The Five Books of Moses, that some-3000-year-old tome. The Torah says to count “for yourself” seven days. Over time, an additional five days (according to most customs) were added to the mix . What happens 7+5 days after you start your cycle? As any OB-Gyn, endocrinologist, or person who has read TCOYF can tell you, for the majority of women, ovulation occurs around the 12th day after you start your cycle. Yup. Get it? The most efficient way to get pregnant is to have sex on and around Day 12 of your cycle. And that’s literally what Jewish women have done for thousands of years. Traditionally, the night of ovulation (day 12 of your cycle), women immerse in a mikveh which is basically a glorified and very sanitary pretty hot tub with no bubbles involved and only one woman at a time allowed in. The mikveh is a meditative space, an opportunity to experience the cleansing of water (Catholics liked this idea so much, they made Baptism a must-do ritual), and a signal that you are ready to engage again in the holy work of making babies. It’s actually quite profound and beautiful, I think. Many traditional women also refrain from other intimate acts from the first day of their period until they’ve immersed in the mikveh, such as kissing, cuddling, and even sleeping in the same bed. It may sound odd, but the potential excitement for reunion after so many separated days is pretty powerful, and generations and generations of women (and their content husbands) swear that this is what keeps their sex lives and marriages fresh and exciting. I know what you’re thinking: “Oh, so Judaism just wants to make women into baby factories. My only purpose is to get pregnant? Thanks, but no thanks.” To this, I say two things. 1) Judaism values making babies but there is a place in even Orthodox Judaism for birth control. It is important to have children when your family is ready for more children. We want children to be born into families that want them, love them, and have the resources to care for them. 2) Judaism loves love. We love sex. We are told it is a mitzvah to make love and to especially make love on Shabbat, when God’s presence is close. A woman’s right to sexual satisfaction is detailed in her ketubah, her marriage contract, independent of pregnancy. Sex really can be for fun and for free; thank you Judaism. And when you are not cycling, such as during pregnancy and after menopause, have as much sex as you want. Have it upside down and sideways and from the chandeliers. It’s all good, it’s all kosher, and it’s a wonderful reminder that Judaism is pleasantly focused on how we live, rather than what happens after we die. We live for perpetuating the species, enjoying marriage through sex, and honoring our traditions. And we can do it all. God willing, we can do it all.

– Mayim Bialik, perhaps better known as TV's Blossom, recently talked sex on Jewish website Kveller. "Judaism loves love. We love sex. We are told it is a mitzvah to make love and to especially make love on Shabbat, when God’s presence is close," she writes. "It’s all good, it’s all kosher, and it’s a wonderful reminder that Judaism is pleasantly focused on how we live, rather than what happens after we die." Not all celebrities are so religion-focused when talking about getting down and dirty. The Frisky rounds up 11 more pieces of advice: John Mayer: Reportedly told a woman at a bar that she should always remember to talk dirty in bed. Jane Krakowski: But while you're talking dirty, remember to call your partner a whore as opposed to a prostitute, she advises. Spencer Pratt: While we're wary of taking any advice from either half of Speidi, we'll relay it nonetheless: Spence thinks you should go on a sexual shopping spree and buy as much as you can afford from your local adult store. Jada Pinkett Smith: To keep the passion alive in a long-term relationship, do it in sneaky places like on the side of the road. Cameron Diaz: No matter what you do, don't fake it in bed. Click for the complete list, and to find out which star thinks "foreplay" should be called "teaseplay."

Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Poland has long objected to phrases which suggest shared responsibility for Nazi Germany's actions Poland's Senate has approved a controversial bill making it illegal to accuse the Polish nation or state of complicity in the Nazi Holocaust. The bill, which sets fines or a maximum three-year jail term as punishment, must be signed off by the president before becoming law. President Andrzej Duda says Poland has the right "to defend historical truth". But it has outraged Israeli MPs, who are now seeking to strengthen their own Holocaust denial laws. What does the bill state? It says that "whoever accuses, publicly and against the facts, the Polish nation, or the Polish state, of being responsible or complicit in the Nazi crimes committed by the Third German Reich … shall be subject to a fine or a penalty of imprisonment of up to three years". But it adds the caveat that a person "is not committing a crime if he or she commits such an act as part of artistic or scientific activities". It passed in a late-night sitting of the upper house of the Polish parliament with 57 votes to 23, with two abstaining. The country has long objected to the use of phrases like "Polish death camps", which suggest the Polish state in some way shared responsibility for camps such as Auschwitz. The camps were built and operated by Nazi Germany after it invaded Poland in 1939. But the more contentious point raised by the bill is whether it will outlaw references to acts of individual complicity by Poles with the Nazis - something historians say there is clear evidence for. What has been the Israeli reaction? The Israelis are furious about the bill, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described as an attempt to rewrite history and deny the Holocaust. There was particular anger as it came just a few days after the Polish president promised to engage in dialogue with Israel about the bill amid the outcry. Deputies from across Israel's often fractious political spectrum have united to denounce it. Opposition MP Tzipi Livni of the Zionist Union party - normally a staunch critic of Mr Netanyahu - said: "They have spat in Israel's face twice, firstly as the state of the Jewish people that is trying to prevent a second Holocaust, and secondly in the face of an Israeli prime minister who had reached an agreement with his Polish counterpart, and had it ignored." Centrist MP Yair Lapin was also defiant, tweeting that the law could not change history. Following the passage of the law, Israel's Foreign Ministry asked to postpone the visit of a senior Polish official. Pavel Solosh, the head of the Polish National Security Council, will not arrive in Israel on Sunday as was planned. Now, Israeli MPs are backing a bill that would expand Israel's existing Holocaust denial laws to include a five-year jail sentence for anyone denying or minimising the role of Nazi collaborators, including Poles, in crimes committed in the Holocaust. The amended law would also give legal aid to any Holocaust survivor telling their story who is prosecuted in a foreign country. The US state department had also urged the Polish government to rethink the bill. What about in Poland? Polish politicians have expressed bafflement at the Israeli response. "We are very sad and surprised our fight for the truth, for the dignity of Poles, is perceived and interpreted in this way," said Senate speaker Stanislaw Karczewski. Deputy Justice Minister Marcin Warchol said it was wrong to suggest the bill would stop people researching Polish history. "Poland is a democratic state of law which respects the freedom of public debate, scientific research, and the right to criticism," he said. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Poland was committed to combating lies about the Holocaust. "The camps where millions of Jews were murdered were not Polish. This truth needs to be protected," he said. Poland is governed by a nationalist party, Law and Justice (PiS), which is keen to show the world how Poland was ruthlessly victimised by its German and Soviet neighbours in the war. Media reaction to the law has been much more ambivalent. "Instead of settling the crisis, we have made it even worse," said a columnist in the conservative daily Rzeczpospolita. About 100 Polish artists, politicians and journalists have signed an open letter calling for the repeal of the bill, saying it goes too far in trying to make Poland "the only blameless nation in Europe". Analysis: It's not a black and white issue by Adam Easton, Warsaw correspondent "Polish death camps" is a depressingly frequent term in the international media, often as a kind of journalistic shorthand. Even President Obama used it in 2012 during a speech honouring a Polish war hero, Jan Karski. Many Poles believe that the user thinks that Poles created and ran the camps. Of course that's not true. Poland's right-wing government, while acknowledging that some Poles blackmailed Jews in hiding to enrich themselves, is keen to promote the history of Poland as a victim, of not just the Nazis, but also the Soviets. The government is rightly proud that more Poles are honoured in Israel for saving Jews during the war than citizens of any other nation in occupied Europe. But Polish-Jewish relations during the war were complex - they were neither black nor white. Historians say individual Poles denounced their Jewish neighbours to the Germans and also took part in their murder. Critics say this bill may act as a muzzle on people trying to uncover the full complexity of the Holocaust. What happened in World War Two? Poland was attacked and occupied by Nazi Germany. Millions of its citizens were killed, including three million Polish Jews in the Holocaust. Six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust overall. Image copyright AFP Image caption Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he strongly opposed the bill More Poles have been honoured by Israel for saving the lives of Jews during the war than any other nation. However, historians say others were complicit by acts such as informing on Jews in hiding for rewards, and participating in Nazi-instigated massacres including in Jedwabne where hundreds of Jews were murdered by their neighbours. A historian and well-known "Nazi-hunter" at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, Efraim Zuroff, says the number of collaborators runs into "many thousands". "The Polish state was not complicit in the Holocaust, but many Poles were," Mr Zuroff told the Times of Israel. ||||| Israeli Ambassador to Poland, Anna Azari, standing left, speaks during a eremony markjng the 13th International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the victims of the Holocaust, at the Monument to the Heroes... (Associated Press) Israeli Ambassador to Poland, Anna Azari, standing left, speaks during a eremony markjng the 13th International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the victims of the Holocaust, at the Monument to the Heroes of the Warsaw Ghetto in Warsaw, Poland, Monday, Jan. 29, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) (Associated Press) WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The United States asked Poland to rethink plans to enact proposed legislation regulating Holocaust speech that has sparked a diplomatic dispute with Israel, arguing Wednesday that if it passes it could hurt freedom of speech as well as strategic relationships. U.S. State Department spokeswoman Neather Nauert voiced her government's concerns as the Polish Senate was preparing to approve the bill, a step that would put it closer to becoming law. The measure would next need to be signed into law by the president, who supports it. Poland's conservative ruling Law and Justice party authored the bill, which calls for up to three years in prison for any intentional attempt to falsely attribute the crimes of Nazi Germany to the Polish state or people. Law and Justice says it is fighting against the use of phrases like "Polish death camps" to refer to death camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II. Israel, however, sees the move as an attempt to whitewash the role some Poles played in the killing of Jews during World War II. Nauert said the U.S. understands that phrases like "Polish death camps" are "inaccurate, misleading, and hurtful" but voiced concern the legislation could "undermine free speech and academic discourse." "We are also concerned about the repercussions this draft legislation, if enacted, could have on Poland's strategic interests and relationships — including with the United States and Israel. The resulting divisions that may arise among our allies benefit only our rivals," Nauert said. "We encourage Poland to reevaluate the legislation in light of its potential impact on the principle of free speech and on our ability to be effective partners." Nauert's statement came only days after U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson visited Warsaw, where he paid respects to Jewish and Polish victims of the war on International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Earlier Wednesday, a U.S. congressional task force on combatting anti-Semitism said it was "alarmed" by the legislation and called on Polish President Andrzej Duda to veto it. "We are deeply concerned that this legislation could have a chilling effect on dialogue, scholarship, and accountability in Poland about the Holocaust, should this legislation become law," the bipartisan group said. The Poland-Israel dispute, which erupted over the weekend, has elicited bitter recriminations on both sides. Some Israelis have accused the mostly Catholic Poles of being driven by anti-Semitism and of trying to deny the Holocaust. Poles believe they are being defamed by being linked to German crimes of which they were one of the largest group of victims. The lower house of the Polish parliament approved the bill Friday, a day before International Holocaust Remembrance Day, timing also criticized as insensitive. Members of Poland's Jewish community weighed in Wednesday, saying in an open letter that they strongly oppose usage of the phrase "Polish death camps," but also oppose the law. "As eyewitnesses as well as descendants of the Jewish men and women murdered in the Holocaust, we object to this mendacious expression," they wrote. "What we cannot, however, agree to are provisions which impose prison sentences for the use of an expression." ___ Associated Press writers Monika Scislowska in Warsaw, Randy Herschaft in New York and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

– Despite US pleas to rethink proposed legislation regulating Holocaust speech, Poland's Senate went ahead and passed the bill, reports the BBC. The legislation has sparked a diplomatic dispute with Israel, and the US had argued that it could hurt freedom of speech as well as strategic relationships. US State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert voiced her government's concerns as the Polish Senate was preparing to approve the bill Wednesday; the bill later passed by 57 votes to 23. The measure next needs to be signed into law by the president, who supports it. Poland's conservative ruling Law and Justice party authored the bill, which calls for up to three years in prison for any intentional attempt to falsely attribute the crimes of Nazi Germany to the Polish state or people, the AP reports. Law and Justice says it is fighting against the use of phrases like "Polish death camps" to refer to death camps operated by Nazi Germany in occupied Poland during World War II. Israel, however, sees the move as an attempt to whitewash the role some Poles played in the killing of Jews during World War II. Nauert said the US understands that phrases like "Polish death camps" are "inaccurate, misleading, and hurtful," but voiced concern the legislation could "undermine free speech and academic discourse." Members of Poland's Jewish community also weighed in Wednesday, saying in an open letter that they strongly oppose usage of the phrase "Polish death camps," but also oppose the law.

Justice Department Sues California Over Impeding Immigration Enforcement Enlarge this image toggle caption Charles Reed/AP Charles Reed/AP Updated at 9:20 p.m. ET The Justice Department is suing California and two top state officials, accusing them of interfering with federal immigration efforts by passing and enforcing state laws that hinder U.S. operations against undocumented people. The lawsuit filed late Tuesday in federal court in Sacramento, Calif., points out that the Constitution gives the U.S. government sweeping authority over immigration. Justice Department lawyers argue that California is blocking enforcement efforts by the Department of Homeland Security and imposing other, impermissible obligations on the federal government. Federal authorities said that evades common sense and has the potential to endanger communities in California and beyond. The new federal case represents an escalation of the long-running battle between the Trump administration and California, whose Democratic governor, Jerry Brown, and attorney general, Xavier Becerra, have positioned themselves as ideological opponents to the White House on matters from immigration and climate change to criminal justice. Echoing the tone and favored language of President Trump on Twitter, Gov. Brown issued a statement Tuesday night that called the federal lawsuit "SAD!!!" and a political stunt. Last year, California lawmakers passed three immigration-related laws that feature prominently in the new lawsuit. One bars private employers from voluntarily cooperating with federal immigration officials and requires businesses to notify workers in advance of a federal raid. A second law restricts state and local law enforcement from voluntarily sharing information with the feds about the release dates of undocumented people in their custody. That law also bars the transfer of undocumented people into federal custody. The third law under federal challenge covers state inspections of detention facilities that hold noncitizens in federal custody. The Justice Department is asking for a preliminary injunction to block those three laws. To advance their cause, federal lawyers cite a 2012 Supreme Court dispute, in which the Obama administration sued Arizona over its punitive law meant to crack down on immigrants there. A divided Supreme Court eventually ruled parts of the state law were "pre-empted" under the Supremacy Clause of the Constitution. In essence, the court's five-justice majority said that federal law trumps state law in the immigration area, lest each state develop its own policy toward immigrants. Attorney General Jeff Sessions, a longtime proponent of immigration restrictions, will speak Wednesday at an annual Law Enforcement Legislative Day hosted by the California Peace Officers' Association in Sacramento. "The Department of Justice and the Trump administration are going to fight these unjust, unfair and unconstitutional policies that have been imposed on you," Sessions will tell that group, according to an advance excerpt of his remarks. "We are fighting to make your jobs safer and to help you reduce crime in America." Becerra, a former Democratic representative, will speak to the same group later Wednesday. In his statement, the state's governor took on Sessions. "At a time of unprecedented political turmoil, Jeff Sessions has come to California to further divide and polarize America," Brown said. "Jeff, these political stunts may be the norm in Washington, but they don't work here. SAD!!!" In D.C., senior Justice Department officials said California had acted in "quite obviously novel ways" and that the state laws there were "glaring and in some respects go beyond what we've seen" elsewhere. Those officials said the Justice Department is in the process of reviewing other state immigration laws. The U.S. Justice Department is also locked in courtroom battles with California and other jurisdictions over its threats to withhold federal law enforcement grant money from sanctuary cities, which refuse to voluntarily share information with immigration agents. ||||| Tweet with a location You can add location information to your Tweets, such as your city or precise location, from the web and via third-party applications. You always have the option to delete your Tweet location history. Learn more ||||| The case will test the power of the Trump administration to force California police departments and local governments to cooperate with deportations and other aggressive enforcement actions targeting people who entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas. It reflects the administration’s limited tolerance for state’s rights when states want to go in a sharply different direction than the administration.

– The nation's debate on sanctuary cities and states is about to play out front and center in a federal courtroom. The Justice Department is suing the state of California over three new laws that provide protection to undocumented immigrants, reports NPR. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will be in the state Wednesday to lay out his case that California is hindering the federal government's ability to enforce immigration laws, reports the Los Angeles Times. The laws, all passed last year, deal with how businesses and law enforcement agencies in the state cooperate with federal immigration officials. For example, one makes it illegal for private employers to help agents track down undocumented workers unless they're bound to do so by a court order. "The Department of Justice and the Trump administration are going to fight these unjust, unfair, and unconstitutional policies that are imposed on you," Sessions will say in a speech to the California Peace Officers Association. California Gov. Jerry Brown was already tweeting in response, with a not-so-subtle dig at President Trump's tweeting style. “At a time of unprecedented political turmoil, Jeff Sessions has come to California to further divide and polarize America," he wrote. "Jeff, these political stunts may be the norm in Washington, but they don’t work here. SAD!!!” The case is not only a big escalation of the fight between the feds and California, it could have big consequences across the country in other states and cities with similar laws, notes the Washington Post.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin is expressing confidence that he's won another term but Republican challenger Scott Milne isn't conceding. Shumlin issued a statement late Wednesday morning saying it's clear he's ahead. An Associated Press tally at 11:20 a.m. had the governor up by nearly 2,200 votes over Milne. The only town missing from the AP's count was Victory, which had a population in 2000 of just 97 people. Milne says he's waiting for final figures from the secretary of state's office. With neither candidate winning more than 50 percent of the vote, the election goes to the Legislature in January, where Shumlin's fellow Democrats control both houses. Copyright Associated Press ||||| MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) — An unexpectedly strong challenge to Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin means the gubernatorial race will be decided by the state Legislature in January. Democrat incumbent Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin calls it a night without declaring victory on Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2014 in Burlington, Vt. (AP Photo/Andy Duback) (Associated Press) At the close of election night, Shumlin had about 46.7 percent of the vote while his Republican challenger Scott Milne has just over 45 percent. Shumlin had been expected to cruise to re-election for his third-two-year term, but Milne apparently played on voter discontent with the governor. The race stayed close for most of the night. Under the Vermont Constitution, candidates for governor, lieutenant governor and treasurer are required to win a minimum of 50 percent plus one to be elected directly. If not, the race is decided by the Legislature. In the history of Vermont, 23 previous elections for governor have gone to the Legislature, which nearly always gives the election to the candidate who won the most votes. There have been three exceptions, the last one in 1853. Shumlin was chosen by the Legislature for his first two-year-term in 2010. That year Shumlin won 49.5 percent of the vote while his Republican opponent had 47.7 percent. The most recent time the race involving an incumbent governor was decided by the Legislature was in 1986. Experts say Shumlin's sub-50 percent showing could reduce momentum behind his signature agenda item, a universal health care system covering all Vermonters.

– It's one of the stranger outcomes of election night: The race for Vermont governor is so close that the state legislature might have to decide the winner, reports AP. More precisely, the state constitution stipulates that if no candidate wins more than 50% of the vote, lawmakers must pick one. That applies here, with Democrat incumbent Peter Shumlin at 46.7% and Republican challenger Scott Milne at 45%, a difference of about 2,500 votes. NECN points that in in modern political history, the second-place finisher has generally conceded rather than send the vote to the Legislature, but Milne has shown no sign of doing so. Last time this happened? In 2010, when lawmakers picked Shumlin for his first term.